SmackDown Live opens with some still photo’s of Survivor Series. We go live to the arena and Shane O’Mac makes his way to the ring.
Shane thanks the fans in Houston for chanting his name. He says they came so close, they came just short of winning everything at Survivor Series. Regardless, he says they proved on Sunday night that they are not the B-show, they are the show. He says he’s proud of the entire SmackDown roster for how hard they worked, and not just at Survivor Series, but every single week. They bleed blue. That is, of course, except for two individuals. Two people he has asked to get ready and come out here right now.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their way to the ring – Sami dancing like a maniac. Owens asks which Shane McMahon we get tonight: death-defying daredevil, or drunk-on-power commissioner. He says it must be difficult to come out here every week and make excuses as to why he is failing at his job. Owens says he expects an apology from Shane because if they had been included in the Survivor Series matches, they would have won and so would SmackDown Live. Owens tells Shane to be a man for once in his life, and tell them he’s sorry.
Shane says to answer Owens’ question, they’re speaking to the commissioner. He asks that, for the first time in his life, Owens shut his mouth. Shane says neither of them have any respect for him, or anyone in the crowd tonight. Zayn agrees with all of the above. Shane says that makes what he has to say very easy but Owens cuts him off and says they can’t be fired. He and Sami are too valuable and the entire locker room looks up to them. Zayn says Shane would be a damn fool to fire two future Hall-of-Famers. Owens calls them the top two Superstars in WWE, to which Shane says they are incredible delusional. He asks if they even realise that the SmackDown locker room hates their guts, and calls them ego-maniacal maniacs. Shane tells them to come closer and says “YOU’RE..”
Shane is interrupted by SmackDown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan. The GM tells Shane that he has every right to fire them but he shouldn’t. Zayn and Owens agree with Bryan but Daniel tells them to shut-up. Bryan says he has a more permanent solution to the issue. Bryan says he had to send Randy Orton home tonight because of The Viper would have killed them both after Survivor Series. Bryan says The New Day also want to kill them, so tonight it’s going to be Owens and Zayn Vs. The New Day, in a Lumberjack Match!
Later tonight, Natalya gets a Championship rematch against Charlotte. Also, AJ Styles will be here tonight to respond to Jinder Mahal. Up next, Shelton Benjamin will face Jey Uso.
*Commercial Break*
We return and get entrances for both Benjamin and Jey Uso.
Shelton Benjamin W/Chad Gable Vs. Jey Uso W/Jimmy Uso
Benjamin and Jey lock up, Benjamin takes him into the corner. They lock up again, and Jey delivers a couple of right hands, then Benjamin fights back and knocks him down. They exchange a few shots. Jey ends up on the apron. This allowed Benjamin to climb the ropes and knee Jey to the outside.
*Commercial Break*
We return and Benjamin has a chin lock applied to Jey. Uso slowly gets to his feet, breaks-free, and delivers an uppercut. Jey delivers a few hits followed by a Samoan drop. Benjamin is now on the outside.
Jey attempts to jump, but Chad gets up on the apron to block. Jimmy drags him down. Gable sends Jimmy into the barricades. Back in the ring, Uso has a couple of near falls. Jey gets up on the top rope and misses the splash. Benjamin delivers the Paydirt for the win.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
We see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn backstage and they’re trying to coerce someone off-screen into helping them tonight. They say that it’s only a matter of time until Shane turns on them as well, and it turns out they’re talking to Baron Corbin. He tells them he can’t stand them, and that they should find someone weak minded. They walk off and run into Bobby Roode. They tell Roode that he could actually be somebody if sided with them. He pauses for a second before shouting at them and saying they ruined the opportunity of his career on Sunday night.
We get a promo for The Bludgeon Brothers, who debut tonight!
*Commercial Break*
We return and see Naomi getting her make-up done. She says she is bummed that Raw beat SmackDown but she’s happy that Charlotte beat Alexa. Out of nowhere, Ruby Riot from NXT walks-up and introduces herself to Naomi. Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, also from NXT, appear beside Ruby, and they attack Naomi! They beat Naomi around backstage but suddenly Becky Lynch comes to her aid. The three NXT girls beat down Becky as well, slamming a door into her stomach before being pushed away by referees. It seems the NXT invasion of Raw and SmackDown continues! Ruby Riot is fantastic.
We see Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan backstage. Shane says Bryan has been making some great moves, like bringing girls from NXT to SmackDown, and also the Lumberjack Match is a stroke of genius. He says he expects Bryan to fire Owens and Zayn after the match, so he’s going to head back to his hotel and watch the action from his bed. Shane leaves and Bryan doesn’t speak a word.
The Hype Bro’s make their way to the ring, they will play the victims to the debuting Bludgeon Brothers. A lot of brothers in this upcoming match.
*Commercial Break*
The Bludgeon Brothers make their way to the ring, a pretty cool entrance.
The Hype Bros Vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
Rowan starts off against Mojo. He takes him down and throws Ryder off the apron. Harper takes out Ryder on the outside by throwing him into the steel steps. Mojo tries to fight back, Rowan ctaches him and slams him.
Tag is made to Harper and they double team Mojo. Rowan gets the tag back, they deliver somewhat of a double powerbomb on Mojo. Rowan covers for the three count.
