WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 1007
#SDLive
Original Air Date: December 4, 2018
Event Date: December 4, 2018 (aired live)
City: Austin, TX
Venue: Frank Erwin Center
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Video
Last week, Asuka was added to the SD Women’s Title match at TLC.
Ring Area
Paige is in the ring. The ring is surrounded by tables, ladders, and chairs, and the SmackDown Women’s Title is hanging above the ring. Paige is proud that SmackDown will have the first ever women’s TLC triple threat match. She introduces the three competitors in that match, and Asuka, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch head to the ring.
Becky says that making history at TLC is no big deal. She makes history every time she steps into the ring. She’s not worried about her opponents though. She’ll easily handle those two “dopes.”
Charlotte wants Becky to get some new material. Charlotte reminds Becky that she destroyed Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series, but one punch from Nia Jax broke Becky’s face.
Asuka wants Becky and Charlotte to stop talking. Asuka tells Charlotte that Becky already beat her, but Becky hasn’t beaten Asuka. Asuka goes on to say that Becky chose the wrong replacement for Survivor Series. Asuka would have beaten Rousey. At TLC, Asuka will beat Becky.
Charlotte reminds Asuka that she beat Asuka at Wrestlemania. Asuka says Charlotte got lucky. Becky says neither Asuka nor Charlotte could beat Rousey, and neither of them can beat Becky. Becky signs the contract and leaves the ring. Charlotte says Becky is all talk, then she signs. Asuka signs as well, then she challenges Charlotte to a match right now. Before Charlotte can respond, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville come out to the stage.
Mandy reminds Charlotte that she lost at Survivor Series, and Sonya tells Asuka that she only won the battle royal because Sonya made one mistake. Mandy wonders what will happen if Asuka and Charlotte don’t make it to TLC. Paige decides to make a tag match.
Backstage
The Miz is upset that he has to have Daniel Bryan on Miz TV tonight, and he’s upset that Shane McMahon isn’t holding up his end of their tag team. Shane says they aren’t a tag team, and he doesn’t owe Miz anything.
Match 1
Asuka & Charlotte Flair vs Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
(referee: Jason Ayers; at ringside: Becky)
Result: Sonya Deville pins Charlotte Flair after Asuka hits Charlotte with a running kick
Time: 11:29
Match Thoughts
Good match. Asuka spent most of the time in the ring for her team. Asuka did well, but the teamwork of Rose and Deville got the better of her after a while. Charlotte got a couple of tags, but her main role in the match was to set up the miscommunication-laden finish. I liked how the expected miscommunication took place, and I liked how there was direct retaliation. Ultimately this match was all about setting up some extra tension for the TLC triple threat, and for that I think it worked well.
Ring Area
Jon Stewart is in the crowd.
Match 2
Xavier Woods w/ Big E, Kofi Kingston vs Cesaro w/ Sheamus (SD Tag Champs) vs Jey Uso w/ Jimmy Uso
(referee: Charles Robinson; guest commentary table: Big E, Kofi Kingston)
Result: Jey Uso pins Cesaro after a superkick
Time: 6:28 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Cesaro let Jey and Woods fight each other early in the match, but that turned into Jey and Woods double teaming Cesaro once he did get into the ring. After a certain point though, everyone was fighting everyone. The pace was very fast for this match, and I think it was a nice preview for the upcoming title match.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Rusev and Lana. Rusev says Nakamura is terrified of him. Rusev is strong, and he’s hungry. He’s hungry for his US Title. Soon, Rusev will feast, and he’ll do it on Rusev Day.
Video
It doesn’t matter which show Lars Sullivan goes to. He’ll bring destruction with him wherever he goes.
Ring Area
The Miz is in the ring for Miz TV, but before he can finish his introduction, R-Truth and Carmella interrupts him. On the stage, Fabulous Truth dances. Then they go away.
Miz continues his introduction for Miz TV and welcomes Daniel Bryan. “The new” Daniel Bryan heads to the ring. Miz tells Bryan that he looks the same, but there is definitely something new about his attitude. Maybe Bryan finally realized that The Miz was right all along.
Bryan says the old Bryan thought he was smart, but how smart was he if he catered to the opinions of the people? The new Daniel Bryan is smart, and he has books. As he speaks, the crowd begins to respond with “what.” Bryan says the people are sheep, and they’re chanting something stupid from twenty years ago. Then Bryan quotes Alexander Hamilton, saying that giving power to the people is dangerous. Bryan says that he kicked one man in the groin one time, but the people are destroying the environment every single day. Count the sins.
Miz says Bryan painted him as the bad guy for years, but Bryan is now doing exactly what Miz said he should do. He’s doing whatever it takes to win. Miz tries to get Bryan to admit that The Miz was right, but Bryan says that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that the old Daniel Bryan is dead. The Yes Movement is dead. Bryan is interrupted when AJ Styles heads to the ring.
As Styles enters the ring, Bryan shoves The Miz into Styles. Styles chases Bryan to ringside and pulls him back into the ring, but The Miz attacks Styles. Styles keeps going after Bryan which allows Miz to hit Styles with the Skull Crushing Finale. Bryan heads up the ramp with a smile on his face.
Match 3
Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Randy Orton wins via pinfall after an RKO
Time: 9:06
Match Thoughts
Good match. This rivalry is often better than it should be, and this was another good match between these two men. There was nothing new here, but the match was solid. Hardy was the aggressor for a large part of the match, and he slammed Orton onto the announce table at least twice. Of course, Samoa Joe caused some slight shenanigans since he’s been getting into Jeff’s business recently, but I think that helped transition Jeff away from his big summer feud and into what looks to be his big winter feud.
Ring Area
After the match, Samoa Joe (via the tron) warns everyone about the dangers of excess. He urges people to drink responsibly as Jeff Hardy watches from the ring.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton asks Daniel Bryan why he is still in the arena. Bryan says that everything he does, he does with a purpose. And right now, he’s going to do commentary.
Match 4
The Miz vs AJ Styles
(referee: Jason Ayers; guest commentary: Daniel Bryan)
Result: AJ Styles wins via submission with a calf crusher
Time: 8:43 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Styles was fighting angry, and the distraction of having Daniel Bryan at the commentary table allowed The Miz to get in some decent offense. There was a little interaction between Styles and Bryan, but that didn’t directly affect the match. This was a solid main event, and Bryan’s commentary continued to establish his character.
Ring Area
After the match, Daniel Bryan hits Styles with a chop block. Bryan then smashes Styles knee into the ring post multiple times before running Styles’ face into a post as well. Bryan rolls Styles into the ring and continues to punish Styles’ knee and leg. Referees attempt to stop Bryan, but Bryan stomps Styles’ head repeatedly until he decides to leave the ring. Bryan has Greg Hamilton announce his as the champ, and Bryan again calls the crowd “fickle.” Bryan again attacks Styles’ leg as the show ends.
Show Impressions
Good show. I liked all of it.
Match of the Night
Xavier Woods vs Cesaro vs Jey Uso
All the matches tonight were entertaining, but this was the most straightforward match. It didn’t have any shenanigans, and it was very fun to watch.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2018-12-04