The Tribal Chief. The Head of the Table. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Roman Reigns has many other names, but no matter how you refer to him, he is “The Man” on Friday nights. Or at least he is when he’s around, which he will be tonight on WWE SmackDown in Green Bay.
He’s supposed to be back to handle “Tribal Business,” which likely means he feels the need to ensure The Bloodline is the dominant force in WWE. There are some definite signs that is no longer the case, particularly with Jimmy Uso (who’s been a bit on the periphery of the group anyway) and Solo Sikoa taking a big ‘L’ last week against LA Knight and Randy Orton.
Reigns has already faced Knight at Crown Jewel and beat him, with some help, but circumstances have unfolded in such a way that Orton has never had his shot at the Tribal Chief. The Viper will face Jimmy Uso tonight, but you can’t help but get the feeling that Orton and Reigns are on a collision course that leads to Royal Rumble. Maybe.
It’s also a big night for Carmelo Hayes. Supposedly hand-picked by Shawn Michaels to participate in the United States Title Tournament (which is only for a shot at the title), he’ll face Grayson Waller, someone he’s run into before in NXT.
All this and much more await us tonight in Green Bay. Let’s see what’s what.
WWE SmackDown results from Green Bay:
(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)
- Roman Reigns praises Solo Sikoa and dismisses a challenge from Randy Orton
- A hype video tells viewers more about Carmelo Hayes ahead of his match tonight
- Carmelo Hayes def. Grayson Waller by pinfall in a United States Championship Tournament first round match
- LA Knight runs into Orton backstage, reminding him “how those numbers work” with The Bloodline, and they bicker just a bit about who’s going to be the one to take down Reigns
- Kevin Owens def. Austin Theory by pinfall in a United States Championship Tournament first round match
- Reigns sits with The Bloodline and stews about Orton ruining their night, and Jimmy Uso sort of reluctantly accepts his role before saying “yeet” … and then taking it back as Roman slowly turns and glares at him
- A video promo has Karrion Kross promising that “everything is about to crumble”
- Cameron Grimes congratulates KO on laying out Theory, and he also gets a bit of a warning from Hayes before they meet in the next round
- Bayley brags about Damage CTRL getting closer to her original vision of becoming the most powerful faction in WWE, and the rest of the members back her assertion that they’ll win all the titles
- Kanuki Warriors def. Michin and Zelina Vega by pinfall, getting a little help from both Bayley and Dakota Kai
- Jimmy Uso muses that he feels like he’s being set up and asks Solo Sikoa if he’d give him a heads up if that was the case; Sikoa responds “I’m your brother”
- A video promo is shown for Santos Escobar, as he promises to defeat Bobby Lashley before going on to become the new United States Champion
- Lashley delivers his response in a live promo, flanked by the Street Profits, all dressed to the nines
- Randy Orton def. Jimmy Uso by pinfall, thanks in part to LA Knight neutralizing Solo Sikoa, but …
- … Reigns lays out Knight on the ramp and heads in to trade shots with Orton; Uso, Knight and Sikoa all get involved as well, and so does AJ Styles, who sneaks in from the back and connects with a Phenomenal Forearm on Reigns, quickly clearing the ring
- We’re not quite done, though, as Styles attacks Knight from behind and walks right by The Bloodline on his way back up the ramp
Roman Reigns is in the sights of Randy Orton
Back for the first time in a while, Reigns asks the fans to acknowledge him and then shit their mouths citing too many boos. It’s the holiday season, though, and Roman says he’s in the mood to celebrate. He’s a fair boss and in the mood to hand out a promotion.
The Tribal Chief says one man has done all he could for The Bloodline over the past year and is next in line if something happens to him. Jimmy Uso clearly is acting like he thinks it’s him, but it’s actually Solo Sikoa he means, and Reigns gives Solo a hug.
That’s when Randy Orton’s music hits, bringing the Viper out as the show goes to commercials. After the people in the arena apparently listened to Randy’s theme for two-plus minutes, Orton climbs in the ring as the crowd chants his name.
The Viper says he’s been thinking about what he wants to do and say in this moment for 18 months, but all he needs to say is “I’m coming for you.” Orton plans on taking everything away from Reigns, starting tonight and ending at Royal Rumble, as he lays out a challenge for that very event.
Dismissively, Roman says he hasn’t though about Randy for 18 months, and since he hasn’t done anything to earn a title shot, he can get in the back of the line. It’s not 2007, and Roman says he’s levels above him and everybody else. If they would meet, Reigns says, it will be “retirement” for Orton.
Maybe Reigns is right, Orton says. He admits that the Tribal Chief has evolved for the better, into a legend. But even though Orton has evolved as well, one thing he will always be … is a Legend Killer. Orton fakes an RKO and Reigns bids a hasty retreat, and Randy jokes that the voices in his head say Roman might have just crapped his pants.
And one more thing: Daddy’s back.
Carmelo Hayes makes a successful debut, catches Nothing But Net against Grayson Waller
A video is shown of Logan Paul dismissing Hayes by calling him “random guy,” so you have to figure he’s going to win here and at least tease heading toward a match with Paul. Even Corey Graves, the heel announcer, is vouching for Carmelo, so you know WWE is trying to push him as a legit talent (which he definitely is).
The opening minutes are all Grayson, but Hayes finally gets in some offense that includes his Fadeaway and a springboard torpedo. But Waller reclaims the momentum during an ad break, with Hayes selling damage to his left knee and Waller scoring a near fall with a Flatliner.
A pump kick and tilt-a-whirl facebuster get Hayes right back into it with a two count. Waller responds with a move I don’t even know the name of out of the corner (a flipping, inverted legdrop, sort of?) and gets another near fall.
Hayes’ springboard DDT leads to some frustration on his face when it isn’t enough to finish the match. He perseveres, however, delivering the First 48 and Nothing But Net to win and advance.
Kevin Owens turns his weakness to a strength to beat Austin Theory
The narrative here is that KO has a broken right hand and is wrestling with a special cast as a result. Theory surely won’t take try to take advantage of that. Surely not.
Even with two good hands, Theory isn’t off to the greatest start, so he regroups before heading for the apron. That only gets him a cannonball, though he’s able to roll away when Owens heads to the top rope.
Theory hits a rolling dropkick and suplexes Owens on the apron as commercials arrive. We return to find Theory getting his knees up on KO’s Swanton Bomb, then stomping away.
KO chops away with his left hand and stomps Theory right back near the ropes. A flurry of offense ends with a DDT, but Theory kicks out at two. Another near fall has Owens in “what is it going to take?” territory, but it’s his foe that gets the next two count with a seated springboard Spanish fly. That’s fun stuff.
Owens responds with a superplex, selling the pain to his right hand as he sees Theory crawl to the floor. He gets crotched on the barricade and takes a rolling Blockbuster back in the ring, but Owens fights on.
Theory ends up in the Tree of Woe to take a cannonball, and KO follows with a Swanton Bomb .,. and that still doesn’t end it. Theory finally does the sensible thing and starts stomping on his foe’s injured arm, but Owens says screw it and lays him out with a big right hand (possibly aided by the cast), finally finishing this one.
Randy Orton has someone watching his back while defeating Jimmy Uso
Jimmy smiles as he takes an early timeout on the outside, the perfect excuse to go to a commercial break right after the bell. That timeout didn’t do much for him, as he’s bounced off the announce table and slowly worked over back in the ring.
Uso finally is able to get his offense untracked, hammering Orton down in a corner and delivering a hip attack to earn a near fall. He also avoids vintage Orton and elevates the Viper out to the floor, where he lands hard on his knee.
The fans are urging on Orton after more commercials, and he doesn’t miss this time with the elevated DDT. He hears the voices now, but there are still nine minutes left so the end can’t be coming just yet. Sure enough, Solo Sikoa’s music hits and the Enforcer comes partway down the ramp before he’s attacked by LA Knight. Orton hits an RKO and somewhat surprisingly, it’s over.