Detailed Results
After his alter ego, Ho Ho Hogan, took the reins of a Christmas edition of RAW, SmackDown would kick off with WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, who would be in charge of the post-Christmas SmackDown. Hogan says that he’s had many great moments on SmackDown, like posing with Daniel Bryan after Bryan won the WWE Title and winning the WWE Tag Team Titles with Edge. However, before Hogan could do anymore reminiscing, he is interrupted by “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Seth Rollins, who makes his way to the ring, flanked by J&J Security. Rollins says that Hogan is a former champion, a Hall of Famer, and the “physical embodiment of WrestleMania”, saying that he just wanted to come out there and shake Hogan’s hand. Hogan accepts Rollins’ handshake before Rollins says that, before long, people will start calling Hulk Hogan the “Seth Rollins of the 80s”. Rollins admits that Hogan is one of the reasons he got into wrestling, but says that Hogan does not “belong” in a WWE ring anymore. Hogan responds by reminding “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” that, unlike The Authority, he is in charge tonight.
Taking the opportunity to praise The Authority, Seth Rollins says that WWE has been a “dump” since The Authority was removed from power. Rollins says that they took two business-savvy individuals like Triple H & Stephanie McMahon and replaced them with a “carnival sideshow” like Hulk Hogan. Rollins continues, saying that Hogan has “no business” in his “business” and wrestling is his “business” before telling Hogan to do something “worthwhile” and tell them who is going to lead WWE into the future, telling the Hall of Famer to “endorse” Seth Rollins as the future of the company. “The Hulkster” does not back down from Seth Rollins, saying that Rollins will be lucky to even leave the ring tonight. Hogan then says that he is not sure if Rollins is really the guy to carry WWE into the future, but Rollins interrupts, demanding to know who Hogan thinks is the future of WWE. Hogan says that he can think of several guys more deserving of being called the future of WWE than Seth Rollins, bringing up the man who defeated Rollins last week on SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler.
This brings out the Intercontinental Champion himself as Dolph Ziggler tells Seth Rollins that, if Rollins really is the future of WWE, then maybe he should leave for a few years. Rollins tells Dolph that the future is not a “popularity contest”, proposing that he put Ziggler down with a Curb Stomp right in front of Hulk Hogan. However, Ziggler does not back down, saying that he has been hit with the Curb Stomp before and, every time, he gets back up. Things continue to get interesting as “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show makes his way to the ring, saying that, sometimes, you’ve just got to “take” what you want. Big Show then says that he is going to get in the ring and knock out Hulk Hogan and, as a bonus, he will knock Dolph Ziggler out too. As Big Show gets on the ring apron, however, Roman Reigns makes his way through the crowd and enters the ring, standing alongside Hogan and Ziggler. Roman tells Big Show that he better not step into the ring again unless he wants to get punched in the mouth again, especially in front of his “wife and kids”, gesturing towards Seth Rollins and J&J Security. Hulk Hogan then steps in, saying that, since Hulkamania is running SmackDown, he is going to give the people what they want, making a huge tag team main event as Dolph Ziggler would team with Roman Reigns to face Seth Rollins & Big Show!
Following their vicious Chairs Match at WWE TLC, two of WWE’s most intimidating big men would square off on SmackDown as “The Big Guy” Ryback would go one-on-one with “The Devil’s Favorite Demon” Kane. During the match, Rusev & Lana would make their way to the ring as the United States Champion gets on the ring apron, only to get knocked down by Ryback. Kane would try to take advantage, but Ryback would still dominate the big man, planting Kane with Shell Shocked, pinning Kane for the win. After the match, a livid Rusev gets on the ring apron and Ryback is more than ready to battle the United States Champion, who gets in the ring. However, a distraction from Kane would give Rusev the opportunity to blast Ryback with a kick to the face and Kane would follow this up with a chokeslam. Kane would then pick Ryback up, delivering a second chokeslam before Kane exits the ring, leaving Ryback helpless to an attack by Rusev as the United States Champion locks in the Accolade on Ryback, refusing to release the hold until referees are finally able to get Rusev off of Ryback.
Backstage, an angry Hulk Hogan confronts Rusev & Lana, saying that he does not know how they do it over in Russia, but this is America and, tonight, Rusev is going to defend the United States Championship!
The Divas were in action on SmackDown as Naomi went one-on-one with Alicia Fox. In the end, it was Naomi hitting the split-legged moonsault on Alicia Fox, pinning Alicia for the win.
In a rematch from RAW, Adam Rose would be accompanied by a Bunny-less Exotic Express as Rose went one-on-one with R-Truth on SmackDown. In the end, it was Adam Rose reversing his luck as of late, hitting the Party Foul on R-Truth, pinning Truth for the win.
Following a vicious attack on Ryback earlier in the night, Rusev, with Lana in his corner, would be forced to defend the United States Championship against “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose. Throughout the match, the unorthodox Dean Ambrose would manage to give Rusev a run for his money, nearly defeating Rusev, but once the fight spilled to the outside, Bray Wyatt would take the opportunity to blindside Dean Ambrose, ending the match by disqualification. An incensed Bray Wyatt then bring Dean Ambrose into the ring with the intent of putting Ambrose down with Sister Abigail, but Ambrose fights out of the move and both men head to the outside where Ambrose dives at Bray, sending both men over the announce table. Ambrose then blasts Bray Wyatt with a steel chair to the head before tossing several other chairs into the ring, but before Ambrose can use them, Bray makes a hasty retreat from the ring.
With his stunt double, Damien Mizdow, in his corner, WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz would go one-on-one with Jimmy Uso, with Jey Uso in his corner, on SmackDown. During the match, The Miz would try to make amends with Jimmy Uso with a handshake, but Jimmy would refuse, delivering two kicks to the face of The Miz, following it up with the Superfly Splash and pinning Miz for the win.
Then it was time for the main event as Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler would team with Roman Reigns to face the team of “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Seth Rollins and “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show. At the end of a chaotic match, it was Dolph Ziggler taking out both members of J&J Security, allowing Roman Reigns to blast Seth Rollins with the Spear, pining Rollins for the win.
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