Credit: WINC
The post-Survivor Series edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX opens up from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina with Kayla Braxton in the ring, welcoming everyone to SmackDown. Braxton goes on about Brock Lesnar’s suspension but she’s quickly interrupted by the music of WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief and Paul Heyman come out and stop on the stage for the pyro to go off. Heyman raises the strap in the air and they march to the ring. Michael Cole also welcomes us to SmackDown and he’s joined at ringside by Pat McAfee. Cole mentions how Kayla was about to mention the rumors of Lesnar’s suspension possibly being lifted. We go to a video package of highlights from Reigns’ win over WWE Champion Big E at the Survivor Series pay-per-view this past Sunday. Reigns and Heyman enter the ring to more pyro going off.
Heyman snatches the mic from Braxton and brings up rumors on Lesnar, asking if that’s the best she has. Heyman says we don’t do rumors on The Island of Relevancy, and that’s Kayla’s problem – she parades around here like she’s a journalist with news on Lesnar’s suspension, knowing what it means to Reigns and Heyman, when really she just wanted to come get a spotlight for herself with rumors. Fans boo Heyman. Heyman tells them not to boo Kayla, then tells her that he defended her as his co-worker, a co-worker he’s ashamed of because of these rumors. Heyman tells Kayla to get some sources and next time come with facts when in the presence of Reigns. Heyman says he once liked Kayla because others thought she was pretty, but here she is with rumors, and living her life through an Instagram filter, which is no way for a legit journalist to live, and until she’s a legit journalist, this is her cue to leave the ring. Heyman thanks her for her time and says goodnight. Fans boo Heyman some more as a “we want Brock!” chant starts up.
Reigns asks Heyman if he wants to know the problem with rumors. They give losers false hope, and compared to Reigns, everyone else around here is a loser because he’s beaten them all. Reigns says Lesnar is the #1 loser around here. The boos continue. Reigns says he beat Lesnar and the conditions weren’t even ideal, Reigns flew around the world and smashed his ass. Reigns repeats it – Lesnar is a loser and he doesn’t care about the rumors, that’s a fact. Reigns says Big E is also a loser because he got smashed at Survivor Series. Reigns says these fools are just a part of a long list he’s beaten. Reigns says it’s getting embarrassing because he’s running laps around the roster, and management is getting worried.
Reigns and Heyman bring up the Black Friday Invitational Battle Royal to determine his next challenger. Reigns says it doesn’t matter what kind of match they have, they can let 3 or 4 win tonight and it won’t matter because he will smash them all. He can do that because he’s the best of the best, the Universal Champion, The Head of The Table, our Tribal Chief, and the greatest of all-time, and when his days are done around here, which could be sooner than later, then the whole world… will acknowledge him. The music starts back up as Reigns raises his finger in the air.
Cole and McAfee hype tonight’s Black Friday Invitational Battle Royal main event. They send us to the Progressive Match Flo replay for this week, showing last week’s Jeff Hardy vs. Madcap Moss match, which led to Hardy and Drew McIntyre vs. Moss and Happy Corbin on tonight’s show.
Jeff Hardy and Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin
Corbin sends Hardy to the floor as Drew also sends Corbin to the floor. Drew with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt and the Claymore Kick to Moss for a big pop. Drew tags in the home state hero for a big pop. Hardy goes to the top and hits the Swanton Bomb for the pin to win.
Winners: Jeff Hardy and Drew McIntyre
After the match, Hardy and McIntyre celebrate as the music hits.
– Kayla Braxton is backstage talking with Aliyah when Paul Heyman walks up. Aliyah says it was good chatting to Aliyah, but she’s sure Kayla and Heyman have a lot to talk about. Heyman asks if Kayla has confirmation on those Lesnar rumors, but he dismisses the idea of the Lesnar rumors and says Lesnar got himself suspended for touching Adam Pearce and is hiding behind the suspension because he is afraid of Roman Reigns. Heyman mentions how he doesn’t have Lesnar’s new phone number, but neither does Kayla. Heyman says he’s pushing for Kayla to be gone unless she has confirmation on the Lesnar rumors before the end of the night, or maybe that’s just a rumor. Heyman walks off.
Cesaro vs. Ridge Holland
Holland catches Cesaro with a powerslam for a 2 count. Holland stops the pin and drops knees and elbows on Cesaro to keep him down. Cesaro counters Holland out of nowhere and rolls him up for the pin to win.
Winner: Cesaro
After the bell, Cesaro rushes to ringside to pose with fans after stealing the win. Sheamus rushes into the ring to stand with Holland.
– Drew McIntyre is in an office with Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce now. Drew wants to be in the Black Friday Invitational Battle Royal but Deville says they don’t have the final list of participants yet, and when they do they will let him know.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Throwdown Match: Rick Boogs vs. Angel
Boogs turns back around to a stiff shot by Angel. Angel follows up with The Wing Clipper for the pin to win in the middle of the ring.
Winner: Angel
After the match, Los Lotharios celebrate as Nakamura checks on Boogs.
– We get a look back at RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defeating SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair at Survivor Series this past Sunday.
We go back to the ring and out comes SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to a mixed reaction from her home state. Flair stops on the ramp and poses as the pyro explodes above. The graphic bills this as a “Flair for the Dramatic” segment. Flair enters the ring as Cole says he’s going to interview her in the ring. We go to commercial as the referee opens the ropes for Flair to enter.
Back from the break and Kayla stops Adam Pearce in the back, asking about tonight’s Black Friday Invitational Battle Royal, but Pearce is headed to his office to work on that match. She also asks about the possible reinstatement of Brock Lesnar. We get a video package showing how Lesnar attacked Pearce a few weeks back, leading to his indefinite suspension and $1 million fine. Pearce tells Kayla he hasn’t heard anything about Lesnar’s indefinite, and he repeats – indefinite, suspension, but stranger things have happened around here. Pearce brings up the property damage, medical bills and therapy sessions Lesnar has caused, and says he would be personally shocked if the suspension was lifted any time soon. Pearce excuses himself and walks off. We go back to the ring and Cole is in with Flair. Cole says Flair must be devastated over the Survivor Series loss to RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.
Flair says no, the only thing she’s disappointed with was the poor officiating in that match. Flair says we all saw it, and the only way Becky could beat her was blatant cheating. Flair says Becky is just as under-handed as she thought, and Becky got a hollow win, and the win proved nothing. She says Becky knows deep down that Flair is a better woman, and Becky’s success is all thanks to Flair. Cole asks what is in the near future for Charlotte. She says Becky can pretend to be Big Time Becks on RAW, in fantasy land, but Flair is still the most dominant woman in sports entertainment here on SmackDown. The music interrupts and out comes Toni Storm.
Storm says she called it – Flair’s obsession with Lynch made her vulnerable, and Lynch won. Storm says now Flair is going to come after her because she was tough enough to stand up to Flair. Storm figured she’d make it easy for Flair – she’s right here. Flair mocks her and says she barely knows Storm exists. Flair says she wipes her boots when entering the ring because there are levels to this, and she’s on a different level. Flair asks how Storm wants to be embarrassed tonight – by beating her to a pulp, or like this… Flair charges but Storm ducks and sends her to the floor. Flair ends up grabbing a pie from the same dinner table that was out in the previous match, then smashing it all over Storm. Flair taunts Storm, who is seething now. Flair hits Storm with another pie and mocks her now. The music starts back up as Flair makes her exit. Storm seethes at ringside and wipes some of the cream from her hair.
We see footage from earlier today of Banks confronting Sonya Deville backstage. Banks says she was Team Captain at Survivor Series, but Deville put her on a team with a bunch of flakes and traitors. Banks goes on and blames Deville for the loss, saying she should’ve been allowed to pick her own team. Banks goes on but Deville tells her to watch her tone in talking to her, and says Banks can’t just re-write history, Banks loss and the loss is on her because she was captain. Deville also says she has no issue with Naomi. Banks says she’s lying, then goes on wondering if Deville is jealous of Naomi for various reasons, such as popularity and Deville being downgraded to a suit. Deville says maybe that makes her a… boss. Banks smirks. Deville books Banks and Naomi vs. Natalya and Shayna Baszler for tonight. Deville walks off.
Naomi and Sasha Banks vs. Natalya and Shayna Baszler
Natalya and Naomi trade pin attempts in the ring. Natalya with a big discus clothesline for a 2 count. Natalya with a Michinoku Driver for a close 2 count. Natalya seethes now but Naomi fights back from the apron. Naomi rolls into a sunset flip for the pin to win.
Winnere: Naomi and Sasha Banks
After the match, Naomi stands tall as her music hits. Banks joins her and they celebrate. Naomi taunts Deville from the ring and then goes to face off with her at the announce table. Deville applauds her and tells her that was a good job. Naomi stares her down and walks away.
– We see Superstars backstage checking a paper to see if their name is on the list for the Black Friday Invitational Battle Royal. Sheamus tells Drew McIntyre he will see him out there. Sheamus also says there’s no good way of saying this but… he didn’t make the call. Sheamus laughs at Drew and walks off as the announcers wonder if Drew could really be left out of the match.
