‘WWE Smackdown’ Review (Dec 20th 2024)
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show…
Match #1: The Bloodline def. LA Knight, Andrade & Apollo Crews
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In a turbulent Six-Man Tag Team Match, United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura suddenly emerged to launch a sneak attack on LA Knight that sent The Megastar over the announce table. Back in the ring, The Bloodline gained control as Solo Sikoa disposed of Andrade and picked up the victory over Apollo Crews with the Spinning Solo/Samoan Spike combination.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Carmelo Hayes def. Braun Strowman (Count-Out)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Although Carmelo Hayes ran headfirst into the big boot of Braun Strowman outside the ring, Him’s sudden slap infuriated The Monster of All Monsters and caused him to lose track of the official’s count. The powerful Strowman launched Hayes over the top rope and into the ring, but Strowman was still outside the ropes when the count reached 10 to give Hayes a victory by count-out.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Johnny Gargano def. Alex Shelley
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
When Alex Shelley climbed to the top rope to lower the boom on Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa emerged to hop onto the apron and buy his fellow WWE Tag Team Champion a few moments. Chris Sabin charged to ringside to keep Ciampa at bay as Shelley flew at his opponent with the flying crossbody. Johnny Wrestling, however, kept Shelley’s momentum going and got his opponent’s shoulders to the mat for the three-count with a handful of tights.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Bianca Belair & Naomi def. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tiffany Stratton emerged to offer support to Nia Jax and Candice LeRae in the final moments of their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match against Bianca Belair and Naomi, the latter of whom was standing in for injured titleholder Jade Cargill. When the official was distracted, The Irrisistible Force called for Ms. Money in the Bank to give her the briefcase to use as a weapon. The official caught her before she could attack, though. Seconds later, Bianca Belair took out Jax and paved the way for Naomi to overcome The Poison Pixie with a split-legged moonsault for a successful title defense.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
Urgh. Just when you thought Smackdown couldn’t gert duller, along came this week’s episode! A pre-taped show that should’ve had a good pace and solid editing felt like it was thrown together at the last minute and edited on the fly. As for the matches, we got a bunch of middle-of-the-road, unexciting, and in the case of Hayes/Strowman, disappointing matches. And the main event did nothing to a) level up the episode, and b) bring anything new and exciting to the women’s division. A skippable week of Smackdown IMHO.
