Results courtesy of WWE.com
Roman Reigns def. Kevin Owens in a Universal Championship Steel Cage Match
In the wake of their Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match at WWE TLC, Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens went to war in a Universal Championship Steel Cage showdown that kicked off SmackDown.
A determined Reigns unleashed a steady assault that punished his adversary with the precision of a terminator. But no matter what Reigns threw at his opponent, Owens refusing to stay down, outfighting and nearly dethroning The Big Dog several times with an explosive attack.
In the final moments, KO hit a Stunner on Reigns and moved to escape the cage. But, Jey Uso was there to stop him, handcuffing Owens to the steel rungs and keeping him inches from a title victory. This allowed Reigns to move over his restrained foe with a smile and walk out the door to defeat KO in a Universal Championship Steel Cage Match for the ages.
Charlotte Flair & Asuka triumphed in a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Triple Threat Elimination Match
Five days after Charlotte Flair made a surprise return at WWE TLC to help Raw Women’s Champion Asuka capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, The Queen and The Empress of Tomorrow defended against Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair and Bayley & Carmella in a Tag Team Title Triple Threat Elimination Match.
In the title bout, each team would be eliminated when either member of the team was pinned or submitted. The first elimination occurred when Bianca hit a wicked spinebuster that nearly drove Bayley through the canvas, setting up The Boss to finish off her former best friend with the frog splash off the top rope for the pin.
Nevertheless, Bayley, Carmella and her sommelier Reginald refused to leave ringside, and they disrupted the action long enough to pave the way for The Queen and The Empress to reign supreme over The Boss and The EST of WWE after Flair dropped Belair with Natural Selection.
Daniel Bryan def. Jey Uso
Prior to his match against Jey Uso, Daniel Bryan was viciously assaulted by the unhinged Samoan during his ring entrance. Nevertheless, Bryan heroically insisted on continuing.
In a particularly heated moment of the incredibly intense contest that followed, Bryan hurled Uso over the top rope, causing his opponent to damage his left leg. Still, the brutal battle raged on, but Uso went to the well once too often. After ducking out of the way of the Superkick, Bryan hit the Running Knee to score the three-out.
Big E def. Sami Zayn to capture the Intercontinental Championship in a Lumberjack Match
After pinning Sami Zayn in an Eight-Man Tag Team Match as part of the WWE TLC Kickoff, Big E earned the right to challenge The Master Strategist in an Intercontinental Championship Lumberjack Match in the main event of Friday Night SmackDown – with Superstars surrounding all four sides of the ring in order to keep the competitors in the squared circle throughout the matchup.
Order broke down among the lumberjacks long enough for Zayn to head for the hills, but before he did, the lumberjacks tackled him to the ground and threw him back in the ring. There, “The Powerhouse of Positivity” was waiting for him. After executing the belly-to-belly and a devastating splash, Big E hit the Big Ending to recapture the Intercontinental Title!