Smackdown! LIVE Coverage and Discussion - December 22, 2015

http://i63.tinypic.com/2rmts9z.jpg

Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, IA

Announcers: Rich Brennan, Jerry Lawler and Booker T

- Tonight's live WWE Super SmackDown opens with the usual opening video. We're live from Des Moines, Iowa as the pyro goes off. The stage is decorated for Christmas. Michael Cole welcomes us and he's joined by Booker T and Jerry Lawler. Cole hypes tonight's WWE Intercontinental Title match.

WWE Tag Team Title Match: The Lucha Dragons vs. The New Day

We go to the ring and Eden introduces WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day.

Big E says they're more deserving of the Tag Team of the Year Slammy than any other team in history but that's not going to ruin their Christmas spirit. Xavier Woods talks about how they're about to put The Lucha Dragons away. Kofi Kingston says they have a Christmas album coming out soon. Some of the songs include Big E Claus Is Coming to Town, Kofi the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Unicorn, They start dancing and chanting until Sin Cara and Kalisto make their entrances.

Back and forth to start. Cara and Kalisto with an early double team on Kofi. Big E comes in and they get the upperhand on him as well. Kofi comes back in and Cara works him over in the corner. Cara with a big shop as Woods runs his mouth at ringside. Kalisto comes back in for more double teaming and a 2 count. Cara tags back in and comes over the top onto Kofi for a 2 count. Kofi turns it around and goes to the second rope for a hurricanrana that Cara turns into a 2 count. Kofi dropkicks Cara to the floor. Woods distracts Cara, allowing Kofi to dropkick him back to the floor. The New Day dances over Cara as we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Big E is in control of Sin Cara. Big E goes for the big splash but Cara moves out of the way. Kalisto and Kofi tag in at the same time and go at it. Kalisto unloads and hits a corkscrew. Woods pulls Kalisto to the floor while the referee isn't looking. Big E tags in and runs the length of the ring with Kalisto, ramming him into the barrier with a huge move. Big E brings Kalisto back in the ring for quick tags and stomps in the corner.

The New Day keeps Kalisto in their corner and taunt Cara. Kalisto rolls through a big belly-to-belly and tags in Cara. He nails Big E and drops Kofi off the apron. Cara with a pair of high-flying moves on Big E for a 2 count as Kofi breaks the pin. Cara dumps Kofi and Big E to the floor. Kalisto tags in and they run the ropes for a big dive. It looks like Cara barely caught Kofi's knee and hit his head on the floor. Big E and Kalisto come back in. Kalisto hits a crossbody for a pin but Woods has the referee distracted. Cara tags in and kicks Big E. Kalisto with Salida del Sol. Cara goes to the top. Kofi and Woods both get involved for a little bit of chaos to distract the referee. The end comes when Big E catches Cara in mid-air with a Big Ending.

Winners: The New Day

- After the match, The New Day celebrates in the ring as The Lucha Dragons look on from the floor.

- Still to come, The Usos vs. Rusev and Alberto Del Rio. Also, the Triple Threat for the WWE Intercontinental Title.

- We go backstage to Santino Marella's Christmas party. He's got the Cobra with him. They put the star on the tree and leave. A hand reaches in and takes the star off the tree. They air a video with Dolph Ziggler, Charlotte, Tyler Breeze and Roman Reigns wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Back to commercial.

- Back from the break and Dean Ambrose is backstage with Renee Young. He talks about getting six staples after the RAW main event with Sheamus. He also talks about how he's going to beat Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens tonight. Ambrose says tonight is not the night for them.

Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Luke Harper and Braun Strowman vs. The Dudley Boyz, Ryback and Kane

We go to the ring and out comes The Wyatt Family. The Dudley Boyz are out next to a pop, followed by Ryback and then Kane.

Rowan starts off taking control of Ryback. Ryback runs the ropes and hits a crossbody. Devon Dudley tags in and takes over on Rowan with a few shots. Bubba Ray Dudley tags in next for some double teaming. Rowan gets slammed and stares at Bubba from The Wyatts' corner as we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Harper is in control of Bubba Ray. Bubba makes a comeback and back drops Harper. Braun tags in but he wants Kane. The crowd pops as Bubba tags him in. They go at it and Strowman shoves Kane into the corner but runs into boots. Kane with big right hands now. Strowman whips Kane into the corner and misses a splash. Kane with clotheslines in the corner. Harper runs in but Kane boots him. Kane turns around to a big clothesline from Braun. Braun yells about being a monster and elbows Kane. Bray tags in and keeps up the attack.

Harper comes back in and works Kane over. Harper with the alligator roll and a headlock. Kane comes back with a big DDT as fans chant for Ryback. Ryback comes in and runs over Harper with shoulders. Ryback with a flying shoulder and a clothesline in the corner. Harper runs into an elbow. Ryback with a missile dropkick from the second rope. Ryback nails a Meathook clothesline on Harper. He goes for Shellshocked but Rowan pulls Harper down. Ryback decks Bray and turns around to the Michinoku Driver from Harper for a 2 count. Wyatt tags in and hits the senton on Ryback as we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and The Wyatt Family is still in control. Rowan works Ryback over and keeps him down with a headlock. The match falls apart at one point and Ryback gets sent through the barrier on the outside by Rowan. Bubba with a close 2 count on Wyatt. Devon jumps off the apron onto Braun but Braun catches him and slams him on the floor. Wyatt hits Sister Abigail on Bubba for the win.

Winners: The Wyatt Family

- After the match, we go to replays and come back to The Wyatts posing over Bubba.

- Tyler Breeze and Summer Rae walk into Santino's Christmas party. They say it's lame because there are no decorations and they're leaving because it's boring. Stardust and The Ascension walk in. Apparently they're to blame for the decorations and everything missing. Christmas has been welcomed to the Wasteland. Neville walks up and confronts them. Konnor asks who is going to help Neville stop them. Titus O'Neil walks up and says they need to bring Christmas back or he will put a boot down their chimney. Stardust says if they want Christmas back, they have to take it by defeating The Ascension. Titus says Santa's sleigh will be waiting to take them to Urgent Care.

- Still to come, The Usos vs. Rusev and Del Rio. Back to commercial.

The Usos vs. Rusev and Alberto Del Rio

Back from the break and Sheamus, King Barrett, Lana, Rusev and WWE United States Champion Alberto Del Rio are out. WWE Tag Team of the Year The Usos are out next. Rusev and Del Rio take control and Del Rio works one of the Usos over. Del Rio with kicks and a 2 count. Rusev tags in for some double teaming and then takes him to the corner. Del Rio tags in and Rusev holds Uso as Del Rio comes off the top. Del Rio knocks the other Uso off the apron. Del Rio with stomps in the corner now.

The Usos finally get a tag and double team Rusev, dropping him on his face. Jimmy Uso covers for a 2 count. Rusev catches an Uso crossbody but Uso counters and dropkicks him out of the ring. Del Rio comes in and ends up on the floor. Jey Uso also comes in and dives out onto Del Rio. Jimmy dives out onto Rusev next. Del Rio gets involved and distracts Uso, allowing Rusev to knock him from the apron with a kick to the head. We go to commercial as Lana looks on.

Back from the break and Rusev is in control of Jimmy Uso. He fights up and out, connecting with a kick to the head. Jey tags in and unloads on Del Rio as he also tags in. Uso ducks a clothesline and nails a Samoan Drop. Uso with the Rikishi splash and a 2 count as Rusev breaks it up. Jimmy sends Rusev to the floor but gets rammed into the steel steps. Del Rio goes to the top but Uso cuts him off and climbs up for a superplex. Del Rio knocks him off into position for the stomp but Uso fights him off. Barrett distracts the referee, leading to Del Rio hitting the stomp for the win.

Winners: Rusev and Alberto Del Rio

- After the match, The League of Nations celebrate together in the ring. Rusev brings one Uso back in the ring and kicks the other to the floor. They hold Uso while Sheamus readies for a Brogue Kick but fans pop as Reigns pulls Sheamus out of the ring and throws him over the announce table. Del Rio attacks Reigns from behind but Reigns fights him off and rolls him in the ring. Reigns comes in and nails Rusev. Del Rio eats a Superman punch. Uso superkicks Rusev. Reigns hits a Superman punch on Rusev. Reigns and The Usos stand tall in the ring as The League of Nations retreat to the ramp.

- Still to come, the Triple Threat main event. We get a video of Dean Ambrose, Santino Marella, Becky Lynch and The New Day wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Back to commercial.

Battle for Christmas: Neville and Titus O'Neil vs. The Ascension

Back from the break and Santino Marella is out to introduce and accompany Titus O'Neil and Neville to the ring as Christmas music plays. Stardust and The Ascension wait in the ring. The match starts with Konnor and Viktor keeping control of Neville and working him over.

Titus finally gets the hot tag and unloads. He sends Konnor to the floor but runs into boots from Viktor. Stardust and The Ascension corner Santino on the floor. Santino pulls out the Cobra and distracts them while Neville leaps from the ring, taking all three down. Neville rolls Viktor back into Titus. Titus nails a big boot and tags in Neville. Neville hits Red Arrow on Viktor to get the win and save Christmas.

Winners: Neville and Titus O'Neil

- After the match, Santino stands in the ring with Titus and Neville as The Cosmic Wasteland looks on from the ramp.

- We get a look at events leading up to tonight's Triple Threat main event. We go backstage to Renee Young and Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler says a win tonight puts him back on top where he belongs and makes 2016 the year of Dolph Ziggler. Back to commercial.

Brie Bella vs. Charlotte

Back from the break and Brie Bella waits in the ring as WWE Divas Champion Charlotte wraps her entrance for this non-title match. Becky Lynch is on commentary.

Charlotte does a Ric Flair strut early on. Charlotte with a neckbreaker in the corner after some back and forth. Charlotte with a 2 count and some knee drops for another pin attempt. Charlotte keeps control until she misses a knee drop. Brie makes a comeback and hits the running knee to the face. Brie goes to the top for a missile dropkick. Brie with kicks to the chest while Charlotte's on her knees. Charlotte spears Brie. Sasha Banks' music hits and out she comes with Tamina Snuka and Naomi in Christmas attire for the distraction. Naomi walks over and pours Egg Nog all over Becky. She tackles Naomi but Team BAD makes the save. The match continues in the ring as Charlotte makes Brie tap to the Figure Eight.

Winner: Charlotte

- After the bell, Charlotte smiles and poses with her title as Becky is down and soaked in Egg Nog on the floor. Charlotte finally goes to talk to Becky and looks to laugh about what happened. Becky isn't happy.

- Renee is backstage with Kevin Owens. Owens says the Intercontinental Title is his, just like the Slammy for Breakout Star of the Year. Owens says he's taking back what is his tonight and he's not worried about Dolph Ziggler at all. Owens says he's turning SmackDown into The Kevin Owens Show and he is leaving with the title. He tells Renee she looks ridiculous and walks off.

Triple Threat for the WWE Intercontinental Title: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose

We go to the ring and out first comes WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and out first comes Dolph Ziggler followed by Kevin Owens. Owens pulls Ziggler to the floor early on and looks to try and powerbomb him but Ambrose stops it with a dive. Owens splashes them both on the floor and works them over as we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and they fight to the stage. Owens tosses Ziggler into a bunch of presents and Christmas trees. Owens nails Ambrose with part of a tree and yells out to boos. They send Owens off the stage into a bunch of props. Ambrose and Ziggler brawl back to ringside now. Ziggler brings it back in the ring and splashes him in the corner. Ambrose counters a neckbreaker and slams Ziggler on his face for a close 2 count.

Ambrose goes to the top but Ziggler climbs up. Owens comes in and gets Ziggler on his shoulders. This leads to Owens superkicking Ziggler and Ambrose clotheslining Owens. Ambrose ends up back ion the top but Ziggler runs up and brings Ambrose down face first for a 2 count as Owens breaks the pin. Owens brings Ziggler out and sends him into the steel steps. Owens runs back in for a 2 count. Ziggler gets a sleeper on Owens. Owens breaks it by dropping down onto Ambrose with Ziggler on his back. Owens sends Ziggler into the ring post and he falls out to the floor. Ambrose with a nasty throw on Ambrose for a 2 count. Owens goes back to send Ziggler into the barrier, making sure he doesn't come in. Owens comes back in and talks trash to Ambrose while punching him. Ambrose slaps Owens but gets beat down. Ambrose avoids a pop-up powerbomb and goes for Dirty Deeds but Ziggler comes from behind and hits a Zig Zag. All three are down now.

Ziggler with a 2 count on Ambrose. Ambrose catches a Ziggler superkick. Ziggler nails Owens with one as he comes on the apron. Ambrose with Dirty Deeds on Ziggler for the win.

Winner: Dean Ambrose

- After the match, Ambrose gets his title. SmackDown goes off the air with Ambrose celebrating his win.

Thank you Mat! Great job! :)