John Cena returns to SmackDown to discuss the John Cena Classic

After traveling to Raw and NXT, John Cena is set to journey to Friday Night SmackDown to invite more Superstars to the John Cena Classic, airing from Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Monday, Dec. 14.




— The show opens up with Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcoming us as we see the pre-show arrivals of Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn and Tiffany Stratton.

— John Cena’s music hits and Cena makes his way down to the ring. Cena grabs a mic and starts off by saying the "Championship is here". Cena says they’ll find out what happens to it on December 14. He says the John Cena Classic is a beacon of opportunity. Cena announces it will be the main roster vs. NXT in the tournament. He says the WWE Universe has the power to make sure they are heard. Cena introduces Charlotte Flair as the next invitee to the John Cena Classic and Flair makes her way down to the ring.

Flair shares a hug with John Cena. Flair says she tends to get emotional, just like her dad Ric Flair. Flair says she hopes to make it through this. Flair says she’s been trying to figure out a way to get in the ring with John Cena for the last 10 years. Flair says she wonders if she’s going to break John Cena’s record. Flair says she hopes John Cena knows how much it means to her that she is now a part of his legacy. Flair says she has seen Cena many times backstage, but Cena walked past her. Flair says she wanted to leave the company, but Cena walked up to her and asked, “What happened in Chicago?”

Flair says she got nervous and said she s*** the bed. Flair says John Cena told her not to try to be perfect and to be who she is. Flair thanks John Cena for helping her rediscover her passion and Flair breaks down in tears. Flair promises to be excellent in the John Cena Classic. Flair vows to win the John Cena Championship. Flair calls herself the greatest of all time. Cena says he wants to be honest about Charlotte Flair. Cena says Flair never had it easy, but she made it look easy. Cena says he needed to win the 17th Championship because he wants to shake hands with the one who will beat his record. Cena says he was talking about Flair and the two embrace each other.

— Nick Aldis is in the backstage area. Rey Mysterio walks up to him and says he has eyes on someone from the Blue Brand who he thinks will be a good fit for Team Mexico. Cody Rhodes enters the locker room and wonders if Nick Aldis wanted to see him. Nick Aldis says he wants to make sure Rhodes is in a good place and has left this whole thing behind him. Cody Rhodes says he’s happy the Survivor Series Match fell into his lap and that he’s fully focused. Cody Rhodes says he wants a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship after Survivor Series.

— WWE Tag Team Champions MFT make their way down to the ring for the first match of the night and Bakusai follow.


WWE Tag Team Championship Match: MFT (c) vs. Bakusai

The match starts off with Kyoki hitting a crossbody on Tama Tonga. Kyoki hits another crossbody and Tama is stunned. Kyoki runs into an elbow. Tama hits Kyoki with a dropkick. Talla Tonga comes in. Talla hits an Irish whip and he follows it up with a thunderous chop. Talla hits another one. Tama enters the fray and he hits a chop. Kyoki says he wants more and he begs for more. Tama hits chop after chop. Kyoki tries to fight back and he hits a hurricanrana. Kyoki knocks Talla off the apron. Tama eats a forearm. Kyoki hits Talla with a kick. Haku hits Kyoki with his stick behind the referee’s back.

Talla sends Kyoki over the barrier. Back in the ring, Talla hits a splash and he follows it up with a running Samoan Drop. Tama gets the tag. He continues to beat down Kyoki. Kyoki tries to fight back with a series of chops, but Tama hits him with a headbutt. Talla hits a kick to Kyoki for a near fall. The MFTs continue to punish Kyoki. Tama drives his shoulder into the midsection of Kyoki. Tama applies a rear-naked choke in the middle of the ring. Tama runs into a big boot. He slaps the taste out of Kyoki. Kyoki hits a dragon screw, taking down Tama. Kyoki tags Shinsuke Nakamura in.

Nakamura corners Tama and hits a kick to the back of his neck. He hits a running knee and knocks Talla off the apron. He hits Tama with another kick. Tama hits Nakamura with a Cut Throat and both men are down. Nakamura hits a back body drop. He hits a knee. Kyoki hits Talla with a dropkick and sends him all the way to the floor. He hits a baseball slide, sending Haku into Talla. He hits a missile dropkick. Nakamura hits Tama with a Kinshasa, but before he can make a pin The War Raiders make their way down to the ring and they interfere in the match to cause a disqualification.

Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: MFT

— After the match, the War Raiders lay waste to both teams and stand tall.

— We see Cathy Kelley in the backstage area and she is with Finn Bálor. Bálor calls GUNTHER a whiny bully. Bálor says he is going to make it very simple for him. Bálor says GUNTHER is not going to get any ghost tonight because the real Finn Bálor and GUNTHER will find out that what’s on the outside is a lot less right than what’s on the inside.

— We see Damian Priest walking in the backstage area.

— Axiom makes his way down to the ring for the next match of the night and Damian Priest follows.

Axiom vs. Damian Priest

The match starts off with Damian Priest hitting a big boot and Axiom is stunned. Priest hits a flying elbow. Axiom targets Priest’s knee. Priest sends himself into the corner. Axiom sends Priest to the floor. He continues to target Priest’s knee. Axiom hits a moonsault. Axiom heads to the top rope, but Priest crushes him. Axiom hits a dragon screw. He continues to work on Priest’s knee. Axiom hits a missile dropkick. Priest knocks Axiom down with a right hand. Axiom hits a hurricanrana. Priest turns him inside out. Priest hits Axiom with a Razor’s Edge for the win.

Winner: Damian Priest

— After the match, Damian Priest hits Nathan Frazer with a South of Heaven.

— We see John Cena walking in the back and Fatal Influence stop him. Jacy Jayne says John Cena wasted a spot on Charlotte Flair. Lainey Reid says after years of saying You Can’t See Me, that is what you did to them. Fallon Henley tells John Cena to put some thought into what he does. Jacy says if you paid attention, not putting Fatal Influence in the spot was a big mistake. John Cena says you are right and this is the type of Ruthless Aggression he wants to see. Cena invites them to the John Cena Classic.

— We get a video package featuring The Bloodline and 946 ahead of their Survivor Series: WarGames Match.

— Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn makes his way down to the ring and he is joined by Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano. Sami Zayn starts off by asking the WWE Universe, “That’s all you got?” He riles up the WWE Universe. Zayn says he wants to know how many here tonight came to ride or die with the Last Real Good Guy. Zayn reflects on his Crown Jewel loss. Zayn says it was all about respect. Zayn says it wasn’t him begging for approval. Zayn says he wasn’t looking for validation. Zayn says he needed the respect and he got it from Roman Reigns. Zayn says he got Reigns to acknowledge him. Zayn says if Reigns can show him the respect, that is the bare minimum he expects from the WWE Universe.

Kevin Owens’ music hits and Owens makes his way down to the ring. Owens says he is warning Sami Zayn about who he is talking to. Owens gloats about beating CM Punk last week. Owens says he wants to right a few wrongs. Owens admits Zayn is one of the best to ever do it. Owens says no matter how Zayn won the title he deserved every bit of it. Owens says some of the people backstage are not half as good as Zayn on his worst day. Owens says he is proud of his friend. Zayn says it means the world to him. Owens says he’s not done. Owens opens up about his time off due to injury. Owens says he wanted his family to see him become the Undisputed WWE Champion and that didn’t happen because of Zayn. Owens shoves Zayn.

Owens says he needs to take the Undisputed WWE Championship from Zayn. Johnny Gargano chimes in and says the only man who stood by his side was Zayn during the worst time of his life this year. Gargano says Zayn is working to give him his title match. Owens says Gargano laid out on a crate for six months and got a title match on his first night back. Gargano blindsides Owens and Candice LeRae slaps Owens. Gargano continues the attack, while Zayn leaves the ring. Owens stuns Gargano. Owens grabs the mic and says Zayn’s title reign is on borrowed time. Owens vows to take the gold off of Zayn. Owens sends Gargano over the top rope and to the floor to send a stern warning to his former friend.

— We see CM Punk looking at the monitor. Cody Rhodes walks up to him and says it’s always going to be the same with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. CM Punk says he thinks Owens isn’t the only one looking for a title shot. Cody Rhodes says it wouldn’t be the craziest thing if the two best guys on SmackDown were fighting for the Undisputed WWE Championship. CM Punk admits that would be wild. Rey Mysterio walks up to them and introduces Rey Fenix as the newest member of Team Mexico. Rey Fenix says he’s doing this for his country and for the love of Lucha Libre. CM Punk asks Cody Rhodes if he’s got a plan. He says they’ve got some recruiting to do. CM Punk tells Cody Rhodes to keep an open mind.

— WWE Women’s United States Champion Jacy Jayne makes her way down to the ring for the next match of the night and Charlotte Flair follows.

Jacy Jayne vs. Charlotte Flair

The match starts off with both women locking up. Jacy Jayne hits a hurricanrana on Charlotte Flair. Flair hits a suplex to Jayne. Flair runs into an elbow. Flair hits a kick and she follows it up with a big boot to the face of Jayne. Flair hits a crossbody for a near fall. Jayne tries to mount a comeback, but she eats a big boot. Flair hits a cannonball off the apron. Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid make their way down to the ring. The distraction allows Jayne to regain control. Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley make their way down to the ring to even the odds.

Back in the ring, Jayne hits a senton. Jayne crushes Flair in the corner and hits a kick to the spine of Flair. Flair tries to create some separation, but Jayne shoves her into the corner. Flair hits a German Suplex and both women are down. Flair hits some forearms and chops on Jayne. Flair hits a natural selection. Flair hits a fallaway slam. She runs into a superkick. Flair hits a big boot of her own for a near fall. Jayne hits Flair with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Flair hits a backbreaker. Flair sends Jayne face-first into the corner. Flair heads to the top rope and hits a moonsault for a near fall.

Jayne goes for a jackknife pinning combination, but Flair counters with a backslide. Jayne hits Flair with a knee for another near fall. Flair hits a spear on Jayne. Flair heads to the top rope, but Reid gets on the apron. Henley gets on the apron as well, allowing Jayne to regain control. All hell breaks loose at ringside. Bliss and Paxley fight off Fatal Influence. Meanwhile, the match continues. Bayley is now here and The Baddies storm the ring. Jade Cargill superkicks Bayley. Stephanie Vaquer shows up and attacks the heels. She lays out the heels with a kendo stick. Flair hits a Natural Selection for the win.

Winner: Charlotte Flair

— After the match, Stephanie Vaquer joins Tatum Paxley, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair and Bayley in the ring. Flair gets on the mic and they yell WarGames.

— We head to the back, where Cathy Kelley catches up with Stephanie Vaquer and others. Vaquer says Charlotte Flair called her and she couldn’t say no. Flair puts Jade Cargill on notice, saying they better be ready.

— WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton makes her way down to the ring. Stratton grabs a mic and starts off by saying she knows everything looks better on her. Stratton gloats about becoming a two-time WWE Women’s Champion. Stratton says she dedicates her title reign to her ex-best friend Chelsea Green. Green makes her way down to the ring. Green confronts Tiffany Stratton. Green says she is surprised Stratton called her her ex BFF. Green asks Stratton if she was faking it. Green asks why Stratton chose Crown Jewel as the night to turn on her. Green says Stratton wanted to steal her moment.

Green says she slept soundly because she will go down in history as the WWE Women’s Crown Jewel Champion, while Stratton will be a thief. She says she wants her ring back. Stratton says Green stole her moment at SummerSlam. Stratton gives Green her ring and calls her a b****. Green says she has heard enough. Green slaps the taste out of Stratton and Green is unloading on Stratton. Stratton attacks Chelsea Green from behind and knocks her out with the ring. Stratton stands tall.

— We head to the back, where Paige checks on Tiffany Stratton. Blake Monroe tells Chelsea Green, “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.” She says it shouldn’t have happened. Blake Monroe calls herself world-champion material. Paige wonders how many world titles Blake Monroe held. Monroe says her best years are ahead of her and walks off.

— GUNTHER makes his way down to the ring for the main event of the night. Finn Bálor follows.

Finn Bálor vs. GUNTHER

The match starts off with GUNTHER attacking Finn Bálor. GUNTHER hits a series of uppercuts and he follows it up with an elbow. GUNTHER unloads on Bálor and stomps on him. GUNTHER hits a thunderous chop. GUNTHER runs into a basement dropkick. Bálor drops GUNTHER to the floor. Bálor launches himself over the top rope, taking out GUNTHER. GUNTHER sends Bálor into the barricade and hits him with an uppercut. Back in the ring, GUNTHER clotheslines Bálor. GUNTHER applies a Boston Crab in the middle of the ring.

Bálor tries to create some separation and he does. GUNTHER hits Bálor with a vertical suplex for a near fall. GUNTHER and Bálor battle it out on the top rope. Bálor hits GUNTHER with a kick. Gunther hits a right hand and chops down Bálor. GUNTHER bodyslams Bálor. GUNTHER runs into a knee. Bálor tries to fight back and he hits GUNTHER with a Side Russian Leg Sweep and both men are down. Bálor unloads on GUNTHER. He hits a thunderous chop across GUNTHER’s chest. Bálor drives his elbow into GUNTHER’s chest for a near fall.

GUNTHER goes for a Powerbomb, but Bálor sends him to the outside. GUNTHER sends Bálor face-first into the apron. He tosses Bálor into the timekeeper’s area. Back in the ring, Bálor just beats the count. GUNTHER hits another chop. GUNTHER isn’t letting Bálor go. He runs into a big boot. GUNTHER applies a Sleeper Hold on Bálor. Bálor has nowhere to go and he is trying to reach the bottom rope. Bálor finally puts his foot on the ropes. GUNTHER continues to chop Bálor, but Bálor is back on his feet again. Bálor goes after GUNTHER. GUNTHER applies a Sleeper Hold again. Bálor hits GUNTHER with a Slingblade.

GUNTHER hits a dropkick to Bálor and clotheslines him for a near fall. GUNTHER tells Bálor to move on and not embarrass himself further. GUNTHER heads to the top rope, but misses a Frog Splash. Bálor hits a basement dropkick. GUNTHER sends Bálor into Charles Robinson and hits a low blow. GUNTHER hits a Powerbomb for the win.

Winner: GUNTHER

— After the match, GUNTHER celebrates and stands tall as the show comes to a close.