WWE SmackDown: Results, Highlights and Grades for Nov. 8

Heavy Machinery come out for a match, only to be attacked by WALTER and his Imperium goons from NXT UK!

Members from the locker room rush the ring to save Heavy Machinery and the NXT UK invaders high tail it to the Manchester crowd without a scratch on them. Well, this was an interesting surprised. Interested to see how this follows up, especially how it follows up on Raw this Monday if these NXT UK guys show up. No, I haven’t read the spoilers (wink wink, nudge nudge).

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Bayley and Sasha Banks about being attacked by NXT’s Shayna Baszler. Bayley says Baszler is trying too hard to be relevant, but she shouldn’t forget that both her and Sasha made the NXT women’s division relevant. Sasha adds any new NXT women need to know their place in Boss n Hug’s shadow, just like Cross will tonight. Bayley adds that as the only triple crown champion in the Survivor Series triple threat, Baszler and Becky Lynch better keep an eye on her, because she’s got eyes on them.

Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Sami Zayn) vs. Ali and Shorty G

At the start of the match, Daniel Bryan watches from atop the ramp. Immediately at the start of the bell, Cesaro uppercuts Gable, then both he and Naka double team Gable before Naka gets the tag. Frequent tags until Gable tosses Cesaro out the ring. Gable nearly makes a hot tag before Cesaro catches him in mid-air. Cesaro keeps the heat on Gable, until Gable can fight his way to a tag.  Ali makes a huge comeback spot, including a dive to the outside, while Gable belly to bellys Nakamura out the ring, right before Cesaro does the same to Gable.

Ali goes for a cross body, but Cesaro catches him in mid-air with a backbreaker for a two count. He tags Nakamura. Shorty G makes the save for an Ankle Lock on Cesaro. Cesaro fights out and kicks G out the ring. Ali shoves Cesaro out the ring, but Naka sneaks from behind to lay Ali out. Goes for Kinshasa, but Ali hits a Super kick.

Zayn tries to distract Ali, Gable jaw jacks with him, then Cesaro tosses Ali off the top rope and Gable off the apron. Naka takes the opportunity to hit a Kinshasa for the win. Bryan continues to look on from the ramp, but then just leaves.

Winners: Cesaro/Nakamura

Grade: C+

May not go down as one of the most memorable tag team matches ever, but it was entertaining for the moment. The important part is that this progressed the Daniel Bryan storyline. Not by much, but it adds fuel to the fire.