WWE SmackDown Results Dec. 17: Roman Reigns fires Paul Heyman!

WWE SmackDown results live from Chicago. WWE has confirmed that WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, returns to SmackDown following his absence last week. Brock Lesnar is also in the house. Ridge Holland will also take on Cesaro in a rematch.

WWE SmackDown Results – December 17, 2021

The show kicks off with a recap of last week’s episode with a focus on Brock Lesnar’s actions and Kayla Braxton asking Paul Heyman if he was the advocate for “The Beast Incarnate”.

Backstage, Heyman is shown holding the Universal Championship waiting for Reigns to arrive as we cross live to the Allstate Arena.

Sasha Banks & Toni Storm vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion, Charlotte Flair & Shotzi

We start SmackDown with in-ring action. A recap is shown of Charlotte Flair’s match with Toni Storm last week where Flair got herself DQ’d before the contest gets underway. Shotzi and Storm get the match started as the crowd is surprisingly eerily quiet in Chicago during the early stages.

The match eventually picks up the pace and delivers some great action, as it spans over two commercial breaks giving the women plenty of time. Toni Storm eventually picked up the win for her and Sasha Banks by rolling up and the SmackDown Women’s Champion and bridging, not allowing Flair to kick out.

Winners: Toni Storm and Sasha Banks

Backstage, King Woods is sat on a throne as WWE Superstars chant “Hail King Woods!” at him. The SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos, then approach and get mocked after they lost last week. Woods/Kofi and The Usos say they will beat each other tonight and at WWE Day 1.

Backstage, Natalya watches highlights from last week’s debut of Xia Li. She is then interviewed and says that Xia Li is a nobody and Natalya is the root of greatness. Natalya says if Xia Li steps up to her again then Xia Li will need a protector.

The Viking Raiders vs. Jinder Mahal & Shanky

The Viking Raiders pick up the victory, in a strong showing for the tag team, as Ivar dives from the top rope to splash Shanky. The win puts them in a strong position to challenge The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.

Winners: The Viking Raiders

Backstage, Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss are shown wheeling Adam Pearce’s table with Drew McIntyre’s sword still lodged in it. Happy Talk is next.

Backstage, Paul Heyman is shown still waiting for Roman Reigns. A limo pulls up and Brock Lesnar appears. Lesnar wishes Heyman good luck in waiting for Roman.

Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss make their entrance for Happy Talk. Corbin welcomes everyone to Happy Talk. Corbin says this week he is extremely happy. He says that he now has a high piece of expensive furniture in his possession with the table with Drew’s sword in it.

Corbin asks Madcap Moss for a joke. He makes a joke about Drew McIntyre, which of course falls flat with the Chicago crowd. The fans begin to chant “CM Punk!” Pat McAfee tries to cover it by saying that he agrees with the audience are saying “We Want Love!” as Madcap continues to tell more jokes.

Corbin wants Madcap Moss to have the sword. Moss struggles to retrieve the sword from the table. Moss says he can’t get the sword out and Corbin tries but he struggles. They both try as Drew McIntyre’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring.

He stands on the apron and questions Corbin and Moss’ “performance issues”. Drew then enters the ring and attacks Moss and Corbin. He then manages to pull the sword out of the table. Drew tries to use it on Corbin before he escapes from the ring.

Backstage, Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are talking as Sami Zayn walks in, not in a wheelchair and without his neck brace. Zayn wishes both Pearce and Deville happy holidays. Zayn wonders how long it will take to get another opportunity for the Universal Championship. Pearce says next week there will be a 12-man Gauntlet match next week with the winner getting a shot at Shinsuke Nakamura’s Intercontinental Championship.

Ridge Holland w/ Sheamus vs. Cesaro

After a distraction by Sheamus, Ridge Holland hit Sheamus with the shillelagh before the match began. Cesaro’s ribs are bandaged up during the commercial break. Ridge Holland eventually picked up the win after some more beating to Cesaro. He and the Irishman celebrate after the match.

Winner: Ridge Holland

Backstage, Drew McIntyre is walking through the corridors with his sword. He’s looking for Corbin and Moss.

Naomi makes her way to the ring. Naomi says every year she makes herself a Christmas list. The only item on her list is to face Sonya Deville one-on-one. Naomi says Sonya has done everything but face her. She wants to face her one-on-one and challenges her to fight right now.

Sonya comes to the stage and walks down to the ring and says she has another opponent for her who is far superior to Naomi. Naomi says she will fight Shayna but she wants Sonya in the ring right now. Sonya lures Naomi in and Shayna Baszler attacks Naomi from behind. Sonya says the referee can ring the bell.

Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler

Shayna had Naomi locked in submission and Naomi caught her out with a pin.

Winner: Naomi

Backstage, Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss look like they’re hiding when they’re approached for an interview. Happy Corbin says he is always happy. He says they will be happy heading into the new year as Drew McIntyre is going to lose to Madcap Moss at WWE Day 1. Moss doesn’t look thrilled.

King Woods & Sir Kofi Kingston vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champion, The Usos (non-title)

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee get confused as to whether the SmackDown Tag Team Titles are on the line before the match gets underway. As always with these two teams, it was a highly exciting match, no matter how many times we’ve seen them go at it. Kofi Kingston claims the victory ahead of their huge title clash at WWE Day 1.

Winners: Kofi Kingston & King Woods

Backstage, Roman Reigns finally arrives as Paul Heyman greets him. Roman initiates to Paul Heyman that they’ll go out to his ring.

Next week on the Christmas Eve edition of SmackDown, Charlotte Flair will defend the SmackDown Women’s Title against Toni Storm. Plus, a 12-man Gauntlet to determine the No.1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship.

Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, with Paul Heyman and The Usos make their way to the ring. Roman Reigns tells Chicago to acknowledge him. Roman says he doesn’t like it when his cousins lose. He says they can get through anything because they’re family and blood.

Roman turns to Paul Heyman and says he’s not his blood. Roman asks Paul Heyman if he can trust him. Roman says Heyman seemed shady last week in his absence and asks him if he knew Brock was going to return at SummerSlam. He asks if Heyman knew all about Brock’s recent actions. Roman then asks if he is a special counsel or an advocate.

Paul Heyman takes a microphone. Heyman says that he is not protecting Brock Lesnar from Roman Reigns, but he’s protecting Roman Reigns from Brock Lesnar. Roman Reigns then hugs Paul Heyman and says he loves his wise man and gives thanks to him. Roman tells him he’s fired and then strikes Heyman with a Superman Punch.

Roman asks for a steel chair and places it under Paul Heyman’s head, then asks for another chair and The Uso’s shout to get him. Brock Lesnar then makes his way out. He slowly walks down as Lesnar then bulldozes through The Usos and delivers an F5 to both on the outside. Lesnar then circles the ring with Roman inside. Roman tries to hit Lesnar with the chair when he enters the ring, but Lesnar hits an F5 on the Universal Champion. He then picks him up again for a second F5!

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