WWE SmackDown Review, Dec 6, 2024: Cody Rhodes BURIED Chad Gable

WWE SmackDown came off an epic WWE Survivor Series 2024 PLE Event, where CM Punk and the OG Bloodline finally put The New Bloodline to sleep inside War Games, Team Rhea Ripley remained on top by defeating Team Liv Morgan inside War Games, and Shinsuke Nakamura dethroned LA Knight to become the new U.S. Champion in what was the only title change of that evening. But, the two major questions on everyone's minds are: (1) Who Attacked Jade Cargill Backstage? and (2) What Was That Mysterious Favor Between CM Punk and Paul Heyman?

Now, WWE is continuing its road to WWE Saturday Night Main Event 2024, where they will likely have some major title matches and personal rivalries come to a close before the end of the year. This week on SmackDown, two matches were scheduled before the show: Naomi vs. Ms. MITB Tiffany Stratton vs. Electra Lopez in a U.S. Title Tournament Match, and MCMG (c) vs. Street Profits for the WWE Tag Titles. Cody Rhodes, the WWE Champion, opened the show tonight, and the WWE SmackDown Review for December 7, 2024 will begin with just that.

Cody Rhodes Promo [Opening Segment]

Result: Chad Gable questioned the integrity of Cody Rhodes, in terms of his friendship with KO.

Cody Rhodes was on the verge of addressing his Saturday Night Main Event opponent, Kevin Owens, before Chad Gable interrupted to call Cody Rhodes out for letting that WWE Title get to his head and ruin his friendship. Gable asserted that Cody only cares about his public image and how he is perceived by the WWE Universe rather than caring about the friends who had his back since day one.

Cody Rhodes retorted that Chad Gable is being quite hypocritical since he did betray his friendship with Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri of the Alpha Academy and that it's only a matter of time until he does the same to Ivy Nile and Creed Bros once he fails to accomplish his goals again. Cody Rhodes challenged Chad Gable to a match in the main event to officially settle their beef.

Final Analysis/Takeaway: 1.5 Stars (D-), While the references to Stardust and Shorty G were decent callbacks in this promo battle, this opening segment felt unnecessary and irrelevant in portraying the bigger picture storyline between Rhodes and Owens. Understandably, Carmelo Hayes called out Cody Rhodes for similar hypocrisies two weeks ago, and the theme of having superstars in the locker room question the leadership and integrity of the WWE Champion is sound and reasonable.

However, WWE completely violated brand split rules by booking Raw Superstar Chad Gable to come out there in his hometown to be fed to Cody Rhodes in the main event for a storyline that is not even his main focus. Not to mention, Cody Rhodes vs. Chad Gable is a complete mismatch, considering Chad Gable's lackluster momentum lately. Overexposing the world champion and treating top performers as mere hands are major booking flaws and elicited a failed segment to start the show.

Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Elektra Lopez [U.S. Title Tournament]

Result: Ms. MITB Tiffany Stratton (via pinfall)

Tiffany Stratton delivered a picture perfect dropkick on the apron to Naomi. Electra Lopez bulldozed into Tiffany and delivered a Gutwrench PowerBomb to Naomi for the near-fall. Naomi bounced back with a Rear View to Tiffany that sent her sailing outside the ring. Naomi then delivered a FaceBuster to Electra Lopez and prepared to go to the top rope for the Split Legged MoonSault.

Candice LeRae interfered to stop Naomi, but Naomi clotheslined Candice. Lopez tried to capitalize with a Poerbomb, but Naomi delivered a Roundhouse Kick and Split Legged Moonsault to Lopez. Stratton broke up that near pin-fall attempt with a Senton Bomb. Stratton tosses Naomi outside the ring and finished the match the TIFFY TOP MoonSault to Lopez for the 3-count and the victory.

Final Analysis/Takeaway: 3.0 Stars (C+), This was an average match that was pretty standard for a weekly show like SmackDown. It's unfortunate that WWE redundantly decided to go with Tiffany Stratton as the winner here when she already has the MITB Briefcase that guarantees her a title shot anytime anyplace. Naomi could have really benefited from this victory since her track record has been terrible since returning to the WWE. Nonetheless, Stratton will battle Michin and Bayley will battle Chelsea Green in the semifinals of this U.S. Title Tournament next week on SmackDown.

Bianca Belair vs. Piper Niven [Grudge Match]

Result: Bianca Belair (via pinfall)

Bianca Belair accused Piper Niven of possibly attacking Jade Cargill since she was not at ringside for Chelsea Green's U.S. Title Tournament match on the night Jade Cargill got attacked. Piper Niven scoffed at this accusation and attacked Bianca Belair in retaliation to set up this match. Niven delivered a Sidewalk Slam to Belair for the near-fall. Belair rallied back with a Flying Crossbody and Spear to Niven for the near-fall. Niven tried to get some offense back with a Cannonball.

However, Belair dodged the charge and delivered a SpineBuster to Niven. Belair waited for Niven to get back up, but Chelsea Green got on the apron to distract Belair. Belair hip tossed Green into the ring, and Niven capitalized off the distraction with Piper Driver for the near-fall. Niven went to the top rope to finish this match with the Big Splash, but Belair stopped Niven in her tracks by putting Niven on her shoulders for the KOD right on top of Chelsea Green for the 3-count and the victory.

Final Analysis/Takeaway: 4.0 Stars (B+), Belair and Niven have wrestled plenty of times on the main roster, and their chemistry never seizes to amaze the fans. This was the only match of the night that received "This is Awesome!" Chants, and it undoubtedly stole the show. Belair was on a mission to figure out who attacked Jade Cargill. Byron Saxton revealed an alibi for Niven, proving she did not do it. It could be someone who is not even wrestling currently, like Charlotte Flair, who was in a tag team with Belair before getting injured last year but was unceremoniously replaced by Jade Cargill.

If you're not down with just that and would like even more WWE SmackDown Coverage from Mark Justice, click "next" to go to the next slide to see the rest of the review right here on Daily DDT and subscribe to his new YouTube channel by clicking HERE.