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Hey there people, a Happy post Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans as that holiday was yesterday. Tonight we’re here for another episode of WWE Smackdown, one taped last week because WWE isn’t quite heartless enough to force wrestlers to work the day after Thanksgiving. Spoilers can be found HERE if you want. We’re getting Cena tournament matches here with Jey Uso and Rusev, plus LA Knight having to face a replacement opponent. The women will wrestle for WarGames advantage, and we’ll have a Survivor Series Elimination match not at Survivor Series. Solo Sikoa and his Malodorous Fractal Tannins take on Sami Zayn and the general collection of midcard babyfaces. Survivor Series is tomorrow, and I’ll be covering it, and this is the last shot WWE has to convince you to watch. Still no Randy Orton, no Santos Escobar, no real movement on the ongoing Damian Priest and Aleister Black issue. A lot of things are in holding right now until after Survivor Series when everything can start to lean towards the Royal Rumble it seems. Anyway let’s get the go home show underway.

We open with a recap of the women’s stuff from last week, both Smackdown and from this Monday.

Next we see wrestlers walking in the back. Also Solo’s goons move around. LA Knight is here, he finds Cathy and she asks about his new opponent for tonight. Knight is annoyed he didn’t get a bye in the round and is more annoyed he’s having to take on another mystery opponent. He mentions how his legs keep getting cut out from under him but he is inevitable, and he’ll slap his opponent tonight back to factory settings.

Jey Uso gets hyped up coming through the crowd, he’ll take on Rusev in our first match. Jey wants an encore of his entrance song and gets it. Well we do have a ton of time to fill. Eventually Rusev does get his entrance.

Match #1: Jey Uso vs. Rusev

Tie up, Rusev overpowers Jey and batters him in a corner. Suplex from Rusev then a front kick. Jey fights out of a corner but Rusev catches a jumping Jey with a spinning slam to send us to break.

Rusev is working a bearhug as we come back. Jey headbutts his way free then starts landing rights. Rusev avoids a Samoan Drop then tries The Accolade but Jey is able to scramble free then low bridge a charging Rusev. Jey with a suicide dive before they both head back into the ring. Samoan Drop from Jey for a 2 count. Jey lines up a Spear, hits it but only a 1 count. Jey then goes up top and flies into a Machka Kick from Rusev for a near fall. Rusev says the game is over and locks in The Accolade but Jey is able to get to the ropes and save himself after a bit. Next Rusev tries an Attitude Adjustment but Jey slips free and hits a Spear then follows with a Splash to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jey Uso won in 9:35

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: This felt off, the crowd just wasn’t into most of it and it kind of dragged. Jey is over as a personality, and this being the back half of a double episode should be considered when looking at crowd investment, but his actual ring work losing people is becoming more of a thing.

In the back Miz yells about getting to replace Sheamus, Aldis wants to make the pick randomly. Miz keeps making his case, R-Truth comes over and distracts Aldis enough for Miz to sneak out the name Aldis is picking to be his name. Truth returns for a bit of a one liner.

In the back Damian Priest talks with Cathy. Priest says his eye is healed up and then says Aleister Black wont change him. The only thing Black has accomplished is pissing Priest off. Zelina comes over and she and Priest trade some barbs before Zelina says if Priest wants more punishment then Black will oblige. Zelina leaves, and Priest sees Rhea Ripley walk over. Rhea and Priest catch up then Rhea says she has an idea for Priest to share later.

After this break Chelsea Green will have her celebration after winning the women’s US title again.

Post break here comes Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre while we recap Green’s title win 3 weeks ago. Green gets a mic and is here to be celebrated and start her second title run. She calls herself the greatest women’s champion ever, she tries to set up pyro in her name but instead out comes WWE women’s champion Jade Cargill. Jade seems annoyed with Greens boasting and Jade then pump kicks Fyre with ease. Green tries to escape, Jade yanks her back into the ring and kills her with Jaded. How do we not have something better for Jade to do than kill midcarders. The pyro goes off as Jade is leaving.

In the back Alexa Bliss hypes up Charlotte Flair, Rhea and Iyo Sky come over to help get her ready. AJ Lee wanders over to express confidence as well, and no matter what happens tonight she’s going to make sure they win tomorrow. Slightly ominous.

We see Sami and his cohorts getting warmed up in the back.

After this break we’ll get LA Knight and Miz in action.

Post break Cathy finds Jade in the back. Jade has a problem with anyone who runs their mouth then walks past B-Fab. B-Fab talks with Michin, Michin says she might have to try and check Jade’s attitude. Once again, how are we not doing something better with Jade than this?

Miz heads to the ring, followed by LA Knight.

Match #2: LA Knight vs. Miz

27 minutes between matches. Knight with punches right away then a clothesline out of the corner. Corner stomps from Knight then a running knee but Miz powders then Knight hits a diving dropkick. Back into the ring but Miz lands a kick to take over and he lands stomps. Miz heads out of the ring and rams Knight into the apron then follows with a knee lift. Back in the ring Miz grabs a headlock, Knight punches free from that then hits a running neckbreaker. Miz drops Knight over the top rope then follows him out of the ring to ram him into the barricades before landing a boot which sends us to break.

We come back to Miz working a chin lock. Knight is able to fight free and tries a Sleeper but Miz counters into one of his own then Knight lands a back suplex to put both men down. Jabs from Knight then a clothesline and a Russian leg sweep. Jumping neckbreaker from Knight gets a 2 count. Miz lands a boot out of the corner then heads up top but Knight jumps up with him to hit a superplex for a 2 count. Miz avoids Blunt Force Trauma and then hits some kicks and a kneeling DDT for his own 2 count. Knight counters a Skull Crushing Finale then hits an inverted DDT. Now Knight tries the Megastar Elbow but Miz counters it into the Skull Crushing Finale but only a near fall. Miz tries a Figure Four but Knight avoids that only for Miz to grab a version of the STF. Knight is able to crawl to a rope and break the hold. Miz avoids a tie up and gets to the ropes then rakes the eyes of Knight and rolls him up with feet on the ropes but the ref sees it and wont make the count. Miz tries another Skull Crushing Finale but Knight counters with Blunt Force Trauma to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: LA Knight won in 11:08

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match, they tried hard down the stretch but this felt a little overlong. Miz feels like he’s going to sneak into a rematch with Knight if Jey gets “hurt” at WarGames.

In the back Becky Lynch tries to rally the troops and brings up how she has the best record in WarGames among them. Nia Jax says tonight is about Asuka winning and getting them the advantage. Asuka brings up Charlotte getting injured the last time they wrestled and she’ll do it again. OK then. That sends us to break.

We come back to hype stuff for the Elimination match.

In the back Cathy brings in Ilja Dragunov, who did not pull double duty last week to have another match. Ilja says the open challenge is open to anyone, and if Tama Tonga wants to make noise he can show up in the ring. Tommaso Ciampa comes over to talk and he’s got Axiom’s mask and promises to take the US title the same. Ilja says he’ll think about it. . . jackass.

Asuka heads to the ring followed by Charlotte Flair.

Match #3: Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

They slowly circle for a bit then tie up. Asuka shoves Charlotte away then Charlotte avoids an armbar takedown. Another tie up, they jockey for position then Charlotte winds up hitting a shoulder block. Back elbow from Asuka but Charlotte lands a kick but then misses a boot. Charlotte pulls Asuka to the apron and they trade strikes, Asuka lands a headkick to drop Charlotte and send us to break.

We come back to Charlotte avoiding a hip attack then landing a kick. Charlotte to the apron, lands a kick then heads up top while Asuka stands around until Charlotte lands a cross body. Very accommodating of Asuka. Asuka with a flurry of kicks but she runs into a boot and both women are down. They trade elbows and Charlotte lands chops, we get an odd edit then Charlotte hits a walk over clothesline. Fall away slam from Charlotte then she tries a moonsault and hits it for a 2 count. Thrust kick from Charlotte then a German suplex, she holds on and Asuka then counters to hit one of her own. Buzzsaw kick from Asuka but Charlotte cares not for selling and hits her, then Asuka with a sliding boot for a 2 count. Knee from Asuka then a flying armbar, Charlotte rolls but gets caught in a triangle choke and Charlotte powers out of it with a sit out powerbomb and a 2 count. Asuka powders, Charlotte follows and they brawl at ringside with Charlotte tossing Asuka over the table. Asuka then mists a camera man by accident, Charlotte rams Asuka into the announce table then heads back into the ring. Figure 8 attempt, Asuka counters into an Asuka Lock but Charlotte adjusts into a pin and gets 2. Natural Selection from Charlotte wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair won in 11:23

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match, I’m surprised the win was clean and even more surprised that the faces have the edge. Usually that doesn’t go well, either a face turns to keep the good guys in peril or the heels are the more interesting side of the match like with Sami and the Bloodline. Here my hunch is this is so Becky can just bail on them, she’ll be the last woman and will decide not to fight.

We see the Solo Squad walk in the back and head to break. Our last 30 minutes are going to be commercial free.

Post break commentary runs down the Survivor Series card tomorrow and we get a hype package for the men’s match.

To the ring and the Solo group comes out first followed by the good guys.

Match #4 – 5 on 5 Elimination Match: Sami Zayn, Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) vs. Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo, Tonga Loa, and Tama Tonga

Sabin and Tama start us off, Tama then tags in Solo. Solo blocks Sabin tagging in Sami then lands punches on the mat. Corner work from Solo and the goons get in some cheap shots then Loa tags in. Double headbutt to Sabin. Loa with a chop, Sabin fights back with strikes then Shelley tags in and Loa takes a bulldog. Loa pushes Shelley into the corner then JC tags in and lands a few strikes. Shelley with chops then Sami tags in and goes after JC with chops in the corner. Swinging back suplex from JC gets a 2 count. Standing moonsault from JC and another 2 count. Tama tags in and lays in strikes to Sami. Some more cheap shots from the heels, again no reaction from the crowd. Hilo from Tama then Solo tags back in. Back elbow from Solo gets a 2 count. Sami bounces over Solo and drops him with a clothesline. Both men tag out, JC and Nakamura come in and Nakamura with a flurry of knees, things break down but Nakamura handles business for a bit before JC blind sides him. Sliding German to JC then Solo breaks up a pin. Sami disposes of Solo, Loa tosses Sami and everyone winds up sent to the floor then Shelley tags in and hits a baseball slide before Sabin hits a suicide dive. Sami and Fenix follow with stereo dives. JC takes a shoulder to the gut, Sabin tags in and we get a double pin on JC to eliminate him.

Tama attacks Sabin from behind, eventually Shelley and Sabin double team Tama for a bit but can’t find a pin. Nakamura tags in and hits a spinning kick. Ax kick to Tama then a jumping knee drop. Nakamura lines up the Kinshasa but Solo breaks that up and Tama then avoids Nakamura and hits something followed by a Cut Throat to take out Nakamura.

Fenix in now with a handspring back elbow to Tama then Tama lands a Flatliner. Loa tags in and Fenix takes some double team work from the Guerillas of Destiny. High spinebuster from Loa but Fenix kicks at 2 anyway. Kick from Fenix then a rana to pin Loa, thankfully.

Talla immediately runs over Fenix then hits a scoop slam. I’ve rarely seen a man that big get so little reaction. Another scoop slam from Talla then Solo tags in. Solo misses a Samoan Spike and Sabin tags in, Sabin with a crossbody then shots to the heels. Talla no sells and Solo floors Sabin with a right hand. Shelley tags in and Solo gets the Facial combination. Double kicks to Solo but Tama breaks up Skull and Bones then Talla tags in and chokeslams Shelley onto the apron from the floor which will get the pin in the ring to take out Shelley.

Sabin jumps at Talla who catches him then hits a discus clothesline to pin Sabin.

Sami gets booted off the apron. Fenix kicks Talla then hits a dropkick but Talla sucks and just stands around. Tiger Feint wheel kick from Fenix, then one to Solo as well. Talla gets tied up in the ropes, Tama tags in and Fenix chops away at him then hits his bouncing hurricanrana. Man Fenix is too good for this spot. Double crossbody on the floor to Solo and Talla but Tama hits Fenix with a Cut Throat back in the ring to pin and take him out.

Sami’s all alone and Talla tags in. Talla with some strikes then a corner splash. Another corner avalanche from Talla then Solo tags in. Hip attack from Solo then he tags in Tama. Sami takes a Stinger Splash, then another one but counters a third with a Helluva Kick to pin Tama.

Talla comes in for stomps, man he’s boring, and Sami rolls to the floor. Talla rams Sami into the ring post, then he tries to boot Sami into the time keepers area but Sami dodges and Talla can’t beat the count so he’s out at 10.

Down to Sami and Solo. Spinning Solo connects then another one but Sami still kicks at 2 but the crowd is too tired and bored at this point to really pop. Solo goes up top and hits a Splash but again can’t keep Sami down. They head up top, Sami counters an avalanche Samoan Drop with a Sunset Powerbomb for his own 2 count. Sami tries to rally the crowd, he and Solo trade strikes and they’ve finally sweetened the audio tonight for that before Solo lands a headbutt. Sami counters a hip attack with a corner Exploder suplex. Solo avoids a Helluva Kick with a thrust kick but misses the spike, Sami rolls up Solo for 2 then Solo lands a Samoan Spike to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Solo Sikoa was the final survivor in 20:58

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: This was OK, Fenix deserved better and somehow Loa and Talla continue to be soul crushingly boring. I’m not sure this helped anyone when it was all said and done, Fenix had moments but they keep having him get killed by Talla in a failed attempt to make Talla something. Frankly JC deserved better too, certainly he’s more consistent than Loa if nothing else. The crowd was pretty dead by the end of things which didn’t help this either.

Solo looks to celebrate, but the lights go out and the Wyatt Sicks show up to confront Solo. Uncle Howdy shows up behind Solo to drop him with Sister Abigail to end the episode.