SmackDown Live - 12/06/2020

As we closed in on Backlash this weekend and the promise of "The Best Wrestling Match Ever", the blue brand was ready to put forth their own effort with the final of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament going down between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan. We also had Braun Strowman teaming with Heavy Machinery to take on Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and John Morrison ahead of Braun defending his Universal Championship in a handicap match against Miz and Morrison. What hit the spot for SmackDown and what missed the mark? Read on to find out.

---

Source: wwe.com

Jeff Hardy and Sheamus Sign a Contract for Their Backlash Match

Contract signings in WWE never go according to plan and, with everything that had gone before between these two, the same was bound to happen. Sheamus had brought a doctor to the ring with him and insisted that Hardy take a urine test to prove that he was clean and sober ahead of their match. Hardy agreed to the test, looking over his journey to get back to this point before Sheamus mocked him, telling kids not to do drugs and to just say no. Jeff was visibly irritated and responded with the phrase "It's better to be pissed off than pissed on" before throwing the urine sample at Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior was left heaving as Hardy headed to the back. Up until this point, Sheamus has taken the upper hand in almost all altercations outside of their matches, so giving Hardy and advantage - even if it is not a physical one - is smart ahead of Sunday's match.

---

Source: wwe.com

Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura v The New Day

Kofi Kingston and Big E took a knee in support of the global Black Lives Matter Movement ahead of their match here, fists raised in support of their kin around the world. Nakamura and Cesaro took control early on, showing that they were more dominant as technical wrestlers. They managed to isolate Big E for a while, taking turns beating down the bigger half of the New Day team, but a belly-to-belly suplex from Big E created enough space for him to tag out to Kofi, who hit the ring like a house on fire. He managed to fight off both of the heels and Big E returned to the fray, taking Cesaro to the outside and allowing Kofi to head to the top rope. The former WWE Champion went for a big splash off the top, but Nakamura got his knees up, allowing him to roll Kofi into a pin and take the win. Cesaro and Nakamura have been working their way up to a title match against The New Day and this win may be the spark that gets them there, possibly as a late addition to the Backlash card.

---

Source: wwe.com

AJ Styles v Daniel Bryan (Intercontinental Championship Tournament Final)

This match had meaning to both competitors, with AJ Styles looking to claim a championship that has evaded him so far in WWE and Daniel Bryan looking to finally reclaim the title he had been forced to relinquish years ago. Bryan started this one off by showing AJ that he was a superb technical wrestler, targeting the Phenomenal One's left arm and then moving on to the knee, methodically picking his foe apart. Bryan continued his assault, working over different body parts to grind Styles down but lost control when Styles dodged a charge in the corner. Styles targeted the legs of of Bryan, trying to take his kicks and running knee out of the equation but Bryan was having none of it, hitting an enziguri and the Yes Kicks to regain control. Styles managed to duck out of the way of a kick, allowing himself some space to strike back. As Styles took over, the strikes came thick and fast before Bryan was downed with a big kick. The technical abilities of each man kicked in again, with a fantastic series of counters leading to Bryan countering the Calf Crusher before kicking Styles in the head. After a superplex left both men down going into a break, the action came thick and fast with both men gaining near falls and trying to show that they were better than the other, Styles matching a Bryan German Suplex for a 2-count and also getting a close cover from a brain buster. As the action escalated, Bryan tried to hit his patented Running Knee Strike, but Styles countered into the Styles Clash before hitting the Phenomenal Forearm for the win. AJ Styles showed here that he is still an incredibly capable in ring performer, putting on one of the best matches on SmackDown in a very long time alongside his accomplished opponent. This match may be a turning point for the blue brand, taking them forward to a place where in ring work is pushed above all else. Edge and Randy Orton will absolutely have to deliver something amazing to be the best WWE match this week, let alone "The Best Wrestling Match Ever".

---

Source: wwe.com

Bayley & Sasha Banks Celebrate Their Title Win

After winning the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships on SmackDown last week, Sasha Banks and Bayley were in the house tonight to show off their shiny new straps. The two were in full on bragging mode, calling out their haters and claiming to be the best, the usual heel champion shtick. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross soon interrupted them in ring, while The IIconics appeared on the big screen. The IIconics reminded both teams that they had wins over them before Bliss and Cross chased the champions out of the ring. There was nothing special or even particularly interesting here, but it gave fans a reminder that this Triple Threat match will be happening on Sunday.

---

Source: wwe.com

Braun Strowman & Heavy Machinery v Dolph Ziggler, The Miz & John Morrison

Otis has had his issues with Ziggler recently and Miz and Morrison would be taking on Strowman at Backlash, so putting these groups together made complete sense. The visual dynamic of the big man team going up against the smaller, more athletic men was also something quite unique, especially with the big men in the babyface role. The babyface team were actually in complete control in the first part of this match, taking the fight to the men who had disrespected them recently. The first hiccup came when a backstage camera caught King Corbin berating Mandy Rose, blaming her for Otis taking his crown last week. Otis headed to the back to fend off the king and save his lady, leaving Strowman and Tucker a man down. Tucker was the sacrificial lamb here, being overpowered by the three heels and looking like he was in real peril. He managed an escape, knocking Ziggler down, but Miz and Morrison managed to get to Strowman before Tucker could, pulling the Universal Champion off the apron and stopping the tag. It wasn't long before Otis made his return though and the big men ran through the heels once again, putting the match away for good this time. Otis is a fresh face in the main event scene and bringing Tucker with him as back up is a good decision. He is, however, being overused in some areas. He has a budding rivalry with Corbin but also the hangover from the Dolph Ziggler/Sonya Deville story, plus he is Mr Money in the Bank. He is getting more screen time than almost any other superstar on the blue brand - including the Universal Champion - and while he is an incredible talent and immensely popular, it was this sort of thing that led to Roman Reigns and Charlotte Flair becoming divisive with a lot of the crowd. It would take a lot to get Otis there, but why risk it? Keep him in one clean cut story at a time and he will be a raging success - at least until Vince gets bored of him.

---

What did you think of this week's SmackDown Live? When do you think Otis will cash in his Money in the Bank Briefcase? Will AJ Styles have a successful run as Intercontinental Champion? Where does Daniel Bryan go next? Who is going to win the Women's Tag Title Triple Threat? Let us know what you think about this and more down below!

Thanks for reading, you've been wasting time with LDR