Randy Orton returns to WWE SmackDown.
WWE SmackDown advertised the Friday night return of Randy Orton, the return of WWE United States champion Logan Paul and Kevin Owens going one-on-one with Grayson Waller.
Last week’s broadcast of SmackDown on FS1 garnered a disappointing 789,000 viewers.
WWE SmackDown Results | December 1, 2023
- Bobby Lashley def. Butch
- Santos Escobar def. Joaquin Wilde
- Kevin Owens def. Austin Theory
- Bianca Belair def. Kairi Sane
WWE SmackDown Ratings
- November 24, 2023 | 789,000 (on FS1)
- November 17, 2023 | 2.23 million
- November 10, 2023 | 2.195 million
- November 3, 2023 | 2.119 million
- October 27, 2023 | 1.145 million
- WWE SmackDown Venue: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
- WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 11,788
- Available Tickets: 418
WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades
Damage CTRL Opens SmackDown Without Bayley
Damage CTRL did not turn on Bayley just yet. Instead, they just froze her out by appearing without her.
Team Bianca interrupted Damage CTRL and Shotzi claimed “there’s plenty of Damage CTRL to go around.”
With Bayley on here way to inevitably being yeeted out of Damage CTRL, can Sasha Banks be too far behind?
Opening Segment Grade: B-
Bobby Lashley Def. Butch
Bobby Lashley was super over to the A Crowd of Brooklyn, N.Y. Despite WWE booking him like a ‘90s Bob Holly.
Butch, who was abandoned by his tag team partner, was the sympathetic figure in this match, but Barclays didn’t care. They relentlessly chanted “Bobby!” and “let’s go Bobby!”
Montez Ford had his greatest moment since joining the unnamed Bobby Lashley stable when he said “Black Friday has been extended!”
Backstage, Nick Aldis said he wanted to sign Randy Orton, and Paul Heyman took exception to this. This all but confirmed that the Royal Rumble main event will be Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns.
Bobby Lashley vs. Butch Grade: C+
Santos Escobar Def. Joaquin Wilde
Joaquin Wilde sat own and let Santos Escobar beat up him and his man last week, and I’m supposed to believe he has a shot tonight?
Escobar continues to get massive heat, just like Dominik Mysterio. This confirms that the best way to get heat in WWE is by turning on Rey Mysterio.
After Escobar’s predictable victory, Dragon Lee hit the ring to a big pop and chants of “Dragon Lee!” Very rarely does anybody get over this fast in WWE.
Santos Escobar vs. Joaquin Wilde Grade: B-
Logan Paul Announces US Title Tournament
Logan Paul was a great heel, per usual. He said the US Title was on his junk, just like all these fans.
Paul rattled off the eight names in the United States Championship tournament. Even though they were all on the titantron, he didn’t have to look at it once. The names include:
- Kevin Owens
- Santos Escobar
- Dragon Lee
- A Mystery NXT
XT
- Austin Theory
- Grayson Waller
- Karrion Kross
- Bobby Lashley
Kevin Owens clapped back at Paul by saying the only junk from Paul is that drink he peddles.
This tournament is clearly being set up for Kevin Owens.
The segment ended with Kevin Owens snuffing Austin Theory yet again.
Logan Paul Segment Grade: B
Kevin Owens Def. Austin Theory
Fans chanted “KO” for the majority of this match, and it’s becoming patently obvious that the United States Championship tournament is a vehicle for Owens.
Logan Paul was very good on commentary and he was barely even trying.
Kevin Owen’s victory over Austin Theory could have replaced the tournament itself but now he’ll need a couple more wins to get to Logan Paul and WWE has plenty of time until the Royal Rumble.
Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory Grade: B
Bianca Belair Def. Kairi Sane
Damage CTRL told Bayley to stay in the back as the countdown to Sasha Banks (hopefully) continues.
Bianca ragdolled Kairi into the barricade, ribs first, and it got a huge pop.
Bayley defied orders by appearing at ringside. Kairi took a couple seconds to high-five Bayley before getting trapped in a KOD.
Randy Orton Signs With SmackDown
Randy Orton might have put on a couple more pounds of muscle since Raw.
Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce bickering over Randy Orton was not the feud I thought I needed.
Pearce promised Orton a world title shot while Aldis promised Orton the Bloodline.
In what shouldn’t have been a surprise, Randy Orton ended his night by hitting the RKO. Then he signed with SmackDown. Then he RKO’d Nick Aldis.