WWE SmackDown live results: Black Friday battle royal
The next challenger for Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship will be decided on tonight’s Black Friday edition of SmackDown.
WWE has announced that a Black Friday battle royal will take place on SmackDown tonight. The winner will become the number one contender to Reigns’ title.
Tonight’s SmackDown will also feature the fallout from Survivor Series. Reigns defeated WWE Champion Big E at the pay-per-view, getting SmackDown’s only pinfall win as Raw dominated again this year.
A tag team match with Drew McIntyre & Jeff Hardy facing Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss is also set for tonight. McIntyre, Hardy, and Corbin were members of Team SmackDown at Survivor Series. They lost to Raw in the men’s five-on-five elimination tag match.
The Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina is hosting tonight’s SmackDown. Ridge Holland will make his SmackDown in-ring debut on the show as he goes one-on-one with Cesaro.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Michael Cole and Pat McAfee discussed tonight’s Black Friday battle royal.
Roman Reigns Segment
Kayla Braxton was already in the ring, and she began to discuss the rumors of Brock Lesnar’s suspension ending. Suddenly, Roman Reigns music interrupted, and he made his way to the ring with Paul Heyman.
They recapped Reigns defeating Big E at the Survivor Series.
Heyman took the mic and mocked Braxton for discussing rumors. He said they don’t talk about rumors on the island of relevancy. Heyman mocked Braxton and claimed she’s talking about rumors to make a name for herself as a journalist.
Heyman told her to dig deeper for sources and demanded that she leave the ring. The fans broke into a brief “We want Brock” chant.
Reigns said that only losers believe in rumors. Reigns called everyone there a loser and said Lesnar’s the number one loser. He even went across the world and smashed him. Reigns mocked Big E and noted that he smashed him too.
Reigns said it doesn’t matter who wins the battle royal. He’s going to beat them even if it’s three winners. Reigns added that when his time in the WWE comes to an end, which could be soon, the fans will acknowledge him.
Drew McIntrye & Jeff Hardy defeated Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss (8:26)
This was a fine opener.
They recapped Jeff Hardy defeating Happy Corbin last week.
Corbin was briefly in control until Hardy took over. Hardy hit a leg drog and basement dropkick on Corbin. He caught Corbin with a clothesline off the apron, but Moss jumped him from behind. He sent Hardy over the barricade to gain control.
Back from the break, Corbin was firmly in control and knocked McIntrye off the apron. The heels isolated Hardy on their side of the ring.
Hardy and Moss rocked each other with a double clothesline. McIntrye got the hot tag and ran wild on the heels. He threw Corbin across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex.
McIntrye set up for the Claymore, but Moss caused a distraction. Corbin then hit deep six for a close near fall.
Corbin sent Hardy to the floor, but McIntyre jumped Corbin from behind. Moss attacked McIntyre from behind, but McIntrye recovered and hit the Claymore. He then tagged in Hardy, who hit the Swanton Bomb for the win.
In the back, Aliyah was talking to Kayla Braxton. Paul Heyman approached and wondered if she got any confirmation about the Brock Lesnar rumors. Heyman implied that she’d be fired if she didn’t get a confirmation by the end of the night.
Cesaro defeated Ridge Holland (w/Sheamus) (2:47)
This was a fine match but felt too short. Holland dominated Cesaro for the majority of the match. Cesaro’s surprise win came out of nowhere.
Holland came to the ring to Sheamus’ music. Sheamus joined Cole and McAfee on commentary.
Cesaro had the early advantage with uppercuts in the corner. Cesaro was firmly in control, but Sheamus started yelling at him.
Holland took advantage and rocked Cesaro with a headbutt. He then threw Cesaro across the ring with a suplex. Holland slowed the pace down with a chin lock.
Cesaro briefly fought back, but Holland caught him with a slam. Holland continued to dominate Cesaro and stomp on him. Suddenly, Cesaro rolled up Holland for the win.
In the back, Drew McIntrye approached Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville in their office. He wanted to make sure that he was in the Black Friday Battle Royal. Pearce and Deville noted they hadn’t finalized the list, but they’ll consider him.
Thanksgiving Leftovers Throwdown: Angel (w/Humberto) defeated Rick Boogs (w/Shinsuke Nakamura) (3:10)
This was an okay match. It was another short match that didn’t get enough time to develop. The Thanksgiving theme seemed pointless since it didn’t play a big role in the match except for the finish. Instead, the Thanksgiving theme played a bigger role in the next segment.
Angel rocked Boogs with a dropkick at the bell. They brawled around ringside, and Angel tried to slam Boogs into the ham.
Angel slowed the pace down, but Boogs broke free. Boogs gave Angel a gut-wrench suplex for a near fall. He applied the abdominal stretch, but Humberto started playing Boogs’ guitar. Boogs was distracted and released the hold. He started yelling at Humberto when Nakamura ran over and slammed Humberto through a table at ringside.
Boogs was still distracted, which allowed Angel to hit a superkick and his finisher for the win.
They recapped Becky Lynch defeating Charlotte Flair at Survivor Series.
Charlotte Flair walked to the ring for the next segment, and they cut to a commercial break. They came back from the break but went backstage. Kayla Braxton approached Adam Pearce and asked about the participants in tonight’s battle royal. He said once he gets approval, he’ll post the list.
Braxton then asked about Brock Lesnar’s suspension. They recapped Lesnar attacking the officials and referees. Pearce talked about his medical bills and therapy sessions. He doubts that Lesnar’s suspension will end.
Charlotte Flair Segment
This was a fine segment. It ended with Flair hitting Storm with two pies. Storm didn’t fight back and just stood there. They set the pie spot up with the last match between Boogs and Angel.
Michael Cole interviewed Flair in the ring. Cole noted Flair must feel disappointed that she lost to Becky Lynch. Flair’s more upset with the referee. Flair downplayed Lynch’s victory last Sunday.
Toni Storm’s music hit, and she interrupted Flair. Storm assumed that Flair was calling her out. Storm got in Flair’s face and challenged her to a match. Flair mocked Storm, and a brawl broke out.
Flair rolled out to the ring near the table with the Thanksgiving leftovers from the previous match. Flair grabbed a pie and hit Storm in the face. Storm just stood there with pie on her face. Flair grabbed a second pie and hit Storm again. Storm didn’t do anything and looked like she was going to cry.
They recapped Sasha Banks teammates turning on her at the Survivor Series.
Earlier today, Sasha Banks approached Sonya Deville. Banks blamed Deville for picking her Survivor Series team and not letting her choose her partners.
Banks believes Naomi should have been on the team, but Deville wouldn’t let her. Deville denied having a problem with Naomi. Deville then announced Banks & Naomi vs. Natalya & Shayna Baszler.
They aired a second Xia Li comic book-style video. It revolved around a bully picking on her older brother until Li defended him. These are fun and creative segments.
Sasha Banks & Naomi defeated Natalya & Shayna Baszler (10:12)
Sonya Deville joined Cole and McAfee on commentary. Deville denied having an issue with Naomi or paying off the referee last week.
The heels had the early advantage as Baszler backed Naomi into their corner.
Naomi fought back and caught Natalya with a dropkick to the floor. Natalya took over with a slam on the floor. Baszler then rocked Naomi with a hard kick.
Baszler attacked Naomi from behind when Banks ran in and hit the backstabber on Baszler.
Back from the break, Naomi attempted a tag, but Baszler knocked Banks off the apron. Baszler took over and slowed the pace down. Naomi tried fighting back, but the heels regained control. Naomi fired back and hit a springboard split-legged double stunner on Baszler and Natalya.
Naomi went for the tag, but Baszler pulled Banks off the apron. Baszler beat down Banks, but Banks fought back and hit the Meteora.
Natalya regained control and hit a discus lariat for a near fall. Naomi ended up on the apron and hung Natalya on the top rope. She then hit a sunset flip on Natalya for the win.
After the match, Naomi got in Deville’s face, but Deville just kept clapping.
In the back, the wrestlers looked at the list of entrants in the Black Friday battle royal.
Drew McIntrye walked up, but Sheamus stopped him. Sheamus claimed that McIntyre’s name isn’t on the list. He laughed and walked off. Cole and McAfee wondered if Sheamus was telling the ruth. McIntrye wasn’t included in the graphic for the battle royal entrants. After the break, Cole and McAfee confirmed that McIntyre was not in the battle royal.
Edge returns Monday night on Raw.
Sami Zayn Won The Black Friday Battle Royal (14:23)
Participants: Sami Zayn, The Viking Raiders, Ricochet, Drew Gulak, Mansoor, Mace, Angel, Humberto, Jinder Mahal, Shanky, Jeff Hardy, Rick Boogs, Cesaro, Happy Corbin, Ridge Holland, Madcap Moss, and Sheamus.
This was a typical battle royal with some good moments especially towards the end. It also had the typical ending of the fans wanting Hardy to win but in the end they didn’t get what they wanted.
The match was about to start when Drew McInrye’s music hit, and he marched to the ring with his sword Angela. McIntrye cleared the ring with some of the entrants running into the crowd.
Adam Pearce ran out and tried to get McIntrye to leave the ring, but McIntrye refused to leave. He demanded Pearce enter him in the battle royal.
The battle royal started after the break. Cole noted McIntrye left the ring on his own.
They showed Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Paul Heyman watching in the back.
Cesaro tossed Gulak over the top rope, but he landed on the apron. Zayn then rocked Gulak with a kick for the first elimination. Mansoor went over the ropes and tried to skin the cat, but Sheamus and Holland knocked him out.
Moss threw out Mace and then Shanky for the next eliminations. Cesaro tried to sneak up on Moss but he fought back. Cesaro took advantage and threw out Holland. Moss snuck up behind Cesaro and eliminated him.
Moss tried to throw out Corbin but stopped. Corbin and Moss laughed, but then Corbin threw him out. Moss and Corbin laughed some more.
Back from the break, they showed Kayla Braxton at ringside. Cole noted she’s waiting to interview the winner.
Ivar and Corbin tried to eliminate Ricochet, but he held on to the rope. On the other side of the ring, Sheamus knocked Zayn to the apron, but he rolled back in the ring.
Angel took advantage and tossed out Boogs. Los Lotharios attacked The Viking Raiders, but the Raiders tossed out Angel and Humberto. The Raiders then knocked Zayn out of the ring, but he rolled under the bottom rope.
Sheamus quickly eliminated both Viking Raiders. The final five were Ricochet, Sheamus, Corbin, Hardy, and Zayn. Ricochet briefly ran wild, but Corbin cut him off.
Ricochet fought back, but Corbin hit a chokeslam backbreaker. Ricochet recovered and rocked Corbin with a missile dropkick. Sheamus got back to his feet and rocked Ricochet with the Brogue Kick. Sheamus then dumped out Ricochet.
It came down to Sheamus, Corbin, and Hardy in the ring. Zayn was on the floor and not eliminated, but Cole didn’t acknowledge him.
Hardy took over and beat down Corbin and Sheamus. The fans broke into a brief “Hardy” chant.
Hardy caught Sheamus with a back elbow and whisper in the wind. Hardy then threw Corbin into the ropes and hit the twist of fate. Sheamus and Corbin then decided to work together to eliminate Hardy.
Suddenly, Corbin turned on Sheamus and tossed him out of the ring. Corbin celebrated, but Hardy threw Corbin out to apparently win.
As Hardy celebrated, Zayn jumped back in the ring and eliminated Hardy to win the battle royal officially.
The Usos were happy that Zayn won the match.
After the match, Kayla Braxton went to interview Zayn, but she received breaking news. She announced that Brock Lesnar’s suspension is over, and he’ll be at SmackDown next week. Pearce wasn’t happy to hear this news.
SmackDown ended with an upset Reigns, Heyman and Usos hearing the breaking news.