WWE SmackDown Results 12/15 - Roman Reigns Returns, Damage CTRL Vs. Michin & Zelina Vega

Reigns tells Green Bay to acknowledge him, then says it's both Christmas and promotion season. He declares himself as a fair Tribal Chief, then says it's about one man. He says this man has sacrificed everything imaginable over the past year, what representing his family means, and the man that will step up if anything happens to him. He calls on Jimmy to stand next to him in order to congratulate Solo Sikoa. Reigns then hugs Sikoa.

Randy Orton's music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Orton says he's been thinking about what he'll do or say to Reigns for the past eighteen months, but all he needs to say is that he's coming for him. He says that starts tonight when he faces Jimmy Uso and it ends at the Royal Rumble when he challenges him for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Reigns says the fans seem to think Orton deserves a title shot based on fan support, and while Orton's been thinking about this for eighteen months, he hasn't thought about him at all. He tells Orton he's done nothing to deserve a title opportunity and he should go to the back of the line, then tells Orton that he's levels above him and everyone else. He says if Orton has a match with him, then it's retirement for him because he will never come back.

Orton says Reigns may be right, and he's right about having evolved. He calls him a legend, then says he's evolved too. Orton says the one thing he will always be is a "Legend Killer", then looks to hit Reigns with an RKO. Reigns flinches it and manages to avoid the maneuver. Orton tells Reigns that maybe he should start thinking about him, then says the voices in his head just told him that Reigns was scared.

Grayson Waller then makes his way down to the ring. Carmelo Hayes follows. 

The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with submission holds on one another before Owens lands a senton and Theory slides out of the ring. He follows it up with a cannonball off the apron and dumps Theory back in the ring, then ascends to the top. Theory rolls onto the apron and Owens hops off the top. Theory then catches him with a jaw breaker off the top rope and follows it up with a rolling dropkick, then plants him spine first on the apron.

Back from the break, Theory and Owens teeter on the top. Owens fights Theory off and delivers a frog splash, then climbs back to the top and looks for a Swanton Bomb. Theory gets his knees up and Owens lands a boot, then delivers a series of right hands and stomps. He follows it up with a kick to Theory's jaw and a flying shoulder tackle, then follows it up with an Atomic Drop and an inverted DDT. Owens connects with a superkick, but Theory plants Owens with a springboard Spanish Fly.

The action spills to the outside, and Theory sends Owens crashing into the ring post. He then sends him colliding with the barricade and slides back in the ring, ordering the referee to begin a ten count. Owens slides back into the ring before the count ends, and Theory catches him with a Blockbuster. Owens and Theory once again find themselves on the top, but Owens escapes and drapes Theory from his knees. He delivers a cannonball and a Swanton Bomb, then goes for a pin but Theory kicks out. Theory then sends Owens' hand bouncing off the ring post and stomps on it on the ring steps. Owens then delivers a right hand to Theory (cast and all) for the win.

Winner: Kevin Owens

Back from the break, we head over to a cryptic message from Karrion Kross and Scarlett.

We then head backstage and see Kevin Owens walking around backstage. He runs into Cameron Grimes, who congratulates him on his victory. He then encounters Carmelo Hayes, who tells Owens that he needs to win the United States Championship Tournament more than he does. He says he isn't like Grayson Waller or Austin Theory.

We head over to a message from Damage CTRL, who put the women's division on notice. Bayley officially announces that she will be entering the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble and says that The Kabuki Warriors are coming for the Women's Tag Team Championship.

Back at ringside, The Kabuki Warriors make their way down. Michin and Zelina Vega blindside them on the ramp.

The bell rings and Orton wastes no time. He sends Jimmy crashing into the top turnbuckle face first, but Jimmy manages to slide out of the ring.

Back from the break, Orton sends Jimmy crashing into the announce desk spine first. He dumps him back inside the ring and rains down right hands on Jimmy in the corner, then stomps on his ankle. Jimmy responds with a series of right hands of his own on Orton in the corner and a Hip Attack, then fires off more right hands. Orton delivers a thumb to Jimmy's eye and sets up for a DDT off the ropes, but Jimmy escapes and dumps him out of the ring.

Back from another break, Orton catches Jimmy with a clothesline and a powerslam. Solo Sikoa makes his way down to the ring, but LA Knight is hot on his heels. He delivers a boot to his midsection at the top of the ramp, then sends him crashing into the barricade. This opens the door for Orton to hit an RKO on Jimmy in the ring for the win.

Winner: Randy Orton

Roman Reigns blindsides Knight on the ramp and stares down Orton in the ring as Paul Heyman holds up the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Reigns slides inside and exchanges right hands with Orton. Jimmy provides his cousin with a helping hand, and the pair fire off stomps on Orton. Knight slides in the ring to help Orton, but Sikoa joins in and helps the rest of The Bloodline beat down Knight and Orton. AJ Styles' music hits and he takes Reigns by surprise with a Phenomenal Forearm. The Bloodline retreats, leaving Styles, Orton, and Knight standing tall in the ring. Styles then delivers a clothesline to Knight as a stunned Orton looks on. He heads to the back, walking straight past The Bloodline. The Bloodline then stares down Orton and Knight in the ring as the show goes off the air.