• Roman Reigns defended the WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a Steel Cage match
  • Big E is crowned WWE Intercontinental Champion by defeating Sami Zayn in a Lumberjack match

Due to the Christmas calendar, WWE has held the recordings of the next episode of Friday Night SmackDown today, which will air on Friday, December 25. The special, to which SoloWrestling had access thanks to the WWE ThunderDome, has had a rematch between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship in a Steel Cage, or a Lumberjack match in which Sami Zayn would put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against Big E. Here are the full results of the recordings:

WWE Universal Championship – Steel Cage match

Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) (c) vs. Kevin Owens

The opener of the evening. Roman Reigns dominated the opening bars very aggressively over Kevin Owens and went so far as to reverse a Pop-Up Powerbomb attempt to a Leg Lariat. Owens resumed the offense from the middle of the fight thanks to a Fisherman Buster from the third rope, although Roman again countered a Stunner to a Spear, momentarily stopping the candidate’s momentum. In the closing minutes, Roman took Owens’ Frog Splash with his knees up and finished off with a Spear for a nice near fall. Owens was able to recover and despite the constant interventions of Jey Uso, he applied his Stunner to neutralize the champion and try to escape through the door. However, Uso trapped him with a wife in the cage, allowing his cousin to retain the championship.

Winner and STILL WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) escaping from the cage.

WWE Tag Team Women’s Championships – Tag Team Elimination Match

Asuka and Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair vs. Bayley and Carmella

Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan watched the action from backstage. In the first moments, an exchange between Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair stood out. Carmella had quite a role until the elimination of her team, which happened when Banks ironed Bayley with a Frog Splash after a KOD to Charlotte and a Spinebuster to Bayley, both for Bianca. Charlotte and Banks staged another frantic sequence in the dying moments and despite Bianca having a strong performance and several near falls over the champions, she was beaten by a combination of Asuka’s Codebreaker and Charlotte’s Natural Selection.

Winners and STILL WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Asuka and Charlotte Flair (c) via pinfall.

The Street Profits held a promo about the Christmas special from backstage but were interrupted by the screams of Sami Zayn, who rebuked a manager of the WWE social media team announcing that his match against Big E will be a Lumberjack.

Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso

Jey brutally attacked Bryan from behind during his entrance. Once the bell rang, he repeated the strategy throughout ringside, smashing Bryan into the barricades and metal steps. After an agonizing initial phase dominated by the Samoan, Bryan turned the tables with a Suicide Dive and a Back Superplex, in addition to punishing his legs with the metal corners of the ring. Uso tried to finish off with a Samoan Drop, but Bryan reverted to a surprise Crucifix Pin for a near fall. In a couple of final phases, Bryan was nearly knocked out with his opponent’s elbows aimed at the head but was able to dodge a Superkick and land his Busaiku Knee.

Winner: Daniel Bryan via pinfall.

WWE Intercontinental Championship – Lumberjack match

Sami Zayn (c) vs. Big E

The meeting featured Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, Chad Gable, Otis, Apollo, Drew Gulak, Lince Dorado, Akira Tozawa, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, Angel Garza, Calisto, Baron Corbin, Wesley Blake, Steve Cutler, Dolph Ziggler, and Bobby Roode as lumberjacks. Big E dominated most of the match and Sami just tried to escape whenever the opportunity presented itself. Sami got an important chance to retain in the final minutes after a Sunset Flip Powerbomb from the third string. Despite the Canadian’s efforts, Big E took the victory with a Belly to Belly followed by a Big Splash and the Big Ending.

Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion: Big E via pinfall.

After the match, Big E celebrated his first singles championship in more than six years with explosions of confetti and being held up by Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, Chad Gable, Otis, Apollo, Tozawa, Lince Dorado, and Drew Gulak.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR