WWE SmackDown: Tribute To The Troops Review – December 8, 2023
Kicking off Tribute To The Troops with The War & Treaty signing God Bless America.
Quarter Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar
Dragon Lee connects with a boot then clotheslines Santos Escobar out of the ring but Escobar quickly slides back in as Lee catches him with a hurricanrana then Escobar slides back out of the ring and Lee goes flying over the top rope to take him out.
He gets him back in the ring and delivers a hurricanrana that sends him crashing into the corner then delivers a boot to his face from the apron and connects with a superkick.
Escobar delivers a headbutt to Lee in the corner then charges at him before Lee manages to send him onto the apron and looks for a hurricanrana but Escobar catches him and powerbombs him onto the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Lee delivers a clothesline to Escobar and gets him up on his shoulders but Escobar escapes and Lee delivers a dropkick to him in the corner. Escobar connects with a back elbow but Lee hits him with a German suplex and runs the ropes.
Escobar catches him with a boot then gets him up on his shoulders and looks to plant him but Lee counters into a roll up but Escobar kicks out then Lee delivers a sit out powerbomb to Escobar and goes for a pin but Escobar kicks out.
Lee delivers a knee to Escobar then ascends to the top rope but Escobar trips him and gets him up on his shoulders planting him with Phantom Driver for the win.
Winner: Santos Escobar (9:09)
Rate: 7
After the match NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio stands over Lee and shows off his North American Title to him to send him a message ahead of their title match at NXT Deadline tomorrow night.
We then head backstage to Randy Orton walking into Nick Aldis’ office to hand him the money following his fine for hitting him with an RKO last week. Orton questions why he’s teaming with LA Knight. Aldis explains that both him and Knight want to get their hands on The Bloodline then questions why the check is $100,000 instead of $50,000 and Orton says the remainder is for next time it happens.
Rhodes asks Providence what they want to talk about then says he knows what they should talk about. He says Tribute To The Troops is a special night and says he’s proud to be part of the team and carrying the tradition. He thanks the servicemen and servicewomen in the arena at home on behalf of WWE then throws it to a video showcasing highlights for Tribute of the Troops over the past 21 events then introduces the United States Army Drill team.
Quarter Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross
Karrion Kross wastes no time firing off strikes on Bobby Lashley then hits a knee to his midsection then follows it up with several boots before the action spills to the outside and Lashley levels Kross.
He gets him back in the ring then delivers a splash in the corner and follows it up with a suplex then clotheslines Kross out of the ring as we go to a break.
After the break Kross delivers a suplex to Lashley and follows it up with a boot then looks for Kross Hammer but Lashley sees him coming and lands a flatliner.
He then delivers a clothesline and a splash in the corner before hitting a swinging leg hook fireman’s carry slam and a vertical suplex then follows it up with a Spear for the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley (9:46) (He will face Santos Escobar in the Semi Finals)
Rate: 6
We then head backstage to Damage CTRL. Bayley volunteers to stay in the back during Asuka’s match against Charlotte Flair later tonight and Dakota Kai informs her that herself and the rest of Damage CTRL still intend to be at ringside.
CM Punk says he has good news. He says he won’t be getting his time cut tonight and encourages fans to chant for him. He says Adam Pearce is trying to sign him to Raw and fans were louder on that show. He addresses which brand he’s going to sign with and says he’ll partially be leaving it up to fans. He asks fans if they’d rather see him on Raw or Smackdown and the overwhelming majority of the audience vote for them with their cheers. He says an old friend of his likes to ask fans what they want to talk about and says while he’s famous for talking he does listen. He says that some people don’t like this happy go lucky version of him then says it’s not about what he talks about with the fans but rather who they talk about. He says he could talk about Cody Rhodes and has stories to tell about him or they could talk about someone who is never here Roman Reigns. He says he acknowledges Reigns but tells him not to forget who the original Paul Heyman guy is. He says Reigns isn’t in Providence but his cousins are. He says he doesn’t know Solo Sikoa well but he’s quite familiar with Jimmy Uso. He congratulates Jey Uso on his recent success and says he has to consider factors such as whether or not he wants to fight Jimmy on Smackdown or befriend Jey on Raw. He addresses Jimmy Uso & Sikoa’s match against Randy Orton & LA Knight then asks if he can trust them. He says maybe he could fight Kevin Owens and they’re too much alike. He references Seth Rollins and says he’s hear to listen to fans and to hear Nick Aldis, Shawn Michaels & Adam Pearce out. He says he is the monkey wrench in everyone’s plans and future goals then says he’s back to finish what he started. He says he begins his journey to finish his story on Monday and that means main eventing WrestleMania.
Women’s Champion Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane are blindsided by Zelina Vega & Michin on the ramp. They look to retreat but Bianca BelAir & Shotzi block their path.
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
Asuka wastes no time firing off kicks on Charlotte Flair’s thigh then Flair delivers a back suplex but Asuka lands a back elbow before Flair connects with an enzuigiri and a dropkick through the bottom rope on the outside then fires off chops.
Asuka sends her crashing into the ring post then delivers a sliding knee to her off the apron then Flair sends her crashing into the barricade and delivers a moonsault off the top rope as we go to a break.
After the break Flair locks in the Figure 8 but Bayley knocks Flair out of position then Flair looks to send Asuka crashing into Bayley on the apron but Asuka stops her momentum before she can. Flair clocks Bayley & that opens the door for Asuka to roll her up for the win.
Winner: Asuka (6:42)
Rate: 5
We head backstage and see Nick Aldis hand CM Punk an envelope. Cody Rhodes walks in after Aldis leaves and tells Punk it sounds like he needs to win the Royal Rumble Match to finish his story. He says that’s interesting and shakes Punk’s hand.
Tag Team Match
The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa) vs. Randy Orton & LA Knight
Randy Orton fires off stomps on Jimmy Uso in the corner then LA Knight tags in and lands a right hand on Jimmy then delivers a low dropkick.
Orton tags himself in as Knight runs the ropes, and Sikoa tags in on his side as Sikoa & Orton stare each other down and Jimmy clocks Orton from behind as we go to a break.
After the break Orton delivers a back suplex to Jimmy before Sikoa & Knight tag in and Knight fires off right hands on Sikoa. He hits a neckbreaker and fires off stomps in the corner.
Sikoa responds with a belly 2 belly suplex and sends Knight crashing into the mat then delivers a hip attack. Jimmy tags in and delivers a chop to Knight then Sikoa becomes legal again and Knight is whipped into the corner.
Sikoa looks for a hip attack but Knight sees him coming and ducks out of the way & he hits a bulldog off the middle rope and tags in Orton. Jimmy becomes legal and gets leveled with a pair of clotheslines from Orton.
Orton then catches him with a powerslam but Jimmy pulls him out of the ring then Orton sends his face bouncing off the announce desk then sends him crashing on top of it.
He gets him back in the ring and delivers a DDT off the middle rope before Sikoa clocks him from behind and fires off right hands.
He looks for Samoan Spike but Knight catches him with a DDT then looks to hit Jimmy with a BFT but Orton intervenes and lands an RKO to get the win for his team.
Winners: Randy Orton & LA Knight (11:34)
Rate: 6
After the match Orton holds up Knight’s hand and they stand tall.
Next Week’s Smackdown
Quarter Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Grayson Waller vs. TBD (NXT)
Quarter Final Match Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Austin Theory vs. Kevin Owens
