WWE began wrapping up an incredible 2024 with SmackDown airing the second of two shows taped from the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Drew McIntyre and The Bloodline are considering joining forces to eliminate The OG Bloodline and Roman Reigns, respectively. Solo, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga defeated LA Knight, Andrade and Apollo Crews with a little help from United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. Alex Shelley would suffer a late night loss to Johnny Gargano as DIY's dominant resurgence continues.
Carmelo Hayes had an incredible week as he defeated Braun Strowman and put him backstage with a steel chair in retaliation for his loss to The Monster Among Men last week. Bianca Belair and Naomi successfully defended their Women's Tag Team Championship against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae in the night's Main Event. Tiffany Stratton watched with her briefcase in her hands, but still hasn't pulled out her Money In The Bank briefcase.
1
The Lineage of Drew McIntyre and Solo
An unholy union beckons to begin 2025
We are about to enter a new year and a new era in WWE. Certainly a new year will come with new alliances. As the current Tribal Chief announced his Tribal Combat match with Roman Reigns on the company's Netflix premiere night, Drew Mcintyre made the bold decision to stop Solo Sikoa before reaching a truce. It was uncomfortable from the start, but things would get interesting quickly.
“I'm going to do this quickly because it makes me physically sick to be this close to you and not beat you for the rest of your life” – Drew McIntyre for Solo Sikoa
This has been a very good 2024 for The Scottish Warrior, but rumors are circulating that Drew McIntyre will be a major player in WWE in 2025. His vest and cut leather look, the confident aura he exudes, and asking Solo if he stays up at night wondering when Drew will come get him. Drew declared to withdraw all OG lineage and insists that Solo Sikoa should beat Roman before they finish their business. Drew's threat is believable, despite Jimmy Uso arriving to crush him with a crutch to end the segment, and Solo should keep this enemy closer than his friends.
2
Naomi
Jade Cargill's absence made everyone feel the glow
The SmackDown Main Event was for the Women's Tag Team Championship and Bianca Belair and Naomi successfully defended their titles against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. As Nia Jax continues to go down the reckless path of ostracizing Tiffany Stratton in favor of Candice, Ms. Money In The Bank's appearance after LeRae patronized her for losing her qualification for the United States Championship was enough to cause a distraction that led to her ” loss of friends. The climax of this story will certainly arrive soon.
As for the new champions, find out on December 20, 2024 that This column suspects that Naomi is responsible for injuring Jade Cargill. His distrust when anything related to this situation is mentioned and his small remorse for taking advantage of Cargill's absence are grounds for speculation. Belair and Naomi seem more like a partnership of convenience than conviction, despite being trustworthy friends. Keep an eye on how this develops.
3
Jacob Fatu
In praise of one of WWE's best performers
It could be Solo's lineage, but Jacob Fatu has been unmissable since joining WWE. Consider that most people watching WWE's weekly product didn't know The Samoan Werewolf existed just six months ago. He shares the in-ring chemistry with the agility of Andrade and Apollo Crews and the personality of LA Knight in an entertaining 6-man tag team match to start the show, but his intensity and agility are still a novelty to be seen on weekly television.
Solo Sikoa would get the pinfall victory after a Samoan Spike pulverized on Crews, and some intense heat with the crowd. LA Knight would again fall victim to a sneak attack by Shinsuke Nakamura. However, even though he was far from history in this match, Jacob Fatu is the man most likely of these six to taste gold in 2025. Bloodline continues to be one of WWE's biggest threats and Jacob Fatu is their biggest weapon. Believe this.
4
Carmelo Hayes
A great performance in an important week for Melo
With his summer dance partner Andrade putting on an incredible showing against The Bloodline, Carmelo Hayes wasted no time making up for his failure on last week's SmackDown. Braun Strowman awkwardly participated in The Grayson Waller Experience while dressed as jolly old Saint Nic, Santa Strowman would be interrupted by a furious Carmelo Hayescomplaining that he was taken by surprise by the match. This would be just the beginning of Melo's big night.
Getting the rematch and winning by countout, Carmelo Hayes was still unhappy with the night's work. Running out of the arena after his victory, Strowman chased Hayes and hunted backstage for the former NXT Champion. Hayes would blind Strowman with a steel chair to comprehensively dominate him on this week's program. Let’s hope this is a sign of what’s to come for Him in 2025.
5
Kevin Owens
Another week, another KO storm
His righteous indignation was captivating, his violence was reprehensible, and Kevin Owens ends 2024 as the most dangerous man in WWE. Following an update on his heinous attack on Cody Rhodes post-match on Saturday Night's Main Event, Owens won the Winged Eagle Championship and delivered an ominous messagein a dimly lit promo that echoed the gritty nature of an old-school ECW promo.
Every word and action KO offers is touching a nerve right now. It's everything you could want from your company's main villain and yet another reminder that Kevin Owens is one of the most talented artists of his generation. If Cody Rhodes was the right man to boldly lead WWE into the future, Kevin Owens is the right man to play WWE in Netflix's first big villain.
“It could get much worse. You don't want me to freak out. What happens next is up to all of you.” -Kevin Owens
6
A city below
Waller and the theory remain on the brink
After a commendable title reign as Tag Team Champions and a few months of flirting with breaking up, A-Town Down Under has spent much of this year on the periphery of SmackDown's main angles. Being used as a storyline for the rivalry between Carmelo Hayes and Braun Strowman this segment did little for the team other than making fans hope that this union would come to an end in 2025. Not even Santa Strowman could save him.
The wider wrestling audience may be ambivalent or hateful towards Austin Theory, but Grayson Waller is one of WWE's most underrated performers. Both in interviews and on SmackDown, Waller has a natural talent for antagonizing anyone who dares to breathe the same air as him. Even with messages, praising Strowman for throwing gifts to “the poor people of Hartford, CT” drew a laugh. It's time for these two men to return to singles competition.
7
Alex Shelley
The first major Motor City machine gun misfire
Even if you aren't aware of the tag team's legendary reputation, the Motor City Machine Guns quickly made a name for themselves in WWE. They fought their way to the SmackDown Tag Team Titles in the blink of an eye, only lost the titles to the antics of new heel DIY, and won over crowds every Friday night. The reaction to this singles loss to Alex Shelley felt like a misfire however.
Let's get this out of the way first. There is no shame in losing to Johnny Gargano. His Johnny Wrestling moniker was earned on screens around the world with blood and sweat, and grabbing Shelley's pants was a devious way to claim victory. It was more the “hey, it's not fair” nature of his protest after that, which seemed odd with the bolder nature of the company's in-person bookings in 2024. The Motor City machine guns will be back in the W column in the near future, but this was a bad night at the office.
-
All of this is leading to the return of the Winged Eagle Championship, isn't it? *rubs the lucky rabbit's foot*
-
Drew McIntyre and Solo Sikoa have met once before in a no contest draw on a September 9, 2022 episode of SmackDown.
-
2025 needs to be the year that the “what?” the song dies forever. How are we still here?
-
Raw's new logo is great, but the overkill in this week's promo video was nauseating.
-
Contrary to Corey Graves' boast in the comments, Johnny Gargano defeated him as part of a Fatal Four Way for the AIW Absolute Title on June 27, 2010.
-
Kevin Owen's wink to sign his vignettes is pure gold.
-
Pretty Deadly: The Musical is expected to be better than Wicked, West Side Story and Hamilton combined.
-
Carmelo Hayes' mic work and star power continue to improve. Telling Nick Aldis “you can’t humiliate greatness” is a superstar move.
-
This was the first time Bianca Belair and Naomi faced each other in a 2 vs 2 tag team match.
-
It looks like Tiffy Time will arrive on January 6th on Netflix.