WWE SmackDown Live Results (December 8, 2023): CM Punk calls out everyone, possible injury, Roman Reigns' return revealed

Check out the results for WWE SmackDown right here.

[VIDEO] CM Punk hilariously references getting fired from AEW on SmackDown

Massive title implications as WWE star wins on SmackDown; Dominik Mysterio was at ringside

CM Punk set to talk with Shawn Michaels; explosive announcement teased on WWE SmackDown

Cody Rhodes has emotion-filled moment on WWE SmackDown

Randy Orton tells Nick Aldis he didn't know who 41-year-old SmackDown star was until last week

LA Knight and Randy Orton had an interesting dynamic. There was apparent "alpha male" tension between the two. As they celebrate their win, Michael Cole again plugs Roman Reigns' return next week.

That's a wrap. Thanks for hanging out with us. Be sure to come back tomorrow for Sportskeeda's coverage of NXT Deadline!

Orton drags Jimmy back to the ring and hits the draping DDT. "Vintage Randy Orton!" Cole excitedly yells. Randy then preps for the RKO, but Solo attacks him from behind. He gears up for the Samoan Spike but eats a DDT instead. Jimmy tries to superkick Knight, but Knight goes for the BFT, only for Orton to stop and hit Jimmy with an RKO. This one is over!

Randy Orton and LA Knight defeats The Bloodline

Solo charges for a corner hip attack and hits it. Jimmy is happily clapping, and Knight is in trouble. He needs the tag. Jimmy gets back in, and he's extra cocky, chopping Knight and mocking him. Solo tags back in now. Knight finally manages to get free, and he tags in Orton!

Randy attacks Jimmy and Solo. Knight then runs back and dropkicks Solo. Orton then beats Jimmy down, even hitting the backdrop on the table!

Back from break, Randy Orton is down but tags in Knight, who shifts momentum in a big way. He takes it to Solo to loud YEAH chants and even knocks Jimmy off the apron, but his momentum is stopped thanks to a belly-to-belly suplex!

LA Knight is getting battered down by repeated clubs and stomps. He attempts to fight back but gets leveled by Sikoa.

LA Knight and Randy Orton are out next to massive ovations. Orton immediately gets the upper hand over Jimmy Uso, repeatedly stomping him. Cole mentions how Orton is tied in second place with the most world title reigns alongside Triple H. They're behind John Cena and Ric Flair, tied at 16.

Knight gets in and beats on Jimmy. Orton and Knight show a bit of miscommunication when Orton tags himself back in. Solo comes in and has a stand-off with Randy, only for Jimmy to flatten Orton from behind as we go to break.

Roman Reigns returns next week! Wow!

Also, next week:

Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller vs. an unknown NXT star as part of the United States Championship Tournament.

More Tribute to the Troops content airs, followed by a video package of Kevin Owens vs. Grayson Waller last week and his issues with Logan Paul.

Backstage, Orton is shown working out. LA Knight is there... and then CM Punk! Punk wishes them luck and walks off. Orton asks if Knight is ready for tonight, and he answers with a simple "Yeah." Things are heating up. Next, Solo Sikoa's music plays, and Jimmy Uso is out with him.

Main event time!

Backstage, Nick Aldis is seen with CM Punk. He is handed a contract. Then Cody Rhodes walks in. Cody says he heard what Punk said and that for Punk to finish his story, he'd need to win the Royal Rumble. Cody calls it interesting but shakes Punk's hand. Who can finish their story?

Back from break, both women are down. Michael Cole says Asuka dropped Charlotte on the back of her head during the break. Asuka hits several big kicks to The Queen, but Charlotte recovers with a backbreaker.

Both women are now down and out. Charlotte is limping but goes for a Figure Eight. Bayley then shows up and pulls Charlotte out of it behind the referee's back.

Charlotte angrily tries to attack Bayley but gets rolled up by The Empress, and this one is over!

Asuka defeats Charlotte Flair by pinfall.

Bayley is ecstatic that she helped successfully this time.

Charlotte and Asuka begin fighting outside the ring, eventually leading to Flair hitting a backdrop onto the barricade.

Charlotte climbs to the top and goes for a Moonsault but mostly misses it. The commentary mentions that she barely got it as we go to break—an unfortunate botch.

As Damage CTRL makes their entrance, Michin and Zelina Vega show up! They attack Kairi and IYO in retaliation for past attacks. Bianca Belair and Shotzi then show up to help. Kairi, IYO, Michin, Zelina, Bianca, and Shotzi then fight off to the back.

This leaves just Asuka and Charlotte who immediately go at it.

As the bell rings, Asuka strikes, but gets a backdrop from The Queen. Flair then hits a big kick and her handstand clothesline.

Back from the break, CM Punk is shown walking backstage. He pauses, seeing The Bloodline's locker room and debates going in. Kevin Owens then walks up to him. Punk asks if he's seen Aldis' locker room, and Kevin says, "Nope". Punk says, "Thanks for the help," and they walk away from each other with clear tension.

Asuka and Damage CTRL are out next, sans Bayley, for the match to officially begin.

After Punk leaves, Charlotte Flair makes her way out.

Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

This one will start after the break.

CM Punk reveals that he'll talk to Adam Pearce, Nick Aldis, and even Shawn Michaels about what brand he can go to over the weekend. Could he go to NXT?

He says there's a lot of talk about finishing stories, but he's here to finish his story: the main eventing WrestleMania. Wow, what a promo.

Punk then talks about Seth Rollins but doesn't mention him by name. He notes that Rollins has a song and a whiny voice and isn't even "The Man" in his household.

CM Punk mentions Kevin Owens. He said Kevin's a bit prickly and that they are probably too much alike. He says he doesn't know who would feel comfortable working with somebody who randomly punches people in the face backstage, saying it's 2023. Obviously, he's talking about his AEW incident.

CM Punk took a shot at Roman Reigns, saying he's never here. He says he acknowledges him, then warns him not to forget who the O.G. Paul Heyman guy is and that he was his Wiseman first. He then calls out Solo and praises Jey Uso.

Punk says he could hang out with Jey on RAW or scrap with Jimmy Uso on SmackDown. He asks if he can trust someone like Randy Orton. He says LA Knight would probably team up with him.

Punk says an old friend who welcomed him back home says, "What do you guys want to talk about?" alluding to Cody Rhodes. He says some people are upset that he's happy-go-lucky and says he's happy, but he will welcome being the spicy CM Punk fans know and love. He says he's at home and getting comfortable putting his feet on the couch.

CM Punk says it isn't "what do you want to talk about" but "who do you want him to talk about."

JBL, Michael Cole, and Kevin Patrick put over Punk big-time as loud CM Punk chants echo over his music. Punk says he has good news: he isn't at the end of the show, so his time can't get cut, and if they want to chant, chant.

The crowd loudly chants for him. He says the question of the hour is where he will sign. Punk says he's going to leave it up to the fans partly. He asks if they want him on RAW, and the SmackDown crowd boos.

He asks if they want him on SmackDown, and they cheer. He then asks if they want him to throw 29 stars over the top rope, win the Royal Rumble, and headline WrestleMania. The crowd erupts and chants CM Punk.

Back from the break, the commentary hypes up WrestleMania week shows, and another Tribute to the Troops video airs.

Now, CM Punk's music hits! He comes out to a huge ovation.

The following is previewed for RAW:

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Cody Rhodes.
- CM Punk will reveal where he signs with.
- Drew McIntyre's path of destruction will continue.

A video package of Bianca Belair defeating Kairi Sane last week airs, thanks to Bayley. Damage CTRL is shown fired up backstage without Bayley. Once The Role Model shows up, they stop smiling.

Bayley apologizes if she messed things up last week and says she'll volunteer to stay in the back. She then tries to hype Asuka up.

Dakota says it is a good idea and Bayley should hang back, but the rest will be ringside with Asuka. Bayley looks disappointed as they walk away. The tension continues. And now CM Punk is up next!

Lashley begins to pick up momentum, hitting a big clothesline and then a beautiful suplex. From there, he lifts Kross for a powerslam, but Karrion slides down. He charges at Bobby only to be hit by a spinebuster. The crowd is firmly behind Lashley, who hits a Spear on Kross, and this one is over.

Bobby Lashley defeats Karrion Kross by pinfall.

Bobby Lashley advances to the next round and will face Santos Escobar.

Back from break, Karrion Kross is in control. Brad, the guest commentator, brings up Karrion not wrestling since losing to AJ Styles in August. Kross goes for a big blow, but Bobby begins to fight back, only to be leveled with a superkick. Lashley kicks out at two when Kross goes for the pin.

The match begins with Kross showing intensity, but Lashley goes for The Hurt Lock. Kross manages to avoid it and levels Lashley with a stiff strike.

Kross throws Lashley to the stairs outside the ring, but Bobby jumps over them to avoid hitting them. He then runs up the steps and levels Kross with a clothesline.

Back in the ring, Lashley hits a belly-to-belly overhead suplex and a clothesline back out of the ring as we go to break.

Back from the break, Lashley talks about his Marine service.

Karrion Kross is now out with Scarlett, and he gets his full entrance. Kross had been absent for quite some time before this.

The NFL's Brad Nessler is a guest commentator for the next match.

Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross

This match is also part of the United States Championship Tournament. Lashley is out on his own without The Street Profits.

Cody Rhodes takes the mic and asks what Providence wants to talk about. He talks about Tribute to the Troops and a video package airs, highlighting the concept.

Cody then introduces a drill team. Well, that was lackluster. No exciting Roman tease or anything.

Back from break, a few clips related to Tribute to the Troops air, then a brief graphic promoting Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka tonight.

Then Cody Rhodes' music hits!

We then go to a video package showcasing Randy Orton's SmackDown return and The Viper signing with the brand last week.

Backstage, Nick Aldis is seen with Randy Orton. The latter complains about a tag team match booked for tonight, noting he doesn't even know LA Knight and can't trust him. It is then revealed that Nick fined Orton 50,000 dollars for last week's attack. Orton paid him an extra 50,000 for "next time."

Cody Rhodes is next!

While fans seem into the match, a few chant 'JBL' before the action continues. Lee counters a clothesline and hits a big powerbomb for the two count! Some fans also started chanting for "Mami" before Santos hit the Phantom Driver on Dragon Lee! This one is all over.

Santos Escobar defeats Dragon Lee by pinfall.

Santos advances in the United States Championship Tournament. Post-match, Dominik taunts Lee in the ring.

Back from break, Dragon Lee is building momentum. He knocks Santos down several times before hitting a big superkick in the corner. He then follows it up with a corner dropkick.

He attempts his finisher, but Santos counters it, trying for his own. Lee slides out and hits a big German suplex only to run into a superkick for the nearfall.

The match starts intensely, with Dragon Lee sending Santos to the floor. Dominik and Santos aren't friends, but they have mutual enemies right now.

Dragon Lee runs up the ropes, but Santos cuts him off by pushing him down to the apron. From there, Escobar hits a neckbreaker using the ropes for assistance.

The Emperor of Lucha Libre trash-talks Lee before charging in the corner, but he gets tossed over the top. Lee attempts to hit his running rana to the floor but gets powerbombed on the apron! We then go to break.

Santos Escobar comes out to hate from the crowd, while Dragon Lee has a very cool entrance with added smoke.

Then, before the match begins, Dominik Mysterio's music shockingly hits! He will battle Dragon Lee at NXT Deadline tomorrow.

Michael Cole and Kevin Patrick are joined by WWE Hall of Famer JBL for tonight. JBL helped create the Tribute to the Troops concept two decades ago. They then promote CM Punk's return scheduled for tonight. Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar is up first!

Santos Escobar vs. Dragon Lee

This match is part of the United States Championship Tournament.

The special Tribute to the Troops edition of Friday Night SmackDown starts with a USA chant from the crowd. Musical act The War and Treaty sings God Bless America.

Hey everyone, welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of WWE Friday Night SmackDown. The following is being promoted for the show:

- CM Punk's return.
- LA Knight & Randy Orton vs. The Bloodline.
- The United States Championship Tournament begins.
- & much more!