WWE SmackDown Results, live recap, grades: Cody Rhodes humiliated and assaulted; Roman Reigns makes MASSIVE challenge; New champion potentially decided

Check out the results for WWE SmackDown right here.

Michael Cole confirms that returning star has officially moved to SmackDown after 74-day absence

Carmelo Hayes stunned after 385-pound WWE star makes return after two months

40-year-old WWE star threatens Nick Aldis about leaving SmackDown; calls Adam Pearce

Roman Reigns issues 6-word message during WWE SmackDown after blockbuster announcement

Solo Sikoa's segment on WWE SmackDown gets hijacked by 42-year-old star after calling out Roman Reigns

That'll do it for Sportskeeda's live coverage of WWE SmackDown on USA Network. Be sure to join us tomorrow as we cover Saturday Night's Main Event!

Referees and officials scream at Kevin to leave as Cody is left laying. The final shot is Cody in pain. Could he lose his title tomorrow?

Kevin Owens then blindsides Cody and they fight through gorilla! The two then make their way to the ringside area and fight off security before going at it in the ring. More security and officials pull them apart. When security pulls Cody away, Kevin takes the WWE Title and smashes Rhodes in the face with it! OUCH!

Kevin then says no matter how long Cody is champion or how many main events he's in, he will always be way more interesting as Stardust. A flustered Cody says he'll just go get Kevin right now and heads towards the back! The camera follows him through the gorilla position into the back.

Michael Cole asks what the surprise Triple H has for Cody, and then Kevin Owens interrupts from inside his car! He says he's tired of hearing about the golden boy. He then asks Michael to ask Cody why he's okay with using his friends to finish his story and then spitting in their faces by teaming up with Roman at Bad Blood.

Kevin tells Cody to tell the truth and admit he's as bad of a friend as he is a son and brother. Ouch.

Cody gets to the ring after hitting the "WHOA," but he's all business. Michael Cole is hosting the segment. Next, he welcomes Kevin Owens out. Kevin doesn't come out, however. It looks like he's blowing the segment off.

Cody says Kevin may not be here, but this wonderful crowd is. He then asks to conduct the interview one-on-one.

After presumably the final break of the show, CODY RHODES IS HERE! He comes out to a huge pop from the crowd.

Next, we see Tiffany Stratton sore backstage. Nia Jax walks up to her and pretends to be nice, saying not everyone is meant to be a singles champion like her. Candice LeRae shows up and reveals she and Nia will take on Naomi and Bianca for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles! She says that while Tiffany couldn't bring more gold to the group, now they can do it. Nia asks to go brainstorm.

Once Nia leaves, Candice says singles wrestling isn't her speed. Ouch! Driving a wedge, there.

Next, we get a vignette with Shinsuke Nakamura. He says the feeble will no longer be praised as victors and their flaws will be brought to light. He claims to leave them broken and humiliated and that LA Knight was just the beginning. He says he never deserved to be the United States Champion.

Nakamura channels Thanos and says he's inevitable.

Next, a black and white Motor City Machine Guns promo. They talk about what DIY did. Shelley says an 18-year relationship is done after what Gargano did, but he gets it because the WWE Tag Team Titles are the most important on the planet. Shelley says next week they'll find out why he's the teacher and Gargano is the student. Looks like a match is set for next week!

Piper pulls Chelsea Green to the floor to save her. Bayley dives off the top rope onto Chelsea and Piper, almost missing and crashing hard! Chelsea rolls into the ring and Bayley is nearly counted out before she barely gets in, only to eat a running knee and an Unprettier! WOW! Chelsea wins! Shocking!

Chelsea Green defeats Bayley by pinfall

Despite this being the rumored outcome, it's still shocking to see Chelsea pin Bayley.

Back in the ring, Chelsea manages to fight back and levels Bayley. Piper tells her to go to the ropes and Chelsea tries to hit the Vader Bomb but Bayley moves. Bayley then hits a sunset flip into the buckle for a near fall. This is good action.

Bayley goes for the Bayley to Belly, but Chelsea counters with a pin for a near fall. Chelsea then hits a Rough Ryder, honoring former WWE star and her husband Matt Cardona!

Chelsea Green eats a suplex on the floor and she cries out in pain. Yikes, that might be bad.

A Lion King ad briefly interrupts the match, but we get back in a matter of seconds. Bayley tries to fight back, but Chelsea pulls The Role Model down by her hair. On the apron, Chelsea locks in a sleeper but Bayley fights out. They begin trading blows before Bayley hits a move on the apron! Chelsea collapses to the floor.

The Hartford crowd is pretty quiet for this one surprisingly, despite both women normally receiving good reactions.

Following the commercial, Chelsea is in full control. She hits a facebuster and a unique pin, but Bayley kicks out at two. Commentary notes Chelsea has never held a singles title in WWE.

Green uses the ropes to choke Bayley.

The Role Model hits an arm drag and a running seated clothesline. Chelsea runs out of the ring again and the fans boo, so Bayley hits a baseball slide. Chelsea runs into the ring and Bayley follows, Piper distracts Bayley and then grabs her leg when the referee is distracted!

Back from the break and Chelsea Green makes her way out alongside Piper Niven.

Bayley vs. Chelsea Green

This is part of the Women's United States Championship Tournament that Chelsea is rumored to be winning. Are the rumors correct?

Bayley immediately gets Chelsea with a big move and Green complains on the floor. She goes back into the ring and takes control, hitting Bayley with a big right hand. She whips Bayley into the corner, but Bayley stops her momentum.

Next up, Bayley's music hits! She makes her way out, and she'll be taking on Chelsea Green as part of the Women's United States Championship Tournament after the break.

Backstage, Braun Strowman is walking with a towel. Pretty Deadly approaches him. They call him the perfect amount of hideous for a monster role in Pretty Deadly The Musical. Braun rejects their offer.

Byron then shows up, but A-Town Down Under cuts him off before he can interrupt Braun. They call Byron an idiot and tell him to leave before asking Braun to join them on The Grayson Waller Effect next week. Braun agrees.

Tama, Jacob, and Solo begin to beat down Knight when Andrade and Apollo Crews race out! They beat up Tama and Jacob, but Solo then levels both with the Samoan Spike. The Bloodline stands tall over the three battered bodies, but this isn't over.

Knight hits the top rope elbow on Sikoa and nearly wins, but Sikoa gets out at two. A furious Jacob Fatu then rises from the announce table and attacks Knight! This one is thrown out.

LA Knight defeats Solo Sikoa by disqualification

Fatu and Tama Tonga level Knight, and Fatu hits a running hip attack into the barricade. Knight is then thrown into the ring an deats a Samoan Spike!

Knight starts hitting big punches on Solo then a big clothesline! He clubs away at him and hits stomps in the corner and a running knee. He goes for the BFT, but Solo leaves the ring. Knight jumps off of the apron and clotheslines both Tama and Fatu! Fatu charges, but Knight backdrops him onto the table! Wow!

Solo gets into the ring and hits a superkick. He goes for the Samoan Spike, but LA ducks and hits a side effect!

During the commercial, Solo Sikoa does the drive-by kick that Roman Reigns uses; he then tries to steal his Superman Punch, but Knight counters and hits a back suplex!

Solo tries to throw Knight into the steps, but LA counters, and Solo crashes into them instead. From there, Knight starts punching Solo on the announce table. Back in the ring, Knight hits some big punches but gets leveled with a Samoan Drop! LA fights back and sends Solo to the floor.

He goes for a dropkick through the ropes, but Tama Tonga eats it instead. Solo then slams Knight onto the announce table!

Knight and Sikoa start throwing punches immediately. The crowd yells "yeah" with each strike, but Solo levels Knight with a splash attack. Solo pummels away at Knight, but LA counters with a kick and clothesline. He then sends Solo Sikoa to the floor. They go to fight, and Knight gets slammed into the ring post.

Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu have made their presence known.

Next up, Solo Sikoa makes his way to the ring with Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. Solo grabs a microphone as the crowd loudly boo and tells him he sucks. Then loud OTC chants start before he tells Hartford to acknowledge him. Solo goes to address Roman before Knight's music hits and interrupts!

Solo Sikoa vs. LA Knight

This should be interesting.

Carmelo storms off, saying he wasn't ready. We then go to LA Knight with Byron Saxton. He is asked about his match with Solo Sikoa tonight. He says he always handles his business and does it his way. Knight says he turned down getting involved in The Bloodline business at WarGames and mispronounces the Ula Fala, saying he doesn't need it. He needs gold.

He says he has no love for Roman or Solo and says they can go to hell. LA says Jey Uso is the only one worth anything and yeets. LA then says Solo let his red necklace get in the way of Knight's gold belt. That's breaking a Vince rule!

Carmelo dives off the top rope with a crossbody, but Braun catches him and hits a powerslam. He wins in what was effectively a squash. Was Melo just buried?

Braun Strowman defeats Carmelo Hayes by pinfall

Michael Cole says Braun is the first to move brands in the transfer window. Carmelo ducks a few clotheslines before crashing into Strowman. Strowman goes for an elbow drop but misses. Hayes goes after Braun but can't get him down. Strowman then charges and crashes into the ring post. Hayes hits a dropkick to the knee and a springboard DDT, but Braun kicks out at one!

Next up, Carmelo Hayes comes out to face a mystery opponent! It is noted that this is the newest member of the SmackDown roster. That man turns out to be BRAUN STROWMAN! This is Braun's TV return after an injury.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Braun Strowman

Not the surprise many were hoping for, but this is big for SmackDown.

WWE reveals a RAW Netflix Kickoff show will be at WWE HQ on Wednesday and will stream online. Logan Paul and others are advertised.

From there, Legado Del Fantasma is lecturing Nick Aldis. Santos teases they're better off with Adam Pearce and they storm off. Notably, Santos acted like he didn't know Adam's name. Then Carmelo Hayes shows up. He claims his opponent will be light work. The mystery opponent is revealed NEXT.

Roman then says January 6th RAW Netflix premiere, its Tribal Combat! He says to leave the tribes on the side and do Tribal Chief vs.Tribal Chief! He promises to take back his Bloodline, Ula Fala, and his respect. He says when he does, the world will have no choice but to acknowledge him.

Roman says they ran everything, but the spring into the summer saw everything fall apart. He mentions losing his title, his Wiseman, and The Bloodline. Roman says most importantly, he lost the Ula Fala.

Roman says he didn't take the Ula Fala, he was given it by Afa and Sika. He earned it.

Back from break and we get a look at The New Bloodline's actions from last week. From there, a special Roman Reigns segment is shown. He addresses Solo in a cinematic segment. With Paul Heyman, he says it has been a rough year.

Next, we see a promo by DIY. Johnny Gargano brings up the two losing their tag team titles in Cleveland to The Bloodline. Ciampa says they were screwed. Johnny says he was embarrassed in front of his two-year-old son. He says they said they'd do whatever it took to right the wrong.

Tommaso brings up MCMG jumping to the front of the line and taking their spot. They said they do whatever it takes even if it means taking out MCMG.

Promoted next: Roman Reigns!

The two fight near the ropes and Michin channels Taijiri with a Tarantula. Shortly after the referee breaks it, Tiffany hits her tilt-a-whirl Alabama Slam for a near fall. Loud "Let's go Tiffy" chant. They're cheering the heel over the babyface!

Michin climbs the ropes but takes too much time. Tiffany hits a rolling senton and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Michin was supposed to move. She didn't move fast enough, however, and Tiffany hit it. Instead, she basically did not sell it and hit the Eat Defeat for the win!

Michin defeats Tiffany Stratton by pinfall

That was a botched ending, but the match was really fun. Michin advances!

Back from break and Tiffany goes for another apron dropkick, but Michin moves. Michael Cole mentions Tiffany Stratton could have injured her ankle there. Michin hits a soccer kick then two Tornado DDTs in the ring for a near fall!

Tiffany and Michin start to fight out on the apron and The Blasian Baddie gets dropped. Tiffany then runs and hits a huge dropkick. She then poses to the camera as we go to break.

Next, Tiffany Stratton's music hits! She gets to the ring followed by Michin. This is part of the Women's United States Championship Tournament.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Michin

Michael Cole mentions Michin being a former TNA Women's Knockouts Champion, that's fun. The two go right at it with Michin hitting a kick and a rana.

Back from break and Nick Aldis is lecturing Drew further. He reveals McIntyre was there for a meeting. Bianca Belair and Naomi then show up. Drew gives them space. Nick says the investigation is still ongoing. He says it leaves them in an awkward situation with the Women's Tag Team Titles, but Bianca doesn't want to do that. Naomi says if Bianca needs a partner, she can step up to the plate. Bianca brings up this has been done before.

Nick says he'll run it up the flagpole and if this happens, they'll have to be fighting champions, defending as soon as next week. Aldis then goes into his locker room with Drew.

From there, we see Tiffany Stratton working out and getting ready for her match with Michin. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae show up. Nia seems to hype Tiffany up, while Candice is being sneaky and maybe up to no good. Those two will clash sooner or later.

From there we go to break.

Drew McIntyre blasts Jimmy with the Claymore! Medical and Nick Aldis instantly come out and Aldis pushes Drew. McIntyre walks out smiling while Nick scolds him walking up the ramp.

He says he watched his twin become one of the hottest superstars today. He says he's even proud of Solo, even if he doesn't like what he's doing. Jimmy says people are asking him what's next and he says he doesn't know. He teases winning the Royal Rumble or chasing the US Title. He teases going after the Undisputed WWE Title. He says there is no Roman, Paul, CM Punk, Jey, or Sami here, but a new year is coming for him.

Then DREW MCINTYRE SHOWS UP!

The crowd starts chanting Yeet and he jokes that's the wrong twin. He said WarGames was lit and it didn't get him, but it got his big toe. He goes over the match before discussing what's next. Jimmy says he's seen his family dominate for years. He calls Roman the most dominant champion. Loud "OTC" chants.

Next up.. JIMMY USO IS HERE! He comes out with a crutch, but this is a nice surprise. Commentary mentions his broken toe.