WWE SmackDown Results, live recap, grades: Who has the advantage for WarGames? Paul Heyman has a secret, Roman Reigns-CM Punk to clash? Cody Rhodes potentially injured and more!

Check out the results for WWE SmackDown right here.

Bayley sends two-word message after replacing Jade Cargill in WarGames

Former WWE tag team champions tease massive heel turn after weeks of dissension

Paul Heyman issues a chilling warning to CM Punk if he refuses to join The OG Bloodline at Survivor Series 2024

That'll do it for Sportskeeda's live coverage of WWE SmackDown on USA Network! Be sure to return tomorrow as we cover AEW Collision and Survivor Series WarGames! Thanks for hanging out.

Jacob Fatu's win means The New Bloodline has the advantage going into WarGames. Fatu is unstoppable. Then Solo Sikoa and the rest of The New Bloodline meet Jacob on the ramp, hug him, and Solo mocks Jey as the show ends.

"This is awesome" chants as Fatu goes to the floor. Jey hits a suicide dive and Fatu is sent over the announce table to the floor. The crowd chants "yeet" as Jey begins to tear down the table. Jacob Fatu cuts him off with a superkick and then hits a Samoan Drop ON the announce table!

Fatu throws Jey into the ring and hits an Impaler DDT and this one is over. Instead, Jacob hits a springboard moonsault and then pins Jey. Insult to injury.

Jacob Fatu defeats Jey Uso by pinfall

Fatu hits a running hip attack in the corner. Jacob again says "I LOVE YOU, SOLO" and quickly nails a pop-up Samoan Drop for a near fall. Fatu climbs to the top rope and dives for a Swanton, but Jey got his knees up! Jey hits a Spear! He goes to the top rope for an Uso Splash and nails it! This is over! One, two, NO! THE SAMOAN WEREWOLF KICKS OUT!

After the ad break, Jacob Fatu is in full control. He goes for a Samoan Drop, but Jey slides down and Fatu crashes into the ring post twice. Jey keeps knocking Fatu down, but The Samoan Werewolf can't be stopped. Jey goes for a cross body from the top, but Fatu catches him and hits a Uranage. He then hits a rope-rebounded moonsault! Wow, he is so athletic!

Jey and Jacob lock up, with Fatu having the obvious power advantage. Jey starts to fight back, but Jacob dominates and yells "I LOVE YOU SOLO". Jey again fights back and sends Fatu to the floor. Jey hits the ropes and goes for a dive, but Jacob catches him and slams him into the table and barrier area.

We then go to presumably the final break of the show.

After the break, Jacob Fatu's music hits and he has an updated entrance. His entrance is so good. Real-life family members clashing right here, so this will be very interesting. Who will earn the advantage for their Survivor Series WarGames team?

Jacob Fatu vs. Jey Uso

This will be fun.

Jey Uso is being fired up by Jimmy Uso and Sami Zayn. Nick Aldis shows up and makes it clear Jimmy and Sami are also banned from ringside. Jey then comes out to a huge pop from the crowd!

Backstage, we see the medical team working on LA Knight who is still trying to recover from the mist. He is asked about his status for tomorrow. Knight says he will thrive at Survivor Series and continue to be champion. He says he'll drop Nakamura tomorrow night.

We get a Tiffany Stratton WWE Shop ad. Jey Uso vs. Jacob Fatu is NEXT.

Piper attempts a Piper Driver off the second rope, but Lash breaks things up. Piper knocks Lash down and goes for a second off the second, but Lash moves. Legend then hits the Lash Extension to Piper, but Michin hits a senton off the top and breaks the count! Michin then pins Piper for the win.

Michin defeats Lash Legend and Piper Niven by pinfall

Michin goes for a rana, but Lash powerbombs her for a near fall instead. This is really good, but the crowd isn't super hot for it after a double taping. They start to get more behind it in time for Piper to hit a double running senton for a two count.

Back from break and Piper hits a Michinoku Driver variant on Michin, but Lash breaks up the count. Piper levels Lash and Piper gets fired up, going for a Vader Bomb off the second rope. She hits it! Piper nearly wins, but Michin breaks the count up. Lash hits a brutal backbreaker on Michin. She then CHOKESLAMS PIPER! INCREDIBLE POWER!

Chelsea Green tried to interfere, but B-Fab showed up! B-Fab and Green fought off to the back. Piper called for Chelsea to return, only to eat a pump kick from Lash as we go to break.

Michin uses her quickness to avoid attacks, but gets leveled by a Cross Body from Piper. Lash lifts Piper up, but Michin knocks them both over. Piper rolls to the floor and Michin goes to the top for a rana and sends Lash to the floor too! Michin hits a punt kick to Piper on the apron and then a moonsault to both Piper and Lash! Wow!

After the break, Piper Niven comes out with Chelsea Green by her side. This is a Triple Threat Match as part of the Women's United States Championship Tournament. Next up, NXT's Lash Legend is out, notably without Jakara Jackson. Lastly, Michin comes out with brand new gear.

Piper Niven vs. Michin vs. Lash Legend

Any three of these women could win, so this is fun. Michin hits Piper with a kick immediately and avoids a strike from Lash.

Paul Heyman says that divided, we all fall to Solo; united, at best, we survive. Great line. Punk says he wants revenge for what Solo and company did to his friend Heyman. Punk says if they survive WarGames and they want to revisit this, he's all ears. Roman says "one time" and Punk says "one time, one favor". Roman says, "I owe you a favor?" and Punk says no, his friend, "our Wiseman," will owe him a favor. Wow.

Punk walks out, and Roman asks Heyman what the favor is. Paul says, "Let's get through WarGames first." That's very suspicious.

Punk says he isn't here for Roman; he's here for Paul. Roman sarcastically says he's happy for them. Reigns says he doesn't like Punk's tone or attitude or him. He says he doesn't want to team up with Punk at WarGames.

Paul says Solo has had them in checkmate since the Friday after WrestleMania. If they don't accept Punk's help, it's over. Paul then says if Punk doesn't help and Solo takes out the O.G. Bloodline, they're coming after CM Punk next.

Next, we go to the sit-down with Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Paul Heyman. It was filmed in a cinematic style. CM Punk isn't here, and Roman asks Heyman where he is. He is annoyed when Punk finally shows up.

They immediately bicker, with Roman saying he doesn't need Punk's help.

Both Melo and Cody go back and forth exchanging counters before Rhodes nails the springboard cutter! He then hits the CrossRhodes and this one is over. That was great.

Cody Rhodes defeats Carmelo Hayes by pinfall

Back from break and Cody Rhodes hits a stalling vertical superplex! Hayes recovers and the two go back and forth, leading to a tilt-a-whirl facebuster by Melo to Rhodes for a near fall.

Cody eventually goes for Figure Four, but he can't get Melo down. Carmelo hangs Cody up on the ropes and hits a springboard kick followed by a suplex cutter combination. This is very good.

Cody sends Melo to the floor and hits a dive. He goes back in the ring, but Melo kicks Cody's knee as he comes in. Carmelo goes for a springboard, but Rhodes avoids it and hits a Disaster Kick as we go to break.

The two lock up and the crowd loudly chants, "Cody." Needless to say, he's the favorite. Melo pushes Rhodes and puts him in a headlock. The two trade pin attempts. Melo avoids an uppercut, but Cody gets him with one after. Melo then slaps Cody in the mouth to set him off. Disrespectful!

After the break, Carmelo Hayes' entrance hits. He comes out with a microphone and says Cody won't stab someone in the back. He'll stab them in the heart. He asks who needs enemies when you have friends like Cody Rhodes. Carmelo says Cody will learn why he's HIM.

Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes

This should be excellent.

Next up, Cody Rhodes is here! He is going one-on-one with Carmelo Hayes. This starts NEXT.

Next, we get a video of Kevin Owens explaining his side. He talks about his issues with Roman Reigns over the years and mentions Cody not helping him. Kevin says he listed just some of the dozens of examples he could use to explain why Cody deserves everything he has coming to him. He says he'll turn The American Nightmare into The Canadian Dream at Saturday Night's Main Event.

Back from break and Tommaso Ciampa is fired up talking to Johnny Gargano. He mentions losing their titles in Cleveland and says they're not losers. Gargano says things changed. Ciampa says nothing changed. Alex Shelley just came into the picture, and he doesn't care if he's his mentor. Tommaso is annoyed saying Johnny sees his friendship as more important than them getting tag titles. Johnny asks to talk to them and Ciampa says he doesn't want to talk.

Ciampa tells Johnny he has one week to figure cr*p out, or it will be Ciampa's way. Will Johnny Wrestling turn heel? Will they split up?

The New Bloodline is backstage and Nick Aldis shows up. He says Jacob Fatu vs. Jey Uso is extremely important tonight and reveals everyone is banned from ringside. Solo seems annoyed but not worried.

Nakamura looks to attack Andrade post-match, but LA Knight races out. As soon as he does, Nakamura spits mist into LA Knight's eyes! Knight is blinded as Nakamura walks out. Notably, he used black mist. That was crazy!

Andrade goes for the double knees in the corner again, but Nakamura moves and Andrade hits the exposed turnbuckle! Nakamura pulled it off without anyone noticing! That's cheap! Nakamura awaits for Andrade to get to his knees and nails a vicious Kinsasha from behind and this one is over.

Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Andrade by pinfall

The crowd is now behind Andrade. He lifts Nakamura up for The Message but Shinsuke fights it. They both dodge each other's moves and Andrade levels Nakamura with his back elbow for a two-count! Andrade hits the Three Amigos with the last suplex into the ropes as the crowd offers dueling chants.

Back from break and Nakamura is in charge, but Andrade fights back and levels him. He kips up and slaps his thighs getting ready for the running knees. He charges, but Nakamura is back to his feet. He sends Andrade to the apron, who goes to climb the ropes, but Nakamura stops him. He goes to suplex Andrade off the ropes, but El Idolo knocks Nakamura down. Andrade then hits his moonsault off the top-miss-standing moonsault combination!

Andrade goes for a dive, but Nakamura hits a kick to stop it. Nakamura gets arrogant and climbs the ropes only for Andrade to hit a springboard dropkick, sending the former NXT Champion to the floor. Andrade then hits a Moonsault from the top to the floor!

The crowd respects both men, but some are chanting for Shinsuke. Interesting since he's the heel.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Andrade

This should be interesting. Two international legends. Nakamura also has an updated look, all in black. The match starts off hot with Andrade hitting a crossbody from the top. Nakamura uses strikes to take advantage, but Andrade fights back and hits a rana to send Shinsuke to the floor.

Back from break and former AEW star Andrade is in action! He'll be taking on Shinsuke Nakamura, who is making his in-ring return for the first time on television since after WrestleMania, which is 221 days. Notably, Nakamura's theme has been updated. It is darker, for sure. He has a brand new entrance in general.

Security and agents rush out to pull the women apart, but the crowd doesn't like it. They chant, "Let them fight." Eventually, the heels separate and stare down the babyfaces, who are in full control. Rhea tells Liv to "cry about it."

Liv brings up Jade being attacked and seemingly accuses Bayley of doing it. Rhea tells Liv to shut up and soon she'll deal with her. Morgan promises to break Rhea's face against the cage. Rhea says she'll cave Liv's face in so bad that the love of her life won't want to look at her. Liv teases the team attacking, but they bail. Rhea says she hates waiting and the babyfaces chase the heels to the floor and a melee begins!

Liv Morgan's theme interrupts and the entire Survivor Series WarGames heel team appears, including two RAW stars in Liv and Raquel. Nia brings up Bianca and Bayley's issues and The Role Model's past with IYO SKY. She also calls them losers. Naomi tells Nia to shut up. Bayley brings up tension with Nia and Tiffany, but the heels shut her down.

All five women are in the ring and the fans chant Mami. Rhea says it is obvious that not everyone on the team are best friends, but none of it matters because they'll be in WarGames. Naomi agrees and say they'll be beating down their opponents. Bianca then says one of them took Jade out last week, and she doesn't know who did it, but all five will get it.

After previewing what is to come tonight, Bianca Belair comes out twirling her hair, although not smiling. She is joined by Naomi, IYO SKY, Bayley, and Rhea Ripley. Rhea is wearing her face mask and Bayley is confirmed to be be part of the babyface team in WarGames.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas is over and it is time for Friday Night SmackDown on USA! The standard "Then. Now. Forever. Together." intro plays and we then get a recap of the returns of Paul Heyman and CM Punk from last week.

Tonight: Roman Reigns and CM Punk meet face-to-face!

Hey everyone, welcome to Sportskeeda's live coverage of Friday Night SmackDown on USA Network. Tonight's show will begin at 8 PM EST and it will be the final edition of SmackDown ahead of Survivor Series WarGames. The following has been promoted for tonight's big show:

- CM Punk and Roman Reigns will go face-to-face!
- Shinsuke Nakamura will return to the ring against Andrade.
- Piper Niven vs. Lash Legend vs. Michin.
- Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes.
- Jey Uso vs. Jacob Fatu.
- And More!