SmackDown Results – December 8, 2023 (Tribute To The Troops)
It’s a big night as CM Punk is on Smackdown for the first time in about ten years, but it’s also a special event. This is the annual Tribute To The Troops, which is taking place on Smackdown rather than as a stand alone show. That should make for a pretty important show, especially with so much time to kill before the Royal Rumble. Let’s get to it.
There are several troops in the crowd, including opposite the hard camera.
The War And Treaty sing God Bless America.
US Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Santos Escobar vs. Dragon Lee
Survivor Series rematch. Hold on though as here is Dominik Mysterio (defending the NXT North American Title against Lee tomorrow night at Deadline) to watch. Lee sends Escobar to the floor to start and there’s the big flip dive to follow. Back in and a superkick gives Lee two as JBL compares Mysterio to Gandhi. Escobar grabs a suplex for two and yells a lot as he takes Lee into the corner. Lee’s hurricanrana is countered into a powerbomb onto the apron and we take a break.
Back with Lee slugging away and hitting a running forearm. A German suplex drops Escobar, who drops Lee with a superkick for two. The Phantom Driver is broken up and Lee grabs a sitout powerbomb for two of his own. Lee gets caught on top though and the Phantom Driver is good for the clean pin at 9:05.
Result: Santos Escobar b. Dragon Lee – Phantom Driver (9:05)
Post match Dominik mocks Lee.
We look at Randy Orton signing with Smackdown last week. And RKOing Nick Aldis of course.
Aldis comes in to see Orton, who isn’t happy about teaming with LA Knight against the Bloodline. Orton doesn’t know Knight but Aldis says both of them want the Bloodline so it’s ok. With that out of the way, Orton gives him the check to pay for the fine from last week’s RKO, but he gives twice as much as needed. Orton: “That’s for next time.”
We look at some previous Tributes To The Troops.
Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. Rhodes says this is a special night because it is Tribute To The Troops. He is proud to be part of the team to carry on this tradition and thanks everyone here and around the world. We get a video on Tribute To The Troops over the years. Rhodes thanks the troops again and introduces the United States Army Drill Team.
Brad Nessler, who calls tomorrow’s Army vs. Navy football game, joins commentary.
Montez Ford, a veteran of the Marine Corps, wishes the troops Happy Holidays.
US Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Karrion Kross vs. Bobby Lashley
Scarlett is here with Kross. An early Hurt Lock attempt is blocked so they head outside where Lashley takes over. Back in and Lashley snaps off an overhead belly to belly as we take a break. We come back with Kross taking over and the camera going over to commentary. A Downward Spiral plants Kross and a suplex puts him down again. The spear finishes for Lashley at 6:39.
Result: Bobby Lashley b. Karrion Kross – Spear (6:39)
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