WWE SmackDown 8th of December 2023

JBL is at the commentary desk with Kevin Patrick and Michael Cole.

United States Championship Contender’s Tournament: Santos Escobar vs. Dragon Lee
Before the match starts, Dominik Mysterio walks to ringside to watch the match. Lee knocks Escobar out of the ring. Lee lands a dive. Frontflip rana by Lee. Lee lands a slingshot dropkick in the corner, followed by a superkick. Escobar kicks out. Escobar cheapshots Lee and gets a near fall. Lee tries his apron rana, but Escobar counters with a powerbomb on the apron. After the break, Escobar and Lee trade strikes. Escobar tries a leapfrog and gets kicked in the face.
Delayed dropkick by Lee. Escobar kicks out. Rebound German suplex by Lee. Escobar responds with a superkick. Escobar sets up the Phantom Driver. Lee turns it into a pin. Escobar kicks out. Rolling powerbomb by Lee. Lee lands a knee strike that sends Escobar out of the ring. Dominik and Lee have a staredown outside the ring. Lee sends Escobar back in the ring and goes up top. Escobar pulls Lee off the top and hits the Phantom Driver for the win.
Winner- Santos Escobar
After the match, Dominik stands over Lee holding the North American Championship in his face.

Cody Rhodes introduced the U.S. Army Drill Team, which performed on the stage.

United States Championship Contender’s Tournament: Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross w/Scarlett
As soon as the bell rings, Kross attacks Lashley. Lashley almost locks in the Hurt Lock, but Kross floors him with a right hand. Lashley rolls out of the ring. Kross tries to send Lashley into the ring steps, but Lashley leaps over them. Lashley jumps off the steps and lands a clothesline. Back in the ring. Lashley sends Kross flying with a belly-to-belly.
A clothesline from Lashley sends Kross careening over the top rope. After the break, Kross is working over Lashley. Kross tries the Kross Hammer, but Lashley counters with the complete shot. Lashley fires up and lands a flurry of offense. Delayed vertical suplex by Lashley. Kross gets a boot up while Lashley is charging in. Kross runs right into a Spinebuster. Lashley Spears Kross for the win.
Winner- Bobby Lashley

In-Ring Segment: CM Punk
Punk says it’s 9 PM, it’s not the end of the show, so he’s not going to get his time cut. They can’t chant all they want. The crowd goes nuts. Punk notes that everyone wants to know where he’s going to sign. He’s going to partly leave it up to the crowd. Punk asks the crowd if they want him to sign and be a Raw Superstar. The crowd sorta boos. He asks about being exclusive to SmackDown, and the crowd goes nuts. Punk asks if they want him to throw 29 other superstars over the top rope and then go on to the main event of WrestleMania. Babies are literally thrown in the air at the inclination that he could win the Royal Rumble.
Punk notes that some aren’t happy with him being so happy-go-lucky, so tonight, it’s not what you want to talk about; it’s who you want him to talk about. Punk asks if they want him to talk about Cody Rhodes… because he has some stories. Or do they want him to talk about someone who is never here? Roman Reigns. Punk acknowledges the Tribal Chief but wants Reigns to remember who the OG Paul Heyman guy was. Heyman was Punk’s wiseman first. Punk puts over the rest of the Reigns family. Punk puts over Orton and LA Knight.
Someone in the crowd yells Kevin Owens. Punk says he could team with Owens or fight him… He isn’t sure how that would work since they are so much alike. Who would feel comfortable being around someone who goes around punching people backstage? It’s 2023, and you can’t do stuff like that, it’s insane… Punk notes everyone is happy he’s back, except for that one guy. He’s not going to put any stock in what that guy says, and it’s not because of his whiny voice; it’s because he isn’t even the man in his own home.
The crowd sings Seth Rollins’ entrance theme. Punk says he’s going to make his decision on Raw next week. This weekend, he’s going to hear from Adam Pearce, Nick Aldis, and NXT’s Shawn Michaels to hear their pitches. When he signs on the dotted line, he’s going to change the landscape and turn this entire company on its head. It’s not about finishing a story, it’s about finishing what he started, when he goes on to main event WrestleMania. Punk drops the mic.

Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka w/Kairi Sane, Iyo Sky, and Dakota Kai
Before the match starts, Zelina Vega, Mia Yim, and Bianca Belair attack Sane, Sky and Kai. They fight off. Asuka is left alone. Asuka lands a flurry of strikes. Flair lands a front cartwheel clothesline for a near fall. The fight spills out of the ring. Flair suplexes Asuka on the barricade. Flair lands a glancing blow as she moonsault off the top onto Asuka. After the break, Flair is in control, but she tweaks her knee. Flair traps Bayley in the Figure Eight. Bayley hops the barricade and breaks it up. Flair boots Bayley off the apron. Asuka rolls up Flair and gets the three count.
Winner- Asuka

Randy Orton and LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso
Orton knocks Jimmy into the corner and stomps him out. Knight tags in and drops Jimmy with a back elbow. Knight hits the ropes. Orton tags himself in. Knight and Orton bicker before Sikoa tags in and faces off with Orton. Jimmy attacks Orton from behind. After the break, The Bloodline is working over Orton. Orton manages to tag in Knight, who clears the ring. After Jimmy distracts Knight, Sikoa lands a belly-to-belly. Jimmy and Sikoa work over Knight.
Knight manages to tag in Orton, who snaps powerslams Jimmy. Jimmy pulls Orton out of the ring. Orton suplexes Jimmy on the commentary desk. Orton DDT by… well, Orton. Orton calls for the RKO. Sikoa attacks Orton before he can hit the RKO. Sikoa calls for the Samoan Spike. Knight DDTs Sikoa. Knight sets up Jimmy for the BFT, but Orton grabs Jimmy and RKOs him. Knight looks annoyed. Orton pins Jimmy.
Winners- Randy Orton and LA Knight
After the match, Orton and Knight celebrate.