WWE SmackDown Results Coverage, Reactions and Highlights For December 8, 2023

It’s Friday night and you know what that means! WWE SmackDown will go down tonight and Ringside News has got you covered with live play-by-play results coverage for the December 8, 2023 episode.

WWE SmackDown will start this week at 8:00 PM EST as always, match-by-match highlights and results from the show will take place on this very page. Feel free to leave any reactions in the comment section below. You can check out the lineup below.

WWE SmackDown (12/8/2023) Lineup:

• Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
• Randy Orton and LA Knight vs Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa
• The return of CM Punk
• Cody Rhodes appearance
• WWE United States Title Tournament 1st Round: Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross
• WWE United States Title Tournament 1st Round: Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar

WWE SmackDown (12/8/2023) Results:

The opening package for the show airs.

The War and Treaty sing God Bless America.

WWE United States Title Tournament 1st Round: Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar

Santos Escobar’s music plays and he walks to the ring. Dragon Lee’s theme song plays and he walks out to the ring. Dominik Mysterio’s music hits and he walks out.

The match begins and Lee sends Santos out of the ring. Santos gets back in the ring and Lee hits him with an hurricanrana sending him out of the ring. Lee dives onto him. He sends Escobar back into the ring and attacks him in the corner. Lee with a super kick. Cover! 1….2….kick out.

Escobar trips Lee on the rope. He follow it with a neckbreaker. Cover! 1…..2….kick out. Escobar attacks him in the corner. Escobar sent to the apron. Lee goes for the hurricanrana but Escobar catches him and hits a powerbomb on the apron.

*Commercial break*

Lee fights back and knocks down Escobar. Lee superkicks Escobar. He dropkicks him in the corner. Cover! 1….2….kick out. Escobar hits a German suplex. Escobar comes back with a super kick. Cover! 1….2….kick out.

Lee comes back with a sit out powerbomb. Lee kicks him out of the ring. Lee sends him into the ring. Lee climbs the top rope but is stopped. Escobar hits the Phantom Driver for the win.

Winner: Santos Escobar

Dominik gets in the ring and spits on Lee. He then walks away.

Nick Aldis is in his office and Randy Orton walks in and offers a cheque. He says he found out today that Nick has him teaming with LA Knight against Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa and asks why. He says he didn’t even know him. Nick says he wants to see that match take place and so does the fan. He then points out the cheque he was offered was for $100k and Orton informs him it’s for next time.

*Commercial break*

Cody Rhodes’ theme song plays and he walks to the ring. He gets on the mic and says tonight is a special night since it’s Tribute to the Troops. He thanks the service men and women in attendance and all those at home. A video package depicting the history of this tradition plays.

Cody thanks the Armed Forces. He then welcomes the U.S. Army Drill Team. The U.S. Army Drill Team comes out and they perform their drill.

WWE United States Title Tournament 1st Round: Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross

Bobby Lashley’s music hits and he walks to the ring.

*Commercial break*

Karrion Kross’ entrance music plays and he walks to the ring with Scarlett.

The match begins and Kross attacks Lashley in the corner. Kross knocks him down and Lashley rolls out of the ring. Lashley comes back with a clothesline. He sends him into the ring and attacks him in the corner. Lashley with a belly-to-belly suplex and knocks him out of the ring.

*Commercial break*

Kross attacks Lashley in the corner. He hits a suplex. Cover! 1…..2….kick out. Kross kicks Lashley in the face. Cover! 1…..2….kick out. Lashley plants Kross on the mat. He hits a clothesline and attacks him in the corner. Lashley with a neckbreaker and follows it with a suplex. Lashley slams Kross to the mat. He hits a spear for the win.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

Asuka is backstage training for her match. Bayley walks in and apologises for last week. She says she learnt her lesson from last week and volunteers to stay backstage tonight. Dakota Kai says that’s a good idea but they will be ringside for Asuka’s match and they walk away.

*Commercial break*

CM Punk’s theme song plays and he walks to the ring. Punk says he is not going to get his time cut and he asks the fans to chant. He says Adam Pearce is trying to sign him to RAW. He says he is going to leave it to the fans where he signs. He asks the fans where he should sign. He asks if the fans want him to win the Royal Rumble and they cheer loudly.

Punk says he is famous for talking but he has been listening and he hears that there are a few people who are upset with him. He says he is about to get comfortable. He asks who he should talk about. He mentions Roman Reigns’ name and he says he acknowledges him and says he is the OG Paul Heyman guy. He says Heyman was his wisemen first. He says Roman is not here but his cousins are here. He gives a shout out to Jey Uso.

He asks if he can tag with Randy Orton. He says LA Knight will tag with him. Punk says maybe he can tag or fight Kevin Owens. He says they are too much alike. He asks who would want to work with someone who randomly punches people in the face. He says everybody has welcomed him back with open arms except for one guy. He says that is because he is not the man in his own household.

Punk says he is so glad to be on this journey. He says they will find out where he signs on RAW. He says he has a call scheduled with Shawn Michaels over the weekend and he will make his decision on RAW. He says he is back to finish everything he started. He says he is going to main event WrestleMania.

Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

Charlotte Flair’s music plays and she walks to the ring.

*Commercial break*

CM Punk is walking backstage and he sees the Bloodline’s locker room. He then runs into Kevin Owens and asks about Nick Aldis’ locker room. Owens says no and he walks away.

Asuka’s music plays and she walks to the ring. Selina Vega and Michio attack Damage CTRL. Shotzi and Bianca Belair also come out and brawl with them.

The match begins and Flair hits a back suplex on Asuka. Charlotte hits a clothesline on Asuka who rolls out of the ring. Flair goes for a chop and catches the post. Asuka hits knees her in the face. Flair back suplexes Asuka on the barricade. She then hits a moonsault on Asuka.

*Commercial break*

Flair sends Asuka into the second turnbuckle. Flair goes for the figure eight but Bayley interrupts her and distracts her. Flair hits Bayley and Asuka rolls her up for the win.

Winner: Asuka

Nick Aldis is with CM Punk. He asks him to look over the contract and call him. Cody walks in and says he heard what he said out there. He says for Punk to finish his story he would need to win the Royal Rumble. He shakes his hand and walks away.

*Commercial break*

Randy Orton and LA Knight vs Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa’s music plays and he comes out with Jimmy Uso.

*Commercial break*

LA Knight’s theme song plays and he walks to the ring. Randy Orton’s theme song plays and he walks to the ring.

The match starts and Orton attacks Jimmy Uso. Knight tags in and attacks Jimmy Uso. He knocks him down. Orton tags in and they argue. Jimmy also tags out. Jimmy attacks him from behind.

*Commercial break*

Orton with a back suplex on Jimmy. Both men tag out. Knight attacks Solo Sikoa and hits a shining neckbreaker. Knight attacks Sikoa in the corner. Jimmy gets on the apron and Knight knocks him down. Solo hits a bell-to-belly suplex. Sikoa hits a suplex on Knight. Cover! 1…..2…..kick out.

Solo hits Knight in the corner. He tags out. Jimmy attacks Knight and tags out. Solo goes for a hip attack and misses. Knight hits a bulldog from the second rope. Both men tag out and Orton hits Jimmy with a couple of clotheslines and follows it with a power slam. Jimmy drags him out of the ring. Orton hits a back suplex on the announcer’s table. He sends Jimmy into the ring and hits a draping DDT.

Solo attacks Orton from behind. Knight him with a DDT. Knight goes for the BFT but Orton intercepts and hits the RKO for the win.

Winner: Randy Orton & LA Knight

This ends our live coverage of WWE SmackDown!