Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for December 25, 2018

R-Truth - dressed as "Truthy Claus" - and Carmella - or "Carm-elf-a" - show up to hand presents to the fans to start tonight's show. R-Truth welcomes everyone to tonight's show in Santa character, and says he and Carmella had to stop at SmackDown Live to rest the reindeer. As R-Truth names off all the reindeer - who are named after Jackson family members - Carmella stops everything for a seven-second Christmas carol break that is immediately spoiled by "The New" Daniel Bryan. Daniel Bryan accepts that he has to be away from family to be in "this cesspool," and refuses to legitimize "the farce that is Truthy Clause," who he says is not the real Santa before calling R-Truth and Carmella fickle. Daniel then says he will expose the real Santa Claus like he did "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, saying he is the origin of everyone's selfish desires that have cost the world half of the coral reefs on the planet and created "islands of misfit garbage" in the oceans. He also says that this gets the glaciers melting and the sea levels rising to the point that there will be no North Pole - or Santa - in twenty years. R-Truth calls Daniel "an angry little elf," and Daniel Bryan responds by calling R-Truth's career "a tired old joke." R-Truth warns Daniel Bryan that he is #30 in the Royal Rumble Match and that after he wins, he'll take the WWE Championship from him and become the last one laughing, assuming he is still champion at WrestleMania. Daniel asks R-Truth how he expects to win the Royal Rumble when he can't count to 30. R-Truth counts to seven and starts a seven-second dance break, which leads to an angry Daniel hitting R-Truth with the WWE Championship and going after his leg to lock in a heel hook. After the heel hook, Daniel stomps at R-Truth's head before locking the heel hook again until a referee tells him to stop.

Mustafa Ali beats Andrade "Cien" Almas.

In the locker room, Samoa Joe asks Jeff Hardy if he has enjoyed his Christmas, then says he is glad to see him in the ring, as he is concerned for Jeff and senses weakness, saying he has become Jeff's new addiction. He hopes to cure Jeff of his addiction and his fixation with him tonight, and tells him it is for his own good.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) perform guest commentary on their own commentary table for the next match.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) beat The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) and SAnitY (Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain).

Backstage, The Brian Kendrick, Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander congratulate Mustafa Ali, who is then met by Shelton Benjamin, who welcomes him to the SmackDown Live roster. Suddenly, Mustafa Ali is attacked by "The New" Daniel Bryan, who tells Mustafa Ali that he does not deserve to be here. Mustafa's 205 Live contemporaries and some officials have to restore order.

It's time for Miz TV, and tonight's guest is Shane McMahon. Shane tells the fans that the McMahon family is now listening to the fans, and that this is now the company mandate. He promises new Superstars, new match-ups and new opportunities, but now the fans will shape the narrative and make it happen. The Miz proposes that Shane form a tag team with him, saying he proved he can tag team with anybody and be successful after last week, and explains he has begged Shane to be his tag team partner because he has never heard his own dad say he is proud of him during his career. He also explains that Miz's dad views Shane as a man without fear, and asks Shane to imagine being one-half of the best tag team in the world. With that in mind, he set out to make the tag team a reality. As he explains things, he feels that this tag team should be the fans' choice, not theirs, and asks the fans for their input. The fans almost universally agree, and Shane says that everything Miz said resonates with him. He tells Miz not to screw him, or else there will be major consequences, and decides to give the idea a shot.

We hear from Rusev and Lana. Rusev says today is a big day, not just because it is Christmas, but also because it is his birthday. He promises to beat Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship and make tonight the most complete Rusev Day ever.

Samoa Joe beats Jeff Hardy by disqualification when Jeff Hardy refuses to listen to the referee when the referee tells Jeff Hardy to back off as he stomps Samoa Joe repeatedly near the barricade. After the match, Jeff Hardy continues to go after Samoa Joe, but Joe puts him out with the Coaquina Clutch.

Shinsuke Nakamura says the "Total Diva" Rusev has been asking for gold, but Rusev has been naughty this year, and all that he is getting is a knee to the face.

Next week: The New Day's (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) New Year's Celebration! John Cena returns to SmackDown Live!

Backstage, Jimmy Uso is suddenly met by Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville underneath some mistletoe while looking for Naomi. Naomi chases them away after throwing a shoe at them before she and Jimmy share a kiss.

Rusev beats Shinsuke Nakamura to become the WWE United States Champion!

Backstage, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles is met by Vince McMahon, who asks why Styles is not competing in the house that he built tonight before telling him he wants to see a different side of him and to harness the animal within him that is eating him alive due to "The New" Daniel Bryan. Vince slaps Styles, saying he wants to see that animal, then referees and officials rush in to get Styles away from Vince when Styles slaps Vince back. When asked if he is all right, Vince says "Yeah...I think I'm good."

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!