Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for December 11, 2020

Sasha Banks shows up to start tonight's show. Adam Pearce is in the ring to moderate a contract signing between her and Carmella. When Sasha opens the folder, there is no contract. Carmella shows up on the TitanTron with the contract, saying she makes the rules and Sasha follows them. She has someone else in a suit and tie bring the contract to the ring, and says she would not get in the ring with after what happened two weeks ago. Carmella goes on to say that she is playing chess with her life and is always four steps ahead as the contract is brought to the ring, and Sasha proposes game ideas such as how far back she can bend Carmella or make her cry. Carmella says that as soon as Sasha signs the contract, her days as SmackDown Women's Championship are almost over. Sasha puts her stamp on the contract, then tells Carmella that if she wants the title, they can go at it tonight. Carmella accepts, then Sasha sends a message to her by beating up her assistant.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). Concerning the comments by Robert Roode saying they are "too funny to make money," The Street Profits make it clear that it will not be funny when they are in action tonight, even if Solo cups or Robert Roode clones rained from the sky.

Before the next match, Dolph Ziggler says that The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) are "the poor man's version of Desus and Mero" and less funny than his stand-up comedy routine, and that them being tag team champions are also not funny. Robert Roode tells them to get a good laugh, because when they get a chance at the titles, their reign will go up in smoke.

Dolph Ziggler beats Montez Ford following the distraction by Robert Roode. During the match, blue Solo cups (which officially replace the red ones as of tonight) rain down from the top of the arena as Robert Roode helps Ziggler regroup.

Backstage, Sami Zayn demands to know why he does not have a shirt despite being Intercontinental Champion. Big E shows up with his own shirt and says merch should be the last thing on his mind and that he should worry about himself. Apollo Crews then displays a shirt of a stick figure Sami Zayn saying "I am Sami Zayn," which angers Sami to the point that he tries - and fails - to tear the shirt in half before leaving in a huff.

Sami Zayn is in the ring. He says that he has beaten many opponents as Intercontinental Champion, but he has no respect and no T-shirt, and says he just wants a T-shirt so his fans can show him some respect. He also says that WWE took the time to honor a fellow Quebecois in Pat Patterson only to turn around and mistreat him before Big E shows up for the next match.

Sami Zayn beats Big E by count-out after Sami fakes a hand injury only to slap Big E in the face, which only makes Big E mad enough to chase him out of the ring. Big E follows Sami underneath the ring and grabs him by the leg, but Sami stomps him and gets back in the ring in time to win by count-out.

We hear from Bayley, who sends her well-wishes to Carmella in tonight's women's title match, and says that she still runs the division and that Sasha Banks is the most overpaid and overrated Superstar in history. Bayley also makes fun of Bianca Belair, saying she should be gone. Bianca shows up from behind and produces actual receipts as she brags about what she's done lately, none of which are things that Bayley has done lately.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Carmella, who says she has been itching for a match with Sasha Banks for weeks now and that she is what the SmackDown Women's Championship and that she will beat Sasha and look good doing it. Carmella's assistant then returns, and Carmella asks him to bring the champagne to ringside so she can celebrate in style while Sasha's tears fall to the ground.

Backstage, Jey Uso and Roman Reigns talk. As Kevin Owens heads to the ring, Jey Uso tells Roman "Let me get him." Roman tells Jey Uso to go get Kevin Owens.

Kevin Owens comes to the ring and sets up a table, a ladder and a chair. He says that even if Roman Reigns wants him to fear him and is better than he has ever been, he does not fear him, for he relates to him. He also says that regardless of how good he is, Roman is having his family fight his battles for him, and while their match at TLC is the most important of his career, he is aware that he will need all the help he can get to beat him. Owens says that while he fights for his family as well, his family is not part of the business and supports him at home. He then says he has a few friends to help him: a chair, a ladder and a table. Owens says that chairs are cold and unforgiving and that they will give him a hard time sitting at the head of the table, then says tables are hard but are willing to welcome him at TLC, then says ladders are rough and unpredictable but will get him back to the top. Owens climbs up the ladder, and as he wants Roman about mentioning his family, he is attacked with a chair from behind by Jey Uso, who proceeds to put him through a table only to be smacked with a chair by Owens. Owens then puts Jey through a table with a pop-up powerbomb just before Roman Reigns shows up. Owens dares Roman to enter the ring, but Paul Heyman tells Roman he calls the shots, not Owens, and Roman heads back to the back with Heyman. Owens then grabs a steel chair and heads to the back with it.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton tries to interview Kevin Owens, but as he says that what happened to Jey Uso earlier is on Roman Reigns, Roman suddenly attacks Owens. Roman then looks at the camera and introduces himself to Owens' family before telling them to talk sense into him before he takes the food off their table. He stomps Owens one last time, then leaves.

The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan) beat Billie Kay and Natalya.

In footage from Instagram, Otis trains with a blindfold with Chad Gable. Chad then throws medicine balls and hits him as he is blind to train him, but after several hours, Otis makes progress.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviws Chad Gable and Otis. Gable says life has knocked Otis down time and time again, but Otis has grit and personality, and after their training, he will mold a lump of clay like him to the proportions of Michaelangelo's "David." As Otis says Gable is capable of great things despite his small stature, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura show up to mock them, then leave.

We hear from Mario Lopez, who says that he and his daughter cannot wait for tonight's main event and that Sasha Banks will show Carmella why she should not cross The Boss.

Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura beat Chad Gable and Otis.

Backstage, Chad Gable and Otis talk. Gable tells Otis he didn't really want him to tag in and that he wanted him to finish the job. He says that the failed the test, but he is teaching him what to do by teaching him what not to do. He then tells Otis to rehydrate and that he will explain everything later before leaving.

Backstage, King Corbin talks with Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler, who scan Alyse Ashton with a wand before interviewing Corbin. Corbin says that Cutler and Blake are now "The Knights of the Lone Wolf" and have pledged their ruthless, cold-blooded loyalty to him, and that Rey Mysterio can step up and bring Murphy and Dominik Mysterio with him, but he will realize that the consequences will be more severe than just losing an eye.

Next week: SmackDown is on FS1! Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode vs. The Street Profits for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships! Bianca Belair vs. Bayley!

Carmella beats Sasha Banks by disqualification when Sasha refuses to let her out of the corner following the interference of Carmella's assitant. After the match, the assistant goes after Sasha again, but Sasha beats him up a second time before Carmella attacks her from behind. Carmella attacks Sasha with an ice bucket, then grabs a bottle of champagne and breaks it on Sasha's back before having a champagne toast. Sasha Banks retains the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.

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

Talking Smack: Paul Heyman's advice leaves Big E speechless.