Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for December 15, 2023

The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa) make their way to the ring to start tonight's show. Roman Reigns says that it is "promotion time" because he is a good and fair Tribal Chief, and says that tonight is all about one man who knows what representing The Bloodline is all about and that if anyone happens to him, he will be the man to step up. Roman Reigns announces that this person will be the next tribal heir, and asks Jimmy Uso to join him in congratulating Solo Sikoa, whom Roman hugs. Suddenly, Randy Orton shows up. After the commercial break, Orton gets in the ring. Orton says he has been thinking all this time about what to say, then tells Roman Reigns that he is coming for him after taking 18 months from him and that he will take everything away from him, and that he does not care who he has to go through to do it. He then says it starts tonight and ends at Royal Rumble, and that he will be challenging Roman for the WWE Universal Championship. Roman says it sounds like the fans want this match and that Orton deserves it, then says he has not been thinking about Orton at all before telling Orton to go back to the end of the line where he belongs. Roman then tells Orton to "tap into that big dumb of [his]" and listen to his voices when they tell him to leave him alone, for it is not 2007 anymore and he is levels above everyone else, and he will retire him. Orton says Roman may be right, for he can look into his eyes and see that he has changed for the better, and that he is a legend. He then says he has also changed and evolved, but he will always be a legend killer. Orton then goes for an RKO, but Roman is able to avoid it. He then says Roman should start thinking about him, then says the voices in his head tell him that Roman might have crapped his pants. He also says that the voices have told him that "Daddy's back," then leaves the ring.

We see a video package for Carmelo Hayes.

Carmelo Hayes beats Grayson Waller to advance in the United States Championship Tournament.

Backstage, Randy Orton is met by LA Knight. Orton tells Knight to keep things good between them by staying out of his way, but Knight says he will be the one to take everything away from Roman Reigns first.

Kevin Owens beats Austin Theory with a punch from his injured hand to advance in the United States Championship Tournament.

Backstage, Roman Reigns tells The Bloodline that they should be celebrating tonight. He says he needs someone to shut Randy Orton's mouth, and when Jimmy Uso predicts Solo will be the one to do it, Roman says it is "promotion season" and lets Jimmy handle it. Jimmy Uso says "Yeet," but when Roman Reigns looks at him like he just committed a cardinal sin, Jimmy says "No yeet."

The Green Bay Packers are seen in the front row.

We hear from Karrion Kross, who tells us that this place is about to be recycled and that as soon as he stepped through the door, and now they are the threshold of a new beginning and that everything is about to crumble.

Backstage, Cameron Grimes congratulates Kevin Owens on beating Austin Theory, then Kayla Braxton interviews Owens. Owens says he was like Carmelo Hayes at one point, then Carmelo shows up and says that while he has a ton of respect for Owens, he has to win.

We see how Charlotte injured her knee last week, and it is revealed that she will be out for nine months.

We hear from Bayley, who says that she is getting closer to her goal. Iyo Sky says she is the most powerful and dangerous champion in WWE, and that nobody wills top her. Bayley says they are stronger than ever with Asuka and Kairi Sane. Asuka and Kairi Sane state that nobody is ready for Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane). Dakota Kai says it is time to raise the bar and change the game, and Bayley says it is time to hold all the gold, starting with Asuka and Kairi Sane winning the women's tag titles and with her winning the Royal Rumble and Rhea Ripley's World Heavyweight Championship.

Asuka and Kairi Sane - now collectively known as The Kabuki Warriors once again - beat Zelina Vega and "Michin" Mia Yim after Dakota Kai distracts the referee so that Bayley can shove Mia Yim off the top rope.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso tells Solo Sikoa that Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman have been talking in private for longer than usual and that it does not feel right, then asks Solo if he would tell him if something were to happen to him. Solo says he is his brother, which ends the conversation.

We see a video package for Santos Escobar.

We hear from Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). Lashley and The Street Profits are unimpressed with Logan Paul being United States Championship, and they tell Santos Escobar that he will step up and get stomped out because he is in Lashley's way.

Randy Orton beats Jimmy Uso after Solo Sikoa shows up only to be stopped by LA Knight. After the match, LA Knight is attacked from behind by Roman Reigns, who stares down a seething Orton from the bottom of the ramp. Orton and Roman go at it in the ring, but Orton is attacked from behind by Jimmy Uso. All of a sudden, LA Knight gets up and fights Jimmy Uso only to be attacked from behind by Solo Sikoa. All of a sudden, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles shows up from behind The Bloodline and leaps over Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa to hit Roman with a Phenomenal Forearm. Styles, Knight and Orton quickly clean house to end the show. Suddenly, Styles lays out Knight from behind, leaves the ring and stares down The Bloodline (Roman, Paul Heyman, Jimmy, Solo) on his way out.

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Carmelo Hayes! Zelina Vega, "Michin" Mia Yim, Shotzi and Bianca Belair! Dragon Lee!

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