WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Dec. 19

Normally, the holiday season is a time when WWE SmackDown takes its foot off the pedal and delivers filler until WrestleMania season picks up. That wasn't the case on Tuesday. The blue brand put together a fun, engaging show.

Following up on Sunday's Clash of Champions pay-per-view, SmackDown saw tag team wrestling take center stage.

Rusev in a Santa Claus suit and Aiden English in a snowman costume fell in a whimsical contest. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin showed why they are legit title contenders. And a six-man tag bout closed out the night with energy to spare.

Add in some simmering tension between the blue brand's bosses and Dolph Ziggler's teased exit from the company, and SmackDown delivered.

Read on for a breakdown of Tuesday's episode, complete with letter grades and highlights.

Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon Clear Up Clash of Champions Controversy

General manager Daniel Bryan talked up the upcoming women's Royal Rumble match before hyping the night's main event.

Shane McMahon stepped into the ring with him to discuss the Clash of Champions bout they both refereed. The commissioner laid out all the issues he has with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

The two authority figures went back and forth about what went down Sunday.

Bryan spoke of affording opportunities to the entire roster. Shane-O-Mac warned him that KO and Zayn will backstab him before leaving the GM in charge of the show.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I could have counted to 50."—McMahon.
• "I did what I did to protect you from yourself."—Bryan.
• The fans chant "Thank you, Daniel!"
• "I don't want to see Shane-O-Mac turn into Mr. McMahon."—Bryan.
  

Grade

B-

Analysis

The scene didn't conjure up as much tension as you might expect given the situation. There is clearly a slow-burn narrative underway, and WWE is taking its time with whatever is in store for these two men. That's the right pace if the plan is for them to collide at WrestleMania in some fashion.

Bryan's issues with an authoritarian regime rang true, as they called back to his long feud with The Authority. You don't often see that sort of tie-in to previous angles.

It's still disappointing that Bryan and McMahon are taking up so much spotlight, though, continuing the trend of overreliance on authority figures.

The Usos vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin

The Usos overwhelmed Chad Gable early on, taking turns to put a hurting on him. Shelton Benjamin fared better once he tagged in, as he was able to seize the advantage for his team by working on Jimmy Uso's leg.

The bout's energy picked up as Benjamin and Gable took control.

The champs couldn't keep up with their foes. And Benjamin and Gable suplexed their way to a win.

Result

Gable and Benjamin win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jey prevents an avalanche tiger suplex, knocking Benjamin to the mat.
• Benjamin kicks Jimmy to halt a suicide dive attempt.

Grade

B

Analysis

Every week, The Usos seems to turn up their level of aggression. They doled out especially hard-hitting offense here, and their opponents matched them step for step.

The team managed to pack a lot into a small space. Its chemistry is good, and it should continue clashing to make use of that.

WWE has wisely gotten behind Benjamin and Gable from the get-go, booking them to be legit threats to the champs.

Charlotte Flair and Naomi vs. Sarah Logan and Ruby Riott

Charlotte Flair gushed about the women's Royal Rumble match. She said she would be waiting for the winner to face her at WrestleMania.

Naomi declared she will enter the Rumble next month. The Riott Squad came out to confront her, and a tag team bout ensued.

Once the bell rang, Sarah Logan was able to overpower Flair and keep the champ in the heels' corner.

Naomi clubbed her way to a comeback. She was able to ignore Liv Morgan's attempted interference and get the win.

Result

Flair and Naomi win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "You showed passion for what to do. And it's made a difference."—Flair.
• "Queen, I'll see you at WrestleMania."—Naomi.
• Logan holds Flair upside down by one leg.
• Logan accidentally spears Morgan off the ring apron.

Grade

B-

Analysis

The bout was short but didn't want for intensity.

Logan looked good here. She was convincingly ferocious as she bashed The Queen. Those two need a singles match or two in the near future.

Naomi's getting the crowd to chant "chickenhead" at The Riott Squad was baffling. A quick Urban Dictionary search would have told the writers that's not a PG term in the least.

Dolph Ziggler Basks in Championship Victory

Credit: WWE.com

An impassioned Dolph Ziggler mocked his doubters. He talked about his United States Championship win and his career overall.

He showed a clip of his first U.S. title in 2011, as well as other championship victories.

Ziggler told fans they weren't worthy of his presence. He left the U.S. title in the ring.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I told you so!"—Ziggler.
• "Year after year, I go unappreciated."—Ziggler.

Grade

A

Analysis

It was a great move to reference Ziggler's previous title wins. WWE so often moves onto the next big moment without putting it in its proper context.

Ziggler looked rejuvenated with the belt in hand. He was fiery and extra motivated. His anti-gimmick gimmick was pushed aside for something more personal and real.

The big question is whether he left the belt behind because he's leaving the company. Whatever this leads to, the segment generated intrigue aplenty moving forward.

The New Day vs. Rusev and Aiden English

Credit: WWE.com

In Christmas costumes, The New Day walked the backstage area and offered stocking stuffers. Rusev and Aiden English, in Christmas attire themselves, interrupted them. Their bickering led to their meeting in the ring.

Kofi Kingston was able to evade English and Rusev in the early going. The New Day goofed off, however, to allow the heels to take over.

English tried to shove Xavier Woods' face into a pile of pancakes but ended up being the butt of his own joke. Woods finished off the singing Superstar with a springboard diving elbow drop.

Result

The New Day wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Big E hand-feeds a stranger a pancake.
• "You done flapped the wrong jacks, sucker!"—Big E.
• Kingston and Woods throw the contents of a gift bag into the crowd.
• Fans chant "We want pancakes!"
• "The gingerbread man is as slow as molasses."—Corey Graves.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The comedy match entertained more than these kinds of contests usually do. The fans loved all of it, and there was a buzzing energy throughout.

Rusev in a Santa Claus suit, yelling at English to put more whipped cream on a stack of pancakes, was one of the funniest moments of the night.

Audiences continue to go nuts for Rusev. A big-time push is in order.

Six-Man Tag Team Match

Credit: WWE.com

Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton and AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Owens and Zayn gave Bryan a bottle of champagne backstage. The heels implied Bryan cheated Randy Orton out of the win to get back at his old rival.

Jinder Mahal and Orton began things off for their respective teams. Moments later, the match broke down, as everyone got involved.

The Viper led the way, as the babyface beat up on Mahal. Nakamura and Zayn battled each other with mat-based offense. KO and his squad later had Styles at their mercy.

Nakamura mounted a comeback before things unraveled.

The Singh Brothers tried to worm their way into the action, but it didn't matter. Nakamura got the pin for his team.

Result

Nakamura, Orton and Styles win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Orton slams Mahal's head into the announce table.
• "That's why this is my show!"—Owens.
• Mahal pulls down the middle rope to cause Styles to tumble out of the ring.
• Styles nailed Owens with a Phenomenal Forearm outside the ring.
• Orton DDTs both of The Singh Brothers.

Grade

B+

Analysis

A quality main event closed out the show. Good intensity and a fast pace helped make this a fun bout. The overlapping rivalries added layers to the action, as well.

There weren't huge stakes here and nothing significant happened, but it was an entertaining house-show-style match.