WWE SmackDown (12/1/2023) Results: Randy Orton Appears, Butch vs Lashley, Logan Paul, More Appear

On December 1, 2023, WWE hosted a new episode of Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.

The show was headlined by Randy Orton returning to the blue brand! Live results & highlights are listed below.

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WWE SmackDown (12/1/2023).

• Bianca Belair opened the show with a promo celebrating her team's win against Damage CTRL at War Games before stating she was aiming to regain the WWE Women's Championship. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane & WWE Women's Champion Iyo Sky) interrupted and talked trash to Belair, telling her that she had to go through all of Damage CTRL to get a shot at the title. Charlotte Flair & Shotzi interrupted before leading to an all-out brawl. Shotzi, Flair & Belair stood tall.
• Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane & WWE Women's Champion Iyo Sky) were backstage before they were confronted by Bayley. Bayley tried to question them, but Kai told Bayley that addressing that was not urgent because Sane would face Belair later in the night.
• Bobby Lashley (w/ Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) def. Butch.
• There was a video package of the Men's War Games match, which featured the return of Randy Orton.
• Paul Heyman confronted Nick Aldis backstage. Heyman tried to bribe Aldis, but Aldis said that he would be willing to trade The Bloodline if needed. Aldis asked Heyman what he would do about it, to which Heyman responded by saying the following: "Whatever it takes".
• Butch was interviewed by Kayla Braxton. Braxton asked Butch why he was left by Ridge Holland, but Butch responded by saying he did not know nor care because he was focused on himself. Pretty Deadly talked trash to Butch afterward.
• There was a video package for Santos Escobar and his feud with LWO, Carlito, Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio.
• Santos Escobar def. Joaquin Wilde.
  • Escobar attacked Wilde after the match, but Dragon Lee sprinted to the ring to make the save. Escobar tried to attack Lee from behind, but Lee caught him with a Hurricanrana, a corner dropkick, and an Inside Out Dropkick before hitting the Shibata Dropkick on Escobar in the corner.
• Adam Pearce confronted Nick Aldis because he heard of Aldis's intentions to sign Randy Orton to Friday night SmackDown underneath his nose. Aldis confirmed the rumor and told Pearce that it was part of the business.
• WWE United States Champion Logan Paul came to the ring to cut a promo in his return to WWE. Paul questioned anyone who doubted him, saying he works harder the more people doubt him. Paul announced there would be a tournament to crown a new contender for the United States Championship before being interrupted by one of the competitors, Kevin Owens, who stated that his days as champion are numbered. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory interrupted, but Owens punched Theory in the face ahead of his match against Waller after the break.
• Kevin Owens def. Grayson Waller (w/ Austin Theory).
• Bianca Belair (w/ Charlotte Flair & Shotzi) vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Dakota Kai, Asuka & Iyo Sky).
  • The finish came when Bayley pulled Belair from her braid into the mat. This allowed Sane to climb to the top rope, but Belair intercepted Sane before nailing the KOD for the pinfall win.
• Raw General Manager Adam Pearce & SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis were in the ring to welcome Randy Orton. After the two offered title shots to Orton, Paul Heyman interrupted the proceedings, stating that Orton would not get his revenge on The Bloodline because they would take him out first. Jey Uso & Solo Sikoa attacked Orton, but LA Knight made the save. Sikoa & Knight brawled on the outside while Orton got Jimmy Uso and hit the Drapping DDT before connecting the former tag champion with an RKO. Orton got the SmackDown & Raw contracts before signing to Friday Night SmackDown. Orton told Heyman to call Roman Reigns and tell him that "daddy is back". Orton hit an RKO on Aldis to end the broadcast.

- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.