On December 3, 2015, WWE Smackdown presented a dramatic episode from Hershey, Pennsylvania, showcasing Roman Reigns and his allies as they faced mounting obstacles from the League of Nations, with Reigns forced into a precarious four-on-one main event. These WWE Smackdown 2015 highlights feature turbulent rivalries, shifting alliances, and a night filled with tension, setting the stage just ahead of the TLC pay-per-view.
Rising Tensions: Reigns Confronts the League of Nations
The show opened with reflections on the previous Raw, where Roman Reigns suffered setbacks and the League of Nations was established. Roman Reigns entered the ring with Dean Ambrose and The Usos, emphasizing his strong bonds with his family and friends. Reigns recounted losing the WWE World Title to Sheamus at Survivor Series and underscored his determination to get retribution, challenging the League of Nations to step forward that night.
The League of Nations–comprised of Sheamus, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio, and King Barrett–emerged on the stage to hostile chants from the crowd. Sheamus, flaunting his WWE Title and taunting the audience, responded confidently to Reigns.
“It’s okay, we all have our green cards,”
said Sheamus, WWE Superstar, responding to the crowd’s US-centric chants. The atmosphere grew tense as Sheamus announced a plan to team with his League of Nations partners against Reigns, Ambrose, and The Usos later that evening. Suddenly, The New Day’s music hit, and the trio joined the fray, stirring further animosity and announcing that Ambrose and The Usos would need to defeat New Day to earn their spots as Roman’s partners in the main event. If not, Reigns would battle the League of Nations alone.
In-Ring Action: Tyler Breeze Ends Losing Streak Against Neville
The action began with Tyler Breeze facing Neville, with Dolph Ziggler seen at ringside commenting on the match. Breeze, accompanied by Summer Rae, was keen to avenge his previous disappointments, targeting Neville with aggression. Neville gained the early advantage with dynamic moves, but Summer Rae’s interference shifted momentum. As the bout intensified, both wrestlers exchanged near-falls, including successive superkicks. In the closing moments, Summer Rae grabbed Neville’s foot out of the referee’s view, allowing Breeze to land a decisive kick and finish the match with the Unprettier for the win, marking the end of his post-Survivor Series slump. Dolph Ziggler weighed in on commentary, critiquing Breeze throughout.
Backstage Turmoil in the Women’s Division
Elsewhere, JoJo interviewed Becky Lynch about her relationship with Charlotte following a controversial match on Raw. Lynch tried to maintain that she and Charlotte remained close, despite tension stemming from Paige’s betrayal and Charlotte’s actions. The situation escalated when Brie Bella and Alicia Fox taunted Lynch, calling her gullible, and suggested the real issue was Becky herself. Charlotte appeared, asserting her support for Becky and emphasizing the emergence of a new generation of female competitors ready to challenge the likes of Brie and Fox. The exchange set the stage for the next match as Team BAD was shown causing mischief backstage.
Brie Bella Scores Questionable Win Over Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch, flanked by Charlotte, squared off against Brie Bella, who was accompanied by Alicia Fox. The match was brief but fierce, with Brie controlling the early proceedings. Lynch fought back with explosive offense, earning near-falls. A confrontation at ringside left Charlotte inadvertently struck, and during Becky’s submission attempt, Charlotte entered the ring to attack Brie, causing the referee to call for the disqualification. The accidental interference handed Brie Bella the win, and Charlotte and Becky argued afterward, reflecting the brewing discord between the two friends.
Neville Receives Unexpected Offer from The Miz
Backstage, Neville encountered The Miz, who attempted to offer career guidance, referencing his mentorship of Daniel Bryan and promising Neville a chance at bigger opportunities. Miz tried to entice Neville by giving him his business card and a copy of his new DVD, but Neville remained unreceptive following his earlier loss.
Rusev and Lana Address Ryback and Relationship
Renee Young interviewed Rusev and Lana, who showcased a different dynamic as Lana blamed Ryback for her recent injury during Raw. Rusev reiterated his devotion to Lana and issued a stern warning to Ryback.
“I can always have another match, but I can never have anyone like Lana,”
Rusev, WWE Superstar, vowed as he ended the interview with a display of affection.
The New Day Stun The Usos and Dean Ambrose
With high stakes, The Usos and Dean Ambrose faced The New Day in a six-man tag match. Announcers revealed that The New Day would defend the Tag Titles at TLC against both The Usos and Lucha Dragons in a Triple-Threat Ladder Match, while Ambrose was set to challenge Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship. The match was lively from the outset, with Reigns watching backstage. Ambrose injected energy with a series of attacks, but the tide turned when New Day isolated him, employing their usual teamwork to control the match.
As the contest reached its peak, the legal competitors and their partners exchanged fast-paced maneuvers. Jimmy Uso appeared to injure his knee during a crucial sequence, and The New Day capitalized, with Xavier Woods clinching victory via a running knee. This defeat meant Reigns would indeed face the League of Nations alone in the main event, deepening the adversity stacked against him.
The Wyatt Family Sends a Chilling Message
The Wyatt Family appeared backstage, where Bray Wyatt addressed the Dudley Boyz and Tommy Dreamer, ominously promising their presence. This warning prefaced another brutal encounter to come.
Bray Wyatt Dominates D-Von Dudley
D-Von Dudley, seconded by Bubba Ray Dudley and Tommy Dreamer, went up against Bray Wyatt. After initial offense from D-Von, Wyatt quickly took control, using powerful strikes and locking in a punishing chin-lock. D-Von briefly rallied, hitting a diving headbutt, but Wyatt rebounded, flooring him with Sister Abigail for a swift victory.
Post-match, Wyatt threatened to deliver more punishment as the rest of the Wyatt Family prepared a table, prompting Bubba and Dreamer to intervene with kendo sticks. Braun Strowman broke a stick over his knee and put Bubba out of commission, while Erick Rowan drove Dreamer through a table. The Wyatt Family stood tall, presenting a formidable force and reasserting their dominance following recent defeats.
Main Event: Roman Reigns Faces Overwhelming Odds Against the League of Nations
As the main event approached, Sheamus, King Barrett, Rusev, and Alberto Del Rio entered the ring. Meanwhile, backstage, The Usos and Dean Ambrose apologized to Reigns for not qualifying as his partners, expressing concern for Jimmy Usos’s injury. Renee Young relayed that officials had banned Ambrose and The Usos from ringside, leaving Reigns to battle the League of Nations alone.
The match commenced with Del Rio and Rusev testing Reigns, but unable to sustain momentum against him. Sheamus entered and, aided by distractions from Barrett, orchestrated a calculated assault. Eventually, the referee ejected Barrett, narrowing the numbers but leaving Reigns still outmatched. Despite underhanded tactics by the League of Nations, Reigns persevered, landing a Samoan drop on Rusev and a Superman punch. Del Rio nearly secured the win with a backstabber, but Reigns countered, delivering a spear. Sheamus intervened to halt the fall, leading to a chaotic ringside brawl. Reigns managed to beat the count back into the ring, winning by count-out after a grueling and uneven fight.
Just as Reigns began to celebrate, Sheamus blindsided him with a Brogue Kick. The League of Nations attacked until The Usos and Dean Ambrose returned to drive them from the ring, setting the stage for a combustible showdown at the forthcoming TLC event.
Impact and What Lies Ahead
This episode of WWE Smackdown 2015 delivered emotionally charged battles and further escalated the conflict between Roman Reigns, his allies, and the League of Nations. Reigns’s resilience under pressure kept the crowd invested, despite the intense and uneasy tone throughout the night. The show’s events built anticipation for the upcoming TLC pay-per-view, promising unresolved rivalries and high-stakes contests where alliances and betrayals loom large for the WWE roster.
