In a bid to provide a break for their contractors and employees during the holiday season, WWE has taken the decision to pre-tape next week's episode of SmackDown, which falls just two nights before Christmas. The pre-taping took place on December 15, immediately after this week's live broadcast of SmackDown. Despite being a pre-taped show, the lineup promises thrilling matches and significant developments.

According to reports from No DQ & PWInsider, here's a rundown of what viewers can expect on the night before the night before the night before Christmas:

1. Santos Escobar managed to defeat Bobby Lashley, with an assist from returning wrestlers Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza. This victory has propelled Escobar to the finals of the United States Championship title shot tournament.

2. Dragon Lee successfully retained his NXT North American championship by defeating Butch via pinfall. This match showcased Lee's impressive skills and dominance in the ring.

3. AJ Styles delivered a promo expressing his desire for a shot at Roman Reigns, but his moment was interrupted by Randy Orton and LA Knight. In a bid to settle the conflict, General Manager Nick Aldis announced a Triple Threat match between Styles, Orton, and Knight for the "New Year's Revolution" episode of SmackDown. The winner of this match will earn a title shot against Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

4. A team consisting of Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, Mia "Michin" Yim, and Shotzi emerged victorious against Damage CTRL in a Christmas-themed match. However, the bout was marred by an attack on Kairi Sane by Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre during the encounter.

5. Kevin Owens grabbed a win against Carmelo Hayes, advancing to the finals of the United States Championship title shot tournament. Owens showed respect to Hayes after the match, highlighting the sportsmanship exhibited between the competitors.

6. AJ Styles faced Solo Sikoa, but the match ended in a disqualification after Roman Reigns attacked Styles. This led to a chaotic brawl involving Orton, Knight, and Jimmy Uso. The segment concluded with LA Knight standing tall, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.

With an engaging lineup of matches and captivating storylines, SmackDown promises to leave fans on the edge of their seats. So grab a glass of eggnog and tune in to WWE SmackDown next Friday for an action-packed pre-taped episode filled with surprises and excitement.