WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Highlights and Analysis from November 19

With just 48 hours until Survivor Series, WWE SmackDown hit the Fox airwaves with a show headlined by Sasha Banks vs. Shotzi, the product of a shocking attack by the latter three weeks earlier.

With the competitors slated to compete on the same team Sunday in Brooklyn, New York City, were they able to get their disdain and hatred for each other out of the way before uniting as one, or would the events of Friday make any coexisting impossible?

Find out the answer to that and more with this recap of Friday's special go-home episode.

• Sasha Banks vs. Shotzi
• Cesaro vs. Ricochet vs. Sheamus vs. Jinder Mahal (Winner is the fifth member of Team SmackDown)

SmackDown tag team champions The Usos kicked off the show and, after claiming to have sent a message loudly and clearly to Big E Monday on Raw, introduced Universal champion Roman Reigns to the ring.

After some expert brown-nosing from Paul Heyman, Reigns took exception to the presence of the King of the Ring throne, scepter and crown. "The only reason I took this crown last week is because I can," The Tribal Chief said, dismissing the idea that he needs gimmickry to be acknowledged.

Xavier Woods interrupted and said material things don't make the king. After challenging Reigns to meet him man-to-man later in the night, Woods watched as The Bloodline damaged the cloak, throne and scepter.

Woods hit the ring but was beaten down by the heels. Reigns told him he doesn't need props to be the king of WWE, then proceeded to stomp the crown as Woods watched, held by Jimmy and Jey Uso.

Grade

A+

Analysis

Nothing about this segment would have worked had it not been previously established just how much being King of the Ring meant to Woods. Because it was a career goal, because it was clear that the crown and all of the other props meant something to him, this was super effective.

The tear falling from the right eye of the king as he watched his life's work blatantly disrespected and trashed by the bullying heels only added to the emotional impact of the segment.

All of it goes back to Woods spending weeks on social media, then television putting over the significance of that particular title to him.

Reigns is a great heel, an unlikeable bully. Fans will want to see Woods get a measure of revenge against the big bad, something he will look to do later in the show. That instantly makes for compelling television, especially when you factor in Woods' best friend is the current WWE champion and the guy that will face Reigns Sunday at Survivor Series, Big E.

Jinder Mahal, Cesaro, Sheamus and Ricochet battled in a fatal 4-way match for the opportunity to join Team SmackDown at Survivor Series.

Back from a quick commercial break, Cesaro delivered the swing to Mahal, then applied the Sharpshooter. Ricochet broke it up, then delivered the 630 splash to Mahal. Sheamus flattened him with the Brogue Kick, but Cesaro interrupted the count. The former teammates sparred before Ridge Holland made his presence felt, providing a distraction that allowed The Celtic Warrior to deliver a Brogue Kick for the win.

Result

Sheamus defeated Mahal, Cesaro and Ricochet

Grade

B

Analysis

It’s a shame this was on TV because more of this, uninterrupted by a commercial break, would have been awesome. Even with one, it was still a kickass match that saw Ricochet shine, Cesaro and Sheamus bring the consistent excellence fans have come to expect from them and Mahal prove that he can thrive in the right situation.

The action was great, the finish set up a long-term feud between The Swiss Superman and Celtic Warrior, and it introduced Holland as a player after weeks of backstage promos. Positioning the NXT export alongside Sheamus, a former WWE champion, is the right call while building his credibility and legitimacy.

Everything about this worked, making it the second strong segment on this episode.

One week after having her Survivor Series opportunity stripped away from her by crooked WWE official Sonya Deville, Aliyah teamed with Naomi to battle Shayna Baszler and Natalya in tag team action.

A frenetically paced match suddenly and inexplicably came to a screeching halt when The Queen of Harts pinned Natalya and referee Aja Smith executed a fast count, robbing the babyfaces of the match.

Result

Natalya and Baszler defeated Naomi and Aliyah

Grade

D

Analysis

The development of Deville utilizing officials to further her agenda against the babyfaces was a nice touch, but when it comes in a match this short, without a chance to go anywhere, it hurts the overall impact.

If there is a silver lining, it is that this will all inevitably end with Deville's in-ring return and a hell of a heated showdown with Naomi. Maybe, a bigger role for Aliyah, too.

After a backstage confrontation between him, Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss, Jeff Hardy battled the latter in singles competition. Not willing to walk into a two-on-one situation, Hardy introduced Drew McIntyre to help negate any interference from Corbin.

It worked.

Hardy defeated Moss with a rollup after McIntyre wiped out Corbin.

Following the break, the babyfaces celebrated while the heels retreated, just two days before Corbin will be forced to team with The Charismatic Enigma and Scottish Warrior as part of Team SmackDown.

Result

Hardy defeated Moss

Grade

C-

Analysis

There are so many better ways to utilize the talent in this segment than the throwaway match this ended up being. Nothing was established other than the idea that Team SmackDown can't possibly get along thanks to the dislike that exists within.

It will be so much more interesting to see what the future holds beyond Survivor Series, when stars like Hardy and McIntyre find steady creative direction rather than wandering aimlessly for weeks at a time.

Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs continued their ongoing feud with Los Lotharios' Angel and Humberto this week when The Artist battled Angel in singles competition.

With Boogs at ringside to cut Humberto off, Nakamura delivered the Kinshasa and pinned his opponent for the win.

Result

Nakamura defeated Angel

Grade

C-

Analysis

Like the segment that preceded it, this really accomplished nothing. It existed just to keep the rivalry on the show and, if anything, did a disservice to the heels, who lost a bit of momentum after last week's statement win.

Perhaps it was for the best, as there was reason for Nakamura to be involved with the new team given the fact that he's a singles champion and only competes in tag matches occasionally with Boogs. Why waste the credibility he has as champion using him to build up Los Lotharios.

Maybe WWE revisits the feud next week, but, perhaps, it would behoove them to move in a different direction with both acts in hopes of protecting them.

Shotzi made it abundantly clear early and often that she was looking to not only beat Sasha Banks but hurt her. The green-haired vixen attacked Banks' arm, trapping it in the steel steps and repeatedly kicking it, leaving The Boss writhing in pain.

The heel repeatedly targeted that limb, maintaining control of the match throughout. She even delivered her Ball Pit finisher at one point, only for Banks to roll out of the ring to prevent the pin. Moments later, The Boss seized an opening and applied the Bank Statement with her legs in a clever, effective twist. Shotzi tapped, awarding the victory to Team SmackDown's leader.

After the match, Sonya Deville appeared, clearly expecting the combatants to shake hands. They did, only for Banks to deliver the Backstabber and leave Shotzi lying. She taunted Deville afterward, telling her she did what she wanted.

Result

Banks defeated Shotzi

Grade

B

Analysis

This was an above-average match that highlighted Shotzi's more cerebral heel side while putting over Banks' resilience and resourcefulness.

There will be some who argue that Shotzi shouldn't have lost, especially if there are any plans whatsoever to push her beyond Sunday's Survivor Series, but she was booked in a way in which she dominated the action and only won when Banks capitalized on a single opening to score the come-from-behind win.

The key to any long-term credibility for Shotzi will be how WWE Creative follows this up. If she fades into the background, this will all have been for naught. If she is prominently featured Sunday and can build on the best in-ring performance of her main roster run, there will be plenty of potential for growth.

As for Banks, the idea of her as the defiant babyface to Deville's authority figure is hardly a bad role for her.

After the events earlier in the show, King Woods made his way to the ring and called out Roman Reigns.

As The Head of the Table made his way to the squared circle, Paul Heyman called for The Usos. Neither Jimmy nor Jey appeared until they were shockingly hurled through the entranceway. Suddenly, WWE champion Big E's music played, and Woods' best friend made his presence felt.

A brawl between the Survivor Series opponents broke out, concluding with Big E driving The Head of the Table down with the Big Ending. Reigns retreated as the Raw champion stood tall to close out the show.

Grade

A

Analysis

Short, sweet and to the point, this was the perfect way to wrap up the final show before Survivor Series.

Big E has been the missing ingredient in this feud for weeks considering he was slated to face Reigns and is so closely linked to Woods. Here, The New Day ties were paid off while simultaneously creating heat for the main event of Sunday's show beyond stupid brand supremacy.

Reigns really put over the effects of Big E's appearance, too, wrapping up what was a fantastic and succinct segment to close out what was an uneven episode of SmackDown, to say the least.