The 23^rd December 2011 episode of Friday Night SmackDown! starts with The Big Show making his way to the ring and talking about how he thought that he would be standing there as the World Heavyweight Champion, but that he’s not and that the new World Heavyweight Champion is Daniel Bryan.

He talks about how he feels at the events at TLC (click here for our TLC report), as well as showing a clip of what Josh Mathews said to him about his title reign on Monday Night Raw (click here for our Raw report), before stating that is proud of himself for keeping control, but before he can let us know how he really feels about it all, Mark Henry’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring.

Mark Henry taunts The Big Show on his short title reign, before stating how he thinks Show should feel and also suggests that he should take a week off and quit the business. He continues by saying that he came out to get his rematch with Daniel Bryan, and states that he wants it on this episode of SmackDown!.

Show asks Henry what makes him feel that he should get a rematch, but Henry is saved from answering as Daniel Bryan’s music hits and the new World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring.

Bryan talks about how he knows that there are a lot of people who can’t believe that he is the World Heavyweight Champion, which includes himself, but despite the fact that he is not a multitude of things that he then lists, he says that he is a very good wrestler and hopes to one day be one of the great ones, and he says that what he is, is the World Heavyweight Champion.

Mark Henry calls Bryan a pipsqueak and demands that he get his rematch, but after The Big Show asks him again what makes him think that he should get the rematch when it was Show who beat Henry, Henry taunts Show about the length of his reign again which prompts Teddy Long’s music to hit and him make his way out onto the stage.

Teddy Long says that both men deserve the chance to compete against Daniel Bryan, but that on this episode of SmackDown!, they will be competing against each other, with the winner being the first to challenge Bryan for the title. Long then congratulates Bryan on becoming the new champion, before once again leaving.

Next, Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes takes on the new United States Champion “Long Island Iced Z” Zack Ryder, in a match which sees Ryder get the victory, when Ryder takes advantage of the distraction provided by Booker T singing “Cody The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and hits Rhodes with the Rough Ryder for the 3-count.

Afterwards, Booker adds insult to injury by reciting one last verse “Cody with your nose so bright, you just got beat down tonight – sucka!”.

After some interactions backstage involving Santino Marella, Teddy Long, Aksana, Vickie Guerrero, and Dolph Ziggler, which results in Ziggler’s request for a match with Daniel Bryan being granted, The Big Show is set to be pitted against Mark Henry to determine who will be the first to challenge Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Before the match can happen however, David Otunga’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring, where he states that the match will not happen as Henry is not medically cleared to wrestle. Show’s response to this is simple, but effective – he hits Otunga with the Weapon of Mass Destruction.

Backstage sees another interaction, this time involving Teddy Long and The Miz, as The Miz states that he was told to be there and Long denies it was by his office, causing The Miz to threaten to hold the show up unless Long can find somebody who can compete against him.

Back in the arena, The Miz attempts to do just what he threatened and assumes that Long has been unable to find anyone – that is until Sheamus’ music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to face him.

The match sees Sheamus get the victory, when he hits The Miz with the Brogue Kick for the 3-count.

Now, Wade Barrett makes his way to the ring and talks about how the Barrett Barrage has been on a great roll as of late, and says that a minor speed bump was never going to be enough to derail it, and after showing some clips from over the past month – including from this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw – about how he “skinned The Viper”.

Barrett believes that this puts him firmly in line for a title shot against Daniel Bryan, which concludes what he has to say, as he then decides to leave again. He doesn’t get far however, as Randy Orton’s music hits when he reaches the ramp.

Both men quickly start trading blows, and after Barrett manages to counter Orton’s RKO attempt and flees, Orton pursues him, leading the men to continue their fight backstage. The fight ends in Orton’s favour however, as he hits Barrett with an RKO on the top of car.

After another video hyping the return of someone on the 2^nd January 2012, Kofi Kingston (accompanied by Evan Bourne) goes against Primo (accompanied by Epico and Rosa Mendes) in a match which sees Kingston get the victory, when he hits Primo with Trouble In Paradise for the 3-count.

After a video recapping the events on Raw involving CM Punk, Zack Ryder, and Daniel Bryan, Daniel Bryan takes on Dolph Ziggler (accompanied by Vickie Guerrero) in a match which sees Jack Swagger also come out and observe, followed soon after by The Big Show, and end up being turned into a tag team match by Teddy Long, when Show is about to retaliate against Swagger for his attempted attack on him.

The tag team match of Daniel Bryan and The Big Show being pitted against Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler sees Bryan get the victory for his team, when he applies the LeBell Lock to Swagger and forces him to tap out.

Daniel Bryan celebrates in the ring while The Big Show watches on from the top of the ramp, as SmackDown! goes off the air.