WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: The Usos outlast Sheamus and Butch with help from Sami Zayn

Jey Uso teased a big week for Zayn next Friday, plus return dates were announced for Roman Reigns and John Cena

WWE SmackDown is closing out the year with a bang. Dates were set for the returns of John Cena and Roman Reigns, plus a big development is coming for Sami Zayn.

Zayn's induction into The Bloodline continues to pay dividends week after week. The Usos performed well in their undisputed WWE tag team title defense against Sheamus and Butch on Friday, but Zayn was the difference maker. Jey Uso teased a reward for Zayn next week as Reigns returns. Cena will also return to the company by year's end.

A busy episode of SmackDown featured an interesting development in the feud between Bray Wyatt and LA Knight, an appearance by SmackDown women's champion Ronda Rousey and a boost of momentum for Ricochet ahead of his intercontinental championship match against GUNTHER.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Zayn has a big week in store as Reigns returns

Undisputed WWE tag team championships – The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) (c) def. Brawling Brutes (Sheamus and Butch) via pinfall after hitting 1-D on Butch. Sheamus took the fight to The Usos early, overwhelming the champions with his power. It was The Usos' ability to isolate Butch that gave them control over the middle portion of the match. The Usos cut off Butch from Sheamus and took turns laying into the short-notice replacement. Butch eventually broke free and reached Sheamus. A ferocious Sheamus ran over Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso, hitting the latter with White Noise and beating on the former with Beats of the Bodhran. Jey Uso leveled Sheamus with a suicide dive ringside but gave Butch ample time to lay out of The Usos with a moonsault to the floor. The Brawling Brutes kept building momentum, scoring near falls with a Tornado DDT, powerbomb and Celtic Cross-neck breaker combination. A scuffle broke out ringside and ended with Solo Sikoa planting Ridge Holland over the ring barricade with Spinning Solo. Back in the ring, The Usos landed 1-D on Butch for the three-count. Sheamus tried to break it up but was held back by Zayn.

The Usos and Zayn were delighted backstage, celebrating their victory alongside a typically stone-faced Sikoa. Jey encouraged Zayn to trim his hair and tidy his beard, teasing a big week for him next Friday when Roman Reigns returns.

This week's development surrounding The Bloodline felt inconsequential compared to recent weeks. To be fair, not all plot developments can or should be of great weight, but it bears mentioning. Butch performed phenomenally in the tag title much, but it would have been great to see how Sheamus and McIntyre gel as a tag team. WWE did tease something significant next week for Zayn regarding Reigns' return so at least fans can look forward to that. Cena's return at the end of the year should also draw a rating. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Angle introduced Braun Strowman to Gable Steveson backstage. Strowman and Steveson had a friendly but competitive spirit to them.
• Knight presented evidence that Wyatt's alter ego was present when he was attacked over the last few weeks.
• Rousey and Shayna Bazler played coy when accused of injuring Shotzi's arm in the parking lot. They were confronted by Liv Morgan and recent debutant Tegan Nox.
• Legado Del Fantasma (Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde) def. The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) via disqualification after Hit Row attacked Toro and Wilde. Hit Row also laid out Viking Raiders.
• A masked Wyatt confronted Knight in the dark after Knight inspected a changing room.
• Ricochet and New Day def. Imperium (GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) via pinfall after Ricochet landed a Shooting Star Press on Kaiser. A contract signing between GUNTHER and Ricochet preceded the match.
• Karrion Kross threatened Rey Mysterio, suggesting it was time to put down the old horse.
• Morgan and Nox def. Rousey and Bazler via pinfall after Nox hit a shining wizard on Bazler and Morgan got the cover. Raquel Rodriguez distracted Rousey in the closing moments.
• Angle and Steveson doused Gable and Otis in milk after the tag team crashed Angle's birthday celebration.