WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Brock Lesnar teases Paul Heyman's return as his 'advocate'

Heyman encouraged Lesnar to return to his violent roots in the show's opening segment

With WWE building to the Day 1 pay-per-view event on Jan. 1, Brock Lesnar returned to SmackDown on Friday night to tease that Paul Heyman may be on the verge of returning as his "advocate." Heyman is currently the right-hand man of universal champion Roman Reigns, who will defend his title against Lesnar at Day 1.

With Reigns not in the building for SmackDown, Lesnar appeared to push the right buttons for Heyman to encourage him to return to form as a violent, uncontrollable force. Lesnar also referred to Heyman as his advocate, suggesting that the two may be reuniting in their roles that have brought so much past success.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Brock Lesnar hints at reunion with Paul Heyman

Sami Zayn opened the show in the ring, flanked by nurses, seated in a wheelchair and wearing a neck brace. As he claimed he was going to sue WWE, its officials, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns for the conspiracy to screw him out of his universal championship match the previous week. This brought out Paul Heyman, whom Zayn threatened by reminding that Reigns was not in the building. When Zayn asked who could save Heyman, Lesnar came to the ring, the first tease of a reunion with Heyman on the night. After Lesnar suggested to Zayn that he actually saved him from a worse fate by attacking him before the match with Reigns. After agreeing Zayn should return to Canada with him for some hunting and fishing, Lesnar was asked by Reigns what had happened to him and where the destroyer had gone. Lesnar then snapped, taking out the nurses and Zayn while Heyman watched on with a smile.

After the opening, Lesnar told Kayla Braxton that she should direct questions to his advocate, Paul Heyman. When Braxton did so, asking Heyman if he was, in fact, Lesnar's advocate once again. Heyman told her to stop asking him those questions. Later in the night, Lesnar confronted WWE official Adam Pearce and thanked Pearce for suspending him for his attack after Crown Jewel. Lesnar told Pearce he was given time to think and even saw a huge moose, before trying to show Pearce a photo on a flip phone. Lesnar then slowly explained, in detail, how he butchered and ate the moose and even named the moose Pearce. 

Lesnar's deal with Zayn is confusing since Heyman's work appeared to imply that Lesnar was serious about hanging out with Zayn and doing some hunting and fishing. In all honesty, everyone is better served if Heyman goes back to a role as Lesnar's mouthpiece. Lesnar can only do so much on the microphone and Reigns doesn't actually need Heyman at this point. This wasn't a lot in terms of single-night storytelling but should set up some interesting stuff between Heyman and Reigns next week. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Drew McIntyre def. Sheamus via pinfall after a Claymore. Before the match, McIntyre confronted Adam Pearce about being left out of the No. 1 contender battle royal two weeks prior only to be told he couldn't bring his sword to the ring, leading McIntyre to drive the sword through Pearce's desk. Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin then stole the desk and the sword during McIntyre's match.
• Xia Li made her SmackDown debut by saving Naomi against Sonya Deville. Deville was set to face Naomi in one-on-one action but had Natalya and Shayna Baszler as ring announcer and time keeper, respectively. As the three tried to gang up on Naomi before the match, Li made the save, helping Naomi chase off Deville, Natalya and Baszler.
• Toni Storm def. Charlotte Flair via disqualification when Flair wouldn't stop attacking Storm on the ring apron. The match was kept short before the DQ.
• The New Day def. The Usos and RK-Bro via pinfall after Kofi Kingston hit Jimmy Uso with a stomp in the main event.