WWE SmackDown airs live tonight from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Usos defended the Undisputed Tag Team Championships against New Day tonight. There was also a Six-Pack Challenge to determine Ronda Rousey’s next opponent for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
SmackDown Results (11/11/22)
- The Usos def. New Day to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships
- Santos Escobar def. Shinsuke Nakamura to advance in the SmackDown World Cup
- Shotzi won a Six-Pack Challenge to earn a title shot against Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series
- Braun Strowman def. Jinder Mahal to advance in the SmackDown World Cup
Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown:
The Usos def. New Day to Make History
The Usos put the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships on the line against Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of New Day in the first match of the night. Jimmy and Jey are just a couple of days away from breaking New Day’s record as the longest-reigning tag champions in WWE history.
Xavier Woods and Jey Uso started off the action. Woods applied a Headlock but Jey escaped. Woods hit a shoulder tackle for a near fall and tagged in Kofi Kingston. The Former WWE Champion hit a Clothesline but The Usos took control. Jimmy tagged in as the champs as The Usos isolated Kingston in the corner.
New Day battled back and took turns stomping on Jimmy in the corner of the ring. Kofi climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit a Trust Fall onto The Usos below as WWE SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, The Usos brought Kingston out of the ring and launched him into the barricade. Jey hit Kofi with a dive through the ropes before the action returned to the ring. The crowd chanted “we want Sami!” and Jey blocked his ears. SmackDown announcer Michael Cole announced that Sami wasn’t at the show tonight due to a personal issue.
Jey caught Kingston with a cheap shot as Jimmy distracted the official. Kofi booted Jey away and went for the tag but Jimmy pulled Xavier Woods off the ring apron. Jey connected with a Neckbreaker and went for the cover but Kingston kicked out at two as SmackDown went to another break.
When SmackDown returned, Xavier Woods and Jimmy Uso tagged into the match. Woods ducked under a Clothesline and hit an elbow to the face. Xavier hit Jey with a Russian Leg Sweep and fired up the crowd. Woods connected with a Gutbuster on Jimmy and went for the cover but Uso kicked out at two.
Kofi tagged in and hit Jimmy with a Splash. Woods followed it up with a Leg Drop off the top rope and Kingston went for the cover but Jimmy was able to kick out at the last moment. Kingston hit the Boom Drop and went for Trouble in Paradise but Jimmy dodged it.
Jey Uso tagged in and Kingston greeted him with an SOS for a close near fall. Kingston pounded on the mat in frustration as the match continued. The WWE Universe chanted “this is awesome” as Woods tagged in. Xavier hit Jey with a headbutt but Uso responded with a Superkick.
Jimmy tagged in and The Usos hit Woods and Kingston with several Superkicks. The Usos climbed to opposite corners of the ring and hit Woods with a double Splash but somehow Xavier kicked out at two!
Jey tagged in Jimmy Uso and The Usos posed in the ring and waited for Woods to get up. Kofi dragged Jey to the outside and sent him into the steel steps. New Day hit Midnight Hour on Jey outside the ring. Back in the ring, Xavier hit Jimmy with a DDT. Kofi tagged in and New Day hit Midnight Hour on Jimmy in the ring. Kofi went for the cover but Jey broke it up at the last moment and the match continued.
Woods and Jey battled out of the ring and Uso hit a Superkick that sent Xavier into the timekeeper’s area. The Usos isolated Kofi in the corner and brought him up the top rope. Kingston tried to battle back but jumped into a 1D from The Usos for the pinfall victory. The Usos retained the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions and will make history as the longest-reigning team. Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman were shown watching on backstage after the match.
Santos Escobar Advanced to the Semifinals SmackDown World Cup
Shinsuke Nakamura battled Santos Escobar in the first round of the SmackDown World Cup. The winner of the tournament will get a shot at Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship. Nakamura controlled the match early and knocked Escobar out of the ring as SmackDown went to commercial.
When SmackDown returned, Escobar was in control as Legada del Fantasma watched on from ringside. Nakamura caught Santos with an Enziguri but Wilde dragged Santos out of the ring. Shinsuke hit Wilde with a Dropkick and rolled Santos back into the ring. Del Toro jumped off the steps but Nakamura hit him with a knee.
Shinsuke climbed to the top rope but Santos booted him in the face. Escobar hit a Phantom Driver for the pinfall victory. Santos Escobar has advanced to the semifinals of the SmackDown World Cup.
Shotzi Earned a Title Shot Against Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series: Wargames
Liv Morgan, Xia Li, Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, Sonya Deville, and Lacey Evans competed in a Six-Pack Challenge tonight. The winner of the match earned a shot against Ronda Rousey for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Raquel and Xia battled outside the ring as Lacey sent Shotzi into the turnbuckle. Li shoved Rodriguez into the ring post as Lacey delivered the Woman’s Right to Shotzi. Evans went for the cover but Deville broke it up at two. Morgan bounced Deville’s head off the turnbuckle several times before throwing her out of the ring. Liv sent Deville into the steps as Li shoved Raquel into the ring post.
Liv set up the steel steps next to the announce table but Sonya slammed her down on top of them. Xia dragged Shotzi to the corner of the ring and climbed to the top rope. Rodriguez joined her up there and hit a Superplex. Sonya tried to steal the win but Li kicked out at two. Sonya hit a knee strike to Raquel’s face as SmackDown went to a commercial.
Back from the break, Liv hit a Dropkick on Xia and delivered a Splash to Lacey Evans. Liv hit several Splashes on Evans and Li in opposite corners of the ring. She connected with a Codebreaker on Evans and then a DDT on Raquel. Deville threw Liv out of the ring and tried to steal the win again but Morgan broke it up at two.
Shotzi hit Sonya with a DDT but Evans caught her with a Clothesline. Xia hit an Enziguri but Raquel caught her with a massive Powerbomb. Rodriguez went for the cover but Sonya pulled her out of the ring. Raquel delivered a big boot and brought a table out from under the ring as the crowd cheered.
Rodriguez set up for something but Liv jumped off the table. The move was completely botched and all three superstars fell to the floor awkwardly next to the table. Shotzi hit the Never Wake Up on Lacey Evans for the pinfall victory. It was announced after the match with a graphic that Shotzi will battle Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series: WarGames.
After the match, Emma congratulated Shotzi backstage and wished her luck. She asked if Shotzi had seen Madcap Moss around (the two are a couple in real life) and Shotzi claimed that Emma was crushing on the SmackDown star.
Shayna Baszler confronted Shotzi and said Ronda will break one of her limbs at the PLE. Ronda showed up for a stare-down with Shotzi but Baszler choked the challenger out with the Kirifuda Clutch from behind.
Bray Wyatt Confronted LA Knight
LA Knight cut a backstage promo about not being in the SmackDown World Cup. Bray Wyatt’s logo kept flashing behind him and Bray showed up. Wyatt said he can see all the anger and rage brewing inside Knight. Bray added that his whole life people have been saying that his rage will make a monster out of him.
He laughed and said he knows what it takes to get respect. Bray asked LA Knight how far he is willing to go to get respect. LA Knight suggested that he go play with his puppets and Wyatt headbutted him to end the segment.
Braun Strowman Advanced in the SmackDown World Cup
Jinder Mahal made his triumphant return and vowed to win the SmackDown World Cup. Jinder battled Braun Strowman in the first round of the tournament. Mahal got in some offense early before the Monster of All Monsters hit some shoulder tackles outside the ring. Back in the ring, Strowman hit a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. Braun Strowman has advanced to the semifinals of the SmackDown World Cup.
Viking Raiders Returned with Sarah Logan
Zelina Vega was set to battle B-Fab but the match never happend. The Viking Raiders returned as Sarah Logan attacked B-Fab. Ivar hit Del Toro with a Splash against the barricade. Viking Raiders dragged Adonis to the corner and Ivar hit him with another Splash. Viking Raiders isolated Top Dolla and beat him down. Erik and Ivar connected with a big Powerbomb as Sarah Logan dragged B-Fab out of the ring. Viking Raiders beat both teams down and posed in the ring.
The Brawling Brutes Confronted The Bloodline
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made his way to the ring with The Usos and Paul Heyman at the end of tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Heyman insulted Indianapolis and the crowd booed. Paul joked that wasn’t very “Ucey” of the crowd.
Heyman hyped up The Usos before handing the microphone to the Tribal Chief. Reigns noted that it is not being his cousin and their whole lives, everyone has always acknowledged Roman for his greatness. Roman was about to acknowledge The Usos but the Brawling Brutes interrupted.
Ridge Holland and Butch said that they are sick of The Bloodline using the numbers game every week. Holland said it is Fight Night and they have brought back up. The Celtic Warrior’s theme hit and Sheamus made his way to the entrance ramp. The microphone didn’t work and Roman laughed about it.
The Brawling Brutes got into the ring and a brawl broke out. The Bloodline beat The Brawling Brutes down as Reigns posed in the ring. Drew McIntyre marched down to the ring and delivered a big boot. McIntyre knocked Jimmy to the outside and knocked Solo down. Reigns hit McIntyre with a boot to the face but Sheamus attacked him from behind. The brawl continued as SmackDown went off the air.
