Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 12/16/2022 edition of SmackDown on FOX. We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show:
Preview.
- Undisputed WWE Universal World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns Returns to SmackDown.
- Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashanti Adonis) (w/ B-Fab) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquín Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) (w/ Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega) vs. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (w/ "Valhalla" Sarah Logan).
- WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: GUNTHER (c) vs. Ricochet.
- WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky) (w/ Bayley) vs Liv Morgan & Tegan Nox.
Refresh the article for the latest updates.
Live Coverage.
- Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast airing from Chicago, Illinois before quickly transitioning to the opening match.
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match.
Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky) (w/ Bayley) vs Liv Morgan & Tegan Nox.
Morgan began the match hitting a shotgun dropkick & a hip attack on Kai before Nox tagged in and hit a corner forearm strike on Kai. Nox ran the ropes, but Kai caught Nox with a Scorpion Kick before Sky tagged in. Sky hi attacked Nox, but Nox hit a facebuster on Sky before she tagged in Morgan and the two hit a double-suplex on Sky for a near fall. Morgan hit a snap-mare on Sky and ran the ropes, but Kai kicked her on the back. Morgan hit a shotgun dropkick on Sky before getting a kendo stick & chasing down Sky. Nox stopped Morgan from striking Kai with the kendo stick before sending Sky & Kai to the outside. Morgan went for a sliding dropkick on Sky & Kai but only did as a coy to allow Nox to hit a diving cross body on Nox & Sky on the outside before the commercial break. After the break, Kai hit a double-stop on Nox for a near fall. Kai & Sky hit boot kicks into a drop toe-hold into a shotgun dropkick on Nox for a near fall. Nox got up and hit a headbutt on skY BEFORE mORGAN & sKY TAGGED IN. Morgan hit a pump kick, an enzigurii kick, a hip attack, an elevated knee, and a middle rope shotgun dropkick on Kai before going for an arm drag, but Kai evaded and hit a running boot kick on Morgan in the corner. Sky & Kai hit a double-powerbomb on Kai for a near fall. Kai hit a Pele Kick GTS on Nox, but Morgan attacked Kai before hitting a Codebreaker on Sky. Morgan & Nox hit an assisted Codebreaker into a Shining Wizard on Sky for a near fall, thanks to Kai interfering. Morgan hit a Sunset bomb to the outside caught with a shotgun dropkick from Sky. Nox got Sky with a senton on Sky, but Sky got up and hit a shote on Nox to send him to the outside. Nox tossed Bayley to the outside, but a mysterious figure attacked Nox from behind. With this, Sky hit a moonsault on Nox for the pinfall win & title retention.
Winners & New WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky) (w/ Bayley).
- There was a vignette of Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER talking about his wrestling philosophy ahead of his match against Ricochet for the title later in the night. GUNTHER promised to break Ricochet's spirit.
- There was a vignette of Ricochet walking around Las Vegas ahead of his match against GUNTHER of the Intercontinental Championship. Ricochet relived his SmackDown World Cup victory, he instructed to try and bet against him because he was betting on Ricochet (himself).
- There was a video package of Kevin Owens and his feud against the Bloodline. After that video package, Samy Zayn & Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) were backstage. Jey said that Roman Reigns would make Zayn a full-time Uce, but Jimmy was doubtful as he believed Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns may set up Zayn for a big disappointment.
- There was a video of someone kidnapping LA Knight after the chaos that happened last week. LA Knight walked around backstage before cutting to the commercial break.
- After the commercial break, LA Knight got in the ring to cut a promo, complaining that he had been kidnapped & attacked from the back and blaming Bray Wyatt for the antics. Wyatt put over Wyatt but admitted that he believed that Wyatt has only dedicated himself to attacking Knight. Knight said he did not care about what gimmick Wyatt had to be, he demanded Wyatt to the ring to get stomped. Wyatt made fun of Knight's catchphrase as he walked to the ramp and told Knight that he would give him one more chance to do things right, but Knight stomped away at Wyatt in retaliation. Knight was abruptly interrupted by Uncle Howdie saying "Little Pig, what have you done?" Knight continued to stomp Wyatt before, shockingly, Uncle Howdie walked to the ramp and made his presence felt. Both Knight & Wyatt were bamboozled as Knight got out of the ring as he was in misbelief.
- Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns came to the arena alongside Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman, as Heyman instructed Reigns where to go.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match.
GUNTHER (c) (w/ Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser) vs. Ricochet.
Adam Pearce kicked Vinci & Kaiser out of the arena prior to the match introductions. Ricochet & GUNTHER began the match, with Ricochet hitting three kicks to GUNTHER's leg going for a leg takedown, but GUNTHER reversed with a Single Leg Crab before Ricochet got a rope break. GUNTHER got a wrist lock takedown on Ricochet before hitting a knee drop n the arm. GUNTHER targeted Ricochet's arm, but Ricochet dipped out GUNTHER's targeted offense before GUNTHER leaned Ricochet into the ropes and tossed him with a Small Swing. Ricochet evaded GUNTHER's chop before locking in a headlock. Ricochet went for a springboard move, but GUNTHER pushed him out of the ring. Ricochet skinned the cat before hitting an enziguri kick, a series of body shots, a dropkick to the corner, and went for another springboard move before GUNTHER booted him in the face. On the outside, GUNTHER hit a back suplex on Ricochet into the apron before leaning Ricochet into the barricade and hitting a vicious chop before the commercial break. Back from the break, GUNTHER fired away at Ricochet's chest with a flurry of chops before hitting a body slam and stomping Ricochet's bald spot. GUNTHER hit a short-hand chop on Ricochet, but Ricochet hit a series of slaps before GUNTHER slammed Ricochet to the corner with an Irish Whip followed by a kick to the back & a body slam. GUNTHER locked in a Boston Crab on Ricochet, but Ricochet hit a series of up kicks on GUNTHER's head to break the hold. Ricochet laid in the kicks on GUNTHER's chest before locking in a headlock, but GUNTHER reversed the hold with a Roderick Strong-style back breaker on Ricochet for a near fall. GUNTHER locked in a Boston Crab on Ricochet before transitioning into an STF, but Ricochet got the ropes to get a rope break. Ricochet got up and laid in the strikes, but GUNTHER responded by hitting a vicious chop before locking in a Cobra Clutch on Ricochet, but Ricochet got out of the hold. GUNTHER hit an elbow strike, a chop & a back suplex on Ricochet for a near fall. GUNTHER fired away with vicious chops on Ricochet's chest & back before GUNTHER went for another chop, but Ricochet hit an enziguri kick to the neck before hitting a dropkick on GUNTHER into the corner. Ricochet hit more body shots on GUNTHER, but GUNTHER hit a chop & a vicious shotgun dropkick on Ricochet. Ricochet hit a Hurricanrana to send GUNTHER to the outside before hitting a dropkick on GUNTHER off the apron to the outside. Ricochet got back in the ring before hitting an Asai Moonsault on GUNTHER to the outside before the commercial break. Back from the break, Ricochet hit a Flossburry Dive on GUNTHER to the outside. Back in the ring, Ricochet climbed to the top rope, but GUNTHER caught him with a chop. GUNTHER went for a super German Suplex, but Ricochet landed on his feet before hitting a knee strike, but GUNTHER responded with a boot kick & a lariat on Ricochet for a near fall. GUNTHER went for a Splash on Ricochet, but Ricochet lifted his feet to block the hold before he got GUTNHER's entire body into a twist Suplex on GUNTHER for a near fall. Ricochet got to the top rope and hit a Shooting Star Press on GUNTHER for a near fall. Ricochet laid in the strikes on GUNTHER in the head and legs before hitting a chop on Ricochet. Ricochet hit two thrust kicks and went for a shotgun dropkick, but GUNTHER caught him with a chop before hitting a Powerbomb on Ricochet for a near fall. GUNTHER responded by hitting a furious Pimp Slap on Ricochet before hitting the Emerald Fusion on Ricochet for the pinfall win & outstanding title retention.
Winner & Still WWE Intercontinental Champion: GUNTHER.
- Kaiser & Vinci tried to attack Ricochet after the match, but Braun Strowman came to the ring and made the save. GUNTHER, Vinci & Kaiser left the ring, with Strowman picking Ricochet up after his efforts in the match.
- Jimmy Uso was called by Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman backstage. Jimmy asked Reigns what the plan was, but Reigns kept quiet. Jimmy said that he would love Zayn to be Honorary Uce, but would understand if he did not induct him. After Jimmy left, Reigns demanded Heyman to call Adam Pearce before the commercial break.
- After the commercial break, Adam Pearce joined Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa & Reigns and pitched a match for Solo Sikoa & Sami Zayn against Kevin Owens & a partner of Owens' choosing. Pearce agreed to it, and Reigns suggested being on the 12/30/2022 edition of SmackDown.
Winner Ears Shot at WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships.
Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashanti Adonis) (w/ B-Fab) vs. Legado del Fantasma (Joaquín Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) (w/ Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega) vs. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (w/ "Valhalla" Sarah Logan).
Ivar hti a leg lariat on Wilde to begin the match. Adonis got a headlock on Ivar and then tried to hit an arm drag, but Ivar blocked him and went for a lariat before Adonis hit a dropkick to send Ivar to the outside. Erik sent Adonis to the outside, but Top Dolla sent him & LDF to the outside. Erik attacked Top Dolla, but LDF laid the two out to send them to the outside before Wilde & Del Toro hit stereo walk-rope topes on Hit Ro w& Viking Raiders on the outside before the commercial break. Backfrom the break, Adonis hit a thrust kick on Erik before Top Dolla tagged in and hit double shoulder tackles on Wilde & Erik, a running boot on Wilde, and got a Fireman's Carry on Ivar before Erik caught him with a knee strike. Ivar & Erik hit a German Suplex/ Springbaord lariat on Top Dolla for near fall, but Wilde hit a Tornado DDT on Erik. Del Toro hit a spingboard dropkick before hitting a Phoenix Splash on Top Dolla for a near fall. Del Toro & Wilde went for El Sacrificio, but Adonis interfered and hit a tornado DDT on Wilde, but Erik attacked him. Del Toro hit a dropkick on Erik, but Ivar hit a senton on Del Toro. Adonis was attacked by Vega, causing Valhalla & B-Fab to interfere, with Vegan hitting an Asai Moonsault on Valhalla to the outside. Wilde hit a chin breaker on Top Dolla and ran the ropes before hitting a back suplex/ dropkick combo on Wilde for the pinfall win.
Winners: Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashanti Adonis) (w/ B-Fab).
- Raquel Rodriguez was interviewed backstage, but Shayna Baszler & Ronda Rousey attacked her from behind. Rousey & Baszler targetted Rodriguez's arm.
- The Bloodline (Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn, Paul Heyman & WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)) came to the ring to cut a promo. Reigns asked the crowd to acknowledge him, to which the Chicago crowd obliged. Reigns then told Zayn that tonight would have been a great night for Zayn, but he said that The Bloodline has a Kevin Owens problem. Reigns informed Zayn that he would team alongside Reigns in a tag match on 12/30/2022, to which Zayn responded by saying he is Owens' only friend. Zayn immediately noticed his wording but was interrupted by a video of John Cena. Cena said that he received a message from Kevin Owens with a whole lot of emojis to offer him to be his tag partner against Zayn & Reigns. Cena accepted Owens' offer and said that he & Owens would bring the fight to Zayn & Reigns. John Cena ended the broadcast by saying "Ho Ho, Holy SHIT".
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
