WWE SmackDown live results: Final build to WarGames
Tonight’s SmackDown features the final build to Survivor Series: WarGames.
Saturday’s men’s WarGames match will pit The Bloodline against The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre & Kevin Owens. Tonight, Sheamus & McIntyre take on The Usos in a WarGames advantage match.
Bianca Belair reveals the final member of her WarGames team tonight. The women’s WarGames match features Belair, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and a mystery partner facing Damage CTRL, Nikki Cross & Rhea Ripley.
The SmackDown World Cup continues with both semifinal matches taking place on tonight’s show. The Brawling Brutes’ Butch goes one-on-one with Legado Del Fantasma’s Santos Escobar, while Ricochet will look to advance to the finals as he takes on Braun Strowman.
Plus, SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler team up against Shotzi & Raquel Rodriguez. Shotzi is set to challenge Rousey for the title tomorrow night.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Becky Lynch Returns
In a short, simple, and good opening segment, Becky Lynch returned to a big reaction. They didn’t draw it out and quickly brought out Lynch for a brawl.
Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Nikki Cross, and Rhea Ripley were already standing in the ring to start SmackDown. Wasting no time, Bayley demanded that Bianca Belair announce their fifth partner.
Belair, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, and Mia Yim made their way to the ring. Belair kept it short and noted they didn’t come alone.
Becky Lynch made her return to a big reaction. Lynch jumped in the ring and got in Bayley’s face kicking off a wild brawl. Lynch sent Bayley out of the ring. Ripley teased fighting Lynch, but she backed off. The fans broke into a loud “Becky” chant.
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Wade Barrett and Michael Cole ran down tonight’s lineup.
SmackDown World Cup Semi-Final: Santos Escobar (w/Zelina Vega & Legado Del Fantasma) defeated Butch (w/The Brawling Brutes) (9:12)
Escobar finally got a chance to shine on the main roster in this fun opening match.
In an inset interview, Santos Escobar promised to defeat Butch and advance to the finals.
Zelina Vega joined Cole and Barrett on commentary. She teased going after The Bloodline someday.
Using joint manipulation, Butch worked over Escobar’s arm. Escobar recovered and took over with a dropkick. He briefly slowed the pace down, but Butch fought back. The pace picked up with Butch chopping Escoboar against the commentary desk. Back in the ring, Escobar regained control after pushing Butch off the top rope. Butch took a nasty fall, hitting the apron on the way down.
Butch caught Escobar with a German suplex back from the break. He followed with a moonsault off the apron, taking out Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro. Escobar recovered and caught Butch with a suicide dive. Escobar and Butch fought on the top rope until Butch snapped Escobar’s fingers.
Butch took out Del Toro and Wilde with a moonsault off the top rope. He followed with a middle rope tornado DDT on Escobar for a near fall.
Backstage, The Bloodline attacked Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens. The Brawling Brutes watched the attack on the big screen in the arena.
Sheamus and Ridge Holland ran to the back to make the save. However, they left Butch without any help. Del Toro and Wilde interfered again, leading to Escobar hitting the Phantom driver for the win.
Santos Escobar advances to the SmackDown World Cup finals.
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They recapped the Bray Wyatt and LA Knight angle.
Bray Wyatt Segment
Wyatt got another giant reaction. The fans broke into a loud “Wyatt” chant. Wyatt knows people look at him like a rabid dog. He can hear the whispers and feels the people looking at him.
He added that everyone wants him to be a monster. Everyone wants him to be The Fiend. The fans popped for the mention of The Fiend. He doesn’t want to be The Fiend anymore, which got boos. Wyatt claimed that he didn’t attack LA Knight last week.
The lights went out. An Uncle Howdy video appeared on the screen. It included highlights of Wyatt’s career. With a tear on his face, Uncle Howdy told Wyatt to wake up.
Megan Morant spoke with LA Knight. He talked about the attack and noted he didn’t believe Wyatt.
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The Viking Raiders (w/Valhalla) defeated Hit Row (w/B-Fab) (2:45)
The Viking Raiders looked strong as they squashed Hit Row.
Sarah Logan is now known as Valhalla.
The Raiders had the early advantage as they beat down Ashante “Thee” Adonis on their side of the ring. Adonis tweaked his knee, as he tagged in Top Dolla.
Top Dolla briefly ran wild until Ivar knocked him out of the ring. Adonis missed a crossbody but landed on his bad knee. The Viking Raiders took advantage and hit Ragnarok for the win.
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Michael Cole discussed Dominik Mysterio attacking Rey last night on Thanksgiving. He was disgusted with Dominink’s actions.
They showed footage of Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley showing up at the Mysterio home for Thanksgiving. Dominik smashed a family picture and broom over Rey’s injured leg.
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Someone attacked LA Knight again backstage.
SmackDown World Cup Semi-Final: Ricochet defeated Braun Strowman (3:44)
Ricochet and Strowman had a short, fun big man-little man contest. Surprisingly Ricochet won, but he needed Imperium’s help. Ricochet didn’t turn and sided with Strowman after the match.
Ricochet enraged Strowman with a slap to the face. Strowman backed Ricochet into the corner. Ricochet used his speed to avoid Strowman. He followed with a series of dropkicks, including one off the apron. After Ricochet celebrated, Strowman sent Ricochet flying over the commentary table with a tackle.
Strowman was firmly in control with a splash in the corner. He then tossed Ricochet across the ring. Suddenly, Gunther and Imperium ran out to cause a distraction. Ricochet took advantage and used a crucifix to pin Strowman for the win.
After the match, Imperium attacked Strowman until Ricochet ran back for the save. They overwhelmed Ricochet, but Strowman cleared the ring.
Strowman helped Ricochet to his feet to a huge pop. Ricochet advances to the World Cup finals next week.
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As Sami Zayn was about to enter The Bloodline locker room, Kevin Owens approached him. Zayn told him to leave, but Owens gave him some advice. He noted that The Bloodline would eventually turn on Zayn. Owens told Zayn to strike first. Jey Uso was secretly listening in the background.
After Owens left, Jey approached Zayn and asked if he had talked to anyone yet. Zayn lied and denied speaking to anyone. He entered the locker room, but Jey was furious.
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They showed an excellent War Games video package. They went over the War Games rules too.
Megan Morant tried to interview Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi. Suddenly, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler jumped them. They slammed Rodriguez’s arm into the giant road case. Rodriguez screamed in pain and fell to the floor.
Back from the break, Cole announced that they rushed Rodriguez to the hospital with a possible broken arm.
Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler entered the ring. Rousey assumed there wouldn’t be a match tonight since they injured Rodriguez. Instead, Shotzi came out for the match anyway.
Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler defeated Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi (3:26)
They did an injury angle with Rodriguez and said she went to the hospital. She came out during the match anyway. Even with the injury angle, having Rodriguez tap felt like a mistake.
Shotzi decided to fight without a partner. Shotzi ran wild early until Baszler caught her with a knee to the face. The heels took over, targeting Shotzi’s bad arm.
Despite Cole claiming Rodriguez went to the hospital, Rodriguez’s music hit. She ran down and jumped in the ring. Rodriguez ran wild until Rousey went after the arm. Baszler forced Shotzi to watch as Rousey made Rodriguez tap to the armbar.
Kayla Braxton spoke with Shotzi in front of the trainer’s room. She called Rousey and Baszler bullies. She’s used to bullies but never had anyone watching her back before. Shotzi noted Rodriguez has a broken arm and a dislocated elbow. She vowed to win the title and get revenge for Rodriguez.
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They showed Jey explaining something to Jimmy backstage.
For the War Games Advantage: Drew McIntyre & Sheamus (w/Kevin Owens & The Brawling Brutes) defeated The Usos (w/Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa) (17:36)
They started with a slow pace, but it turned into a wild match by the end. They told multiple stories, mainly Jey Uso’s issue with Sami Zayn. Earlier in the night, Jey overheard Owens talking to Zayn, but Zayn lied to Jey about it. Zayn’s unaware that Jey overheard the conversation. With McIntyre and Sheamus winning, the face team has the advantage in the War Games match.
McIntyre and Sheamus were in control early as they sent The Usos to the floor. Back from the break, Jey made a blind tag and sent Sheamus to the floor by pulling down the top rope. Zayn got in Sheamus’ face, but Jey pushed him away. Jey got in Zayn’s face. Zayn was confused as Owens pointed out that The Bloodline doesn’t really like him.
McIntyre tagged in and ran wild with a neck breaker on Jey. He followed with a spinebuster on Jimmy. McIntyre set up for the Claymore kick, but Jey grabbed his leg, allowing Jimmy to hit a superkick. The Usos took over and threw McIntyre into the steps.
The Usos were firmly in control back from the break. Jimmy hit the Umaga splash in the corner and posed. He went for it a second time, but McIntyre rocked him with a knee.
Sheamus got the hot tag and ran wild. He caught Jey with the Irish Curse backbreaker and seventeen beats of bodhran. Jey pulled the legal man Sheamus out of the ring. In the ring, McIntyre caught Jimmy with the Claymore, but Jey responded with a superkick.
Sheamus caught Jey with a knee for a two-count. He set up for the Brogue kick, but Zayn jumped on the apron. Sheamus knocked Zayn down. Jey took advantage and rocked Sheamus with a superkick for a near fall.
Jey climbed to the top, but Sheamus cut him off. Zayn interfered and knocked Sheamus off. Jey hit the flying splash for a close near fall. A brawl broke out at ringside with Jimmy, Sikoa, Holland, and Butch.
Zayn tried to give the tag team belt to Jey, but Owens stopped him. Zayn pushed Owens out of the way. Owens then grabbed Zayn and threw him into the ring. However, the referee caught Zayn and sent him to the back. As the referee was distracted with Zayn, Owens hit Jey with the stunner allowing Sheamus to hit the Brogue kick for the win.
McIntyre, Sheamus, Owens, Holland, and Butch have the War Games advantage tomorrow night in War Games.
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Next Week: On FS1, Ricochet takes on Santos Escobar in the SmackDown World Cup final.