WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena returns to the ring
John Cena returns to the ring as the final SmackDown of 2022 takes place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida tonight.
Cena will team with Kevin Owens as they take on The Bloodline’s Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn. Tension continues to build in The Bloodline due to Zayn’s past friendship with Owens.
Cena made a video appearance two weeks ago to accept Owen’s offer to team together. This will be Cena’s first and only match of 2022.
The Brawling Brutes and Bloodline also continue their feud with Sheamus going one-on-one with Solo Sikoa.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defends her title against Raquel Rodriguez tonight. Rousey and Shayna Baszler attacked Rodriguez two weeks ago and re-injured her elbow. Despite the injury, Rodriguez earned tonight’s title shot by winning a number one contender’s gauntlet match last week, defeating Baszler in the final bout.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett briefly discussed tonight’s tag team main event.
Bray Wyatt -LA Knight-Uncle Howdy Segment
Bray Wyatt’s entrance is awe-inspiring. I can’t say the same for this storyline with LA Knight. They tried to add another layer, with Uncle Howdy apparently turning on Wyatt. The segment got a good crowd reaction, but not sure where the story is going.
They recapped Wyatt attacking the cameraman last week.
Wyatt entered the ring to a big reaction. He doesn’t consider himself a bad person. Wyatt doesn’t regret the bad things he did to get to where he is today. However, he regrets attacking the cameraman last week and starts to apologize.
LA Knight interrupted and walked to the ring. After mocking Wyatt for apologizing, he turns his attention to Uncle Howdy. Knight believes Wyatt paid one of his goons to dress up like Uncle Howdy a few weeks ago.
As Knight walked to the ring, the fans erupted in a “You Suck” chant. Knight challenged Wyatt to a match at Royal Rumble. Wyatt called Knight a little idiot. He added that its time to show Knight and the world how cruel he could be. The fans cheered. Wyatt accepted Knight’s challenge for the Rumble when another Uncle Howdy video played.
Uncle Howdy made his entrance and slowly walked to the ring. He placed his hat on the apron and entered the ring. He stood between Wyatt and Knight before standing next to Wyatt. Suddenly, Uncle Howdy gave Wyatt Sister Abigail. Knight jumped out of the ring, confused. Uncle Howdy put his hat back on and walked off.
Later, Cole announced Wyatt vs. LA Knight in a Pitch Black match at the Royal Rumble.
*********
Sami Zayn knocked on The Bloodline’s locker room door. Paul Heyman came out and embraced Zayn. Heyman asked Zayn about Hannukha, and Zayn responded by asking Heyman about Ramadan. Heyman noted that Roman Reigns was proud of Zayn’s comments about John Cena and Kevin Owens last week.
Zayn wanted to talk strategy with Reigns. Heyman leveled with Zayn. He said the optics of Reigns standing in the ring and the fans chanting “Sami” was not good. The fans broke into a loud “Sami” chant. Zayn then entered to talk with Reigns. Awesome backstage segment.
********
Michael Cole mentioned TNA commentator Don West’s passing and sent condolences to his family.
Solo Sikoa (w/The Usos) defeated Sheamus (w/Butch & Ridge Holland) (11:10)
Sheamus and Sikoa beat the hell of each other in a fun opener.
Sikoa and Sheamus traded hard shots at the bell. Sheamus rocked Sikoa with stiff forearms and sent him to ringside with a clothesline. Sikoa lost his cool and grabbed a chair, but the Usos stopped him as they went to a break.
Sikoa took over during the break with the Umaga splash. He slowed the pace with a chin lock. Sheamus broke free, but Sikoa responded with a Samoan drop. Sheamus rocked Sikoa with a clothesline to regain control. Sikoa absorbed a kick and fired up. Sheamus came back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
After the ten beats of the bodhran, Sheamus went for the Brogue kick. Sikoa recovered and caught Sheamus with a superkick. However, Sheamus jumped back up and rocked Sikoa with a knee. Sheamus locked on the Texas cloverleaf. Jey Uso caused a distraction, allowing Jimmy Uso to pull Sikoa to the ropes.
A wild brawl kicked off at ringside between The Usos and Brawling Brutes. Sheamus jumped off the top rope, wiping out The Usos. Sikoa took advantage and sent Sheamus into the ring post. He hit the uranage on the apron and followed with the Samoan spike for the win.
After the match, Sikoa and The Usos continued to attack Sheamus. They placed a chair around Sheamus’s neck and set up for the Umaga splash.
Suddenly, Drew McIntyre returned to a huge pop. He ran wild on The Bloodline and cleared the ring. McIntyre and the Brawling Brutes celebrated to end the segment.
*******
The Match Flo of the Week was Raquel Rodriguez winning last week’s gauntlet match.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey (w/Shayna Baszler) defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the title (16:43)
Rousey and Rodriguez had a better match than expected. They worked hard and built the match around Rodriguez’s injury. Charlotte Flair’s surprise return and title win overshadowed this match.
Rousey wasted no time and went after Rodriguez’s injured arm. Rodriguez fired up and caught Rousey with a shoulder tackle. They briefly fought at ringside, with Rodriguez press-slamming Rousey back into the ring. Rodriguez was firmly in control with a splash in the corner. Rousey avoided a second splash, sending Rodriguez shoulder-first into the post.
Back from the break, Rousey choked Rodrigeuz on the top rope. Rousey slowed the pace, but Rodriguez broke free. Rodriguez fired up again and hit a stiff clothesline with her bad arm. In a creative spot, Rodriguez went for the spinning slam, but Rousey countered into an arm bar. Rodrigez reversed into a Boston crab, but Rousey responded with an ankle lock.
Rodriguez escaped and hit a flapjack. She set up for the Texana bomb, but Rousey tried to counter into an arm bar. They fell over the top rope, but Rodriguez held onto Rousey. She then gave Rousey the Texana bomb on the apron as they went to a commercial.
Rousey regained control, attacking Rodriguez’s arm. Rodriguez rolled through into a fallaway slam. She went for the Texana bomb, but Rousey countered with a rear-naked choke. With Rousey on her back, Rodriguez ran into the corner, sending Rousey into the top turnbuckle.
Rodriguez knocked Baszler off the apron. She followed with the Vader bomb elbow, but Baszler tried to put Rousey’s foot on the bottom rope. The referee had some words with Baszler, but she stayed at ringside. Rodriguez continued her attack. They were fighting on the top turnbuckle when Rousey locked on an armbar. They fell off into the ring with Rousey holding onto the armbar. Rodriguez tapped immediately.
Charlotte Flair defeated Ronda Rousey to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship (:40)
The fans popped big for Flair’s return and the shocking title change, but this felt rushed.
Charlotte Flair made her return after the Rodriguez match to a huge pop. Rousey mocked Flair’s injury and wondered if Flair wanted a title shot at SummerSlam or Royal Rumble, which is sooner. Flair corrected Rousey and noted she wanted a title shot right now. Rousey agreed, and the referee called for the bell. Baszler tried to talk Rousey out of the match, but she refused.
Flair rocked Rousey with a boot for a near fall. She then knocked Baszler off the apron. Flair went for a spear. Rousey countered into an arm bar, but Flair rolled her up, holding onto the tights for the win.
After the match, the pyro went off as Flair celebrated her win.
***********
In The Bloodline’s locker room, Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns talked strategy with Paul Heyman, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa. Zayn wondered if Reigns has a problem with the fans chanting for him. Reigns claimed he doesn’t have a problem and praised Zayn’s passion last week. He’s certain they’re going to win tonight.
********
They showed footage of Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley showing up at the Mysterio’s grandfather’s house on Christmas eve. Rey’s wife slapped Ripley when the police showed up. They arrested Dominik, who pleaded with Ripley to call the lawyers because he wouldn’t last in jail.
*********
Back in the locker room, New Day, The Maximum Male Models, Madcap Moss, and Ricochet made fun of Top Dolla for messing up the dive two weeks ago. Woods and Kingston held a broom for him to jump over. At first, Top Dolla tried to laugh it off. They all made jokes about him messing it up. Top Dolla had enough when Ricochet made a joke. He shoved Ricochet, so Ashante”Thee” Adonis took him out of the room. Everyone thought Top Dolla overreacted.
*********
Gunther’s Path of Destruction
Imperium entered the ring to discuss Gunther’s reign as Intercontinental Champion and his path of destruction. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci praised Gunther as an unbeatable champion. They showed a video package recapping all his wins.
Before Gunther could speak, Braun Strowman made his way to the ring. Strowman pointed out that he wasn’t in the video because Gunther hadn’t beaten him. Strowman challenged Gunther, but Imperium laughed and walked away.
Strowman stopped them and fought off Kaiser and Vinci. He blocked a chop and sent Gunther to ringside. The Strowman express ran down Kaiser and Vinci, but Gunther moved. Strowman crashed into the barricade. Gunther grabbed a chair and beat down Strowman.
Barrett had the line of the night when he called it a Waffle House brawl.
Imperium beat down Strowman until Ricochet made the save with a chair. Gunther appeared to suffer a legit injury from Ricochet’s chair shot.
*********
John Cena & Kevin Owens defeated Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn (w/Paul Heyman, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) (10:56)
Cena and Owens beat Zayn and Reigns in a good tag team main event with a ton of heat. It was a basic tag team match built around The Bloodline preventing Owens from tagging in Cena. The fans went crazy for Cena, who was only in for a few minutes in the end.
Everyone got a big crowd reaction, but Cena got a massive pop during his entrance.
Zayn and Owens started for their respective teams. Zayn had the early advantage with a side headlock. Owens fought back with a senton and dropped Zayn on the top rope, giving him a bloody nose. Reigns wasn’t impressed as the fans chanted “Sami.”
Reigns tagged in, and the fans erupted in “Cena” and “We Want Cena” chants. Owens considered tagging Cena. Reigns took advantage and rocked Owens with a clothesline.
Back from the break, The Bloodline was firmly in control. The heels isolated Owens on their side of the ring. He fought back and rocked Zayn with a clothesline. Owens tried to tag Cena, but Reigns pulled Cena off the apron. Zayn followed with the helluva kick on Cena.
In the ring, Owens countered the helluva kick with a superkick. Owens went to his corner, but Cena was still down. He rocked Zayn with a second superkick and pop-up powerbomb for a near fall.
Reigns tagged in and went for the superman punch. Owens recovered and rocked Reigns with a superkick. He followed with a frog splash for a near fall. Reigns countered the pop-up powerbomb with a superman punch. Reigns missed a spear, and Owens tagged Cena to a big pop.
Cena ran wild on Zayn and Reigns. The finish came when Cena and Owens hit a double five-knuckle shuffle on Zayn and Reigns. Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment on Reigns to take him out of the match. Owens then hit the stunner on Zayn for the win.
Owens and Cena celebrated to end the final SmackDown of the year.
********
Next week: WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos defend their titles against Drew Mcintyre & Sheamus. Plus, Ricochet goes one-on-one with Top Dolla in a Royal Rumble qualifying match.
In Two Weeks: Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends his title against Braun Strowman.