WWE SmackDown live results: Roman Reigns returns, two title matches
Tonight’s SmackDown takes place from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Bloodline will make an appearance. Reigns last appeared at Survivor Series, where The Bloodline defeated Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Butch & Ridge Holland in WarGames. Since that win, Sami Zayn has become an official member of The Bloodline. The Usos have promised that it will be a “big night” for Zayn tonight.
Two title matches are also set for the show. Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends his title against Ricochet, who earned the title shot by winning the SmackDown World Cup tournament.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) put their titles on the line against Liv Morgan & Tegan Nox. Morgan & Nox got the title shot after defeating SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler.
Following weeks of sneak attacks and wild brawls, Hit Row, The Viking Raiders, and Legado Del Fantasma collide in a triple threat tag team match.
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The Usos and Sami Zayn arrived at the arena backstage. Zayn’s cleaned up with his hair tied back and wearing a suit jacket. Michael Cole speculated that Zayn will become an official member of The Bloodline tonight.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) (w/Bayley) defeated Liv Morgan & Tegan Nox (10:48) to retain the titles
Damage CTRL vs. Morgan & Nox was a fun opener. Both teams worked hard, and they tried some creative spots. The finish included a person in a hoodie attacking Nox. Later, Cole and Barrett mentioned the person was Xia Li in passing on commentary. They never showed any footage revealing Li attacked Nox. Apparently, the reveal was done on social media, which seems pointless.
Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai rekindled their feud early in the match. IYO SKY tagged in and briefly ran wild until the faces isolated SKY. Kai tried to bait Morgan to use a kendo stick, but Nox stopped her.
The faces worked together and sent the heels to ringside. Morgan missed a sliding dropkick, but it was to cause a distraction. With Kai and SKY focused on Morgan, Nox leaped off the top rope onto the heels as they went to a break.
After the commercial, Damage CTRL was firmly in control. They kept Nox on their side of the ring, cutting her off from her corner. Nox broke free and tagged in Morgan. She hit a running knee in the corner and a missile dropkick. SKY distracted Morgan allowing Kai to rock her with a boot to the face.
The faces regained control as Morgan jumped off Nox’s back and hit a codebreaker. Nox followed with the shiniest wizard, but Kai broke up the pin attempt. Morgan gave Kai a sunset powerbomb to ringside. SKY took out Morgan with a running dropkick.
Nox and Sky went back and forth. They ended up brawling around ringside when someone in a hoodie attacked Nox. That allowed SKY to hit a moonsault for the win.
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They showed a Gunther video package previewing tonight’s title match.
Cole and Wade Barrett discussed Bray Wyatt and LA Knight’s feud. Cole mentioned they got a QR code revealing disturbing footage from last week.
They showed a Ricochet video package.
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Cole and Barret discussed Roman Reigns having to deal with Kevin Owens. The Progressive Match Flo of the week was Kevin Owens chasing The Usos and Sami Zayn with a chair. They focused on Solo Sikoa injuring Matt Riddle. Last week, Owens attacked Sikoa.
In the back, Sami Zayn talked with The Usos. Zayn is nervous about tonight, but he’s looking good. Zayn went to get some water. Jey’s confident Roman Reigns will make Zayn an official member of The Bloodline. Jimmy noted Jey has Zayn all dressed up for tonight, but he thinks Reigns isn’t going to make him an official member. Jimmy thinks Jey is setting Zayn up for disappointment.
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SmackDown’s turning into an episode of Criminal Minds. They showed the QR code video. In the video, someone abducted LA Knight after the lights turned off last week. He tied up Knight and put a mask on his face. They didn’t show the person, but he was wearing white gloves. Presumably, it was Bray Wyatt, but they never showed his face.
Bray Wyatt-LA Knight Segment
LA Knight entered the ring and mocked Bray Wyatt. He knows Wyatt’s Uncle Howdy and the one that attacked him the last few weeks. He told Wyatt to put on his mask and outfit. Knight demanded Wyatt come to the ring. The fans chanted “Yeah” with Knight.
Bray Wyatt came to ringside. He laughed at Knight but said he didn’t attack him. He promised that he never touched Knight. Knight attacked Wyatt and stomped him down in the corner.
Suddenly, Uncle Howdy appeared on the big screen. After the video, Knight started attacking Wyatt again. Uncle Howdy walked out and tipped his hat to Knight. Uncle Howdy laughed hysterically for several minutes. He stood on the ramp with a cloud of smoke surrounding him. Wyatt watched from the corner as a terrifed Knight took off.
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Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa arrived at the arena. Cole again speculated that Reigns would make Zayn an official member of The Bloodline later tonight.
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Intercontinental Champion Gunther defeated Ricochet (21:28) to retain the title
Not surprisingly, Gunther and Ricochet rocked. They had a tremendous twenty-minute match that had the fans on their feet. They beat the hell out of each other with power spots, vicious chops, and high-flying moves. The fans popped big for several near falls and the finish.
Ricochet caught Gunther with some kicks to the leg. Gunther recovered and went after Ricochet’s leg. Gunther slowed the pace down, working over the arm. Ricochet flipped out and avoided a chop.
Gunther shoved Ricochet to ringside, but Ricochet skinned the cat. Gunther caught Ricochet with a German suplex, but he landed on his feet. He avoided a big boot Matrix-style and caught Gunther with an enziguri. Ricochet attacked Gunther’s leg, but Gunther fought back. Gunther got the better of Ricochet at ringside and dropped him on the apron.
Back from the break, Gunther rocked Ricochet with a hard chop. Gunther continued his domination with a series of chops. After a big slam, Gunther locked on a Boston Crab. Ricochet broke free and rocked Gunther with chops. Gunther absorbed the shots and destroyed Ricochet with a spinning backbreaker.
Gunther went right back into the Boston Crab and transitioned into the crossface. Gunther rocked Ricochet with another chop and locked on a sleeper. Ricochet escaped and tried to pick up Gunther on his shoulders. Gunther slipped out and hit Ricochet with a shot to the kidneys.
Gunther continued to destroy Ricochet with hard chops. Ricochet fired up and hit a running dropkick in the corner. He tried to suplex Gunther but couldn’t get him up. Instead, Gunther countered with a face-first slam and a running dropkick. He went for a powerbomb, but Ricochet sent him to ringside with a hurricanrana.
Ricochet took over with a running dropkick off the apron. He followed with a picture-perfect moonsault to ringside as they went to a commercial.
Back from the break, Ricochet hit another dive to ringside. Gunther gave Ricochet a German suplex off the top rope, but Ricochet landed on his feet. Gunther recovered and hit a hard clothesline for a near fall. The fans broke into a loud “Ricochet” chant. Gunther went for a top rope splash, but Ricochet got his feet up.
Ricochet hit a brainbuster and shooting star press for a close two-count. The fans popped big for the near fall and broke into a “this is awesome” chant.
Ricochet took off the tape from his hands and unleashed on Gunther. He rocked him with a superkick, but Gunther destroyed him with a vicious chop. Gunther hit a powerbomb for another very close near fall. With everything he had left, Ricochet smacked Gunther in the face. Gunther fired up and hit the last symphony for the win.
After the match, Gunther and Imperium went to attack Ricochet, but Braun Strowman ran them off.
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In the back, Jimmy Uso approached Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa. Jimmy wants to know what Reigns has planned. He noted he likes Sami Uso and supports Reigns if he makes him a member of The Bloodline. He added that he loves his family and mentioned Zayn’s friendship with Kevin Owens. After Jimmy left, Reigns told Heyman to call Adam Pearce.
Back from the break, Adam Pearce entered Reigns’ locker room. Heyman wants Pearce to set up Reigns & Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens and a partner of his choosing for the December 30th SmackDown from Tampa.
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They showed a Tribute to the Troops video package.
Hit Row (w/B-Fab) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (w/Zelina Vega & Santos Escobar) and The Viking Raiders (w/Valhalla) (8:58)
They had a tough time following the previous match. At times, the crowd seemed dead. There wasn’t much of a story but a lot of fast-paced action. The highlight of the match was Top Dolla botching a dive.
The winning team earns a title shot against The Usos next week.
Ivar took out Joaquin Wilde with a spinning kick. Ashante “thee” Adonis and Ivar went back and forth. The match broke down, and everyone started hitting big moves. Wilde and Cruz Del Toro cleared the ring and hit double dives onto the pile at ringside.
Back from the break, Top Dolla ran wild until the Viking Raiders cut him off. The Viking Raiders hit a German suplex/clothesline combo, but Wilde broke up the pin attempt. Del Toro then hit a Phoenix splash for a close near fall. The match broke down again, with everyone hitting a big move.
This next spot was a mess. Top Dolla cleared the ring and set up for a dive he’s been teasing for the last few weeks. He went for the dive but barely got over the rope. Luckily, he didn’t hurt himself, but he botched it badly. He was limping later, so hopefully, he’s okay.
Vega took out Adonis with a hurricanrana. Vega, B-Fab, and Valhalla fought around ringside. Vega wiped out B-Fab and Valhalla with a moonsault. In the ring, Hit Row hit the heavy hitter for the win.
Hit Row challenges for the tag team titles next week.
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In the trainer’s room, Raquel Rodriguez discussed her injury and the gauntlet match next week. She promised to win next week and beat Ronda Rousey for the title. Suddenly, Rousey and Shayna Baszler jumped Rodriguez, attacking her injured arm.
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Bloodline Segment
The big news coming out of the segment was an appearance from John Cena. Cena teams with Kevin Owens to take on Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn in two weeks on the last SmackDown of the year.
The Bloodline entered the ring to a massive reaction. The fans broke into a loud “Ucey” chant. Reigns demanded Chicago acknowledge him to another big reaction.
Reigns mentioned he hadn’t seen his family since Survivor Series: War Games. He hugged everyone, including Sami Zayn. Reigns looked at Zayn and noted tonight was supposed to be a good night for Zayn. Instead, they have a KO problem. He said Owens drags down Zayn. Reigns noted they could solve the problem when Reigns and Zayn take on Owens and a mystery partner.
Zayn pointed out that he’s Owens’ only friend. Zayn corrected himself and clarified they weren’t friends anymore. Zayn promised that they would beat Owens in Tampa.
Suddenly, John Cena appeared on the big screen to a big reaction. He read a text message that he got from Owens. Owens pointed out to Cena that he hadn’t had a match all year. Long story short, John Cena agreed to team with Kevin Owens to take on Reigns and Zayn on the last SmackDown of the year. Reigns laughed off Cena, but Zayn seemed concerned.
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Next Week: Ricochet and Braun Strowman take on Imperium in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Plus, a number one contender’s gauntlet match featuring Emma, Raquel Rodriguez, Tegan Nox, Liv Morgan, Sonya Deville, and Xia Li. Also, Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Hit Row.
December 30th SmackDown: John Cena & Kevin Owens take on Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn.