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Well everyone, 2022 is almost done, and we begin the final month with another episode of WWE Smackdown. This week the Smackdown World Cup concludes with Ricochet vs. Santos Escobar and a shot at Gunther’s Intercontinental title on the line, plus Sami Zayn will look to further cement his hard fought place in the Bloodline when he battles Sheamus. As a fan of Lucha Underground the promise of Prince Puma and King Cuerno locking up again makes me rather happy. The fallout from Survivor Series is likely to continue with the Usos needing new opponents, the Viking Raiders looking to pile up more bodies, Ronda Rousey and Shotzi had a pretty awful match so Ronda will probably be moving on from that feud, and if Kevin Owens is truly the next challenger for Roman then they’ll be looking to start that up sooner or later. Logically we’ll get some continuation of Bray Wyatt and LA Knight tonight since they stayed off the PPV but are still building that issue. So with a lot of stuff potentially up in the air, let’s get to the action.

Longer video intro this time, and apparently a new theme song for Smackdown. We’re in Buffalo, New York with Michael Cole and Wade Barrett on commentary.

Out first is Sami Zayn along with the Usos and Solo Sikoa for our first match. As they’re in the ring waiting for Sheamus and company to arrive we get a video recap of Survivor Series. After that Jimmy and Jey have mics in the ring. Jey reminds us the Bloodline is in their city. Sami’s got a mic as well, and Sami reminds us the Bloodline has leveled up and tries to put over the Usos but Jimmy cuts him off. Jimmy says tonight is about Sami, the Bloodline got stronger because Sami was the MVP of War Games. That gets a “Sami Uso” chant. Jey’s still not thrilled with that but he’s clearly not stewing and fuming either. Jey says he doubted Sami for a long time, and he didn’t like him. But when Sami stood with the family he earned Jey’s respect, and it’s because of Sami that they won War Games. Sami doesn’t know what to say, but Jimmy does. Jimmy asks how Sami is feeling, which prompts an “ucey” chant, and Sami says he’s feeling pretty ucey. The secret handshake is teased, and Sami tries to coax Jey into it and we get a three way secret handshake. Sheamus now shows up to break up the love fest, he’s got a mic in hand. Sheamus says he hates to beat up a fellow ginger, but at the end of this night Sami will be feeling it and reminds us that it’s Fight Night.

Match #1: Sami Zayn w/ Solo Sikoa and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) vs. Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland and Butch

They circle then tie up, Sheamus overpowers Sami but Sami starts playing evasive moves before running into a shoulder block. Sheamus throws Sami around then starts landing uppercuts. Sami fights back with strikes but can’t hit a hip toss and Sheamus levels him with a clothesline. Sheamus tosses Sami out of the ring and follows him then tosses him into the barricade to send us to break.

Post break Sheamus is dropping Sami on the announce table. Sheamus tosses Sami back in the ring, but he’s just a little slow getting back in which allows Sami to hit a kick and a DDT for a 2 count. The usual control bits from Sami, then Sheamus fights back with body blows only to dropped with a drop kick. Chin lock from Sami, Sheamus powers up and slams free only to eat a slightly ugly tornado DDT for another 2 count. Sami tries the Bodhran spot, Sheamus catches his arm and stares daggers at him for stealing his stuff then starts leveling him with clotheslines. Powerslam from Sheamus then he’s trying the Bodhran spot but Sami snaps him over the top rope and dives but he’s caught with an Irish Curse then Sheamus locks in the Cloverleaf. Sami crawls to the ropes and forces the break. Sheamus charges Sami but gets low bridged, then Sami sets for a dive which he hits but eats a lot of floor on the way down as we get another break.

Sami climbs up top as we come back, but his flying nothing is countered by a knee strike from Sheamus for a near fall. Strikes from Sheamus, then White Noise position but Sheamus wants more than a usual one and climbs to the second rope holding Sami. Sami fights back with a Sunset Bomb for a 2 count. Now Sami sets for the Helluva Kick, but he runs into a White Noise from Sheamus for a near fall. Sheamus sets for the Brogue Kick, but Sami rolls to the apron. That just sets him up for Sheamus to lay in the Bodhran beats, 20 of them this time. Again Sheamus wants the Brogue Kick, but Jimmy distracts him allowing Sami to jump on his back and set up a cheap shot from Jimmy into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Ridge and Butch attack Jimmy and Jey, no sign of Solo Sikoa anymore not sure what happened to him. Ah, there’s Solo as he flies in to attack Ridge and Butch, he kills Butch with a Spinning Solo into the barricade. Sami tries a Helluva Kick but he’s intercepted with a knee shot, Sheamus tries another White Noise but this time Jimmy distracts the ref allowing Jey to hit a super kick and Sami transitions into a Sunset Flip to get the pin.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sami Zayn won

Rating: 3.5 stars

Two pretty talented guys got plenty of time, but this was as much about the character work for the Bloodline as the in ring action.

Santos Escobar video now, he reminds us that Legado del Fantasma has flourished on Smackdown, and the Smackdown World Cup will rest with their perfect enterprise. This will be a win for lucha libre. Zelina promises the results speak for themselves, and the IC title will be coming home. That sends us to break.

We come back to Megan in the back, she welcomes in Kofi Kingston for an interview. Kofi says he’s going to be in the Royal Rumble (wonder if he’ll botch his save spot again), then Megan asks him about Ricochet vs. Santos. He can’t pick against Ricochet but doesn’t think either man has much of a shot against Gunther. Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser show up to mock Kofi. Kofi knows they want a match, but he’s got no partner but will take on either of them in singles action. Gunther walks up, and says he’ll fight Kofi tonight, and Kofi’s entire demeanor changes in a hurry.

Bray Wyatt is in the back, he thinks we’re spoiled today. Society is lavish, we’ve got tons of technology, and everyone should have manners. Once upon a time we were all just wild animals. Spiders eat flies, snakes eat rats, and no one thinks of it as violence because it’s just animals surviving. Some must die so others can live. We don’t talk about this, these instincts are in all of us but we don’t talk about them because we don’t want to be the freaks. He’s not the one who hurt LA Knight, but he heard us and how we rejoiced in the violence. If he’d been the one to hurt Knight we’d all know, because there’d be none of him left. Not bad stuff from Bray here, hopefully we keep this thing with LA Knight moving forward and don’t start treading water.

A video recap of Ronda Rousey joining forces with Shayna Baszler and what happened between Shotzi and Ronda at Survivor Series.

After that here comes Shayna Baszler for a match, she’s alone as there’s no Ronda Rousey tonight. She’ll take on Emma after this break.

Post break Madcap Moss hypes up Emma with some odd reverb in the audio at gorilla. You can just see the lack of chemistry, but Emma calls him Riddick then gives him a kiss on the cheek before heading to the ring.

Match #2: Shayna Baszler vs. Emma

Some mat wrestling from both women to get us going, then Emma hits a Russian leg sweep for a 1 count. Baszler yanks Emma’s arm over the ropes and starts zeroing in on the limb. Arm work from Baszler now, but Emma fights free only to eat a clothesline. Baszler goes for the arm stomp but Emma rolls through and lands a kick. Punches from Emma, Baszler fires back then Emma lands a clothesline with the bad arm. Emma fires up with strikes then hits a neckbreaker through the ropes for a 2 count. Baszler avoids a butterfly position, but eats the corner with a knee strike to set up a Tarantula from Emma. Emma heads up top but Baszler kicks the top rope to off balance her then kicks her in the head and arm drags her down then locks in the Kirifuda Clutch to get the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Shayna Baszler won

Rating: 2.5 stars

Solid enough match, but boy was this heatless.

Post match Baszler attacks the arm again leading to Shotzi showing up for a fight. Shotzi and Baszler trade hands but Baszler floors her with a leg kick and a knee strike. Baszler sets for the arm breaking stomp only for Raquel Rodriguez to show up and save her. Raquel has one arm in a brace, Emma’s recovered now and Baszler looks around then decides three on one is a bit much and powders.

We get a Lacey Evans video, this one highlights boot camp style training. I guess we’re trying again with Lacey, maybe this one will stick.

Back to the ring and here comes Kofi Kingston, he’ll take on Gunther after this break.

Post break we get a hype video for Ricochet about his match with Santos. He reminds us that this means everything to him, and if this is the path he must walk to finally get a rematch with Gunther for the IC title then you’re looking at the winner. He hopes Santos is ready.

Back to the ring Kofi is doing the Alex Wright dance and joking about Germany. Well here comes the big Austrian Gunther along with the rest of Imperium.

Match #3: Kofi Kingston vs. Gunther w/ Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci

Kofi avoids a chop and lands a few strikes but he can’t get Gunther down. Gunther hits a backbreaker to stop this nonsense and takes over. Uppercut from Gunther. Kofi fights back with some more strikes, but Gunther lands a chop to halt his momentum. Neck twist from Gunther and he calls on Kofi. Some back work from Gunther but Kofi fights back with some strikes before Gunther crushes him with an overhand chop. Kofi low bridges Gunther then kicks him to the floor and sets to dive but Ludwig trips him up and Gunther lands a big boot back in the ring. Gunther sets for the Powerbomb but here comes Braun to distract things. Braun chases Ludwig then catches Vinci and slams him into the ring post. Now Kaiser gets tossed into the time keepers area. Kofi avoids a powerbomb, hits the SOS for a near fall as we head to break.

Gunther is working a chin lock as we come back, no Braun or other Imperium numbers so we’re one on one proper. Kofi starts fighting back with more strikes, then lands a drop kick to the knee but Gunther doesn’t go down. Chop from Kofi, this annoys Gunther but Kofi starts picking up the pace and hits a Boom drop. Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise, but Gunther avoids it only for Kofi to flip out of a German suplex and hit a splash to the back of Gunther for a 2 count. Gunther has had enough of this and intercepts a charging Kofi with a serious chop then a German suplex for a near fall. Boston Crab from Gunther is locked in, Kofi pulls himself towards the ropes so Gunther switches to a modified Crossface. Kofi fights to his feet with leg kicks but he’s chopped again, then an SOS is countered into a Powerbomb attempt but Kofi slips free only to eat a shotgun drop kick. Powerbomb from Gunther but only a near fall. I appreciate that Gunther is giving but you’ve got to protect your finishes at some point man. Kofi and Gunther trade strikes, then an Emerald Flowsion from Gunther gets the 3. OK, if Gunther is switching to a freaking Misawa move as his finish, he calls it the Last Symphony apparently, I’m rescinding the powerbomb complaint.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Gunther won

Rating: 3.5 stars

Some good stuff from these two, which isn’t surprising.

In the back Sami wants to get things ready for them to leave, and Jimmy sends Solo with him for protection. Jimmy and Jey talk about Sami still being ugly but being cool. Jimmy asks if Jey talked with Sami about lying to his face, Jey plays it off because Roman said he saw what he needed to see. Sheamus comes in and attacks them with a shillelagh, then wishes them luck on Monday and promises he and Drew McIntyre are waiting for them. That sends us to break.

Post break here come Damage Control. Their appearance is a decent excuse to kick off a video highlight of the women’s War Games match I guess. Bayley’s got a mic, insults the crowd, and says they were in War Games less than a week ago and here they are. Despite what that did to their bodies or what they give the crowd cheered Becky Lynch winning. The crowd chants for Becky briefly, then Bayley wants to talk about the Smackdown roster and how nobody back there wanted to fight against them in War Games and she’s disappointed in them. She’s getting a “What?” chant while Bayley says they’re here to be role models. This is interrupted by Liv Morgan, Liv says on behalf of the locker room she’s here to address it, and charges the ring despite the odds being against her. Liv tosses Dakota Kai into the ring steps, slams Iyo into the barricade and attacks Bayley but the numbers catch up. Now here comes Tegan Knox to save Liv Morgan and she runs wild on Damage CTRL but again the odds catch up. They all stomp on Knox for a bit, then Liv returns with a kendo stick and shatters it against Bayley to set up a Shiniest Wizard from Knox to Bayley. Liv and Knox stand tall as Damage Control retreat.

We get a little hype for the main event with a recap of how Ricochet and Santos Escobar reached the finals. Looks like they’re getting plenty of time as Santos Escobar makes his way to the ring. Ricochet will get his entrance after this break.

Karrion Kross video as we come back, he embraced the truth of the chaos of the universe a long time ago and the more people fight against that they wind up in places they don’t want to be. He’s going to show Drew McIntyre this, he taught Madcap Moss you can’t walk against the wind. But now, now it’s time for a new victim. Scarlett turns over a tarot card to reveal Rey Mysterio. Tick Tock. OK, I can get behind a mini feud between Kross and Rey.

Commentary remind us that we’ll get a tag team title match next week when Drew McIntyre and Sheamus get a shot, and Shotzi will take on Shayna Baszler. Plus we’ll have a birthday celebration for Kurt Angle.

Bray Wyatt video interrupts, Uncle Howdy asks us how well we know our neighbor? Why can’t we all see he knows what Bray thinks, knows how he feels, it’s all fiction. Trust him, and revel in what you are. Again, I’m still intrigued but we do need a little forward progress in the near future.

Here comes Ricochet as Zelina Vega has joined commentary.

Match #4 – Smackdown World Cup Finals: Santos Escobar w/ Zelina Vega, Cruz del Toro, and Joquin Wilde vs. Ricochet

Ricochet with an arm wringer, Escobar counters into one of his own and they trade some escapes then stand off. Escobar calls on his goons to distract Ricochet which sets up a shot from Escobar. Ricochet hits a springboard drop kick then a suicide dive onto the floor. Wilde distracts Ricochet, but Ricochet waits him out. Drop kick form Ricochet then Cruz shoves Ricochet off the ropes but the ref sees it and ejects Cruz and Wilde from ringside. Zelina gets in the refs face, and the ref tosses her out as well as we head to break.

Ricochet is fighting back with strikes as we return to the broadcast. Some rope running from Ricochet then a satellite head scissors and a low drop kick in the corner. Escobar off balances Ricochet during a jump and Ricochet tumbles to the floor. Escobar mimes firing an arrow at Ricochet then hits a sick suicide dive that drives Ricochet into the announcers table. Back in the ring Escobar gets 2 on a cover then grabs a Lion Tamer but Ricochet fights out of that only to take an elbow drop to the back. Escobar with a modified Romero Special, then rolls through into a pin position for a 2 count. Ricochet avoids a Phantom Driver and lands an elbow then avoids a corner charge and sets for a suplex to the floor, they fight over the spot and wind up on the apron together where Ricochet lands a boot. Super kick from Ricochet then a running Shooting Star Press to the standing Escobar on the floor to send us to another break.

We come back to Ricochet hitting a super plex and both men are down. Ricochet rolls over to cover but he’s slow and only gets a 2 count. Escobar and Ricochet trade strikes now, then they hit the ropes and collide on a cross body spot and both men are down. They head out of the ring, Escobar avoids a charge but Ricochet lands on the barricade and walks, Escobar jumps up with him and hits a pretty nasty (in a good way) hurricanrana from the barricade to the floor. Back in the ring Escobar gets a couple of near falls, then he lands an elbow drop. Chop from Escobar then he puts Ricochet on the top rope and lands a kick to the face. Both men on the ropes now, Ricochet punches Escobar down to the mat and tries to set to fly but Escobar rolls to the apron then chops Ricochet again. Escobar climbs the ropes, both men on the top and Escobar tries another hurricanrana but Ricochet lands on his feet this time. Flying knee from Ricochet, then a Northern Lights suplex floated into a suplex and a Lionsault for a near fall. Drop kick from Ricochet, then he climbs up top looking for some aerial insanity, he tries the Shooting Star Press but Escobar gets the knees up and rolls up Ricochet. . . only for a near fall. Escobar wants the Phantom Driver, but Ricochet counters into a roll up for 2. Sick poisoned rana from Escobar, again only a near fall! Escobar is losing his mind, he goes to mounted strikes and tries for a second rope Phantom Driver, but Ricochet fights him off and lands a series of kicks. Ricochet up top again, 630 splash and Ricochet wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ricochet won

Rating: 4 stars

Enough better than 3.5 to earn 4 from me. These two have always had great chemistry and you knew that if you watched them in Lucha Underground, and they were given time to show what they could do here. The loss doesn’t hurt Escobar too much as he had a good showing in the match and to get here.

Post match Ricochet celebrates with the Cup, but here comes Gunther with his title. Gunther stares down Ricochet, in two weeks Ricochet gets his title shot, and he and Gunther trade some words and intense stares as the episode ends.