WWE SmackDown Results – Dec. 23, 2022 – Strowman & Ricochet vs. Imperium

WWE

TPWW

Dec 23, 2022

Results by Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com

December 23, 2022
Chicago, IL – Allstate Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole & Wade Barrett

Quick Match Results

WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) defeated Hit Row via 1D on Top Dolla
#1 Contender Gauntlet Match: Raquel Rodriguez won, last eliminating Shayna Baszler
Rey Mysterio defeated Angel Garza via DDT
Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Braun Strowman & Ricochet defeated Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) via splash by Ricochet on Vinci

In-Ring: The Bloodline

WWE SmackDown kicks off with the Bloodline walking down to the ring. Paul Heyman starts by saying that he is here to hype the Bloodline. He says tonight, the longest reigning tag team champions in history, the Usos will successfully defend their titles vs. Hit Row. And that is not a prediction, that’s a spoiler.

Then next week, live from the beautiful warm city of Tampa, Florida, the enforcer, the sergeant at arms, he who imposes the Bloodline’s will upon all others, Solo will take out Sheamus. End of discussion.

And then, the biggest televised match of 2022 as Kevin Owens and John Cena get smashed by Sami Zayn and the tribal chief, the Undisputed WWE Universal champion, Roman Reigns. Heyman is about to talk as Roman extends his hand and he gets the microphone.

Roman says in Tampa, you already know what he is going to do. And it’s no secret, he made multiple millions of dollars by whooping John Cena and Kevin Owens. But he wants to know what the honorary Uce is going to do. He says Zayn looks a little irritated, not like the Zayn he knows. He tells him to get it off his chest and to tell everyone what is going to happen.

Zayn says he should be on top of the world. It’s the holidays and all he ever wanted is what everyone wants, a little respect. And after all of these years, a place to belong. And he has found that with the hottest group in the history of WWE. The Bloodline. He found family, he found respect. He says they love him, this city loves him. Everywhere he goes, they love him. Every city they go to, the fans chant his name. And you would think that would put him on top of the world but it doesn’t because there is a black cloud hanging over his head called Kevin Owens.

Zayn states that last week was ruined by Kevin’s existence. The fact that his name has been tied to Zayn’s his entire career and he can’t get rid of him. Zayn says Owens has a problem with him, not the Bloodline. And of all things he wants to bring back John Cena to try and upstage them and steal the show. Zayn says they are the show. He tells Owens and Cena that they are going to destroy them, rip them apart. Because they are trying to step to the Bloodline and when that happens, you get smashed. He tells them to prepare to do what everyone has done and what this city is about to do and that is to acknowledge the tribal chief.

WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship
The Usos (c) vs. Hit Row

The bell rings and we are under way. Jey and Ashante start the match. A hip toss by Ashante followed by an arm bar and Top Dolla is tagged in. They double team Jey as Top Dolla hits him with a boot to the face. Jey to the ropes but Jey with an arm to Top Dolla’s knee. Jimmy is tagged in. He chokes Top Dolla on the second rope. Jey is tagged in and they double team Top Dolla with Jey hitting him with a super kick.

Back from commercial, Top Dolla with a spine buster on Jey in the middle of the ring. Jimmy is tagged in and as is Ashante. He hits a drop kick on Jimmy. Ashante with a kick followed by a DDT. Ashante climbs the top rope and he lands a cross body. He goes for the cover but Jimmy kicks out. Ashante knocks Jey off the ring apron and Jimmy hits him with a Samoan drop. He goes for the cover but Ashante kicks out. Jey is tagged in. Top Dolla drags Jimmy to the outside and throws him into the steel steps. That distracts Jey and AShante rolls him up but Jey kicks out. Top Dolla is tagged in. Top Dolla lifts Jey up and Ashante hits him with a drop kick. Top Dolla goes for the cover but Jimmy breaks it up. Jimmy hits Ashante with a super kick. Top Dolla lifts both Usos up but drops them. Jey hits him with a super kick. Jimmy is tagged in. Double super kick on Top Dolla followed by the 1D. Jimmy goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winners: Still WWE Undisputed Tag Team champions, The Usos

Backstage: Imperium

We cut backstage and Kayla is with Kaiser and Vinci of Imperium. Kaiser says their match tonight is an abomination to this sport. Vinci says they are world class athletes. Kaiser says they will not be spreading holiday cheer.

#1 Contender Gauntlet Match

Xia Li vs. Emma

Xia Li and Emma start the match. The bell rings and we are under way. A clothesline by Emma followed by a kick. A suplex by Emma and a forearm to the face. Emma goes for the cover but Xia Li kicks out. She goes for a suplex but Xia Li lands on her feet and trips Emma up on the ropes. Xia Li with kicks onto Emma followed by a right hand. A spinning kick by Xia Lia. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Emma is eliminated.

Xia Li vs. Tegan Nox

Tegan Nox is in the match.

Right hands by Tegan as she sends Xia Li to the ropes and a right hand by Tegan. A face buster onto Xia Li. Tegan with a splash onto Xia Li. She climbs the top rope and a cross body onto Xia Li. She goes for the cover but Xia Li kicks out. Xia Li on the ring apron as Tegan gets on the ring apron. She grabs Xia Li but Xia Li kicks her into the ring post and back into the ring. Xia Li with a kick to the neck. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Tegan Nox is eliminated.

Xia Li vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Raquel Rodriguez is in the match.

Back from commercial, Xia Li throws Raquel to the outside of the ring. Xia to the outside and she kicks Raquel’s injured left arm. She throws Raquel back in the ring and slams her face first into the ring apron. Xia Li with a running knee to the face. Raquel in the corner but she trips Xia Li and she falls face first into the turnbuckle. Raquel with a fall away slam. Raquel climbs the second rope and a corkscrew elbow onto Xia Li. She goes for the cover but Xia Li kicks out. Xia Li with kicks onto Raquel. She runs to the ropes and goes for a kick but Raquel moves out of the way. Raquel with the Tejada Bomb. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Xia Li is eliminated.

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Liv Morgan

Liv Morgan is in the match.

Liv goes for the code breaker but Raquel catches her. Liv goes for a sunset flip but Raquel blocks it. She grabs Liv but Liv kicks her and hits her with a drop kick. A running knee by Liv as she goes for a hurricanrana but Raquel lifts her up on her shoulders. Liv with right hands as she rolls Raquel up but Raquel kicks out. Liv jumps onto Raquel’s back and she gets a sleeper on her. Raquel drops back and Liv slams onto the mat.

Back from commercial, a back elbow by Raquel followed by a side slam. A big splash by Raquel in the corner. She grabs Liv but Liv with the double knees onto Raquel’s left arm. Liv climbs the top rope and she lands a dropkick. Liv with a modified rings of Saturn onto Raquel in the middle of the ring. Raquel gets to her feet with Liv on her back. Raquel spins Liv around but Liv hits her with a double knees to the face.

Liv with a right hand as she runs to the ropes but Raquel grabs her and hits her with a fall away slam. Raquel with the cork screw off the second rope. She goes for the cover but Liv kicks out. Raquel with a right hand but Liv with a kick. She runs to the ropes but Raquel hits her with a boot to the face. Raquel lifts Liv up but Liv lands on her feet and Liv with a kick to the side of the head. Liv goes for the Oblivion but Raquel catches her and slams her onto the mat. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Liv Morgan is eliminated.

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville

Sonya Deville is in the match.

Sonya with right hands and kicks but Raquel with a headbutt. Raquel with a shoulder tackle. She lifts Sonya up but Sonya lands on her feet and she slams Raquel onto the mat. Sonya with a knee to the face. She goes for the cover but Raquel kicks out. Sonya throws Raquel shoulder first into the ring post. She grabs Raquel but Raquel pulls Sonya towards her and she body slams Sonya. She goes for the cover but Sonya kicks out. Sonya with an elbow to the face. Sonya climbs the top rope and grabs Raquel’s arm and twists it as the referee breaks it up. Raquel lifts Sonya up off the top rope and slams her. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Number 1 contender for the WWE SmackDown Women’s champion, Raquel Rodriguez

Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shayna Baszler

Out comes Ronda Rousey. She tells her that she hasn’t won anything. She has one more opponent and out comes Shayna Baszler.

Shayna gets in the ring and kicks onto Raquel. She rips the brace off Raquel’s arm. She stomps on Raquel’s arm. Shayna lifts the brace in the air but Raquel rolls her up and gets the pin.

Winner: Number 1 contender for the WWE SmackDown Women’s champion, Raquel Rodriguez

In-Ring: Bray Wyatt

The lights go out in the arena and out comes Bray Wyatt. He says one of the hardest things in the world he does is to come out and speak to everyone. He says it is a wild feeling and it’s a pretty surreal feeling. He doesn’t think he will ever understand that people get excited to see him. He tries to present them with the realest him that he knows of but he does not know if there is a real him. But he does know one thing. LA Knight owes him an apology. He laughs and says no one listened to him. No one believed him, they all thought it was him.

Wyatt says the truth is that he is not Uncle Howdy. He never was. As he is talking, he says he lost his train of thought. He drops the microphone and thinks. Wyatt attacks the camera man an slams him onto the mat. He gets the mandible claw on him and out comes Adam Pearce and WWE officials. They get the camera man out of the ring as Wyatt looks at the crowd.

Rey Mysterio vs. Angel Garza

The bell rings and we are under way. Karrion Kross and Scarlett are in the crowd, watching the match. Garza extends his hand as Rey grabs it and slaps Garza. Rey to the ropes and a dropkick onto Garza. Rey throws Garza face first into the turnbuckle. Right hands by Mysterio on the second rope but Garza gets him on his shoulders. Rey with a hurricanrana. Rey to the ropes, he goes for a springboard off the second rope but Garza moves out of the way.

Garza with a back breaker. He goes for the cover but Rey kicks out. Garza slams Rey into the turnbuckle and a right hand to the back. Garza places Rey on his shoulders but Rey flips and he pushes Garza into the turnbuckle. Rey climbs the top rope and a sit down senton. Rey throws Garza onto the second ropes. He goes for the 619 but Humberto grabs Garza to the outside. Rey jumps over the top rope onto Humberto as Garza gets back into the ring. Rey slides into the ring and Garza hits him with a super kick. He goes for the cover but Rey kicks out. Garza places Rey on the second rope and distracts the referee as Humberto hits Rey with a right hand. Garza goes for the 619 but Rey throws Garza onto the second rope. Rey with the 619. Rey jumps off the top rope and hits Garza with a DDT. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

Video Package: John Cena

Vignette: Lacey Evans

Backstage: Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Emma

Karrion Kross and Scarlett are backstage and in comes Emma. She asks them who they think they are disrespecting a legend like Rey Mysterio. Emma slaps Scarlett in the face as Kross tells her she has no idea what she has done.

Next Week

– John Cena & Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns & Sami Zayn
– SmackDown Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
– Sheamus vs. Solo Sikoa

Miracle on 34th Street Fight
Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci)

The bell rings and we are under way. Strowman clotheslines Kaiser to the outside. A right hand by Braun onto Vinci. Ricochet with a drop kick onto Vinci in the corner. Ricochet goes for the cover but Kaiser drags Ricochet to the outside. Ricochet is thrown into the ring steps. Right hands by Vinci onto Strowman as Kaiser gets in the ring. Kaiser with a right hand onto the back of Strowman’s knee. Right hands by Imperium onto Strowman. Kaiser grabs Strowman but Strowman with a chop to the chest. Vinci is thrown to the outside and as is Kaiser. Ricochet walks across the barricade and hits Vinci with a hurricanrana.

Back from commercial, Kaiser pushes Strowman into the Christmas tree and the presents on the outside of the ring. Vinci beats up Ricochet with a kendo stick. Kaiser hits Strowman with a steel chair and he hits Ricochet with a chair. Kaiser turns around but Strowman punches the chair into Kaiser’s face. Strowman grabs the kendo stick from Vinci and breaks it. Right hands by Strowman onto Vinci and Kaiser. He throws them both into the Christmas trees on the stage. Strowman lifts them both up but rake to the eyes onto Strowman. Imperium grab Strowman and suplex Strowman on the stage. Ricochet with a knee to the face onto Kaiser. Right hands and kicks onto Vinci. He throws Vinci back into the ring. Ricochet on the ring apron but Kaiser hits him with a steel chair. Imperium grab Strowman and throw him into the presents and Vinci throws a Christmas tree onto Strowman.

There is a big wrapped Christmas box. Vinci opens it and a ballerina steps out and starts to dance across the stage. Imperium open up another Christmas box and it’s two nut crackers. It turns out to be the New Day. Imperium look at them as the New Day kick Imperium. Strowman stands up between The New Day as they salute him. Strowman with the Strowman express onto Imperium. Strowman grabs a mistletoe and places it between the ring announcer Samantha and Ricochet. That wakes Ricochet up as he lands a springboard clothesline onto Vinci. A springboard moonsault onto Vinci. Strowman powerbombs Kaiser through a table on the outside of the ring. Strowman with the running slam onto Vinci. Ricochet stands onto Strowman’s shoulders and he lands a splash onto Vinci. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winners: Braun Strowman and Ricochet