VIP – 11/11 WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS: Keller’s recap and analysis of Usos vs. New Day with record on the line, Six-Pack Challenge to earn Rousey title shot, Escobar vs. Nakamura

By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor


SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 11, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS, IN AT GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE
AIRED ON FS1

Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin


[HOUR ONE]

-The show opened with a video package on Roman Reigns beating Logan Paul at Crown Jewel.

-A new opening theme for Smackdown debuted with the lyrics, “Ain’t Nobody Who Better Than Me.” (Were you ready?)

-Cole introduced the show by thanking those who have served in the armed forces and wished everyone Happy Veterans Day.

(1) THE USOS (Jey & Jimmy Uso) vs. THE NEW DAY (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) – WWE Undispuyted Tag Team Title match

The Usos made their ring entrance to their theme. They went to Cole and Wade Barrett at ringside. He said tonight’s match is to decide who the greatest tag team of all time is, and he said he’s betting on the Usos winning tonight. They cut away to Solo Sikoa, Roman Reigns, and Paul Heyman watching a monitor intently backstage. New Day came out with more serious demeanors, especially Xavier. After formal ring introductions, Cole listed great tag teams – Edge & Christian, Hardys, Dudleys, The British Bulldogs, Demolition, Wild Samoans, “we could go on and on and on.” He said the winner of this match could be viewed as the best of them all because they’d be the longest-reigning tag champs in history.

Barrett said you can’t be a great tag team without a great rival. He said Usos-New Day is this generation’s version of Freebirds-Von Erichs and Rock & Roll Express-Midnight Express. A few minutes in, Kofi leaped off the top rope onto both Usos. They cut to a break as New Day celebrated. [c]

The Usos took over after the break, including whipping Kofi into the ringside barricade. The Uso isolated Kofi for several minutes. Cole called this “perhaps the most important tag team  match in history.” They cut to another break at 12:00. [c]

Cole reset the stage for the match as Xavier rallied against the Usos after the break. At 19:00 the Usos double superkicked Xavier in the ring and then Kofi off the ring apron. They double-splashed Xavier and scored a near fall. They replayed the double-splash in slo-mo. The Usos waited for Xavier to stand. Kofi yanked Jey out of the ring by his legs and threw him into the steps. Xavier then took over against Jimmy. Kofi held Jey over his knee at ringside and Xavier leaped off the second rope with a stomp. Back in the ring, Xavier landed a tornado DDT. Kofi tagged in and launched off the top rope with the Midnight Hour. Jey broke up the cover. Barrett said to never count out the Usos. They went to a wide shot of the arena.

Both teams stood and squared off, then unleashed a barrage of punches. Kofi battled both Usos on the top rope and then leaped toward them. The Usos caught him mid-air with a 1D to win. “Cole said 481 days and counting.” He said with no title defenses scheduled between now and Monday, they’ll break the record on Monday. They cut to Reigns, Heyman, and Solo observing the win backstage with smiles

WINNERS: The Usos in 23:00 to retain the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Titles.

(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match, as you’d expect, but this classic series that will age well currently feels a little played out and tired. Among the reasons I like them starting Smackdown with this match is the lack of an end-time where you’d basically know how long the match was going by the time it started. This was open-ended and led to more drama and mystery. This match, in another era, would have been on a PPV, but WWE has adjusted to the era of sharing big matches among Raw, Smackdown, and Peacock considering all three are big guaranteed revenue generators and all three masters – USA Network, Fox, and Peacock – all want and deserve big matches in the mix.)

-Cole hyped the World Cup starting tonight.

-The Usos arrived backstage, all excited about the win. Jey asked, “What do you think?” Reigns milked it and stood, not showing emotion, making the Usos nervous. Reigns then smiled and congratulated them. He said they’ve done what they needed to do, and now it’s time for him to “handle some stuff.” He said he needs them on his side because he needs to do things the right way out in the ring live tonight. He hugged the Usos for their win. Solo stod behind, arms crossed, stern look on his face.

-They went back to Cole and Barrett at ringside. They showed a graphic for the Smackdown World Cup. Cole said the winner will be awarded a trophy and earn a shot at the Intercontinental Champion.

(2) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. SANTOS ESCOBAR (w/Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, Zelina Vega) – Smackdown World Cup – Round One

During Legado Del Fantasma’s ring entrance, Escobar said he won’t just represent Mexico, he’ll show Shinsuke how they deal with reckless people where he comes from. (Escobar shows how to do subtle facial expressions and facial twitches that send a much more convincing message than over-the-top cartoonish facial expressions others go for.) Cole noted Nakamura will return to Japan to face Great Muta one-on-one at Budokan Hall on New Year’s Day. Nakamurta was in a new neon yellow outfit with black stripes down the side. It’s a fresh and distinct look for him. Cole said Barrett has called many of Escobar’s matches in NXT. Barrett talked him up and noted he’s part Tony Montana. Barrett said these two battled once on a CMLL show about 15 years ago. They cut to a break a minute in with Nakamura in control and Escobar regrouping at ringside. [c]

Nakamura knocked around Wilde and Toro at ringside, who were being pests. When he climbed to the top rope, Escobar knocked him off balance and landed the Phantom Driver for the win. Cole said Fantasma will be a problem on Smackdown because of their numbers.

WINNER: Escobar in 9:00 to advance in the World Cup.

(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, and the right winner since Nakamura is sort of where he’s going to be as a brand-name tier two role player while Escobar is still being defined and has a big upside.)

-Cole threw to a Veterans Day video package.

-Liv Morgan made her ring entrance. [c]

-A graphic on the screen noted that Crown Jewel last weekend almost doubled last year’s Crown Jewel in viewership and was the most watched WWE event in Saudi Arabia in history.

[HOUR TWO]

-Megan Morant interviewed L.A. Knight backstage. He said he should have been in the Smackdown World Cup. The monitor behind him flickered with the Bray Wyatt firefly logo. He said the tournament is all for naught because of that. The screen flickered firefly images again, which caught Morant’s eye. Knight noticed and complained. “This is my time!” he said. Bray walked in and introduced himself. “My name is Bray,” he said. “Now we can be friends.” He said he can see the anger and rage brewing inside him. He said his whole life, people were telling him his rage was going to make a monster out of him,. but the thing is, for the longest time, he’s been pretending that he isn’t proud of the things he does. “I just don’t know how true that is anymore,” he said. He said he knows what it takes to get respect. He asked Knight how far he’s willing to go. Knight said that’s none of his business, but he should go back to the locker room to play with his puppets and stick them wherever it pleasures him. He said at the end of the day, it’s L.A. Knight’s game. Bray headbutted him and walked away. Knight stood and asked, “Where the hell did he go?”

(3) SHOTZI vs. SONYA DEVILLE vs. XIA LI vs. LIV MORGAN vs. LACEY EVANS vs. SONYA DEVILLE vs. RACQUEL RODRIGUEZ – Six-Pack Challenge to earn Smackdown Title match

Cole explained all six will be in the ring at the same time, winner gets a title shot. Early, Sonya drove Liv into the ringside steps. Xia and Shotzi battled in the ring. They cut to a break a few minutes in. [c]

Back from the break, the fighting continued with different wrestlers taking turns on offense. Rodriguez eventually set up a table at ringside. She stood on the base of the steps and set up Sonya for a move, perhaps a piledriver. Liv leaped at them and came up short and awkwardly knocked Rodriguez and herself into the table awkwardly. Deville was also slow to get up. Fans chanted “Tables!” Cole acknowledged it was an awkward landing. Meanwhile, Shotzi and Lacey battled in the ring and Shotzi got the pin after a DDT to win. Cole said it might be the biggest win over Shotzi’s career.

WINNER: Shotzi in 12:00. [c]

-Backstage, Emma congratulated Shotzi on her win. Emma said she can take out Rousey. Shotzi told Emma she took Rousey to the limit. Emma asked if she’s seen Madcap Moss around. Shotzi told Emma she’s crushing out. Shayna Baszler walked up to Shotzi and said Rousey will be giving her a beating of a lifetime. “What you actually won was a broken arm or your ankle snapped like a twig,” she said. She said she’s getting chills. Shotzi said Rousey has never faced someone like her and she will endure whatever she has in store for her. Rousey showed up. Baszler told Shotzi to turn to look at her. When Shotzi turned, Baszler put her in a sleeper and knocked her out. Rousey laughed and said, “Clean in aisle green.”

(Keller’s Analysis: That was on the higher end of what can often be awkward and staged-looking backstage interactions.)

-Kayla Braxton interviewed Ricochet about facing Mustafa Ali next week on Smackdown in a World Cup Tournament match. Ricochet said this is his chance to win back what is his. He then complimented Ali. Gunther showed up with his cohorts. He asked what he meant by “what’s yours.” Gunther asked if he had enough last time. He told Ricochet to fight with all his heart because he’d love to face him again.

(Keller’s Analysis: Gunther continued to carry himself like an adult in the room who seems poised to progress to a PPV main event opponent for WWE’s top tier players including Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.)

-Cole threw to a highlight package on Braun Strowman vs. Omos from Crown Jewel. [c]

-A sponsored video package aired on the Drew McIntyre-Karrion Kross cage match at Crown Jewel.

-Jinder Mahal stood next to the World Cup trophy at ringside. He said he’s the greatest WWE Champion of all time is back. “Oh, I missed you too,” he said to booing fans. He said he’ll ascend back to his rightful spot by first winning the cup and then becoming IC Champion. Braun’s music interrupted him as he said no man can stop him.

(4) BRAUN STROWMAN vs. JINDER MAHAL – Smackdown World Cup – Round One

Barrett said this is like drawing Brazil in the first round of the Fifa World Cup. Cole asked, “What does that mean?” Barrett told Cole to stick to baseball. Jinder attacked Braun before the bell. The ref pulled Jinder off of Braun. Braun called for the ref to ring the bell. Jinder took Braun down with a running high knee, but scored just a one count. Braun, unsurprisingly, beat Jinder a minute later after a powerbomb.

WINNER: Strowman in 2:00.

-A Raw commercial hyped the Miz-Johnny Gargano saga plus Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor. [c]

-Crown Jewel highlights aired.

-Zelina Vega was in the ring with Legado del Fantasma, scheduled to face B-Fab. As Hit Row made their entrance, the Viking Raiders charged into the ring and attacked Hit Row. They beat up Ashante Adonis first. Then they lifted Top Dolla and slammed him to the mat. Sarah Logan dragged B-Fab into the ring and gave her a lift-and-drop headbutt.

-Cole threw to a video package on Crown Jewel.

-The Bloodline made their ring entrance, but without Sami Zayn. [c]

-Cole and Barrett hyped next week’s line-up including Butch vs. Sami Zayn and Ricochet vs. Ali in World Cup matches, plus Shotzi vs. Baszler.

-The Bloodline stood in the ring as their music faded. A loud “Uce-y” chant broke out. Heyman insulted the fans and the city, then told them they were being rude booing him. Reigns said it’s not easy being his cousin. He was about to address Jimmy and Jey, but then Ridge Holland and Butch interrupted. The Usos laughed. Holland said he’s sick of The Bloodline using the numbers game every week. He said it’s fight night and they brought back-up. Sheamus’s music played and he made his return. Reigns made fun of Sheamus’s mic not working. Sheamus and the Brutes charged into the ring, but they were beat down by The Bloodline. However, Drew McIntyre’s music then played and he marched out, and took out Jimmy in the aisle, and then headbutted past Jey. He then swung away at Solo. Reigns gave Drew a big boot to knock him down. Sheamus got up and attacked Reigns. Everyone brawled as Cole said, “Chaos here on Friday Night Smackdown!” Barrett said he loves it. The show ended as they brawled.

(Keller’s Analysis: Solid closing angle, clearly pointing toward the Survivor Series men’s match. The downside is this was another instance of babyfaces cutting off a heel as he was about to say something fans were anticipating hearing. No big deal, but will they ever revisit what Reigns was going to say to the Usos?)

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