Winners, News And Notes On December 16, 2022

John Cena will return to SmackDown in two weeks to team with Kevin Owens against Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns. Cena made it official during the main event when he revealed himself as Kevin Owens’ mystery tag team partner for Cena’s December 30 return. This could result in a rare Roman Reigns loss, even if Zayn does take the pinfall.

WWE SmackDown from the Allstate Arena in Chicago (Rosemont) advertised the return of Roman Reigns and a big night for Honorary Uce Sami Zayn. SmackDown also advertised Gunther vs. Ricochet for the WWE Intercontinental Championship after Ricochet won the WWE World Cup tournament.

Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox challenged Damage CTRL for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, and Hit Row, Legado del Fantasma and the Viking Raiders competed in a Triple Threat tag team match.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown drew an impressive 2.306 million viewers.

WWE SmackDown Results | December 16, 2022

• Damage CTRL def. Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox | WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
• GUNTHER def. Ricochet | WWE Intercontinental Championship

WWE SmackDown Ratings

• December 9, 2022 | 2.306 million
• December 2, 2022 | 902,000 (Aired on FS1)
• November 25, 2022 | 2.166 million
• November 18, 2022 | 2.232 million
• November 11, 2022 | 2.264 million

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, Ill.)
• WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 12,369
• Available Tickets: 12,369

WWE SmackDown Winners and Match Card

Damage CTRL def. Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox

Michael Cole went into excellent detail describing the NXT feud between Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox. A rarity, even in the Triple H Era.

A mystery hooded figure kicked Tegan Nox in the face, leading to the finish. There was no replay of the finish, leading me to believe it may have something to do with the ever-growing Wyattverse. Many fans speculated that it was Xia Li or Deonna Purrazzo.

Bray Wyatt and Uncle Howdy Confront LA Knight

WWE aired “disturbing” footage of LA Knight essentially being kidnapped like that one hostage scene on The Dark Knight.

Fans were very much into Bray Wyatt and booed LA Knight’s attack. It’s another case where the heel is the babyface to a wrestling crowd and vice versa.

Uncle Howdy came out in the flesh and he looked more like a Disney mascot at “It’s a Small World.”

GUNTHER vs. Ricochet

Fans in Chicago could be heard faintly chanting “WALTER” before the bell rang.

Adam Pearce kicked out IMPERIUM before the match, but still cannot be bothered to explain why he fired Bobby Lashley on Monday and reinstated him (off television) on Tuesday.

If WWE truly is setting up GUNTHER for Brock Lesnar, I don’t expect GUNTHER to lose tonight, let alone on the road to WrestleMania.

Ricochet tried to put GUNTHER away with his top-rope finisher. When that didn’t work, Ricochet removed his wrist tape and started open-hand slapping GUNTHER like an ROH Pure Championship match, but with a pulse.

GUNTHER chopped Ricochet out of midair and followed up with a power bomb for a nearfall and a huge pop. Ricochet ultimately lost, but WWE gave him everything they possibly could in defeat.

Ricochet was saved by Braun Strowman of all people. The enemy of my Twitter enemy is my friend.

Hit Row def. The Viking Raiders and Legado Del Fantasma

Adam Pearce announced Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn would face Kevin Owens and a partner of his choosing. Fans were furious that Reigns did not come back tonight, and that was by design because Reigns is yet another heel who gets cheered.

Given reports of Triple H being underwhelmed by recent returns (which is just as much his fault as it is the talent), this match could have been called the underwhelming invitational.

Top Dolla had a scary spot where he tripped over the top rope during a dive, yet somehow managed to land on his feet.

It was great to see Hit Row prevail, but the crowd was not into this one since none of these teams get TV time outside of brawling. The Hit Row will be two warm bodies for the Usos to extend their historic run.

Roman Reigns Appears Live; John Cena is Kevin Owens’ Mystery Partner

Roman Reigns went down the Bloodline dapping them up. He hesitated a bit when he got to Sami Zayn, but ultimately dapped him up to a big pop. Zayn even fist-pumped after being acknowledged.

Kevin Owens’ mystery tag team partner will be none other than John Cena, who showed up via satellite to tell the Bloodline.

John Cena has had a match every year for the past 20 years in a year with the exception of 2022. He’ll keep the streak going on the last SmackDown of the year December 30. Let’s go.