Winners, News And Notes On December 2, 2022

WWE SmackDown advertised Sami Zayn vs. Sheamus, a World Cup final between Santos Escobar and Ricochet and a rare SmackDown appearance by Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky of Damage CTRL.

SmackDown was headlined by a tremendous World Cup finals main event between Ricochet and Escobar, where Ricochet emerged victorious. Ricochet will face GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Championship in two weeks. SmackDown also saw the return of Tegan Nox as yet the latest return in the Triple H Era.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE SmackDown garnered 2.166 million viewers.

WWE SmackDown Results | December 2, 2022

• Sami Zayn def. Sheamus
• Shayna Baszler def. Emma
• GUNTHER def. Kofi Kingston
• Santos Escobar vs. Ricochet

WWE SmackDown Ratings

• November 25, 2022 | 2.166 million
• November 18, 2022 | 2.232 million
• November 11, 2022 | 2.264 million
• November 4, 2022 | 2.131 million
• October 28, 2022 | 835,000

• WWE SmackDown Venue: KeyBank Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
• WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 5,816
• Available Tickets: 679

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WWE SmackDown Winners and Match Card

Sami Zayn def. Sheamus

Fans love Sami Uso more than they’ll ever love Sami Zayn. It’s a good thing Zayn and Kevin Owens’ seemingly inevitable reunion will happen in Montreal, because everybody outside of Canada is on Team Bloodline.

Solo Sikoa continues to sulk as Sami and The Usos love on each other. Whenever he’s ready to join them in a group hug or a handshake, fans will go nuts.

Though Sheamus has had a career resurgence as a babyface, Sami Zayn was 100% the babyface in this match. Right down to the pop when he defeated Sheamus with help from Jey Uso.

Shayna Baszler def. Emma

Why did WWE listen to Shayna Baszler’s awesome theme music and decide to make it worse?

WWE continues to fast-track the romance between Madcap Moss and Emma that nobody is ready for just yet.

Poor Emma lost yeet again, which will give Madcap Moss another opening to be a massive shoulder for her to cry on. If WWE really wants fans to invest in this romance storyline, either Emma or Madcap will have to win a match one of these days.

I was today years old when I learned that people could have broken elbows, which Raquel Rodriguez suffered at the hands of Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler.

WWE aired a Lacey Evans promo that could have doubled as a military recruitment video.

GUNTHER def. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston became the first official entrant for the Royal Rumble. He botched one of his patented highlight reel spots this year, so hopefully he has a great make-good planned for 2023.

One week after losing to Flippy Flopper Ricochet, Braun Strowman ran wild on IMPERIUM.

Judging by how he was booked in this match, being the first to announce his Royal Rumble candidacy is as close as Kofi will come to finishing that match in first.

GUNTHER’S new finisher is called the Last Symphony.

Tegan Nox Returns To Attack Damage CTRL

Bayley called out a fan by saying “sit down with your dumb hat!” It has not been confirmed whether or not she was speaking to Jake Hager.

Liv Morgan showed she was about that life by going after Damage CTRL herself. This brought out Tegan Nox, yet another return in the Triple H Era.

Ricochet def. Santos Escobar

Ricochet winning this match came as a pleasant surprise, and felt meaningful given how much time they gave it. Still, it wasn’t too much of a surprise given the fact that GUNTHER is a heel.

WWE did a tremendous job with this World Cup tournament and finals match. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s all being done for Ricochet to do yet another job to GUNTHER.