Friday Night Smackdown – Dec 23rd 2022: Results & Review
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on the show!
Match #1: Undisputed WWE Tag Team Title Match – The Usos def. Hit Row
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The longest-reigning Tag Team Champions in WWE history Jey & Jimmy Uso repelled the difficult challenge of Hit Row’s Ashante “Thee” Adonis & Top Dolla and retained their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles after the earth-shattering 1-D.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Gauntlet Match
Part 1: Xia Li def. Emma
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In the first showdown of a Gauntlet Match to determine who will challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, Xia Li caught Emma with a beautiful Cyclone Kick for the victory.
Part 2: Xia Li def. Tegan Nox
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In the second contest of the Gauntlet Match, Tegan Nox rushed to the ring in search of payback against Xia Li for the attack that cost her a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match last week. Despite her efforts, though, Li won a back-and-forth struggle on the apron before overcoming the determined Superstar with another Cyclone Kick out of nowhere.
Part 3: Raquel Rodriguez def. Xia Li
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Despite still suffering the effects of an arm injury following an assault from Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler last week, the ultra-tough Raquel Rodriguez eliminated Xia Li in the third part of the Gauntlet Match when she ducked out of the way of the Cyclone Kick to hit a one-armed Texana Bomb for the three-count.
Part 4: Raquel Rodriguez def. Liv Morgan
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The determined Raquel Rodriguez continued to power though her arm injury and withstood the impressive efforts of Liv Morgan in the fourth showdown of the Gauntlet Match. After countering Morgan’s Oblivion attempt, Rodriguez hit another one-armed Texana Bomb for the win.
Part 5: Raquel Rodriguez def. Sonya Deville
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In what was originally to be the final part of the Gauntlet Match, Raquel Rodriguez took on Sonya Deville. Although the vicious Sonya was hellbent on bringing further injury to Raquel’s injured arm, she made the mistake of taking her attention off her opponent to argue with the official and ended up suffering the Texana Bomb for the loss.
Part 6: Raquel Rodriguez def. Shayna Baszler
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Although Raquel Rodriguez seemingly won the Gauntlet Match, SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey quickly interrupted the celebration to inform her that she still had one more opponent, Shayna Baszler. The Submission Magician went right to work on her war-torn opponent and her injured arm. When she ripped off Raquel’s arm brace and took time show it off to the WWE Universe, though, Rodriguez had the presence of mind to roll her up for the quick pin.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #8: Rey Mysterio def. Angel
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Angel entered his matchup against Rey Mysterio looking to make The Master of the 619 step aside in favor of a new generation of Luchadores, as Karrion Kross and Scarlett lurked in the crowd. When Angel attempted to humiliate his legendary opponent with a 619 attempt of his own, however, Mysterio intercepted him and defeated one-half of Los Lotharios with a 619 into a devastating DDT.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #9: Miracle on 34th Street Fight – Braun Strowman & Ricochet def. Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Tis’ the season for season’s beatings! In a WWE tradition, the Miracle on 34th Street Fight, Braun Strowman joined forces with Ricochet against Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium. The two tandems got festively furious in an out-of-control showdown that incorporated multiple Christmas trees, giant candy cane Kendo sticks, gift-wrapped steel chairs, real-life ballerinas and even The New Day dressed as Nutcrackers. The Monster of All Monsters used mistletoe and got Ricochet’s girlfriend, ring announcer Samantha Irvin, to kiss and revive The One and Only. Then, after powerbombing Kaiser through a table full of cookies, Strowman returned to the ring to hit the powerslam on Vinci. Ricochet then climbed on the shoulders of his monstrous tag team partner and delivered an earth-shattering splash for the victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
Terrible show, bad matches. One of the weakest episodes of Smackdown in the Triple H “era”. Seriously. Why Hit Row are still having matches on the main roster beggars belief! This was literally filler until the big John Cena episode next week… Don’t bother watching this one!
