Becky Lynch joins team Bianca, Butch VS Santos Escobar
Friday Night SmackDown started with team Damage Control in the middle of the ring. They talked about how they weren’t happy about working on thanksgiving weekend before they said that they are going to beat Bianca Belair’s team no matter who is in it. Belair came out and said that her team hasn’t come alone and that resulted in the return of the Man, Becky Lynch. All ten women started brawling before Becky Lynch hit the Becks-ploder onto Bayley. Rhea Ripley then stood face to face with the Man, but Damage Control managed to get Ripley out of the ring. This was a solid segment and I am definitely looking forward to the Women’s War Games match.
Grade: B-
It was then time for the first semi-final of the SmackDown World Cup as England’s Butch took on Mexico’s Santos Escobar. Zelina Vega was on commentary and she did a good job to put over Santos Escobar. At one point in the match, the titantron showed a backstage brawl between the Bloodline and Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens and then we saw Sheamus and Butch go backstage to help out. Them leaving the ringside area allowed Legado Del Fantasma to use their numbers advantage to distract Butch which then allowed Santos to hit the Phantom Driver to move on to the SmackDown World Cup final. This was a decent match with some good spots in it.
Grade: C+
Bray Wyatt cuts a promo, The Viking Raiders VS Hit Row
Bray Wyatt came out and he told the crowd that he wasn’t the one who attacked LA Knight before he asked the crowd if they want to see “the Fiend”. He then told the crowd that he doesn’t want to be like that anymore before Uncle Howdy came onto the titantron and called Wyatt a liar. As he was speaking, a sort of video package was being played and this showcased Wyatt’s whole career. After this, LA Knight was backstage in a sling and he also called Bray a liar before he called him a piece of trash. Even in a sling, Knight still thinks he is better than Wyatt. This was all solid.
Grade: B-
The Viking Raiders made their return to the ring in a tag team match against Hit Row. They dominated the singers and got the win with the Ragnarok. Overall, it was important for the Raiders to get a dominant victory on their return and they did just that. Also, Hit Row were the best team to do this too as they’ll get over it.
Grade: C+
SmackDown World Cup Semi Final: Braun Strowman VS Ricochet, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
The second semi-final of the SmackDown World Cup saw America take on USA! Braun Strowman dominated his opponent and he looked in a great position to win but then Imperium came out to try and cause some distractions. This allowed Ricochet to roll-up the Monster of all Monsters to get a massively shocking victory. After the match, Imperium jumped Braun in the ring which then meant Ricochet came back to make the save to show everyone that he is a proper good guy. Braun then beat up Vinci and Kaiser as Gunther managed to escape. Ricochet winning is great as it means whoever comes out on top in next week's final is going to be elevated massively. Also, this was all done to build to the eventual matchup between the Braun and the Ring General.
Grade: C+
Sami Zayn was about to enter the Bloodline’s locker-room, but he was stopped by Kevin Owens. Owens told Zayn that Reigns is going to turn on him at some point and if it was him, he would get the first shot in. Behind the door, you could see Jey Uso listening to this conversation. After KO left, Jey Uso came out and asked Sami if he had spoken to anyone since he had got there. The Honorary Uce said no and that the first person he had spoken too was him. Another interesting layer to this story. Let’s hope for Sami’s sake that no-one in the Bloodline household happens to watch SmackDown on catch up.
Grade: B+
The SmackDown Women’s Division
Becky Lynch was being interviewed by Kayla Braxton backstage and she talked about how during her recovery, she has planned all the different ways she can punish Damage Control. You can tell she’s back to being a babyface because she was saying her old “The Man” catchphrases. We then cut to Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez backstage who were then ambushed by Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. Baszler then showcased her sadistic side when she put Raquel’s arm in a locker and then slammed it leaving the former NXT Women’s Champion with a broken arm. Rousey and Baszler then came out to the ring and took the mick out of both Raquel’s injury and Shotzi’s chances of taking home the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Shotzi then came out to take the two on in a handicap match and she was quickly beaten up before Raquel came out with just one working arm. In the end, Shayna viciously stomped on Rodriguez’s arm before Rousey locked in the arm bar which saw Raquel tap out. This wasn’t great, Shotzi coming out was admirable but also stupid and Raquel, even though protected in defeat, still tapped out. However, I did like the way Shayna looked in this match and I also appreciated that Ronda Rousey wasn’t in her normal ring gear. That makes sense given the fact that she never planned to compete.
Grade: C-
War Games Advantage Match: Drew McIntyre and Sheamus VS The Usos
Shotzi came out of the trainer's room and announced that Raquel has suffered both a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder. Shotzi then said that no-one has had her back more than Raquel and she is going to do everything she can to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Raquel to come back and win the Rumble? It was then time for the main event in which the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos took on the team of Sheamus and Drew McIntyre with the winning team earning the War Games advantage for their respective side. This was a solid and fun match between 4 excellent in-ring workers. The Usos used their terrific tag team tactics to get ahead whilst Sheamus and Drew’s hard-hitting style kept them in the match. Outside the ring, The Brawling Brutes were “brawling” with Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa before Drew McIntyre dived onto them. Sami then picked up the SmackDown Tag Team title and as he was about to throw it into the ring, Kevin Owens stopped him. Owens then argued with his former best friend before he chucked Sami into the ring whilst the Honorary Uce was still holding the tag title. Referee Charles Robinson sent Sami to the back and whilst he was doing this, KO rolled in, hit the stunner onto Jey Uso before Sheamus met the Right-Hand Man with the Brogue Kick to get the victory for his team. For me, the Heels should always have the War Games advantage. However, I don’t mind it too much because having Roman Reigns come out into the match last is going to be an awesome visual. This is definitely the match I’m most looking forward to at tonight’s Survivor Series.