WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS: Team Belair Assembled and Shotzi in Brave Challenge After Cruel Actions of Baszler and Rousey (November 25th 2022)
Welcome everybody to the Pre Survivor Series: WarGames Smackdown report. The blue brand episode did further the womens angles on the brand one last time, as Raquel Rodriguez, a week after having the back of championship contender, Shotzi, teamed with her against Shayna Baszler and Smackdown Womens Champion Ronda Rousey. Plus, as vowed on Monday Night by the RAW Womens Champion Bianca Belair, the fifth and final member of her WarGames team would be a big time reveal.
In fact, Smackdown begins with forcing the fans to be tuned in, as Bayley is already in the ring, flanked by Rhea Ripley, Nikki Cross and Womens Tag Team Champions Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai, and she has met the demands of Bianca Belair, being dragged to “disgusting” Providence to drag out the reveal thought to be intended for RAW. Bayley says they are on her time now and shes not going to wait any longer, demanding Bianca out because tomorrow night they are going to war.
Seconds after the music of the EST and RAW Womens Champion hits, as out comes Bianca Belair with Alexa Bliss, Asuka and Mia Yim. The four have each others side as they make their way to the bottom of the ramp, all of which have smiles on their faces. Once the entrance music fades out, Bianca acknowledges the current numbers advantage from Team Bayley, but like she had said before, they werent coming out tonight alone. After a little pause of anticipation, a familiar entrance theme hits and out comes a healed and rejuvenated babyface Becky Lynch. The former RAW Womens Champion, who put aside differences with Belair before departing due to injury, emerges and soon joins Bianca, Mia, Asuka and Alexa Bliss, entering the ring first with her teammates nearing her behind. A brawl breaks out which ends with Becky having control for her team, last clearing off Bayley with an exploder suplex with everyone else having been dealt with. However, Rhea Ripley isnt done looking to fight, re-entering the ring and coming face to face. However, Mia, Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair appear to have Becky’s back, all arising on the apron and Rhea soon backs out. Rhea retreats with her teammates while Becky stands tall alongside her own.
Not long after, its Butch against Santos Escobar of Legado Del Fantasma in the latest round in the WWE World Cup tournament, Santos accompanied by Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde and of course Zelina Vega, while Butch has Ridge Holland as well as Sheamus. Zelina joins commentary, participating in such throughout the match, and later, Sheamus and Ridge end up sent to the back, brawling with their opposing WarGames side, and with that brawl proving a distraction, Butch gets distracted, trying to regain focus as he whirls Santos into an armbar only for Zelina to suddenly rise to the apron, aiming to distract the referee. With the referee turned away, Cruz kicks the side of Butchs head, with the Leader of Legado Del Fantasma easily capitalising, later picking up the win with the Phantom Driver to Butch, in turn advancing in the World Cup Tournament. Santos wins the match.
Later, B Fab makes her way to the ring alongside Top Dolla and Adonis, as Adonis and Top Dolla are in action. Their opponents are the newly returned and even more vicious Erik and Ivar of the Viking Raiders, accompanied by Sarah Logan, who has been christened the new name of Valhalla as she makes her way to the ring alongside her formidable companions. Despite Hit Row trying to show some fight, in the end Ivar and Erik work together to plant Adonis with the finishing Ragnarok, with Adonis then getting pinned. Erik and Ivar win the match.
Even later in the show, Kayla Braxton gets a backstage interview with Becky Lynch. She catches the newly returned star backstage to ask her how she feels to make her in ring return soon, and in a match as brutal as WarGames. Beckys response is that shes still admittedly bandaged after Damage CTRL sidelined her for four months, but that was four months of her having to sit at home, to think about how she was going to destroy them, dismantle them, tear them limb from limb and make them question their existence in her business. Theres no better time than tomorrow, see everyones tough until the Man comes around, just like everyone wants to go to war until the Man comes around.
Not long on from that, we see a chaotic incident going down elsewhere backstage, as Ronda crashes an interview featuring Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi and Megan Morant. Shotzi isnt even allowed to get words in when Ronda swings her into the equipment nearby, with her and an appearing Shayna Baszler then attacking Raquel as a unit. The two attack Raquel, including launching her shoulder first into a door then unloading kicks and working together to slam a metal box lid into Raquels arm. Raquel is badly damaged and officials are soon having to tend to the attacked star.
When we return, the glad looking Shayna Baszler and Smackdown Womens Champion Ronda Rousey make their way to the ring, Ronda to a mixed reaction. Once in the ring, Ronda jokes how there is probably going to be no match tonight, which Shayna claims is due to an “accident” though Ronda retorts that that can actually be on purpose. Shayna warns Shotzi to stay sat at the kiddy table because she is not ready for Ronda, and Ronda also suggests Shotzi sits down and enjoys a sparkling cider instead. However, Shotzi isnt sitting back, especially after the sidelining of her partner, and makes her way out. In fact, shes demanding to face both Shayna and Ronda two on one, and they oblige.
The bell is rang and Ronda misses a rolling clothesline to Shotzi, with Shotzi advancing over to Shayna and clobbering her off the apron. Shayna then floats over to avoid Ronda’s oncoming offense, rolling through afterward, then clotheslining her against the same corner, raining shots at her to follow only for Ronda to then retaliate with a kick. Ronda tags in Shayna, who goes to whip Shotzi towards Ronda’s next clothesline, though Shotzi ducks that also and knocks down Ronda with a discus forearm. Shotzi forearms Shayna too then plants her against the middle rope aside Ronda, as the two take a rolling senton from behind by the courageous and rebellious contender. However, Shayna awaits Shotzi post move and knees her to the mat. Shayna covers, Jessicka Carr making the count but Shotzi fights out of it before two.
Shayna takes Shotzi to the heel corner and Ronda gets tagged in. Ronda connects with a jumping knee to Shotzi before Shayna re-enters off the tag, watching Ronda dangle off Shotzi’s targeted arm with a temporary hanging armbar before collecting Shotzi away from the corner and gutwrench suplexing her to the mat, using the targeted arm along the way for the turn over. Shayna twists away at the left arm, then unloads with multiple shots after the long time joint manipulation. However, the music of Raquel Rodriguez hits, and Raquel proves just as rebellious, advancing to the ring and willing to compete with Shotzi despite the earlier inflicted injury. It is now, officially, a tag team match.
Raquel yells at Shayna from the apron, distracting her. Shayna tries to regain focus as she attempts her elbow stomp but Shotzi evades and rolls up Shayna, though Shayna rolls through and hits the corner. Shotzi dashes over to her corner and a one armed but still competing Raquel tags in. She grasps Shayna with the non hurt arm, sweeping her to the mat then striking Ronda in the face. Raquel returns to Shayna with numerous shots then back elbows Ronda off the apron. Shayna grabs the hurt arm, Raquel trying to power through as she teases a slam set up but Shayna escapes the set up. As Raquel grabs Shayna, she has not noticed the tag made to Ronda, who sneaks in and yanks at the hurt arm. Shayna hits the elbow stomp then Ronda performs her lethal armbar to Raquel while Shayna holds back Shotzi to simply watch the devastating actions occur, and to watch Raquel instantly tap. Ronda and Shayna win the match.
Not long later, Kayla Braxton awaits outside the medical room to try get an update on Raquel. Shotzi soon leaves that very room and informs Kayla that Raquels arm was broken even before she got to the ring, and now she has suffered a dislocated elbow on top. Shotzi always knew that Shayna and Ronda were bullies, so she was ready to come at them alone. It isnt the first time shes been bullied but it will be the first time someones had her back. Raquel stuck up for her when she needed it most and she will never forget that. Now, its personal and Shayna is going to have a front row seat when she tears Ronda apart. As for Ronda, she promises to shock the world when she beats the reigning champion senseless in a days time.
(Dakota Kai, Bayley, Iyo Sky, Nikki Cross, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Asuka, Mia Yim and Alexa Bliss Segment; Becky Lynch Returns)
(Butch w/ Ridge Holland and Sheamus vs Santos Escobar w/ Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde and Zelina Vega; WWE World Cup Tournament Match; Zelina Vega on Commentary)
(Top Dolla and Ashante Thee Adonis w/ B Fab vs the Viking Raiders w/ Valhalla)
(Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler Backstage Segment)
(Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez vs Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler)
(Shotzi Backstage Segment)
Thoughts On This Match:
I thought everyone played their roles well here. Ronda and Shayna’s bullying tactics and their sidelining of a friend of Shotzi’s plays as motivation, or even a distraction, for Shotzi heading into the match. Both Raquel and Shotzi tried to look courageous but in the end they wanted to make Ronda, and the unit of Ronda and Shayna, look even more a threat for Shotzi heading into Survivor Series, and at the expense of a lethal giant like Raquel. Raquels injury angle might be the best route to re-setting her and making her the menace that she was back in NXT. I fully expect her to return from the injury angle as Ronda’s post Shotzi challenger with the way things are going, but at the same time if Raquel hits a character reset, will that be for nothing if she loses to Ronda who is bound to keep her title up until Shayna, Charlotte or Becky challenge her at WrestleMania?
– Catherine
Cattie's Womens Wrestling 