By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Episode 1,208)
Live from New Orleans, Louisiana at Smoothie King Center
Aired October 14, 2022 on Fox
[Hour One] The show opened with a car accident scene outside the venue. Karrion Kross was selling an injury as Scarlett stood by. Drew McIntyre showed up and attacked Kross until he was pulled away by Adam Pearce and others. Scarlett checked on Kross…
The Smackdown opening aired… Michael Cole and Wade Barrett were on commentary, and Samantha Irvin was the ring announcer. Pyro shot off on the stage and then Cole and Barrett checked in from ringside. They recapped footage of Kross beating McIntyre in a strap match at Extreme Rules.
The broadcast team hyped the four-way match for the Intercontinental Championship and said that Kross was stills scheduled to compete along with Ricochet, Sheamus, and Solo Sikoa. They also hyped Bray Wyatt’s return…
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made their entrance and spoke from the entrance ramp area. They boasted that they still hold the record for the longest WWE Tag Team Title reign. Cole noted that Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso were thirty days away from breaking the record…
Backstage, Sami Zayn was expressing his appreciation for Solo Sikoa when Jey Uso showed up and spoke about Zayn not wanting Jey’s help during his loss on Monday’s Raw. Zayn got a call from Roman Reigns and told him that it seemed like Jey could have helped and chose not to. Zayn handed the phone to Jey, who tried to state his case before backing down.
Zayn got the phone back and laughed at something Reigns said. Jey wanted to know what Reigns said. Zayn told him that it was an inside joke and Jey wouldn’t get it. Zayn and Jey made their entrance…
1. Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods) vs. Sami Zayn (w/Jey Uso). Zayn took an early powder. Kingston teased a dive and bounced off the ropes instead heading into a commercial break. [C] Kingston eventually took offensive control and went up top. Zayn met him and shoved him from the top rope to the floor heading into another break. [C]
Kingston put Zayn down with an SOS for a near fall. Zayn went to ringside. Kingston performed a flip dive onto him and then rolled him back inside the ring. Jey superkicked Woods at ringside, which distracted Kingston. Zayn put Kingston down with a Blue Thunder Bomb and got a near fall off the distraction.
Zayn charged for a Helluva Kick, but Kingston ducked between the ropes and caught Zayn with a kick. Kingston set up for his finisher, but Jey climbed onto the apron. Kingston punched Jey off the apron. Zayn rolled up Kingston for another near fall. Zayn ducked Trouble in Paradise. Kingston rolled up Zayn, but Jey snuck onto the apron and kicked Kingston so that the pin was reversed, which led to Zayn getting the three count…
Sami Zayn defeated Kofi Kingston in 15:00.
Powell’s POV: Fun match. I guess this means Jey made up for not helping Zayn on Monday. It also builds more tension between New Day and The Usos as they are clearly building toward a showdown match as The Usos attempt to break their record for longest WWE Tag Title reign.
Backstage, Triple H thanked policemen for their work with the accident. Rey Mysterio showed up as the cops left. Rey told Triple H that given everything that’s happened with Dominik Mysterio, he doesn’t see a way forward. Rey said he won’t fight his son. Triple H was sympathetic. Rey said he still sees the little boy that used to sit on his lap and fall asleep on his shoulder.
Rey said he loves WWE, but he wanted to look Triple H in the eye and let him know that he was quitting. Triple H said he can’t imagine what Rey is going through, but there has to be another way. Triple H asked Rey for five minutes to see if they could come up with another way. Triple H and Rey entered Triple H’s office… [C]
A Raw ad hyped Brock Lesnar appearing, questioned whether The Miz could stop Dexter Lumis from earning a contract, and listed Seth Rollins vs. Matt Riddle for the U.S. Championship…
Powell’s POV: Rey continues to play his part really well. I can’t even imagine what that segment would have been like if Rey had told the Mr. McMahon character that he was quitting. Meanwhile, WWE previously announced that Elias would return on Raw, but he wasn’t mentioned in the ad.
An ad aired for the Pick Your Poison matches that will take place on Tuesday’s NXT television show (which runs head-to-head with AEW Dynamite)…
Backstage, Roxanne Perez spoke with Shotzi, who introduced her to Raquel Rodriguez. Perez said she wanted Rodriguez to face Cora Jade in the Pick Your Poison match on her behalf. “Of course,” Rodriguez said.
The “Damage CTRL” trio of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky showed up. Bayley asked Perez if she was stupid, adding that she was the only choice. Perez said she was going to pick Bayley, but she hasn’t exactly been on a winning streak. Bayley said Perez isn’t on her level. Bayley said Damage CTRL would embarrass the three babyfafces…
The broadcast team hyped Fox’s NFL coverage… Braun Strowman made his entrance…
2. Braun Strowman vs. James Maverick and Brian Thomas in a handicap match. The entrances of the enhancement wrestlers was not televised. Barrett said Strowman is the great, great grandson of Charlie Chaplain. Barrett said he would have guessed that Strowman is related to Hagrid, then said God rest his soul (Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, died today).
Omos and MVP appeared in the crowd and walked down the steps and watched behind the barricade. Strowman glared at them before powerbombing one enhancement wrestler onto the other. Strowman put his foot on one of the wrestlers and got the pin while Cole said he “put the two jabronies away.”
Braun Strowman beat James Maverick and Brian Thomas in 1:40 in a handicap match.
After the match, MVP had a mic and took issue with Strowman’s “Monster of All Monsters” monicker. MVP said that Strowman would look normal if he stood next to Omos. MVP’s mic cut while he told Stromwan that some monsters are better off staying in the shadows. Strowman barked at both men from the ring while Cole repeated the MVP line that was cut off by the mic…
Cole hyped the four-way match for later in the show… [C]
Powell’s POV: Omos wins handicap matches, so now Braun is winning handicap matches as the company builds to their showdown match.
A video package recapped the Brawling Brutes beating Imperium in the Donneybrook match at Extreme Rules…
Sami Zayn was talking to Solo Sikoa when Jey Uso asked Sami to show him some gratitude. Sami said he won the match all on his own and said he wished Jey would give him credit for once. Jey asked Sikoa to back him up. Sikoa said he was watching Sami because he can learn a lot from him. Sami fired up Sikoa about the four-way match for a shot at the Intercontinental Championship…
Maxxine Dupri stood on the stage and introduced Mace and Mansoor. Cole set up a video package that recapped Max Dupri standing over the models and telling Maxxine that his name is LA Knight. A new video wall played for LA Knight as he made his entrance…
3. LA Knight vs. Mansoor (w/Maxxine Dupri, Mace). Barrett said Knight is his all-time favorite NXT superstar who isn’t named Mandy Rose. Cole dropped a reference to Knight’s time in Championship Wrestling From Hollywood. Knight went on the offensive until Maxxine distracted him, which led to Mansoor taking offensive control.
Knight came back with a neckbreaker. Knight went to the apron and hit Mansoor with a knee to the head and then performed a slingshot shoulder block. Mace stood on the apron and jawed at Knight, who kicked his legs out from under him. Knight hit Mansoor with the BFT (Gravy Train) and scored the pin.
LA Knight defeated Mansoor in 2:55.
After the match, Knight took the mic and started his promo by saying, “Let me talk to you.” Knight told the crowd he didn’t do it for them. He said he didn’t need a bunch of swamped up incels chanting his name. Knight looked into the camera and said he was putting the entire WWE roster on notice. Knight said they could all get their ticket punched and closed with his “yeah” line…
Cole hyped the return of Bray Wyatt… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s nice to see LA Knight finally get a real opportunity on the main roster. I’m pleasantly surprised that he will apparently be working as a heel. I like it for multiple reasons, including that he can distance himself from Maximum Male Models rather than feuding with them.
New Orleans imagery was shown and then a video package recapped Wyatt’s return at Extreme Rules. Cole hyped Wyatt’s return for later in the show… Damage CTRL made their entrance for a six-woman tag match. Cole narrated highlights of Bianca Belair beating Bayley in a ladder match to retain the Raw Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules.
Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, and Roxanne Perez made their entrance on Shotzi’s TCB tank. Cole hyped WWE returning to New York for the annual December 26 show at Madison Square Garden…
4. “Damage CTRL” Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky vs. Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, and Roxanne Perez. Barrett spoke about how much it has to suck that Perez is only 20 years-old and can’t celebrate her Smackdown debut on Bourbon Street. Cole gave more hype to Tuesday’s NXT television show, and Barrett worked in a plug for NXT Halloween Havoc.
[Hour Two] The heels tried to isolate Perez in their corner, but she fought them off and knocked Bayley to the floor. Perez performed a suicide dive onto Bayley. Later, Rodriguez took a hot tag from Shotzi and went after Bayley. Kai put herself in front of Bayley when Rodriguez went for a corner splash.
Rodriguez caught Kai in powerbomb position on the floor. Sky performed a moonsault onto Rodriguez to break it up. Shotzi took out Sky with a dive. In the ring, Bayley hit the Bayley to Belly on Perez for a near fall and then showed frustration when it didn’t result in a three count.
Bayley went up top, but Perez cut her off. Perez joined Bayley on the ropes and performed a huracanrana. Perez covered Bayley for a near fall. Bayley tripped Perez so that she hit the ropes. Bayley went for her Rose Plant finisher and there was a moment of awkwardness before Bayley hooked Perez in a pin for the win…
“Damage CTRL” Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky vs. Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, and Roxanne Perez in 6:50.
Powell’s POV: Cole was a pro and said that Perez blocked Bayley from hitting the Rose Plant, but I don’t think that’s what they were going for. It looked like something was off with the finish, but Bayley made it work by countering into a pin. It’s too bad because it was fun to see Perez work with Bayley in Perez’s Smackdown debut. Bayley’s recent losing streak even made the outcome feel less predictable. By the way, the finish may have been awkward, but it wasn’t as awkward as the other four never returning to the ring after they did the ringside dives.
A sponsored recap aired on Legado Del Fantasma taking out Hit Row last week… Hit Row made their entrance… A Crown Jewel ad aired and focused on Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul… [C]
A highlight package recapped Ronda Rousey beating Liv Morgan in an Extreme Rules match to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules…
The latest Viking Raiders video was shown with what appears to be Sarah Logan was shown. She said the gods finally spoke and the destruction begins… Cole hyped a Hit Row diss video on YouTube regarding Legado Del Fantasma, who then made their entrance…
5. Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro (w/Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega vs. “Hit Row” Top Dolla and Ashante Thee Adonis (w/B-Fab). Top Dolla and Ashante attacked Wilde and Cruz at ringside. Once they were in the ring, the referee checked on Del Toro and then stared the match. Escobar tripped Ashante on the apron. Vega dove off the ring steps and B-Fab. in the ring, Wilde tagged in and then he and Del Toro hit Top Dolla with a double superkick. Del Toro tagged in and then the duo hit a kick into a neckbreaker finisher, which led to Del Toro pinning Top Dolla…
Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro beat “Hit Row” Top Dolla and Ashante Thee Adonis in 1:25.
Powell’s POV: The crowd was really quiet for that brief match. Hit Row haven’t clicked this time around, and LDF is just getting started, so the flat crowd isn’t too surprising. The clean finish was a pleasant surprise.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Sonya Deville in the backstage area. Deville complained about Liv Morgan being gifted repeated opportunities. Deville said Morgan was destroyed at Extreme Rules and it shows that Morgan doesn’t have it.
Morgan showed up and attacked Deville. Morgan dumped Deville onto a road case, then slammed Deville’s head on a table several times. Morgan placed Deville on top of the table and then climbed a scaffolding behind the Smackdown set and performed a senton that drove Deville through the table. Cole wondered what’s gotten into Morgan…
Ricochet made his entrance to a flat reaction… [C] Highlights aired from of Matt Riddle beating Seth Rollins in the Fight Pit with Daniel Cormier as special referee at Extreme Rules… Sheamus and Solo Sikoa made their entrances for the four-way match. Samantha Irvin announced that Karrion Kross was unable to compete due to injuries he suffered earlier. Rey Mysterio was introduced as his replacement…
6. Sheamus vs. Ricochet vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Rey Mysterio in a four-way for a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Barrett chalked up Rey getting a spot in the match to his earlier conversation with Triple H. Cole said Rey and Sheamus had never wrestled one another in WWE. Rey performed an early dive onto his opponents at ringside heading into a break. [C]
Powell’s POV: Really? Given how long both men have been in WWE, I’m shocked that they never had a match together. Rey is a legend so I really don’t have an issue with the idea that Triple H gave him a spot in the match. Ricochet getting a spot in the match actually makes less storyline sense, as he lost to Solo Sikoa last week and hasn’t won a match on Smackdown in over a month.
Cole announced that Rey Mysterio made a deal with Triple H and is now officially on the Smackdown roster. Cole credited Rey with helping to put Smackdown on the map. Ricochet took out Sikoa with a dive. Rey did a baseball slide dive from the ring onto Sheamus. who was down on the floor.
Rey and Ricochet squared off together inside the ring. They took turns avoiding and countering moves. Ricochet eventually suplexed Rey and covered him for a two count. Ricochet went for a top rope move and landed on his feet when Rey moved. Sikoa returned to the ring and worked over Rey and Ricochet. Sheamus ran in and was hit with a spinning heel kick from Sikoa. [C]
Ricochet caught Sheamus seated on the top rope. Rey joined Ricochet on the ropes. Sikoa slipped under Rey and Ricochet and slammed them to the mat. Sikoa covered Rey, but Sheamus leapt from the ropes and dropped a knee on Sikoa to break up the pin.
Sheamus hit Ten Beats on Sikoa. Actually, he hit 26 Beats on Sikoa. Sheamus hoisted him up and then Sikoa elbowed his way free. Sheamus responded with a knee to the head and an Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus put Sikoa in a Cloverleaf. Jey Uso entered the ring and Sheamus released the hold to clear him from the ring. Sami Zayn ran in and was cleared from the ring by Sheamus, who then ate a superkick from Sikoa.
Jey and Zayn worked over Sheamus at ringside. Ridge Holland and Butch ran out and fought with Zayn and Uso, and then Sikoa joined in the brawl. In the ring, Rey went for a 619 that Ricochet blocked. Ricochet set up for a move, but Rey countered into a move that spiked Ricochet on top of his head. Rey hit the 619 and followed up with a top rope frog splash for the win…
Rey Mysterio defeated Ricochet, Sheamus, and Solo Sikoa in a four-way in 16:30 to earn an Intercontinental Title shot.
Rey looked into the camera and said Smackdown his his new home. He said he was ready to quit, but now he has a shot at the Intercontinental Title… Cole hyped Bray Wyatt for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A fun match that gave viewers a taste of Rey and Ricochet sharing the ring together, while also creating issues between The Bloodline and The Brawling Brutes. I wonder how long it will take for The Judgment Day to show up on Smackdown to torment Rey. While I enjoyed the match, I know I wasn’t alone in watching the clock and hoping it would end early enough that Bray Wyatt won’t just make a quick entrance.
The broadcast team announced a Logan Paul appearance, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky vs. Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and Liv Morgan vs. Sonya Deville for next week’s Smackdown…
The lights went out and Bray Wyatt’s door was on the stage with a light behind it. The door opened and there was a bright light and smoke/fog. Bray Wyatt walked through the door with his lantern while new entrance music played. Once in the ring, Wyatt blew out the lantern and the crowd cheered and then chanted “welcome back.”
Wyatt told the fans that he didn’t know if they could read it on him, but he is incredibly grateful and nervous to be there. Wyatt said this was just him and it’s a version of himself that he never got to introduce them to. He said he was being himself for the first time.
Wyatt was emotional said he lost a lot of things over the last year of his life. He said he lost his career, his self confidence, and two people who were very close to him. Wyatt said he thought that everything he did never mattered to anyone. “I was wrong,” Wyatt said.
Wyatt said that once he was done feeling sorry for himself and he went and saw people, they thanked him and asked him when he was going to come back home. He said some people thanked him because they lost someone and lost their confidence and they found Wyatt’s words and he saved their life.
A loud “Thank you, Bray” chant broke out. Wyatt said he could look all the fans in the eyes and tell them that they were there when he was weak and vulnerable. “You all saved my life,” Wyatt said. “You wouldn’t let me alone. Every time I tried to run and hide, you were there to find me.”
The lights went out again. A video played on the big screen with the new Wyatt mask. A distorted voice said come with him because life is over. It said you have no idea who you are dealing with, but you will. The Wyatt Family sounder aired and the new insect logo appeared on the screen to close the show…
Powell’s POV: I don’t think anyone would have predicted that we’d hear from an emotional Wyatt tonight. It felt like the promo legitimately gave him a chance to say thank you and yet it also led to whatever this new force is that is consuming him. I really liked what we got and I’m anxious for the next chapter. I love that they didn’t just hit us with everything all at once.
Overall, this was an enjoyable episode of Smackdown. I will have more to say about the show in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by grading the show below. Have a great weekend.
“Sami Zayn defeated Jey Uso in 15:00.”
Its what he wants, okay!
So Drew, who is a babyface, attacked a guy who had just been hurt after getting in a car accident…..