By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Episode 1,209)
Live from Toledo, Ohio at Huntington Center
Aired October 21, 2022 on Fox
[Hour One] Michael Cole welcomed viewers to Smackdown and was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett. The Brawling Brutes made their entrance for Sheamus’s match against Solo Sikoa. Bray Wyatt imagery flashed on the screen. Sikoa made his entrance along with The Usos and Sami Zayn. Samatha Irvin was the ring announcer…
1. Sheamus (w/Ridge Holland, Butch) vs. Solo Sikoa (w/Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn). Sheamus threw an early clothesline and then sold shoulder pain. He set up for Ten Beats with Sikoa on the apron, but Siloa avoided it and wrenched the bad shoulder over the ropes. Sheamus stayed down and sat with his back against the ring steps. Sikoa hit him with a hip attack heading into a commercial break. [C]
Sheamus hit White Noise for a near fall and then continued to sell his shoulder. Sheamus went up top and was cut off by Sikoa, who wrenched the bad arm twice and then climbed to the middle rope and performed a Samoan Drop, which led to a near fall. Cole pointed out that the Samoan Drop sent Sheamus crashing onto his bad left shoulders.
Sheamus came back and hit the Ten Beats (and then some). Sheamus pointed to the crowd and went for a Brogue Kick. Siloa ducked it and hit Sheamus with a superkick. Sheamus came right back with a knee to the head and had Sikoa pinned, but Zayn distracted the referee.
Holland and Butch went after Zayn but were quickly taken out by the Usos, who dumped the broadcast table on top of them. Sheamus dove from the top rope and performed a double clothesline on the Usos. Sheamus returned to the ring apron, but Zayn grabbed his foot to distract him, allowing Sikoa to kick Sheamus when he climbed through the ropes. Sikoa performed a uranage slam and scored the pin.
Solo Sikoa beat Sheamus in 13:05.
After the match, Jey Uso tossed Sheamus to ringside. Sikoa, the Usos, and Zayn worked over Sheamus. Jimmy wrapped a chair around the bad arm of Sheamus, and then Jey hit it repeatedly with another chair until Zayn got him to stop. The Bloodline members stood tall over Sheamus…
A graphic listed that a message from Bray Wyatt was coming up next… [C]
Powell’s POV: An entertaining match. I really like the way Sikoa is being thrust right into the main mix. The post match beatdown looked like an injury angle. Here’s hoping that’s not the case, because Sheamus is on a tear and this would be a terrible time for him to be sidelined.
A sponsored video package recapped Rey Mysterio’s near retirement followed by his four-way match win to earn a shot at the Intercontinental Championship…
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Rey Mysterio arriving backstage. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci were waiting for him. Kaiser said Rey facing Gunther will be the end of Rey, who then challenged either one of them to a match. Kaiser said he would make sure to punish the disrespect…
Bray Wyatt was shown walking in an undisclosed part of the building. His new entrance theme played while he spoke. He apologized for not getting to finish what he was saying last week. He recalled saying revenge is a confession of pain and he said he still believes that. He confessed that he’s had problems and always has. He said anger can take him to places he doesn’t want to be. He said he gets chances that most people won’t get.
Wyatt said he was happy and content being left alone. But he also confessed that he’s happy that he wasn’t left alone. Wyatt said he’s thankful because now he can see. He said he knows who you are, what you want, and what you’re trying to do. He said it won’t work. He confessed that he will do horrible things and will never feel sorry for them. He said he’s just a servant who goes where the circles take him…
Solo Sikoa sat on the couch inside The Bloodline’s office while the Usos and Zayn stood and celebrated his win. Jimmy and Zayn did their handshake. Zayn told Sikoa that he’s been a gem for The Bloodline and he sent a message to the entire locker room that nobody messes with them.
Zayn though they were finished for the night. Jey said the night was just getting started. Jey said they would take care of Logan Paul once he showed up. Zayn told Jey that Roman Reigns told him not to engage Logan. Zayn said going after Logan wouldn’t be very Ucey. Jey teased agreeing, but then said he’s a hothead and they’d see what happens…
Powell’s POV: Strong back to back promo segments. The Wyatt promo was intriguing. I like the slow burn and the mysterious nature of the character. Meanwhile, the Jey and Sami dynamic continues to be a blast. Roman Reigns put Zayn in charge of Jey, so Zayn could be on the hook if Jey blows off Roman’s orders.
2. Liv Morgan vs. Sonya Deville. Both entrances were televised. Cole said this was the first ever singles meeting between the two. Morgan’s lipstick was smeared, she had wild eye makeup, and she smiled a lot. Mogan performed an early Backstabber. Morgan went for a backslide, but Deville escaped and then blasted her with a knee to the head and covered her for a two count.
A short time later, Deville kicked Morgan off the apron. Morgan sat at ringside and smiled. [C] Morgan went for a move from the ropes and then Deville caught her with another knee and covered her for a two count. Deville threw strikes and then ran the ropes for another knee strike. Morgan smiled and told her to bring it, which slowed her down momentarily.
Morgan laughed as Deville slapped her several times. Morgan stood up and told Deville to hit her. Morgan hit her a few times. Morgan snapped. Deville headed to ringside. Morgan followed and slammed Deville’s head off the broadcast table and then ran her into the ringside barricade. Morgan slammed Deville’s head on the ring steps repeatedly until both women were counted out.
Liv Morgan fought Sonya Deville to a double count-out in 8:50.
After the match, Morgan smiled and then pulled chairs out from underneath the ring and tossed them inside the ring. The crowd chanted for tables. Morgan grabbed three more chairs after tossing Deville back inside the ring. Morgan superplexed Deville onto the chairs. Cole pointed out that Morgan also landed on a chair. Deville laughed while holding her back…
Powell’s POV: I don’t understand the Morgan character. I just know that if she keeps adding makeup, she’ll be in full clown mode by the middle of next month.
A brief video package aired on “The Megastar” LA Knight… Cole hyped Braun Strowman and Omos meeting face to face after the break… [C] The Viking Raiders vignette aired and included a shot of Sarah Logan…
Braun Strowman made his entrance. Strowman was well received by the crowd. He said he’s not easy to miss or hard to find. Strowman said he heard MVP running his mouth on Raw and told him to bring out Omos so that Omos could look into the eyes of a real monster.
MVP his entrance and spoke while he walked to the ring. He said Strowman has always been the biggest person in the room until last week. MVP entered the ring and took issue with Strowman dubbing himself The Monster of all Monsters. MVP advised Strowman to stay away from Omos or risk being exposed.
Strowman said he didn’t need MVP’s advice. He said that Omos wants to prove that he’s normal, then he should try him at Crown Jewel. MVP accepted the challenge. Strowman said they could talk all night about what they would do to one another, but everyone knows he’s better at action than he is at talking.
Strowman teased going after MVP, who pointed out that he never said Omos wasn’t there. Omos made his entrance dressed in a suit and entered the ring. Strowman approached Omos and the top of his head came up to the chin of Omos.
[Hour Two] Strowman jawed at Omos, who then pushed Strowman through the ropes and out of the ring. Strowman stood up and laughed while MVP had Omos leave the ring. Omos and Strowman barked at one another from a distance…
Powell’s POV: Simple and effective hype for the battle of the big men. I wonder if the first Strowman vs. Omos match would be saved for WrestleMania if they weren’t being paid so much money by the Saudis.
Cole recapped last week’s show-opening car accident angle involving Karrion Kross and Drew McIntyre…
Kayla Braxton interviewed Drew McIntyre on the backstage ring set and asked if there had been any repercussions over the car accident. McIntyre said he was called to WWE Headquarters and told there will be consequences if they start throwing fists. McIntyre said everyone agreed that it needed to end, so he will face Kross in a steel cage match at WWE Crown Jewel…
Powell’s POV: A strap match started the feud and now they’re going to a cage match. Are they working their way down to a regular singles match?
An SUV was shown pulling into the backstage area. Logan Paul emerged from the vehicle… Entrances for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match took place… [C]
3. Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky (w/Bayley) vs. Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Kai tagged out without Shotzi seeing it. Kai got Shotzi to chase her and then Sky hit her with a springboard missile dropkick. [C]
Rodriguez checked in and hit back to back fallaway slams. Rodriguez went to the ropes and was cut off by Sky. Kai tried to slip under Rodriguez, but Shotzi took her out. Sky ended up leaping from the ropes into a DDT on Rodriguez for a near fall. Sky went to the other corner and went for her moonsault finisher, but Rodriguez moved.
Sky landed on her feet, but Rodriguez got up and clotheslined her. Shotzi tagged in covered Sky. Meanwhile, Rodriguez hoisted up Sky, who slipped out and landed on Shotzi to break up the pin. Bayley distracted Shotzi, and then Sky took advantage by slamming Shotzi to the mat and followed up with a moonsault for the win…
Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky defeated Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi in roughly 10:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: The women’s tag team titles continue to feel flat. Kai and Sky feel like an actual team, whereas their challengers (and even the former champions) feel like singles wrestlers forming makeshift teams.
Backstage, Braxton interviewed Smackdown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey. Braxton asked if Rousey would issue an open challenge, adding that fans were expecting it based on her previous title reign. Rousey said she issues open challenges to prove she’s the best, not to entertain the WWE Universe. Rousey said she owes the fans nothing.
Rousey said she gave them everything she had and got nothing but hate for it. Rousey said the fans don’t want the best to win, they want their favorites to win. Braxton asked if there would be an open challenge. Rousey said there would be next week when she feels like it, but she wanted to get the hell out of Ohio…
Powell’s POV: I’m all for heel Rousey. She’s a natural and this should be so much better than watching her try to hide her disdain for fans.
The broadcast team hyped Logan Paul appearing before being interrupted by a Bray Wyatt video. A voice said you should never lie to the ones you love. There was another QR code shown… [C]
A National Tight Ends Day featured George Kittle and The Miz. Cole and Barrett hyped the NFL coverage on Fox…
Santos Escobar sat on a couch and had a drink handed to him. He spoke about growing the Legado Del Fantasma family business into an empire. He spoke about prospering through mergers and acquisitions, and said the latest acquisition, Zelina Vega, is beautiful, ruthless, and powerful.
Vega said she’s been successful with everting she’s done. She said they have no peers because they are head and shoulders above everyone else. They stood up from the couch and the camera pulled back to show Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro standing with them. Escobar said their legacy on Smackdown begins by destroying Hit Row.
Backstage, “Hit Row” members Top Dolla, Ashante Thee Adonis, and B-Fab were shown watching on a backstage monitor. They were upset about what Escobar said. B-Fab said they played the numbers game when they attacked them. She said she had an idea and they headed away together…
Rey Mysterio made his entrance and then the Imperium trio followed…
4. Rey Mysterio vs. Ludwig Kaiser (w/Gunther, Giovanni Vinci). Rey performed an early step-up enzuigiri, Kaiser caught Mysterio with a shot as he leapt from the ropes. Rey came back and sent Kaiser to the floor. Rey went for a baseball slide dive. Kaiser moved and Rey rolled through, but Kaiser dropped him with an uppercut. [C]
Kaiser caught Rey on the ropes. Rey headutted him away and hit a senton. Moments later, Rey kicked Kaiser and then performed a springboard moonsault for a two count. Rey hit ten punches and then did the Eddie Guerrero shimmy and pointed to the sky.
Kaiser came back for a moment, but Rey caught him on the ropes, headbutted him several times, and then performed a huracanrana. Rey sent Kaiser to the floor. Rey dove from the apron, but Kaiser moved and Rey crashed into the barricade.
Gunther approached. Rey picked up a chair and tossed it toward Gunther, who swatted it down. Rey laid down and acted injured. The referee ejected Gunther and Vinci from ringside. Rey returned to the apron and dropped Kaiser with a kick. Rey went for a top rope splash, but Kaiser put his knees up and hooked Rey into a pin for a two count.
A loud “619” chant broke out. Right on cue, Rey performed a huracanrana that put Kaiser against the ropes. Rey hit a 619 and then Dropped a Dime on Kaiser before pinning him…
Rey Mysterio beat Ludwig Kaiser in 11:25.
Powell’s POV: A nice crowd-pleasing match that continued Rey’s new momentum on Smackdown heading into his Intercontinental Title match with Gunther. By the way, the Raw ads have focused only on the previously advertised Bianca Belair vs. Bayley match. In other words, nothing new has been announced for Monday’s show.
Logan Paul was shown walking backstage. He stopped in front of The Bloodline’s locker room. Paul smiled while looking at The Bloodline sign and then started walking again… [C]
Cole hyped next week’s Smackdown on FS1 featuring a Ronda Rousey open challenge, Hit Row and a mystery partner vs. Legado Del Fantasma, the return of Roman Reigns, and Ridge Holland and Butch vs. Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa…
The broadcast team recapped the opening match and the attack on Sheamus. Cole said Sheamus was at a nearby medical facility with a “non-displaced fracture near his elbow”…
Powell’s POV: That’s a loaded lineup for a Halloween weekend show on FS1. I assume it’s because they will be taping the Crown Jewel go-home show the same night since they will be traveling the following week.
Logan Paul made his entrance. Once in the ring, he said it was good to be back in Ohio. He told the “diehards” that he knows they doubt him, but he’s been doubted his whole life. “And look where I am now,” he said. Logan said he didn’t need Paul Heyman talking for him, two guys who are really the same guy protecting him, or a guy who calls himself Solo and yet is never alone. He said he definitely doesn’t need friends who look like Sami Zayn.
Logan said he knows he’s the underdog in his match with Roman Reigns. He said he should be. He said no one expects some kid from social media to beat The GOAT. He asked what happens if he does. The crowd started making noise while Logan continued to speak.
Jey Uso attacked Logan from behind. Jey tossed Logan into the corner and then superkicked him. Jey held up one finger and then hit Logan with a hip attack in the corner. Sami Zayn came out and told Jey off-mic to get out of the ring. Zayn told Jey that it wasn’t coming from him, it was coming from the Tribal Chief.
Jey teased listening and then went for another hip attack, but Paul moved out of the way. Paul dropped Jey with a punch. Cole said it was one lucky shot. Zayn sold it by standing on the apron with his jaw dropped. Logan left the ring and put his hat on while heading toward the stage.
Powell’s POV: Logan Paul got a better reaction than usual in his home state. They are really playing up the possibility of him landing one lucky punch and beating Roman Reigns. It would work so much better if people respected Logan as a boxer, but everyone thinks of him as a celebrity boxer. I’ll be covering AEW Rampage, so I’ll be back with my Smackdown audio review later tonight for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
So is Liv Morgan Harley Quinn now?
Alexa Bliss should sue for gimmick infringement of her gimmick infringement.
“A strap match started the feud and now they’re going to a cage match. Are they working their way down to a regular singles match?”
Sounds like HHH went to the Tony Khan school of booking.