The destination for November 22nd Friday Night SmackDown was the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Heading into WarGames at Survivor Series, the Bloodline story continued with Roman’s side missing a fifth member. Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens had the much-anticipated face-off. The Women’s US Title tournament continued as we reviewed WWE SmackDown’s November 22 Results.
The New Bloodline Had a Message
WWE SmackDown November 22 opened with Solo Sikoa accompanied by his Bloodline and Bronson Reed. They made their entrance as the crowd chanted, “OTC”. Solo told the WWE SmackDown on to acknowledge him. He told them that Roman’s not here so far. Sikoa wanted Roman and his crew to surrender before the end of this night.
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a short segment to kick off things on WWE SmackDown November 22. Solo has improved so well on the mic and with his presentation in the ring. This segment created the hype for the night as Roman was going to be there sooner.
Chelsea Green vs Bianca Belair vs Blair Davenport
In the Women’s US Title tournament, Bianca Belair, Chelsea Green and Blair Davenport competed to move to the next round. The match kicked off with everyone trying to steal the win with a roll-up. Green sent Davenport to the outside. Bianca landed a standing moonsault on Chelsea. Belair sent Green down and laid her out with a dive. Davenport took Belair down when she landed on her back from the top rope. Green hit a Rough Ryder on Belair but suffered a double stomp from Davenport.
Chelsea hit a beautiful dropkick and senton combination on both women. Belair displayed her power when she delivered a double German Suplex. Bianca landed a 450 splash on Blair. Green tried to steal the victory but Bianca pulled her. Belair covered Davenport for a two-count. Backstage, we saw Jade Cargill lying motionless on a car’s windshield. Belair ran to check on her tag team partner. In the ring, Chelsea hit Unpretty-Her on Davenport for the win. Belair drove in an ambulance with Cargill.
Winner: Chelsea Green
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a fun triple threat match. Chelsea won the match and it’s a great decision. Bianca has achieved bigger things and she didn’t need to win here. Davenport looked good throughout the bout and should be used more often in the future. Jade’s condition looked serious. We have to wait until we get a confirmation about her WarGames status.
WWE SmackDown November 22 LA Knight vs Santos Escobar
Santos Escobar challenged for LA Knight’s US Title. Before the match started, a video package of Shinsuke Nakamura was played. Shin talked in Japanese and warned Knight that it’s the beginning of the end. Santos attacked LA as the package was shown. The referee prevented them from brawling and started the match. Escobar sent Knight to the outside and landed a splash. Back in the ring, Santos hit a floating senton for a nearfall. The US Champion bounced back with a neck breaker for a two-count.
Knight was headed to the top rope for an elbow drop, but he noticed Shinsuke on the entrance ramp. The distraction allowed Escobar to hit a hurricanrana. Santos followed it up with a frog splash. Escobar went for his finisher, but Knight countered it with a BFT for the win. Before he could stand up, Nakamura attacked and sent Knight into the ring post multiple times. The King of Strong Style delivered a running knee to stand tall.
Winner: LA Knight
Grades: B
Analysis: It was another weekly title defense by Knight. He is slowly growing his reigns into a better one. On the other hand, Nakamura’s character is awesome, but he needs bigger wins to establish himself. Shin’s Japanese video packages always look great.
Backstage: WWE SmackDown November 22 Street Profits will get a rematch against Motor City Machine Guns. Gargano had to tell this to Ciampa whose reaction won’t be too kind. In another angle, we saw the OG Bloodline arriving to the arena. Also, Nick Aldis questioned Nia Jax about the attack on Jade Cargill. Nia declined her involvement.
Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens Come Face-to-Face
Cody Rhodes arrived in the ring and called out Kevin Owens. The Prizefighter appeared between the crowd. KO hilariously said that Cody wanted him her and you can’t deny his request. Rhodes said that he wanted him in the ring. Cody tried to reach KO, but the security guard stopped him. Owens stood on the commentary table. He said that he wanted to clear something before the fighting. Kevin blamed Cody for everything happening right nw. He said that he fought the Bloodline for four years.
Owens said that he was so happy when Cody defeated Roman at WrestleMania 40. Owens teamed with Cody against the Bloodline. The problems began when Cody teamed with Roman Reigns. Cody answered that him teaming with Roman had nothing to do with KO. The American Nightmare said that Kevin always blames other. He told Owens that Randy didn’t deserve what he did to him. Cody said that Owens crossed a line by bringing a banned move. He challenged him for tonight or Survivor Series or Saturday Night’s Main Event.
KO accepted the challenge but he said that the match will happen when he wants it to happen. Owens said that he loved Randy but he hates Cody. Kevin said that the match won’t happen tonight and he walked away. Cody yelled that he would cross every line when he gets his hands on Owens.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a very intense segment. Cody always excels in these kinds of promos. Both men made some valid points. Looking at this, we can say that this match won’t happen at Survivor Series or it would be official by now.
Backstage: The OG Bloodline talked about their fifth member. Reigns wasn’t happy about either Seth Rollins or Cody Rhodes. Roman said that they don’t need anyone. He said that they are all together and they’ll do it on their own.
WWE SmackDown November 22 Bayley and Naomi vs Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae
Naomi sent Tiffany out with a kick and a hurricanrana. Back inside, Naomi hit a Bulldog on Stratton and Bayley landed a suicide dive. Stratton and LeRae argued over tagging each other multiple times in the match. Candice hit a moonsault on Bayley off the middle rope. As the action went outside, Jax sent Naomi into the ring steps ending the match in a disqualification.
The chaos broke out after the match.
Iyo Sky ran down to the ring and hit a Springboard Dropkick onto Nia. Raquel and Liv appeared and Rodriguez hit a big boot on Sky. Rhea Ripley came out in a face mask with a kendo stick. She hit Raquel with the kendo stick and the heel team retrieved.
Winners: Bayley and Naomi via DQ.
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a fine segment to hype the Women’s WarGames match. However, the match still looks forced as there was no long-term storytelling. They are looking a team of just randoms going to WarGames.
Tommaso Ciampa vs Montez Ford
Ford took out Ciampa with a dropkick and a clothesline. Montez sent Tomasso to the outside and landed a running senton. Back in the ring, Ciampa hit a running knee strike. Montez hit flying clothesline and a back suplex followed by a standing moonsault. Ciampa replied with a big boot and a swinging neck breaker for a two-count. Ford escaped the Fairytale Ending and delivered a knee strike. In the end, Ford won with a roll-up.
Ciampa attacked Ford after the match. Dawkins and Gargano ran down to the ring. Gargano prevented a fight between Ciampa and Dawkins. Motor City Machine Guns also arrived and Ciampa left the ring.
Winner: Montez Ford
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a decent bout. Ciampa looks on the verge of breaking up with Johnny Gargano. Ford proved yet again with his performance that he can be great as a singles star if the opportunity is handed to him.
The OG Bloodline Have Their Fifth Member
Both the Bloodlines came face-to-face in the ring. Roman offered Solo to join him and they all will run the WWE company for years. Solo told Reigns to surrender as they don’t have a fifth man. Out of nowhere, we heard, “Ladies and Gentleman”. Paul Heyman came out in his suit and said he was put through a table at MSG. Paul said there’s no way to do a four versus five WarGames match. Heyman pointed towards the stage and CM Punk’s music hit. It was not expected after what we have seen on WWE Raw where Solo distracted Rollins that earned Reed a victory.
The Best in the World came out, taping his fists, and entered the ring. All 10 men began to brawl. The OG Bloodline took out Solo’s side. Sami and Jey jumped onto everyone at ringside. Reigns looked at Punk in disbelief. Tama and Loa came in the ring. Reigns and Punk laid them with a spear and GTS. Roman asked Punk what he’s doing there. Punk pointed at Heyman as his music hit and the show went off air.
Grades: A
Analysis: Wow! The landscape has changed again with Punk’s return. The WarGames is all set. We still have a week to Survivor Series and Reigns might question Punk’s involvement. WWE brought the biggest name they could. Solo Sikoa’s improvement over the months needs to be appreciated.
Final Word
It was a great episode of WWE SmackDown November 22 on the way to Survivor Series: WarGames. All the storylines progressed in a pattern. The final segment was another one in the history books. Paul Heyman brought back his OG guy to join the OG Bloodline. Reigns wasn’t aware of Heyman’s move. The next week’s episode will be a fun also if Roman questions Heyman about bringing CM Punk. Did you enjoy WWE SmackDown November 22 Results?
