WWE SmackDown Outcomes: Winners, Dwell Grades, Response and Highlights From Nov. 22

Welcome to Bleacher Report’s dwell protection of WWE SmackDown on November 22.

Survivor Collection WarGames is developing subsequent weekend, however Roman Reigns’ OG Bloodline was nonetheless one man quick for his group heading into Friday’s present.

Not solely did Solo Sikoa make use of Bronson Reed to fill out his group, however the loyalty Jey Uso and Sami Zayn have for Reigns is hanging on by a thread.

One other massive blue model feud that was addressed was Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens’ ongoing rivalry. The previous pals met for the primary time in weeks to debate their points.

We additionally noticed the continuing Girls’s United States Championship match proceed this week with Bianca Belair, Blair Davenport and Chelsea Inexperienced competing in a quarterfinal match.

Let’s check out all the things that occurred on Friday’s episode of SmackDown.

SmackDown opened with a recap of final week’s present earlier than we went dwell to the world for Solo Sikoa and the New Bloodline’s entrance. He solely spoke for a couple of minutes and mentioned he needed Reigns to give up tonight when he acquired to the world.

The primary matchup of the night time was a triple-threat quarterfinal bout within the ladies’s U.S. title tourney with Belair, Inexperienced and Davenport. All three ladies scored a near-fall throughout the opening sequence.

All three of those ladies had apparent roles to play and so they fell into them naturally. Belair was the heroic powerhouse, Davenport was the vicious heel, and Inexperienced was the sneaky heel trying to win by any means crucial.

Belair discovered herself working towards each ladies, however Inexperienced and Davenport weren’t working as a well-oiled machine, so it wasn’t precisely a handicap scenario.

The EST noticed footage of Jade Cargill after she had been attacked and ran to the again to assist her whereas Inexperienced and Davenport continued preventing. Inexperienced used the Unprettier to attain the pin and the win. The gang erupted with applause, which was stunning however deserved.

This was a enjoyable match to kick off the motion this week. Inexperienced might be on her option to her first singles title in WWE, and it appears the WWE Universe is comfortable about it.

End result: Inexperienced defeated Belair and Davenport

Grade: B

Notable Moments and Observations

After defending the U.S. title towards Berto final week, one other member of Legado Del Fantasma stepped as much as problem him, however this time it was the chief, Santos Escobar.

Earlier than the match might begin, Shinsuke Nakamura delivered a promo in a pre-recorded video that was animated. Escobar used the distraction to assault Knight earlier than the bell.

We returned from a break to see Escobar nonetheless in management, however Knight started to construct up a head of steam as soon as he was capable of flip issues round.

As Knight was about to hit an elbow drop, Nakamura appeared on the stage to distract him. Escobar hit a hurricanrana from the highest rope adopted by a frog splash.

Knight countered his finisher with the BFT to select up the win, however he was attacked by Nakamura earlier than he might even get to his toes.

This was a strong however predictable title bout. Establishing a feud with Nakamura earlier than he was executed with LDF made it too apparent he would by no means lose to Santos.

Regardless, it is superior to have Nakamura again and chasing gold once more.

End result: Knight defeated Escobar

Grade: B

Notable Moments and Observations

After Nick Aldis was proven asking Nia Jax if she was concerned in what occurred to Jade, we noticed Cody Rhodes stroll to the ring for his face-to-face with KO.

Owens appeared within the crowd and taunted him. He mentioned all the things that has occurred is Rhodes’ fault as a result of he labored with Reigns, who tried to finish Owens’ profession.

They went forwards and backwards for a number of minutes about who was proper and who was incorrect, however nothing new was mentioned or completed. This was a filler phase that stored the feud going with out advancing it. Each guys did effective with what they got, nevertheless it was a bit anticlimactic.

Grade: B-

Notable Moments and Observations

The subsequent match noticed Bayley and Naomi group as much as tackle the 2 ladies who’re each attempting to be in Jax’s good graces, LeRae and Stratton. The ladies’s champion accompanied them to the ring.

Tiffy and LeRae argued over who would begin and it allowed Naomi to hit a knee strike out of nowhere to take Ms. MITB down.

After a break, Tiffany and Candice acquired into one other argument, nevertheless it did not cease them from being in management. If something, it motivated LeRae to take down each opponents.

This bout was first rate, nevertheless it had a couple of sloppy second and led to a disqualification, so it felt low-cost ultimately.

Iyo Sky ran all the way down to make the save, however Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan confirmed as much as assault her, too. This led to Rhea Ripley displaying up with a kendo stick and a protecting masks on her face. She helped clear the ring to finish the phase and proceed the construct for the ladies’s WarGames match.

End result: Bayley and Naomi win by DQ

Grade: C

Notable Moments and Observations

After Tommaso Ciampa value The Avenue Earnings a match final week, Montez Ford was trying to get a bit revenge in a singles match. Angelo Dawkins and Johnny Gargano weren’t with them for his or her entrances.

Ciampa took management early along with his aggressive type, however Ford’s physicality and agility allowed him to realize the higher hand rapidly.

Each of those Superstars are lauded performers for a number of causes, so it got here as no shock after they simply stole the present in the primary occasion.

Ciampa being allowed to point out his aggression once more was enjoyable. He is been a babyface most of his time on the primary roster aside from his quick union with The Miz, so numerous followers who do not watch NXT is probably not conscious of how good he’s.

After surviving a brutal knee to the face, Ford was capable of choose up the win by countering a transfer and pinning Ciampa. An irate Ciampa attacked Ford till Dawkins made the save. Gargano tried to play peacemaker, however Ciampa went after Dawkins.

After shoving Gargano to the mat, Ciampa left to keep away from the Motor Metropolis Machine Weapons.

End result: Ford defeated Ciampa

Grade: B+

Notable Moments and Observations

The ultimate phase this week was one more Bloodline Civil Warfare assembly between the 2 factions. They met 5 on 4 in the midst of the ring, however Solo mentioned he wasn’t there to battle as a result of he liked all of them. He provided them an opportunity to hitch his Bloodline and be a household once more.

Earlier than Reigns might reply, Paul Heyman’s voice echoed by the world and he got here out to a giant pop. He introduced out CM Punk to be the fifth man on Reigns’ group and all hell broke unfastened.

Punk’s music continued to play as all of them took out the New Bloodline whereas the group cheered each single strike.

Apart from the ultimate phase, this week’s SmackDown was about as down the center because it will get. That isn’t essentially a nasty factor, nevertheless it definitely wasn’t must-see tv.

The entire feuds that have been addressed are in a holding sample till their massive PPV matches, so we did not actually get any main developments or revelations aside from Punk becoming a member of forces with Reigns.

Ciampa and Ford managed to steal the present in a match that will have stolen the entire week if it had 5 extra minutes. The remainder of the bouts have been first rate however a bit lackluster.

The blue model has settled into the four-match patterns for fairly a while, and whereas it retains the present shifting whereas nonetheless permitting for lots of backstage segments, it means numerous members of the roster are left within the locker room each week.

Grade: B-