SmackDown In A Nutshell: Saying Farewell With A Bang

It is our last SmackDown in a Nutshell for 2022, and we are going to be saying farewell with a bang. Or, should it be banger?

After all, one of the big matches this week? Solo Sikoa and Sheamus.

Yep…saying farewell with a banger indeed.

But we all know that isn’t the main attraction.

No, that would not even be the SmackDown Women’s Championship match.

Instead, we are getting the return of John Cena, who will team with Kevin Owens against Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns.

For Cena, the match will extend a 20 year streak of matches in WWE. Pretty nice way to end the year.

Of course, Reigns ends the year with the same title he started it with…plus one more.

So, all told, it seems to be a loaded two hour show, as WWE is saying farewell to 2022 with a bang.

With that said, it is time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Saying Farewell With A Bang

Lets crack open this last Nutshell of 2022!

Best Match of the night:

Had a lot of decent to good options, but the main event delivered.

Was it a great wrestling match? No.

But we saw plenty of entertainment, and fans surely loved it. I know I enjoyed it.

Worst match of the night:

Nothing worth calling out.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

We want Cena

Sami

The crowd was electric, for sure.

Star of the Night

Kevin Owens and John Cena seemed destined for this spot.

However, Charlotte returning deserves some credit too.

Spot of the Night:

I liked Ricochet’s run-in, even if it seemed way too late. The leap with the chair over one of Imperium was nifty.

But I would be bad if I didn’t call out the twin Five Knuckle Shuffles by Cena and KO.

Jobber of the Night:

I kinda feel like I can put Top Dolla here, because he took a verbal beating.

Upset of the Night:

Let’s call it Rousey, because she’s surely upset at how the evening went.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Man oh man do we have a few of these tonight.

Charlotte Flair is back and with a new entrance theme! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/pYOCbbbln3

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) December 31, 2022

Charlotte Flair returning and winning a world title is the most Charlotte Flair thing ever. not even mad LETS GET IT #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aVyUYSzPJy

— ??? ???? ???????•???????  (@TranquiloSZN) December 31, 2022

WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!?!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/lenXLKnn5l

— WWE (@WWE) December 31, 2022

Botch of the night:

Rousey needs a manager, because she just can’t cut the mustard on the mic.

She fumbled a few lines during her exchange with Charlotte, including mentioning SummerSlam instead of Royal Rumble.

I have to think Ricochet’s chair swinging at GUNTHER was not supposed to connect.

However, he ran to the ring, swung wildly and clipped the top of GUNTHER’s head as the champ bailed out.

GUNTHER went down and got rapid attention, so I have to think that was not as planned.

Ricochet cracking Gunther ended up splitting that man bad. they had to bust out a towel to clean up down there #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/e5Tb7UE1CS

— austin ali (@austinalii) December 31, 2022

Also, not sure where it happened in the main event, but for the second match we had blood.

KO had a busted open eye.

i assume this is where roman busted kevin’s eye open #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/NIEtsFdyaJ

— mister j ? (@brandnewdrip) December 31, 2022

Commentary of the night:

Wade’s line about Hit Row should change their name to Hit Rope.

And, this was nice, in honor of Don West, who passed away earlier Friday.

Michael Cole pays tribute to Don West before Solo vs Sheamus #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/B9jaypptmw

— ??? ???? ???????•???????  (@TranquiloSZN) December 31, 2022

LOL Moment of the night:

That backstage segment with Hit Row, where everyone was giving Top Dolla grief over his botch a few weeks ago.

I mean…sure I get it, you don’t want to be ribbed…but you seriously botched it.

Noteworthy Moment:

Well, we’ve got a new Uncle Howdy twist…

Mt. Dew Pitch Black match…Royal Rumble…Bray Wyatt returns against LA Knight.

Drew McIntyre returns…he and Sheamus get their tag title match next week.

Charlotte returned, challenged Ronda and WON the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

See…all that happened before we even got to Cena’s match.

Overall lowlights:

Can’t say I was a big fan of Charlotte’s ring gear.

I have said it before, I will say it again.

How do you allow commercial breaks to be planned during your main event on a scripted show?

Like, breaks in any match should not be a thing, but cutting to commercial during the main event? A main event where John Cena returned?

That should NEVER happen.

Overall highlights:

The entire Uncle Howdy-Bray-LA Knight exchange.

Was that tough love from Howdy? Tune in next week to find out!

Drew is back. Charlotte is too, and new champ to boot.

And ending 2022 on a high note, John Cena and Kevin Owens was fun. Maybe a little short?

But still fun.

After the final bell:

That was certainly one way to say farewell to 2022 with a bang, wasn’t it.

We came in knowing of one title match, and got two…for the same belt, and with one very unexpected winner.

Cena’s return delivered, and it was kind of surreal not hearing any John Cena sucks chants.

2022 has gone out with a bang, and you can’t help but look forward to 2023.

After all, it will be…or at least, should be, a full year with Triple H leading the creative charge.

He ended 2022 strong, so there are reasons for optimism.