WWE SmackDown Results (11/18) - Two First Round World Cup Tournament Matches, Kevin Owens Returns, Shayna Baszler Vs. Shotzi

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE SmackDown" on November 18, 2022, coming to you live from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut!

A first round match for the "SmackDown" World Cup are set to be held tonight, as Canada's Sami Zayn will go head-to-head with United Kingdom's Butch. Zayn and Butch have been at odds with one another over the past few weeks through the feud between The Bloodline and The Brawling Brutes respectively, and will both be participating in the upcoming WarGames match. Who will come out on top?

Another first round match for the "SmackDown" World Cup will also be taking place tonight, as Mustafa Ali will represent Pakistan when he faces off with United States' Ricochet in what promises to be a high-flying spectacle. Which man will get one step closer to earning a shot at GUNTHER's Intercontinental Championship tonight?

In addition, the number one contender to the "SmackDown" Women's Championship, Shotzi, will be squaring off with "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler. Baszler sided with her longtime friend and current title holder Ronda Rousey at the tail-end of last month after attacking Natalya for comments she made about Rousey. Baszler came to Rousey's defense last week once again when she attacked Shotzi backstage following her win to become next in line and receive a shot at Rousey's title for Survivor Series: WarGames. Will Shotzi be able to seek retribution for Baszler's actions?

We are live! Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet audiences at home as The Brawling Brutes and Drew McIntyre make their way to the ring.

Sheamus asks how Hartford is doing and says a lot of people are not happy to see McIntyre stand by his side going into WarGames. He says they have gone to war many times over the last twenty years, but that time has allowed a mutual respect and a bond to form between the two. He says The Brawling Brutes want the "brutey" and says there's no one he would rather be in the trenches with than McIntyre. He asks McIntyre to be their honorary Brute and McIntyre says no one knows better than him what it's like to be outnumbered by The Bloodline. He says it's a different story when the odds are even and accepts the offer. The pair shake hands.

Ridge Holland says that was nice, but it's time to get serious because it's fight night. McIntyre says he sees four men, but questions who the fifth member of the team is. Sheamus looks to introduce them, but Sami Zayn cuts him off and heads to the ring. He says The Bloodline doesn't care who the fifth member of their team is and says they're feeling ucey. He asks them if they think The Bloodline is worried and puts his name on the match. He says The Bloodline will win, and tells Butch he doesn't have to wait. He says he will run right through him and give them a taste as to what to expect at WarGames. Sheamus says he admires his confidence, but when Zayn finds out who the fifth member is, then he will "crap his pants." He says it will be the last thing he expects.

Ricochet and Mustafa Ali then head to the ring.

Back from the break, the bell rings and the two lock up. They roll one another up before Ali whips Ricochet in the corner and delivers a clothesline. He delivers a chop, but Ricochet fires back with a right hand. The two men ascend to the top rope, and Ali delivers a backstabber to Ricochet.

Back from another break, Ali sends Ricochet to the outside and delivers a crossbody over the top rope. He looks to go flying again, but Ricochet catches him and plants him with a bodyslam. He tosses Ali into the ring, then ascends to the top and delivers a 450 Splash. Ali rolls out of the way and locks in a full body submission. Ricochet gets his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold, then delivers a clothesline and a moonsault. He goes for a pin, but Ali kicks out. Ali hits a sunset flip, but Ricochet fires back with a kick to Ali's midsection. Ali delivers a Tornado DDT, then ascends to the top rope and looks for a 450 Splash of his own. Ricochet rolls out of the way, then climbs to the top and delivers a Shooting Star Press for the win.

Winner: Ricochet

After the match, the two men bump fists and Ricochet helps Ali to the back.

We then head backstage to The Bloodline. Jey Uso yells at Sami Zayn for 'talking on behalf of The Bloodline' and Zayn asks what the problem is. Jimmy says they need to be on the same page before Roman Reigns gets here and tells Zayn to calm down. He then tells Jey not to worry about Zayn and says they need to figure out who the fifth member of The Brawling Brutes and Drew McIntyre's team is.

Back from the break, we head to a video of the Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match last week between The Usos and New Day. We then head backstage to Kayla Braxton and New Day. Braxton asks them how they're doing after losing the record of being longest reigning tag team champions and Woods says not good. Kingston says that all of their hard work is gone. Imperium walks in and Giovanni Vinci calls them "the biggest clowns in WWE". Lugwig Kaiser says they are everything wrong with the wrestling business. He says they have to pick up the pieces they left to restore honor to WWE. New Day mocks the trio, then says that they will find a tag team partner so they can meet in the ring.

We head to Madcap Moss warming up. Emma walks in and asks how he's doing after Karrion Kross' attack. Moss says that it was humiliating and wants his revenge tonight. Emma encourages him and says she knows how athletic he is. The two exchange a glance before he heads to the ring. Karrion Kross and Scarlett follow.

Back from the break, the bell rings and Moss wastes no time going after Kross, firing off right hands and boots. Kross delivers a forearm, but Moss manages to hit a suplex. He hits a back elbow, then clotheslines Kross out of the ring. He tosses Kross into the barricade gut first, then throws him back into the ring. Kross hits a Chicken Wing Suplex, then delivers several stomps to Moss in the corner. Moss delivers a Fallaway Slam before Kross rolls to the outside. He goes after Kross, but Scarlett blocks his way. Kross takes advantage and locks in the Kross Jacket for the win.

Winner: Karrion Kross

After the match, Emma checks on Moss.

Back from the break, Bray Wyatt heads to the ring.

Wyatt introduces himself and says he's started to realize he's been conditioned to be a certain way all of his life. He says he was conditioned to take and be strong, but he's been looking at the path he left behind him. He says it's been covered in blood and ash, and questions why he does the things he does. He says he would know "how to handle the situation" if he were LA Knight and says he wants to apologize for what he did to him. He says he had a moment of weakness after attacking him last week and strayed from his path.

Knight's music hits and he heads to the ring. Knight says he's been playing their encounter from last week over and over in his head. He says that his apology has him conflicted because he sees something in his eyes. He says the fact that he didn't fear him garnered some respect and says no one has ever understood him. He says he's not sure what to make of his apology, but he sees respect in his eyes. He slaps Wyatt in the face and says his apology is accepted now that they're even.

Wyatt agrees that they're even. He says there's lots he wants to do to him, but he's fighting his urges. He offers his hand to Knight and instead of taking it, Knight slaps him again across the face. Wyatt becomes increasingly irate and a switch flips in him. He stares at him coldly as Uncle Howdy flashes on the Titan Tron.

We then head to the encounter between Shayna Baszler and Shotzi last week. Shotzi, Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey then all head to the ring.

Back from the break, The Usos approach Karrion Kross and ask if he's the fifth member of The Brawling Brutes and Drew McIntyre's WarGames team. Kross says he's not a follower.

The bell rings and Baszler clocks Shotzi with a right hand. She fires off several more, but Shotzi rolls her up. Baszler kicks out and clocks Shotzi from behind. She delivers several stomps in the corner, then follows it up with a snapmare and a kick to her spine. Shotzi fires back with a series of kicks and a right hand, but Rousey pulls Baszler out of the ring. Shotzi tosses her back inside and exchanges words with Rousey. The two stare one another down before Shotzi delivers an enziguri to Baszler. She faces off with Rousey once again, allowing Baszler to take advantage and deliver a German Suplex. Shotzi delivers a drop kick, then follows it up with a modified bulldog and a senton. Baszler pushes Shotzi into the ring post as Rousey taunts her.

Raquel Rodriguez's music hits and she heads to the ring to support Shotzi and be the equalizer. Shotzi takes advantage of a distracted Baszler by rolling her up for the win.

Winner: Shotzi

We head backstage and see LA Knight leaving the arena. Megan Morant asks if he's leaving because he's scared and Knight says he's leaving because he's done working for the night. 

Back from the break, we see a bunch of stage equipment stacked on top of Knight as he lays unconscious.

Back at ringside, Imperium heads down followed by New Day and their mystery partner...Braun Strowman!

New Day goes straight after Vinci and Kaiser. GUNTHER levels New Day, but Strowman meets him in the ring. The bell rings and GUNTHER retreats towards his teammates.

Back from the break, Woods looks to make the tag to Kingston or Strowman. Vinci whips him to the mat, then delivers a spinebuster and tags in Kaiser. Woods fires back with several chops, then makes the hot tag to Strowman. Strowman delivers a shoulder tackle to Vinci before Vinci makes the blind tag to GUNTHER. GUNTHER delivers a chop to Strowman, but Strowman no-sells it. Strowman looks for a powerslam, but GUNTHER delivers another chop to him. Strowman plants him, then sets up for the Monster Bomb. GUNTHER escapes and tags in Kaiser. Kingston tags in and levels Kaiser with a crossbody off the top rope. Woods tags in and New Day delivers Midnight Hour for the win.

Winners: New Day and Braun Strowman

We then head to a backstage confrontation between Ricochet and Braun Strowman ahead of their "SmackDown" World Cup Match next week.

The Brawling Brutes and Drew McIntyre head to the ring, followed by The Bloodline.

The bell rings and the two lock up. Butch stomps on Zayn's hand, but Zayn fires back with a Pop-Up Powerbomb. He tosses Butch out of the ring as The Bloodline and The Brutes face off on the outside, then tosses him back in the ring. Butch delivers a Tornado DDT, then delivers an enziguri and ascends to the top rope. Zayn pushes him off to the outside.

Back from the break, Butch manipulates Zayn's fingers on the top rope. Zayn pushes Butch off, then goes flying but Butch catches him with a forearm. Butch gets fired up, but Jey tries to distract Butch. Zayn takes advantage by rolling up Zayn. He follows it up with a Blue Thunderbomb, then goes for a pin but Butch kicks out.

On the outside, the Brutes and The Bloodline begin to brawl and send each other. Meanwhile, Butch manipulates Zayn's fingers. He takes The Usos out with a moonsault off the middle rope, then charges at Zayn. Zayn catches him with an Exploder, then looks for a Helluva Kick. Zayn and Jey spill into the ring momentarily, stopping Zayn from completing the move. Butch takes advantage and delivers Bitter End for the win.

Winner: Butch

After the match, the two teams continue to brawl. Roman Reigns' music hits and he heads down to the ring with Paul Heyman. He delivers the Superman Punch to Holland, then hits Butch with a Spear. McIntyre calls for him to get in the ring with him, and Reigns meets him there with a Spear. Sheamus then gets in the ring, and the two stare one another down. They exchange forearms, but Zayn attacks Sheamus from behind. Sheamus takes him out, but Reigns delivers a Superman Punch. He sets up for the Spear, but Kevin Owens' music hits and he heads to the ring, revealing himself as the fifth member of Team Brawling Brutes and Drew McIntyre. He stares down Reigns in the ring before the two men brawl with one another. He then stares down Sami Zayn, but Reigns hits him with a Superman Punch. Reigns sets up for the Spear, but Owens manages to counter it into a Stunner.