Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for September 23, 2022

The Bloodline head to the ring to start tonight's show. Paul Heyman dictates that the entire universe belongs to Roman Reigns, and after stating that Drew McIntyre has another bridge to cross, he then addresses Solo Sikoa. He admits it was not his or Roman's idea for him to be in The Bloodline, but one of the elders of the dynasty for him to be there, and says someone has to stop the conspiracies against Roman Reigns. Paul Heyman then proclaims that the already-unstoppable Bloodline is even more unstoppable now that Solo Sikoa is their enforcer, which allows The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) to pursue tag team greatness, history and immortality. Jimmy Uso says that he and Jey will still be the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions, but as Jey says that they are the ones, Roman glances at him, and Jey hands him his microphone. Roman addresses Solo, who says that while the elders may have sent him, he will answer to him. He tells Solo to acknowledge him. Solo says "I acknowledge you, my Tribal Chief," and both men hug. As everyone leaves, Sami Zayn interrupts him, and says that while he is not technically blood, he says that the way that The Bloodline has taken him in has led him to publicly acknowledge Roman, which he does. Roman tells Sami he likes him, then asks him why he is saying anything and why he even has their shirt on and is even with them to begin with. He then tells Roman to take the shirt off, with Jey even demanding he take the shirt off. Sami asks if this has anything to do with last week's press conference, but Roman demands he remove the Bloodline shirt that he is wearing. Jey soon rips the shirt off, and Roman tells Sami to listen to him for once and tells him not to wear one of their shirts again. He then says that he got him a new one, which he hands to Sami. It reads "SZ HONORARY UCE." Sami puts it on and thanks The Bloodline, then tells Roman "I acknowledge you, Tribal Chief." Both men hug.

Liv Morgan beats Lacey Evans with a lungblower followed by the Ob-Liv-Ion after ducking a Kendo stick swing from Lacey Evans. After the match, Liv grabs the Kendo stick, but soon throws it down before quickly picking it back up and smacking Lacey with it before driving her into the barricade with it with a side Russian leg sweep. Liv then pulls a table out from underneath the ring and sets it up, and after putting Lacey on the table, Liv goes up top and puts Lacey through it with a senton from the top turnbuckle.

Backstage, Hit Row (B-Fab, Top Dolla, Ashante "Thee" Adonis) drink champagne and have a SmackDown watch party, then talk about The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch) vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) before The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) show up and mention Braun Strowman vs. Otis. Shinsuke Nakamura shows up and says he has Braun to win, then joins in.

Backstage, Sami Zayn talks to a member of catering before running into Madcap Moss and Ricochet, who tell him that he is more unbearable and obnoxious than before. Sami Zayn says that if they disrespect him, they disrespect The Bloodline. As Ricochet is about to call Sami a certified lapdog, he and Moss are attacked out of nowhere by Solo Sikoa.

We see a video package of The Usos' (Jimmy and Jey Uso) reign as Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions, which is narrated by Paul Heyman.

We look back on "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels winning the 1995 Royal Rumble as it is announced that tickets for Royal Rumble 2023 in San Antonio, Texas will be available next Friday.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat Maximum Male Models (Mace and Mansoor) with the Backwoods from Woods to Mansoor after Mace and Mansoor are too busy posing and Maxxine Dupri is taking pictures of them. After the match, Max Dupri gets angry at Mace, Mansoor and Maxxine, then storms off.

Members of the ring crew reinforce the ring for the next match.

At the Hit Row (B-Fab, Top Dolla, Ashante "Thee" Adonis) watch party, Los Lotharios (Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza) show up univited and get shooed away by Top Dolla before everyone watches the next match.

Braun Strowman beats Otis.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch). Butch says Friday night is fight night, and Ridge Holland says that they will become the undisputed tag team champions. Sheamus says The Bloodline will face an uphill battle as they are made of strong stuff and love a good fight. He also announces that he will face Gunther again in two weeks and pull the Intercontinental Championship out of his cold, dead hands, then says that tonight is about Butch and Ridge and that the tag team championships will be theirs.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. McIntyre says that everyone should know him by now, as he does not like playing games and would rather settle things in the ring. He says that Karrion Kross wants to keep attacking him from behind over and over again, but he will soon have his first big match now that he has gone to the top about it. McIntyre shows off the leather strap in his hand and says that their match will be one designed to inflict maximum pain, and says that their match at Extreme Rules will be a Strap Match. Scarlett shows up, and it proves to be a distraction so that Kross can attack McIntyre from behind. McIntyre sees Kross coming and throws him shoulder-first into the ring post, then ties the leather strap to Kross and wears the other end before booting Kross in the face. McIntyre hits Kross with the strap, and Kross tries to pull McIntyre out of the ring from the outside only for McIntyre to outsmart and overpower him. Scarlett gets between McIntyre and Kross, then shoots a fireball into McIntyre's face. This does not even faze McIntyre, who hits Kross with a spinebuster, then Scarlett hits McIntyre with a low blow. Kross removes the strap, then he and Scarlett tease heading to the back. Kross then gets back in the ring and locks the Kross Jacket on McIntyre before telling him that he accepts his challenge and that he will see him at Extreme Rules, as this is exactly what he and Scarlett wanted. He then tells McIntyre to "let it go" as McIntyre fades out of consciousness.

Raquel Rodriguez beats Dakota Kai with a schoolkid pin after Shotzi Blackheart runs in and attacks Bayley for getting physically involved in the match as well as Iyo Sky. After the match, Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota, Iyo) attack Shotzi before attacking Raquel, but Raquel gets back in the fight to make the save for Raquel.

At the Hit Row (B-Fab, Top Dolla, Ashante "Thee" Adonis) watch party, Los Lotharios (Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza) attack Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Top Dolla, the latter of whom has to be held back.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch) after the distraction from Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci), who attack Sheamus on the outside as Sheamus stops Sami Zayn from introducing a metal folding chair into the match.