Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for November 18, 2022

The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch) and Drew McIntyre head to the ring to start tonight's show. Sheamus addresses Drew McIntyre standing by his side and acknowledges their history, and that their 20-year rivalry has created mutual respect and a bond so strong that he asked McIntyre to be his best man at his wedding in Manhattan three weeks ago. As the crowd chants "Ucey," Sheamus says he needs "The Brute-y" and that there is no one he wants beside him in the trenches more than McIntyre, and asks him to join his team for WarGames. McIntyre says nobody knows being outnumbered by The Bloodline more than him, then says that it is a different story with even numbers, and that if he is going to war, he wants to go to war with his brother. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre hugs, then Ridge Holland says it is fight night and Butch says it is time for WarGames. McIntyre then asks who their fifth member is when Sami Zayn suddenly shows up. Sami says he speaks for The Bloodline when he says that he does not care who the fifth man is and that The Bloodline is feeling "pretty Ucey about the whole thing." Sami runs down the list of nicknames he has, including "Ucey in the Sky with Diamonds," then personally guarantees that The Bloodline will win WarGames. He then mentions his World Cup match with Butch and give him a small taste of what to expect from WarGames. Sheamus notes that Sami is pretty confident, then says he will "crap his bleedin' Ucey pants" when he sees him, as it will be the man he least expects.

Ricochet beats Mustafa Ali - who is cleared to compete despite taped-up ribs - with a Shooting Star Press after dodging a top rope 450 splash to advance in the World Cup Tournament. After the match, Ricochet bumps fists with Mustafa Ali and helps him to the back.

Backstage, Jey Uso chews out Sami Zayn for guaranteeing a Bloodline win at WarGames. Jimmy Uso says everyone needs to be on the same page as Roman Reigns is heading to the arena and that they need to handle business tonight.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods). Xavier Woods says that they are not in the best of moods after losing their record, then Imperium shows up. Giovanni Vinci says The New Day still hold the record for being the biggest clowns in WWE, and Ludwig Kaiser say The New Day is part of what is wrong with wrestling. As Ludwig Borga says that Imperium has to reverse what The New Day have done, The New Day mock Imperium and compare Gunther to Lurch from The Addams Family because challenging Imperium to a six-man tag match later tonight. Gunther thanks The New Day for proving their point and accepts.

Backstage, Emma speaks with Madcap Moss, who says that it has been three weeks and he can still barely talk after being put in the Kross Jacket. As Moss says tonight is about revenge, Emma tells him that tonight is a fresh start and that he is more athletic than Karrion Kross, and that he needs to take the fight to him.

Karrion Kross beats Madcap Moss with the Kross Jacket after Moss breaks the hold by slamming Kross onto the mat only for Kross to re-apply the hold. Emma checks on Madcap Moss after the match.

Bray Wyatt heads to the ring. Bray says he has conditioned his life to be a certain way to the point that changing feels impossible, and that he was conditioned to be strong, to take and to believe that fear is respect, but lately, he has looked at his path and has seen the ashes and blood. Bray questions his actions and whether he can change, then addresses what happened with LA Knight last week and apologizes for what he did to him, for he had a moment of weakness and strayed from his path. LA Knight shows up and says that since last week, he has thought about the headbutt and that it makes him angrier and angrier, then says his apology makes him conflicted, as not fearing him garnered some respect. He mentions Bray saying he understood him and that nobody has ever understood, and while he does not know what to make of his apology, he does respect him. He then slaps Bray out of nowhere before saying they are even and can go their separate ways. Bray tells LA Knight that there is a lot he wants to do him, but he will not do them, and tells him that the decision he will make right now will change the rest of his life. Bray then offers his hand for a handshake, but Knight slaps him again and leaves.

Backstage, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) confront Karrion Kross and Scarlett, thinking Kross may be the fifth member. Kross says he is not a follower, and that when he comes to take Roman Reigns' championships, he will do it on his own terms.

Shotzi beats "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler with a schoolkid pin after Raquel Rodriguez shows up and distracts Shayna.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews LA Knight, and a white mask is seen in the dark distance as Knight makes his way out. After the commercial break, LA Knight is seen laid out and unconscious underneath a pile of debris.

The New Day's (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) partner for the next match is Braun Strowman.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Braun Strowman beats Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) after Strowman proves to be a tough customer for Gunther.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Braun Strowman. He says that he looks forward to winning the World Cup Tournament and becoming Intercontinental Champion, then Ricochet shows up. Ricochet tells Strowman that he is looking too far ahead and that if he looks past the "flippy flippers," he may not become champion.

Butch beats Sami Zayn to advance in the World Cup Tournament after The Bloodline brawls with Drew McIntyre and The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland) after Butch hits The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) with a moonsault to the outside and The Usos try to keep Butch from winning. After the match, both sides brawl again, then Roman Reigns shows up. Roman Reigns lays waste to The Brawling Brutes, then McIntyre takes his shirt off. Solo Sikoa goes after McIntyre only to get tossed out of the ring, then Roman hits McIntyre with a Spear. Sheamus then confronts Roman, and as both men go at it, Sami goes after Sheamus. Roman then hits Sheamus with a Superman Punch, but as he goes for the Spear, Kevin Owens shows up and takes out The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). Owens attacks Roman Reigns, then confronts Sami Zayn only to be hit with a Superman Punch by Roman. Roman goes for the Spear after Ridge Holland pulls Sami out of the ring, but Owens hits Roman with the Stunner. Owens is the fifth member of The Brawling Brutes' and Drew McIntyre's team.