Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for December 16, 2022

The show begins with The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and a cleaned-up Sami Zayn arriving at the arena.

Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky) retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox after a black-clad figure in a hoodie attacks Tegan Nox from behind the barricade. (The black-clad figure is later revealed on social media to be Xia Li.)

We hear from Gunther, who says that he is here to defend "the grand prix of wrestling" in the Intercontinental Championship and that he is not impressed with Ricochet before promising to break him.

We hear from Ricochet, who says that he made good on winning the World Cup and says that while everyone has stated that Gunther already has the match won, he will do what he does best and flip the odds in his favor.

Backstage, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and Sami Zayn go over Sami Zayn's wardrobe, then Sami Zayn asks where Solo Sikoa is. Solo Sikoa is revealed to be with Roman Reigns, then Sami Zayn leaves to take care of things. After he leaves, Jey Uso is convinced that Roman Reigns will make Sami Zayn "a full-blown Uce," but Jimmy feels Sami may be getting set up for a big disappointment.

A video from a recently-revealed QR code shows the aftermath of the attack on LA Knight. LA Knight is seen unconscious with a mask on and tape on his mouth, and a white gloved hand tells him to be quiet.

LA Knight is in the ring. Knight says he has been blindsided, cheap shotted, abducted and tied up in the last few weeks, but he is still knocking on Bray Wyatt's door. He acknowledges Bray Wyatt's WWE accomplishments, but says all Bray does is whine and cheap shot him. He says that he knows Bray Wyatt attacked him, then tells him to fight him in the ring so he can stomp him out. The arena soon gets dark, and Bray Wyatt soon shows up. Bray says he has missed Chicago, Illinois, but he is sick of LA Knight and the game that they keep playing, then says Knight is barking up the wrong tree and that he has not touched him. He then says that they both know how this story ends, and gives LA Knight one more chance to deliver his message and make it worth his while. LA Knight attacks Bray Wyatt, then Uncle Howdy shows up on the TitanTron and asks "What have you done?" He then asks "Do you want to see something really scary?" before Uncle Howdy shows up for real for the very first time. Uncle Howdy laughs, and LA Knight leaves the ring as Howdy's laughter echoes throughout the arena.

Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman are seen backstage.

Before the next match, WWE official Adam Pearce ejects Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser from ringside.

Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Ricochet. After the match, Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser show up to help Gunther attack Ricochet again, but they and Gunther retreat when Braun Strowman runs into the ring. Strowman then helps Ricochet up.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso meets with Roman Reigns, and says that if Roman plans on making Sami "a full-blown Uce," he is with it, but at the same time, he loves the family. He says that if Roman does not want to do that, then he understands. Jimmy leaves, then Roman asks Paul Heyman to call WWE official Adam Pearce.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce with Roman Reigns. Paul Heyman proposes a tag team title between the team of Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn and the team of Kevin Owens and a partner of his choice. He also proposes that the match takes place in SmackDown in two weeks in Tampa Bay, Florida. Roman says Tampa is better than Chicago, Illinois, then Heyman says the match is a done deal.

Hit Row (Top Dolla and Ashante "Thee" Adonis) beat Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro) and The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match to become #1 contenders for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Raquel Rodriguez. She says that next week's battle royal to determine a #1 contender for the SmackDown Women's Championship is personal and that she wants payback for what happened to her and to Shotzi, then she is attacked by "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Ronda holds down the left arm while Baszler kicks at it.

The Bloodline head to the ring. Roman Reigns brags about how The Bloodline dominated their WarGames Match before high-fiving everyone, then says "tonight is the night" and that tonight would be the night for Sami Zayn if it were not for "the Kevin Owens problem." He says that Kevin Owens will not stop stalking Sami Zayn and that a problem for Sami is a problem for him and for The Bloodline, and that he and Sami will team up against Kevin Owens and a partner of his choose and smash both of them. After Roman says nobody will see Kevin Owens again after this, Sami Zayn admits that Owens was his only friends and that Owens is indeed a problem. Suddenly, John Cena shows up on the TitanTron. John Cena says he loves a holiday surprise more than anyone and that he got a surprise text from Kevin Owens saying that Cena has not had a match this year before asking him to be his tag team partner. Cena accepts Owens' offer to be his tag team partner and bring the fight to The Bloodline in the final SmackDown of 2022.

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler! Hit Row (B-Fab, Top Dolla, Ashante "Thee" Adonis)! Rey Mysterio! During Rey Mysterio's interview, Los Lotharios (Humberto Garcia and Angel Garza) show up and call Rey an embarassment to his son before saying that they sit on the sidelines so that Rey can feed his ego. This leads to Rey challenging one of them to a match next week to see who the embarassment is.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!