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

The Bloodline head to the ring to start the show. Paul Heyman declares that The Bloodline will have two big weeks back-to-back after The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) retain the undisputed tag team titles before Solo Sikoa takes out Sheamus and Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn smash Kevin Owens and John Cena. Roman Reigns says that there is money to be made in smashing Owens and Cena because smashing people is what he does, then says he wonders what Sami Zayn is going to do as he looks frustrated. Sami says he always wanted a little respect, and that he found that - and family - in The Bloodline, and now everyone loves him. He says this should put him on top of the world, but he has a black cloud over his head and it is Kevin Owens. He says that his moment last week was ruined by Owens' existence and the fact that his name is connected to his, and says that Owens has a problem with him. He also says Owens is trying to bring John Cena back to upstage The Bloodline, but The Bloodline is the show. Sami Zayn says The Bloodline will rip John Cena and Kevin Owens apart, for when they step up, they get smashed, and they will acknowledge the Tribal Chief.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) retain the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships against Hit Row (Top Dolla and Ashante "Thee" Adonis).

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. Kaiser says their match is an abomination and a mockery of what they do, and Vinci says Braun Strowman and Ricochet are rejects and freaks who belong in a circus. Kaiser says that tonight, they will bring honor back to the ring and what they do.

Raquel Rodriguez beats Emma, Tegan Nox, Xia Li, Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville in a gauntlet match despite an injured left arm to become #1 contender for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. After the match, Ronda Rousey tells Raquel to wipe the smile off her face, as she still has one more opponent: Shayna Baszler, who goes after Raquel's left arm, tearing off the cast and stomping the injured arm. Raquel rolls Shayna up with a schoolkid pin, and she manages to beat Shayna and survive.

Bray Wyatt heads to the ring. Bray says that heading to the ring to speak to the fans is the hardest thing in the world for him to do, and that he will never truly understand why people are excited to see him, as he presents his truest self to the fans. He says that L.A. Knight owes him an apology and that nobody, including L.A. Knight, listened to him. Bray says he is not and never was Uncle Howdy, then loses his train of thought and crouches in the middle of the ring before dropping the microphone. He then attacks a cameraman who gets in the ring, and Adam Pearce and officials have to get the cameraman away from Bray.

Rey Mysterio beats Angel Garza as Karrion Kross and Scarlett watch from the crowd.

Backstage, we hear from Ricochet and Braun Strowman. Ricochet says Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci do nothing but talk, and after Ricochet mentions how they said they belong in a circus, Strowman says "Maybe we do," then says they will show who runs the big top.

Backstage, Karrion Kross and Scarlett are confronted by Emma. Emma confronts them for disrespecting Rey Mysterio, then slaps Emma for calling Riddick Moss a fool. Kross stops Scarlett, then tells Emma she has no idea what she has just done.

We see a video package of John Cena's 20-year career in the ring and on the screen.

We see another vignette of Lacey Evans, who is in combat training with other Marines. It is then announced that she is in action next week.

Ricochet and Braun Strowman beat Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Braun Strowman) in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight that sees The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) kick Imperium in the crotch while dressed as nutcrackers, a ballerina in a box that dances away and Strowman reviving Ricochet with a kiss under the mistletoe by ring announcer Samantha Irvin.