WWE SmackDown results, recap, scores: John Cena to team with Kevin Owens against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn

John Cena is back. Cena will step into the WWE ring for the 20th year in a row on the second and final day of 2022 when he teams with Kevin Owens to battle Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn.

Reigns, the undisputed WWE Universal Champion, has expressed his intention to get rid of Owens’ problem The Bloodline. Reigns will team with Zayn to fight Owens and Owens’ choice partner on the December 30 episode of SmackDown. In a shocking twist, this partner is revealed to be a 16-time world champion and Hollywood star.

The Blue Brand’s recent presentation also featured two championship games. Gunther defended his Intercontinental Championship against SmackDown World Cup winner Ricochet, the man he defeated to win the title in June. Women’s Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai and Io Sky defended their titles against The New United Front Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox.

CBS Sports was with you all night long with recaps and highlights from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

Cena joins Owens in his fight against The Bloodline

Zayn arrived on SmackDown with The Usos in a limo. A little later in the evening, Zayn — who’s done up his hair, trimmed his beard and donned a charcoal suit — expressed his nervousness about the expected announcement. He excused himself to get some water. Jey Uso was excited for Zayn to become a full-fledged Uce, but Jimmy Uso was worried that that wasn’t in the cards for “Honorary Uce” and that they were setting him up for disappointment.

Reigns arrived a little later in the evening, accompanied by Bloodline Solo Sikoa enforcer and Special Counsel Paul Heyman.

Jimmy Uso approached Reigns and asked him if Reigns would keep Jimmy Uso out of the ring regarding the big announcement. Jimmy Uso said he loves Zayn and would like to see Zayn officially invited to The Bloodline, but he also loves Reigns and his family and would understand if it would be best to move on without bringing Zayn in. Reigns told Heyman to contact authority figure Adam Pearce.

Heyman, on behalf of Reigns, offered Pierce the chance to book a match: Reigns and Zayn against Kevin Owens and a partner of his choosing. Pearce asked if Tonight or the Royal Rumble would do. Heyman chose to host a tag team match on the December 30 episode of SmackDown.

In the closing segment, Reigns celebrates his team’s victory at WarGames. He dismembered every member of The Bloodline, including Zayn. It was supposed to be a good night for Zayn, Reigns said, but there was a problem: an Owens problem. Reigns criticized Owens for continuing to harass Zayn and said he would eliminate Owens all together. Zayn agreed that Owens was dragging him down, but he slipped up and called Owens his friend. Zayn backed down but was interrupted by John Cena on the big screen. Cena read a script from Owens, stating that Cena has wrestled every year since 2002 except this year. At the risk of breaking his streak, Cena accepted Owens’ request to team with Reigns and Zayn at the 2022 SmackDown Final.

A really great episode of SmackDown. WWE let Reigns’ big announcement breathe in multiple parts throughout the night. The dynamic between The Usos has clearly shifted. The once embittered Ji Oso was excited about Zen’s big night. Meanwhile, Jimmy Uso got scared. Zayn’s promotion from “Uce Honorary” to a full member did not happen, extending the timeline for his eventual handover from the group. It was previously announced that Cena would return, but his position in the middle of a major feud should bring an even bigger ratings boost to SmackDown. Plus, Owens attacked Cena on the main roster for the first time, so it’s fun to have them team up against Owen’s former best friend. Grade: A+

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Women’s Tag Team Championships – CTRL Damage (Dakota Kai and Io Skye) defeated. Liv Morgan and Tegan Knox via pinfall After Sky Nox was hit by a moon landing. Moments earlier, a masked figure had kicked Knox in the head.
• Uncle Hoody tied up and attacked the Los Angeles Knights In footage captured from last week’s kidnapping of Knight.
• Knight later attacked Bray Wyatt in the ring despite Wyatt’s insistence that he was not the masked aggressor. Howdy appeared on the big screen and asked Knight if he wanted to see something “really scary”. Hoody appeared physically on the ramp while Wyatt smiled. Knight escaped.
• Commentator Wade Barrett revealed that Xia Li is the attacker of Nox earlier in the evening.
• Intercontinental Championship – Gunther (c) def. Recoil by installation After the last symphony hit. Braun Strowman saved Ricochet from a post-match defeat at the hands of the Imperium.
• Hit Row (Ashante Adonis and Top Dolla) defeated. Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) and Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro) via pinfall after hitting Wilde with a backstop kick. Hit Row earned the right to challenge The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship.
• Ronda Rousey and Chyna Balzer attacked an already injured Raquel Rodriguez Backstage ahead of next week’s number one contender’s gauntlet match.