We have our first pair of semi-finalists in the WWE Smackdown World Cup.
Before the November 11, 2022 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown aired, World Wrestling Entertainment announced it’s official eight contestants who would be competing in their WWE Smackdown World Cup: Braun Strowman, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, Santos Escobar, Mustafa Ali, Jinder Mahal, Butch and Ricochet.
Braun Strowman, Santos Escobar Advance In Smackdown World Cup
On WWE Friday Night Smackdown, the company kicked off it’s Smackdown World Cup with two matches: Santos Escobar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Braun Strowman vs. Jinder Mahal.
The bout between Escobar and Nakamura would get us started, with the latter eventually being taken out with an Avalanche Phantom Driver to give the former the victory. Santos Escobar now awaits his next opponent in the semi-finals.
.@EscobarWWE beats @ShinsukeN to advance to the semi finals of the #SmackDownWorldCup!#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/BqccnKXRjk
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2022
For Braun Strowman, he would win in quick fashion against Jinder Mahal, taking him out with a Monster Bomb to land himself a spot in the WWE Smackdown World Cup semi-finals. Like Escobar, Strowman awaits the identity of his opponent in the next round.
Braun Strowman advances to the semi finals of the #SmackDownWorldCup!#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/ozEflE4G1A
— WWE (@WWE) November 12, 2022
After tonight, four other wrestlers are now set to compete in the quarter-finals of WWE Smackdown World Cup: Sami Zayn, Butch, Mustafa Ali and Ricochet.
The winner of the tournament will get a championship match against GUNTHER for his WWE Intercontinental Title.
Also on WWE Friday Night Smackdown, in a match that made history, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) would defend their WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship against The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), retaining their titles in a victory. With the win, The Usos are now set to officially become the longest-reigning tag team champions in World Wrestling Entertainment history.
The Usos have now held the belts for 481 days, just two days short of The New Day’s record of 483 days. The Usos will break the record on Monday, November 14, 2022.