SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Ronda Rousey (c) w/Shayna Baszler vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Rousey immediately goes after Rodriguez’s injured elbow. Rousey slaps Rodriguez in the face. Rodriguez clotheslines Rousey. Spinning bodyslam by Rousey. Rodriguez tries to press slams Rousey back into the ring. Rousey falls to the mat awkwardly. Rodriguez lands a few splashes in the corner. Rousey sidesteps, and Rodriguez crashes into the ring post arm first. After the break, Rousey works over Rodriguez’s broken elbow.
Rodriguez Samoan drops Rousey to break her double wrist lock. Rodriguez fires up and lands a series of strikes. Rousey kicks out of Rodriguez’s clothesline that she threw with her bad arm… for reasons. Rodriguez tries another spinning slam, but Rousey reverses it into a flying armbar. Rodriguez turns that into a single-leg crab. Rousey counters that with an ankle look. Rodriguez kicks Rousey away. Rousey runs right into a flapjack.
Check out last week’s coverage: WWE SmackDown Results (12/23/22)
Rodriguez tries her powerbomb but Rousey counters with an armbar while on her shoulders. Rodriguez and Rousey fall out of the ring. Rousey tries to escape, but Rodriguez holds on. Rodriguez powerbombs Rousey on the apron. After the break, Rodriguez tries another powerbomb. Rousey reverses it into a sleeper. Rodriguez drives Rousey into the top turnbuckle to break the hold. Big boot by Rodriguez.
.@RaquelWWE just slammed the champ onto the ring apron ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KpDPDrU4Xn
— WWE (@WWE) December 31, 2022
Rodriguez knocks Baszler off the apron. Spinning elbow by Rodriguez. Baszler puts Rousey’s foot on the rope in full view of the referee. Rodriguez sits Rousey on the top rope. Rousey turns that into an armbar on the top. Rodriguez screams in pain. Rousey and Rodriguez fall off the top. Rousey holds on, and Rodriguez taps out immediately.
Winner and STILL SmackDown Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey!
After the match, Rousey grabs a mic. Charlotte Flair’s music hits, and she walks to the ring. Rousey mocks Flair’s broken arm. Rousey says Flair probably wants a shot at the Royal Rumble. Flair says no, she wants her shot tonight. Rousey lays down the belt. Baszler pleads with her not to.
SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
Flair hits a big boot as soon as the bell rings. Rousey kicks out. Flair spears Rousey but Rousey reverses it into an armbar. Flair counters that with a roll up for the win!
Winner and NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion, Charlotte Flair!
WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!@MsCharlotteWWE IS BACK AND JUST WON THE #SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP!!!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Rl3nSKyiZb
— WWE (@WWE) December 31, 2022
