WWE SmackDown Results (02/17) - Intercontinental Title Match, Drew McIntyre & Sheamus Vs. Viking Raiders, Ronda Rousey Returns To Action

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE SmackDown" on February 17, 2023, coming to you live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada!

Ahead of tomorrow night's "Elimination Chamber" Premium Live Event, Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER put his title on the line against Madcap Moss. Moss defeated Rey Mysterio, Karrion Kross, and Santos Escobar in a Fatal Four-Way Match to become the new number one contender last week. Will Moss be able to put an end to GUNTHER's 253 day reign as titleholder?

Following their six-woman tag team match on the latest episode of "Raw", Asuka will be going one-on-one with Liv Morgan. The two competitors will be joining Raquel Rodriguez, Carmella, Nikki Cross and Natalya in the Women's Elimination Chamber Match, with the winner receiving a shot at Bianca Belair's "Raw" Women's Championship at "WrestleMania 39". While Asuka may have caused Morgan to tap out to earn her team the win on Monday, the question remains: will Morgan be able to get her revenge and gain some momentum heading into tomorrow night?

Chaos ensued last week when Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, and Natalya came face-to-face last week. The trio got into a verbal exchange, which ultimately ended with Rousey and Baszler attacking Natalya. Shotzi ran down to ringside to provide Natalya with some backup, but Rousey and Baszler managed to get the better of her. Tonight, the four women will collide in the ring as Rousey makes her return to action for the first time since December when she teams with Baszler to face Shotzi and Natalya. Who will be victorious?

Drew McIntyre will be joining forces with Sheamus to take on The Viking Raiders. Tensions between the two teams have been on the rise since Erik and Ivar took Sheamus and McIntyre out of the "SmackDown" Tag Team Title Contender's Tournament a few weeks ago after blindsiding them with an attack, forcing them to be replaced with eventual winners Braun Strowman and Ricochet. Which team will come out on top?

Additionally, "SmackDown" Women's Champion Charlotte Flair, Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos, and Quebec's own Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are advertised to appear on tonight's show.

We are live! The show kicks off with a video recapping the events of the Undisputed Tag Team Title Match between The Usos and Braun Strowman and Ricochet last week. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett then greet audiences at home as Natalya and Shotzi head to the ring, followed by Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey.

Baszler and Natalya begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. The two go back and forth with submission holds before Natalya delivers a kick to Baszler's face. Rousey tags in and the two lock up. Natalya looks for a Sharpshooter, but Rousey escapes and tags Baszler back in. Shotzi tags in and delivers an arm drag, then hits a knee to Baszler's jaw and follows it up with a kick. Rousey tags in and delivers a step-up knee, then tags Baszler back in. Shotzi hits a dropkick, and Rousey tags back in. Shotzi catches her with an underhook German suplex before Rousey sets up for Piper's Pit. Shotzi escapes and sends her to the outside, then delivers a tope suicida and a crossbody off the top.

Back from the break, Baszler is going after Shotzi's arm. Shotzi delivers an arm drag, but Baszler quickly recovers and knocks Natalya off the apron. Shotzi sends Baszler to the outside, but Rousey takes a few cheap shots at her. Shotzi delivers a DDT to Rousey on the apron before Baszler tosses her back in the ring. Shotzi delivers an enziguri, then tags in Natalya. Natalya hits a German suplex, then plants her with a powerbomb and goes for a pin. Baszler kicks out, and Natalya looks for the Sharpshooter. Baszler escapes and Rousey makes the blind tag. She hits a discus lariat on Baszler while Rousey ascends to the top and hits a crossbody. Natalya ducks it and manages to lock in the Sharpshooter, but relinquishes the hold once Baszler tries to interfere. She takes her down, then tags in Shotzi. The pair look for the Hart Attack, but Baszler trips Natalya when she runs the ropes, allowing Rousey to lock in the Arm Bar on Shotzi for the win.

Winners: Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler

Back from the break, we head to the first of two videos showing what has transpired between The Bloodline and Sami Zayn over the past several months.

Back at ringside, Ashante "Thee" Adonis , Top Dolla, and B-Fab are waiting in the ring. Hit Row begins to perform their latest song, but the lights suddenly go out and the opening bars of Bray Wyatt's music start playing. When they come back on, Wyatt and Uncle Howdy are standing on either side of the ring on the apron. The two men then get in the ring, and Wyatt tosses Top Dolla to the outside. He then throws Adonis over to Uncle Howdy, who hits him with Sister Abigail.

Wyatt then grabs a mic and puts Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley on notice. He tells them that whichever one of them wins their match tomorrow night at "Elimination Chamber" should run.

Back from the break, we head to a video recapping the events of the Fatal Four-Way Number One Contender's Match last week.

Back at ringside, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre head to the ring, followed by The Viking Raiders and Valhalla.

Ivar and Sheamus begin the action. The bell rings and Sheamus looks for a Brogue Kick. Ivar ducks it, and Sheamus delivers a shoulder tackle that sends Ivar to the outside. He beats him down, then tosses him back in the ring. Ivar gets in a kick and a couple of shots, but Sheamus clotheslines him to the outside.

Back from the break, Ivar tags in and sends Sheamus crashing into the mat face first. Sheamus delivers a pair of right hands to Ivar's midsection, but Ivar fires back with several elbows. Erik tags in and wails on Sheamus, then rakes his eyes. He chokes Sheamus on the rope as Valhalla watches on, then delivers a forearm and tags Ivar back in. Ivar delivers a splash, then tags Erik in. Sheamus makes the hot tag to McIntyre, and McIntyre delivers a few lariats. He follows it up with a belly-to-belly suplex and a neckbreaker, then delivers a series of right hands and chops. He hits a bodyslam and goes for a pin, but Erik kicks out. Sheamus and Ivar tag in. Sheamus delivers a series of right hands, but Ivar delivers a big boot and ascends to the top. Sheamus meets him there and delivers White Noise.

Back from another break, McIntyre and Sheamus are delivering the Ten Beats of the Bodhran to The Raiders. McIntyre then delivers a spinebuster to Ivar and tags in Sheamus. Sheamus delivers a flying knee off the top rope and goes for a pin. Erik breaks the fall, then tags in. Sheamus catches him with a bodyslam, then sets up for the Brogue Kick. He charges at Erik, but Erik catches him and delivers a powerbomb. He ascends to the middle rope and goes flying, but Sheamus catches him with a knee and tags in McIntyre. McIntyre sets up for the Claymore Kick, but Erik pulls Ivar out of the way. McIntyre then goes flying over the top and takes The Raiders out with a senton, then gets Erik back in the ring. Valhalla distracts McIntyre, allowing Erik to tag in and plant McIntyre. He tosses McIntyre over to Ivar, and Ivar hits a slam off the middle rope. He goes for a pin, but Sheamus breaks the fall. Erik sends Sheamus into the ring post as McIntyre delivers a Glasgow Kiss to Ivar. Ivar fires back with a spinning heel kick, then ascends to the top rope and delivers the Viking Splash. He goes for a pin, but McIntyre kicks out. Erik tags in and The Raiders look for Ragnarok. Sheamus saves McIntyre by hitting The Raiders with a Brogue Kick, and McIntyre hits Erik with the Claymore Kick for the win.

Winners: Drew McIntyre and Sheamus

We then head to the second of two videos showing what has transpired between The Bloodline and Sami Zayn over the past several months.

Back at ringside, Asuka heads down, followed by Liv Morgan. Carmella joins commentary.

Back from the break, we head backstage to Kayla Braxton and Rey Mysterio. Braxton throws it to a video of Mysterio and Escobar giving each other one of their masks. Mysterio then says he knows that exchange meant a lot to both of them because it was a symbol of their mutual respect for one another. Karrion Kross and Scarlett interrupt, and Kross says at one point, he wanted to be a father until he saw Mysterio's parenting abilities with Dominik. He tells Mysterio to do something about it.

The bell rings and the two lock up. Asuka then offers her hand to Morgan and goes to shake it, but before she can, Asuka pulls it away. Morgan delivers a forearm and looks for a kick, but Asuka catches it and hits a German suplex. Raquel Rodriguez appears at ringside and gets in Carmella's face due to the fact that Carmella had made a few comments about her on the headset. Nikki Cross then appears behind Cole and Barrett and sits on the commentary desk. Back in the ring, Asuka delivers a kick to Morgan's leg as she sits on the top rope. Morgan hits a Codebreaker off the top, then goes for a pin but Asuka kicks out.

Back from the break, Natalya has appeared at ringside and is watching on as Morgan whips Asuka into the corner and delivers a hip attack. She hits a running knee before Asuka catches her with a knee of her own. She follows it up with a series of kicks to Morgan's chest. Morgan gets fired up and delivers a right hand, but Asuka fires back with a series of backfists and a kick. Morgan delivers an enziguri and a step-up knee, then ascends to the top and delivers a missile dropkick. She kips up, then hits a Codebreaker off the ropes. Morgan rolls Asuka up, but Asuka kicks out and transitions right into an arm shoulder submission. Morgan taps out.

Winner: Asuka

After the match. Carmella hits Asuka with a superkick. Natalya levels Carmella with a discus lariat before Cross takes Natalya out with The Purge. Rodriguez then takes Cross down with a Texana Bomb, then sets her sights on Morgan and offers to help her up. Morgan accepts, then hits her with a Codebreaker. Asuka follows it up with a kick to her head, leaving Morgan and Asuka alone in the ring. The pair stare one another down before Morgan heads to the back.

Back at ringside, GUNTHER heads down, followed by Madcap Moss and Emma.

The bell rings and the two lock up. GUNTHER sends Moss into the corner and delivers a pair of chops, but Moss tackles GUNTHER and rains down right hands. Moss delivers a couple of shoulders to GUNTHER's midsection, but GUNTHER fires back with a shoulder tackle. Moss delivers a couple more shoulders to GUNTHER's midsection, then hits a spinebuster and goes for a pin. GUNTHER kicks out, and Moss sends him to the outside with a shoulder.

Back from the break, GUNTHER and Moss go back and forth with chops. GUNTHER gains the upper hand and sets up for a powerbomb, but Moss escapes. Moss delivers a back suplex and a splash, then goes for a pin but GUNTHER kicks out. GUNTHER looks for a suplex, but Moss counters it into one of his own. He delivers a neckbreaker and goes for a pin but GUNTHER kicks out. Moss delivers a shoulder to GUNTHER's midsection, but GUNTHER fires back with a right hand across Moss' chest. He ascends to the top, but Moss meets him there and delivers a Fallaway Slam from the middle rope. He goes for a pin, but GUNTHER kicks out. GUNTHER locks in a chinlock, but Moss escapes. GUNTHER then delivers a powerbomb for the win.

Winner (and still): GUNTHER

Back from the break, Sami Zayn heads to the ring as the crowd explodes.

Zayn says everyone points to the WrestleMania sign every year. He says it's the most important event of the year, but "Elimination Chamber" is the most important event of his career. He says tomorrow night isn't just Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn, but Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn and the entire city of Montreal. He says Reigns is going down.