WWE SmackDown Live Results (October 7, 2022): Roman Reigns restructures The Bloodline; GUNTHER retains the Intercontinental Championship over Sheamus in controversial fashion

That also ends the coverage for tonight folks. Thank you for joining us. Hope you enjoyed it. See you guys tomorrow for Extreme Rules!

It was a fantastic episode of SmackDown. An incredible angle to close a newsworthy show. Roman Reigns handed Sami Zayn the responsibility of Jey Uso. Ultimately that would backfire. Karrion Kross sent an ominous message to Drew McIntyre ahead of their match tomorrow. The White Rabbit teases continue and most likely we'll get the reveal tomorrow. An excellent episode of SmackDown overall that served as both the Season Premiere and the go-home show for Extreme Rules!

What's going to happen when these two teams meet tomorrow night at #ExtremeRules?!#Imperium #BrawlingBrutes #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/qpucCEU7Uf
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

AND STILL! #ICChampion, @Gunther_AUT. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fQ2hIOlQAV
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022

The Brawling Brutes and Imperium brawl across the arena as the show comes to a close.

#AndStill the Intercontinental Champion, @Gunther_AUT!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/NYSSUgZncZ
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

#AndStill WWE Intercontinental Champion 🏆@Gunther_AUT 😤#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/TR1dh6qX4i
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

Did @Gunther_AUT tap?!@WWESheamus | #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/JqsCGKLJ6Z
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022

A FLYING @Gunther_AUT!!! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/od5zByoyyS
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

HANG ON JUST A SECOND!!!!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8mvyqQ36AC
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

A White Noise by @WWESheamus and he was THAT close to becoming #ICChampion 😱 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7u9nhQGP59
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

Sheamus goes for the Brogue, Gunther cuts him off with the Shalaylee as the referee is distracted by the pandemonium on the outside. The IC champion pins Sheamus for the win.

Gunther (C) defeats Sheamus via Pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship

GIFs you can hear!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/3I33mxMQ7H
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

Imperium joins the ringside. Butch and Ridge take them out.

Sheamus goes the Brogue kick, and Gunther blocks it. Sheamus hits the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus locks in the Clover Leaf and it seemed that Gunther was about to tap but the referee rules it out that Gunther was just trying to reach the bottom rope.

Sheamus is going to work!@WWESheamus | #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/9yYQez90wM
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022

Sheamus is a different breed! 😱#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/HDTEAlwyqh
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

Gunther lands a top rope splash but Sheamus kicks out at 2 again.

Gunther counters the Cloverleaf and hits a dropkick. The Intercontinental Champion delivers the Powerbomb but the challenger kicks out at 2.

The crowd chants "This is Awesome" and rightly so.

Sheamus delivers the White Noise from the second rope for a near fall.

Sheamus lands his signature forearm strikes, first using the top rope, then using the second rope, and finally using the third rope. That's 30 strikes on Gunther's chest. Absolutely insane!!!

Back from the break, Gunther lands a few stiff chops. Sheamus fights back with forearms, Gunther locks in the sleeper hold. Sheamus breaks it with elbow strikes to midsection.

These two are laying it all on the line for the #ICTitle 😳@Gunther_AUT @WWESheamus #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/EEK2yeiat1
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

And they are just warming up here! 🥵#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/mN1FtTgEsz
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

Sheamus powers out of the Sleeper hold but meets a chop to the chest by Gunther. Sheamus lands punches, Gunther lands chops. Punch, chop. Punch, chop. Punch, chop. Punch, chop. Punch, chop. Gunther breaks the sequence with a series of chops. The Ring General hits a suplex to gain control of the match as we head to another commercial break, possibly the final one of the night.

Gunther locks in a sleeper hold and drops down to the mat.

Gunther lands an upper cut.

TOMORROW NIGHT 🐇#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/c7wH1x2Raa
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022

Gunther cleverly uses the turnbuckle to put Sheamus down.

Sheamus goes for his signature forearm strikes but Gunther blocks the first one. Sheamus goes for a suplex on the apron but Gunther blocks it and sends him crashing into the ring post.

Sheamus plants Gunther with a tilt-a-whirl power slam.

Back from the break, Sheamus connects a couple of Clotheslines and Gunther is bleeding from from his mouth.

Both superstars kick things off with punches. The action quickly spills to the outside where Sheamus throws Gunther into the barricade multiple times. The Celtic Warrior has a strong start to the match. Can he keep up the momentum and become the new IC champion tonight? We'll find out after a commercial break.

BIG FIGHT FEEL@Gunther_AUT @WWESheamus #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Xp0KWK2bJy
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

🚨 BANGER ALERT! 🚨#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Unus2BUA02
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

Introductions done. Bell rings and we kick things off now.

GUNTHER (C) vs Sheamus (Intercontinental Championship)

It's Fight Night!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fZNMbuP5tz
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

Imperium's entrance = chef's kiss#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FSHvGNir62
— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) October 8, 2022

It has been an awesome episode of SmackDown so far. We cap it off with the Intercontinental Championship match in the main event next.

"Who I am, LA Knight! YEAH!"#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/9SQve3UiOf
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022

Also NEXT WEEK on #SmackDown

It's LA Knight vs. @KSAMANNY. YEAH! pic.twitter.com/JUwjf8t6dS
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

Kofi Kingston will battle Sami Zayn next week. L.A. Knight will be in action against Mansoor.

NEXT WEEK on #SmackDown!@TrueKofi goes one-on-one with The Honorary Uce @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/eCJ6aAUiAF
— WWE (@WWE) October 8, 2022

BIG WIN FEELS@AustinCreedWins | #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/iiLd7QWIva
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022

😂 @itsBayleyWWE is somewhere smiling right now.

Someone check on @MichaelCole! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/PleuLHJITm
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 8, 2022