WWE Friday Night Smackdown preview and schedule: February 17, 2023

IC Title Match announced for Smackdown (image courtesy WWE)

Bengaluru, February 17: Less than 24 hours away from the 2023 Elimination Chamber, WWE will present the go-home Smackdown episode for the PLE with an Intercontinental Championship match serving as the main event.

Also, two Women's Chamber Match participants will battle in a singles capacity, while The Banger Bros will finally get their hands on The Viking Raiders to continue their ongoing feud in a tag team match.

Plus, Ronda Rousey will return to action in a tag match on the February 17 episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown that airs from The Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Here are the confirmed segments for the latest Smackdown on FOX:

GUNTHER vs. Madcap Moss - Intercontinental Title Match

After overcoming a Fatal-4-Way Match also featuring Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and Karrion Kross, Madcap Moss secured the biggest opportunity of his career in the form of an Intercontinental Title Match against the champion, GUNTHER.

Before this win, Moss was seemingly lost in the shuffle on Smackdown as he only wrestled three matches on television between September 2022 and January 2023. Hence, many believe that he was fast-tracked into this title match opportunity.

However, with his real-life love interest Emma by her side, Moss has never been charged up inside the ring before now. We hope that energy will be handy enough to helm him in beating the longest-reigning IC champion of this era.

Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya and Shotzi

Late, last month, Natalya made her return to WWE at Royal Rumble by competing in the women's Rumble match and she made her intentions clear set on taking out Shayna Baszler, the woman who put her on the shelf.

Natalya was quite vocal about Baszler's early failures who is probably happy to be a "knock-off Ronda Rousey." Speaking of the devil, The Baddest Woman on the Planet came out to the scene and cleared house with Baszler.

Shotzi tried to make the save for the Queen of Harts but the heel alliance appeared to be too much for them. Rumoured for a tag team title match opportunity looming at Wrestlemania, the two former UFC stars will only continue to strengthen their bond.

As confirmed by the WWE, Rousey, and Baszler will team up against the team of Nattie and Shotzi. This marks Rousey's first match since going into a hiatus from the WWE after dropping the Smackdown Women's Title to Charlotte Flair on December 30.

Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders once again

After weeks of ambushes from behind, The Viking Raiders will finally stand in the same ring with Drew McIntyre and Sheamus for a traditional tag team match capacity.

For some reason, The Vikings have been focused on taking out these two former WWE Champions. It was them due to which McIntyre and Sheamus decided to pull off the Tag Team Title Contenders' Tournament, a few weeks ago.

The two teams have since been engaged in numerous physical brawls, backstage as well as in front of the audience. But now, they will officially trade brawls and barbs inside the squared circle in a physical contest.

Asuka vs. Liv Morgan

Following the completion of the huge Raw vs. SmackDown Six-Woman Tag Team Match on this week's Raw featuring combatants of the women's Elimination Chamber Match, Asuka attacked her opponents as well as her own tag team partners.

It was The Empress of Tomorrow, herself who forced Liv Morgan to tap out via an innovative submission maneuver. But the ever-resilience Morgan gets the chance to seek redemption when she squares off with Asuka on Smackdown in a singles capacity.

The match was set up after Carmella stirred the pot between Asuka and Morgan on social media. It was WWE Official Adam Pearce who made the match official on the blue brand to give us a preview of the upcoming Chamber match.