FluxVib

Check out last week’s coverage: WWE SmackDown Results (1/20/23)

The show opens with a recap of the trial of Sami Zayn.

In the parking lot, The Bloodline arrives. Sami Zayn, who was sent home by Roman Reigns, sneaks up and thanks Jey Uso for standing up for him on Monday.

Kross overpowers Mysterio early on and controls the action. The match spills out of the ring, and Rey rallies. Back in the ring, Kross is back in control, and he drops Rey with a back-breaker. Kross trips Rey up and charges him in the corner, but the veteran moves, sending his foe shoulder-first into the ring post. Scarlett distracts Mysterio, but he perseveres and hits the 619. He hits a splash for a two count. Rey stacks Kross up and catches up for the three count.

? @ReyMysterio picks up the surprise win over Kross#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/jLFMa5J05y

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 28, 2023

Kross is clearly frustrated after the match.

In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY) declare for the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble.

Austin Theory comes to the ring. He says, “The champ is here.” He vows to win the Royal Rumble before he gets interrupted by the New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods). Woods notes that SmackDown is more efficient than RAW, so they have to get right to business. Kingston focuses on the Royal Rumble and laugh off Theory’s claim that he will win the Rumble. Kingston and Woods express their confidence that one of them will win the match. Theory calls himself the biggest star in WWE, and The Miz shows up. He says he’s been competing in Rumbles since Theory hit puberty and expresses his intent to win. Bobby Lashley charges in and clears house. He says he’s going to win the Rumble. Brock Lesnar runs in and drops Lashley with an F5. He then says, :See you tomorrow” and declares himself for the Royal Rumble.

THE BEAST IS HERE and he just declared for the #RoyalRumble Match! ?@fightbobby @BrockLesnar #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zpe2V2YPLW

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2023

In a Digital Exclusive, Rhea Ripley says 2023 is her year, and she’s going to win the Royal Rumble.

Evans takes an early advantage. She grounds Allure and slams her head into the turnbuckle. Evans punches Allure in the stomach and goes for a slam, but Allure counters into a pin attempt. Evans drops Allure with a right and makes her tap out to the Cobra Clutch.

: 

This is @LaceyEvansWWE like we've never seen her before. ?

What has gotten into her? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/d5BGgGyry0

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2023

After the match, Evans tells the crowd to shut up and says the Cobra Clutch is unbreakable. She vows to win the Royal Rumble.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus are asked about their match in the tag title contender’s tournament and hype each other up.

A video package highlighted Cody Rhodes’ looming return.

Drew McIntyre and Sheamus come to the ring for their match, but they get blindsided by the Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik)/

The #VikingRaiders just took out @WWESheamus and @DMcIntyreWWE before their #TagTeamTournament semifinals match!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/bAXwbTd2L9

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2023

McIntyre and Sheamus storm to the back, seemingly looking for the Viking Raiders. Hit Row comes out for the match, and WWE official Adam Pearce says McIntyre and Sheamus gave up their spot in the match. He announced Braun Strowman and Ricochet as their replacement.

Ricochet starts the bout and showcases his athleticism. He drops Top Dolla with a kick. B-Fab grabs Ricochet, and Adonis capitalizes with a dropkick. He grounds the former WWE Intercontinental Champion and takes control. Hit Row gangs up on Ricochet, and B-Fab gets involved again. They continue to isolate him, and Adonis slams Ricochet to the mat. Ricochet rallies and tags Strowman, who clears house with a flurry of offense. He clotheslines Top Dolla over the top rope and dumps Adonis over his head. Ricochet dives onto Dolla, and Strowman hits the Monster Bomb on Adonis for the win.

: 

THE MONSTER HAS BEEN UNLEASHED! ?#BraunStrowman and @KingRicochet are not throwing away their shot in this #TagTeamTournament!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/VJSeI3FuTu

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2023

In an interview, Kevin Owens previews his match with Solo Sikoa. He also brings up his match with Roman Reigns at WWE Royal Rumble. Owens says he’s focused on taking out as many members of The Bloodline as possible. The Usos walk up, and Owens goes to attack them, but officials break it up.

The Usos are escorted to their car. Jey seemingly calls Sami Zayn and asks for a favor.

LA Knight comes out to Bray Wyatt’s old theme, and he’s dressed up like Bray Wyatt in his Wyatt Family days.

That's not #BrayWyatt… that's @RealLAKnight!

…with the worlds smallest lantern. ? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/yXQ0RY8yia

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2023

He notes that he heard he fans chanting for him on Monday, but his fortune changed when The Undertaker got involved. He says Wyatt has 24 hours until the Pitch Black match, and he wants Wyatt to compete as whatever version of himself he wants, as he’ll end up torn apart just the same. Wyatt appears on the stage and says Knight isn’t smiling on the inside. He says the time for talk is over, as Knight will meet the man he has been looking for. Uncle Howdy shows up, standing high up in the arena, and waves menacingly.

Cruz Del Toro and Ludwig Kaiser start the bout and feel each other out. Imperium gains the upper hand. Toro rallies, kicks Kaiser, and tags Wilde. An acrobatic takedown gives Wilde some momentum. Kaiser and Vinci floor their opponents with clotheslines. Kaiser and Vinci isolate Wilde. The Legado del Fantasma star perseveres and drops Kaiser with a DDT. Toro tags in and takes Vinci down with a hurricanrana. Toro and Wilde dive onto Imperium at ringside. Kaiser breaks up the pin after a splash. He slams Toro on the floor. Vinci slams Wilde off the top rope and seemingly hurts his knee. Kaiser gets the win with the Imperium Bomb.

THIS IS AWESOME! ???

These 4 men are giving it EVERYTHING they got in this back and fourth #TagTeamTournament semifinals match!#LegadoDelFantasma #Imperium #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/tjx1fih5IY

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2023

: 

A video package hypes up the Royal Rumble.

In a taped clip, Sonya Deville crashes Charlotte Flair’s interview with Ryan Satin. Back to the live show, Flair approaches Adam Pearce and says she wants to give Deville a title match.

Owens and Sikoa battle it out. The former Universal Champion briefly gains the upper hand. Sikoa slams him into the barricade on the outside. Owens keeps fighting and drops Sikoa with a clothesline. He plants the powerhouse with a DDT. Owens gets a two count with a frog splash. The two foes trade superkicks. Sikoa hits a Samoan Drop. Owens hits a cannonball and a swanton. Sami Zayn arrives and pulls Sikoa out of the ring. Sikoa accidentally superkicks Zayn.

Sikoa lays Owens out on the broadcast table, but Owens gets back to his feet. He catches Sikoa with a superkick and slams him onto the broadcast table with a powerbomb. Owens hits Sikoa with a chair, as the match is apparently over. He drops the chair at Zayn’s feet and walks away.

Did @FightOwensFight just spare @SamiZayn? ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/D9N79vh3jN

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 28, 2023

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uL7ErKulnaqku6Z6wqikaKaVrMBwfZJtaHBpZmLEuLGMrKSam5uZvLi6jKucrK2cqcBufYxrbmZqYw%3D%3D