This week’s WWE SmackDown featured an interview with Cody Rhodes, LA Knight battling Tama Tonga, and Kevin Owens facing Jimmy Uso.
It was SmackDown at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas with Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett on commentary. This show was taking place one night before Saturday Night’s Main Event.
The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Cody said he has no problem handing over this title to Shawn Michaels at the Saturday Night’s Main Event contract signing. Joe mentioned Owens hitting Cody with a Package Piledriver at the last Saturday Night’s Main Event show, so what do you think about this version of Kevin Owens? Cody said that Owens is a genius in the ring, a hell of an athlete, and a once-in-a-generation superstar. Cody said that KO chooses the easy way out instead of the hard way. Cody talked about how a Ladder Match is so apt for them because there is no referee to count them out or call for disqualification because it’s all about seeing who can pull down the WWE Championship to be the champion. Joe wondered if Cody could look Owens in the eyes to deliver a message, what would that message be? Cody said maybe he smiles, shakes hands, and appears to be a good guy because that’s what he is trying to be. Cody said he’d tell Owens that Cody is the one who defeated Gunther and the greatest champion of his era (Roman Reigns). Cody said that he is the Grandson of the Plumber and a student of Randy Orton while adding before he was the American Nightmare, he was as mean as anybody. Cody said he only had one thing to say to Owens: “Good luck.” Cody’s music played to end it as he shook hands with Joe Tess. That was it.
The WWE Tag Team Champions #DIY’s Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa talked to Pretty Deadly. Gargano mentioned he has a match with Apollo Crews. Pretty Deadly thought they were working together while Gargano said that they won’t be at ringside for them. Tommaso Ciampa told PD to handle it. PD mentioned their issues with Legado. Gargano told PD to do whatever they had to do to get it done. After #DIY left, Legado Del Fantasma got in PD’s face and stared at them. After a staredown, Legado moved out of the way and PD left for their match.
The Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey was sitting at ringside watching the show.
Match #1: Motor City Machine Guns – Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin defeated Pretty Deadly – Elton Prince & Kit Wilson by pinfall. The Guns won with their Skull N Bones double team neckbreaker/top rope splash combo.
The SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was in his office when The Miz walked in saying that Joe Tessitore does a great interview, but it’s no Miz TV. Aldis said that Miz isn’t just here for a friendly visit and told Miz he’s here on Smackdown now because of the transfer window. Miz thought he was joking. Miz complained about how the Wyatt Sicks were on Smackdown, then he claimed he had them strategically moved and thought maybe Karrion Kross had something to do with it. Aldis told Miz he might have to find new friends and fast. Miz left.
There was a video package about the Braun Strowman/Jacob Fatu match at Saturday Night’s Main Event while including some data to put over how physically impressive both men are. They showed highlights of their destruction as well.
Kevin Owens showed up at ringside with the Winged Eagle WWE Title. Owens was at the commentary table complaining about how he didn’t get TV time. Owens told Joe Tess that Cody Rhodes uses his best friends and he betrays them. Owens said that he will prove he’s the rightful WWE Champion. Owens wondered if McConaughey had a problem. Owens said he’ll beat Cody just like Ohio State beat his stupid Longhorns, so that drew boos from the fans. Matthew dared Owens to bring it, but here comes Jimmy Uso. Jimmy walked down to the ring, Owens wondered what he was doing there and Jimmy was there to say that Owens talked too much. Jimmy punched Owens with an uppercut. Jimmy hit a superkick. Jimmy went up top, so Owens bailed to the floor. Jimmy suggested a match and said “Hook ‘Em” since that’s what they about the Longhorns. Jimmy saluted McConaughey after that.
Carmelo Hayes was shown talking to Nick Aldis in Nick’s office. Melo said he was supposed to face Jimmy, so Nick said they can do it next week. Aldis said he just made an acquisition via the transfer window, so Melo can face him and Melo said he wants to see him. Nick said he’ll be here in a few minutes.
Match #2: Michin & B-Fab defeated Chelsea Green & Piper Niven by pinfall. Michin beat the US Women’s Champion Green with the Eat Defeat move for the pinfall win.
They showed Nick Aldis’ office when his new acquisition Damian Priest walked in. Melo was shocked that Priest joined the Smackdown brand. Aldis mentioned Melo wanted a match on Smackdown tonight and Priest said he was here to work and ready to punch. Melo left while Priest thanked Aldis.
A video aired about Charlotte Flair saying there’s a difference between confidence and arrogance. Flair said that arrogance is insecurity while confidence is known, and everybody sits up in a room because they know the GOAT doesn’t have to call herself the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Flair said she has crafted a legacy that no one can touch. Flair said she knows exactly who she is, and she is back. Flair said when she walks through that curtain and enters the Royal Rumble, she’ll remind us all who owns the night.
Tiffany Stratton did a promo bragging about being the WWE Women’s Champion and how 30 women will fight in the Royal Rumble to try to face her. Rhea Ripley showed up to remind Stratton that she’s the Women’s World Champion too. Nia Jax arrived with her buddy Candice LeRae claiming it was a historic moment. Jax officially announced that she is entering and winning the Royal Rumble match. Jax claimed she would beat Ripley for her Women’s World Title at Saturday Night’s Main Event and Jax is still going to enter the Royal Rumble match to take Stratton’s title too. The Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi entered and both of them declared they are in the Women’s Royal Rumble. Belair got into the ring saying Nia Jax definitely won’t win. Liv Morgan was next to join the promo party with her buddy Raquel Rodriguez by her side. Liv trashed Ripley for losing her man to a real woman. Liv claimed Stratton was a Liv doppelganger and her title would look better on Liv. It was Liv’s turn to say that she would be in the Royal Rumble match as well. Ripley headbutted Liv to knock her down. That led to a brawl involving the seven women in the ring while Stratton left. Ripley kicked Jax to knock her out of the ring. The trio of Ripley, Naomi and Belair stood tall in the ring.
Match #3: Nia Jax, Candice LeRae & Liv Morgan (w/Raquel Rodriguez) defeated Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair & Naomi by pinfall. After Belair hit KOD on LeRae, legal woman Morgan did a crucifix pin on Belair for the win.
Chelsea Green was backstage complaining to Piper Niven about losing and wondering what happened. Michin walked up with B-Fab leading to Michin saying that she finally had backup with B-Fab by her side. Michin informed Green that GM Aldis said that Michin will get one more shot at the Women’s US Title held by Green on next week’s SmackDown. Michin and B-Fab left while Niven said they would need more security detail.
Match #4: Apollo Crews defeated Johnny Gargano (w/Tommaso Ciampa) by pinfall. Ciampa did a cheap shot knee to Crews during the match. The Motor City Machine Guns entered the arena, so it distracted Gargano and Crews rolled up Johnny for the win.
Prior to his match, LA Knight Knight said that told Tama and Fatu they had hell to pay since they cost him the US Title. Knight said he got his ass kicked because then he got a little piece of both of them. Knight told Tama he’d get a BFT and Knight would kick him so hard he wouldn’t have anything left for the shakes. Knight did his catchphrases to end it.
Match #5: LA Knight defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jacob Fatu). Tama got a lot of offense. Knight won with BFT.
After the match, Fatu pulled Knight out of the ring. Fatu hit a Samoan Drop-style move on Knight onto the commentary table, but it didn’t break the table. Braun Strowman went down to ringside to confront Fatu, but Tama Tonga pulled Fatu off the apron. Fatu shoved Tama away. Fatu got in the ring with Braun. Tama tried to grab Braun, but Braun shoved Tama down and Braun clotheslined Fatu over the top to the floor. Tama held Fatu back to end it.
The Miz was shown talking to Austin Theory and Grayson Waller backstage suggesting that they work together. Miz suggested The Marine 7 to them. Theory claimed they were going to be rich. Smackdown GM Nick Aldis walked up to them to say that Theory & Waller have been moved to Raw. The Miz wasn’t thrilled about it while Theory & Waller were happy.
A video aired featuring US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura speaking in Japanese while his words were shown in English. Nakamura said he’s won the Royal Rumble before and he’ll do it again.
Match #6: Damian Priest defeated Carmelo Hayes by pinfall. It was an even matchup and Priest won with a South of Heaven slam.
The #DIY boys were complaining to SD GM Nick Aldis when Motor City Machine Guns showed up. Chris Sabin said they had a surprise and Alex Shelley told #DIY that at the Royal Rumble they’ll challenge for the WWE Tag Team Titles in a 2/3 Falls Match. #DIY wasn’t happy about it.
They showed WWE legend Michelle McCool at ringside. She had her kids with her. Michelle got a nice ovation. The WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry was at ringside with his daughter. Big pop for Mark.
Damian Priest was shown walking backstage. Cody Rhodes was there to welcome Priest to the show. They shook hands. Cody left and Priest said he’ll see him soon.
The Miz was talking to Andrade in the backstage area. Miz told Andrade he needed somebody to guide him to be the superstar he truly is. Andrade said he liked that and said he’d go find somebody. Miz was suggesting himself, so he was frustrated by that. Andrade left, Jimmy Uso walked up to Miz and Jimmy left for his match. Carmelo Hayes walked up to Jimmy, who said it would only take a few moves to beat Melo next week.
Jimmy Uso made his entrance, so Carmelo Hayes attacked Jimmy from behind in the aisle. Jimmy fought back with punches. There were officials there to break it up. Jimmy walked toward the ring to have his match.
Match #7:Kevin Owens defeated Jimmy Uso. Owens was wearing a Naomi t-shirt to taunt Jimmy, who is married to Naomi. Owens won with a Popup Powerbomb.
After the match, Kevin Owens grabbed Jimmy and teased a Package Piledriver, but here comes Cody Rhodes. Cody Rhodes was in a tracksuit as he got into the ring to fight with Owens. They exchanged punches and Owens stomped on Owens against the turnbuckle. Cody tossed Owens out of the ring. Cody sent Owens into the steel steps. Cody tossed Owens back into the ring and that was the end of the show.
WWE SmackDown Next Week
Here’s what WWE is advertising for SmackDown next week.
* Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza vs. #DIY & Pretty Deadly
* Women’s US Championship: Chelsea Green vs. Michin
* Naomi vs. Liv Morgan
* Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes
Here’s the Saturday Night’s Main Event lineup for January 25th.
* World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso
* Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax
* Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu
* Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Sheamus
* Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens contract signing with Shawn Michaels moderating it.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.