WWE SmackDown aired live from the Ford Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Roman Reigns battled Robert Roode in a Tables Match tonight.
WWE SmackDown Results (1/17)
- John Morrison defeated Big E
- The Usos defeated The Revival
- Lacey Evans defeated Bayley
- Alexa Bliss defeated Sonya Deville
- Roman Reigns defeated Robert Roode in a Tables Match
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s SmackDown:
Daniel Bryan Challenged The Fiend To A Strap Match At Royal Rumble
Kane returned and made his way to the ring to begin tonight’s show. He said that the Royal Rumble is his favorite event of the year and added that it is a match that you go through hell but the reward is chance at immortality.
Kane noted that he holds the record for most eliminations and that it was a lot of fun ruining every superstar’s dreams. Bray Wyatt interrupted with an episode of Firefly Fun House.
Wyatt assured everyone that Ramblin’ Rabbit is alive and recovering quite nicely. Bray pointed at Kane’s picture on the wall and claimed that The Fiend will never forget Kane.
The lights in the arena went out and The Fiend came up from under the ring. Kane asked The Fiend what took him so long and Daniel Bryan came out from the crowd. Bryan leveled The Fiend with the Running Knee and then ripped out some of his dreadlocks as he escaped back under the ring. Bryan and Kane then did the “yes!” chant to end the segment.
Bryan was then interviewed backstage and said that he was sick of The Fiend running away. Daniel challenged The Fiend to a Strap Match at Royal Rumble and vowed to take his Universal Championship.
John Morrison Returned To Action With A Win
Big E squared off against John Morrison tonight on SmackDown. The Miz and Kofi Kingston were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Big E dominated the match early and sent Morrison to the corner. Morrison battled back and planted Big E with a Neckbreaker off the apron and to the floor outside the ring. The Miz and Kingston started arguing outside the ring and Kofi shoved Miz into the steel stairs.
John Morrison launched himself off the top rope and took out Kofi outside the ring. The Miz then distracted Big E and Morrison capitalized with a kick to the face. Morrison climbed to the top rope and hit Starship Pain for the pinfall victory.
Otis Accidentally Cost Sonya Deville The Match
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville had a conversation backstage. Sonya said that she knew why Mandy was being so nice to Otis and suggested that she ask him to be ringside tonight for her match against Alexa Bliss.
Match Recap: Otis and Tucker stood on the entrance ramp as Sonya Deville controlled the match early. Alexa battled back with a Dropkick and then beat Sonya down in the corner of the ring. Mandy hopped on the ring apron and made her way up the top rope. Nikki Cross then shoved Mandy off the top rope but Otis caught her. Sonya was distracted by this and Alexa capitalized with a roll-up for the pinfall victory.
Lacey Evans Picked Up A Big Win
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Lacey Evans were shown brawling backstage. Sasha Banks was on the ground holding her knee. Banks was able to get out of her scheduled match tonight against Lacey Evans but Bayley was forced to take her place. It was a non-title match.
Match Recap: Evans controlled the match early and sent Bayley flying out of the ring. Lacey followed her out there and bounced her head off the apron several times. Back in the ring, Bayley rolled Evans up and used the ropes for leverage but the referee caught her. Evans went for a Moonsault but Bayley got her knees up. Lacey Evans hit the Woman’s Right out of nowhere for the pinfall victory.
It was later announced that Bayley will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans at Royal Rumble.
Opinion: Evans and Bayley had a solid match tonight and Evans got a good reaction from the crowd. I just cannot stand WWE consistently having champions lose on television and for it to lead to a rematch.
Reigns & Corbin Will Battle In A Falls Count Anywhere Match At Royal Rumble
Roman Reigns squared off with Robert Roode in a Tables Match in the main event of this week’s episode of SmackDown. If Reigns won the match, he would get to choose the stipulation for his match against King Corbin at the Royal Rumble PPV. If Roode won the match, Corbin would decide.
Match Recap: Roode attacked Roman from behind during his entrance. Roode bounced Roman’s face off the steel steps but Reigns battled back and cleared off the announce table. Roode raked Roman’s eyes and sent him flying into the steel steps once again. Roman sprinted around the ring and went for a Spear but Roode got out of the way and Reigns went crashing through the barricade. King Corbin was then carried to the entrance ramp as the show went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Roode had set up a table in the ring and tried to Suplex Roman through it but Reigns escaped. Reigns hit a Superman Punch and fired up the crowd. Roman set up a table in the corner of the ring and geared up for the Spear. Corbin hopped on the apron for a distraction and Dolph Ziggler hopped in the ring and leveled Roman with a Superkick.
Corbin and Ziggler set up Reigns on top of the announce table as Roode climbed to the top rope. The Usos rushed the ring and took out Roode with a Superkick. They then set up Dolph on the announce table and hit him with a Splash off the barricade. Reigns then Speared Roode through the table in the corner of the ring for the victory. After the match, Roman Reigns announced that he will battle Corbin in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Royal Rumble.
Opinion: Corbin and Reigns’ match at TLC was horrific so hopefully they have something entertaining planned for their match at Royal Rumble. Overall, this week’s SmackDown was a forgettable show. There are a few matches on the Royal Rumble card that I do not have any interest in.