WWE SmackDown aired live from the Bok Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma tonight. This week’s episode was advertised as “Super SmackDown” and featured Shinsuke Nakamura versus Braun Strowman for the Intercontinental Championship.
SmackDown Results (1/31)
- The Miz & John Morrison def. Heavy Machinery, Lucha House Party, and The Revival
- Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross def. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
- Braun Strowman def. Shinsuke Nakamura to win the Intercontinental Championship
- Roman Reigns & The Usos def. King Corbin, Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Morrison & The Miz Earned A Title Shot
Heavy Machinery (Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight) vs. John Morrison & the Miz vs. Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Kalisto & Lince Dorado) vs. The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson) battled tonight to determine the #1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Match Recap: Heavy Machinery took control early as Otis planted Miz with a Powerslam. Tucker leveled The Revival as Otis connected with a double Caterpillar. Miz battled back and went for a Crossbody off the second rope but Otis caught him. A massive brawl broke out that wound up with Miz and Dawson in the ring. Miz connected with the Skull Crushing Finale as Morrison tagged himself in. John hit the Starship Pain on Dawson for the pinfall victory. John Morrison and The Miz are the new #1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. They will face New Day at WWE Super ShowDown for the titles.
After the match, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville approached Otis and Tucker backstage. Mandy thanked Otis for helping her during the women’s Royal Rumble match and Otis responded by asking Rose out for a date next Friday. Mandy stated that she had plans and Otis looked upset. Rose told Otis that she doesn’t have plans the following Friday and Tucker pointed out that their date is on Valentine’s Day.
Braun Strowman Captured The IC Title
Shinsuke Nakamura defended his Intercontinental Championship against Braun Strowman tonight on SmackDown. Sami Zayn and Cesaro were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Nakamura tried to lock in a Sleeper Hold but Strowman quickly escaped by slamming Shinsuke into the turnbuckle. Sami hopped up on the ring apron for a distraction and Nakamura took control of the match. Zayn then got in a cheap shot as the referee was distracted by Shinsuke.
Braun battled back and connected with a Splash in the corner. Shinsuke tried to regroup outside the ring but Strowman went after him and connected with a massive shoulder tackle. Back in the ring, Sami started to take off the padding of the top turnbuckle. The referee prevented Cesaro from hitting Strowman with a cheap shot, which allowed Braun to send Nakamura into the exposed turnbuckle. Strowman followed it up with the Running Powerslam for the pinfall victory. Braun Strowman is the new Intercontinental Champion.
Opinion: There was a time where Braun Strowman should have been the WWE Champion but he wasn’t given the title for whatever reason. I hope this helps Strowman regain some of that popularity and he can begin to get himself back to that level.
Sheamus Defeated Shorty G Again
Sheamus squared off with Shorty G once again tonight. Sheamus defeated Shorty G during the Royal Rumble Kickoff Show this past Sunday night.
Match Recap: Shorty G attacked Sheamus from behind during his entrance. Shorty G ran down to the ring as Sheamus got up with a pissed off look on his face. Sheamus dominated the match early and hit a Rolling Senton outside the ring. Back in the ring, Shorty G hit a headbutt and followed it up with a Dropkick off the top rope. Shorty G hit a Cannonball in the corner of the ring and made his way back to the top rope. Shorty G hit a Moonsault and went for the cover but Sheamus somehow was able to kick out at two. Sheamus quickly took back control and hit the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus followed it up with the Brogue Quick for the pinfall victory.
Naomi Sent A Message To Bayley
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley came down to the ring to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Bayley referred to herself as a role model as she bragged about retaining over Lacey Evans at the Royal Rumble.
Bayley added that Lacey’s daughter now has to look at her mother and know that she is a loser. She said that she can watch from the crowd with the rest of the sheep is she needs someone to look up to.
Bayley claimed that it was a given that Flair was going to pick her for WrestleMania and asked for her to come to the ring. Naomi interrupted and had a LED helmet/ mask on.
Naomi stated that Bayley has never defeated her and that the SmackDown Women’s Championship could use some glow. Bayley then hit Naomi in the face with the title and beat her down. Naomi battled back and hit Bayley with a kick to the face that sent the SmackDown Women’s Champion retreating.
Reigns & The Usos Got Revenge On King Corbin
Roman Reigns and The Usos started off this week’s episode with a promo. Roman bragged about whooping Corbin’s ass all over the baseball stadium.
Corbin interrupted alongside Ziggler and Roode. Corbin claimed that Roman wouldn’t have won the match at the Royal Rumble if it wasn’t for The Usos getting involved. He then rolled footage of Reigns being covered in dog food and Roman wondered if they had a dog food fetish. Roman suggested that the losing team had to eat dog food tonight and King Corbin accepted the stipulation. That match wound up being the main event of the show.
Match Recap: Corbin, Roode, and Ziggler dominate the action early and send The Usos flying out of the ring. Graves and Cole make sure to comment about how gross the dog food smells as SmackDown went to a break. Back from the break, Corbin tagged in and hit Reigns with a cheap shot on the apron. Roman eventually got the tag and got a great reaction from the crowd. Corbin planted Reigns with a Chokeslam and went for the cover but Roman kicked out. King Corbin followed that up with the Deep Six but once again Reigns kicked out at two. Jimmy took out Roode with a Suicide Dive that sent him over the table. Jey then did the same to Ziggler as Reigns rolled up Corbin for the victory.
After the match, Reigns and The Usos handcuffed King Corbin to the ring post. They then flung some dog food on Corbin before pouring a ton of it on top of him. Reigns, Jimmy, and Jey then posed for a bit before celebrating in the ring to close the show.
Opinion: WWE advertised this show as “Super SmackDown”, when in reality it was just several matches we have already seen before. Strowman capturing the Intercontinental Championship was easily the best moment of the night. The rest of the show was pretty forgettable.