WWE SmackDown live results: Final build to Royal Rumble

SmackDown takes place from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas tonight and features the final build to the Royal Rumble.

A six-man tag match is set for tonight, with Roman Reigns & The Usos teaming up against King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode. The six-man tag comes in advance of Reigns, and Corbin facing off in a falls count anywhere match on Sunday night. In addition to that, both will be entrants in the men’s Rumble.

The falls count anywhere stipulation was announced by Reigns after he defeated Roode in their tables match last Friday.

Universal Champion Bray Wyatt and Daniel Bryan will take part in a contract signing tonight. The Fiend defends against Bryan at the Royal Rumble in a strap match. The stipulation was set up by a challenge that Bryan issued on SmackDown last week.

Kane and Bryan tried to set a trap for The Fiend, but The Fiend escaped back through the ring when Bryan attacked him. Bryan then challenged The Fiend to the strap match, saying the stipulation was his idea for how to beat someone who disappears every time they’re in trouble.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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Roman Reigns & The Usos defeated King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode 

This was a good match and a fun way to kick off the night. Jimmy Uso and Roode had a quick exchange. Jimmy charged, but Roode gave him a backdrop over the rope. Jimmy tried landing on the apron, but he slipped off. Ziggler then grabbed Jimmy by the hair and sent the back of his head into the ring steps.

Reigns, Jey, and medical personal checked on Jimmy. Jimmy was taken out of the match and to the back. 

Back from the break, Reigns and Jey are going on with the match despite the disadvantage. Jey caught Corbin with a back elbow and climbed to the top. He missed a cross body, and Corbin hit deep six for a close near fall. 

The heels took over and isolated Jey on their side of the ring. Jey fought back and hit an enziguri on Roode. Jey was about to make a tag when Corbin yanked Reigns off the apron and threw him over the barricade into the front row. 

Back from the break, Reigns isn’t on the apron, so Jey is on his own against the three heels. Jey sent Corbin shoulder-first into the ring post. Reigns got the hot tag, and Corbin tagged out. 

Reigns ran wild on Ziggler and hit a running boot. Reigns set up for the superman punch, but Roode caused a distraction. Corbin grabbed Reigns by the hair, and Ziggler hit a superkick for a close near fall. 

Reigns is on his own against the three heels as Jey is off the apron. The heels regained control and beat down Reigns. 

Roode attempted the Glorious DDT, but Reigns rolled through for a two count. Reigns then hit a huge powerbomb.

Jey Uso got back up on the apron. Reigns attempted the tag, but Ziggler yanked Jey off the apron. The heels isolated Reigns in their corner. 

Ziggler attempted a superkick, but Reigns hit the superman punch. 

Jimmy Uso limped down to the ring and got the hot tag. Jimmy ran wild and threw Corbin over the announce table.

Jimmy followed up with a crossbody on Roode, but Corbin broke up the pinfall attempt. 

Reigns hit the superman punch on Corbin. They fought around ringside and over the barricade.

Reigns and Corbin fought through the crowd and to the back. 

Jey hit a crossbody off the announce table onto Ziggler on the floor. In the ring, Roode and Jimmy fought on the top turnbuckle. Jimmy pushed off Roode and hits the splash for the win.

They recapped the Lacey Evans pinning SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley last week.

Michael Cole Interviews Lacey Evans

Cole interviewed Evans on the stage. Cole wondered why Evans questioned Sasha Banks and Bayley’s leadership.

Cole asked about Evans’s upbringing, and she became emotional. She talked about her father’s addiction and battle, which he lost. She began crying, and she talked about never giving up. The fans cheered and gave her a great reaction. 

Evans talked about her military career and promised to be a better leader than Banks and Bayley. 

They showed footage of Banks taunting Evans daughter. She told the story of her daughter crying backstage. Evans noted she put Banks on the shelf and is going to do the same to Bayley.

Suddenly, Bayley jumped Evans from behind. Referees ran out to stop Bayley from attacking Evans. 

In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Carmella and Dana Brooke. She asked them how they’re feeling about the Rumble this Sunday.

Carmella’s confident that she’s going to win and ran down her accomplishments. Brooke mocked Carmella and noted the Rumble is every woman for herself. She knows she’s the underdog but promises to win.

Suddenly, Bayley and Evans fought in the background. Brooke and Carmella stepped in to break it up along with the referees. 

Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Fire & Desire 

They recapped Otis catching Mandy Rose, which led to Sonya Deville losing. Before the match, they showed footage of Rose and Deville making up. 

Before the match could start, Bayley and Lacey Evans ran down to the ring. A brawl broke out between all the women, and the referee called for the bell. 

Braun Strowman & Elias defeated Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro (w/Sami Zayn)

Before the match, Elias sang the song “Texas Dream.” He then introduced his tag team partner Strowman, to help him sing. Strowman made his way down to the ring. 

Elias and Strowman were about to sing when the heels interrupted. 

Elias and Cesaro went back and forth. Elias walked the top rope and hit a Meteora. Back from the break, the heels isolated Elias on their side of the ring. Cesaro knocked Strowman off the apron. 

Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa, but Elias countered with a knee. Strowman got the hot tag and ran wild. He missed a charge in the corner, and Nakamura hit a knee off the second turnbuckle. 

Zayn distracted the referee, and Nakamura tried bringing in a chair. Elias cut him off and took him out. The finish came when Strowman hit a running power slam on Cesaro, and Elias hit an elbow off the top for the win.  

In the back, Big E put a ton of grease on himself. Kofi Kingston didn’t understand what Big E’s doing. He explained that it’s going to be tough to throw him out at the Rumble. Kingston promised to defeat John Morrison tonight, and they’re both excited for the Rumble on Sunday. They’re going to win it for the injured Xavier Woods. 

Kayla Braxton interviewed King Corbin backstage. He promised to defeat Roman Reigns at The Royal Rumble and said that Reigns wouldn’t make it to the Rumble match. 

They showed a video package looking back at the history of the Royal Rumble match and various records. 

In the back, Sheamus talked about his return and his feud with Shorty G. He promised to defeat Shorty G at the Royal Rumble and finished what he started.

John Morrison (w/The Miz) defeated Kofi Kingston (w/Big E)

Before the match, The Miz scolded the fans for booing Morrison last week after being gone for eight years. Miz then announced that they’re both entering the Rumble this year. 

Morrison gave Kingston a monkey flip, but Kingston landed on his feet. Kingston returned the favor, and Morrison landed face first. 

Morrison fought back but missed a twisting plancha to the floor. Kingston followed up with a dive of his own. 

Back from the break, Kingston caught Morrison with a sunset flip, but Morrison rolled through and rocked Kingston with a knee. 

Kingston fought back and caught Morrison with a dropkick. He followed up with the Boom Drop and set up for the trouble in paradise. Morrison rocked Kingston with a kick out of nowhere. 

Morrison poked Kingston in the eyes behind the referees back and hit the Spanish fly for a close near fall. Kingston recovered and hit the SOS for a two count. 

Morrison attempted a pin with his feet on the second rope. Big E knocked the feet off, and Miz attacked Big E. 

Big E chased Miz around ringside, and he jumped up on the apron. Kingston rocked Miz with the trouble in paradise. Morrison blindsided Kingston and hit Starship Pain for the win. 

Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt-Daniel Bryan Strap Match Contract Signing 

Michael Cole stood in the ring with a table and the contract. Cole explained the rules of a strap match and introduced the participants, Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt. 

Firefly Funhouse Interrupted on the big screen. Wyatt struggled to fax the contract to Bryan and wondered why Bryan would want to strap himself to Him. 

Bryan pulled out the strap and demanded Wyatt come to the ring. Wyatt noted his lawyer Mercey The Buzzard advises him not too. 

Bryan said he figured out Wyatt’s mind games. He’s just running from his past and his mistakes. 

Wyatt noted “mistake” is the word of the day. Wyatt’s not the one in the match, so it only makes sense that He signs the contract.

The lights went out. The red lights came on, and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt was standing in the ring. Wyatt attacked Bryan gave him Sister Abigal and the mandible claw.

Wyatt then viciously whipped Bryan with the strap. Wyatt sat down to sign the contract. He grabbed the pen and stabbed his other hand, and signed the contract with his blood. The fans chanted, “You’ve Got Issues.” 

Wyatt threw the contract at Bryan and left. The lights came back on to show the marks on Bryan’s back from the strap.