WWE SmackDown live results: Roman Reigns and Goldberg go face-to-face
With Elimination Chamber less than 24 hours away, SmackDown finishes building to the PPV on tonight’s go-home show.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Goldberg will meet face-to-face ahead of their Universal Championship bout in Saudi Arabia tomorrow. Goldberg returned to WWE TV on SmackDown two weeks ago and challenged Reigns to the match.
Ronda Rousey & Naomi are set to face Charlotte Flair & Sonya Deville at Elimination Chamber. Tonight, the two teams will meet for a contract signing.
On last Friday’s show, Deville attempted to suspend and fine Rousey for injuring her arm the previous week. WWE management instead denied Deville’s request via email. Later that night, Flair defeated Naomi to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Flair and Deville beat down Naomi after the match until Rousey made the save. Rousey tried to injure Deville’s other arm, but Flair pulled her out of the ring.
Tonight’s show will also feature an Intercontinental Championship match with Shinsuke Nakamura defending against Sami Zayn.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Michael Cole and Corey Graves are the commentators for tonight.
Contract Signing: Ronda Rousey & Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair & Sonya Deville
This was a fine opening segment.
Adam Pearce was already in the ring to start SmackDown. As Flair and Deville made their entrance, Cole pointed out that Deville’s arm was still in a sling. Graves wondered how she could be ready to compete by tomorrow.
Pearce began to explain the contract signing, but Deville interrupted. She noted she knows how contracts work, but he needs to explain the rules to Rousey and Naomi. Rousey said rule one is to sign the contract, and Naomi added rule two is she kicks Deville’s ass.
Deville signed the contract. Rousey and Naomi mocked Deville until Flair interrupted. She pointed out that there’s an added stipulation for their match.
Deville mentioned Rousey claiming she could beat them with one arm. Deville then announced that Rousey would have one arm tied behind her back for the tag team match at Elimination Chamber.
Rousey signed the contract. Rousey got in Flair’s face and slammed her head on the table. The camera angle was from behind Flair with a quick cut. Naomi knocked down Deville, and the faces flipped the table over on the heels. Rousey and Naomi celebrated to end the segment.
They recapped Ricochet defeating Ridge Holland two weeks ago.
In the back, Sheamus spoke with Holland. He was disappointed that Ricochet defeated Holland. Sheamus motivated Holland and told him to watch his match with Ricochet.
Ricochet defeated Sheamus (w/Ridge Holland) (10:52)
Ricochet and Sheamus had a good match.
Ricochet jumped Sheamus at the bell for the early advantage. He sent Sheamus to the floor and followed up with a suicide dive. Sheamus fought back and hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to take over.
Ricochet tried fighting back with chops and right hands, but Sheamus hit a back suplex. Sheamus slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Ricochet broke free and rocked Sheamus with a knee to the face.
Ricochet then tackled Sheamus over the top rope. He followed up with a moonsault off the apron, but Sheamus caught him and hit a fallaway slam over the announce table.
Back from the break, Sheamus was firmly in control. He hit the ten beats of bodhran against the ropes and sent Ricochet back in the ring.
Ricochet fought back and hit a tornado DDT. He followed up with a springboard flying elbow and a standing shooting star press for a near fall.
Ricochet hit a moonsault for another near fall. Sheamus recovered and hit the Alabama slam for a two-count. Sheamus climbed to the top rope, but Ricochet cut him off. Sheamus tried to push him off, but Ricochet recovered and hit the Spanish Fly for a very close near fall.
Ricochet climbed to the top rope, but Holland caused a distraction. Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick, but Ricochet moved out of the way. Sheamus always ran into Holland, but stopped himself. He yelled at Holland for jumping on the apron. Ricochet took advantage and hit the recoil for the win.
After the match, Sheamus yelled at Holland and blamed him for losing. Sheamus then shoved Holland down.
They recapped Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs appearing on In Zayn. During the segment, Boogs grabbed the mic, and it electrocuted him.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Sami Zayn. Braxton pointed out that Boogs isn’t going to be at ringside tonight. Zayn quickly noted he had nothing to do with that. Zayn said he had one of the worst years of his life, but it doesn’t matter because he will win the Intercontinental title tonight.
Cole and Graves discussed Undertaker’s Hall of Fame induction. He’s the first member of the 2022 class.
They showed an excellent video looking back at Undertaker’s career and evolution from Deadman to American Badass. It featured various wrestlers prasing him including, Triple H, Mick Foley, Kane, Batista, John Cena, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
They recapped the Roman Reigns and Goldberg feud and previewed the match tomorrow.
Ivar (w/Erik) defeated Jey Uso (w/Jimmy Uso) via DQ (2:38)
Jey and Ivar had a good match until the weak finish. The Viking Raiders could have used the win going into Elimination Chamber.
Cole pointed out that The Viking Raiders came out without their Viking helmets because The Usos stole them last week.
Uso backed Ivar into the corner, but Ivar fought back and hit a splash for a near fall. He went for a flying crossbody, but Uso moved out of the way. He rocked Ivar with a superkick and slowed the pace with a chin lock.
Uso hit another superkick, but Ivar recovered and hit a clothesline for a two-count. He followed up with the Bronco Buster and hit a splash off the top rope. Jimmy then jumped in the ring and struck Ivar with his helmet for the disqualification.
After the match, The Viking Raiders beat down The Usos and took their helmets back.
They recapped Madcap Moss trying to get out of his match with Drew McIntyre last week.
Drew McIntyre’s Final Preparation
McIntyre made his way to the ring to address Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss.
McIntyre discussed living in Lousiana in 2010 when the Saints won the Superbowl. He remembers partying on Bourbon Street that night. He said he ended up in the back of a police car, but it wasn’t his fault. The officer recognized him, and they partied the rest of the night.
McIntyre showed footage of Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss attacking him at Day One. The doctor told McIntyre he wouldn’t make it back for WrestleMania.
McIntyre noted his match with Moss is Anything Goes. He talked about all the ways he could hurt Moss. McIntyre asked the fans to help and told them to send him suggestions to #MadcapMauling.
Moss and Corbin interrupted. Moss made a bad joke about McIntyre’s injured neck. McIntyre noted Moss has all the talent in the world, but he decided to align with Corbin.
McIntyre promised to get his revenge and said that Elimination Chamber would be the night the laughter died.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. He promised to kick Zayn in the face and retain his title.
Sami Zayn defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the Intercontinental title (18:12)
Zayn and Nakamura had a good match and told a good story. The finish felt a bit anti-climatic.
During Nakamura’s entrance, Cole mentioned that Boogs is recovering from last week and won’t be at ringside.
Zayn had a brief advantage with a side headlock. Nakamura escaped and caught Zayn with a kick to the face. He followed up with a running knee in the corner.
Nakamura dragged Zayn to the apron and hit another running knee. He went for a knee drop on the apron, but Zayn moved, and Nakamura crashed on the floor.
Back from the break, Zayn was firmly in control with a chin lock. Nakamura fought back and locked on an armbar. Zayn escaped, but Nakamura hit a sliding basement dropkick. He then hit a sliding German suplex for a near fall.
Nakamura went for a running knee, but Zayn reversed into the Michinoku Driver for a close near fall. Zayn attempted the tornado DDT through the ring post, but Nakamura caught him with a kick to the head. Nakamura went for a running knee at ringside. Zayn moved, and Nakamura hit his injured knee against the stairs.
Back from the break, Zayn worked over Nakamura’s injured knee in the corner. They fought on the top rope, but Nakamura knocked Zayn off. Nakamura followed up with a knee for a near fall. He went for the Kinshasa, but Zayn drop kicked the knee. Zayn followed up with the blue thunder bomb for a close near fall.
Zayn mocked Nakamura. Nakamura snapped and stomped Zayn against the ropes. He then rocked Zayn with a kick to the head. Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa again, but Zayn rolled out of the ring.
Zayn fought back and slammed Nakamura’s leg against the ring post repeatedly. The finish came when Zayn blocked a kick and attacked the injured knee. Zayn then used a small package to win the match.
In the back, Aliyah spoke with Ricochet. She praised him for beating Sheamus earlier tonight. She smiled at Ricochet as he walked away. Zayn showed up and bragged about winning the Intercontinental title.
They recapped Bobby Lashley defeating Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble. They previewed Lashley defending in the Elimination Chamber tomorrow.
Cole and Graves ran down the Elimination Chamber lineup.
Face-to-Face: Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Goldberg
This was a good segment. Reigns, Heyman, and Goldberg, were good in their roles.
Reigns and Paul Heyman slowly made their way to the ring. Reigns took the mic and demanded that New Orleans acknowledge him. At first, he got a mixed reaction, but the fans broke into a loud “Roman” chant. Reigns then ordered Heyman to celebrate him.
Heyman said this is the best part of his day. He discussed watching athletes in their prime, including Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Drew Brees.
Heyman then mocked Brees and the Saints. The fans booed and broke into a loud “who dat” chant. Heyman noted the fans get to see Reigns in his prime tomorrow at Elimination Chamber.
Goldberg’s music hit, and he made his way to the ring. Goldberg held the mic in his hand but threw it down. He stepped up to Reigns and got in his face. The fans broke into a loud “Golberg” chant.
Goldberg admitted he made a mistake and said Reigns isn’t next. Goldberg added when it comes to the Universal title; he’s next. Goldberg and Reigns had a stare-down to end SmackDown.