WWE SmackDown live results: Royal Rumble contract signing
Roman Reigns will be in the house at SmackDown tonight to sign the contract for his fatal four-way title defense at the Royal Rumble.
Reigns is set to defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles at the Rumble on Saturday, January 27. They will meet tonight to sign the contract and make their match official.
Also on tap, Orton will square off against Bloodline member Solo Sikoa. Last week’s show ended with Sikoa and Jimmy Uso being laid out by Orton, Knight, and Styles after a three-on-two handicap match.
The KO Show returns as Kevin Owens welcomes United States Champion Logan Paul as his guest. The two are set to face off at the Royal Rumble for the U.S. title.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance & Kayden Carter defend their belts against Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn tonight. Carlito, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro are taking on Santos Escobar, Angel & Humberto. And Butch & Tyler Bate are facing Pretty Deadly.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– A video recapping last week’s Bloodline developments aired. It included all of the main event (which, again, I apologize for the power outage on my end, thus ruining the end of last week’s review. But, hey: it’s a new week!).
– Jimmy Uso was talking to Solo Sikoa backstage. Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman walked into the frame. Reigns said he was there because the rest of his family didn’t fix things like he asked them to. After Reigns walked away, Sikoa said, “I’ll fix everything.”
The Royal Rumble contract signing
It was intriguing in a mild way that Reigns didn’t appear in the opening segment. It makes me wonder if he’s actually physically in the building despite the cold open and if perhaps they produced some pre-tapes for the episode. I’ll probably look foolish for that by the end of the night when he ends up factoring into the Orton vs. Sikoa match, but I digress. Anyway, this was fairly formulaic. My biggest takeaway from the Styles/Knight/Orton stuff all this time is that it really seems like Knight and Styles don’t like each other and that’s the next big feud for both of them once everyone moves past the Rumble. If it ends up playing out like that, everyone involved is doing a very good job heating that up. Orton, meanwhile, comes across as a shelf above both guys in terms of star power, and I’m not so sure about how many favors that might be doing for Styles and Knight.
SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis was in the middle of the ring. Aldis welcomed the crowd in. Aldis introduced AJ Styles, who walked to the ring and signed the contract. Aldis then introduced LA Knight, who played to the crowd and signed the contract as well. Aldis followed all of that up by welcoming Randy Orton to the ring. Once in the ring, Orton signed the contract as well. The crowd chanted “Randy!” Finally, Aldis introduced Roman Reigns, who did not initially appear. Instead, Paul Heyman walked out with a microphone in hand.
Heyman said he and Reigns had just arrive and they had not had the chance to submit the contract to an attorney beforehand. Heyman said he didn’t even have a chance to get his eyes on the agreement. As a result, Heyman said Reigns will not sign the contract. Aldis it’s fine if Reigns won’t sign the contract because he already has three signatures on the contract, so if nothing else, a triple-threat match for the “vacant” WWE Universal Undisputed Championship will take place.
Heyman marched back to the ring and said he cared deeply about Aldis. Heyman said he respected and admired the mediocre job he’s done as the person in charge of SmackDown. Hey complimented Aldis’s suits and said there would be no way Aldis could sell that scenario to anyone, including the Tribal Chief. Heyman said Reigns should be defending his title in a one-on-one match at the Royal Rumble. Heyman tried to go on, but Knight told him to “shut the hell up.” Knight said he’d “cut bacon off” Heyman’s back if he says another word. Knight said it should have been his match, but Orton and Styles came back to skip the line.
Styles chimed in and said the Bloodline tried to end his career and Knight walked over Styles’s dead body to get his match with Reigns and Knight lost. Styles said Knight was lucky to be in the match. Knight said Styles should watch the bass in his voice when he talks to Knight and Styles should turn his attention to Reigns. Knight told Styles he’d leave Styles laying and did his catchphrase. That kicked off a brawl between Styles and Knight until WWE officials broke them up. The crowd, meanwhile, chanted “Randy!” as Orton stood and did nothing. Left in the ring was Orton and Heyman and Orton grabbed Heyman’s tie. Orton said what Heyman tried to do won’t work because he’s going to drop Sikoa later in the show. After that, Orton said he would reintroduce the “RKO” letters to Reigns. Orton’s music played the segment out.
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– Aldis was shown walking backstage and was stopped by Styles, who told him he wants LA Knight in a match for later. Aldis told Styles he’s got it.
Santos Escobar, Angel & Humberto defeated Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde & Carlito [8:25]
This was fine for what it was. You watch enough WWE, you can’t help but get the formula down as a viewer and that’s pretty much what this match turned out to be. You had to think the heels would get a cheap win and they did. Here’s my biggest question: What happened to the Wilde leaping spot from NXT? That was nuts. Why can’t they re-create that on the big stage? My hopes were high as the match went to a commercial break and the heels were on the outside, but it was not to be. The initial NXT moment was a fun, viral memory and it’s one Del Toro and Wilde could use on the main roster. Also, I may be in the minority, but can we start to move away from these six guys and these two factions and have them all move on to something perhaps bigger? I feel like everyone involved here has been working together in one way or another for months (yes, I know Angel and Humberto are relatively new to the equation, but … damn, guys, let’s try to branch out a little).
Angel and Carlito started the match as Angel took Carlito’s knee out. Carlito quickly rebounded and chopped Angel to the ground. Del Toro tagged in and traded blows with Angel. Wilde tagged in and worked a double-team move that resulted in a springboard moonsault on Angel. Humberto tried to interfere, but Wilde got the best of them. From there, Del Toro and Wilde completed stereo dives onto Angel and Humberto, who were on the outside. Escobar stared at the babyfaces as the show went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, the heels had control as Angel landed an assisted neck-breaker. Escobar ultimately tagged in and Humberto and Angel threw Wilde onto Escobar’s knee. Angel tagged in and bullied Wilde before Humberto tagged in and worked a chin-lock. Wilde eventually worked his way out of it and hit a spike DDT. Ultimately, Carlito received the hot tag and he cleaned house on the three heels. Carlito slammed Humberto, but Escobar broke things up. Things broke down and a lot of super-kicks were traded amongst the wrestlers. Escobar got in a blind tag and after Carlito hit a back-stabber, Escobar ran into the ring and rolled up Carlito for the win.
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– Kayla Braxton interviewed Pretty Deadly backstage. They said they had been studying tapes on Butch and Tyler Bate and they are “pretty smart boys.” The two then made their entrance.
– Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits cut a vignette. They called out The Final Testament and said they just need to name a time and place and when that happens, they will show the Final Testament “what real intimidation looks like.”
Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) [7:20]
I said in the last few weeks that I have a soft spot for Dunne and Bate, so I enjoyed this. Dunne returning to Dunne was really neat and he even showed more fire and less of that goofy, wild, crazy stuff he was asked to do with the Brutes. This feels more authentic and I’m here for it. My only concern is that the live crowds still don’t seem to be all that behind Dunne and Bate. Maybe they are still getting acquainted. But maybe it’s not working, either – and that’s my fear. Levesque seems to give wrestlers a longer rope compared to the previous regime when it comes to getting over, so here’s hoping Dunne and Bate get more of a chance then just a few TV matches. Meanwhile, what’s up with Pretty Deadly? They seemed to be positioned for a push when they first got to SmackDown, but they’ve been taking nothing but losses lately. Both teams are curious cases when it comes to the future, but both cases are interesting enough to keep me caring about them week to week.
Tyler Bate made his entrance first and instead of coming out as Butch, Pete Dunne came out as … well … Pete Dunne, complete with his old gear. Very cool. Bate and Wilson started the match, but Dunne tagged in soon and instantly started going after Wilson’s fingers. Dunne had a ton of fire and aggression as he stretched Wilson. Bate tagged in and spun Wilson around a bunch before Wilson rolled to the outside and the show went to a commercial break.
When the show returned, Prince had control on Bate inside the ring. The heels kept control as Wilson tagged in and landed a gut buster. Wilson leapt at Bate, but Bate caught Wilson and suplexed him. Dunne then received the hot tag and Dunne fired up with a German Suplex and a stomp on Wilson’s hands. Dunne then kicked Prince and suplexed Prince onto Wilson. Dunne ran at Prince, but Prince kicked Dunne. Bate then tagged in and punched Prince and clotheslined Wilson. Dunne then tagged in and did the finger spot on Prince before hitting the Bitter End on Prince for the win.
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– Pretty Deadly was shown walking backstage and they ran into Braxton. Wilson yelled that they weren’t ready. Prince said they were prepared for Butch, but not for who came out. They kept yelling and walked out of the frame.
The KO Show with Logan Paul
Man, the crowd was up for this. A lot more up for it than I thought they would be. Atlanta loves them some Kevin Owens. The two did a good job establishing who they are – Paul as the obnoxious entitled celebrity and Owens as The Guy To Defend Wrestling. It’s an easy story, but it works, and it worked here. So much so that it made me raise my eyebrows even more for their match at the Royal Rumble. Clearly, Owens will have an out with his arm – and my guess is Paul walks out with that title still in his possession – but it should be a lot of fun getting there.
The crowd chanted “KO!” and seemed to love Owens, who thanked them for loving him. Owens said he was about to say something he never thought he’d say: “Please welcome my guest on The Kevin Owens Show, Logan Paul.” Paul made his entrance. There were no chairs in the ring, so the two just stood in the middle of it while holding microphones. Paul mocked The KO Show and said he wasn’t honored to be there. Paul called it a bottom of the barrel show. Paul said he is the show. Paul said he owed Owens a thank you because Owens is the reason Paul is in WWE. Paul threw to a clip, which showed Owens giving Paul a Stunner at WrestleMania 37 in 2021 in Tampa.
The crowd chanted “one more time!” Paul told the crowd to direct their anger at Owens because he’s the reason Paul became a WWE superstar. Owens responded by saying he’s been wrestling for almost 25 years and to him, Paul was just another celebrity he Stunned. Owens gave Paul credit for putting in the work as a wrestler. Owens said as good as Paul is, he’s not “one of us,” referring to other wrestlers on the roster. Paul said thank God for that because he’s “one of one.” Paul used a ton of superlatives to say who he is. Paul followed that by saying Owens is just Owens. Owens funnily responded by saying he didn’t know what any of that meant. The crowd chanted “Logan sucks!”
Owens said he heard all the put-downs Paul lobbed Owens’s way, but Owens said he isn’t allowed to say everything he wants to say about Paul. Owens said Paul is protected and sheltered. Owens said Paul was offered all the tools he needed to win a title once he got to WWE. Owens said Paul holding the U.S. title is a joke and he will put an end to that joke at the Royal Rumble. Paul claimed he wasn’t listening to anything Owens said. Paul noted how Owens’s arm is protected and the only way Owens knocked Paul down was because of Owens’s cast. Paul said it will only take a second to “KO K.O.”
Owens said everyone knows he can take more punishment than anyone else. Owens said there isn’t a punch Paul could throw that could knock him out. Owens then gave his word that he wouldn’t have the cast on the the Rumble. Owens took the cast off and out of nowhere, Paul sucker-punched Owens, who was knocked down. But Owens got up and yelled at Paul and speared Paul. The action spilled outside and Paul rammed Owens’s hurt hand into the ring post. Paul stood over Owens, holding the U.S. title to end the segment.
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– Roman Reigns was shown talking to the Bloodline backstage. Reigns was lecturing Jimmy Uso, but Solo Sikoa stepped in and said last week was on him. Sikoa said tonight, he’ll show Reigns that he can fix everything. Sikoa walked out of the frame and Jimmy followed him.
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship [2:56]
Not much to this. So much so that I feel bad for all four women involved. Shoot, I feel bad for all nine women involved – throw the Damage CTRL ladies in there, too. In a different world, Chance, Carter, Fyre and Dawn could have a very good 12-minute match. SmackDown, these days, isn’t that works. As a result, this was just sort of there. The slow match to Asuka and Sane holding those belts continues.
Damage CTRL stood at ringside for the match and Bayley sat in on commentary. Unholy Union jumpstarted the match and attacked Carter. Chance eventually tagged in and tried to fire things up by working over Dawn. Things broke down early as the four women brawled. Fyre tagged in and traded roll-ups and pin attempts with Carter. Ultimately, Carter landed a Destroyer on Fyre and from there, Carter and Chance hit their finisher for the win.
After the match, Asuka and Kairi Sane taunted the champions by holding the women’s tag titles. Chance and Carter grabbed them away from the Damage CTRL duo and asked them if “they want some.” Bayley said it looks like we know who the next challengers for the women’s tag titles will be.
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– The OC was shown backstage and AJ Styles walked in. Luke Gallows told him that no matter what, they still have Styles’s back. Styles walked away.
– A Final Testament vignette aired. From there, a recap of the Austin Theory/Carmelo Hayes match aired. That included the way it abruptly ended. HAyes was then interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Hayes said thankfully, last week, both guys were able to walk away. Hayes said even though he didn’t win, he also didn’t lose. Theory walked into the frame and said Hayes tried to end Theory’s career last week. Hayes challenged Theory to a match on next week’s SmackDown. Grayson Waller accepted the challenge on behalf of Theory and Theory looked unhappy about it.
– Next week, Carlito will wrestle Santos Escobar. Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits will go face-to-face with The Final Testament. Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin Theory will happen. Plus, the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & and Kairi Sane) will go up against Carter & Chance for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
La Knight defeated AJ Styles via DQ (I think?) [4:48]
There was never an official announcement on the winner, but Sikoa attacked Knight first, so one could only assume he’s the winner despite AJ taking the bulk of the attack after the bell rang to end the match. The match screamed “angle alert” and wouldn’t you know it, the thing turned out to be little more than an angle. I maintain that Styles and Knight will work a program coming out of next Saturday, but only time will tell for sure. As for this, there wasn’t much to say. They got in what they could while they could.
The two brawled to begin the match. Knight ran Styles into the second turnbuckle. Knight followed that up with a vertical suplex and a cover attempt. The two trade chops amid a tiny bit of miscommunication. Styles won that war and and hit a back-breaker. Knight fought back and slammed Styles for a two-count. Styles rolled to the outside and Knight followed him, only to run into a knee from Styles. Styles threw Knight into the barricade and Knight returned the favor by dropping Styles on a barricade. Knight slammed Styles’s head onto the commentary table.
Jimmy Uso then walked out. Knight addressed Uso and Uso backed off. When Knight returned to Styles, Styles landed an enziguri. Out of nowhere, Solo Sikoa appeared and gave Knight the Samoan Spike. Sikoa ran Styles into the ring steps. Sikoa then hit a Samoan Spike on Styles. Sikoa grabbed a microphone and said “Two down, one to go.” Sikoa called out Randy Orton.
Randy Orton defeated Solo Sikoa [5:12]
… And speaking of “angle alert” … . The main event was not really a main event – and as I wrote elsewhere this week, can we please start talking about how Sikoa has taken almost 20 straight losses since that dominating win over John Cena in Saudi Arabia? That said, there was nothing to the actual match here on this night. The set up for Roman ultimately signing the contract and running into an RKO was fairly predictable, but entertaining, nonetheless. How they go home next week should be interesting because I’m not sure what else they could do between the four wrestlers involved in the title match to make it more interesting. Still, go-home week is typically a lot more fun than just a regular, old week. We’ll see.
Sikoa took control early, hitting a hip attack before Orton rolled to the outside, where Sikoa slammed Orton on the commentary table and ran Orton into the ring steps. Sikoa posed as the show went to its final commercial break of the night. When the show returned, Orton suplexed Sikoa onto the commentary table, but the table didn’t break. Sikoa bounced back, landed a few strikes and rolled Orton into the ring. From there, Orton hit the draping DDT and fired up the crowd. Jimmy Uso walked to the ring, but Knight attacked Uso from behind. Uso tried to leave, but Styles attacked Uso, too. Back inside the ring, Orton hit the RKO for the win.
After the match, Orton, Styles and Knight stood in the ring. Knight hit Styles. Orton RKO’d Knight and mocked Knight’s catchphrase. Orton then RKO’d Styles. Orton posed, but Reigns appeared out of nowhere and Superman-Punched Orton to stand tall (so much for my pre-tape theory). Nick Aldis, who was at ringside, gave Reigns the contract and Reigns then signed the contract while smiling. Reigns geared up for a spear on Orton, but instead, Reigns ran into an RKO. Orton’s music hit and Orton stood up, much to the delight of the crowd. Orton was the only one standing to end the show.
