WWE SmackDown live results: Royal Rumble fallout

WWE continues to follow up on the Royal Rumble as tonight’s SmackDown takes place at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is set to address the aftermath of his title match against Kevin Owens. After Reigns defeated Owens last Saturday, The Bloodline gave Owens a vicious beating. Sami Zayn refused to attack Owens and hit Reigns with the chair to a giant pop. The Bloodline then turned their attack on Zayn — except for Jey Uso, who walked off.

Reigns will defend his Undisputed title against men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair puts her title on the line against Sonya Deville tonight. Flair is scheduled to defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against women’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.

The SmackDown Tag Team title contender’s tournament concludes tonight with Imperium taking on Braun Strowman & Ricochet in the finals.

In a women’s Elimination Chamber qualifying match, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Zelina Vega, and Natalya compete in a fatal four-way.

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

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– A video package recapped The Bloodline/Sami Zayn angle from the Royal Rumble. 

– Kayla Braxton was standing in the parking lot when the Bloodline arrived without Jey Uso. She asked about Jey, but they ignored her. Paul Heyman approached and had no comment regarding Jey’s status in The Bloodline. 

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SmackDown tag team number one contender’s tournament finals: Braun Strowman & Ricochet defeated Imperium (w/Gunther) (16:24)

Ricochet & Strowman vs. Imperium was a great opener. Everyone played to their strengths and worked hard. They got a lot of time to tell a good story. It’s a bit odd that Ricochet and Strowman won the tournament, even though they weren’t in it at first. 

They showed the Ricochet/Logan Paul spot from the Rumble match. Michael Cole recapped Gunther’s performance in the Royal Rumble, which he called legendary.

Strowman dominated Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci early in the match. Imperium regrouped at ringside with Gunther. After a distraction, Kaiser rocked Ricochet with an uppercut. Strowman jumped off the apron and ran over Vinci at ringside. As Gunther distracted Strowman, Kaiser went for a suicide dive, but Strowman caught him. Vinci then dove off the top rope onto both. 

Back from the break, Strowman went shoulder-first into the ring post. The heels isolated Strowman on their side of the ring. Vinci slowed the pace with a front face lock. Strowman broke free, and Ricochet got the hot tag. Ricochet hit a flying crossbody, springboard clothesline, and a standing shooting star press for a near fall. 

Imperium briefly regained control. Strowman helped launch Ricochet onto Imperium at ringside. Ricochet and Gunther started arguing. Ricochet pushed him, so Gunther shoved him back. The referee watched the whole thing go down, so he sent Gunther to the back as they went to a break. 

Ricochet and Kaiser traded shots back and forth. Imperium worked together to take out Ricochet and knocked Strowman off the apron. They went for the Imperium bomb, but Ricochet escaped. 

Vinci caught Ricochet and hit a brainbuster, but Strowman broke up the pin attempt. Strowman got the tag and hit anything that moved. Strowman destroyed Imperium with a clothesline. The finish came when Strowman hit the monster bomb on Kaiser. Ricochet then hit a Swanton bomb off Strowman’s shoulders to win the tournament. 

Ricochet & Strowman take on The Usos for the tag team titles next week. Wade Barrett pushed that now is the ideal time for a title shot because there’s so much uncertainty with The Usos. 

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– The Progressive Match Flo of the week recapped Rhea Ripley winning the women’s Royal Rumble match. 

– Kayla Braxton spoke with SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. Flair’s ready to take on Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. Tonight Flair has to focus on Sonya Deville. Deville interrupted and promised to defeat Flair for the title. 

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Rey Mysterio/New Day and Judgement Day Nascar segment

They showed highlights of Rey Mysterio and New Day, promoting the upcoming Nascar Clash at the Coliseum last night. Judgement Day showed up and argued with Rey and New Day. It led to Rey and Dominik racing against each other with professional drivers. 

Dominik was upset that Rey won and argued with him until they got pulled apart. Dominik noted he would have won if Rhea Ripley had been there. 

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SmackDown Women’s Charlotte Flair defeated Sonya Deville (10:21)

Flair and Deville didn’t have a terrible match, but it dragged at times, and they seemed on different pages. 

Michael Cole mentioned the passing of Lanny Poffo during the match. 

Flair was firmly in control with a shoulder tackle. She followed with a flying crossbody for a near fall. Deville grabbed Flair by the hair and slammed her down as they cut to a break.

Deville dominated during the break. Flair briefly fought back and rolled up Deville for a near fall. Flair fought back with hard chops. She avoided a right hand and hit a back suplex. Flair rocked Deville with a forearm and hit a big boot for a close two-count.

Deville took advantage, with Flair missing a boot against the ropes. Deville rocked Flair with a pump kick for a near fall. She then hit a knee off the middle rope. Deville went for the figure four leg lock, but Flair countered with a small package for a close near fall. 

Flair hit a forward flip into a clothesline for a near fall. Deville tried fighting back, but Flair locked on the Figure Eight for the win. 

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– A video package recapped Cody Rhodes winning the men’s Royal Rumble. 

– In the Bloodline locker room, Roman Reigns wanted to know if Jimmy talked to Jey. Reigns pointed out that they have a title match next week. Reigns was furious that Jey wasn’t around or answering any calls. Regardless, Jimmy’s certain that Jey will show up next week. Reigns didn’t care and ordered them to find Jey.

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– For Black History Month, they looked at the career of Kofi Kingston.

The Viking Raiders (w/Valhalla) defeated The Brawling Brutes (9:43)

The Brutes and Raiders had a short but good hard-hitting match. All four looked really good, particularly Butch. Regardless, the fans appeared dead for most of it and only reacted at certain times. 

Cole noted Butch and Ridge Holland are out for revenge for the Viking Raiders attacking Drew McIntyre & Sheamus last week. 

Ivar backed Butch into the corner and rocked him with body shots. Butch tried fighting back with forearms, but Ivar overpowered him. The Brawling Brutes took over and gave Erik the ten beats of Bodhran. Valhalla caused a distraction, allowing Erik to send Butch into the barricade. 

Back from the break, Holland tagged in and threw Erik across the ring with a series of suplexes. Holland escaped a powerbomb and hit an Alabama Slam for near fall. Ivar went for a top rope slam, but Butch countered with a hurricanrana for a near fall. 

Butch went for a moonsault, but Ivar caught him and hit a power slam. Ivar took out Holland with a spin kick. After looking down at Valhalla, the Raiders hit Ragnarok on Butch for the win. 

After the match, Drew Mcintyre and Sheamus walked out and brawled with the Viking Raiders. 

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They recapped the Pitch Black match from the Royal Rumble. 

They showed Bray Wyatt sitting in a rocking chair when Uncle Howdy walked in and looked at the camera. 

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Elimination Chamber Fatal Four Way Qualifying Match: Natalya defeated Shotzi, Shayna Baszler, and Zelina Vega (7:16)

Typical WWE four-way with two people fighting in the ring and the other two lying outside. Not a bad match, but not spectacular either. The story revolved around Natalya out for revenge for Baszler breaking her nose. 

Natalya and Shotzi fought each other to get to Baszler. Vega pulled out Shotzi and sent her into the barricade. Vega and Natalya went one on one in the ring. Vega hit code red, but Baszler broke up the pin attempt. Baszler then caught Natalya with a jumping knee for a close near fall. Cole noted Baszler used the same move that broke Natalya’s nose three months ago. 

Back from the break, Baszler dominated all three competitors during the break. Shotzi fought back and hit a dive to the floor. Vega then hit a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle onto Baszler and Shotzi. 

In the ring, Natalya got the sharpshooter on Shotzi, but Vega made the save. Shotzi then gave Vega a back suplex with a bad landing. Baszler got the kirifuda clutch on Vega and almost had the match won. Baszler dropped the hold when Natalya went for the discus lariat. She locked the kirifuda clutch on Natalya. Natalya broke free and caught Vega in the sharpshooter for the win. 

Natalya qualifies for the women’s Elimination Chamber match in Montreal. 

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– In the Bloodline locker room, Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa couldn’t get ahold of Jey or find him. Reigns was annoyed. He noted he’s under a lot of stress and pressure because of his position and WrestleMania season. He apologized for the way he talked to them earlier. Reigns wants them to go to the bus and enjoy the catering. He’s going to the ring to handle some business. 

Roman Reigns Segment 

Another hot angle in the Bloodline-Sami Zayn storyline. Reigns challenged Zayn to a title match in Montreal so that he could beat him in front of his family. The fans went crazy for Zayn, who was the most over with the crowd. The segment and Zayn’s beatdown got a ton of heat. 

WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman entered the ring. Reigns took the mic, and the fans broke into a “Sami” chant. Reigns demanded the fans acknowledge him. The fans broke into a loud “Sami” chant. 

Reigns knows the fans want him to talk about Sami Zayn. He’d rather talk about Cody Rhodes, who deserves his attention. The fans broke into another loud “Sami” chant. The fans didn’t boo Cody’s name but just wanted Sami Zayn. 

Reigns looked into Zayn’s eyes at the Survivor Series and saw greed. Reigns said Zayn was just like everyone else and just wanted something from him. 

Suddenly, Sami Zayn attacked Reigns to a massive pop. Reigns fought back and grabbed a chair. But Zayn recovered and hit a spear on Reigns to another huge pop. Reigns avoided a chair shot and rolled out of the ring. 

Zayn took the mic and said he never wanted anything from Reigns until now. Zayn demanded a title shot at the Universal title. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa ran out and beat down Zayn. Reigns backed Zayn into the corner and yelled at him. He blamed Zayn for Jey Uso leaving and breaking up his family. Reigns wants to beat Zayn in Montreal at Elimination Chamber in front of his family. The fans broke into loud “We want Jey” and “Sami” chants. 

Reigns posed with The Bloodline over a fallen Zayn to end SmackDown. 

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Next Week: SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defend their titles against Braun Strowman & Ricochet. Plus, Rey Mysterio, Karrion Kross, Madcap Moss, and Santos Escobar compete in a fatal four-way number-one contender match for a shot at the Intercontinental title. 

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