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WWE SmackDown makes a big more to Thursday nights on SyFy this week. But the show that will air on Jan. 15, 2015) was taped as usual on Tuesday night - this one from Baton Rogue, Louisiana. That means full spoilers are readily available if you're the impatient type who doesn't want to wait even one less day than normal for the payoff.
Unwrap that present early:
- Dark matches were Paige over Sasha Banks with a Paige Turner, and Luke Harper over Curtis Axel with a lariat
- Jerry Lawler got a big pop for his debut in his new regular gig. Smackdown officially opened with an interview of Daniel Bryan by Byron Saxton.
- Kane came out for their match, which didn't go for very long before interference by Jaime Noble & Joey Mercury triggered a disqualification. Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns showed up to help Bryan and prevent the beatdown. Triple H appeared to give us what we want from the blue brand - whatever night it's on - tag match main event! Ambrose, Bryan & Reigns against Kane, Seth Rollins & Big Show.
- Miz, Mizdow and Alicia Fox defeated The Usos & Naomi. They announced Miz & Mizdow vs. The Usos for the tag titles at Royal Rumble. One report said that the pop for Damien Sandow was almost as loud as Bryan's.
- Reigns talked to Renee Young, and then Paul Heyman came to the ring for a promo. Rollins interrupted, and they teased being on the same page. Heyman told Seth he could protect him when The Authority were gone...
- Natalya, with Paige, forced Divas champ Nikki Bella, with Brie, to tap to a Sharpshooter. This was non-title, of course.
- Young interviewed Show, who entered the Rumble match. Kane walked in and also put his name on the 30 person list.
- Bad News Barrett beat Sin Cara with Wasteland (his finisher, not where The Ascension want you to visit them) to hold onto his Intercontinental title in a match that's getting some good reviews.
- Ambrose talked to RY and made it clear that he's in the Rumble match.
- Babyface team wins the main event in what's being described as a fun match you've seen before (added: Bryan pinned Kane - thanks Cagesiders!). The Game came out while Bryan & Ambreigns were celebrating to book Bryan vs. Kane (round MCMXII...OMG) for Raw - if The Beard loses, he's out of the Rumble.
That's the show, folks. Your thoughts?