WWE SmackDown Live spoilers (Jan. 1, 2019): It’s a new year, yes it is

Like with Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live was taped ahead of time this evening in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania so the wrestlers don’t have to work on New Year’s Day. Here, then, are spoilers for the show (via Wrestling Inc):

• The New Day had a celebration where they announced they’ll be in the Royal Rumble.
• Samoe Joe def. Jeff Hardy to earn a spot in a Fatal 5-Way main event that will determine Daniel Bryan’s next WWE title challenger.
• AJ Styles and Shane McMahon teased a confrontation backstage when Styles acted like he was going to go after Vince McMahon again.
• Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted Rusev celebrating his U.S. championship victory, leaving both he and Lana hurt in the ring.
• Sonya Deville def. Naomi after they teased it being Mandy Rose. There was a distraction, and apparently a picture of Rose in just a towel on the Titantron.
• Randy Orton and Mustafa Ali got backstage segments talking about the main event Fatal 5-Way, which they, too, are in.
• John Cena made his return, and Becky Lynch interrupted him to say she’s The Man now and taking his spot. Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega came out and that set up a tag team match. In said match, Cena was going to beat Almas but Becky tossed him out and submitted Vega instead.
• They did a backstage segment with Triple H talking to Asuka, Carmella, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair about determining the next top contender to the SmackDown women’s title. They’ll figure it out later.
• AJ Styles won the Fatal 5-Way main event to set up a WWE championship match against Daniel Bryan at Royal Rumble. He won by pinning Randy Orton. The match also included Mustafa Ali, Rey Mysterio, and Samoa Joe.

That was the show.

Sound good to you?