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WWE SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Jan. 17, 2020) from the Ford Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for later this month in Houston.
Advertised for tonight: Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Roode in a ladder match, Kane returns, John Morrison vs. Big E, and more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JAN. 17
You’re everything, that’s why I cling to you. When I emerge, my thoughts converge to you... to you. The world is so small compared to you, and everybody’s wrong compared to you... to you. I begin to see through your eyes, all the former mysteries are no surprise. So now, you listen, because I’m liveblogging this here pro wrestling show.
The show opens with a memorial graphic for “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson.
And thence to the intro video.
Commentary hypes up tonight’s festivities.
Kane makes his entrance and gets on the mic.
He says we’re nine days away from his favorite event of the year, the Royal Rumble, where 30 lost souls will put their mind, body, and spirit on the line for the opportunity of a lifetime— the chance to compete at WrestleMania. A match where you go through hell but the reward is a chance at immortality. Holding the record for most career Royal Rumble eliminations, he understands exactly how important this match is.
During every elimination he looks in his opponents’ eyes and watches as their hope melts away, dreams turned to nightmares, all because of him.
Firefly Fun House pops up on the tron.
Bray Wyatt welcomes Kane excitedly and says he hasn’t changed a bit, but it’s never nice to brag and find joy in another person’s misery, you big red bully. He asks Kane to apologize and gets nothing, before saying he hopes he didn’t run into much traffic on his way up from H-E-double hockey sticks. He reassures everyone that Rambling Rabbit is alive and recovering, and shows us that he’s hooked into all kinds of medical equipment.
But to play devil’s advocate, he says winning the Royal Rumble isn’t a great idea, especially not if the winner challenges for the Universal Championship. He then realizes that Kane’s picture is on the wall, and that means he and the Fiend got it on!
The lights go down and come back up red, and the Fiend emerges from under the ring. Kane turns to see him and asks what took him so long. Wyatt turns around... DANIEL BRYAN IS HERE AND HITS THE BUSAIKU KNEE! INTO THE WRISTLOCK STOMPS, WINDMILL PUNCHES AND DAN KEEPS HITTING HIM EVEN AS HE RUNS AWAY INTO HIS HOLE! The Fiend sheds a handful of dreadlocks and Bryan examines them before bringing the lights back up with “Yes!” chants.
Kane joins him in leading the chants and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Daniel Bryan and Kane are walking and chatting when an interview rolls up for Bryan.
Kane takes his leave and Bryan says what Wyatt is best at, is actually running away and disappearing. And how do you beat somebody that disappears every time he’s in trouble? He’s got an idea, and it’s not a good idea or a smart one— he challenges the Fiend to a strap match at the Royal Rumble! Each man has one end of the strap tied around a wrist and they go to war until one of them wins!
He understands the dangers but he doesn’t care and he’s done with the mind games and the running! The Fiend changed him, and at the Royal Rumble, he’s gonna change the Fiend and win the Universal Championship.
Big E vs. John Morrison
Circling, Morrison in with forearms, whip reversed and E sends him spiraling with a shoulder block! John with a leg kick, a head kick, a roundhouse sets up brounded punches but gets slung to the floor. Clubbing blows over the apron, kick to the spine and a hanging neckbreaker off the apron to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Morrison has a cutthroat choke locked in but E posts to his feet and throws him off. Off the ropes, leaping leg lariat knocks Big down, standing shooting star press follows but E hosses his way out of the cover! Deadlift up, Big Ending denied, John to the apron, back in, evasion back out, enzuigiri connects! Springboard 450 comes up empty and E belly-to-belly suplexes him overhead!
Another suplex, fired up, duck the lariat, eye poke blocks the third suplex and Morrison comes off the ropes only to get back body dropped! Big off the ropes, big splash! Clapping to fire the crowd up, John goes behind and decks him with a forearm, lining him up, kick to the midsection... MOONLIGHT DRIVE FOR TWO! Miz up on the apron, Kofi Kingston pills him down and shoves him into the steel steps, Morrison perfects... CORKSCREW LEG DROP INTO KOFI!
Popping back up on the apron, E sizes him up, off the ropes but Miz tells Morrison the spear is coming and he kicks him in the face to counter! Hard running knee...
John Morrison wins by pinfall with Starship Pain.
We get a video package recapping all the Baron Corbin / Roman Reigns stuff.
The Usos are backstage talking to their cousin Roman and talking about how if he beats Robert Roode tonight he’ll get to pick the stipulation for his match against Corbin at the Royal Rumble. They pitch a loser eats dog food but Reigns says they’ll find out when everybody else does. They call the Revival out and Roman helps them welcome them to the Uso Penitentiary to send us to break.
Back from commercial, we’re informed of some football type stuff.
The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson) vs. the Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
Scott and Jimmy to start, collar and elbow, Dawson gets him in the corner and referee Jessika Carr warns him off. Side headlock, shot off, shoulder block, drop down, leapfrog, Uso with a chop, whip reversed but he clocks Dawson with a hard right and tags Jey in. Corner forearm, snapmare, cover for two, tag to Wilder, slingshot suplex and a cover for two.
Passing Uso into the corner, hard strikes, quick tag back to Scott. Dragging Jey up by the beard, overhead elbow, leg drop, elbow drop, falling headbutt, still just two. Rear chinlock, reverse chinlock, Uso to his feet, reaching, he wants the tag and slings Dawson off. Kick to the misection, front chancery, suplex lift, Jey floats over! Enzuigiri connects, the path is clear... TAG MADE!
Jimmy in hot, Samoan drop, back body drop to the apron, right hand, perching up top, diving crossbody... NOPE! Dawson makes the save, Wilder with a schoolboy for two! Front kick, chancery, tornado DDT blocked and Jey gets a tag! SUPERKICK PARTY! ONE FOR SCOTT DAWSON TOO! Brothers fired up, Jimmy tags back in and perches up top, Jey takes Dawson out with a dive...
The Usos win by pinfall with a diving splash from Jimmy Uso on Dash Wilder.
Commentary hypes up Reigns/Roode and we go to break.
Back from commercial, the Revival are interviewed.
Frustrated isn’t the damn word for it, and they complain about the way the tag division is treated.
Speaking of how the tag division is treated, the interview is cut short because Bayley and Lacey Evans are brawling while Sasha Banks clutches her leg on the floor. Referees break it up and Lacey is forced to retreat.
A recap of last week’s Otis Dozovic / Mandy Rose stuff follows.
Sonya Deville is shadowboxing when Mandy rolls up to tell her this is gonna be their year. Sonya asks if Otis would want to be ringside for her match, but Mandy says she’s gonna be there. Deville says she was confused by the whole Otis thing but now she gets it. Rose is confused, and Sonya says it doesn’t matter, just ask him. Mandy says she’ll ask but she doesn’t know if he’ll say yes.
In a trainer’s room, Bayley says if she sees GI Jane she’ll turn her into a stay at home mom. Sasha Banks says she’s been working her butt off and you know, she could use the rest. Bayley pledges to break every single bone in Evans’ body, when five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce rolls up to say that this is the second week they’ve failed to deliver on Lacey vs. Sasha, so the match is happening tonight with Bayley in her stead.
Bayley complains, Adam points out that she just said she’d break every bone in Lacey’s body, and then Bayley relents but says she won’t put her title on the line. Pearce says the match is next and we go to break.
Bayley vs. Lacey Evans
Bayley bails at the bell, Evans gives chase, back inside and the champ puts boots to her in the ropes. Baseball slide from Lacey, smashing her face into the apron, back inside, hard knee, slingshot into a schoolboy for one. Small package, again just one, Bayley with a folding press and legs on the ropes but referee Dan Engler catches her and admonishes her!
Drop toehold into the ropes, double axehandles, choking Lacey over the ropes and covering her for two. Kneeling armbar, elbow strike, cover for two. Evans with a schoolboy, Bayley hammers her with knees and dumps her to the apron for the Stunner over the middle rope but Lacey shoves her away. Right hand from the apron, smash her face into the turnbuckles.
Biel across the ring, running kick, Bronco Buster connects and she puts Bayley into position. Headed up top, salute, double jump moonsault but the knees are up! And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, shoulder thrusts in the corner, Bayley in control. Back roll, tube man taunt, but Evans gets the drop toehold into the turnbuckles! Senton de la Muerte blocked, leg pick, Lacey with a kick and she follows the champion to the floor. Back inside, Stunner over the middle rope, only two. Saito suplex... NOPE! Shoulder block, to the second, diving uppercut for two!
Diving crossbody, nobody home, Hot Shot when Lacey charges in but she’s ready for Bayley after...
Lacey Evans wins by pinfall with the Woman’s Right.
Chad Gable is interviewed backstage.
He says Sheamus come back and the first thing he did was project his own insecurities on him, but he’s not getting in his head with his little mind tricks and his tough guy attacking when he’s down routine. When you accept who you are and embrace it, you’ve already won the hardest battle.
Sheamus rolls up to ask if anybody’s seen Gable and he theatrically looks around before finding him. He says he heard him squeaking and gives him some old Irish folklore saying but Chad’s had enough and takes him down into mounted punches when he tries to pat him on his head! A furious Sheamus throws a table over and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get some hype for WWE Backstage.
Braun Strowman is interviewed backstage.
He’s excited about the Royal Rumble, and to no one’s surprise, he’s declaring for the men’s Royal Rumble. But also on his mind is Shinsuke Nakamura’s Intercontinental Championship. He’s pinned the champ twice now, and he deserves an opportunity and he wants it any time, any place.
Elias is in the ring with a guitar to play a song for us.
He says the truth is he needs us, because for him to reach where he needs to go, a truth needs to ring out from every voice in every arena across the world, and that truth is what WWE stands for, etc.
He plays a song entitled Walking in Greensboro, but he gets cut off by Shinsuke Nakamura’s entrance music.
The King of Strong Style is flanked by Cesaro and Sami Zayn, the latter of whom gets on the mic.
Sami apologizes for interrupting but says the great liberator is here and what he has to say is more important than a piddly singalong. We’re dealing with serious business, with Braun Strowman running around demanding a title shot. He tells us that Shinsuke doesn’t back down from a fight, not from anyone, and to answer Strowman’s challenge, absolutely not.
He calls Braun a stupid oaf and says he’s in no position to demand anything, and he calls the shots around here. They dictate the terms and nothing is happening with the Royal Rumble nine days away. He reminds us that Shinsuke won the Royal Rumble and everyone is officially being put on notice, and he invites Elias to pick back up where he left off.
Elias says while Sami was spitting that nonsense he was multitasking, listening and writing a song. It’s called Sami Zayn Needs to Shut His Damn Mouth, and he plays it for us. Sami throws a fit and demands he stop right now. Cesaro and Nakamura attack and then Sami comes in when they get him hung up—
(RRROOOAAARRR!)
Enter Braun Strowman to make the save! He clears house and we get reminded of how eliminations work in a battle royal for those of us who are new here.
We get a video package in memory of “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Sonya Deville gets her wish, and Heavy Machinery come to ringside.
Alexa Bliss vs. Sonya Deville
Rose with a distraction, roundhouse kick from Deville, a knee, a running knee, only two. Rear chinlock applied, Bliss to her feet and out iwth right hands, drop toehold, roll under a lariat, block a right hand and fire off her own. Basement dropkick, kicks in the corner, Mandy up in the corner and Otis catches her when she gets knocked down! Bliss from behind...
Alexa Bliss wins by pinfall with a schoolboy pin.
Backstage, Bobby Roode is getting ready when Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler roll up.
Corbin congratulates him for executing his plan last week, and Ziggler says they’re gonna get theirs back tonight. Bobby says he’s gonna put the Big Dog through a table and then, Corbin gets to pick the stipulation. He wants a match where he can humiliate Roman Reigns and take him completely out of the Royal Rumble.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of tonight’s opening segment.
Robert Roode vs. Roman Reigns (Tables Match)
Roode blasts Roman from behind during introductions! Reigns with a big slicing right, setting a table up, smashing Robert’s face into the steel steps, taking the announce table apart, but Roode whips him into the steps after. Bobby goes under the ring, fishing for a table of his own and sliding into the ring. Roman with the Drive-By, howling, Robert sidesteps the spear and Reigns goes through the timekeeper’s barricade!
King Baron Corbin makes his entrance to send us to break.
Back from commercial, jockeying for position in the corner, Roode slips out of a powerbomb clutch, suplex blocked, fireman’s carry evaded and Bobby tips the table over. The Big Dog smashes him into the turnbuckles and leans a table in the corner. Stalking around outside, Superman Punch drops Roode! Back inside, howling, Corbin with the distraction, Ziggler in with a superkick!
Baron slips in the ring and takes advantage of the stipulation to put boots to the Big Dog. Ziggler clears the announce table as Corbin posts Reigns. Roode climbs up top... THE USOS MAKE THE SAVE! SUPERKICK PARTY! SUPERKICK PARTY! STEREO SUICIDE DIVE! Usos walk the barricade... AND PUT ZIGGLER THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE DESK WITH STEREO SPLASHES! REIGNS SPEARS ROODE THROUGH THE TABLE! IT’S OVER!
Roman Reigns wins, spearing Robert Roode through a table and earning the right to pick the stipulation for his match against Baron Corbin at the Royal Rumble.
Post-match, Roman says the Royal Rumble is in a baseball stadium and it’s huge, so he’s gonna whoop Corbin’s ass all over the place in a Falls Count Anywhere match!
That’s the show, folks.