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WWE SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Jan. 3, 2020) from FedEx Forum in Memphis, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for next month in Houston.
Advertised for tonight: Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan team-up against King Corbin & Dolph Ziggler, a women’s tag Triple Threat between Sasha Banks & Bayley, Lacey Evans & Dana Brooker, and Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss, 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. 3
You said you’d make a change, instead you let the days just pass you by. All this time, wasted time. why did you even try? And if it falls apart, at least I took a chance. Are you listening? I’m sorry, you’re not the one. But I’m still here, liveblogging this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with a recap of Daniel Bryan becoming #1 contender to the WWE Universal Championship.
Cut backstage to Bryan taping his wrists when the Miz rolls up.
The A-Lister says the Fiend violated his home and his daughter’s room and he needs to avenge that, so he’s gonna take everything that the Fiend cares about away. But Dan won last week, so while he tries to figure out what’s next, he has one thing to say-- defeat the Fiend at the Royal Rumble.
Thence to the intro video.
Sasha Banks makes her entrance, followed shortly thereafter by Bayley.
Bayley gets on the mic and talks about resolutions briefly before saying let’s not lie to ourselves, we’re not following through with any of that. Change is tough, and by the looks of us, we can’t make any kind of positive change in our pathetic lives. In 2019, the two of them took a good look in the mirror and made tough changes, and ended the year as the leaders of the SmackDown locker room.
And then you got people like Lacey Evans, who thinks--
Enter Lacey Evans, flanked by Dana Brooke.
Lacey gets on the mic and says she doesn’t know what’s wrong with them that they get off on scaring a child, but it’s her passion to set a positive impact and example to make a better life for her daughter. So it makes her sick for them to use a seven-year-old to try and get to her, but congratulations, they did it. So it’s her resolution to show her daughter and the WWE Universe that the bad guys can be stopped no matter the cards stacked against you.
Enter Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross.
Bliss gets on the mic and wonders aloud if they even belong in the match, and Nikki says of course they do, especially if they want to get the tag titles back. Alexa agrees and says they’ll step up the fight and kick 2020 off with a win.
The match will begin after the break.
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. Boss and Hug Connection (Bayley & Sasha Banks) vs. Dana Brooke & Lacey Evans
Evans and Banks to start, Lacey giving chase and Sasha hanging herself in the ropes to force a break and tagging out to Cross. Crucifix floated into a sunset flip, trading pinfall attempts, hard whip and a tag to Brooke. Scoop and a slam, cover for two, Nikki with a jawbreaker and a double throat thrust. Fired up, Stinger Splash and a tag to Bliss. Headlock takeover, Dana gives her one back, headscissors reversal into a bit of a stalemate.
Whip, off the ropes, into a pin, only two and Alexa follows it up with a wristlock. Forearm to break, whip reversed, blind tag from Banks and Bayley pulls Brooke to the floor for a beatdown! Alexa ducks a lariat, right hands into a dropkick, fired up, charging in, back body drop to the apron and the champ tags in. Bliss smashing her face into the turnbuckles, Bayley slides in for a cover for two.
The Boss with a boot from the apron, another cover for two, boot sets up a reverse chinlock. Banks clears the apron, dropkick for two, Alexa slings her into Lacey and Cross dives off the top and to the floor to take everybody out with a crossbody! Sasha puts Nikki into the steel steps and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Sasha gets a nearfall off Meteora but Brooke breaks it up! Shoulder block, fired up, stacking the connection up in the corner for the turning Stinger Splash and a series of snap suplexes! Off the ropes, handspring moonsault, only two. Cross with a neckbreaker for Evans, the match breaking down, Dana with a front kick on the Boss but Bayley trips her up from behind and the Boss gets two!
Tag to Bayley, double-teaming Dana, quick tag back, more strikes in the corner, choking her on the middle rope. Bayley back in, shoulder blocks, tube man, clear the apron but Brooke gets a boot up on the charge! Tag to Banks, in with a knee, back suplex from the champ and we get a two count! Brooke blasts Bayley off the apron, tornado suplex connects on Sasha!
Crawling, desperate, Bayley tags in but Dana nails her with an enzuigiri and tags Evans in! Lacey hot with chops, arm wringer, standing moonsault connects! Up and over, snapmare, wipe her brow, off the ropes with a kick to the collar bone that sets up the Senton de la Muerte! Dragging Bayley into position, double jump... NOBODY HOME ON THE MOONSAULT!
Bayley-to-Belly-- BROOKE AND BLISS BREAK IT UP TOGETHER! Most of the women in the ring at once, Nikki sets up a Nodowa Otoshi from Alexa, double whip sets Cross up for a powerbomb from Bayley and Sasha! They try the same double-team on Lacey but she evades it! Jockeying for position, tag from Dana, Woman’s Right connects...
Dana Brooke & Lacey Evans win by pinfall with a senton atomico from Brooke on Sasha Banks.
A recap of last week’s developments with Mandy Rose, Dolph Ziggler, Otis Dozovic, and his mama’s fruitcake.
Otis is working out backstage when Mandy rolls up to wish him a happy new year and ask if mama made anything special for this holiday. He says ask Dolph, and she asks if he saw that, to which he says he didn’t, but his mama did. She tries to apologize but Tucker Knight rolls up to tell his pal they have a match and send us to break.
Back from commerical, Miz is walking backstage when he runs into New Day celebrating the New Year with pancakes.
Big E watched the balls drop and Kofi Kingston talks up the decade that the Miz has had, personally and professionally. Miz and Kofi are tied for most titles held during the 2010s, and Kingston offers him a pound for the idea of winning even more titles in the next decade.
The A-Lister takes offense, saying it’s not about titles, he’s had the sanctity of his home invaded, and if you wanna start the new year off right, start it off with a fight. He knocks the pancake platter down in all this and Kofi backs E off, saying it’s clear Miz is frustrated and he’ll accept the challenge.
Elias is in the ring to sing us a song.
He runs down Shane McMahon, the Revival, and Dolph Ziggler’s comedy career before comparing Baron Corbin to an STD that just won’t go away.
We get some footage from earlier tonight of the Revival complaining about their holiday street fight from last week and talking about how they work too hard to be made fun of by a dork like Elias. Chad Gable rolls up and says he stopped listening to the noise a while ago and embraced who he is, and that’s the best decision he ever made.
Dash Wilder says he never though of it like that before and then the Revival mock Chad for his height. Gable shrugs it off and says his new motto is “rise over size” and when you’re comfortable in your own skin, you can do anything. Dash makes it into a challenge for him and Chad accepts.
Chad Gable makes his entrance and we go to break.
Chad Gable vs. Dash Wilder
Circling, collar and elbow, to the corner, up and over, Gable with a flying headscissors, old-school style, and a bridging northern lights suplex for two. Wilder up top, back superplex... NOPE! Camel clutch applied to follow it up, knee lift, back suplex, Chad lands on his feet and pasts Dash with right hands. Duck a lariat, solebutt, overhead exploder suplex!
Cactus crossbody, Gable fired up, he throws Wilder back inside and perches for a diving crossbody for two! Ankle lock applied, Dash fights out, schoolboy for two. Sunset flip for two, Gable in the electric chair and Dash Hot Shots him! Roll into the ankle lock...
Chad Gable wins by submission with an ankle lock.
Post-match, Scott Dawson rushes the ring and jumps Gable! The Revival beat Chad down...
SHEAMUS IS BACK! He comes down and chases the Revival away before dropping Gable with a Brogue Kick for good measure!
He leaves and we go to break.
Kofi Kingston vs. the Miz
Circling, collar and elbow, Miz with a wristlock, Kingston rolls through, legsweep, big splash, only two. Kofi with a go-behind side headlock, shot off, shoulder block, drop down, leapfrog, hip toss countered into a monkey flip! Kingston quite pleased with his work, reversing a cover attempt, side headlock, shot off off, shoulder block, drop down, leapfrog, leapfrog, Kofi hits a leaping back elbow!
Miz passes him to the floor, baseball slide comes up empty but he sidesteps a dive and Kingston fakes him out! Back inside, the A-Lister goes stomping, overhead elbows to the trapezius, Kofi catches a lariat, Trouble in Paradise dodged and Miz gets him in the corner for repeated kicks. Running knees set up the Awesome Clothesline but Kofi counters with a gamengiri!
Up top, diving brain chop! Calling for it, Boom Drop connects! Calling for it, Miz ducks Trouble in Paradise and hits the inverted facelock backbreaker! Escape the neckbreaker, reverse the SOS, reverse the Skull-Crushing Finale...
Kofi Kingston wins by pinfall with a victory roll pin.
Post-match, a frustrated Miz attacks Kingston from behind until Big E makes the save!
Miz heads up to the stage to complain about how he gave everything.
Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns are interviewed.
Bryan says the only person that’s faced the Fiend and not mentally broken is him, because he’s unbreakable, and he’s gonna prove that by walking out of the Royal Rumble as champion. Reigns confirms that that means that he intends to walk into WrestleMania as champion, which is great because he’s gonna win the Royal Rumble, and he wants Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns as the main event of WrestleMania.
Dan asks if he’s trying to fire him up before saying he’d be ready any place, any time, and he’d be double ready for WrestleMania. He wants Roman ready for their main event tonight, and the Big Dog says the only ones that aren’t ready are Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler.
Heavy Machinery make their entrance to send us to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of what we just saw.
Cathy Kelley is backstage looking for an interview with the Miz but John Morrison comes out of Miz’s dressing room to say Miz doesn’t have anything else to say tonight.
Drew Gulak makes his entrance and says he’s not just a master of the grappling arts, but of matters of the heart, and there’s no way Mandy Rose is ever gonna date Otis.
No, she wants a man with a physique and a mind, like Dolph Ziggler or himself, and Otis? Look at him, he looks like he’s leaking butter! Of course, Drew has a powerpoint presentation of several hundred reasons Mandy would never go out with Otis.
So of course, Dozer slams him and we’re off!
Drew Gulak vs. Otis Dozovic
Big overhead suplexes from Dozer, Gulak blocks, right hands, small package blocked and Otis suplexes him! Military press slam to follow it up and Dozer is fired up! Backstage, Fire and Ice are watching while Dolph Ziggler makes excuses. Gulak takes control and slaps Otis across the face and telling him to wise up! Dozer fires up and takes his shirt off. Drew with front kicks but Otis shrugs him off and slams him!
Stinger Splash sets up the Caterpillar! Headed up top... VADER BOMB! IT’S OVER!
Otis Dozovic wins by pinfall with a Vader Bomb.
Braun Strowman is shown walking backstage, he’ll be in action after the break.
Braun Strowman vs. Cesaro
Circling, collar and elbow, Strowman shoves him away! Into the corner, referee Jason Ayers demands a clean break and gets it. Cesaro’s turn to back Braun into the corner and he breaks dirty with a shove. Side headlock, shot off, shoulder block, Cesaro stands firm and starts throwing punches! Off the ropes, duck a lariat, shoulder block, one in return and the Swiss Cyborg is bowled over!
Biel connects, right hands in the corner, headbutt, Strowman explodes with a corner lariat and blasts Cesaro off the apron with another lariat! Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn run interference and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Cesaro gets a boot up in the corner and dropkicks Strowman’s leg out from under him! Nakamura with a cheap shot from ringside, Cesaro with a boot and a pin for two, up top, diving into a goozle but he reverses to a sleeper hold! Wearing Braun down, grinding him down to one knee but Strowman breaks loose with a side slam! Shoulder blocks, getting some breathing room.
Stinger Splash from the monster, knock Shinsuke down with a left hand but Cesaro lands an uppercut! More of them in the corner but Braun explodes out of the corner again and knocks him down! Calling for it, Strowman takes his freight train tour of the floor and puts Cesaro back inside. Scoop and a slam, Sami Zayn in the ring for interference but the Swiss Superman passes him hard into the corner.
Neutralizer denied, Braun reverses...
Braun Strowman wins by pinfall with the running powerslam.
Post-match, Shinsuke Nakamura blasts Strowman with Kinshasa!
Roman Reigns makes his entrance, our main event will begin after the break.
King Baron Corbin & Dolph Ziggler vs. Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns
Corbin and Reigns to start, Baron rushing in and putting boots to him in the corner. Referee Jessika Carr admonishes him and Roman gets a chance to come back with a hard right and mounted punches in the corner. Samoan drop to follow it, Corbin rolls to the floor and Reigns follows after with the Drive-By! Ziggler running interference, Baron goes back in and gets the tag.
Dolph striking in the corner, neckbreaker blocked and Reigns decks him with the big boot. Tag to Bryan, he comes in with uppercuts, whip reversed, duck a lariat and Dan back body drops Ziggler to the floor! Yes! chants go up but the lights get squirrelly and the Fiend’s laughter echoes around the arena to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Reigns is legal and teeing off on Corbin with corner lariats. Big boot blasts the King hard and Roman’s fired up! Calling for it, big right hand for Ziggler, off the ropes and Corbin hits Deep Six... NOPE! Putting boots to Reigns in the corner, back to Dolph and he’s jawing away. Big slicing right from the Big Dog but Ziggler hits a neckbreaker!
Tag to Baron, putting boots to the Big Dog, throwing him shoulder-first into the post! Drawing Reigns up, charging in, passed to the floor, Superman Punch! Bryan wants the tag, he’s fired up and gets the tag! Whip, backflip up and over, Axe Bomber! Fired up, running corner dropkicks, chest kicks in the corner, setting Dolph up top... AVALANCHE FRANKENSTEINER!
Chest kicks to a kneeling Zigger, the crowd singing along, Dolph ducks the buzzsaw, schoolboy for two but Bryan kicks out and locks the LeBell Lock on until Baron breaks it up! Chokebreaker blocked, Roman spears him out of his boots! Ziggler with a superkick for the Big Dog, Zig Zag blocked, Bryan out of the corner... BUSAIKU KNEE! But before the American Dragon can capitalize, the lights go down again and the Fiend is at ringside!
Dan with a suicide dive, brawling with the Fiend on the floor but Wyatt locks the Mandible Claw on and runs him through a barricade!
It’s not announced, but safe to say Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns win by disqualification.
Bray locks the Mandible Claw on Dan again at ringside, and the lights go down.
The lights come back up, road agents Sonjay Dutt and five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce check on Bryan but Corbin and Ziggler attack! They manhandle the Big Dog and take him into the ring to handcuff him and force feed him more dog food... THE USOS ARE HERE TO MAKE THE SAVE! SUPERKICK PARTY FOR CORBIN! STEREO DIVES!
They check on their cousin and take the cuffs off of him.
That’s the show, folks.