SmackDown – Jan 27

SmackDown – Jan 27

Listen to The Daily Wrestling News Show: 

*Live from Laredo, TX.

*The Usos & Solo Sikoa arrive…Jimmy & Solo head in…Sami Zayn sneaks out of the shadows (he’s not supposed to be here) to approach Jey & thank him for having his back in Tribal Court.

(1)  Rey Mysterio def. Karrion Kross…Kross gets Mysterio up for a suplex…Mysterio escapes down Kross’ back & uses a Crucifix Roll Up for the win (07:18).

*Bayley, Dakota Kai, & Iyo Sky say that now that they’re in the Royal Rumble, it will be impossible for anyone but one of them to win.

*Austin Theory to the ring…he retained his US title & next he’s going to win the Royal Rumble…New Day interrupt, they believe they will win…Miz interrupts, clearly he’s going to win…Miz & Theory attack New Day…Bobby Lashley down, destroys all 4, then says he’s going to terrorize everyone in the Rumble…Brock Lesnar sneaks in behind him & drops Bobby with an F-5…says, “See you tomorrow, Bobby.”

*Rhea Ripley says 2023 is the Year of Rhea Ripley & tomorrow she punches her ticket to WrestleMania.

(2)  Lacey Evans def. Jasmin Allure…Evans with the Women’s Right & follows with the Cobra Clutch for the submission win (02:14)…AFTER…Evans says she’ll win the Rumble.

*Drew McIntyre & Sheamus backstage with Kayla…Drew thinks Sheamus is going to win the Rumble…Sheamus thinks it’ll be Drew…but first they’ve got Hit Row tonight.

*Cody Rhodes video package…see you at the Rumble.

*Drew McIntyre & Sheamus are attacked by the Viking Raiders during their entrance for the tag tournament semifinal match…after the commercial Adam Pearce explains to Hit Row that Sheamus & Drew gave up their spot, but no one gets a bye into the finals so they will face a replacement team…

(3)  Tag Team Tournament: Braun Strowman & Ricochet def. Hit Row…Strowman with a Monster Bomb on Adonis for the win (05:55).

*Kevin Owens backstage with Kayla…he’s facing Solo Sikoa tonight to try to take out a member of the Bloodline & make things more fair at the Rumble…the Usos try to get at KO but Adam Pearce & a swarm of refs stay between them.

*The Usos are ejected from the building…on his way out, Jey takes a call & asks a favor of (presumably) Sami Zayn…we can infer he wants Sami to have Solo’s back against KO.

*LA Knight spoofs Bray’s old firefly entrance, complete with Hawaiian shirt, hat, & lantern…Bray Wyatt appears in front of the ‘tron on his rocking chair…tells Knight that tomorrow night he gets to meet the man he’s been looking for…Uncle Howdy appears in a smoky balcony elsewhere in the arena.

(4)  Tag Team Tournament: Imperium def. Legado del Fantasma…Imperium Bomb on Wilde, Kaiser covers for the win (12:15).

*Royal Rumble hype video full of highlights & stats…though not nearly as many cool stats as an Al Karl spreadsheet.

*Xia Li has more skill than any woman in the Rumble…which, for them, will make it dangerous & painful.

*Charlotte Flair approaches Adam Pearce…after Sonya Deville interrupted an interview earlier in the day, Flair is willing to give her a title match just to get her hands on Sonya & end this once & for all.

(5)  Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa ends in a NO CONTEST…I guess (maybe Double DQ)…KO hits the cannonball in the corner…follows with the Swan-ton Bomb & makes the cover…Sami Zayn pulls Sikoa out, breaking the count (09:23)…AFTER…the ref never calls for the bell for a DQ…the fight continues on the floor & Solo hits KO with a steel chair (so, again, it should be a DQ)…KO with a Pop-Up Powerbomb of Solo onto the announce desk (somehow it didn’t collapse)…KO thinks about blasting Sami with the chair but instead hits Solo across the back, knocking him into the audience…KO’s music hits & he’s popping blood vessels in his head as he makes his way up the aisle, promising Roman that tomorrow he’s bringing everything he’s got!

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WWE ROYAL RUMBLE PREVIEW – Sat. Jan 28, 2023 – San Antonio, TX

+ Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens – for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

+ Bianca Belair (c) vs. Alexa Bliss – for the Raw Women’s Championship

+ Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight – in a (Mountain Dew) Pitch Black Match

+ 30-Man Royal Rumble Match – declaring so far: Kofi Kingston, Ricochet, Austin Theory, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Santos Escobar, Baron Corbin, Gunther, Cody Rhodes, Omos, Rey Mysterio, Braun Strowman, Karrion Kross, Xavier Woods, The Miz, Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus

+ 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match – declaring so far: Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Candice LeRae, Raquel Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler, Zelina Vega, Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Lacey Evans, Xia Li, Emma

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WWE SmackDown PREVIEW – Feb. 3, 2023

+ Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Sonya Deville – for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

+ Braun Strowman vs. Imperium – SmackDown Tag Title #1 Contender Match