Thursday Night Smackdown! TV Report for January 21st, 2016

Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming

The regular Smackdown! opener plays, the pyro explodes, and Mauro Ranallo greets us from Dayton, Ohio. He and Jerry “The King” Lawler go over tonight’s line-up, which includes MizTV with Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens, as well as WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns taking on the entire League of Nations.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

The lights darken and the familiar tune “Break The Walls Down” sounds off. Chris Jericho sashays to the ring, donned in his light-up jacket and black jeans. The fans chant “Y2J” as he is happy to be back on Smackdown! Jericho talks about the stakes of the Royal Rumble match, then shows the events from his “Highlight Reel” segment on Raw with Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar, and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns.”

While proclaiming that he’s going to be victorious in the Royal Rumble, Tag-Team Champions The New Day interrupt. They slowly approach the ring while “shaming” “Christophe” for breaking their trombone. They have a “moment of silence” for “Francesca,” which Jericho is befuddled about. Instead, “Y2J” makes fun of their unicorn gimmick and gives them new names – “Rooty, Tooty, Booty.” Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E. approach the ring but Jericho stops them by telling them they will be in a Six-Man Tag bout, next! Their opponents, The Usos and Dolph Ziggler, make their entrance! Dolph has his face painted like Jimmy and Jey.

Commercials.

Match #1: Six-Man Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E.) VS. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) and Dolph Ziggler

Jimmy and Kofi start, trading wristlocks and flips. Jimmy ducks and goes for a waist-lock, then slaps and chops Kingston. He hits a smacking uppercut, then tags in his brother and they double-team Kofi. Xavier is brought in, who is scoop-slammed by Jey, who then stomps away in The Usos and Dolph’s corner. Ziggler enters and dropkicks Xavier, then tags in his brother and they double-team Kofi. Xavier is brought in, who is scoop-slammed by Jey, who then stomps away in The Usos and Dolph’s corner. Ziggler enters and dropkicks Xavier, then yanks his arm with a wristlock.

Woods shoves Dolph into the corner, where Big hammers him and comes in. He puts Dolph to the canvas and splashes him, but only gets two. Kofi is back and hits a high-dropkick, then tags Xavier who does the same. Kofi returns and punches away at Dolph in the corner, but misses a splash and eats a dropkick as he leapt off the middle rope. Ziggler makes the hot-tag to Jimmy, who takes out all of New Day, then gives Kofi the corner rear-bump. New Day gain advantage again after Big hip-tosses Jimmy over the ropes to the floor.

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Langston now has Jimmy in an abdominal stretch, then all three stomp on him multiple times in the corner. Xavier’s in again and gives Jimmy a running flatliner. New Day remain in control until Jimmy rapidly punches Big, then twists off the top rope onto him!

He tags in Ziggler who is all over the trio, but is hurled over the corner to the floor. The Usos manage to govern, then slap-hands with Dolph. All three give Woods a Triple-Superkick and Ziggler covers for the victory!

Winners via Pinfall: The Usos and Dolph Ziggler

Commercials.

Segment #3: Video Promo

A montage of previous Royal Rumbles, with facts and Roman Reigns’ odds airs.

Becky Lynch comes to the ring for her contest with Alicia Fox, next!

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Match #2: Single – Becky Lynch VS. Alicia Fox (with Team Bella member Brie Bella)

(Note: Divas Champion Charlotte and her father, Ric Flair, are on commentary.) Becky clutches Alicia in a standing headlock, then Fox breaks out and drop-toeholds her into the mat! Lynch is dominant until Alicia has a break on the outside. Becky chases but is met with a kick-to-the-gut and a Northern-Light Suplex.

In the ring, Lynch works out of a surfboard and begins a comeback. She gives her an exploder-suplex for a near-fall, then turns a move by Alicia around into the Disarmer, making Fox give-in!

Winner via Submission: Becky Lynch

MizTV with Owens and Ambrose is coming up!

Commercials.

Segment #4: Arena Promo

The Miz is in the ring and promos the I.C. Championship match at Royal Rumble, which is a Last Man Standing with Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens. He doesn’t get too far before Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose walks out.

Ambrose takes a microphone and babbles on, to Miz’s dismay who threatens Dean. The I.C. Champ threatens back and they argue about who can talk better. Miz backs away and gives Dean the spotlight; Ambrose demonstrates around the ring what he is going to do to Kevin at Royal Rumble.

Owens now joins and tells Dean how important the I.C. Title is to him. Ambrose says they don’t have to wait, but Miz attacks him from behind. Kevin strolls down but kicks Miz and gives him the Pop-Up Powerbomb. He goes for the same on Ambrose, but “The Lunatic Fringe” counters with a crossbody and pummels away. Owens escapes and Dean drops Miz with the Dirty Deeds DDT!

Up next, Ryback will take on Bray Wyatt! The Family appear on the Titantron and Bray declares “Smackdown!, we’re here.”

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Match #3: Single – Ryback VS. Bray Wyatt (with Wyatt Family members Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman)

Bray completely dominates this one right up to the break.

Commercials.

Wyatt has Ryback cornered, but Ryback reverses with a powerbomb. He gives Bray a splash, then ascends the turnbuckle, but misses a big splash. Wyatt capitalizes with a one-arm slam and running senton, then runs at Ryback but is planted with a spinebuster instead! Ryback just about takes this but Wyatt gets his shoulder up! Ryback hits the Meathook Clothesline, but The Family helps Bray finish Ryback with Sister Abigail.

Winner via Pinfall: Bray Wyatt (with The Wyatt Family)

Post-match, Bray rants about how they “slaughtered ‘The Beast’ Rock Lesnar.” He predicts that they will “slaughter” the other 28 at Royal Rumble.

Commercials.

Match #4: Single – Stardust VS. Titus O’Neil

Stardust tries, but O’Neil is too strong at first. Stardust feigns Titus to the outside and runs him into the ring post, then chucks him into the barrier. O’Neil works out of a clutch submission in the ring, then gains some momentum. He boots Stardust and measures him for a splash in the corner. Stardust counters with a DDT and almost gets it, then climbs the turnbuckle. Titus kicks the top rope to trip up Stardust and then slams him down with a sit-down-spinebuster from the corner for the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Titus O’Neil

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Segment #5: Backstage Promo

Rene Young is with Kalisto, who will challenge Alberto Del Rio for the United States Champion at the Royal Rumble. Kalisto talks about the status that Del Rio has, relating him to Mil Mascaras (his Uncle), Rey Mysterio, and the late-great Eddie Guerrero. The Lucha Dragon compares himself to David, saying that he has fought Goliaths.

The U.S. Champion walks up and says something in Spanish, then the rest of The League surround Kalisto and attack.

Segment #6: Arena Promo

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns the arena through the fans, and talks about what situation Mr. McMahon made for him at the Royal Rumble, being #1 in the 30-Man Battle Royale. Roman says that tonight’s bout is easier, so he wants to begin it now!

Commercials.

Match #5: Four-On-One – WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns VS. The League of Nations (Sheamus, United States Champion Alberto Del Rio, Rusev, and King Barrett)

Sheamus starts with a lockup, then is shoved back twice. Rusev is tagged and measures Roman, but Reigns hits a running shoulder-block, then pulls the top rope down that tumbles Rusev to the floor. This quickly turns into four-on-one, and Rusev splashing Roman in the corner then giving him a fall-away-slam. The League governs for a while.

Reigns gets some drive after hitting Sheamus with a clothesline, then giving Rusev multiple ones in the corner. All four soon attack Roman, causing Mike Chioda, the referee, to call for the bell.

Winner via Disqualification: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns

Post-match, The League continue the assault until Jimmy and Jey charge down. The twins give their best to aide their cousin, but are also quickly taken out. Roman hits back with a Superman Punch, but the lights dim and the entire Wyatt Family is on each side of the apron!

Roman manages to hit Luke and Erick, then slugs it out with Braun, but the big man is too much. He throws Reigns to the outside, where he is met with a superkick by Harper. He and Rowan place Reigns back in the ring, where Strowman slams him and Bray finishes with Sister Abigail. The Wyatts pose over Roman and Bray yells “follow the buzzards” to close the show.

End of Smackdown!

Reporter’s Rumblings

This was a pretty-good Smackdown! for the final show before Royal Rumble; it didn’t feel too much like “going through the motions” and set up/gave momentum to it as well.

Excellence: Six-Man and Becky/Fox matches. Promos from Jericho/New Day, Bray, Kalisto, Reigns, Ambrose, and Owens. Loved The Wyatt Family being strong at the end and feeling like an almost-legit contender to win (he’s not going to, but at least they’ve built the Family strong, so I think they’ll go a long time in the Rumble.)

Bogus: could’ve done without Titus/Stardust again! The Four-On-One of course too predictable for a beat-down and then save, so would’ve preferred Roman to face just one of the League.

Royal Rumble Predictions: Becky Lynch to win Divas Championship – Charlotte will then blame Ric for putting her in that, but will move on until the next Championship bout; Usos to be new Tag-Champs; Ambrose/Owens will be a draw after a brutal/long contest – leads to a ladder match for the final time between them; Del Rio to retain and keep the League strong; Triple H returns and wins ‘Rumble, setting up Reigns VS. “The Game” at WrestleMania.

I’m really looking forward to Royal Rumble, so can’t wait to give you my analysis after Raw! Until then, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans!