Smackdown came up with a packed edition to kick things off for 2019. We have received the challenger for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble as well some more participants in the battle royal. The franchise player, John Cena returned to action on the blue brand delivering an interesting tag team match. Also, a rematch from last week happened on the show that took place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The New Day was out to celebrate the New Year’s Day and open Smackdown Live. They informed that from now onwards, pancakes are not allowed for the fans. Then Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston entered themselves into the Royal Rumble 2019 match.
Samoa Joe competed in a rematch against Jeff Hardy. The winner would make it to the main event fatal-5-way match on Smackdown. Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch to pick up the win via submission. He joined AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, and Mustafa Ali in the aforementioned match to determine the new #1 contender for WWE Championship.
A backstage segment aired featuring Vince McMahon, AJ Styles, and Shane McMahon. Styles threatened senior McMahon to show his real side on Smackdown main event. Shane was not intending to see that side but Vince seemed eager to see the real AJ in due course.
WWE United States Champion Rusev and Lana appeared next to celebrate the title win from last week. Shinsuke Nakamura tried to deliver an assault on Rusev from the back. Lana tried to interfere in Nakamura’s attack and received an injury. Rusev hit back Nakamura with a superkick. But Nakamura got up and hit a Kinshasa on Rusev to get the upper hand.
Sonya Deville competed in a match against Naomi on Smackdown. This happened after Mandy Rose backed down from competing. Mandy showed her own towel-draped body on the tron who also sent this to Naomi’s husband, Jimmy Uso. This distraction allowed Deville to deliver a spinebuster on Naomi for the win.
John Cena came back on Smackdown Live to issue an open challenge to the locker room. Becky Lynch came out saying she runs things around here. Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega interfered the verbal confrontation they were having. John Cena proposed a match to the two heels. The mixed tag team match was underway next featuring the four of them.
Becky Lynch and John Cena formed a unique team against Zelina Vega and Andrade “Cien” Almas. Cena was having all the momentums after hitting the signature moves. He hit an AA to Almas who went outside the ring. But Lynch tossed Cena out of the ring as well and locked the dis-arm-her on Vega to make her tap out.
Two more backstage segments aired on Smackdown. Shane McMahon and The Miz were seen talking about their tag team. Triple H assured the women’s locker room to determine a new number one contender for Smackdown women’s championship.
The fatal-5-way match took place in the main event of Smackdown Live. Rey Mysterio hit a 619 on Randy Orton to out him down. But Joe sent Rey to the outside. AJ Styles hit a 450 springboard splash on Orton to get the pinfall win. He received another chance to face Daniel Bryan at Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship following this win.