This week’s SmackDown started as footage from Monday Night RAW was shown where the trial of Sami Zayn took place. The segment was so long that WWE had to sacrifice their womens steel cage match last week. Today they showed the highlights of it which was over four minutes long.
Match 1 – Rey Mysterio defeated Karrion Kross
WWE SmackDown 27.01.2023 Results & Ratings
This match was built up for months and they could not book it for even four minutes. Kross who was being portrayed as a future main event star is now jobbing to a 48 year old. It clearly shows that Vince McMahon has to control over the creative board once again. Nothing special about this match, Rey pinned Kross with a rollup.
WWE United States champion Austin Theory came out to the arena. He talked about beating Bobby Lashley last week on RAW. He also talked about his chances of winning the Royal Rumble match. The New Day interfered him and told him that it was either one of them who would win the Royal Rumble match.
The Miz interfered next and said Royal Rumble match was the only thing that he failed to win in his long successful WWE career. So this time he was going to win it. The discussion became violent at the end when Austin Theory and Miz attacked The New Day together.
Bobby Lashley came out and took out all four of them. Brock Lesnar surprised everyone once again when he appeared from the crowd and hit an F5 on Bobby Lashley. It had been announce that all of these men will be in the Royal Rumble match, including Brock Lesnar.
Match 2 – Lacey Evans defeated Enhancement Talent
Lacey Evans is back in WWE once again but it did not look like that have gimmick has changed much. She is still the same heel she used to be. She totally dominated the enhancement talent and defeated her in only two minutes as he made her submit with the Cobra Clutch. After the match she cut a short heel promo and announced that she is entering the Royal Rumble match.
Match 3 – No. 1 Contender’s Tournament For WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship – Semi Finals – Ricochet and Braun Strowman defeated The Hit Row
The match was scheduled to be between the Hit Row and the team of Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. But while they were making their entrances, they got attacked by the Viking Raiders from behind and they were withdrawn from the tournament. Strowman and Ricochet replaced them and earned a comparatively easy victory on the Hit Row. Strowman pinned Ashante Adonis with the Monster Bomb to earn the victory for his side.
Next up is the promotion for the Pitch Black match that would take place tomorrow at Royal Rumble between Bray Wyatt and LA Knight. Knight appeared first and he mocked the entrance of Bray Wyatt. He came out on the first music in which Bray used to appear. Bray Wyatt appeared who was seen on a rocking chair on the entrance stage. He promised that he would get the version of Bray Wyatt at Royal Rumble he had been looking for. Uncle Howdy also made an appearance who was seen standing on the crowd.
Match 4 – Match 3 – No. 1 Contender’s Tournament For WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship – Semi Finals – Imperium defeated Legado Del Fantasma
This match was booked for nine minutes and it was a very good match. It was one of the most competitive matches of the night where all four athletes did really good. Imperium picked up the victory after Ludwig Kaiser got the pinfall win for his team.
Match 5 – Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa went to a No Contest
This was the main event of the night but we cannot say it was the best match of the night. This was more of a build up for the WWE Universal championship match at Royal Rumble. The match was evenly balanced, nobody in particular dominated it. However, Owens always had the upper hand.
At the end of the match when Owens was about to pin Solo with a Swanton Drop, Sami Zayn appeared and saved Solo from losing the match by pulling him out of the ring. The fight continued outside, Owens got the better out of Solo at the end and he beat him out. But he avoided getting into a fight with Sami Zayn once again. Kevin Owens celebrated as this week’s SmackDown went off air.
Overall it was and average show. Of course there were some good segments, but for most of the time, it was a boring show. The best segment of the night was the one where Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar were involved. Rest of the segments are forgettable. The final segment of the night was well booked.
The Tag Team tournament matches were good, especially, the one featuring Imperium and Legado Del Fantasma. It was undoubtedly the best match of the night. But lack of women’s division activities was a big disappointment for tonight’s show. Once again no appearance from Roman Reigns is also a downfall. We give this week’s Smackdown 1.5 out of 5.
Sportzwiki Ratings – 1.5/5