It marked the last episode of Smackdown Live while hyping-up the 31st annual Royal Rumble PPV event. In comparison to WWE Raw, Smackdown lagged behind, but the overall effort was good with two main event matches which witnessed good story-telling.
The opener was pretty average, as we see these things on a weekly basis. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn returned after one week’s hiatus from the show to deliver a good promo on the upcoming WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble PPV. AJ Styles interrupted to pitch yet another idea to Daniel Bryan and was forced to digest his own words. It was good to see the GM continuing his favouritism to the heels.
Pretty average opener tonight to hype AJ Styles taking on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in back-to-back singles matches tonight, still enjoying the tease of Daniel Bryan possibly playing favoritism with Owens/Zayn #SDLive
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 24, 2018
Although there is not much going on from the fans for the contenders of the Smackdown tag team championships, there’s no denying in their wrestling ability. Chad Gable continues to amaze every week with his freaking athletic skills and last night was no exception. We should wonder to see new tag champs on Sunday.
The match from the women’s division on Smackdown was below from average. A brawl was expected to break out after the match since the Royal Rumble match is coming up on Sunday. The interesting thing is that Charlotte Flair is saying it time and time again that she will see the winner of the Rumble at Wrestlemania which is a good indication of her reign continuing until the biggest event.
Not much of a match between Naomi and Liv Morgan tonight, I will say Morgan is starting to get more comfortable in the ring, pretty interesting they are proclaiming Charlotte will remain champion until #WrestleMania this year #SDLive
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 24, 2018
Nakamura and Corbin had decent singles match on the show which got disqualified with the presence of Randy Orton. The crowd was in awe to see the Viper struck with an RKO to Nakamura. Their excitement continued, as he delivered another RKO to the heel Corbin making a huge statement before Royal Rumble.
Welp, that was definitely an RKO out of no where on Nakamura tonight, didn’t see that one coming, DC also seemed quite surprised by that as well #SDLive
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 24, 2018
It was a surprise to see Kevin Owens getting the pinfall loss in such a short time. However, it set up the story well for the next match where Sami Zayn delivered a solid match against the champion. It is the second time in few weeks that he pinned Styles shifting the way towards the heels who might become the co-WWE Champions at Royal Rumble.
Very good main event between AJ Styles and Sami Zayn tonight, lots of surprises tonight with Zayn pinning the #WWE Champion before the #RoyalRumble this Sunday, probably was the right call to give Owens some rest time with nagging injuries before this Sunday #SDLive
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 24, 2018
Check out the Twitter reactions from last night’s Smackdown:
I’ll just leave this here. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/0Wen8DKGbL
— Nathan (@WWELUFC) January 24, 2018
I love it when an episode of #SDLive falls on a #RusevDay pic.twitter.com/kyb1HLlDsQ
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) January 24, 2018
Who said anything about FRIENDS in the #RoyalRumble Match? #RumbleForAll #SDLive @NaomiWWE @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/22LjvvzAtj
— WWE (@WWE) January 24, 2018
the two most accurate signs of all time. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/ZSsN1qNY3l
— james mckenna (@chillhartman) January 24, 2018
Gosh, the #USTitle looks so GLORIOUS with @REALBobbyRoode… #SDLive #AndNew pic.twitter.com/tKyrRmkzwm
— WWE (@WWE) January 24, 2018
Byron Saxton just said Shinsuke Nakamura told him he has always wanted to be in the #RoyalRumble…the same Nakamura that maybe says two-three words per promo… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/TDnrzKI4Ya
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) January 24, 2018
GLORIOUS!!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/SmszDJDNct
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 24, 2018
Did @YaOnlyLivvOnce just DIM @NaomiWWE‘s GLOW? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/D4hl0DdXGk
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 24, 2018
If late 2017 early 2018 #SDLive has taught me anything it’s that the SmackDown roster feels very very small.. #WWE pic.twitter.com/dr2OeOCBLo
— HEEL TEM (@HEEL_TEM) January 24, 2018
that feeling when someones not down with the YEP! movement. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/igX30nE5fr
— Pro Wrestling Sheet (@WrestlingSheet) January 24, 2018
… and just like that, @WWEGable pins one-half of the #SDLive #TagTeamChampions, #JeyUso! @WWEUsos pic.twitter.com/Sj7dvSGsro
— WWE (@WWE) January 24, 2018
What day is it? IT’S RUSEV DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #RusevDay #SDLive @WWEDramaKing @RusevBUL pic.twitter.com/seF5C35t3G
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 24, 2018