SmackDown Notes: Owens jumps Reigns, Four teams advance in Tag Title Tournament

January 21, 2023 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

January 20, 2023

Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI

By: John Kleinchester

SmackDown kicked off with all of The Bloodline arriving in multiple black Chevy Suburbans. Sami Zayn was in a great mood high-fiving Jimmy and Jey Uso but a fist bump to Roman Reigns went unreciprocated. 

The opening match of the evening was the first match in the Smackdown Tag Title Contender’s Tournament with The Viking Raiders squaring off against Sheamus & Drew McIntyre. A graphic appeared revealing the other first-round matchups in the tournament which all would be taking place tonight: Los Lotharios vs. Hit Row, The Brawling Brutes vs. Imperium, and Maximum Male Models vs. Legado del Fantasma.

Photo Courtesy: WWE

Just before the match began, Michael Cole expressed WWE’s condolences to the family and friends of Jay Briscoe who tragically passed away earlier this week. The Viking Raiders jumped Sheamus and McIntyre to start the match and the foursome had a hard-hitting battle. Sheamus & Drew McIntyre took the victory after McIntyre hit the Claymore on Erik and Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick on Ivar. 

Next up, Sami Zayn was asking Roman Reigns if everything was cool between them. Reigns asked Zayn to tell him the truth and Sami admitted that he was disappointed last week with The Usos intervening in the match as he felt he had Kevin Owens beat. Reigns turned it around on Zayn and said maybe he was using him instead and kicked him out of the locker room. 

Raquel Rodriguez cut a promo in the locker room saying how she was going to win the Royal Rumble in her home state of Texas.

LA Knight came down to the ring and said he was going to beat Bray Wyatt next Saturday in their Mtn Dew Pitch Black Match at the Royal Rumble. Knight defeated Ren Jones in less than a minute despite the lights going out and Bray Wyatt’s patented static effect and logo appearing on the TitanTron. The Firefly Funhouse then returned with all the characters coming back to life. Suddenly we cut to an old-school TV cabinet with Uncle Howdy on it saying “I told you so – all you needed was a little push”. Then we returned to Bray Wyatt and he said “you were the one that opened the door and now whatever comes through it is your problem”. 

Hit Row was out next for their Tag Team tournament match against Los Lotharios. Top Dolla was wearing a ski mask to which Michael Cole noted he was dressed as Mr. Wrestling from the ’70s. Hit Row defeated Los Lotharios in under three minutes after B-FAB got involved allowing Ashante Adonis to score the win with a roll-up victory. Hit Row will face Drew McIntyre and Sheamus next week. 

Another Cody Rhodes promo package aired where he declared himself for next Saturday’s Royal Rumble match. After the commercial break, Braun Strowman also declared himself for the Rumble. 

Charlotte Flair was out to the ring next and a recap of her backstage brawl with Sonya Deville last week was shown. Flair called out Sonya and she quickly obliged. Charlotte and Sonya went back and forth until Adam Pearce came out, distracting Charlotte and allowing Sonya to jump her from behind and make a quick escape.

Next, we were back to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman. Heyman said to Reigns that it’s better to have Sami “in the castle pissing out than outside the castle pissing in”. 

Imperium defeated The Brawling Brutes after a brainbuster to Butch on the floor and The Imperium Bomb on Ridge Holland for the win. 

Another Royal Rumble declaration promo aired, this time from Shayna Baszler. After that, an extensive commercial for this Monday’s Raw XXX was shown. Karrion Kross then cut a backstage promo saying that Rey Mysterio can’t figure out if he wants to be a family man or the greatest of all time. Kross said he would take out Mysterio and then take out 29 other men to win the Rumble on top of it.

Our last match of the evening featured Legado del Fantasma vs Maximum Male Models in the Tag Team Tournament. Zelina Vega sat on commentary and declared herself for the Women’s Royal Rumble. 

Roman Reigns summoned Sami Zayn back to his locker room and told him that it’s no secret that he has a temper. Reigns realized that all Sami wanted was clear communication. Reigns asked Sami to make sure they were all ready to leave the building once the contract was signed and Sami obliged. Sami gave the fist bump one more shot and Roman this time reciprocated. After Sami left the room, Paul Heyman thanked Roman.

Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, and Roman Reigns came to the ring for the contract signing with Kevin Owens. Reigns sat down at the table and put his feet up only to have Kevin Owens appear from out of nowhere and hit a Stunner on Reigns and a superkick on Sikoa. The Usos then arrived and Owens took them both out as well. Kevin Owens then gave Reigns a pop-up powerbomb through the table. Owens signed the contract and Sami Zayn finally arrived as Kevin Owens escaped through the crowd.

Announced for SmackDown Next Week in Laredo, TX:

  • Rey Mysterio vs. Karrion Kross
  • Sheamus & Drew McIntyre vs. Hit Row
  • Imperium vs. Legado del Fantasma

Friday Night SmackDown Results:

  • Sheamus & Drew McIntyre over The Viking Raiders in 17:49
  • LA Knight over Ren Jones in :36
  • Hit Row over Los Lotharios in 2:44
  • Imperium over The Brawling Brutes in 9:12
  • Imperium over Maximum Male Models in 2:58
About John Kleinchester 155 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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