WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before Royal Rumble
Erik BeastonJanuary 27, 2024WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before Royal Rumble0 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
On the eve of the Royal Rumble, WWE SmackDown rolled into Miami’s Kaseya Center with a jam-packed show featuring the latest in Damage CTRL’s attempt to take over the women’s division as Asuka and Kairi Sane challenged Kayden Carter and Katana Cance for the Women’s Championship.
Elsewhere, LA Knight squared off with Solo Sikoa and fans got their first glimpse of The Final Testament between the ropes as Karrion Kross and The Authors of Pain battled Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits.
Who emerged from those matches victoriously, who built momentum ahead of Saturday’s Premium Live Event, and was Knight able to establish himself as the favorite to leave the Rumble with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship with a big win over The Enforcer?
Find out with this recap of the January 26 episode.
Match Card1 of 8
Announced in advance for Friday’s show were:
LA Knight vs. Solo SikoaCarlito vs. Santos EscobarBobby Lashley and The Street Profits vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross and Authors of Pain)Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane)Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin TheoryNo. 1 Contenders’ Verbal Confrontation2 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
Latin Grammy Award winner Eladio Carrión, the artist behind the new hit single “RKO,” appropriately introduced Randy Orton to kick off the evening’s broadcast.
The Viper cut a rather one-dimensional promo, vowing to end Roman Reigns’ run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at Royal Rumble, courtesy of the RKO.
AJ Styles interrupted, repeating the complaints about LA Knight stepping over him to get a title shot and reminding Orton of their history. The Megastar interrupted, electrified the crowd, and walked off, just in time for The Phenomenal One to rock Orton with a Pele Kick and stand tall to close out the segment.
WWE @WWEThe timing… 😮💨🤌
THE MEGASTAR @RealLAKnight has arrived and he wants to talk to ya! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/10ZI5b62rn
This more firmly solidified the idea that Styles is the closest thing to a heel in this equation while simultaneously highlighting the three men who will challenge Reigns Saturday night.
Did it further the issues between those involved? No, but it put the focus on them ahead of Knight’s main event showdown with Solo Sikoa.
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Michael Cole joined Corey Graves at the announce table, replacing the recently released Kevin Patrick. Styles recalled the history between him and Orton, providing cause for renewed tension between the two.Knight broke out “dummy,” a callback to his TNA Wrestling days.”I’ll hit Solo so hard, he’ll start doing his dad’s move,” Knight said before replicating the mad skills of Hall of Famer Rikishi.Carlito vs. Santos Escobar3 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
The debuting Elektra Lopez spoiled Carlito’s quest for revenge Friday night, with her attack on Zelina Vega proving to be the distraction Santos Escobar needed to score a tainted victory over the second-generation competitor.
A good match, featuring Escobar’s attack on the previously injured shoulder of his opponent, saw the heel again benefit from well-timed interference from Lopez, which came on the heels of a brawl between Humberto, Angel, Cruz Del Toro, and Joaquin Wilde.
WWE @WWENO WAY! @elektralopezwwe is here!!! 🫢
She just took out @ZelinaVegaWWE joining @EscobarWWE, @AngelGarzaWwe and @humberto_wwe in their battle against The LWO! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/gTcxON7rnB
A feud with plenty of legs left as we await the return of Rey Mysterio, it added a new element in the form of Lopez, who will give Vega someone to battle and highlight skills that extend beyond standing ringside and rooting on her teammates.
This was all positive, with a major development that will help enhance the overall storyline in the long run.
Result
Escobar defeated Carlito
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Escobar has a tremendous presence. He carries himself like a star and it is becoming more apparent that he is one. Escobar ripped the K-Tape off of the injured shoulder of his opponent before resuming his attack on it. Little things like that go a long way in preserving the credibility of the match itself.The arrival of Lopez was right on time and instantly enhanced Escobar’s faction, as she did in NXT. Women’s Tag Team Title Match: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter vs. Kabuki Warriors4 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
Damage CTRL made good on its promise to acquire the Women’s Tag Team Championship Friday night, with The Kabuki Warriors’ Kairi Sane and Asuka defeated Katana Chance and Kayden Carter to claim the titles.
The win came in a very good match, maybe the best of the champions’ careers, that won over the crowd late and had them hanging on some of the more dramatic near-falls. The finish was great, Chance took a big bump, and the right team went over.
WWE @WWETHE KABUKI WARRIORS ARE YOUR NEW WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! 💥🔥👏
HUGE WIN FOR #DamageCTRL TONIGHT! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/NOS8HtlXhe
The big post-match celebration, with pyro exploding on the stage while Michael Cole questioned whether Bayley would make it a clean sweep for Damage CTRL at Royal Rumble, not only focused on the faction but also the central story.
The highlight of the show to this point.
Result
The Kabuki Warriors defeated Katana Chance and Kayden Carter to win the titles
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Backstage, NXT general manager Ava introduced herself to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis moments before Michael Cole revealed that all three brands will be represented in the Royal Rumble matches.R-Truth selected his number and confused Aldis for Raw boss Adam Pearce in a fun bit.The near-fall off of the Keg Stand by the champions was strong and won the crowd over. It featured some great timing from Sane on the pinfall breakup, too.The Alabama Slam by Sane to Chance on the announce table was a wicked spot made even better by the heel firing up right after.Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits vs. The Final Testament5 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
Just when Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits thought they had the answers, The Final Testament changed the question.
Karrion Kross and The Authors of Pain refused the advertised match with their rivals, instead jumping Lashley, Montez Ford, and Angelo Dawkins before leaving them lying.
It was another show of dominance by the heels, one that further intensified the issues between the two sides and planted the seeds for the inevitable in-ring showdown.
It may not have been the expected match, but this was still an effective booking that did not water down what should be a hot contest when it occurs.
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Kross may be the mouthpiece but Cole made it clear on commentary that Paul Ellering is the mastermind.With that said, Kross looks better in two beatdowns of Lashley than he has the entire last year. It is too early to forecast the success of The Final Testament, but this feels like the start of a push that appeared to be coming when he re-signed with the company.Backstage, Jimmy Uso selected his Royal Rumble number and looked none-too-pleased about the outcome.Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin Theory6 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
Two weeks after their initial showdown was halted due to injury, Carmelo Hayes and Austin Theory picked right up where they left off with another competitive match between two of the brightest young stars on the roster.
This time, Theory picked up an underhanded victory, with assistance from Grayson Waller.
A two-on-one beatdown after the match was short-lived, though, as Trick Williams made the save for Hayes.
He cleared the heels out of the ring and stood tall alongside his friend, telling Hayes that he saved him not because all is good between them, but because they have a tag team match Tuesday night on NXT as part of the Dusty Rhodes Classic semifinals.
Result
Theory pinned Hayes
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Hayes may still be on the NXT roster but he looks right at home on main roster TV. The reaction to Williams and the “Whoop That Trick” chants reflected how over he is with fans this early in his career and more importantly, how ready they are to embrace him.LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa7 of 8
Credit: WWE.com
Solo Sikoa sought to “fix” the problem that was LA Knight Saturday night but before he could, Styles interfered and chaos erupted, bringing the main event of Friday’s show to an abrupt end.
The Phenomenal One ruined a fun and red-hot match and proceeded to further establish his heel persona before Orton made the save. The Viper uncorked draping DDTs and RKOs to all around him and appeared to be the last man standing entering the Royal Rumble.
That is until Knight delivered Blunt Force Trauma from out of nowhere as the show came to a close.
This was a great example of how one highlights all of the key players while giving the impression that any of the men fighting for Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship can conceivably win it.
This was the emphatic exclamation point that Monday’s Raw main event lacked.
Result
No contest
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
If the continued reactions to Knight are any indication, he is firmly entrenched as a main event guy. He might not be the guy in WWE, but he is a top-tier babyface.”Take care of him or I’m gonna take care of you!” Sikoa warned Styles before catching a steel chair to the midsection. Knight stood tall to close out the show, effectively diminishing his chances of a victory Saturday night. At least per typical WWE booking.Overall Grade8 of 8
This was another strong edition of SmackDown, with just enough hype for the Royal Rumble to justify the “go-home” label, with an appropriate amount of progression for ongoing feuds on the blue brand, regardless of whether they will play out on the grand stage Saturday night in Tampa.
WWE Creative did a great job of highlighting the Fatal 4-Way for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship even without Reigns at its disposal and the BFT from Knight to Orton was perfectly timed to end the show with a bang.
The debut of Elektra Lopez, the coronation of new Women’s Tag Team Champions, the latest in The Final Testament’s feud with Lashley and The Street Profits, and the tease of a tag team showdown pitting Hayes and Williams against Theory and Waller all set the stage for what is to come on Friday nights beyond the Rumble.
Grade: B+
