Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 1/20/2023 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show.
Preview.
WWE SmackDown (1/20/2023).
- SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament - First-Round Match: Banger Bros (Drew McIntyre & Sheamus) vs. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (w/ Valhalla).
- Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Kevin Owens Set for Contract Signing.
- SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament First-Round Match: Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) vs.IMPERIUM (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser).
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Live Coverage.
- After a video package from the 1/13/2023 edition of SmackDown recapping the match between Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, WWE Undisputed Champions The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso), Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa arrived to the arena. Zayn asked Reigns to fist bump him, but Reigns gave him the cold shoulder and ignored Zayn.
- After the Bloodline's Arrival, Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning to the opening match.
- Before the match, Michael Cole sent his condolences to the family of former ROH Tag Team & World Heavyweight Champion Jay Briscoe (real name Jamin Pugh) after he passed away on 1/17/2023 in a tragic car accident. You can send donations to the Pugh family here. Fightful continues to extend its condolences to The Pugh Family, their friends & fans.
SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament - First-Round Match.
Banger Bros (Drew McIntyre & Sheamus) vs. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (w/ Valhalla).
The four wrestlers brawled inside & outside of the ring as Erik & Sheamus officially began the match, but Sheamus clotheslined himself & Erik out of the ring. The four wrestlers brawled on the outside before Sheamus slammed Erik onto the barricade. Back in the ring, Sheamus got Ivar on the apron and hit 7 Beats of the Battering before Erik attacked Sheamus. Sheamus tossed Erik onto the apron and hit 13 Beats of the Battering on Erik as the crowd rejoiced. Sheamus went for an Avalanche Irish Curse, but Ivar & Erik attacked Sheamus before Erik tossed Sheamus to the outside. Ivar saw Sheamus and hit a running basement cross-body on Sheamus onto the apron before the commercial break. After the break, Erik hit the Anvil elbows on Sheamus before getting. modified nerve hold on Sheamus, but Sheamus got up and hit a body shot on Erik before the two exchanged strikes. Erik dropped Sheamus before Ivar tagged in. Ivar hit a cross-face strike before Erik tagged in, but Sheamus hit a body shot at Erik before hitting the Irish Curse on Erik. Ivar tagged in, but McIntyre tagged in on the match for the first time. McIntyre hit a lariat on Ivar, an overhead suplex on Erik, and neck breakers on Ivar & Erik. McIntyre hit a Michinoku Driver on Ivar for a near fall. McIntyre went for a DVD, but Ivar evaded before hitting a Sit-Down Senton on McIntyre. Erik hit a lariat on the corner before tossing McIntyre into a lariat from Ivar for a near fall. McIntyre hit a headbutt on Erik before meeting Ivar on the top rope. McIntyre went for a Superplex on Ivar, but Erik dropped him and left him hanging. Sheamus got Erik and hit the White Noise on Erik while McIntyre hit a Big Veal on Ivar while hanging from the top rope before the commercial break. Back from the break, Ivar laid n a series of strikes on McIntyre before slamming him with an Irish Whip, but McIntyre rebounded into a lariat before hitting the Future Shock DDT. McIntyre went for a Claymore, but Ivar responded with a Spin kick on McIntyre. Erik& Sheamus tagged in before the two exchanged punches. Sheamus hit a Tilt-to-World Powerslam on Erik and went for the Brogue Kick on Erik, but Valhalla distracted Sheamus before Erik hit a T-Bone Suplex on Sheamus. Ivar tagged in and hit a Viking Splash on Sheamus, but Sheamus kicked out at two. Erik tagged in as the two got in the ring and double-teamed Sheamus. Ivar went for a springboard lariat, but Sheamus caught him with a V-Trigger while McIntyre hit the Claymore on Erik. Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick on Ivar to give the Banger Bros the pinfall win, advancing to the second round.
Winners: Banger Bros (Drew McIntyre & Sheamus).
- Paul Heyman & Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns were backstage talking about the contract before Sami Zayn interrupted. Zayn asked Reigns if everything was cool, but Reigns asked Zayn to give it to him straight. Zayn admitted that he took a lot of pride in taking care of the Kevin Owens problem, saying that he felt slighted for the Usos & Sikoa interfering in his match against Owens last week. Reigns demanded Zayn get out because it blew his mind for saying he did not disclose the plan to him. Heyman told him to run like hell after Reigns actions, which got him worried.
- Raquel Rodriguez officially declared herself for the Women's Royal Rumble & said that she wanted to win the Women's Royal Rumble in Texas, her home state.
- LA Knight cut a promo ahead of his match, asking the crowd to explain Bray Wyatt what the hell is going on. Knight promised that he would make Bray Wyatt think he should not have returned and continued to cash in on checks from past glories.
LA Knight vs. Glenn Jones.
Jones & Knight locked up as the lights flashed on the titantron. Jones hit two jabs before Knigth hit a lariat and the BFT on Jones for the quick and dominant pinfall win.
Winner: LA Knight.
- LA Knight immediately dumped Jones out of the ring as the titantron showed the return of the Firefly Funhouse. Bray Wyatt welcomed the audience back to the Funhouse and told the crowd he could not wait to have fun with his friends. Knight was not amused by the Funhouse, despite Abby The Witch telling Rambling Rabbit to "Shut the f**k up". Wyatt told the Rabbit a story about the darkness before telling him he should be scared of the dark. The vignette cut to Uncle Howdie on a TV saying "I told you so! All you needed was a little push". After that, Wyatt told Knight was that he hoped that he was satisfied because whatever comes through the door was his problem.
SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament - First-Round Match.
Los Lotharios (Angel & Humberto) vs. Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante Adonis) (w/ B-Fab).
Humberto & Adonis locked up before Humberto got a wrist lock on Adonis. Angel & Humberto hit a Hip toss/ face slam on Adonis for a near fall. Adonis hit a dropkick Angel before Top Dolla tagged in. Top Dolla hit a big veal on Angel before hitting a chop on Angel on the broadcast table while talking trash to Michael Cole. Back in the ring, Angel tagged Humberto, who hit an uppercut, a springboard sunset flip, and a spinning enziguri kick on Adonis. Angel & Humberto hit an assisted Dropkick on Top Dolla before the two hit stereo Tope Suicidas on Hit Row on the outside. Humberto & Adonis got back in the ring, but B-Fab pulled Humberto's leg to allow Adonis to get Humberto in a roll-up for the pinfall win. They will face the Bangers Bros in the 2nd Round of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament.
Winners: Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante Adonis) (w/ B-Fab).
- There was a vignette of Cody Rhodes & his recovery from his pectoral injury from Hell In A Cell 2022 ahead of his return on the 2023 Men's Royal Rumble.
- Braun Strowman cut a promo backstage to announce himself entering the Men's Royal Rumble 2023 & stated that anyone that comes on his way would get "These hands".
- SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair came to the ring to cut a promo. Flair addressed Sonya Deville being annoyed by Flair before telling her that if she had a problem with Flair, to say it to her face. Deville answered Flair's and stated that she did not are what the "disgusting" city of Detroit wanted. Deville said she wanted another title match, but wonder if Flair believed if she was even worthy. The crowd chanted at Deville "You suck" and stated that Deville that she was a star, but asked what she had over the people at the back. Flair told Deville that she lost her fist shot & tapped out before telling Deville to focus on the Rumble, but stated that if she wanted a match she was on for right now. Deville rejected the offer and said that there was nothing in this for her unless the title was on the line. Adam Pearce before Deville hit a cheap shot on Flair.
- Backstage, Reigns asked Heyman if he believed this guy (the guy being Sami Zayn). Heyman told Reigns that he trusted the Tribal Chief, but told Reigns as his Special Council that wouldn't it be better for Zayn to be in their corner instead of being out of the loop with Kevin Owens being involved.
- There was a video vignette of Lacey Evans getting fools in the Cobra Clutch.
SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament - First-Round Match.
Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) vs. IMPERIUM (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser).
Holland & Vinci began the match locking up before the two collided with shoulder tackles. Holland hit a hip toss on Vinci before Butch tagged in and hit a double-stomp on Vinci's arm. Kaiser tagged in and hit a side-slam into a face-slam on Butch. Butch got Kaiser's arm and stomped on Kaiser's elbow before locking in a Kimura Lock on Kaiser, but Vinci tagged in and hit a springboard crossbody on Butch, which allowed Kasier to hit a PK Kick on Butch before the commercial break. After the break, Kaiser slammed Butch into the corner, but Butch hit a headbutt on Vinci before rolling under Kaiser & tagging in Holland. Holland hti three diving shoulder tackles, the Snake Eyes, two corner lariats, and a running powerslam on Kiaser. Holland hit a double-back drop on Vinci & Kaiser before butch hit an Asai Moonsault on Vinci to the outside. Vinci attacked Holland on the outside while Butch locked Kaiser in an Ankle Lock before transitioning into the Yuji Gatame on Kaiser. Kaiser rolled through before tagging in Vinci, who hit a double-springboard moonsault on Butch for a near fall. Vinci went for a Powerbomb on Butch, but Butch reversed it into a pin for a near fall. Butch & Vinci exchanged chops before Butch hit a Tornado DDT on Vinci. Holland & Kaiser tagged in, but Kaiser hit a chop before Holland hit a double under-hook suplex on Kaiser. Butch took down Vinci off the apron, but Kaiser hit an enziguri kick before Vinci caught him into a Brainbuster onto the outside. Kaiser & Vinci hit the Imperial Bomb on Holland for the pinfall win.
Winners: IMPERIUM (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser).
- Shayna Baszler cut a promo backstage to announce she was entering the 2023 Women's Royal Rumble. Baszler promised that she would tear anyone that steps on her way apart limb by limb.
- There was an extensive video package promoting Raw Is XXX. Figthful will have the results for the show.
- Karrion Kross & Scarlett cut a promo backstage ahead of Kross match against Rey Mysterio. Kross said he was not that amped up about his match because he was not sure if Rey was focusing to being theGOAT and then promised to win the Men's Royal Rumble.
SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament First-Round Match:
Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz del Toro) (w/ Zelina Vega & Santos Escobar) vs. Maximum Male Models (Mace & Mansoor) (w/ Maxxine Dupri).
Wilde & Mansoor locked up before Mansoor hit a shoulder tackle on Wilde. Mansoor hit an atomic drop on Wilde, but Wilde dropped Mansoor before hitting a corkscrew elbow drop on Mansoor. Mansoor & Mace tossed Wilde & Del Toro before posing to the camera. Escobar demanded LDF get what's theirs and went ballistic on MMM. Wilde hut a Tope Con Giro on Wilde while Del Toro hit a Corkscrew on Mace to the outside. Del Toro & Wilde hit a double suplex before hitting an assisted electric chair/ splash on Mansoor for a near fall. Mace tagged in and hit a Scissor Leg kick on Wilde & Del Toro and went for an electric chair on Wilde, but Wilde dropped Mansoor & Mace on the corner before Wilde hit a DDT on Mansoor off Mace's back. Del Toro hit a double-springboard shotgun dropkick on Mace before Wilde & Del Toro hit El Sacrificio on Mace for the pinfall win.
Winners: Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz del Toro) (w/ Zelina Vega & Santos Escobar).
- Reigns & Zayn were backstage again. Reigns apologized for his actions earlier in the day and stated that sometimes he expects the same loyalty he gives to others from everyone despite his temper, but Zayn told Reigns that if he needed anything to do something. Reigns asked Zayn to get the transportation and tell the Usos to get ready to leave the arena as he, Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman would head to the contract signing.
- WWE Official and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce was in the ring to moderate the contract signing between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (w/ Solo Sikoa & Paul Heyman) & Kevin Ownes to make their match official for the titles on the 2023 Royal Rumble PPV. Owens attacked Sikoa from behind before hitting a Stunner on Reigns in the ring. Owens hit Thrust Kicks on The Usos to lay them out before Owens hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb on Reigns onto the Contract Table as Heyman was distraught. Owens gave Heyman the death stare before Owens signed the contract. Zayn confronted Owens afterwards, but Owens left the arena as the damage was done. Owens & Zayn stared daggers to one another before Zayn looked at the injured Reigns in distraught to end the broadcast.
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.