This week’s SmackDown went live from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. We witnessed a mega contract signing for the fatal 4-way match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble. Logan Paul was the guest at The KO Show, and Women’s Tag Team Titles were defended on the show. Let’s look at everything that happened on the January 19 episode of WWE SmackDown.
Contract Signing for Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Somewhere in the arena, The show opened with Roman Reigns alongside The Bloodline. Roman told Heyman he was here to fix things. Solo said he would fix everything.
In the ring, Nick Aldis had a setup of a contract signing. He welcomed everyone to the show. Aldis introduced Styles, Knight, and Orton, who signed the contract. Then he introduced Roman Reigns.
Paul Heyman came out. He said he hasn’t even looked at the agreement yet, and Roman won’t sign it tonight. Aldis savagely said it would be a triple threat for the vacant Undisputed Title.
Heyman told him to have Reigns defend in a singles match. LA Knight joined the talk, and he had his point. He said The Bloodline wasted his opportunity at Crown Jewel, so it should be his rematch.
AJ Styles told Knight that The Bloodline tried to end his career. The Phenomenal One reminded that Knight took Styles’ opportunity, and he lost. This argument led to a brawl between Styles and Knight, who fought to the ringside.
WWE Officials tried to separate Knight and Styles. Randy told Heyman in the ring that he would introduce Reigns to the three most dangerous letters, RKO. Orton got a match against Solo, while Styles got a match with Knight later tonight.
Grades: A+
Analysis: It was a fun segment to kick off SmackDown. Aldis is a great General Manager, especially when he pulled up the line to vacate the title. They put on hold the contract signing by Roman Reigns.
Six Man Tag Team Match
LWO vs. Santos Escobar, Garza, and Carillo
LWO dominated on Angel for a bit. Carlito had some chops while Del Toro caught him with a hurricanranna. Carrillo and Escobar were thrown outside, and Del Toro and Wilde jumped over the top rope to take them out. Garza and Carillo double-teamed on Wilde to get some offense.
A Beautiful DDT by Joaquin to tag Carlito in. Carlito built the momentum with a dropkick and a spinebuster. In the end, Escobar blindly tagged in. Carlito had a backbreaker on Humberto, but Santos rolled him for the pin.
Winners: Santos Escobar, Carillo, and Garza
Grades: B-
Analysis: There was a decent feud going on between these six. It will be interesting after Rey Mysterio comes back after recovering from injury.
Tag Team Match
Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate vs. Pretty Deadly
The Bruiserweight is back! Butch was introduced as Pete Dunne to a huge ovation from the crowd. Dunne and Bate dominated early on in the match.
After the commercial, Bate fought through Pretty Deadly to tag Pete Dunne in. Tyler took out Kit Wilson on the outside with a splash. Pete Dunne hit with the Bitter End on Elton Prince for the win.
Winners: Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a short yet entertaining match. Finally, Pete Dunne got his name back. This Dunne and Bate team has potential.
The KO Show with Logan Paul
Kevin Owens invited Logan Paul, and the United States Champion arrived in the ring. Logan called it an excuse for a show. He thanked Owens and said that he was there because of Kevin.
A video was played from WrestleMania 2021, where Paul suffered a Stunner from the hands of KO. Logan said he was there to prove to everyone that he belonged there.
KO praised him for the man he has become, but Owens said you will never be a Rey Mysterio, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, or Kevin Owens. Paul called himself the greatest storyteller of this generation. Owens vowed to end Logan’s reign at Royal Rumble.
Logan said that Owens knocked him out with a cast, but he would knock him out clean. Kevin said that there is no punch you can throw at me to keep me down for three seconds.
Owens took his cast off, but Logan laid him out with a right hand. Owens surprisingly got up in the nick of time, and a brawl started between the two. Logan rolled outside and slammed Owens’ broken hand into the ring post.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a great battle of words, and both superstars threw logical points. Paul gets the natural heat from the audience, which is great for him.
Backstage: Roman Reigns was angry because Jimmy and Heyman couldn’t fix things. Solo said that he would do that and walked away.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
Damage CTRL was ringside for this, and Bayley joined the commentary team. The match started at a good pace. The hurricane from Katana on Isla looked awesome.
In the end, Carter delivered a destroyer and tagged in Chance. The AfterParty finisher landed successfully, and Carter and Chance retained the titles. After the match, Asuka and Kairi Sane entered the ring and met with the champions.
Winners: Katanca Chance and Kayden Carter
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a short match. These two teams can deliver if they get enough time. It looks like The Kabuki Warriors are next in line for the titles.
Backstage: Carmelo Hayes was interviewed backstage, and Austin Theory and Grayson Waller interfered. Hayes challenged Theory to a match, but Austin refused. Waller accepted the match for Theory.
Singles Match
AJ Styles vs. LA Knight
Knight started off with a suplex early on for a failed pinfallattempt. AJ with a backbreaker, but Knight answered with a power slam. At ringside, the action continued on the barricade and the commentary desk.
Jimmy Uso interrupted, and Knight had his attention on him. AJ replied with a kick to the head. Solo hit Knight with a Samoan Spike to end the match in a disqualification.
Solo hit a Samoan Spike on Styles as well. Sikoa grabbed the mic and said, two down, one to go. He called out Randy Orton.
Winner: LA Knight via Disqualification
Grades: B
Analysis: The Bloodline continued to fix the problem. They interfered in yet another match, and Aldis won’t be happy.
Singles Match
Solo Sikoa vs. Randy Orton
Solo dominated Orton in the ring and slammed him into steps at ringside. Orton with his signature slam on the commentary table.
Orton hit the hanging DDT from the second rope. Jimmy Usoarrived, but Knight took him down. Styles sent Jimmy into the LED boards. In the ring, Randy won with RKO.
All three challengers are in the ring. Randy returned with an RKO on Knight and Styles. Roman Reigns arrived and delivered a Superman Punch on Orton.
Reigns told Aldis to bring him the contract. Roman signed the contract and threw it toward Aldis on the floor. The Tribal Chief was preparing for a Spear but suffered an RKO from Randy to close the show.
Winner: Randy Orton
Grades: B+
Analysis: A great main event. Not the match, but the post-match angle stole the show. Roman has signed the contract. Randy looked strong and stood tall in the end.
It was a decent SmackDown episode. It was mostly about the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The fatal 4-way match is set at the Royal Rumble premium live event.
