WWE Smackdown Live Coverage And Results (1/23)

We are in Washington, D.C. and your announcers are Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, and Tom Phillips.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their way to the ring.

Kevin says it is time to pay attention because you have in front of you the future of WWE, not a parade of retirees like you saw last night on Raw's 25th Anniversary. Kevin introduces the next co-WWE Champion Sami Zayn.

Sami says he wants to spread the love a bit as he bounces around Kevin and he wants everyone to give it up for the next co-WWE Champion.

Kevin says the Yep Movement is about more than a single syllable. It is about standing in the face of adversity and tyranny. Sami with a Yep. Kevin brings up the 3 on 2 handicap match from a few weeks ago, set up by Shane. Shane's vendetta backfired because they proved that AJ Styles has no chance of walking out of the Royal Rumble with the WWE title. They are the absolute best competitors on Smackdown. If they couldn't overcome the odds of a handicap match there is no way AJ will overcome the odds on Sunday.

Sami says he will spell it out for AJ. They are going to beat AJ. They are going to take your championship. They are going to become the first ever co-WWE World Champions. Just to add a little insult to injury, they are going to hurt AJ after taking his title. Kevin and Sami with Yeps until AJ Styles makes his way to the stage.

AJ says he cannot be the only one who heard them correctly. Did they say they were going to beat him this Sunday? AJ says nope. Did you say you were going to be Co-WWE Champions? Nope. Did you say you were going to hurt him on Sunday? Nope. AJ asks if that is annoying them because they have been annoying everyone for weeks.

Kevin says when they win, AJ is going to hear YEP everywhere. They say that even AJ's family will be saying YEP.

AJ tells them to shut their YepHoles. AJ says you should be cocky because of your advantage but you are going to fight someone phenomenal. AJ says he will do anything possible to keep the title from you. AJ says this is the House that AJ Styles Built.

Kevin says that AJ is phenomenal but he is predictable. Sami says that he told Kevin that AJ would come out and do his macho tough guy act.

Kevin says that you talk like you have a chance on Sunday. That is why you speak with ignorance because ignorance is the official language of Washington D.C. Sami adds that it was ignorance that got you into this pickle.

Kevin asks Sami if he can remember what AJ said a few weeks ago. Sami goes to the video tape.

Kevin calls AJ a tough guy. Those were supposed to be empty words because you didn't expect someone to take you up on that offer. As soon as the match was made, you started to backtrack.

Sami says that AJ has to be a man because he is forced by an actual authority figure with actual convictions who will make you live up to your word. With Daniel not here right now, will you be true to your word?

AJ wants to know what do they mean.

Kevin and Sami go to the footage.

Kevin asks AJ if he is going to weasel out of things or will he be a man? What about AJ Styles versus Kevin Owens and then AJ Styles versus Sami Zayn immediately after? Daniel Bryan's music plays and he makes his way to the stage.

Daniel says they are right about Kevin and Sami being two of the best superstars to step in the ring. They are also right about how difficult it is to win a handicap match. Daniel says he has the utmost faith in AJ Styles.

AJ says he does not need Daniel to advocate for him because he does not know if Daniel is in bed with Kevin and Sami. If they think they can beat him in back to back matches, why not find out. AJ says he will not only beat them, he will hurt them.

-Commercial-

Backstage: Shane asks Daniel Bryan if he's serious about putting AJ Styles in back to back matches this close to the Royal Rumble. Bryan says he has faith in AJ. Bryan asks if Shane is questioning AJ's ability to defend himself tonight and Shane says he's not questioning AJ's ability tonight

JEY USO VS CHAD GABLE

Waistlock by Gable and it's broken up. Gable goes after the arm and a single leg takedown and Gable delivers forearms across the face. Waistlock by Gable and Jey shakes Gable off sending him to the outside and we switch to split screen as Smackdown goes to commercial

-Commercial-

Split Screen: Gable is back in the ring and waistlock on jey who delivers an elbow and kick to Gable. Palm strike by Jey. Gable counters a Samoan Drop sending Jey to the outside. back in the ring Gable drops a series of knees aross the arm. Gable hooks the leg for a nearfall and Gable going to work on the arm. Jey is thrown shoulder first into the ring post.

Jey trying to mount some offense as we switch back to fullscreen. Gable with a Northern Lights Suplex. Moonsault misses. Gable on the apron and Jey with a kick sending Gable crashing to the floor. Jey with a dive to the outside onto Gable

Jey on the top rope misses with a splash but connects with the Samoan Drop and Jey sets up for the backsplash but Gable with a waistlock rolls through for the three count

The winner of the match: Chad Gable

Backstage: Shinsuke is asked how he will get through the Royal Rumble and Shinsuke says simple. He sees someone and he will deliver a knee to the face. Baron Corbin walks in and says he doesn't care about the WWE Universe, Nakamura is all hype and Corbin's resume speaks for itself and he plans to win the Rumble Sunday. Corbin asks what Nakamura has done and Shinsuke says it's not what he's done, it's what he's about to do and suggests he and Corbin rumble tonight

-Commercial-

NAOMI VS LIV MORGAN

They lock up and Liv with a clean break but Naomi kicks Liv from the corner and slides into a slap. Naomi with a near fall and then she goes for a jackknife cover. Liv with a backslide for a near fall. Naomi with a kick to the head and the referee stops Naomi because Liv appears injured. Liv was playing possum and she sends Naomi into the turnbuckles. Liv with boots to the back to send her to the mat. Liv gets a near fall.

Liv with a Japanese stranglehold while Natalya, Carmella, and Lana make their way to the ring.

Liv with a clothesline and Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring.

Naomi gets to the ropes and Naomi with a round kick and sunset flip for the three count.

The winner of the match: Naomi

Post Match: Ruby and Sarah attack Naomi. Becky comes into the ring to help Naomi. Natalya with a discus clothesline to Becky. Lana with a bicycle kick to Ruby. Natalya throws Lana over the top rope. Carmella with a thrust kick to Liv. Natalya and Carmella throw Liv over the top rope. Natalya with a clothesline to Carmella and she leaves the ring when Naomi and Becky return to the ring. Becky tries to throw Naomi over the top rope to the floor but Naomi lands on the apron.

Charlotte Flair comes out and she tells Becky she loves that. It is clearly every woman for themselves on Sunday. That is why friendships and alliances do not work when you try for an opportunity to face her at Wrestlemania. She wishes luck to all of you, especially the winner.

-Commercial-

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA VS BARON CORBIN

They lock up and Corbin backs Nakamura into the corner and he pushes Nakamura in the chest. Corbin with a wrist lock. Nakamura with a reversal. Nakamura backs Corbin into the ropes and he leans his head against Corbin's belly. Nakamura tells Corbin to come on and Nakamura with a knee to the midsection followed by a knee drop. They go to the floor and Nakamura is sent into the apron and he returns to the ring and tells Corbin to come on.

Corbin goes up the ramp and Nakamura follows. Nakamura taps Corbin on the shoulder and Corbin punches Nakamura into the throat and then he sends Nakamura into the ring post as we go to commercial.

We are back and Corbin with a half nelson and chin lock. Nakamura gets back to his feet but Corbin brings him back down to the mat. Nakamura stomps on the foot but Corbin with a knee to the midsection. Nakamura with strikes to Corbin and then he hits a flying boot and both men are down. Nakamura with kicks to the chest but Corbin blocks one. Nakamura with an enzuigiri and then he hits a running knee into the corner.

Nakamura puts Corbin on the turnbuckles and he connects with a running knee for a near fall. Nakamura goes for a reverse exploder but Corbin with an elbow and he tries for a suplex. Nakamura with a knee and a sit out gourdbuster. Corbin counters a Kinshasa attempt with Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin runs into a boot and then Nakamura leaps over him but Corbin slides around the ring post and hits a clothesline for a near fall.

Corbin sets for End of Days but Nakamura counters into a cross arm breaker but Corbin blocks it and he gets a near fall with a rollup. Nakamura misses a round kick and hits an enzuigiri. Nakamura sets for Kinsahsa but Orton with an RKO out of nowhere and the referee calls for the bell.

The winner of the match by disqualification: Shinsuke Nakamura

Post Match: Randy Orton gives Baron Corbin an RKO.

We have a video package for last night's Raw.

-Commercial-

BOBBY ROODE AND NEW DAY VS JINDER MAHAL AND RUSEV DAY

Rusev Day working over Kofi Kingston. Jinder gets the tag driving a knee into the back. Rusev with a bearhug locked in on Kofi. Kingston with a headbutt breaks the hold. Rusev with a splash in the corner and a right hand sends Woods crashing to the floor. A second back splash misses as Kofi drops Rusev with a bulldog. Roode in unloading on Aiden English with clotheslines and a neckbreaker. Kneelift to Jinder Mahal and a blockbuster to Aiden. Mahal slides back into the ring and gets planted with a spinebuster.

Rusev with a kick and English with a nearfall. Kingston back in dropping Rusev sending him to the outside and Kofi dives over the ropes onto Rusev. Roode with a spinebuster to English and Woods off the ropes with an elbow for the three count

The winners of the match: Bobby Roode and New Day

-Commercial-

AJ STYLES VS KEVIN OWENS

Owens misses a punch as the bell rings and Styles with punches and a drop kick. Styles punches Owens followed by an Irish whip and Styles misses a splash into the corner. Owens with a clothesline but he misses the cannonball. Owens holds his knee after hitting the turnbuckles. Styles kicks Owens in the leg and applies the Calf Crusher. Owens taps out.

The winner of the match: AJ Styles

Post Match: Styles refuses to release the hold and Zayn comes to the ring and attacks Styles.

Zayn checks on Owens and then he attacks Styles. Owens limps to the back while the referee checks on Styles. Zayn kicks Styles again. Zayn pulls Styles to the floor and he Irish whips Styles into the ring steps.

We see Bryan and Shane watching in the office.

Zayn punches Styles and the referee pulls Zayn off Styles.

-Commercial-

AJ STYLES VS SAMI ZAYN

The referee starts the match and Zayn with a running boot to the chest. Zayn with a crossface while Owens is checked on by the officials at ringside. Zayn punches Styles. Zayn punches Styles again and he sends Styles into the turnbuckles. Zayn Irish whips Styles sternum first into the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Zayn with chops as Owens is being put on a stretcher. Zayn with a clothesline and he gets a near fall.

Zayn with a rear chin lock. Styles with elbows but Zayn adds more pressure to the chin lock. Zayn with a knee and Styles with forearms and strikes followed by a clothesline and a sliding forearm. Styles with a flying clothesline into the corner but Zayn with a waist lock. Styles sends Zayn over the top rope to the floor while they continue to work on Owens on the floor. Styles with a slingshot forearm to Zayn on the floor. Styles sends Zayn back into the ring.

Styles kicks Owens in the injured knee and then he punches Owens. Zayn with a clothesline to Styles on the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Zayn with a shot to Styles' head while Owens is still being checked out at ringside. Zayn with a reverse chin lock. Styles tries to escape but Zayn holds on. Styles with forearms to Sami followed by a chop. Zayn with an elbow and then he goes to the turnbuckles. Styles punches Sami to stop him and Styles goes for a superplex but instead hits a Frankensteiner.

Shane and Daniel continue to watch the match in the office in silence.

Zayn with a chop but Styles with a forearm. They go back and forth but Styles with an Ushigoroshi and a near fall. Zayn blocks the Styles Clash but Zayn lands on his feet and he kicks Styles. Zayn goes to the turnbuckles for a tornado DDT. Styles with a boot when Zayn charges into the corner. Styles goes to the turnbuckles but misses the moonsault and lands on his feet. Styles with a Pele Kick for a near fall.

Zayn with an elbow to Styles and a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Owens is finally on the stretcher but he remains at ringside. Zayn with a chop and he puts Styles on the turnbuckles. Styles escapes and drops Zayn on the turnbuckles. Styles with a thrust kick and he tries for the Styles Clash but Zayn escapes. Styles goes to the apron and he connects with a sliding knee on the apron. Styles pushes Owens off the stretcher.

Zayn with a Helluva Kick followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and the three count.

The winner of the match: Sami Zayn

--END SHOW--