We bring you live coverage for the episode of WWE SmackDown airing on January 26, 2024.
Eladio Carrion enters after he provided a hit song for WWE. He welcomes everyone to SmackDown. He introduces the legend, Randy Orton, who thanks Eladio for putting him in his music video. Orton wants to talk business, namely The Bloodline. Roman Reigns has held the title almost 1,300 days, which is unheard of. Nobody can stop The Bloodline, except maybe him.
The only thing that will matter after the Royal Rumble is the #15, because he will become a 15-time World Champion. AJ Styles interrupts and asks if he just looked past him. He says he asked for a match with Solo Sikoa, but it was handed to a guy who stepped over his body, LA Knight. As long as Randy Orton has been in this business, he should know better. They have history. After the RKO last week, he has a receipt coming. After the Royal Rumble, AJ Styles will be stepping over Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and LA… Knight’s music plays.
With microphone in hand, he tells AJ that all he has done since he come back is whine and complain. Stop your crying, dummy. Four men in the match tomorrow, and only he has a match tonight. Paul Heyman did everything he could to soften him up, because he is the biggest threat. Here’s the deal, he won’t complain about it, he will hit Solo Sikoa so hard he will do his Dad’s dance moves. At the Royal Rumble, he will step over every sorry soul to get the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Yeah! Styles takes this moment to hit Orton with a Pele Kick.
#1. Carlito (w/ LWO) vs. Santos Escobar (w/ Legado Del Fantasma) – Winner: Santos Escobarwith an assist from Elektra Lopez
Nick Aldis meets Ava, the new NXT General Manager. Bobby Lashley picks his number for the Royal Rumble, and he seems happy about it. Santos Escobar is next.
We get a vignette of Bayley telling the story of Damage CTRL, and how her winning the Royal Rumble is her destiny. R-Truth gets his number and is upset, until he realizes it is his Royal Rumble number. He mistakes Nick Aldis for Adam Pearce with hair.
#2. [Women’s Tag Team Championship] Kayden Carter & Katana Chance (c) vs. Kabuki Warriors’ Asuka & Kairi Sane – Winners: Kabuki Warriors become the new champions!
Paul Heyman says to Solo Sikoa that Roman Reigns said he needed to fix the problem last week. He needs to fix it this time, and don’t be merciful. Sikoa smirks before walking out. Heyman tells Jimmy Uso that Roman Reigns saw his time to become something more and seized it. Jimmy needs to enter the Royal Rumble, win it, and beat Seth Rollins at WrestleMania to bring the World Heavyweight Championship to The Bloodline. And then, he will understand that the line of succession to the Tribal Heir starts at the Royal Rumble.
Backstage, Bayley picks her number for the Royal Rumble, and does not seem overly thrilled.
In the ring, Bobby Lashley introduces the stable to the audience. They came for a fight, so no more hiding for Final Testament. Scarlett gets face to face with them, but the rest stay up the ramp. Lashley & Street Profits say they are scared. Paul Ellering says there is no fear in Karrion Kross. Next, Kross says they are frustrated. They are not in control. Because Miami has big mouths, they are not getting a fight tonight. Lashley disagrees with that statement. Street Profits go outside the ring, while Scarlett jumps on Lashley’s back and rakes his eyes. Final Testament take the opportunity to brutalize Lashley & Street Profits.
Backstage, Jimmy Uso says “No Yeet” to his Royal Rumble number.
#3. Carmelo Hayes vs. Austin Theory (w/ Grayson Waller) – Winner: Austin Theorywhile holding the tights
Trick Williams comes to save Carmelo Hates from Theory & Waller because he needs him for tomorrow night’s match on NXT.
#4. LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa (w/ Paul Heyman & Jimmy Uso) – Winner: No Contest*
*AJ Styles appeared from the crowd to attack LA Knight. The referee did not disqualify anyone.
A fight breaks out between AJ Styles and The Bloodline. Randy Orton joins the fray. Sikoa tries putting him through the announce table, but Orton reverses it and drops him (it does not break). Randy grabs Jimmy Uso and hits the DDT in the ropes. He does the same thing to AJ Styles, before hitting him with the RKO. LA Knight strikes with Blunt Force Trauma on Orton, mere seconds before the show ends.
WWE SmackDown Results (1/26/2024)
