SMACKDOWN 1/5/24
NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION

The first Smackdown of the New Year opened with a replay of Monday Night Raw's segment of a returning champion. When it was revealed the returning champion was none other than the Modern Day Maharaja, Jinder Mahal, the entire arena burst into boos for the former champ. The Modern Day Maharaja went on to berate the crowd for booing him, and the lack of respect they showed towards the former champ.

 

There's a couple of things you don't do, and that's berate the crowd and disrespect America. Because that will draw out the REAL surprise guest on Monday Night Raw, The People's Champ, The Rock! If you smell what The Rock is cooking!!

​

The opening segment cuts to a black SUV pulling into the Rogers Arena for the arrival of The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns and The Wiseman, Paul Heyman. As they exit the SUV, Kayla Braxton is there to get The Tribal Chief's thoughts on The Rock's words from Monday night. They both laugh at Kayla's question and walk off. Smackdown wasn't wasting any time tonight and rolls immediately into the action.

​

Match 1 (U.S. Championship Tournament Finals)

Kevin Owens vs. Santos Escobar w/ Angel and Humberto

Before the match begins Logan Paul's music hits and he makes his way ringside to join the commentary team. As the bell rings, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro jump the barricade and attack Angel and Humberto, whom are ringside with Santos. Joaquin and Cruz chase Angel and Humberto from the ringside area leaving this to be a one-on-one match-up.

​

KO wasted no time after the distraction and super kicked Santos into the corner and followed it up with a canon-ball and a frog splash for a close two count. Following a break, Santos is in control and focusing his attack on the broken hand of KO. Santos was maintaining control until getting spiked by KO in the middle of the ring. KO immediately went to the top rope only to met with offense from Santos. Santos attempted a superplex on KO but EVERYONE knows you can't superplex KO off the top rope. Nevertheless, Santos tried and paid the price with an avalanche slam.

 

Back from the commercial break both men are jockeying for position on the top rope. KO fights off Santos and slides down from the top. Santos hangs KO off the top rope and attempts a running knee that KO avoided and sends Santos to the outside. KO goes outside and hits a senton off the apron on Santos. KO tosses him in the ring and goes for a top rope senton and Escobar gets his knees up. Santos lands a running knees in the corner and picks KO up to the top rope for a hurricanrana. Santos pops up and goes to the top rope for a big frog splash and KO is out at two. Santos is back in control and puts KO on the top rope again and KO fights him off only to be met with a kick to the head for his troubles. Santos back up to the top rope to attempt another
superplex on KO and well we all know that doesn't work. KO throws him over his shoulders and hits a rolling senton off the middle rope for another very close two count.

 

Both men up to their feet and KO goes for the stunner only to get met with a roll-up and he kicks at two. KO blocks a superkick from Santos only to deliver one of his own. KO sends Santos to the ropes and goes for a pop up powerbomb only to have it reversed into a hurricanrana. Santos goes off the ropes and KO catches him with a big pop
up powerbomb and follows it up with a stunner for the three count.

Winner: Kevin Owens

​

After the match, Logan Paul grabs a mic to mock and congratulate KO for his victory while calling himself the greatest U.S. Champion in history. Thisled to another big round of boos from the Canadian crowd. Logan gradually makes his way into the ring to look KO in the eyes while mocking him and Canada, only to eventually be met with a stiff right hand from KO, leaving Logan looking up at KO from his back on the mat.

After the confrontation between KO and Logan Paul, Bobby Lashley andthe Street Profits make their way to the middle of the ring.

 

Backstage Segment

WWE cuts to the backstage area where Cathy Kelley tells Logan Paul it's official for
Royal Rumble, he will be facing KO for the U.S. Championship. Cathy tells Logan, broken hand or not, KO did get a punch in. Before she could continue, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory tell her Logan can't do an interview right now and they need to get him into the trainers. Before they could make it into the trainers room, Cameron Grimes comes in laughing and tells Logan, "Glad to see you met Kevin." Grayson pushes Cameron and before anything else can happen WWE officials break it up.

​

Back in the middle of the ring, Bobby Lashley and the Profits welcome everyone to New Year's Revolution. Bobby Lashley removed his shades before telling the sell out crowd he wanted to get a little personal. Bobby tells the crowd 2023 was the toughest of his career. He says, "It's not because I didn't put in the work, it's that the work didn't translate into what I wanted." (Para-phrasing) He says his highlight of 2023 was linking up with the Street Profits, the greatest tag team in WWE. Bobby says their 2024 resolutions are fighting for and taking everything they deserve. Montez Ford says, "Listen to Bobby, ya'll we are going to hop on the trend but they are going to fastf-orward the part about the grass is greener and take every opportunity in search of championship gold."

​

Angelo Dawkins cuts in and says, its been awhile since they've held championship gold and puts Judgement Day on notice, and that Bobby is headed straight for the top.

Bobby Lashley states, his personal goal for 2024 are to get back to being the almighty and he's going to start by officially declaring himself for the 2024 Royal Rumble.

​

Before Bobby could continue, the lights went out and Scarlett and Karion Kross appear on the Titantron with the video ending with "The End is Here". Karrion Kross emerges with Scarlett from the back followed by Paul Ellering. This distraction allows the returning Authors of Pain to attack the three men in the ring. Karion Kross makes his way to the ring and attacks Bobby Lashley outside the ring and the AOP finish the Profits with a Super Collider. Karrion Kross drags Bobby Lashley back into the ring to execute the Devils Spiral. They then leave the ring and rejoin Scarlett and Paul Ellering on the ramp leaving Bobby and the Profits laying in the middle of the ring.

​

Match 2 (Smackdown Women's Championship Match)

Iyo Sky vs. Michin

Iyo Sky went into this match alone leaving the rest of Damage Ctrl in the back. This match started off even with both superstars showcasing their abilities. Michin using her martial arts background to try and neutralize the champ while the champ showed off her own martial arts and highflying abilities. Iyo is in control before Michin starts fighting back with big right hands and attempting a power bomb that the champ countered only to be met with a gut wrench suplex. Iyo attempts to get some reprieve in the corner, but Michin had other plans as she put her hair up, while running to the other corner to come back with a big cannonball onto the champ. Michin drags her out of the corner for a quick pin and Iyo is out at two. Iyo lands some quick offense but Michin quickly subdues her into a corner and gets the champ tied to the middle rope to deliver a big meteoroa. Immediately after the pin attempt, Michin grabs the legs of Iyo and goes for a half crab which is broken by the ropes. Iyo goes outside and attempts to kick Michin but Michin lands a big right hand before climbing out onto the apron to join Iyo. Iyo blocks and goes behind Michin to land a big bridging German suplex to the challenger. Michin rolls back into the ring and as she gets to her feet she is met with a springboard missile drop kick from the champ. Iyo drags Michin into position and walks over her declaring its over and heads to the top rope for a "Over the Moonsault" attempt, but the challenger was ready for it and got her knees up. Michin is up and delivers a dragon suplex. She immediately goes for the cover and gets a close two count. Iyo lands the knees to the face of Michin and goes to the top rope but Michin meets her there. She throws her off the top only to be met with a uppercut from Iyo before getting settled on the ropes. Iyo climbs to the top and attempts a  hurricanrana, but Michin blocks it and delivers a "Styles Clash" from the second rope! That should have won the match for Michin, but she was to close to the ropes and great ring awareness by the champ who got her hand to the rope. The champ rolled outside the ring and Michin attempted a suicide dive to the outside, but Iyo moved out the way just in time. Michin attempts to get up but falls against the barricade and Iyo delivers a meteoroa against the barricade before throwing the challenger back into the ring and delivering another meteoroa in the corner. Iyo drags Michin away from the corner and heads to the top rope for the "Over the Moonsault" and the win.

Winner: Iyo Sky

​

Backstage Segment

As the championship match closes Kevin Patrick announces they are going live to the Wiseman for his thoughts on the main event. But first Kevin asked him for his thoughts on The Rock's statement on Monday Night Raw. Paul Heyman says, "The Rock name dropped Roman Reigns because The Rock wants to sit at the head of the table. But to do that, you have to be invited to a dinner of relevancy and The Rock has not been invited nor will he be. The Rock is just like everybody else, he is looking for a shortcut to the headlines. There are only two ways in this world to guarantee going viral. 1. Date Taylor Swift and 2. Call out Roman Reigns." The Wiseman goes on to say, "Roman wins a match and out comes John Cena. Roman wins a match and out comes Brock Lesnar. Roman Reigns beats Cody Rhodes and Cody still talks about finishing his damn story. CM Punk comes back to WWE after 10 years and he welcomes Punk back. Punk says he is the OG Paul Heyman guy, which he is till he upgraded from best
friend to advocate and upgraded from advocate to Wiseman. Tonight, Randy Orton, AJ Styles and LA Knight will fight for the privelege of getting smashed by Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble, and the one man that wins tonight will be smashed by Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble the same way whomever opposes Roman Reigns in the main event at Wrestlemania will be smashed by your Tribal Chief. Smashed by The Head of the Table. Smashed by the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world because there's not one man on the face of this planet that can beat Roman Reigns."

​

Iyo Sky is walking in the back looking battle worn after her match with Michin. Damage Ctrl runs up to congratulate her on her win and Bayley says 2024 is the year for Damage Ctrl and she sees greatness in all of them. Bayley says she knew she'd beat Michin and Iyo's response was that Iyo's era will never end. Bayley says her plan will never end and next up is the Kabuki Warriors winning tag team gold. Dakota Kai breaks in to say Bayley is going to win the Rumble and take the title from Rhea Ripley.

Before they could continue, Bianca Belair interrupts and congratulates Iyo on her match tonight. Bianca says Bayley is getting ahead of herself because she isn't winning the Royal Rumble because she is entering the Rumble and plans to KOD Bayley over the top rope and win the Rumble for the second time and then she plans to end Iyo's era at Wrestlemania. Iyo speaks to Dakota in Japanese and Dakota translates that to Bayley
saying Iyo said as the leader of Damage Ctrl, she needs to put and end to Bianca Belair before she jeopardizes the plan.

​

Match 3

Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson/Elton Prince) vs. Butch and Tyler Bate (NXT)

Kit and Tyler start the match with a collar and elbow tie up before Tyler goes for a arm bar and then quickly tosses Kit over back into another armbar and Kit breaks it with a head scissors. Tyler headstands out of the head scissors and rolls around Kit for a headlock. Kit is out of the headlock and Tyler toys with Kit before a quick roll-up pinning combination but Kit is out at one. Tyler lands a drop kick on Kit and strikes a pose while allowing Kit to tag in his partner Elton Prince. Elton charges in to attack
Tyler but he backs into his corner and gets his feet up and Butch makes the blind tag in. Tyler to the top rope and we see some double team offense from Tyler and Butch with a double drop kick to the back of Elton. Butch goes for the arm of Elton but Elton kicks him to the gut and goes for a headlock. Butch pushes Elton into the ropes and Elton is running the ropes and Butch pops up and lands a heavy clothesline. Kit charges in and Butch goes for his fingers and attempts to break them with a stomp on the mat.
 

Kit rolls out of the ring and we see some more double team action from Tyler and Butch with a stereo suicide dive and spring board back flip onto Pretty Deadly. Elton Prince is in control of Butch in the middle of the ring. Butch tries to mount some offense and fights out of the corner but Elton meets him with a big boot to the face. Elton goes to pick up Butch to continue the onslaught but Butch reverses it into a modified suplex. Both competitors are looking towards their corner and both men get the tags to their partners. Tyler Bate comes in like a man possessed and is laying it to both members of Pretty Deadly. Tyler hit a flying European uppercut followed by a kip up and he
still has plenty of gas in the tank. Tyler delivers a standing shooting star press to Elton and follows it up a airplane spin of Kit Wilson. Tyler tags in Butch and they hit stereo head kicks to Kit Wilson followed by a clothes line German suplex combo to seal the victory but its broken up by Elton. Tyler hits Elton with a backfist and he falls outside the ring and Tyler follows while Butch goes to the top rope. Tyler goes for a dive on Elton but Elton lands a big kick to Tyler and Elton tries to intercept Butch but Butch
manages to kick him off. Elton pushes Butch off the top rope and Kit rolls him up for a pin using the tights for leverage but Butch manages to kick out. Butch grabs the fingers of Kit and backs into his corner for a tag to Tyler but not before Butch snaps the fingers. Elton runs in only to be met with a right hand from Tyler and Elton may be seeing tweety birds after that punch. Butch and Tyler grab Kit and hit a double Tyler Driver 97 for the victory!

Winner: Butch and Tyler Bate

​

Backstage Segment

Nick Aldis is on the phone and there is a knock on the door and in comes Ashante “Thee” Adonis. He tells the Smackdown GM that he's been struggling lately and doesn't know his place on Smackdown and he feels lost. Ashante says he doesn't want Nick to feel sorry for him and that he is hungry for a opportunity. Nick says he doesn't feel sorry for you because he has believed in him since the beginning. Nick tells him, he has some ideas that Ashante may be interested in.

​

Main Event (Three Way to face Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble)

AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton

These three superstars are beating the hell out of each other in the ring while Smackdown GM, Nick Aldis looks on ringside. All three men are outside and Randy slams both LA and AJ into the announce table and then goes to repeat the slams and hits LA one more time but AJ reverses it and slams Randy into it. AJ rolls Randy back into the ring and looks to be going for the phenomenal forearm but the wily veteran Randy sees it coming and knocks AJ off the ropes and he hits the ring apron hard. Randy drags AJ through the middle rope and hits the vintage Randy Orton hanging DDT.

​

Randy was going to his place before going for the RKO but LA intercepts and runs him into the steel steps. AJ recovers as LA was about to get back into the ring and hits a drop kick through the middle rope to the outside on LA. All three men are out and recovering outside of the ring. Back from the commercial and AJ is in control of LA Knight and Randy was still recovering outside. Randy tries to get back into the ring but is met with some right hands from AJ. LA Knight is up but AJ quickly shuts down his
flurry of offense. AJ slams LA and goes for a quick cover but LA is out at two. AJ once again intercepts Randy coming back into the ring and slides out to land some hard chops and ramming Randy Orton into the guard rails and sending him face first into the steps. AJ makes his way back into the ring and tries a sunset flip in a rollup but LA reverses it and gets a two count. LA is in control and delivering big rights to AJ and then to Randy Orton. Randy sends LA into ropes but LA reverses the comeback into a side Russian leg sweep. LA delivers a big knee to AJ in the corner and Randy recovers and hits a big lariat on LA followed by snap power slam and then one to AJ as well. Randy went for a RKO on LA who reverses it into a BFT and goes for a pin to be broken up by AJ. LA and AJ are throwing hay makers at each other and AJ connects a pele kick to LA. AJ goes to the outside and lands a springboard 450 and LA is out at a very close two count. LA appears to busted open and bleeding and AJ picks him up and throws some hard rights to the forehead of LA. AJ sets up for the Styles Clash on LA but throws him out as Randy makes his way back into the ring. Randy forces AJ into the corner and turns to charge back in but AJ lands a kick and goes outside to set up for a phenomenal forearm as AJ springboards in for the phenomenal forearm Randy catches him in a RKO. We get a two count as LA pulls the referee Charles Robinson out of the ring. LA is still bleeding in the ring and the Bloodline music hits and they make their way ringside and they start beating the hell out of all three competitors. Randy takes a shot from the steel steps and the Tribal Chief power bombs AJ Styles. LA is thrown back into the ring and gets a superman punch followed by a spear. Randy takes a Samoan Spike/spear combo from Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa.

 

As the Wiseman is walking off, Nick Aldis stops him and tells him to tell Roman congratulations because he just earned himself a fatal four way with all three competitors in the main event at the Royal Rumble.

Winner: DQ due to Bloodline interference

​

Takeaways:

1. KO will face Logan Paul at the Royal Rumble
2. AOP are back and allied with Karrion Kross
3. What opportunities await Ashante "Thee" Adonis?
4. Michin had a great showing against Iyo Sky
5. Due to Bloodline interference in Main Event, Roman will defend his
championship in a fatal four way at the Royal Rumble.