WWE SmackDown Outcomes: Winners, Grades, Response and Highlights from January 13
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Sami Zayn will look to unravel WWE’s Kevin Owens drawback Friday evening.Credit score: WWE.com
Can Sami Zayn clear up Roman Reigns’ Kevin Owens drawback?
It’s the query that hung over the newest episode of WWE SmackDown, probably the most outstanding subject of the evening as The Honorary Uce and WWE’s resident Prizefighter squared off in a blockbuster fundamental occasion.
The WWE Universe and The Tribal Chief himself discovered the reply to that query on the identical evening that Gunther defended the Intercontinental Championship in opposition to the seemingly unstoppable Braun Strowman.
Match Card
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- Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
- Intercontinental Championship Match: Braun Strowman vs. Gunther
Intercontinental Championship Match: Braun Strowman vs. Gunther
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Credit score: WWE.com
On paper, Braun Strowman gave the impression to be the hardest check to this point for WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther. In actuality, he additionally was.
Strowman overcame a broken left shoulder to place up a combat in opposition to The Ring Normal and rating just a few near-falls on him. The alert Gunther, although, recovered and introduced Strowman out of the nook and drove him to the mat with a powerbomb for the hard-fought victory.
This was one in all Strowman’s greatest performances, undoubtedly fueled by his hometown crowd in Inexperienced Bay. He was motivated, matched Gunther’s depth, and didn’t look misplaced working with top-of-the-line skilled wrestlers on the planet. Like him or not, he was wonderful right here and confirmed flashes of the Strowman that gained followers over approach again in 2017 and had them considering he was one of many faces of WWE’s future.
Gunther continued his scorching streak, including one other banger of a match whereas cementing himself as one of many prime in-ring performers of his technology. His run with the IC title has performed wonders for that specific championship and, maybe extra importantly, helped with solidifying his reference to the viewers.
Outcome
Gunther defeated Strowman to retain
Grade
B+
Prime Moments
- Michael Cole informed the viewers of the boots Braun Strowman wore, at the side of the Inexperienced Bay Packers and in honor of a younger man who died within the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade assault.
Inexperienced Bay Packers @packers
Braun Strowman teamed up with the #Packers to create customized boots to honor a younger fan who was a sufferer within the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy.
He’ll put on the boots this Friday on @WWE #SmackDown in Inexperienced Bay & public sale them off to learn these affected.@Adamscherr99 pic.twitter.com/4GPbKA11O0
- Gunther focused the beforehand injured shoulder of Strowman, which he first broken two weeks earlier.
- Strowman powered out of an armbar submission, sparking his comeback.
- Backstage, Paul Heyman knowledgeable Sami Zayn that Roman Reigns needs him to go it alone in opposition to Kevin Owens within the evening’s fundamental occasion.
Karrion Kross Places Rey Mysterio to Sleep
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Credit score: WWE.com
Rey Mysterio tried to debate the heartache he skilled over the vacations and his ongoing rivalry together with his son, Dominik.
As a substitute, he was interrupted by Karrion Kross and Scarlett. The previous taunted the longer term Corridor of Famer, criticizing him as a father. It will definitely sparked a hearth in Mysterio, who attacked however fell sufferer to interference by Scarlett and the Kross Jacket from his new foe.
This was a stable promo phase in that it established Kross as the brand new massive dangerous for Mysterio to beat whereas placing his different feud, with Dominik, on the forefront even with out the second-generation wrestler round.
Kross actually wanted this program. The feud with Drew McIntyre was stable however petered out by the point the 2 clashed at Crown Jewel. Towards somebody as beloved as Mysterio, Kross can set up himself as a top-tier dangerous man, a task Triple H has clearly seen him in relationship again to his days in NXT.
Grade
B
Prime Moments
- “You want targets, or else I am undecided how you’d peel your outdated ass off the bed,” Kross stated of Mysterio.
- “Who do you hate extra: your son, or your self for failing to lift Dominik to be identical to you?”
- Mysterio tried a 619, however Scarlett tripped him up, permitting Kross to use the Kross Jacket.
- “I have been ready for this for over 10 years to get you!” Kross stated as he put Mysterio to sleep.
- Backstage, Liv Morgan slapped Raquel Rodriguez to arrange a match between the 2 babyfaces for later within the present.
Tegan Nox vs. Xia Li
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Credit score: WWE.com
Xia Li defeated Tegan Nox as a part of a Gauntlet Match previous to the vacations. Regardless of that, Li claimed she was sick and bored with seeing others leap her in line. Friday, she appeared to defeat Nox for the second week in a row.
Historical past didn’t repeat itself, although, as Nox overcame Li’s ferocity to attain the victory.
The match was nondescript, however that may be attributed to the dearth of time it acquired. Nox appeared good in her restricted look, and he or she undoubtedly wanted the win. She’s a super-talented particular person whose work in NXT, with and in opposition to Dakota Kai, spoke for itself.
Li acquired a mini push following her return to tv however took a step again right here.
As Triple H continues to determine himself creatively, one of many largest unsolved puzzles is the SmackDown girls’s division—which of the proficient people he sees as the highest stars and the place every girl suits in.
Hopefully, he figures it out comparatively shortly, as a result of it appears like it’s on a treadmill from a reserving perspective.
Outcome
Nox defeated Li
Grade
C
Prime Moments
- The group was surprisingly behind Nox as she fought out of a sleeper, particularly contemplating how inconsistently the Welsh native has been utilized since her return.
Bray Wyatt Promo
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Credit score: WWE.com
Simply how far did Uncle Howdy’s assault on Bray Wyatt final week push the previous WWE champion?
Sufficient to awaken in him the darkish passenger he has tried to fend off since his return. There was the brown rocking chair, callbacks to his time with the Wyatt Household and a well-known warning issued to his Royal Rumble opponent, LA Knight: run.
This was very fascinating in that issues look like selecting up somewhat shortly. After weeks of segments that did little to advance his story, the Wyatt saga has ramped issues up considerably, thanks largely to the emergence of Uncle Howdy and the impact he has had on The Eater of Worlds.
Knight goes to get swallowed up and crushed decisively on the Rumble, however it will likely be most fascinating to see to what fiendish depths Wyatt sinks on account of Howdy’s affect.
Fightful Wrestling @Fightful
The Fiend appeared through the QR code.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zUBYYc3t3k
See what I did there?
Grade
A
Prime Moments
- “Inexperienced Bay…we’re right here.”
- “Generally, all it takes is just a little push in the precise path to remind you who you actually are.”
- “I’m the colour crimson in a world filled with black and white.”
- “I’m The Eater of Worlds. I’m Uncle Howdy. I’m him.”
- “I do know who I’m, however who’re you?”
- “When the lights exit, it is best to run.”
- Backstage, Sami Zayn confronted Kevin Owens. “Are you content?” Zayn requested his greatest buddy. “Roman Reigns is the one placing you on this place, utilizing you so he by no means has to return to work,” Owens retorted, attempting to speak some sense into Zayn.
Liv Morgan vs. Raquel Rodriguez
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Credit score: WWE.com
Liv Morgan’s dedication to show she will be able to eradicate opponents and win the Royal Rumble, regardless of a perceived measurement drawback, led her to a showdown with Raquel Rodriguez.
The ferocious Morgan took the combat to Rodriguez, unfazed by her bigger opponent, and appeared poised to splash her by way of a desk at ringside. Sadly, Morgan’s overzealousness value her as Rodriguez rolled off the desk, swatted her out of the air and delivered a Chingona Bomb for the win.
A lot was made out of Morgan requesting the No. 1 spot within the Royal Rumble, nevertheless it nonetheless has not been confirmed that she truly will enter the match at that quantity.
The match was a pleasant commercial for the thought of a smaller competitor overcoming a bigger opponent in that specific match, and it continued Morgan’s downward descent since dropping the SmackDown Ladies’s Championship.
It will be good, although, if there was any indication that we (or the inventive workforce for that matter) knew the place it was finally heading.
Whereas that could be unsure, one factor isn’t: Triple H loves Rodriguez and clearly sees her as a significant a part of the ladies’s division’s future, as evidenced by how closely she has been pushed.
Outcome
Rodriguez defeated Morgan
Grade
C+
Prime Moments
- “I am undecided how one can describe her however…she’s totally different,” Cole stated of Morgan in a considerably humorous line.
- Morgan clotheslined Rodriguez excessive rope and to the ground, placing over the concept that she will be able to do the identical within the Royal Rumble.
- Morgan produced a desk, seemingly able to do the identical to Rodriguez that she had performed to Sonya Deville and Ronda Rousey previously.
- Backstage, Sonya Deville tried to persuade Adam Pearce to present her a SmackDown Ladies’s Championship match with Charlotte Aptitude. When he refused, she vowed to get herself a rematch with The Queen.
- After the break, Deville and Aptitude brawled backstage till Pearce and safety arrived to interrupt them up.
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
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Credit score: WWE.com
Roman Reigns despatched Sami Zayn to care for his Kevin Owens drawback Friday evening.
Late within the match, it appeared as if that’s precisely what he would do as he had his longtime friend-turned-professional enemy arrange for the Helluva Kick. As a substitute of executing it for the win, he watched as The Usos and Solo Sikoa hopped the guardrail and beat Owens down, resulting in a disqualification.
Jimmy and Jey delivered a 1-D earlier than inserting him on the announce desk for Sikoa to splash into oblivion. The present went off the air with Zayn hesitantly becoming a member of his teammates in a celebration, a glance of dismay on his face.
This was extra extraordinary work from all concerned in what has change into top-of-the-line storylines WWE has produced in years.
The Usos and Sikoa have been probably despatched by Reigns, not solely to melt Owens up forward of the Royal Rumble title match but additionally to stop Zayn from beating him. Why? As a result of Reigns’ fragile ego can not stand the considered an Honorary Uce doing one thing he’s not certain he can do by himself.
For the primary time, Zayn appeared like a person questioning his Tribal Chief’s resolution. He had the win in hand. It will have meant the world to him. Why damage it? Perhaps, as a result of he’s little greater than a pawn.
A pawn used to set Owens up for the beat. A pawn, somewhat than a trusted ally of Reigns.
The second he lastly does come to that realization and stands up for himself, Zayn would be the largest babyface in professional wrestling.
Outcome
Owens defeated Zayn by way of disqualification
Grade
A
Prime Moments
- Zayn refused a handshake from his greatest buddy to start out.
- Cole straight-up claimed Roman Reigns manipulated Zayn into taking the match and doing his soiled work by feigning an apology for his lashing out per week in the past.
- Zayn delivered a suplex on the apron to take management of the bout main into the business break.
- The Honorary Uce scored a high quality near-fall off the Blue Thunder Bomb.
WWE on BT Sport @btsportwwe
This has was an all-out brawl!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fuakVnp0QF
- Zayn acquired his knees up on a swanton bomb try and scored a two-count off it as the gang chanted, “that is superior!”
- The look on Zayn’s face as The Bloodline attacked Owens was one in all shock and disappointment, uncertain of the place his faction mates got here from or why they interrupted.
- “Hey, I am doing my job. Tribal Chief despatched me to care for enterprise,” Zayn informed The Usos.
- Zayn was hesitant to affix The Bloodline in celebrating their assault on KO.
