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Roman Reigns was backstage before SmackDown and was looking over his Royal Rumble match contract. Paul Heyman told him that there needed to be a stipulation so that Reigns can really punish Pearce and offered to handle it.
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Jey Uso kicked off SmackDown and said that all the Superstars in WWE should thank Roman Reigns for providing them with exposure and everything else. He said that he was going to enter the Royal Rumble and win it before going to RAW to challenge Drew McIntyre or Goldberg, whoever the WWE champion is at the time.
He then started trash-talking Nakamura who almost won the Gauntlet match before the Artist came out to face him. Nakamura called Uso a little puppy and hit a knee strike to the face before we headed for commercials.
Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown
Back on SmackDown, the match was underway and Uso had the upper hand early as he wailed on Nakamura in the corner before hitting a slam for a near fall. Nakamura locked in a chin lock and sent him into the corner with some kicks before Cesaro made his way to the ring.
Nakamura drove Uso into the ring post and after a short break, Cesaro was on commentary and Uso resumed control of the match. Cesaro announced his Royal Rumble entry and said that he planned to eliminate Daniel Bryan.
Nakamura came back in with a knee strike and took back control before taking a boot to the face. Uso hit a Samoan Drop for a near fall and then another with a neck breaker.
Shinsuke set up for the Kinshasa but Uso countered with a superkick. Uso went for a dirty pin but the referee caught him and broke the count. Shinsuke rolled Uso up and then hit the Kinshasa as he was arguing with the ref and picked up the win on SmackDown.
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura def. Jey Uso
Match rating: B
Backstage on SmackDown, Sonya Deville was hyping up Pearce for the WWE Universal title match before Paul Heyman came in and proposed that the match be No DQ. Pearce noted that Reigns wanted this just so he can hurt him but signed the new contract anyway.
Jey Uso threatened the referee backstage on SmackDown for causing him a loss.
The Street Profits were backstage on SmackDown and said that they were not scared of anything. They planned to take back the tag titles back from Zigler & Roode.
Backstage, Roman Reigns was talking to Apollo Crews when Heyman entered and handed Reigns the new contract. Reigns rejected this one too and demanded a Last Man Standing match.
Liv Morgan vs. Natalya on SmackDown
Billie Kay was now an unofficial member of the Riott Squad and came out with them before joining the commentary team.
Natalya started off strong and taunted Liv before Morgan came back with some kicks in the corner but was driven into the turnbuckles. Natalya was about to get the pin but Morgan managed to roll her up.
Liv Morgan vs. Natalya on SmackDown (contd...)
Tamina was at ringside on SmackDown and Billie joined her before being chased into the ring. The distraction caused Natalya to pick up the win on Morgan with a roll-up.
Result: Natalya def. Liv Morgan
Match rating: B
Rey Mysterio vs. King Corbin on SmackDown
Dominik was on commentary and said that he planned to compete for the tag titles with his dad while Corbin got the early advantage in the ring. Corbin sent Rey outside before shoving Dom down into his chair. Dominik was furious but decided not to interfere in the match.
Rey was setting up for the 619 but Corbin caught him with a Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin was attacking Rey at ringside when Dominik was about to interfere but Corbin got him with a cheap shot, causing Rey to take his focus off the match.
Corbin hit the End of Days and picked up the win off the distraction on SmackDown.
Result: King Corbin def. Rey Mysterio
Match rating: B
Backstage on SmackDown, Paul Heyman gave Pearce the revised contract with the Last Man Standing stipulation, telling him he had to sign it in the ring, face to face with Roman.
Backstage on SmackDown, Dominik was furious at Corbin but Rey told him that he had to be smart and said he would arrange something as a payback.
It was time for the premiere of 'Ding Dong, Hello' - Bayley's new talk show. Bayley introduced Bianca Belair, inviting her to the ring and her set.
She had to ring the doorbell and Bayley let her in before Belair sat down on the host's seat. Bayley shrugged it off and thanked her for being on the show before showing us footage of her beating Belair.
They dropped the act and started bickering before Bayley proposed an Ultimate Obstacle Course to settle their dispute next week. Belair hesitated but accepted the challenge before they made fun of each other some more.
Chad Gable and his trainees Otis and Daniel Bryan were backstage when Cesaro came up and taunted Bryan.
Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro on SmackDown
Cesaro started off strong but Bryan went for an armbar before sending him outside for a big dive. Cesaro was up against the ringpost and Bryan ended up kicking the post after Cesaro ducked on SmackDown.
Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro on SmackDown (contd...)
Back on SmackDown after a break, Bryan got the Yes Lock in but Cesaro countered it into a sharpshooter. Bryan reversed it again into the Yes Lock before Cesaro got his foot on the ropes.
Cesaro and Bryan were up on the top rope and the Swiss Cyborg hit a huge vertical suplex for a near fall. Bryan countered the neutralizer but took an uppercut before Cesaro finally hit the neutralizer and got the win.
Result: Cesaro def. Daniel Bryan
Match rating: A
Backstage on SmackDown, Carmella was curious about why Sasha was hiding before Banks came in and shoved her. Banks said that he wanted Reginald in a match before Carmella gets her title match.
Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn on SmackDown
Big E was on commentary and Apollo unloaded on Sami right off the bat. Zayn managed to toss Crews out of the ring and Crews hit a moonsault off the announce desk.
Back in the ring, Sami hit an elbow drop and got a near fall before Crews came back with a snap German Suplex.
Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn on SmackDown (contd...)
After an altercation on SmackDown with the referee, Zayn got the exploded suplex in the corner but Apollo caught him with a rollup and a handful of tights to get the pin.
Result: Apollo Crews def. Sami Zayn
Match rating: B
Roman Reigns and his crew were out next, followed by Adam Pearce. Uso and Reigns bullied Pearce into sitting down and signing the contract before Roman himself signed the paper.
Roman ended with 'that's gonna be the last contract you will ever sign. Adam said that he waited 'all night for him to do that before walking off,' smirking.
Adam turned around on the stage and said that according to official WWE rules, Pearce wasn't medically clear because of an old knee injury and he could appoint any Superstar of his choosing to take his place.
Roman and his team were visibly concerned before Adam revealed that Kevin Owens will take his place at Royal Rumble.
Episode rating: B
We got a great match from Daniel Bryan and Cesaro on tonight's episode of SmackDown while we got a huge twist in the Roman Reigns - Adam Pearce feud. We also got a bunch of Royal Rumble entry announcements like Jey Uso & Cesaro.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
