WWE SmackDown (8th January 2021): 5 Talking Points - New challenger for the Universal Championship, Huge title change  

#1 Quite a few interesting developments emerge in the SmackDown women's division

Both @BiancaBelairWWE and @itsBayleyWWE have declared themselves for the 2021 #RoyalRumble Match! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/MsuKCYCQ6T

— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

While it was quite surprising to see the women not getting any ring time today on SmackDown, the show did have some backstage segments that progressed a few storylines.

Bianca Belair announced herself as an entrant in the Women's Royal Rumble match, with Bayley taking shots at her for not winning the last year's Rumble even though she had the most number of eliminations in the bout - eight. With Bayley also entering the Rumble, she and Belair will surely take forward their feud into the Rumble itself.

On the other hand, Carmella took a dig at SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks for topping the Sports Illustrated's list of 'Best Pro-Wrestlers of 2020'. Saying Banks topped the list because she wasn't around for most of the year, Carmella was fantastic in the short promo and came across as a deplorable entitled princess.

"No no... I am NOT putting myself in a match tonight." - @ScrapDaddyAP 👀#SmackDown @SonyaDevilleWWE pic.twitter.com/JYWi7eTfhS

— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

And last but not the least, Sonya Deville joining Adam Pearce as his assistant was an intriguing development, and could play into the ongoing storyline that Pearce is engaged in with Roman Reigns.