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Roman Reigns kicked off SmackDown after a week of absence and said that a lot went wrong in WWE in just that one week. Reigns said that he had been doing a lot of thinking while he was in isolation and he did not want to see either Brock Lesnar or Paul Heyman anytime soon.
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Roman was interrupted by Brock and Heyman right away and Lesnar got in his face and asked for his acknowledgment as the WWE Champion before challenging him to a Title vs. Title match.
Roman said that it may be a good idea but he didn't want to because Brock works with 'trash' like Paul Heyman.
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Heyman said that he worshipped the Tribal Chief before Roman betrayed him. Brock told Paul to shut up. Roman tried to defend Paul but Brock snapped at him as well before Heyman told Brock not to talk to Reigns like that.
Brock once again told Heyman to shut up but Roman laid Lesnar out with a Superman Punch and walked out of the ring.
Sami Zayn was backstage and ran into Johnny Knoxville who was there to talk to management. Zayn told him that he wasn't qualified to join the Rumble and asked him to stay out of everyone's way.
Rick Boogs vs. Sami Zayn on SmackDown
Sami was tossed across the ring right off the bat and Boogs deadlifted him before tossing him and Sami rolled out of the ring. After a break on SmackDown, Zayn tried to get some moves in but took an axhandle from the middle rope.
Boogs hit a suplex and sent Sami outside once more where Zayn taunted Nakamura and they got in each others face before Sami went back to the ring. Boogs used the distraction to hit a small package and pick up the win.
Result: Rick Boogs def. Sami Zayn
After the match, Sami was trying to argue with the ref about the loss but Johnny Knoxville came in and tossed him out of the ring, proving that he was ready for the Royal Rumble.
Grade: C
Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were backstage on SmackDown and said that the Usos took their bait and agreed to the Streetfight.
IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Mickie James announced for Royal Rumble on SmackDown
Charlotte was out next on SmackDown and announced some of the names for the Women's Royal Rumble match. It included the likes of Lita, The Bella Twins, Michelle McCool, along with current superstars like Shotzi, Carmella, Rhea Ripley and Charlotte herself. The biggest surprise, however, was Mickie James, the current IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion.
McAfee joked about how Charlotte should wrestle herself if she won before Naomi came out to challenge her to a Title match. The Queen taunted her and Naomi slapped her before tossing Charlotte out of the ring.
Charlotte vs. Naomi on SmackDown
The match started during the break and when we returned, Naomi was down at ringside. Back in the ring, she was taking a beating and was caught in a submission with the Champ in control of the match.
Naomi got a breather and went up the ropes but Charlotte dropped her at ringside again with a big boot before tossing her over the barricades. Naomi got a blockbuster off the barricades before Sonya Deville walked out.
Charlotte vs. Naomi on SmackDown (contd...)
Deville said the match could not be won by a count-out as SmackDown went on. The distraction from Sonya caused Charlotte to get back in control with a shot from behind. Back after a break, Charlotte locked in the Figure Eight and Sonya announced that this was also a pinfall only and a no-DQ match.
Charlotte nearly got rolled up before both women went out with big boots on each other. Naomi got another near fall before Charlotte missed the powerbomb but countered the dive in the corner. Charlotte got the Natural Selection and picked up the win.
Result: Charlotte def. Naomi
Grade: B
Adam Pearce was backstage and said that he had to pick an opponent for Roman Reigns for Royal Rumble by the end of tonight's show.
Happy Corbin was out next and after his attack on Drew McIntyre last week, he called the Scottish Warrior out to join him. Drew's music hit but Madcap Moss came out in a neckbrace and a rubber sword.
Moss pretended to be Drew as SmackDown went on and they poked fun at the former WWE Champ before dropping the act. The Viking Raiders walked out on SmackDown and headed for a match with the Happy boys.
Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss vs. The Viking Raiders on SmackDown
Ivar and Moss were in the ring as we returned from a break and the Viking Raiders were dominating early on.
Erik tossed Ivar onto Corbin after he tagged in and a cheap shot from Moss allowed Corbin to land the Deep Six for a near fall.
Moss was back in and hit a Spear on Erik as Corbin wiped Ivar out at ringside. Moss hit the punchline neckbreaker and picked up the win.
Result: Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss def. The Viking Raiders
Grade: B
We learned that Drew suffered an injury last week and Sheamus reminded us that so did Ridge Holland. Sheamus said he felt responsible and sought revenge.
Backstage on SmackDown, Pearce walked into Roman Reigns' locker room to tell him about his Rumble opponent, but Roman said he didn't care and sent him off.
The Usos vs. The New Day - Streetfight for the SmackDown Tag Team titles
The New Day isolated Jimmy Uso as the match began on SmackDown and Jey dragged him out of the ring before Kofi hit a trust fall on them from the top rope. Kofi dragged Jimmy Uso to the stage and tossed him onto the LED boards while Woods fought Jey beside them.
The Usos got their combined finisher on Woods as the match returned to the ring for a near fall. The Usos duct taped Woods' hand to the ropes before Kofi took them out and freed him.
Back on the outside, New Day were wiped out with the steel steps before Woods came back with double clotheslines off the barricades. Back after a break, the New Day got a suit of spartan armor and used it to beat down The Usos and get a near fall.
The tables came out from under the ring but Jimmy Uso got superkicks in on both opponents. Kofi got the Trouble in Paradise on Jey but Jimmy broke the pin. The Usos hit double superkicks on The New Day before setting up the table in the ring and put Kofi through it with the 1D before picking up the win!
Result: The Usos def. The New Day to retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles
Grade: A
Seth Rollins walked into Roman's locker room and made an evil laugh as SmackDown went off the air, hinting at him being Reigns' opponent for the Royal Rumble.
Episode grade: B-
We got the return of Roman Reigns as he had a face-off with Brock Lesnar in the opening segment of SmackDown. We also got a great Street Fight main event as well as the announcement of the women's Royal Rumble match lineup on tonight's SmackDown.
