SmackDown Results: Huge Title Change; WWE official competes for the first time in 6 years

Gauntlet Match on SmackDown to decide the No.1 Contender for the WWE Championship (contd...)

😱😱😱@ShinsukeN eliminates @WWEDanielBryan! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/6TQAsf771Y

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

Nakamura sent Rey into the ring post before taking the 619 but the Froglsplash was met with knees. Nakamura locked in the armbar and got the elimination.

King Corbin was out next and took out Dominik at ringside before coming into the ring for a chokeslam on Nakamura. Back from a break, Corbin got a near fall with the Deep Six before Nakamura turned the tables on the King and hit the Kinshasa for the win.

Daniel Bryan joined the match next and the two traded hold before Nakamura found the bottom rope with his feet. In the corner, Bryan continued to punish Nakamura before Shinsuke got a near fall off a top rope knee strike.

Nakamura was nearly pinned off a counter before Bryan hit his trademark kicks in the corner but Shinsuke managed to get the Kinshasa in, eliminating the former WWE Champ.

A show of respect from the veterans

Roman Reigns and his posse were out to watch the final round of the match before Adam Pearce came out to face Nakamura. Uso went into the ring and attacked Nakamura before being joined by Roman.

They wiped Nakamura out with a Superkick/Superman Punch combo and made Pearce pin Nakamura after hitting him too with a Superkick. They threatened the referee into calling that match and that was it.

"We do whatever I want to do."#SmackDown #GauntletMatch @WWERomanReigns @ScrapDaddyAP pic.twitter.com/9OMGog88h6

— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Result: Adam Pearce won the Gauntlet Match and will face Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble

WOW! @WWERomanReigns and Jey @WWEUsos have made their presence felt ahead of the final battle in this Gauntlet Match! #SmackDown @ScrapDaddyAP @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/N22iqkvW0k

— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Match rating: A

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Episode rating: A+

We got a great Gauntlet match with Nakamura being the star of the night. Roode & Ziggler picked up the tag titles while Roman and Adam Pearce had a standoff leading to a title match at Royal Rumble.