WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - January 26th, 2024

[Kemo]

LA Knight battles Solo Sikoa one night before Royal Rumble

One night before Royal Rumble, LA Knight gets prepared by taking on The Bloodline’s “Tribal Heir” Solo Sikoa. Sikoa’s match against The Viper last week ended in all-out mayhem, making this matchup even more intriguing. Can Knight gain a monumental win before his huge Fatal 4-Way Match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at Royal Rumble?

Your announcers are Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

We see the participants in the Women's Tag Title match arriving at the building.

We see Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, and Payl Heyman walking in the back.

Eladio Carrion,makes his way to the ring,

He welcomes everyone to Smackdown. He brings out Randy Orton.

Randy says hello to the people of Miami and then he says none of you thought Randy was with Eladio. He thanks him for putting Randy in the music video. Randy says he is here to talk business. He is here to talk The Bloodline. Whether you like them or not, they have had a hell of a run over the last few years. The main reason they have done so is because Roman has held the title for almost 1300 days. Randy says that is unfathomable. It is virtually unheard of. Nobody can stop him or the Bloodlline, except maybe him. Tomorrow is the Royal Rumble and once all the smoke clears and the dust settles, the only number that will matter is fifteen.

Randy says after he beats Roman Reigns tomorrow, he will be a 15 time World Champion. Randy says he will do it by beating Roman courtesy of the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment . . . R K O.

AJ Styles makes his way to the stage.

He says Randy realizes there are other people in this match or did you look past him? AJ says join the club. AJ says he asked for a match against Solo Sikoa so he could take his head off, but Nick gave the match to the man who stepped over his body to get everything he wanted in the WWE, LA Knight. He asks Randy if he forgot about him. AJ says as long as you have been in this business and in the WWE, you should know better. We have history. After you RKOed him last week, you have a receipt coming. At the Royal Rumble, AJ says he will be standing over Randy Orton, Roman Reigns and . . .

LA Knight interrupts.

Knight wants to talk to ya. He tells AJ to have a time with it because you were going to say the name of the next WWE Champion. Since you have come back, all you have done is whine, cry, and complain. If you think for a second that he wants to fight the muscle of the Bloodline, you must be stupid. As far as he can see, isn't it convenient that there are four people in the match tomorrow, but he is the only one with a match tonight. Paul Heyman has done everything to soften him up because he knows that Knight is the biggest threat.

Knight says he is not going to complain and he will hit Solo so hard, he will do his dad's dance moves. Then he will go into the Royal Rumble and walk over anyone who gets in his way to become champion.

Knight leaves the ring and AJ with a thrust kick and a Pele Kick to Orton.


Carlito (w/ Zelina Vega, Cruz del Toro, and Joaquin Wilde) vs Santos Escobar (w/ Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo)

They have words for each other and Carlito blocks a punch and he punches Santos many times. Carlito with more punches and kicks. Santos with a punch and chops. Carlito with an elbow and he sends Santos into the turnbuckles. Carlito sends Santos around the ring on a tour of turnbuckles followed by a chop. Santos with a kick and Carlito with a body block and he punches Santos. Santos sends Carlito face first into the turnbuckles when Santos backs away from Carlito. Carlito goes to the apron and they exchange punches. Santos knocks Carlito off the apron and Carlito catches Santos on a pescado. Carlito sends Santos back into the ring and then while Carlito is distracted by Angel and Humberto, Santos hits a suicide dive.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Carlito with an elbow and punch. Santos with a clothesline and he gets a near fall after the referee checks on Carlito. Santos pulls at the shirt and rips it off. Santos pulls off the kinesio tape on Carlito's shoulder. Santos with a cross arm breaker in the ropes. Santos with a running double knee strike in the corner and then he puts Carlito on the turnbuckles for a Hurricanrana for a near fall. Santos with elbows to Carlito followed by a seated abdominal stretch. Carlito with punches but Santos pulls Carlito down by the hair. Santos with boots to Carlito and an arm bar. Carlito with a punch and clotheslines. Carlito with a drop kick. Carlito goes for a suplex but Santos gets to his feet. Carlito turns it into a neck breaker for a near fall. Carlito with a spinebuster.

Santos goes for a victory roll but Santos is pulled to his feet. Carlito with a boot and a running knee lift. Carlito with a punch. Humberto gets on the apron and Angel pulls the ropes open to force Carlito to the floor. Cruz and Wilde go after Angel and Humberto. They send Wilde into the apron and Cruz with a swanton onto both Angel and Humberto. Zelina gets on the apron and Elektra Lopez pulls Zelina off the apron.

Santos with a rollup for the three count.

Winner: Santos Escobar


Cole mentions the new Netflix deal and the addition of The Rock to the TKO board of directors.

Backstage:
AJ Styles walks in the back and Jimmy Uso stops him and he wants to talk to him. Jimmy says everybody knows where LA is going to be tonight. He tells AJ to help them take out LA so it helps AJ and everyone else tomorrow. AJ refuses to shake hands and Jimmy walks away. Mia, Luke, and Karl show up and they want to know what is going on and AJ tells them not to worry about it.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
Nick Aldis is in his office and Ava shows up. Nick welcomes her and congratulates her on her new job. Ava asks if Nick has any tips. We see Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford in the office and Bobby picks his number. Legado shows up and Lashley says he hasn't forgotten about them. Santos picks his number.

We have a Bayley video package.

She says anytime she has to take the next step, she finds herself at the PC. Bayley says if the walks could talk, it would speak about times she wanted to give up. It would also talk about how she wanted to be the best. She was on top of the world when the world stopped. Then she got injured and she had to recover. She says what she was craving was right before her eyes. Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky. Two people she has known for a while and people who wanted to get out of these walls. That is when Damage CTRL was created and they were on top of the world.

They became so good that Kairi Sane came back from Japan to join them. They became so dangerous that Asuka joined them. Tonight, they are going to prove it again when Asuka and Kairi win the tag titles. Bayley says she will win the Royal Rumble and challenge Rhea Ripley. Then they will hold all of the gold. Bayley says her visions are always true. It isn't a story, it is destiny.

We see R Truth spinning the balls in the tumbler to make the pick and he is not happy. He asks if this means he is out of the quarantine. Aldis says it is his number for the Rumble. Truth thanks Mr. Pearce and comments on his hair and how it has grown.


Women's Tag Team Championship
Kairi Sane and Asuka vs Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

Carter with a drop kick to Asuka followed by an O'Connor Roll and springboard drop kick. Chance tags in and she trips Asuka. Carter with a kick and Chance with a slingshot senton for a near fall. Chance with arm drags and Asuka goes to the floor. Chance and Carter with drop kicks through the ropes followed by a slingshot twisting pescado by Chance onto both.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Asuka with a kick followed by an axe kick from Kairi and a bulldog for a near fall. Asuka knocks Carter off the apron and she pie faces Chance. Chance with forearms and chops. Asuka runs into a boot and Chance knocks Kairi off the apron. Asuka misses a hip attack in the ropes when Chance moves and Asuka goes to the floor. Sane is sent to the floor when she tries to stop Chance from making the tag. Asuka stops Chance and she applies an ankle lock. Chance rolls through and sends Asuka to the floor. Carter goes up top and hits a cross body onto Asuka and Sane. Carter with forearms to both. Carter with a drop kick to Asuka and Carter lands on Sane with a splash.

Carter with a running boot to the head against the ropes. Carter with a springboard twisting leg drop for a near fall. Asuka with a back heel kick. Asuka with a Codebreaker and she holds on to Carter. Sane with a blockbuster. They hit a double bulldog and Chance breaks up the cover. Sane with a spinning back fist and she goes up top for the elbow drop. Carter gets her feet up to stop Sane. Asuka tags in and she misses a sliding kick. Carter with a hammerlock swinging reverse DDT. Chance tags in and they set for Keg Stand and hit it but Sane breaks up the cover. Carter tags in and they set for After Party but Sane tries to get involved and Chance with a cross body to Sane. Asuka sends Chance into the turnbuckles. Asuka with a kick. Sane with an Alabama Slam onto the announce table.

Carter with a rollup on Asuka for a near fall. Asuka with a kick and she holds on to Carter with a reverse DDT set up while Sane hits an elbow drop from the turnbuckles for the three count.

Winners: Asuka and Kairi Sane (new champions)

After the match:
Bayley, Iyo, and Dakota come out to celebrate with the new champions while pyro goes off behind them.


Backstage:
Paul is with Jimmy and Solo. Paul says fix can sound like solve and solve can sound like fix. You can solve the problem or fix it. Paul asks Solo to fix the problem and don't be merciful. Solo looks at his thumb and he says okay. Jimmy asks Paul if Solo smirked because that is scary. Paul tells Jimmy that his cousin went from Big Dog to Tribal Chief because he saw the moment and seized it. This weekend there is a moment for Jimmy to seize. On Raw, there is a World Champion with one leg who thinks he is a visionary who will walk into Wrestlemania to be a martyr. Paul tells Jimmy he needs to seize this moment and enter the Royal Rumble to win it and challenge Seth Rollins and beat him at Wrestlemania to bring the World Championship to the Bloodline. Then you will understand that the line of succession to who is truly the Tribal Heir all starts at the Royal Rumble.

Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford make their way to the ring for their 'face to face', but they are dressed for a fight.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
We are back and Bayley enters Nick Aldis' number while Bianca picks her number. Bianca will not tell Bayley what number she got but she says she will become a two time winner. Bayley picks her number.

In-Ring:
Bobby Lashley says they must be chasing cowards. He introduces his associates and himself. He says the people of Miami came to see a fight. He tells the Final Testament to come out and get some.
The lights go out and the building turns black and white as The Final Testament make their way to the ring.

Scarlett enters and Bobby tells Kross to stop playing these games and have his lady fight his battles.

Angelo says it was supposed to be a face to face. Ford says Final Testament is something they could never be, scared.

Paul Ellering says there is no fear in Karrion Kross. Kross says Mr. Ellering speaks the truth. All we see in you is desperation. Kross says he understands. It feels like things aren't going to plan any more. You feel like you aren't in control. You aren't. He gives Bobby one thing. He says they were supposed to do this face to face and they came out. You are standing across from the prettiest face in the world. You're not getting your fight tonight.

Bobby says he will give Kross credit and the benefit of the doubt. You lied when you said they aren't fighting tonight because they are.

Ford and Dawkins go to the floor and Scarlett gets on Bobby's back and she rakes the eyes. Kross sends Lashley into the ring post. Akam and Rezar work over Ford and Dawkins. Lashley goes after Akam and Rezar but they take control. Kross with a forearm to the back of Lashley's head.

Backstage:
Jimmy Uso enters the room to pick his number. Jimmy is in a No Yeet Mood.

We go to commercial.


Austin Theory (w/ Grayson Waller) vs Carmelo Hayes

Theory pushes Hayes away but Hayes with punches. Hayes with a drop kick and chops. Theory with a knee to the midsection. Hayes lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt but he falls down. Hayes with a springboard clothesline and Theory goes to the floor. Theory gets back into the ring and Theory with a forearm and he sends Hayes to the floor in front of Waller. Theory shows the referee a dental issue and Waller with a punch.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Hayes with a punch and running elbows. Hayes with a reverse DDT and La Mistica for a near fall. Waller gets on the apron to distract Hayes on the turnbuckles. Theory pulls Hayes off the turnbuckles and hits Ataxia for a near fall. Theory signals that it is over. Theory gets Hayes on his shoulders but Hayes gets to his feet. Hayes punches Waller on the apron. Hayes with a victory roll for a near fall but Theory reverses and has a handful of tights and he gets the three count.

Winner: Austin Theory

After the match:
Waller and Theory attack Hayes and Trick Williams comes out to make the save and he sends Theory and Waller to the floor.


Backstage:
Hayes wants to know what Trick is doing and Trick says he was saving Hayes.

Backstage:
Kayla Braxton is with Eladio Carrion and Kayla asks him how it felt. He says it was the first time he was in a WWE ring and he was excited. She asks who will win the WWE title match and he says Randy Orton. Solo Sikoa shows up with Jimmy and Paul. Eladio says he is being respectful and Paul tells Solo to move on.


LA Knight vs Solo Sikoa (w/ Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman)

Knight with punches to Solo but Solo punches back. Knight with punches. Solo sends Knight over the top rope and Knight lands on the apron. Knight with a punch and a slingshot shoulder tackle but he bounces off Solo. Knight with kicks that send Solo to the floor. Knight slams the hand into the apron and ringside barrier to neutralize the thumb. Knight slams the hand into the announce table and ring steps. Knight wrings the arm into the ring post. Knight with punches and he breaks the referee's count. Knight with a shoulder on the apron. Jimmy distracts Knight and Solo with a punch when Knight goes for a slingshot shoulder tackle.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Knight with punches and a clothesline but Sikoa stays on his feet. Knight with another clothesline with the same result. Solo with a Samoan drop for a near fall. Knight with punches and Solo with a clothesline. Solo gets Knight on his shoulders and Knight gets to his feet and he kicks Solo and follows with a bulldog off the turnbuckles. Knight with punches. Knight with a clothesline and a side Russian leg sweep. Knight with kicks to Solo. Knight knocks Jimmy off the apron. Knight with a kick to stop a Samoan Spike followed by a DDT and a clothesline to send Solo over the top rope. Knight with a drop kick through the ropes to send Solo into the announce table. Knight slams Solo's head into the announce table many times.

Knight with a running knee to the head.

AJ Styles with a Phenomenal Forearm to Knight and the referee calls for the bell.

Winner: LA Knight (by disqualification)

After the match:
AJ sends Knight into the ring steps. AJ takes off the hood of the announce table and Jimmy holds a steel chair. Jimmy puts it down and gives it to AJ to use on Knight. He tells AJ to do what he has to do. AJ picks up the chair and Solo tells AJ to take care of it or they take care of him.

AJ hits Solo and Jimmy with the steel chair. AJ sends Jimmy into the ring and he grabs the chair.

Randy Orton's music plays and he makes his way to the ring at Orton Warp 4. Orton sends AJ to the floor and he gives Jimmy a power slam. Solo pulls Randy out of the ring and sends him into the announce table. Orton blocks a uranage through the table and Orton with a back drop driver onto the announce table.

Orton throws his shirt into the crowd and Jimmy tries to get out of the ring but Orton stops him on the apron. Orton sets for the IEDDT and he hits it. Orton avoids a Phenomneal Forearm and he sets for the IEDDT and hits it on AJ. Orton looks around and he twists to the mat for the RKO and he hits it on AJ.

Randy looks around and he does not see Roman.

Knight gives Orton BFT.

End of show.

[LionDen]

Eladio Carrion appears out of nowhere, a massive and well known musician who has a song dedicated to Randy Orton. He welcomes the crowd to SmackDown and then introduces Randy Orton

[LionDen]

Eladio and Randy pose before The Viper takes a microphone

[LionDen]

AJ Styles interrupts Orton and LA Knight then interrupts Styles.

[LionDen]

Styles attacked Orton for the RKO last week.

[LionDen]

Santos Escobar defeats Carlito.

[LionDen]

Nick aldis and the little stone backstage GM meeting. Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley (Roberto, according to Santos) pick their numbers for the Royal Rumble Match.

[LionDen]

R-Truth pulls out his number for Royal Rumble Match, Nick Aldis and Ava take note. Truth thinks he'll quarantine that number, but Aldis reminds him it's his Royal Rumble entry, Truth thanks Aldis (mistaking him for Adam Pearce) for the clarification and says his hair grew.

[LionDen]

abuki Warriors defeat the After Party to win the Women's Doubles Championships, celebrate with friends but ignore Bayley altogether.

[LionDen]

Paul Heyman motivates Solo Sikoa to destroy LA Knight today, and Jimmy Uso to win the battle royal to challenge Seth Rollins and bring the world heavyweight championship to the bloodline.