SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE taped the final Smackdown before the Royal Rumble Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio with Roman Reigns scheduled to face the League of Nations in a handicap match.
WWE Smackdown TV taping
January 19, 2016
Dayton, Ohio
Report by Ben Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist
Follow along with Tucker’s in-person tweets @BTuckerTorch.
– Chris Jericho opened the show and was interrupted by New Day, who Jericho renamed “Rooty, Tooty, and Fruity.” The Usos and Dolph Ziggler then came out to set up a six-man tag match.
(1) The Usos & Dolph Ziggler beat WWE tag champions New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E. & Xavier Woods) in a six-man tag match. All three superkicked Kofi for the win.
(2) Becky Lynch submitted Alicia Fox. Divas champion Charlotte and Ric Flair were at ringside.
Miz TV with guests IC champion Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens was up next. Ambrose interrupted Miz, then Owens interrupted and a brawl ensued. Typical good stuff leading into their title match at the Rumble.
(3) Bray Wyatt beat Ryback.
(4) Titus O’Neil beat Stardust.
Kalisto had a backstage promo. He was beaten up by the League of Nations. And the handicap main event against Roman Reigns is up next.
(5) WWE World Hvt. champion Roman Reings beat The League of Nations (Sheamus & U.S. champion Alberto Del Rio & Rusev & King Barrett) via DQ in a handicap match. The Wyatts ended the show standing tall.
Roman Rawr pic.twitter.com/dKKyq0VIgU
— Benjamin Tucker (@BTuckerTorch) January 20, 2016
Watching these shows, you’d swear WWE had a roster of about 20 people, and only considered about five of them to be ‘stars’.