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WWE SMACKDOWN TV REPORT
JANUARY 26, 2024
MIAMI, FLA.
AIRED ON FOX
Announcers: Kevin Patrick, Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 8,751 tickets have been distributed so far; arena set up for 9,173.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with an aerial shot of Miami, Fla. Michael Cole introduced the show (replacing Kevin Patrick, who was let go this week). They showed the participants in the Women’s Tag Team Title match arriving at the arena in a split-screen rolling their suitcases into the arena. Then they cut to Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Jimmy Uso walking backstage.
-A video package recapped Solo Sikoa attacking L.A. Knight and A.J. Styles and then the Randy Orton giving Knight, Styles, and Roman Reigns RKOs.
-Eladio Carrion made his way to the ring. He is a Latin Grammy Award winning recording artist and the creator of the hit new single “RKO.” They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. They talked about the Royal Rumble. Back in the ring, Carrion introduced “the legend and my personal friend,” Orton. Orton made his entrance as his music played. Orton said people are probably surprised he’s friends with Carrion. He then talked about his intention to beat Reigns and become Universal Champion and then go on to WrestleMania. He paused for a chant of “Randy! Randy!”
A.J. Styles’s music played and he walked out. He asked Orton if he realizes there are others in the match on Saturday against Reigns. Styles said Orton shouldn’t look past him. He entered the ring and told Orton he has a receipt coming after what he did to him last week. He said he’ll be stepping over Orton, Reigns, and Knight on Saturday. Knight’s music played and he walked out with a mic in hand.
Knight said he’s the biggest threat in their match, and he said Reigns saw it at Crown Jewel and has seen it ever since. He said he’ll fight Solo tonight and hit him so hard, he’ll start doing his dad’s dance moves. He said he’ll walk over anyone who gets in his way of becoming WWE champion. “That is not an insult,” he said. “That is just a fact of life.” Cole noted how fired up Knight was. Styles gave Orton a surprise Pelé kick as Knight left the ring. Orton went down.
(Keller’s Analysis: By the numbers stuff, and good mic work from everyone making their case.)
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. Orton almost walked in front of the camera as Cole was talking. Graves cracked a smile. Cole said Orton was a little loopy after being kicked, apparently.
-Carlito made his ring entrance.
-A video package aired hyping Logan Paul vs. Kevin Owens at at the Royal Rumble. [c]
(1) CARLITO (w/Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Zelina Vega) vs. SANTOS ESCOBAR (w/Humberto Carillo, Angel Garza)
The bell rang 22 minutes into the hour. Carlito took it to Escobar early. When Angel and Humberto distracted Carlito at ringside, Escobar leaped through the ropes and speared Carlito. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
A brawl broke out with everyone at ringside at 8:00. Del-Toro flip dove onto Humberto and Garza. Elektra Lopez attacked Zelina at ringside. Escobar then rolled up a distracted Carlito for the win. Cole said Lopez was part of Legado Del Fantasma in NXT.
WINNER: Escobar in 10:00.
-Cole hyped the partnership between WWE and Netflix, noting it will be the “television home” of all WWE TV shows outside of the United States. He shifted to “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson joining the TKO Board of Directors.
(Keller’s Analysis: No surprise, but no mention of Vince McMahon resigning from any role in TKO tonight.)
-Jimmy Uso approached Styles and said it’s good for all of them if they work together to eliminate Knight tonight so he can’t make it to the Rumble. He told Styles to think about it, then walked off. Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and Michin walked up to Styles. Anderson asked what that was about. Styles sternly told Anderson, “Don’t worry about it.”
-Graves hyped Knight vs. Solo Sikoa.
-Cole hyped WWE 2K24. [c]
-Graves hyped the six-man face-to-face later.
-Backstage, new NXT G.M. Ava walked into Nick Aldis’s office. He stood and shook her hand and congratulated her for being the youngest G.M. in WWE. Then in walked Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits. Lashley drew a number out of a tumbler and showed it to Ava. She didn’t react. Lashley showed it to Angelo Dawkins. It looked like Lashley is no. 11, if I had to read their facial expressions. Escobar and his crew walked in and interacted briefly with Lashley in Spanish. Escobar drew his number, but they cut away before he saw it.
-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who talked about the Rumble.
-A sponsored video package aired on Bayley who talked about her injury derailing her momentum during the pandemic (“when the world stopped”). She said she wanted to create history and was frustrated being stuck rehabbing her knee. She vowed to win the Rumble and then challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. She said Damage CTRL will hold all the gold after tomorrow night. She said, “It’s not a story, it’s destiny.”
-The Kabuki Warriors made their ring entrance with their cohorts. [c]
-Graves plugged Undertaker’s “1 Dead Man Show” in Tampa.
-R-Truth spun the tumbler backstage in front of Aldis and Ava. He got really into it and then pulled a number out and panicked. “Oh, no!” he yelled. “Does this mean I’m out of the quarantine?” Aldis said it’s his number for the Rumble. Truth called Aldis “Adam Pearce” and said his hair grows fast “and has a lot of body.”
(2) KATANA CHANCE & KAYDEN CARTER vs. THE KABUKI WARRIORS – Women’s Tag Team Title match
The bell rang 52 minutes into the hour and they cut to a very early break a minute in. [c]
The action spilled to ringside at 4:00. Carter scored a two count on Asuka back in the ring after a legdrop. Kairi tagged in and took over. She went for the Insane Elbow on Carter, but Carter lifted her feet. Kairi clutched her elbow and yelled in pain, but tagged in Asuka. Carter drove Asuka’s face into the mat and then tagged Chance back in. They executed the Kick Stand for a near fall, but Kairi intervened.
[HOUR TWO]
Carter and Chance set up an After Party, but Kairi broke it up. Kairi slammed Chance into the announce desk. Carter rolled up Asuka in the ring for a near fall. Kairi then leaped off the top rope with an Insane Elbow for the win.
WINNERS: The Kabuki Warriors in 9:00 to capture the Women’s Tag Team Titles.
-They cut to Heyman, Solo, and Jimmy backstage. Heyman told Solo he solved the problem, but the Tribal Chief wanted him to fix the problem “and don’t be merciful.” Solo stared at his taped thumb and said “Okay.” Jimmy stood and asked Heyman, “Was that a smirk? That’s scary.” Heyman told Jimmy that Reigns went from The Big Dog to The Tribal Chief because he saw an opportunity and seized it. Heyman then talked about Seth Rollins looking to drag his visionary self into WrestleMania and he told Jimmy to win the Rumble and challenge Seth and then beat him for the World Hvt. Title and bring it to The Bloodline “and then you’re going to understand that the line of succession to who is truly the Tribal Heir all starts at the Royal Rumble.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I love when WWE introduces plausible scenarios for other wrestlers to win besides the top one or two or three apparent options. Strong segment all around.)
-Lashley and The Profits made their ring entrance.
-A vignette aired with Hulk Hogan saying St. Petersburg is special and he spent most of his whole life there. Clips aired of Hogan and Dusty Rhodes in their primes. He said if you’re going to waltz down and kick the hornet’s nest, “You better be ready… Rumble ready.” [c]
-An aerial shot aired of Miami. Graves said the whole place is beautiful.
-Bayley danced in and saw Bianca Belair pulling her number out of the tumbler. Belair said she is about to become a two-time Rumble winner. She smiled and strutted off. Bayley then drew her number and seemed less than thrilled. I’m guessing she’s no. 9 based on her reaction.
-Lashley’s music faded and he had a mic in hand mid-ring. He said, “No more hiding. Come on out, come get some.” The Final Testament made their entrance. Montez Ford said they appear to be scared, “something we can never be.” Karrion Kross smiled. Paul Ellering said there is no fear in Karrion Kross. Kross then took the mic and said when he looks at Lashley and the Profits, all he sees is frustration and desperation. He told fans to shut up. He said things aren’t going according to plan anymore. He said if Lashley feels like things aren’t in control anymore, that’s because they’re not. Kross said while they got their “face to face” tonight, they’re not getting their fight tonight. Lashley said that’s a lie. “Oh yes we are,” he said. The Profits leaped out of the ring. Scarlett raked Lashley’s eyes. Kross attacked Lashley and threw him shoulder-first into the ringpost. AOP then beat down the Profits in the ring. Kross bashed Lashley with the Kross Hammer. They left the ring to their music. “Boy, did they bring it tonight,” said Cole. He said they’re a dangerous group.
-Backstage Jimmy drew his number and was instantly disappointed. He said, “No yeet” and walked off dejected. I think he’s got no. 1.
-Austin Theory made his ring entrance. [c]
(3) AUSTIN THEORY (w/Grayson Waller) vs. CARMELO HAYES
They cut to an early break. [c]
Carmelo rallied after the break and scored a near fall. Cole said, “Carmelo Hayes is so fun to watch!” He went for a leap off the second rope, but Waller distracted him. Theory yanked Hayes off the top rope and then landed his Ataxia for a near fall. Carmelo knocked Waller off the ring apron. Theory then rolled up Carmelo and yanked on his tights for a three count.
WINNER: Theory in 7:00.
-Afterward, Waller and Theory double-teamed Carmelo. Trick Williams ran out for the save. Fans popped for him. Waller and Theory looked wide-eyed in shock at him. Carmelo asked Trick what he was doing. Trick said, “Saving you.” Cole said it was an interesting conversation between them. Graves hyped Williams & Hayes facing Wilde & Del Toro on NXT next Tuesday in the Dusty Classic tag tournament.
-Cole and Graves hyped the Rumble line-up.
-Kayla Braxton interviewed Carrion backstage. He was wearing an Orton t-shirt and showed it off. Solo, Jimmy, and Heyman walked up to him. He looked nervous and turned to leave and said “respect.” Heyman told Solo he was being respectful. Heyman said maybe he was wrong about Carrion and they left. Carrion exhaled in relief.
-Knight made his entrance. [c]
(4) SOLO SIKOA (w/Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso) vs. L.A. KNIGHT
They brawled at ringside at 2:00 and then cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Knight punched away at Solo and landed a Russian leg sweep. Knight dumped Solo over the top rope. He then rammed Solo’s head into the ringside table over and over as the crowd yelled “Yeah!” each time. Knight hit Solo with a running knee to the side of his head. Styles then leaped off the ringside barricade with a Phenomenal Forearm on Knight. Boos rang out.
WINNER: No contest in 11:00.
-Fans chanted for Randy. Solo instructed Styles to hit Knight with a chair, but Styles hit Solo instead. Orton’s music played and he ran out. He knocked Styles out of the ring before Styles could use a chair. He then snap-powerslammed Jimmy. Solo rammed Orton into the ringside table. Solo set up a uranage on Orton, but Orton blocked it and slammed Solo onto the announce table. He turned to Jimmy. Jimmy tried to scramble out of the ring, but Orton grabbed him and gave him a draping DDT. Styles went after Orton, but Orton ducked a Phenomenal Forearm and then gave Styles a draping DDT. He then delivered an RKO to Styles. Fans popped as Orton smiled. Knight resurfaced and gave Orton a Blunt Force Trauma. The music switched from Orton’s to Knight’s as the show ended.
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