WWE SmackDown Results – Jan. 16, 2018 – US Title Finals

Jan 16, 2018

WWE Smackdown Results
January 16, 2018
Laredo, Texas
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com

WWE United States Championship Tournament Semifinals
Xavier Woods w/ The New Day vs. Jinder Mahal

New Day all have mics. Kofi Kingston talks about Xavier Woods facing off with the Modern Day Maharaja (they mock the word lengthening the pronunciation out). Woods wants to talk about the principles of pancakes. A big plate of pancakes is on a podium. Big E says America is a lot like pancakes where it brings everyone together with all ingredients. Woods says his opponent despises America and everyone in this arena tonight.

The Singh Brothers are out next. They introduce Jinder Mahal.

The bell rings to officially begin the match. Mahal with a huge kick that drops Woods immediately. Mahal with rights and then presses his knee against the chest of Woods. Mahal with a snapmare, throws knees and then drops a knee over Woods. Mahal has Woods down applying a reverse chin lock. Woods catches Mahal with a dropkick, but eats an elbow in the corner from Mahal when he charges in.

Back live, Mahal has Woods grounded again working over his left arm. Mahal cuts off a Woods attempted comeback with a big clothesline. Mahal drops repeated knees over the chest of Woods against the ropes. New Day is throwing pancakes at the Singh Brothers. Mahal drops Woods ribs first across the top ropes. Mahal uses the ring apron to smother the face of Woods until the referee breaks it up with a count. Mahal catches Woods with a knee and gets a close two count as we head to another commercial break.

We return live as Woods catches Mahal with a big missile dropkick off the top rope. Woods with rights and chops to Mahal. Mahal cuts him off with a shot to the throat. Woods with a spinning forearm that catches Mahal. Mahal avoids a DDT attempt by Woods, but Woods catches him with a kick to the back of the head. Woods catches Mahal with a Shining Wizard and picks up a close two count. New Day cuts off the Singh Brothers getting up on the ring apron. New Day chase the Singh Brothers to the back. Woods with a big back suplex planting Mahal. Woods goes up top, attempts a flying elbow and Mahal moves. Mahal throws Woods at the bottom rope and Woods hits with a thud. Mahal picks up Woods and connects with his jumping Khallas finisher to pick up the win.

Winner and advancing to the finals: Jinder Mahal

Mahal will face the winner of Bobby Roode vs. Mojo Rawley in the finals. After the match, Mahal exits the ring and poses near the United States Championship on a podium.

Promo: Baron Corbin

We see a personal video message from Baron Corbin talking about the Royal Rumble.

Backstage: AJ Styles

Backstage, Renee Young is with WWE Champion AJ Styles. He talks about being forced to face Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble. Styles is going to refer to the duo as Kami going forward. He got to this point by overcoming obstacles and will make sure the “Yep Movement” comes to an end at the Royal Rumble.

Women’s Royal Rumble Promos

We hear from Carmella, Natalya, Tamina, Lana, Naomi, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch about the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match.

WWE United States Championship Tournament Semifinals
Bobby Roode vs. Mojo Rawley

Roode with a wrist lock takedown early on Mojo. Roode with rights to Mojo in the corner and follows it up with a big chop. Roode with an elbow that drops Mojo. Mojo tosses Roode off the ropes, hits the ropes and then catches Roode with a running tackle. Mojo almost plowed into the referee hitting the ropes and gets in his face a bit. Mojo with a quick headbutt to Roode. Mojo tosses Roode to the corner and throws a body shot at Roode. Mojo tosses Roode out of the ring, rolls out and tackles Roode on the outside.

Back live, Roode misses an elbow drop and Mojo catches him with a big boot for a two count. “Did I crack a rib, Bobby?” Mojo continues to work over Roode in the corner. Mojo applies an abdominal stretch on Roode and the referee asks if he wants to give up. Roode is fighting back to his feet, but Mojo throws a shot to the ribs and big knee. Mojo with a driving shoulder to Roode in the corner. Roode side steps another attempt and sends Mojo shoulder first into the steel ring post in the corner. Roode with rights and repeated clotheslines to Mojo. Roode with a swinging neckbreaker. Mojo has Roode up on his shoulders and then drops him down on the mat over his ribs. Mojo repeatedly tosses Roode into the corner. Roode catches Mojo with boots in the corner and then plants him with a spinebuster. Roode catches Mojo with the Glorious DDT and picks up the pinfall.

Winner and advancing to the finals: Bobby Roode

After the match, The Singh Brothers hit the ring and attack Roode. Jinder Mahal then appears on the stage and proclaims he will take down the Glorious one next week. Roode calls for a mic and says we don’t have to wait until next week. Mahal declines and says they will do this on his own time. He wants to give Roode one week to think about losing to him next week. Daniel Bryan then shows up behind Mahal with a mic.

Bryan reveals we will have the United States Championship match here tonight!

Well that woke up Laredo. Very loud “YES” chants in the arena.

Promo: Randy Orton

We hear personal video message from Randy Orton about the Royal Rumble match.

Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. The Riott Squad

We start with Charlotte and Liv Morgan. Charlotte pushes Liv away and trips her up. Charlotte with a big takedown on Liv into a quick cover for a one count. Liv catches Charlotte with a kick to the chest. Charlotte fires back with chops and a release german suplex. Ruby Riott gets the tag and gets immediately tripped up by Charlotte. Charlotte with a kick to the face of Ruby and prevents her from tagging out. Tag to Becky Lynch who throws an uppercut and elbow to Ruby. Tag to Naomi who connects with a diving clothesline to Ruby. Tag back to Becky who takes out Ruby on the outside.

Back live, Morgan has the tag and goes for a cover on Becky. Tag to Sarah Logan who kicks Becky and keeps her grounded. Becky with a clothesline to Logan cutting off a scoop slam attempt. Hot tag to Naomi and tag to Morgan. Naomi with a clothesline to Morgan and knocks Ruby off the ring apron. Naomi with a springboard cross body on Morgan for a two count. Charlotte with a spear to Logan when she breaks up the original pinfall. Naomi eats a kick from Ruby and Liv drops a knee over the jaw of Naomi to get the pinfall.

Winners: The Riott Squad

Backstage: The Usos, Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin

Backstage, Dasha is with the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Usos. They are asked about being booked into Best 2 out 3 Falls match against Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin at the Royal Rumble PPV in two weeks. Gable and Benjamin jump them.

Promo: Shinsuke Nakamura

We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura in a video message about the Royal Rumble.

WWE United States Championship Tournament Finals
Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal

We get ring introductions for Roode and Mahal. Daniel Bryan is now at ringside with Shane McMahon near the podium holding the WWE United States Championship.

The Singh Brothers have been barred from ringside tonight.

The bell rings and here we go. Lock up and Mahal pushes Roode to the corner. Roode with chops to Mahal. Mahal fires back with a kick and shot to the back of Roode’s neck. Mahal stomps away at Roode in the corner and puts pressure on the ribs of Roode with his knee. Roode with right hands to Mahal up on the top rope in the corner. Roode then dumps Mahal over the top rope when Mahal charges in. Mahal drives Roode back first into the side of the ring and then sends Roode stomach first into the top of the steel steps. Mahal then drops Roode rib first over the ring barricade as we head to a commercial break.

Back live, Mahal is pulling the arm of Roode against the steel ring post working over his ribs. Mahal slams the head of Roode against the post as well. Mahal with a shoulder check that sends Roode flying off the ring apron to the barricade below. Back inside, Mahal immediately applies the abdominal stretch. Mahal catches Roode with a knee and dropkick to the back combo. Mahal drops repeated knees over the ribs of Roode using the ropes. Roode powers back up and throws a big chop to Mahal. Mahal catches Roode with a high knee, goes for a cover and Roode finds the will to kick out. Mahal puts his knee into the back of Roode and pulls back on his arms. Roode fights out, throws a chop, rolls up Mahal and gets a two count. Mahal levels Roode with a kick to the head. Roode still kicks out. Mahal applies more pressure with his knee to the ribs of Roode. Mahal with stomps. Roode clotheslines Mahal over the top rope. Roode jumps off the ring apron and catches Mahal with a clothesline on the outside. Roode tosses Mahal back in, goes up to the top rope, goes for a cross body, Mahal catches Roode on the way down and goes for a pinfall. Roode kicks out. Roode catches Mahal with a knee. Roode clotheslines Mahal in the corner. Roode catches Mahal with boots in the corner, gets up on the second rope and connects with a Blockbuster! Roode hooks the leg and Mahal gets a shoulder up. Mahal counters a Glorious DDT attempt into a sitdown pinfall. Roode kicks out. We get a double clothesline between Roode and Mahal. Both men are down. Roode with a spinebuster on Mahal. Mahal with a roll up for a two count. Mahal with a kick, goes for Khallas and Roode counters connecting with the Glorious DDT. Roode hooks the leg and gets the pinfall!

Winner and new WWE United States Champion: Bobby Roode

After the match, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan go inside the ring with the WWE United States Championship and hand it to Roode. Roode celebrates as the show closes.

Quick Match Results

* Jinder Mahal def. Xavier Woods to advance to the finals of the US Title Tournament
* Bobby Roode def. Mojo Rawley to advance to the finals of the US Title Tournament
* The Riott Squad def. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Naomi
* Bobby Roode def. Jinder Mahal to become the new WWE United States Champion