January 22, 2019
Wichita, Kansas
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
Quick Match Results
- Mandy Rose defeated Naomi after ramming her into the ring post
- Cesaro defeated The Miz via the Neutralizer
- Samoa Joe defeated Mustafa Ali via Coquina Clutch
- 2-out-of-3 Falls: Rey Mysterio defeated Andrade (2-1) by DQ in the 3rd fall after Samoa Joe attacked him
In-Ring: Becky Lynch, Asuka, Charlotte Flair
WWE Smackdown Live kicks off with Becky Lynch coming down to the ring. Becky says that not too long ago, no one was paying attention to her but now everyone has an opinion on her. But the only thing she should be doing is being in the main event of WrestleMania. And the journey starts at the Royal Rumble. She has watched Asuka and she is one of the best in the world. But she is better. But to remember that Asuka never pinned her for the title. But at Sunday, she is taking her title back.
The women’s champion Asuka’s music hits and she comes down to the ring. She gets in the ring and taunts Becky with her women’s title.
The fans with a loud Becky chant and Charlotte Flair’s music hits. Charlotte gets on the microphone and says that as much as she is enjoying it, nothing will be more exciting than when she tosses 29 other women over the top rope and win the women’s Royal Rumble. And in the choices, you have Sasha against Ronda. She beat Sasha many times and Ronda’s shoulder probably still hurts her from the kendo stick hits. And you have Asuka against Becky. She beat Asuka last year at WrestleMania. As for Becky, Charlotte has owned the division for the past 4 years and she is the main event.
In the ring, Asuka attacks Becky Lynch from behind and the two women fight as referees come to the ring to break it up.
Naomi vs. Mandy Rose
Naomi attacks Mandy Rose during her entrance. Naomi throws Mandy in the ring and the bell rings. A back hand by Naomi and Mandy rolls to the outside.
Back from commercial, Mandy with a clothesline. She goes for the cover but Naomi kicks out. Mandy gets Naomi in the corner and delivers right hands. Naomi with a double kick onto Mandy. Naomi with right hands followed by a hurricanrana. Naomi runs towards Mandy who lifts Naomi over the top rope but Naomi lands on the ring apron. Naomi pushes Mandy onto the referee, Sonya distracts Naomi as Mandy pushes Naomi into the ring post. She grabs Naomi back in the ring and goes for the cover and gets the 3 count.
Winner: Mandy Rose
After the match, Jimmy comes in the ring to console his wife.
Backstage: Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is backstage and talks about how in 2006 he stayed more than an hour at the Royal Rumble where he won it. And how his stamina, will and speed helped him. And on Sunday, it’s about repeating history. But tonight, it’s about respect.
The Miz vs. Cesaro
The bell rings and we are under way. Cesaro goes right after The Miz. Cesaro gets The Miz in a head lock as The Miz sends Cesaro to the ropes. The Miz goes for a cross body but Cesaro catches him and lands a back breaker. Cesaro goes for the cover but The Miz kicks out. Cesaro lifts The Miz up but The Miz drops behind Cesaro and locks in the figure four. Cesaro gets to the ropes and Sheamus pulls Cesaro out of the ring. The Miz flies between the ropes as both Cesaro and Sheamus move out of the way. The Miz lands on his feet and hits Sheamus with a right hand. He turns around and Cesaro takes The Miz down.
Back from commercial, The Miz with right hands on Cesaro in the ring. Kicks by The Miz as Cesaro is in the corner. A drop kick by The Miz. And another drop kick as Cesaro goes down. The Miz climbs the top rope and he goes for a double axe handle but Cesaro with an upper cut. He goes for the cover with his feet on the ropes but Shane pushes Cesaro off to break the cover. Sheamus hits Shane on the outside.
Cesaro gets The Miz on the ropes and chokes him. The referee pulls Cesaro away as Sheamus hits The Miz with his knee. Cesaro lands The Neutralizer and gets the cover.
Winner: Cesaro
Shane takes out Sheamus and goes after Cesaro on the outside of the ring. Shane removes the equipment off the announce table and places Cesaro on it. Shane gets in the ring and climbs the top rope. Sheamus from behind pushes Shane down onto the outside and hits hits The Miz. Sheamus goes to the outside as he and Cesaro beat on Shane. Sheamus lands the Bro Kick on Shane. The Bar place The Miz on the table. They lift Shane McMahon and drop him onto The Miz as the announce table breaks. Officials tend to The Miz and Shane McMahon. Backstage, Vince McMahon is seen watching the whole thing.
In-Ring: Vince McMahon, AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan
Vince McMahon comes down to the ring. He introduces AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan. Vince calls Bryan into the ring but Bryan says he’s not getting in the ring with a psychopath who threw him into hot dogs last week. Bryan says he had a vision last week, a vision for the future with AJ Styles as the WWE champion. And that future looks like an ignorant, impotent, illiterate future. He says AJ Styles uses his power to get fame and money while Daniel uses his for the greater good.
AJ Styles says the greater good of him coming out and talking like a jackass. Bryan says and that’s why these people want him as champion because he makes them laugh, cheer and jump out of their seats. But he never once made them think or made them feel guilty about their actions. But he doesn’t care about their feelings because he is not the people’s champion, he is the planet’s champion. And the planet doesn’t need AJ Styles but the planet needs him to use his platform to be the planet’s voice.
Styles says if the planet had a voice, it would be screaming at him to shut up. He doesn’t remember him peddling his bicycle to get to the arena. He’s sure Bryan used the plane just like he did to get here. And there’s a word for that and it’s fickle. The fans chant fickle. Bryan says they are fickle, he is not. Styles says Bryan is scared to get in the ring with him tonight. He sees the look in his eyes, how he is afraid to step in the ring with him tonight. Just like how he is afraid of what will happen at the Royal Rumble. And Daniel should be afraid. AJ Styles says what will happen when he takes that one thing, the WWE title, away from him. What will he have left? Nothing.
Vince McMahon tells Daniel Bryan to get in the ring. Bryan tells Vince that he’s sure he doesn’t want to listen to this because him, along with the rest of the baby boomer generation are the parasites to this world. They take, take and take and give nothing back. And people bow to him for it. It’s like he pulled a magic trick, an illusion on them. Bryan says Vince created an environment where someone like AJ Styles can be a hero. Vince cuts him off, says he won’t tell him again ad t o get in the ring.
AJ tells Vince to hold on. This is advertised as a face to face and it doesn’t have to be in the ring. AJ gets out of the ring and chases Daniel Bryan as the two start to fight. Styles throws Bryan into the barricade, the announce table and the ring steps. He throws Bryan into the ring. Styles jumps off the top rope, goes for the phenomenal forearm but Bryan grabs Vince and puts him in front of him. Styles lands on his feet and Bryan with a flying knee takes AJ Styles down. Daniel Bryan grabs his belt and leaves.
Backstage: R-Truth, Carmella, Charlotte Flair
R-Truth is backstage with Carmella and says he can’t wait to enter as number 30 and win the Royal Rumble. R-Truth says he will go after Daniel Bryan or AJ Styles. Carmella says what about Brock Lesnar. Truth says he doesn’t want to go to soofball city. Carmella says it’s suplex city. R-Truth says maybe he’ll go after the cruiserweight title. Carmella says there’s a 205 pound weight limit. R-Truth says now he’s fat as Carmella tells him no. R-Truth walks away.
Carmella bumps into Charlotte Flair. Carmella tells Flair that she has no experience at the Royal Rumble and if she does go far, Carmella will enter as number 30 and she’ll eliminate her. Charlotte calls herself a tornado and says she will win.
Samoa Joe vs. Mustafa Ali
The bell rings and we are under way. Samoa Joe with right hands onto Ali taking him to the outside. Joe gets in the ring and back out to break the count. Joe grabs Ali and throws him into the ring post but Ali lands on the ring apron and jumps onto Samoa Joe. Both men back in the ring and Mustafa Ali with right hands on Joe in the corner. Joe with a big chop takes Ali down. Joe grabs Ali and throws him into the corner but Ali lands on the ring apron. Ali jumps up but Joe pushes him down as Ali hits the ring apron and onto the outside.
Back from commercial, Joe with right hands on Mustafa Ali in the corner. Joe with a right hand but Ali with a right of his own. Joe sends Ali to the corner and a spinning kick by Samoa Joe. He goes for the cover but Mustafa Ali kicks out. A head lock by Samoa Joe followed by knees to the face. He sends Ali to the corner and goes for the big splash but Ali moves out of the way. Ali with a face buster onto Samoa Joe. A drop kick by Mustafa Ali followed by a second. Samoa Joe rolls to the outside. Mustafa Ali with a suicide dive through the ropes. Ali stands on the security rail and a big splash on Samoa Joe. Back in the ring, a super kick by Ali. And another and another. With Samoa Joe still standing, Ali goes to the ropes and a jumping tornado DDT. He goes for the cover but Samoa Joe kicks out.
Mustafa Ali drags Samoa Joe and climbs the top rope. Samoa Joe trips Ali and lands the Coquina Clutch as Mustafa Ali taps out.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Backstage: The New Day
Backstage, The New Day are watching clips of previous Royal Rumble matches. They are asked if they would eliminate each other at the Royal Rumble. They joke about who will ask them that question again since they are always asked. They mention that when one of them wins the Royal Rumble, they all win the Royal Rumble.
Kofi Kingston looks sad and they ask him what’s wrong. Kofi says what happens if this year he doesn’t think of a way to keep his feet up. Xavier Woods and Big E cheer him up and Kofi says he’s got an idea for this year.
2-out-of-3 Falls Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade
Zelina Vega is banned from ring side. The bell rings and we are under way. Mysterio with a hurricanrana takes Andrade out and to the outside. Mysterio jumps over the top ropes, lands on Andrade and lands another hurricanrana.
Back from commercial, a kick by Mysterio to the head of Andrade. Rey Mysterio on the ring apron, jumps off the top rope and lands a seated senton. Both men get up, Mysterio jumps off the second rope but Andrade catches Mysterio in mid air with a drop kick. He goes for he cover but Rey Mysterio kicks out. Rey Mysterio climbs the second rope and jumps off, Andrade catches him and goes for the cover but Rey kicks out. Andrade climbs the top rope and goes for the moonsault but Mysterio pushes Andrade and Andrade falls onto the ropes. Mysterio climbs the second rope with Andrade sitting on the turnbuckle. Andrade gets Mysterio on his shoulders but Rey fights out. He goes for a hurricanrana but Andrade catches him, climbs the third rope and lands a power bomb off the top rope. He goes for the cover and gets the 3 count.
First fall: Andrade
Rey Mysterio slowly getting up and the referee tells them to go. Andrade goes after Mysterio and lands a power bomb. He goes for the cover but Mysterio kicks out. Andrade goes for another power bomb but Mysterio reverses it and lands a jumping pile driver. He goes for the cover and gets the 3 count.
Second fall: Rey Mysterio
Back from commercial, Andrade is on the outside of the ring. Mysterio slides below the bottom rope, Andrade catches him but Mysterio pushes him into the barricade. An enzuigiri by Mysterio onto Andrade. Rey Mysterio gets back in the ring. With Andrade on the outside, Mysterio slides below the bottom rope again, flips over Andrade and drops Andrade into the barricade. Rey Mysterio throws Andrade back into the ring. Mysterio gets on the ring apron, jumps off the top rope and lands a hurricanrana. He goes for the cover but Andrade kicks out. Andrade is on the ring apron, Mysterio goes to grab Andrade but Andrade catches Mysterio and locks in an arm bar in between the ropes. Andrade sends Mysterio into the turnbuckle.
Andrade goes onto the ring apron but a kick by Mysterio who flips over Andrade. He goes to drop Andrade but Andrade lands on his feet. He throws Mysterio into the ring post. Both men back in the ring, Andrade with a DDT. He goes for the cover but Mysterio reaches the ropes. Andrade with an arm bar as Mysterio gets out of it. Andrade puts Mysterio on his shoulders but Mysterio with an inverted hurricanrana. He goes for the cover but Andrade kicks out. Rey Mysterio goes onto the ring apron, jumps off the top rope, onto Andrade and drops him into the second rope. Mysterio lands the 619 and stays on the ring apron.
From the outside comes Samoa Joe, he grabs Mysterio and drops him into the ring apron. Samoa Joe gets in the ring and throws Andrade into the ring post. Samoa Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch on Rey Mysterio.
Winner: Rey Mysterio by disqualification
Samoa Joe gets on the microphone and says he came here to do a statement, just like he said. And what he did tonight, is exactly what he will do to the other 29 superstars at the Royal Rumble. In comes Randy Orton who lands an RKO out of nowhere.