Results by Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
January 28, 2022
Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Commentary: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee
Quick Match Results
- Sheamus & Ridge Holland defeated Cesaro & Ricochet via Northern Grit by Holland on Cesaro
- Naomi defeated Sonya Deville via split-legged moonsault
- Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs defeated Jinder Mahal & Shanky via Boogs Cruise by Boogs on Shanky
- Kofi Kingston & Big E defeated Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss via Midnight Hour on Moss
In-Ring: Charlotte Flair, Shayna Baszler, Aliyah, Natalya, Sasha Banks
WWE SmackDown kicks off with Charlotte Flair making her way down to the ring. She says she brought a championship to Kansas City. She says she will eliminate everyone andw in the Royal Rumble. She says you have shocking entrance, surprise returns and betrayals. But when you step into the ring, it’s every woman for herself.
Flair says she did not have to enter the Rumble match. She could have just went to WrestleMania and waited on the winner to choose her but she is not that kind of champion. She doesn’t sit around and hope that things work out for her. She takes control and that is why she is the most dominant champion in the history of WWE. Flair says normally the winner picks the champion but tomorrow when she wins, she will pick the challenger of her choosing to main event WrestleMania.
Out comes Shayna Baszler. She tells Flair that there is no denying that Flair is an incredible competitor but at the Rumble, if it ends being those two again, she won’t hesitate to snap her like a twig. But she will make her a promise. After she throws her over the top rope, she won’t waste any time picking her for WrestleMania.
Out comes Aliyah. She says anyone can just walk out as Flair asks who she is. Aliyah says she is excited about the Royal Rumble match and she has a lot of butterflies in her stomach. And she might be able to compete at her first ever WrestleMania. Flair tells her she has no chance of winning. Aliyah says she did beat Natalya in 3.17 seconds.
Out comes Natalya to the ring. Natalya says there’s a lot of things she can call Aliyah but optimistic isn’t one of them. She can brag about her fluke record but she is a three time Guinness World Record holder and tomorrow will be four. Out comes Shotzi. She says there’s a lot of massive egos in the ring, creating the perfect opportunity for her to seize the spotlight.
Flair tells them not a single one of them deserves to be in the ring with her and not one of them will win the Royal Rumble.
Out comes Sasha Banks to the ring. Sasha says the boss is back and she is ready to rumble. Flair waves at her as Sasha slaps her. Sasha gets on the ring apron as the rest of them fight in the ring. Flair is the last one standing. Sasha gets back in the ring as both women go face to face. A kick to the face by Sasha as she throws Charlotte over the top rope to the outside of the ring.
Sheamus & Ridge Holland vs. Cesaro & Ricochet
Megan is backstage with Ridge Holland and Sheamus. Ridge says he will crush Ricochet as Sheamus talks about how he will win the Royal Rumble match. Sheamus gives him a mask to wear for his broken nose. We go to commercials.
The bell rings and we are under way. Sheamus and Cesaro start the match. A head lock take own by Sheamus as Cesaro gets out of it. Cesaro runs after Sheamus as Sheamus runs to the outside. Sheamus gets back in the ring and a head lock take down by Cesaro. Sheamus gets back to his feet and a right hand followed by a head lock. Sheamus to the ropes and a shoulder tackle takes Cesaro down.
Sheamus runs to the ropes but a clothesline by Cesaro. A double stomp onto Sheamus. He grabs Sheamus and tags ricochet into the match. They double team sSheamus. Ricochet with an arm bar but Sheamus with a knee and Ridge is tagged into the match. An uppercut by Holland onto Ricochet. Ricochet to the ropes as he throws Holland onto the ring apron. Ricochet with a drop kick onto Holland. Ricochet jumps over the top rope onto the outside.
Back from commercial, Sheamus with the Irish curse back breaker on Ricochet. Holland is tagged into the ring as he slams Ricochet into the corner. Holland throws Ricochet across the ring. A knee to the face by Holland. Holland with a body slam followed by an elbow drop. He goes for the cover but Ricochet kicks out. Holland throws Ricochet to the ropes but Ricochet with a moonsault off the second rope. Cesaro and Sheamus tagged in. Cesaro with uppercuts.
Cesaro with a corkscrew uppercut off the second rope. Cesaro throws Sheamus over the top rope and to the outside of the ring. Cesaro slams Sheamus into the barricade. Cesaro throws Sheamus back into the ring. Cesaro rolls Sheamus up but Holland breaks it up. Ricochet with a drop kick onto Holland. Sheamus with a knee onto Ricochet. Cesaro lifts Sheamus up on his shoulders and slams him onto the mat. Cesaro goes for the cover but Sheamus kicks out. Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer but Sheamus gets out of it. Holland is tagged in. Holland with a headbutt followed by the Northern Grit. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Sheamus and Ridge Holland
Sonya Deville vs. Naomi
Sonya is backstage with the referee. She says his performance depends on her. He tells her he will have to call the match down the middle. We go to commercials.
The bell rings and we are under way. Sonya grabs the ropes as Naomi goes after her but the referee breaks it up. A kick by Sonya followed by a right hand as she takes Naomi down. Sonya stomping on Naomi as the referee breaks it up. Sonya slams Naomi face first into the mat. A head lock by Sonya in the middle of the ring but Naomi with a hip toss.
Naomi with a head scissor take down. A right hand by Naomi but Sonya with a kick knocks Naomi down. She goes for the cover but Naomi kicks out. Sonya grabs Naomi but Naomi with a slap to the face followed by a drop kick. Sonya on the outside. Naomi slams her into the ring apron. Naomi throws Sonya back into the ring. She goes for the cover but Sonya kicks out. Sonya rolls back to the outside of the ring. Naomi goes for a baseball slide but Sonya moves out of the way. Sonya grabs Naomi and slams her on the outside.
Back from commercial, Naomi with a springboard stunner off the second rope. A flying punch by Naomi in the corner. She slams Sonya face first into the second turnbuckle. Naomi climbs the top rope and a cross body. She goes for the cover but Sonya kicks out. Naomi with a leg drop. She goes for the cover but Sonya kicks out. Naomi grabs Sonya by the head but Sonya pushes her face first into the turnbuckle.
Sonya lifts Naomi up for a vertical suplex but slams her into a reverse DDT. She goes for the cover but Naomi kicks out. Sonya grabs Naomi but Naomi reverses it into a full nelson slam. She goes for the cover but Sonya kicks out. Sonya grabs the ring apron as that distracts the referee and Sonya with a rake to the eyes. She goes for the cover but Naomi kicks out. Sonya goes for a right hand but Naomi moves out of the way and hits her with the Rear View. Naomi with a split legged moonsault. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Naomi
After the match, Naomi gets on the microphone. She says after so many months, Sonya couldn’t handle the glow. Naomi says she is going to win the Rumble and sings Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye to Sonya as the fans sing along.
Sonya goes backstage and comes back wearing her jacket. She tells Naomi that she is excited about her Royal Rumble match but as an official, she cannot let Naomi go into the Rumble match without a surprise. Sonya says the surprise is a special guest entrant and her name is Sonya Deville.
Backstage: The Usos, The Viking Raiders
Kayla is backstage with The Usos. She asks them about Seth against Roman. They say they don’t care about what Seth has to say. Just because they won’t be at ringside, nothing will be any different and Roman will retain. In come the Viking Raiders. Erik tells them they love their axes as both men are holding axes. They say they aren’t just for throw. You can even cut a championship in half with it.
In-Ring: Sami Zayn, Jinder Mahal, Shanky, Rick Boogs, Shinsuke Nakamura
Sami Zayn is in the ring. He says In Zayn is now a podcast as he has two microphones. He says they have a tag team match against the soon to be former Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs. Jinder says it’s a pleasure to be on the show. Sami says this is what the show should have been from the beginning.
Zayn says he doesn’t want to talk about Johnny Knoxville and never wants to hear that name again. The fans chant Johnny. He says that this is the show, intellectuals, smart people having smart conversations abut smart topics. Sami asks Jinder about the match. Jinder says he has embarrassed Nakamura before and this won’t be any different. He has Shanky.
Sami cuts him off and tells Shanky that he is sorry that he had to hear about Johnny Knoxville. Jinder tells him that Johnny Knoxville is famous in India. Sami says Knoxville probably isn’t that popular in India. Out comes Rick Boogs.
He introduces Shinsuke Nakamura to the ring and plays the guitar. Both men get into the ring as Sami asks them to cut the music. Sami argues with Nakamura in the ring but Nakamura kicks him on the head and Sami falls to the outside of the ring.
Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs. Jinder Mahal & Shanky
Boogs and Shanky are in the ring. Boogs lifts Shanky and throws him in the corner but a right hand by Shanky. An elbow to the face by Shanky but Boogs with a right hand. Boogs knocks Jindero ff the ring apron. Boogs with a bear hug onto Shanky but Shanky gets out of it. Boogs with a vertical suplex onto Shanky. With the referee distracted, Sami trips Sami off the ring apron. Jinder is tagged in. Jinder with right hands onto Boogs in the corner. Shanky is tagged in. They try to double team Boogs but Boogs with a right hand onto Jinder and a clothesline onto Shanky. Shanky gets to his feet but Boogs hits him with the Boogs Cruise. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs
Backstage: Big E & Kofi Kingston
.@WWEBigE & @TrueKofi get fired up before their match against @MadcapMoss & Happy @BaronCorbinWWE! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7hjFCFnXFg
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2022
Kayla is backstage with Kofi Kingston and Big E. She asks Kofi how it feels to have Big E back on SmackDown. He says it feels great and it will be great to be in the Royal Rumble match. But when one of them wins the Royal Rumble, they all win the Royal Rumble. Big E says Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin are going to feel the power.
Kofi Kingston & Big E vs. Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss
The bell rings and we are under way. Big E and Madcap are in the ring. Madcap with a shoulder tackle knocks Big E down. Madcap runs to the ropes but Big E with a back elbow. He goes for the cover but Madcap kicks out. Kofi is tagged in. They double team Madcap. Kofi goes for the cover but Madcap kicks out. Madcap throws Kofi to the ropes as Corbin is tagged in. Corbin throws Kofi into the corner and hits him with a splash.
Corbin chokes Kofi. Corbin knocks Big E off the ring apron. Kofi with a drop kick. Madcap is tagged in. Kofi with a drop kick takes Madcap to the outside. Kofi climbs the top rope and jumps but Corbin and Madcap catch him and throw him into the ring post.
Back from commercial, Madcap is stomping on Kofi in the corner. Corbin is tagged in. Kofi with a kick onto Madcap as Big E is tagged in. In comes Big E who hits Corbin with a belly to belly. He slams Madcap down onto the mat. Another belly to belly onto Corbin. Big E runs to the ropes and hits him with a big splash. Kofi is tagged back in. Corbin pushes Big E to the outside and he hits Kofi with a back breaker. Madcap is tagged in as Corbin hits Kofi with the Deep Six. Madcap goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. Madcap lifts Kofi up as Corbin runs to the ropes but Big E drags him to the outside. Big E throws him into the ring steps. Big E is tagged in and they hit the Midnight Hour on Madcap. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Kofi Kingston and Big E
In-Ring: Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins
Out comes Roman Reigns to the ring. As he is about to speak, Seth Rollins walks down to the ring. Roman tells Kansas City to acknowledge him. Seth says last week, he played him like a fiddle and he wanted to thank him for not having The Usos in their match. Roman says it was a simple decision. He sits and watches him pin his cousins and embarrass his family or he punches him in the face. It was simple.
Seth tells him if getting pinned by Seth brings shame, Roman brought more shame to his family than anyone. Roman tells it’s 2022, the Tribal Chief is in God mode. Seth says the past is a good place to start. You remember the most famous Money in the Bank cash in of all time. Or when he came back from a knee injury and in his first match back, he brought shame to his bloodline when he pinned him and sent him packing for his 30 day vacation.
Roman tells him that’s water under the bridge. Seth tells him about the time he took a steel chair to his back and changed the game forever. Seth tells him that one stings. When he did that, he knew what he was doing.He knew it would catapult Roman into superstardom and Roman has him to thank for that. Seth tells him Roman is the greatest superstar of their generation, he has beaten them all except beat him when it matters the most.
Seth tells him at the Rumble, it’s not personal when he takes that title from him. Seth calls him a brother and says he will always love him. Seth begins to laugh. Roman tells him chair to his back. Breaking up the Shield. Roman says he has tried to forgive him but he will never forgive him for what they did to them. Roman tells him he hates him. Seth says he knows he does and tomorrow he will hate him even more. Seth says Roman’s title reign, bloodline and family are all a joke. His dad, his uncle, they’re all a joke and tomorrow it all goes up in smoke.
Roman pushes Seth as Seth laughs. Roman goes for a Superman Punch but Seth moves out of the way and slides to the outside of the ring.