WWE SmackDown Results – Jan. 9, 2018 – Handicap Match

Jan 9, 2018

WWE Smackdown Results
January 9, 2018
Birmingham, Alabama
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com

In-Ring: AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Shane McMahon

Renee Young is in the ring as we go live to Birmingham. Young introduces the WWE Champion, AJ Styles. Styles heads to the ring. Styles and Young take a seat inside the ring. Young brings up Daniel Bryan’s controversial decision last week to book Styles in a handicap match to defend his WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. She asks Styles if that decision was a fair one.

Styles says he takes pride every time he competes in the ring. He regrets what he said at the close of the show last week and thought he was being sarcastic when he heard Daniel’s announcement. Styles says the strategy will be pretty simple at the Royal Rumble against Owens and Zayn: hit them hard and hit them fast.

Young says Styles didn’t really answer his question. Styles says what Bryan did wasn’t fair, but life isn’t fair either. He admits Owens and Zayn have earned non-title victories against him, but they don’t deserve a title shots together. Young asks if Bryan is playing favorites. The crowd starts a loud “YES” chant. Styles says he isn’t sure what Bryan is thinking and tries to stay out of his business. Young asks if Shane McMahon has been playing favorites. Styles says he doesn’t want to get between Shane and Bryan right now. “I can’t allow those two idiots to take my title away from me.” He says he will prove at the Royal Rumble that this, Smackdown Live…Styles gets interrupted on the mic.

Here comes Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn out on stage. Owens asks the audience to give it up for the WWE Champion and The Phenomenal AJ Styles. He then refers to him as the “regret” or “remorseful” AJ Styles. A loud “AJ STYLES” chant starts up. Owens says Styles is backtracking after putting his foot in his own mouth last week. Zayn tosses in a “yep.” Owens says it would take a miracle for Styles to beat two men. He says Styles has no chance of walking out of the handicap with that title. Zayn adds a yep. Owens says when it’s all said and done, at the Royal Rumble PPV, when the night is over, they will be the first co-WWE Champions. Zayn lets out another loud yep. Owens says they will turn Smackdown Live into the Kevin and Sami Show or the Sami and Kevin Show.

Here comes Shane McMahon with something to say. He has to agree with the champion in this situation. Shane says “nope” to it being fair to AJ Styles and he’s puzzled why Daniel Bryan would book this match in the first place. He doesn’t understand why Bryan would give the “yep clowns” another opportunity to become WWE Champion. Shane backs the decision to have this match at the Royal Rumble…”for now.” He says while they are discussing handicap matches, why not have one here tonight? Shane books Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to take on Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton and AJ Styles.

Backstage, Shane bumps into Daniel Bryan. He approves of the main event tonight.

Becky Lynch vs. Ruby Riott

Charlotte Flair and Naomi are joining Lynch at ringside and Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan are joining Riott at ringside.

Becky with a headlock early on Riott pushing her into the ropes. Becky pulls Riott up off the ropes. Logan swipes at the feet of Becky to distract her. Becky then launches Riott through the ropes into Logan and Morgan at ringside quickly. We return live to see Riott with her legs wrapped around the body of Becky to keep her grounded. Becky with a springboard kick to Riott in the corner. Riott throws a quick knee to the ribs of Becky. Becky with a roll up for a two count. Becky throws big elbows. Becky with an uppercut, kick and overhead exploder. Becky gets her armbar locked on. Riott taps.

Winner: Becky Lynch

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Ascension

The Ascension jumps Harper right as the bell rings. Harper with a big boot leveling Viktor and a kick to Konnor sending him to the outside. Tag to Rowan who is slapped by Harper and launched into Viktor in the corner. Rowan lifts Viktor up onto the shoulders of Harper who drops Viktor down with a powerful sitdown powerbomb to pick up the quick win.

Winners: The Bludgeon Brothers

After the match, Konnor checks on Viktor and is jumped by Harper and Rowan. They grab Konnor and give him a high double chokeslam.

WWE United States Championship Tournament
First Round Match
Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley

Bobby Roode is out next and heads to the ringside area to watch this match. Lock up and Mojo launches Ryder at the corner. Ryder fires back with a big dropkick. Mojo quickly rolls out of the ring. Back inside, Mojo dumps Ryder off the corner. Mojo chokes Ryder and throws him repeatedly at the corner. Ryder catches Mojo with a neckbreaker. Ryder hits an elbow on Mojo and follows with a kick to the face. Ryder with repeated elbows to Mojo driving him down in the corner. Ryder attempts his boot in the corner, Mojo moves and Ryder eventually connects with a kick to Mojo on the outside. Back inside, Ryder chops Mojo. Mojo with an inverted atomic drop and launches Ryder shoulder first into the steel post. Mojo with an elbow to the back of the neck. Mojo hits the ropes and connects with a huge elbow to the head. Mojo hooks the leg and gets the pinfall.

Mojo Rawley has advanced to the second round and will face Bobby Roode.

Winner and Advancing: Mojo Rawley

After the match, Bobby Roode gets inside the ring and stares down Mojo. Mojo smiles, points at Roode and backs off as Roode does his Glorious pose.

Backstage: Jinder Mahal

Backstage, Jinder Mahal is with The Singh Brothers and talks about what a great 2017 he had becoming the WWE Champion. He said as 2018 begins, he has his eyes on a new prize: the WWE United States Championship. Mahal says he will face Xavier Woods as part of the current tournament next week. He calls New Day a fad and the Modern Day Maharaja as being forever. Mahal smiles at the camera as it zooms in.

In-Ring: Chad Gable, Shelton Benjamin, Daniel Bryan

Gable and Benjamin head to the ring. Footage plays from last week’s show with some confusion on who was the legal man when The Usos defending the Smackdown Tag Team Championships. The match was restarted and The Usos ended up retaining.

Back live, Gable and Benjamin have a mic in hand. Gable asks if anyone knows what it takes to be a winner. He talks about the hours of training neglecting family and friends. Gable says they were willing to make that sacrifice to hold the titles up high.

Benjamin says just because Alabama won a National Championship doesn’t make them winners. He said all the fans did was sit on a coach. “Georgia was robbed,” says Benjamin. He says they were robbed of the Smackdown Tag Team Championships as well.

Gable says they beat The Usos in this very ring and set the titles free from the Usos penitentiary. The crowd starts a loud “ROLL TIDE” chant. They recap what went down last week with the another referee getting involved. Benjamin accuses the referee of being jealous for overturning the decision. “That man is a thief,” adds Gable. They are out here tonight to demand justice and to free the tag team titles. Gable demands generic referee number 2 comes to the ring so they can #FreeTheTagTitles.

Here comes Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan instead. A loud “DANIEL BRYAN” chant starts up. Bryan says he understands what they are going through, especially working hard for something and having it taken away from you. He wonders why Gable and Benjamin are out here questioning management. Gable says they are questioning the referee staff, not the management. Bryan says the referee’s decision is final. Benjamin loudly agrees with Bryan about that comment and says they won the match.

Bryan adds, “Yeah, except you didn’t win the match. You pinned the wrong Uso.” He says they stand behind the referee decision. Gable thinks Bryan is taking this out on them because “his boss” Shane McMahon is mad at him. Benjamin encourages Gable to continue to express his feelings. Gable feels like they are the rightful champions and wants to know what else they need to do – beat them twice in one night? Bryan smiles and says Gable is a genius. He says at the Royal Rumble, The Usos will defend the Smackdown Tag Team Championships against Gable and Benjamin in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match.

Bryon Saxton says be careful for what you wish for around Daniel Bryan these days.

Backstage: AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura

Backstage, WWE Champion AJ Styles wants to talk strategy with Randy Orton. He wonders if Orton is just going to toss out a bunch of RKO’s. Orton says that sounds good and Styles agrees. He asks Styles to trust him tonight, but warns him he’s going to win the Royal Rumble and come after that title at WrestleMania. Shinsuke Nakamura walks up smiling adding, “Not so fast.” Nakamura too sweets the title and adds, “Good talk.”

Breezango vs. Rusev Day (Rusev and Aiden English)

Rusev Day proclaims the Royal Rumble as the “Rusev Rumble” before the match and announce they will both be involved in the 30 Man Men’s match.

We start with Aiden English and Tyler Breeze. Breeze quickly tosses English out. Fandango gets the tag, chops away at English and English tags in Rusev. Fandango with a dropkick to English. Rusev with tons of shots on Fandango, finishing it off with a spinning kick off the ropes. Rusev dumps Breeze out of the ring, catches Fandango and Breeze dropkicks Rusev. Fandango rolls up Rusev for the win!

Winners: Breezango

After the match, Rusev slaps the ring and is not happy.

Backstage: Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon

Backstage, Daniel Bryan is watching the match finish as Shane McMahon walks in. Bryan says this show tonight has been great and praises Shane for booking a good main event. Shane thanks him, but wants to be open and honest. He says they aren’t on the same page and accuses Bryan’s booking of being irrational at times. Shane questions the WWE Championship booking and Smackdown Tag Team Championships booking. He asks Bryan if he is doing okay. Bryan asks what that means. Shane says Bryan seems unstable. Bryan says he could say the same about Shane and his past decisions. Shane agrees to disagree.

3 on 2 Handicap Match
AJ Styles, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

We start with Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Owens catches Orton with a boot in the corner. Orton goes for an RKO and Owens quickly avoids it rolling out of the ring. Orton chases him down throwing a quick elbow to the back. Owens with boots to Orton when they return to the ring. Tag to Sami Zayn who throws rights at Zayn. Orton plants Zayn back first on the mat and stomps away at his body. Tag to Shinsuke Nakamura who throws knees at Zayn, hits a snapmare and drops a quick knee. Nakamura catches Zayn with another kick and throws kicks to the chest of Zayn repeatedly. Tag to AJ Styles who is sent to the corner by Zayn who tags Owens back in. Owens trips up Styles under his legs. Styles responds with a snap huricanrana followed by a big clothesline leveling Owens. Styles with a jumping forearm to Owens after hitting the ropes. Zayn pulls Owens out of the ring.

The referee starts the count as Owens and Zayn walk up the ramp. Here comes Shane McMahon. He says this isn’t happening on his watch. Shane announces this match is now under No Count Out rules and orders the match to be restarted.

Back live, Zayn has Styles grounded inside the ring. Tag to Owens who keeps Styles down throwing big right hands. Owens with a quick clothesline and then goes to a side headlock to keep Styles down more. Styles with his fireman’s carry into a neckbreaker on Owens. Hot tag to Orton who hits repeated clotheslines on Zayn and follows with a snap powerslam. Orton with a DDT on Zayn off the ropes. Orton is calling for an RKO. Owens has a steel chair and hits Orton in the gut with it. The referee calls for the bell.

Owens hits Nakamura and Styles with the steel chair as well. Winners via DQ: WWE Champion AJ Styles, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura

After the match result was officially announced, Shane McMahon walks out and says to hold on just one second. He says this match is now No Count Out, No DQ and Anything Goes. Shane orders the match to be restarted.

Styles grabs a chair, hits Owens in the ribs and cracks it over the back of Owens. Styles again cracks it over the back of Owens. Owens is back up and Styles again cracks the chair over his back. Styles and Owens head to the backstage area.

At ringside, Nakamura is walking down Zayn and Owens is on the otherwise. Zayn is trying to run away when Orton and Nakamura grab him. They send him face first into the steel ring post. Orton is grabbing the top of the steel steps and hits Zayn in the head. Orton then picks up Zayn and back drops him off the announce table! The table doesn’t break as Zayn screams out in pain. Orton tosses Zayn back inside the ring. Nakamura connects with the Kinshasa. Orton with an RKO on Zayn and gets the pinfall.

Winners: WWE Champion AJ Styles, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura

After the match, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura celebrate on the corner.

Quick Match Results

* Becky Lynch def. Ruby Riott
* The Bludgeon Brothers def. The Ascension
* Mojo Rawley def. Zack Ryder to advance in the WWE United States Title Tournament
* Breezango def. Rusev Day
* WWE Champion AJ Styles, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura def. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a No Count Out, No DQ, Anything Goes main event