WWE SmackDown Results – Jan. 15, 2021 – Reigns and Pearce Contract Signing

Jan 15, 2021

January 15, 2021
St. Petersburg, Florida (Tropicana Field)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Jey Uso via Kinshasa
Natalya defeated Liv Morgan via roll up after accidental distraction from Billie Kay
King Corbin defeated Rey Mysterio via End of Days
Cesaro defeated Daniel Bryan via Neutralizer
Apollo Crews defeated Sami Zayn via roll up with handful of tights

Backstage: Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman

👀

Looks like that #UniversalTitle Match contract may need some adjustments…@HeymanHustle @WWERomanReigns #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/uIWJ2isPlP

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2021

The show starts with Roman backstage reading a contract with Heyman as Heyman says they give them the contract two minutes before going live. And this contract is the same as every other. Heyman says he hates it too because the match needs a stipulation. He has to teach Adam Pearce about fear and respect. Heyman takes the contract from Roman and tells him he will deliver it to Pearce.

In-Ring: Jey Uso, Shinsuke Nakamura

Out comes Jey Uso who welcomes everyone to the bloodline show. He says he and his cousin, the head of the table, they run the show. Not Adam Pearce, not Kevin Owens, they call the shots. Pearce better be careful and he will find out the hard way at the Rumble. If they have hot towels, fresh food, millions of people watching you for the first time, you better be saying thank you Roman. And as for himself, the family is about to expand. He announces that he is entering the Royal Rumble. And after he wins it, he will go to Raw and defeat Roman Reigns or Goldberg for the WWE championship.

Jey says but before the Rumble, he has business with Nakamura. Everyone talks about Shinsuke’s performance last week, he did well. Shinsuke beat everyone but when they decided it wasn’t going to happen, Nakamura was out. He says Nakamura should be thanking them because they let him survive. Uso tells Nakamura as soon as he crosses his family, he will leave in a stretcher. Shinsuke Nakamura’s song hits and out he comes.

Nakamura tells him if his cousin Roman Reigns is the big dog, that makes Jey his little puppy. Nakamura kicks Uso down.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jey Uso

The bell rings and we are under way. A snap mare by Nakamura as he goes for the cover but Uso kicks out. A head lock by Nakamura as Uso is sent to the ropes but a back elbow knocks Nakamura down. Jey with a body slam. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out. Uso with a right hand but Nakamura with a right hand as Jey throws him into the turnbuckle. Uso tries to throw Nakamura to the ropes but Nakamura blocks it and knocks Uso down with a kick.

Nakamura with more kicks and knees onto Jey’s ribs. A headlock by Nakamura. He throws Jey into the corner as Cesaro’s music hits. Jey on the outside and Nakamura with a baseball slide. Nakamura throws him into the ring post.

Cesaro is on commentary and Uso knocks Nakamura off the ring apron and to the outside. Jey throws Nakamura back into the ring. Cesaro says he is entering the Royal Rumble. Jey stomping on Nakamura in the corner. Uso runs towards Nakamura but Nakamura with a kick knocks Jey down. Nakamura with a knee to the midsection. Nakamura gets Jey stuck in between the ropes and a release German suplex by Nakamura. He goes for the cover but Jey kicks out. Nakamura grabs Uso but Uso with a Samoan drop. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out.

Jey with a kick to the midsection followed by a neck breaker. He goes for the cover but again Nakamura kicks out. Jey grabs Nakamura but Nakamura with a knee slows him down. Nakamura with a knee off the second rope. He goes for the cover but Jey kicks out. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa but Jey with the superkick. Jey climbs the top rope, he goes for the splash but Nakamura gets his knees up. Nakamura runs towards Uso but Uso moves out of the way and Nakamura into the turnbuckle. Jey goes for the cover with his legs on the ropes but the referee sees it and stops the count. Nakamura with the Kinshasa. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Cesaro gets in the ring as both men celebrate.

Backstage: Sonya Deville, Adam Pearce, Paul Heyman

Sonya Deville is backstage with Adam Pearce. She mentions his match against Roman and in comes Heyman. He shakes Sonya’s hand and gives them the contract. Heyman says it’s an opportunity of a life time as Pearce opens the contract. Heyman says not only does he get to main event the Royal Rumble but he gets the chance to go up against Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. But the rules and stipulations are tilted in Pearce’s favor. Because this will be contested under no disqualification rules. Pearce says this is part of the sales pitch where he tells him it’s all for his benefit. He says it’s ridiculous but he will sign it. He gives the contract back to Heyman.

Backstage: Jey Uso

“You’re about to get fired, messing with the chief.” 😳#SmackDown @WWEUsos @WWERobinson pic.twitter.com/17YfVDRUt7

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2021

Jey is backstage arguing with Charles Robinson, the referee. He tells Charles he’s about to get fired for messing with him and he tells him to do his job.

Backstage: The Street Profits

We see a clip of Roode and Ziggler winning the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships last week.

Kayla is backstage with the Street Profits. She asks them about their match last week and if it was wise to put their Championships on the line. Ford says you can call them several things but one thing you can’t call them is scared. Because for 312 historic days, they were Champions. For them not to accept Roode and Ziggler’s challenge would be like them disrespecting the legacy they are trying to build.

Ford says they’ll get their Championships back. Because the Street Profits are up, even though they are down, and they want the smoke.

Backstage: Roman Reigns, Apollo Crews, Paul Heyman

“Stay… You can learn from this.”#SmackDown @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle @WWEApollo pic.twitter.com/mc3qoI4tcr

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2021

Roman is backstage with Apollo Crews. He tells Apollo if he doesn’t do it, who will. Heyman comes in and gives Roman the contract. Apollo is about to leave as Roman tells him to stay, he can learn from this. Roman says he won’t sign it, he doesn’t want to do a no disqualification. He wants a last man standing match. Heyman tells him that Pearce will never accept. Roman looks at Apollo and tells him he will go for it because he will make him. And Pearce will sign the contract in the ring, tonight.

Reigns tells Paul he will consider it handled.

Natalya vs. Liv Morgan

The bell rings with Billie Kay joining the commentary team. Natalya pushes Liv onto the ropes. Natalya goes for a clothesline but a hurricanrana by Morgin. Both women exchange reversals as Natalya drops Liv onto the top rope. Right hands by Natalya. She goes for a suplex but Liv reverses it into an inside cradle but Natalya kicks out. A clothesline by Natalya as she goes for the cover but Liv kicks out.

Natalya with a back breaker submission but elbows by Liv as she’s thrown onto the ring apron. Liv with a sunset flip but Natalya kicks out. Liv with kicks to the face. A knee to the face by Liv as she stomps on Natalya in the corner. Natalya trips Liv into the bottom corner. She hits Liv with a clothesline. Billie leaves the commentary and joins Ruby. Morgan with the double knees. She goes for the cover but Natalya kicks out. Billie Kay argues with the referee as Tamina tells her to leave her side of the ring.

Both Tamina and Billie Kay argue. Billie jumps in the ring as she gets in Liv’s way. Natalya rolls Liv up from behind and gets the pin.

Winner: Natalya

Rey Mysterio vs. King Corbin

Dominik is on the commentary team. The bell rings and we are under way. Corbin lifts Rey up but Rey slams him into the second turnbuckle. Corbin throws Rey into the corner and hits him with a clothesline. Corbin looks at Dominik and taunts him. Right hands by Corbin followed by a back drop. He goes for the cover but Rey kicks out. Corbin lifts Rey up but he reverses it into the bulldog.

Both men back up but Corbin throws Rey to the outside. Corbin with a clothesline as Corbin pushes Dominik. Corbin taunts Dominik and he throws Rey back into the ring. He goes for the cover but Rey kicks out. Corbin runs to the ropes but Rey with a dropkick. Rey jumps off the top rope and takes Corbin down. He jumps off the second rope but Corbin catches Rey who turns on Corbin’s shoulders and drops Corbin onto the second rope. He goes for the 619 but Corbin reverses it into the Deep Six. He goes for the cover but Rey kicks out.

Corbin rolls to the outside but Rey kicks him slowing him down. Rey goes for the baseball slide but Corbin catches him. Corbin knocks Dominik down. Rey attacks Corbin and throws him back in the ring. Dominik gets in the ring but Rey tells him to leave as Corbin pushes Rey onto Dominik. Corbin hits Rey with the End of Days. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: King Corbin

Backstage: Adam Pearce, Paul Heyman

“You can address whatever concerns you have with @WWERomanReigns face to face in the ring…”#SmackDown @ScrapDaddyAP @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/nPC2KRVL5D

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2021

Pearce is walking backstage and in comes Heyman. He tells Pearce there’s a bit of a change. Roman did not sign the contract and it’s because roman agreed with Pearce’s concerns for their match at the Rumble. He gives Pearce a speech about the match and he tells him it’s a Last Man Standing match. Pearce asks him what is wrong with them. Pearce opens the contract as Heyman tells him to take his time because he can sign the contract in the ring tonight.

Backstage: Rey Mysterio, Dominik

“You want to take care of Corbin? I know just the guy we need to talk to…”#SmackDown @reymysterio @DomMysterio35 pic.twitter.com/qXqsiOXTPs

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2021

Dominik is backstage with Rey and Dominik tells Rey he has backed down. Rey says he hasn’t backed down but you have to have a plan. He runs through Corbin’s list of accomplishments as Dominik tells him he doesn’t care what he has done. Rey tells Dominik if he wants to take care of Corbin, he knows who he has to talk to.

In-Ring: Bayley, Bianca Belair

With one giant door in the ring and a couch, Bayley opens the door wearing glasses as she welcomes everyone to the Ding Dong Hello show. She welcomes Bianca Belair to the show. Out comes Bianca to the ring. Bayley tells her she has to enter through the door and she has to ring the doorbell. A doorbell rings as Bayley says she wonders who that could be. Bianca tells her she knows who it is.

Bianca sits on Bayley’s chair as Bayley tells her that’s her seat. Bayley congratulates Bianca on her WWE chronicle that will debut on January 24 on the WWE Network. She says she has a sneak peek of it as we see a clip of Bayley pinning Bianca from a few weeks ago. Bayley asks Bianca why she calls herself with the EST of WWE. Bianca starts to speak as Bayley cuts her off. Bianca asks her why her confidence offends her so much.

Bayley says she is the best because she beat her in their match a few weeks ago. Bianca tells her she can take herself and her show, put on her dusty gear and have a match right now. Bayley says it’s reverse psychology, she already beat her. What if next week they do an obstacle course. The ultimate athlete obstacle course. Bianca laughs and says challenge accepted.

Backstage: Daniel Bryan, Cesaro

🚨 This. #SmackDown. RIGHT NOW. 🚨@WWEDanielBryan @WWECesaro pic.twitter.com/GG2UZBSUbC

— WWE (@WWE) January 16, 2021

They air a clip from earlier involving Daniel Bryan, Otis and Gable who are backstage and in comes Kayla. Bryan says the pursuit of excellence with them never ends and training the alpha academy way is beneficial to him. He says Nakamura is a Rumble match winner and there was no shame in losing to him last week. In comes Cesaro. He tells Bryan that he is his friend and the only reason Nakamura shook his hand last week is because he felt sorry for him. He may have had a chance if he trained with someone who taught him something different.

Bryan challenges him to a match.

Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro

The bell rings and we are under way. A shoulder take down by Cesaro. He goes for the cover but Bryan kicks out. Both men run to the ropes and a hip toss by Bryan. An arm bar onto Cesaro but Cesaro gets Bryan into the corner as the referee breaks it up. A back elbow by Cesaro in the corner. An uppercut takes Bryan down. Cesaro runs towards Bryan but Bryan moves out of the way. Double knees to the face onto Cesaro. Bryan with an arm bar as he continues to attack Cesaro’s left arm.

Cesaro reverses it and slams Bryan into the mat. Cesaro grabs Bryan but Bryan reverses it and he throws Cesaro into the ropes and onto the outside. Bryan off the top rope and a cross body onto Cesaro on the outside. Bryan with the Yes kicks on the outside of the ring. He goes for another kick but Cesaro moves out of the way and Bryan kicks the ring post.

Back from commercial, Cesaro is bleeding from the back of his head. An uppercut by Cesaro but Bryan fights back with kicks. A drop toe hold by Bryan and he kicks Cesaro’s left arm. He runs towards Cesaro and spins into the Yes lock. Cesaro gets out of it and spins Bryan in the ring and gets the sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Bryan tries to make it to the ropes but Cesaro turns it into the crossface but Bryan gets out of it and tries to go for the Yes lock. Bryan gets it locked in but Cesaro gets his foot on the rope.

Both men back up, Bryan places Cesaro on the top rope, he goes for the hurricanrana but Cesaro blocks it. Cesaro with a suplex off the top rope. He goes for the cover but Bryan kicks out. Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer but Bryan gets out of it. Bryan with the Yes kicks and both men are down. Bryan goes for the Yes kicks but Cesaro throws Bryan in the air and hits him with an uppercut. Cesaro with the Neutralizer. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Cesaro

Backstage: Carmella, Sasha Banks

Kayla is backstage with Carmella, who says last week, she spoke the truth about Sasha Banks. She hasn’t seen Sasha since she beat her two weeks ago. Maybe it’s because she proved that she is better than her in every way. Sasha attacks Carmella knocking her down. Carmella gets back up. Sasha says she can have her title match as long as Sasha gets her assistant in a match first.

Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn

We see a clip of Talking Smack where Paul Heyman was speaking with Apollo Crews encouraging him.

Big E is on the commentary team, eating a fruit cup and sitting on a couch. The bell rings and we are under way. Right hands by Apollo but Sami grabs the ropes. Sami with a clothlesline takes Apollo to the outside. Sami with a right hand on Apollo but Apollo slams Sami into the announce table. Apollo on the announce table and a moon sault onto Sami. He throws Sami back into the ring.

Apollo climbs the top rope but Sami trips him up. Sami stomps on Apollo in the corner. Sami with an elbow off the second rope. He goes for the cover but Apollo kicks out. Both men back up but a suplex by Apollo. He lifts Sami up and throws him into the turnbuckle. Apollo with a standing moonsault but Sami gets his knees up. Sami goes for the cover with his hands on Apollo’s tights but the referee stops the count. Sami with an exploder suplex into the corner.

Sami goes for the Helluva Kick but Apollo goes for the cover while grabbing Sami’s tights and gets the pin.

Winner: Apollo Crews

After the match, Crews grabs Big E’s Intercontinental Championship as Big E stands up and takes the belt from him. Both men argue.

Contract Signing: Roman Reigns, Adam Pearce, Kevin Owens

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman make their way down to the ring. Out comes Adam Pearce with the contract. All four men are in the ring as Pearce sits down and places the contract on the table. Heyman pulls a chair out and Roman tells him he doesn’t want that chair, he wants Adam’s chair. Heyman speaks with Adam as Jey grabs the chair and gives it to Reigns.

Pearce sits on the other chair. Pearce signs the contract and slides it over to Roman. Heyman throws the pen away and pulls one out of his jacket. He gives the pen over to Roman who signs the contract. Pearce tells Roman he waited all night for him to do that. He stands up, grabs the contract and leaves the ring. Roman looks confused.

Adam grabs his leg and slowly begins to walk. He keeps grabbing his leg. He tells Roman his knee has been hurting him all day long. It’s one of those injuries that keeps showing up at the wrong time. He tells Roman that standard WWE contracts all say the same thing. Card subject to change. And as a WWE official, he reserves the right because at the Royal Rumble he might not be cleared. And he has a suitable replacement in mind.

Out comes Kevin Owens who signs the contract.