WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
January 29, 2021
St. Petersburg, Florida (Tropicana Field)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE SmackDown kicks off with Daniel Bryan already in the ring. He welcomes everyone to the show and to the Royal Rumble weekend. He says now that we are getting close, he can feel the excitement starting to boil inside of him. He says he has accomplished a lot but there’s one accomplishment he hasn’t done and that is winning the Royal Rumble match. Bryan says winning means being able to fight either the WWE or Universal Champion in the main event of WrestleMania. And nobody knows more about how life changing that is than he does.
Bryan says for him to climb that mountain one more time involved him going through 29 other men and winning the Rumble match. Bryan says the honest truth is he doesn’t know how many WrestleMania moments he has left. But he knows that if he wants to accomplish his dream one more time, it involves going to the main event of WrestleMania, then he has to win the Royal Rumble match. And thanks to Chad Gable and Otis, the Alpha Academy, he is ready. Whether he is number 1 or 30, he is ready for anything. It’s every man for himself. Bryan says you will see best friends use ever fiber in their being to throw each other over the top rope. You will see bitter enemies working together.
Out comes AJ Styles from Raw. He says and you will see AJ Styles throw 29 other men over the top rope and go on to WrestleMania. Bryan says he knows both brands are competing in the Royal Rumble match but this is SmackDown and AJ is a Raw superstar. While he’s glad to see him, he asks AJ what he’s doing here. AJ says this is the house that AJ Styles built. It’s really simple. Omos says every quarter any superstar from any brand can go over as he pleases. Styles says it’s not a secret, he should know that he’s the gatekeeper for Raw.
AJ says ever since he declared himself being in the Rumble, every superstar tried following in his footsteps. But they had to go through him first and he crushed their hopes and their dreams. And speaking of dreams, Bryan doesn’t look ready as he has his sports coat on. AJ asks Bryan if he’s GM again. It’s almost like he has one foot out the door. Bryan says he doesn’t have one foot out the door of anything and if he wants, he’ll prove it to him. Bryan challenges him to a match tonight. AJ says he has been getting ready for the Rumble beating everyone on Raw and he’d love to get one more warm up tonight against him. AJ pushes Bryan down. Bryan looks up and it’s Omos standing in front of him.
Bryan tells AJ if he was a man, he’d come out for their match tonight without Omos. He tells AJ with or without Omos, he’s still going to kick his ass.
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Bayley. She asks her about last week but Bayley cuts her off. She said she threw Bianca into the steel basketball hoop. She says she’s proud of Bianca after watching her Chronicle. But Bianca ran away from all of her problems for over half of her life. Ding dong, this is the biggest problem she will ever have and she won’t win the Rumble and won’t win tonight. After she beats her again, she can crawl into the dark-est hole of her life.
-Commercial Break-
Bianca Belair vs. Bayley
The bell rings and we are under way. An arm bar by Bayley but Bianca reverses it into a body slam. Bayley back up and she goes for another arm bar but Bianca reverses it into a suplex. She goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Bayley back up. Bayley with a kick to the leg as she slams Bianca down onto the mat. She runs to the ropes and a clothesline. She goes for the cover but Bianca kicks out. Both women up and Bayley once more goes after Bianca’s left arm.
Bayley grabs Bianca by the hair but Bianca with a right hand. Bianca stomping on Bayley but Bayley grabs the ropes. Belair with the drop kick onto Bayley followed by a standing moon sault. She goes for the cover but Bayley gets her foot on the ropes.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Bianca lifts Bayley up and slams her face first onto the mat. She goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Bianca spears Bayley in the corner. She goes for another spear but Bayley gets her knees up. Bayley on the top rope as she grabs Bianca’s arm and slams it onto the mat. She goes for the cover but Bianca kicks out. Bayley with a knee to the face. She goes for the cover but Bianca kicks out. Bayley on the top rope and she lands an elbow drop. She goes for the cover but Bianca kicks out. Bayley goes for another cover but Bianca reverses it into a cover of her own as Bayley kicks out. Bianca lifts Bayley up and she lands the Kiss of Death. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Out comes Kayla who asks her about her win. Bianca says Bayley has been trying to get her to apologize for being herself but that’ll never happen. Bayley is not her role model but she was a Women’s champion for so over a year and this is the biggest win of her career. The only thing that can top beating Bayley is winning the Royal Rumble match.
We cut to the back as we see AJ Styles, Omos and Cesaro all talking.
Baron Corbin makes his way down to the ring but Dominik Mysterio attacks him from behind.
-Commercial Break-
Dominik Mysterio vs. Baron Corbin
The bell rings and we are under way. Rey is on commentary. Dominik attacks Corbin and Corbin to the outside. Corbin gets back in the ring and Dominik is slammed into the mat. A back drop by Corbin followed by a right hand. Corbin with another right hand and a splash into the corner. Corbin runs towards Dominik but Dominik moves out of the way and Corbin shoulder first into the ring post.
Dominik with a drop kick off the second rope. Dominik goes for the cover but Corbin kicks out. Right hands by Dominik but Corbin with a right hand. Dominik trips Corbin up. He goes for the 619 but Corbin catches him. Dominik runs to the ropes, Corbin picks him up but Dominik throws Corbin into the turnbuckle. Dominik runs towards Corbin but a back drop as Dominik lands on the ropes. Dominik is thrown to the ropes but an acrobatic DDT by Dominik. He goes for the cover but Corbin kicks out.
Corbin on the ring apron, Dominik goes for a jump kick but Corbin ducks. Corbin gets back in the ring and lands the End of Days. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Rey Mysterio gets on the ring apron as Corbin grabs him but Rey pushes him into the ring post. Rey checks on Dominik on the outside.
Big E is backstage with Sonya. He tries to bribe her with a 1$ bill to find out his Royal Rumble number. In come Miz and Morrison. They ask about Pearce as she says he’s on a leave. Big E asks them why they brought they’re on SmackDown. Miz says Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns have a Last Man Standing match at the Royal Rumble and tonight things could get interesting as he holds up his Money in the Bank briefcase. Sonya says she has Rumble stuff to take care of and leaves. Big E says he has Rumble stuff too as Miz makes a joke about Big E. Morrison attacks Big E as a fight breaks out. WWE officials break it up.
-Commercial Break-
Sasha Banks is backstage and in comes Reginald with a bottle Merlot. He says it’s a bottle from Carmella. Sasha tries to seduce him as she asks him what the best bottle of wine is for her to drink when Carmella gets crushed. She gives Reginald back the bottle and tells him he could use a drink as she walks away.
-Commercial Break-
Shinsuke Nakamura is walking backstage as Sami Zayn stops him. Sami tells him isn’t it suspitious that there are guys from Raw here. He asks him about Cesaro but Nakamura doesn’t answer. Sami tells him that he has done al ot for him, he was his liberator, if he’s being honest, he feels like Nakamura should help him. He needs help getting the Intercontinental Championship match. Everyone is out to get him. But this would benefit Nakamura too because Cesaro is on his own and as is he. And everything good Nakamura ever did in WWE was because of him. He asks Nakamura if he can count on him. Nakamura says he appreciates everything but to go to hell.
Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns are sitting in separate rooms. Kevin says as far as he is concerned, he already beat Roman twice. He just made sure he had his family members to make sure he didn’t walk out as Champion and he might have family members at the Rumble too. But there’s nothing he or his family members can do to keep him down in a Last Man Standing match.
Heyman says Kevin will not speak of his Tribal Chief that way. He won’t address the best of the best that way. The head of the table that way. He will speak to and of Roman Reigns with reverence and respect. Owens ask Roman if he’s going to let Heyman rehash things he said about other people. Roman says he’s trying to understand Owens. He wants to ask Owens a few questions. What kind of man is his father? Owens says his father is a great man and to watch where he is going. Roman asks if he’s a smart man. Owens says he’s a very smart man and if he were one too, he’s going to accept his warning. Roman says he’s just trying to get to know him, understand what he doesn’t understand.
Roman says Owens can’t see his limitations because his father didn’t teach him. Owens isn’t supposed to be here, he’s not a Knight, a Bishop or Queen. He’s a pawn. He’s simple. Roman is the king of this board, everything revolves around him and Kevin still doesn’t understand this. Owens is inferior, he will never be Universal Champion and at the Rumble, it’s not Kevin’s fault. He doesn’t blame him, he should blame his family for the fact that he thinks he has a chance. And he’s a fool. And if he’s a fool, his father is a fool. And if his father is a fool, that means his grandfather is a fool. Owens tells him he knows what he is trying to do.
Owens says his father and grandfather are very important to him and that’s why he has their tattoos. And he tells him to think about what he will say because on Sunday, they’re going to be in the same thing. Roman says he still doesn’t understand. Roman says maybe one day when he meets his grandfathers again, maybe they’ll make him understand what a disgrace he is to the family. Why could he not acknowledge him as their tribal chief. Owens tells him that the only thing his father or grandfathers would want to acknowledge him as is a delusional jackass. He comes to SmackDown every week with yes men and he puts on this fake performance while trying to hide the fact that he’s a bully.
Kevin says when he looks in the mirror, he sees someone that his family is proud of. And after the Rumble, he will be the Universal Champion. Owens removes his microphone and walks away.
-Commercial Break-
AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan
The bell rings and we are under way. Cesaro is on commentary. A head lock take down by Styles but Bryan with an arm bar. Styles makes it to the ropes. Bryan with a drop toe hold followed by a kick to the arm. Bryan with a modified arm bar but AJ gets him in the corner. Right hands by AJ. He sends Bryan to the ropes but Bryan with a kick to the face. He goes for the cover but AJ kicks out. Both men back up and Bryan with a chop to the chest. He sends AJ to the ropes but a knee to the body by AJ takes Bryan down.
AJ goes for a suplex but Bryan reverses it into an underhook suplex. Out comes Sami Zayn as his music plays. Bryan on the top rope but Styles knocks him down to the outside. Styles throws Bryan into the ring steps.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, AJ goes for a splash in the corner but Bryan moves out of the way. Bryan runs to the ropes and a clothesline takes Styles down. Bryan with the Yes kicks in the corner. He places Styles on the top rope and a hurricanrana by Bryan. He goes for the cover but AJ kicks out. Sami starts to protest in front of Michael Cole, Cesaro and Corey Graves.
Back in the ring, a drag leg sweep by Styles taking Bryan down. AJ with a kick to the head and a kick to Bryan’s thigh. AJ with the calf crusher in the middle of the ring but Bryan reaches the ropes. AJ gets Bryan in the corner but a kick by Bryan takes AJ down. AJ thrown onto the ring apron. AJ goes for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bryan catches him into a butterfly suplex. Bryan with the Yes lock but AJ gets his foot on the rope.
Big E’s music hits and out comes Big E as he walks towards Sami Zayn on the outside. Sami keeps protesting as he holds up a sign saying Big E is not his Intercontinental Champion. Big E with a clothesline. He throws Sami towards Cesaro as Cesaro moves out of the way. Cesaro and Big E push each other and Cesaro with a big boot. Bryan with a suicide dive onto all three men on the outside. AJ throws Bryan back in the ring. In comes Sami who attacks Bryan.
Winner: By disqualification, Daniel Bryan
Cesaro and Big E fight to the ring. Out comes Shinsuke Nakamura. He knocks Zayn and Styles down. He and Cesaro are face to face. Sami pushes Nakamura into Cesaro. All six men fight.
-Commercial Break-
Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura and Big E vs. Sami Zayn, Cesaro and AJ Styles
Nakamura with a release German suplex on Cesaro. He goes for the cover but Cesaro kicks out. Big E is tagged in and a right hand onto Cesaro but Cesaro with a right hand of his own. Sami is tagged in. They double team Big E. Sami runs to the ropes but an elbow by Big E. He goes for the cover but Sami kicks out. Bryan is tagged in. They double team Sami in the corner. An uppercut by Bryan and Big E is tagged back in. He goes for the cover but Sami kicks out. An arm bar by Big E and Bryan is tagged back in.
Both men double team Sami. He sends Sami to the ropes but Sami with a kick to the face as he attacks Bryan’s knee. AJ is tagged in. He goes to the outside and slams Bryan’s leg into the ring post.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, AK is tagged in and he attacks Bryan’s left leg. Sami is tagged back in. Sami throws Bryan into the corner and places him on the top rope. Sami goes for a superplex but Bryan blocks it and knocks Sami down. Bryan with a drop kick off the top rope. Cesaro is tagged in and as is Big E. A belly to belly by Big E onto Cesaro. AJ gets in the ring and a belly to belly onto him. Another belly to belly on Cesaro. He runs to the ropes but Cesaro with a corkscrew uppercut. He goes for the cover but Big E kicks out.
Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer but Big E blocks it. Big E slams Cesaro onto the mat. He goes for the cover but Cesaro kicks out. The Miz’s music hits and out he comes with John Morrison. They attack Nakamura on the outside as the referee calls for the bell. They double team Big E in the ring.
Winners: Daniel Bryan, Big E and Shinsuke Nakamura
Out comes Otis who knocks both Miz and Morrison out. Otis with a clothesline onto Morrison. A splash onto The Miz. Otis goes for the caterpillar and lands it.
-Commercial Break-
Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big E and Otis vs. Sami Zayn, Cesaro, AJ Styles, Miz and Morrison
Back from commercial, Miz slams Bryan’s knee onto the announce table. He throws Bryan back into the ring and gets a figure four leg lock. Right hands by Bryan as he fights out of it. Sami is tagged in as he hits Bryan with the Blue Thunder Bomb. He goes for the cover but Sami kicks out. Cesaro is tagged in. An elbow drop. He goes for the cover but again Bryan kicks out. Cesaro with a jumping vertical suplex. He goes for the cover but again Bryan kicks out.
Morrison with right hands onto Bryan. Miz is tagged in. They double team Bryan. AJ Styles is tagged in. A right hand by Bryan but Styles with a kick. He slams Bryan into the corner. Bryan is sent to the ropes and a double cross body and both men are down. Miz, Cesaro and Morrison attack Nakamura, Big E and Otis. Sami is tagged in. Out comes Sheamus. He gets on the ring apron, Bryan with a kick and Sheamus is tagged in.
Sheamus knocks Sami down. He cleans house. Sheamus with an Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus with the cloverleaf but Morrison with a kick breaks it up. Otis throws Morrison down. Cesaro stomps on Otis. Big E with the Big Ending on Cesaro. Miz with the Skull Crushing Finale onto Cesaro. Nakamura takes out Miz. Sami with the Blue Thunder Bomb on Nakamura. Sami goes for the Helluva Kick but Sheamus with the Brogue Kick. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: Sheamus, Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big E and Otis
Styles and Miz attack Sheamus and out comes Braun Strowman. He cleans house knocking everyone out.