WWE Smackdown Results – January 22, 2021 – Tonight’s show begins with a recap of both Adam Pearce “winning” the Gauntlet Match from two weeks ago and we see Paul Heyman getting Pearce to sign a No Disqualification Match followed by Kevin Owens inserting himself in the match in Pearce’s place.
We’re live from the ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Roman Reigns and his special counsel, Paul Heyman, make their way to the ring.
Roman is handed the mic and he stands around while the sound board chants that Roman sucks.
Roman says that KO said he would be delivering a message today? No he’s not. We are not going to see Kevin Owens tonight because I said so. Let’s talk about last week. Card subject to change. Real clever boys. A lot of people were making comments thinking they got one past us and outsmarted us. Let’s make this clear. That way of thinking is way beneath me. Card subject to change is how losers think. That is how people who are afraid to show up at work think.
It took his health being at risk in a pandemic to keep me out of this ring so I don’t want to hear that I have missed an appearance. What if I thought like Adam Pearce and was a puss like Adam Pearce. What if I said my elbow or shoulder hurt? I don’t think anyone would doubt me if I said my knees hurt. My neck hurts too. Roman says his ankles have been bad since college. Roman asks Paul what was he complaining about earlier. Roman says his back hurts because he has been carrying this damn company for years now. What if my back continues to hurt… until next week, until next Sunday. What if I cannot make it to the Royal Rumble because my back hurts.
Adam Pearce comes out to the ring and he says this has gone too far. This is spiraling out of control.
Roman says that Adam wants to talk about control. We know who is in control. What is out of control is that you would go against me. What is out of control is that you would do Kevin Owens a favor and put him back in the main event and the Universal Title picture. The fact that you favor him, that is out of control. Roman tells Adam he is Kevin Owens’ bitch so that means you are my bitch. You come out here and talk about how your body hurts and you haven’t been in a match in six years. You talk about how your body hurts, but you are standing next to the thorougbred of the WWE and I have done it week after week for 5 years. I never stopped because I busted my ass for this place. You are going to come out here and whine, moan, and complain. No wonder you never made it to the WWE.
Adam asks Paul if that is funny to him. He says he can take it from Roman but he is not going to take it from Paul. Roman tells Paul that Adam has disrespected you and that means he has disrespected Roman. Roman tells Paul to fix this.
Paul says that Adam has disrespected the Tribal Chief’s family. I have known them since I was 15. You think I am not capable and impotent as a man. You don’t think I can handle myself as a man. I will whoop your ass if you disrespect my tribal chief. Paul says he may not be a lawyer but he comes from a synagogue of them. Verbal contracts are binding in Florida so if you want it, Adam Pearce, one on one, versus Paul Heyman.
They shake hands and we have a match. Reigns steps up to Pearce and says, “At the end of the night, you’re going to get your ass kicked.”
— Sami Zayn is at ringside with his camera crew and he handcuffs himself to the ringside barrier in the aisle.
— Up next: Charlotte Flair and Asuka versus Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan. We go to commercial
— We are back and Sami says that he is officially in the Royal Rumble match but that is small compared to what happened to him last week. Sami mentions that he might have had his hand on Apollo’s tights but then Crews did the same and was not punished… Asuka’s music interrupts Sami’s speech!
Charlotte Flair and Asuka vs. Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan
We see Natalya and Tamina watching in the back.
Ruby and Charlotte start things off and they lock up. Charlotte with a side head lock. Asuka tags in and Charlotte with a snap mare and Asuka with a shoulder tackle. Charlotte tags in and she sends Ruby into the turnbuckles. Charlotte chokes Ruby in the corner. Ruby with a punch and Charlotte with a forearm as we return to watching on a monitor in the back. Charlotte with a hard Irish whip and Billie gets on the apron and it briefly distracts Charlotte but she elbows Ruby. Liv tags in and Charlotte sends Ruby to the floor. Charlotte grabs Billie by the hair and Liv with a drop kick on the apron. Liv with a cross body for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Charlotte kicks Liv in the corner. Charlotte goes for a slam but Liv gets to her feet and she hits a head scissors take down. Ruby tags in and connects with forearms. Ruby sends Charlotte face first into the turnbuckles and gets a near fall. Liv tags in and they hit a double slam for a near fall. Ruby and Liv kick Charlotte in the corner when Ruby tags in. Liv tags back in and Charlotte kicks Liv and hits Ruby with forearms. Charlotte with chops and she sends Ruby into the turnbuckles. Charlotte with a kick to Liv and a fallaway slam. Charlotte with a back breaker and she sends Liv into the turnbuckles. Asuka tags in and hits a sliding kick for a near fall. Liv takes care of Charlotte and Asuka but Asuka with an ankle lock and German suplex.
Liv with a rollup but Asuka with a forearm and she goes for the Asuka Lock but Ruby tags in and Ruby blocks a German suplex. Billie gets on the apron and Ruby has Asuka pinned but the referee was distracted. Liv pushes Ruby out of the way and Asuka with a hip attack to Liv on the apron. Asuka with a pop up knee and Charlotte tags in and Asuka with a Codebreaker followed by Natural Selection by Charlotte for the three count.
Winners: Asuka and Charlotte Flair
We are told that Sasha Banks will be taking on Carmella’s Reginald in a match later tonight, and Michael Cole will be calling the Obstacle Course Challenge between Bayley and Bianca Belair later tonight. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Billie Kay apologizes to Ruby and Liv for what happened. Ruby wants to know what Billie didn’t mean to do? She didn’t mean to cost them a shot at the tag titles. Liv says for someone who doesn’t mean it, you did it. Billie says great teams got over some obstacles. Billie says that Liv and Ruby are in the Royal Rumble match after talking to Sonya. Ruby tells Billie there is no US. Maybe the squad was much better when it was just them.
In the Arena:
Daniel Bryan makes his way to the ring and he stops to stare at the protester.
Daniel says a week from Sunday is one of the most iconic traditions in WWE, the Royal Rumble match. Even saying those words this time of year makes a chill go down his spine and the hairs on his arm raise. It is hard to explain why. It is the uncertainty of what number you are going to draw. It is watching the countdown. It is waiting for your music to play and you don’t know who is coming out next. It is the exhilieration of competing against 29 other superstars in a match that can go more than an hour. It is one of the most grueling things you can do in the WWE. It makes him feel alive.
It is worth it because the winner gets to face the champion of their choosing in the main event of Wrestlemania. Daniel says he is proud of his career and he has accomplished a lot, but he has never won a Royal Rumble match.
Cesaro interrupts and he says he thought he beat some sense into Daniel last week. You are talking about winning the Rumble. I could have explained the rules better and do it in 5 languages. You are not winning the Royal Rumble, I am. As the first Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner, I am an expert on that issue.
Daniel suggests putting the microphones down and they can fight now.
Cesaro tells Daniel NO. He says he is sick and tired of proving himself week after week doing the same thing over and over. Since you are not dressed for the occasion, I will make a challenge to anyone who is in the Royal Rumble match to come out and face him.
Dolph Ziggler’s music plays and he says we are talking about the Royal Rumble. He says he was in the second most Royal Rumbles ever. That can mean good or bad. I can go all night long with my stamina. Other than Robert Roode, there is no one who can go toe to toe with me other than you Cesaro. If you are talking about a challenge, I want to be in the Royal Rumble to get to Wrestlemania and get paid. Dolph Ziggler versus Cesaro is next. Back to commercial.
Dolph Ziggler versus Cesaro
Cesaro tries to get a cover and he applies a gutwrench but Ziggler blocks it. Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Cesaro gets a near fall. Ziggler with an elbow and a sleeper. Cesaro backs Ziggler into the corner to escape the hold and Cesaro with a running European uppercut in the corner. Cesaro with the Giant Swing and then lets Ziggler go and Cesaro gets a near fall. Ziggler struggles to get back to his feet and Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Cesaro with a back body drop and Ziggler holds on to get a near fall. They go back and forth with near falls on rollups. Ziggler with a Zig Zag.
Ziggler gets a near fall. Meanwhile, Sami has a new sign for his protest.
Ziggler returns to the sleeper but Cesaro is able to counter into a suplex attempt but Ziggler with a knee. Cesaro tries for a power bomb but Ziggler counters. Ziggler goes for a rana but Cesaro counters with a Gotch Style Neutralizer for the three count.
Winner: Cesaro
— We take a look at how we got Sasha Banks versus Reginald. Sasha Banks makes her way to the ring as we go to commercial.
Sasha Banks vs. Reginald
Reginald offers Sasha a rose but we see how that works in WWE (remember Angel Garza). Reginald asks for a kiss and Sasha tries to slap him but Reginald blocks it but Sasha has another hand and she slaps him. Reginald lands on his feet on an arm drag. Reginald with a waist lock and Sasha escapes. Reginald escapes a waist lock from Sasha. Reginald does a back flip off the apron when Sasha goes after him. Sasha with a baseball slide and then Sasha tries to send Reginald into the ring steps but he leaps off of them and does a flip. Reginald flips over Sasha and Sasha goes for a sunset flip but Reginald picks Sasha up and Sasha with a bulldog.
Sasha hurts her knee and Reginald with a cartwheel to escape. Sasha with an arm drag and then she is sent to the apron. Sasha with a knee and she goes for a cross body but Reginald catches Sasha. Sasha with a snap mare and Reginald goes to the floor. Sasha with Meteora off the apron and she knocks Carmella’s beverage out of her hand. Sasha with a lungblower but Reginald flips out of it. Sasha kicsk Reginald and Sasha with a double knee drop. Sasha with a satellite move into the Banks Statement and Reginald taps out.
Winner: Sasha Banks
After the match, Reginald is thrown over the top rope.
Backstage:
Roman Reigns is in his dressing room and Paul tells Roman he was brilliant and we got him. Paul says it was so clear. Roman says he passed Paul the mic to do what he does best. He wanted him to destroy Adam verbally, not to fight. He hired a man to be his special counsel. You represent me. What will happen to me if you don’t go out there and handle your business like a man. Roman tells Paul to be a man and handle his business. We go to commercial.
Big E versus Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Championship
Crews charges at Big E and Big E with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.. Big E with a splash on the apron. Crews with an elbow and boot to Big E. Crews with an enzuigiri and clothesline followed by a standing moonsault for a near fall. Crews with German suplexes and he holds on. Big E with an elbow and a UranagE for a near fall. Crews goes to the floor and Big E follows. Big E tells Crews he will never make that mistake again. Crews with a moonsault off the apron. They return to the ring and Crews goes up top.
Big E with a punch and he sets for a superplex but connects with some forearms first. Crews blocks the superplex. Crews with head butts and Big E falls to the mat.
We see Sami Zayn un-cuffing himself from the barrier. Crews leaps from the top at Big E. Sami runs in the ring and drops Crews with a Helluva Kick. The referee calls the match.
Winner: Apollo Crews (by disqualification)
After the bell, the referee yells at Sami but he turns and nails a Helluva Kick to Big E. Fans boo as Sami yells down at Big E and Crews while they’re laid out, saying he is what a champion looks like. Sami goes to his film crew and rants about how that is justice served, and he didn’t ask for this.
— Michael Cole tells us that Roman Reigns has left the Thunderdome, and then tells us that Kevin Owens was not allowed in the building.
In his car:
We go to Kevin Owens. He says he showed up to work and he was told he could not get into the building because Roman Reigns pulled some strings. That’s fine. Just know that there are no more strings to pull at the Royal Rumble. We will settle this once and for all. You have told me to stay away and stop fighting, but I cannot do that. You have yet to beat me like the champion you claim to be. You didn’t beat me, your family did. I cannot stop fighting because of my tattoos. He says he fights for his family but the tattoos on his knuckles mean it the most. They are for his grandparents. These men had his back all the way. They were his biggest fans. They were never happier than seeing him in the ring. His only regret is that they didn’t see him make it to the WWE. They are always with me. The mark will be with me forever. They fought illnesses that shoudl have shortened their lives but they fought. He was able to have many great years with them because they fought. That is why I cannot stop fighting. I will continue to fight and I will be the last man standing at the Royal Rumble.
We go to commercial.
— We are back and Michael and Corey talk about the Royal Rumble.
Backstage:
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins walk in the back and Angelo is holding a fruit basket. Sonya is talking to Dolph Ziggler and he walks away. Montez says the fruit basket is for her new job. Montez and Angelo bring up how they would like a rematch. Sonya says they were tag champions for 312 days and won two Slammys. You deserve a rematch. She says that Montez is recovering from his injury so she does not want him to get hurt again. She tells them to do their funny sketches in the back and let some new teams get title matches. When Ford is ready to go, they can have their rematch. Angelo gives Sonya her fruit basket.
— We see how we got to the Obstacle Course challenge. We see the course being set up as we go to commercial.
Obstacle Course Challenge:
Back from the break and Michael Cole is on the stage with a large tire. He’s here to host Bayley’s Ultimate Athlete Obstacle Course Challenge. Cole introduces Bianca Belair first, and out she comes. Bayley is out next. Cole is dismissed as Bayley takes over the mic.
Bayley goes over the course. The 400 pound tire is first, then hurdles, then military walls around ringside, with a rope on the last wall. Then she got some expert advice from Alpha Academy. Chad Gable is at ringside to put them through a fireman’s carry. After that, they must grab a basketball to put it through the hoop positioned back near the bottom of the ramp, and that will stop the timer.
Bayley is up first. The referee oversees things as Bayley starts off by flipping the tire. She then hops over the mini-hurdles at ringside. Bayley takes her time with the different-sized military walls but runs around them instead, cheating. She then scoops Gable on her shoulders after some guidance from Gable. She walks a few feet and drops him. Bayley then shoots the basketball and the timer stops at 1:12.
Belair is ready. Bayley stops her and calls on the crew to “EST” the course up. Crew members switch out some of the obstacles for harder versions and Bayley says this was all for Belair. She flips the tire and then leaps over normal-sized hurdles that were brought in. Belair leaps over the walls and then stops at Gable. Gable tells her to meet her next challenge. Otis appears from under the ring. Belair must carry Otis on her shoulders instead of Gable. Belair scoops him off the steel steps and runs with him, with ease. Belair grabs the basketball. Bayley tries to play defense but Belair shakes her and dunks the ball for a pop with 17 seconds to go. Belair is announced as the winner and Bayley isn’t happy. Belair’s music hits but Bayley turns back around and throws the ball at her. Bayley unloads at ringside now, beating Belair back down as fans boo her. Bayley sends Belair into the hoop and it falls over. Bayley walks up the ramp as the boos get louder. The referee checks on Belair.
— Rey Mysterio is talking strategy with Dominik but he says he has it and he is prepared. Rey tells Dominik he will do it his way this time but if it doesn’t work out tonight, they will do it his way. We go to commercial.
Dominik Mysterio vs. King Corbin
They lock up and Corbin sends Dominik into the corner and Dominik with shoulders. Mysterio with a drop kick and a body scissors take down. Dominik with a pescado that misses and Corbin with a clothesline and he sends Dominik back into the ring. Corbin gets a near fall. Corbin chokes Dominik in the ropes. Corbin punches Dominik in the midsection. Corbin with a hard Irish whip. Corbin goes for End of Days but Mysterio escapes and sends Corbin into the ropes. Corbin blocks a 619 and Corbin with a punch and End of Days for the three count.
Winner: King Corbin
— We see Paul Heyman walking in the back as we go to commercial.
Paul Heyman vs. Adam Pearce
Back from commercial and Adam Pearce is already in the ring. We see another recap of the contract signing between Reigns and Pearce.
Out next comes Paul Heyman, taping his fists and still wearing his suit. Heyman falls down at ringside and the referee checks on him. Heyman, still down on the ground, yells about card being subject to change. Pearce looks on from the ring. The music hits and out comes WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, with no title.
Reigns enters the ring and immediately drops Pearce with a Superman Punch as fans boo. Pearce is down on the floor now as Heyman yells at him. Reigns follows and goes for the steel steps but Pearce rocks him, angering Reigns. Pearce approaches but Reigns kicks him low, then tosses him over the barrier. Reigns sends Pearce face-first into the crowd LED boards now. Reigns beats Pearce through the LED crowd area now, like he and Jey Uso did with Kevin Owens a few weeks back.
Reigns grabs Pearce and throws him up another level into the crowd. A hooded man attacks Reigns from behind and it’s Owens. Fans cheer as Owens beats Reigns back to the barrier. Reigns sends Owens into a LED board. Reigns fights Owens back to the ramp area and launches him into the barrier. Reigns rolls Owens back into the ring but Owens superkicks him. Owens blocks a Superman Punch and levels Reigns with a big Stunner for a pop. Reigns is down as Owens yells at him and fans cheer him on.
Reigns rolls to the floor but Owens follows and sends him into the barrier again. Officials are trying to break the brawl up. Reigns ends up stumbling back to his feet but Owens nails another Stunner on the floor. Owens yells at Heyman and taunts him as Heyman watches. Owens then puts Reigns through the announce table with a big Pop-Up Powerbomb. Officials back Owens away as we see Reign flat on his back on what’s left of the announce table. Owens tries to grab half of the steel steps but officials stop him. Owens comes back to Reigns and stands over him, yelling at him about how he’s lucky he has the officials on his side, but they won’t be there for him at the pay-per-view. SmackDown goes off the air with Owens standing over Reigns, yelling at him.
Since 2001, WrestlingAttitude is your number one source for WWE wrestling news, rumors and results. Make sure to follow us on social media where you can get the latest news in real time! We are facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram at the following links:
WA on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wrestlingattitude/
WA on Facebook (Women’s Wrestling) – https://www.facebook.com/WrestlingDivas/
WA on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wa_wrestling
WA on Instagram (Women’s Wrestling) – https://www.instagram.com/wa_wrestlingattitude/
WA on Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/realbadrose/wrestling/
