WWE Smackdown Results – Jan 1, 2021

LIVE WWE Smackdown Results – Jan 1, 2021 – We begin with a graphic In Memory of Jon Huber.

Tonight’s show begins with a look back at last week’s Steel Cage match for the Universal Championship, between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens.

— We are live from the ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Michael Cole welcomes us to Smackdown.

Roman Reigns’ music hits and The Head of The Table, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman make their way to the ring.

Roman says as the face of WWE, he wants to start off by saying Happy New Year.  As I thought about it, 2020 has been rough.  It was a tough year.  When you are the head of the table, when you are the tribal chief, you make it work.  Why do you think I wear the gold glove?  Everything I touch turns to greatness.  Look at who I associate myself with.  I saved Paul Heyman.  You are the most genuine, honest man I have done business with.  Then I take my cousin, Jey Uso.  He is a prime example of what I can do.  What did I say?  All you had to do was listen to me and understand why my brand works.  It has been the best year of your career?

Main event after main event.  Barnburner of a match after barnburner of a match.  It is all because he acknoweldged me as his tribal chief.  I did this because I know who you are.  I understood.  Since Day One.  To everyone else, it was ‘which one are you’.  You have always been ‘Main Event Uso’ to me.  I wouldn’t have put you in this if I didn’t know you could do it.  That is why I love you.

Kevin Owens interrupts the proclamation of the Table and Roman wants his music stopped.

Roman says we don’t want to hear it.  Nobody cares.  Nobody wants to see you or hear from you.  You are a roach that doesn’t want to go away.  You had your time in the sun. You experienced the Island of Relevancy and you got the media notice for a few weeks.  I gave you a good payday.  I hope you spent it on your family.  You are embarrassing me and my show.  Get out of here.  It ain’t about you.  Tonight, it is about my cousin and our family.  Get it through your thick head.  Go home.  This is Jey’s time.  Stop being selfish.

Kevin says him standing out here is embarrassing to you because me standing out here, despite you still being Universal Champion, means that you and your family failed.  What have you tried to do over the last few weeks?  You tried to take my career and end me.  Here I am.  You should be embarrassed that Jey Uos had to drag me off ladder after ladder at TLC and then cuff me to the cage last week to make sure you keep your title.  It makes it clear that the Big Dog is gone and he has been replaced by a big bitch.  You don’t want anything to do with me? I don’t want anything to do with you Roman.  I am here to fight your cousin.  After everything you have done over the last month, you will pay.  I am going back there and telling whoever I need to tell that I am going to fight Jey Uso.  Roman, when I am done with your cousin, your family will have nothing to celebrate. Owens drops the mic and heads to the back as his music starts up. Reigns, Uso and Heyman look on.

— We take a look at Big E winning the Intercontinental Title last week.

— Big E makes his way to the ring for his match against King Corbin, but first… We go to commercial.

Big E vs. King Baron Corbin

Back from the break and out comes King Corbin with The Knights of The Lone Wolf – Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler. Sami Zayn has joined Cole and Graves for commentary.

They lock up and Corbin with a side head lock and Corbin tries for a shoulder tackle, but Big E does not move.  Big E with a back elbow and he gets a near fall.  Big E with a Gator Roll for a near fall.  Big E with a yeah yeah yeah but Corbin with a kick and clothesline.  Corbin gets a near fall.  Corbin with elbows to the collarbone.  Big E with punches but Corbin with a punch and he sends Big E shoulder first into the ring post.  Corbin with forearms.  Corbin with a back elbow.

Corbin gets a near fall.  Corbin with a punch but Big E sends Corbin to the floor and Corbin with a knee to Big E from the apron.  Corbin misses Big E and Corbin with a Wacky Slide but Big E with a Big Ending and Sami breaks up the cover.

Winner:  Big E (by disqualification)

After the bell, Blake and Cutler hit the ring and attack Big E while he’s down. Big E fights them off but Sami attacks from behind. Big E is triple teamed now. Apollo Crews makes the save to a pop now. Cutler and Blake get sent to the floor. Crews dodges a Helluva Kick and then presses Sami high in the air, tossing him out of the ring onto Blake and Cutler. Crews and Big E stand tall together in the ring as we go to commercial.

Sami Zayn and King Corbin versus Apollo Crews and Big E

We are back and the match is joined in progress.

Crews with an Irish whip and drop kick for a near fall.  Corbin tags in and Crews with a shoulder from the apron but Corbin with a punch as Crews tries for a slingshot move.  Sami tags in and punches Crews.  Corbin sends Crews to the floor and Corbin forces Big E in to allow Cutler to attack Crews on the floor.  Sami tags back in and he sends Crews to the floor.  Sami wants to know why Cutler and Blake didn’t do anything and Sami sends Crews into the apron.  Sami gets back in before the ten count after arguing with Blake and Cuter.  Crews with a power slam to Zayn and both men are down. 

Corbin and Big E tag in and Big E with two overhead belly-to-belly suplexes and a standard belly-to-belly suplex.  Big E with a Warrior Splash and then he sets for the Big Ending.  Big E tries to get Corbin up but Corbin escapes.  Corbin with Deep Six for a near fall.  Sami argues with Blake and Cutler and Crews tags in and hits a drop kick.  Corbin with a punch and Zayn tags in.  Zayn sets for a Helluva Kick but Crews moves and Zayn stops short of Corbin. 

Corbin and Zayn argue and then Cutler and Blake get on the apron.  Sami wants things calmed down and then Corbin tells Blake and Cutler it is time for Final Jeopardy.  Crews with an enzuigiri and toss power bomb for the three count.

Winners:  Apollo Crews and Big E

Backstage:

Adam Pearce is on the phone and Kevin Owens shows up. Kevin tells Adam that he is here to fight Jey Uso.  It would be great if you can make a match so I can beat the hell out of him.  Adam wants to know what he can do.  He says he is taking orders from Roman and Paul. Kevin says this isn’t the same Adam Pearce he has known for 15 years he followed at the Philly Armory and Manhattan Center. Pearce says he cannot do it and he can give him a match against anyone but Jey Uso. Kevin says he will face Roman Reigns. Adam gives in and Kevin can have his match with Jey Uso. We go to commercial.

Backstage:

We are back and Big E and Apollo Crews talk in the back.  Big E says he appreciates the help.

Kayla Braxton ambushes Big E and Apollo and Big E is asked what can we expect.  He says he has had people from Rome to Rochester and Amandas and Nolans.  He is going to be like the 1967 Maple Leafs.  Big E says he will make an open challenge. Apollo Crews accepts the challenge and he says that it was a title helped Big E win, but you might not be as lucky without Apollo’s help.

Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan vs. Natalya and Tamina Snuka (with Billie Kay)

We go back to the ring and The Riott Squad is waiting – Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott. Billie Kay is out first for her team. She waits on the stage and out comes Tamina Snuka. However, Natalya’s music then hits and she comes out to join Snuka. Snuka and Natalya march to the ring together, annoyed by Kay, who follows them to ringside.

Natalya and Liv start things off and Natalya with a shoulder tackle.  Natalya blocks a hip toss and so does Liv.  Natalya blocks a bulldog but cannot avoid a rollup for a near fall.  Ruby tags in while Billie talks to Natalya and Tamina.  Liv and Ruby with a double drop kick and Tamina tags in.  Tamina swings and misses and tehn Ruby with a kick.  Tamina with an uppercut.  Ruby is sent into the corner and Ruby with forearms to Tamina and Natalya.  Ruby with a kick from the turnbuckles and she leaps over Tamina.  Liv knocks Natalya off the apron after tagging in.  Liv with forearms.  Ruby tags in and Ruby and Liv with a double STO for a near fall.  

Billie goes into Liv and Ruby’s corner and she is told to leave.  Liv tags in and Tamina pushes Liv away.  Tamina with a super kick to Ruby.  Tamina gets Liv up but Liv with a rollup for the three count.

Winners:  Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott

After the match, Morgan joins Riott at ringside as their music hits. Billie also starts celebrating as The Riott Squad looks on. They head to the back without her because she’s busy ranting and cheering on the ramp.

— We see how Charlotte Flair and RAW Women’s Champion Asuka retained the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles last week over Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair, and Carmella and Bayley.

— We go back to the ring and out first comes SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks. She poses on the apron as the pyro goes off. Back to commercial.

Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair vs. Bayley and Carmella

Back from the break and out next comes Bianca Belair to join Banks. Carmella is out next with her personal sommelier, Reginald. Bayley is out last, posing on the ramp as the pyro goes off. Belair starts off with Carmella. Carmella ducks a clothesline and goes behind but Belair drops her. They trade strikes and Belair overpowers, lifting Carmella by her arm. Carmella fights free and tags out. Bayley runs in but gets dropkicked by Belair.

Belair dodges an attack and dumps Bayley to the floor. Carmella runs in but gets sent to the apron. Belair kicks Carmella to the floor. Banks is legal now as she and Belair double team their opponents back to the floor. Banks brings Bayley back into the ring for a close 2 count. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Bayley drops Belair for a 2 count. Banks swings at Bayley from the apron and they have words. Bayley ties Belair up in the ropes and works her over as the referee warns her. Carmella tags in and takes over as they keep focusing on Belair’s arm. Bayley tags back in and rolls Belair for a 2 count. Bayley grounds Belair now as she tries to crawl for a tag. Fans try to rally for Belair now. Bayley goes for a suplex but Belair counters with a vertical suplex of her own.

Carmella immediately tags and stops Belair from tagging. Carmella then knocks Banks off the apron. Belair counters Carmella with a roll-up for 2. Carmella comes right back and superkicks Belair, then talks some trash in her face. Carmella grounds Belair again. Belair powers up from a slam but Carmella fights out. Banks still tags in and has words with Carmella. They go at it and Banks gets sent to the apron. She fights back with a knee to the face and runs Carmella’s face into the ring post. Banks mounts offense and hits the kick to the face in the corner. Banks with a running knee for a 2 count as Bayley breaks it up.

Belair runs in and tosses Bayley to the floor. Belair tosses her hair under the bottom rope to help Banks make the tag but Bayley stops her. Bayley gets sent into the ring post by Belair. Belair with a snap suplex on the floor. Carmella rolls Banks from behind for a 2 count. Carmella with a kick to the gut and then a superkick to the mouth. Banks dodges the Bronco Buster and rolls Carmella up, then applies the Bank Statement. Reginald grabs Carmella’s leg and pulls her to safety as fans boo.

Reginald enters the ring and has a staredown with Banks. He backs up and launches himself through the ropes to the floor, taunting Banks. He goes back to the apron and back-flips off as Banks reaches for him. Carmella comes from behind with a kick attempt but Banks catches it and drops her for a 2 count. Reginald comes back to the apron but gets punched off the apron by Banks. Carmella comes back and decks Banks, then drops her with a Mellabuster for the pin to win.

Winners: Carmella and Bayley

After the match, Carmella celebrates as the music hits. We go to replays. Carmella, Reginald and Bayley celebrate as Banks and Belair recover.

Backstage:

The announcers confirm Jey Uso vs. Kevin Owens for tonight. We go backstage to Uso, Roman Reigns, and Paul Heyman. They see the Uso vs. Owens graphic on the TV. Reigns isn’t happy the match was made because of all he’s done for the company, and says this means they don’t appreciate him. He tells Heyman to go and find out who doesn’t appreciate him. Heyman bows to Reigns and walks off.

– We go back to the ring and out come SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Street Profits – Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins. Back to commercial.

— We are back and Sonya Deville is in the back and she walks past a lot of people shocked that she is back. Corey mentions that Sonya has been reinstated.

In the Arena:

We go back to the ring and Montez sings that he is ready for the Street Profits’ New Year’s Day Smoketacular.

Angelo says 2020 has to go.  Montez says 2020 wasn’t all bad.  Who pulled off the Trifecta of winning teh Raw and Smackdown Tag Titles by beating the New Day at Survivor Series and winning two Slammys for Breakout Star and Tag Team of the Year.  Angelo says 2021 is going to be bigger and they have the big reveal.  We see the Street Profits drum set and Angelo plays.

Montez says it is time for the 2021 Predictions. Montez says not everyone has the skills to become high class fashion designers.  Their Intercontiental Champion shirt will go on sale and be the #1 selling shirt of 2021.  Montez says for years, Dolph Ziggler has been entertaining the masses and stealing the show.  He has been stealing the HBK style.  He will earn the nickname the Heartache Kid.

Suddenly, Robert Roode attacks Angelo and ZIggler with a super kick to Ford.  Ziggler with a super kick to Dawkins and then Ziggler punches Ford.  Roode grabs a chair and he hits Dawkins in the back and then Dawkins is sent over the ringside barrier.  Roode wrings the leg into the ring post and punches Ford.  Ziggler uses the chair on the leg.  Roode hits Ford in the leg again.  Dawkins gets back over the ringside barrier and checks on Ford as Ziggler and Roode back up wishing them a “Happy New Year”. Back to commercial.

— We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of what Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode did to The Street Profits.

Backstage:

Kayla Braxton ambushes Ziggler and Roode in the back.  She asks them about the vicious and unprovoked attack.  Dolph says they have been provoked for months and to be compared to that washed up HBK.  Roode says they have been treating this like fun and games.  You are holding something that belongs to us.  Dolph says if you want to see what champions look like, you are looking at them.  We want, we demand a rematch for our tag titles in 2021.  We will not stop until we get it.

— We see footage of Chad Gable, Otis, and Daniel Bryan in the ring to train for the Royal Rumble and he is going to use his hips. Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro show up.  Nakamura says it is histerical to think that Daniel Bryan will win the Royal Rumble match.

Otis and Daniel Bryan (with Chad Gable) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro

Cesaro and Bryan start things off and Cesaro with a side head lock.  Cesaro with a shoulder tackle for a near fall and Bryan bridges.  Nakamura tags in and he kicks Bryan and follows with a knee.  Nakamura with a snap mare into a side head lock.   Bryan with a waist lock.  Bryan is caught by Cesaro on the floor and then Cesaro with a pop up European uppercut.  Otis chases Cesaro as we go to commercial.

We are back and Nakamura kicks Bryan and sends him over the top rope (remember that if this was the Royal Rumble, Bryan would have been eliminated).  Cesaro with a slingshot elbow drop for a near fall.  Cesaro with a side head lock.  Cesaro with a spinning side slam for a near fall.  Bryan is sent over the top rope to the floor again and Nakamura tags in.  Nakamura with a running knee and he gets a near fall.  Nakamura puts Bryan on the turnbuckles and connects with a round kick to the temple.  Bryan sends Nakamura over the top rope (and if this was the Royal Rumble, then Nakamura would have been eliminated).  Bryan tags in Otis and Cesaro tags in.

Otis with clotheslines and a suplex.  Otis with a discus clothesline.  Otis with a splash and Cesaro with a cocoon drop as Otis hits the elbow drop after the Caterpillar.  Otis misses the Vader Bomb.  Nakamura tsgs in and he sets for a knee but Otis sends Nakamura into the air and face first into the mat.  Bryan tags in and he goes up top for a sunset flip for a near fall.  Bryan with a European uppercut and Bryan flips out of the corner and he runs into a thrust kick.  Nakamura rolls through into a cross arm breaker but Otis with a head butt to break it up.  Nakamura and Cesaro kick Otis to the floor.  Bryan with a flying knee to Cesaro to send him to the floor.

Nakamura with a rollup for a near fall but Bryan with the LeBell Lock and Nakamura taps out.

Winners:  Otis and Daniel Bryan

After the match, we get the Three Amigos salute.

— Roman Reigns is in his office and Paul Heyman tells Roman it was Adam Pearce who made this match.  Roman says that Adam doesn’t get it.  He is trying to take everything they have worked for.  Don’t let them.  Show him why you are the main event. 

— Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring as we go to commercial.

Jey Uso vs. Kevin Owens

Owens with a double leg take down and punches and elbows to Uso.  Uso with punches and Owens with more punches.  Owens with a kick and punch.  Owens with more kicks and he sends Uso into the turnbuckles.  Owens kicks Uso in the corner.  Uso goes tothe floor and Owens follows with a clothesline and back senton.  Owens gets a near fall.  Owens with a kick to the back of the leg and then to the chest.  Owens with another kick to the leg.  Owens continues to kick the leg.  Uso with a forearm and Owens fires back and Uso goes to the mat.  Owens with a splash onto the leg.  Owens slams the leg into the edge of the apron.

Owens kicks Uso in the leg again.  Owens with a punch in the corner followed by a kick.  Owens tells Uso his family is doing this to him.  Uso with punches.  Owens with kicks and Uso avoids a stunner and hits a super kick.  Owens goes to the floor and Uso follows.  Uso comes off the ring steps and Owens with a super kick and Uso is sent over the announce table.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Uso blocks a superplex attempt with punches.  Owens is sent ot the mat and Jey goes for a frog splash but lands on his feet and his knee gives out.  Owens with a stunner for the three count.

Winner:  Kevin Owens

After the match, Owens stands tall as his music hits. Owens calls Roman Reigns out and starts beating Uso up some more, dropping him with another Stunner. Owens keeps looking at the stage, trying to bait Reigns out here. Owens goes out and grabs Graves’ headset, telling Reigns to come take care of his family, and calling him a b—h. Owens grabs a pair of handcuffs from under the ring and brings them in, cuffing Uso to the top rope. Uso throws a fit and tries to get free but Owens superkicks him to the mat. Owens keeps stomping away on Uso, focusing on his hurt leg. Referee Charles Robinson tries to get him to stop but Owens only wants Reigns. Owens cuffs both of Uso’s arms now and brings him out of the ring, to the production area next to the stage.

Owens beats Uso up some more and then superkicks him. Owens is about to run and jump off a platform to put Uso through a table while cuffed, but Reigns meets him on the platform and cuts him off. Fans boo as Reigns beats Owens down. Owens fights back but Reigns keeps control. Uso joins Reigns now, up on a platform behind the first row of virtual fans. They send Owens up another level and unload on him with steel chairs while he’s down on the platform. Reigns and Uso continue trash talking Owens while he’s down. Usu holds Owens as Reigns delivers more chair shots. A “you suck!” chant starts up now. Owens keeps trying to fight back but now Uso is superkicking him. Reigns sends Owens into the LED boards, slamming his head into it a few times. Reigns pounds Owens with right hands now, continuing to destroy him.

Reigns grabs Owens from up high on the platform and launches him off, down below through the table that Owens was originally going to splash Uso through. Reigns stands tall and Uso looks down at Owens as a referee runs over to check on him. Owens is laid out in the debris down below as we go to a replay. The first SmackDown of 2021 goes off the air with Reigns looking down below at Owens, who is laid out.