WWE SmackDown Live Results (January 6, 2023) Sheamus and Drew McIntyre challenge the Usos, Sami and Roman share popcorn, Charlotte's first defense, and more

WWE SmackDown Results: Roman Reigns' Royal Rumble challenger confirmed; 2 title matches - Winners, Recap, Grades, and Highlights (January 6, 2023)

Follow along with Sportskeeda Monday for RAW, Tuesday for NXT, and next Friday for Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens on SmackDown. This is Matt Serocki, signing off!

The @WWEUsos retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles ☝️@WWERomanReigns @SamiZayn @HeymanHustle #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4FrOJCsyia
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023

Full Results for SmackDown for 6 January 2023.
Santos Escobar defeats Kofi Kingston by pin.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett defeat Madcap Moss and Emma by submission.
Charlotte Flair defeats Sonya Deville by submission.
Ricochet defeats Top Dolla by pin.
The Usos defeat Drew McIntyre and Sheamus by pin.

😂!!! https://t.co/KyAYmKBJiL pic.twitter.com/08Eh2U5Lok
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023

Drew rolls out of the ring and hits Jimmy with a headbutt. Solo then hits Drew with the Samoan Spike and a Swinging Solo behind the ref's back. That brings out Butch and Ridge Holland. Sheamus then hits a kick on Jey for a close call. He climbs to the top of the post and clubs both of the Usos. Sheamus tries to lift Jey up but he falls. Jey rolls Sheamus up and Jimmy "assists" the pin attempt by holding Jey's back up.
Result - The Usos defeat Sheamus and Drew McIntyre by pin.

Drew rushes Jey but hits the ring post. Sheamus tags in and goes for a powerbomb but Jimmy makes a blind tag. They hit a double superkick before hitting One and Done. Drew breaks up the pin. Backstage and Roman is actually eating popcorn.

Drew made it back to his corner so he's fine. Jey hits an Enzuguiri that sends Sheamus into his corner. Drew tags in and hits a Tope Con Giro on both of the Usos. McIntyre hits a Claymore on Jey but Jimmy breaks up the pin.

Drew and Sheamus hit dueling White Noise moves off the buckles. Sheamus gets a near fall off of his move. Drew looked like he hurt himself but it could just be me.

Sheamus has made his way back into the fracas, and he hits his however many chest clubs on Jey. Backstage, we see Sami, Paul, and Roman watching the match. Sami is eating popcorn and Roman looks confused. Back in the ring, Jimmy tags in and hits a splash for a near fall.

Jimmy and Jey continue to isolate Drew on their side of the ring. McIntyre tries to fight back but he is dropped off the apron. Jey hits him with a suicide dive as Drew walks around the outside area of the ring.

🚨 JUST ANNOUNCED:

Next week @SamiZayn takes on @FightOwensFight 1-on-1 on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/aukXEhottY
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2023

Drew decks Jey a few times. Jey tries to return a strike but Drew simply clotheslines him down. After hitting a move, Drew punches Jimmy on the apron. He turns around and Jey hits him with a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Jey hits a suplex on the Scottish Warrior before tagging Jimmy back into the match.

Sheamus and Jimmy Uso start off for their teams. Shamo makes a tag to Drew McIntyre, who lands a loud chop. Jimmy hits a punch but Drew hits a belly-to-belly toss. Jey then tags in.

"I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry @SamiZayn."@WWERomanReigns #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/R2n4XRiWbI
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023

#HitRow takes out @KingRicochet!@AJFrancis410 @tehutimiles @TheVibeBri #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/7MJp2DpFCQ
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023

Reigns adds that KO was right because he's mad at Owens and not at Sami. Heyman says that Sami will face Owens next week on SmackDown. Sami says that he will take care of Owens for Roman next week. Sami then says he needs to get out for the main event, but Roman stops him and invites him to watch it in the locker room.

Before the main event, Roman and Sami hash things out with Sami apologizing to The Tribal Chief for anything he may have done to make things wrong. Roman says he doesn't accept Sami's apology and that he holds himself to a higher standard. Roman then says he should be the one who apologizes for the way he yelled at him in front of the world.

After the Strowman save, we head to the Bloodline's locker room. Solo and the Usos are pumping themselves up. They leave and Roman tells Paul Heyman to bring him Sami Zayn.

Hit Row gets in the ring after the match. Dolla holds up his hand in a show of sportsmanship but Adonis and B-Fab both kick Ricochet. Adonis mounts him and lands some strikes. They hit some tandem move before mocking him. Braun Strowman's music hits and he clears the ring of Hit Row.

Top Dolla goes for a flashy Rock Bottom type move but Ricochet kicks him in the head. He lands a reverse Sliced Bread move before heading to the top. He hits a Shooting Star Press to pick up the win.
Result - Ricochet defeats Top Dolla by pin.

Top Dolla rushes Ricochet right off the bat. He grabs him off the top rope and slams him. He certainly has more of an edge. Also weird how Kofi "qualifies" for the Rumble but this is a qualifying match.

Before the Top Dolla/Ricochet match starts, we get another Lacey Evans vignette where she actually steps into the ring. It looks like she'll be using the Cobra Clutch as a move.

As Ricochet makes his entrance, Michael Cole calls Top Dolla the star that "gravity remembered" making a reference to the former nickname for Pac aka Neville.

Queen Ish! 👑@MsCharlotteWWE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/2HW79MeJc7
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023

There's no follow-up with Rousey after last week. Strange. We then cut to the WWE return of Cody Rhodes.

Deville rolls back in the ring but gets hit with a Spear before tapping out to the Figure 8.
Result - Charlotte Flair defeats Sonya Deville by submission.

Sonya apparently attacked Flair's leg during the break and she gets a near fall by doing the same. She locks Flair in a headlock. Flair busts out of it and hits a few strikes on Deville. She adds a few chops and hits a weird-looking handstand clothesline. Sonya then rolls out of the ring.

Sonya blindsides Charlotte before the bell but Flair hits a big boot before the show heads off for some commercials.

Flair is interrupted by doormat Sonya Deville. Deville says an asterisk should be next to #14 because she beat a half-dead Ronda Rousey. She also called those in Memphis "hillbillies" before the crowd called her a bad word. Deville challenges her so Flair can beat her. Flair asks the crowd if she should put her title on the line and she accepts it before calling Sonya the bad word. It's still not the same as last week because Flair hasn't wrestled a match already. Trying to draw parallels that aren't there . . .

She adds that she's always been about passion, consistency, and dedication. She's also "not complacent" but you can't be complacent when you're always in the title picture. Flair adds that a Champion rises to every occasion and that she's done it 14 times.

Charlotte asks if Memphis "missed their Queen" and "that payback is a b**ch." Some in attendance "Woo" and Flair says if you like to hate me or hate to like me or whatever. Nothing new.

Before the next match, we see how Drew McIntyre and Sheamus went to a bar across from the arena in Memphis. They keep slapping each other on the chest as if trying to one-up each other. They hype themselves up and get everyone in the bar to say "banger after banger" to end the segment.

TICK TOCK! @reymysterio @realKILLERkross @Lady_Scarlett13 #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/0AS07QVyNd
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 7, 2023

Scarlett looked pretty good for her in-ring debut. Hit some impressive throws that a "newbie" wouldn't usually do. Almost had a wardrobe issue and didn't get announced as a part of the winning team though.

Does @RealLAKnight feel good? YEAH!

He's showing no fear as his @MountainDew Pitch Black Match against #BrayWyatt at #RoyalRumble creeps closer.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GxEd5Qv9YU
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2023

The ring announcer didn't even mention Scarlett in the decision "And Your Winner . . . Karrion Kross." After the match, they sit Moss up and put Rey Mysterio's mask over Madcap's head. Kross then looks into the camera and warns Rey Mysterio.

Emma hits a throw and a kick to Scarlett's face. She pins Scarlett, but Karrion Kross comes in and pulls her off of Scarlett. Emma slaps Karrion but Madcap makes the save. He hits a shoulder block in the corner but is tripped after Scarlett grabs his leg. Emma tries to cut Scarlett off but she sends Emma into the ring post and announce table. Madcap tries to fight back but Kross hits a forearm to the back of Madcap's head. He locks in the Kross Jacket to pick up the win.
Result - Karrion Kross and Scarlett defeat Emma and Madcap Moss by submission.

For some strange reason, the match started during the commercial break. Madcap and Karrion are in the ring with Moss recovering to drop Kross. Both women tag in with Emma hitting a Thesz Press. She sends Scarlett head-first into buckles. Emma adds a strike in the corner and and Emma Sandwich for a near fall. Emma goes for a move but Scarlett counters out. She hits a side Northern Lights Suplex for a two-count.

Up next is the in-ring WWE debut for Scarlett as she and Karrion Kross take on Madcap Moss and Emma.

Up next, we get a brief recap of what went down last week between Bray Wyatt, LA Knight, and Uncle Howdy. Knight references "Walking In Memphis" but not because anyone wants to be in Memphis. He claims that all he'll have to do is walk into the Royal Rumble and kick around the remains of Wyatt. "When the lights go down, Bray Wyatt's lights go out," says Knight.

Backstage, Liv Morgan talks about the Royal Rumble and how she's entering the Royal Rumble. She says she wants to enter first and beat the tar out of everyone that comes out after her.

IT'S OFFICIAL! 🙌@WWERomanReigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against @FightOwensFight at #RoyalRumble! pic.twitter.com/rjGpdfquoh
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2023

He's still got it!

Is @TrueKofi giving us a little preview of what's to come at #RoyalRumble?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/z55fqmLiP6
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2023

After the first match of the night, Michael Cole announces Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns for the Royal Rumble. Backstage, we see Paul Heyman answering the Bloodline door. Sami pleads with Heyman that he's not trying to be The Tribal Chief. Heyman prevents Sami from walking in but lets the Usos enter. Heyman says that he still loves Sami before entering the locker room of the Bloodline.

Santos catches Kofi jumping but Kofi hits a pop-up stomp for a close call. Kingston hit the Boom Drop but goes to the corner of LEgado. Cruz gets up on the apron so Joaquin can distract him. Zelina cuts Xavier Woods off so he cannot intervene. In the ring, Santos hits a kick and then the Phantom Driver on Kofi to pick up the big win.
Result - Santos Escobar defeats Kofi Kingston by pin.

Kingston gets a near fall off a roll-up. He chops Escobar but misses a strike. Santos punches him in the gut. Kofi hits the SOS for a near fall. Kofi goes to the top but is met by Santos. Kofi drops Santos off the buckle with a headbutt but Escobar lands a knee as Kofi flies off the top buckle.

Off the commercial, Santos Escobar hits running double knees in the corner on Kofi. Kofi recovers and hits a dropkick off the middle buckle. Kofi decks Santos but he jumps to the steps instead of hitting both feet on the floor. Xavier stuns him by playing the trombone. Santos heads back into the ring, landing an Enzuguiri.

Santos lands a few punches early on but Kofi hits a Hurricanrana. He decks Kofi and tries to dropkick him off the apron, but Kofi makes a Royal Rumble-type save by making it to the steel steps without hitting the floor. Kofi then tosses Kofi over the top as if they were in the Rumble match.

.@FightOwensFight antagonizing @WWERomanReigns and #TheBloodline with a smile on his face. 😏#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/y8qvIjKVba
— WWE (@WWE) January 7, 2023