WWE SmackDown Results, Live Updates, Highlights & Commentary online from Friday Night SmackDown (8th January 2021)

WWE SmackDown Results January 8th, 2021: Latest Friday Night SmackDown Winners, Grades, Video Highlights

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Well, this is disappointing. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hnO5QWiNZK
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

Shinsuke Nakamura. That's it. That's the tweet.#SmackDown
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

Roman puts his hand around Pearce's shoulder and says that this has always been his show. He demands Pearce pin Nakamura. Uso hits him with a superkick as soon as he gets in the ring. Reigns demands the bell to be rung, then drapes Pearce over Shinsuke Nakamura's unconscious body. The referee is forced to count the pin.

Adam Pearce defeats Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall.

Adam Pearce is the new #1 contender for Roman Reigns.

Jey Uso and Roman Reigns attack Shinsuke Nakamura before Adam Pearce can get in the ring. It's' a two-on-one mauling as Pearce stares on horrified. A superkick/superman punch combination lays out Nakamura. An Uso Splash connects, finishing the job.

Michael Cole just said Adam Pearce wasn't good enough to make it in WWE...what a jerk?

Roman Reigns' music hits, and he and his entourage stare Nakamura down as Adam Pearce comes out. Pearce does not want to be here at all, obviously.

Respect.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/62aycltXw2
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

😱😱😱@ShinsukeN eliminates @WWEDanielBryan! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/6TQAsf771Y
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

What a performance by @ShinsukeN on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/LxXYlu40Mx
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

The two hard hitting strikers batter one another with kicks and punches. The fresher Bryan is able to take Nakamura into the corner. A roundhouse leaves Nakamura dazed sitting in the corner. As he rises, he's met with Bryan's flying boots.

A third one, though, is countered with yet another Kinshasa! Nakamura has knocked out three top competitors back-to-back-to-back!

Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Daniel Bryan via pinfall.

Several body shots hammer Bryan, and Nakamura goes for the arm breaker again. Bryan counters with a pin, but can't get the win.

Nakamura ducks a final Yes Kick and brings Bryan over for another cross arm breaker. Bryan counters and tries to lock on in for himself. Nakamura blocks, but can't stop Bryan from transitioning into the Yes Lock. From close to the middle of the ring, Nakamura's long legs make it to the ropes.

Bryan snaps Nakamura's arm with several over the shoulder arm breakers. Nakamura blocks the avalanche rana, though, and follows up with his Bret's Rope flying knee. Bryan kicks out at two.

The inverse exploder connects, planting Bryan on his face. Bryan ducks the Kinshasa, locking in a Single Leg Boston Crab. Nakamura, in the middle of the ring, does his best to crawl to the ropes. Bryan turns it into an ankle lock before transitioning to a German suplex with the bridge!

Nakamura just barely breaks away.

Daniel Bryan doesn't give Shinsuke Nakamura a chance, rushing him with a frenzy of offense. Nakamura is hammered with a suicide dive on the door. Inside, Bryan moves up top, but the dropkick is countered by a kick to the midsection.

THAT'S 2! @ShinsukeN eliminates King @BaronCorbinWWE and moves on in the Gauntlet Match. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/hpe6YqMPdf
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

That's one way to break the hold. 😮#SmackDown #GauntletMatch @BaronCorbinWWE pic.twitter.com/zTlyxrbfRH
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Like earlier in this gauntlet match, Nakamurau tries to force a submission. Corbin counters a triangle choke, though, with a powerbomb. Nakamura quickly recovers, and as Corbin goes for the post rounding clothesline, he's laid out by a Kinshasa.

Shinsuke Nakamura eliminates King Corbin via pinfall.

Nakamura's next opponent? Daniel Bryan.

CAUGHT!#SmackDown #ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/av5AR0UkXp
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Corbin is able to counter the Kinshasa into a Deep Six, with Shinsuke Nakamura just barely kicking out.

Shinsuke blasts Corbin with a running boot and pelts him with a series of knees and kicks. The King of Strong Style rocks him with a flying knee off the second rope for a two-count.

A rebounding clothesline nearly ends Shinsuke Nakamura's run. Corbin follows up with a series of body shots in the corner. A shoulder tackle in the corner, though, misses and Corbin hits the ring post. Nakamura follows up with his heel kick.

Corbin takes back over when he drives Nakamura spine first into the post.

Completely uncalled for, #King @BaronCorbinWWE. #SmackDown @reymysterio pic.twitter.com/7M0cIlbgb9
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

.@reymysterio has to tap! @ShinsukeN advances to take on #King @BaronCorbinWWE! #SmackDown #GauntletMatch pic.twitter.com/9bh3aP21TM
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

It's @ShinsukeN vs. @reymysterio in this Gauntlet Match to determine the next challenger for @WWERomanReigns's #UniversalTitle! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8O9hFtywvZ
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

KNEE. 2. FACE. 😱#SmackDown @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/GJUQDcIFyE
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Immediately after the pinfall, King Corbin rushes to the ring, attacking Domminik, Shinsuke, and Rey.

After a leaping straight kick to the jaw, Nakamura takes Mysterio up top. Mysterio sends Nakamura to the mat and follows up with a seated senton. A victory roll earns the legendary Luchador a two-count.

Mysterio lands on the apron and fights off The Artist. A springboard is blocked, but Mysterio turns a powerbomb into a hurricanrana. Nakamura lands on the ropes for the 619. However, the Frog Splash is blocked.

Nakamura locks in a cross armbreaker, forcing Mysterio to tap.

Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Rey Mysterio via submission.

Rey and Nakamura trade strikes, but Mysterio picks up the pace with a hurricanrana sending Nakamura to the floor. The former US Champ blocks a baseball slide, spinning Rey around for a knee. Rey avoids a second one and hits a sliding sunset bomb.

Nakamura rolls through and blasts Mysterio with a running knee. In the ring, Mysterio barely escapes the pin.

.@SamiZayn's speech lasted longer than his time in the actual Gauntlet Match. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/T5hL74JkiT
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

Dear @SamiZayn,

We have a match to start. Could you hurry it up? pic.twitter.com/AoyJQVltO3
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

Sami Zayn says that he's undeniable and will be the man to challenge Roman Reigns. He's got two unbiased documentarians with him to catalog his rise to the Universal Championship.

Unfortunately, Rey is able to easily eliminate Zayn with a 619 and Frog Splash combination.

Rey Mysterio eliminates Sami Zayn via pinfall.

The next competitor, The King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura.

It's time for the Gauntlet Match, and Rey Mysterio and Sami Zayn kick this match off. It's the Ultimate Underdog vs The Underdog from the Underground.

Billie Kay, after crying and moping, convinces The Riott Squad to let her join them. They're officially a trio again, whether they want to be or not.

Billie Kay is great.

🚨 🚨 🚨

"I pulled a few strings... You're in the Gauntlet Match." - @HeymanHustle #SmackDown @ScrapDaddyAP pic.twitter.com/EIWhF2tTcZ
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

The Dirty Dawgs did it!

AND NEWWW #SmackDown Tag Team Champions: @HEELZiggler & @RealRobertRoode. pic.twitter.com/hUh0XCUWc6
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

Paul Heyman finds Adam Pearce, revealing that he's pulled a few strings and now Pearce is in the Gauntlet Match, whether he wants to or not. Heyman says he's happy and proud of Pearce.

Alongside Pearce, Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, Rey Mysterio, and King Corbin are all vying for a shot at the Universal Championship.

The resilience of @MontezFordWWE is unreal! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Tw6eCYwqtq
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) January 9, 2021

What's it gonna take to put away the #StreetProfits?!?!#SmackDown @RealRobertRoode pic.twitter.com/3gL8eI6Zdm
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

#Andnewww SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Dirty Dogs Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode.

A sunset flip nearly puts Ziggler away. Ziggler responds with a chop block, tagging Roode in for the Perfect Plex. Ford managed to kick out and counter the Glorious DDT with a step-up enziguri.

However, Ford couldn't avoid the spinebuster/Zig-Zag combination. With Dawkins nowhere in sight, Ford isn't able to kick out.

Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode defeat The Street Profits via pinfall.

Yeah Yeah YEAHHH ADRENALINE is TAKING OVER for @MontezFordWWE! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/WEmC0XRJYx
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Ziggler catches Ford up top for an avalanche X-Factor. Somehow, some way, Ford breaks out.

Ford shakes off Roode and gets the hot tag from Dawkins. Ziggler can't keep up as Ford hits a series of kicks and finishing with a Brodie Lariat.

Looks like @MontezFordWWE is in rough shape... 😬#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/yQkzN2RJB2
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Can The #StreetProfits successfully power through against @HEELZiggler & @RealRobertRoode? #SmackDown @MontezFordWWE @AngeloDawkins pic.twitter.com/OAeMsFnpTt
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2021

Ziggler manages to hold Dawkins in heir corner, tagging in Roode who drops Dawkins with a neckbreaker. Ford wants to make the tag, but his knee is clearly too damaged to make anything happen, and Dawkins knows that.

A dropkick from Ziggler takes Dawkins down for a two-counn.

Dawkins takes over and runs wild on Roode. The running splash and bulldog combination earns him a two-count.