SmackDown Results: Top star returns to the blue brand; WWE official announces last-minute Royal Rumble entry

Charlotte Flair kicked off SmackDown and said that she was going to win the Royal Rumble tomorrow. She said she would choose her challenger for WrestleMania and not the other way around before Shayna Baszler made her return to the blue brand.

Baszler said that if it came down to the two of them tomorrow, Flair might be too injured to compete at WrestleMania. Aliyah came out next and said that she was optimistic about her chances at the Rumble. Natalya interrupted Aliyah and called her lucky because her record was a fluke.

Shotzi came out next and joined them in the ring before Sasha Banks followed her out. Banks slapped Flair in the face and walked off before a brawl broke out in the ring.

Baszler took out Shotzi and Aliyah wiped out Natalya before The Queen of Spades was sent outside by Aliyah. Flair took her out with a big boot before Banks caught The Queen from behind and sent her over the ropes.

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Ridge Holland and his nose were ready to face Ricochet after Sheamus handed him what looked like his old mask from when he had his own broken nose. Before the match started, Ricochet declared his entry into the Royal Rumble.

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WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Ricochet & Cesaro vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland

Holland got a gift from Sheamus after suffering a broken nose as WWE Day 1

Cesaro and Sheamus kicked off the match and they traded holds early on before the latter rolled out of the ring. Back in the ring, Sheamus was taken down with a clothesline before Ricochet came in followed by Ridge Holland.

Holland was sent outside for a big springboard move before we headed for a break. Back on SmackDown, Holland took control of the match and locked in a submission hold but Ricochet broke out and the tags were made.

WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Ricochet & Cesaro vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland (contd...)

Cesaro hit Sheamus with a big uppercut on the outside as SmackDown continued and Ricochet wiped Holland out before he was taken out with a Brogue Kick.

Cesaro got a near fall before Ridge Holland stopped him from getting the swing. He headbutted The Swiss Cyborg with the mask and wiped him out with his finisher for the win.

Result: Sheamus & Ridge Holland def. Ricochet & Cesaro

Grade: B

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WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Naomi vs. Sonya Deville

Sonya Deville kept her distance early on before unloading on Naomi with kicks before the referee made her back off. Naomi got some big moves in before Deville rolled out of the ring after a near fall.

Sonya Deville dragged her opponent out of the ring after dodging a kick before we headed for a break. Back on SmackDown, she had a hold locked in before Naomi broke out and hit a near fall off a diving crossbody.

Deville rolled her up for a near fall after a jab to the eye before Naomi dragged her to the corner for a splash and picked up the win.

Result: Naomi def. Sonya Deville

Grade: B

After the match on SmackDown, Naomi was celebrating when Sonya Deville came back out and said that she would join the Royal Rumble as a guest entrant to make sure that the former doesn't win.

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The Usos and The Vikings Raiders had an encounter backstage before we headed to the ring with Sami Zayn making his entrance.

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Zayn had Jinder Mahal and Shanky as his first guests on his new podcast, In-Zayn. He barely let his guests speak and kept mentioning Johnny Knoxville before Mahal said that Jackass was very popular in India.

Sami Zayn was trying to change the topic when Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs made their entrance and sent him out of the ring before heading for the following match.

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WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs. Jinder Mahal & Shanky

We returned from commercials to see Jinder Mahal make the tag before Shanky tried to isolate Rick Boogs in the corner. Boogs hit a vertical suplex on Shanky as the match continued.

Sami Zayn was at the announce desk and ran out to drop Shinsuke Nakamura on the apron. Boogs took down both Mahal and Shanky in the ring before hitting the big guy with the Boogs Cruise to pick up the win.

Result: Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs def. Jinder Mahal & Shanky

Grade: C

Kofi Kingston and Big E were backstage on SmackDown and E announced that he was once again on the blue brand.

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WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Big E & Kofi Kingston vs. Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss

Madcap Moss and Big E kicked off the match and The New Day were in control before Kofi Kingston and Happy Corbin tagged. Kingston kicked Moss and Corbin out of the ring before trying for a dive but got caught and dumped at ringside.

After a break on SmackDown, Big E got the splash on Happy Corbin before Kofi Kingston came in and took a backbreaker and the Deep Six. Madcap Moss came in for a near fall on Kingston before E sent Corbin into the steel steps.

The New Day hit the Midnight Hour on Moss after Big E returned to the ring and picked up the win.

Result: Big E & Kofi Kingston def. Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss

Grade: B

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WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins face-off before the Royal Rumble

Roman Reigns was out next and Seth Rollins followed him out to the ring. Rollins bragged about having The Usos banned from ringside tomorrow and Reigns said that it did not matter if they were there, he would win either way.

WWE SmackDown Results (28th January 2022): Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins face-off before the Royal Rumble (contd...)

Roman Reigns said that he was in God Mode now as SmackDown continued and Seth Rollins reminded him of all the times he pinned The Tribal Chief in the past. Reigns brushed it off as 'water under the bridge' before Rollins brought up his betrayal of The Shield.

The Architect said that he did Roman Reigns a favor by hitting him with the chair back then and added that it was because of him that Reigns became who he is today. He added that The Head of the Table had done it all, except for beating Rollins.

Seth Rollins said that he would beat Reigns tomorrow night before the latter said that he could never forgive Rollins for the betrayal and he hated him for it. Rollins said he would make a mockery of the Bloodline and Reigns' championship before dodging a Superman punch and walking out of the ring as SmackDown went off the air.

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Episode rating: B-

We go the in-ring return of Sonya Deville while some big last-minute additions to both Royal Rumble matches. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns had a face-off while Charlotte Flair got wiped out by Sasha Banks on the SmackDown before Royal Rumble.