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Daniel Bryan kicked off SmackDown and said that he was excited for the Royal Rumble this weekend. He said he didn't know how many WrestleManias he has left in his career, promising to make the most of this weekend before AJ Styles from RAW interrupted him.
Daniel reminded AJ that he was on the wrong brand before Styles said that he was there thanks to the brand-to-brand invitational and bragged about crushing some Superstars' dreams on RAW. Daniel challenged him to a match and Styles agreed before shoving him down and Omos got in his face. Bryan called AJ 'not a real man' for having Omos around to do his bidding before retreating backstage.
Bayley was backstage on SmackDown and was confident about her chances tonight against Belair as well as on Sunday at the Rumble.
Bayley vs. Bianca Belair on SmackDown
Belair took the early advantage with a big slam and a suplex, getting a near fall. Bayley used the ropes to hit a clothesline getting a near fall of her own before pulling at Bianca's hair. Belair unloaded on the former champ before almost getting wiped out on the apron.
Belair got a near fall off a standing moonsault before we headed for a break. Back on SmackDown, Bayley was back in control and focused on the injured left arm, hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Belair came back with the Kiss of Death and picked up the sudden win.
Result: Bianca Belair def. Bayley
Match rating: B+
Baron Corbin was making his entrance on SmackDown when Dominik Mysterio attacked him. After a commercial, we saw that Rey was on commentary and Dominik was in a match with Corbin in the ring.
Baron Corbin vs. Dominik Mysterio on SmackDown
Corbin started off strong but Dominik made him flee the ring before Corbin came back and hit a few big shots on the rookie.
Baron Corbin vs. Dominik Mysterio on SmackDown (contd...)
Dominik was caught in the corner on SmackDown and took a splash before sidestepping as Corbin went into the ring post.
Corbin was sent into the ropes but managed to counter the 619 before going for a powerbomb and Dominik countered it. Corbin hit the End of Days and picked up the win on SmackDown.
Result: Baron Corbin def. Dominik Mysterio
After the match, Rey took out Corbin at ringside before checking on Dominik.
Match rating: B
Big E was backstage with Sonya Deville before they ran into Miz & Morrison from RAW who were looking for Adam Pearce. Miz was there to try and cash in his Money in the Bank contract and the duo attacked Big E after Deville left.
Sasha Banks was backstage when Reginald handed her a bottle of wine as a gift from Carmella who was confident about her chances in their title match. Sasha had some threats of her own and sent Reginald back with a message for Carmella instead.
Sami Zayn was backstage on SmackDown and told Nakamura that he needs help to get his IC title back. Nakamura said he appreciated Sami for everything but told him to go to hell.
Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns were in a split-screen interview when Owens said that Reigns will try anything to win the Last Man Standing match on Sunday. Heyman tried to teach Owens 'respect' before Reigns asked about Owens' father, 'trying to get to know him'.
Reigns said Owens was a pawn while he was the king and that KO was 'inferior' and will never be Universal Champ. He called Owens and his forefathers as fools, trying to get into KO's head. Owens gave a warning and Reigns still persisted, calling him a disgrace.
Owens called him a delusional 'j*****s' and an 'insecure bully' before losing his cool and stormed off.
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles on SmackDown
Styles sent Omos backstage before the match began, evening the odds in the match before we head for a break. Back on SmackDown, the match was underway with Cesaro on commentary.
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles on SmackDown (contd...)
AJ and Bryan went for a sequence of submission holds on SmackDown as the match began. Bryan hit a huge DDT and was heading up to the top rope when Sami Zayn made his entrance. Styles used the distraction to take Bryan down to the floor outside before we headed for another break.
Back on SmackDown, AJ was in control and Bryan managed to hit a huge clothesline followed by the kick in the corner. AJ locked in a calf crusher and Daniel managed to find the ropes with his foot.
Bryan countered the Phenomenal Forearm before locking in the Yes Lock but AJ broke it up. Big E was out next and wiped out Sami Zayn at ringside, sending him over the announce table before getting into a fight with Cesaro.
Zayn attacked Bryan in the ring, calling off the match before Cesaro wiped out Big E and Nakamura came in to take out AJ and then attack Sami before we headed for yet another break.
Result: DNF
Match rating: A
Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan & Big E vs. Sami Zayn, Cesaro & AJ Styles on SmackDown
We returned to SmackDown after a break to see that a six-man tag match was underway after the brawl, something that usually happens earlier in the show. Nakamura was beating on Cesaro before AJ sent Bryan's knees into the ring posts.
After another break, Cesaro swung Bryan into a one-legged Crab before Sami came back in. Bryan hit a missile dropkick before they both made tags and Big E and Cesaro came in. The Miz and Morrison made their entrance as Big E was about to finish the match.
Miz & Morrison wiped out Nakamura and attacked Big E before Otis came out to make the save.
Result: DNF
Otis took down Miz & Morrison and hit the Caterpillar on both of them, finishing them off.
Match rating: A
Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Otis & Big E vs. Sami Zayn, Cesaro, AJ Styles, Miz & Morrison on SmackDown
We returned to SmackDown to see the match was restarted with Miz, Morrison, and Otis joining either team.
Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Otis & Big E vs. Sami Zayn, Cesaro, AJ Styles, Miz & Morrison on SmackDown (contd...)
Sami hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on SmackDown and got a near fall on Bryan before Miz & Morrison hit him with a double team.
Zayn was back in and was about to finish the match when Sheamus from RAW invaded the ring and joined Daniel Bryan and his team.
A big sequence of Finishers saw Sami hit another Blue Thunder Bomb before setting up for the finisher but a Brogue kick from Sheamus made sure he was down for the three-count!
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Otis & Big E def. Sami Zayn, Cesaro, AJ Styles, Miz & Morrison
Miz and Morrison attacked Sheamus after the match and Braun Strowman showed up for the first time since being suspended after Survivor Series.
Match rating: A
Episode rating: B+
We got a great SmackDown before Royal Rumble with some great matches and an intense promo from Owens. AJ Styles, Sheamus, and Miz & Morrison crashed the show while Bianca Belair got the most important win of her career tonight.
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