Posted in SmackDown

WWE SmackDown Live Results – January 23, 2018

   January 23, 2018

WWE SmackDown Live
January 23, 2018
Capital One Arena
Washington, DC

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan In-Ring Segment: 

It’s time to pay attention because Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are the future of WWE, not the parade of retirees that you saw last night on Raw’s 25th Anniversary. Lets give it up for your brand new Co-WWE Champions, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.The Yep Movement is about more than a single syllable. It’s about standing in the face of adversity and tyranny.

Shane McMahon’s vendetta backfired because they proved that AJ Styles has no chance of walking out of the Royal Rumble with the WWE Title. They are the absolute best competitors on Smackdown Live. If they couldn’t overcome the odds of a handicap match there’s no way Styles will overcome the odds. Just to add a little insult to injury, Owens and Zayn are going to hurt Styles after the match. Styles comes out to interrupt The Kevin and Sami Show. 

Styles can’t be the only one who heard them correctly. Styles starts mocking Daniel Bryan with the No Movement because the YEP! Movement is annoying. When Owens and Zayn win, Styles is going to hear yep’s all around the world. Even his family will be saying yep. Styles tells them to shut their YepHoles. Owens and Zayn should be cocky because of their advantage. Unfortunately, they are fighting someone who’s phenomenal. Styles will do anything possible to keep the WWE Title. SmackDown Live is the house that, AJ Styles Built.

Styles may be phenomenal but he’s predictable. Zayn says that Styles is acting like a tough guy. Ignorance is the official language of Washington D.C. It was ignorance that Styles in this pickle. Styles has to be a man because he’s forced by an actual authority figure with actual convictions who will make  him live up to his word, Daniel Bryan. Will Styles live up to his word? We see a clip of Styles subtly challenging Owens and Zayn to a Gauntlet Match. Is Styles going to weasel out of things or will he be a man?

What about AJ Styles versus Kevin Owens and then AJ Styles versus Sami Zayn immediately after? Daniel Bryan appears on the stage. Bryan agrees with Owens and Zayn sentiments about being the best superstars to step in the ring. They are also right about how difficult it is to win a handicap match. Bryan has the utmost faith in AJ Styles. Styles doesn’t want Bryan as his advocate because he does not know if he’s in bed with Kami. Styles will not only beat them, he will hurt them.

First Match: Jey Uso w/Jimmy Uso vs. Chad Gable w/Shelton Benjamin 

Gable goes for a Double Leg TakeDown, but Jey holds onto the second rope. Jey with clubbing blows to the back of Gable. Gable delivers two Waist Lock TakeDowns. Jey backs Gable into the turnbuckles. Gable applies an arm-bar. Gable with a vicious cross face to Jey. Jey tosses Gable out of the ring. Jey clocks Gable with a clubbing haymaker. Gable is regaining his composure on the outside.

Gable applies a Waist Lock. Jey creates distance with a back elbow strike. Jey lands a Thrust Kick to the midsection of Gable. Jey goes for a Samoan Drop, but Gable lands back on his feet. Gable sends Jey shoulder first into the steel ring post. Gable rolls Jey back into the ring. Gable continues to target Jey’s shoulder. Gable applies a Bridging Arm-Bar.

Coming out of the commercial break, Gable connects with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Gable goes for a MoonSault, but Jey ducks out of the way. Jey knocks Gable off the ring apron with an enzuigiri. Gable blocks the Suicide Dive. Jey hip tosses Gable out of the ring. Jey finally hits the Suicide Dive. Jey misses on The Uso Splash. Jey connects with a Samoan Drop. Jey goes for the Running StinkFace, but Gable ducks out of the way. Gable dodges a SuperKick from Jey. Gable levels Jey with a Rolling Kick. Gable plants Jey with a Roll Through German Suplex to pickup the victory.

Winner: Chad Gable via Pinfall 

Second Match: Naomi vs. Liv Morgan w/The Riott Squad 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Morgans backs Naomi into the turnbuckles. Morgan shoves Naomi. Naomi responds with a Wrecking Ball Drop. Naomi with a haymaker for a one count. Morgan with a Backslide Cover for a two count. We have a stale mate in the center of the ring. Morgan dodges a series of rapid fire kicks from Naomi. Naomi connects with a Leg Lariat.

Morgan drives Naomi face first across the middle turnbuckle pad. Morgan with a SlingShot Double Stomp to the back of Naomi for a two count. Morgan applies a Straight Jacket Hold. Natalya, Carmella, Becky Lynch and Lana makes their way to the ringside area. Morgan clotheslines Naomi. Naomi drops Morgan with another Leg Lariat. Naomi follows that with a SpringBoard SunsetFlip to pickup the victory.

After the match, a donnie brook breaks out in the ring. Sarah Logan tosses Naomi out of the ring. Natalya with the Discus Lariat to Becky. Lana takes out Ruby with the Machka Kick. Natalya bodyslams Lana out of the ring. Carmella SuperKicks Morgan. Carmella and Natalya tosses Morgan over the top rope. Natalya drops Carmella with another Discus Lariat. Becky tries to backstab Naomi, but it’s to no avail.

Winner: Naomi via Pinfall 

Charlotte Flair Promo: 

Third Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Corbin backs Nakamura into the turnbuckles. Nakamura applies a Waist Lock. Corbin responds with a Top Wrist Lock. Nakamura is trying to play mind games with Corbin. Nakamura tells Corbin to bring it. Following a snap mare takeover, Nakamuura delivers a Jumping Knee Drop. Nakamura connects with Good Vibrations. Corbin rolls himself out of the ring. Corbin starts heading to the backstage area. Corbin clocks Nakamura with a Throat Punch. Corbin whips Nakamura face first to the bottom turnbuckle.

Coming out of the commercial break, Corbin applies a Half Nelson Chin Lock. Nakamura gets back to a vertical base. Corbin and Nakamura are trading back and forth shots. Nakamura drops Corbin with a Single Leg Dropkick. Nakamura with a series IT! Kicks to Corbin. Nakamura lays Corbin flat on the top turnbuckle. Nakamura connects with a Top Rope Knee Strike for a two count.

Nakamura goes for a Release Exploder Suplex, but Corbin blocks it. Nakamura hits The SitOut FaceBuster. Nakamura goes for The Kinshasa, but Corbin counters with The Deep Six for a two count. Nakamura kicks Corbin in the jaw. Nakamura goes for a Flying Knee Strike, but Corbin ducks out of the way.

Corbin delivers the Inside Out Lariat for a two count. Corbin goes for The End of Days, but Nakamura counters with a Cross ArmBreaker. Corbin rolls Nakamura over for a two count. Nakamura decks Corbin with a Wrap Around Spinning Heel Kick. Randy Orton drops Nakamura with an RKO to cause the Disqualification. After the match, Corbin goes for The End of Days, but Orton counters with another RKO.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via Disqualification 

Fourth Match: Bobby Roode & The New Day vs. Jinder Mahal, Aiden English and Rusev 

Rusev and Kofi Kingston will start things off. Rusev drops Kofi with The Machka Kick for a two count. Rusev stomps on Kofi’s back and stomach. Rusev tags in English. Rusev repeatedly stomps on Kofi’s chest in the corner. English levels Kofi with a Left Jab. English tags in Jinder. Following a snap mare takeover, Jinder drives his knee into Kofi’s back. Jinder and Rusev Day are cutting the ring in half.

Rusev has Kofi trapped in a Bear Hug. Kofi HeadButts Rusev. Rusev responds with a Knee Lift. Rusev runs through Kofi with a Corner Back Elbow Strike. Rusev knocks Woods off the ring apron. Kofi side steps Rusev into the turnbuckles. Kofi connects with a Running Bulldog. Roode and English are tagged in. Roode applies a side headlock. Roode drops English with a NeckBreaker. Roode knocks Jinder off the ring apron.

Roode kicks English in the jaw. Roode follows that with The BlockBuster. Roode continues the sequence with a SpineBuster to Jinder. Rusev drops Roode with  Leg Lariat. English rolls Roode over for a two count. Kofi with a SpringBoard Clothesline to Rusev. Kofi takes out Rusev and Jinder with a Double Trust Fall. Roode ducks a clothesline from English. English eats an enzuigiri from Woods. Roode levels English with another SpineBuster. Woods lands a SpringBoard Elbow Drop to pickup the victory.

Winner: Bobby Roode & The New Day via Pinfall 

Fifth Match: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens 

Styles starts things off with a series of haymakers. Owens drives his knee into the midsection of Styles. Styles dropkicks Owens. Styles sends Owens to the corner. Styles goes for a Corner Lariat, but Owens ducks out of the way. Owens clotheslines Styles. Owens goes for The Running Cannonball Strike, but Styles ducks out of the way. Owens starts favoring his ankle. Styles locks in the Calf Crusher which forces Owens to tap out. After the match, Sami Zayn attacks Styles.

Winner: AJ Styles via Submission 

Sixth Match: AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn 

Zayn launches Styles sternum first into the steel ring steps. Zayn transitions into a ground and pound attack on the floor. Referee Jason Ayers is trying to calm down Zayn. Coming out of the commercial break, the bell finally rings. Zayn is choking Styles with his boot. Kevin Owens is receiving medical attention on the outside. Zayn and Styles are trading back and forth shots. Zayn bounces Styles head on the top turnbuckle pad. Zayn whips Styles sternum first across the turnbuckles.

Zayn with the lateral press for a one count. Zayn lands two knife edge chops. Zayn clotheslines Owens for a two count. Zayn applies a rear chin lock. Styles gets back to a vertical base. Styles connects with The Phenomenal Blitz. Styles follows that with a Basement Forearm Smash. Styles with a Corner Clothesline to Zayn. Styles goes for The Ushigoroshi, but Zayn lands back on his feet. Styles launches Zayn over the top rope. Styles connects with a SlingShot Phenomenal Forearm.

Styles rolls Zayn back into the ring. Styles starts attacking Owens. Zayn clotheslines Styles. Zayn is mauling Styles in the center of the ring. Zayn applies a rear chin lock. Zayn uppercuts Styles. Styles responds with a FrankenSteiner. Styles and Zayn are in a middle of a forearm exchange. Styles connects with a Ushigoroshi for a two count. Styles goes for The Styles Clash, but Zayn blocks it. Zayn slaps Styles in the chest. Zayn hits the Tornado DDT.

Styles blocks The Helluva Kick. Styles drops Zayn with a Pele Kick for a two count. Styles with a Waist Lock Go-Behind to Zayn. Zayn with a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Zayn places Styles on the top turnbuckle. Styles drives Zayn face first across the top turnbuckle pad. Zayn once again negates The Styles Clash. Styles rolls Zayn back into the ring. Styles knocks Owens off the stretcher. Zayn connects with The Helluva Kick. Zayn plants Styles with The Blue Thunder Bomb to pickup the victory.

Winner: Sami Zayn via Pinfall 

Check out Episode 89 of the Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast

Author: Josh Lopez