WITH EVERYBODY SAYING…!

Just 24 hours before the Royal Rumble’s Universal Championship Fatal 4 Way, LA Knight must deal with The Enforcer, Solo Sikoa! Will the Mega Star show us whose game it is?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasmo VS Carlito w/ The LWO; Santos wins.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Kabuki Warriors w/ Damage CTRL; The Kabuki Warriors win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
• Carmelo Hayes VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller; Theory wins.
• LA Knight VS Solo Sikoa w/ Jimmy Uso & Paul Heyman; Knight wins, by disqualification.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

Solo Sikoa leads the way as he, Jimmy Uso & Paul Heyman walk in. Jimmy’s got his head on a swivel, will one or more of Roman Reigns’ challengers come looking for last minute revenge?

Eladio Carrion is here!

The hit Latin pop recording artist is here, fresh off his single, RKO, topping the charts. He welcomes Miami to the show, and says there’s an amazing time in store. So without further ado, he will present the legend and personal friend, Mr. RKO himself, Randy Orton! Fans fire up as The Viper makes his way to the ring. Orton high-fives fans up front, then steps into the ring to shake hands with Carrion. Then they both stand on corners to hit the Orton pose. Orton then has the fans give it up for Carrion before getting himself the mic. “What’s up, Miami? I bet none of y’all thought Randy Orton was friends with Eladio. Am I right?”

Orton thanks Eladio for having him in the video, give some love to the man. But now, to talk business. Orton wants to talk to The Bloodline. Like ’em or not, The Bloodline has had one hell of a run these past few years. And the main reason they have done so is because Roman Reigns has held the Universal Championship for almost 1300 DAYS! Fans boo but Orton says that is unfathomable! It is virtually unheard of! Nobody can stop Roman, nobody can stop The Bloodline… except maybe Orton. Tomorrow is the Royal Rumble, and at the end, the only number that matters to anyone is “15.”

Because after Orton beats Roman at the Rumble, Orton will be a FIFTEEN TIME World Champion! And how do you think he’ll go about accomplishing it? The fans cheer Orton on, and he says here’s how he becomes 15-time world champion. He is going to do it courtesy of the three most destructive letters in sports entertainment: R K O! But wait, here comes AJ Styles! The Phenomenal One has a mic to tell Orton, “You do realize there’s other people in this match with Roman Reigns, don’t you, Randy? Or did you just look past AJ Styles?” Well join the club.

Styles asked to have a match against Solo Sikoa so he could take Solo’s head off! But Aldis gave that match to the man who stepped over Styles to get everything he’s every wanted in L A Knight. “YEAH!” So did Orton forget about Styles? As long as Orton has been in this business and in the WWE, Orton should know better. Orton and Styles have history! The fans still cheer Orton on, but Styles says after Orton RKO’d him last week, just know there’s a receipt coming. And tomorrow night at the Royal Rumble, Styles will be stepping over Orton, Roman and “L! A! KNIGHT!” Fans fire up as The Mega Star makes his way out here!

Knight has a mic, and the fans are all fired up for him as he says, “LEMME TALK TO YA!” Styles, go ahead, have a time with it, because he was about to say the name of the next WWE Champion, with everybody saying, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” But bah gawd, AJ Styles has done nothing since he returned but whine and complain! Everybody stepping over Styles, wah wah wah. Quit your cryin’, dummy! You think for a second, just 24 hours before the Fatal 4 Way, that Knight wants to fight the muscle of the Bloodline? You’d be smart if you weren’t so damn stupid!

Knight puts it like this: Isn’t it convenient that of the four men in that Fatal 4, and only Knight has a match? That tells Knight that Heyman lobbied and did everything he could to soften Knight up. Why? Because he’s the biggest threat! Heyman saw it at Crown Jewel and has seen it every since! But Knight ain’t gonna complain about it. He’ll just hit Solo so damn hard, he’ll start doing his dad’s dance moves! Then with that same energy, Knight walks into the Rumble, walks over Styles, over Orton and his voices, and even over Roman and any single sorry soul that gets in his way of becoming WWE Champion! And that ain’t an insult, that’s just a fact of life! “YEAH!!”

The fans are fired up with Knight as he storms back out, and then Styles mule kicks Orton! Then PELES him down! Was that the receipt? Or is it only partial payment with the rest coming in full tomorrow night?

Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasmo VS Carlito w/ The LWO!

The Emperor of Lucha started this fight, and now he finally faces Caribbean Cool straight up! Will the Legado survive to then get in the Royal Rumble match? Or will Carlito end the momentum of people who don’t want to be cool?

SmackDown returns and Santos makes his entrance, Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo by his side. The bell rings and Carlito storms up to Santos. Santos talks trash, but Carlito fires haymakers first! Fans fire up as Carlito fires off in a corner, then follows Santos to another. Carlito stomps a mudhole in, the ref counts, and Carlito lets off. Carlito storms up again but Santos elbows then CHOPS! Carlito blocks the buckle bump to give the buckle bump! And another! And another! And then a CHOP! Fans cheer while Carlito drags Santos up at the ropes. Carlito whips, Santos KICKS back, but Carlito just glares at him!

Santos runs, but Carlito CLOBBERS him! Carlito rains down fists, Santos shoves him away but Carlito goes to the apron. Carlito storms back in, Santos wants mercy, but he instead YANKS Carlito into buckles! Fans chant, “SANTOS SUCKS!” and Carlito hits back! Santos ROCKS Carlito, then PLANCHAS, but Carlito catches him! Carlito SMACKS him off the apron, puts him back in, but Angel & Humberto distract Carlito. Santos DIVES, and direct hit at the ramp! Fans boo but Legado stands tall and talks trash while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Carlito fights up from a chinlock. He throws elbows and body shots, frees himself, but Santos shoves him and DECKS him! Cover, TWO! Santos stays on Carlito by RIPPING at the shirt! Fans boo as Santos disrespects the new merch, and then Santos drags Carlito up. They go to a corner, Santos pulls away the tape on the shoulder, the shoulder Santos injured months ago! Santos goes up and has the HANGING ARMBAR! The ref counts, Santos sits up at 4 and Carlito staggers away. Santos runs in to DOUBLE KNEE in the corner! Santos then puts Carlito up top, goes up, and SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO!

Santos is furious that Carlito survives, but the fans fire up behind Caribbean Cool! Santos throws elbows into the bad shoulder, then clamps on a seated cobra twist! Carlito endures, even as Santos punches the shoulder. Fans rally, Carlito fights up, and Carlito throws body shots! But Santos throws Carlito down by his hair! Santos stomps away while the ref reprimands, but Santos then shifts to a top wristlock. Carlito endures, fights up again, but Santos pulls hair. Carlito breaks free and ROCKS Santos! Carlito rallies with LARIATS! Carlito whips and DROPKICKS! Fans fire up and Carlito stands Santos up.

Carlito suplexes, and he holds Santos up, but not for long! So Carlito shifts to a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Santos survives but Carlito whips him to a corner. Carlito runs in but into a BOOT! Santos runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up again and Carlito waits on Santos. Santos stirs, but then rolls back to wheelbarrow! Carlito stops that but Santos ELBOWS back! Santos runs, but Carlito dodges, kicks, runs and KNEE LIFT! Then LARIAT! Humberto distracts the ref, Carlito ignores him to run, but Angel DUMPS Carlito out! Fans boo but Wilde & Cruz go after angel & Humberto!

Fans fire up as Legado and LWO brawl! Humberto TOSSES Cruz over the steps! He and Angel mug Wilde, but Cruz is up top! SUPER CANNONBALL!! Fans are thunderous, but wait! ELEKTRA LOPEZ YANKS ZELINA OFF THE APRON!? And then DECKS her! Carlito is stunned, Santos rolls him up! Santos wins!!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

La Madrina has reunited with Legado! She helps Santos steal this win, will Legado take over all of SmackDown now?

AJ Styles is skulking backstage.

Jimmy Uso gets his attention, but tells him to chill. Everyone knows where LA Knight’s gonna be at, so Styles can help The bloodline get rid of him. They get rid of Knight tonight, that’s good for everybody. Just think about it. The OC hurry over, Jimmy hurries away, and Karl Anderson asks what that was about. Styles tells them not to worry about it. Styles heads out, but is the Phenomenal One going to do Roman’s dirty work?

Nick Aldis meets with Ava Raine.

The SmackDown General Manager welcomes and congratulates the NEW NXT General Manager, and youngest GM in WWE history. She thanks him and asks if there’s any pointers? Well, they can discuss that momentarily, but first, Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits are here for the All Mighty’s Royal Rumble number lottery. Lashley pulls out a number, lets Aldis & Ava see, and it’s looking good. Legado Del Fantasma then walks in, feeling good after what just happened, and Santos says hey to “Roberto.” Lashley says hey and tells him to know, Lashley hasn’t forgotten how things went down in the United States Championship Contender’s tournament.

Lashley & The Profits leave, Santos steps up to the lottery, and he pulls out a number. Will there be luck on Santos’ side? Or will he just have to make his own fortune all the same?

Bayley speaks.

“Whenever I find myself looking for that next step to take, I end up here,” back at the WWE Performance Center. “And if these walls could talk, the stories they would tell you. Good stories, bad stories. They’d tell you about all the times I almost gave it all up. But they’d also tell you stories of all the times that I stepped up. Before I became a Grand Slam Champion, before I became a Double Champion. And when the rest of the world stopped, inside these walls, I had it all. Until I didn’t. And then I spent months inside this building, rehabbing an injury. When the rest of the world was out there creating new history, and that bothered me.”

Bayley wants to be the history maker. She wants to make something of her own, something that’s never been done. What she was craving was right in front of her eyes: Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai, two women she’d known for a very long time, and who she knew were just as anxious and desperate to get out of these walls and make history of their own. And the vision of Damage Control was born. They envisioned taking over the WWE, and that is what they did! The Women’s Tag titles, the Money in the Bank, and the WWE Women’s Championship! They were doing so good, Kairi Sane came all the way back from Japan to join with them!

And then they became so dangerous that The Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka, knew she would be unstoppable with her. And tonight, they prove it again when the Kabuki Warriors win the Women’s Tag Team Championships, and then Bayley wins the Women’s Rumble! Bayley will challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania, win the gold, and then everything she said from day one is going to be true when DMG CTRL is golden! “Because between these walls, my visions are always true. And it’s not a story, it’s destiny.” Then are we about to see destiny fulfilled? We see, after the break!

R-Truth has his turn at the Rumble lottery.

He says the technique is to spin it a few times one way, then the other way. Like that? Wheel on the Judgment Day go ’round. Okay, and stop! Let’s see what we got. Truth picks a number, looks at it, and “OH~ NO~!” 19!? Wait, does he have to quarantine? No, that’s his Rumble number. Oh, right. Thanks, Mr. Pearce. And by the way, your hair grew back impressively fast. And with such volume! Truth heads out, will he be alright?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Kabuki Warriors w/ Damage CTRL!

SmackDown returns as the Life of the Party make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the party’s over!

The teams sort out and Asuka starts against Kayden. And Kayden DROPKCIKS Asuka at the bell! Kayden waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Kayden springboards to dropkick! Tag to Katana and they double whip, trip and basement dropkick! Then slingshot SENTON by Katana! Cover, TWO! Katana dares Kairi to bring it, so Kairi runs in! Katana arm-drags Kairi, then arm-drags Asuka! Kayden joins in, they DOUBLE WERCKING BALL DROPKICK! The Kabuki Warriors get up, Katana TORNILLO PLANCHAS! The champs stand tall and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the Kabuki Warriors double whip Katana, bypass her to then KICK, AX KICK and BULLDOG! Then basement dropkick! Asuka covers, TWO! Katana toughs it out but Asuka DECKS Kayden! Asuka pushes Katana around, fans rally up, and Katana fires a forearm! Asuka eggs her on so Katana fires forearms and CHOPS! Asuka shoves Katana but Katana BOOTS her! Kairi runs up but Katana DECKS her! Asuka runs in but Katana DUMPS her out! But there’s no Kayden to tag! Katana still hurries for her corner but Kairi runs in! Katana DUMPS Kairi out now, but still no Kayden!

Asuka returns to drag Katana back, ANKLE LOCK! Katana flails, rolls, and she sends Asuka out! Kayden’s back and tags in! Then she climbs to SUPER CROSSBODY! Down go both Kabuki Warriors! Kayden fires up, fires forearms, and DECKS Kairi! Then she DROPKICK-SPLASHES! Kayden puts Asuka in to BOOT WASH at the ropes! Fans fire up, Kayden IMPLODER LEG DROPS! Cover, TWO!! Asuka is still in this but Kayden keeps her cool. Kayden waistlocks Asuka while fans duel. Asuka fights up, throws elbows and gets free. Asuka mule kicks Kayden, Kairi sneaks a tag! CODE BREAKER to BLOCKBUSTER!

Then Asuka & Kairi coordinate, SLIDING FOREARM GAMANGIRI COMBO! Cover, Katana breaks it! Katana tosses Asuka, but Kairi URAKENS! URAKEN for Kayden, too! Fans fire up with Kairi and she climbs up! In-SANE ELBOW into BOOTS! Kayden saves herself and Kairi writhes, clutching her arm! Kairi rolls, reaches out, hot tag to Asuka! The Empress runs up but Kayden dodges! Asuka hurries after her but Kayden gets around! Hammerlock and clinch, FACEBUSTER! Kayden hurries, hot tag to Katana! Katana goes up, for the KEG STAND!! Cover, KAIRI BREAKS IT! All four women are down and the fans fire up!

Kayden storms over to get Kairi up and send her out. Kayden hurries to her corner, tags back in, and then brings Asuka up. Katana goes to the top, but Kairi runs in! Katana CROSSBODIES Kairi, but Asuka POSTS Kayden! SLIDING GAMANGIRI for Katana, and Kairi drags her out of the ring! Kairi Alabama Lifts, to ALABAMA SLAM on the desk!! But Kayden rolls Asuka up! TWO!! Asuka escapes, ducks a buzzsaw and SOBATS! ROUNDHOUSE! Tag to Kairi and then Kairi goes up! Asuka dragon sleepers Kayden, for Kairi to add, In-SANE REVERSE DDT!! Cover, Kabuki Warriors win!!

Winners: The Kabuki Warriors, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

Another prediction becomes reality! DMG CTRL celebrates adding two more belts to the collection, though Bayley oddly ends up the odd one out. The pyro goes off for the Kabuki Warriors, will Bayley complete the mission by winning the Women’s Rumble?

The Bloodline talks backstage.

They’re in the private suite as Heyman explains to Solo that there are “different definitions of the word itself, ‘fixed.'” And he understands that sometimes, “fixed” and “solved” feel the same. Solo “solved” the problem, but the orders are to “fix” the problem. So please, Heyman begs Solo to fix the problem, and don’t. Be. Merciful. Solo looks to his taped up thumb, and says, “Okay.” Jimmy asks if that was a smirk. Cuz that’s scary. What’s really scary to Heyman is that Jimmy’s cousin, Roman… Reigns…! Went from Big Dog to Tribal Chief, because he saw the moment and seized it. This weekend, there’s a moment that Jimmy can seize.

Over on Monday Night Raw, there is a World Heavyweight Champion with one good leg! Seth Rollins thinks himself a Visionary, and will drag himself into WrestleMania looking to be a martyr. Jimmy needs to make Rollins into that martyr, Jimmy needs to seize the moment, and that means Jimmy needs to win the Royal Rumble, challenge Rollins, beat Rollins at Mania and bring the WHC home to the Bloodline. And THEN…! Then Jimmy will understand that the line of succession to who is truly The Tribal Heir all starts at the Royal Rumble. Heyman pats Jimmy on the back, will Jimmy look to be a true gamechanger on the Road to WrestleMania?

Bayley walks into Aldis’ office.

She’s all excited, did they see what just happened? Bianca Belair is there and just picked her number. What’d she get? Wouldn’t Bayley like to know. But what Bayley should know is that Bianca is about to become a two-time Royal Rumble winner. Bianca heads out, Bayley quickly snatches a number for herself. She looks at it, and seems disappointed in what she got. Is Bianca going to be the luckiEST in the Rumble? Is Bayley therefore the unlucky one?

Bobby Lashley & The Profits head to the ring!

They’re dressed in their gear, but they’re only meant to have a face-to-face meeting with The Final Testament. Is the wardrobe choice a sign that they’re anticipating far more than that? We’ll see how this goes, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Lashley has a mic to say, “So here we go again, chasing cowards. But please, let me reintroduce our group. We’ve got standing beside me, former Triple Crown Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits. And myself, former United States Champion, former Intercontinental Champion and former WWE Champion, The All Mighty, Bobby Lashley!” Fans cheer them on, and Lashley likes it. They didn’t come here to play. The people of Miami are here to see a fight! The fans cheer that! And a fight is what these three will bring. So Final Testament, no more hiding. Come out and come get some.

The lights go down, and the Final Testament does make their entrance. Karrion Kross leads Scarlett, Paul Ellering and The Authors of Pain. Scarlett then walks out in front to go right to the ring, the harlot harbinger as she is. Lashley says Kross needs to stop playing games. Kross is gonna send his lady up front for him? Fans boo but Dawkins says this is crazy. Wasn’t this supposed to be a face-to-face? Ford says yes, it is, but seems Final Testament isn’t standing on no type of business. But Ford figured it out: Final Testament is something they could never be, and that’s afraid.

Paul Ellering says, “Behold! There is no fear in Karrion Kross.” Scarlett smiles as Kross says Ellering speaks the truth. All he sees from Lashley’s trio is frustration and desperation. And he gets it. Fans “WHAT?!” and Kross tells them to shut up. Kross understands Lashley. Lashley feels things aren’t going to plan anymore. That he’s not in control anymore. And guess what? You’re not! But Kross will give them one thing. They were supposed to do this face to face. Well, they’re out here, so they did their part. But Lashley is standing across from the “prettiest face in the world.” So unfortunately, Miami, with your big mouths, no one is getting their fight tonight.

Fans boo and Lashley says hey, he gives Kross credit. The benefit of the doubt, even. But Kross is lying! He said they’re not fighting tonight, but uh, yes they are. Ford & Dawkins rush out to go after AOP, but then Scarlett jumps on Lashley to CLAW at his face!! Fans boo but then Kross gets in to CLUB Lashley down! Kross POSTS Lashley, goes out after him, but AOP and Profits brawl into the ring! Short arm LARIAT for Dawkins! Then a POWERBOMB for Ford! Fans boo but Akam & Rezar stand tall. Kross sends Lashley in, Lashley gets mugged 3v1! Fans boo as AOP set Lashley up for the KROSS HAMMER!!

The Final Testament stands tall and Kross wishes Lashley sweet dreams. Will even the All Mighty and his Profits have no choice but to #FallAndPray?

Ava and Aldis go over who is left.

Jimmy steps in, so he gets to choose his number. YEET. He picks one out, looks it over, “NO Yeet.” Jimmy doesn’t seem happy about that number, will it be that much harder to seize the moment now?

WWE shares footage from the Performance Center.

As if we didn’t already know things were heated between Logan Paul and Kevin Owens, both men were just getting some training in, and the ImPAULsive one had to be an instigator. Kevin went to leave, Logan talked trash, and then called Kevin the coward just for walking away. Logan threw a water bottle at Kevin, and a brawl broke out! The rest of the wrestlers there had to break this up, but will nothing stop Kevin from shutting Logan up once and for all?

Carmelo Hayes VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller!

These two went a round a few weeks ago but it didn’t go well for either man. They’re both 100% again, will the rematch go much better? Or will we see that Melo Don’t Miss when he’s after Austin Theory Live?

SmackDown returns and Melo makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two talk trash. Theory shoves Melo, saying SmackDown is his show! But Melo runs up to fire off haymakers! Fans fire up as Melo whips but Theory reverses. Melo ducks ‘n’ DROPKICKS Theory down! Fans fire up again, and Melo CHOPS Theory to a corner! Theory staggers around, Melo pie faces then CHOPS again! Theory knees low but Melo shoves Theory down. Theory reels Melo back in to back suplex, but Melo lands on his feet. Melo still falls back, Theory talks more trash, then runs up, only for Melo to dodge and springboard LARIAT!

Fans fire up while Theory bails out, and Melo dares him to come back! The ring count climbs while Waller helps Theory cool off. Melo waits, then storms back up. Theory stays back, takes his time going up the steps, then steps in to CLOBBER Melo! Theory TOSSES Melo, the ref argues with him, and Waller DECKS Melo with a sucker punch! Fans boo while Waller gets away with that one, and Theory says, “It is what it is.” Theory soaks up the heat and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Melo fights up out of a chinlock to fire body shots! Melo fires forearms, whips, but Theory reverses, only for Melo to CLOBBER him! Melo keeps going with big forearms! Melo then catches an arm, hooks Theory up, JUMPING REVERSE DDT! Then a tilt-o-whirl LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!! Theory survives and Waller breathes again. Melo goes to a corner, goes up, but Waller distracts! Fans boo, Melo swipes at Waller, but Theory YANKS Melo down! Theory then reels Melo in, pump handle and ATAXIA!! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives and the fans fire up but Theory is furious!

Waller coaches Theory up to keep on Melo. Theory talks a lot of trash, drags Melo up and fireman’s carries, but Melo slips free! Melo waistlocks, Waller distracts gain, but Melo DECKS him! Theory waistlocks, but Melo victory rolls! TWO, Theory O’Conner Rolls with tights!! Theory wins!!

Winner: Austin Theory, by pinfall

And then Waller has to CLOBBER Melo on top of it! A-Town Down Under mugs Melo, but wait! HERE COMES TRICK! Melo’s best friend is here and he fires off haymakers! The fans are all fired up with chants of “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” Theory & Waller are sent running, Trick Melo Gang stands tall! But wait, Trick denies the fist bump? Trick says he’s saving Melo because of their Dusty Cup match on Tuesday. Fans sure appreciate it, but what about… HIM?

Backstage interview with Eladio Carrion.

Kayla Braxton is with the music superstar who helped kick things off in Miami. What was it like out there? Oh, super fun. That was his first time in an actual WWE ring, so it was an amazing experience. Kayla says we’re all excited given it is Royal Rumble weekend, so she’s gotta ask, who does he think will win WWE Universal Champion? Oh, he’s gotta go with his boy, Randy Orton. You already know it’s RKO. But then Solo, Jimmy and even Heyman walk over. Eladio slows down a bit, and says that respectfully, he’d like to see his guy pop off. Heyman has Solo stand down, because of the respect shown.

Heyman has Jimmy & Solo move on. Heyman says Eladio is just mistaken about his choice. Will Randy have to RKO Roman extra hard for his cousins intimidating Randy’s friend?

LA Knight VS Solo Sikoa w/ Jimmy Uso & Paul Heyman!

But speaking of hitting extra hard, the Mega Star is more than ready to fight the muscle of The Bloodline if it means having a clear path to the Head of the Table! Will there be a BFT to go with last week’s RKO? Or will Solo show no mercy, just as his Tribal Chief commands?

SmackDown returns and Solo makes his entrance, Jimmy and The Wise Man of course by his side. The bell rings and Solo swings but misses! Knight fires off in return and fans ‘YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” But then Solo TOSSES Knight to a corner and SPLASHES! Solo fires off hands now, but the ref counts. Solo lets off at 4 while fans boo, but Solo storms back up, only for Knight to fire off more shots! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips but Solo blocks! Solo whips, puts Knight on the apron, but Knight RAMS into Solo! Knight slingshots and SHOULDER TACKLES, but Solo stays up! Knight dropkicks a leg out, then stomps the taped up hand!

Fans fire up as knight stomps the hand more, then runs to basement dropkick! Solo bails out, Knight pursues, and he takes that hand to SMACK it off the apron! And SMACK it off barriers! And SMACK it off the desk! Fans fire up as Knight then brings Solo over to SMACK that hand off the steel steps! Knight slides into the ring and fans rally. Knight goes back out but Solo ROCKS Knight! Solo whips but Knight reverses to POST Solo! Fans want tables but Solo gets POST! And then Knight SLAMS the hand off the post again and again! They go to the desk, Knight ROCKS Solo, refreshes the count, then Knight puts Solo in.

Knight RMAS into Solo again, but Jimmy creeps up! Knight runs Jimmy off, slingshots in again, but Solo UPPERCUTS Knight down! Fans boo but Solo TOSSES Knight out, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Knight fires haymakers on Solo! Fans “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight LARIATS but Solo stays up! So Knight LARIATS again! Solo still stays up, Knight runs, but into a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives being thrown around again, but the fans rally up. Solo stalks Knight to a corner, throws down fists, then throws down headbutts! Solo lets off and Jimmy gives a thumbs up. But then Knight ELBOWS Solo, whips him, but Solo reverses. Knight KICKS Solo, then runs, but into a LARIAT! Solo fireman’s carries but Knight fights free! Knight BOOTS from the corner and Solo staggers!

Knight goes up, and he FLYING BULLDOGS Solo down! Fans rally but Heyman and Jimmy coach Solo. Knight goes to ropes, the fans rallying behind him. Knight storms up on Solo to ROCK, JAB, JAB, and JAB! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight fires off more and more, then ROCKS Solo again! Knight whips, Solo reverses but Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges and LEAPING LARIATS! THen RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight stomps Solo into a corner, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” then he goes around the way to spell it out. “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” KNEE WASH! Jimmy gets up but Knight DECKS him! But Solo rises!

Knight ancitipates and kicks first! DDT! Knight keeps moving, and he clotheslines Solo up and out! Knight builds speed to WRECK Solo with a dropkick! Solo hits the desk! Fans fire up for tables, and Knight thinks about it. Knight dribbles Solo off the desk again and again! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight SMACKS Solo one more time! Then he runs up, to REGAL KNEE Solo down! Fans fire up, but AJ STYLES FLIES IN!! PHENOMENAL FOREARM!!!

Winner: LA Knight, by disqualification

Knight still wins, but Styles ends up doing just what Jimmy suggested! Styles hauls Knight up to RAM him into steel steps! Fans boo Styles then call for Randy. Styles clears off the table and Jimmy has a chair! Is Jimmy going to hit Styles and take out another contender? He and Styles stare down, and Jimmy reconsiders. Jimmy sets the chair down for Styles to “do what you gotta do.” Fans boo but Styles picks the chair up. Solo steps to Styles? Solo says Styles better take care of Knight or Solo takes care of Styles! Styles JAMS Solo! And JAMS Jimmy! Styles SMACKS Solo, then brings Jimmy around to put in the ring!

Styles grabs the chair, and here comes Randy! Fans fire up as The Viper and Phenomenal One meet in the ring! UPPERCUT and Styles falls out of the ring! SNAP POWERSLAM for Jimmy! The fans are fired up but Solo drags Randy out to SMACK him off the desk! Solo clinches, but Orton fires elbows! Orton brings Solo around, BACK SUPLEX ON THE DESK! The desk doesn’t break but Orton decides to bring Styles up! Free t-shirt for the crowd, and Jimmy scrambles as Orton goes after him! Jimmy begs for mercy but he gets a DRAPING DDT instead!! But then Styles springboards in! Orton dodges, kicks low, and puts Styles in ropes!

Fans fire up as Orton has Styles for a DRAPING DDT!! Miami is thunderous as Orton hears those voices! Styles rises, Heyman frowns, and Orton hits an RKO!! Orton raises his finger, maybe HE is the one to finally end Roman’s reign of terror! Will the Apex Predator defy the odds, win the Fatal 4 Way and have his fifteenth world title? WAIT! B F T from LA Knight!! Fans are torn as now The Mega Star now stands tall! Will the Rumble answer the question, “Whose game is it?” with everybody saying L A KNIGHT, YEAH!?

My Thoughts:

An awesome episode for SmackDown, especially as a go-home. For one, great surprise as Elektra Lopez finally joins Legado on SmackDown, helping Santos win as part of her debut. This surely means Lopez loses to Lola Vice on NXT to make that her goodbye match, and then she’s SmackDown fulltime to be part of this feud, maybe even give us a Mixed Six or Mixed Eight. Also great bits throughout the night of the superstars picking Royal Rumble numbers. R-Truth finds a way to be a creative genius even then, and we all know when he’s showing up. Likewise, good comedy of Bayley not being happy with what she got, it’s probably within the first five.

But speaking of Bayley, great promo from her returning to the Performance Center, great career retrospective, and it helped hype the Women’s Tag Team Championship match, because those titles are of course near and dear to Bayley. Kayden & Katana VS Kabuki Warriors was great stuff, and a great win for Asuka & Kairi. Now this really makes it feel like Bayley is going to fail in the Rumble and DMG CTRL will kick her out because she’s not holding up her part of the prophecy, all the stuff that I’ve been saying for this story so that we end up with Iyo VS Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.

Really good match out of Melo and Theory as a rematch/redo of their previous one. Just as I’d hoped, they avoided the Arabian Press Spanish Fly, and I like that they busted out some new stuff, like Melo’s modified DDT and Theory bringing back Ataxia. Theory stealing the win was fine, and how great for Trick to show up for the save. Miami going nuts with “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” is a sign that WWE has something special with Trick Williams. And it’s great story continuity as Trick Melo Gang needs to be as healthy as possible to face LWO on Tuesday. NXT is getting to shine a bit more with HHH at the helm, especially with Ava Raine showing up to be GM to GM with Aldis.

Really good confrontation promo from Final Testament and the still unnamed trio of Lashley & Profits. I do like The Final Testament has moved from merch shirts being the words and a picture in a very old school or traditional pro-wrestling design trope and is now just a stylized cross made to look like the letters T and F combined. Good brawl but of course Scarlett tips the scales. All the more reason for B-Fab talking with Lashley to become an agreement that B-Fab gets involved. B-Fab can counter Scarlett to allow Lashley & Profits to properly face Kross & AOP in a Six Man Tag, and that will be some great stuff.

And of course, great stuff in the Bloodline story again. Cool of WWE to have Eladio here, being he’s friends with Bad Bunny and is following in the same line of having a rap song about a favorite wrestler. Good interaction of Eladio with The Bloodline, and good stuff from Heyman dangling a prize in front of Jimmy to motivate him doing stuff for Roman. Jimmy sure ain’t winning the Rumble but hey, he could have a good part in the Rumble, especially if he and Jey meet there. That could even spark Jimmy VS Jey for Mania if they so desired. But great stuff with Knight VS Solo, and Styles getting involved to give Knight the win and sparking more brawling.

I did NOT think Knight would change the go-home math, but like, with Hulk Hogan’s historic reign within reach, pretty sure Roman wins. That’s half the reason for the Fatal 4 Way, honestly. Roman can win without really hurting anyone else’s power levels, and he doesn’t even need to be in the go-home math on TV like the others have been.

My Score: 8.9/10