Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE SmackDown! Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 8:00 PM EST.
For tonight’s go-home episode of SmackDown, only two segments have been announced, but let’s run down the card and see what SmackDown has in store for us tonight!
First, Bianca Belair will look for some amount of payback against Bayley before their participation in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. After Bayley attacked Belair following their obstacle course challenge last week, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion will need to be looking over her shoulder tonight.
Also on the card, Michael Cole will host a sit-down with Universal Champion Roman Reigns and his challenger at the Royal Rumble, Kevin Owens. WWE is advertising a “war-of-words” between the two competitors, so we will see what these two have in store for us before their Last Man Standing match.
All of this and more will feature on the final edition of SmackDown before the 2021 Royal Rumble! Remember to refresh the page throughout the night and leave your comments down below with your reactions to the show.
Opening Segment
SmackDown opens this week with Daniel Bryan already in the ring. He is in a suit, though, not dressed to wrestle.
He welcomes everyone to the show and “Royal Rumble Weekend.” He goes on to talk about how, while he has accomplished a lot in the WWE, he still has yet to win a Royal Rumble.
He talks about how winning the Rumble allows you to main event at WrestleMania, and he knows how life-changing it can be to main event at WrestleMania. It’s important to him because he says that he doesn’t know how many WrestleMania moments he has left.
He says that, thanks to Chad Gable and Otis, he is ready. As Bryan continues to hype up the Rumble, AJ Styles music hits. Styles comes down to the ring, Omos in tow.
Bryan asks why AJ Styles, a RAW superstar, is on SmackDown. Styles and Omos say that there is a “quarterly brand-to-brand invitational.” Styles goes on to say that he has been the gatekeeper of RAW for people who wanted to join the Royal Rumble match.
Styles says that Bryan isn’t ready because he looks like a GM again in his sports coat and Bryan looks like he has one foot out the door. Bryan challenges Styles to a one-on=one match tonight.
Styles says that he’s been getting ready by beating everyone on RAW, and he wants one more warm up against Bryan. Styles shoves Bryan down, and as Bryan looks to get back up and get in Styles’ face, Omos steps between them.
Bryan says that if Styles was “a real man,” he would face Bryan without Omos. As Styles goes to get out of the ring, Bryan says, “With or without Omos, I’m still going to kick your ass.” Styles and Omos leave the ring.
We get a promotion for the upcoming Face to Face sit-down with Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens. Then, we see a recap of the Obstacle Course Challenge between Bayley and Bianca Belair.
Backstage, Bayley is being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. Before Kayla can ask her about Bianca beating her, Bayley says that she still hurt Bianca by throwing her into the basketball post.
She says that she saw Belair’s special on the WWE Network, and she likes her, but Bianca has run away from everything in her life, and she can’t run away from Bayley. Her match with Belair is up next, after a commercial break.
*Commercial Break*
Bianca Belair vs. Bayley
Belair immediately pins Bayley in a corner, and the ref forces a break. Belair hits a scoop slam on Bayley. Bayley gets back to her feet and takes down Belair by attacking a shoulder. Belair catches Bayley in a suplex, pinning her for one count.
Bayley kicks at Belair, then clubs away at the back of Belair’s head. Bayley tosses Belair to the mat, then hits a sliding clothesline, pinning Belair for two. Bayley goes back to Belair’s injured shoulder, covering her for two.
Bayley grabs Belair’s hair, using it to taunt Bayley. Belair grabs her hair back and whips Bayley with it repeatedly. Belair shoves Baley hard into the turnbuckle. Bayely rolls to the apron and kicks at Belair’s injured arm, creating separation.
Belair takes Bayley back down with a dropkick and a standing moonsault, pinning her. Bayley gets her foot on the rope, breaking the pinfall attempt at two. Bayley rolls out of the ring, and we go to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
Back from commercial and Belair covers Bayley for two. Belair drives her shoulder into Bayley’s midsection in the corner. Bayley gets to the middle rope and takes Belair down by her injured shoulder, covering her for two.