1/22 WWE Smackdown Report

Daniel Bryan comes out and says he could talk about his match against Kane tonight, and he could also talk about how he’s spent every day thinking about winning his WWE Championship back. He says he could talk about Sting being on RAW, or how the Authority still sucks, but he won’t, because John Cena did something really important and he knows some other guys who have something better to say. Ryback, Dolph Ziggler and Erick Rowan are welcomed to the ring, and Ryback says this is his dream, passion and life, and no one takes that away from him. Ryback says thanks to Sting and John Cena, and the WWE Universe, and they all reminded the world the Authority sucked, and their games are over, just like he is.

Rowan takes the mic and says being gone was sort of a blessing, because he had time to think and he used to be a different person, and he was a naive puppet. He says he’s seen himself in a new light the past few weeks, and he knows who he really is. Dolph cracks a few jokes before he says he was so close to proving he belongs on top, and he proved himself at Survivor Series but the Authority took it away. Dolph says the Authority feels threatened by them, and he’d rather take any punishemnt they can give him here, as long as it means he’s not sitting at home bitching on a podcast about not working. The Authority cuts them off and Seth Rollins says this Survivor Series reunion is cute, but they replaced Superman Cena with a little garden gnome in Daniel Bryan. Dolph says that it’s funny seeing Rollins without his nose up Triple H’s ass, then they trade a few barbs before Dolph dares him to come to the ring.

 

Rollins says he’s got more important business to deal with, then Dolph talks about how fast Rollins ran away from Brock Lesnar on Monday. Kane cuts him off and says they are being very disrespectful, and Bryan still has to go through him tonight if he wants to be in the Royal Rumble. Bryan says he has a better chance than Kane did against Lesnar on Monday, then he plays some highlight clips and Big Show takes offense and says he will destroy them on Sunday. He says first Bryan needs to make it past Kane, and Kane says Bryan knows what he’s capable of, but Dolph is itching for a fight, so he’ll face the man who took his Intercontinental Championship right now

Dolph Ziggler vs Bad News Barrett
Wade hits Dolph a few times and backs him in the corner, then he goes for a clothesline but Dolph counters with a dropkick for two. Dolph goes to attack but Wade sends him shoulder first into the ringpost, then he hits him a few times on the floor and rolls him back in for a near fall. Wade slams his head on the mat and kicks him, then he charges the corner but Dolph ducks away from a corner splash and hits a DDT. We get back from a break to see Wade hang Dolph up on the turnbuckles, then he kicks him in the ribs before he applies a grounded armbar. Wade lifts him but Dolph breaks it with a jawbreaker, then Wade charges the corner but Dolph sidesteps, so Wade goes shoulder first into the ringpost. Dolph splashes him and follows with a neckbreaker, then he connects with an elbow drop for two before Wade kicks him in the face. Wade calls for the Bullhammer but Dolph catches him with a dropkick, then he follows with a Zig Zag for the win.
Winner – Dolph Ziggler

Roman Reigns joins Renee Young backstage to talk about what happened with Big Show on Monday night, and Reigns says Show is a shared man. He says Andre The Giant was a true giant, but Show is scared little man trapped in a giant’s body, and he’s not looking to take Show’s spot. Reigns says he is carving his own path and he’ll go through Show first, because it’s one versus all, and he’s the one who will win the Royal Rumble this Sunday.

Fandango draws his Royal Rumble number and looks thrilled, then he makes out with Rosa for her help, but Dean Ambrose walks in and switches his number. 

Ryback vs Rusev 
Ryback hits a shoulder block before Rusev rolls outside, then Rusev goes for a suplex but Ryback reverses it and gets a two count. Rusev catches Ryback with some kicks and knocks him outside as we go to a break, then we get back to see Rusev stomping Ryback on the mat. Ryback comes back with some elbows and a boot to the chest, then he powerslams Rusev and chops him before whipping him into the ropes. Rusev kicks him in the head but Ryback comes right back with a backpack stunner for two, then he sets up for a powerbomb but Rusev counters with an Alabama Slam for two.
Ryback reverses a whip and connects with a belly-to-belly slam, then he heads up top but Rusev crotches him on the ropes and kicks him in the face. Rusev drags Ryback away from the ropes and gets a two count, then he goes for The Accolade but Ryback powers back up and hits a spinebuster before calling for a Meathook. Rusev sees it at the last moment and rolls outside, but Ryback chases him and whips him into the barricade. Ryback hits him several more times in the head, then he hears the count and runs back in to win the contest, and Rusev attacks him after the bell. Rusev hits him a few times and goes for a thrust kick, but Ryback blocks it and hits a Meathook, then Rusev avoids Shell Shocked and runs for it.
Winner (by countout) – Ryback

Brie Bella vs Naomi 
Naomi goes for a quick rollup before Brie hits her a few times, then she hits a bulldog before setting up a running knee. Naomi sidesteps it and hits Brie a few times, then Brie slams Naomi’s knee on the mat and wins it with a sit out facebuster.
Winner – Brie Bella

Erick Rowan vs Luke Harper 
Harper kicks Rowan a few times before Rowan hiptosses him into the corner, then Rowan hits three standing splashes and a spin kick for two. Rowan connects with a powerbomb for two, then he heads up top but Harper sidesteps a splash and connects with a big boot and a lariat for the win.
Winner – Luke Harper

No Disqualifications
Daniel Bryan vs Kane 
Kane goes right after Bryan and kicks him a few times, then he whips him outside and hits a neckbreaker on the floor. Kane slams Bryan headfirst on the barricade, then he gets a kendo stick but Bryan takes it from him and repeatedly hits him in the shoulder and chest with it. Bryan adds some kicks before he heads up top, but Kane catches him with an uppercut on the way down and whips him outside as we go to a break. We get back to see Kane hitting Bryan with a chair, but Bryan ends up kicking him outside and setting up for a suicide dive. Kane hits him as he goes through the ropes, then Kane whips Bryan face first into the ring steps and Mercury and Noble make their way out.
They tear the commentary table apart and Kane sets up a Tombstone, but Bryan floats over and shoves Kane off the table. He goes for a running knee but Kane blocks it, then Bryan shoves Kane into the ringpost and takes everyone down with a dive. Bryan knees Kane into the barricade, then Mercury and Noble attack Bryan and Kane uses the distraction to throw Bryan back in the ring. Kane heads up top but Bryan sidesteps and goes for the YES Lock, but Mercury and Noble run in and break the hold. Bryan kicks them both in the corner and splashes them, then he follows with some dropkicks before Kane chokeslams him for two. Kane goes outside and gets another chair, but Bryan dropkicks Kane’s knees, sending him face first into the turnbuckles with the chair, and Bryan turns and connects with Knee Plus for the win.
Winner – Daniel Bryan

Big Show comes out and hits Bryan from behind, then he carries him to the ring and connects with a body punch before the rest of The Authority joins in. Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Rowan run down run out to make the save, then the entire locker room ends up spilling out into the ring and we get a Royal Rumble preview. Everyone is fighting in each corner, and Roman Reigns runs out and sends Big Show to the floor, then he Superman punches Miz and Mizdow before Bryan, Ambrose, Reigns, Ziggler and Ryback are left standing tall.