Ooh. I hope y’all were paying attention to the events that transpired on Monday. The biggest announcement that made the most powerful statement was when The Rock mentions his intention to sit at the Head of the Table. Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? It’s heavy with spices.
Roman finds that so funny that he doesn’t react any other way, but laughter. Typical man.
Kevin Owens vs. Santos Escobar – US Championship Tournament Finals
… This will be the only time I’ll address him by his asinine name. Logan Paul is unfortunately here to view this Finals match as Corey Graves is a little too welcoming by handing Paul some headphones. I don’t want to hear him speak… Why God?
There was another moment of interruption, though. A likeable one, too, being Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde attacking Angel and Humberto at ringside. Bound to happen, bound to happen. Angel and Humberto could have been the problem that would have left Owens at a disadvantage. So, thank you, boys.
Out of the gate, Kevin Super Kicks Escobar in the gut then follows that up with a Cannonball in the corner. Owens remained on top even after the commercials ended, leaving Santos in the dust.
It amazes me how desperate the champ was when he wanted Rey Mysterio’s title back at Crown Jewel. But now that he’s got the gold over his shoulder, he says “these boys” are the despairing Superstars leeching after his title. Why can’t he simply go away??
Life would be better.
Santos Escobar recovers at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Ben Lypka MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SMACKDOWN VANCOUVER GALLERY
At some point, Santos utilizes the injured hand of Owens in his favor as he aggressively bounces it off the top rope and the post. Escobar delivers a painful back breaker to Owens.
Kevin starts to pick up the pace as he looks for something spectacular at the top of the ring, yet Santos manages to swat him away. Owens does, however, spike Escobar with a sudden, yet effective DDT.
KO goes for a Swanton, sadly, Santos had his knees up as they collide with Owens’ spine. This match is a sight to be seen. Kevin impresses us with a rolling Senton.
The best part is when Owens performed a winning Stunner to get the chance to face the US champ at the Royal Rumble. Whoo! Let’s not forget that knockout punch Owens did towards the asshole that calls himself the greatest Champion. Ha! Ha! Ha!
Winner: Kevin Owens
Next up, we have the Street Profits and Bobby Lashley with an All Mighty New Years’ Revolution presence. Lashley may have not gotten the results he wanted when it came to keeping his Championship, but he applauds one good thing from 2023, and that’s aligning himself with the Profits.
They will fight and take everything they say they deserve in 2024. The Profits put Judgment Day on notice when it comes to those Undisputed Tag Team Championships, while Lashley wants to go back to being the All Mighty. So, he declares himself as a contestant for the Royal Rumble.
Suddenly, something odd happened. Karrion Kross and Scarlett reveal themselves from the dark along with three strange men. Well, strange to me since I don’t know them. The Authors of Pain, they’re called.
They start assaulting the Profits and Bobby. We rarely see the All Mighty getting manhandled, it was something else to watch. I think Kross is still pissy about his lost against Lashley during the first round in the US Championship Tournament. Ha! Ha!
Another unholy union has been made. You’ve all been warned.
Michin vs. Iyo Sky (c) – WWE Women’s Championship match
In the early goings of this match is a show of athleticism and dodging skills, both women manage to duck and weave through the other’s attempts at grounding them.
Michin is keeping at a reasonable pace that shows she’s not trying to get ahead of herself too quickly. She remains persistent as she hammers away at the champ’s head. Iyo turns things around with a roll through stump to the gut of her challenger.
Michin plays a few mind games to throw Iyo crashing onto the main floor. Michin continues to enforce her resilience with counters after counters.
Michin delivers an impressive double knee to Iyo’s face using the corner of the ring to her advantage. It was very well done and close to ending this match. Sky holds the lead when she delivers a German suplex to Michin on the apron, practically snapping that girl’s neck.
Iyo Sky at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Ben Lypka MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SMACKDOWN VANCOUVER GALLERY
The challenger almost got Iyo when she had her knees up and performed a dragon suplex. Sky delivers a Shotai uppercut that rocks her opponent. But Michin leaves our jaws on the floor by doing the Styles’ Clash move from the second rope as a sign of respect to AJ. She was soooo close, but Sky had intelligent ring awareness when she grabbed onto the bottom rope in time.
How the tides have changed as Michin misses with a suicide dive then she’s on the receiving end of a Meteora against the barricades and loses when she’s crushed by the over the Moonsault by Iyo.
Damn it…. I’m still giving Michin her much deserved flowers for her performance.
Winner: Iyo Sky
Backstage, Paul Heyman is invited to give his opinion on The Rock’s declaration on RAW. Heyman thinks that the moment Roman wins, everyone wants to reappear, so they could find relevancy and make headlines for themselves.
Brock Lesnar, CM Punk and John Cena are the other names he mentions who have done just that for the spotlight to shine on them. A little rude is you ask me. Regardless, he promises that Reigns will smash whoever comes out victorious during the Triple Threat match between LA Knight, Randy Orton and AJ Styles later tonight.
Elsewhere, Bayley is so sure she’ll win the Royal Rumble because of the vision she created not too long ago. Bianca Belair reckons that Bayley is getting ahead of herself since she’s also entering the Rumble. Yay!
Iyo suggests that as the leader, Bayley needs to take care of Bianca.
Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Ben Lypka MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SMACKDOWN VANCOUVER GALLERY
Pretty Deadly vs. Butch & ? – Tag Team match
Ah, yes. Tyler Bate is teaming up with Butch to take on Pretty Deadly. I wouldn’t have guessed for some reason. Ha! I’m a decent guesser.
Bate and Wilson start this battle off on Tyler’s SmackDown debut. Bate uses his foot to whack Kit in the face. It looked comical. He’s pretty much toying with Kit.
Butch is tagged in as he makes quick work out of his opponents by dismantling Wilson’s fingers and arm. Bate and Butch wipeout both Prince and Wilson on the main floor, taking the lead during this fight.
Butch is on the receiving end of incoming strikes despite almost pinning his challengers down. He gets a boot to the face. He does thwart Prince long enough to reach Tyler for a tag as Elton does the same.
Bate is swinging his skills around amazingly. Tyler and Butch’s double team almost awards them the win, but Prince saves his partner before that could happen.
Bate delivers the Bop and Bang to knockout Prince, so he and Butch could gain victory with the double Tyler Driver 97.
Winner: Butch & Tyler Bate
Ashante Thee Adonis feels lost here at WWE, but he doesn’t want Nick Aldis to feel sorry for him. All he needs is an opportunity, so Aldis is giving him some options.
Next week, Bianca Belair and Bayley square off. Also, Grayson Waller will have his chance to get his hands on Cameron Grimes. Given they were scrapping early this evening, Angel and Humberto will be facing very angry LWO members Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro.
Randy Orton at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Ben Lypka MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SMACKDOWN VANCOUVER GALLERY
AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton vs. LA Knight – Triple Threat match to face Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble
The match was already underway the second the break was over. LA Knight and Styles were momentarily ganging up on Orton until AJ swings a punch at the Megastar. A chopping fest ensues that lasts, well, barely 20 seconds before Randy forces Knight to collide with the turnbuckle.
Styles corners Orton by kicking him, keeping him trapped where he wants him while Knight takes a breath. Aldis is watching from ringside with anticipation.
Knight sends Styles crashing against the turnbuckles and the post. AJ is on the mat squirming around as if someone dumped ice on his back. Ha!
Right in front of the announce desk, LA Knight is making sure that Orton doesn’t remember his own name when this is finished. Ha! He continues by doing the same to Styles as well.
Naturally, Orton got mad and plants Knight’s spine on the desk, twice. Ooh, lots of fun there. Styles suffers the same fate. Unfortunately, Randy gets a bad case of karma.
AJ had Randy for little while, but when he attempted to deliver the Phenomenal Forearm, Styles got caught dangling off the top rope since Orton tripped him. The Viper continues with his onslaught by inflicting his vintage DDT.
Just when Orton was stalking Styles to make sure he won’t get up, LA Knight impedes him from doing so by launching him towards the stairs.
AJ gains the upper hand as he destroys Knight inside the ring. He manages to prevent Orton from reentering the squared circle. Styles is pissed off.
A bloody LA Knight at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Ben Lypka MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SMACKDOWN VANCOUVER GALLERY
Knight finds the strength to fight back against Styles before pursuing Randy with a side Russian leg sweep. A massive back drop to AJ rocks him… so do the clotheslines Orton was handing Knight.
Randy’s lighting fast power slams are funny and incredible to witness. Abruptly, Knight delivers a BFT to Orton, but he didn’t get the win despite the Viper not kicking out. It was Styles’ interference by grabbing the referee’s hand that paused the victory bells from ringing.
It’s brilliant according to Graves.
AJ thought he had Randy pegged as he lines himself up for the Phenomenal Forearm only to be ploughed through by a sudden RKO mid-air. Ha! That’s brilliantly done.
Ha! Ha! Okay, they need to stop dragging the referee around like that to prevent him from reaching the three count. This is the second time already. This alone has us gasping, but Roman Reigns’ entrance added even more shock to the table. I forgot he was here, to be honest. Ha! Ha!
The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso) with Paul Heyman at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Ben Lypka MORE PHOTOS IN OUR SMACKDOWN VANCOUVER GALLERY
The Bloodline came out here to inflict a massacre on the potentials for the gold. There are no disqualifications, no count outs, so this is perfectly legal in the eyes of those producing unsanctioned harm.
Bound to happen, bound to happen.
You know, I’ve never seen Roman act this afraid and uncontrollable before. This isn’t the first time someone has stepped up to challenge him, so why is he so much more unbearable now?
Nicky here isn’t stopping them, though. No security in sight. However, however, he made the decision I wished for. A Fatal 4-Way match for the Undisputed Universal Championship between Reigns, LA Knight, Orton and Styles at the Rumble. Yes!!! Yess!!! Yesssss!!!
I got what I wanted.
Winner: Nick Aldis. Ha!
TOP PHOTO: Logan Paul at ringside at WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, on January 5, 2024. Photo by Josh Ruckstuhl, @IG: joshruckstuhlphotography
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