We start with a recap of Heyman’s promo on Monday Night with Lesnar winning the WWE Title at Day 1.
We kick off SmackDown with Roman Reigns himself. Reigns asks New England to acknowledge him while saying that 1 week in isolation causes him to think about a lot of things. There were a lot of things he wanted to say and people he wanted to see. Reigns says he doesn’t want to see two people for the rest of his life again. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. Out comes Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman.
Paul Heyman takes the mic and introduces himself before Lesnar cuts him off and takes the mic for himself. Lesnar gets in Roman’s face and he introduces himself with Heyman’s shtick. Heyman says that wasn’t bad. He then asks Roman to acknowledge him. Roman has a lot to say all the time and Lesnar doesn’t. Last Saturday, he got what he wanted and Roman got what he wanted. Now, why don’t we give everyone what they want. Title vs. Title. Champ vs. Champ. He dares Roman. Roman says it’s a good idea, but it’s not his idea. And this is his show. And we do what Roman says on his time. And on top of that, he doesn’t do business with people who do business with trash like Paul Heyman.
Heyman asks why Roman why he talks to him that way. He was his Tribal Chief and he loved him. He protected him and did everything he asked. Lesnar asks Heyman what he said. Paul repeats himself and Lesnar tells him to shut up. Roman tells Brock not to talk to him that way. Lesnar asks him “or what?”. Heyman tells Lesnar not to talk to him that way. Lesnar tells him to shut up again before Roman Superman Punches Lesnar from behind while Roman escapes.
Backstage, Sami Zayn says Shinsuke is ducking him and that Rick Boogs is a gorilla with a guitar. He sees Johnny Knoxville and he’s here to speak with management to compete for a Rumble spot. Sami says he needs technical wrestling skills. Knoxville says he doesn’t need it, just the ability to throw someone over the top rope. Sami says he’s not qualified to do this or qualified to be in the Rumble. If he showed him something, maybe he’d qualify. Otherwise, he should stay out of it.
Sami Zayn vs. Rick Boogs
After a distraction from Shinsuke outside, Boogs pins Zayn with an inside cradle.
Winner: Sami Zayn
After the match, Johnny Knoxkville comes from behind and dumps Sami over the top rope.
After the match, it is revealed that Johnny Knoxville has qualified for the Rumble match.
Woods and Kofi are backstage and promise they will issue a royal beating to The Usos tonight for the tag titles. When this match reaches its literal conclusion, we will be staring at The New Day as actual and factual tag team champions.
Back from the break and Flair is in the ring. She knocks normal people for their normal New Year’s Resolutions and says hers are history making. Flair brings up the 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match and how Superstars can make history. She sends us to a video package that reveals the following entrants for the match this year – Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H., WWE H all of Famers The Bella Twins, Shotzi, Natalya, Michelle McCool, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Carmella and Queen Zelina Vega, Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James, Tamina Snuka, Kelly Kelly, Aliyah, Summer Rae, Naomi, Shayna Baszler, and WWE Hall of Famer Lita.
McAfee acknowledges how James is the Impact Knockouts Champion. Flair says that is an incredible list. She goes on about how she has the privilege of announcing a game-changer for the match, someone special. Flair goes on praising this person and then reveals her to be… Charlotte Flair. Flair will be in the match this year, and says she will go on to pick the challenger of her choosing at WrestleMania. The music interrupts and out comes Naomi. Naomi says Flair can pick her challenger now, doesn’t have to wait until WrestleMania, and can defend against her right now.
Flair knows Naomi was champion a few years ago, but has doe nothing recently to earn a match. Naomi stares her down. Naomi says she knows she’s done this… she slaps Flair in the face. Flair seethes and goes to attack but Naomi side-steps and sends her through the ropes to the floor. Naomi’s music hits as she celebrates in the ring. Flair looks on from the floor and we go to commercial.
Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H, Shotzi, The Bella Twins, Natalya, Michelle Mccool, Dana Brooke, Carmella, Queen Zelina, Mickie James, Tamina, Kelly Kelly, Aliyah, Summer Rae, Naomi, Shayna Baszler and Lita are all announced for the 2022 Royal Rumble.
Charlotte Flair vs. Naomi
Flair wins with Natural Selection while Sonya Deville mocks Naomi.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Out comes Happy Corbin for Happy Talk before commercial.
We get a recap of the Roman/Lesnar segment from earlier. Adam Pearce finds Sonya Deville backstage and Pearce has a problem. Lesnar has an opponent for the Royal Rumble, but Roman Reigns does not have an opponent and officials want Pearce to find Roman’s opponent for the Rumble by the end of the night. He asks Sonya to accompany her throughout the building to go through some ideas to help find a suitable opponent.
Corbin says Drew McIntyre did not watch own back at WWE Day 1. He shows a video package of how he and Moss attacked McIntyre at Day 1 this past Saturday, but does not mention how Moss lost a singles match to McIntyre. Corbin says that makes him incredibly happy and it was worth every penny of the fine they received. He and Moss thought they put McIntyre on the shelf for months and months but it turns out McIntyre is here tonight. Corbin calls on fans to give it up for tonight’s guest as he gives a big introduction for McIntyre. Drew’s music hits but out comes Moss mocking McIntyre, with a neck brace and a flaccid sword.
Moss takes a seat in a chair. Corbin interviews him as if this is McIntyre. They go on mocking and insulting McIntyre until Moss finally reveals himself. It’s me, Moss! They both laugh until the music interrupts and out comes The Viking Raiders. They rush the ring as Corbin and Moss retreat to the floor.
The Viking Raiders vs. Madcap Moss and Happy Baron Corbin
Ivar rallies for a tag but Corbin pulls him off the apron and sends him into the ring post. Moss with a shoulder to the gut of Erik. Moss drops Erik with The Punchline in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.
Winners: Madcap Moss and Happy Baron Corbin
– After the match, Corbin and Moss celebrate as the music hits. Cole mentions the WWE storyline update on McIntyre from Saturday night, which said he suffered a cervical neck sprain and severe contusions. McIntyre will need to see a cervical specialist, and that will come on Monday, according to Cole.
– Sheamus is backstage now. He has a few shots at Drew McIntyre for being hurt, and mentions how Ricochet and Cesaro injured Ridge Holland at WWE Day 1. Sheamus can’t help but feel a bit responsible, but he’s entering the Men’s Royal Rumble and he will put a smile on Holland’s face when he eliminates 29 other Superstars to headline WrestleMania.
Street Fight for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles: The New Day vs. The Usos
THe Usos retain with a 3-D to Kofi through a table.
Winners: The Usos
After the match, we go back to Roman Reigns backstage. There’s a knock on the door. He gets up. It’s Seth Rollins. He laughs in his face and SmackDown goes off the air.
