By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown on Fox
Aired live on January 31, 2020 from Tulsa, Oklahoma at BOK Center
[Hour One] The AC/DC themed opening aired (we all breathe it)… Michael Cole and Corey Graves were on commentary and welcomed viewers to the show following the pyro display on the stage. The big screen read “Super Smackdown” and the WrestleMania sign was hanging on the opposite side of the venue…
Roman Reigns made his entrance while Royal Rumble still shots aired and Cole recapped Drew McIntyre eliminating Reigns to win the men’s Royal Rumble match. The Usos were out next. Reigns said the good news was that he beat King Corbin’s ass all over the stadium on Sunday. He mentioned bad news. One of the Usos said he lost. Reigns conceded that he lost and doesn’t like to lose. He said they would get through their opponents and focus on WrestleMania.
King Corbin, Robert Roode, and Dolph Ziggler made their entrance. Corbin was booed before he spoke on the stage and told the fans to save it while noting that the feeling was mutual. The Usos gave Corbin a hard time about losing to Reigns at the Rumble. The Usos said they were playing chess while the heels were playing checkers.
Corbin said they had a lot of time for boardgames while they were sitting at home after embarrassing their family. Corbin set up a replay of the dog food angle. Reigns said Corbin was living in the past as if that was the greatest moment of his career.
Reigns said it was either that or Corbin had a dog food fetish. Reigns called him a sick little freak. Reigns proposed that they add the stipulation that the loser of the six-man main event would eat dog food. “What do you say, fetish boy?” Corbin hesitated and then accepted while Roode and Ziggler protested. The Usos said they had a surprise. A man wheeled a table filled with dog food onto the stage…
The broadcast team ran through the lineup. By the time they were done, the six wrestlers were gone. Heavy Machinery made their entrance for the four-way tag match… [C]
Powell’s POV: WWE broke the bank with “Doggie Chow” brand dog food. I’ll be honest, I’ve been envious of my dogs’ dinner before. While they were eating venison dog food, I was eating a microwavable chimichanga. Something tells me the meat in their food was healthier than my “steak” chimichanga.
1. The Miz and John Morrison vs. “Heavy Machinery” Otis and Tucker vs. “The Revival” Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder vs. “Lucha House Party” Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado in a four-way tag match for a shot at the Smackdown Tag Titles at WWE Super ShowDown. The dog food cart was still on the stage during entrances. The Revival and LHP entrances were not televised. The Revival sent Dorado into the ring post. Morrison went to the top rope and opted to dive onto Heavy Machinery.
The Miz looked to Morrison, who encouraged him to perform a dive. The Miz ran the ropes, but he was cut off by a Dawson clothesline. Moments later, Metalik leapt over the top rope and performed a huracanrana Wilder, who was on the apron, which sent Wilder into a pile of wrestlers at ringside heading into a break. [C]
Otis had Miz and Morrison down and performed his Caterpillar move, which led to him covering Miz for a two count. Heavy Machinery set up for their finisher, but Wilder held the ropes down, causing Tucker to tumble to ringside. A short time later, Dorado splashed Dawson and had him pinned, but it was broken up.
A short time later, Dawson performed a DDT on Otis. Dorado caught Dawson with a superkick and then performed moonsaults from the bottom rope and the second rope. He went to the ropes for a top rope moonsault, but cut him off. The Revival hit their superplex and top rope splash combo, but Miz prevented them from getting the pin. Morrison tagged in Miz, who performed a Skull Crushing Finale on Dawson. Morrison followed up with Starship Pain on Dawson and scored the pin…
The Miz and John Morrison defeated Heavy Machinery, The Revival, and Lucha House Party in 12:40 in a four-way to earn a Smackdown Tag Title shot at WWE Super ShowDown.
The broadcast team hyped the dog food stipulation for the six-man tag main event… Footage aired of The Fiend whipping Daniel Bryan during their strap match at the Royal Rumble. Cole hyped a look at the match after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: An entertaining four-way match with a predictable finish. But predictable isn’t bad, as the right team went over as far as setting up the most appealing Smackdown Tag Title match. By the way, I’m actually surprised that WWE didn’t promote the dog food stipulation in advance. As silly as it is, I could actually see it being an enticing hook.
Backstage, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville approached Heavy Machinery. Rose thanked Otis for his help during the Royal Rumble match. Tucker encouraged Otis, who said he was nervous. Otis asked Mandy if she would go out with him next Friday. She said she plans next Friday. There were some boos. She said she didn’t have any plans the following Friday. Otis said great. After the ladies left, Tucker fired up Otis about scoring a date with Rose on Valentine’s Day…
Powell’s POV: I can’t wait to inform my lucky lady that we’ll be spending Valentine’s Day with Otis and Mandy (while I cover the show). I’m sure that will go over well. Did I mention that it’s also our anniversary? I wonder if her doghouse is stocked with that venison dog food?
A video package recapped “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt beating Daniel Bryan to retain the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble…
Footage aired from after the Rumble that showed the welts on Bryan’s back. Bryan said he shows his “boo-boos” to his daughter, but this time his wife cut him off and said it was too much. Bryan asked if it was possible that he loves all of this too much. He said the short answer was yes. He said the long answer is that he hopes his daughter finds something she enjoys as much as this…
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross made their entrance for a match against Rose and Deville. Cole said there are rumors that the winner of the match would earn a WWE Women’s Tag Title shot against The Kabuki Warriors… [C] An ad for Raw recapped Randy Orton attacking Edge, then the narrator questioned how Orton would explain his actions…
A flashback aired of Mankind beating The Rock in the 1999 Halftime Heat, which took place 21 years ago today… Rose and Deville made their entrance…
2. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. The teams fought before the bell. Bliss was down when the referee called for the bell to start the match. Late in the match, Cross performed a neckbreaker on Rose, then Bliss performed Twisted Bliss and scored the pin…
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross beat Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in 3:25.
Powell’s POV: Meh. The thrill is long gone with the Bliss and Cross team. They stopped being fun when Bliss became a legit friend and a babyface.
Shinsuke Nakamura was shown walking backstage with Cesaro on one side and Sami Zayn firing him up on the other. Cole noted that Nakamura has been Intercontinental Champion for 199 days. Highlights aired of Braun Strowman beating Nakamura in a non-title match… [C]
Braun Strowman made his entrance. Cole noted that he’s never won a singles championship in WWE…
[Hour Two] Shinsuke Nakamura made his entrance along with Sami Zayn and Cesaro…
3. Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn, Cesaro) vs. Braun Strowman for the Intercontinental Championship. Late in the match, Zayn removed a turnbuckle pad. Nakamura tried to slam Strowman’s head into the exposed turnbuckle, but ran Nakamura into the exposed turnbuckle instead. Strowman followed up with a running powerslam and scored the pin…
Braun Strowman defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in 4:35 to win the Intercontinental Championship.
Powell’s POV: It’s crazy that Strowman never won a singles title, especially considering how hot he was heading into his first title shot against Brock Lesnar. I still feel they should have gone all the way with Strowman that night, but Vince McMahon was in Roman Or Bust mode.
Sami Zayn was ranting to Nakamura and Cesaro about what happened being a case of injustice. A backstage interviewer asked him where he goes next. He continued to rant until he was interrupted by Elias, who was playing his guitar in the ring. With Sami on the big screen, Elias said he was scheduled to perform and since no one wanted to hear Sami, he though he would start.
Zayn demanded his time. Elias apologized and told him to go ahead. When Zayn started talking, Elias played his guitar again. Rinse and repeat with Elias apologizing, then playing his guitar when Zayn tried to talk again. Zayn asked Cesaro to take care of the situation. Elias played his guitar in the ring until he was interrupted by Cesaro’s entrance music.
Cesaro went to the ring and was roughed up by Elias, who hit him with a high nee that sent him to ringside. Elias went to the top rope, but Cesaro backed away. Elias played to the crowd while Cesaro seethed on the ramp…
Cole hyped Graves’s podcast and his interview with Ronda Rousey. Graves said that if he were a betting man, he’d bet we see Rousey back in WWE sooner rather than later… A Shorty G and Sheamus video package aired…
Sheamus made his entrance and was knocked down by Shorty G on the stage. Shorty headed to the ring while Sheamus looked surprised as he got to his feet… [C]
4. Sheamus vs. Shorty G. The match was joined in progress. Shorty executed a top rope moonsault for a two count. Shorty came up hold his back. Sheamus hit him with an Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus followed up with a Brogue Kick and scored the pin…
Sheamus defeated Shorty G.
A production crew member opened another can of dog food and poured it into the bowl on the stage… [C]
Powell’s POV: Here’s hoping that Sheamus just Brogue Kicked the Shorty G name and gimmick off of poor Chad Gable. This is the worst WWE gimmick in years.
Cole hyped Drew McIntyre as the guest on Tuesday’s WWE Backstage…
Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley made her entrance and was smiling for a change. Cole wondered what the reaction to Bayley will be in her hometown of San Jose next week. Bayley smiled as she held up the title and was booed. “Damn, I’m good,” she said. “There’s just something about me, am I right?”
Bayley boasted about beating Lacey Evans and crushing her dreams. The fans gave Bayley the “What?” treatment. She asked the fans if they could hear her. Bayley boasted that she beat Evans while her daughter was in the front row. She said Evans’ daughter now has to look at her hero and know what a failure she is. Bayley boasted that she’s beaten everyone. She assumed Charlotte Flair would challenge her and was inviting her to do so when she was interrupted.
Naomi’s entrance theme played and she made her “glow” entrance with a head piece that lit up in various colors. Naomi took exception to Bayley claiming she’s beaten everyone when she hasn’t beaten her. Naomi said that as the former Smackdown Women’s Champion, she feels the title could use some glow.
Bayley blasted Naomi with a microphone and worked her over. Bayley tried to hit Naomi with the title belt, but Naomi ducked it and then performed a springboard kick. Bayley went to ringside and then Naomi’s music played. The Usos made their entrance and had a moment with Naomi while Cole hyped that the loser of the main event would eat dog food…
Powell’s POV: It was nice to see Bayley smiling and acting cocky rather than flashing that mopey look she’s used since becoming a heel.
Roman Reigns made his entrance. The broadcast team hyped the return of The Dirt Sheet with The Miz and John Morrison, the return of Daniel Bryan, and Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Funhouse for next week. Baron Corbin’s theme played (thank you) and then heels all made their entrance together…
5. Roman Reigns and The Usos vs. King Corbin, Robert Roode, and Dolph Ziggler in a loser eats dog food match. The dog food table was at ringside. Roode threw one of the Usos into the timekeepers’ area heading into a break. [C]
An XFL commercial aired and then Cole spoke about how “smelly” and “disgusting” the dog food was coming out of the break. Corbin chokeslammed Reigns for a near fall at 7:50. Reigns rallied and let out his war cry. Reigns set up for a spear, but Corbin kicked him. Reigns circled around Corbin and rolled hi up and pinned him.
Roman Reigns and The Usos defeated King Corbin, Robert Roode, and Dolph Ziggler in 9:45 in a loser eats dog food match.
After the match, Reigns smiled at a stunned Corbin and pointed to his wrist to signify that it was time. Corbin tried to escape while the Usos put him in handfcuffs. Reigns speared Corbin, then hugged a kid at ringside. Reigns and The Usos placed Corbin against the ring post with the chain over the top while Cole recalled Corbin doing the same thing to Reigns.
Reigns grabbed a scoop of the food and threw it at Corbin. The Usos picked a bowl of the dog food and poured it onto Corbin. Reigns picked up the other bowl and threw it onto Corbin. Reigns and the Usos posed next to Corbin and laughed while Cole said that image would be on the front page of the WWE website tomorrow morning. Reigns and the Usos continued to pose by Corbin while Cole told viewers to enjoy the big game on Fox. “I’m sure King Corbin will,” Cole said to close the show…
Powell’s POV: Why am I suddenly craving a can of Hormel chili without beans? The stipulation should have been loser wears dog food, as they didn’t even have Corbin take a bite. Overall, Super Smackdown felt a lot like any other Smackdown only with a title change and a man wearing dog food. Dot Net Members will hear my weekly audio review coming up shortly. Let me know what you thought of the show by assigning it a letter grade in our usual post show poll available on the main page. Have a great weekend.
The Shorty G gimmick is bad? What do you mean, pal? It’s inspiring. It shows people that even if they’re small (or around the same size as a bunch of others on the roster) and are constantly bullied as a result of said size, as long as they work hard and give it their all, they too can lose all the time. Besides, no one likes seeing bullies get their comeuppance. Be a star.
“Savages?” Nice dogwhistle, WWE creative. Plus the dog food. What year is this, anyway? I get that Corbin, at.al. are heels but, really?