SmackDown Episode #1327

Venue: Moody Center (Austin, TX)

Attendance: ~10,500

Results of Tonight's Show

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• SmackDown starts with Cody Rhodes headed to the ring for his interview with Joe Tessitore. Joe calls out tonight they're in Austin, home to the son of a plumber. But tomorrow night at Saturday Night's Main Event, Shawn Michaels will be moderating the contract signing for his title match against Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble, and he'll have to give up his belt for it to be hung above the ring. Cody says he has no problems handing it over to someone like Shawn Michaels. Joe calls out that the last SNME was the package piledriver incident that put Cody on the bench; he asks Cody how he feels about what we see today from Kevin Owens? Cody calls out Kevin being a once in a generation superstar, but he always takes the easy way out. And that's why a ladder match is apt so there's no referee issues. Joe follows up, asking if Cody has one message that maybe Kevin could hear, what would he say? Cody responds, yeah maybe he appears to be a good guy because that's who he is, but if you push a button and act extra, remember you're up against someone who defeated Roman Reigns and is as mean as they can get. And as they head into Royal Rumble, all he has to say to Kevin is, good luck.

• Pretty Deadly chat with #DIY backstage asking them what the game plan is. Johnny Gargano whines that he just found out he has a match against Apollo Crews and so they can't back them up tonight. Pretty Deadly notes they've kinda had a quid pro quo relationship and they feel like they're not getting their side of the deal. Tomasso Ciampa tells them to handle their business, and Gargano says they believe in them. As #DIY leave, Pretty Deadly come face to face with Legado Del Fantasma - and have an extended stare-down.

• Nick Aldis meets with The Miz, noting that Joe Tessitore's interview was great but Miz TV would mean ratings. Aldis asks if Miz understands why he's here… and it's because he's been moved to SmackDown. Miz panicks, saying the Wyatt Sicks is on SmackDown! He had them strategically moved! Aldis tells him, maybe he should go make some friends.

• Kevin Owens randomly interrupts the commentary desk between matches, screaming at Joe Tessitore for interviewing Cody and not him. He almost misses Michael Cole, even though he's been too busy kissing Pat McAfee's ass. He asks Joe why he and everyone else kisses Cody's ass even though all he does is betray his friends. He calls out Matthew McConaughey in the front row saying he's going to beat Cody just like Ohio State beat the stupid Longhorns. Jimmy Uso's music hits and Kevin yells to cut it, asking why he's here. Jimmy says it's because he talks too damn much, and takes down KO. Before he can finish the job, Kevin rolls out the the ring and Jimmy asks where he's running to. Things get weird in Austin right? How about Jimmy Uso vs. Kevin Owens tonight?

• Nick Aldis is run up on by Carmelo Hayes who says it was supposed to be him & Jimmy in a match? Aldis apologizes & says he could make it for next week, but he just secured a new talent acquisition who would be perfect for him tonight. Hayes says he won't fall for that like he did with Braun Strowman, he wants to know who it is. Aldis says he's on his way to the arena now. Hayes says that's great, he'll let him know face to face that on SmackDown he's swimming with sharks.

• After the women's tag match we're backstage again with Nick Aldis & Carmelo Hayes, introducing Damian Priest. Aldis notes that Hayes was looking for a match tonight, saying he's ready to punish. Hayes shrugs it off.

• Rumble is brat

• Charlotte Flair gets a vignette calling out her confidence and her legacy, noting that you don't have to call yourself the GOAT when you know you are. She plans to enter the Royal Rumble and remind everyone who owns the night.

• Tiffany Stratton heads to the ring to address the crowd. She's once again the center of attention, with next week 30 women fighting to face her at WrestleMania. And funny, last week she beat last year's winner Bayley, so she has no concerns and everyone will be running on Tiffy Time. She's interrupted by Rhea Ripley who joins her. Rhea says she knows she's still new here, but she's Women's Champion too. Champion to champion, Rhea respects what she did to Nia Jax, but it's not going to compare to what she's going to do to her at SNME. And now they're both interrupted by Nia, with Candice LeRae in tow. Nia isn't sure why she's catching strays, but she realizes this is a historic moment because she's here to officially announce she's entering (and winning) the Royal Rumble match. She knows everyone is asking, isn't Rhea's title reign going to end at SNME anyway? Well yeah, but she's still going to enter and take Tiffy's title back which is rightfully hers. They're all interrupted by Bianca Belair & Naomi, with both of them declaring themselves for the Rumble. Aand both declaring they're going to win, or at least the other one will. They're then interrupted yet again by Liv Morgan + Raquel Rodriguez. Liv says look what they have here, someone who lost her man to a real woman, a Liv doppelganger, and a whole ring of others declaring themselves but she doesn't care. The headlining news is going to be about Liv, and she declares her Royal Rumble entry -- and her victory. She says she can say that because she has Raquel backing her up but as she talks her shit, Rhea headbutts her and the ring breaks in to a bit of a scuffle. Nick Aldis is summoned, making a 6-woman tag match.

• Michin & B-FAB talk with Chelsea Green & Piper Niven backstage, with Michin saying she chatted with Nick Aldis and has earned another title shot for Chelsea's title next week. As they walk away, Green & Niven are frustrated.

• During the Gargano/Crews match, MCMG decided to walk down the ramp for no reason in particular, causing a distraction so Crews could sneak in the win.

• Jacob Fatu screams his way though backstage, all gas no brakes, with Tama Tonga saying yeyeyeyeyyeeyyeeyeyah

• LA Knight has the mic in the ring ahead of his match with Tama Tonga. They cost him his US Championship, so obviously he's got his eye on them. He was happy to get his ass kicked last week if it meant he got a piece of them. He's ready to take out Tommy but if Jacob wants to stick his big fat head in, there might not be anything left at SNME for Braun.

• Post-match, Jacob Fatu immediately sends LA Knight into the announce table. It doesn't collapse, so he starts to set up for more when Braun Strowman's music hits. Braun & Jacob stare each other down from opposite sides of the ring. Tama Tonga attempts an ambush but Strowman catches him, with Tonga & Fatu retreating.

• Miz is backstage recruiting A-Town Down Under, proposing The Marine 7 and all the riches in the world. Aldis pokes his head in to tell Austin Theory & Grayson Waller to pack their bags, they're going to Raw. They're pumped! And on their way out Theory tells Miz he's excited they're gonna get rich.

• It's a Shinsuke Nakamura video, warning all those who dare to challenge him for his United States Championship, and delaring himself for the Royal Rumble. 2025 will be the year of his conquest.

• MCMG chat argue with #DIY backstage with Nick Aldis in tow, letting them know that they're challenging them to a 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championships at the Royal Rumble!

• Next week: MCMG & Los Garza vs. #DIY & Pretty Deadly, Naomi vs. Liv Morgan, and Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes!

• Michelle McCool & Mark Henry are in the audience tonight! So were some other people we won't acknowledge

• Cody Rhodes runs into Damian Priest after his match, congratulating him on the move. Priest says he'll see him soon, champ.

• Jesse Ventura announced to be on commentary on SNME tomorrow night!

• Miz glazes Andrade, telling him he needs someone to guide him and make him the superstar he truly is. Andrade loves the idea, he'll call someone. Jimmy Uso walks up to Miz for a quick laugh, then on to Carmelo Hayes letting him know it's only going to take 3 moves to beat him.

• Post-match, KO brings Jimmy Uso over to the announce table lining up the package piledriver when he's interrupted by Cody Rhodes. They brawl in the ring, then outside of the ring, then back into the ring as the show comes to a close.

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