It’s time for the go-home SmackDown with the upcoming Royal Rumble event on January 28th just two days away. And as such, WWE is trying to wrap up several storylines leading into the marquee premium live event so that they can press somewhat of a hard reset leading up to WrestleMania. It is anyone’s guess what surprises the Royal Rumble has in store but first, it’s time for the card for WWE SmackDown tonight, airing live from the Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, Texas where a certain Beast is being advertised to appear.
WWE SmackDown Tonight – Full Card
TONIGHT on #SmackDown
Just one day before facing @WWERomanReigns at #RoyalRumble, @FightOwensFight battles it out with The Enforcer of #TheBloodline, @WWESoloSikoa.
📺 8/7c on @FOXTV pic.twitter.com/TeQnAlNXSM
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2023
Kevin Owens vs Solo Sikoa
Roman Reigns has had enough with Kevin Owens and on Saturday, challenger and contender will meet face-to-face for what should be the final time. But before that, Reigns is hoping to inflict as much damage on his opponent as possible. Insert, Solo Sikoa, the muscle of the Bloodline. Following Owens’ attack on the Bloodline during the championship match contract signing, expect Sikoa to show no mercy as he acts in deference to his tribal chief. The Enforcer will no doubt look to put a hurting on Owens but the question is, how much is too much before a certain honorary Uso gets involved? Roman Reigns gave Sami Zayn VERY clear instructions after his trial on Raw is XXX. Go home, get some rest, and don’t show your face until the Royal Rumble. It’s hard to believe Zayn would risk his place in the Bloodline at this point, especially now that he has Jey Uso firmly in his corner. But will he be able to sit back and watch Owens take a beating so severe that the Prizefighter might not even make it to the Royal Rumble? Or will Zayn follow orders and stay home and out of trouble? Time will tell but tonight could provide a red herring for what comes next in the Zayn/Bloodline saga, which feels sure to boil over this weekend.
Rey Mysterio vs Karrion Kross
And what makes you different than the rest @realKILLERkross? See you mañana…#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/K12pPgWrwz
— ♛Rey Mysterio❔ (@reymysterio) January 26, 2023
The rivalry between Rey Mysterio and Karrion Kross may be new but it has become as vicious as it gets. Kross has questioned Mysterio as a father and has promised him that the clock is ticking on his career. With the Royal Rumble on the horizon, Mysterio, a legend of the match’s past, and Kross, hoping to make his own mark in the present, will meet in the ring for a match that should be anything but cordial. These two despise each other at this point, so don’t expect either man to hold back, especially Mysterio, who will be out for retribution after Kross put him in the Kross Jacket a few weeks ago.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Semifinals
Friday night will see the conclusion of the semifinal round of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship tournament. Drew McIntyre and Sheamus have emerged as the odds-on favorite to win the tournament and receive their shot at the titles that the Usos currently hold. But standing in their way are the recently turned Hit Row, whose streak of aggression (perhaps the ruthless kind) has been causing trouble for other teams on the roster. Ashante Adonis and Top Dolla will certainly be no walk over but the expectation is that Sheamus and McIntyre’s expertise and experience will win out. In the other semifinal, Legado del Fantasma takes on the other championship favorite, Imperium. Imperium stood toe-to-toe with DX on Monday night and didn’t blink. While the group was ultimately unsuccessful against Seth Rollins and the Street Profits, one thing is clear, Imperium is no joke. The duo of Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci represents the dominant faction, as they take on Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde representing Legado del Fantasma. This should no doubt be a great fight but in the end, the strength advantage belongs to Imperium. And when Imperium comes to face Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, that will be a match worth main eventing any card.
The Beast in the World
We saved the Beast, I mean the best for last. While WWE’s official SmackDown preview doesn’t mention a Brock Lesnar appearance, their promotion for the event is certainly not shying away from advertising the Beast being on WWE SmackDown tonight. Lesnar is the marquee star on WWE’s photo on their website and is the top listed featured superstar. Yes, card and superstars are subject to change but don’t be surprised if you hear that riff and see Lesnar show up to make his Royal Rumble intentions clear.
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