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We are in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Byron Saxton, Tom Philips, and Corey Graves.
The New Day makes its way to the ring and Big E is dressed like Baby New Year while Kofi and Xavier are in tuxedos.
Xavier welcomes everyone to the first Smackdown of 2019. Xaver says they have a big announcement because they will be in the Royal Rumble. Big E tells the people in Las Vegas to be some money on them because when you look at the three of them and their odds compared to the other participants, but Xavier and Kofi stop Big E from doing any further Steiner Match.
Kofi says they will win the match and then go on to Wrestlemania to challenge the WWE Champion. Xavier says they could challenge for the Universal Championship, but he might not show up. Kofi says that he shows up every week for 11 years and he never gets a shot.
Kofi says they are going to win the Royal Rumble, but first they have to deal with some New Year’s Resolutions.
Xavier says they spoke to their doctors and their New Year’s Resolution should be that they no longer eat pancakes. Xavier says they will be giving out nice heads of lettuce with a balsamic . . . Kofi says it is doctor’s orders. Xavier says they will no longer be devouring these delicious and fluffy . . . Xavier yells at Big E for eating pancakes. Kofi says those pancakes came out of your diaper and Kofi says no one adheres to their New Year’s Resolution. Kofi says his resolution is to buy a new car. A Yellow Bug that he becomes friends with, but it is more than meets the eyes. Big E reminds Kofi that is the plot for Bumblebee.
Xavier says he will use the year to learn how to proceed through life with a blindfold while guiding his children to safety. Kofi advises that is the plot for Bird Box.
Big E mentions that we will have a match to see who joins the Fatal Five Way Match to see who faces Daniel Bryan at the Royal Rumble. It will be Samoa Joe versus Jeff Hardy.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Jeff Hardy versus Samoa Joe in a Qualifying Match for the Fatal Five Way Match to Determine the Number One Contender for The WWE Championship at Royal Rumble
They lock up and Joe backs Hardy into the corner and Joe kicks Hardy on the break. Joe with jabs and punches. Joe kicks Hardy in the legs and then Jeff blocks a kick but Joe rolls through into a knee bar. Hardy gets to the ropes and Joe releases the hold. Joe with a jab and chop. Joe with a head butt followed by a kick to the leg. Jeff with a sit out jaw breaker. Jeff pulls Joe to the corner and wrings the leg into the ring post. Jeff with more shots to the leg and knee. Hardy goes for a figure four leg lock but Joe escapes and goes to the floor.
Joe destroys the cover of the announce table in frustration. Joe pulls Jeff to the floor but Hardy with punches. Hardy sends Joe into the ringside barrier and then back into the ring. Hardy with a leg drop and he gets a near fall. Hardy sends Joe into the turnbuckles and then he punches Joe and gets a near fall. Jeff with a snap mare and drop kick to the back. Hardy sends Joe into the turnbuckles and then connects with a shoulder to the midsection and punches to the knee. Hardy with a baseball slide into the injured knee. Hardy with a kick and he goes for a Twist of Fate but Joe escapes. Joe with a clothesline. Joe with a chin lock trapping the arm. Hardy with an elbow to escape but Joe pulls Hardy to the mat by the hair.
Joe with jabs in the corner. Hardy with punches but Joe with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Joe with forearms to Hardy in the corner. Joe with an Irish whip and he runs into an elbow. Joe puts Hardy in the tree of woe and hits a baseball slide on Hardy. Joe gets a near fall. Joe works on the neck. Hardy with elbows and punches to escape. Hardy with a running forearm and reverse atomic drop and leg drop followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Hardy with a Twist of Fate and then Hardy goes up top for the Swanton and hits it but Joe rolls to the floor after the impact.
Hardy with a drop kick but Joe blocks it and applies the Coquina Clutch on the floor. The referee starts his count and Joe releases the hold when the referee gets to eight. Joe wants the referee to continue his count, but the referee starts again from one. Jeff dives back into the ring at nine and then Joe reapplies the Coquina Clutch. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Samoa Joe
We take a look at what happened at the end of Smackdown between AJ Styles and Vince McMahon.
Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon are in the office and they talk about the Fatal Five Way Match.
There is a knock on the door and AJ Styles enters. AJ asks if they want to see him or are they sure they want to see him. AJ says maybe he should apologize for last week, but he won't. You wanted the real AJ Styles, well watch what happens tonight. Unless, you want to see the real AJ Styles right now.
Shane and Vince get up and Vince tells The Best in the World to back off.
AJ leaves the office.
Shane asks Vince if he is sure he wants to see the real AJ Styles and Vince says absolutely. Shane warns Vince about what he wants.
We go to commercial.
We go to Kayla Braxton in the ring and she introduces the new United States Champion Rusev who is joined by Lana.
Rusev is asked about his victory last week. Rusev says it was the greatest Rusev Day of them all. Rusev is asked how will his reign as champion differ from Nakamura's. Rusev says he takes pride in the US Championship and his title reign will be long and luscious, like his beard. Rusev says he will defend his title against any opponent with honor and strength, along with his animal magnetism. He will do it while smelling like a bacon flavored cinnamon bun. This is his pledge and he pledges allegiance to the United States Championship.
Nakamura attacks Rusev from behind with a thrust kick and then he connects with forearms in the corner. Lana gets on Rusev's back to stop him. Rusev with a Machka Kick and Nakamura falls back and lands on Lana.
Rusev checks on Lana and Nakamura kicks Rusev. Nakamura with a jumping knee to Rusev. Nakamura picks up the title belt and then drops it on top of Rusev before leaving the ring.
We take a look at what happened last week when Jimmy Uso was confronted under the mistletoe by Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville and Naomi coming to protect her husband.
Match Number Two: Naomi versus Sonya Deville (with Mandy Rose)
Mandy removes her outer shirt to reveal an Uso shirt. Sonya attacks Naomi and Naomi with kicks. Sonya with a rollup for a near fall. Naomi with a kick to Sonya followed by a sliding slap. Mandy distracts Naomi and Sonya with a sliding knee for a near fall. Sonya with a reverse chin lock. Naomi stomps on Sonya's foot and connects with an elbow and hits a springboard round kick.
Mandy takes a mic and she tells Naomi that when she was getting ready earlier today, she couldn't help but think of Naomi's husband so she sent him a photo and it is Mandy in a towel. Sonya with a kick to Naomi followed by a Hellevator for the three count.
Winner: Sonya Deville
Randy Orton says that Rey Mysterio knows what it is like to be his victim. More will learn tonight. After his win tonight, the WWE Champion will be known by the most devastating letters . . . R . . . K . . O.
Rey Mysterio says he proved to Randy Orton that he cannot be pushed around. He will prove it to everyone that he did not come back for nostalgia. He came back to be WWE Champion.
Mustafa Ali says he used to be known as the Heart of the Cruiserweights. Now he wants to be known as the Heart of Smackdown. He beat the WWE Champion because he has heart. He will step in the ring with four other men who have the same goal. He knows he is the underdog, but he has hope and heart.
We have some New Year's Resolutions.
The Iiconics say they will be the first Women's Tag Team Champions.
Karl Anderson says he will turn his eight pack into a ten pack. Luke says their resolution is to eradicate Smackdown of all of the nerds.
Shelton Benjamin says resolutions are a fraud because you will never live up to them. Shelton says it is time to put an end to this once and for all. Shelton pulls down the curtain to reveal they are in the locker room.
We go to commercial.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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