Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Your announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
Match Number One: Braun Strowman versus Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship
They lock up and Braun pushes Gunther away. Gunther goes to the floor and then returns to the ring. Gunther goes for the arm and applies a wrist lock and connects with a forearm to the shoulder. Braun sends Gunther over the top rope to the floor and Strowman punches Gunther and sends him into the ring steps. Braun with a punch and Braun returns to the ring. Strowman goes to the floor and does the choo choo lap and shoulder tackle that sends Gunther over the announce table.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Strowman gets Gunther up but Gunther gets to his feet and he sends Braun into the ring steps a few times. Gunther slams the arm on the apron and they return to the ring. Gunther with a kick to the arm and he applies a double wrist lock. Gunther with an snap mare and Gunther with chops and a kick. Gunther with an arm bar. Braun with punches and Gunther with a forearm to the shoulder. Gunther with a knee drop to the shoulder and he gets a near fall. Gunther returns to the double wrist lock. Braun tries to get Gunther up but Gunther holds on to the wrist lock and Gunther kicks Strowman in the arm. Gunther with a wrist lock. Gunther continues to work on the shoulder. Gunther with a chop and he works on the shoulder.
Braun with forearms but Gunther with a chop. Braun with forearms and a short arm clothesline. Braun with an Irish whip and a back body drop. Kaiser grabs Braun and Vinci with a drop kick when the referee was not looking. Gunther with chops and Strowman with a slam for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Gunther with a short arm scissors but Braun rolls through and picks up Gunther for a one arm belly-to-back suplex. Gunther with a wrist lock and Braun with a chop. Gunther chops back and they continue the exchange. Gunther with a double thrust to the throat but Braun with an elbow after Gunther applies a waist lock. Braun with a spinebuster for a near fall. Braun sets for a power bomb but Gunther escapes and Gunther chops the injured arm and connects with a clothesline. Braun with a clothesline of his own. Strowman misses a shoulder in the corner and the injured arm hits the turnbuckles.
Gunther with a drop kick and clothesline for a near fall. Gunther goes up top and hits the frog splash for a near fall. Gunther goes back to the turnbuckles and Braun gets up and grabs Gunther by the throat. Gunther chops Braun and Braun chops Gunther and sets for a superplex. Gunther blocks it and he works on the arm and he chops Braun on the turnbuckles and slams Braun’s head into the ring post. Gunther with a power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Gunther (retains championship)
Sami Zayn walks in the back and he knocks on the Bloodline’s door and Paul comes out to welcome Sami.
Sami says he wants to talk strategy with the guys and Paul says it is just him.
Paul says he talked to Roman last week and said that he would have the Usos and Solo attack Kevin while he was in the ring with Sami. Then he says that Paul says Roman told him to make sure that Sami did it by himself because he doesn’t want to doubt Sami.
Sami tells Paul to tell Roman . . . he made the right call. He will handle this and take care of it tonight. Sami says that isn’t a prediction . . . it’s a spoiler. Sami walks away.
We go to commercial.
Rey Mysterio makes his way to the ring.
Rey says he always said the holidays are exciting and special to him. Especially when you have been on the road so many years, you appreciate your family, especially at Christmas. Rey says he did not have a very Merry Christmas.
Rey says his son, Dominik, tried to ruin it. Now he is walking around like a thug. Rey says as a father, that breaks his heart. As a man, he says he is fed up with your bulls***. Rey says he came to Smackdown for a fresh start and he knows what will get him back on track. Rey says he is entering and is going to win the Royal Rumble.
Karrion Kross’ music plays and he makes his way to the ring with Scarlett.
Karrion says hello to Rey Mysterio. He says he was in the back listening to Rey talk about goals. You need goals because how else would you peel your broken ass out of bed every day? You said the Royal Rumble is coming up and we all remember 17 years ago when Rey won the Rumble.
Kross says it was 17 years ago. That must have been a special moment for you and a special moment for your son, Dominik. His father is a real life superhero and he wins the big one. Kross says he wouldn’t know if it was special for Dominik because you weren’t around when he was a kid.
Kross asks Rey who does he hate more. Your son, Dominik, for not growing up like him or you for Dominik not being like you.
Rey punches Kross but Kross puts Rey in a bear hug. Rey with back elbows and then Rey sends Kross into the ropes. Scarlett trips Rey and Kross with the Kross Jacket while wearing his leather jacket.
Scarlett holds up the Rey card while the building turns red.
Emma asks Liv if she is doing the right thing to start the rumble at number one.
Raquel says that Liv has the fighting spirit to face 29 others, but it might be better for someone your size to start later in the match to succeed.
Raquel says it is her first Rumble and she is excited.
Liv says she got her palm read and she shows it to Raquel and she slaps her. Liv challenges Raquel to a match and Raquel accepts.
Match Number Two: Xia Li versus Tegan Nox
Xia with a wrist lock and Tegan with a punch and forearms. Tegan with an uppercut and a gourdbuster. Tegan with a back senton into the corner. Tegan goes up top and Xia stops her by running into the ropes to trip up Tegan. Xia slams Tegan to the mat and gets a near fall. Xia with a rear chin lock. Xia sends Tegan to the mat and returns to the rear chin lock. Tegan with a snap mare but Xia with a chop to the throat. Xia with a bicycle kick to send Tegan into the corner. Xia with a chop to the top of the head. Tegan punches Xia a few times but Xia with a forearm to the back. Xia with an exploder to Tegan. Xia misses the spinning heel kick and Tegan with a Shiniest Wizard for the three count.
Winner: Tegan Nox
We take a look at what happened last week during the Smackdown Tag Title match.
We see footage of the Viking Raiders attacking Drew and Sheamus after the show ended.
We go to the campfire.
Valhalla says God speaks, she listens. Erik and Ivar say they obey. They are sentenced to battle. Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. . . Erik and Ivar say suffering awaits.
Drew and Sheamus are with Adam Pearce. Drew says they want the Viking Raiders tonight. Sheamus says he hears Drew but they can wait. Sheamus says he wants the Usos. Drew says their time is going to come but the Vikings are first. Sheamus tells Drew to listen to his elders and his betters. Drew says now is the time for fighting.
Pearce says he has good news for them. He is going to start a tournament next week to see who faces the Usos for the titles.
Drew asks about the Viking Raiders.
Pearce says Drew and Sheamus will face the Viking Raiders next week.
Drew and Sheamus are happy.
We go to commercial.
Coverage Continues on Next Page.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
