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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: THE PLOT THICKENS FOR THE RUMBLE, IYO DEFENDS, BSS REUNION, THE AUTHORS ARE BACK, AND MORE

We go to the back where Paul Heyman is pacing.  Kevin asks Paul about the comments made by The Rock on Raw.

Paul says The Rock name drops Roman Reigns because the Rock wants to sit at the head of the table.  To sit at the head of the table, one must be invited to a dinner of relevancy.  The Rock has not been invited, nor will he be.  Rock is like everybody else.  He is looking for a shortcut to the headlines.  There are two ways to be on top.  Date Taylor Swift or challenge Roman Reigns.  Roman Reigns is confronted by John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Cody Rhodes.  CM Punk comes back after ten years and Punk says he is the OG Heyman Guy.  Tonight, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight fight for the privilege to get smashed by Roman Reigns.  The winner will be smashed at the Royal Rumble the same way the man who challenges Roman at Wrestlemania.  

There is not one man on the face of this planet who can beat Roman Reigns.'

Iyo Sky walks in the back and she is swamped by KaienFive.  Bayley says this is her vision and she sees visions of gold.  She says she knew Iyo would win.  

Iyo says this will never end.

Bayley says next week, Asuka and Kairi will face the tag champs.

Dakota says Bayley will win the Royal Rumble.

Bianca shows up and she says she wanted to congratulate Iyo on her victory.  She tells Bayley she is getting ahead of herself.  She tells Bayley she is not winning the Royal Rumble because Bianca says she is going to eliminate Bayley and then win the Rumble for a second time and get her title back.  She wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

Dakota says Iyo says that Bayley has to take care of Bianca if she is the leader of the group.

Match Number Three:  Elton Prince and Kit Wilson versus Butch and Tyler Bate

Bate and Kit start things off and they lock up.  Bate with a wrist lock take down and Kit with a head scissors.  Tyler with a headstand and escape into a side head lock.  Tyler kicks Kit in the head and Kit sends Tyler into the turnbuckles.  Tyler with a leap frog and he goes through the legs.  Tyler with a rollup for a near fall followed by a drop kick and pose.  Elton tags in and Tyler kicks Elton.  Butch tags in and Tyler with a senton off Butch.  Elton with forearms and a side head lock.  Butch with a clothesline to Elton.  Butch pulls at Kit's fingers and stomps on the back.  Tyler tags in and Butch with a moonsault onto Kit while Tyler hits a plancha onto Elton.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Elton with a reverse chin lock on Butch.  We see footage of Kit helping Elton escape a submission hold.  Butch fights out of the corner but Elton with a kick to stop Butch from making the tag.  Butch with an X Plex.  Tyler and Kit tag in and Tyler with forearms and elbows to both men.  Tyler with a head scissors to Kit and an uppercut to Elton.  Tyler with a knee lift to Kit and a corkscrew uppercut off the turnbuckles.  Tyler with an exploder to Elton followed by a shooting star press.  Tyler with an airplane spin to Kit and a slam.  Butch tags in and he hits a kick to the back of the head while Tyler hits a kick.  Tyler with a rebound clothesline for a near fall.

Tyler with a punch to Elton.  Butch and Tyler go up top and Elton kicks Tyler on a moonsault to the floor.  Elton pushes Butch off the turnbuckles onto the top rope and Kit with a rollup for a near fall.  Butch pulls at the fingers and Tyler tags in and he punches Elton.  Butch and Tyler with a double power bomb for the three count.

Winners:  Butch and Tyler Bate

We take a look at LA Knight.

We go to commercial.

Nick Aldis is on the phone and Ashante Thee Adonis shows up.  

He says he feels lost but he doesn't want Nick to feel sorry for him.  He says he is hungry.  He says he needs an opportunity.

Nick says he does not feel sorry for him.  Nick says he believes in Ashante and he has some ideas for him.

Next week, Bianca Belair faces Bayley.  Cameron Grimes faces Grayson Waller.  Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro face Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo.

Match Number Four:  AJ Styles versus LA Knight versus Randy Orton in a Number One Contender Match for the Universal Championship at Royal Rumble

The match is joined in progress and AJ punches Orton but Knight punches AJ.  All three men chop each other.  AJ kicks Orton in the corner and Knight sends AJ into the turnbuckles and chops AJ.  Knight Irish whips AJ into the turnbuckles and AJ hits the ring post.  Knight tries to clothesline AJ over the top rope but AJ stays in the ring.  Knight is able to send AJ to the floor.  Orton sends Knight to the floor and Orton follows.  Knight with a back elbow and he sends Orton's head into the announce table.  Knight does the same to AJ.  Orton gives Knight a back drop driver onto the announce table.  Orton gives AJ a back drop driver onto the announce table as well.  

Orton decides to give Knight another back drop driver onto the announce table.  AJ avoids being dropped on the table again and AJ gives Orton a back drop driver onto the announce table.  AJ sends Knight into the ring steps.  AJ sends Orton back into the ring.  AJ sets for a Phenomenal Forearm but Orton swats at AJ's legs to send AJ to the apron.  Orton looks around and sets for the IEDDT.  Orton hits it.  Orton looks around and then he kicks AJ aside.  Orton twists to the mat and sets for the RKO with the push ups.  Knight pulls Orton to the floor and sends Randy into the ring steps.  AJ with a drop kick to Knight through the ropes.

We go to commercial.

We are back and AJ with a snap mare and sliding forearm to Knight.  AJ punches Orton on the apron and sends him to the floor.  AJ with a knee to the midsection.  AJ with a belly-to-back suplex to Knight for a near fall.  AJ kicks Orton to the floor and AJ follows.  AJ with punches and chops to Orton and he sends Orton into the ringside barrier.  AJ sends Orton into the ring steps.  AJ goes for a sunset flip on Knight but Knight drops down for a near fall.  Knight with a jaw breaker to AJ and Orton drops AJ on the top rope.  Knight with jabs to AJ and he adds some kicks.  Knight with jabs to Orton and a side Russian leg sweep.  Knight with a running hip to AJ in the corner.  Knight with a back body drop to AJ.

Orton with two clotheslines and he avoids a clothesline from Knight.  Orton with a power slam to Knight and then to AJ.  Knight with BFT to Orton and AJ stops the referee's count.  AJ punches Knight and Knight punches back.  They continue the exchange.  AJ gains the advantage.  Knight with a kick and knee lift.  AJ with a Pele Kick to Knight.  AJ with a back breaker.  AJ goes to the apron and hits a springboard 450 splash on Knight for a near fall.  Knight is bleeding and AJ with punches to the forehead.  AJ sets for the Syles Clash but AJ sees Orton in the ring so he sends Knight to the floor.  Orton sends AJ into the corner.  AJ with a forearm and he sets for the Phenomenal Forearm but Orton with an RKO but Knight pulls the referee out of the ring to stop the count.

Roman Reigns' music plays and Roman comes to the ring, followed by Paul, Jimmy, and Solo.

Solo attacks Knight and sends him to the floor.  Jimmy and Roman attack Orton and then Roman goes after AJ and kicks him.  Solo picks up the ring steps and he hits Orton with them when Jimmy sends Orton towards Solo.  Jimmy pulls off the hood of the announce table.  Roman with a power bomb to AJ.  Knight is sent back into the ring and ROman sets for a Superman punch on Knight and he hits it.  Roman has some words for Knight before hitting Knight with a spear.

They send Orton back into the ring.  Roman with a spear while Solo hits a Samoan Spike.

Nick tells Paul to congratulate Roman because now he has a Fatal Four Way at the Rumble.

We go to credits.

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