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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: HAS THE TABLE BEEN BROKEN?, OBSTACLE COURSE, AN OWENS PROMO, AND MORE

We begin with a look back at how Adam Pearce earned and gave up his Universal Title Match at the Royal Rumble.

We are in St. Petersburg, Florida and your announcers are Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

Universal Champion Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring and he is joined by Paul Heyman.

Roman is handed the mic and he stands around while the sound board chants that Roman sucks.

Roman says that KO said he would be delivering a message today?  No he's not.  We are not going to see Kevin Owens tonight because I said so.  Let's talk about last week.  Card subject to change.  Real clever boys.  A lot of people were making comments thinking they got one past us and outsmarted us.  Let's make this clear.  That way of thinking is way beneath me.  Card subject to change is how losers think.  That is how people who are afraid to show up at work think.

It took his health being at risk in a pandemic to keep me out of this ring so I don't want to hear that I have missed an appearance.  What if I thought like Adam Pearce and was a puss like Adam Pearce.  What if I said my elbow or shoulder hurt?  I don't think anyone would doubt me if I said my knees hurt.  My neck hurts too.  Roman says his ankles have been bad since college.  Roman asks Paul what was he complaining about earlier.  Roman says his back hurts because he has been carrying this damn company for years now.  

What if my back continues to hurt . . . until next week, until next Sunday.  What if I cannot make it to the Royal Rumble because my back hurts.

Adam Pearce comes out to the ring and he says this has gone too far.  This is spiraling out of control.

Roman says that Adam wants to talk about control.  We know who is in control.  What is out of control is that you would go against me.  What is out of control is that you would do Kevin Owens a favor and put him back in the main event and the Universal Title picture.  The fact that you favor him, that is out of control.  Roman tells Adam he is Kevin Owens' bitch so that means you are my bitch.  You come out here and talk about how your body hurts and you haven't been in a match in six years.  You talk about how your body hurts, but you are standing next to the thorougbred of the WWE and I have done it week after week for 5 years. 

I never stopped because I busted my ass for this place.  You are going to come out here and whine, moan, and complain.  No wonder you never made it to the WWE.

Adam asks Paul if that is funny to him.  He says he can take it from Roman but he is not going to take it from Paul.

Roman tells Paul that Adam has disrespected you and that means he has disrespected Roman.  Roman tells Paul to fix this.

Paul says that Adam has disrespected the Tribal Chief's family.  I have known them since I was 15.  You think I am not capable and impotent as a man.  You don't think I can handle myself as a man.  I will whoop your ass if you disrespect my tribal chief.  Paul says he may not be a lawyer but he comes from a synagogue of them.  Verbal contracts are binding in Florida so if you want it, Adam Pearce, one on one, versus Paul Heyman.

They shake hands and we have a match.

Sami Zayn is at ringside with his camera crew and he handcuffs himself to the ringside barrier in the aisle.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Sami says that he is officially in the Royal Rumble match but that is small compared to what happened to him last week.  Sami mentions that he might have had his hand on Apollo's tights but then Crews did the same and was not punished.

We see Natalya and Tamina watching in the back.

Match Number One:  Charlotte Flair and Asuka versus Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan (with Billie Kay) in a Non Title Match

Ruby and Charlotte start things off and they lock up.  Charlotte with a side head lock.  Asuka tags in and Charlotte with a snap mare and Asuka with a shoulder tackle.  Charlotte tags in and she sends Ruby into the turnbuckles.  Charlotte chokes Ruby in the corner.  Ruby with a punch and Charlotte with a forearm as we return to watching on a monitor in the back.  Charlotte with a hard Irish whip and Billie gets on the apron and it briefly distracts Charlotte but she elbows Ruby.  Liv tags in and Charlotte sends Ruby to the floor.  Charlotte grabs Billie by the hair and Liv with a drop kick on the apron.  Liv with a cross body for a near fall.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Charlotte kicks Liv in the corner.  Charlotte goes for a slam but Liv gets to her feet and she hits a head scissors take down.  Ruby tags in and connects with forearms.  Ruby sends Charlotte face first into the turnbuckles and gets a near fall.  Liv tags in and they hit a double slam for a near fall.  Ruby and Liv kick Charlotte in the corner when Ruby tags in.  Liv tags back in and Charlotte kicks Liv and hits Ruby with forearms.  Charlotte with chops and she sends Ruby into the turnbuckles.  Charlotte with a kick to Liv and a fallaway slam.  Charlotte with a back breaker and she sends Liv into the turnbuckles.  Asuka tags in and hits a sliding kick for a near fall.  Liv takes care of Charlotte and Asuka but Asuka with an ankle lock and German suplex.

Liv with a rollup but Asuka with a forearm and she goes for the Asuka Lock but Ruby tags in and Ruby blocks a German suplex.  Billie gets on the apron and Ruby has Asuka pinned but the referee was distracted.  Liv pushes Ruby out of the way and Asuka with a hip attack to Liv on the apron.  Asuka with a pop up knee and Charlotte tags in and Asuka with a Codebreaker followed by Natural Selection by Charlotte for the three count.

Winners:  Asuka and Charlotte Flair

We go to commercial.

We are back and Billie apologizes to Ruby and Liv for what happened.  Ruby wants to know what Billie didn't mean to do?  She didn't mean to cost them a shot at the tag titles.  Liv says for someone who doesn't mean it, you did it.  Billie says great teams got over some obstacles.  Billie says that Liv and Ruby are in the Royal Rumble match after talking to Sonya.  

Ruby tells Billie there is no US.  Maybe the squad was much better when it was just them.

Daniel Bryan makes his way to the ring and he stops to stare at the protester.

Daniel says a week from Sunday is one of the most iconic traditions in WWE, the Royal Rumble match.  Even saying those words this time of year makes a chill go down his spine and the hairs on his arm raise.  It is hard to explain why.  It is the uncertainty of what number you are going to draw.  It is watching the countdown.  It is waiting for your music to play and you don't know who is coming out next.  It is the exhilaration of competing against 29 other superstars in a match that can go more than an hour.  It is one of the most grueling things you can do in the WWE.  It makes him feel alive.

It is worth it because the winner gets to face the champion of their choosing in the main event of Wrestlemania.  Daniel says he is proud of his career and he has accomplished a lot, but he has never won a Royal Rumble match.

Cesaro interrupts and he says he thought he beat some sense into Daniel last week.  You are talking about winning the Rumble.  I could have explained the rules better and do it in 5 languages.  You are not winning the Royal Rumble, I am.  As the first Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner, I am an expert on that issue.

Daniel suggests putting the microphones down and they can fight now.

Cesaro tells Daniel NO.  He says he is sick and tired of proving himself week after week doing the same thing over and over.  Since you are not dressed for the occasion, I will make a challenge to anyone who is in the Royal Rumble match to come out and face him.

Dolph Ziggler's music plays and he says we are talking about the Royal Rumble.  He says he was in the second most Royal Rumbles ever.  That can mean good or bad.  I can go all night long with my stamina.  Other than Robert Roode, there is no one who can go toe to toe with me other than you Cesaro.  If you are talking about a challenge, I want to be in the Royal Rumble to get to Wrestlemania and get paid.

Match Number Two:  Dolph Ziggler versus Cesaro

Cesaro tries to get a cover and he applies a gutwrench but Ziggler blocks it.  Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall.  Cesaro gets a near fall.  Ziggler with an elbow and a sleeper.  Cesaro backs Ziggler into the corner to escape the hold and Cesaro with a running European uppercut in the corner.  Cesaro with the Giant Swing and then lets Ziggler go and Cesaro gets a near fall.  Ziggler struggles to get back to his feet and Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall.  Cesaro with a back body drop and Ziggler holds on to get a near fall.  They go back and forth with near falls on rollups.  Ziggler with a Zig Zag.

Ziggler gets a near fall.

Meanwhile, Sami has a new sign for his protest.

Ziggler returns to the sleeper but Cesaro is able to counter into a suplex attempt but Ziggler with a knee.  Cesaro tries for a power bomb but Ziggler counters.   Ziggler goes for a rana but Cesaro counters with a Gotch Style Neutralizer for the three count.

Winner:  Cesaro

We take a look at how we got Sasha Banks versus Reginald.

We go to commercial.

Coverage continues on Next Page

 

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