WWE SmackDown Results & Live Updates January 27, 2023
Welcome to the live results blog for WWE SmackDown episode of January 27, 2023, which was live from Laredo, TX, and featured the final build-up before Royal Rumble 2023 event.
The Bloodline Enforcer Solo Sikoa took upon Kevin Owens before Owens’ showdown against Roman Reigns at Royal Rumble. Two matches of SmackDown Tag Team Championship Contender tournament were also scheduled for the show. Braun Strowman and Ricochet replaced Drew McIntyre and Sheamus in the tournament to face Hit-Row in the first semifinal while Imperium on face Legado Del Fantasma in the other semifinal.
Rey Mysterio faced Karrion Kross in the opening match. Several new names were announced for Royal Rumble matches including Brock Lesnar. Tune in below for complete results from WWE Friday Night SmackDown on January 27, 2023, with live updates, winners, highlights, and complete action.
RESULTS
- Rey Mysterio defeated Karrion Kross in a singles match via pinfall.
- Lacey Evans defeated Jazmin Allure in a singles match via submission.
- Braun Strowman & Ricochet defeated Hit-Row(Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis) in semifinal of SmackDown Tag Team Title Contender Tournament via pinfall.
- Imperium(Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) defeated Legado Del Fantasma(Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) – Semifinal of SmackDown Tag Team Title Contender Tournament
- Kevin Owens vs Solo Sikoa ended in no-contest.
LIVE UPDATES
Solo Sikoa and The Usos are backstage as the show opens. Sami Zayn sneaks around a corner and pulls Jey. Jey asks him why he is violating a direct order from the Tribal Chief like that. Sami says he just wanted to thank him for his defense at the trial and if Jey needs absolutely anything ever, all he has to do is ask.
Rey Mysterio vs Karrion Kross
Kross throws Mysterio across the ring to start. Mysterio hits a dropkick and a hurricanrana. Kross tackles Mysterio and then throws him to the floor. Mysterio manages to send Kross into the ring post, then sends him crashing into the barricade.
We see Kross in control as we return. He hits a gutbuster. Kross tries to rip Mysterio’s mask as they are on the top rope. Rey hits back elbows to send him down. Kross puts Mysterio in a tree of woe and misses a running tackle.
Rey manages to put him on the ropes but Scarlett picks his leg to block 619. Rey trips him once again and hits 619. Rey hits a splash from the top but Kross kicks out of the pin at two. Kross hits a suplex after recovering. Kross goes for another suplex but Rey counters with a crucifix and gets the pinfall.
Winner – Rey Mysterio
Rey slips to the floor quickly as Kross is shocked at the loss.
We see a recap of Brock Lesnar attacking Austin Theory and Bobby Lashley during the main event of RAW 30. Austin Theory comes out as we cut to a break.
We see a digital exclusive where Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky announce their entry for Royal Rumble.
Theory & New Day
Austin Theory starts by saying, “The Champ is Here”. He brags about retaining the US title against Lashley at RAW 30. He claims to win the Royal Rumble match this year. New Day interrupt him. Kofi and Woods claim that either of them will win the Royal Rumble because when they win the Royal Rumble, we all win the Royal Rumble.
Miz interrupts him and takes offense on Theory claiming that he is the biggest superstar. Miz tells Theory that he is eliminating people from Royal Rumble since Theory did not even hit puberty. Theory retorts by saying that it means that Miz is old. Miz argues with Theory for a while as New Day laugh at them.
Miz and Theory attack New Day and take them to corner. Bobby Lashley’s music hits and he runs out to hit spears on Miz and Theory. Woods gives him a high five but Bobby nails him a back elbow and a spinebuster. Kofi also eats a spinebuster.
Lashley takes the mic and says since Lesnar interrupted his title match, he will continue to terrorize everyone until he gets what he wants. Lesnar runs out of the crowd and hits Lashley with an F5. Lesnar picks up the mic and tells Lashley, “See you at Royal Rumble”.
After the break, we see Rhea Ripley in a digital exclusive where she hypes herself to win Royal Rumble.
Lacey Evans vs Jazmin Allure
Evans starts with a throw across the ring. She drops Jazmin with a drop toe hold. They lock up before Lacey hits a pump kick. She whips Jazmin from corner to corner. Lacey nails Jazmin with a Woman’s Right and then puts her into Cobra Clutch to get a submission.
Winner – Lacey Evans
After the match, Evans takes the mic and announces that she will be in the Royal Rumble. She picks up her opponent and dumps her over the rope.
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus are backstage and they chop each other saying that they believe in the other one to win Royal Rumble. Kayla Braxton intervenes and makes them remember that they have to face Hit-Row tonight. They say Hit-Row will turn into skid-row tonight.
We get another video package for Cody Rhodes on his return at Royal Rumble. Cody says even a torn pectoral will not stop him from winning Royal Rumble match now.
Sheamus and Drew McIntyre make their entrance but The Viking Raiders attack them from behind on the ramp. They beat up Drew and Sheamus at the ringside. The Vikings send them into the barricade and hit splashes on them. WWE Crew runs out to intervene.
After the break, Hit-Row come out. We see Sheamus and Drew McIntyre left to the back searching for The Viking Raiders, Hit-Row is asking Adam Pearce to give them a pass now. Pearce says Sheamus and Drew have given up their position but nobody will get a free pass. Pearce reveals a new team for Hit-Row to face.
Hit-Row(Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis) vs Braun Strowman & Ricochet- Semifinal of SmackDown Tag Team Title Contender Tournament
Ricochet and Adonis start the match. Ricochet nails an uppercut. He hits a dropkick and a hurricanrana. He hits an arm drag and Adonis slips to the floor. Top Dolla tries to block Ricochet’s run but Ricochet nails him with an enzuigiri. Dolla gets into the ring and the referee stops him.
B-Fab grabs Ricochet’s leg and Adonis nails him with a dropkick to take over control. Top Dolla tags in and double team on Ricochet. Hit-Row keep control over Ricochet with heel tactics. Ricochet catches Adonis with a roll-up when he was showing off.
Strowman blocks a tag out to Dolla and throws Adonis to his corner. He nails Dolla with a big boot on the apron. Strowman hits a running tackle in the corner before Dolla gets into the ring. Strowman throws him to the floor. Ricochet hits a suicide dive on Top Dolla. Strowman hits a Monster bomb on Adonis to get the pinfall.
Winners – Braun Strowman & Ricochet
Kevin Owens is interviewed backstage and says he wanted to take care of Solo Sikoa before the match against Roman Reigns so that he could not interfere tomorrow. The Usos come in and start to argue with Owens. Crew and Security run in before they could start brawling.
The Usos are escorted to the parking lot as we return from a break. Jey Uso makes a phone call and asks his “dawg” to take care of something for him. The Usos get in their SUV and leave the arena.
LA Knight mimics Bray Wyatt as he comes out to his music with his lantern. Knight gets into the ring and recaps how The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt attacked him at RAW 30. He says Wyatt has just 24 hours to take up on any advice that The Undertaker has given him. The lights go down and Wyatt appears on the stage sitting on his chair. Wyatt tells Knight that he has 24 hours to meet the man he really wanted. Uncle Howdy appears on the sky boy as Wyatt stares down at Knight from the stage. Knight is perplexed looking at Howdy and Wyatt as the segment comes to an end.
Imperium(Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) vs Legado Del Fantasma(Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) – Semifinal of SmackDown Tag Team Title Contender Tournament
Kaiser starts against Wilde. Wilde ducks a swing and hits a knee to midsection. Kaiser puts on a hammerlock before Wilde turn it around. Wilde hits him with an arm drag. Kaiser drops him with a big right. Vinci tags in and Wilde breaks free of his chin lock with shots to midesection. Wilde lands on his feet on a back body drop and tags in Cruz. Cruz dodges some attacks from Vinci before Vinci nails him with a big punch.
Kaiser tags in and corners Cruz. Cruz fights out of the corner but Kaiser nails him with a punch mid-air. Cruz continues to attempt to tag out but Kaiser blocks him. Cruz skips past Kaiser to tag in Wilde. Wilde hits some quick moves on both opponents and sends them to the floor. Imperium duo return to the ring to drop Wilde and Del Toro with clotheslines. We cut to a break.
Kaiser nails Wilde with an uppercut to stop his rally. Kaiser nails an enzuigiri in the corner before a suplex and a penalty kick. Vinci tags in and hits a big chop and a scoop slam. Kaiser comes back and boots Wilde’s face. Wilde comes back with a tornado DDT.
Tags to Vinci and Del Toro. Del Toro hits a crossbody and a hurricanrana before Vinci sends him to his corner. Legado hit stereo missile dropkicks to send Imperium to the floor. They hit suicide dive next. A dropkick in the corner to Vinci before Wilde hits a double jump splash on him. Kaiser breaks the pin.
Del Toro takes Kaiser to the floor but Kaiser hits him with a body slam on the floor. Vinci counters on the top turnbuckle and hits a press slam from the top. Imperium hits the Imperium bomb to get the pinfall of Wilde.
Winners – Imperium
We get a video package next – Rumble by the Numbers.
After the break, we see how Sonya Deville interrupted Charlotte Flair’s interview with Ryan Satin. Adam Pearce is backstage on his phone. Flair walks in and says she wants to give Sonya a title shot to put an end to all this.
The commentary team also confirms the final of the SmackDown Tag Team tournament for next week.
Kevin Owens vs Solo Sikoa
The commentary tells us that Roman Reigns is at Jimmy Fallon Live tonight. Solo and Owens start with punches at each other. Owens tries to hit a shoulder tackle but Solo no-sells it. Owens also no-sells when Solo goes for a tackle. They start pushing at each other with tackles now. Owens drops Solo with a running tackle and a senton.
Solo slips to the floor. Owens goes to the floor and Solo drives him into the barricade. Solo then slams his face into the ring post before throwing him into the barricade once again. We cut to a break.
Sikoa punches Owens back to the corner as we return from the break. Solo misses a hip attack in the corner. Owens fires back with punches, a kick to the face and an inverted atomic drop. Solo hits a headbutt but Owens takes him down with a double leg for a two-count. Owens goes to the top. Solo decks him with a punch and headbutts there.
Solo climbs to the top and tells Owens that he will not make it to the Rumble. Owens fights back with punches to midsection. An elbow drops Solo to the floor. Owens hits a frog splash to get a two-count.
Owens hits a superkick. Solo hits a superkick of his own. Owens hits another superkick and goes for a stunner but Solo hits him with a Samoan Drop for a two-count. KO avoids a hip attack and hits a superkick. KO hits a cannonball and a senton from the top. Sami Zayn appears to pull out Solo from the ring to save him.
Owens also comes to the floor. He ducks a superkick from Solo which lands on Sami Zayn. Solo takes out Owens with a steel chair. He sets up Owens on the announce table but Owens gets up and starts to fight back. Owens nails a superkick on Solo and then hits him with a po-up powerbomb on the announce table.
Owens picks up a steel chair but he spars Sami Zayn and hits Solo with it. Owens goes back and sends a message to Roman on his way out that he is coming at him with everything he got.
