WWE SmackDown
January 13, 2023
Little Caesars Arena
Detroit, MI
Welcome to our live coverage of WWE SmackDown. As always, we will have results immediately after every match. Refresh this page often for updated results. Tonight’s show features Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens as well as Intercontinental Champion Gunther defending his title against Braun Strowman.
Intercontinental Championship: Gunther ( c ) (with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) vs Braun Strowman
Gunther worked on Strowman’s injured arm and shoulder for a long time. Strowman finally started to make a comeback when Kaiser and Vinci attempted to interfere, but Strowman countered their attack. Strowman got a big slam on Gunther while still selling his arm. They exchange slaps. Strowman hit a big spinebuster on Gunther. Gunther with a splash off the top rope but only got a count of two. He tried another one, but Strowman climbed to the second rope to stop him. Gunther then powerbombed Strowman from the second rope and pinned him clean in the middle of the ring. Your winner, and still Intercontinental Champion, Gunther.
Backstage segment
Sami Zayn knocked on The Bloodline’s door. Paul Heyman came out. Zayn said he wants to come in and talk strategy with the guys. Heyman said that he told Roman Reigns that it would be good to have The Usos and Solo Sikoa ringside while Zayn takes on Kevin Owens, but Reigns said no as what kind of love would that show him if they didn’t let him do this on his own, so tonight, out of love, he wants Zayn to do this by himself. Zayn told Heyman to text Roman and tell him he made the right call.
Rey Mysterio interview in the ring:
Rey Mysterio said he cherishes time at home during the holidays to spend time with his family, but he didn’t enjoy them this year because of Dominik’s actions. Rey said he is fed up with him, but went to SmackDown for a fresh start, and he’s not going to let Dominik provoke him. He’s going to get back on track by winning the Royal Rumble. This brought out Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Kross asked Rey who he hates more? Dominik for not growing up to be just like him, or himself for failing to raise Dominik to not be just like him. Rey heard enough and hit Kross. Rey attempted the 619, but Scarlett, who was outside the ring, hooked Rey’s leg. Kross then got him the Kross-jacket on Rey causing Rey to pass out.
Backstage segment:
Liv Morgan was in the locker room with Emma. Emma told Morgan that entering at number one in the Royal Rumble was not the way to win. Raquel Rodriguez then entered the room and told Morgan that someone of her size would be better off entering last. Morgan slapped Rodriguez in the face and challenged her to a match tonight. Rodriguez said she is tired of everybody forgetting that she is the biggest and strongest and accepted her challenge.
Tegan Nox vs Xia Li
Li hit a suplex on Nox. She tried to follow it up with a spinning head kick but missed. Nox then hit the world’s shiniest wizard on Li for the pinfall.
Digital Exclusive
We saw footage of The Viking Raiders attacking Sheamus and Drew McIntyre after Sheamus and McIntyre’s loss to The Usos. We then saw The Viking Raiders and Valhalla in the woods and they said suffering awaits.
Backstage segment
Drew McIntyre said he wants The Viking Raiders. Sheamus said he does too, but he wants The Usos now. Adam Pearce told them he is starting a tag team tournament next week on SmackDown where the winners will face The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. He said they will be in the tournament and they will face The Viking Raiders next week in the first round.
Bray Wyatt interview in the ring:
Wyatt said it’s come back to him what he’s lost. He said he is the eater of worlds. He is Uncle Howdy. He is the nagging conscience of the world that has thrown itself away to moral monsters. His rebirth will be at The Royal Rumble and LA Knight should run.
Backstage Interview:
Kevin Owens was just about to be interviewed when Sami Zayn showed up. He asked Owens if he was happy now. He told Owens that he just couldn’t leave him alone to do his thing with The Bloodline while Owens stays on RAW. Owens said he was on RAW, but The Bloodline came to RAW every week running their mouth, and he was going to take them out piece by piece, and if that was Zayn’s decision to be one of those pieces. Owens said he did not ask for this match tonight or the tag match with Cena. He told Zayn that Reigns is the one who is putting him in these situations and Reigns is using him. Zayn told Owens he is not being used.
Backstage interview: Imperium
Gunther said today is a glorious day as he beat his biggest challenge so far. He will now go on to The Royal Rumble and then go on to main event WrestleMania
Raquel Rodriguez vs Liv Moran
They brawled to the outside of the ring. Morgan pulled out a table and put Rodriguez on it. Morgan went to the top rope to give her a splash, but Rodriguez made her way off the table and back into the ring. Morgan then tried to fly on Rodriguez inside the ring, but Rodriguez swatter her away. She then gave Morgan the Tahana bomb for the pin.
Backstage segment:
Sonja Deville asked Adam Pearce for a rematch with Charlotte Flair. Pearce told no as she just lost to Flair. Deville said so the only way to get a rematch is to win The Royal Rumble, to which Pearce said yes. Deville said she will find a way to get a rematch
Backstage segment
Back from the commercial break, we see Deville attacking Charlotte Flair. They had a brawl back and forth with security trying to break them up.
Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn
Owens and Zayn were slugging away. Zayn gave Owens an Exploder, but Owens got right back up only to be hit with another one. Zayn was getting ready to go for the Helluva Kick when The Usos hit the ring and attacked Owens. Zayn looked surprised. Solo Sikoa then joined in the attack. The Usos hit Owens with the 1-D. Zayn asked The Usos what they were doing, but The Usos gave him the arm wave to come join them as they were clearing off the announcers table. Owens tried to fight back, but Sikoa hit Owens with the spike to the throat. The Usos then told Zayn they did that for him. Zayn did not look convinced. Sikoa then flew across the ringside barrier on Owens who was on the announcer’s table. Zayn looked very concerned, but stood over Owens with The Bloodline as the show went off the air.
