WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights, And Grades For January 15, 2019

Tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown will feature a huge matchup between Rey Mysterio and Andrade “Cien” Almas, as well as an intriguing match between Carmella and Sonya Deville.

Last week, Rey Mysterio hit Andrade “Cien” Almas with a crazy Canadian Destroyer in tag team action, and Almas picked up a huge pinfall victory to build some momentum on WWE SmackDown. It hasn’t been an easy several months since being called up from NXT as a former champion with the WWE‘s Third Brand, but he seems on his way to stardom.

Mysterio and Almas will clash tonight in a highly-anticipated matchup. We’ve seen the two in the ring together already, including in November when Mysterio defeated Almas, but this could be Almas’s moment to shine. Note that WWE had him team up with Zelina Vega in mixed tag action against Becky Lynch and John Cena in the latter’s first match back, and that shows huge faith in El Idolo; Becky and John are two of the biggest stars in the company, no doubt.

Speaking of Becky, she won a No. 1 Contender’s match last week to earn the opportunity to face Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Asuka won the title off of Becky in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match last month, partially thanks to interference from Ronda Rousey. Becky is hungry to win the title she brought to prominence and feels she never lost, so this will be an exciting week for both superstars.

It will also be an exciting week for Carmella and Sonya Deville, who started some beef on social media this week to lead to this match. Mandy Rose and Sonya have been making Naomi’s life miserable, with Mandy focusing her efforts on Naomi’s husband Jimmy Uso. With Carmella set to potentially feud with Sonya, could she replace Asuka as Naomi’s tag partner for the upcoming Women’s Tag Team Championships match inside the Elimination Chamber?

Speaking of tag team championship matches, Shane McMahon and The Miz picked one up against Sheamus and Cesaro at the Royal Rumble Pay Per View. Miz is focused on making his dad proud by teaming up with Shane to create the “best tag team in the world”. But first, he has to impress Shane with some birthday gifts. Let’s see what shenanigans Miz pulls off this time…

AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan are near the top of the card on SmackDown Live with a WWE Championship match coming at the Rumble. The two have traded blows in championship matches multiple times, but this one feels like the biggest. Bryan was especially unhinged in last week’s opening segment, and he’s prepared to be even more insane than the “real” AJ Styles, who was awoken by Vince McMahon himself.

WWE SmackDown airs at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network, so check back here for live results, highlights, and grades when the show begins.