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

Becky Lynch vs. Peyton Royce

So Peyton Royce decided to step up to the plate to face Becky Lynch on WWE SmackDown, and Becky was dominating early. She was hitting Peyton with big strikes, confidently bouncing around the ring as she nearly locked in the Dis-Arm-Her early.

Asuka drunk it all in by ringside, trying to hide how impressed she was by all of Becky’s pinfall attempts and close Dis-Arm-Her teases. Becky even mocked Asuka, and that led to Tom Phillips and Corey Graves wondering if Becky is underestimating the SmackDown Women’s Champion.

The cameras panned backstage to Lacey Evans sipping some iced tea as she watched Becky put the boots to Royce inside the ring.

Royce started to gain some momentum by hitting Becky with a flurry of right hands before going for a pinfall attempt. With Kay cheering on at ringside, Royce moved in to gain more of an advantage against the two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion.

On the edge of her seat, Asuka watched as Royce used the ropes to take the wind out of Becky’s sails before talking some trash and grounding Lynch. That, of course, did not last, because nobody can keep “The Man” on the ground for long. Lynch sent Royce reeling outside the ring, as the IIconics needed to take some time to regroup.

Becky was having none of it. She tried to get to Royce by shoving Kay to the side, but Royce saw it coming, gaining some advantage at the commercial break.

And Lynch started her comeback, begging Asuka to watch as she used her quickness to set up a lovely Thesz Press and another perfect Bex-ploder suplex. Dazed and confused, Royce looked for reprieve in the corner, and she did get a two-count with a wonderful kick to the head when Lynch ascended the top rope.

But once again, frustration got the better of Royce, who screamed angrily at Lynch’s kick-out. So Becky took advantage, transitioning into the Dis-Arm-Her for the win. After tapping out Royce, Becky didn’t have much time to celebrate, as Asuka yelled at the top of her lungs in Japanese at both Becky and the IIconics.

What is she looking for? A match against Kay! She dragged Kay right in the ring and started kicking the hell out of Kay before hitting a NASTY hip attack followed by a sliding knee for two.

Asuka moved into a SICK armbar, but she almost got caught while gloating to Becky. However, Asuka recovered, tapping out Kay to the Asuka Lock.

Becky ran right into the ring as the two stared each other down…and then AJ Styles’s music hit? And he just walked in to leave the arena? What?

Grade: A-, Asuka came off like a huge bad-ass by dismantling Kay and staring her down, while Becky had another nifty match on the show. I’m excited for this! But, uh, what on earth was Styles doing?