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

Almas And Vega Promo

Zelina Vega and Andrade “Cien” Almas join Kayla Braxton to talk about tonight’s main event match against Rey Mysterio. Almas tells Kayla B that Rey was his idol growing up, but “times have changed” now that Almas is the future. He’s ready to beat Mysterio after pinning him in last week’s tag match. Vega, of course, takes it a step further, stating that Almas will win the Royal Rumble and take the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.

Samoa Joe vs. Mustafa Ali

Samoa Joe came to fight, not watch Mustafa Ali play to the crowd. He knocked Ali off the top rope before the bell rang, viciously attacking Ali on the outside before the match even began. He launched Ali into the ring post, twitching with anger and cracking a grin at his work.

Joe didn’t even want a match. He was just here to demolish Ali in an attempt to stop the former 205 Live superstar from becoming the beating heart of SmackDown Live.

He slammed Ali into the ring post again, and Ali sold this one even more brutally than before.

Joe walked up the ramp, clearly showing that he never had any intention of competing in a match on WWE SmackDown tonight…

I spoke too soon. Because he came back, and he teased powerbombing Ali through the table before slamming the smaller competitor into the barricade. Ali lay there, once again, motionless, as a satisfied Joe slowly walked away. And he was finally done this time, simultaneously grinning and grimacing with sick pleasure.

Grade: B, Great selling from Ali, and this story isn’t over at all. Ali is going to get his on Joe, who thought Ali was an easy person to pick a fight against. He’ll learn in due time, as will the rest of the SmackDown roster.

We saw Sonya Deville try to convince Mandy Rose to stop her shenanigans in an effort to get to Naomi, but, well, there’s no convincing Mandy here.

Nikki Cross appeared backstage, too, and Rey Mysterio knew better than to even look at her the wrong way!