WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights, And Grades For January 22, 2019

The Man Starts Us Off!

Once again, Becky Lynch gets us fired up for this stacked WWE SmackDown go-home show before the Royal Rumble Pay Per View on Sunday, as she kicks things off. Becky will take on Asuka in a SmackDown Women’s Championship match on Sunday that threatens to steal the show, especially given what they did in a Triple Threat match with Charlotte Flair at TLC.

Becky is all smiles as she imbibes the “Becky!” chants. She hears all the people talking about what she should be doing, but, to her, the only thing that’s important is main eventing WrestleMania 35. Lynch puts over Asuka as “undoubtedly” one of the best in the world; it’s just that she’s better. And she “reminds” the WWE Universe that at TLC, Asuka never beat her, a claim that is based around Ronda Rousey’s crucial interference during the match.

Asuka emerges from backstage to hold the title up in Becky’s face in the ring as she chants, but her cries are all in vain; the crowd drowns her out with their “Becky!” chants.

Though Charlotte Flair isn’t involved in the SmackDown Women’s Championship match this time, she’s among the favorites to win the Royal Rumble match in order to get to that coveted WrestleMania main event. So, naturally, Charlotte is out here to address both women.

Charlotte says that while she’s excited for Becky vs. Asuka on Sunday, she’s even more excited to eliminate 29 women en route to the Rumble. Flair isn’t concerned with Rousey or Banks on the Raw side, noting that she’s beaten Sasha many times, destroyed Rousey with a kendo stick at Survivor Series, and broke Asuka’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania. After finally admitting that Becky is indeed “The Man”, she interrupts the “Becky!” chants to say that she’s “owned” the Women’s Division for years, which means more than Becky’s recent success.

As Charlotte finishes talking, Asuka goes right after Becky from behind, and the two start brawling as Charlotte enjoys the scene on the outside, with officials attempting (poorly) to separate the two.

The Empress launches The Man into the barricade, but Lynch quickly fights back, throwing Asuka over the announce table. She started to wail on Asuka with her leather jacket, as officials tried to restore order. But Becky wasn’t done, and she took out Asuka before being escorted out of the arena. While Becky walked up, Asuka sat up and screamed at the top of her lungs, ready to rip Becky apart on Sunday as revenge for this brawl (a brawl that Asuka, admittedly, started).

After the break, we saw Asuka absolutely destroying Becky backstage before officials broke it up, as both women screamed at the top of their lungs!

Grade: A, I can’t wait for Sunday!