WWE SmackDown: Results, Highlights and Grades for January 10th, 2020

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SmackDown’s second episode of the year focuses on the in-ring WWE returns of both John Morrison and The Usos, plus Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans.

“We kick off tonight with must see TV,” Michael Cole exclaims as The Miz makes his way down the ramp before hosting Miz TV. His guest tonight is none other than his former tag team partner, John Morrison, making his first appearance inside of a WWE ring in nearly a decade.

First, Miz sets the record straight about attacking Kofi Kingston last week. He hasn’t “changed.” He was just having a bad day (and month, in regards to his feud with The Fiend) and wasn’t in the mood for The New Day’s power of positivity. Nonetheless, he apologizes.

But he says the one bright side in his life is the return of someone he considers family and the biggest guest in Miz TV history: The Prince of Parkour himself, as he makes his way to the ring on cue with his old school theme in tow.

Ecstatic at reuniting “the greatest tag team of the 21st century,” Miz airs a Morrison highlight reel on the titantron as Morrison is speechless about being back. He said he was preparing to return at the Royal Rumble, but felt, after seeing what Miz has been going through, he opted to help a friend out instead.

He adds that he’s disappointed … in the fans for booing his best friend. He praises Miz as WWE’s hardest worker in the last 15 years and everything he does is for those fans. Morrison starts berating the fans for criticizing a wrestler despite never being in the ring themselves. Out comes The New Day to the rescue.

Kofi asks The Miz who he’s trying to fool. Neither he or Big E buy the apology. “In fact, you couldn’t even get cast as the backend of the Human Centipede … and we saw the audition tapes. You nasty,” Big E adds.

The Miz says he respects that Kofi was the WWE Champion for six months, but lost it for six seconds and choosing to smile for not chasing that belt again after losing it. Kingston corrects him, it was eight seconds, then says what’s clear is that Miz is changing into someone much more obnoxious and annoying. He says the fans are right to chant “You Suck!” at him.

The segment ends oddly abrupt right there, but when we get back from commercial break, we get The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston in a rematch from last week.

The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston

Back from break, the bell rings and both men start with an aggressive lockup as Morrison and E sit at commentary. The take turns backing each other into corners until Kingston kicks Miz into his leg for a staredown, then ducks a big boot. Miz rolls out of an armlock, but Kofi keeps the arm wrenched.

Miz attempts an elbow, but Kofi avoids it and hits an enzuigiri. Another lockup and Miz clobbers Kofi in the back as Big E and Morrison argue who’s the better tag team.

Kofi with a monkey flip attempt, but Miz grabs the leg for a Figure Four, only for Kofi to reverse it into a roll up for a two count. Back to his feet, Miz kicks Kofi back down with a gut kick, then a big boot for a two count, followed by a sleeper hold.

Kofi wrestles out of it only to get shoulder blocked back to the ground. Miz has the upper hand until Kofi hits a back elbow, sending Miz out the ring, before faking out a suicide dive attempt. Miz runs in, but Kofi clotheslines Miz out the ring to hit an actual dive.

Kofi goes to pick up Miz, but Miz pushes Kofi into E at the commentary table. E gets up to jaw jack with Miz as Morrison gets up to break it up. Speaking of breaks, this sends us straight into a commercial break.

The break is over, and so is Kofi as he fights out of another sleeper hold and sets up his comeback spot. This time, Morrison and E are at ringside in their respective man’s corner.

After a Boom Drop, Kofi goes for a Trouble in Paradise, but Miz drives his knees into Kofi’s leg as a Back Stabber kind of reversal. Kofi tries to recover with a springboard crossbody for a two count, but Miz kicks Kofi in the leg to hit a Snap DDT for a two count.

Miz goes for his It! Kicks, but Kofi ducks the last one. Miz avoids S.O.S., then Kofi avoids a Skull Crushing Finale with a roll up attempt before finally hitting S.O.S. for a near fall.

Miz continues kicks at the injured knee once back to his feet before hitting several high knees in the corner until Kofi reverses out of it. Kofi goes for a dive off the top, but Miz punches at the injured knee, transitioning straight into a Figure Four. Eventually, Kofi rolls to the bottom rope, forcing a break.

Miz tosses Kofi out the ring. He throws him back in before jaw jacking with Big E, who’s too distracting to see a running parkour kick from Morrison. Kofi is distracted by the scene before Miz sneaks up behind to hit a Skull Crushing Finale for the win.

Winner: The Miz

Grade: B

A much better match than last week. Like I said last week, these two have the chemistry to put on a great match if given the time (as they have before, time and time again) and this match was pretty great. Great finish as well.

After that, we get an impromptu Firefly Funhouse. Bray Wyatt whispers to us that he loves us. He expounds that love is special, but understands not everyone (specifically Daniel Bryan) doesn’t love him, and he understands that “he” feels the opposite of love towards Bryan: hate.

Bray adds that “he” wanted Bryan to remember (cue Wyatt Family flashbacks), then “he” wanted to change Bryan (cue flashes of The Fiend tearing away at Bryan’s hair), but now, since Bryan wants to take the Universal Championship, “he” wants to hurt Bryan.