WWE New Years Revolution SmackDown Review – January 5, 2024
Kicking off New Years Revolution with footage was shown of The Rock’s return to Raw on Monday and his callout of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
Backstage Roman Reigns pulls up in an SUV and was asked by Kayla Braxton if he had anything to say to The Rock. He just cackled and walks away. Paul Heyman just tilts his head at Braxton and walks away.
Finals Of The United States Title #1 Contenders Tournament
Santos Escobar vs. Kevin Owens
Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro appeared and brawls with Angel & Humberto as the match started.
Owens landed a superkick to a distracted Santos Escobar and lands a cannonball in the corner then follows up with a Frog Splash for a near fall as we go to a break.
After the break Owens landed a running senton and went to the top rope but Escobar sprung to his feet and landed some punches.
He then pulls Owens off the ropes by his bad hand and slams it into the ring post and the apron. Escobar lands headbutts and a leg drop to the bad hand then applied the wrist lock.
Owens broke free briefly but Escobar was able to put Owens back down with a tilt a whirl backbreaker then Escobar lands a flying kick and a headscissor.
He then sent Owens to the floor and lands a suicide dive then Escobar came off the top rope but Owens kicks him in the gut and landed a DDT to turn the tide.
He went to the top rope again but Escobar recovers in time to meet him there. Owens reversed a superplex attempt into a Fisherman Buster and both men were laid out as we go to a 2nd break.
After the 2nd break Owens hits a superkick that sent Escobar to the floor then hits a Swanton Bomb from the apron to the floor and tossed Escobar back into the ring.
Owens attempted another one from the top rope but Escobar got the knees up then hits a top rope hurricanrana and went back to the top rope.
He executed a splash and covered for a near fall then they end up on the top rope again where Owens connects with a rolling Senton for a near fall.
Both men got to their feet as Owens attempted a Stunner but Escobar rolls him up for a two count.
Owens hits a pop up powerbomb after a 2nd attempt followed by a Stunner for the win.
Winner & #1 Contender To The United States Title: Kevin Owens (16:53)
Rate: 7
After the match United States Champion Logan Paul got on the mic and told Owens he’s got a chance to face the greatest United States Champion of all time. Paul mocks the idea that a Canadian could ever hold the United States Title and said it would be like the Canucks winning a Stanley Cup, it’s never gonna happen. Paul approached Owens and got hit in the mouth with his cast.
We get a video package for Randy Orton that went over his injury at the hands of Roman Reigns and his recovery.
After the break Kevin Patrick narrated the announcement of WWE going to Toronto for Money In The Bank Weekend in July.
Backstage Logan Paul ran into A Town Down Under helped him to the trainer’s room. Cameron Grimes walks up and mocks Paul and said he’s glad he met Kevin so Waller pushed him and they were separated by officials.
Bobby Lashley said 2023 was one of the toughest years of his career because the effort he put in didn’t translate to the results he wanted. He said the high point was linking up with the Street Profits. They talked about getting back on the train to success and taking on the Judgement Day for the Tag Team Gold. Lashley officially announced himself for the Royal Rumble and then the lights went out.
A video played on the screen that indicated Karrion Kross and he walked out with Scarlett and Paul Ellering. AOP suddenly attacked Lashley & Street Profits from behind and tossed Lashley out of the ring. Kross walks down and tossed Lashley into the ring steps. AOP hits Super Collider on Street Profits & Kross hits Lashley with The Final Prayer.
We got a video package for AJ Styles that focused on his injury and beef with LA Knight & Roman Reigns.
Women’s Title Match
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Michin
Match starts off with a lock up and Iyo Sky uses the hair to get Michin into the corner then gives a clean break. Sky avoids some offense but eventually Michin lands a kick.
Some more acrobatics from both women and Sky then hits a headscissors before Michin with a backslide for 2 then a school boy for another 2 count and a dropkick to follow up.
Some kicks from Michin then Sky with a modified Victory Roll then hits a double stomp.
Michin with a hold in the ropes then she avoids a dive then hits her own suicide dive on the floor as we go to a break.
After the break Michin catches a kick then lands a striking flurry then Sky avoids a powerbomb but runs into a knee strike.
Gutwrench suplex from Michin then she takes the time to tie up her hair before hitting a cannonball senton in the corner for a 2 count. Sky avoids Eat Defeat then lands a palm strike.
Michin recovers and hits a Codebreaker out of the corner and a 2 count then she grabs a half Boston Crab but Sky is right by the ropes and quickly gets to them to break the hold.
Sky catches Michin between the ropes and snaps her leg down but when she tries a springboard dropkick Michin catches her with a right hand. On the apron Sky avoids a move then hits a lovely bridging German suplex on the apron.
Sky follows up in the ring with her springboard dropkick then goes for Over The Moonsault but Michin kicks her out of the air to block and follows with a Dragon Suplex for a near fall.
Michin tries a powerbomb but Sky rolls free and hits a sort of running Meteora before Sky jumps up top again but again Michin attacks her up there to cut her off.
Michin up top now but another palm strike from Sky then Sky heads up top for an attempted hurricanrana but Michin stalls that and wants an avalanche Styles Clash which she hits then a cover but Iyo grabs the ropes to break the pin.
Sky rolls out of the ring as Michin tries another suicide dive but Sky avoids her & Michin eats the floor. Meteora on the floor from Sky then one in the ring to set up Over the Moonsault & hits for the win
Winner & Women’s Champion: Iyo Sky (10:20) (STILL CHAMPION!!!)
Rate: 7
In the back Paul Heyman can talk & he says The Rock wants to sit at the head of the table but you need to be invited to that table by Roman Reigns. The Rock hasn’t been invited and he wont be, Rock is just trying to take a shortcut like everyone else. Reigns wins a match out comes John Cena, out comes Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes is still talking about trying to finish his story, CM Punk returns after 10 years and looks to capture the old magic with Heyman, and tonight 3 men fight for the right to wrestle Reigns at the Royal Rumble. But Roman will smash whoever gets in the ring with him at the Royal Rumble and at WrestleMania. There’s not 1 man on the face of this planet that can beat Roman Reigns.
After the break we go backstage where Damage Ctrl congratulated Iyo Sky on her Women’s Title defense. Bayley talks about their plan to capture all the gold when Bianca BelAir approached them. She told Bayley and she’s not winning the Royal Rumble because she was entering and looks forward to giving her a KOD over the top rope.
Tag Team Match
Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) vs. British Strong Style (Butch & Tyler Bate)
Kit Wilson & Tyler Bate starts the match and Bate did a bit of mat wrestling before Elton Prince & Butch tags in and Butch hits a lariat.
He then stomped on the fingers of Wilson then British Strong Style hits a double dive on the outside that took out Pretty Deadly as we go to a break.
After the break Pretty Deadly took control before Butch attempted to break out of the corner but was taken down by a big boot.
Eventually Butch escaped and made a hot tag to Bate & cleans up as soon as he enters the ring & connects with a standing shooting star press and an airplane spin in Wilson.
British Strong Style hits a double team half & half suplex and lariat for a cover but Prince broke it up. Prince disposed of Bate on the floor and Wilson rolls up Butch for a near fall.
Bate returns and sends Wilson back out to the floor with a Bop & Bang then they hit a double Tyler Driver for the win.
Winners: British Strong Style (7:52)
Rate: 6
We got an LA Knight Video package about his rise to the main event picture.
After the break Ashante Thee Adonis met with Nick Aldis backstage. He told Aldis that he felt a bit lost but he was hungry and wanted an opportunity. Aldis said he believed in him and thought he had some ideas that he would be interested to hear.
Undisputed WWE Universal Title #1 Contenders Triple Threat Match
Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
All 3 man brawled around the ring then things ended up on the outside very quickly, where Randy Orton suplexes both AJ Styles & LA Knight onto the announce table.
Knight was dropped onto the table twice before Styles managed to reverse the 2nd attempt and drop Orton onto the table then tossed Knight into the ring steps and brought Orton back into the ring.
Styles attempted a Phenomenal Forearm but Orton hit the ropes and Styles tumbled to the apron. Orton then hits a hanging DDT through the ropes.
Knight returns to the match and pulls Orton to the floor and sent him into the ring steps as he set up for an RKO.
Styles then flew threw the ropes and landed a kick to the head of Knight as all 3 men were down on the floor as we go to a break.
After the break Styles landed a sliding forearm on Knight then kicks Orton as he tried to return to the ring. Knight hits the ropes but Styles cuts him off with a knee lift.
He then landed a back suplex and turned his attention to Orton. Styles landed strikes and chops then sent Orton into the barricade.
Knight surged back into the match and put the boots to Styles then did the same to Orton followed by a side Russian leg sweep.
Knight lands a back body drop on Styles but Orton caught him with a lariat when he turned around. Orton then hits a powerslam to both Knight & Styles.
Orton went for an RKO on Knight but he avoided it and landed a BFT then went for the cover but Styles prevented the referee from making a 3 count.
Knight & Styles traded blows with Styles getting the better of it with a Pele kick. He followed up with a springboard 450 and covered for a near fall.
He sets up for Styles Clash but Orton returns to the ring and Styles tossed Knight to ringside.
Styles hits a shot in the corner on Orton and set up for a Phenomenal Forearm but Orton turned it into an RKO then made the cover but Knight pulls the ref out of the ring.
At this moment The Bloodline made their entrance. Solo Sikoa was directed by Roman Reigns to assault the competitors in the ring.
They laid everybody out and knocks Orton with the ring steps. Reigns held up 1 finger and hits a powerbomb to Styles then lands a Superman Punch and a Spear to Knight.
Jimmy Uso placed Orton in the ring where Reigns & Sikoa hits a Samoan Spike and Spear combination.
Nick Aldis pulls aside Paul Heyman and told him to tell Reigns that he’s earned a Fatal 4 Way match with all 3 guys at the Royal Rumble to close out New Years Revolution.
Winner & #1 Contender To The Undisputed WWE Universal Title: No One (No Contest) (19:40)
Rate: 6
Next Week’s Smackdown
Bianca BelAir vs. Bayley
Cameron Grimes vs. Grayson Waller
Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) vs. Angel & Humberto
Updated Royal Rumble Card (Jan 27th)
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Lashley vs. 26 TBD
30 Woman Royal Rumble Match
Bayley vs. Nia Jax vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca BelAir vs. 26 TBD
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Fatal 4 Way Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
United States Title Match
Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens
