Reports indicate that the following was taped on Tuesday night for the final episode of WWE SmackDown before the Royal Rumble pay-per-view on Sunday that is set to air this Friday night and emanated from Grand Rapids, Mich.
In the main event of the evening, Big E Langston, The Usos, Cody Rhodes and Goldust fought The Shield and The New Age Outlaws to a no-contest in a 10-man tag team match after the backstage area poured out to the ring and everyone brawled to hype the 30-man over-the-top-rope Royal Rumble match on Sunday as SmackDown went off the air. The Shield cut a promo earlier in the night about the match.
CM Punk cut a promo on the show, coming out and saying he will win the Rumble match despite the fact that The Authority has it in for him. Kane interrupted and talked about the odds of Punk winning from #1 being slim to none.
In tag team action to open the show, The Big Show and Rey Mysterio defeated Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro after Rey did a splash off of Big Show's shoulders. Following the match, Paul Heyman cut a promo on Show and said that Brock Lesnar will take him out at the Royal Rumble.
In more tag action, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper squashed Darren Young and Titus O'Neil. Following the match, Bray Wyatt hit Sister Abigail on Young and cut a promo on his match against Daniel Bryan at the Royal Rumble. Bryan then came out and said he isn't afraid of anything. Ryback and Curtis Axel also teamed up to defeat Los Matadores.
Elsewhere on the program, The Miz defeated Brodus Clay while Bad News Barrett announced the match from his podium leading to The Miz chasing him post-match while Kofi Kingston defeated Fandango.
In Divas action, A.J. Lee defeated Cameron. The WWE hyped up the World Heavyweight Championship match by showing a video previewing the match between John Cena and Randy Orton on Sunday.
This episode of SmackDown airs just two nights before the Royal Rumble this Sunday night, Jan. 26 live from the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
Quick Results:
--Big Show and Rey Mysterio def. Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger via pinfall. Paul Heyman cut a promo afterwards.
--The MIz def. Brodus Clay w/ Bad News Barrett on commentary from his podium.
--AJ Lee def. Cameron.
--The Shield cut a promo on the Royal Rumble match backstage.
--Ryback and Curtis Axel def. Los Matadores.
--CM Punk cut a promo and Kane interrupted him.
--Erick Rowan and Luke Harper def. Darren Young and Titus O'Neil. Bray Wyatt cut a promo and Daniel Bryan responded.
--Kofi Kingston def. Fandango.
--Randy Orton and John Cena match preview.
--The Shield and The New Age Outlaws and The Usos, Big E Langston, Cody Rhodes and Goldust fought to a no-contest.
The Royal Rumble lineup heading into this Sunday's event looks like this:
30-man over-the-top-rope Royal Rumble match where the winner faces the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania XXX:
Participants (five slots open): CM Punk, Batista, Alberto Del Rio, Cody Rhodes, Goldust, Rey Mysterio, Big E Langston, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Erick Rowan, Luke Harper, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, The Miz, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Xavier Woods, Fandango, Damien Sandow, Ryback, Titus O'Neil, Darren Young, Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship:
Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena
One-on-One:
The Big Show vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman
One-on-One:
Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt
Royal Rumble Kick-Off WWE Tag Team Championships:
Cody Rhodes and Goldust (c) vs. The New Age Outlaws
© Thomson Reuters. All Rights Reserved
