Xavier Woods vs. Jinder Mahal
When in doubt, throw a PANCAKE! #SDLive #USTitle @WWEBigE @TrueKofi @SinghBrosWWE @XavierWoodsPhD @JinderMahal pic.twitter.com/PdtNftGfdK
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 17, 2018
Four-time tag champs, The New Day, opened the show with their usual high-energy pancake avalanche entrance. After a solid 30 seconds of R rolling and several minutes of giving reasons why Mahal is unworthy of the US Title, Jinder made his entrance alongside the Singh Brothers.
The Singh Brothers attempted to get involved at one point, but Big E and Kofi deterred them by pelting them with pancakes. Jinder had the vast majority of the offense throughout the bout, beating Woods down, but not able to keep him there.
Everyone knows Xavier Woods is insanely entertaining, but I think he’s underrated as a wrestler. He has some serious talent. A missile dropkick from Woods shifted the momentum in his favor in the final minutes of the match, but it was not enough. WWE took the safe route and Jinder Mahal moved to the finals of the United States Title Tournament.
After the match, Baron Corbin was shown backstage and got uncomfortably close to the camera announcing that he would win the 2018 Royal Rumble to main event WrestleMania.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
AJ Styles Interview
#SDLive is NOT the “KAMI” show…
It’s the house that @AJStylesOrg BUILT! pic.twitter.com/YkrYGqHWAn
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
Styles bad-mouthed Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. He threw out a few gems, such as dubbing them “Kami” and “The yep movement? How about nope.” On a more serious note, he said that they were not prepared for what they were getting themselves into – taking on the champion.
Mixed Match Challenge Ad
Don’t miss #RAW‘s @FinnBalor & @SashaBanksWWE vs. #SDLive‘s @ShinsukeN & @NatByNature TONIGHT in the first-ever #WWEMMC matchup, premiering exclusively on Facebook Watch! pic.twitter.com/ShtMneXjAl
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
Each woman in the tournament gave a short promo to hype the MMC – and it worked, because that, in addition to the clips of the teams finding each other and later cutting promos together, has made me very excited to see what happens.
Bobby Roode vs. Mojo Rawley
Now that #DDT is… GLORIOUS!!!@REALBobbyRoode advances to the FINALS of the #USTitle Tournament! #SDLive @MojoRawleyWWE pic.twitter.com/7dtc2CebSD
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
The second United States Title tournament semi-finals match started out in glorious fashion, with Roode getting all of his moves in. Rawley quickly took the reins, however, and spent several minutes pummeling his opponent. Eventually, he got too cocky and lost the match after a Glorius DDT from Bobby Roode.
We assumed Bobby would be winning this one after Jinder won the opening match because of the need for a good guy in the finals. Kind of wish they would have gone Woods/Rawley, it would have been cool to see Woods given an opportunity like that, and Rawley could use the push as he is just starting out as a heel. That being said, Bobby Roode is a great talent and just as deserving of advancing.
After the match, the Singh Brothers ran down to the ring and ambushed an unsuspecting Bobby Roode. Jinder Mahal said he would beat Roode next week in the tournament, to which Roode responded by challenging him to a match right then. Mahal declined, saying that they would fight on his terms, at which point Daniel Bryan appeared behind Mahal and declared the match would indeed take place later in the evening.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Randy Orton Promo
.@RandyOrton does flourish in chaos… Will last year’s #RoyalRumble winner claim another victory in Philadelphia this year? #SDLive #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/Vsxm5EMwnj
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
Orton looked deep into the lens of his phone camera and declared that he would be the winner of the upcoming Royal Rumble and go on to main event WrestleMania. That’s pretty much it.
Charlotte, Naomi, and Becky Lynch vs. The Riott Squad
The tension in the #SDLive Women’s Division CANNOT be contained! @MsCharlotteWWE @NaomiWWE @BeckyLynchWWE @RubyRiottWWE @sarahloganwwe @YaOnlyLivvOnce pic.twitter.com/Hzy7YMqFPu
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
This tag match started off hot (no pun intended) with a fast-paced back and forth between Charlotte and Liv Morgan. Morgan then tagged in Ruby Riott, who also got a beatdown from the queen…and Becky Lynch…and Naomi.
Riott eventually gained control and she, Morgan, and Logan took turns beating up Becky Lynch. Charlotte and her team were unable to come back from it and Liv Morgan pinned Naomi with a little help from Ruby Riott.
Winner: The Riott Squad
The Usos Interview
“We know EXACTLY who you are: FORMER. CHAMPIONS.” @WWEGable and @Sheltyb803 send a message to @WWEUsos. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/kGIaxYkY3e
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
The Usos were shown being interviewed backstage, enthusiastically discussing their achievements and where they were going from here (i.e. they were yelling about how cool they are) when they were savagely attacked by Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. This was a good segment – short and sweet, just enough to develop the feud and remind the audience that Gable and Benjamin are bad guys now.
Shinsuke Nakamura Throws His Hat in the Rumble
.@ShinsukeN is READY for the RUMBLE! #YeahOh #SDLive #RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/633l0IyV4k
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
The third of these “I’m going to main event WrestleMania after I win the Rumble” was by far my favorite. If we’re not getting Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura is my pick to win the 30-man match. Who can resist those facial expressions/hand gestures (and that unbelievable amount of talent)?
Rusev and Aiden English, Breezango, and The Ascension
Rusev and Aiden English challenged Breezango to a tag match next week on Rusev Day, but Breezango volunteered their friends, The Ascension, for the contest instead. Doesn’t seem like even payback for the times The Ascension threw Breezango to The Bludgeon Brothers, but that’s not to say Rusev can’t lay the smackdown when he wants to.
Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal
Our NEW #USChampion is nothing less than #GLORIOUS!!! #AndNew #USTitle #SDLive @REALBobbyRoode pic.twitter.com/k7WtbVyEsK
— WWE (@WWE) January 17, 2018
This match was supposed to take place next week, but was bumped up to this evening earlier in the show by SmackDown Live general manager, Daniel Bryan. Roode and Mahal looked a little cute in their matching sparkly blue trunks and pads, but don’t let that take away from their very serious tournament bout.
Bobby Roode was at a bit of a disadvantage, as he suffered a “rib injury” during his first match of the night against Mojo Rawley. Jinder was in another match too, of course, but he’s big and strong and impervious to any real damage.
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon sat ringside and watched the action, guarding the championship from the dementors. Once again, Jinder got most of the offense, but Bobby Roode didn’t give in, didn’t give in, til he was victorious. The show closed with an emotional Bobby holding the title above his head.
Winner: Bobby Roode
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) January 17, 2018
