Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 1/13/2023 edition of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on Twitter.com/Fightful and Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here is what's set for the show.
Preview.
WWE SmackDown (1/13/2023).
- WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: GUNTHER (c) (w/ Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) vs. Braun Strowman.
- Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn.
Refresh the article for the latest updates.
Live Coverage.
- Michael Cole & Wade Barrett welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning to the opening match.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match.
GUNTHER (c) (w/ Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci) vs. Braun Strowman.
GUNTHER & Strowman locked up to begin the match before Strowman pushed GUNTHER to the ropes. The two were going to lock up again before GUNTHER got out of the ring. GUNTHER got back in the ring and got a wrist lock on Strowman's injured shoulder, but Strowman tossed GUNTHER to the outside. Strowman got outside and attacked Strowman he called for the Strowman Express, hitting a vicious shoulder tackle on GUNTHER to send him over the broadcast table before tearing apart his t-shirt as the show headed to the commercial break. Back from the break, GUNTHER aimed at Strowman's left shoulder before locking in a modified arm lock on Strowman, but Strowman tossed GUNTHER to break the hold. GUNTHER hit a chop on Strowman to drop him to the mat before hitting two knee strikes to the back and a kick on Strowman's arm. GUNTHER continued target at Strowman's arm before hitting a knee drop on the shoulder for a one-count kick-out. GUNTHER got another shoulder hold on Strowman, but Strowman tried to carry before his shoulder gave out. GUNTHER kicked Strowman's arm again before getting a wrist lock on Strowman and slamming his own shoulder onto Strowman's before hitting a chop to the chest and a wicked chop to the injured shoulder. GUNTHER got a wrist lock on Strowman, but Strowman hit a series of forearm strikes before hitting a short-hand lariat on GUNTHER. Strowman hit an Irish Whip into a Back-drop on GUNTHER. Kaiser & Vinci distracted Strowman before GUNTHER hit a chop on Strowman. GUNTHER went for another chop, but Strowman got him and hit a tilt-to-world Powerslam on GUNTHER for a near fall before the commercial break. Back from the break, GUNTHER got a hold on Strowman's shoulder and elbow, but Strowman Rolled over and hit a deadlift back suplex on GUNTHER to break the hold.
GUNTHER got a wrist lock on Strowman before the two exchanged chops. GUNTHER hit a big boot on Strowman, but Strowman responded with a Spinebuster on GUNTHER for a near fall. Strowman got on his feet and went for the Monster Bomb, but GUNTHER responded with a wrist lock before hitting a lariat on Strowman, but Strowman responded with a lariat of his own. Strowman went for a corner splash, but GUNTHER evaded and hit a Shotgun dropkick into a lariat on Strowman for a near fall. GUNTHER responded quickly and hit a Splash on Strowman for a near fall. GUNTHER got back on the top rope, but Strowman got him by the throat before climbing up. Strowman went for a superplex, but GUNTHER hit an arm breaker and a chop before getting Strowman and hitting a Shooter Bomb on Strowman for the pinfall win & hard-fought title retention.
Winner & Still WWE Intercontinental Champion: GUNTHER.
- Sami Zayn tried to see The Bloodline in their locker room, but Paul Heyman revealed that The Usos, Solo Sikoa & Roman Reigns were not in the building per instruction of Reigns. Zayn told Heyman that he would handle Kevin Owens and that it was not a prediction, it was a spoiler.
- Rey Mysterio came to the ring to cut a promo addressing Karrion Kross's antics and his experience in the past Holiday season. Mysterio addressed Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley invading his family home and said that his antics broke his heart as a father, but admitted that he was fed up with his bullshit as a man. Mysterio declared that he was joining the 2023 Royal Rumble match, but was interrupted by Karrion Kross & Scarlett. Kross said that Mysterio needed to make goals to get his old-broken ass out of bed. After that diss, he asked Rey if he was with Dominik during his childhood before asking Mysterio who he hated more: Dominik for not turning out to be like him, or himself for letting his son down. Mysterio attacked Kross after that insult, but Scarlett distracted Rey before Kross made Mysterio pass out with the Kross Jacket.
- Emma, Liv Morgan & Maxxine Dupri were backstage before Dupri told Morgan that she did not stand aa chance starting at #1 in the Royal Rumble. Raquel Rodriguez came in and stated that someone of Morgan's size may benefit from starting at the last positions, but Morgan responded with a wicked pimp slap on Raquel before challenging her to a match.
Xia Li vs. Tegan Nox.
The match began with Nox pushing Li before hitting a series of forearm strikes, an uppercut, a face-slam, and a cannonball senton on Li. Nox climbed to the top rope, but Li attacked her and slammed Nox off the top rope onto the mat for a near fall. Li got a chin lock on Nox, but Nox slammed Li to the mat to break the hold. Li got back up and hit a corner pump kick on Nox before hitting a high knee into the corner on Nox. Nox hit a series of body shots, but Li hit a punch to the back followed by a T-Bone Suplex on Nox. Li went for the Spinning Karate Kick on Nox, but Nox evaded and hit the Shinning Wizard on Li for the pinfall win.
Winner: Tegan Nox.
- There was a vignette of the Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) & Sara Logan. The three called out Drew McIntyre & Sheamus saying that they would suffer always.
- Drew McIntyre & Sheamus were backstage with Adam Pearce. McIntyre wanted The Viking Raiders while Sheamus wanted The Usos. While Sheamus & McIntyre exchanged chops while arguing, Adam Pearce revealed to the BANGER BROS that they would face The Viking Raiders as a part of a tournament to determine the #1 Contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
- Bray Wyatt came to the ring to cut a promo. Wyatt sat down on his classic rocking chair, saying that he had to do was revel in what he was. Wyatt said that he remembered he was the color red in the world of balc & white, that he was Uncle Howdie, that he was the Eater of Worlds, and that he was HIM. Wyatt told LA Knight that when the lights go out, he should run before the crowd cut to the Wyatt Family montage.
- Kevin Owens was going interviewed by Kayla Braxton backstage before Sami Zayn interrupted him. Owens told Zayn that he promised that if he had to take down every member of The Bloodline he would, even if Zayn was a part of the path. Zayn told Owens that it did not matter because he would go and handle him later in the night.
Liv Morgan vs. Raquel Rodriguez.
Morgan & Raquel brawled across the ring before the two got on the outside. Morgan slammed Raquel onto the stairs before going under the ring and pulling out a table. Morgan placed Raquel on the table, but Raquel rolled back into the ring. Morgan went for a diving cross-body, but Raquel pushed Morgan off before hitting the Tejano Bomb on Morgan for the pinfall win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez.
- Sonya Deville was backstage with Adam Pearce demanding a rematch against Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Championship, but Pearce denied the opportunity because she lost her previous match. Deville asked Pearce if he wanted her to be in the Rumble to earn a match, and Pearce stated that yes indeed. Deville promised to get a match in some form or manner.
- Back from the commercial break, Deville attacked SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair backstage before multiple referees & Adam Pearce tried to break them apart.
- There was a video package of Cody Rhodes recapping his WWE Return and his recovery from injury after his grueling Hell In A Cell Match against Seth Rollins from the 2022 PPV "Hell In A Cell".
Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn.
The main event between two long-standing rivals began with Owens offering Zayn to shake his hand, but Zayn kicked Owens's hand. Owens hit a shoulder tackle before hitting a double-leg takedown on Zayn while laying punches on Zayn. Zayn rolled out of the ring, but Owens caught him with a lariat on the outside. The two got back in the ring before Zayn hit a series of stomps on Owens to send him to the outside. Zayn hit a Tope Con Giro on Owens to the outside before attempting to toss Owens onto the ring post, but Owens slammed Zayn onto the barricade. The two got on the apron before Zayn hit a vicious Sheer Drop Brainbuster on Owens on the apron before the commercial break. Back from the break, Zayn stomped away at Owens in the corner before hitting an elbow strike on Owens of the middle rope for a near fall. Zayn laid his boots on Owens on the ropes before stomping Owens's head. Zayn thought of his actions for a second before Owens greeted him with a slap to the head. Zayn placed Owens on the top rope before attempting a Superplex on Owens, but Owens dropped him with a headbutt before hitting a Frog Splash on Zayn for a near fall. Owens went for a Pop-up Powerbomb, but Zayn leaped over Owens and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Owens for a near fall. The two exchanged punches before Zayn hit an exploder suplex on Owens, but Ownes popped back up with a busted open forehead before hitting a lariat on Owens before the final commercial break of the show. Back from the break, Owens went for a Swanton Bomb but Zayn lifted his knees before getting a near fall on Owens. Zayn went for a Superplex on Owens, but Owen got his leg and hit an Avalanche Fisherman's Suplex on Zayn for a near fall. The two were on their knees as they exchanged shooter punches on each other, but Zayn responded with two Half-Dragon Suplexes on Owens. Zayn went for the Helluva Kick, but The Usos & Solo Sikoa attacked Owens to give Owens the Disqualification win.
Winner: Kevin Owens (via Disqualification).
- Zayn was shooked as Owens laid out the Usos, but Sikoa hit the Samoan Spike on Owens. Zayn & The Usos celebrated before Sikoa ran from eh barricade and hit a running Splash on Owens onto the broadcast table. The Bloodline stood over Owens to end the broadcast.
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
