Winners, News And Notes On January 14, 2022

WWE Friday Night SmackDown advertised Royal Rumble 2022 opponents Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns face-to-face, Sami Zayn promising to “out-Jackass” Johnny Knoxville and Aliyah returning to face Natalya in her first SmackDown singles match.

Last week’s broadcast of Friday Night SmackDown garnered 2.271 million viewers.

• January 7, 2022—2.271 million
• December 31, 2021—378,000 (“Best of” show on FS1)
• December 24, 2021—1,972,000
• December 17, 2021—2.303 million
• December 10, 2021—2.142 million

• WWE Raw Venue: CHI Center (Omaha, Neb.)
• Tickets Distributed: 6,836
• Available Tickets: 397

Johnny Knoxville Might Win 2022 Royal Rumble (Pro Wrestling Bits)

WWE SmackDown Total YouTube Viewership Last Friday: 10,351,664

• Most-Viewed: Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns come Face to Face (5,027,349 views) 
• Least-Viewed: The New Day vs. The Usos (209,484 views)
• Median Viewership: 574,725 views

WWE SmackDown Results | Friday, January 14, 2022

The Viking Raiders def. Los Lotharios, Cesaro and Mansoor, Jinder Mahal and Shanky

The Usos had no shortage of hip-hop-inspired ad-libs while on commentary.

I was surprised with how many bumps Shanky was taking despite being one of the two tallest talents in WWE.

Cesaro teased a swing on Ivar, and actually started to pull it off before it was interrupted by Jinder Mahal.

It felt like The Viking Raiders won this match because they were the only babyface team in this Fatal 4-Way.

Sami Zayn Debuts “In-Zayn”

Rick Boogs looks more like Ravishing Rick Rude with his new haircut.

Zayn was fantastic in this segment, but one of the best parts was the use of royalty-free Jackass music even though WWE has been playing the original version for weeks.

Boogs Gorilla-pressed Sami Zayn onto a crash pad, and Zayn had to actually sell it like it hurt.

Aliyah def. Natalya

Aliyah has quietly put together an undefeated record on SmackDown, which is more than you can say for just about any WWE women’s star after two matches.

Aliyah continues to react to her own wins like a Price is Right contestant who just heard their name called.

Though Natalya is touting her Guinness world record, Aliyah now has the world record for fastest win in WWE history in 3.17 seconds.

Lita Appears Live

There’s no way this segment comes and goes without an appearance from Charlotte Flair.

Right on cue, Charlotte Flair showed up just as Lita was predicting a Royal Rumble win for herself.

Charlotte really should open up a store that sells onesies. Lita even hilariously compared her to figure skating great Tanya Harding.

Lita laid out Charlotte Flair and I was shocked. WWE usually doesn’t make its legends look this strong.

Sheamus def. Ricochet

Sheamus vs. Ricochet is officially a feud over

Ricochet can never seem to beat Sheamus. It’s not a long-term storyline, Sheamus just always happens to be higher in the pecking order and there seems to be nothing Ricochet can do about it.

Madcap Moss def. Kofi Kingston

Madcap Moss wears less ring gear each week to showcase his physique. This week, he wore shorts.

Now that Xavier Woods is on the shelf, WWE will inevitably book Kofi Kingston like a wounded baby animal who got separated from the pack.

Madcap Moss might be a darkhorse to win the Royal Rumble, and I’m not even kidding.

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, Face to Face

Seth Rollins’ costume this week could best be described as a gentrified Michael Jackson. I can’t believe this man is the favorite to walk into WrestleMania as a world champion.

It was unknown who the babyface of this feud was before these promos started, but the fans certainly sided with Roman Reigns.

Reigns said a Shield fist pound was beneath him, and he’s right.

Seth Rollins drew a very accurate parallel between The Shield and The Bloodline. Reigns clapped back by saying if he wanted to have a match with a megastar, he would have chosen Rollins’ wife.