Smackdown

WWE Smackdown results Friday 6 January 2023. Photos: WWE

WWE Smackdown results and highlights: Friday 6 January 2023

The road to the Royal Rumble promises a bumpy ride for the superstars of WWE as we saw on Smackdown on Friday 6 January.

Smackdown

WWE Smackdown results Friday 6 January 2023. Photos: WWE

The road to the Royal Rumble promises a bumpy ride for the superstars of WWE as we saw on Smackdown on Friday 6 January.

The show opened with the Bloodline in the ring to address their loss that ended an otherwise dominant 2022.

Smackdown also delivered Royal Rumble qualifiers and two title matches.

Smackdown
The Bloodline. Photo: WWE

WWE Smackdown results and highlights

Santos Escobar def. Kofi Kingston

During their impressive match, Kofi Kingston and Santos Escobar delivered a hard-hitting and athletic showcase. 

Kingston fell victim to the numbers game despite having Xavier Woods in his corner and the crowd firmly behind him. A distraction on the outside allowed Escobar to hit the Phantom Driver and pick up the major victory. 

Karrion Kross & Scarlett def. Madcap Moss & Emma in a Mixed Tag Team Match

The dangerous duo of Karrion Kross & Scarlett teamed up in the ring for the first time ever as they battled Madcap Moss & Emma in a Mixed Tag Team Match. 

Madcap became enraged when Kross confronted Emma after a pinfall attempt, but the wicked duo neutralized both of their opponents. 

Scarlett threw Emma into the ring post and over the announce table while Kross hit a Kross Hammer and locked in the Kross Jacket, which put Madcap to sleep. 

After the match, Kross put a Rey Mysterio mask and a tarot card (the Emperor) on the fallen Madcap, seemingly signifying his desire to face Mysterio. 

Charlotte Flair def. Sonya Deville in SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

 Fresh off winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship last week, Charlotte Flair accepted a challenge for the title from the deadly Sonya Deville. 

The challenger proved a game competitor, but Flair’s championship mettle shined bright as The Queen hit a devastating Spear and locked in her signature Figure-Eight Leglock, which forced an adamant Deville to submit. 

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Ricochet def. Top Dolla in a Royal Rumble Qualifying Match

With a spot in the 2023 Royal Rumble on the line, the high-flying Ricochet took on the bruising Top Dolla in what turned out to be a heated affair. 

Ricochet’s speed and agility proved to be the difference as The One and Only used Top Dolla’s momentum against him, allowing him enough time to hit a picture-perfect Shooting Star Press to pick up the pinfall victory.

After the match, Hit Row ambushed Ricochet until Braun Strowman hit the ring to defend his new friend. 

ALSO READ: Five things you didn’t know about Braun Strowman

The Usos def. Drew McIntyre & Sheamus in an Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Match

The red-hot rivalry between the team of Sheamus & Drew McIntyre and The Bloodline continued as Jimmy and Jey Uso put the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the line in an instant classic. 

All four competitors left it all in the ring with Claymores, Brogue Kicks, a 1D, and Superkicks, and the chaos forced The Brawling Brutes to scuffle on the outside with Solo Sikoa. 

When the action spilt to the ringside area, The Usos trapped Sheamus in the ring, rolled him up and used the ropes as leverage to get the pinfall and walk away with their historic title reign intact.

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After the match the Viking Raiders also attacked Sheamus and Drew McIntyre.