WWE SmackDown Results, Grade & Analysis: January 1, 2021

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WWE SmackDown Results: January 1st, 2021

A.K.A. The First One Of The New Year

Match Results:

Big E def. Baron Corbin by disqualification
Apollo Crews & Big E def. Baron Corbin & Sami Zayn
Riott Squad def. Natalya & Tamina
Bayley & Carmella def. Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair
Daniel Bryan & Otis Dozovic def. Artists Collective
Kevin Owens def. Jey Uso

The Main Event: Family Fury

The intensity of the Kevin Owens-Roman Reigns feud continues to ramp up, with Owens doing some not-so-babyface things to get Reigns’ attention. After finally getting a match against Jey Uso and defeating him, Owens handcuffed Uso to the ring ropes. He then laid a beating on Jey to try and goad out The Head of the Table.

"He's your family and he's doing this to you!"#SmackDown @FightOwensFight @WWEUsos @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/oLnxLXtXSp

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— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2021

Owens may have bit off more than he could chew, as Reigns would blindside him out by the Thunderdome. When Reigns and Uso got control of Owens, they made it count. He was sent crashing off of the stage.

.@WWERomanReigns just sent @FIghtOwensFight crashing inside the #WWEThunderDome!!!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Xz2e8JCqqH

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2021

Royal Rumble title feuds sometimes struggle to get heat as the buildup is focused on the Rumble itself. This year that’s not a problem for these two.

The Undercard:

Daddy’s home! Sonya Deville has returned to a stacked SmackDown women’s roster. Where does she fit in within the current landscape? We haven’t seen Sonya since a loser leaves WWE match at Summerslam, so it’s great to have her back in the fold.

👀 👀 👀 👀#SmackDown @SonyaDevilleWWE pic.twitter.com/X2gSlcmdvi

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2021

Big E is going to be a fighting Intercontinental Champion (but what babyface isn’t, really). After teaming with Apollo Crews in a tag team win, E will defend against Crews next week. Crews doesn’t seem like the long term challenger for the belt, but this should be a fun match.

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode have been teaming for what feels like forever. They finally have a team name: The Dirty Dawgs. It looks like they’ll be the next challengers for the Street Profits.

What a VICIOUS assault from @HEELZiggler & @RealRobertRoode!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/q6sd77RTMG

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2021

Billie Kay continues to be one of the best parts of SmackDown. She is still looking for a tag partner, and this week “managed” Natalya and Tamina. This angle better end with an IIconics reunion.

Grade: B-

This show was enjoyable overall, and the Owens-Reigns feud was a good thread throughout. There were two enjoyable women’s tag matches on the show, and the weird trio of Daniel Bryan, Chad Gable and Otis continue to be fun to watch. Maybe this is just new year optimism, but SmackDown is heading in the right direction.