Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for January 23, 2018

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn show up to start tonight's show. Owens says it is time to pay attention, as he and Sami Zayn are the future of WWE and not "a parade of retirees" like we saw last night. He then tells the crowd to give it up for their new co-WWE Champion, Sami Zayn. In return, Sami Zayn asks the crowd to give it up for Kevin Owens. Owens says the Yep Movement is more than one syllable, but standing up to tyranny no matter the odds. Kevin Owens mentions their 3-on-2 handicap match from a few weeks ago, and that they proved that "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles has no chance of walking out with the WWE Championship, as they are the absolute best competitors on SmackDown Live. If they can win a 3-on-2 handicap match, then AJ Styles has no shot at retaining the WWE Championship. Sami Zayn tells Styles that at Royal Rumble, they will beat him and take his championship, and they are going to become the first ever co-WWE Champions. After that happens, they will hurt him. Owens and Sami then start a "Yep!" chant. AJ Styles then arrives, and responds to all of their claims of what they will do at Royal Rumble with "Nope." Styles then says they have been annoying people with their movement for months now, but Owens and Sami tell him that after Royal Rumble, he will have to get used to it from absolutely everywhere. Styles tells them to shut their "yep-holes" for a second, and while they have the advantage, they are not facing anyone; they are facing someone phenomenal. If there is fight left in his body, he will make sure they will never be co-WWE Champions. He says this isn't "The Kami Show," this is SmackDown Live and "the house that AJ Styles built." Owens tells Styles he is phenomenal, but also predictable. Sami says he called Styles walking in with a "macho tough guy act." Owens then says Styles acts like he has a chance of beating them, which makes him ignorant. He then says ignorance is the language of Washington, DC. Sami adds that it was ignorance that got Styles in this situation in the first place, and he and Owens show the footage of how Styles got himself into the 2-on-1 handicap match for the WWE Championship. Owens says those words were supposed to be empty words, but when General Manager Daniel Bryan took him up on that offer, he tried to weasel his way out of it. Sami says he is forced to be true to his word thanks to Daniel Bryan, and asks if Styles will be true to his word this time. Styles asks what they are talking about, and they show footage of Styles from two weeks ago saying he will face them both in the same night if he has to. Owens asks if he will weasel his way out of if he will be a man, then proposes they do that just that, with Styles facing Owens one-on-one followed by Styles facing Sami one-on-one immediately after. Daniel Bryan shows up, and says enough is enough. He says Sami and Owens are right about being two of the best to ever step foot in the ring as well as how difficult it is to win a handicap match, but he has the utmost faith in Styles. Styles asks Daniel Bryan not to advocate for him, especially since he doesn't know "if he is in bed with these dirtbags." Styles says that if Owens and Sami think they can beat him back-to-back in matches, they can find out tonight. But he will not beat them; he will hurt them.

Backstage, General Manager Daniel Bryan meets with Commissioner Shane McMahon. Shane questions Daniel putting "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles in back-to-back matches, but Daniel says Styles has nothing to prove and that he wasn't going to sanction anything. Shane questions his honesty, but Daniel Bryan shoots straight with him. Daniel then asks Shane is he is doubting Styles' ability, but Shane says it is not Styles' ability that he is questioning.

Chad Gable beats Jey Uso.

Renee Young interviews "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura. When asked how he will outlast 29 other men in the Royal Rumble match, he says he will give everyone a knee to the face. Suddenly, Baron Corbin shows up. Corbin says Nakamura is nothing but hype, but that is okay, because he does not care about the fans, who pay his bills. He says his resume speaks volumes, and he will add to it when he wins the Royal Rumble Match. He is not hype; he is results. When Corbin asks Nakamura what he has done, Nakamura says it is not what he has done, but what he will do at the men's Royal Rumble Match. He then says to Corbin "Let's rumble!"

"The Perfect Ten" Tye Dillinger announces that he will be entering the Royal Rumble Match, and says that this year will be nothing less than a perfect ten.

Naomi beats Liv Morgan. During the match, Natalya, Lana and Carmella suddenly show up to watch the match from ringside, as does Becky Lynch. After the match, Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan attack Naomi, but Becky Lynch gets in the ring to even the odds. Suddenly, everyone else around the ring gets in and fights one another in a preview of the women's Royal Rumble Match. Naomi and Becky Lynch are the last two standing, but before they can go at it with each other, Charlotte Flair shows up. Charlotte admits Becky trying to toss Naomi out of the ring was fierce, as it is every woman for himself on Sunday. She says alliances and teams don't matter when you're trying to face her at WrestleMania, then wishes good luck to everyone, especially the winner.

Asuka and The Miz vs. Carmella and Big E will take place this week on Mixed Match Challenge.

"The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura beats Baron Corbin by disqualification when he falls victim to an RKO out of nowhere by Randy Orton. After the match, Orton hits Corbin with an RKO.

We see a video package of Raw 25.

Before the next match, Big E talks about being part of Raw 25, and Kofi says they will become part of history again on Sunday when they enter the men's Royal Rumble Match. Xavier Woods says that their partner tonight, Bobby Roode, made history when he defeated two men to become the WWE United States Champion. Roode then shows up. Roode thanks The New Day ( for the introduction, and says he could not see a better place to debut as US Champ than in Washington, DC. His goal is to be the best United States Champion in history. He says it is no easy task, but his reign as WWE United States Champion is going to be absolutely glorious...as opposed to stupendous, delicious or exuberant.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Bobby Roode beat Rusev, Aiden English and Jinder Mahal.

Before the next match, Commissioner Shane McMahon shows up and tells Sami Zayn that he is barred from ringside for the next match. If he approaches the ring tonight, he will lose his opportunity at the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble and he will be fired on the spot. Shane also tells Kevin Owens that the same applies to him during Sami Zayn's match. After asking if it will be the last thing they ever do on SmackDown Live if they do, he says "Yep."

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles quickly beats Kevin Owens with the Calf Crusher after Owens hurts his left leg running into the corner. After the match, Sami Zayn rushes into the ring and attacks Styles. The referee demands that Sami Zayn stop, but Sami keeps stomping a downed Styles. He then grabs Styles out of the ring from ringside and sends Styles into the steel steps as General Manager Daniel Bryan and Commissioner Shane McMahon watch backstage. After the commercial break, AJ says he can still go, and the next match starts.

Sami Zayn beats "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. At ringside, referee Charles Robinson and a WWE doctor checks on Kevin Owens during the match. Later on in the match, he is checked on by EMTs. General Manager Daniel Bryan and Commissioner Shane McMahon are also seen watching the match backstage. During the match, Styles attacks a downed Owens near the aisle to ensure that he does not get involved in the match. Later on, Styles gets out of the ring and topples the gurney that Kevin Ownes is on top of. When he gets back in, Sami Zayn hits Styles with the Helluva Kick followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb for the win.

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!