Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for January 9, 2018

Renee Young interviews "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles in the ring to start tonight's show. Styles says that every time he steps foot in the ring, he takes pride in what he does in it. He is human and makes mistakes, and says he was trying to be sarcastic only for General Manager Daniel Bryan to take him seriously. There is a chance he can lose the WWE Championship, but there is a chance that he can beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. He must hit them hard and fast, but Sami and Owens know what they are doing, and the longer the match, the better their chances of winning. As for whether or not Daniel Bryan's decision was fair, he says it was not, but neither is life. He says Sami and Owens have non-title victories over him, but that does not mean they both deserve a title shot in the same match on SmackDown Live. As for whether or not Daniel Bryan is playing favorites, he doesn't know what Daniel Bryan is thinking, and he is not going to point fingers as far as what Commissioner Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan are dealing with. He cannot allow Sami and Owens to take the WWE Championship from him, and he has to beat them in the same night to retain. When that happens, there will be no doubt that SmackDown Live is the house that AJ Styles built. Before Styles can finish that statement, however, Sami and Owens show up. Owens asks the crowd to give Styles an ovation, but feels he and Sami should call him "The Regretful" or "The Remorseful" AJ Styles instead of "The Phenomenal," and says Styles is trying to backtrack from what he said last week. He says it will take a miracle for Styles to beat them both simultaneously, and Heaven does not give miracles to people like him, as he has no chance of walking out with the WWE Championship. When all is said and done, they will be the first-ever co-WWE Champions. They plan to turn "The house that AJ Styles built" into "The Kevin and Sami Show" and do whatever they want. As Sami and Owens lead a "Yep!" chant, Shane McMahon shows up. Shane says he will have to go with AJ Styles on this one, and admits the match is not fair. He is puzzled that Daniel Bryan would make such a match and why he would allow Sami and Owens another opportunity to become WWE Champion. Be that as it may, he has to back Daniel Bryan's decision to have the match at Royal Rumble for now. On the subject of handicap matches, he might as well have such a match right here tonight. Tonight, Sami and Owens will team up to take on "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. Backstage, Commissioner Shane McMahon meets with General Manager Daniel Bryan, who has heard what Shane has said. He thanks Shane for making a great handicap match for tonight.

Charlotte Flair and Naomi stand in Becky Lynch's corner for the next match.

Becky Lynch beats Ruby Riott with the Dis-Arm-Her in her first match since returning from injury. She celebrates in the ring with Naomi and Charlotte Flair afterwards.

It is announced that Becky Lynch will be teaming with Sami Zayn in WWE Mixed Match Challenge.

We see footage from the newest clip of The Fashion Files, where The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) find out they're not getting back-up from Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) in their match tonight, as Breezango have a match of their own.

The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) quickly beat The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor). After the match, Konnor checks on Viktor only to be decimated.

Bobby Roode guests at ringside for the next match.

Mojo Rawley beats Zack Ryder to advance in the United States Championship Tournament. After the match, Bobby Roode gets in the ring and stares down with Mojo Rawley. Mojo backs away, pointing at Roode, then leaves the ring.

Jinder Mahal says that he defined 2017. For 185 days, he was WWE Champion. Nobody thought it was possible or that he was deserving of the title...except himself. As 2018 begins, he has his eyes on the United States title. He beat "The Perfect Ten" Tye Dillinger in Round 1, and he will beat Xavier Woods in Round 2. He hopes that Woods knows how to play Taps on the Trombone, for he has already lost. He says Woods is a fad, while he is forever.

We look back on September 28, 1998, when "Stone Cold" Steve Austin rode the zamboni and got Vince McMahon.

It is announced that Natalya will be teaming with "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura in WWE Mixed Match Challenge.

Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable show up. Gable asks if anybody knows what it takes to be a winner - the hours of training and neglecting family and friends - and become a success and show that the risks paid off and life means something. He says that if you're willing to make the sacrifice, you can hold the titles above your head. Shelton Benjamin tells the crowd that just because The University of Alabama won a national championship, that does not mean the fans won as they simply just sat there. He then goes on to say that Georgia was robbed due to a bad referee call, just like him and Gable were robbed of the SmackDown Tag Team Championships last week. Gable says they beat The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) in the ring last week and set the tag titles free from the Uso Penitentiary, when suddenly, another referee who was not part of the match shows up. As he speaks, the crowd chants "Roll Tide." They go on to say that this referee was in the match due to jealousy, and that this referee has no idea what it takes to be a winner. They say that man is no hero, that he is a thief. Shelton and Gable then say a crime was committed, and they want justice. They want the SmackDown tag team titles, because they beat The Usos and lost to instant replay. They then demand this referee come to the ring. Instead of the referee, Shelton and Gable get General Manager Daniel Bryan. Daniel says he understand the euphoria of thinking you won, and understands when you work so hard for something only for it to be taken away from you. He does not care what they say about The Usos, but there are some cold, hard rules that the roster needs to understand. He says the referee's decision is final, but Shelton insists he and Gable won the match and the tag titles. Daniel Bryan says the referee was doing the right thing after finding out he made a mistake, and management stands behind him. Gable does not care, that Daniel Bryan is taking his anger out on them, that they have beaten The Usos and won the title. He sarcastically asks if they have to beat them twice in one time. This gives Daniel an idea. At Royal Rumble, they will face The Usos again in a two-out-of-three falls match for the SmackDown tag team titles.

In the locker room, Randy Orton and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles have a conversation. Orton asks Styles to trust him when he says they're on the same page tonight, but when he wins the Men's Royal Rumble Match, he will come for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura soon joins them, and says "Not so fast." He touches the title, then says "Good talk," and leaves.

Before the next match, Aiden English announces through song that he and Rusev are officially in the Men's Royal Rumble match - which Rusev asks English to call the "Rusev Rumble" - and that they will on Rusev Day.

Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) get a surprise win on Rusev and Aiden English after Tyler Breeze manages to distract Rusev.

Backstage, Commissioner Shane McMahon meets with General Manager Daniel Bryan. Shane tells Daniel Bryan that they are not on the same page given the matches Daniel Bryan has made so far for Royal Rumble. Shane does not like the idea of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn as co-WWE Champions, and says Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable should not have another opportunity at the SmackDown tag team titles. Shane thinks Daniel Bryan is coming off as a bit unstable, but Daniel says he can say the same of Shane. Shane says it is best to agree to disagree, and leaves Daniel alone.

You can vote for Carmella's partner among the three members of The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) at the Mixed Match Challenge Facebook. The winner will be announced at noon Eastern Time.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, Randy Orton and "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. During the match, Sami and Owens then head up the ramp to get away from the match, but Commissioner Shane McMahon shows up. Shane then makes the match a no count-outs match, then demands the match be restarted. Later, after Kevin Owens gets himself and Sami Zayn disqualified by Owens using a steel chair, Shane shows up again, and makes the match no-disqualificaton and anything goes. After this, Styles chases Owens to the back, and Nakamura and Owens then have their way with Sami.