Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for January 8, 2019

The show begins with "The New" Daniel Bryan at the concession stand bashing fan consumerism, saying the only concessions being made are to the fans' health and well-being, and says everyone eats from it to fill a void in their empty lives. He blames these empty voids not only for consuming the food and drink, throwing it at fans before going up to a concession stand and bashing the fans for buying "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles' merchandise. He then heads down the arena steps. Daniel says he is changing the world and making it a better place, but to get change, the people must change, as they are weak, submissive and impotent. He plans to change the world one person at a time. Daniel says that Styles fills a void for 30 seconds, and that he will tear that void apart and replace with something that is important and meaningful. As Daniel approaches the ring, he is suddenly attacked by R-Truth, starting the next match early.

"The New" Daniel Bryan beats R-Truth. After the match, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles attacks Daniel Bryan on the stage. Security runs quickly into place to keep Styles away from Daniel, who runs to the back when Styles grabs a steel chair.

Samoa Joe and Andrade "Cien" Almas beat Rey Mysterio and Mustafa Ali after Almas counters the 619.

We hear from Carmella, who says that she will prove everyone who thinks that she won't win and considers her a third wheel wrong when she wins tonight, as her road to the SmackDown Women's title is all she needed. Tonight, she proves she is everything she says she is, because 'Mella is money.

We hear from The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso), who plan on stepping up tonight by beating The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) to win a tag team title opportunity.

Backstage, Shane McMahon is met by The Miz, who asks if he had anything to do with The Usos giving an opportunity to face The Bar for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, as he says that nobody is more deserving of the titles than them. Shane says they are far from the title picture, and despite being a McMahon, he refuses to shortcut his way to the title picture and desires to challenge himself and Miz against the competition. Miz says they are on the stage, then proposes they have the white leather for their gear. Shane excuses himself, much to the chagrin of Miz.

Rusev is in the ring. He talks about how Lana got hurt due to Shinsuke Nakamura's actions last week, and while Lana is at home resting, he stands before the fans not as a champion or a Bulgarian brute, but as a husband. The camera zooms in on Rusev's wedding band as the crowd chants "Lana is the best, Lana #1," then Rusev says Nakamura can mess with him all he wants before warning him that he crossed a line by hurting Lana. He calls out Nakamura, promising to break every bone in his body and crush him. Nakamura is on the TitanTron and in the production truck, and he says it is Rusev's fault that Lana got hurt and that he has the video to prove it. After a replay of how Lana got hurt last week, Nakamura says that Rusev crushed Lana. Rusev tells Nakamura that if he won't come to him, then he will come to Nakamura. Rusev then runs to the back. On the way to the production truck, however, Rusev is ambushed by Nakamura, and referees and officials quickly stop the attack before checking on Rusev. Nakamura gets the last word in by suddenly running up to Rusev and hitting him with a Kinshasa, laying him out.

We hear from Becky Lynch, who says she has to go through hoops to regain the title that nobody beat her to take away, then says it is okay because she can do whatever she wants in tonight's match. She says that Asuka has to do more than climb a ladder, and that she knows she is on borrowed time until "The Man" comes around.

The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) beats The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) after Mandy Rose shows up and distracts Jimmy Uso by asking if she left her lingerie in his hotel room. (Had The Usos won, they would have gotten a future shot at the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships.) After the match, The Miz shows up and congratulates The Bar on their win and their domination of all the other tag teams on SmackDown Live...except for him and Shane McMahon. He proposes that The Bar put their titles on the line against him and Shane at Royal Rumble. Cesaro takes the microphone and says he will consult with Sheamus, who immediately Brogue Kicks Miz. Cesaro then flatly tells Miz that they accept the challenge.

Backstage, Naomi fights Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Jimmy Uso runs in to save Naomi when the numbers game proves to be too much.

We hear from Charlotte Flair, who calls Carmella "last year's hottest thing" and Becky Lynch "this year's hottest thing" while she has been the hottest thing running the last four years after what she has done in that short a time. She says she does not have to prove herself to anyone; she is her for herself. Tonight, she is focused on Becky and Carmella; at Royal Rumble, she will be focused on Asuka. She tells Becky and Carmella to be prepared to be humbled by the Queen.

Backstage, "The New" Daniel Bryan is announced by Kayla Braxton as he leaves the arena. He is angry because a fan spilled mustard on his shirt, and says "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles attacked him unprovoked despite all he is doing and has done. He does not care why Styles attacked him, and says that what Styles did to him is not even half as vicious as him or what he is capable of, and Styles will find that out first-hand at Royal Rumble. Daniel says he is fighting for a cause that is bigger than anything Styles has fought for, and proclaims that he will be WWE Champion forever.

Backstage, The Miz is met by Shane McMahon, who says that what The Miz did with The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) is not what he had in mind, but The Miz says he is confident that they can win. Shane then sees where Miz is coming from, and goes with the plan.

Becky Lynch beats Carmella and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat Match with a Dis-Arm-Her to Carmella to face Asuka for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship at Royal Rumble. After the match, Asuka shows up and stares down with Becky Lynch in the ring.

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