Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 8, 2021

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman show up to start tonight's show. Roman says that he likes and respects Kevin Owens for being ambitious, even though he is a pain in his ass, and says he did not want anything bad to happen, saying he put him in a tough spot. He says that he cares for the rest of the roster, and says that Kevin Owens no longer has an opportunity to put food on the table, saying it is Adam Pearce's fault and not his. He then demands Adam Pearce come to the ring. Pearce shows up after a brief wait, and following a video package of what has happened to Kevin Owens, Roman asks Pearce what he has to say for himself and tells him to take responsibility, saying that it was done between him and Owens. He says that Pearce should have done his job, but he was the one to throw Owens back into the shark tank, and because of that, Owens cannot provide for his family. Roman then says that because he is a good guy, he is allowing Pearce to redeem himself. He then blasts Pearce for setting up a five-person Gauntlet Match, saying he should be picking his own opponents, then comes to the conclusion that Pearce thinks he is stupid. As he does, he jokes that Pearce wants to enter tonight's guauntlet match, but Pearce says that would be a conflict of interest. Roman then takes this as Pearce being insulting and disrespectful to him and his bloodlines before putting his hand on him. Pearce tells Roman that he means total respect, then Roman lets go and says "My mistake." Roman then says nobody in the ring is stupid and that Pearce is perfectly safe before leaving with Jey Uso and Paul Heyman.

Apollo Crews beats Big E for the WWE Intercontinental Championship...almost. Apollo hits Big E with a superplex into an inside cradle, but it appears that both men have their shoulders down. After the commercial break, the match is declared a draw, but Apollo Crews wants a rematch and slaps Big E to get it. This restarts the match.

Big E retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Apollo Crews.

Backstage, Adam Pearce is on the phone when Sonya Deville, and it is revealed that Sonya is Pearce's assistant. Sonya says she is not proud of her past actions, but she wants to put the past behind her and help Pearce genuinely.

Backstage, Alyse Ashton interviews Bianca Belair, who is soon interrupted by Bayley, who states that she will be in the women's Royal Rumble just like her and that Bianca will not win. Bianca says if she won last year, she would have been honored to face her. She then reminds Bayley that she is not champion anymore, then leaves.

Sports Illustrated has named Sasha Banks their #1 wrestling superstar of 2020.

We hear from Carmella, who commends Sasha Banks on being Sports Illustrated's #1 wrestler of 2020, then says all the hard work and determination will not matter if her raw talent is outmatch, as Sasha cannot touch her in raw talent.

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode beat The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) to become the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions! After the match, Ziggler and Roode knock The Street Profits out of the ring.

Backstage, Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are met by Paul Heyman. Sonya leaves, then Heyman tells Pearce that he was concerned for him earlier and that he holds in great respect. Heyman says that he understands why Pearce is where he is in WWE but says Pearce has dreamed of being a champion in WWE, and says that he has pulled a few strings to make it so that Pearce is in tonight's gauntlet match.

Backstage, Billie Kay meets with The Riott Squad in an attempt to make them a three-person team. When they refuse, Billie Kay breaks into tears, but when Liv Morgan says it's not because they don't want her, Billie Kay takes it as them wanting her in the group.

Before the next match, Sami Zayn states that he has demanded that he be in this gauntlet match, but finds it a coincidence that he is one of the first two people in the match and considers this part of a conspiracy to target him. As he speaks, he has a two-man camera crew acting as unbiased documentarians who is trying to uncover the conspiracy that cost him the Intercontinental Championship, and he says that he will soon be realized as the champion again. He then says he is about fighting injustice, and says he will start by beating Rey and every other competitor that shows up in the match, for he is undeniable. Rey then lays Sami out with the 619 to immediately take him out of the gauntlet.

Adam Pearce beats Sami Zayn, Rey Mysterio, King Corbin, Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura in a Gauntlet Match to face Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship. Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Paul Heyman show up before Adam Pearce does and slowly force him down to the ring, then Jey Uso and Roman Reigns attack Nakamura. Jey Uso and Roman Reigns then lay out Adam Pearce with a superkick from Jey Uso when they force him in the ring, and place Pearce over Nakamura to eliminate him and make Pearce #1 contender.