Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 14, 2022

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) head to the ring to start tonight's show. It is announced that King Woods has suffered an injury and will be out indefinitely. Jey says that last week, he and Jimmy had war with The New Day, and while they beat them, they respect them, as they are only team to ever push them hard. Jimmy says they let everyone know that they run the show and that they are the ones, then Jey says that grind doesn't stop and wonders what Roman Reigns will have in score for Seth Rollins. Jey says that management is setting them up and they are knocking them down, and that there is a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match to decide the next #1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships before introducing all four teams in the match - Los Lotharios (Humberto and Angel), the team of Cesaro and Mansoor, the team of Jinder Mahal and Shanky, and The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) - which is up next. After mocklingly mentioning the rules for the match, The Usos then superkick The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik).

The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) beat Los Lotharios (Humberto and Angel), the team of Cesaro and Mansoor, and the team of Jinder Mahal and Shanky in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match to become #1 contenders for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships. After the match, The Usos tell The Viking Raiders it will be one and done when they tangle with them.

Backstage, Naomi confronts Sonya Deville, saying toying with her is one thing, but messing with her career is another, and she wants to know Sonya has against her. Sonya says Naomi shows up with "main character vibes" when everyone knows she is just an extra, and threatens to fine her, fire her or remove from the women's Royal Rumble match. Adam Pearce then shows up and notices the room is very cold.

We see a video package of Seth Rollins' and Roman Reigns' time in The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns) as part of a series of video packages called "Road To Royal Rumble."

It's time for In-Zayn. Sami Zayn says the conspiracy against him has gone too long and started when he was robbed of the Intercontinental Championship, but now he is #1 contender and poised to get what is rightfully is. Sami then mentions the sudden appearance of Johnny Knoxville, which he considers another part of the conspiracy against him, then mentions he is now part of the men's Royal Rumble match this year. He says that Knoxville cannot do anything that he can do, but he can do anything Knoxville can do, and when it comes to "being a jackass," nobody is better than him. Sami Zayn then welcomes everyone to "In-Zayn," heads tot he back and returns with two men pushing him in a shopping cart, which he says will go up the nearby ramp and into the wrestling ring with him in it, where he will hit a target on the other side. Sami soon begins to have second thoughts about the stunt, however, and almost goes through with it before staring he wants to make sure everything is safe. Sami soon begins to have second thoughts about the stunt, however, and almost goes through with it before staring he wants to make sure everything is safe, then Rick Boogs shows up and distracts Sami, who turns around and gets laid out by Shinsuke Nakamura. Rick Boogs then military press slams Sami Zayn into the target near the commentary table.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Aliyah. Aliyah says she is all nerves and has always dreamed of being in a WWE ring, and tonight, she does it against Natalya. She hopes to put on a good show and not embarrass herself. Natalya shows up with a Guinness Book of World Records and says that there is no shame in losing to her in her singles debut on SmackDown. Aliyah responds by saying she had no idea the Guinness World Records were still a thing, which earns her a stare from Natalya.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Natalya, who says Guinness World Records is still a thing and an important things, and that her three records not only reflect what she has done for WWE, but makes her a clear-cut Royal Rumble winner. After the break, Megan Morant interviews Natalya, who says Guinness World Records is still a thing and an important things, and that her three records not only reflect what she has done for WWE, but makes her a clear-cut Royal Rumble winner. Natalya says she has the most matches, the most pay-per-view matches and the most victories of any woman in WWE, then says she will set a fourth one by beating Aliyah in less than 0.8 seconds. Despite the pre-match beating that Natalya has given her, Aliyah still wants to compete, but it is announced that she will not be able to, but this is quickly reversed. Aliyah then quickly beats Natalya with a schoolkid pin in a record 3.17 seconds.

Backstage, WWE officials Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce are wondering why their office is still cold when the thermostat does nothing.

We see Seth Rollins' betrayal of The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns) in another video package of the "Road To Royal Rumble" series.

Michael Cole interviews Lita in the ring. Lita says she is finally home, and that she is coming back in the women's Royal Rumble match because while she is fully satisfied with her incredible career and history-making matches, she has never competed in a Royal Rumble match because the women didn't have one. She says she still has one last run left in her, and that she will enter the women's Royal Rumble match, leave victorious and main event WrestleMania. Suddenly, Charlotte Flair shows up. Charlotte says she did not know it was "Flashback Friday," then says she is entering as champion and picking her opponent when she wins, and that Lita's run will be over when she tosses her over the top rope. Charlotte then asks Lita how she will handle the humiliation of ending her short-lived comeback and WrestleMania dreams, and Lita says that "we've got a real Tonya Harding on our hands" and asks Charlotte how she will throw anyone over the top rope when she has a giant head. Charlotte talks about how she beat Trish Stratus so badly that she broke her and retired her, then says she will do the same to Lita. Lita teases slapping her in the face, but Charlotte dodges only to eat a Twist of Fate.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Sheamus. Sheamus says Ridge Holland should be right beside him, but he is sitting at home with an injury because of Ricochet, who he will give the hurting of his life before seeing how he likes leaving the ring with a broken nose.

Sheamus beats Ricochet.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are talking when the thermostat is still not working. Pearce leaves to meet with maintenance, then Sonya takes her jacket off. Naomi shows up, but Pearce shows up and stands between them. Naomi says something needs to be done about the recent events between them, and Pearce puts Naomi in another WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match against Charlotte Flair. Naomi then tells Sonya to "stay in her cage."

We see Seth Rollins' cash-in to become WWE Champion at WrestleMania 31 in another video package in the "Road To Royal Rumble" series.

Before the next match, Sir Kofi Kingston announces that King Woods "has fallen victim to a calf injury" and that he will miss Royal Rumble, and that a Royal Rumble cannot be truly royal without royal representation; as a result, Kofi will be in the men's Royal Rumble match. Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin then show up, and Corbin says he has made so much money on NFTs that he bought a $50,000 watch, and that nothing would make him happier than tosses Kofi out of the Royal Rumble by the back of his head. Corbin says he and Moss have not been so happy since they destroyed Drew McIntyre's neck - which see a replay of - then Madcap Moss calls Kofi without Woods and losing control of his bowels "The Poo Day." Kofi then proceeds to laugh hysterically, then says he had every intention of dropping a royal duece on Moss' forehead tonight.

Madcap Moss beats Sir Kofi Kingston by countering the Trouble In Paradise with the Punchline.

Seth Rollins heads to the ring. After the commercial break, Roman Reigns also heads to the ring. Rollins goes for a Shield fistbump for old times' sake, but Roman says "That's beneath me now." Rollins then says he was the last person Roman wanted to see last week, as their track record for championships is "pretty one-sided," then Roman says Rollins is sleeping under a rock and living in the past while he is in "God Mode." Roman also says that he is the greatest Universal Champion in history and the best to ever do this, then Rollins asks Roman if he can say that he did that all by himself, as he climbed up the ladder while Roman rode the pin in the CFL. He also says that he held his hand in The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Rollins, Reigns) and that Roman still could not do it on his own after he betrayed him, then asks him if he knows who the greatest really is here, saying he created Roman and can also destroy him. Roman says Rollins is wasting his time and is "a clown" who does not have the star power or the levels he has reached, and if he was looking for a mega-star, he would not have even chosen him from his household, let alone Raw, and would have chosen his wife Becky Lynch. Suddenly, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) try to attack Rollins from behind, but Rollins easily outsmarts them to end the show.

This week on Talking Smack: Lita! Sheamus! The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik)!

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