Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 21, 2022

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) are in the ring to start tonight's show. Jimmy says that they are here to celebrate the longest-reigning Universal Champion ever: Roman Reigns, who has held it for 508 consecutive days. Roman Reigns heads to the ring, then we see a highlight package of Roman's reign. Before Roman can saying, however, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows up. Rollins asks what kind of party it would be without him, then says Roman's reign will come to an end and reiterates that Roman is not accountable for his own success, as everything has been handed to him, and that Roman took that statement so poorly he sent The Usos at him. He also says that The Usos should be celebrated for being the longest-reigning SmackDown Tag Team Champions and being the cornerstones of Roman's success, calling them "Roman's pedestals." Roman says Rollins makes the same excuses and asks if John Cena wrote his promo before telling him that their match at Royal Rumble will be one-on-one, but Rollins says he does not trust Roman's word. He proposes that he finds a tag team partner and take on The Usos, and that if the The Usos lose tonight, they are barred from ringside at Royal Rumble. Jey Uso accepts the challenge, saying nobody will team up with Rollins, but Kevin Owens shows up. Roman says it is not final until he says to, and says that if Rollins wants to be a betting man, then he will raise the stake by saying that if Rollins and Owens lose, then Rollins loses his Royal Rumble match and he will go on vacation until WrestleMania. Rollins accepts the stipulation.

Before the next match, Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss brag about their wins against Sir Kofi Kingston, and Moss says without King Woods, Kofi is like "a disembodied hand." He also says that if Kofi started a Garth Brooks cover band, he would sing "Friends In No Places." When Kofi Kingston heads to the ring, he is accompanied by Big E.

Sir Kofi Kingston beats Madcap Moss. After the match, Big E hits Madcap Moss with the Big Ending when Happy Corbin tries to get into the ring.

Country music artist Jimmie Allen is seen in the front row, and Summer Rae is also seen in the crowd before the next match.

Aliyah beats Natalya by disqualification after Natalya refuses to let Aliyah out of the corner. After the match, Natalya attacks Aliyah again, but Xia Li shows up, confronts Natalya and easily overpowers her.

The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) beat Los Lotharios (Angel and Humberto).

Before the next match, WWE official Sonya Deville makes herself the referee.

Charlotte Flair beats Naomi in a WWE SmackDown Women's Championship Contender's Match after Sonya Deville refuses to count a pinfall for Naomi after Naomi boots Charlotte into her as Charlotte goes for the Figure Four. Charlotte hits Naomi with a chop block afterwards, and Sonya immediately calls for the bell when Charlotte goes for the Figure Four again despite Naomi not tapping out.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Kevin Owens and Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Owens says if it were not for The Usos, he would be the longest-reigning Universal Champion of all time, and The Usos trying to do that to Rollins tears him up inside. Rollins says the stakes are high, but the risk is worth the reward, and that one-on-one, he knows he can beat Roman Reigns.

Kid Rock is seen in the front row.

It's time for another edition of In-Zayn. Sami Zayn mentions Johnny Knoxville's testing of self-defense weapons on himself, then says he will test a few things to prove that what Knoxville can do, he can do better. The first thing Sami Zayn tests on himself is a cattle prod, and he zaps himself in the leg with the lowest setting. Sami then brings it up a level and points it at his chest, and after he zaps himself again, Knoxville shows up. Knoxville says that Sami is making a mockery of what he's done and that something seems off about the cattle prod. When he takes the cattle prod, he realizes it is legit, but it is not on. Knoxville turns the cattle prod on, then zaps Sami Zayn and helps him up before tossing him out of the ring again.

Backstage, Adam Pearce talks with Eric Bischoff when Sonya Deville shows up. Pearce says that Sonya's problems with Naomi is affecting her leadership, and that Naomi and Sonya will have a match next week.

We see a trailer for WWE 2K22.

Sheamus - now with Ridge Holland at his side again - beats Ricochet.

Backstage, Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs meet Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett compliments Rick Boogs on his guitar playing.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins and Kevin Owens beats The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) by disqualification after Roman Reigns shows up and hits Rollins with a Superman Punch. As per pre-match stipulation, The Usos are banned from ringside at Royal Rumble. (Had Rollins lost, he would have lost his match for the Universal Championship at Royal Rumble.)