Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for February 4, 2022

Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) head to the ring to start tonight's show. Heyman says he is here as special counsel to Reigns and the acknowledge what really happened. He then says that there was no plot or scheme to make Brock Lesnar look foolish, though Lesnar looks foolish anyway. He says that he made a mistake admitting that Roman needed to be protected from Brock Lesnar, then says that he seized the moment and put Brock Lesnar in the WWE Championship match, which Lesnar won. Heyman then says that when Lesnar aimed for Roman Reigns again for a potential title vs. title match, he looked and acted like a schmuck when he did not accept his place in history on Raw. He then says that he was stuck with "a happy Saskatchewan farmer who wanted to take everyone to Suplex City" until Royal Rumble, when he proved that a GOAT can slay a beast. Heyman says that the fans will never hear him introduce Brock Lesnar ever again after Roman smashed him, and he realized that he did not have to protect Roman from Lesnar; he need to protect Lesnar from Roman. He goes on to say that Roman offered him the hand of forgiveness, love, family, the bloodline and acknowledgement, and he handed him the WWE Championship and he smashed Lesnar with it so Bobby Lashley could become WWE Champion. Heyman says that Lesnar will do what Roman Reigns wants him to do, and that Roman will make Lesnar acknowledge him. Paul Heyman then acknowledges Roman as his tribal chief, then allows the fans of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to do the same. Suddenly, Goldberg shows up, then acknowledges Roman...as his next victim. He challenges Roman to a match at Elimination Chamber for the Universal Championship before telling him he is next.

Ricochet beats Ridge Holland after Cesaro confronts Sheamus on the outside.

Sheamus and Ridge Holland beat Ricochet and Cesaro after Ridge Holland tags in as Cesaro hits a Superplex and hits Cesaro with Northern Grit afterwards.

Jimmy Uso beats Erik.

Aliyah beats Natalya by count-out after Natalya fails to listen to the referee's ten count as she beats up Aliyah on the outside.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. Drew says that after Day 1, a doctor told he would not make Royal Rumble or WrestleMania, but he told the doctor he could kiss his ass and rehabbed three hours a day for six days a week. He says that Royal Rumble did not go as planned and that Brock Lesnar got one up on him, but he will deal with that later, as he still has Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss to deal with. Happy Corbin shows up and says that by some miracle, McIntyre eliminated him and Moss, then asks if it was worth it after what they did to his neck. As he says that the thought of McIntyre not going to WrestleMania makes him happy, Moss sneaks up on McIntyre. McIntyre sees Moss coming and points his sword at Moss, then forces Moss to make a Drew McIntyre joke and threatens to draw blood if Corbin gets in the ring. Moss says that a criminal found not criminal is like a WrestleMania main event, as they will both get off Scot-free. McIntyre laughs, then Moss gets Claymored. McIntyre then tells Corbin that he will make his life a living hell and that this is just the beginning.

We see Sami Zayn get tossed out of the Jackass Forever premiere while Johnny Knoxville zaps him with a cattle prod. Backstage, Sami Zayn gets mad at WWE officials Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce for letting that footage be played and wants to know when he will get his Intercontinental Championship match. He finds out he will get it in two weeks. Sami leaves, then Natalya shows up and wants Aliyah in a match that is pinfall or submission only, "Dungeon style." Sonya makes the match official.

Sami Zayn guests on commentary for the next match.

Shinsuke Nakamura beats Jinder Mahal in a WWE Intercontinental Championship Contender's Match.

WrestleMania 38 is 57 days away!

Backstage, Naomi confronts WWE official Sonya Deville and tells her to meet her in the ring in five minutes. When Sonya mentions she has business, Naomi challenges her for next week. Sonya tells Naomi she already has a match for next week: Charlotte Flair for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. Naomi does not believe her (for obvious reasons), but WWE official Adam Pearce tells her the match is official. Naomi tells Sonya she is safe...for now. She then fist bumps Adam Pearce.

We see a video package of Goldberg's career.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Natalya, who heads to the women's locker room only for Xia Li to come out. Natalya decides to tell Aliyah about their match next week.

In footage from earlier today, we find out that the next match was caused after The New Day (Sir Kofi Kingston and Big E) crashed Los Lotharios' (Angel and Humberto) photoshoot.

The New Day (Sir Kofi Kingston and Big E) beat Los Lotharios (Angel and Humberto).

Charlotte Flair heads to the ring. Charlotte Flair heads to the ring. After the commercial break, WWE official Sonya Deville is also in the ring, and Sonya tells Charlotte that Becky Lynch has chosen "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey as her opponent for WrestleMania. She then says that after next week, Charlotte will need a WrestleMania opponent. Charlotte says she has been on top since 2015 and has been fighting, winning and competing to do that. She says she would be worried if she were Ronda, who has went the safe route with a "mom versus mom" match and that she is confident in herself that she is the main event for WrestleMania. She then picks Sasha Banks as her opponent. Charlotte says that WrestleMania will be the best and worst day of Sasha's life and that she will have a contract waiting for her, then Ronda Rousey shows up. Ronda says she drove through an ice storm to teach her daughter the family business of kicking ass and that she owes Charlotte an ass-beating. She says Charlotte is not special and that she is not first, then says "I'll see you at WrestleMania, bitch." Charlotte says that the SmackkDowm women's title is her baby and prettier than Ronda's. Ronda takes her jacket off and Sonya stops her, but Ronda shoves Sonya and goes after Charlotte. Sonya gets on top of Ronda, and when Charlotte retreats, Ronda puts Sonya in an arm bar to end the show.