SmackDown: January 15, 2015
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SmackDown Results : Full Details
SmackDown Results — Jan. 15, 2015: Daniel Bryan returned to action on SmackDown’s Thursday night premiere, emerging victorious alongside Reigns and Ambrose
Daniel Bryan def. Kane by Disqualification
BATON ROUGE, La. — Thursday nights will never be the same again as SmackDown moved to its new night. On the Thursday night premiere, Daniel Bryan’s clash with Kane escalated into a huge Six-Man Tag Team Match main event, Paul Heyman came face-to-face with the “future of WWE” in a heated standoff and much more!
SmackDown started its Thursday night tenure off on the right foot as Daniel Bryan opened the show in great spirits during an in-ring interview with one of SmackDown’s new announcers: Byron Saxton.
Photos: Bryan vs. Kane | Watch: Bryan's back
Kane soon emerged, however, with Big Show and The Authority in tow. After being sidelined for eight months, The Beard showed little to no ring rust in his match against WWE’s Director of Operations. Unfortunately, the “Yes!” Man’s hellish clash with his former Team Hell No partner was interrupted by J&J Security, forcing the referee to call for the bell and setting the bearded Superstar up for a potential post-match assault at the hands of The Authority. Luckily, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns arrived to even the odds, prompting Triple H to make a huge Six-Man Tag Team main event pitting Bryan, Reigns & Ambrose against Rollins, Big Show & Kane!
The Miz, Damien Mizdow & Alicia Fox def. The Usos & Naomi
The Miz put his stunt double Damien Mizdow to good use in a Mixed Tag Team Match, aligning the Hollywood duo with Alicia Fox against WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos & Naomi. The self-proclaimed “A-lister” pushed his popular sidekick in front of a superkick from Jimmy Uso, allowing the movie star to nail the Samoan warrior with the Skull-Crushing Finale for the victory.
Photos: Mizdow steps in | Royal Rumble: The Miz & Mizdow vs. The Usos
Will we witness a similar ending at the Royal Rumble when The Miz & Damien Mizdow challenge The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Titles?
Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins engaged in a heated faceoff
After his client, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar got Curb Stomped to conclude Raw, Paul Heyman was clearly in a less than cheerful mood when he walked into a SmackDown ring. Nevertheless, a fired up Seth Rollins was not afraid to cut off Lesnar’s advocate before announcing that he was ready to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase right then and there. The only problem was that The Beast Incarnate was not in the building, so Mr. Money in the Bank instead contemplated delivering a Curb Stomp to a cornered Heyman.
Photos: Heyman avoids a Curb Stomp | WWE World Heavyweight Title Match preview
Somehow, The Beast Incarnate’s outspoken mouthpiece managed to talk his way out of another jam with a vague statement about the unpredictable future of The Authority’s rule and his own rise in power.
Natalya def. Nikki Bella
The Bella Twins got a taste of their own medicine when Brie Bella’s attempt to distract Natalya on the ring apron backfired. As The Bella Twin held the attention of The Queen of Harts and the referee, Paige smacked a fallen Nikki Bella. The strike allowed Natalya to lock in the Sharpshooter, forcing the Divas Champion to tap out in the non-title match.
Photos: Nikki gets slapped | Photos: Paige goes glam
Bad News Barrett def. Sin Cara in an Intercontinental Title Match
After defeating Bad News Barrett in a non-title match last week on SmackDown, Sin Cara received an Intercontinental Title Match against the British brawler on SmackDown’s return to Thursday night.
Sin Cara's surprising strength | Photos: Royal Rumble Match winners
The high-flying Superstar pushed the titleholder to the limit, at one point demonstrating remarkable power by lifting the 240-plus-pound Superstar straight off the mat into a powerful slam. Unfortunately for the masked Superstar, he was unable to hit his signature Senton Bomb, allowing the former bare-knuckle boxer the opportunity to connect with the Bad News Bull Hammer Elbow in mid-air for the victory.
Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose def. Seth Rollins, Big Show & Kane
You just knew SmackDown’s huge main event featuring Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose versus Seth Rollins, Big Show & Kane would be a highlight reel of action, and the Six-Man Tag Team Match didn’t disappoint.
Photos: Ambrose goes airborne | "Macho Man" to join WWE Hall of Fame
Amid the chaotic contest, The Beard put an exclamation point on his in-ring return by hitting Corporate Kane with a running knee to pick up the victory. But alas, WWE COO Triple H just couldn’t let the WWE Universe end the evening on a high note, as he announced that next Thursday night on SmackDown, the “Yes!” Man will battle Corporate Kane in a rematch. And if Bryan loses, he will relinquish his spot in the Royal Rumble Match.