Welcome to the debut of SmackDown on USA Network featuring Mauro Ranallo‘s first appearance as commentator, where he’ll be joining Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton as the new voice of SmackDown.
John Cena will be opening tonight’s show. Dean Ambrose will battle Kevin Owens. What lies ahead for Roman Reigns as he heads into Royal Rumble? Becky Lynch will face Charlotte. Miz TV is back for a new segment. All this and more tonight on WWE SmackDown for Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016.
Stick with us here at ProMMAnow.com for live updates and video highlights coinciding with the USA Network broadcast at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT).
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* Seeing Mauro at the announce table really warms my heart. Seeing someone who has a genuine enthusiasm to be there and who is a pure pro, not to mention a legend among MMA commentators, is quite refreshing.
* John Cena opens the show to get the crowd hyped for the SmackDown premiere on USA Network. In honor of being on the USA Network, Cena brings out the U.S. Champion Alberto Del Rio. Cena challenges Del Rio for the title. Del Rio said he will fight tonight but it won’t be for the title and not against Cena. Cena brings out Kalisto for the challenge.
* Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio — Kalisto hits a reversal on a power-bomb attempt from Del Rio for the finish.
* Miz TV segment barely gets started when New Day interrupts. Miz gets no respect. Dolph Ziggler is the next to interrupt, then Goldust, then Neville. R-Truth then comes out to accept Alberto Del Rio’s non-existent U.S. Title open challenge. Miz insults him and R-Truth hits him with the mic. … cut to commercial … and when we come back we have a match.
* New Day, Miz vs. R-Truth, Neville, Dolph Ziggler, Goldust — Ziggler finishes Miz with a super kick. He then super kicks R-Truth and Goldust after the match. Ziggler says it’s every man for himself going into the Royal Rumble.
* Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch — Divas Title on the line. A distraction from Ric Flair ringside allows Charlotte to steal a win, by rolling Becky up and using her feet on the ropes to pin her. Charlotte retains the title.
* Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens — Intercontinental Title on the line. The fight is called after things get out of hand outside the ring. They destroy everything in site and each other, both laid out as the show ends.
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