WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 3

Friday Night SmackDown welcomed the WWE Universe to 2020 much the same way as the brand did in 2019. WWE does not stop or refresh at any time, so it was to be a night on which the same stories continued to push forward.

Roman Reigns found potentially the ideal partner to battle King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler in Daniel Bryan. While the No. 1 contender to the WWE Universal Championship was keeping an eye out for Bray Wyatt, he had unfinished business with The Lone Wolf.

SmackDown also promised a huge Triple Threat tag team match between three teams that hate one another. Bayley and Sasha Banks promised to put down Lacey Evans and Dana Brooke once again, but this time they had to contend with old rivals Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross as well.

These matches were only the beginning of a night that promised to show that the blue brand has major stories to tell on the road to the Royal Rumble.

Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Lacey Evans and Dana Brooke vs. Alexa Bliss and Cross

Bayley and Sasha Banks taunted Lacey Evans, who came out with Dana Brooke to promise to show everyone that the good guys can win. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross realized they weren't a part of this conflict but that they needed to get back into the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships picture with a win.

The chemistry between The Legit Boss and The Role Model was on point in this contest, and they isolated Brooke. However, The Sassy Southern Belle knocked out Banks with the Woman's Right, setting up a senton bomb from her partner for the win.

Result

Brooke and Evans def. Banks and Bayley and Bliss and Cross by pinfall.

Grade

B

Analysis

Opening the year with wrestling is always the right decision for WWE shows. This was a solid tag team bout built around Bayley and Banks, who could be the best tag team in any women's division in WWE.

Brooke got a huge win over Banks, even if it were set up by Evans. She has needed victories like this to rewrite her story in WWE. She quietly found her way in the past year, and 2020 could be huge for her future.

Shorty G vs. Dash Wilder (w/ Scott Dawson)

The Revival made fun of Shorty G backstage after he tried to convince the team to stop complaining and to start fighting. Dash Wilder challenged the Olympian to a contest.

While Wilder used every shortcut to take the win, he got trapped in an ankle lock and tapped out. Scott Dawson ran into the ring after the bell to beat down Shorty and hit the Shatter Machine.

Sheamus interrupted the attack and planted Shorty with a Brogue Kick.

Result

Shorty def. Wilder by submission.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Despite his name, it is time for Shorty to get back into a featured role, and that begins with strong victories. Whether he teams again with Mustafa Ali against The Revival or starts building wins on his own, he's too good to be wasted.

This match was solid but rushed to sell the fact that Wilder is not a singles wrestler.

Sheamus' return signals a potential bright future for SmackDown. He can work great matches with anyone, whether it's new stars like Shorty and Ali or great rivals such as Daniel Bryan or Kofi Kingston.

Kofi Kingston (w/ Big E) vs. The Miz

Credit: WWE.com

The Miz wished Daniel Bryan luck in fighting Bray Wyatt before his frustration came out when he met The New Day backstage, knocking down the two's special 2020 pancakes.

While The A-Lister had The Dreadlocked Dynamo on the ropes, Kofi refused to give up. He managed to catch Miz with a rollup for the win.

Afterward, The A-Lister attacked his longtime rival from behind until Big E ran him off. The crowd chanted "you suck," which only caused Miz more frustration. He questioned why the WWE Universe had turned on him so quickly.

Cathy Kelley came to Miz's locker room for an interview, only to have John Morrison arrive. He told Kelly The A-Lister was not taking questions at this time.

Result

Kingston def. Miz by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Miz's heel turn may be a bit sudden, but that is fairly common in WWE. Luckily, it seems to have been done for the right reasons, as The A-Lister looks set to realign himself with his greatest tag team partner.

Miz and Morrison are going to add so much to SmackDown together. They should immediately feud with New Day. The duo has the potential to lead the tag team division as they once did.

Otis (w/ Tucker) vs. Drew Gulak

Credit: WWE.com

Before his match, Mandy Rose found Otis to wish him a happy new year, but the big man was not happy after Dolph Ziggler stomped on his cake the previous week.

Drew Gulak presented a PowerPoint presentation on why God's Greatest Creation would never date Otis, setting off the big man. The Heavy Machinery star threw around The Philadelphia Stretcher. He connected on The Caterpillar and a Vader Bomb for the win.

Backstage, Rose told The Showoff to apologize to Otis.

Result

Otis def. Gulak by pinfall.

Grade

C+

Analysis

While it would be nice to have Gulak winning matches again, he at least always makes the losses entertaining. He can reshape his role for any situation and taunt anyone into destroying him.

Otis and Rose is a story with a high likelihood of going poorly, but it has been solid so far. It is not clear how Rose feels about the lovable big man.

Braun Strowman vs. Cesaro (w/ Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura)

Credit: WWE.com

Cesaro showed off his strength and ingenuity as he chopped down Braun Strowman one move at a time. The Monster Among Men was not ready for him at first, but he weathered the early storm and kept swinging.

Sami Zayn distracted Strowman for the Neutralizer, but The Monster turned it into a running powerslam for the win. After the bell rang, Shinsuke Nakamura struck with the Kinshasa.

Result

Strowman def. Cesaro by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Analysis

WWE can feel free to book plenty more matches between Strowman and Cesaro. The two are perfectly suited to facing one another. The Swiss Cyborg has the strength to match The Monster's power and the speed to push him.

While it is obvious which one of the two is valued more, this could be a defining feud on SmackDown with more of a spotlight. It would be more natural than The Monster vs. The Artist, which is the clearer plan.

Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler

Credit: WWE.com

In a backstage interview, Daniel Bryan promised to defeat Bray Wyatt at the Royal Rumble later in January, while Roman Reigns stated he would win the Rumble and challenge The Yes Man at WrestleMania.

The Big Dog and Bryan showed cohesion as a team early until the lights began to flicker. The distraction allowed the heels to take over, isolating Reigns. He finally got to Bryan's corner after a Superman Punch to King Corbin.

Corbin barely saved Dolph Ziggler from LeBell Lock and took a Spear for his trouble. Bryan connected on the running knee, but The Fiend appeared, sent him through the barricade and knocked him out with the mandible claw.

After the lights were turned on again, The King and The Showoff attacked The Big Dog and handcuffed him. The Usos returned and took out both heels with superkicks.

Result

Bryan and Reigns def. Corbin and Ziggler by disqualification.

Grade

A-

Analysis

The tag team match was fun, but the aftermath was the highlight of the night. Bryan and Wyatt got into it as a preview for Royal Rumble, and the short brawl felt more heated than their Survivor Series match.

Meanwhile, the final return of the night was that of The Usos. One of the best tag teams in WWE is back and in a huge role off the bat. Once Robert Roode returns from his suspension, Reigns and Corbin will be at full strength in this war for SmackDown.