WWE SmackDown results: Live recap, grades as Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens collide, Gunther defends title

Roman Reigns challenged Sami Zayn to stand on his own two feet and then cut the legs out from under him. Estranged best friends Zayn and Kevin Owens collided in the main event of SmackDown on Friday night.

Zayn sided with The Bloodline at Survivor Series, but his longtime friendship with Owens continues to put pressure on his alliance. Tasked with taking care of Owens, Zayn fought admirably against his former buddy in the main event of SmackDown. It appears, however, The Bloodline did not fully trust Zayn to get the job done.

Friday’s show also featured gold at stake. Intercontinental champion GUNTHER defended his title against his most physically imposing challenger yet: the monster of all monsters Braun Strowman. SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair and legendary luchador Rey Mysterio were also in the house, plus a new tournament was announced.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Zayn rises to the occasion only to be robbed of the moment

Zayn knocked on The Bloodline’s changing room early in the evening and was greeted by Paul Heyman. The Bloodline’s special counsel informed Zayn that no other member of the faction was here tonight. This was the directive of Reigns, who believed in Zayn enough to let him fly solo against Owens. This motivated Zayn.

Later in the evening, Owens was being interviewed backstage. Zayn interrupted and asked Owens if he was satisfied. Owens’ repeated interference in Bloodline business has put the estranged best friends at odds. Owens argued it was The Bloodline who made matters personal by repeatedly crashing Monday Night Raw. Owens accused Reigns of orchestrating this match as well as the tag team match between the former friends on Dec. 30. Zayn rejected Owens’ insistence that he is being used and insisted The Bloodline is Zayn’s adopted family.

Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn via disqualification after The Bloodline intervened and assaulted Owens. On a quest to prove his value to “The Tribal Chief,” Zayn got the better of his estranged best friend for most of the match. A Blue Thunder Driver, exploder suplex and senton dive over the ropes were just some of the big pieces of offense conjured by Zayn. Owens had his own moments of control over the match, but Zayn was generally proving to be the better man on this night. The match even drew chants of “This is awesome” from the Green Bay crowd. Late into the match, Zayn landed a Tornado DDT that set him up for a match-ending Helluva Kick. Just as Zayn was lining up Owens for the final blow, The Usos and Solo Sikoa attacked Owens. 

Post-match, The Bloodline continued attacking Owens. The Usos laid out Owens on the announcers’ table and Sikoa launched off the barricade with a big splash through the furniture. Zayn was visibly disturbed by the actions of his associates — either for preventing Zayn from proving himself or perhaps for the severity of the attack on Owens. 

WWE has done a great job of slowly sewing the bond between Zayn and The Bloodline and just as carefully pulling at its seams. Reigns appeared to have set Zayn up for failure. Owens has proved to be a formidable foe and Zayn was expected to overcome an opponent that even Reigns is struggling with. It turned out Zayn was up to the task. The Usos and Solo Sikoa, well-intentioned or not, robbed Zayn of that moment. Following last week’s tension with Reigns, it appears WWE is ready to separate the two sides in what hopefully culminates with Reigns vs. Zayn in the latter’s hometown of Montreal, Quebec at Elimination Chamber. Grade: A

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