WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 20

WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 20

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How frustrated will Roman Reigns be Friday night after signing the contract for Royal Rumble?Credit: WWE.com

Kevin Owens will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble but Friday night on SmackDown, champion and challenger put pen to paper in an explosive contract signing.

The promo segment headlined a broadcast that also featured the first contest of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament, pitting Drew McIntyre and Sheamus against The Viking Raiders.

Who emerged from that match victorious and what went down when Owens and Reigns came face-to-face?

Find out now with this recap of the January 20 broadcast.

SmackDown Tag Team Title Tournament: Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders

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Two weeks after The Viking Raiders attacked Sheamus and Drew McIntyre in a moment captured exclusively for WWE.com, the teams battled in the opening match of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament.

It was every bit the heavy-hitting bout expected, with both teams clubbing their way to sustained advantages at different points in the match. The babyface Banger Bros would have to fight from underneath on more than one occasion but McIntyre and Sheamus did and, ultimately, worked together to score the win over the very game Erik and Ivar.

There is a real argument to be made that this should have been the finals of the tournament. Erik and Ivar are still relatively fresh in their reboot and beating them here so decisively without any build for the tandem feels like the wrong move.

Of course, if not them, who?

Legado del Fantasma could use a signature win or two before battling the Banger Bros. Ditto for Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser of Imperium. Even Hit Row, fresh off a heel turn on Ricochet, can hardly afford a loss.

Considering McIntyre and Sheamus are former WWE champions and top stars on the blue brand, it is difficult to imagine any of the other teams in the tournament knocking them off so the argument may be for naught.

At least The Viking Raiders had the chance to steal the show from the opening match spot, reminding fans, officials and analysts of their skills and doing so against top-tier talent.

Result

Sheamus and McIntyre defeated The Viking Raiders

Grade

B+

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