Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. Please keep refreshing throughout the show for constant updates once it kicks off at 8:00 PM EST.

Tonight is WWE’s final opportunity to build anything on television before the Royal Rumble this Sunday. There are only two segments announced for the show so far.

The Usos and Roman Reigns are going to take on King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode in a six-man tag team match.

Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt will also sign a contract for their Universal Title Strap Match at the Royal Rumble.

Opening Segment

The Usos & Roman Reigns vs King Corbin, Robert Roode, & Dolph Ziggler

The Usos got the advantage early on and then Roode backed Uce in the corner and stomped down on him. Jimmy chopped back and was sent to the apron. He slipped and went to the floor and then Ziggler drove him into the post and stairs.

The referee backed everyone up and everyone checked on him. It got really awkward as Jey kept saying to “Check his head.” They let Jimmy off and he walked off as the crowd gave him a smattering of applause.

The babyfaces soon started selling as Jey took damage from everyone as they tagged in and out. Jey eventually landed a kick to the head and then Roman got peeled off before he could tag and they sent him into the barricade.

When we got back from commercial Jey was still taking a beating and Roman was still selling on the outside. Then Corbin took a shoulder to the post.

Roman jumped back up on the apron and he tagged in to rally. He hit a bunch of clotheslines and then Roode distracted the referee so Corbin could land a poke to the eyes and then Ziggler super kicked him for the two count.

Michael Cole made note to say that anything goes during a falls count anywhere match as Reigns got stomped on outside the ring.

Reigns continued to sell as this match reached thirty minutes in length. They tagged in and out and continued laying in strikes and then Roode tried to get a Glorious DDT, but Roman rolled him up and then lifted him up to slam him down. Roode sold and Roman laid there as Jey hyped up the crowd.

Ziggler pulled Jey off the barricade and sent him across the ringside area and over the announce table. Roman was all alone again as Corbin punched him in the corner and Ziggler tagged in.

Ziggler hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Dolph hyped for the sweet chin music and took a Superman Punch to the face from Reigns, but nobody was there to tag. Then Jimmy Uso came limping/running down. He took the tag and Jimmy was the hero Uce.

Jimmy hit a Samoan drop on Roode and hit a dive on Corbin. He knocked Ziggler off the apron and hit a crossbody on Roode for a two count as Corbin broke it up.

Roman hit a Superman Punch on Corbin and then he beat Corbin around the ringside area and threw him over the barricade. Then they fought in the crowd as Cole hyped their falls count anywhere match at the Royal Rumble.

Jimmy got to the top rope and Ziggler got kicked off and then Jey jumped off the announce table onto Ziggler. Jimmy hit the Uso Splash for the win.

Winner: The Usos

Lacey Evans came out and Michael Cole quickly got her to talk about her dad dying due to addiction. She said that it doesn’t mind what cards you are dealt, but you can do whatever you set your mind to. She got emotional and started to cry and the crowd was 100% behind her. It doesn’t matter what you’re going through because you can do it. She mentioned being in the Marines and it leading her to WWE.

She wants to be a leader that inspires people. If you keep pushing you can accomplish your goal. You can show the world what you can get through. She will continue to set that example and she’ll be that champion. Cole brought up her daughter Summer and they showed a clip.

Evans said she was proud of her daughter for standing up to Banks as a bully. She said Summer was crying backstage and she didn’t understand what was going on. Then Bayley jumped her and beat Evans down. They did a pull-apart.

Carmella and Dana Brooke were backstage and they’re in the Royal Rumble. As they were doing their interview the camera panned over to Lacey Evans absolutely demolishing Bayley. They did another pull-apart.

Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss vs Fire & Desire

They showed a clip of Fire & Desire backstage where they talked about Otis and everything was okay between the two of them.

The match got started and suddenly, Evans and Bayley brawled to the ring and they did another massive pull-apart and the match was called off.

Elias was backstage and Braun Strowman walked up to him and said “let’s go to work.” They’re teaming together next.

Braun Strowman & Elias vs Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro

Elias and Strowman almost sang a song together and then the heels came down.

Elias took out Cesaro with double knees after he did an oldschool rope walk. That was cool.

Elias was distracted by Zayn as Cesaro took Elias out of the ring and Nakamura landed a kick before Strowman took him out with a shoulder tackle.

THEY AIRED AN XFL COMMERCIAL BEFORE WE CAME BACK

Elias was trying to fight his way out of the heels’ corner, but it wasn’t working. Zayn hyped his team, but Nakamura stopped him from getting to Braun. Then Strowman was knocked off the apron. Nakamura nailed a kick to the head and then he finally tagged Braun.

Strowman made sure that Nakamura got those hands. He hit a splash and then a hammering clubbing blow to his chest. Nakamura moved and Strowman hit a turnbuckle and then Cesaro took a tag and they sent Braun into the post and hit a double Russian leg sweep before Nakamura nailed a running knee for a two count.

Elias took a tag and hit a flying elbow on Cesaro for the win.

Winners: Braun Strowman & Elias

Big E was backstage and he was VERY oiled up. He said “if your boy is greasy then eliminating me can’t be easy.” Yeah. Kofi is facing Morrison next. That’s exciting.

King Corbin was backstage and he’s not concerned about their match on Sunday.

Kofi Kingston vs John Morrison

The Miz made sure to plug his reality show. They officially entered the Royal Rumble.

Morrison backed Kofi into the corner and Kofi pushed back. They ducked and avoided each other’s kicks with flips for a minute and then Morrison sent Kofi into the corner to hit a monkey flip, but Kofi landed on his feet and then he sent Morrison flipping onto his face.

Morrison sent Kingston outside and then Morrison missed a dive and Kofi landed on him in return.

When we came back from commercial, Kofi was fighting out of a half crab from Morrison. Kofi landed a kick from the apron and then Morrison rolled through a roll-up and kicked Kofi in the face.

Morrison missed a Starship Pain and Kofi went to the apron. He hit a springboard chop and a dropkick, but Morrison came back with a kick and then he sent Kofi to the corner and Kofi sent John into the corner and hit a double stomp to the chest for a two count.

Morrison countered a Trouble In Paradise with a kick to the head for a two count. Eventually Morrison took control and hit Starship Pain for the win.

Winner: John Morrison

Contract Signing

Michael Cole hyped the Universal Title Strap Match. Bryan came out first.

Bray Wyatt came out next… well. He appeared on the screen. He was trying to send a fax. He couldn’t figure out how to get the fax machine to send the contract. Then it finally worked.

Wyatt asked why Bryan would “willingly tie yourself to him — IT’S MADNESS!” Bryan told him to cut the crap and he told him to come out and sign the contract. Wyatt said that wasn’t a nice thing to say. He’s not sick. He’s never been better.

He said his attorney Mercy The Buzzard advised him to stay there in the Firefly Fun House instead. Bryan said all Wyatt does is run from his past mistakes. This Sunday The Fiend won’t be able to run.

Wyatt was triggered by the word of the day “mistake.” Then Wyatt said this is all about Daniel’s big mistake. He never learned his lesson. Now it’s time to pay.

Another thing is that since The Fiend is competing this Sunday it’s only fitting that he sign the contract. Michael Cole started to get out of the ring as the lights went down.

Then The Fiend appeared holding the strap. Bryan went right after him and Fiend latched on the Mandible Claw in the corner. The red light was on as well. Then Fiend nailed a Sister Abigail.

Then The Fiend appeared holding the strap. Bryan went right after him and Fiend latched on the Mandible Claw in the corner. The red light was on as well. Then Fiend nailed a Sister Abigail.

Fiend started to whip Daniel Bryan and he whipped him good and A LOT. The Fiend hugged himself, sat at the table, and signed the contract with his own blood as he stabbed himself in the hand.

A fan could be heard yelling: “YOU ARE SICK!” as The Fiend left a bloody hand print. The crowd chanted “you’ve got issues” at Wyatt as he posed over Bryan.

When the lights came back up, Bryan was laying there with his new eco-friendly t-shirt all ripped up and strap welts all over his back.