WWE Smackdown Live Match Ratings And Notes For 1/30/18 From Sean Ross Sapp

Opening segment 

• Shinsuke Nakamura comes out to a great reaction and cuts his "knee to face" promo.
• Zayn and Owens say they deserve a title shot instead because of the inept ref at Royal Rumble. Styles disagrees and suggests they face he and Nakamura. KO and Zayn decline and get hit anyway.
• Backstage, Daniel Bryan makes the match anyway.
• Then Daniel Bryan makes Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn for a top contender match next week. 

United States Title Contender
Rusev (w/ Aiden English) defeated Kofi Kingston (w/ New Day), Jinder Mahal (w/ Sunil Singh) and Zack Ryder
5.75/10

• I think these types of matches are a little more suited for Jinder Mahal. When he slows down a match in a fatal four way, it doesn't get flat out boring thanks to other ingredients.
• Tom Phillips cracks up when Ryder misses grabbing the ropes on his suicide dropkick.
• We see Rusev and Jinder try to get on the same page. I think someone expected the audience to remember they were a team.
• Big E is throwing pancakes at the announce team.
• Sunil Singh grabs Rusev's foot on a dive attempt. Aiden English pushes him into a plate of pancakes and everyone is mad at Sunil. Everyone is kicked out. I've never been so sad to see all the managers get tossed out.
• There's a great breakdown that leads to a Staccolade, but Jinder stops it and hits a nice knee. 
• Rusev helps hit a pop-up Rough Ryder on Jinder. 
• Kofi is rolled into the Accolade. Rusev wins!

The Usos and Bludgeon Brothers

• The Usos have a teaser that they'll be appearing. 
• What the shit are these graphics?! There is a cell door slamming every time 
• How do the Usos not have their own cage match with weapons? An Usos Penitentiary match makes sense.
• They're interrupted by the BLUDGEON BROTHERS. They kill a couple of guys.
• Rowan holds one up forever and his facial expression is great.
• The Reckoning takes out one jobber, then the Crucifix Bomb gets the other.

Backstage Crappenings

• The phone promos are kind of weird, but it's less awkward than having someone re-ask the question they were just posed before an interviewer is forced to stare into space
• Tye Dillinger isn't happy about being knocked out of the Rumble match, and Baron Corbin isn't happy about anything. Tye Dillinger burns him with a MITB briefcase shot, and they're booked for later. 
• AJ Styles ALWAYS shows up to talk game plans with his partners. Nakamura trolls AJ.

Failed Cash In

• Charlotte says she wishes she was in the Rumble so she could outlast everyone from the number 3 spot like her dad.
• I really think Charlotte should have echoed the sentiments of Rousey detractors that she took away from their moments.
• They're gonna need to change the Riott Squad's theme unless they want everyone to think Ronda Rousey is hitting the ring every week.
• Ruby Riott is about as good at delivering dialogue from shitty pre-written promos as you'll get.
• Charlotte fights off Riott Squad, but gets jumped. Ruby lands a nice kick, but Sarah Logan's cartwheel knees are so dumb. Liv's corner curb stomp is nice. 
• Charlotte has no friends.
• Carmella comes out to cash in the Money in the Bank, but accidentally kicks the ref. This is great. 

Baron Corbin defeated Tye Dillinger
5.5/10

• Tye Dillinger superkicks Baron Corbin right out of the gate.
• Corbin takes control but gets bicycle kicked in the face.
• I really feel like if Baron Corbin didn't have his finish they might move on from him. It hits, he wins.

Training Day defeated Breezango
5.25/10

• We see a brief return of Fashion Files, where Gable & Benjamin challenge Breezango. Ascension are still their best friends, which is kind of hilarious.
• I'm a fan of the Gable rolling kick. 
• Gable and Fandango take a sick bump outside.
• Benjamin reverses a huracanrana into their finish for the win.

Shinsuke Nakamura & AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
6/10

• Sami Zayn seems like he's getting upset by Owens yelling at him. He was upset about Nakamura taunting him earlier too. 
• Zayn walks out on Owens, but is still on the ramp after the break.
• Zayn and Owens are so good at taking Styles' clothesline. They make him look like a million bucks.
• KO is saved by Zayn after a reverse powerbomb. Owens almost immediately demands a tag.
• Owens tags Zayn by chopping him on the chest. Zayn returns the favor.
• After catching KO & Zayn arguing, Styles gets clotheslined into February. Zayn takes a walk again. 
• Owens does well for himself shortly, but Nakamura lights him up.
• Kinshasa wins it. I upped this to 6/10 because of the storytelling in the match.
• Zayn says backstage he and KO are still friends, but this is about opportunity. He cuts a good promo about Owens having his chances before.