Here are the WWE SmackDown Live results for January 1, 2019. The show featured a No. 1 Contender Fatal 5-way match, the return of John Cena, Rusev's title celebration and more.
WWE SmackDown Live Results:
- New Day opened the show with their New Year's Celebration, and all three members declaring for the Royal Rumble.
1. Samoa Joe defeated Jeff Hardy by submission with the Coquina Clutch, earning a spot in a fatal 5-way main event with Styles, Mysterio, Orton, and Mustafa Ali to name a new No. 1 contender to Daniel Bryan's WWE Championship.
- A backstage segment featured Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon confronting AJ Styles, and saying they want to see the real AJ Styles.
- Rusev and Lana came out for a US Championship celebration, but Nakamura came out and attacked Rusev. Lana got on Nakamura's back, then Rusev kicked Nakamura, knocking Lana down. Rusev went to check on her, then Nakamura hit him with a Kinshasa.
2. Sonya Deville defeated Naomi. Naomi was supposed to face Mandy Rose, but Sonya Deville wrestled instead while Mandy Rose was at ringside wearing an Usos shirt. During the match, a photo of Mandy Rose in a towel came up on the big screen and Mandy said that she sent it to Jimmy Uso earlier. This allowed Deville to pick up the win against a distracted Naomi.
- John Cena came out and issued an open challenge. Becky Lynch answered, to tell him she's The Man around here these days and is taking his place. They were interrupted by Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega, which set up a mixed tag team match.
3. John Cena and Becky Lynch defeated Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega. After Cena hit is signature moves on Almas, Lynch tossed Cena out of the ring and tapped out Vega with the Disarm-her. Cena tried to shake her hand after the match, but she gave him the You Can't See Me gesture.
- Backstage, Charlotte, Becky and Carmella tried to convince Triple H that they deserve a title shot. Asuka said that she'll fight anyone. Triple H said he'll take it under advisement.
4. No. 1 Contender Fatal 5-way: AJ Styles defeated Randy Orton, Mustafa Ali, Rey Mysterio, and Samoa Joe. Styles pinned Orton with a springboard 450 splash, aand he'll now face Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
