WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 Notes: Results, SD Comms Change, IC & WWE Universal Matches Set for Royal Rumble, Paul Ellering & AOP Return, Tyler Bate Appearance

WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 Results – Jan. 5, 2024

January 5, 2024
Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada – Rogers Arena
Commentary – Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves

Quick Match Results

  1. United States Championship #1 Contender Tournament Finals match – Kevin Owens defeated Santos Escobar via Stunner (pinfall)
  2. WWE Women’s Championship – IYO SKY (c) defeated Michin via Over the Moonsault (pinfall)
  3. Butch & Tyler Bate defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) via Double Team Tyler Driver ’97 (pinfall)
  4. Undisputed WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender Triple Threat match – AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton went to a No Contest
    • This match was thrown out following the Bloodline interfering and attacking Styles, Knight, and Orton after the referee was taken out of action.

New SmackDown Commentary Team Revealed at Friday’s SmackDown New Year’s Revolution Show

As noted before, WWE recently made the decision to shakeup their commentary teams for their RAW and SmackDown brands again. This past Monday’s RAW show featured RAW’s commentary team of Michael Cole and Wade Barrett being left unchanged.

At the start of tonight’s SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 show, it was revealed that the change made for SmackDown’s commentary team was just the removal of Cole from the previous three-man team. Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves will be now be the new two-man commentary team for SmackDown shows going forward.


Kevin Owens Wins US Title Contender Tournament

Friday’s SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 show also featured Kevin Owens defeating Santos Escobar in the Finals of the United States Championship #1 Contender tournament.

The finish to this match involved Owens attempting to hit a Stunner to Escobar that was countered by Escobar with a roll-up for a near fall. Owens then hit a superkick to Escobar and followed it with a pop-up powerbomb attempt that was countered by a hurricanrana by Esobar. Escobar then attempted a running attack only for Owens to counter by lifting Escobar up in the air for a pop-up powerbomb for the pinfall victory to win the U.S. Championship #1 Contender tournament.

Following Owens’ victory, Paul went into the ring and congratulated Owens over his win and him getting to face the greatest ever U.S. Champion in history. Paul mocked Owens for thinking that a Canadian could ever hold the U.S. title and stated that Owens beating him for the U.S. title is like the Canucks winning the Stanley Cup, which led to the home town crowd booing Paul. Owens responded with a punch right to Paul’s face in return.

In a follow-up backstage segment, Paul was seen holding up an ice pack to his head and was informed by SmackDown backstage interviewer Cathy Kelly that his match against Owens for his U.S. title will be taking place at WWE’s Royal Rumble 2024 event later this month.


Paul Ellering & Authors of Pain Make Official WWE Return at Friday’s SmackDown Show

Friday’s SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 show also featured Paul Ellering and the Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) making their official returns to WWE.

Ellering and AoP’s return was initially setup during the December 22, 2023 SmackDown show following both being seen in the shadows in a promo video by Karrion Kross and Scarlett.

During tonight’s show, Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits gave an in-ring promo about their goals as a group for 2024. Lashley and the Street Profits promo was interrupted by Kross’ music leading to Kross and Scarlett coming out. Ellering then came out shortly afterwards alongside Kross and Scarlett. While Lashley and the Street Profits were distracted, AoP came out from behind and attacked them leading to Kross going to the ring and joining in on the attack. Kross and his new group then stood over Lashley and Street Profits laid out bodies.


Tyler Bate Makes Surprise Appearance & Revealed as Butch’s Mystery Tag Partner at Friday’s SmackDown Show

Friday’s SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 show also featured NXT talent Tyler Bate making a surprise appearance and official SmackDown brand debut.

During the December 22nd SmackDown show, Butch and Pretty Deadly were involved in a confrontation backstage leading to a tag team match being made between Butch and a partner of his choosing against Pretty Deadly for the January 5th show.

During tonight’s show, Butch came out for his entrance and stood at the stage waiting for his mystery tag team partner to come out. Bate’s music played and came out revealing that he was Butch’s tag partner and reuniting again for the first time since this past October in NXT.


Four Way Match Set for Undisputed WWE Universal Title at Royal Rumble 2024

Friday’s SmackDown New Year’s Revolution 2024 show also featured one new match announced for WWE’s Royal Rumble 2024 event on January 27th in St. Petersburg, Florida.

This new match announced was an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match of AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns (c).

This match was setup following The Bloodline interfering during the #1 Contender Triple Threat match on the show resulting in the match being thrown out. SmackDown General Manager then informed Paul Heyman that he can tell Reigns that his title defense at Royal Rumble 2024 will now be a Fatal Four way match with Styles, Knight, and Orton.

Current card for WWE Royal Rumble 2024:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Fatal Four-Way match – AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns (c)
  • WWE United States Championship – Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (c)
  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match