January 25 , 2013 Smackdown results The January 25 , 2013 Edition of Smackdown is a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE ' s Smackdown brand , which took place on January 22 , 2013 at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento , California . Summary . With Royal Rumble two days away , The Rock and WWE Champion CM Punk both stepped back into the SmackDown spotlight , while World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio suffered the wrath of The World ’ s Largest Athlete . After WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No ’ s graduation from Dr . Shelby ’ s Anger Management course led to a worldwide hug - off on Raw , Bryan and Kane emerged to address speculation that they ’ d gone soft . Unified in their resolve to dominate Team Rhodes Scholars in their title match at Sunday ' s pay - per - view , the champs began to argue over which one of them would go on to win the Royal Rumble Match and go on to main event WrestleMania . Big Show interrupted , insisting he would “ squish ” World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio in their Last Man Standing Rematch at Royal Rumble . He then said that if either of the WWE Tag Team Champions were successful in the free - for - all and challenged him , the only plans they would be able to make would be for retirement . Just as Big Show was attempting to kick Bryan & Kane out of “ his ” ring , Team Rhodes Scholars emerged . Believing that their winning the WWE Tag Team Titles at Royal Rumble was a foregone conclusion , the outspoken duo suggested they join forces with Big Show to decimate Team Hell No post haste . Del Rio emerged to even the odds . But before all “ Hell ” broke loose , SmackDown General Manager Booker T created the main event showdown : Big Show & Team Rhodes Scholars vs . Team Hell No & Alberto Del Rio in a Six - Man Elimination Tag Team Match ! Moments later , Big Show tried to get the jump on Del Rio , leading to more mind games between the World Heavyweight Champion and his giant No . 1 contender . In Sunday , Sheamus will look to do what only Shawn Michaels , Hulk Hogan and “ Stone Cold ” Steve Austin have done before him — win back - to - back Royal Rumble Matches . But on Raw , trickery by Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee interrupted his Beat the Clock contest against fellow Royal Rumble Match competitor Wade Barrett . As a result , Sheamus once again went to battle against The Barrett Barrage on SmackDown in a contest that quickly proved to be another brutal encounter . And despite an extremely physical offensive by the Intercontinental Champion , The Celtic Warrior ultimately reigned supreme with the White Noise – Brogue Kick combination . No matter who triumphed , however , one thing is certain : Both Sheamus and Wade Barrett will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming pay - per - view free - for - all . The SmackDown announce team was packed to the gills for the Divas match between Rosa Mendes and Natalya , as Primo & Epico , Hornswoggle and former World Heavyweight Champion The Great Khali all grabbed a ringside seat . During the contest that followed , ’ Swoggle had the WWE Universe rolling in the aisles when he suddenly leaped up on the announce table to mock Rosa ’ s dancing . This distracted the insulted beauty long enough for Natalya to gain to advantage , making her opponent tap out to the Sharpshooter . A letter from WWE Chairman Mr . McMahon has made it official that if The Shield interfere in the WWE Championship Match at Royal Rumble — the way they did when they attacked The Rock four days ago on Raw — CM Punk will be striped of the WWE Title . In response , CM Punk and Paul Heyman journeyed to SmackDown , the final stop before the biggest battle of his life . The Straight Edge Champion admitted he was scared , but only of his own potential . Because he knew The Shield could now get in the way , Punk called out the dangerous faction . The Shield emerged from the crowd and surrounded the WWE Champion . Punk claimed he never asked for or wanted their help and told them that if they believed in justice , they would stay out of his way . In response , The Shield opted to leave without incident . But when Punk began to talk again about his WWE Title Match against The Rock , The Great One stepped onto “ his ” show . A very focused People ’ s Champion called Punk a liar for saying he was never working with The Shield . But more importantly , Rock said it won ’ t matter this Sunday when he becomes the WWE Champion for the eighth time ! Randy Orton has his serpentine eyes locked on winning the Royal Rumble Match in 48 hours . In the face of such intense determination , 3MB should have known not to mess with him . In the height of Orton ’ s match against Drew McIntyre , Jinder Mahal decided to interfere . Not only did this give WWE ’ s Apex Predator a disqualification victory , but Mahal also suffered the RKO . The Viper then repeated his attack on both Heath Slater and McIntyre . The trifecta of Orton ’ s signature finisher sent a signal to his 29 opponents this Sunday that their dreams could be crushed in a single moment . In wake of the news earlier this week that United States Champion Antonio Cesaro will put his title against The Miz in a special Royal Rumble Pre - Show Match , the Swiss Superstar joined the SmackDown announce team to watch The Awesome One take on Darren Young . In the end , Miz made Mr . No Days Off tap out with the Figure - Four Leglock , sending a clear message that he will be completely determined to overcome both the U . S . Champion and his Royal Rumble Match competition . In the SmackDown main event , six of WWE ’ s elite Superstars battled in an Elimination Tag Team Match with incredible Royal Rumble implications . But in this prelude to the turbulent pay - per - view , who would eliminate whom and which warrior would be left standing ? Damien Sandow was the first to go , after suffering a Chokeslam courtesy of The Big Red Monster . But when Kane tried to take both himself and Big Show over the top rope , The World ’ s Largest Athlete caught him with the KO Punch and left the tag champ to be counted - out — while Show taunted Alberto Del Rio by counting to 10 inside the ring . As the battle raged on , Big Show hit the KO Punch yet again , this time on Daniel Bryan . The giant knocked him through the ropes and the submission specialist was taken out of the action . Facing two - on - one odds , Del Rio showed the true nature of his mettle , eventually trapping his giant No . 1 contender on the ropes . He then delivered a series of kicks that knocked Big Show clear out of the ring , causing him to get counted - out . His momentum on fire , Del Rio continued his offensive — overcoming Rhodes in an explosive kick to the side of the head . As the Mexican World Champion celebrated in the ring , however , a recovered Big Show launched a post - match attack from behind . Driving his body through Del Rio with a thunderous spear , the immense competitor then hit the titleholder with the KO Punch and he flipped the announce table on top of him in an act of retribution . Towering over the World Heavyweight Champion , Big Show made the symbolic 10 - count in Spanish as the countdown begins to Royal Rumble .