Here are the results from today’s episode of SmackDown Live (courtesy of PWInsider):
We are in Newark and a lot of stuff blows up in the Prudential Center.
Ambrose comes out to a nice reaction and walks out to the ring. Dean says that Ellsworth is his “special little boy” and he’s had a lot of time to think about ripping Ellworth’s head off with his bare hands but when he looks at him with those big eyes like E.T., he can’t stay mad at him. He says that James doesn’t need to give him an apology as he made the call to let James at ringside, so it was his fault. James said that he has two victories over AJ and he repaid Dean by taking away his chance at the WWE World title. He said that he came to Smackdown to fight and got caught up. He said that any man with two fists can make a mistake. Dean said it is OK but warned him to never let it happen ever again.
James said that if he could build a time machine and go back, he would, but he can’t,so all he can do is go back and tell Dean that he’s sorry.
AJ Styles’ music played and he came out to the stage. He asked if they were kidding him. He asked Ellsworth why he would apologize to Dean. The fans began chanting for Styles and he actually got a bigger reaction than either babyface. He came to the ring and addressed James, saying that Dean has been using him the last several weeks. He said that Dean doesn’t respect Ellsworth. Styles claimed to respect him more than Dean does. AJ said that when he wrestled Ellsworth, he was going to take it easy on him but Dean kept pushing him to kick and punch Ellsworth. He said that Dean was trying to get AJ DQ’d. He said that if anyone deserves an apology, it’s him because James has t-shirts now because of him. Dean and Styles got in each other’s faces. Ellsworth tried to get in between them and was tossed to the outside. AJ nailed an enziguiri and hit the phenomenal forearm on Dean.
The announcers welcomed everyone to the show and showcased what happened last week with Randy Orton claiming he had joined the Wyatt Family via his surprise RKO on Kane.
Backstage, Dean Ambrose and James Ellsworth were having words. Daniel Bryan came among them and demanded they calmed down. James kept apologizing over and over tonight. Bryan said Dean was going to get another match with Styles tonight and if he wins, he gets a WWE World title shot. He said this is his last shot. Dean walked off. James told Daniel he felt bad and didn’t know what to do. Bryan told him he was free to hang out back, watch “Talking Smack” or anything else he wants, but under no circumstances was he to go back to ringside tonight. Ellsworth said he understood.
Randy Orton vs. Kane – No DQ
Orton went right to the floor at the bell. Kane followed by Randy nailed him. He went to grab a chair but Kane cut him off and nailed Orton across the back with it. Orton was tossed back inside the ring with Kane following with the chair. Kane sent Orton into the corner and nailed a sideslam. He set up for a chokeslam but the lights went off and when they returned, Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt were outside the ring.
Kane kicked Orton down but the Wyatts grabbed him by the legs and pulled him to the floor. Kane fought them off, then nailed Kane with a big right. They followed Kane into the ring. He fought them off until Randy nailed the RKO out of nowhere to score the pin.
Your winner, Randy Orton!
Orton and Harper faced off after the match. Kane rose to his feet and was nailed with a discus clothesline by Luke. Bray nailed Sister Abigail on Kane as Oton watched on and continued to stare back and forth at Harper. Orton went to the ropes and posed as the Wyatts stood over Kane. Of note, Orton never actually physically helped The Wyatts, so if he’s playing mind games, that could still be in play.
Match was really more of an angle than anything else. Too short to be anything of note. As a way to get across that Orton might be in bed with the Wyatts it was fine.
They aired a well produced black and white video on Baron Corbin. The basic idea was that friends, family and fans pull him dwn by wanting his attention and help. He doesn’t give a damn and won’t lift a finger for anyone but himself.
They showed clips of Alexa Bliss attacking Becky Lynch last week.
WWE Smackdown Women’s champion Becky Lynch & Nikki Bella vs. Carmella & Alexa Bliss
Bella and Carmella were to start but Carmella tagged out to Bliss. Lynch tagged in and nailed a sliding kick that sent Bliss to the outside as they went to commercial.
When they returned from the commercial, Lynch was cleaning house on Carmella but Bliss broke up a pinfall attempt. Becky took her down but the referee was distracted by Carmella. Bliss was able to maneuver out and scored a DDT for the pin.
Your winners, Alexa Bliss and Carmella!
A complete waste of our time as we got to see just a brief amount of action from the short match due to the commercial. Ugh.
Dasha Fuentes, up from WWE NXT, tried to interview the winners but they dismissed her. Bliss said asked Carmella who she was looking to face at Survivor Series. Carmella ripped on Bayley for being a fan girl and said Charlotte was an overhyped Daddy’s girl. The crowd reacted to that like a big burn. Carmella said that the Raw women can’t hang with the Smackdown Live women and warned Nikki Bella to step aside and let her captain the team at the PPV.
Carmella then asked Bliss about her title match against Lynch next week. She said it was going to be deja vu as it was going to be yet another loss like tonight and said Lynch’s fairy tale was going to come to an end. She channeled the Wicked Witch of the West and said that she was going to get Becky and her little title too.
Backstage, Naomi was told she is the fifth and final woman on Smackdown Live’s Survivor Series team by Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. Natalya showed up and pushed the idea of being the Coach of the Team after Shane and Bryan wondered how the women were all going to get along. Bryan begrudglingly agreed after Shane was open to the idea.
Winners to Represent Smackdown at Survivor Series: American Alpha vs. The Spirit Squad
Kenny and Mikey worked over Jason Jordan but Alpha made a comeback after Kenny missed a Alabama Jam. Short but sweet, Alpha scores the win.
Your winners, American Alpha!
OK as a showcase for American Alpha.
They showed highlights of Goldberg spearing Paul Heyman and Jackhammering Bill Goldberg.
MizTV with Daniel Bryan
Miz tried to make some snarky comments about Bryan, which led to Bryan reminding him that he could just cancel the series. Miz said if he had a problem with Bryan, he would aggressively let him know. Bryan said he has an announcement about the Smackdown Survivor Series matches.
They will have two more qualifying matches for the Survivor Series Tag Team bout. Miz blew that off and pushed that they should talk about the men’s Survivor Series team. Bryan said he and Shane had a long discussion about that and announced Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin to face the Raw team.
Miz wasn’t happy he wasn’t on the team and asked if he was even considered. Bryan said he wasn’t. He asked Bryan if he came out here to embarass Miz in front of his wife. Miz said he was the only chance Smackdown Live had to win and said that nothing changes around here because there’s no opportunities. Bryan admitted he lied and said that they did consider Miz, but they need talents who aren’t afraid to fight, insinuating that Miz is. He said they wanted stars who can fight anytime but last week, Miz proved he was afraid to fight because he didn’t fight Dolph Ziggler when he was offered a shot at getting his Intercontinental champioship match. Bryan said he turned it down because it wasn’t on Miz’s terms and at Survivor Series, they need someone to fight on their terms. Miz said they were actually Bryan’s terms and he was going to lead them to defeat.
Miz said that he wasn’t scared to fight, Bryan was. He put Maryse in between them and said that Bryan was afraid to fight. He said Bryan wasn’t good at his job and wasn’t good at anything anymore. He told Bryan to go back to moping in John Cena’s house on Total Bellas. Bryan threw a chair down. He told Miz that he wasn’t good at fighting. He said that Miz turned down a chance for the IC title but there are a ton of guys who want that opportunity. He told Miz to go sit at the commentary booth while Ziggler defends the belt in an open challenge.
WWE Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Curt Hawkins
Hawkins cut a promo all the way down the aisle and got in Ziggler’s face. He psyched himself up and turned around at the bell, only to get superkicked and pinned. It was literally a play on when Sheamus beat Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania.
Your winner and still IC champion, Dolph Ziggler!
Renee Young interviewed Ziggler. He said that Miz says he’s not a fighting champion but he’s been fighting his entire life and put his entire career on the line at No Mercy. He cut an entertaining promo about Survivor Series being all about fantasy warfare. He said that Miz didn’t want to take the title shot last week. He issued an open challenge to anyone from Monday Night Raw to come and try and take the belt from him. Miz was not happy about that at all.
Dean Ambrose was interviewed backstage. He said that he made a mistake letting James Ellsworth at ringside and was not going to let Styles get one over on him. Ellsworth showed up and asked if there was any way he could be at ringside tonight and make it up to Dean for what happened last week. Dean was shocked and told him no, he has this. He even whipped out a “Hello, McFly?” reference.
They reviewed what happened earlier with Randy and The Wyatts.
Somewhere in the dark, The Wyatts were with Randy Orton. Bray said that a viper is always welcome among them. Orton said he was born with the Devil whispering in his ear and he was tired of trying to fight it. He told Wyatt that he is a God.
Winners will represent Smackdown Live at Survivor Series: The Headbangers vs. The Usos.
The Usos attacked the Headbangers before the bell. They worked over Thrasher and double teamed him, nailing a Samoan Drop for a two count. Thrasher fought his way out of a chinlock and made his way to tag Mosh. Mosh cleaned house on Jey and scored a two count but Jimmy broke it up. Thrasher hit the scene. Mosh was smashed into the ropes and rolled up with a hook of the tights for the pin.
Your winners, The Usos!
The action was fine, but too short to be memorable.
AJ Styles was interviewed in the back and said he was going to beat Dean Ambrose again and this time James Ellsworth won’t be his excuse. He said James can go back in the bargain bin.
Dean and James were walking in the back. Dean escorted him out of the building and told him to call an Uber.
WWE World champion AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose: If Dean wins, he becomes number one contender to World championship
Lots of chanting for Styles early on. Ambrose controlled him early on. Styles scored a two count with a sunset flip but was small packaged for another two count. They need to be really creative with how Ellsworth shows up, so I’m curious to see if he ends up in the first row.
Dean locked Styles in a Cloverleaf but Styles made it to the ropes. Dean went to the top and nailed a double underhook superplex for another near fall. Styles was able to grab the calf crusher but Dean made it to the ropes. They went to the outside. Styles was placed on the wall of the barricade. Ambrose charged and knocked him off, then tossed him back inside the ring for another two count Ambrose went for the Blockbuster but missed and grabbed at his leg as they went to commercial. So far, solid stuff.
When they returned, they went back and forth until Ellsworth hopped the rail from the crowd and began rallying Dean while both men were down from a double clothesline. Dean was distracted by this, leading to a low blow and a two count. Ellsworth was chased back over the rail and out of the building by security.
Styles and Ambrose went back and forth with some good exchanges until Styles caught him in the calf crusher. Dean made it to the ropes and came up selling his leg. Ellsworth ran back in the building and hopped the rail again. This time, Styles left the ring and drilled him into the announcer’s table. Styles returned to the ring but was caught with Dirty Deeds and pinned.
Your winner and number one contender to the World title, Dean Ambrose!
Pretty entertaining main event.
Security dragged Ellsworth, who was smiling, back up the aisle by his arms. They played up the idea that he avenged himself. Dean made his way to James, helped him to his feet, smiled and walked away. James fell back down, leaving security to pull him back up.
