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Hey everyone! I am filling in for the vacationing Richard Trionfo, who is off enjoying the World Series!
WWE Smackdown Live from Green Bay, Wisconsin opened up with a video review of the recent developments involving WWE World champion AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and James Ellsworth.
Backstage, Dean Ambrose was telling a story of being pulled over by a police officer to a production staffer when James Ellsworth appeared and thanked him for the recent opportunities. He said he wanted to return the favor and asked to be in Dean Ambrose's corner tonight against AJ Styles. Ambrose wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea and talked his way out of it, telling Ellsworth to just chill out in the locker room.
We went to Bray Wyatt, who made his way to the ring.
They recapped the recent developments between The Wyatts, Randy Orton and Kane.
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt: No DQ
They began slugging it out with Kane getting the early advantage. He sent Bray into the ropes and nailed a big haymaker, followed by a dropkick. Bray cut him off and nailed several shots over the neck and back. Wyatt went to come off the ropes but was nailed with a right hand. Kane whipped him into the corner for a splash. Kane ascended to the top but thought better of it when he realized Wyatt slid to the floor. Kane was in pursuit but Wyatt nailed him. Bray retrieved a chair but was cut off and sent into the steel stairs.
Kane prepared the announcers' table for destruction and grabbed Wyatt for a chokeslam when the lights went out. When they returned, Luke Harper was on top of the table and kicked a surprised Kane in the face. Kane went down as they went to commercial.
When they returned, Wyatt was in control of Kane until he was caught with a big boot. Harper got involved but was nailed. Bray cut off Kane and scored a two count. Harper got involved again, leading to Randy Orton hitting the ring. He faced off with Harper. Big Orton chants. Kane went to grab Wyatt for a chokeslam but Orton snapped him with an RKO out of nowhere and slid out of the ring. He stared at Wyatt and then walked off as Bray scored the pin on Kane.
Your winner, Bray Wyatt!
Well, no one was expecting that to happen. Interesting turn of events. The match itself was decent.
Backstage, AJ Styles was interviewed. He said he couldn't get James Ellsworth out of his head and acted disgusting. He said he looks like someone melted a WWE action figure in a microwave. Styles promised that Dean wasn't going to walk out of Smackdown tonight and if he sees Ellsworth, James will be missing more than his chin when AJ is done.
Back in the ring, Renee Young interviewed the returning WWE Smackdown Women's champion Becky Lynch, returning from her three weeks away due to a healh issue. Lynch was saying that it was good to be back and was immediately cut off by Alexa Bliss, who came to the ring. She said that for someone who had back surgery, Lynch looked fantastic. Lynch said that she didn't have surgery. Bliss said that she would fill everyone in and demanded Renee Young leave. The two faced off with a big "Becky" chant from the crowd. Bliss said that when she became the number one contender, Becky found herself with a yellow streak because she knew that her little fairy tale was going to end when they stepped into the ring. She said Lynch knew she was going to lose her title. Lynch said their match was postponed because she was rushed to the ER and the doctors wouldn't let her leave. Bliss said she's a world champion con artist. She said that Lynch can fool all the people but not her. She began whipping out potential excuses Lynch could use to get out of their title match in two weeks. Bliss' delivery was great. She demanded Lynch hand the belt off to the rightful champion. Lynch threatened her and Bliss told her to calm down and enjoy holding the title, because in two weeks, it was hers. She tried to sucker punch Lynch but the champ caught her. Bliss went to the floor. Lynch followed but was driven backwards into the ringpost and the barricade. Bliss tossed her into the ring and DDT'd the champ, leaving her laying. Bliss grabbed a can of spray paint and sprayed a yellow streak up and down Lynch's back. That last part wasn't needed at all but the segment was tremendous and better than anything on Raw last night in my opinion.
The Ascension vs. The Hype Bros: Qualifying match to represent Smackdown at Survivor Series.
Each team had quick promos putting over how they were going to be the team going forward to represent the brand against Raw at the Survivor Series. Zack Ryder and Viktor started out. Zack was caught with a kick to the face but pulled his knees up as Viktor dove at him in the corner. Zack nailed Konor but was clotheslined over the top to the floor. The Ascension double teamed him on the apron and scored a two count on Ryder. Mojo was playing to the crowd, who were behind him as he used to play football for Green Bay.
The Ascension worked over Ryder and cut the ring off on him. Konor had words with Mojo, allowing Ryder to nail a jawbreaker. Konor was still able to cut off Ryder from making a tag and slammed him. Ryder nailed Konor and finally made the hot tag. Rawley nailed all sorts of offense on Viktor and scored a two count, but Konor broke up the pinfall.
The Hype Bros took control and nailed the Hype Ryder for the pin.
Your winners, The Hype Bros.
Solid back and forth match.
So, at the PPV, it will be Smackdown Tag Team champions Rhyno & Heath Slater and The Hype Bros repping Smackdown Live, thus far.
They recapped what happened with Kane and Randy Orton earlier.
Backstage, Orton was interviewed. He stared silently into the camera when asked if he wanted to explain his actions. He stared for a long time and then said, "If you can't beat him, join him."
They announced Kane, Heath Slater, Rhyno and James Ellsworth would be on Smackdown Live.
Backstage, Daniel Bryan was talking to Shane McMahon and said they need to have strong teams and strong captains. Natalya walked in and said that Raw has a women's Hell in A Cell match this Sunday and she doesn't want to let Smackdown Live be outshined by Raw. She said at Survivor Series, she should be captain. Bryan said that when she wrestles Nikki Bella tonight, the winner will captain the team and the loser won't be on the team at all.
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
They locked up and Bella used an Oklahoma Roll for a two count. Natalya caught Bella with a rollup for a two count. Bella used a crucifix for a two count and drilled Natalya out of the ring. Bella nailed a sliding kick to the outside but Natalya swept her legs out from under her and drilled Bella with a clothesline on the floor. Natalya rolled her back in the ring for a two count. Bella kicked off a Sharpshooter attempt. Natalya grabbed her and nailed her with several shots to the back of the neck and cinched in an abdominal stretch.
Nikki fought her way out of the stretch with elbows to the gut and rolled up Natalya for a two count. Natalya cut her off and cinched in a sleeper, trying to force a submission. Bella fought her way to her feet but was shoved back down to the mat. Natalya mocked Bella and stomped her. Bella was trapped in the Sharpshooter but Nikki made her way to the ropes to force a break.
Natalya nailed a nice snap suplex but missed a leaping legdrop. Bella fought back and nailed a leaping enziguiri off the ropes for a two count. Bella set up for Rack Attack Version 2 but Natalya cut her off and nailed a Michinoku Driver. Natalya locked in a bow and arrow but Bella fought her way out and shocked Natalya with a STF, forcing the submission.
Your winner, Nikki Bella!
Carmella immediately attacked Bella and beat her down in the corner, screaming that no one cares about her anymore. She used the Bella Buster on Nikki.
Match was OK.
Backstage, Dean Ambrose was interviewed. He said the last few weeks of listening to AJ Styles whine was fun but tonight is about taking him out. He said Karma was...another word for a female dog. Oh, did that come off contrived. He said that tonight will be fun and games, for him.
The Miz and Maryse came to the ring with The Spirit Squad. Spirit Squad did a cheer to introduce him. It was terrible, but that may have been by design. Miz said it's been 16 days of darkness since he doesn't have the Intercontinental championship anymore. He said it was the Ziggler IC burial tour. He said that he feels sad for the fans but really feels for the legends who worked to make the belt mean something and now it's dying a slow death. He said Pat Patterson is in Montreal with tears running down his cheeks. Ziggler came out with a mic to stop the verbal burial.
Ziggler said that he feels sorry for everyone who has had to deal with this crap for the last six months. He told Miz they have a fighting champion now and he'll put the belt on the line against the Miz right now. The crowd was really into this idea but Miz said that a true fighting champion, like himself, doesn't get goaded into a rematch. He said he would get his title shot soon but they can accomodate the request for a fight. They went to leave the ring with the idea it was going to be a three on one beating when WWE Tag Team champions Heath Slater and Rhyno came out. Miz and the Squad backed off.
Slater said that they must not really want to fight if they are standing behind Maryse. He asked Miz what his problem is. Miz told Slater he was a joke and so was their Tag Team championship reign. He said it was more embarassing than Ziggler's IC title run. Miz asked him what he knows about being a champion. Slater said that he knows champions don't run from a challenge. Miz said that's as funny as Slater getting pinned last week. He said the Spirit Squad would love a title match and dared them to defend the belts against the Spirit Squad. Slater said that he hears what was being said but he just bought five stocks in Puerto Rico. Miz asked him if he was scared by a pair of cheerleaders. Slater said no, and Miz cut him off before he could continue and said Slater was on and called for a referee.
WWE Tag Team champions Rhyno & Heath Slater vs. The Spirit Squad
When they returned from commercial, Miz and Ziggler had joined the announcing team as Kenny Dykstra was working over Slater. He nailed a nice catapult into the bottom rope. Tully Blanchard is smiling somewhere. Dykstra nailed another clothesline and tagged in Mikey Mondo, who scored a two count. The Squad continued to double team Slater. Dykstra set up for a piledriver but Slater backdropped him over. Slater went for a tag but had his leg caught and was placed in a chinlock by Mondo. The crowd chanted for Rhyno.
Slater nailed a high knee to finally ward off Mikey and made the tag to Rhyno. Rhyno cleaned house as the crowd chanted for ECW. Kenny acted like he hurt his knee to allow Mondo to nail Rhyno as the referee was distracted. Kenny scored a two count off of that. Rhyno came back with a belly to belly suplex for a two count as Ziggler and Miz got in each other's faces on the floor. Kenny was shoved off the apron by Slater, crashing int Miz. Rhyno gored the hell out of Mikey and scored the pin.
Your winners, WWE Tag Team champions Rhyno and Heath Slater.
OK match. It's amazing how much faster the action and the show flows at two hours compared to three.
WWE World champion AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose (non title)
They went to the Raw Pre-Show crew who pushed the Hell in A Cell PPV and pushed the WWE Network subs. I'd like to personally take this moment to push the www.HighspotsWrestlingNetwork.com, just because it's damn good.
Dean Ambrose was stalking the halls when he came across a sulking James Ellsworth. Ellsworth again asked to be in his corner tonight. Dean told him he could do so but warned him to be careful.
Ambrose has control over Styles early, including a clothesline over the top the floor. Styles recovered and nailed Ellsworth. Ambrose checked on him, allowing Styles to nail a pescado over the ropes to the floor as they went to commercial.
When they returned from commercial, Styles remained in control until missing a pescado to the floor. Ambrose nailed a dive to the outsde. He nailed a series of clotheslines and nailed a fisherman's suplex for a two count. JBL said Dean Ambrose was "Rick Grimes out here." Might be the wrong week to make that comparison. Styles and Ambrose went back and forth until Dean cinched in the Cloverleaf. Styles grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold.
Styles went to the apron. Dean went to suplex him in but Styles reversed and Ambrose landed on the apron. Styles snap suplexed him off the apron to the floor. Ouch. They were both out on the floor as we go back to commercial.
They battle continued after they returned to the ring. Dean fought off Styles on the ropes and came off with a flying elbow. They battled back and forth with strikes and forearms. Dean went for a suplex but Styles blocked it. Dean nailed a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Styles nailed a springboard into an inverted DDT for a two count. Good back and forth match. AJ went for the Styles Clash but it was blocked and Dean used a forward roll for a two count. Styles nailed a spinning backfist, but Ambrose used the rebound clothesline for a two count.
Styles was placed on the top and nailed with a big superplex. Styles caught Dean with the calf crusher. Ellsworth tried to rally Dean. Dean grabbed Styles by the neck and began slamming him back of his head first into the apron. Styles scapped on the calf crusher again. Dean fought his way to the ropes and made it, forcing the break.
Dean tried to get up but his knee kept giving out. Styles charged and nailed a NASTY dropkick through the ropes on Ellsworth. It looked just evil the way WWE shot it. Styles went for the springboard forearm but Dean kicked him. He went for Dirty Deeds but Styles blocked and nailed the Pele Kick. Styles went for the Clash but was backdropped over the top to the floor. Ellsworth was right there on the floor recovering and saw Styles land in front of him. He psyched himself up and superkicked him, which they called "No Chin Music."
As soon as he did it, the referee and Dean both looked at Ellsworth like he was out of their mind. After recovering from that shock, the referee called for the bell.
Your winner by DQ, WWE World champion AJ Styles!
The story was that Dean would be the number one contender if he won, so Ellsworth getting caught up in the moment actually led to Dean losing his chance. James looked like he was crying and beside himself after the bell. They went off the air with Styles smiling at his fortune as Dean looked frustrated in the ring.
That's all for tonight!
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