SmackBack: Smackdown Live – Memphis, TN (1/17/2017)

We’re live tonight from the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, as we get into the final weeks before Royal Rumble ’17. Still a few slots from Smackdown Live to enter the Rumble itself, WWE Champion AJ Styles prepares to face John Cena at the PPV, Becky and Alexa in a steel cage for the Women’s title, tension in the Wyatt family, Nikki and Natalya are getting extreme, Baron Corbin is coming on strong, Jerry “The King” Lawler hosts a special edition of The King’s Court from his hometown with special guest Dolph Ziggler, but FIRST! We have Smackdown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon is going to kick us off with a HUGE announcement.

There’s always a certain amount of anxiety whenever the WWE warns of a HUGE announcement. Sure, they can be super massive, but sometimes it’s something underwhelmingly terrible. There’s online rumours of a potential AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon feud to culminate at Wrestlemania, or even that Shane is entering the Rumble itself. Both terrible. Personally I’m hoping that he’s announcing the addition of a Woman’s Royal Rumble match, maybe 20-women, featuring all main roster, a few NXT and a special appearance (maybe Lita and Molly?). Other rumours suggest Smackdown Live is signing Samoe Joe or Kurt Angle is entering the Rumble. We’ll see! Should be an interesting one. Apart from the last 45 seconds of the Cena vs. Corbin match, Smackdown Live has been heads above Raw in pacing, storytelling and ring-action. But those last 45 seconds of Super Cena were brutal. But hey, maybe that’s the point? If they’re  doing the slow heel turn they’ve been teasing of late – with his rhythmic freestyle slam poetry style delivery to trashing indie wrestling to finally insulting the fans who chant “Cena Sucks!”, we’re seeing a new Cena. Perhaps by making the Super Cena so brutally honest will only increase his heel heat.

Shane McMahon comes out and runs down the historic names in the upcoming Royal Rumble. McMahon gets right to it and says that in four weeks, the WWE Championship will defended inside the Elimination Chamber. Six men will be put inside the Elimination Chamber to compete for the WWE Championship.

AJ Styles music hits and the WWE Champion comes down with some harsh words for the Commissioner. He’s upset he has to follow up fighting John Cena at Royal Rumble and then fight in an Elimination Chamber two weeks later. AJ threatens to take the WWE Championship back to Japan if this match goes on.

John Cena‘s music hits and The Champ is here. Cena comes down and the arena breaks into a “Let’s Go Cena!/AJ Styles!” chant. Cena is about to speak when AJ cuts him off and returns to berating Shane McMahon.

AJ demands to know why the WWE is against AJ Styles and demands to know who else wants to try and steal his spotlight?

The Miz‘ music hits, and The Miz and Maryse come down to the ring. The Miz says to “consider your spotlight stolen” and tells AJ that once he reclaims his Intercontinental Championship from Dean Ambrose, he will go on to take the title at Elimination Chamber and go on to Main Event Wrestlemania. AJ tries to tell Miz to stay out of this, but Miz tells AJ that while AJ was in Japan, he was busy beating John Cena at Wrestlemania. He was beating up John Cena long before it was cool.

Cena briefly mentions that it sounds like Miz thinks he’s better than Styles. This sets AJ off on Styles and Styles makes a comment to Maryse about Miz’ penis. Cena asks Miz if he’s going to let AJ talk to his girl like that.

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Shane McMahon steps in and declares that AJ Styles will face the Miz in a non-title match and that’s next!

Backstage, Shane McMahon bumps into Dean Ambrose, who says he wants a new title, because this old one smells. Shane says fine, but he wants to follow up the Wyatts who messed with him a few weeks back. Shane says okay and tonight it’s Dean versus Randy Orton.

AJ starts the match off in control, as John Cena joins the commentary team for the match. Miz retreats early to ringside, shaking off the arm that Styles was working on. He clambers back in and challenges AJ in the center of the ring.

After a stand-off feat of strength, the two get fluid on the ropes, with AJ landing a huge shoulder block Miz. AJ briefly turns to jab Cena before returning to his attack on Miz and going for the first pin attempt.

Miz kicks out and gets a hip on Styles, turning the tide. A hip toss attempt by The Miz is countered into the Calf Killer by Styles, but Miz gets to the ropes.

Styles lands a vicious lariat on the Miz, but only a two count. Styles goes outside for Springboard Superman Punch, but Maryse gets on the ring apron and distracts him, and Miz rams Styles to the barrier on the floor below. Miz looks all mean and then COMMERCIAL!

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Back from commercial, and Miz continues to work on Styles. He lands Styles in the corner, where he does a series of Daniel Bryan-esque knees, before taunting with the “Yes!” chants. As he returns to Styles, AJ attempts a Styles Clash, but Miz powers out.

The action ends up outside, where Miz bumps into Cena. Cena slams Miz into the barrier, and AJ attacks Cena. The ref calls for the bell and AJ is disqualified because Cena hit Miz. Miz chases AJ into the ring, but Miz attacks Cena. Cena takes out Miz and then AJ, standing tall in the ring.

Nikki calls out Natalya but she doesn’t come out. Nikki says that Natalya is the “best there was, the best there is and the best there ever will be…at stabbing people in the back!” Natalya’s voice cuts her off and she’s up in the audience. She tells Nikki to watch the Titantron.

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Natalya heads back to concession booth where she proceeds to point out Nikki’s merchandise is next to John Cena’s, next to Undertaker and Dolph Ziggler and even her ex-uncle Bret Hart. She starts trashing the merch, when Nikki explodes out of nowhere and takes Natalya down hard. The two roll at it on the concrete, rolling about and slamming each other off creates and tables. Security pulls them apart, but they clearly have lots to get out.

Dean Ambrose comes down to the ring first as the announcers recap the attack on Ambrose in his match versus Luke Harper a few weeks back.

Randy Orton comes out with Bray and Harper in tow, but the two Family members stay out of the action for the early moments. The two lock up back and forth, with neither really getting an upper hand. Ambrose gains a little momentum on Orton, trying to rake his mouth.

After a few minutes, Orton takes control, working Ambrose in the middle of the ring, but it’s a lot of ground work and rest holds, as the two continue to feel each other out. The end up on the outside of the ring, and Ambrose lands the Lunatic Lariat, quickly turning to fend of an advancing Bray and Harper.

The Wyatts back off, and Ambrose turns into Orton who slams him into the steel steps. He then takes Ambrose and slams him onto the announce table, with cracks in one section. Ambrose looks COMMERICAL!

Orton has taken him into the ring, going for some playful manoeuvres for a humiliating pin, but Ambrose keeps kicking out. Finally Orton attempts to mount Ambrose for a Superplex a la his WWE Hall of Fame dad, Cowboy “Ace” Bob Orton Jr. Ambrose fights up off and pushes Orton down, then hits Orton with another Lunatic Lariat off the ropes. Randy stumbles to the corner.

Ambrose goes for a running elbow from the corner, but Orton counters and sets up the Draping DDT, but Ambrose counters and tosses Orton into Harper. Ambrose comes flying through the middle ropes, but Orton moves and nails Harper. Orton climbs back into the ring.

As Ambrose comes back in, Orton catches him, finally landing his Draping DDT. Bray demands Orton make him pay for hurting Harper. Orton gets ready to go into Apex Predator mode, when Harper gets up and starts yelling. Bray tries to subdue Harper, but Orton is distracted, and Ambrose rolls Orton up for the 3 count, quickly leaving the ring.

Harper gets into the ring and he and Orton go at it, but Bray gets in the ring and separates them. He then turns and smacks Harper in the mouth. Luke points at Orton and says that “HE DID THIS!”

Wyatt turns and beckons Orton, but Orton won’t hit him. Harper gets out the ring and walks away as Bray and Orton remain in the ring.

Jerry Lawler is live in the middle of the ring for his first ever Smackdown Live edition of The King’s Court. He’s back wearing his Memphis wrestling garb, tights, robe, crown…and shirtless. He quickly introduces his guest, the man with the ego, Dolph Ziggler.

Lawler questions Ziggler’s motives of late, wondering what he thinks he can accomplish with this new attitude. Lawler asks a series of questions, but Ziggler remains silent to all of them, much like he was last week. Finally Lawler replays highlights of Ziggler taking out both Kalisto and Apollo with chairs last week. He asks Dolph what was that all about? Again, Ziggler says nothing. He turns his back to leave, but Lawler pleads to come back and talk.

Finally, Ziggler comes back and decides to speak. He says he didn’t want to speak because he knew Lawler would try and embarrass him in front of his hometown. So he thought he’d bring some footage of his own. He shows the replay of the match in 2012 where Ziggler landed elbows during a match on Raw, that resulted in Lawler suffering a real life heart attack.

Ziggler says he knows that Lawler blames him for it and he should. And if Jerry’s not careful, Ziggler will finish what he started. Lawler calls Ziggler a loser and Dolph Superkicks Lawler in the chest then leaves.

JBL gets up from the announce desk to help up Lawler, he screams after Ziggler to get back and face him.

Bray Wyatt comes on the screen alone, announcing the Wyatt Family trio as entering this year’s Royal Rumble. But first, the Family must reunite. Next week Randy Orton will face Luke Harper, and they will all come out stronger.

Becky Lynch comes out first, followed by the Champion, Alexa Bliss, as the women get ready for the first women’s main event on Smackdown Live. The cage is lowered and the fight is under way!

Alexa immediately tries to escape a few times, but Becky catches her each time, beating on Alexa. Second attempt, Becky takes it to Alexa, slamming her off two turnbuckles, then throwing Alexa into the corner. Alexa fights her off and tries to climb the cage, but Becky stops her. Alexa kicks her down and gets down, but Becky hits her and immediately makes a scramble to the top of the cage.

Alexa climbs up and pulls Becky down, bouncing her face of the top turnbuckle, then Alexa goes to work on the former Women’s champion. Becky turns the tide and goes for a power bomb, but Alexa counters by catching the cage and pulling herself up. Becky chases Bliss up the cage and the two start to battle near the cage’s top.

Becky grabs Alexa by the back of the head and drops down, bouncing Bliss off the turnbuckle this time, with both ending up on the mat.

Back from commercial and Bliss is back in control, slamming Becky into the cage. Alexa begins to ram Becky into the steel cage, but Lynch moves and Alexa slams into it herself. Lynch opens the door, but neither can get out.

Becky throws Alexa back in, then climbs the rope and lands a crossbody, but only gets a two count. She immediately climbs the cage and gets to the top but as she’s climbing over the top, Bliss catches her and grabs her by the hair and pulls her back over. The two work down, standing on the top ropes.

Lynch lands a kick from the top of the cage, then hits a Becksploder Suplex from the top rope on Bliss, but again, only a two count.

Becky makes a dash for the door and the ref opens it, but Bliss drags her back and the door is closed once again. Suddenly, La Luchadora appears in the open door and Becky stares stunned. Bliss grabs her from behind, but Becky counters with the Dis-Arm-Her. La Luchadora storms inside the cage and kicks Lynch in the head, and Bliss hits her DDT for the pin and the victory. The ref goes to raise her arm, but Bliss tells him to get out.

La Luchadora raises Alexa Bliss inside the cage, before the two begin to beat down on Becky Lynch inside the cage. La Luchadora picks up Becky but Alexa misses and hits La Luchadora. Becky fights back, grabbing La Luchadora and pulling off her mask – it’s Mickie James! Mickie smiles the same crazy smile that used to stalk Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch is stunned! Alexa nails Becky and Mickie and Bliss stand over top a knocked out Lynch.