We are just 48 hours removed from this past Sunday’s Elimination Chamber ’17 PPV, and the Smackdown Live landscape has changed dramatically, with a new WWE Champion in “The Eater of Worlds” Bray Wyatt and a new Women’s Champion in Naomi. Tonight, John Cena gets his contractual rematch for the World title, but still so many questions: Will Mickie get her revenge on Becky Lynch‘s win on Sunday? How will Dean Ambrose respond to the ass-kicking he received from Baron Corbin in the Elimination Chamber? Is there no one left to challenge American Alpha after repeated attempts in matches versus the entire Smackdown Live tag team division for the Tag Team gold? And where does AJ Styles fit into all of this? We’ll find out Live tonight from the Honda Center in sunny Anaheim, California!
It will be interesting to see if Smackdown Live just rests on the buzz of two new World champions in Wyatt and Naomi to carry the buzz of tonight’s show or if they’ll have their own huge surprise to compete with the amazing turn on Chris Jericho by Kevin Owens last night on Raw that had the wrestling world still talking into the evening tonight.
OPENING SEGMENT: New WWE Champion Bray Wyatt
The lights dim and the fireflies emerge, as your NEW WWE Champion Bray Wyatt emerges with his lantern and descends upon the ring. Oddly, he appears to be by himself, as Randy Orton is not coming out with him.
Wyatt takes the mic, as the crowd chants “You deserve it!”. Wyatt cuts them off by telling him that Sister Abigail always believed in him and now he has the whole world in it’s hand. He tells the audience to follow him and welcomes them to the Era of Wyatt!
John Cena’s music hits and he’s bombarded with “John Cena sucks!” along with his theme song. Crowd is clearly pro-Wyatt tonight. After all he’s been through the past five years, hard not to blame them. Cena plays to the crowd, making scales hands to show weight the two opposing Cena factions. Cena tells Wyatt that he’s clearly brainwashed some followers in the crowd, simply because they chanted “You deserve it…in life you don’t deserve anything, you have to earn it.” He says since everyone is so jacked up to see this match between them tonight, why not do it right here, and RIGHT NOW!
AJ Styles’ music hits, and the Phenomenal One cuts them both off. He tells John Cena that he’s not getting his rematch until he gets his first. Cena can’t just go through life jumping lines simply because he’s John Cena. No, tonight this isn’t about Cena. It’s about AJ Styles. So AJ Styles wants his rematch and he wants it right here and right now.
GM Daniel Bryan comes out and says that both Cena and Styles want their rematches and the Bryan and Shane promised the audience and WWE Championship match, so tonight, it will be a Triple Threat Match tonight for the WWE Championship, with new WWE Champion Bray Wyatt defending his title against both John Cena and AJ Styles.
SmackBack: The Anaheim crowd is pro-heel on this one, with both Wyatt and Styles getting considerable pops with a split but vocal division on Cena. A triple threat was an unexpected twist – although with Styles without a next feud, it probably should have been – and should be a solid main event. It also softens the loss to whomever has to take it.
Backstage, Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose is heated and looking for Baron Corbin…
1st Match: Smackdown Tag Team Champions American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) vs. The Ascension (Viktor & Konnor) Non-Title
American Alpha come out first and to minimal reaction. It’s not a good thing when you’re tag champions get one of the weakest reactions of the tag team division. They’re just not connecting with the WWE Universe the way they did in NXT. A Kurt Angle rub would help them a big way.
The Ascension come out, getting a non-title match, most likely due to them winning the huge tag team kerfuffle last week. This must amount for the Ascension’s biggest push so far since the joined the main roster.
Chad Gable and Viktor start off the match but it soon breaks down and all four men end up in the ring, beating on each other. Ascension tosses Alpha out the ring, but while gloating, Jordan and Gable attack from the air and clear the ring.
It's a DOUBLE TAKEDOWN from the top rope from the Tag Team Champs!! #AmericanAlpha #SDLive pic.twitter.com/TupBXnvC9M
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 15, 2017
Back from a commercial break, and the Ascension have taken control, wearing down Gable with quick tags and hard hits. Gable tries to fight back, pushing Konnor back to his corner to tag Jordan, but Konnor overpowers him. He traps Konnor in a grapevine arm submission on the ropes then runs to tag Jordan. Viktor tries to cut him off but Gable finally gets it and Jordan cleans house.
The Ascension tries to fight back and gets a few more shots in, but it isn’t long before Viktor gets caught in American Alpha’s Grand Amplitude and it’s 1-2-3.
Your Winner…American Alpha, by pinfall, Chad Gable over Viktor, following the Grand Amplitude
GRAND AMPLITUDE!! #AmericanAlpha defeat #TheAscension on #SDLive! @WWEGable @JasonJordanJJ pic.twitter.com/yliet0jVsm
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
The Usos come on the Titantron and threaten American Alpha, challenging them for the titles.
Backstage, Dean Ambrose stumbles into Carmella and James Ellsworth as he’s searching for Baron Corbin. Ambrose stops to warn Ellsworth that Carmella is using him. Ellsworth (upon Carmella’s insistence) stands up for her and yells at Dean, as Bryan walks in. Upon Dean’s request, Daniel Bryan sanctions Ambrose vs. Ellsworth later tonight.
SmackBack: Despite their athleticism, American Alpha’s matches are becoming so routine it’s boring to watch. They need to be set loose like their NXT matches versus the likes of The Revival – and they need to have their opponents, like Breezango and The Vaudevillains, be given room to shine as well. As long as each tag team is stunted, the division will not grow. The Usos is a step forward though, as they had some decent matches last year.
2nd Match: WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose vs. James Ellsworth (w/ Carmella), Non-Title
James Ellsworth is in the ring first, along with Carmella. He chastises the crowd for booing her and tells them to show some respect to the Princess of Staten Island. Dean Ambrose’s music hits and Ellsworth starts to panic.
Oddly enough, Ellsworth’s face turns to confusion as, after several moments, no one comes out.
Eventually, Baron Corbin emerges, dragging a beaten Dean Ambrose and tossing him down the ramp. Ambrose finally retaliates and the two begin fighting over by the production set ups. Corbin lands a Deep Six on Ambrose, tossing him into a sound board, which sparks and buzzes as Dean crashes through. Corbin stares then walks away, as multiple officials come out to check on him
Your Winner…No contest, match doesn’t start.
The #LoneWolf @BaronCorbinWWE sends the #AmbroseAsylum UP IN FLAMES, as he lays waste to @TheDeanAmbrose on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/LifM4Y7Wdh
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Backstage, Daniel Bryan is telling Nikki Bella that these fights backstage have got to stop. But he’s got an idea that she’ll like. Just then, Natalya walks in and starts to yell at Daniel Bryan for favouring her and that Nikki got what she wanted because she was dating John Cena and was Bryan’s sister-in-law. The two immediately go at again, before Daniel Bryan finally blows up. He announces that if they don’t want to fight in the ring, next week they’ll go one on one in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
SmackBack: Corbin and Ambrose could be a match to rejuvenate Ambrose after a lacklustre past year. Despite winning the WWE Championship, Ambrose still felt stale for much of the past 365 days. Ambrose has physicality in his roots from his CZW days, so getting physical with the likes of an emerging star in Baron Corbin would be an ideal situation. Nattie and Nikki will seemingly end their battle next week on Smackdown Live, most likely with Maryse getting caught in the middle, like we saw at Elimination Chamber. The seeds for the rumoured mixed tag between Cena and Nikki vs Miz and Maryse seem to be being planted.
Backstage, Corbin is stopped and asked why he attacked Dean Ambrose. He said he’s not WWE Champion. Why? Because of Dean Ambrose. And now Dean Ambrose is going to the hospital. Why? Because of Baron Corbin. Enough said.
3rd Match: Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James
We get an Elimination Chamber rematch, as Becky Lynch comes out to face the challenge from her opponent on Sunday, Mickie James. Mickie makes her entrance and the match is soon under way.
Becky Lynch takes control of the match early. While Mickie gets some counters and returns in, Lynch continually gets the better, finally tossing James out the ring. Mickie takes her time returning, but when she does she clubs Lynch and starts to gain some steam. Lynch has other plans, countering with some arm drags before working on James’ arm, setting her up for the Dis-Arm-Her, in the center of the ring.
They work into the corner, where James attempts a hurricanrana, but Lynch hits James to ring apron, then drops the former Women’s Champion to the ground. Lynch goes out and they hit double lariats, hitting the ground hard.
.@BeckyLynchWWE sends @MickieJames crashing to the floor with a springboard sidekick! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/an3Om9wZ7U
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 15, 2017
Back from commercial break, and James is now working over Lynch’s neck, seemingly in control. Lynch tries to “Hulk up”, but James grabs her hair and slams her back to the mat for a two count.
Lynch gets back up and lands a series of kicks, taking James down, and getting her own two count. Becky goes for a Becksploder Suplex, but James counters and fights her off. James slams Lynch to the mat and goes top rope, but Lynch dodges, and lands a Becksploder, but only gets a two count.
Becky takes James outside the ring. James is working a sore shoulder and Becky continues to work on her, then tosses her back in the ring. The ref pulls Becky off and tells her stay away. The ref goes to call a doctor and Becky comes over to check on her, walking into a Superkick from James.
Mickie goes down for the pin and picks up the 1-2-3.
Your Winner…Mickie James, by pinfall, following a Superkick.
With @BeckyLynchWWE distracted, the "injured" @MickieJames strikes with the #MickKick for the ONE TWO THREE!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/69RgIZpEAb
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
SmackBack: Very average match from two above average wrestlers. Both have shown they can still achieve great things in the ring, but for some reason they aren’t clicking yet after a few weeks. Hopefully they can lock it in, because both are far too good to be this average. The story is there, but the performances just aren’t there.
IN-RING SEGMENT: Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi
Renee Young is in the ring to talk to new Women’s Champion Noami. As Young tries to start the interview Naomi, another “You deserve it!” chant breaks out and Naomi blows a kiss to the crowd. Noami finally speaks and says that she was hurt in her match, but she is not going to let that stop her and she is going into Wrestlemania 33 as the Smackdown Women’s Champion.
Alexa Bliss’ music cuts her off and the former Women’s champion makes her way down to the ring. She says that Naomi was lucky to win and now she’s using an injury excuse because she can’t handle the pressure of being champion and to cover when she loses in her rematch for the Women’s title.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/831692161192046593
Alexa ends saying if she doesn’t get her rematch by next week, she’s going to beat Naomi all over the ring and just take the title.
SmackBack: In what’s felt like 365 days of Charlottes, Sashas, Bayleys and Beckys, Naomi vs Alexa feels like a breath of fresh air. Not that the Four Horsewoman have been bad – far from it. But these two are something different and their story is still new and exciting. Naomi has a fire in her now that she hasn’t had in some time, so she’s going to want to take advantage of every second she has the belt. And Bliss is proving to be a perfect foil to her.
Main Event: WWE Championship Match: Bray Wyatt (c) vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles – Triple Threat
John Cena comes out first, followed by the other challenger, AJ Styles, as the two last former WWE Champions get set for their triple threat WWE Championship rematch against the newly crowned Bray Wyatt.
For the second time tonight, the fireflies come out at the Honda Center in Anaheim, and once again WWE Champion Bray Wyatt enters the ring in darkness, without Family member Randy Orton at his side. As Wyatt approaches the ring, Luke Harper emerges from nowhere and takes out Bray Wyatt, retreating back up the ramp laughing to the rafters.
Uh-oh… @LukeHarperWWE is at ringside to meet @WWEBrayWyatt when the lights come back on!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/OFEorvVcfE
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 15, 2017
Back from the break, and the war is under way, with Styles and Wyatt going at it at ringside and Cena taken out early. AJ returns Wyatt where he continues to work on Bray, landing a crushing forearm on a fallen Eater of Worlds. Styles goes off the ropes into a crushing hip from Wyatt and Styles rolls out of the ring as Cena makes his return to it.
Cena quickly attacks Wyatt, going for an Attitude Adjustment early. Wyatt counters into a Sister Abigail, but before he can land it, Styles lands a leap from the top rope. Cena gets up and lands an AA on Styles, but AJ kicks out at 2.9 and the crowd explodes.
Cena works on AJ in the corner and Wyatt crab walks into the center of the ring. Cena turns and runs at him, but is caught in a Sister Abigail and landed square. Just as the ref goes for the three, Styles lands from the skies once again, stopping the count as we head to commercial.
#SisterABIGAIL on @JohnCena, but @AJStylesOrg breaks up the pinfall at 2!!!#TripleThreat @WWEBrayWyatt #SDLive pic.twitter.com/RGK9lD18uZ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 15, 2017
Back from the commercial and AJ is once again working on Wyatt, back at ringside. He gets Wyatt on the announce table and lands a frog splash on Bray. Styles returns to the ring to face Cena who catches Styles in the AA again, but instead of going for the pin, goes for another AA. Styles counters and puts Cena in the Calf Crusher, which Cena then reverses into the STF.
As Cena works over Styles in his STF, Wyatt lands a running senton bomb on Cena’s back, knocking the wind out of both Cena and Styles. Wyatt tosses AJ out of the ring and points at the fallen John Cena in the ring. He runs to the corner and leans back in his crab look. He runs at Cena, but Cena catches him and lands another Attitude Adjustment, but Bray kicks out at 2.9 again! The crowd is going nuts!
Styles comes back in and lands a Styles Clash on Cena, but only gets a two count, and all three men are beaten and exhausted. Styles and Cena go at it first, but Styles is caught up in the ropes and ends up outside. Cena turns into a Sister Abigail and Bray Wyatt picks up the pin, 1-2-3!
Your Winner and STILL WWE Champion, Bray Wyatt, by pinfall on John Cena, following a Sister Abigail
As Wyatt sat in the ring with his belt, Randy Orton’s music hit and the Viper began to slowly walk down the ramp, locking eyes with his Family head Bray Wyatt. Orton enters slowly, mic in hand, as Bray eyes his protege curiously. They stand face to face in the ring and Orton looks hesitant to speak as Wyatt mutters to him.
Orton says he won the Royal Rumble and all of its privileges but since Wyatt is the WWE Champion, he refuses to fight him at WrestleMania and instead pledges his undying allegiance to Bray Wyatt.
Orton gets down on his knees and opens his arms to Wyatt. Wyatt smiles and takes the mic, telling Orton he know has the keys to the kingdom. The show goes off the air with Orton posing over Wyatt, who proclaims “Follow the Buzzards!”
SmackBack: Match started physical and took it’s time to set the pace, but the last ten minutes felt almost PPV quality with the near falls. There were moments where it genuinely felt like Cena or AJ may take back the title. Luckily Wyatt retained, effectively erasing both men’s rematch claims on the title. With the internet buzzing about how Orton vs Wyatt would be set up, it was a bit of a swerve with Orton announcing he would not take his Rumble prize and face Wyatt at WrestleMania. Whether the WWE has a surprise in place or it’s simply a ruse before the match is eventually set up, the Orton-Wyatts angle has been Smackdown Live’s most captivating stories in ages.
Confirmed Smackdown Matches at Wrestlemania 33
April 2, 2017, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
