This week’s episode of Smackdown started off with the new WWE World Champion AJ Styles addressing the WWE Universe. Styles boasted about his victory against Dean Ambrose at Backlash. AJ Styles started referring to himself as “the champ that runs the camp”. John Cena then interupted and stated that Styles had something that belonged to him. Styles then took off Cena’s “never give up” arm band and threw it at Cena’s face. Cena then claimed that Styles still had something that belonged to him and pointed to the WWE World Championship. John Cena stated that he had one goal left in the WWE and that was to be the 16 time WWE Champion. Dean Ambrose then came down to the ring and got right in Styles’ face. Ambrose told Styles that he was now his enemy and that he was going to make his life a living hell. Ambrose went on to complain about the low-blow Styles hit him with at Backlash which prompted Cena to get in Ambrose’s face. Cena then stated that Ambrose hung Styles up on the rope by his jewels and he found it ridiculous that Ambrose would be complaining about a low-blow. Cena then hit Ambrose with a brutal insult. Cena stated that Stone Cold was right about Dean Ambrose. He told Ambrose that he has done nothing but drop the ball since becoming WWE World Champion. Cena then said that he was surprised that low-blow from Styles even hurt Ambrose, given the fact that he has shown no balls the past few weeks. Ambrose then got in Cena’s face and claimed that he didn’t give a damn what Cena thought about him. Ambrose then called Cena a lazy part-timer.
Shane McMahon then came down to the ring and set up the main-event for No Mercy. At No Mercy, AJ Styles will defend his title against John Cena and Dean Ambrose in a triple threat match. McMahon also made the main-event for tonight’s episode of Smackdown. It will be Dean Ambrose teaming up with John Cena to face Styles and a partner of his choosing. If Styles cannot find a tag team partner, Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan would then appoint him one.
Reaction: This was an excellent promo to kick off Smackdown. The confrontation between Ambrose and Styles was the most interesting and heated part of it. The main-event at No Mercy is already looking good and has more an interesting angle than most of the feuds on the Clash of Champions card that is taking place in less than two weeks.
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The Usos vs Hype Bros
The Usos defeated the Hype Bros at Backlash and had absolutely no problem defeating them tonight. The Hype Bros put up much more of a fight at Backlash. The Usos were dominant in this match and the Hype Bros looked like they didn’t belong in the ring with them.
Winners: The Usos
The Miz and Maryse came down to the ring. The Miz stated that for the past few weeks, Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler have been calling him a coward. The Miz then stated that people can refer to him as whatever they want because he is still the Intercontinental Champion. Miz then claimed that he has made the Intercontinental Championship more prestigious than it ever has been. Ziggler then interrupted and claimed that the WWE Universe will never see The Miz as a top guy. The Miz then stated that he would never live and die by the opinions of the WWE Universe. The Miz claimed that if he did that, his career would be six feet under like Ziggler’s career. Dolph then challenged The Miz to another match and asked for no interference. Maryse then grabbed the microphone and the crowd booed heavily. Daniel Bryan then came down to the ring and accused Maryse of cheating at Backlash. Bryan then stated that Ziggler would get his rematch. The Miz interrupted and demanded that his contract be reconstructed. The Miz then claimed that he was calling his own shots and then left with Maryse through the crowd.
AJ Styles was backstage and asked Baron Corbin to his tag team partner tonight. Baron Corbin refused and stated that he would rather be his opponent. Corbin then told Styles that he wanted his title.
Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews
Apollo Crews was in the middle of his entrance when Baron Corbin attacked him from behind. The match never took place because Corbin hit Crews with the End of Days outside the ring. Jack Swagger then came down to the ring and Corbin took off. Swagger then proceeded to cut a promo and announced that his contract with Raw is up and he is the newest member to the Smackdown roster. The crowd wasn’t really into this segment.
Fatal 5 Way to Determine the #1 Contender to the Smackdown Women’s Championship: Carmella vs Alexa Bliss vs Natalya vs Naomi vs Nikki Bella
Nikki attacked Carmella right when the bell rung. Natalya then hit Carmella with a huge Clothesline. The match went on for several more minutes and it was back and forth. It came down to Nikki Bella and Carmella in the ring. Nikki went for the TKO but Carmella hit her with a Superkick. Alexa Bliss then tossed Carmella outside the ring and pinned Nikki Bella.
Winner & #1 Contender for the Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss
Reaction: Alexa Bliss is a good choice to go against Becky Lynch. Jack Swagger received virtually no reaction from the crowd at Smackdown. Swagger has always been very talented but has had trouble connecting with the crowd. Hopefully the switch of brands will help him with that. It didn’t start off well tonight but that can change if he is placed in an interesting storyline in the next few weeks.
Shane McMahon came down to the ring and called down Heath Slater and Rhyno. Shane congratulated Heath on earning his contract. Slater then signed his contract and celebrated in the ring. The Ascension then interrupted and the crowd greeted them with a smattering of boos. The Ascension wanted a shot at the Tag Team Championships and Shane McMahon awarded it to them.
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Ascension vs Heath Slater & Rhyno
The Ascension were dominating Heath Slater early. Slater eventually tagged in Rhyno and beat the hell out of Viktor. Rhyno went for a cover but Konnor broke it up. Heath Slater then jumped on Konnor and they both battled to the outside of the ring. Rhyno then hit the Gore on Viktor for the win.
Winners & Still Tag Team Champions: Heath Slater & Rhyno
AJ Styles asked Kane to be his partner but Kane just laughed in his face and walked away. Daniel Bryan ran into Styles later in the night and said that he has found a partner for him. James Ellsworth then walked into frame and Styles looked disgusted. Ellsworth was one of Braun Strowman’s recent victims on Raw.
Randy Orton came down to the ring to address Bray Wyatt. Orton challenged Wyatt to come down to the ring and face his fear. Bray Wyatt then appeared on a pre-taped video promo. Wyatt claimed that Orton should have just stayed down. Wyatt then told Orton not to sleep. Wyatt then appeared on the announcer’s table behind Orton. The lights went out and when they came back on Erick Rowan was in the ring. Rowan attacked Orton but Randy countered with an RKO out of nowhere.
Reaction: I’m simply not interested in this feud right now. I’ve said it a thousand times but Bray Wyatt needs this victory. If he loses again there is just no reason to take him seriously. I’m already past that point but some still feel like he can be a big star in the WWE. I felt that way a year ago but since then Wyatt hasn’t won anything meaningful and has cut a plethora of ultimately meaningless promos.
John Cena & Dean Ambrose vs AJ Styles & The Miz
James Ellsworth was making his way to the ring but The Miz attacked him from behind. The Miz then shouted that he was the main-event and joined Styles in the ring. Styles and The Miz shook hands and just like that Styles had a new tag team partner.
The Miz was taking it to Cena early on. Miz hit a DDT but Cena kicked out at two. As the referee was distracted, Styles kicked Cena in the face. Miz went to dive onto Cena in the corner but Cena rolled out of the way. Cena was then able to tag in Ambrose and Miz tagged in Styles. Ambrose hit the elbow on Styles from the top rope. Ambrose then beatdown Styles in the corner. The Miz tried to get involved but Ambrose punched him in the face. Ambrose then rolled out of the ring and tossed The Miz into the barricade. Styles then hit the Pele Kick on Ambrose when he rolled back into the ring.
When Smackdown returned from commercial, Ambrose was in control of the match. Cena was pleading for a tag but Ambrose ignored him. The Miz then tagged in Styles who walked over to the corner and hit Cena with a forearm to the face. Styles then started barking at Cena and it allowed Ambrose enough time to recover. Ambrose hit Styles with a couple of chops in the corner but Styles quickly knocked Ambrose to the ground again. Ambrose finally hit Styles with a Swinging Neckbreaker. Ambrose finally tagged in Cena and Styles tagged in The Miz. Cena leveled Miz with a few shoulder blocks and followed it up with the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. Ambrose sent Styles outside the ring and then dove onto him. Cena then hit The Miz with an Attitude Adjustment for the victory.
After the match, Dean Ambrose hit the Dirty Deeds on Cena in the middle of the ring. Ambrose then seemingly taunted the crowd. Ambrose then hovered over Cena and shouted at him to close the show.
Winners: John Cena & Dean Ambrose
Reaction: Smackdown once again put on a solid show. It appears that we will see a new attitude from Dean Ambrose in the next couple of weeks and that is a good thing. On paper, Monday Night Raw has the better roster. Having said that, Smackdown has consistently been the better show since the brand split. Raw was the better show the first week but since then it has been treading water. Kevin Owens winning the Universal Championship was certainly a terrific moment but it was followed up with an extremely lackluster Raw the next week. Smackdown hasn’t been great but it has been consistently good. Tonight’s episode was another solid show and there isn’t really too much to complain about.
What did you think of this week’s episode of Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.