Smackdown (12/6)
This week’s episode of Smackdown kicked off with AJ Styles coming down to the ring with a walking boot on. Styles showed a picture on the jumbotron of the hole in his pants that happened at TLC. Styles then mocked the crowd and bragged about defeating Dean Ambrose at TLC. Styles also revealed that he will be stuck in a walking boot for a week and that he is not medically cleared to defend his WWE World Championship tonight against James Ellsworth.
James Ellsworth interrupted and angrily stormed down to the ring. Ellsworth mocked AJ’s walking boot and insinuated that Styles was wearing the boot in order to get out of the title match tonight. Ellsworth went on to state that he has AJ’s number and accused Styles of ducking him. Styles stated that every victory Ellsworth has on Smackdown was because of Dean Ambrose.
Dean Ambrose interrupted and joined Styles and Ellsworth in the ring. Ellsworth reached out his hand to Dean Ambrose and Dean hit the Dirty Deeds. As AJ Styles cackled from outside the ring, Ambrose walked backstage and left Ellsworth knocked out in the ring.
Reaction: It is looking like this is going to a long night for James Ellsworth. When Styles was in TNA, his promos were not nearly as polished as they are now. It is amazing how a year ago I would have considered it a long shot that he would ever make it to the WWE. Now, in my opinion he is the best thing going in the WWE and almost every match he has is the best of the night. Even when Styles got to the WWE, I thought he would be underutilized. It is awesome to see a guy that talented finally get his shot on in the WWE and absolutely knock it out of the park.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt (c) vs Heath Slater & Rhyno
Slater and Rhyno invoked their rematch clause just two days after dropping the titles at TLC. Orton and Slater started off the match. Slater got in some offense but Orton put a stop to it pretty quick. Bray Wyatt then entered the match and fell victim to a Crossbody off of the second turnbuckle. Rhyno was tagged in and he connected with a Belly to Belly Suplex on Wyatt. Rhyno went for the Gore but Wyatt rolled out of the ring and Smackdown went to a commercial break.
When Smackdown returned, Bray Wyatt was in control of Rhyno. Wyatt hit a Senton on Rhyno and went for the cover but Rhyno kicked out at two. Orton was then tagged in and he continued the assault on Rhyno. Orton landed a Dropkick on Rhyno but Rhyno fought back and was able to tag in Slater. Heath connected with a running knee and followed it up with a Neckbreaker. Orton got back up and leveled Slater with a Powerslam.
Orton went for a pinfall but Rhyno broke it up. Wyatt was tagged in and was greeted with a big right hand from Slater. Wyatt responded with a right hand of his own and Slater fell to the mat. Wyatt had Slater in position for the Sister Abigail but tagged in Randy Orton instead. Orton hit an RKO for the victory.
Winners & Still Tag Team Champions: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt
Reaction: I really enjoy the new Wyatt family storyline. I don’t know how long it will last. Everyone seems to think that it is only a matter of time before Wyatt and Orton turn on each other. I believe that will be the case eventually, but for now this team is entertaining to watch. Bray Wyatt has been lost in the shuffle for years and has lost an extraordinary amount of matches. That is not the case now as he is currently holding his first title in the WWE and is a part of one of the better storylines in the entire company.
Carmella vs Natalya
Before the match, Carmella once again stated that it was Natalya that attacked Nikki Bella at Survivor Series. Carmella stated that Natalya wishes that she was as glamorous as Nikki Bella. Carmella went on to call Natalya a deceiving con artist. Natalya stormed down the entrance ramp with an enraged look on her face. Natalya attacked Carmella before the referee even called for the bell. Natalya beat Carmella down but Carmella escaped from the ring. Natalya chased Carmella backstage but couldn’t find her. Instead, she stumbled upon Nikki Bella. Natalya pleaded with Nikki to not believe Carmella but Nikki Bella just walked away.
The Ascension vs Hype Bros
Viktor and Konnor took turns beating the hell out Zack Ryder to begin the match. Ryder eventually fought back and hit a Neckbreaker on Konnor. Ryder was able to tag in Rawley and he cleaned house. Ryder was tagged back in and they hit the Hype Ryder for the victory.
Winners: Hype Bros
Miz TV w/ Dean Ambrose
The Miz bragged about his victory over Ziggler at TLC before introducing Dean Ambrose. The Miz and Maryse politely clapped for Ambrose as he walked down to the ring. Ambrose stated that he couldn’t believe that Ellsworth turned his back on him. The Miz basically called Ambrose an idiot for not seeing it coming and stated that he deserved it. The Miz was also upset that Ambrose hit the Dirty Deeds on Ellsworth earlier because he wanted to see Ellsworth versus Ambrose in a match tonight.
The Miz presented Dean Ambrose with the first ever “Miz Participation Award”. It was a framed photo of Miz and Maryse with a blue ribbon on it. The crowd sarcastically chanted “you deserve it!”. Ambrose said he wanted to try and shove the entire participation award down The Miz’s throat. Daniel Bryan interrupted and came down to the entrance ramp. Daniel Bryan announced that the main event will be The Miz versus Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship. The Miz absolutely lost his mind in the ring as the crowd broke out in a “yes!” chant.
Reaction: The Miz remains hilarious and this segment was great. I’ll take this main event over another Styles and Ellsworth match any day. I’m guessing that Ellsworth will cost Dean the match and get his revenge for the Dirty Deeds he suffered at the hands of Ambrose earlier in the night.
Kalisto vs Baron Corbin
The match started off back and forth. Kalisto got in some offense and these two have terrific chemistry together. Kalisto went for a Tornado DDT but Corbin reversed it into an awesome End of Days for the victory. This match was quick but was very good.
Winner: Baron Corbin
Chad Gable vs Tyler Breeze
Fandango and Jason Jordan were ringside. Fandango tried to attack Gable but he got tangled up in a cord outside the ring. Breeze connected with a Belly to Back Suplex on Gable. Outside the ring, Jordan hit Fandango with a Belly to Belly Suplex. Back in the ring, Gable connected with a German Suplex on Breeze for the victory.
Winner: Chad Gable
Alexa Bliss came down to the ring to celebrate her winning the Smackdown Women’s Championship at TLC. Bliss raised the title and a massive pyro went off. The crowd chanted “We want Becky” and she quickly came down to the ring to interrupt the celebration. Becky Lynch called Alexa Bliss selfish and whiny. Alexa stated that Becky can call her whatever she wants, but she now has to call her champion. Becky stated that she wanted her rematch for the title right now. Alexa Bliss then pretended that she was going to fight but instead rolled out of the ring. Alexa Bliss then taunted Becky Lynch and walked backstage.
Intercontinental Championship Match: The Miz (c) vs Dean Ambrose
Ambrose started out the match on the offensive and locked in a Headlock. The Miz broke out of the hold but Dean connected with a Crossbody and several punches to the head of The Miz while he was on the mat. Ambrose knocked Miz out of the ring and went for a Suicide Dive. The Miz dragged Maryse in the way and Dean had no choice but to stop. Ambrose got out of the ring and launched Miz into the barricade. Smackdown went to a commercial break.
When Smackdown returned, The Miz was performing Daniel Bryan’s moves and doing the “yes!” chant. Ambrose battled back and connected with a Running Bulldog on The Miz. The match continued to be back and forth until The Miz connected with a Shinbreaker on Ambrose. Miz went for a second Shinbreaker but Ambrose countered it into a roll-up but Miz kicked out.
The Miz was able to lock in the Figure Four but Ambrose was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold. Miz charged at Ambrose but Dean ducked and Miz went flying out of the ring. Ambrose was able to connect with the Suicide Dive this time. Back in the ring, Miz connected with a DDT and went for a cover but Ambrose kicked out.
Ambrose fought back and landed a Lunatic Lariat. Dean then climbed to the top turnbuckle but The Miz got up and joined him. Miz went for a Superplex but Ambrose knocked him to the mat. Maryse tripped up Ambrose and he went crotch first into the top turnbuckle. James Ellsworth then joined the party and accidentally distracted the referee while Ambrose had The Miz in a roll-up. Ambrose became frustrated and started to yell at Ellsworth. The Miz then hit the Skull Crushing Finale on Ambrose for the victory.
Winner & Still Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Reaction: Tonight’s episode of Smackdown was decent but even a decent episode of Smackdown is much better than Monday Night Raw. The ending to main event was predictable. I knew that Ellsworth would interfere but I thought he would purposefully cost Ambrose the match. The way it played out was that Ellsworth didn’t mean to cost Ambrose the match and was trying to point out the interference by Maryse. I’m guessing that the storyline between Ellsworth and Ambrose will continue for a few more weeks.
205 Live (12/6)
Noam Dar vs Cedric Alexander
Alicia Fox and Alexander were shown backstage. Corey Graves stated that he had sources that informed him that Fox and Alexander are officially dating. The match started off back and forth. It was a bit distracting to see all of the people exiting the arena during the match. Alexander connected with a Dropkick to Dar. The match went back and forth for a couple of minutes before Dar took control.
Alexander eventually fought back and hit a Springboard Crossbody on Dar. Alexander’s momentum was short-lived as Dar locked in an Armbar in the center of the ring. Alexander tried to get out of the hold but Dar prevented it by punching the head of Cedric a few times. Alexander was still able to get out of the hold but Dar connected with a running kick and won the match.
After the match, Noam Dar dedicated the win to Cedric Alexander’s girlfriend Alicia Fox.
Winner: Noam Dar
Reaction: This match was decent but the silent crowd really hurt it. The WWE really needs to find a way to get the crowd invested in the Cruiserweight division. When a crowd doesn’t care, the energy is sucked out of the match and it makes it difficult to enjoy.
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/806337562017005568
Ariya Daivari vs Jack Gallagher
Gallagher had tape on his knees due to the attack by Daivari last night on Raw. Daivari immediately went after Gallagher’s knee. Daivari continued to focus on the knee throughout the match and smashed Gallagher’s knee into the ring post. Gallagher’s knee bandage was ripped off by Daivari and Ariya continued to focus all of his attack on the injured knee. Gallagher fought back and went for a couple of roll-ups but Daivari kicked out. Gallagher then connected with an awesome looking headbutt but once again Daivari kicked out of the pinfall. Daivari connected with a Splash off of the top rope for the victory.
Winner: Ariya Daivari
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/806341042727305216
Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rich Swann (c) vs Brian Kendrick
TJ Perkins joined commentary for this match. Perkins and Austin Aries started to argue right away. Aries accused Perkins of being too concerned with maintaining friendships rather than recapturing the Cruiserweight Championship. Kendrick hit Sliced Break on Swann outside the ring. Back in the ring, Kendrick connected with a Suplex and followed it up by applying the Captain’s Hook. Rich Swann was able to crawl to the bottom rope to break the hold.
The crowd started to chant “Austin Aries!” and Aries mocked Perkins on commentary and rubbed it in his face that he was getting chants while not even competing. Swann launched himself onto Kendrick outside the ring and continued the assualt back in the ring. Swann connected with a Tiger Bomb and went for the cover but Kendrick kicked out. Swann went for another Tiger Bomb but Kendrick reversed it into a Hurricanrana. Kendrick followed it up with a Suplex and went for the Captain’s Hook again.
Swann was able to block the hold and both men got back to their feet. Kendrick once again got the upper hand and this time was able to apply the Captain’s Hook. Swann reached for the bottom rope but Kendrick prevented it and brought Swann back to the middle of the ring. Eventually, Swann was able to get to the bottom rope and the hold was broken. Kendrick and Swann then battled on the ring apron. Kendrick launched Swann into the LED ring post. Swann shoved Kendrick into Perkins ringside. Kendrick and Perkins had a stare down as Swann crawled back in the ring. Kendrick finally got back in the ring and was greeted with a kick to the face by Swann. The kick knocked Kendrick out and Swann won the match.
After the match, Kendrick attacked Perkins by the announce table. Rich Swann joined the fight and attacked Kendrick. Perkins went for a Superkick on Kendrick but he missed and accidentally kicked Swann in the face. Kendrick then launched Perkins into the barricade. 205 Live went off the air with Brian Kendrick blowing kisses to the crowd.
Winner & Still Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/806346307157659648
Reaction: The main event was a solid match. I enjoyed Aries relentlessly mocking Perkins throughout the match. The Cruiserweight Championship match was the only match that generated any sort of reaction from the crowd during the show. In my opinion, 205 Live is a decent show but it would be much better if the WWE could find a way to get the crowd more invested in the Superstars in the Cruiserweight division. Time will tell if they will be able to do that. I believe that a way to jump-start that process would be to give them some more time on Monday Night Raw every week.
What did you think of this week’s episodes of Smackdown and 205 Live? Let us know in the comments below.