Smackdown (1/17)
Shane McMahon kicked off this week’s episode of Smackdown. The crowd greeted him with a “Shane-o-Mac!” chant. Shane listed off a bunch of Superstars that will be participating in the Royal Rumble match in a couple of weeks. Shane McMahon also announced that the WWE Championship will be defended in the Elimination Chamber next month.
AJ Styles interrupted and complained that he would have to defend his title in the Elimination Chamber. Shane McMahon said that he might not even be WWE Champion after the Royal Rumble and that Cena may be the one defending it. Styles said that Shane should consult the WWE Champion before making decisions like this. Shane said everything about Styles is phenomenal besides his attitude. AJ threatened to go back to Japan and never come back.
Cena then came down to the ring. Before Cena even said a word, Styles told him to shut up. AJ once again claimed that Cena’s brother-in-law, Daniel Bryan, has gifted him a title shot at the Royal Rumble. Styles asked who was the next guy to come out and try to steal his spotlight.
The Miz and Maryse then interrupted and walked to the ring. Miz claimed that he was going to take his IC title back from Dean Ambrose and that he was going to win either the Royal Rumble match or win at the Elimination Chamber. The Miz said that once he does that he will be back where belongs, in the main event of Wrestlemania. The Miz then bragged about beating John Cena at Wrestlemania and making the Intercontinental Championship important again. Cena provoked Styles and The Miz to start trading insults. Shane McMahon then made a match between AJ Styles and The Miz.
Backstage, Dean Ambrose asked for a match against Randy Orton tonight and Shane McMahon made the match.
The Miz vs AJ Styles
John Cena joined commentary for the match. Styles controlled the match for the first few minutes. Styles taunted Cena while beating down The Miz. Styles got the Calf Crusher locked in for a brief moment but The Miz reached the bottom rope. Styles connected with a forearm while The Miz was on the mat. Styles was setting up for the Phenomenal Forearm but Maryse got up on the ring apron and distracted him. The Miz then connected with a kick to Styles that sent him falling to the floor outside the ring as Smackdown went to a commercial break.
When Smackdown returned, The Miz connected with a couple of Dropkicks in the corner and did the “yes!” chant. Miz then climbed to the top turnbuckle but Styles caught him on the way down and went for the Styles Clash but Miz blocked it. Miz then thumbed Styles in the eye and hit a DDT for a two count. Styles hit the Pele Kick on Miz while he was on the apron. Styles hit The Miz with a knee to the face near the announce table.
Styles tried to throw The Miz into Cena but Cena saw it coming and caught The Miz. Cena launched Miz into the barricade and chased after Styles. The Miz attacked Cena from behind but got an Attitude Adjustment for his troubles. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Cena got out of the way and planted Styles with an Attitude Adjustment. Cena then raised the WWE Championship in the air to close out the segment.
Nikki Bella came down to the ring and called out Natalya. Nikki waited about two seconds and then said she wasn’t surprised that Natalya didn’t come out. Nikki claimed that Natalya was the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be at stabbing people in the back. Natalya showed up in the crowd and told Nikki to watch the jumbotron. Natalya then sprinted away and the camera followed her. Natalya went to merchandise stand and complained that she didn’t have a shirt at the stand but Bret Hart does.
Natalya said that Bret Hart and Nikki had a lot in common, including the fact that they will both die alone. Natalya started throwing away Nikki’s merch when Nikki showed up and tackled her through a table. Officials tried to separate them but the brawl continued. Eventually, the two were separated but it took about 15 officials to get the situation under control.
Reaction: The first hour of Smackdown was entertaining. Natalya is infinitely better as a heel and I’m enjoying her feud with Nikki Bella. I can’t really get excited for the Elimination Chamber when the Royal Rumble is a couple weeks away.
Randy Orton vs Dean Ambrose
Harper and Bray Wyatt were ringside for the match. Ambrose controlled the match early. Orton got frustrated and rolled out of the ring to regroup. Back in the ring, Orton hit a shoulder tackle and posed for the crowd. Orton hung Ambrose up on the top rope and Bray Wyatt laughed ringside. Randy continued to assault and stomped on the leg of Ambrose a couple times. The match spilled outside the ring and Ambrose leveled Orton with a Clothesline. Orton laid Ambrose out on the announce table and Smackdown went to a commercial break.
When Smackdown returned, Ambrose connected with a Clothesline in the ring. Ambrose then connected with a Neckbreaker for a two count. Orton responded by planting Ambrose with a Powerslam. Ambrose connected with the Lunatic Lariat and went for a cover but Orton powered out at two. Ambrose sent Orton outside the ring and hit a Suicide Dive onto Luke Harper outside the ring. Ambrose went to get back into the ring but Orton caught on the second rope and hit a DDT. Orton was setting up for the RKO but Harper got into the ring to get revenge on Ambrose for the Suicide Dive. Orton and Wyatt shouted at Harper to get out of the ring. During the confusion, Ambrose rolled up Orton for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Harper and Orton started trading punches. Bray tried to break it up and punched Harper in the face. Randy Orton cracked a smile and Harper shouted that Orton was responsible for all of this. Harper then left Orton and Wyatt in the ring.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Reaction: This match started off incredibly slow. It picked up steam towards the end and it appears that the Wyatt Family is on the verge of completely breaking up. It was revealed by Bray Wyatt later in the show that Randy Orton will face Luke Harper next week on Smackdown to settle their differences. Wyatt also announced that all three members of the Wyatt Family will be in the Royal Rumble match.
King’s Court
Jerry Lawler interviewed Dolph Ziggler. Lawler welcomed Dolph to the King’s Court and Ziggler didn’t respond. Lawler asked a couple more questions but once again Ziggler didn’t respond. King then rolled footage of Ziggler attacking Kalisto and Apollo Crews. Finally, Ziggler spoke and said that he brought some footage of his own. It was Ziggler dropping elbow drops on Lawler minutes before he had a heart attack. Ziggler said that if Lawler doesn’t stop asking questions, he will finish what he started four years ago. Lawler asked Ziggler how it felt that no matter how many times he changes his attitude, he will always be a loser. Ziggler then hit a Superkick to Lawler’s chest and walked away. JBL ran into the ring to help Lawler but Jerry got up and shouted at Ziggler to get back into the ring. Ziggler smirked and walked away. JBL took a tumble before making his way to Jerry Lawler.
Reaction: I thought this promo was going to be terrible in the beginning. It dragged on way too long but it got good when Ziggler started talking. My favorite part of this entire segment was JBL tripping over himself trying to get into the ring.
Smackdown Women’s Championship Steel Cage Match: Alexa Bliss (c) vs Becky Lynch
The match started out back and forth. Bliss stomped on Becky in the corner and tried to climb up the cage. Becky pulled her down and went for a roll up but Alexa kicked out. Alexa and Becky battled half way up the cage. Becky dragged Alexa down and smashed her head off the top turnbuckle as Smackdown went a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, there was only a couple of minutes left in the show.
Becky tried to escape through the cage door but Alexa stopped her. Becky hit a Suplex on Bliss off the second turnbuckle for a two count. La Luchadora then showed up and prevented Becky from exiting the cage through the door. Becky locked in the Dis-Arm-Her and La Luchadora kicked Becky in the face. Bliss then hit a DDT for the victory. Bliss then told the referee to get out of the cage. Lynch and La Luchadora then beatdown Becky some more in the ring. Becky ripped off La Luchadora’s mask and it was revealed to be Mickie James. Mickie kicked Becky in the face and raised Alexa’s arm with the title.
Winner & Still Smackdown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
Reaction: There were rumors all day that Mickie James would be showing up tonight so it was no surprise that she wound up being La Luchadora. It was cool to see Mickie James back in the WWE but this match wasn’t that good. I’m ready for a new feud for both Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch. I’m hoping that Mickie James will feud with Becky and that someone else will challenge Bliss for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Overall, this was an alright episode of Smackdown. It had it’s moments but was one of the weaker episodes I’ve seen since the brand split.
205 Live (1/17)
Cedric Alexander vs Drew Gulak
Alicia Fox stormed down to the ring before the match and starting shouting at Cedric. Noam Dar came down to the ring as well. Dar and Gulak wound up beating down Alexander before the match. The match wound up starting with Alexander favoring his knee. Gulak targeted the knee for the next few minutes. Cedric fought back and connected with a Hurricanrana. He followed it up by launching Gulak out of the ring. Back in the ring, Alexander hit a Clothesline and a couple of chops. Alexander hit a Moonsault and went for the Lumbar Check but his leg gave out. Gulak hit a Belly to Back Suplex for the victory. Alicia Fox once again slapped Noam Dar backstage after the match.
Winner: Drew Gulak
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/821557539787546624
Mustafa Ali vs Tony Nese
Ali hit a Hurricanrana and a gigantic kick to the face of Nese. Ali was grounded by Nese for the next few minutes but eventually got back on his feet. Nese went for a Moonsault off the second turnbuckle but Ali rolled out of the ring and Nese slammed into the mat. Ali connected with a roundhouse kick and followed it up with a Neckbreaker. Ali then hit a Tornado DDT for a two count. Nese connected with a German Suplex into the corner and Ali hit his head off the second turnbuckle. Nese then hit a knee to the head of Ali for the pinfall victory.
Winner: Tony Nese
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/821561201561718784
I Forfeit Match: Jack Gallagher vs Ariya Daivari
Gallagher went to use William (his umbrella) early but Daivari stopped it. Daivari then snapped William in half and launched it up the entrance ramp. Daivari beatdown Gallagher for a couple minutes and hit a Neckbreaker on Gallagher outside the ring. Daivari grabbed the microphone and shouted that Gallagher needed to quit like all these losers in the arena. Gallagher refused to quit and Daivari threw him into the barricade.
Daivari hit a Body Slam on Gallagher outside the ring and once again asked Gallagher to quit. Again, Gallagher refused to forfeit. Daivari bounced Gallagher’s head off of the announce table and then threw him back in the ring. Daivari tied his turban around the wrist of Gallagher and beat him down. Ariya then tied Gallagher’s hands behind his back and asked Gallagher to forfeit. Gallagher instead called Daivari a scoundrel and headbutted him in the check. Gallagher then untied himself and grabbed another umbrella from under the ring.
Daivari and Gallagher battled on the entrance ramp. Ariya connected with a Clothesline on Gallagher but Gallagher catapulted Daivari into the screen at the top of the ramp. Gallagher then hit Daivari with the umbrella three times and the two returned to the ring. Daivari immediately tossed Gallagher out of the ring. Gallagher then launched Daivari over the announce table. Gallagher cleared off the table but Daivari swept the legs out from Gallagher and he fell onto the table. Gallagher battled back and hit a Dropkick on Daivari against the barricade and threw Daivari back in the ring.
Gallagher then grabbed a third umbrella from the timekeeper area. Gallagher asked Daivari to forfeit or he will thrash him within an inch of his life with the umbrella. Daivari hit Gallagher in the throat with the microphone and applied the Cobra Clutch. Gallagher hit Daivari with the umbrella to break the hold. Gallagher then applied the Crossface with the umbrella and Daivari forfeited.
Winner: Jack Gallagher
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/821566545469968384
Reaction: The “I Forfeit” match was interesting to say the least. Gallagher won the match and the stipulation was that the feud with Daivari is now over as well. The Alicia Fox, Cedric Alexander, Noam Dar storyline gets more ridiculous by the week. In my opinion, both Smackdown and 205 Live were mediocre this week. I’m sure things will pick up next week as the WWE tries to get people invested in the Royal Rumble.
What did you think of this week’s episodes of Smackdown and 205 Live? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
