This week’s episode of Smackdown kicked off with the legendary James Ellsworth walking down to the ring with a disgruntled look on his face. Ellsworth thanked Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan for the oppurtunity to come down to the ring and say goodbye to the WWE Universe. Ellsworth claimed that he has been unable to sleep due to his actions last week. Ellsworth asked Ambrose to come down to the ring so he could apologize. Ambrose came down to the ring and stated that he had a lot of time to think about ripping Ellsworth head off. However, Ambrose stated that he couldn’t stay mad at Ellsworth and that he didn’t need to apologize. Ellsworth went on to apologize anyway. Ambrose told Ellsworth to never get in his way again. Ellsworth once again apologized and AJ Styles interrupted and came down to the ring.
Styles thought it was ridiculous that Ellsworth was apologizing to Ambrose. The crowd started with a loud “AJ Styles” chant and Styles told the crowd to shut up. Styles claimed that Ambrose didn’t respect Ellsworth and has been using him for the past couple of weeks. Styles stated that Ellsworth owes him everything and that it was because of him that Ellsworth has his own shirt. Styles then stated that Ellsworth owed him his entire career. Ambrose got in AJ’s face and said that he liked Ellsworth because he does things the right way. Styles then shoved Ellsworth into Ambrose and tossed Ellsworth out of the ring. Styles then hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Ambrose to end the segment.
"You OWE me your ENTIRE CAREER!" – @AJStylesOrg to @realellsworth #SDLive pic.twitter.com/3nrehPCFxw
— WWE (@WWE) November 2, 2016
Daniel Bryan interrupted Ellsworth and Ambrose talking backstage. Ellsworth was practically in tears apologizing to Ambrose. Daniel Bryan made a match for tonight between Styles and Ambrose. If Ambrose wins he becomes the #1 contender to the title. Daniel Bryan then told Ellsworth to stay backstage no matter what. Ellsworth agreed to stay backstage and not get involved in the match.
No Disqualification Match: Kane vs Randy Orton
Randy Orton started off the match in control and smashed Kane’s head into the ring post. Kane responded by hitting Orton with a steel chair a couple of times. Kane brought the chair into the ring but Orton caught him and punched him in the corner. Kane powered out of the corner and hit a Sidewalk Slam on Orton. Kane was setting up for the Chokeslam but the lights went out. When they came back on Bray Wyatt and Harper were ringside. They dragged Kane out of the ring but he fought them off. Kane went back into the ring and once again went for the Chokeslam. Wyatt and Harper broke it up and Orton hit an RKO for the victory.
After the match, Harper Clotheslined Kane. Orton then shoved Kane towards Bray Wyatt and he hit the Sister Abigail on Kane. Wyatt, Orton and Harper then posed in the ring as Wyatt shouted “follow the buzzards!”.
Winner: Randy Orton
.@RandyOrton feeds @KaneWWE right into #SisterAbigail!!
@WWEBrayWyatt #SDLive pic.twitter.com/npgl3ruxjp— WWE (@WWE) November 2, 2016
A Baron Corbin vignette was shown. The vignette ended with Corbin driving in a motorcycle claiming that he didn’t give a damn about anything but himself.
Becky Lynch & Nikki Bella vs Alexa Bliss & Carmella
The match started out with Carmella avoiding Nikki Bella. Alexa tagged herself in and slammed Nikki to the mat. Things immediately broke down and Becky and Nikki sent Carmella and Alexa out of the ring. Smackdown went to a commercial break.
When Smackdown returned, Becky Lynch was dominating Carmella. Lynch connected with a Suplex but Alexa broke up the pinfall. Becky Lynch had Alexa pinned but Carmella distracted the referee. Becky knocked Carmella off of the apron but Alexa capitalized. Alexa raked Becky’s eyes and connected with a DDT for the victory.
After the match, Alexa and Carmella grabbed the microphone. Carmella poked fun at Bayley and Charlotte. Carmella went on to state that none of the women on Raw can hang with the Smackdown Live team. Alexa then stated that she is going to end Becky’s fairytale and that she will win the Smackdown Women’s Championship next week.
Winners: Alexa Bliss & Carmella
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon named Naomi as the fifth member of the Smackdown women’s team for Survivor Series. Natalya interrupted and asked to be the coach of the women’s team. Shane and Daniel agreed and made Natalya the coach.
Survivor Series Qualifying Match: American Alpha vs Spirit Squad
This was a very quick match and American Alpha picked up the victory via the Grand Amplitude. American Alpha now join the Hype Bros and Rhyno & Slater on the Smackdown team for Survivor Series.
Winners: American Alpha
Reaction: The first hour of Smackdown was good. The Ellsworth segment at the beginning of the show was very entertaining. Even though Daniel Bryan banned him from ringside for the match, I have a bad feeling he is going to wind up costing Ambrose again. I don’t understand why the Spirit Squad is still on Smackdown every week but it is what it is. I thought Alexa Bliss and Carmella cut a very good promo after the match. They are both effective in making the audience loath them. Alexa Bliss got the pinfall victory over Becky Lynch tonight and she continues to build momentum towards her title match next week on Smackdown.
Miz TV Featuring Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan announced that Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Baron Corbin, Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles will be on the Smackdown team for Survivor Series. The Miz was aggravated that he was not a part of the team. The Miz claimed that Daniel Bryan was petty for not making him a part of the team. Daniel Bryan stated that the Smackdown team needed Superstars that were not afraid to fight. Bryan claimed that the Miz was afraid to fight Ziggler last week for the IC title. The Miz told Bryan to go back to what he does best, moping around John Cena’s house on Total Bellas. Daniel Bryan flipped out on the Miz and told him to do what he does best and sit on commentary. Daniel Bryan then announced that Dolph Ziggler will be defending his Intercontinental Championship right now in an open challenge.
Drumroll, please… The #SDLive Men's #SurvivorSeries Team is @TheDeanAmbrose, @RandyOrton, @WWEBrayWyatt, @BaronCorbinWWE and @AJStylesOrg! pic.twitter.com/QxF87i7evw
— WWE (@WWE) November 2, 2016
Intercontinental Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs Curt Hawkins
Curt Hawkins came down to the ring and cut a goofy promo. Ziggler immediately hit a Superkick on Hawkins and won the match. After the match, Ziggler made an open challenge to anyone on Monday Night Raw to try and take his IC title at Survivor Series.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Dean Ambrose was interviewed backstage. The interviewer accidentally referred to James Ellsworth as “James Ellis”. Ellsworth showed up and asked Ambrose if there was anyway he could be ringside for Ambrose’s match against Styles. Ambrose emphatically told him no and Ellsworth looked disappointed.
JAMES: "Is there ANY WAY I can come to ringside tonight???"
DEAN: "… … .. NO!!" #SDLive pic.twitter.com/IP0og8ekod— WWE (@WWE) November 2, 2016
Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Orton were shown backstage. Orton referred to Bray Wyatt as a god and Orton’s eyes turned orange.
Survivor Series Qualifying Match: The Headbangers vs The Usos
The Usos attacked the Headbangers before the match. Jimmy Uso got the win by rolling up one of the Headbangers and holding onto his kilt for leverage.
Winners: The Usos
Dean Ambrose led James Ellsworth out of the arena and stated that any man with two hands can use a cell phone to call Uber and get the hell out of here.
AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose (If Ambrose Wins, He Is #1 Contender)
The match started off with Ambrose in control. Ambrose launched Styles over the announce table. The action spilled back into the ring and Ambrose locked in the Cloverleaf on Styles. AJ got to the ropes to break the hold. Ambrose connected with a Butterfly Superplex off the top rope but Styles kicked out at two.
Styles applied the Calf Crusher but Ambrose was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold. The match spilled outside the ring and Ambrose knocked Styles over the barricade. Ambrose rolled Styles into the ring and attempted a pinfall but AJ kicked out at one. Ambrose jumped off the top rope and missed Styles. Smackdown went to a commercial break with Ambrose holding his knee after the miss.
When Smackdown returned, Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm but Ambrose blocked it and sent Ambrose flying out of the ring. Ambrose launched himself from the top rope and connected with an elbow on Styles outside the ring. Ambrose rolled Styles back in the ring and went for the Dirty Deeds but Styles blocked it. Ambrose then leveled Styles with a Clothesline.
Styles connected with a Suplex that sent Ambrose into the turnbuckles. Both men were back to their feet and they both hit a Clothesline. Ellsworth then emerged from the crowd and showed up ringside to cheer Ambrose on. Security then came out from the back and Ellsworth sprinted away through the crowd. Back in the ring, Ambrose went for the Dirty Deeds but Styles reversed it into the Calf Crusher. Ambrose powered through and reached the bottom rope. Ellsworth once again ran down to the ring and security finally caught him. Styles then shoved Ellsworth over the announce table. Styles got back into the ring and Ambrose capatilized on the distraction and hit the Dirty Deeds on Styles for the victory. After the match, Ellsworth was dragged backstage with a smile on his face.
Winner & #1 Contender: Dean Ambrose
ELLSWORTH has AVENGED YOU @TheDeanAmbrose!! #SDLive @RealEllsworth pic.twitter.com/6tettXvUZV
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 2, 2016
Reaction: I’ve stated on here that I was getting tired of the James Ellsworth thing but I’ve changed my mind. I couldn’t help but crack up when he was being chased by security but somehow made his way down to the ring again. I also found it hilarious that he had that ridiculous grin on his face as he was being taken away by security. Aside from Ellsworth, Ambrose and Styles put on a very good wrestling match. I guess it is not such a bad thing that Ambrose is once again the #1 contender if they keep on putting matches like this. The only thing I will say is that I’d like to see someone else enter the title picture after their match at TLC on December 4th.
Overall, this week’s episode of Smackdown was pretty good. There was more filler than usual. I find it beyond ridiculous that the Usos would have to defeat the Headbangers of all teams to qualify for the Survivor Series team for Smackdown. The same could be said about American Alpha needing to defeat the Spirit Squad. I don’t really understand the point of those two matches other than to kill ten minutes on the show. I really enjoyed the Miz TV segment as well. The chemistry between The Miz and Daniel Bryan is incredible. I genuinely believe that they hate each other, even if that may not be completely true in real life. Having said that, the momentum of that segment was instantly halted by the Curt Hawkins match with Ziggler for the IC title. Ziggler issued an open challenge for the belt and Curt Hawkins was the last person I wanted to see come out from backstage. Smackdown was up and down this week but ultimately was still entertaining. It is consistently better than Monday Night Raw and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
What did you think of this week’s episode of Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.