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WWE Smackdown Recap & Reaction (3/7)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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Shane McMahon kicked off this week’s episode of Smackdown and he was joined by Daniel Bryan in the ring. Shane McMahon stated that they are still unsure of who will face Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania. Daniel Bryan said that Randy Orton should face Bray because he earned that oppurtunity by winning the Royal Rumble. Shane McMahon said that AJ Styles should get that oppurtunity because Randy Orton refused to face Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania three weeks ago during a promo on Smackdown. Shane also said that AJ Styles earned the title shot by defeating Luke Harper last week on Smackdown. Daniel Bryan then asked the WWE Universe what they should do and the crowd gave a mixed reaction to both AJ Styles and Randy Orton. Daniel Bryan announced that there will be a match tonight between Styles and Orton tonight to determine who will face Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania.

AJ Styles confronted Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon backstage. Styles claimed that both Shane and Daniel were against him and claimed that he is going to take out Randy Orton later tonight.

John Cena & Nikki Bella vs James Ellsworth & Carmella

Ellsworth cut a promo before the match and bragged about defeating Styles the first three times he faced him. Ellsworth referred to himself as the “Mack Daddy” of Smackdown. Ellsworth well then introduced his friend that is a girl, Carmella. The Miz and Maryse came down to the ring before the match started and it distracted Nikki Bella. Carmella hit Nikki with a Superkick and Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Carmella had Nikki in a Chinlock and The Miz and Maryse had joined the commentary table. The Miz went on a rant about John Cena as Nikki tagged him in. Ellsworth refused to enter the ring as Cena shouted at him. Carmella got back into the ring and shoved Ellsworth into Cena. Ellsworth went for a Superkick but Cena caught him and slammed him to the mat. Carmella started to shout at Cena and Nikki knocked her to the mat. Cena and Nikki both performed the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena hit the AA, Nikki hit the Rack Attack and then Cena applied the STF to Ellsworth and he tapped out.

After the match, The Miz and Maryse attacked Cena and Nikki Bella. The Miz launched Cena into the steel stairs and Maryse shoved Nikki into the ring post. The Miz and Maryse then got into the ring and The Miz had a microphone. The crowd chanted “you suck!” as The Miz stated that he couldn’t take watching the match anymore. The Miz said that Nikki and Cena’s relationship is a massive lie. The Miz said that Cena is simply jealous of the true love that he has with Maryse. The Miz accused Cena of acknowledging his relationship on WWE programming to help build his brand and bring in the female demographic. The Miz stated that Nikki and John’s fabricated lives spits on every real relationship. Maryse then called Nikki a bitch and dropped the mic. Maryse and The Miz kissed and posed in the ring.

Winners: John Cena & Nikki Bella

Renee Young interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton claimed that nobody is going to stop him from facing Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania. Orton said that he is one RKO away from main-eventing Wrestlemania and stated that Styles should be very afraid of what is going to happen to him tonight during their match.

Curt Hawkins called out Dean Ambrose. Ambrose came to the ring and immediately hit the Dirty Deeds. Ambrose called out Corbin. Instead of coming down to the ring, Corbin appeared on the titantron. Corbin claimed that he doesn’t come down to the ring unless he wants to. Ambrose said that he was going to find him backstage then. Ambrose hit another Dirty Deeds on Hawkins for good measure before heading backstage.

Mojo Rawley was interviewed backstage. Mojo announced that he was entering the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Dolph Ziggler interrupted and told Rawley that he actually had to earn a Wrestlemania moment. Mojo then remarked that Ziggler has never had a Wrestlemania moment. Dolph told Mojo to not hurt himself reaching for that brass ring.

Ambrose was shown looking for Corbin backstage. Corbin popped out and hit Ambrose with a pipe a couple of times. Ambrose said “good talk” and this pissed Corbin off and he kicked him in the ribs a few times. Corbin then trapped Ambrose under a forklift. Security then showed up and broke things up.

Alexa Bliss and Mickie James came down to the ring. Alexa was in the ring to announce who her Wrestlemania opponent was going to be. Bliss stated that her opponent will not be Naomi, Nikki Bella, Carmella or Becky Lynch. Becky interrupted and told Alexa to shut up. Becky got in the ring and stated that she is going to take back her Smackdown Women’s Championship at Wrestlemania. Natalya then joined the party and came down to the ring. Alexa said that there was no way that Natalya was getting a title shot at Wrestlemania. Alexa said that Natalya was “the worst there is, the worst there was and the worst there ever will be”. Mickie James then grabbed a microphone and told everyone to shut up.

Mickie thought that she was going to get the title shot and Alexa denied that. Natalya then called Mickie James stupid and ugly. Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan then came down to the entrance ramp. Daniel Bryan then announced that Alexa Bliss will defend her Smackdown Women’s Championship at Wrestlemania against every woman on the Smackdown roster. Daniel Bryan said that he picked up some tips from Teddy Long and made a tag team match.

Mickie James & Alexa Bliss vs Natalya & Becky Lynch

Natalya and Alexa started the match off. Natalya got the upper hand and then aggressively tagged in Becky. Mickie James then entered the match and locked up with Becky. Lynch hit a couple of Arm Drags and then connected with a Dropkick to Mickie’s face. Alexa was then tagged in and she knocked Becky to the mat. Bliss then stood on Becky’s back and stomped on her. Becky fought back and connected with a couple of punches to Alexa’s ribs. Alexa shrugged it off and leveled Becky with a Clothesline. Becky got back up and knocked Alexa to the mat. Becky then hit a Leg Drop for a two count. Alexa rolled out of the ring and shouted “I’m the champ and I don’t need this”. Becky got onto the ring apron and hit a flying forearm on Alexa outside the ring. Back in the ring, Becky hit Mickie with a forearm and knocked her off the ring apron. Mickie then tripped up Becky and she fell to the mat. Smackdown went to a commercial break with Bliss and Mickie James in control of the match.

When Smackdown returned, Mickie and Alexa were still in control of the match. They isolated Becky in the corner and took turns beating her down. Mickie applied a Chinlock in the middle of the ring but Becky fought out of it. Mickie once again brought Becky to the corner and tagged in Alexa. Becky connected with a kick to the side of Alexa’s head and both Superstars fell to the mat. Alexa tagged in Mickie and Becky leveled her with two Clotheslines and a kick. Natalya became pissed off that Becky wasn’t tagging her in. Natalya planted Becky with a German Suplex and exited the ring. Alexa then pinned Becky for the victory. Mickie James was about to pin Becky but Alexa tagged herself in. Mickie then hit Alexa with a Mick Kick and raised the Smackdown Women’s Championship in the ring as the crowd cheered.

Winners: Mickie James & Alexa Bliss

Randy Orton vs AJ Styles

AJ Styles cut a promo before the match. Styles said that the ratings were higher when he was WWE Champion. Styles stated that he took a “B” show and made it into an “A” show. AJ said that he is constantly being disrespected by Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. Styles thought it was ridiculous that Randy Orton burned down a man’s house and was rewarded. Styles said that he going to win the match and main-event Wrestlemania.

The match started with Orton going for an RKO right away. Styles blocked it and rolled out of the ring. Orton pointed at the Wrestlemania sign hanging above the ring. Styles got back in the ring and locked up with Orton. Styles applied a Chinlock and wrestled Orton down to the mat. Orton powered to his feet and hit a Belly to Back Suplex. Styles did not let go of the Chinlock but Orton once again got to his feet and launched Styles into the ropes. AJ bounced off the ropes and was greeted with a shoulder tackle by Orton.

Orton Styles once again locked up but AJ kicked Orton in the ribs. Styles then beatdown Orton in the corner and went to launch Orton into the opposite turnbuckle but Randy reversed it and Styles crashed into the turnbuckle. Orton then hung AJ up on the ropes and went for a pin but Styles kicked out at one. Orton continued the assault by hitting an uppercut and then shoving his foot in Styles’ face while he was resting against the bottom turnbuckle. Styles got back to his feet and hit Orton with a couple of right hands.

Orton launched Styles across the ring and Styles rolled to the floor. Orton followed Styles out of the ring and slammed AJ’s back into the barricade. Orton rolled Styles back in the ring, but AJ hit a chop block to Orton’s knee while Orton tried to get back in the ring. Smackdown went to a commercial break with Orton clutching his knee outside the ring.

Smackdown returned from a commercial break and Styles was in control of the match. Styles focused his attack on the injured left knee of Orton. Styles knocked Orton to the mat and once again applied a Chinlock. Orton fought out of it and connected with a couple of Clotheslines. Orton then planted Styles with a Powerslam and followed it up with a Full Nelson Slam for a two count. Orton then perched Styles on the top turnbuckle and punched him in the face a couple of times. Orton joined Styles on the top turnbuckle but Styles slipped away and tripped up Orton. Orton slammed face-first into the top turnbuckle and set up for the Styles Clash. Orton blocked it and threw Styles to the ring apron. Styles blocked the DDT and applied the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring.

Orton screamed in agony as he reached for the bottom rope. Orton powered through and reached the rope to break the hold. Styles charged at Orton in the corner but Orton got out of the way. Orton then planted Styles with a DDT as Styles was caught up between the ropes. Orton then geared up for the RKO but Styles blocked it and hit the Pele Kick. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but saw that Orton was going to go for the RKO. Styles stopped himself and knocked Orton to the mat. Styles then went for a springboard 450 Splash but Orton got out of the way. Orton then hit the RKO for the victory. Orton will now face Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemana for the WWE Championship.

Winner: Randy Orton

Reaction: Tonight’s episode of Smackdown was very good. The Miz continues to be an amazing heel and his promo after the Cena and Nikki Bella match was great. There were only three matches on this show but all of them were given a substantial amount of time. The Ellsworth & Carmella versus Cena & Nikki Bella match was clearly the weakest out of the three. That was hardly a match and it’s sole purpose was to set up the mixed-tag match at Wrestlemania. I also like the feud between Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin. This will clearly lead to a match between the two for the Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania. I’m hoping that a stipulation is added to that match, as long as it is not another Ambrose Asylum match. This feud feels more intense so hopefully it doesn’t get goofy and we see the resurrection of Mitch the potted plant.

The women’s segment was also very good. Raw may have Sasha Banks, Bayley and Charlotte but I find the storylines on Smackdown to be more compelling. I enjoyed the women’s tag match a lot and Mickie James turning on Alexa was great. Daniel Bryan said that “every available woman on the Smackdown roster” will be competing for Bliss’s title at Wrestlemania. It will be interesting to see what this match turns into in the few episodes of Smackdown remaining before Wrestlemania. The match between Randy Orton and Styles was also very good. Everyone knew that Randy Orton was going to win but it was still a solid twenty minute match. Bray Wyatt did not appear on tonight’s Smackdown, so we will have to wait another week to see how Wyatt responds to Orton burning down the house that contained the spirit of Sister Abigail. My only real complain about tonight’s episode is that the Smackdown Tag Team Division wasn’t featured on the show at all. For the most part, Monday Night Raw features every storyline they have every week. The Usos threatened American Alpha last week and neither team was a part of tonight’s show.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.

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