
Bray Wyatt kicked off Smackdown. The audience chanted “you deserve it!” as Wyatt stood in the ring. Bray Wyatt said that he can finally say that he has the whole damn world in his hand and raised the WWE Championship above his head. John Cena interrupted and called the crowd brainwashed for chanting “you deserve it!” at Bray Wyatt. Cena said that nothing is deserved in the WWE and you have to earn everything you get. AJ Styles interrupted and said that he was owed a rematch for when he lost the WWE Championship. Styles complained about Cena being given a rematch for the title before him. Daniel Bryan then came out and added AJ Styles to the main event tonight. It will now be Bray Wyatt vs John Cena vs AJ Styles for the WWE Championship.
.@AJStylesOrg is NOT happy about being ignored in the #WWETitle picture…
@WWEBrayWyatt @JohnCena #SDLive pic.twitter.com/lE6PkGvNi9
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Dean Ambrose was shown backstage looking for Baron Corbin. Baron attacked Ambrose after he eliminated him at the Elimination Chamber.
.@TheDeanAmbrose: "WHERE'S @BaronCorbinWWE??!!" #SDLive pic.twitter.com/WRivvjDX21
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
American Alpha vs The Ascension
Viktor and Gable started off the match. Gable controlled the match early and Viktor and Konnor regrouped in the corner. Both Jordan and Gable Clotheslined Konnor and Viktor out of the ring as Smackdown went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Viktor had Gable trapped in a Chinlock. Konnor was then tagged in and he put Gable in another Chinlock. Gable battled to his feet but Konnor clubbed him back down to the mat. Viktor was tagged back in but Gable was able to finally tag Jason Jordan in the match. Jordan connected with several Suplexes to both Viktor and Konnor. Gable was then tagged in and The Ascension recaptured the momentum in the match. Jordan and Gable fought back and hit the Grand Amplitude onto Viktor for the victory.
Winners: American Alpha
GRAND AMPLITUDE!! #AmericanAlpha defeat #TheAscension on #SDLive! @WWEGable @JasonJordanJJ pic.twitter.com/yliet0jVsm
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
The Usos appeared on the screen and stated that they were coming after American Alpha.
"It's not paranoia; it's The @WWEUsos!" @JasonJordanJJ and @WWEGable seem to have NEW competition in the #SDLive Tag Team Division! pic.twitter.com/WeQf4euoLN
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Dean Ambrose ran into James Ellsworth and Carmella backstage while still searching for Baron Corbin. Ambrose gave Ellsworth some advice and told him that Carmella was using him. Ambrose suggested Ellsworth try online dating and Carmella looked disgusted. Daniel Bryan then randomly appeared and Ambrose told him that he wanted to beat the hell out of Baron Corbin. Ambrose then asked Daniel Bryan if it would be alright if he beat the crap out James Ellsworth. Daniel thought about it for a moment and then said that the two did have unresolved issues. Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan then made a match between James Ellsworth and Dean Ambrose.
"Daniel, can I PLEASE BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM? … Right now?" – @TheDeanAmbrose, per @RealEllsworth.
The Match is ON TONIGHT!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/7RpgrieTs0
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
James Ellsworth vs Dean Ambrose
Ellsworth and Carmella were already in the ring. Ambrose’s music hit but he came crawling out from backstage. Baron Corbin followed him and continued to beat him down. Corbin launched Ambrose into the production area with a Deep Six and sparks flew everywhere. The impact was so severe that the technical equipment exploded before Ambrose even hit it.
DEEP SIX into the production gear!! #SDLive @BaronCorbinWWE @TheDeanAmbrose pic.twitter.com/57wSnbe7Hq
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Nikki Bella and Natalya fought backstage. Daniel Bryan flipped out and make a Falls Count Anywhere match next week between Nikki and Natalya.
ENOUGH!! @WWEDanielBryan orders a FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH next week for Nikki @BellaTwins and @NatByNature! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/v6s75xLDjS
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Renee Young interviewed Dolph Ziggler backstage. Ziggler said that he will do what he did to Apollo Crews and Kalisto to anyone that crosses him. Ziggler stated that he will wipe out an entire generation to get his point across. Ziggler claimed that no one steals the show besides him and that nobody will ever steal his place on Smackdown.
Mickie James vs Becky Lynch
The match started out back and forth but Becky got the upper hand and knocked Mickie out of the ring. Becky continued to control the match once Mickie got back into the ring. Becky applied an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring. Mickie got out of it but Becky connected with a kick that sent Mickie outside the ring. Becky followed her and they both hit a Clothesline on each other at the same time as Smackdown went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Becky connected with a kick and hit a Suplex for a two count. Mickie hit a Flapjack and leaped to her feet. Mickie then climbed to the top rope but Becky got out of the way. Becky once again knocked Mickie out of the ring and Mickie pretended to injure her shoulder. Back in the ring, the referee prevented Becky from attacking Mickie as she rolled around in pain. Mickie James used this distraction to hit the Mick Kick for the victory.
Winner: Mickie James
With @BeckyLynchWWE distracted, the "injured" @MickieJames strikes with the #MickKick for the ONE TWO THREE!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/69RgIZpEAb
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Naomi was interviewed by Renee Young in the ring. Renee congratulated Naomi on her victory as the crowd chanted “you deserve it!”. Naomi revealed that she suffered an injury during her match with Alexa Bliss at Elimination Chamber. Naomi said that she will fight through it and bring the Smackdown Women’s Championship to Wrestlemania. Alexa Bliss interrupted and mocked Naomi’s injury. Alexa stated that Naomi lucked out that in her victory on Sunday. Alexa claimed that Naomi is faking the injury in order to avoid a rematch. Naomi called Alexa a flee. Alexa said that she will give Naomi one week to either forfeit the Smackdown Women’s Championship of face her in a rematch. Alexa vowed to take her title back when she faces Naomi again.
.@AlexaBliss_WWE gives @NaomiWWE ONE WEEK to either forfeit the Women's Title due to injury, or face her in her owed rematch! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/muSJF2h69R
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
WWE Championship Match: Bray Wyatt (c) vs John Cena vs AJ Styles
He's no longer under @WWEBrayWyatt's spell!@LukeHarperWWE LEVELS the @WWE Champion before the #TripleThreat Match!
What now?!?! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/up8iRuS5Cd— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Bray Wyatt blew out his lantern and when the lights turned back on, Luke Harper was there. Luke Harper attacked Bray Wyatt before the match and launched Bray into the barricade. Harper then hit a Superkick and walked to the backstage as Smackdown went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Cena and Styles were battling in the ring. Bray Wyatt was still laying outside the ring. Cena went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Wyatt dragged him out of the ring and launched him into the steel steps. Styles then leaped out of the ring and hit Wyatt with a forearm. Styles kicked Wyatt and he laughed.
Back in the ring, Styles attacked Wyatt in the corner. Styles hit another forearm for a two count. Wyatt connected with a shoulder tackle that sent Styles to the mat. Wyatt threw Styles out of the ring. Cena planted Wyatt and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment but Wyatt blocked it. Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Bray and then Cena hit the AA on Styles for a two count. Wyatt hit the Sister Abigail but AJ broke up the pinfall and Smackdown went to another commercial break.
When Smackdown returned, Styles hit a Splash onto Wyatt on the announce table but it didn’t break. The crowd chanted “one more time!” and Styles climbed back on the barricade. Styles hit a Leg Drop this time and Bray Wyatt went crashing through the table. Cena hit an AA onto Styles and went for a second one but Styles reversed it into a Calf Crusher. Cena then reversed that into an STF. Bray Wyatt got back into the ring and hit a Senton. Cena hit Wyatt with an AA but Styles ran in and broke up the pinfall. Styles then hit the Styles Clash on Cena for a two count. Styles then got knocked out of the ring and Bray Wyatt hit the Sister Abigail on Cena for the victory.
After the match, Randy Orton came down to the ring. Orton said that even though he won the Royal Rumble, he refuses to fight Bray Wyatt. Orton referred to Wyatt as the master and to himself as a servant. Wyatt said that Orton now had the keys to the kingdom. Smackdown went off the air with Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton posing in the ring.
Winner & Still WWE Champion: Bray Wyatt
"As long as you are the MASTER and I am THE SERVANT, I REFUSE to face you at @WrestleMania!" – @RandyOrton to @WWEBrayWyatt on #SDLive pic.twitter.com/N2bkQ6I7la
— WWE (@WWE) February 15, 2017
Reaction: Tonight’s episode of Smackdown was very good. While in a losing effort, The Ascension were not embarrassed like they were two days ago at the Elimination Chamber PPV. I like the idea of Baron Corbin going after Dean Ambrose and the Intercontinental Championship. Corbin is definitely a future WWE Champion but he would make a great Intercontinental Champion today. The main event was a great match. I never thought I’d see the day where Bray Wyatt pinned John Cena clean two matches in a row. Bray Wyatt actually overcame the odds in this match as Luke Harper attacked him before it started. Randy Orton is either playing mind games or has become completely brainwashed by Bray Wyatt. I’m curious to see how Luke Harper factors into all of this in the future.
There really isn’t a storyline on Smackdown that I’m not at least mildly interested in. Sure, Natalya and Nikki Bella had a terrible promo last week but I’m still entertained by their feud. I think the weakest part of Smackdown is their Tag Team division. They have plenty of talent on the show but most of the teams are not featured. I’d like to see more teams on Smackdown appear on the show and have actual matches. Teams like Breezango and The Ascension have been either off TV completely or squashed in a two minute match. I enjoyed tonight’s match with The Ascension and American Alpha because at least The Ascension put up a fight. I’d like to see that trend continue in order to build up more teams besides American Alpha and the already established Usos.
What did you think of tonight’s episode of Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.