WWE Smackdown results

Tonight's WWE SmackDown opens with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan watching last week's battle royal finish. AJ Styles walks up and says if you get a better angle, he clearly won. Bryan says the match with Luke Harper is still on for tonight. AJ can't believe it. He starts ripping on Harper's hygiene when Harper is standing behind him. AJ turns around and sees this but walks away. Harper thanks Shane and Bryan before walking off. We go to the SmackDown opening video.

- We're live from St. Paul, Minnesota with Mauro Ranallo, JBL, Tom Phillips and David Otunga.

- We go right to the ring and out comes The Miz and Maryse.

Miz welcomes us to MizTV and gets right down to business by introducing his guest. Out comes John Cena.

Cena hits the ring and Miz calls for his mic to be cut. He doesn't want Cena speaking unless allowed. Miz says this is a special edition of MizTV. He has 10 years of frustration to get off his chest as Cena has cost him countless opportunities. Miz goes on and brings up WrestleMania 33 being right around the corner. Miz says there was a time when he headlined WrestleMania and beat Cena but what did Cena do two weeks later? He found a way to manipulate the most important part of anyone's career, turning it into nothing. Miz accuses Cena of being jealous of him. Miz says he's not the only one seeing through it anymore, people are starting to see how Cena is a hypocrite. Miz mentions how Cena railed The Rock for doing Hollywood stuff but now he's doing the same thing. A "you sold out" chant starts up now.

Miz goes on and says Cena isn't Super Cena any more, he's barely Decent Cena. We get dueling chants for Cena now. Miz goes on and mentions how Cena even stole the spotlight from Ric Flair. Miz allows Cena to speak now. Cena says Miz finally gets the chance to go toe to toe with him but that's the best he has. Cena says if he was really pulling the strings at WWE, he wouldn't be standing in a ring with Miz this close to WrestleMania, he'd be standing in the ring with The Undertaker. Fans pop. Cena goes on and rips Miz, saying he tried to bootleg The Rock's electricity trying to get in WWE, he stole Chris Jericho's personality when he got to WWE, he stole Flair's Figure Four, Daniel Bryan's offense & personality. Cena says Miz has been reduced to stealing what AJ Styles has been saying for months. Cena says Miz has no idea who he is, he's a dude dressed up as a dude, playing another dude.

Cena goes on and fans start chanting his name. Cena tells Miz not to bring a knife to a gunfight the next time they talk because Miz isn't The Undertaker but if he presses Cena again, he will be a dead man. Cena goes to leave but Maryse stops him. Maryse says Cena doesn't leave until they say he can leave. Maryse says Cena wishes he could be half the man her husband is but he's not. She says Cena's problem is his ego. She calls him a control, ego-maniac freak. Maryse jokes on "the bigger the ego, the smaller the package" and goes on to slap Cena. Cena laughs and says Maryse just made the biggest mistake of her life. Nikki Bella's music hits and out she comes to the ring. Maryse and Miz retreat through the crowd. Nikki takes the mic and threatens to break Maryse, calling her a b---h.

- Still to come, Harper cs. Styles and Mickie vs. Becky in a 2 of 3 Falls match. Also, WWE Champion Bray Wyatt's invocation. We go to commercial.



2 of 3 Falls Match: Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James

Back from the break and out first comes Becky Lynch. Mickie James is out next. They lock up and trade holds to start. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and they're going at it. Becky with lariats and a dropkick. Becky with a forearm in the corner. They tangle and Mickie hits the big DDT for the first pin. We go to commercial.

Mickie is still in control after the commercial. Mickie with two pin attempts in a row. Becky makes a comeback but Mickie drops her with a flapjack. Mickie goes to the top but has to roll through. Becky turns it around and gets a pin.

SmackDown Women's Champion Alexa Bliss makes her way down to the ring and distracts the referee. He doesn't see Becky getting a pin on Mickie. Becky comes over but Mickie tries to get a cheap pin. This leads to Becky getting the win with the Disarm Her.

Winner: Becky Lynch

- After the match, we go to replays. We come back to Becky taunting Mickie.

- We go backstage to Luke Harper. Wyatt sends a message to Bray Wyatt and says he can see what true evil is now. Harper says now Wyatt will be afraid of him. The Wyatt Family graphic flashes and we cut to the WWE Champion. Wyatt says the whole world wants to hear what he has to say tonight. Wyatt says his blood brother will be there with him, Randy Orton. We go to commercial.



- Back from the break and Dasha Fuentes is backstage with Alexa Bliss to ask about interfering in the last match. Bliss ends up dissing Dasha before Natalya walks up. The segment ends with Natalya threatening to take the title.

- Renee Young is backstage with AJ Styles. He says the match with Harper is bogus because Harper's feet clearly hit first last week. Styles says he will beat Harper and go on to where he belongs, the main event of WrestleMania.



#1 Contenders Match: Luke Harper vs. AJ Styles

We go to the ring and out first comes Luke Harper. AJ Styles is out next. The winner will go on to face WWE Champion Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 33.

Back from the break and Phillips hypes the Chair Match for later tonight. The bell rings and Harper stares AJ down. They lock up and Harper sends AJ to the mat. Harper catches a kick and takes AJ to the top. Harper dares AJ to do something. AJ comes down from the top and they go to lock up but AJ goes behind. They run the ropes and Harper nails a dropkick. AJ goes to the floor for a breather. Harper chases AJ back in the ring but stays one step ahead and pulls AJ back out, sending him into the barrier. Harper slams AJ into the steel ring steps. Harper slams AJ into the announce table and rolls him back in.

AJ rolls right back out and kicks Harper as he follows. AJ with a pele from the floor to Harper on the apron. AJ with kicks to the back in the ring now. They trade shots as fans do dueling chants. Harper drops AJ with a big forearm. Harper comes over the top with a senton. Harper with a boot for a 2 count. Harper slingshots AJ under the middle rope. AJ goes back to the floor to regroup as Harper poses in the ring. Harper runs the ropes and nails a big dive, sending AJ over to the side of JBL. Harper brings AJ back into the ring and goes for a powerbomb but AJ turns it into a hurricanrana. AJ fights back but Harper blocks and drops AJ on his neck for a close 2 count. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and Harper hits the sitdown powerbomb for a 2 count. More back and forth action. AJ ends up hitting the Phenomenal Forearm for the pin but Harper's foot was clearly on the bottom rope. AJ celebrates and has his arm raised until the music hits and out comes Shane McMahon. Shane re-starts the match. Shane ends up getting inadvertently superkicked by Harper while arguing with AJ at ringside. Styles ends up getting the win within a few minutes.

Winner and New #1 Contender: AJ Styles

- After the match, we get replays while Shane is still down on the floor. AJ celebrates and makes his exit after having words with Shane.



- We go backstage to Nikki and Cena with Renee Young. Carmella and James Ellsworth quickly interrupt laughing at them. Ellsworth tries to stand up for Carmella. He says everything about Nikki is fake. Cena proposes a tag match for next week. Ellsworth is left speechless as Cena and Nikki walk off.

- Dean Ambrose is backstage walking. We go to commercial.



Dean Ambrose vs. Curt Hawkins

Back from the break and Curt Hawkins waits in the ring as WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose makes his way out for this non-title match.

Ambrose hits the ring and drops Hawkins with Dirty Deeds before the bell can ring. Ambrose takes the mic and cuts a promo on Baron Corbin. Ambrose warns Corbin that messing with him is a very bad idea. Ambrose calls Corbin to the ring for a fight. Corbin appears on the big screen and says he just doesn't come when Ambrose calls his name. Ambrose cracks jokes. Corbin says Ambrose cost him the WWE Title at Elimination Chamber. Corbin says Ambrose was just a speed bump on the way to the WWE Title but now he's a deer standing in the way and he's going to run him over. They both issue warnings to each other before Ambrose's music hits.

- Still to come, Ziggler vs. Crews in a Chairs Match. Back to commercial.



Chairs Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews

Back from the break and we see a bunch of chairs around the ringside area. Dolph Ziggler is out first but Apollo Crews attacks him from behind. Crews beats Ziggler around and takes him to the ring.

Lots of back and forth to start. Crews takes over and hits a nice moonsault before we go to commercial.

Back from the break and Crews hits a jawbreaker. Ziggler runs into an elbow. Ziggler charges with a steel chair but Crews kicks him down. Crews with a kick to the jaw and a leaping lariat. Crews with an enziguri. Crews with a standing moonsault while a chair is on top of Ziggler. Ziggler kicks out at 2.

Ziggler ends up rolling Crews up and using the ropes for leverage but Crews kicks out. Crews suplexes Ziggler on top of the chair for a 2 count. More back and forth. Crews takes a thumb to the eye and a chair shot to the throat. Crews is checked on by the referee. Ziggler takes advantage and crotches Crews onto a chair. Ziggler with the pin for the win.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

- After the match, Ziggler stands tall as we go to replays. We come back to Ziggler talking trash before leaving.

- Tom and JBL plug the WWE Network.

- Still to come, Wyatt's invocation. Back to commercial.

- Back from the break and out comes WWE Champion Bray Wyatt.

Wyatt takes the mic and mentions AJ Styles. Wyatt says he didn't care who it was, Harper or Styles, because they are both just mortals. Wyatt says AJ is going to end up like all the rest, he promises this. Wyatt says AJ is going to feel the spirit of Beelzebub himself, the spirit of AJ's master. Wyatt goes on and mentions Randy Orton is somewhere dark. Orton appears on the big screen and Wyatt says hey. Orton is at the Wyatt Family compound. Orton says this is Bray's world but it's not his, it never was. Fans cheer.



We see the rocking chair moving behind Orton. Orton says he used to say if you can't beat them, join them. But he has a new expression... when you can't beat them, join them and when it's time, screw them. Orton reveals that Sister Abigail is under the floor of the compound. Orton says Abigail was put to rest directly under his feet. Orton has a pickaxe. Wyatt stares up at the big screen. Orton asks how long it's been, how long have maggots and worms been eating her bones. Orton says all that is left is her wretched spirit. Orton sees Wyatt as helpless, naked and stripped of his powers for the first time. Orton says Wyatt's black heart is beating through his chest because he fears Orton might destroy what makes him tick.

Orton says he's going to burn the spirit of Sister Abigail to death and watch Wyatt burn with it. Orton says he promised allegiance to Wyatt as long as he was master but in a moment, Orton will be the master and Wyatt will be the servant. Orton tosses the axe and picks up a can of gasoline. Orton starts dousing the walls. Orton says he's coming for Wyatt and the WWE Title at WrestleMania. Orton pours gas down the floor where Abigail was buried. Orton says we're about to hear Abigail scream. He asks Bray if he remembers the last time she screamed, when she took her last breath. Orton tosses more gas around. Wyatt yells at Orton from his knees in the ring. Wyatt begs Orton not to. Orton leaves the building and makes a trail of gas. Orton strikes a match while Orton begs him not to do it. Orton torches the building and smiles as it goes up in flames. Orton does his signature pose. Wyatt goes nuts in the ring and at ringside. Orton stares at the camera as fans chant his name. SmackDown goes off the air with Wyatt losing his mind.

Well, that ending, the build up seems incredibly rushed.

Not sure if Harper has been punished for botching last week's Main Event, or if the plan was always to have AJ in the Main Event. My guess is the former, cause with AJ in, it didn't need that ending, they could've teased Orton and Wyatt for a few more weeks and then had that happen. Wyatt thinks he has Orton in his corner and the burning of Sister Abigail the week or so before Mania.

Starting to think Cena has some heat backstage. Wins his 16th title in probably one of his best matches ever. Drops it early in the EC, gets bitchslapped by Maryce, and next week he's taking on Ellsworth? Plus his comment about not taking on The Undertaker.

Id assume Shane will come out next week and say Randy gets priority being Rumble winner etc leading to AJ vs Shane.

Fernando wrote:Id assume Shane will come out next week and say Randy gets priority being Rumble winner etc leading to AJ vs Shane.

Yeah this is what I said would happen a couple of weeks ago.

Fecking Shane vs AJ

Really?! AJs 39, bumps hard and you made him lose his first WM match to Jericho. So now he gets a non wrestler for his 2nd WM match when his work throughout the year and popularity with the crowd means he should be in whatever the smackdown main event is. He's the best in the world currently ffs

Cue him undoubtedly getting an injury in the lead up to summerslam and retiring

Unless this is another way of the WWE playing the IWC?

Thought Bray Wyatt played it off brilliant. Dont mind Randy turning already, but I do mind that we've had two big matches the past two weeks that are now pretty much meaningless. Would have prefered Harper win and Randy rejoins the match to help Bray and THEN turns in a couple of weeks.

I dont mind Shane vs AJ as its being told pretty well and has been for a while now. The fact they've been building to this means switching it out for anything else right now would take a massive jump. AJ will be able to help Shane to a good match and should have a good story to match it, I dont hate it.

I do hate it. Its a waste of the best wrestler in the world that cant have too many wrestlemanias to come given his age and style of wrestling.

Anyway though moving on, having now seen the segments thought this was one of the better bits ive seen Orton in since he was punting random McMahons

as a stand alone show I felt SmackDown was pretty good but from a storyline prespective it's been a complete mess, I totally understand the whole Orton/Bray angle but they've sacrificed everything else for it, last weeks show was great, this week's show carried that on, but Orton's big reveal at the end of the show made both those shows absolutely pointless.

They had a lot of shows to fill between Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania so I get the fact they've tried to tease something else but they've rendered their two best shows since the draft pointless, I don't see how that's condusive to promoting their product.

I think we'll have Orton vs AJ either next week or the following week to determine who'll face Bray, then when Orton goes over, AJ will crack at Shane and that sorts that out, I can only see this turning AJ face, not much thats happened to him has felt like a heel getting his comeuppance

Disagree. It gave them opportunity to put on some big matches that showcase talent whilst building a story. My boy problem is that Orton has turns too soon, they should have had him decide that AJ was too big a threat and have him beat him on Smackdown next week to take the shot.

Also think AJ vs Shane isn't the worse match he could have. It'll be high profile and Shane is a draw (I think Meltzer argues that the Shane/Taker match was the biggest draw of Mania last year)

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Disagree. It gave them opportunity to put on some big matches that showcase talent whilst building a story. My boy problem is that Orton has turns too soon, they should have had him decide that AJ was too big a threat and have him beat him on Smackdown next week to take the shot.

Also think AJ vs Shane isn't the worse match he could have. It'll be high profile and Shane is a draw (I think Meltzer argues that the Shane/Taker match was the biggest draw of Mania last year)

Thats like arguing Chlamydia is the best STD, last years Mania was garbage so that was the biggest draw by default.

Still shows people will pay for Shane. I know it was a huge factor in the enjoyment of my mates who went

I think he was a much larger draw last year because he has just returned from a 7 year absence so that generated a massive amount of buzz. He's no where near the same draw one year later.

Hes gonna be high profile though, which is the kicker. He will be in a high profile match, get a lot of screen time and has something somewhat major to do whilst away from the title. Considering the bundling in of multiple matches across two brands, its definitely not a bad hand to be given

I think you're right in the sense its probably the best match for him outside of the title match, but Im still not sold on it. I think part of this is because we cant get Miz vs Bryan.

It feels like a lot has been shuffled for Smackdown because Raw wants to find big moments for their main eventers and still have the part-timers do war

I can see RAW taking a couple of top guys from SmackDown in the draft and Smackdown being replenished with NXT guys. I think Vince will look at how well SmackDown is doing and put that purely down to the talent, so thinks moving the talent will help RAW without actually addressing any issues.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Still shows people will pay for Shane. I know it was a huge factor in the enjoyment of my mates who went

I don't think people pay for anyone now at WrestleMania, the show is the draw

Kay Fabe wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Still shows people will pay for Shane. I know it was a huge factor in the enjoyment of my mates who went

I don't think people pay for anyone now at WrestleMania, the show is the draw

It was on a Meltzer statement, but I do believe there is something to it. Shane definitely made me more interested, and if its something that piques your interest that then leads you to looking at the other stuff then it still works.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:

Kay Fabe wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Still shows people will pay for Shane. I know it was a huge factor in the enjoyment of my mates who went

I don't think people pay for anyone now at WrestleMania, the show is the draw

It was on a Meltzer statement, but I do believe there is something to it. Shane definitely made me more interested, and if its something that piques your interest that then leads you to looking at the other stuff then it still works.

Shane definitely increased my interest last year as well but I'd have watched it with or without him, that's what I mean, it's hard to distinguish who draws and who doesn't now with the Network subscriptions.

I also agree with you that Shane/AJ gives AJ a high profile match but I just don't think it does anything for him in the longrun, maybe if Shane was a big time heel like his old man in his prime it's something they could get their teeth into but I just don't see AJ as being this anti establishment character, it'll be a means to an end for Mania season but don't think it's something he'll be able to put into his character going forward.

Looking back at Vince, his fueds with Austin, Rock, Mankind and HHH all helped create something they put into their characters, I don't see that happening here and that's why I think it's just lazy

Ah the network subscriptions....even those give a false sense as to where the company is....given they spend almosy every month of the year giving away 2 months free. I mean they have given new subscribers Fastlane & Mania free...and ive seen some of the numbers and there is no way people can argue that they arent a) inflated b) completely false, they always say " so many people subscribed in quarter 1...yet fail to mention how many unsubsribed after the free period.

Dont get me wrong its not cost them money but its hardly the profitable venture they thought it would be because if it was the WWE trading price would have increased rather than stagnated for better part of 18 months. Like WWE's actual booking of Mania its just a short term measure used to create false sense of where the company is at.

Not to mention the WWE Network is WELL below what they expected to get when they first launched it, it's only just getting to even low expectation levels and it's been around for three years! It costs them a lot of money to keep running and they make a fraction of what they made from PPVs. 

I think they are doing the right thing in that media consumption is moving closer towards the Network model and they have done well to adapt before the tide turns, which is very much unlike WWE but they have got to be worried about keeping their customer base because at the moment the product itself isn't driving subscribers to the Network. I know I have unsubscribed, I popped back again when they offered three months for free so I could watch the Rumble properly and also watch some of the older shows, but they have to improve their weekly product significantly for me to want to actually pay for the Network again.