The blue contingent had to put up a solid show as their counterparts in red had a steel cage main event that ended in chaotic fashion, with Seth Rollins jumping off the cage to pop the fans in Memphis.
This week’s SmackDown was live from Legacy Arena Birmingham, Al, with two big matches featuring on the card – John Cena vs Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship. With the progression of existing feuds and the beginning of news ones as we head towards No Mercy, SmackDown had a lot to deliver. A major match-up for next week, Dean Ambrose’s revelation about his feud with John Cena and a speechless Dolph Ziggler were the fallout moments from the show.
So without further ado, here are the results and highlights of SmackDown Live for the 20th September, 2016:
Opening Segment
SmackDown kicks off with Daniel Bryan in the ring announcing the first SmackDown Live women's contract signing for the match between Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss. Bryan promises that the segment won't break down into a fight. Becky makes her way to the ring to a massive ovation from the fans and followed out by the #1 contender Alexa Bliss.
Becky said that the difference between her and Alexa was that Becky is preparing for a fight while Alexa's preparing for a pageant. Becky says that she wasn't born to be a champion but she's poured her heart and soul into wrestling and fought to be a champion and if Alexa tried to take her championship away, she'd rip Alexa's head off.
Alexa says that Becky will always be in second place because she, Alexa, was born to be a champion. Alexa throws the contract into Becky's face and signs the contract before upturning the table on Becky.
Becky attacks Alexa as she walks away and chases her off, before signing the contract herself.
We come back from the commercial break to see Daniel Bryan getting confronted by The Miz backstage. Miz isn't happy that he has to defend his title tonight after signing a new contract. Bryan says that if Miz didn't defend his title then his contract would get cancelled.
The Usos vs American Alpha
Chad Gable is finally fit again and American Alpha are back for revenge. Gable and Jimmy Uso start us off and Gable is all over Uso as the match starts. He;s clearly been waiting for his revenge.
Gable tags Jordan in and they double team Jimmy Uso before delivering a double dropkick to Jordan.The Usos finally grab the advantage after trapping Gable on the apron before Jey Uso took his feet out from beneath him wich resulted in his injured knee getting caught on the ropes.
As we come back from the commercial break, The Uso's are all over over Chad Gable's knee. Gabel manages to break away from The Usos and finally manages to tag in Jordan who comes in hot and delivers belly-to-belly suplexes to both Usos nd generally clears house.
Jordan goes for an overhead Belly-To-Belly from the top turnbuckle but Jey Uso pushes Jordan off and delivers a superkick followed by a frog splash from his brother.
1-2-Gable breaks the count at the last moment.
Gable's knee is giving way as he waits for Jordan's tag from the apron. Jordan decides not to tag his partner in and the Usos take out Gable before delivering stereo Superkicks to Jordan which Uso follows up with a frog splash for the pinfall.
The Usos def. American Alpha
Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews
Jack Swagger is at ringside for this match but does anyone really care? We all know this one will end with Swagger getting involved somehow. Swagger says that he's the toughest guy on the roster but if he's so tough why has he lost so much over the last few years?
Apollo Crews has the upper hand in the beginning segments as he looks for revenge.He sends Corbin reeling outside with an Enzeguiri before slamming him into the barricade.
Corbin finally gets the edge after slamming Crews into the barricade himself. He then sends the prone Crews back into the ring and dropkicks him into the post. Corbin then delivers an End of Days for the quick victory.
Corbin stares down Jack Swagger before making his way back to the locker room.
Baron Corbin def. Apollo Crews
The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler (Intercontinental Championship match)
After the introductions, the match gets underway with both men jockeying for position in the early goings. After a brief scramble, Ziggler gets the upper hand with a rear naked choke, but Miz reaches out to the ropes to the break the hold.
Miz slithers to the outside, but Ziggler follows him nd connects with a lariat. Ziggler does what he does best – shows off and in the meanwhile, Miz gets into the ring and floors Ziggler with a missile drop kick when Ziggler was on the apron.
Back in the ring, Miz with a double axe-handle from the top rope. He mocks Daniel Bryan’s yes chant and takes it one step further with Bryan’s iconic kicks to the chest. The heel is on top, working on Ziggler’s back with a stretch. Ziggler reverses and begins to build momentum with two clotheslines. Miz moves out of a Ziggler splash and The Show Off goes crashing into the steel post.
The Bryan mock fest continues as Miz connects with two dropkicks while Ziggler was in the corner. Miz follows is up with a vintage clothesline of his in the corner and he goes up top and jumps, only to see Ziggler dropkick him to the mat him in mid-air.
Ziggler gets a near fall in and SmackDown goes into a commercial break.Back from the break, both men are on the top rope with Ziggler looking to suplex Miz off the top rope, but Miz reverses and executes a sit-out powerbomb for a 2-count. Ziggler recuperates from Miz’s repeated kicks and gets in a rear naked choke on Miz followed by a surprise with a Famouser out of nowhere for a near fall.
Ziggler is in the corner and Maryse tries to pull off what she tried at Backlash, but the referee catches her red handed with a spray in her hand. She’s directed to make her way backstage while the match continues, much to the displeasure of The Miz. Ziggler takes advantage of the situation and you guessed right, a Zig Zag comes out yielding a very close fall. The fans, at the stage, have no option but to acknowledge the fact that this is indeed awesome.
Miz rolls out of the ring and tries to run away with his title but Ziggler doesn't let it happen and rolls him back into the ring. Miz sprays Ziggler in the face as the referee rolls away and delivers a skull crushing finale. And just like that, The Miz retains the title.
The Miz def. Dolph Ziggler to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Randy Orton vs Erick Rowan
It is quite obvious that the WWE looks to sacrifice the White Sheep top the Viper and goes according to plan. Orton looks for the RKO right from the get go, but Rowan slams Orton and delivers multiple elbow drops followed by a dropkick. Rowan goes on to slam Orton’s head into the steel steps on the outside.
However, Orton catches Rowan as he's climbing back in and delivers the DDT. He then finishes Rowan off with an RKO. The lights go off and Bray Wyatt is on the Titantron, who cuts a promo.
Randy Orton def. Erick Rowan
Nikki Bella and Naomi vs Carmella and Natalya
After the women complete their respective entrances, the bell rings with Nikki and Natalya looking to kick off things. Nikki goes for the fireman’s carry early on, but Natalya counters with a sharpshooter attempt. Carmella, though, seems to have taken a liking in beating Nikki down and she does so again by leg sweeping Nikki to the outside. She rams Bella into the barricade and the ref calls for the bell to end the match.
The match ends in a DQ as Carmella retreats after Naomi tries to intervene.
John Cena vs Dean Ambrose
A big question going into this match is whether the crowd will boo Ambrose tonight. He's been on the receiving end of some boos Backlash.
Cena and Ambrose start off by locking up and Ambrose gets the upper hand by putting Cena in a headlock. Cena and Ambrose go for early finishers but they both counter out of it and Cena slows the pace with a side headlock.
Cena whips Ambrose into the corner and goes for a corner spear but Ambrose moves out of the way and Cena crashes into the steel ring post.
We come back from the commercial to see Ambrose punching away at Cen as he has the upper hand. He hits his trademark splash and running bulldog. He goes for a Dirty Deeds but Cena counters it into an STF but Ambrose reaches the ropes and Cena gets thrown out through the ropes. Before Cena can know what hit him, Ambrose hits him with a tope suicida through the middle rope.
Ambrose rolls Cena into the ring and goes to the top rope for a crossbody. Cena catches Ambrose and hits him with an AA, pinfall, kick out!
Cena goes fo another AA but Ambrose counters it into a Dirty Deeds. Another near fall.
The two punch each other in a test of will's and Cena goes for another AA. Ambrose counters and rolls Cena up.1 -2 3!!!!!! AMBROSE BEATS CENA CLEAN!
Dean Ambrose def. John Cena
Daniel Bryan comes out and announces that Ambrose would get a shot at the WWE World title next week on SmackDown live. What a blockbuster announcement! Ambrose and Carmella were on Talking Smack after SmackDown ended. Dean Ambrose spoke about how he and Cena have always hated each other even when the cameras aren’t rolling. He added that Cena has no friends backstage. He also spoke about AJ Styles and his WWE World Title match next week on SmackDown.
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