After an eventful house show at the iconic MSG, the SmackDown roster stopped over at Charleston, West Virginia for another live event. It was a night filled with great matches, a very hot crowd and unexpected moments. AJ Styles, John Cena, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt and many other top stars were all in action.
Below are the results and highlights from the show, courtesy of ProWrestling.Net:
#1. Heath Slater, Rhyno and Kalisto vs. Breezango and Curt Hawkins
Slater was quite over as it was his hometown. The opener was said to be a decent affair with Slater getting the hot tag and picking up the win for his team. The pop he got blew the roof off the place.
Result: Heath Slater, Rhyno and Kalisto def. Breezango and Curt Hawkins via pinfall
#2. Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews
The Show Off continued his feud with Crews at the live event with a very good match. Despite the lack of high spots, the match was said to be quite entertaining with Ziggler drawing heat at the drop of his hat. A perfectly executed Superkick was all it took for Ziggler to get the win.
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. Apollo Crews via pinfall
#3. American Alpha vs. The Usos (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match)
The first title match of the night saw the American Alpha and Usos put on an enjoyable tag team encounter. A match, as expected from the talents involved, with Alpha retaining their titles at the end.
Result: American Alpha def. The Usos via pinfall
#4. Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin (WWE Intercontinental Championship Match)
This match seemed like a warm up before the two men face each other for the strap at WrestleMania 33. It was said to be a solid match with a lot action spilling to the outside. After all the brawling by ringside and the action the transpired inside the ring, Corbin attacked Ambrose with a chair to end the bout in a DQ. Ambrose got a great pop while The Lone Wolf garnered some massive heat.
Result: Dean Ambrose retained the IC title via DQ
#5. Bray Wyatt vs. Luke Harper (WWE Championship Match)
Surprisingly, the WWE title match wasn’t the main event of the evening and followed the hard-hitting IC title match. The former family members put on a good back and forth bout. Bray Wyatt picked up the win with the Sister Abigail. The highlights of the match was Harper attempting the the Sister Abigail on countless occasions, but to no avail.
Result: Bray Wyatt retained the WWE Championship via pinfall
#6. Nikki Bella, Tamina, Asuka and Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss, Natalya, Carmella (w/ Ellsworth) and Mickie James
This action packed 8-woman tag team match saw NXT Women’s Champion Asuka make her second appearance for the SmackDown brand on the live event circuit. She was also in action at the recent MSG show. The babyfaces picked up the win with Nikki Bella forcing Carmella to tap out to the STF. On a side note, the fans in attendance were invested in the action that unfolded in the ring.
It was quite a shocker to see Bliss and James team up after the veteran attacked the Women’s Champion on Smackdown. The bookers don't seem to care about the storylines at house shows.
Result: Nikki Bella, Tamina, Asuka and Becky Lynch def. Alexa Bliss, Natalya, Carmella and Mickie James via submission
#7. Randy Orton vs. The Miz
The Miz came out and cut a solid heel promo. He got into a fun altercation with a kid holding a sign that read “The Miz eats boogers” and got some major heat from the crowd. Classic Miz! He issued an open challenge and went on to claim that every single star backstage was scared of him. Randy Orton’s music hit and the fans went ballistic.
Miz retreated at first but had no option but to work the match after Orton forced him back inside the ring. Orton hit Miz with the RKO and got the pinfall victory.
Result: Randy Orton def. The Miz via pinfall
#8. John Cena vs. AJ Styles (West Virginia Street Fight)
It was just another Street Fight with WWE pandering to the hometown crowd by altering its name. As expected, this was the match of the night with both men kicking out of their respective finishers. One of the standout moments of the night was when Cena took to the mic and started singing Country Roads. He claimed it was a tradition he followed while visiting West Virginia. AJ wasn’t too pleased and reminded the Cenation leader they were in the middle of a fight.
After countless false finishes and back and forth action, Cena delivered the AA to get the win, but not before he was put through a table.
Result: John Cena def. AJ Styles via pinfall
Best matches of the night
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
Randy Orton vs. The Miz
Apollo Crews vs. Dolph Ziggler
American Alpha vs. The Usos
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
