The WWE Smackdown Live brand rolled into Saginaw, MI this Monday night just days before the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The show was headlined by the “Phenomenal One” AJ Styes who refused to defend his WWE Championship and instead challenged for the Intercontinental title held by the “Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose.
#1 Rhyno & Heath Slater vs. Tyler Breeze & Fandango
A fun opening tag team match, with a lot of comedy. Big pop for the hometown boy Rhyno, who recently ran as a Republican for the Michigan House of Representatives. Rhyno destroyed Breeze with a Gore to pick up the win for his team.
Result: Rhyno & Heath Slater def. Tyler Breeze & Fandango
#2 Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto
Said to be a good match, basically what you’ve seen from these guys on television and pay-per-view a few dozen times. Corbin got the win with the End of Days.
Result: Baron Corbin def. Kalisto
#3 Kalisto vs. Curt Hawkins
Hawkins came down immediately after Baron Corbin’s win and talked a little trash about Kalisto. He challenged him to a match, and Kalisto rolled him up with a small package for the quick win out of nowhere.
Result: Kalisto def. Curt Hawkins
#4 Jack Swagger & Mojo Rawley vs. The Vaudevillians
Swagger came out wearing ridiculously ugly tights, green camo with black and yellow all over. An okay match, but nothing really out of this world by any means. Swagger got the win with the Patriot Lock.
Result: Jack Swagger & Mojo Rawley def. The Vaudevillians
#5 American Alpha [c] vs. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper, The Ascension, and The Usos in a fatal four-way match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships.
This was a lot of fun, with tonnes of action coming from all four teams. The Usos and Bray Wyatt were easily the most popular stars in the bout. Wyatt came within inches of winning with the Sister Abigail, but Jordan and Gable pulled out the Grand Amplitude to retain.
Result: American Alpha [c] def. Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper, The Ascension, and The Usos
#6 Nikki Bella, Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss, Carmella & Natalya
James Ellsworth came out with Carmella. Nikki Bella pinned her current rival Natalya with the Rack Attack to keep their program going while keeping the WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion protected.
Result: Nikki Bella, Naomi & Becky Lynch def. Alexa Bliss, Carmella & Natalya
#7 The Miz vs. Baron Corbin
A surprisingly good match. Miz came out with Maryse before the match and talked a little trash to the Michigan crowd. There was a funny moment where he pointed out a fan in the crowd who had a sign and yelled, “I am NOT a doody head!”
Of course, the crowd immediately began chanting “doody head” at him throughout the match. They went back and forth with Miz controlling a lot of the match, and Corbin hitting his signature spots and some cool high-flying moves. Miz rolled him up out of nowhere for the win.
Result: The Miz def. Baron Corbin
#8 Dean Ambrose [c] vs. AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Championship
Styles came out and decided that he wouldn’t be defending the WWE Championship in Michigan because the people there didn’t deserve it. Instead, he challenged Dean Ambrose to a match for his Intercontinental title.
Said to be an excellent, pay-per-view quality main event, featuring lots of near falls and big spots. Dean Ambrose won clean with Dirty Deeds to send the crowd home happy.
Result: Dean Ambrose def. AJ Styles.
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