SmackDown Live opened up with a video package highlighting the feud between Dean Ambrose and The Miz for the past three weeks.
Ambrose Asylum with The Miz and Maryse
The show in Baton Rouge kicked off with the Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose hosting the first episode of Ambrose Asylum in 2017. Dean Ambrose declared his entry to the Royal Rumble. He was about to introduce his guest and The Miz cut him out when his music played.
The Miz said that Ambrose was tainting the Intercontinental Championship which belonged to him. He too declared his entry to the Royal Rumble. The Miz demanded Ambrose hand over the Intercontinental Championship. Ambrose said that he did have something that belonged to him.
He gave The Miz his own “Miz participation award”. The Miz told Ambrose that he is a funny guy, and started assaulting him.
The Miz then held up Ambrose so Maryse could slap him, but Ambrose ducked and Maryse slapped The Miz instead. He then hit The Miz with the dirty deeds and handed Maryse the participation award.
A recap of the Nikki Bella-Natalya feud is shown. Nikki Bella was seen walking backstage, and Natalya attacked her out of nowhere. Their match was announced as next.
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
Nikki Bella came out angrily and started attacking Natalya from the get-go. Things went outside the ring, and Natalya managed to get offence of her own in as well. It didn’t take long for Nikki to get the momentum back.
When Natalya tried to escape, Nikki got her back in. Inside the ring again, referees try to pull the two apart as the match didn’t even start. Natalya put the sharpshooter on Nikki Bella outside the ring before finally leaving.
Result: The bout did not happen.
Backstage, Dasha Fuentes interviewed Dolph Ziggler, and a recap of the previous week is shown, when Ziggler turned heel, and also his confrontation with Apollo Crews. Dasha asked for an explanation for his actions before his match with Kalisto. However, Ziggler said nothing and walked away.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto
Kalisto began to attack Dolph aggressively from the start, leading to Ziggler exiting the ring. He came back and went into a more technical style of wrestling that he normally doesn't showcase. He dominated the initial portion of the match despite the slower style.
After the commercial break, Ziggler still put rest holds on Kalisto, who managed to escape. Not long after, Kalisto pinned Ziggler with a roll-up. A frustrated Ziggler viciously assaulted Kalisto after the match. He even took a steel chair and hit him in the back. As he was leaving, Apollo Crews came out.
They took the fight to the ring, where Ziggler managed to hit Apollo Crews with a steel chair as well. He hit Kalisto with a steel chair on the back once more before leaving.
Result: Kalisto defeated Dolph Ziggler
Backstage, Dasha interviewed American Alpha about how they prepared for The Wyatt family and their first title defence. They said that although The Wyatts were intimidating, they were confident they would beat them.
In another backstage interview, Renee Young asked John Cena about Baron Corbin. Cena cut an enthusiastic promo in a sarcastic tone. He spoke about the words AJ Styles called him – “has been”, and said that he “has been too polite” and it “has been a long time since Cena had to prove that he belonged”.
Bray Wyatt cut a small promo backstage, where he said that he hoped American Alpha enjoyed their time as tag team champions. Randy Orton said, “We’re here.”
American Alpha(c) vs. The New Wyatt Family – SmackDown Tag Team Champions
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton were the ones fighting in this match. Bray went right for Chad Gable. After some scramble, Jason Jordan was tagged in and even suplexed Bray. Randy was tagged in, and after bouncing back and forth with Jordan, Gable tagged himself in.
It wasn’t long before Randy tagged Bray again. Gable managed to put an armbar on the ropes. Bray tried going for the Sister Abigail but Gable escaped. Bray slowly began to dominate.
This led to The New Wyatt Family getting the momentum on their side. Jason Jordan finally got the hot tag and began suplexing Bray and Randy as well. He almost jumped from the top turnbuckle, but Luke Harper distracted him, leading to Bray attacking him from behind. He then tagged Randy in, who hit him with a slingshot suplex.
After the commercial break, The New Wyatt Family still had control of the match. Gable got the hot tag this time. The response to American Alpha’s hot tag wasn’t positive. The Wyatts disposed of Jordan, while Gable managed to get Bray out of the ring.
Harper was on the ropes and when the referee didn’t look, Randy raked Gable’s eyes, but Harper came up to the apron again, and the distraction allowed Gable to get a roll-up pin over Orton and pinned him to 3.
Result: American Alpha defeated The New Wyatt Family to retain the SamckDown Tag Team Championships.
After the match, Randy and Luke Harper have an argument, while Bray tries to restore order. Harper meant to superkick Orton, but Orton moved away and Harper instead kicked Bray. A seemingly furious Bray then stormed off.
A preview of John Cena’s 2008 Royal Rumble victory was shown.
Backstage, Becky Lynch was with Daniel Bryan and showed the match from last week where Becky tapped out the La Luchadora. Alexa came in and Daniel Bryan told her that she would have to defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship inside a steel cage. This was to prevent La Luchadora from interfering.
Carmella vs. CJ Lunde
Carmella came out holding James Ellsworth’s hand. She had a squash match with an enhancement talent, who looked like a true throwback enhancement talent. James Ellsworth held her legs and helped cause the distraction so Carmella could slam Lunde and put the code of silence on her for the victory.
Result: Carmella defeated CJ Lunde
Backstage, Carmella was overjoyed at her “winning streak” and promised to take Ellsworth on a shopping spree.
The camera cut to Baron Corbin, who said that he didn’t care what John Cena had to say. He also said that he alters outcomes. AJ Styles approached him and wished him luck for the match. He also said that he would be on commentary.
Baron Corbin vs. John Cena
Cena got the first shot. The crowd was electric for this match. Right off the bat, Corbin hit Cena with a big boot. Corbin looked dominant in the beginning. After the break, Corbin was still dominating, and diverted his attention to AJ Styles, telling him to watch.
Cena came off as an underdog in the match. Whatever offence Cena managed to get, Corbin gave it back two-fold.
Corbin began to get overconfident at one point. Regardless, he got a majority of the offence in. Cena managed to quickly get the offence on Corbin, hitting the Tornado DDT. He then managed to get the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. He then hit the Attitude Adjustment for the win.
Result: John Cena defeated Baron Corbin
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