SmackDown Live started off with The Miz & Maryse coming into Daniel Bryan’s office. The Miz was furious about the fact that he and Maryse did not get a private dressing room. Daniel Bryan joked about giving them the restroom. He then said that he would give The Miz a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship.
The Miz tried to get a No disqualification stipulation added to the match, but Daniel Bryan made it a lumberjack match since The Miz made a comment earlier that he “pays all the superstars’ salaries”.
A recap of the dissent in the Wyatt Family was shown. The match up next was a “brother vs brother” match.
Randy Orton vs Luke Harper
The crowd was well behind Randy. Harper started off the offence. Bray Wyatt was not acknowledging either of them. It didn't take long for Randy to get back, as he hit Harper with a DDT from the middle ropes. He teased an RKO but Harper slid under the ring outside.
Randy then slammed Harper against the barricade, and then on the announce table. Harper retaliated with a big boot, but Randy got him down and went back in the ring. He was about to get counted out, but Bray would not permit it and threw Harper back in the ring.
After the commercial break, Bray observed on as Harper had Randy in a chin lock. From the top rope, Randy hit a super plex. Harper hit Randy with a European uppercut, and as he rebounded, Randy hit him with the scoop slam.
The back and forth then saw Harper hit the Michinoku driver. Orton tried hitting an RKO, but Harper countered that to a roll-up, which only saw a two-count.
Harper then hit the Discus clothesline, but Randy once again kicked out at two. This finally got a reaction from Bray Wyatt, who was smiling. Harper tried hitting a powerbomb on Randy, but he escaped, as Harper turned around, he was met with an RKO. Randy took a few seconds but then covered Harper for a 3 count.
Randy Orton defeated Luke Harper
After the match, Bray shook Randy’s hand, and as he looked to go help Harper up, he gave him a Sister Abigail and walked away with Randy.
A video recap was shown of the main event of the previous week’s SmackDown Live, where La Luchadora/Mickie James cost Becky Lynch another opportunity at the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Mickie James was seen walking backstage, up next.
Mickie James address Becky Lynch and the “Women’s Revolution”
Renee Young introduced the newest member of the SmackDown Live roster, Mickie James. Renee began interviewing her, asking her “Why?”. Mickie James asked Renee if she knew that she won her first championship against Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania 22.
Mickie began running down her resumé. Renee told Mickie James that she avoided her question, after which Mickie began ranting about how the women of the current revolution acted like they were the first female athletes in WWE.
When Renee asked about her association with Alexa Bliss, Mickie said that Alexa remembered everything she did and that if it weren’t for her, she wouldn’t be back. Mickie then said, “forget about the revolution, this is about the reinvention of Mickie James”.
Becky Lynch had heard enough, and came down and started a beat down on Mickie. Mickie jumped over the barricade, but as Becky did the same, Alexa Bliss came out of nowhere and struck Becky. The duo then assaulted the former SamckDown Women’s champion.
Mickie told a beat down Becky that she needed to learn from Alexa that she should always be one step ahead.
Carmella and James Ellsworth go shopping
A clip from the previous week was shown where The Princess Of Staten Island and James Ellsworth went shopping. Ellsworth was trying to get a wardrobe change. Carmella got Ellsworth a wardrobe similar to Enzo Amore’s attire.
10-Man Battle Royal to qualify for the Royal Rumble
Baron Corbin was ringside on commentary for the battle royal.
Rhyno first tried to eliminate Heath Slater, but he didn’t succeed. The Vaudevillains then were eliminated right off the bat.
Mojo Rawley, in new attire, eliminated Curt Hawkins. Heath Slater eliminated Viktor. Slater was then eliminated by Konnor. However, Konnor and Rhyno were then eliminated by Mojo Rawley.
Rawley was left alone against Breezango. Tyler Breeze accidentally superkicked Fandango out, and Mojo then managed to eliminate Tyler Breeze to win the Battle Royal and qualify for the Rumble.
Mojo Rawley won the 10-man battle royal to qualify for the Royal Rumble
A clip from WWE.com was shown from before the show, where Natalya slammed Nikki Bella’s head against a production truck. AJ Styles calling out John Cena was announced as next.
AJ Styles calls out John Cena
AJ got loud “AJ Styles” chants. He said that before he called out Cena, he needed to get something off his chest. He addressed the Royal Rumble poster and the fact that he was all the way at back.
He sarcastically praised Shane McMahon for his treatment of the WWE champion. He demanded Cena come out, and out Cena came. “Let’s go, Cena! Cena sucks” chants started from the crowd.
Before Cena could talk, AJ cut him off. He played a video recap from Cena’s appearance on the Today Show on Monday. He trashed AJ and he and the hosts called him “Guy from Atlanta”. AJ seemed furious and reminded Cena who he was.
AJ then told Cena that nobody missed him when he was gone. And it was met with “Cena” chants from the younger demographic. AJ told Cena that he didn’t just take his place, he was the “face that replaced you”. He said that he’s the man on SmackDown Live and not Cena.
He told Cena that it eats him up because he knows AJ is better in the ring. He said that Cena would always come up with an excuse, but the only excuse he had is that he is a pathetic excuse of a wrestler.
Cena then fired back at AJ Styles and his complaining, telling him that while he has been hot for 6 months, he held the place up for over a decade. He began trash talking AJ Styles and the indie scene and said that he wasn't on Cena’s level. He said that his time is now, and left standing tall to a flustered AJ Styles.
Dolph Ziggler vs Kalisto
Kalisto started off aggressively against Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler superkicked Kalisto when he attempted a springboard crossbody, picking up the win in no time.
Dolph Ziggler defeated Kalisto
Right after the match, Ziggler took a steel chair, and before he entered the ring, JBL got up and tried to verbally stop Ziggler. Apollo Crews came from behind and attacked Ziggler, slamming him against the pole. He tried hitting him with a steel chair, but Ziggler escaped. Apollo Crews stood tall while helping out a fallen Kalisto.
Naomi vs Natalya
Naomi made her way out to the ring. As Natalya was supposed to enter the ring, Nikki Bella attacked her backstage.
A frustrated Naomi said that she came back because SmackDown Live is the land of opportunity, and she wasn’t leaving until she someone came out. Alexa Bliss came out and started trashing Naomi, saying she wasn’t there for a match
Naomi told her to step in the ring so she can show who she is. Alexa teased a title match, but walked away, and shut the crowd out who was booing her. It appears that Alexa vs Naomi is the next title program.
Dean Ambrose vs The Miz – Intercontinental Championship Lumberjack match
Before the match, Dean Ambrose trashed The Miz. After The Miz entered, the lumberjacks came out. Ambrose threw The Miz out of the ring, but The Miz clung onto the rope before the lumberjacks could put him back in. Ambrose was thrown out right after but rushed in before he was thrown back in. The Miz began the offence, but Ambrose countered and attempted a Dirty Deeds before The Miz escaped. When The Miz was out again, the lumberjacks began assaulting The Miz instead of putting him back in the ring right away. Only after the assault did they put The Miz back in the ring.
After the break, Dean Ambrose tried a rebound from the ropes, but Breezango, The Vaudevillains and Baron Corbin took him out and began assaulting him, before being stopped by American Alpha and the other babyfaces. When thrown out again, he once more began to get assaulted but were once again stopped by the babyfaces.
The Miz began his routine Daniel Bryan taunt, but Ambrose eventually countered it into a roll-up pin, but The Miz escaped. The Miz then threw him out once more, and Ambrose right away began attacking the heels on the outside. Baron Corbin almost got him, but Ambrose slammed Corbin against the post. He then jumped from the top turnbuckle onto The Miz and began a flurry of attacks on The Miz. He threw The Miz outside, and the heels held The Miz as Ambrose hit a suicide dive on all of them.
Back inside, The Miz began taunting Bryan again, before being thrown out of the ring. The Miz tried escaping altogether, but the Lumberjacks ensured that did not happen. They were all gathered together, and Ambrose jumped from the top post onto everyone.
Ambrose hit the lunatic lariat on The Miz back in the ring, and Corbin came in and began assaulting Ambrose, and it led to an all-out brawling the ring between the lumberjacks. It gave a preview of the Royal Rumble match, and The Miz tried to take advantage and pin Ambrose with his leg on the ropes, but Ambrose kicked out. Ambrose then followed this up with the dirty deeds to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Dean Ambrose defeated The Miz to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
