Tonight, SmackDown Live has a lot in store to kick off the year. Perhaps we will find out more about who La Luchadora is, or what is going to happen next in the Tag Team Championship scene. What we do know for sure, however, is that The Miz defends his Intercontinental Championship against Dean Ambrose, and AJ Styles will join John Cena in the ring for a WWE World Championship match contract signing.
Opening Segment
Two weeks ago, Renee Young slapped the Miz because he insulted her and her relationship with Dean Ambrose. The Intercontinental Champion (along with Maryse) starts off the show to demand an apology from Young. Instead, Ambrose comes down to the ring, gets slapped by Maryse, and The Miz walks to the back before their match later on.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
Both Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin lost a WWE World Championship triple threat match last week to AJ Styles. Now that John Cena took the #1 Contender spot, Ziggler and Corbin have to climb back up the ladder.
Corbin kicks out of the Zig Zag, lands the End of Days, and picks up the victory. After the match, Corbin looks to take out Ziggler with a steel chair, when Kalisto (who faced Corbin at TLC in a chairs match) rushes the ring to send the Lone Wolf retreating. Instead of thanking Kalisto, Ziggler superkicks him and yells that he doesn’t need anybody to help him, and he never did. The assumed heel turn was greeted by “Yes!” chants from the crowd. Winner: Baron Corbin
Ziggler heads to the back and starts throwing stuff around in the locker room, when Apollo Crews asks him what happened. Ziggler was clearly still angry, and started attacking Crews before Rhyno and Mojo Rawley had to break it up.
Becky Lynch vs. La Luchadora
Two weeks ago, Becky Lynch dressed up in luchadora attire and went under the ring name La Luchadora to steal a victory over Alexa Bliss. Last week, Lynch would challenge Bliss for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, when another La Luchadora would appear and distract Lynch long enough to help Bliss retain the belt. This match could hopefully provide some answers for the Lass Kicker.
La Luchadora crawls under the ring, while yet another La Luchadora (Alexa Bliss) comes out of the other side, misses Twisted Bliss, and taps out to the Disarm-her. After the match, the original La Luchadora for the match reappeared to team up with Bliss to assault Lynch. The identity of Bliss’ masked accomplice is still unknown. Winner (via submission): Becky Lynch
Contract Signing (WWE World Championship)
As contract signings go, this goes just about as well as all of the others. John Cena is 0-3 against AJ Styles, and he needs to win the WWE World Championship from the Phenomenal One to prove to himself and to his doubters that he belongs in WWE. After both men sign the contract, Baron Corbin surprises everyone by making his way to the ring. Corbin announces that he is the first SmackDown Live Superstar to enter the Royal Rumble match, and he doesn’t care who wins between Cena or Styles.
Backstage Segment
Maryse finds Renee Young backstage, and slaps her to avenge her husband.
Carmella (w/James Ellsworth) vs. Aliyah
This is the first main roster match for NXT’s Aliyah, who has been involved in a feud with Peyton Royce and Billie Kay as of late. Carmella is focusing on her new chapter on SmackDown, and getting James Ellsworth to be by her side could give her a little help.
Aliyah look to hit a move on Carmella, but James Ellsworth grabs Aliyah’s ankle. Carmella takes advantage to hit the Code of Silence, picking up the victory. Winner (via submission): Carmella
American Alpha vs. Breezango
Jason Jordan and Chad Gable won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships from the Wyatt Family, and they kick off their title reign against Breezango. About 30 seconds into the match, Tyler Breeze is hit with Grand Amplitude and the champs win the match. Winners: American Alpha
After the match, The Wyatt Family announces that next week, they are coming to reclaim the belts they just lost.
In-ring Segment
Natalya attacked Nikki Bella at Survivor Series, and a couple weeks ago, she revealed herself as the attacker and blamed Bella’s sex appeal and boyfriend for the longest-reigning Divas Champion’s success. Bella fired back tonight, saying that Natalya rides on her family’s legacy. After this, Nikki Bella hits Natalya with the Bellahammer, and they will square off next week.
Also announced for next week, John Cena will go one-on-one with Baron Corbin.
The Miz (c) (w/Maryse) vs. Dean Ambrose – Intercontinental Championship
It probably wasn’t a good idea for Maryse to slap Renee Young earlier tonight, because now Dean Ambrose is even more furious than normal. Maryse tries to get a little too involved, and after slapping Ambrose, she is ejected from ringside.
Ambrose kicks out of the Miz hitting him with the Intercontinental Championship, hits Dirty Deeds and captures his second Intercontinental Championship. Winner, and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Dean Ambrose
