Two nights ago was TLC, where there were some great matches and genuinely shocking moments. Perhaps the most talked about moment was when James Ellsworth screwed Dean Ambrose out of winning the WWE World Championship. Tonight on SmackDown, Heath Slater and Rhyno cash in their rematch after losing to Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton, and James Ellsworth cashes in his WWE World Championship match opportunity against AJ Styles.
Opening Segment
AJ Styles comes out with a boot on his ankle after his TLC match, and says that he isn’t medically cleared to compete tonight. James Ellsworth comes out and claims that Styles is ducking him, since Ellsworth has beaten the World Champion three times. Dean Ambrose then walks to the ring, hits Ellsworth with Dirty Deeds, and walks back to the back without even stopping his music.
Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton (c) (w/Luke Harper) vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno – SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Only two days after losing their titles, Beauty and the Man-Beast want their rematch for the silver gold. The Wyatts were strong from the get-go, and Slater and Rhyno had no answer. Perhaps after analyzing what went wrong, they can become two-time champs.
Bray Wyatt sends Rhyno out of the ring, then sends Heath Slater into an RKO to retain the titles and kick Beauty and the Man-Beast out of the title picture. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton
Carmella vs. Natalya
Before the match, Carmella cuts a weak promo, trying to insult Natalya. Carmella accused Natalya of being the person to attack Nikki Bella at Survivor Series, and Natalya wasn’t waiting around. She attacks Carmella and chases her to the back. She then runs into Nikki Bella and tells her not to believe Carmella’s accusations. Because of all of this, the match never happens.
The Hype Bros vs. The Ascension
Over the past couple months, Konnor and Viktor have kind of been stalking the Hype Bros, and this is a good time for the Hype Bros to put them away. However, their sights are set on the recently vacated SmackDown Tag Team Championship #1 Contender spot.
After a Hype Ryder to Viktor, it’s all over. Winners: The Hype Bros
MizTV (w/Maryse) feat. Dean Ambrose
The Miz had a great Survivor Series. He retained his Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match, closing the final chapter in his ongoing feud with Dolph Ziggler. Dean Ambrose, however, probably had the worst TLC in the locker room since his only friend screwed him over and prevented him from winning the WWE World Championship.
Since Ambrose lost, The Miz decides to give him his first-ever Miz Participation Trophy. Ambrose is about to attack The Miz, then Daniel Bryan interrupts. Instead of fighting now, he schedules a match for the main event: Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship. This is yet another chance for Daniel Bryan to try and screw the Miz out of the title.
Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin barely got the best of Kalisto in a Chairs Match this Sunday, and Kalisto wanted a rematch to prove that he could take out the big man. The Lucha Dragon came into this match with one line of thought: speed kills.
Kalisto attempts a tilt-a-whirl DDT, but Corbin counters into the End of Days for yet another win over Kalisto. Winner: Baron Corbin
Chad Gable (w/Jason Jordan) vs. Tyler Breeze (w/Fandango)
Earlier tonight, Breezango gave American Alpha tickets as the fashion police. Gable then insulted Breeze’s hair, and now we have a match.
Gable chains an Okada roll into a German suplex to put Tyler Breeze away in impressive fashion (no pun intended). Winner: Chad Gable
The Miz (c) (w/Maryse) vs. Dean Ambrose – Intercontinental Championship
Because Daniel Bryan hates the Miz and the fact that he is the Intercontinental Champion, he set up this match to try and get the belt off of him. With Ambrose being so irate, the Miz will not have an easy time.
Maryse interferes behind the referee’s back, and James Ellsworth comes down to the ring and tries to tell the referee. Instead, he distracts the referee from Ambrose pinning the Miz, and the champion retains after the Skull Crushing Finale. Winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
