Smackdown Live Review 01/10/2017

Tonight we have a brand new Intercontinental Champion in Dean Ambrose, three announced matches for tonight in Nikki Bella vs. Natalya which is you know, ‘meh’, Baron Corbin vs. John Cena and the Smackdown Tag Team Championship Rematch between the Wyatt family and American Alpha. These last two matches, plus the Royal Rumble being 3 weeks away and we still don’t have any Smackdown superstars in the match yet, plus the controversy surrounding Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss and “La Luchadora” should make for a really good episode for Smackdown, should we find out? Let’s find out!

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WWE brings Smackdown Live to you from the Raising Cane’s River Center at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The show opens up with a video recap of the feud between Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz. It recaps Renee Young slapping The Miz, Maryse slapping Ambrose, Ambrose assaulting The Miz and Ambrose winning the IC Title last week.

Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring and starts the Ambrose Asylum talk show. He announces that he is the first champion from Smackdown Live to officially enter the Royal Rumble match. He introduces Maurice, an alligator head and says they couldn’t get a permit for a real alligator. The Miz and Maryse make their entrance and The Miz announced he would also be participating in the Royal Rumble Match. He talks about their IC Title match last week and how the title is rightfully his but before he takes legal action against Ambrose he is giving him one chance to hand him the title. Ambrose agreed but instead gave him a Participation Award. The Miz then attacked Ambrose with a few punches, then held him for Maryse to slap him but Ambrose ducked and Maryse slapped Miz which Ambrose followed with a Dirty Deeds. Ambrose gave The Miz’ award to Maryse before leaving.
Opinion: I guess everyone, including me, was wrong, Dean Ambrose is staying as our intercontinental Champion. I don’t really feel as invested in this feud as I was some weeks ago, but they’ll probably get another title match before the Royal Rumble and the feud will just die.

Nikki Bella is walking backstage when Natalya attacks her and says “See you out there” before leaving her in pain in the floor.

Both Natalya and Nikki make their entrances but before the match starts, both brawl at ringside when Nikki started the assault. Natalya gets the upperhand and the brawl gets into the ring, Natalya tried escaping through the crowd but Nikki pulled her back to ringside where Natalya finally applied a Sharpshooter before a bunch of referees came out to pretty much stare and yell them to stop.
Opinion: I kind of was looking forward to this match but I guess this way no one looks weak and Natalya still looks strong before ultimately losing to Nikki Bella.

Dolph Ziggler is interviewed backstage about his attack on both Kalisto and Apollo Crews last week. A video is shown and Dolph just doesn’t respond and walks away.

Both Kalisto and Dolph Ziggler make their entrances.

1) Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto.
In a match where I really expected so much more out of Ziggler, Kalisto defeated Dolph in 8 minutes with a Crucifix Rollup.
After the match, Ziggler attacked Kalisto looking far more frustrated than usual. Ziggler goes to ringside where he grabs a chair and hits Kalisto twice before dropping it and as he was walking up the ramp, Apollo Crews’ music hit and he comes out, they brawl a little before getting back into the ring where Ziggler now hits Crews with the chair leaving both Crews and Kalisto in the ring.
Opinion: I expected more from Ziggler with his recent heel turn, but he didn’t look necessarily bad, Apollo Crews did look back as he came out when Ziggler was already leaving and ended up as beat up as Kalisto with no much offense in.

American Alpha are interviewed backstage about their championship match next. They talk about their skills and about the Wyatt Family, they say they are not cocky but confident.

John Cena is interviewed backstage by Renee Young. He talked about Baron Corbin targeting him and proving himself tonight, being fired up and making an example out of Corbin tonight.

A Wyatt Family video airs where Bray talks about American Alpha and how everything but his family is temporary so hopefully they enjoyed their run as tag champs. Randy Orton said “We’re Here”.

The Wyatt Family and American Alpha make their entrances.

2) American Alpha vs. Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. WWE Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship Match.
In a pretty good yet predictable match, American Alpha defeated the Wyatts by pinfall when chad Gable rolled up Randy Orton for the win after Randy was distracted with Luke Harper arguing with the referee.
American Alpha retain the Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Orton and Harper argued and Wyatt stood between them, Orton tried to get around Wyatt and Harper tried to kick Orton but kick Wyatt instead. Orton and Harper stopped and looked at Wyatt as he got up. Wyatt stood up, looked at both and then left the ring.
Opinion: Plain good tag match, again, I expected the best match from these 4 men careers which is a bit unfair, but the match was good. I really wanted a Luke Harper vs. Randy Orton feud and then a Luke Harper vs. Bray Wyatt feud, maybe for ‘Mania but watching this segment made want a Triple Threat feud even more.

A video hyping Wrestlemania 34 in New Orleans was played.

Becky Lynch and Daniel Bryan are watching some footage from last week’s “La Luchadora” appearance. Becky tried to make the argument she made Alexa tap but Alexa Bliss shows up and says she was undercover as La Luchadora last week. Bryan says he doesn’t know who La Luchadora is but he does know Alexa tapped to Becky so next week they should have a title match but to keep la Luchadora way, it would be inside a Steel Cag.
Opinion: Holy Shit! Amazing!

3) Carmella w/James Ellsworth vs. CJ Lunde.
In a squash (What else would you expect), Carmella defeated CJ by submission with a Code of Silence after Ellsworth pulled CJ to ringside when the ref was distracted with Carmella.
Opinion: I love Carmella, she is great. I don’t see where this storyline with Ellsworth is going, but hey, the more Carmella I get on my TV, the better. Also, one of the Spanish announcer said CJ Lunde was his cousin in a mock way which was weird.

Backstage, Carmella is talking about her winning streak with Ellsworth, and said she had something special for her, Ellsworth thought it was a kiss but Carmella said she would take him on a shopping spree.

Backstage Corbin is interviewed about his match with Cena until AJ Styles shows up. He says he will be in commentary for his match later on so try to do his best AJ’s impersonation by beating up Cena.

4) John Cena vs. Baron Corbin.
In a ‘Holy Shit, Baron Corbin might actually be good’ match, John Cena defeated Corbin clean by pinfall with the Attitude Adjustment in 11 minutes.
Opinion: It wasn’t the best of matches, I get that, but Baron seemed like he knew what he was doing in a main event situation with Cena. He actually might have a future as top heel in the WWE.

After the match, Cena posed in the corner facing AJ Styles, while Styles got up in the commentary table and posed back to Cena to close out the show.

Final Thoughts:
That’s Smackdown Live! Good enough episode I would say, not the best episodes but it had two really enjoyable matches, progression in the Ambrose-Miz storyline and Ziggler evolving as a frustrated heel is growing on me and to some(Not many people to be honest) he might be contender to win the Rumble later this month.
Final Rating: 8.4 out of 10.

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