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WWE SmackDown Live comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Jan. 31, 2017) from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas featuring the fallout show from the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) that went down this past Sunday night in San Antonio, Texas.
Advertised for tonight: The champ is here! And we’re just two weeks away from Elimination Chamber!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JAN. 31
Sun streaking cold, an old man wandering lonely, taking time the only way he knows. Leg hurting bad, as he bends to pick a dog end. Goes down to a bog to warm his feet, but me, I'm here to liveblog this here pro wrestling show, folks.
Show opens with a recap video for the Royal Rumble, featuring quotes from various media outlets. (But not us! We said nice things, WWE! C'mon, guys...)
We then cut backstage to AJ Styles, who's watching on a monitor with Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. They say it couldn't have gone any better, but AJ objects, saying he wants his rematch and he doesn't want it in the Elimination Chamber. Shane and Bryan say they've been thinking about it, but they'll talk later.
But beyond that, they're gonna put the best talent in SmackDown in the Chamber. AJ demands his one-on-one match and asks who's in. It's Styles, John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Baron Corbin, the Miz, and Dean Ambrose. Dean rolls up and says he wants to settle his unfinished business with AJ.
Styles tries to brush the idea off but Shane makes the match!
In the arena, John Cena makes his first entrance as a 16-time world champion. He does the "the champ is here" deal and gives a bit of time for a chant to get going. Throughout history, he says, the title is a symbol that shows that you're the man.
But part of being a man is admitting you're wrong and being able to apologize. He heard chants for AJ Styles, and he wants to apologize. He is not just a "guy from Atlanta", AJ is an elite-level WWE superstar that brings out the absolute best in him. And AJ's performance at the Royal Rumble is what the WWE Championship is all about.
Anyway, people have been asking him how he'd celebrate making history. It ain't time for champagne or confetti, because the title is on the line in two weeks at the Elimination Chamber. SmackDown is the place to be, John Cena is the man to beat, and if you want some, come get--
(WYATT NOISE)
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton enter, and Wyatt mocks Cena's "champ is here" deal. Everything is right with the world, he says, but it seems like the more things change, the more everything stays exactly the same. It's like some kind of vicious cycle, and the hands of fate have dealt John the title he so blindly covets once more.
But in two weeks, Cena'll be trapped like a rat inside the Elimination Chamber with him, and there'll be nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Bray promises that when the dust is cleared, he'll be WWE Champion, and the world will have finally entered the Era of Wyatt.
It's his destiny, John, he told him things were changing, and if he doesn't believe him, why not ask his brother, the winner of this year's Royal Rumble, Randy Orton. Orton gets on the mic, saying if by some miracle Cena makes it out alive, he'll be waiting for him at WrestleMania. But one way or the other, they're gonna end this vicious cycle and the Wyatts wll set the championship free.
Bray adds that they're here and advances on the ring! Cena takes his shirt off! Bray and Orton have him trapped in the middle of the ring...
(WYATT NOISE)
LUKE HARPER'S IN THE RING! HE'S WITH JOHN CENA!
Enter Shane McMahon. He says you can always expect the unexpected on SmackDown, so he's booking a Teddy Long Special, and it starts right now, after the break!
Back from commercial with the video package for the announcement that next year's Royal Rumble will be in Philadelphia, and then the bell rings.
John Cena & Luke Harper vs. the Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton)
Cena and Wyatt to start, John goes behind, grabs a side headlock, Bray shoots him off and eats a shoulder block. Cena goes right for an Attitude Adjustment and Wyatt tags Orton in. Cena and Orton take the atmosphere in for a second and Harper tags himself in. Slingshot senton atomico and then he's on the Viper with grounded punches.
Whip across, back and forth, Luke throws a big dropkick and catapults Randy chest-first into the middle rope. Heading outside, Bray interjects but Harper goes around him to throw a big slicing right and back suplex Orton onto the announce table! Harper's fired up!
Back in the ring, Bray tags in and squares off against his first disciple. He barks an order at Luke, who backs off and tags Cena in. John blocks a punch, throws a few of his own, off the ropes, Bray catches him with a back elbow and soon puts boots to him.
Wyatt lays Cena out with a huge right hand and follows with mounted punches before forcing him in the corner and tagging Orton back in. Randy stomps at John's shins and forces him out of the ring as we head to break.
Back from commercial and Bray comes off the ropes for a senton on Cena that gets two. We get some footage of John taking a back suplex into the announce table from the break and Orton tags back in and hits the rope-hung DDT. The Viper poses for the crowd and goes to that special place... but Cena blocks the RKO!
A lariat gets the champ some separation but Wyatt tags in and blocks the tag, running right over to Harper and doing his voodoo. A big right lays Cena back out for a nearfall, he goes off the ropes for the senton again but John moves out of the way! Tag to Orton, snap scoop powerslam gets two,
Randy knocks Luke off the apron but Cena comes off the ropes with the shoulder blocks, the fall-forward Blue Thunder Driver, Five Knuckle Shuffle, up for the Attitude Adjustment but Orton hits his back-to-back backbreaker! Harper comes in the ring, Bray tries to intervene.
Harper lays Orton out, goes to Sister Abigail Bray, Randy comes in so Luke hits him with a boot, Wyatt catches his first disciple with a Sister Abigail of his own, John picks him up for the AA...
The Wyatt Family wins by pinfall with an RKO from Randy Orton on John Cena.
The Family pose in the middle of the ring in victory.
Commentary promises us a women's tag for later and hypes up Styles/Ambrose and we go to break.
Back from commercial, James Ellsworth makes an entrance, mic in hand.
He wants the crowd to be quiet because he has something very important to say. He means it, don't be rude! He says it's time now for the moon-walkin', trash-talkin' chick that's always ready to go, get your popcorn ready 'cause she's gonna put on a show, his boo, yet more superlatives that I'm too busy typing to catch, Carmella!
They skip hand-in-hand to the ring, where he takes her jacket, hat, and whatnot.
Carmella vs. Delilah Dawson
Delilah with a slap, goes behind, headlock but Carmella knocks her to the mat. Up by the hair, huge biel throws her across the ring and James runs over to laugh at her in the corner. Dawson with a small package but Carmella gets out, she's throwing forearms, off the ropes but Carmella catches her with a knee.
Carmella throws her into the ropes, Delilah hits a kick, Ellsworth trips her! Carmella's ready to take advantage...
Carmella wins by submission with the Code of Silence.
Commentary proceeds to shill for the new WWE mobile game.
Kalisto makes an entrance, he has another match against Dolph Ziggler after the break.
Back from commercial, Dolph Ziggler makes his entrance.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Kalisto
Dolph right in with a forearm and crossface blows, elbow drop, but Kalisto throws kicks from the mat Ali/Inoki style and gets to the apron. Springboard crossbody nearly wins the match for him and Apollo Crews is watching backstage. Ziggler throws an uppercut and regains the upper hand.
Wristlock stomp to the shoulder, neckbreaker connects for one, and Dolph drags Kalisto up by his feet. Rolling solebutt to the face, Kalisto tries to follow up in the corner but referee Jason Ayers backs him off, Ziggler comes out ready...
Dolph Ziggler wins by pinfall with a superkick.
Post-match Dolph tries to rip Kalisto's mask off but Apollo hits the ring! He chases Ziggler off into the crowd! They jaw at each other from opposite sides of the barricade.
Becky Lynch and Naomi are interviewed backstage. Becky says Mickie James cost her her title and somehow blames her for her forgotten legacy, but she certainly won't forget what she did to her. She's used to being attacked from all angles, but now she's with Naomi and they have a mutual understanding.
Naomi says Alexa Bliss tried to discredit her, call her a nobody, but she showed Bliss who's a nobody when she snatched her bald and pins her 1-2-3. They're comin' at 'em with that Glow Fire, and we head to break.
Back from commercial with a hype video for WrestleMania.
Alexa Bliss & Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch & Naomi
Alexa and Becky start, Lynch with a waistlock takedown, another, front chancery, tag to Naomi. Naomi slingshots in with a sunset flip and throws a kick to the ribs before following with a leg drop. Naomi off the ropes, crossbody, Bliss ducks and is on her with mounted punches!
Tag to Mickie, kick, snapmare, off the ropes for a dropkick into a cover but it's not nearly enough. Alexa back in, kick to the gut, mat slam, giant step but Naomi has an upkick and goes looking for a tag. Falling mat slam stops her and Bliss follows with the Insult to Injury.
Tags made on both sides, Lynch levels James with lariats, two arm and a leg, that set up the Straight Fire forearm. Springboard kick, rolling solebutt, exploder suplex... no good! Becky heads up top but Bliss comes over and gets James enough room to take Lynch down with a wristlock throw.
Pin broken up by Naomi and we head to break.
Back from commercial and Bliss has Lynch in a reverse chinlock. Becky's nearly out, so Alexa throws her to the mat and steps on her hair to dig in a double wristlock. Tag to James, choke in the corner, disdainful slaps to the back of the head but Lynch is throwing hands in return.
Big slap from Mickie drops the Lass Kicker and they struggle in the corner a bit before James grabs a headscissors, throws a few punches, and takes her over for a two count. Half nelson sleeper in, Becky to her feet and out with elbows but she gets thrown to the mat and Bliss tags in.
Alexa drags her to her feet and throw a clubbing overhand to the back. Whip, Lynch with a boot, Bliss trying to block the tag but Lynch grabs a schoolboy pin for two and separation to make the tag! Diving crossbody, dropkick knocks Mickie off the apron, somersault lariat, sitout jawbreaker!
"Speedball" Mike Bailey kicks... CARTWHEEL HEADSCISSORS DRIVER! NO GOOD! Alexa takes a swing at Becky, who tries to get in and keeps referee John Cone occupied long enough for James and Bliss to get some good shots in. Lynch and Mickie fight to the outside, Naomi capitalizes...
Becky Lynch & Naomi win by pinfall with a split-legged moonsault from Naomi on Alexa Bliss.
We head backstage where American Alpha are being interviewed as to what's next for them. They've been wondering the same thing. They've been standing there for a month and nobody's stepped up to try and take their titles. Gable covers his eyes and waves his title around begging anyone to come challenge them.
In fact, they're gonna head to the ring and issue an open challenge right now... after the break!
Back from commercial and American Alpha are making their entrance for their open challenge.
The Usos come out... and then so do the Ascension! And the Vaudevillains! And Breezango! And Beauty and the Man-Beast!
American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) vs. Beauty and the Man-Beast (Heath Slater & Rhyno) vs. Breezango (Fandango & Tyler Breeze) vs. the Ascension (Konnor & Viktor) vs. the Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) vs. the Vaudevillains (Aiden English & Simon Gotch)
All-out chaos, inside and out of the ring! I'm not even sure this is technically a match! We're going to break!
Back from commercial and chaos still reigns! There are no less than FOUR referees in the ring trying to direct traffic!
It's down to American Alpha and Beauty and the Man-Beast in the ring and a cease-fire is declared.
We get a recap of the last few weeks of the Natalya/Nikki Bella feud.
Bryan's backstage on the phone when two security guys roll up and give the all-clear. Natalya comes through and says she doesn't feel safe anymore. She assumes she was brought here to talk about her new merchandise, when Nikki steps forward. They bicker as Bryan tries to tell them that he has an announcement, and finally he blows his lid.
He's made a match between them at Elimination Chamber, which leads Nattie to flounce off, goons in tow.
Back in the arena, Dean Ambrose makes his entrance, followed soon after by AJ Styles. Their match is after the break.
Back from commercial and Neville cuts a promo to hype up 205 Live. He says tonight his dominance will continue and he'll show the world that nobody is worthy to step in the ring with the King of the Cruiserweights.
AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose
Light grappling to start, Dean ends up with a front facelock, AJ takes it to a hammerlock, Ambrose with a side headlock, Styles shoots him off and eats a shoulder block. Dean with a wristlock, AJ escapes and grabs one of his own, Ambrose back with a side headlock takeover.
AJ forces Dean to the ropes and grabs a headlock of his own, Ambrose shoots him off and eats a shoulder block of his own this time. Off the ropes, Styles runs into a pair of arm drags and a scoop slam, then a side headlock takeover. Dean shifts to a Texas Cloverleaf and then to a Rings of Saturn but Styles gets his foot on the ropes!
The Phenomenal One with a kick and a smash of the face into the announce desk, the action goes back inside and he throws a chest kick, a punch, a forearm off the ropes for two! Corner strikes, shoulder thrust, Dean reverses and puts the boots to him! Whip to the corner, AJ ducks the charge and Dean goes shoulder-first into the ringpost.
Styles has a neck crank in but Ambrose fights it with body blows, whip reversed, off the ropes with a clothesline into mounted punches. Referee Jason Ayers forces a break because he's too close to the ropes but Dean follows it with a back body drop before sending AJ outside.
Up top for the elbow drop but here comes the Lone Wolf as we go to break.
Back from commercial and Baron Corbin has joined the announce team.
Dean is wobbly but heads up top, where AJ meets him and cuts him off. Pumphandle backbreaker! Not enough! Off the ropes with a knee drop, kick between the shoulder blades, only two. Charging corner lariat, another, Dean is reeling, AJ says he's got one more in him but Ambrose ducks it!"
Kick to the gut, tries for Dirty Deeds, AJ starts the Styles Rush, Ambrose turns it into a swinging neckbreaker and both men are out on the mat. Dean ducks a lariat, throws some charging elbows, a lariat off the ropes, he's fired up! Off the turnbuckles for a forearm, he sets AJ up top.
Ambrose to the top rope, thinking superkplex but Styles slips out and yanks Dean face-first to the turnbuckles. Argentine backbreaker rack, Dean slips out for an O'Connor roll, AJ throws a kick to the leg, ends up on the apron but when he goes to springboard in Ambrose clobbers him outside with a forearm!
Dean goes for a suicide dive and it's Styles that meets him with the forearm this time! AJ springboards in, Dean goes for Dirty Deeds, missed, pendulum lariat missed, moonsault DDT missed... DEAN WITH A CRASH LANDING! NEARLY ENOUGH! AJ off the top, Dean catches him, AJ swings around for a crucifix pin!
AJ gets a nearfall off of Ushigoroshi! Kick to the midsection, he's calling for the Styles Clash, Dean tries to reverses, they're trading pins, Pele kick! Pendulum lariat! Both men are spent and slow to get to their feet. Dean tries for Dirty Deeds and AJ rolls out, so he heads up top... DIVING ELBOW DROP!
Corbin and Miz get into it now! Dean throws another elbow drop in the ring but Jason Ayers is preoccupied with the brawl! Dean throws a suicide dive on Corbin and throws Miz into the barricade, but when he heads back in the ring, AJ gets him and hooks him...
AJ Styles wins by pinfall with the Styles Clash.
Skull Crushing Finale on Ambrose! End of Days on Miz! End of Days on Ambrose!
AJ looks on from the top of the ramp.
That's the show, folks.