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WWE SmackDown Live comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Feb. 21, 2017) from the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California featuring all the latest build to the upcoming WrestleMania 33 pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza on April 2 in Orlando.
Advertised for tonight: A battle royal to determine the number one contender to the WWE championship, Nikki Bella vs. Natalya in a Falls Count Anywhere match, and more!
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 FEB. 21
One more chance to believe in, that you can even the score. One more place at the table, always room for one more, right here as I liveblog this here pro wrestling show, folks.
Show opens with a video recap of the Elimination Chamber match and Wyatt's opening and closing segments from last week's SmackDown, and then a hype video for our #1 contendership battle royal.
Daniel Bryan makes his entrance. He welcomes everyone to the show and points out how we're just forty days away from WrestleMania and that the Road to WrestleMania is full of twists and turns. And so he introduces the SmackDown Women's Champion, Naomi.
The crowd gives her a fresh "You deserve it!" chant and Bryan agrees. For years, she's scratched and clawed and seen other women given more opportunities, but here she is as SmackDown Women's Champion, and he's proud of her. And that's why this is probably the hardest thing he's ever had to do as General Manager.
He relates to her, because for years he was the same as her. He fought to the very top, he was champion, and then he got injured and had to relinquish his championship. He didn't want to, but he knew he needed to. So he and Shane McMahon went over her medical record, and they know, conclusively, because of her knee injury, that she will not be able to defend her title in the required thirty days.
So he asks her to relinquish the championship. Before she does anything, she wants to say a few things. She thanks Bryan for the kind words, and says it's crazy how fast life can change. Last week she was crying tears of joy, having finally accomplished her dream, and now a week a later she's filled with sadness and frustration.
At Elimination Chamber she reached the top of the mountain, and the view was so sweet, and now she's being knocked off into freefall where she has no control over anything. She feels bad for her fans, like she let them down. And she knows that when she hands the title over, WrestleMania is probably gone too.
She hands Daniel Bryan the title belt, and he gestures for an ovation before giving her a hug. Naomi continues, saying to whoever "borrows" the title while she's gone, when she comes back, everybody is gonna feel the freakin' glow.
As Naomi walks up the ramp, Alexa Bliss comes down. She gets in the ring and on the mic and says that was amazing. She could have gone without the sob story of the uphill battle and all that, but the end part, where Naomi gave up the title, that was perfection.
For the past two weeks, all Bliss has wanted is her rematch, but with the champion unable defend, they were kind of in a jam. She offers to help Bryan figure out what to do. They can't have no champion going into WrestleMania! She is deep in thought here, folks.
Aha, she has an idea! Her arms and legs work fine, and since she didn't get the rematch she deserved, she thinks that the title should just come back to her. The American Dragon says that as difficult as taking the title away from Naomi was, this is even more difficult.
Bliss WAS the last champion before Naomi, and giving the title back does make sense, but... he's not gonna do that. What he IS going to do is give her an opportunity, and he knows that she's been waiting two long weeks and is ready to fight, so the match to decide the new champion is gonna happen right now!
Bryan introduces her opponent... it's Becky Lynch! The match is next, after the break.
Back from commercial in time for the bell to ring!
Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch (WWE SmackDown Women's Championship)
Circling, collar and elbow, Lynch pushes Bliss off and a shoving match breaks out. Bliss goes to break the code with a kick and gets rolled up, so we trade pins in quick succession. Enzuigiri from Becky gets two, scoop, blocked, Alexa throwing hammer blows, off the ropes, down with a shoulder block.
Drop-down, Lynch picks the leg on a leapfrog and grounds her with a front chancery. Escaped, trading pins again, struggle in a backslide, whip reversed, Lynch up and over, arm drag, a second, and she grounds Bliss with an armbar. O'Connor roll blocked, Alexa charges in and gets caught but reverses and PLANTS Lynch with an STO!
Choking Becky against the ropes now, double knees to the back get two, double wristlock hair pull, Lynch throwing body blows so Alexa goes for a whip. Reversed to an exploder suplex for two and we go to a break on Bliss taking a breather on the outside.
Back from commercial, Alexa is pulling herself up in the corner as Becky comes in with the Straight Fire forearm into the corner kick combos, a nearfall off a missile dropkick. Bliss yanks the apron in the ring to distract referee Ryan Tran, she fires off a thrust to the throat...
Alexa Bliss wins by pinfall with a schoolboy pin to win the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.
Mickie James goes to attack Lynch after the match but Becky fends her off.
We go backstage with Dean Ambrose. He's talking about the hazards of the job, normally getting thrown through glass or into electrical equipment would put him in a mood, but tonight he's got a shot a title shot and he's gonna make the most of it. If he gets a chance to break Baron Corbin's leg, well, all the better.
Kalisto's up next, he talks about how he struggled to get to WWE, and says there's no limit to what he can do, including main eventing WrestleMania as thousands chant "Lucha!"
Miz is on deck now, he runs down his many, many accolades and all the films he has starred in, and talks about adding this year's WrestleMania to that list, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, commentary pumps up the Natalya vs. Nikki Bella Falls Count Anywhere Match.
Renee Young interviews Nattie backstage, and Neidhart reiterates her claim that people only like Nikki because she was engineered in a lab to get Instagram likes. She runs down the many things she claims are fake about Nikki, and tonight she's going to expose her and prove her to be a cheap Natalya knockoff.
American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) vs. Breezango (Fandango & Tyler Breeze)
Breezango put boots to Jason Jordan before the bell even rings!
Fandango starts and hangs Jordan over the top rope before tagging Breeze in. Stereo kicks to mounted punches, front facelock applied, tag to Fandango but Gable comes in...
American Alpha win by pinfall with Ode to the Steiners on Fandango.
The Usos come down through the crowd, clapping and cheering. They make like they're ready for a fight, but not tonight, no sir. They just came out to tell Alpha to their faces that they can't get ready for them. How you gonna train for two brothers with nothing to lose? You can't.
They say tonight after the show Alpha are gonna go to their hotel room, have their protein shake, say their prayers, and go to bed, but they're gonna toss and turn and aren't gonna be able to shake the feeling that somebody's behind them, and that ain't paranoia, it's the Usos.
Commentary hypes up the battle royal, and then we get a Black History Month vignette for Jackie Robinson before we go to break.
Back from commercial, commentary hypes up tonight's edition of Talking Smack.
AJ Styles runs into somebody backstage and asks if he knows where he's going? The guy says he doesn't, and AJ says he's going to the main event of WrestleMania! Put a smile on your face!
Dolph Ziggler is standing in front of his logo talking about how the New Era as been canceled, and to anybody that thinks can replace him, he superkicks his logo, making it fall down, and tells them to replace that.
Mojo Rawley says he's won two battle royals in the past two months, and tonight is for WrestleMania. He says WrestleMania into the camera a few more times, each more intense.
Luke Harper is hanging out with a light bulb, he says for years he followed Bray Wyatt and obeyed him, but at a flick of a switch that changed, and he's free. After he's victorious tonight, there'll be nowhere left for Bray to... run!
Nikki Bella is asked about her match and she says any feelings for Natalya have been finished and she's going to prove that she's more than just a pretty face. She was the longest-reigning Divas Champion for a reason, and she's going to leave it all in the ring to prove why.
After tonight, she says, Nattie will be known as the Broken Hart. (DELIGHTFUL!)
Nikki makes her entrance, so the match is next, after the break!
Back from commercial in time for Natalya's entrance.
Natalya vs. Nikki Bella (Falls Count Anywhere Match)
Nikki gets right in there with a spear and throws mounted punches until Natalya bails! A chase around, Bella catches Neidhart back in the ring with her single knee facebreaker and nearly ends the match then and there. Nikki's looking for plunder, she pulls a table out from under the ring but Nattie stops her with a baseball slide.
She goes to put the table away and Nikki catches her with a schoolboy pin for two and gets a kendo stick out, laying shot after shot in on the cat lady. A throw into the barricade gets two more, and then she throws her over the barricade and the fighting spills into the crowd!
Nattie with the "You can't see me!" and a right hand, she throws Nikki into a divider and... meows? Perched on the divider, she hooks Bella, looking for a suplex but Nikki blocks and kicks her to the floor! LEAPING ROUNDHOUSE KICK OFF THE BARRICADE! NO GOOD!
Nikki takes her back ringside but Neidhart is right on her, shoving her into the barricade and putting boots to her. She chucks the Fearless one into the steps but it's not good for a finish, so she grabs the kendo stick before dropping it and choosing to dismantle the announce table!
Bella back in it with elbows, three of 'em, she tries to take it back in the ring but Nattie hits a shoulder block and gets under her for a powerbomb clutch. Nikki's holding on for dear life but Neidhart breaks her away and forces her to escape with punches.
Struggling back to their feet, Nikki picks her up... ALABAMA SLAM ON THE TABLE! COVER ON THE TABLE! NATALYA KICKS OUT AND WE GO TO BREAK!
BACK FROM COMMERCIAL NATALYA HAS THE SHARPSHOOTER IN BUT NIKKI GETS THE ROPES SO SHE BREAKS THE HOLD. SUPLEX ON THE RAMP! Nikki kicks out just after one! (Sorry folks, got stuck for a second there.) Bella grabs a fireman's carry but Neidhart fights out and throws a knee, taking Nikki and throwing her into some road cases.
Pin on the road case but it's not over yet. Nikki kicks at her from another and Nattie throws her through the curtain. Bella with a kick to the gut and a throw into a case, but Natalya throws Nikki throw a curtain and into Maryse! NIKKI THROWS NATALYA THROUGH A MIRROR BUT SHE KICKS OUT!
Back on the stage, Nattie crawls away but Nikki hits a spear and covers her for two. Neidhart's begging for a time out bu she's not getting it willingly and has to throw punches. Double leg on the ramp, trying for the Sharpshooter but Nikki reverses, the Fearless Lock is on!
MARYSE IS HERE AND SHE HAS A STEEL PIPE! SHE'S WAILING ON NIKKI, A SHOT TO THE LEG, TO THE BACK! MIZ IS PULLING HER OFF! Natalya sees her chance...
Natalya wins by pinfall with a lateral press.
Referees tend to Nikki while she clutches her leg in agony.
Commentary promises us our #1 contender's battle royal after the break.
Back from commercial and we get the Diamond Dallas Page Hall of Fame announcement.
Baron Corbin cuts a promo about how he likes destruction, inflicting pain, and most of all, the spotlight. And when he takes his rightful place in the main event of WrestleMania, the spotlight will be on him. Why? Because Baron Corbin.
Apollo Crews says Dolph Ziggler thought he could keep him down by attacking his leg, but he's still standing. People take him lightly because of his smile, but he's not extending kindness to anybody tonight, and folks are gonna get tossed if they stand in his way.
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton are in the smoky room, and Bray talks about the greater good. He says Orton has earned the keys to the kingdom, and anybody who wins tonight will be his sacrificial lamb at WrestleMania, slaughtered for the world to see. He welcomes us to the Era of Wyatt, and Orton bids us to run.
John Cena makes his entrance, but the match will have to wait until after the break.
Back from commercial, we get a promo from Jack Gallagher ahead of 205 Live. He's wrestling Tony Nese, and assures us despite the Premier Athlete's immense physical abilities, a gentleman is always prepared.
Entrances then continue for our main event.
AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews vs. Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena vs. Kalisto vs. Luke Harper vs. Mojo Rawley vs. the Miz (WWE Championship #1 Contender's Battle Royal)
Dean comes out and all hell breaks loose as he goes for Corbin! The action has me bumfuzzled as folks weave in and out of fights with each other. Dolph clears a space hitting Cena with a superkick and he and Styles team up to try and dump the sixteen-time champion, but he sticks the landing on the apron.
Kalisto nearly gets Harper out with a headscissors takeover as Mojo and Apollo work on the Miz. Styles nearly dumped by a coalition but he saves himself, Ziggler looking for his big DDT but Ambrose blocks and takes him to the apron. Harper saves himself with an eyepoke to Corbin, Ambrose and Kalisto break the DGUSA Bros truce and go at it, stuff is just constantly happening.
Cena looking for the Attitude Adjustment on Corbin but the Lone Wolf is too much for him and he crumples as we go to break.
Back from commercial, Baron hits Deep Six on Miz and stands tall over the bodies! Rawley in on him, firing punches, Stinger splash, he charges for the corner forearm...
Baron Corbin eliminates Mojo Rawley.
Salida del Sol on Ziggler, a kick for Harper, moonsault on Ambrose, he tries to dump Dolph but gets blocked. Ziggler goes to suplex him over but Kalisto doesn't go, kicks on the apron, looking for Salida del Sol, but Dolph yanks the mask, hits a superkick...
Dolph Ziggler eliminates Kalisto.
Apollo Crews running wild, Ziggler tries to yank him but Crews is ready...
Apollo Crews eliminates Dolph Ziggler.
Ziggler gets a chair while Apollo tries to dump Corbin and clobbers Kalisto. Crews goes to check, concerned...
Baron Corbin eliminates Apollo Crews.
Apollo kicks the chair out of Dolph's hands and chases him up the ramp with it!
AJ Styles and John Cena slugging it out punch for punch now, Cena ucks on, Attitude Adjustment, Styles lands on his feet! Superkick from Harper, Pele kick from AJ, Dean in, Corbin in, stuff's going wild! Miz realizes everybody else is out of it and decides his course of action.
"Yes!" fingers, corner dropkicks for Harper, Ambrose, Styles, and Corbin, now chest kicks on Cena! John ducks the buzzsaw...
John Cena eliminates the Miz.
Miz is furious as we go to break.
Back from commercial Dean hooks AJ for a suplex but the Phenomenal One blocks and throws punches. Waistlock applied, Cena comes from behind... HE GERMAN SUPLEXES BOTH MEN AT ONCE! Ducks a lariat, shoulder blocks connect, fall-forward Blue Thunder Driver, "You can't see me!", off the ropes... AND CAUGHT BY END OF DAYS!
Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, Corbin escapes, charges...
Dean Ambrose eliminates Baron Corbin.
Corbin yanks him under the ropes... END OF DAYS ON THE FLOOR! Miz sneaks back in...
The Miz eliminates John Cena!
Miz hightails it and gives John a "You can't see me" of his own from the crowd!
Back in the ring, Harper stares Styles down, they're the only two left. Double leg, AJ blocks it, tries to get Luke over with a forearm and charges back. Harper going for a catapult, AJ slides back in. Ambrose is back on his feet and shoves both men to the apron! All three are on the apron, in danger!
Styles and Ambrose trade hands, Dean's wobbling, he's nearly off but catches himself on the top rope and saves himself! Harper nails him with a superkick...
Luke Harper eliminates Dean Ambrose.
Luke hooks AJ on the next apron over, front chancery, lifts him, AJ slips over the corner so Harper blasts him with a forearm. Struggle over the turnbuckles now, Harper gets knocked back in the ring and AJ rolls back in himself. They square up in the middle of the ring and Styles starts throwing leg kicks but Harper picks him up.
AJ shifts to Luke's back and locks a sleeper on for a moment. Harper throwing hands, tries to suplex AJ over but he lands on the ropes. Trading rights, Styles tries to pull him over but gets blasted again. He knocks Luke down in return! Trading punches from a precarious position, Harper gets the suplex!
Both men clatter to the floor at the same time.
It appeared to me that Luke Harper hit the floor last, but the referees are arguing amongst themselves. Luke and AJ argue in the ring as the referees continue to confer.
Daniel Bryan comes down! He confers with the officials and says the match went to a draw, therefore there is no winner, but they'll determine a winner next week. AJ starts poking fingers... HARPER LEVELS HIM WITH A DISCUS LARIAT!
Harper stares into the camera fuming, before climbing the turnbuckles and posing.
(Wyatt noise)
Bray chuckles in the smoky room.
That's the show, folks.