WWE SmackDown
February 14, 2017
Anaheim, California
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, JBL, David Otunga, Tom Phillips
Results by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com
A video package opens Smackdown highlighting Elimination Chamber on Sunday.
New WWE Champion Bray Wyatt opens Smackdown
We go live to Anaheim where the arena is dark.
Fireflies fill the Honda Center as the new WWE Champion Bray Wyatt heads to the ring. We are reminded that Wyatt will defend the WWE Championship against John Cena tonight. Big reaction for Wyatt in Anaheim. A loud “YOU DESERVE IT” chant starts up. Wyatt smiles. He starts a cutting a promo about Sister Abigail being right and always speaking the truth. Wyatt says he also speaks the truth and knew this day would come. He says he know has the “whole damn world in his hands” as he holds up the WWE Championship. Wyatt asks the fans to open their ears and eyes as he will lead them to paradise. “Stand in my way and you will burn in the fire. Ladies and gentleman, I would like to welcome you all to the Era of Wyatt.”
John Cena’s music hits to interrupt. Mixed reaction for Cena in Anaheim as he grabs a mic. Cena talks about the very energetic crowd tonight in Anaheim. He takes a moment to introduce the new WWE Champion, Bray Wyatt. Cena noticed he has supporters in the house tonight and noticed he also did a good job of brainwashing them. He brings up the “YOU DESERVE IT” chant. The crowd starts up the chant again. Cena says no man deserves anything around here and they earn every single inch they get. He says Wyatt is now a target around here and suggests they start the championship match right now.
AJ Styles walks out to interrupt. Styles tells Cena he isn’t getting his rematch before him. He tells Cena he can’t just do whatever he wants anymore. Styles says this is about him and brings up beating Cena several times. “And I know I can beat you,” adds Styles looking at Wyatt. Wyatt laughs. Styles demands his one-on-one rematch for the WWE Championship.
Here comes Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan. Bryan congratulates Wyatt on winning the WWE Championship. He says Cena is owed a rematch for the title, Styles is also owed a rematch for the championship and they have promised a WWE Championship tonight. Bryan books a triple threat for the WWE Championship tonight. Wyatt is not happy.
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions American Alpha are in action next.
Adam’s Thoughts: Good opening promo tonight. I was genuinely surprised to see so many people down on the idea of Bray Wyatt as WWE Champion. He’s literally spent nearly four years on this main roster trying to get this act over and now is the perfect time to pull the trigger. Love the addition of AJ Styles tonight for the championship match.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Dean Ambrose is walking around and looking for Baron Corbin.
Non-Title Match
American Alpha vs. The Ascension
We start with Chad Gable and Viktor. Gable with a takedown early. Gable with another waistlock takedown. Gable gets a third big takedown on Viktor for a two count. Viktor with a cheap shot on Jason Jordan. Konnor is in. Big Brawl breaks out. The Ascension then quickly toss American Alpha out of the ring. Both Jordan and Gable get up on the top turnbuckle and take out both Konnor and Viktor inside the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Viktor has Gable down in a side headlock. Viktor works over the left arm of Gable to avoid a tag out and then sends him to the corner. Tag to Konnor. Konnor splashes Gable in the corner and then sends Gable into a high knee by Viktor. Hot tag to Jordan. Jordan with overhead suplexes on both Konnor and Viktor. Gable tags himself in. Jordan misses a splash on Viktor. Viktor with an elbow to Gable. Tag to Konnor. The Ascension with a double team move tossing Gable up and down on the mat. Gable kicks out. Jordan levels Konnor and this sets up the Grand Amplitude on Viktor to get the pinfall.
Winners: American Alpha
After the match, The Usos show up on the screen and tell American Alpha to watch out.
Backstage, James Ellsworth is with Carmella. He tries to invite her to dinner tonight. Carmella wants to keep things professional. Dean Ambrose walks by looking for Baron Corbin. Ambrose tells Ellsworth he’s being used by Carmella. Carmella asks Ellsworth if he is going to put up with that kind of talk. Daniel Bryan walks up. Ambrose asks if he can beat the crap out of Ellsworth tonight. Bryan says they do have unresolved issues. He books a match between Ambrose and Ellsworth tonight. Ellsworth doesn’t know what just happened.
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James in a rematch from Elimination Chamber is set for tonight.
Adam’s Thoughts: Pretty good tag team match tonight. American Alpha still seems like they are having a hard time connecting with the WWE audience, even as champions. I like the glimpse of some potential from The Ascension after they basically did nothing for a year.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, James Ellsworth is in the ring with Carmella. He wants to introduce his special lady friend. Ellsworth says Carmella makes his heart race. He gives her a big introduction.
Dean Ambrose’s music hits. Ambrose doesn’t come out. After a delay, we see Baron Corbin dragging Ambrose out by his jacket. Ambrose with forearms to Corbin as they brawl near the entrance area. Ambrose with a flying forearm jumping off some production boxes. Corbin counters Ambrose and hits Deep Six causing sparks to fly near the tech equipment. WWE officials run out and start checking on Ambrose as they rush Corbin away.
Footage of Natalya attacking Nikki Bella backstage at Elimination Chamber is shown. Backstage, we see Nikki talking with Daniel Bryan. Bryan has an idea and he thinks Nikki will like it. Natalya walks in complaining to Bryan. Nikki says Natalya has lost it. She blames Natalya on why Team Smackdown lost at Survivor Series. Natalya attacks Nikki again. Security runs in the room and breaks it up. Bryan says he’s had enough and books a Falls Count Anywhere match between Nikki and Natalya for next week.
Adam’s Thoughts: WWE’s pyro guy was a little quick on the trigger with the “sparks” during the Deep Six on Ambrose. Stuff like that just completely takes me out of presentation. The promo exchange between Nikki and Natalya was also underwhelming. They just both seem to get completely lost when they are allowed to scream at each other.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Baron Corbin says he isn’t WWE Champion right now because of Dean Ambrose. He points out how Ambrose is on his way to the hospital now because of him.
Backstage, Renee Young is with Dolph Ziggler. Young brings up Ziggler attacking Apollo Crews and Kalisto after the match at Elimination Chamber. She says Ziggler has been called a sore loser. Ziggler said the only sore losers were Crews and Kalisto after that match. He said this new generation of talent think they are here to replace him and he intends on taking them all out if they want to take his place on this roster.
Becky Lynch heads to the ring. She faces Mickie James next.
-Commercial Break-
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James
Lock up and James goes to work on the left arm of Becky. James floats over into a cover for a quick one count. Becky with a few takedowns on James. Becky blocks a kick and gets another takedown into a bridge pinfall for a two count on James. Becky with a backslide pinfall on James for another two count. Becky pushes James away and James rolls out. James returns to the ring and gets in some right hands to the ribs of Becky. Becky with a few arm drags to get James grounded again. Becky kicks James off the ring apron. Becky jumps out and both connect with a double clothesline on the outside.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, James has Becky in a headlock inside the ring. James tosses Becky down by her hair. James gets another headlock and throws knees to the body of Becky. Becky catches James with a leg lariat and a big back kick. Becky with an overhead suplex on James for a two count. Becky rolls up James countering an armbar attempt. James with a flapjack on Becky. James misses a shot off the top rope and Becky connects with another overhead suplex for a two count. Becky with a forearm to the back of James. James goes flying to the outside and favors her right arm/shoulder. James favors her shoulder as the referee checks on her. When the referee looks to stop the match, James connects with a quick kick to the head of Becky and gets the pinfall. James starts smiling right away.
Winner: Mickie James
Adam’s Thoughts: Another pretty average match between these two. Not sure they have the best chemistry in the ring. I did like the heelish ending on the part of James faking out Becky with an injury. Still, a match that left a lot to be desired.
-Commercial Break-
Naomi celebrates title win at Elimination Chamber
We return live as Renee Young is in the ring with new WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi. Anaheim starts a “YOU DESERVE IT” chant. Young reveals Naomi suffered an injury on Sunday night at Elimination Chamber. Naomi talks about noticing she was hurt later on in the evening. She says this injury won’t stop her. “It has taken me eight years to get to where I am right now. Nothing is taking this moment away for me,” adds Naomi. Naomi says she is bringing this title home on way or another at WrestleMania.
Alexa Bliss walks out and asks if the “Glow Worm” got a boo-boo? Bliss says Naomi was lucky on Sunday. She says the pressure is getting to Naomi. Bliss calls Naomi a flop and wants to turn a negative into a positive. She suggests an ESPN 30 for 30 about Naomi, the failure of Naomi. Bliss calls herself the real Smackdown Women’s Champion.
Naomi calls Bliss a little flea and tells her not to play around right now. Bliss tells Naomi to calm down. She is giving Naomi one week to invoke her rematch clause. Bliss even gives Naomi the opportunity to just hand the title over to her.
Bray Wyatt defends the WWE Championship in a triple threat match next against John Cena and AJ Styles in the main event.
Adam’s Thoughts: Average promo exchange between Naomi and Alexa Bliss. If it isn’t a storyline, Naomi can’t seem to catch a break inside the ring in regards to staying healthy.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Championship – Triple Threat Match
Bray Wyatt (c) vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles
During Wyatt’s entrance, Luke Harper appeared when the lights came back on. Harper immediately started attacking Wyatt at ringside tossing him into the barricade. Harper lifts up his arms and backs off. When Wyatt charges, Harper catches him with a superkick.
Wyatt is down at ringside as we head to a break.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, the main event is now in progress as John Cena and AJ Styles are already brawling. Styles misses a knee drop and Cena plants Styles with his twisting powerbomb. Wyatt trips up Cena on the outside, pulls him out and launches him into the steel steps. Styles catches Wyatt with a slingshot forearm over the top rope. Styles tosses Wyatt back in and throws right hands in the corner. Styles with a jumping forearm off the ropes to Wyatt resulting in a two count. Wyatt levels Styles with a right hand. Wyatt tosses Styles out. Cena is back in catching Wyatt with repeated shoulder blocks and his planting powerbomb. Cena connects with the Five Knuckle Shuffle on Wyatt. Wyatt counters an AA attempt. Wyatt attempts a Sister Abigail. Styles springboards back inside the ring and catches Wyatt with a flying forearm. Cena with an AA on Styles. Styles kicks out. Wyatt then catches Cena with Sister Abigail out of no where. Styles breaks up the pinfall attempt by Wyatt.
-Commercial Break-
We return live as we see Styles attempting a splash on Wyatt over the announce table at ringside. Styles connects and the table doesn’t break. The crowd in Anaheim starts up a “ONE MORE TIME” chant. Styles jumps back up on the barricade and this time crashes over Wyatt with a leg drop crushing the announce table. Styles tries to springboard back inside the ring. Cena counters getting Styles on his shoulders and connecting with an AA. Cena rolls through going for another AA and Styles counters into a Calf Crusher! Cena rolls through and gets an STF applied on Styles! Wyatt is back in and senton splashes over Cena who is also over Styles to break it up. Wyatt throws Styles out of the ring. Wyatt falls back in the corner staring at Cena. Cena has Wyatt up and connects with an AA. Wyatt kicks out. Styles is back in and connects with a Styles Clash on Cena. Cena kicks out. Cena avoids a springboard forearm by Styles crashing into the ropes. Wyatt catches Cena with Sister Abigail to get the win.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Bray Wyatt
After the match, Bray Wyatt takes a knee holding the WWE Championship. Randy Orton’s music hits. Orton appears in the entrance area and stares down Wyatt. Orton walks down to the ringside area and gets up on the ring apron. Orton looks up at the WrestleMania sign hanging inside the arena and slowly gets inside the ring. Orton has a mic in hand. He gets in the face of Wyatt. “I won the Royal Rumble and all the privileges that come with it. You are the WWE Champion. However, as long as you are the master and I am the servant, I refuse to face you at WrestleMania.” Wyatt smiles. “I pledge my undying allegiance to you, Bray Wyatt.” Orton hands the mic to Wyatt. Orton gets down on his knees and lifts his arms. Wyatt is laughing and adds, “You now have the keys to the kingdom my friend.” Wyatt gets down on his knees as Orton stands up. He screams to follow the buzzards.
Thanks for joining us tonight!
Adam’s Overall Thoughts: Very good main event tonight. This was a surprisingly dull episode of Smackdown coming off a very good Elimination Chamber PPV on Sunday. WWE found a way to make up for a pretty lackluster hour and a half with a solid main event. The pre-match attack by Luke Harper was great and surprised the whole audience. They added a very interesting dynamic to what many expected to be the WrestleMania main event between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt to close the show. Nice cliffhanger with this show having six weeks until WrestleMania.
Follow me on Twitter: @adamwrestleview
Quick Match Results:
* American Alpha def. The Ascension
* Mickie James def. Becky Lynch
* Bray Wyatt def. John Cena and AJ Styles to retain the WWE Championship