WWE SmackDown
February 21, 2017
Ontario, California
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, JBL, David Otunga, Tom Phillips
Results by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com
A video package opens the show highlighting last week’s show featuring Luke Harper attacking Bray Wyatt and Wyatt going on to retain the WWE Championship in the main event in a triple threat match against John Cena and AJ Styles.
We get a reminder that a No. 1 Contenders Battle Royal is scheduled for tonight where the winner will go on to face Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania for the WWE Championship.
Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan is out first to kick off the show.
SmackDown Women’s Championship relinquished
Bryan gets a big reaction in Ontario. He talks about being on the road to WrestleMania and how it includes many twists and turns. This brings him to what he wants to talk about and introduces WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi.
The new Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi heads to the ring and holds up her championship inside the ring. She grabs a mic as a loud “YOU DESERVE IT” chant starts up in Ontario. Bryan agrees with the crowd and talks about Naomi working so hard when other women got opportunities before her. “Here you are, Smackdown Women’s Champion and we are so proud of you.” This brings Bryan to this hard decision he’s about to make. Bryan says he can relate to becoming champion and then getting injured. “I had to relinquish my championship and it wasn’t something I wanted to do, but it was something that I knew I needed to do.” Bryan talks about reviewing Naomi’s medical records with Shane McMahon and they now know that as a result of an injury she suffered at Elimination Chamber, she will be unable to defend her title in the required 30 days and he is sorry, but must ask Naomi to relinquish the Smackdown Women’s Championship effective immediately.
Noami is not happy about this as she holds the title over her shoulder. She wants to say a few things. Naomi thanks Bryan for the kind words and how he knows exactly what she is going through right now. She talks about crying tears of joy last week accomplishing her dream of becoming a champion in WWE. “And now I’m here today, about a week later, filled with sadness and frustration.” Naomi talks about reaching the top of the mountain and how she is now in a free fall without control. She feels like she is letting her fans down. Naomi begins crying and says if she gives Bryan this title then it probably means her WrestleMania moment is gone as well. She takes the title off her shoulder and hands it to Bryan crying. Bryan motions for the audience to give Noami an ovation. He hugs Naomi. Naomi says whoever “borrows that title” while she is gone, she promises that everyone in the back will “feel the freaking glow” when she makes her return to the ring.
An emotional Naomi exits the ring and heads up the ramp when Alexa Bliss walks out. Bliss grabs a mic and calls what she just saw as “amazing” and begins laughing. She enjoyed getting to see Naomi give up the championship and talks about how all she wants now is her rematch. Bliss talks about Bryan being in a “little of a jam” right now. She says we need a champion and brings up how we are on the road to WrestleMania. Bliss thinks Bryan should return the championship to her. “Give it back,” says Bliss. Bryan says Bliss is the former champion and it does make sense for him to give her back the championship. “But I’m not gonna do that,” adds Bryan. What Bryan is going to do is give her an opportunity. Bryan knows Bliss is ready for a fight tonight and knows someone else is as well. He books a match to crown a new Smackdown Women’s Champion and that match starts right now.
Becky Lynch walks out as Bliss’ opponent tonight to crown a new champion.
Adam’s Thoughts: Bummer about Noami getting injured. The show must go on so this was quite the newsworthy way to kick off the show tonight.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch
We return live as Bliss and Becky lock up. Bliss and Becky take turns pushing each other away. Series of pinfall attempts early. Bliss with a takedown into a cover that Becky counters into a backslide pinfall attempt of her own for a two count. Becky with a few arm drags into an armbar on Bliss to keep her grounded. Bliss trips up and drives Becky down into the mat. Becky with an overhead suplex for a two count. Bliss rolls out to regain composure.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Becky works over Bliss in the corner including another big overhead suplex. Becky catches Bliss with a missile dropkick off the top turnbuckle for a two count. Bliss distracts the referee, hits a shot to the throat of Bliss and rolls up Becky to get the quick win!
Winner and new WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
After the match, Mickie James walks out and congratulates Alexa Bliss. Bliss smiles back at Becky Lynch with the Smackdown Women’s Championship over her shoulder. Bliss heads to the back and James hits the ring trying to attack Becky. Becky fights off James and kicks her out of the ring. James backs off and smiles at Becky.
Backstage, WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose talks about getting attacked by Baron Corbin last week and how he has an opportunity to head to WrestleMania tonight. We also hear from Kalisto and The Miz about the main event tonight.
Adam’s Thoughts: Very sudden finish to the match just as it felt like things were getting going. It was the right call to go back to Bliss in this situation with the Naomi injury.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Natalya talks about Nikki Bella being a bad wrestler.
Non-Title Match
American Alpha vs. Breezango
Before the match, Breezango attacked American Alpha. The referee breaks it up.
We start with Fandango and Jason Jordan. Fandango dumps Jordan over the top rope, tags in Tyler Breeze and Breezango hit a double kick to Jordan. Tag back to Farndango as Jordan gets a tag to Chad Gable. Gable sends Breeze over the top rope. Jordan has Fandango up in an electric chair. Gable jumps off the top turnbuckle and catches Fandango for the win.
Winners: American Alpha
After the match, The Usos show up inside the crowd on the mic congratulating American Alpha. They refer to Alpha as the soon-to-be former Smackdown Tag Team Champions. Both Usos get close to ringside teasing a fight, but say not tonight. They talk about how Gable and Jordan won’t be able to sleep tonight because of them.
Adam’s Thoughts: It’s pretty amazing to see what progress The Usos have made in this new heel role in WWE. It just really improved the overall presentation and kept things fresh. American Alpha is great in the ring, but oh boy does the act leave a lot to be desired.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, AJ Styles stops a random WWE backstage person and asks if he knows where he is going. The man doesn’t know. Styles laughs and says to the main event of WrestleMania. We also hear from Dolph Ziggler (who superkicked a blue screen backdrop for some reason), Mojo Rawley and Luke Harper about the main event tonight.
Backstage, Renee Young gets last words with Nikki Bella. Nikki said she used to feel sorry for Natalya, but not anymore and tonight she is going to prove she is more than just a pretty face. “I was the longest reigning Divas Champion for a reason.”
Nikki Bella heads to the ring. Her match with Natalya is up next.
-Commercial Break-
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
Nikki tackles Natayla immediately and throws right hands. Natalya rolls out. Nikki chases her down back inside the ring. Nikki gets in a shot and then tries to grab a table from under the ring. Natalya cuts her off. Nikki with a roll up on the floor for a two count. Nikki grabs a kendo stick from under the ring and cracks it over the back and leg of Natalya. Nikki tosses Natalya over the ring barricade into the crowd. Natalya then dumps Nikki into a box area of the floor seating. Nikki catches Natalya with a kick to the face jumping off the box barricade. Back at ringside, Natalya pushes Nikki back first into the ring barricade. Natalya grabs the kendo stick and then decides to clear off the announce table instead. Nikki with shots to Natalya, tosses her back inside the ring, Natalya with a shoulder block, slides under the legs of Nikki and Nikki avoids getting powerbombed over the announce table. Nikki with an Alabama Slam on Natalya over the announce table, but the table doesn’t break.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Natalya has the Sharpshooter on Nikki and Nikki pulls herself out of the submission using the ropes for help. Natalya with a suplex on Nikki over the ramp. Nikki sends Natalya into the steel barricade near the entrance area. Natayla throws Nikki into production carts. They brawl backstage as Natalya launches Nikki into Maryse. Nikki ends up tackling Maryse. Nikki then throws Natalya face first into a mirror breaking it and gets a two count off a pinfall attempt. Nikki drags Natalya out to the entrance area brawling some more. Natalya trips up Nikki as Nikki hits her head on the steel ramp. Natalya goes for a Sharpshooter, but Nikki counters and gets an STF applied on Natalya. Maryse then runs out with a pipe in hand and starts hitting Nikki repeatedly with it. Miz runs out and pulls Maryse to the back who wants to keep going after Nikki. Natalya covers Nikki to get the pinfall.
Winner: Natalya
After the match, WWE officials check on Nikki Bella at ringside.
Adam’s Thoughts: Pretty decent brawl between Nikki Bella and Natalya tonight. Looks like we are getting things officially setup for the rumored mixed tag team match at WrestleMania involving Maryse, Nikki, The Miz and John Cena.
-Commercial Break-
The new WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss will join Jonathan Coachman on ESPN SportsCenter tomorrow night.
We hear from Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews and WWE Champion Bray Wyatt about the main event. Randy Orton is with Wyatt and Wyatt tells him he earned the keys to the kingdom. Wyatt says whoever wins tonight will be his sacrificial lamb at WrestleMania. Wyatt starts laughing as Orton looks in the camera adding, “Run.”
John Cena is out next. The No. 1 Contenders Battle Royal is next.
-Commercial Break-
No. 1 Contenders Battle Royal
Winner advances to WrestleMania for the WWE Championship
Involved in the Battle Royal tonight: John Cena, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Baron Corbin, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper, Apollo Crews, Kalisto and Mojo Rawley.
Ambrose goes after Corbin right away. Cena works over Ziggler in the corner. Ambrose tries to toss Corbin over the top rope. Styles nearly eliminates both Ziggler and Cena at the same time, but both hang on. Miz is nearly tossed out by Rawley and Crews. Styles hangs on when he is nearly tossed out. Ziggler goes for his jumping DDT and Ambrose counters. Cena goes for an AA on Corbin, but Corbin counters as we head to a break.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, Corbin launches Rawley over the top rope.
Mojo Rawley is eliminated.
Harper catches Corbin with a superkick. Saleda Del Sol on Ziggler by Kalisto. Kalisto kicks Ambrose in the corner, connects with a moonsault from the corner on Ambrose and then tries to toss Ziggler over. Ziggler hangs on, lifts Kalisto to the ring apron with him and Ziggler catches Kalisto with a superkick sending him to the outside.
Kalisto is eliminated.
Crews catches Corbin with a leaping clothesline. Crews catches Ziggler with a roundhouse kick to the head. Ziggler falls off the ring apron to the outside.
Dolph Ziggler is eliminated.
Ziggler grabs a steel chair at ringside and cracks it over the back of Kalisto. This distracts Crews allowing Corbin to toss him over the top rope.
Apollo Crews is eliminated.
Crews kicks the chair away from Ziggler and tries to hit Ziggler with it. Ziggler runs up the ramp and to the back. Back inside the ring, Cena goes after Styles with rights. Styles returns with right hands of his own as we get a back and forth. Styles counters an AA attempt and Cena eats a superkick from Harper. Pele Kick on Harper. Corbin levels Styles and then Ambrose levels Corbin with a clothesline. Miz is still alive and dropkicks Ambrose, Harper, Styles and Corbin in the corners. Miz with Daniel Bryan-like kicks to the chest of Cena in the middle of the ring. Miz misses a big kick and Cena tosses him over.
The Miz is eliminated.
-Commercial Break-
We return live as Cena catches both Styles and Ambrose in a double german suplex. Cena plants Styles with his twisting powerbomb. Corbin with End of Days on Cena to cut off the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Corbin avoids Dirty Deeds, charges and Ambrose pulls down the top rope sending Corbin over the top rope to the outside.
Baron Corbin is eliminated.
Corbin is not happy. He pulls Ambrose out of the ring and hits End of Days on him. Ambrose is still alive in the match as Corbin only pulled him out under the ropes. Back inside, Miz jumps back in the ring and tosses Cena over the top rope to eliminate him.
John Cena is eliminated.
Cena jumps back in the ring and tries to go after Miz. WWE officials push him back. We see a shot of Miz smiling in the crowd and doing the “you can’t see me” gesture. Cena leaves the ring and smiles as he heads to the back. We are down to Styles, Harper and Ambrose. Styles nearly clotheslines Harper over, but Harper hangs on. Harper is trying to toss Styles over. Styles hangs on and is now getting Harper over the top rope. Ambrose is back in trying to eliminate both Styles and Harper. All three men are on the ring apron. Styles and Ambrose exchange shots. Ambrose nearly touches the floor. Ambrose has Styles up. Styles falls back inside the ring. Ambrose falls off the ring apron and is eliminated.
Dean Ambrose is eliminated.
Harper runs to the other side of the ring and is trying to suplex Styles over. Harper catches Styles with a huge forearm. Styles is barely holding on. They both brawl back inside the ring. Styles with kicks to the legs of Harper. Styles has the back of Harper applying a sleeper. They are both back on the ring apron. Harper with another huge forearm that drops Styles, but Styles hangs on. Styles crawls up on the top turnbuckle. Harper is pulling Styles down and tosses him out in a suplex. It appears both touched the floor at the same time.
We hear the bell go off. WWE officials have a conversation. Styles wants to know the call. WWE officials are saying both feet touched at the same time. Styles raises his arms thinking he won. Harper paces around the ring, gets inside and raises his hands thinking he won.
Daniel Bryan runs out with a mic in hand. He talks with the WWE officials. Bryan says the official decision for this match is a draw. He reveals that as a result of the finish, they will determine a winner next week on Smackdown Live.
Winner: Draw
Harper then levels Styles with a big clothesline and gets up on the corner fired up.
Bray Wyatt then shows up on the screen laughing as the show comes to a close.
Thanks for joining us tonight!
Adam’s Thoughts: Very good main event from the blue team this week. The crowd in Ontario was into everything from the start. I loved the continuing story they are telling with Baron Corbin where he is able to be competitive with main event guys, but always comes up short. The start of a feud between Cena and Miz was also executed great in the main event. People might hate the draw finish, but I like the carry over to the following week. It’s pretty clear they didn’t want to show the replay. Either way, Smackdown is keeping things interesting heading into WrestleMania and that is all you can ask for. The people killing this finish clearly just want to find something to complain about and need a hug.
Follow me on Twitter: @adamwrestleview
Quick Match Results:
* Alexa Bliss def. Becky Lynch to become the new Smackdown Women’s Champion
* American Alpha def. Breezango
* Natalya def. Nikki Bella in a Falls Count Anywhere match
* The No. 1 Contenders Battle Royal ended in a draw