Smackdown 1/24/17
This week’s episode of Smackdown kicked off with The Miz, Maryse and Daniel Bryan backstage. This led to a No DQ Lumberjack match for the Intercontinental Championship between Dean Ambrose and The Miz later tonight.
Randy Orton vs Luke Harper
Bray Wyatt was ringside to observe the match. It started out back and forth and Smackdown quickly went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Wyatt had rolled both Orton and Harper back into the ring. The match continued to be back and forth and Bray Wyatt seemed to be really enjoying it. Harper went for a Clothesline but Orton countered it into an RKO for the pinfall victory. After the match, Bray Wyatt planted Harper with a Sister Abigail. Orton and Wyatt walked away and left Harper in the ring.
Winner: Randy Orton
Mickie James joined Renee Young in the ring. Renee tried to interview her but Mickie wasn’t answering her questions. Instead, Mickie James went on a psychotic rant about how the women’s revolution in the WWE didn’t acknowledge her accomplishments. Mickie stated that she wouldn’t be in the WWE if it weren’t for Alexa Bliss. Becky Lynch stormed down to the ring and tackled Mickie. Becky chased Mickie to the barricade surrounding the ring. Alexa Bliss then emerged from the crowd and hit Becky with a right hand. Mickie and Alexa then beatdown Becky Lynch. The segment ended with a Alexa hitting the Twisted Bliss on Becky.
James Ellsworth and Carmella went shopping for a new wardrobe. Ellsworth tried on a series of ridiculous outfits and Carmella mocked him for it. Ellsworth dressed up as Elvis and the Godfather for some reason as well. Carmella then picked out Ellsworth’s new outfit and she deemed it to be fabulous.
10-Man Battle Royal For A Spot In The Royal Rumble
Baron Corbin joined commentary for this match. Rhyno tried to eliminate Heath Slater right away. The Vaudevillians were eliminated immediately. Mojo Rawley eliminated Curt Hawkins. Slater eliminated Viktor and then Konnor eliminated Slater. Mojo Rawley eliminated Rhyno and Konnor. It was down to Breezango and Mojo Rawley. Mojo and Fandango were on the ring apron. Tyler Breeze went to kick Mojo but Rawley dragged Fandango in front of the kick. Fandango was eliminated by Breeze and then Mojo launched Breeze out of the ring to earn a spot in the Royal Rumble match this Sunday.
Winner: Mojo Rawley
AJ Styles came down to the ring and showed the Royal Rumble poster. Styles was all the way in the back of the poster and complained about it. Styles then called out and Cena and John came down to the ring. Styles then rolled a clip from the Today Show. Cena referred to Styles as “guy from Atlanta” in the clip. Styles complained about that and Cena responded by verbally beating down Styles for the next few minutes. Cena said that Styles isn’t “just a guy from Atlanta, he’s just a guy”. Cena said that Styles only had the WWE Championship because Cena let him have it. Cena also called Styles unoriginal and said that he is taking back the WWE Championship this Sunday at the Royal Rumble.
Dolph Ziggler vs Kalisto
Ziggler connected with a Superkick almost immediately to win the match. After the match, Ziggler went to a grab a chair from the timekeeper’s area. JBL started shouting at Ziggler and Apollo Crews showed up. Crews attacked Ziggler and tried to hit him with the chair but Ziggler avoided it. Ziggler then retreated up the entrance ramp and Crews checked to see if Kalisto was alright.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Naomi made her return and was supposed to have a match with Natalya. Nikki Bella attacked Natalya backstage before the match in retaliation for Natalya attacking her earlier in the day. Naomi issued an open challenge for anyone in the back. Alexa Bliss comes out and says that she is not here to answer Naomi’s challenge. Alexa then went on to insult Natalya and said that she was a nobody. Naomi continued to challenge Alexa to get in the ring. Alexa hopped up onto the ring apron but quickly jumped back down. Alexa said that Naomi wasn’t worth her time and walked away.
No DQ Lumberjack Match For The Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose (c) vs Dolph Ziggler
Ambrose went for the Lunatic Lariat but the lumberjacks pulled him out of the ring and they beat him down and threw him back in the ring. The Miz threw Ambrose out of the ring and he once again got beatdown. Back in the ring, The Miz hit a DDT for a two count. The Miz connected with the Daniel Bryan kicks and did the “yes!” chant as well. Ambrose was once again launched out of the ring but this time he fought off the lumberjacks. Ambrose climbed to the top turnbuckle and connected with an elbow to The Miz.
Both Superstars were outside the ring and were able to fight off the lumberjacks. As Ambrose got in the ring, Maryse grabbed his leg to slow him down. The Miz then hit a running knee to the head of Ambrose, just like Daniel Bryan. The Miz was knocked out of the ring and the lumberjacks tried to bring him back in the ring. Dean Ambrose had a different idea in mind and launched himself off the top rope onto everyone outside the ring. Back in the ring, Ambrose hit the Lunatic Lariat and went for a pinfall. Baron Corbin jumped in the ring and attacked Ambrose. The rest of the lumberjacks got in the ring and brawled. Eventually, it was back down to Ambrose and The Miz in the ring. Ambrose hit the Dirty Deeds for the pinfall victory.
Winner & Still Intercontinental Champion: Dean Ambrose
Reaction: This week’s episode of Smackdown was decent at best. The best part of the show was the promo between AJ Styles and John Cena. The main event was a solid match as well but it was interrupted by a commercial break and wound up being less than 10 minutes. It appears that Luke Harper is officially out of the Wyatt Family and it is now just Orton and Bray. I wonder if when Erick Rowan returns he will team up with Harper to face Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. I’m not sure how long the team of Orton and Bray will last, I’m guessing not too much longer. I’m glad that Alexa Bliss is starting a feud with Naomi. Her feud with Becky Lynch was good but it got repetitive and I think it is good that they are going in a different direction. The Mickie James promo was a bit odd but I think she will wind up having an entertaining feud with Becky Lynch.
205 Live 1/24/17
TJ Perkins vs Tony Nese
Perkins controlled the first couple minutes of the match. TJ went for a Neckbreaker but Nese held onto the ropes and Perkins fell to the mat. Nese then applied a Chinlock in the middle of the ring. Perkins battled out of the hold but Nese launched him into the turnbuckle. Nese then flexed for the crowd as they booed him. Nese hit a Suplex and followed it up with a Leg Drop to Perkins. Nese continued to control the match and planted Perkins with a Gutbuster.
Perkins finally fought back and connected with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Hurricanra. TJ landed a Detonation Kick that knocked Nese out of the ring. TJ went for a Suicide Dive but Nese got back in the ring and hit him with a Clothesline. Perkins rolled up Nese right after to win the match. After the match, Nese hit Perkins with a German Suplex into the turnbuckle and followed it up with a running knee to the head of Perkins.
Winner: TJ Perkins
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/824093799437602816
Brian Kendrick vs Tripp Bradshaw
Kendrick mocked Bradshaw before the match. Bradshaw is from Cleveland, so Kendrick said that he was going to squash his dreams and beat the hell out of him in front of his family. Bradshaw got in a little offense in the beginning of the match but Kendrick connected with a boot to the face to halt his momentum. Kendrick applied the Captain’s Hook for the submission victory.
Winner: Brian Kendrick
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/824096242611257344
Neville vs Cedric Alexander
Neville had control of the match early and taunted Alexander. Neville said that this was his ring and told Cedric to get out. Neville continued to control the match and continued to taunt Alexander. Cedric finally fought back and hit a Dropkick. Neville got knocked out of the ring and Cedric screamed that the ring belonged to him now. Neville took his sweet time getting back into the ring and Cedric even held the ropes open to mock him. Neville finally got up on the ring apron and Alexander hit him with a Dropkick. Cedric then punted Neville’s head from the ring apron in a terrific sequence.
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/824098822049538048
Back in the ring, Neville regained control of the match. Neville hit a viscous forearm to the head of Alexander and continued to beat him down for the next couple of minutes. Cedric fought back and landed a roundhouse kick that knocked Neville out of the ring. Cedric connected with a massive Moonsault onto Neville outside the ring. The action returned to the ring and Alexander hit a springboard Clothesline off the top rope. Cedric followed it up with a standing Spanish Fly that looked incredible. Neville fought back and connected with a German Suplex.
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/824100443135410176
Neville and Alexander were on the top turnbuckle trading punches. Alexander went for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb but Neville flipped to his feet. Alexander connected with a kick to the face of Neville that knocked him to mat. Noam Dar then sprinted to the ring and Cedric hit him with a Clothesline off the apron. Cedric then climbed back up to the top turnbuckle but he slipped and fell to the mat. Neville applied an Arm Bar for the submission victory. After the match, Neville threw Dar out of the ring and continued to attack Cedric Alexander.
Rich Swann came down to the ring for the save and traded punches with Neville. Neville got the upper hand and smashed Swann’s head into the top turnbuckle. Alexander chased Noam Dar backstage. Swann then attacked Neville again and the referees finally pulled them apart.
Winner: Neville
https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/824102334674309121
Reaction: The wrestling on 205 Live continues to be very good. Having said that, the audience remains a major issue. The opening match of the show was a perfect example of that. TJ Perkins and Tony Nese had a very good wrestling match but the audience couldn’t have cared less. Unless the WWE wants to feature the Cruiserweights more on Raw, this will remain an issue. The only other solution I can come up with is to have 205 Live turn into a taped show. It is just impossible to get fully invested in a match when you just see a bunch of blank expressions in the crowd and people exiting the arena. Neville and Alexander also had a great match in the main event. The ending was predictable but it was still a good match. Neville is killing it as a heel right now and was pretty much the only Cruiserweight that drew a reaction from the crowd.
Overall, I thought both Raw and Smackdown were disappointing this week. The Royal Rumble sells itself but I still would have liked to see more done to hype up the show. The final segment on Raw was terrific because nobody expected The Undertaker to be there. However, the Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns match doesn’t have much intrigue to me. I just wish that in 5 hours of programming between Raw and Smackdown, there were more great moments. Instead, there was a solid promo between Styles and Cena, the final segment on Raw and not much else. Having said that, I cannot wait for the Royal Rumble this Sunday.
What did you think of Smackdown and 205 Live? Is anyone still watching 205 Live? Let us know in the comments below.
