This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live! Tonight we have the Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose taking on Wyatt Family member Luke Harper. After Zack Ryder was injured last week in the #1 Contenders’ Battle Royal that he won one week ago, Heath Slater, Tyler Breeze and Konnor will have a match tonight in a Wild Card Triple Threat Match to determine the new #1 contender for the WWE Smackdown! Tag Team titles so be sure to come back here at 8PM EST for all of tonight's action!
AJ Styles vs James Ellsworth WWE World Championship Match
James goes for a superkick early, but AJ catches him and drops him with a series of strikes for the pin and the win.
Winner: AJ Styles via pinfall
-AJ murder James after the match, throwing him spine first into the announce table then hits him with a forearm then drops him face first on the steps then throws him head first into the frame of the ring. AJ finishes by sending James up into the frame throat first and goes up the ramp then decides to come back and suplexes him into the barricade before getting into the ring and playing to the crowd who are on their feet cheering for him. AJ says he's sorry the crowd had to witness that then says he's not because it'd been building up for 6 weeks. Dolph comes out next and congratulates AJ on the win and wishes him a Merry Christmas then says he's next in line for a title shot. Baron Corbin comes out next and AJ leaves as Corbin says he should be next in line and says that Dolph will lose next week and he'll be next in line then drops Dolph with a right hand, but Dolph comes back only to be hit with The End of Days as the crowd chants for him to do it again, but he ignores them and stares down AJ as we go to commercial with AJ backing up the ramp.
The Miz vs Apollo Crews WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Crews shows off his athleticism and speed early, taking control of Miz until he goes outside to regroup then Crews goes right after him, dropping him with a dropkick to the floor then hits a standing moonsault off the apron. Crews his a cross body off the top rope for a quick 2 count and Miz gets out of the ring again as we go to commercial.
Crews drops Miz repeatedly then hits an enzuigiri for a quick 2 count, following up with a roll up then an Olympic slam for another quick 2 count then a closer one. The referee makes Maryse leaves then Crews rolls Miz up for a very close 2 count before hitting a pop up German suplex for another very close 2 count then Miz hits The Skull Crushing Finale for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Miz via pinfall
-After the match Renee interviews Miz about his obsession with Dean Ambrose then says he has none and says she does and that she's the one sleeping with him after all before she slaps him and leaves.
Natalya comes out next as we go to commercial.
-As we come back from commercial we find out John Cena is returning to Smackdown! Live next week as we return to Natalya in the ring, saying she's tired of the rumors and asks Nikki to come out to the ring which she does then Carmella comes out and says she's there to see how Natalya will get of the situation. Carmella says once again that if she attacked her she'd have bragged about it. Natalya attacks Carmella and sends her into the Christmas presents and trees on the ramp then Carmella scampers away as Natalya stands on the ramp and admits that she attacked Nikki as we get to commercial.
-Daniel Bryan talks to Alexa as we come back and says he put her in a match tonight as we have Dean Ambrose come out for his match.
Dean Ambrose vs Luke Harper
They start off aggressive then Dean sends Luke to the outside, but he comes right back in and counters a Dirty Deeds then sends Dean throat first into the ropes before sending him out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Luke is in control as we come back, hitting a backbreaker and a torture rack on Dean, but he counters and drops Luke with a clothesline. then Luke throws him like a dart into the post before sending Dean back out of the ring. Dean gets back in and dives off the top onto Randy and Bray then comes back in and Luke hits a sitout powerbomb for a close 2 count. They tease their finishers then Dean rolls up Luke for the pin and the win.
Winner: Dean Ambrose via pinfall
-After the match Bray and Randy hit the Sister Abigail/RKO combination on Luke. They disappear then Miz comes out and hits him with a Skull Crushing Finale as we go to commercial.
Alexa Bliss vs Masked Opponent
Alexa's opponent is in control early even rolling her up for a quick 2 count then puts her in a leg scissor and rolls her around the ring. Alexa beats her down then the masked opponent puts the Disarmer on Alexa and makes her tap for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch in a mask via pinfall
Mojo Rawley vs Curt Hawkins
Curt hits Mojo a few times then goes out of the ring when he mounts a comeback then Mojo turns him inside out with a shoulder block that sends him back outside then Curt smashes his face into the turnbuckle before dropping him with a clothesline for a quick 2 count. Mojo drops him repeatedly then splashes him in the corner repeatedly before knocking him across the ring then drops him with a running right hand in the corner for the pin and the win.
Winner: Mojo Rawley via pinfall
-James Ellsworth is interviewed backstage and Carmella ends it before taking him off somewhere.
Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin WWE World Championship #1 Contender Match
Dolph tries to take Corbin down as the match starts, but Corbin shows off his power, dropping Dolph repeatedly then Corbin stares at AJ at ringside when they go out of the ring. Corbin rolls Dolph back in the ring for a quick 2 count then Dolph pounds on him in the corner only for Corbin to whip him into the corner for another quick 2 count. Dolph drops Corbin then Corbin catches him coming into the corner and catches him when he goes to splash into him, but Corbin drops him against the ropes. Corbin sends Dolph shoulder first into the ring post then slams his head against it as we go to commercial.
Corbin is in control as we come back, Corbin focusing a lot on AJ then drops Dolph with a right hand before playing to the crowd and staring at AJ. Dolph rolls Corbin up then he's dropped with a stiff lariat for a very close 2 count. Dolph hits a Zig Zag for a close 2 count then hammers Corbin in the corner before he hits a huge Deep Six where he spins around in circles for a very close 2 count of his own. Corbin sends Dolph into AJ then the referee calls for the bell when they're counted out.
Winner: No Contest
-After the match AJ murders them with a chair then Daniel Bryan comes out and makes a triple threat match for the WWE World Championship next week.
