Welcome to the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live! Tonight is going to be a great show as AJ Styles defends his WWE World title against Dean Ambrose in a pay-per-view level match! What's next for Dolph Ziggler and The Miz? This question and more will be answered tonight so be sure to come back here at 8PM EST for all the action!
-We open with a recap of AJ Styles beating Dean Ambrose at Backlash and a video package for our main event tonight. We open the show with Randy Orton coming out. Randy milks the crowd before he grabs the mic, but at least we get to hear his song; I always liked his song, thought it was really mature for the PG era honestly. Randy says he knows why Bray likes to talk about fear and that he thinks that mind games will make him lose focus, because Bray is afraid. Randy says it's nothing to be ashamed of and that everyone is afraid of something, citing examples such as heights, spiders; my biggest phobia, snakes. Randy tells Bray to come to the ring and face his fear, no sneak attacks or anything as the lights go out. You can barely hear Bray at first, but it gets louder as he talks about Hansel and Gretel. Bray says he left a trail for Randy and that he's a god and that Randy is in no position to make demands. Bray has an hourglass in his hand as the lights come back on slightly and Randy goes up the ramp. We get a plug for the title match tonight then see Dean backstage, suddenly interviewed about his state of mind, saying that it's no big deal that AJ beat Cena because he beat him; way to make beating Cena no big deal WWE. We get a plug for an 8-man tag match as we go to commercial.
-Heath Slater's horrible music plays as we have American Alpha, Heath Slater & Rhyno and The Ascension in the ring already as The Usos come out with new music and a new entrance; much better in my opinion; love that bass. Basically everyone besides The Usos look like geeks as they recap their match last week where Gable was too hurt to come in.
American Alpha & Heath Slater & Rhyno vs The Usos & The Ascension
Jimmy and Jordan start it off and Jordan gets a quick 2 count. Jimmy tags in Jey, but Jordan tags in Gable then they hit a double flip that sends Jimmy to the outside as Gable puts an armbar on Jey in the ropes. Jey chops Gable's leg out from under him as we go to commercial.
The Ascension double team Gable as we come back with Konor getting a quick 2 count on Gable before tagging Jimmy in. Gable sends Konor and Viktor out of the ring and goes to tag in Jordan, but The Ascension take Jordan off the apron as Gable tries to get to Heath who is the only person on the apron. Heath takes out Jimmy on the apron then drops Jey with a knee then a neckbreaker for a quick 2 count. Chaos ensues then Slater goes to roll up Jey, but Jimmy tags himself in then The Usos take out the knee of Heath. Jimmy applies the Tequila Sunrise for the tap and the win. This was a good match for The Usos.
Winner: The Usos via submission
-John Cena is interviewed about the main event tonight, saying he'll be ringside and he'll be winning at No Mercy. We then have The Miz backstage getting his picture put up on some wall then we have Randy backstage looking for Bray. Randy finds some kind of thing and turns it and opens a secret doorway in the room where they have the electricity I believe as we see Rowan before we go to commercial; they're trying to make this feel really horror-esque.
-We come back with Bray and his hourglass, saying that Randy is being sucked into the underbelly of life, something he knows nothing about, but he might find out tonight.
Nikki Bella & Naomi vs Carmella & Natalya
Naomi and Carmella start it off with Naomi getting the upper hand, but Carmella decides to moonwalk when she gets free. Naomi counters her with a moonwalk of her own then hits her with a dropkick before tagging in Nikki. Nikki hits a jawbreaker that sends Carmella to the outside as we go to commercial.
Natalya hits a Michinoku Driver on the outside then rolls Naomi back in the ring for a quick 2 count. Natalya puts Naomi in her corner then tags in Carmella; you usual heel tactics. Naomi gets a quick 2 count off of small package then Carmella hits a bronco buster for a quick 2 count. Natalya and Carmella hit a double nothern lights suplex for a quick 2 then Naomi rolls up Natalya for one of her own. Natalya puts Naomi back in their corner, but Naomi takes out Carmella. Natalya gets a quick 2 count off of a basement dropkick then Naomi finally tags in Nikki. Nikki takes out Natalya with a dropkick then hits an enzugiri for a quick 2 count. Nikki drags Carmella over the top rope then Carmella rolls Nikki up after she's distracted by Natalya for the pin and the win.
Winner: Carmella & Natalya via pinfall
-After the match we have Randy backstage again as he tries to find his way out of the maze.Randy opens one door and finds a cutout of himself then opens another door slightly and we see Rowan behind it, but Randy doesn't see him. Randy closes the door and walks away as Rowan jostles the door then we go to commercial.
-The Miz and Maryse come out to the ring as we come back from commercial. There are paintings and portraits of him in the ring as pyro goes off on the ramp. Maryse introduces The Miz to a chorus of boos as they show a video recapping his career, including him as a kid and on Tough Enough. This is pretty good, you almost forget how far he's come over the years. We see his reign as the WWE champion and on various television shows before his Talking Smack promo and recent developments.
The Miz says he's home to a mixture of cheers and boos and mentions the Cavaliers win, mentioning how many people celebrated their win and he only gets this crowd. Miz says he is the only hero and that Lebron is a traitor. The Miz shows us his parents in the front row then says that Maryse has told him that Dolph's parents are there tonight; oh right they're both from Cleveland even if Dolph lives in Hollywood Florida. Dolph comes out and says Miz can say whatever he wants about him, but he doesn't talk about his parents, friends or his city and that if he has anything to say to say it to his face. Dolph says he cheated and tells him to enjoy his parade then starts to leave, but Miz says that all Dolph does is lose. Miz asks him when he'll end his career, saying he was almost main event level and now he's the opening act who just loses and that his career makes him sick and that he would be embarrassed if it were his.
The Miz says Dolph, his parents, his friends and his city should be embarrassed of his career because he's done nothing but lose. The Miz leaves, saying he's got nothing to say to him before leaving, mocking Dolph's parents. Dolph calls Miz Mike and says that this is all he has and that he loves it and sometimes what you love doesn't love you back. Dolph says he is constantly asked why he keeps doing it and says that he can't stop. Dolph asks Miz to put the belt up one more time and if he loses he will retire. Dolph is saying he will put up his entire career and finished with WWE if he loses and can't win the Intercontinental belt. The Miz agrees and says that if he's not willing to retire, he'll do it for him. Wow, title versus career match, talk about a way to finally have something people care about WWE.
-We have Bray backstage saying that when one door closes the other opens and that it's wide open, that he watches him like a mouse in a maze. Bray tells Randy to be careful then laughs.
Becky Lynch vs No One?
Winner: Match Never Started
-Alexa Bliss attacks Becky on the ramp as she comes out, slamming her face into the ramp repeatedly before grabbing her belt and saying she deserves it and not Becky before leaving. They plug the main event then we get more Curt Hawkins stupidity; how much are they paying this guy to act like a total knob? Curt says he'll make a big announcement next week as we go to commercial.
-We get Bray yet again saying that he is disappointed of Randy as the crowd screams "WHAT"; not a good sign. Bray says that The Viper has no poison or fangs and asks where Randy is as he appears behind Bray wearing a sheep head. Randy pounds on Bray then laughs as Bray runs away, picking the mask up and sitting down, putting it back on and we see Bray again as the crowd chants for The New Day? We then get AJ being interviewed backstage. AJ says he's bigger than the presidential debate and that he beat up John Cena, then beat John Cena and did the same to Dean. AJ says last night all eyes were on the debate last night and that all eyes will be on him beating Dean tonight. John Cena comes out to join us on commentary as we go to commercial.
AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose WWE World Title Match
Dean starts off very aggressively with a series of chops to AJ in the corner then sends AJ over the top rope then puts AJ on the table right in front of Cena before getting back into the ring as we go to commercial.
AJ is in control as we come back, dropping Dean with a headlock as they show how he hit a baseball slide lariat during the commercial. Dean fights out of it then they each hit a lariat as Cena talks about setting his sights on making history. Dean drops AJ repeatedly then catches AJ when he comes off the top rope and gets a quick 2 count off of a spinning backbreaker. Cena says he can do everything at once and that he's not leaving to do movies, that he's there to do everything at once. AJ goes for the Calf Killer, but Ambrose reverses it into the Walls of Jericho, but AJ gets to the ropes. Dean sends AJ to the floor as Cena talks up how good Aj is then Dean dives out at AJ. Dean tosses AJ back into the ring, but AJ rolls right back out of the ring when he feels Dean will go up to the top rope. Dean does it anyway and hits an elbow drop off the top rope and onto AJ on the floor as we go to commercial.
AJ is in control as we come back, focusing on Dean's leg as they show AJ attacking Dean's leg. AJ goes for the Calf Killer, but Dean gets out of it. AJ kicks the leg then teases the Styles Clash, but Dean counters then Dean goes for Dirty Deeds, but AJ counters. Dean hits a swinging neckbreaker then they exchange right hands as Cena spends so much time talking AJ up; what a company man. AJ hits Dean with a forearm then Dean teases the rebound lariat, but AJ puts him on his shoulders. Dean counters with a double knee facebuster for a quick 2 count then sits AJ on the top rope, but AJ gets out and hits a torture rack into a spinning powerbomb for a quick 2 count of his own.
AJ and Dean exchange forearms then AJ hits a pele kick, but Dean sits AJ on the rope before hitting him with a lariat that turns him inside out for a close 2 count. AJ hits a pele kick then goes for the springboard 450 splash that he has never hit. Dean hits AJ with an elbow off the top rope for a very close 2 count; Cena being smart to shut up whenever there's a pin attempt, the other guys and gals could learn a lot from him on commentary. Dean sends AJ outside then dives out after him, only for AJ to hit Dean with a running knee then tosses Dean back into the ring before attacking Cena. Dean rolls AJ up then attacks Cena himself then AJ rolls Dean up for the pin and the win.
Winner: AJ Styles via pinfall
-After the match Dean and Cena face off then Dean goes for Dirty Deeds only for Cena to hit the AA on both Dean and Cena. We go off the air with Cena holding the belt and standing tall over the fallen Styles and Ambrose.
