Nikki Bella vs Natalya: Natalya dominates most of the match, where she plays the perfect heel by working on Nikki’s back and puts in a lot of submissions. Nikki retaliates with an enziguri, but Natalya is able to drop her again and applies the surfboard submission. Nikki is able to power out and applies the STF on Natalya. Natalya taps out. Immediately after the match, Carmella hits the ring and attacks Nikki, laying her out.
The former intercontinental champion, the Miz is out with the Spirit Squad. He talks about the state of the Intercontinental championship, which he no longer holds. Mid-way through the promo, Ziggler interrupts. Almost immediately, Rhyno and Slater interrupt. Miz calls Dolph holding the intercontinental championship an embarrassment. Miz challenges Slater and Rhyno to put their tag team titles on the line against the Spirit Squad. Slater chickens out and says Miz is trying to trick them, but Rhyno grabs the mic and accepts.
Heath Slater and Rhyno vs The Spirit Squad: The tag titles are on the line as announced. Both the Miz and Ziggler are on commentary. The spirit squad take turns in working on Slater, the weak link in Rhyno-Slater and manage to keep him grounded. Rhyno gets the tag and works on Mikey, but Kenny is tagged in and both double team on Rhyno. Slater kicks Kenny to the outside, and knocks Kenny into the Miz. Rhyno hits a belly to belly suplex on Mikey, following it up with the gore for the win.
James Ellsworth is sad backstage about not being allowed to be at ring side. Dean walks by and says he can be at ring side after all. Ellsworth cheers up.
Ladies and gentlemen, it appears that the Hype Bros have qualified for the tag team elimination at Survivor Series. The WWE SmackDown general manager said that the winning teams would get to be a part of the elimination match at Survivor Series. It appears, by default, Rhyno and Slater would also advance. It is now time for your main event of the night, Dean Ambrose vs AJ Styles.
AJ Styles vs Dean Ambrose: Huge implications for the match here, with Dean scheduled to get a title shot at Survivor Series, if he wins this. James Ellsworth is at ring side. He may have a part to play in the match; I just have a hunch.
AJ throws something at Ellsworth, allowing Ambrose to take the advantage. He lays out AJ and stomps him in the corner. Ambrose clotheslines Styles to the outside. AJ shoves Ellsworth into the ring steps. Ambrose rolls out to check on Ellsworth and AJ ducks him with a flying forearm. AJ goes for a suicide dive, but Dean ducks and rolls back into the ring. Ambrose hits a clothesline, followed by a suplex. Ambrose locks in the Boston crab, but AJ is able to get out and hits a suplex on Dean. Ambrose reverses a super plex and hits the flying elbow. Ambrose drops Styles with a swinging neck breaker. Dean goes for a clothesline, but AJ avoids and hits his spring board moonsault inverted DDT for a two count. Ambrose reverses an attempt into the Styles clash into a roll up for a two count.
He drops AJ with another clothesline. Ambrose hits a suplex off the top rope but is unable to capitalize as AJ locks in the calf crusher. Ambrose fights his way out, but AJ locks it in again. Ambrose reaches for the rope and the referee calls to break the hold. AJ turns his attention to Ellsworth. He hits a sliding drop kick on poor Ellsworth. Ambrose is up and goes for the dirty deeds, but Styles gets out and hits the Pele kick. AJ goes for the Styles clash, but Ambrose is able to get the reversal and throws AJ to the outside. Ellsworth is all fired up and hits a ‘no chin music’ as JBL called it last week on Styles. The referee calls for a disqualification. The winner by disqualification, AJ Styles.
Ellsworth tries to explain to Dean, who is furious about the loss. AJ walks back with his title as we go off air.
- Updated card for the WWE Royal Rumble pay per view - January 28, 2017
- WWE SmackDown Results – 01/24/2017 - January 26, 2017
- WWE RAW Results – 01/23/2017 - January 24, 2017
