This week’s episode of SmackDown Live comes in from the SSE Hydro in Glasgow from Scotland, similar to the RAW tapings. Maybe the WWE planned the tour to save the ratings in view of the elections. No point of having a wrestling show go live when a nation awaits to elect their next president. It’s just my opinion though. Interestingly, this is the first taped episode for SmackDown Live moved to a live show on Tuesday Nights on the USA Network.
The episode opens with the SmackDown commissioner, Shane McMahon introducing the members of the Survivor Series men’s team. He names James Ellsworth as the official team mascot for SmackDown Live at Survivor Series. Similar to the RAW main event, all the competitors would be competing tonight. It is announced that we would have a six man tag team match, featuring Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Randy Orton taking on the team of Baron Corbin, Dean Ambrose and James Ellsworth.
Naomi vs Natalya: Nikki Bella is out on commentary for this match. Carmella caused the distraction leading to Naomi rolling up Natalya for the win.
Baron Corbin approaches Shane McMahon to complain about him not wanting to compete in the six man tag team match tonight. Shane says Corbin will wrestle Kalisto instead and names Kane as Corbin’s replacement.
Baron Corbin vs Kalisto: Corbin goes on an all-out attack on Kalisto till the point that Corbin injured his knee. While Corbin is writhing in pain, Kalisto takes advantage and gets revenge on Corbin. Kalisto continues to work on Corbin’s injured knee to end the match in a no contest.
It is announced that the Rated R Superstar, Edge and the Undertaker would be making an appearance on next week’s episode of SmackDown Live for the 900th episode of the blue brand.
Daniel Bryan and Shane are discussing Corbin’s knee injury. They pull him out of the men’s Survivor Series team and it is announced that a replacement would be named by the end of the show.
It was advertised previously that Becky would defend her title against Alexa Bliss.
Becky Lynch vs Alexa Bliss: Alexa appeared to have won the match via a submission when she put Becky in the Dis-arm-her, but there was some kind of a controversy when Alexa’s feet were on the ropes. Due to the controversy, Becky Lynch defeated Alexa Bliss.
Kalisto vs Brian Kendrick for the cruiserweight division has been announced for Survivor Series in the second inter-brand match. Maybe this is the reason rumors have been flying around about the Cruiserweight division moving permanently to SmackDown Live.
Curt Hawkins vs Apollo Crews: Hawkins won the match quickly after he rolled up Crews and grabbed his tights.
Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Randy Orton vs Dean Ambrose, Kane and James Ellsworth: Wyatt picked up the win for his team after hitting the sister Abigail on James Ellsworth.
We move backstage, where Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon are discussing about the replacement for Baron Corbin on the men’s traditional elimination match. Shane reveals that he will be the final member of team SmackDown Live for the Survivor Series match! This was unexpected!
Speaking of Shane McMahon, rumors have been flying across the whole day about him being the rumored opponent for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. Dave Meltzer confirmed that he had inputs saying that it was rumored that Shane would be the opponent for Brock Lesnar. Maybe this explains Shane being added on to the card at the last minute. There have been rumors swinging around that if Shane does not seem to be a big draw, he would eventually bring in Goldberg to wrestle for him at WrestleMania. The rumor states that Lesnar would eventually win the match against Goldberg at Survivor Series. Based on how the match progresses and how the crowd decides to react to Goldberg, a decision would be made about whether Goldberg could have another match. WWE did the same for the icon, Sting as well. Adding Shane into the mix makes things unpredictable.
It is announced that Shane and Bryan would be making an appearance on RAW this week. Also advertised are both Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar.
- 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
