We see the Smackdown video before going into the arena to see a pyrotechnics display. Tonight, we’ll see Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton take on American Alpha. The winners will face Heath Slater and Rhyno for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships this Sunday at WWE TLC.
Contract signing for the Smackdown Women’s Championship match at WWE TLC
Renee Young is in the ring. The ring is decorated with a black carpet and has a table. Renee mentions the upcoming PPV before stating that Alexa Bliss will challenge Becky Lynch for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. We’re going to make that match official. She first welcomes Alexa Bliss, who makes her way to the ring looking thoroughly bored with the whole procedure. We see footage of Becky Lynch getting Natalya to submit last week. Bliss then attacked her after the match. Renee Young then introduces the Smackdown Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch. Bliss immediately puts her hands over her ears to avoid listening to Lynch’s music.
Bliss immediately cuts Renee off and says they can take it from here. They’ll let her know if they need any advice on bad fashion. Lynch makes a knock at Bliss’ Harley Quinn obsession. Bliss says she used to think Lynch was a pathetic coward that would go through all costs to avoid her, but that would imply she’s clever enough to formulate a plan. When they faced each other in Glasgow, Lynch escaped with the title on dumb Irish luck. If the referee saw her foot on the bottom rope, she’d be Smackdown Women’s Champion. Bliss says the crowd agrees with her, but they instead boo her. Bliss is shocked. Lynch says she just figured something out. Bliss reminds her of her cousin: they’re both blonde, have an unhealthy obsession with glitter, and cry and moan when they don’t get their way. However, her cousin is four years old. What’s Bliss’ excuse? Bliss says that was rude and mentions that her foot was on the ropes. Lynch says at Glasgow, Bliss had a choice: use a foot or lose an arm. At TLC, she won’t give her that choice. Lynch then signs the contract.
Bliss says she would love to know what it’s like to live in Lynch’s fantasy world where if you’re really nice to everyone and work really hard, you can accomplish anything. Lynch says being nice did not get her into the biggest women’s match in WrestleMania history. It also wasn’t the reason she was the first woman drafted to Smackdown Live nor the reason she’s the Smackdown Women’s Champion. She got those things because she is relentless. She’s Smackdown Live’s version of the honey badger. Bliss has been here four months and has only accomplished multi-colored lips, some good soundbites on Talking Smack, and a victim’s mentality. If Bliss thinks that’s what it takes to be a champion around here, she’s in for a rude awakening. Bliss seems like she’s getting ill and says when she hears Lynch speak, she feels like she’s going to vomit. Life isn’t like the Disney Channel. No matter how good you are or how hard you work, there’s always someone better, and she’s standing in front of her. Bliss says Lynch can gather her lucky charms because nothing will help when she pours ice cold water on her “Straight Fire” and becomes the new Smackdown Women’s Champion. Bliss signs the contract and says her name is not “Lexy,” it’s Alexa.
Lynch says before Bliss says anything else, she can answer this — Lynch then punches her in the face. Lynch punches her a few times before hitting an exploder suplex. Lynch powers her into the corner and stomps her. Lynch puts her in the other corner and stomps her to the delight of the crowd. Lynch removes the black tablecloth, positions the table, and puts Bliss on the top rope. Lynch goes for a superplex through the table, but Bliss stops her and pushes her through the table! Bliss sits on the top rope and smiles at the carnage.
Later tonight, Dean Ambrose will have James Ellsworth as a guest on The Ambrose Asylum. Coming up next, Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto will face The Miz and Baron Corbin.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Alexa Bliss putting Becky Lynch through a table.
Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin and The Miz
Footage is shown of Baron Corbin attacking Kalisto last week. Later in that evening, Kalisto attacked Corbin with a chair.
Dolph Ziggler will start the match against Baron Corbin. Corbin quickly goes to attack Kalisto before turning into a dropkick from Ziggler. Ziggler gives him an avalanche in the corner before knocking The Miz off the apron. Corbin immediately takes him down and punches away at him.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Corbin punching away at Ziggler. Corbin knees him in the ribs before sending him into the corner. Corbin charges, but Ziggler sidesteps him. Corbin quickly gets to his feet and attacks Ziggler before knocking Kalisto off the apron. Corbin throws Ziggler out of the ring and tags in The Miz. Miz gets off the apron goes under the ring. Miz pulls out a ladder and props it up against the ring post. Ziggler puts the brakes on being sent into the ladder and gives Miz a nasty DDT on the floor! Corbin tries to blindside Ziggler, but he ducks and connects with a Superkick. The referee is counting them out, but they’re both in at nine. Miz grabs Ziggler’s foot, but he still is able to tag Kalisto.
Kalisto comes off the top rope with a springboard dropkick. Kalisto kicks away at him, ducks a clothesline, and hits a springboard spinning elbow. Kalisto then connects with a head-scissor DDT for a near fall. Miz quickly comes back with a big boot before giving Ziggler a baseball slide. Miz goes outside and sends Ziggler into the barricade. Corbin gets to his feet near Miz, and Kalisto wipes him out with a suicide dive. Miz quickly attacks Kalisto and puts him back in the ring. Ziggler superkicks Miz as he attempts to get back in the ring. Maryse climbs the steel steps and pushes the ladder into Ziggler! Inside the ring, Kalisto hits Miz with Solida del Sol, but Corbin gets in the ring and cracks him in the spine with a chair! The referee calls for the bell.
Winners by Disqualification: Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto
Later tonight, we’ll see Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton face American Alpha. The winners face Heath Slater and Rhyno at WWE TLC for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.
-Commercial Break-
WWE 205 Live premiers immediately after Smackdown Live on the WWE Network.
American Alpha is warming up when one of the backstage interviewers walk up to them. Dasha asks if they’re prepared to face the unpredictable Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. Chad Gable says they’re definitely prepared. What they weren’t prepared for was the Wyatts to show up last week when they already won their title shot. They won the turmoil match. Jason Jordan says they have a lot in common with Randy and Bray. Gable wonders if they know how to levitate. They can suplex them and eventually they’ll come back down. Jordan says Bray and Randy make the lights go out, but they’ll make their lights go out. Gable says they will prove again why they’re the best team on Smackdown Live. Jordan says when they see them coming, they should run.
The Wyatt Family’s video flashes on the screen, and we go elsewhere backstage to see Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, and Luke Harper. Wyatt says American Alpha is delusional. If they want to prove they’re the greatest team on Smackdown Live… Orton cuts him off and says he used to be just like American Alpha. He was naive, blind, and closed-minded. Now, he sees everything and feels as if he belongs. They proved at Survivor Series that no one can break their bond. They proved they’re the best. Tonight, they’ll do what needs to be done against American Alpha. Orton then turns to Luke Harper and asks if he’s going to do what needs to be done against Kane. Wyatt tells Harper to send Kane back to hell. Harper stares at Orton before angrily walking off. Wyatt takes a quick glance at Orton before smiling.
Carmella is seen walking backstage. She’ll be in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Carmella collides with Nikki Bella
Carmella makes her way to the ring and grabs a microphone. She says before her opponent comes out, she has a special message for Nikki Bella’s boyfriend. Carmella is interrupted by a “How you doin'” chant, and she responds by saying she’ll be a hell of a lot better when she gets out of here. They boo her. Carmella says she has a message for John Cena. She wants to publicly apologize for what she’s going to do to his girlfriend. This Sunday in their No Disqualification match, she’s going to pick up a chair and hit Nikki so hard in the chest that her own… Bella Twins will pop out of her back. That’s a promise. She’ll be doing Cena a favor because she’ll rearrange her face so bad that the last thing that will be on her mind is a wedding. Carmella can see Nikki posting YouTube videos from her hospital bed.
Nikki Bella’s music hits, and she charges down to the ring before spearing Carmella. Nikki punches away at her and shoulders her in the corner. The referee backs her up, and Carmella slaps her down. Nikki quickly takes her down again and the screen goes black, signifying a wardrobe malfunction. Carmella eventually escapes and runs up the ramp. Nikki taunts her from the ring.
The commentators talk about the WWE World Championship TLC Match coming up this Sunday. We then go to a video package highlighting what happened last week. James Ellsworth, with a huge assist from Dean Ambrose, beat AJ Styles in a ladder match to win a Smackdown Live contract. Ellsworth is an official member of the roster.
Dean Ambrose is walking backstage. Coming up next, he’ll have James Ellsworth as a guest on the Ambrose Asylum.
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The Ambrose Asylum with special guest James Ellsworth
Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring to a nice reception from the crowd. Ambrose will face AJ Styles this Sunday for the WWE World Championship in a TLC Match. Inside the ring is a tacky carpet, a cardboard sign saying, “Ambrose Asylum: TLC Edition,” and a table, a ladder, and a chair. Ambrose says it’s been a while since he’s had an Ambrose Asylum, but he hasn’t lost his touch. This will be a hell of a show. His guest has two fists of fighting chance and a brand new Smackdown Live contract: James Ellsworth. Ellsworth makes his way to the ring to a decent reception holding his neck in pain from last week’s attack at Survivor Series. Ellsworth gets in the ring and looks moved by the “Ellsworth” chant. Ambrose congratulates him on his contract before asking how old his wrestling boots are. Ambrose says they have to get him something better. Next question, did he ever think in a million years that he’d be in the ring as a full-time member of the Smackdown roster. Ellsworth never would have imagined he’d be a member of the roster even six months ago. However, he kept showing up and showing up. Finally, he was at the right place at the right time. Thanks to Ambrose, he’s now an official WWE Superstar. The crowd gives him a nice hand. If there’s anything Ambrose ever needs, he’s right by his side. Ambrose says he doesn’t need to thank him. Ellsworth can thank God for… well, he’s probably got good karma from a past life. Actually, if he wants to wash his car, do his laundry, and get him a six-pack after show, that would be cool.
Last week, Ellsworth also earned a future opportunity for the WWE World Title. Ambrose wants to put him on the hot seat. Who is he rooting for this Sunday. Ellsworth says it would be an absolute honor to wrestle Ambrose for the WWE World Championship, but on the other hand, he has defeated AJ Styles three times, so maybe he has his number and can do it again. Ambrose sarcastically says Ellsworth is drunk with power.
AJ Styles’ music hits, and he asks if this is their definition of quality entertainment. Styles looks deeply concerned as he stands on the commentary table. Styles asks Ellsworth if he realizes what he really is. Ellsworth is just a prop to insult him. Ambrose would be better off with a ventriloquist dummy. Styles says Ellsworth is about as smart as a dummy, but at least a dummy has a chin. Ambrose asks if Styles is really saying he lost to a dummy three times. Styles gets angry and says he knows good and well that Ellsworth never would have beat him if it wasn’t for Ambrose interfering every time. Styles is tired of being made a joke and demands respect. If Ambrose doesn’t give it to him this Sunday, he’ll beat it out of him. He’ll bounce his head off every rung of the ladder, bend steel chairs off his back, and put him through every table he can find. Styles removes his championship and faces him in the ring. Styles will beat him to the point he can’t stand anymore. When he does that, he’ll have something special for Ellsworth. Styles says all he has to do is show up. If he thinks his face is disfigured now, wait until he gets a hold of tables, ladders, and chairs. Ambrose says that he can see the last few weeks have been hard on him. Styles has all the athletic gifts, but titles are won using your mind. Ambrose says Styles is too easy to rattle. Ambrose says in five days, he’ll be going into the most dangerous match in WWE with him, and he’s worried about a mutant like Ellsworth — no offense. Styles better get his head on straight because the fun times are over this Sunday. At the end of that match, he’ll be pulling down what’s rightfully his: the WWE World Championship.
Styles shoves Ellsworth into Ambrose, who falls into a ladder. Styles then sends Ellsworth into the table. Styles goes outside the ring and sends Ambrose into the steel steps before dumping them on top of him. Ellsworth gets pumped up, but Styles simply takes him down. Styles slams a ladder off his back and sends him out of the ring. Ellsworth is propped up against the ropes upside down. The crowd chants for tables, so Styles flips it over. Styles takes a chair and slams it off Ellsworth’s back. Styles then sets up for a Styles Clash before dragging Ellsworth to the steel steps. Styles then hits Ellsworth with a Styles Clash off the steel steps to the floor! Wow! Styles celebrates before referees run down. EMTs start loading Ellsworth onto a stretcher while we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of AJ Styles giving James Ellsworth that devastating Styles Clash on the floor. We go backstage to see EMTs loading Ellsworth into an ambulance. Ambrose is saying this is his fault and will make it right. They get in the ambulance and drive off.
Kane vs. Luke Harper
Charles Robinson, the greatest referee ever, is the official for this match. They lock up, and Kane quickly shoves him down. Harper quickly applies a side headlock, but Kane whips him off. Harper goes for a shoulder block, but Kane doesn’t budge. Harper tries again for the same result. Harper goes for a clothesline, but Kane ducks, hits the ropes, and takes him down with a shoulder block. Harper quickly kicks Kane back and punches him. Harper kicks him, but Kane shakes it off. Harper signals for the end, and Kane does as well. Kane punches him down and tries to lift him up, but Harper slides off and gets out of the ring. Harper quickly snaps him off the top rope and gets in the ring, but Kane big boots him. Kane sends Harper out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kane trapped in a chin lock. During the commerial, Harper hit Kane with a slingshot senton. Kane fights up from the chin lock and hits a jawbreaker. Kane goes for a Chokeslam, but Harper gets out and kicks him in the back of the knee. Harper kicks him in the head for a near fall. Harper punches him and sends him into the ropes, but Kane comes back with a DDT. Kane hits a pair of clotheslines before giving him an uppercut. Kane floors him with a sidewalk slam and picks up a near fall. Kane avalanches him twice before hitting the ropes, but Harper comes back with a dropkick. Harper avalanches Kane in the corner twice before punching him a few times. Harper climbs to the second rope and punches away at him until Kane counters back with a powerbomb for a near fall.
Kane tries for a Chokeslam again, but Harper fights him off. Kane ducks a discus clothesline, but Harper quickly catches him with a spinning sidewalk slam for a near fall. Harper applies a chin lock, but Kane fights up and hits a back suplex. Kane goes to the top rope, but Harper sidesteps a flying lariat. Harper boots him down and picks up a near fall. Harper goes to the top rope, but Kane uppercuts him. Kane then hits him with a superplex, and both men are down. Kane sits up, and they start trading punches. Kane suddenly grabs him by the throat and gives him a Chokeslam for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Kane
Kane stands over the fallen Luke Harper and sets the ring posts ablaze. Kane then leaves the ring.
The commentators put over the benefits of having the WWE Network.
Coming up next is the main event: Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton will take on American Alpha. The winners will face Heath Slater and Rhyno for the Smackdown Tag Team Titles this Sunday at WWE TLC.
-Commercial Break-
We see footage from earlier in the night when Alexa Bliss pushed Becky Lynch off the second rope through a table.
Renee Young is with Becky Lynch outside the Trainer’s Room. Lynch says she has a spinal bruise, but she’ll be defending the title at WWE TLC. Renee mentions that Bliss challenged her to a Tables Match at WWE TLC. Lynch says she doesn’t care and accepts the match. Lynch says, “I’ll get my revenge on that little bitch.”
The main event is next. Everyone makes their entrances.
-Commercial Break-
Winners face the Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton vs. American Alpha
Randy Orton will start the match against Jason Jordan. Jordan gets a waistlock applied, but Orton turns it on him. Jordan drops down and takes him down for a one count. Jordan quickly goes back to the waistlock, but Orton elbows him in the face. Orton puts Jordan in the corner, but he has a whip reversed on him. Orton quickly elbows him in the face, but Jordan comes back with two quick arm drags before applying an arm bar. Heath Slater and Rhyno are seen watching backstage. Orton fights up and knees Jordan before raking the face. Bray Wyatt tags in, and Jordan rolls him up for a one count. Jordan quickly takes him back down for another one count. Jordan powers him into the corner, and Chad Gable tags in. Gable shoulders away at him before Jordan tags back in. They hit Wyatt with stereo dropkicks. Wyatt goes out of the ring to recover and rips the top of the commentary table off in frustration. Wyatt gets back in the ring and kicks Jordan. Jordan tries for a suplex, but Wyatt blocks it. Wyatt then ducks under a flying cross-body, and Jordan hits the ropes hard. Wyatt picks up a two count. Orton is tagged back in, and he kicks Jordan in the ribs as Wyatt holds him up. Orton hits a front suplex onto the top rope for a near fall. Orton starts stomping the limbs before applying a chin lock. Wyatt is seen laughing at Jordan. Jordan tries to tag Gable in, but Orton stops him. Jordan punches away from him, and Gable blind tags in. Orton sends Jordan into the ropes, but he slides out of the ring. Gable hits Orton with a cross-body block and knocks Wyatt off the apron. Gable punches away at Orton and goes for a monkey flip, but Orton turns him onto the top rope. Gable then surprises Orton with a hanging arm bar. Gable goes to the top rope, but Wyatt punches him off to the floor while the referee isn’t looking.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Wyatt viciously avalanche Gable in the corner for a near fall. Wyatt sends Gable to the apron and follows him out there. Gable punches him back, but Wyatt kicks him and gives him a DDT on the apron for a near fall. Wyatt tags Orton in and ties up Gable’s legs. Orton punches Gable and picks up a two count. Orton applies a chin lock, but Gable soon fights up and punches out. Gable hits the ropes and kicks Orton in the face. Gable hits the ropes again, but Orton powerslams him down for a near fall. Orton punches Gable before tagging Wyatt back in. Wyatt punches him down and hits the ropes, but Gable pops up and dropkicks him down. Wyatt quickly knocks Jordan off the apron and avalanches Gable before giving him a one-armed slam for a near fall. Wyatt wildly punches away at Gable before tagging Orton back in. Orton puts him on the top rope, takes his time, and goes for a superplex, but Gable punches him off. Orton quickly crotches him on the top rope and connects with a beautiful superplex.
Wyatt and Jordan are tagged in. Jordan hits a pair of running forearms before dropkicking Orton off the apron. Jordan floors Wyatt with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex before running into a boot. Jordan quickly comes back with a Saito Suplex for a near fall. Orton runs in, but Jordan quickly sends him back out of the ring. Gable then wipes Orton out with a summersault senton off the apron. Inside the ring, Jordan hits the ropes, but Wyatt annihilates him with a flying body block for a near fall. Jordan fights out of a slam and gives him a German Suplex. Jordan gets pumped up, but the Wyatt Family video flashes on the screen and the lights go out. When they come back on, Luke Harper is seen at ringside. Wyatt goes for Sister Abigail, but Gable stops it with a dropkick. American Alpha goes for Grand Amplitude, but Orton hits Gable with an RKO. Jordan quickly hits Orton with a shoulder thrust in the corner. Jordan goes for a shoulder thrust on Wyatt, but Harper pushes him out of the way. Jordan hits the ring post shoulder-first. Wyatt then lays Jordan out with Sister Abigail for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton will face Heath Slater and Rhyno for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships this Sunday at WWE TLC.
Dasha asks Heath Slater and Rhyno how they’re going to prepare for Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. AJ Styles walks up and says no one cares about the Tag Team Titles. Styles says his title matters and asks if they saw what he did to James Ellsworth. Rhyno steps up to Styles, and Styles mocks him. Dean Ambrose all of a sudden comes in and viciously attacks Styles. They brawl around the backstage area with Ambrose throwing him over tables. The show ends with Ambrose wildly punching away at Styles.
