WWE’s house shows resumed after a hectic Survivor Series week with both brands’ talents working a string of events in a row. The latest SmackDown Live house show was held in Fayetteville, NC that had top talents such as AJ Styles, The Miz, Dean Ambrose and Becky Lynch in action.
WWE booked three title matches apart from the regular mid-card bouts in a bid to satiate the fans in attendance. So here are the results from the live event:
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#1 Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz (w) Maryse (Non-title match)
The Miz made an announcement before the match that he won’t be defending the title as his contract doesn’t imply that he put the strap on the line on such ‘po-dunk’ events. This was a way of highlighting the obvious rift between the Intercontinental Champion and the SmackDown Live management and Daniel Bryan.
Nevertheless, the match was a solid way to kick things off as the two men showed off their infectious chemistry. The Show Off picked up the win with the help of a superkick, much to the dismay of the Champion. In case you’re wondering about Maryse, she was sent back to the locker room after many warnings from the referee.
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. The Miz via pinfall (non-title match)
#2 Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger
Baron Corbin was in action next against the neglected Jack Swagger. As expected, Corbin made quick work of Swagger and picked up the win over the former World Heavyweight Champion with the help of the End Of Days.
Result: Baron Corbin def. Jack Swagger via pinfall
The Lone Wolf wasn’t content with the challenge put up by the former All-American and demanded more. Out came Corbin's nemesis and the former United States Champion, Kalisto. An impromptu match was booked between the two.
#3 Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto
In what turned out to be a shocking upset, Kalisto squashed Baron Corbin. Yes, you read it right. A 5 foot something Luchador finished off the towering Corbin within a span of minutes.
We can only hope that WWE doesn’t replicate this on SmackDown Live.
Result: Kalisto def. Baron Corbin
#4 Apollo Crews, American Alpha and The Hype Bros vs. Curt Hawkins, The Vaudevillians and The Ascension
A 10-man tag team match followed the senseless squash as Apollo Crews teamed up with the babyfaces of the tag team division to take on Curt Hawkins and the heels. The babyfaces pulled off a comfortable win in a match filled with fun spots. In the end, American Alpha hit the Grand Amplitude to pick up the win for their team.
Result: Apollo Crews, American Alpha and The Hype Bros def. Curt Hawkins, The Vaudevillians, and The Ascension via pinfall
#5 Kane vs. Bray Wyatt
With Randy Orton on a short break owing to the birth of his daughter, Wyatt and Kane squared off against each in singles competition. Kane dispatched Wyatt off with the chokeslam to continue the string of predictable outcomes for the night apart from the Corbin squash (What!?).
We’ve seen the two representatives from the dark side face each other many times before, so you’d get an idea of how this match panned out to be.
Result: Kane def. Bray Wyatt via pinfall
#6 Heath Slater and Rhyno © vs. Breezango (WWE SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship match)
It was good to see Breezango get a title shot on the house show circuit because well, that’s the best they can hope for currently. The champions retained their titles successfully after Fandango was brutally Gore by Rhyno.
No more tickets for the Man Beast!
Result: Heath Slater and Rhyno def. Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) via pinfall to retain the SmackDown Live Tag Team titles
#7 Becky Lynch © vs. Carmella vs. Nikki Bella. Natalya vs. Alexa Bliss (Fatal 5-way for the SmackDown Women’s Championship)
This was a good way of utilising all the female talents on the roster. Instead of wasting them in a pointless tag team match, all the women were involved in the title match. The solid bout that included a host of interesting spots and moments, ended with Becky Lynch successfully defending her strap.
The Irish Lasskicker and Nikki Bella were the most over with the fans.
Result: Becky Lynch def. Carmella, Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss and Natalya to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
#8 AJ Styles © vs. Dean Ambrose (w) James Ellsworth as the special guest timekeeper (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Street Fight match)
WWE rebooked the Street Fight match from previous house shows with the newest WWE signing, James Ellsworth also continuing to play the special guest timekeeper’ role. The main event was the best match of the night with both men putting it all on the table.
Styles held onto the title by getting the better of Ambrose with the Phenomenal Forearm. Ellsworth saved Ambrose from a Styles Kendo stick beatdown by hitting the No Chin Music on the WWE Champion. Ambrose added salt to injury by laying out Styles with the Dirty Deeds to send the fans home happy.
All the three men involved were over with the fans with Styles doing his best to draw the necessary heel heat.
Result: AJ Styles def. Dean Ambrose via pinfall to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
