WWE SmackDown Live! came to us tonight from the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California. After a snoozefest episode of Monday Night Raw, it is time for the blue brand to deliver the goods for WWE. (Videos will be included once available.)
WWE Smackdown Results 9th August, 2016:
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Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan cut a promo
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The New Face of Fear kicked off SmackDown Live! with Erick Rowan by his side. Wyatt, who lost to Dolph Ziggler last week in a #1 contender match for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam, reflected on his defeat to The Showoff and insisted that he didn’t lose to Ziggler last week, instead he blacked out after he went face first into the turnbuckle.
Wyatt highlighted that last week’s results do not mean that he lost to Ziggler, but instead he was a victim of the #1 contender’s desperation and deception. The New Face of Fear then reminds everyone that he is a god and no one can kill a god, before claiming that SmackDown Live! is his show.
WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose interrupts Bray’s promo, before labelling it biblical mumbo-jumbo. The Lunatic Fringe adds that The New Face of Fear is acting like a big baby, which prompts Wyatt to invite the World Champion inside the ring. Ambrose refused to enter the ring, but Ziggler appears from backstage and after a brief stop rushes to the ring to take on whatever is left of the Wyatt Family.
However, The Showoff is handed a beating by Wyatt and Rowan, which forces Ambrose to begrudgingly come to the rescue of his SumerSlam opponent. The Lunatic Fringe successfully dispatches Rowan out of the ring, before Wyatt tries to nail Sister Abigail on the reigning champion. Ziggler then tries to come to the aid of his rescuer but failed miserably as his Superkick lands on Ambrose instead of Wyatt.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ziggler lost his cool and attacked Rowan, before Wyatt hit The Showoff with Sister Abigail.
Ziggler and Ambrose are then seen arguing about the Superkick backstage, with the reigning World Champion indicating that the Superkick wasn’t an accident. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan interrupt the conversation before it became heated and announced a Tag Team match, which will see Ambrose and Ziggler teaming up to take on Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan later in the show.
Segment Rating: 5.5/10
American Alpha vs. Mikey O’Shea and Mike Vega
Following their impressive debut on SmackDown Live! last week, American Alpha were tasked to take on local competitors by General Manager Daniel Bryan. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable destroyed their opponents in a flash but under the presence of The Ascension, The Vaudevillains and The Hype Bros – who were all present ringside.
American Alpha didn’t have enough time to celebrate their win as the three tag teams surrounded them, before entering the ring where a full-fledged brawl ensues. However, Jordan and Gable are able to clear the ring, but is it a sign of things to come for American Alpha in the future?
American Alpha defeat Mikey O’Shea and Mike Vega by pinfall
Segment Rating: 3.5/10
Becky Lynch vs. Eva Marie
Eva Marie, who was expected to make her SmackDown Live! debut in a match against Lynch last week, again makes her way to the ring to take on Lynch, but just as the match was about to start, she suffered a staged wardrobe malfunction, citing which the match was cancelled as Marie made her way back to the backstage covered in towel.
Becky is then interviewed inside the ring during which she bursts about the unprofessional behaviour of her opponent and also claimed that she is always up for a challenge. Lynch then issues an open challenge as she didn’t want to return without wrestling for the second consecutive week.
Alexa Bliss accepts the challenge and a match between the two is organised. Bliss is then seen cutting a promo wherein she highlights that there’s more to her than her pretty face and also claimed that she is the hottest star on the show.
Bliss makes her SmackDown Live! debut against Lynch, with the latter dominating proceedings at the start. However, midway through the match Marie’s music hits and she emerges from backstage ready to compete. Lynch is distracted by this and this allows Bliss to take advantage of the situation and pin her opponent for a win on her debut.
Following the match, Eva is interviewed wherein the Diva reveals that she will be making her SmackDown Live! debut next week.
Alexa Bliss beats Becky Lynch by pinfall
Segment Rating: 5/10
Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio
Before the start of tonight’s show it was announced that Randy Orton will be taking on Alberto Del Rio tonight on SmackDown Live!. The Apex Predator was also interviewed backstage where Del Rio appeared and mocked Viperville to which Orton retaliated by offering Mexico’s Greatest Export a taste of RKO Outta Nowhere. Del Rio then threatens to break Orton’s arm before insisting that it would be interesting to watch how Orton delivers his signature move with an injured arm.
The two then make their way to the ring and are seen working on each other for a while. Del Rio then gains momentum after nailing a Backstabber, before he started working on Orton’s surgically repaired left shoulder. Orton’s attempt to make a comeback in the match after delivering a dropkick, but his attempts turn futile as Del Rio applies the arm-breaker over the top rope on him.
The Viper then attempts a Superplex but instead ends up further hurting his shoulder. The duo are then seen exchanging blows for a while, before Orton dismantles the announcer’s table but Del Rio attacks the Apex Predator with a steel chair.
Del Rio then attempts to shift the action inside the ring, but Orton had other plans as he delivers the RKO as soon as the Mexican approached him trying to dismantle his injured left shoulder.
Randy Orton beats Alberto Del Rio by disqualification
Segment Rating: 6/10
Rhyno vs. Heath Slater
Heath Slater and Rhyno are seen discussing the importance of a WWE contract with the former highlighting that he needs the contract to feed his family, while Rhyno insisted that he needed to impress his constituents as he had just won the primary elections in Michigan. A match is announced between the two, with Slater needing a win to earn a SmackDown Live! contract.
Rhyno takes control of the proceedings initially but Slater tries to make a comeback. The Hottest Free Agent then tries to pin his more powerful opponent, but Rhyno is unperturbed. Slater grows frustrated as things don’t seem to work out for him and he is caught cheating by the referee as his feet were on the ropes as he was attempting to pin Rhyno. While The One-Man Rock Band then argues with the referee but Rhyno rises to his feet and nails the Gore on him before pinning him to secure the win.
Rhyno beats Heath Slater by pinfall
Following the match, Slater is seen making his way to Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. The Hottest Free Agent then blasts his employers for not treating him fairly and quits WWE as he believes he deserves better. Bryan and McMahon then reveal that they were going to offer him a contract, but now that won’t be necessary.
Segment Rating: 2.5/10
Carmella vs. Natalya
Carmella is seen cutting a promo wherein she insists that Natalya made a huge mistake last week before announcing that she will be slapping Natalya so hard that she goes blind. Natalya then interrupts Carmella’s promo and attacks her, but the Princess of Staten Island gets the upper hand and moves the fight inside the ring.
The bell rings and Carmella starts to unload on The Queen of Harts. Natalya claws her way back into the fight after delivering a couple of snap suplexes and then hits a huge clothesline. Natalya goes for the Sharpshooter, but Carmella reverses it into a Code of Silence and makes her opponent tap out. The Princess of Staten Island is shocked by the win on her SmackDown Live! debut.
Carmella defeats Natalya by submission
Segment Rating: 4.5/10
Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler vs. Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan
In the main event of the night, WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose teamed up with his SummerSlam opponent Dolph Ziggler to take on Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan. The Wyatt Family take control of the match early on as Bray sidelines Ambrose to a corner, while Rowan started working on Ziggler outside of the ring.
After normalcy is ensured, both Ziggler and Ambrose start unloading on Wyatt after The Showoff tagged himself in, to the displeasure of the Lunatic Fringe. The New Face of Fear then makes a comeback and reverses Ziggler’s neck breaker. Rowan then joins the scene and nails a Lariat on the #1 contender.
After some more fringe activity, Ambrose is tagged in and the World Champion delivers a running bulldog on Rowan before slamming the White Sheep’s head against the announce table. Wyatt welcomes the champion with a clothesline as Rowan tags himself in and starts working on Ambrose.
Following some more momentum shifts, Ambrose’s Dirty Deeds is blocked but he is able to deliver a swinging neckbreaker. Ziggler then enters the fray and after a couple of DDT's and 2-counts finally hits the Zig Zag, but Wyatt kicks out. Ambrose then successfully blocks Sister Abigail from Wyatt before nailing a dive on his opponent.
Ziggler is then seen unloading on Rowan and the Showoff successfully hits a Superkick to secure the win.
Ambrose and Ziggler are then seen celebrating their win until the reigning World Champion kicks his SummerSlam opponent before hitting him with Dirty Deeds. With that curtains draw to yet another episode of SmackDown Live!
Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler defeat Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan by pinfall
Segment Rating: 6.5/10
