This week’s Friday Night Smackdown was taped from Little Rock, Arkansas where WWE wrapped up the Night of Champions fallout weekend. With Michael Cole, JBL and Tom Phillips at the ringside announcers table, here are the results from last night.
Dean Ambrose vs The Miz
The night kicked off with a singles match between the Lunatic Fringe and The Miz who lost his Intercontinental title to Dolph Ziggler on the last episode of Raw. With Damien Mizdow at his ringside, Miz got a nearfall after a cheap thumb into Ambrose’s eye following it up with a Reality Check. But Ambrose came back with a tornado DDT planting the moneymaker onto the floor for the near fall. Ambrose went for the missile dropkick but Miz blocked it and locked in the Figure Four lock. Seth Rollins and Kane appeared on the stage and almost causes distraction as Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Ambrose counters into the Dean Driver for the three count.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Intercontinental Title Number One Contender Battle Royal
In a furious No. 1 Contender’s Battle Royal that would come down to Bo Dallas, Cesaro, Jack Swagger and Kofi Kingston, The Wildcat followed up his WWE Main Event triumph over Bo by kicking the inspirational Superstar off the apron and out of contention.
Then, moments later, as the three remaining competitors were brawling on the ropes, The Swiss Superman picked up Kingston and hurled him at The Real American, knocking both of his opponents to the floor. In doing so, the winner of the first-ever Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal seized an opportunity at Ziggler’s title later on SmackDown!
Winner: Cesaro
Goldust and Stardust vs The Usos for the Tag Team titles
Just when it looked like The Usos’ high-flying prowess would allow them to take back the WWE Tag Team Titles, Goldust opted to break up a pin attempt on Stardust by nailing his Samoan adversary with the title, ending the match by disqualification.
Winner: The Usos via DQ
Summer Rae and Layla vs Natalya and Rosa Mendes
Summer with a body scissors. Natalya turns over but Summer with a guillotine choke and then she sends Natalya to the mat. Summer misses a leg drop but Natalya is unable to make the tag. Natalya kicks Summer away and she tags in Rosa. Rosa with clotheslines to Layla, who also makes the tag.
Rosa with a drop kick and she gets a near fall. Layla with a round kick to the head but Natalya breaks up the cover. Summer tries to interfere but Natalya sends her to the floor. Layla kicks Natalya to the floor and Layla with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Summer Rae and Layla
Dolph Ziggler vs Cesaro – Intercontinental title
Earlier on SmackDown, Cesaro won the right to challenge Dolph Zigler for the Intercontinental Title in an explosive Battle Royal. But that title match would ultimately end in controversy. When The Showoff countered The Swiss Superman for a pin attempt, the referee failed to see Cesaro grab the ropes.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Rusev vs Big Show
Fighting for both his country and his “brother from another mother,” Mark Henry, Big Show took on Rusev in SmackDown’s main event. Just when it looked like the giant was ready to finish off The Hero of the Russian Federation with the KO Punch, though, Lana entered the ring to distract him.
This opened the door for Rusev to nail The World’s Largest Athlete with the Russian flag to end the contest in a disqualification. That would not stop Big Show from delivering a thunderous, post-match KO Punch to the “Super Athlete,” though, fulfilling his promise to Henry that he would knock out the foreign Superstar on SmackDown.
Winner: Big Show