You know it is going to be a great show when James Ellsworth is not part of the main event.
In real life, #AJStyles must still be hurt, but on Smackdown Live, that means Ellsworth got "sick" and was sent home by General Manager #DanielBryan. Expect monster final quarter hour ratings.
Smackdown Live regrouped and reshuffled Tuesday night, setting up new feuds and new title matches. We saw some fresh angles and good wrestling on the show, and we get a new No. 1 contender for champ AJ Styles, "The Face That Runs The Place."
Miz TV with AJ Styles
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After Ellsworth was sent home because he had the flu, The Miz welcomed Styles onto his show. Miz will likely have a job for life because he is good on the mic and really shines during interviews. Miz and Styles playfully bantered with each other.
Styles said The Miz was a funny guy and Miz complimented Styles' hair. Styles joked that he is longing for a shampoo and conditioner endorsement. The suck-face got to the point where The Miz actually said "let's not shine each other's belts too much."
But the mood turned sour when the Miz inadvertently showed his comedy skills again by saying he was on a higher level than Styles and challenged him to a championship match. Styles stood up and they went face to face and in that moment I finally realized how the WWE can turn Roman Reigns into a babyface: Push him against The Miz. There's no way The Miz wins that jeer fest.
Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler, wearing a very CM Punk-ish zipper sweater came out to assert themselves into the title picture. Ambrose, probably secretly still angry that Styles stole his top spot probably all because of Stone Cold Steve Austin's podcast comments, gave the Dirty Deeds to The Miz, then Ziggler, as Styles walked back to the ramp.
Then, like it was the late 1990s and Sting was around, the Wyatt Family's music played, the lights went out, and Harper appeared in the ring, delivering a clothesline to Ambrose. Just give Harper a bat and some face paint already. Later Shane McMahon booked a Fatal Four Way with Ziggler, Ambrose, The Miz and Harper to determine a new No. 1 contender.
Grade: B (The angle was fresh and Ellsworth got sent home)
Natalya vs. Carmella
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Instead of focusing on Carmella, Natalya spent the match trying to convince Nikki Bella, who was at ringside, that she didn't blindside her at The Survivor Series. Really, a million cameras backstage and we're supposed to believe that no one knows who took out Bella? And besides, get over it. This is wrestling. Move on.
Natalya yelled "you're a liar" at Carmella, who pointed the finger at Natalya, since she took her spot in the Survivor Series match. Natalya dominated the match until Carmella rolled her up from behind after Natalya was once again trying to explain herself to Bella. JBL was good on commentary here, throwing in a good Shakespeare literary reference, claiming Natalya "doth protest too much."
Grade: C (Carmella worked hard in this match)
Gabriel Iglesias Owns The Miz
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We got a cool cameo from the Fluffy comedian himself, #GabrielIglesias. Iglesias was walking backstage when he saw Apollo Crews and starting flexing at him, saying "oh, I thought I was looking in the mirror."
The Miz and Marysse walked by and insulted Iglesias' shirt. Marysse told him to stop making loud noises. The Miz asked him him where he got the shirt, "The Goodwill?" Yeah, that's what we need, the entitled, privileged Miz accusing the Mexican-American comedian of buying his clothes at the thrift shop. Thank you, WWE. Iglesias fired back though and asked Miz where he got his red suit, "from the planet, your anus?"
Miz stormed off saying he didn't have time for Iglesias' potty humor. Apparently he does have time for poverty humor, though.
Grade: C+ (Iglesias is funny)
Tag Team Battle Royal To Determine No. 1 Contender
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This might sound sacrilegious, but I like Zach Ryder. I think he's got potential to be a big star in the business as a singles wrestler, not in the lame Hype Bros. tag team. That being said The Hype Bros. are the new No. 1 contenders, winning a battle royal with The Ascension, Breezango, Heath Slater & Rhyno, The Vaudevillians and American Alpha. Slater is back to being a moron, accidentally eliminating his tag team partner, Rhyno. A good match, with Jason Jordan performing some excellent suplexes and slams. I doubt anyone on Smackdown can beat Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt, but it will be fun to see Orton and Ryder in the same ring and see if Ryder can raise his game. Ryder, by the way, according to WWE.com, suffered a knee injury during the match, so tag team plans may be on hold.
Grade: B-
Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch
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Bliss blew off her original opponent, some woman she referred to as "Jane Ellsworth," allowing Lynch to run in and challenge Bliss to a title match. Bliss tried to walk out, but Shane McMahon booked the match. Bliss, true to her cowardly witch character, faked a knee injury and got counted out, so she was able to keep her title. I am not sure why Lynch wouldn't go grab Bliss and throw her back inside the ring since she knows you cannot win the title on a count out. Mysteriously, Lex Luger-like, Bliss stopped selling the knee and attacked Lynch after the match. JBL hilariously said that Bliss was not faking the injury, that the adrenaline was powering her to recover. LOL. Lynch fought back and sent Bliss fleeing from the ring.
Grade: D+ (Totally unbelievable)
Fatal Four Way No. 1 Contender's Match
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Wow, are wrestling fans in for a treat. Forget Ricochet and Will Ospreay. Dolph Ziggler and AJ Styles are about to put on the match of the year. Ziggler won the Fatal Four Way and will challenge Styles on Dec. 27 for the WWE championship.
As JBL said right after Ziggler won: "Can you imagine how great this title match is going to be." If the WWE gives this match time, and keeps James Ellsworth from interfering, we should have a classic.
Ziggler was the star of the match, performing an Avalanche Face Buster on Dean Ambrose. Ranallo called Luke Harper, "the bearded brawler from the backwoods."
Ambrose pinned Harper and The Miz, before Ziggler pinned Ambrose, thanks to The Miz,who returned from the backstage area to distract Ambrose.
Since John Cena is also returning in two weeks, it's extraordinarily unlikely that Ziggler is going to defeat Styles, but the match should be spectacular. Cena is back, and will likely vie for his 16th world championship against Styles, who is the best wrestler in the world today.
Grade: B+ (Ziggler was at his best here and the fans were behind him)
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