WWE SmackDown live results: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose

Date: October 25, 2016
Location: Resch Center in Green Bay, WI

The Big Takeaway —

Surprisingly, Dean Ambrose did not become number one contender for the world title. Ambrose was disqualified after James Ellsworth superkicked AJ Styles in front of the referee.

Also, Randy Orton gave Kane an RKO allowing Bray Wyatt to pick up a win, and Alexa Bliss laid out Becky Lynch in Lynch’s return.

Show Recap — 

Backstage, Dean Ambrose talked to a stagehand about a cop searching his car for reckless driving. James Ellsworth showed up and thanked Ambrose for what he’s done for him. Ellsworth asked to be in his corner tonight. Ambrose laughed and thanked him for the offer, but said maybe Ellsworth can find something else to do. He told Ellsworth to hang out in the locker room and the crowd booed.

No Disqualification Match: Bray Wyatt defeated Kane 

Kane was about to chokeslam Bray through the announce table, but the lights went out and Luke Harper appeared. He clotheslined Kane and they went to commercial. After the break, Bray used a headlock in this no DQ match with his associate at ringside. Kane came back with a big boot, “jumping” DDT, and flying clothesline.

Harper got involved, allowing Bray to hit a uranage. Bray followed with a body block when Randy Orton ran out to chase off Harper. This woke up the crowd. Orton sized up Bray for an RKO, but as Kane got ready for a chokeslam, Orton gave Kane the RKO. A stunned Bray Wyatt covered Kane for the pinfall win. Bad match, but the finish was intriguing at least.

Backstage, Andrea asked AJ Styles about his two losses to James Ellsworth. Styles said Ellsworth looks like an action figure that someone melted in the microwave. Styles said Ambrose won’t think it’s so funny when his face gets rearranged, and Ambrose will wish he looked like Ellsworth after tonight. He added that Ellsworth will be missing more than just his chin if he gets involved.

Becky Lynch Interview w/Renee Young

Lynch came out in an orange top matching her hair. As soon as she said it was good to be back, Alexa Bliss interrupted. Bliss said Lynch looked good for someone who just had back surgery, which is an interesting line. Lynch informed her that she didn’t have back surgery. Bliss made Renee leave the ring and claimed Lynch turned into a coward the second she became number one contender.

Lynch said she was put in a hospital and wasn’t allowed to leave. Bliss thought Lynch would come up with more excuses, like food poisoning or her boyfriend dumping her because she’s an orange troll. She called Lynch worthless and said she should just hand the title over. Lynch fired up said she would be ready to go in Glasgow.

Bliss said she would win the title in two weeks and tried to attack Lynch, but Lynch fought her off. Bliss countered, tossed Lynch back first into the ringpost and barricade, and hit a DDT in the ring. With Lynch laid out, Bliss grabbed a can of spray paint and painted a yellow stripe down Lynch’s back.

The Hype Bros defeated The Ascension

They announced that the winners of this match would be one of the teams to represent SmackDown against Raw at Survivor Series. Each team did an inset promo claiming they would win. Mojo mentioned being a former Green Bay Packer, and got a “Go Pack Go” chant out of the crowd. The good guys won in less than 4 minutes with the Hype Ryder.

Backstage, Andrea asked Orton if he wanted to explain his actions earlier. She put the microphone in his face and he just stared straight ahead for a while. He eventually said, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

Elsewhere, Daniel Bryan was on the phone with Shane McMahon explaining they need strong team captains. Natalya interrupted, concerned that Raw might be stealing their thunder, especially with the first ever women’s Hell in a Cell match. She volunteered to be team captain. Bryan said she would have a match with Nikki Bella tonight, and the winner would be team captain. Natalya liked this idea, but Bryan also informed her that the loser would not be on the team.

Nikki Bella defeated Natalya

The crowd was quiet to start, but Natalya did a pretty good job getting heat. She applied the sharpshooter but Nikki crawled to the rope. Natalya followed with a vertical suplex but missed a leg drop. Nikki came back with a snapmare knee attack, corner clothesline and disaster kick for a two count. Natalya followed that with a Michinoku Driver for two.

Natalya applied a surfboard but Nikki managed to reverse into an STF, which got a good reaction, for the submission win. This was pretty good. Afterwards, Carmella attacked Nikki from behind and laid her out with Brie’s Bella Buster.

Backstage, Dean Ambrose told Andrea that Styles was right, tonight was not about fun and games. But after losing his title thanks to a low blow, it was fitting the last two weeks have been low blows for Styles. He said karma was “another word for a female dog” and that maybe tonight would be fun and games–for him. The dialogue here really sucked.

The Miz, Maryse and the Spirit Squad came out. The Spirit Squad introduced Miz, who said it was Day 16 of Miz not being the Intercontinental champion. Miz felt sorry for all of the legends because Dolph Ziggler was burying the title. He said Pat Patterson must be home in Montreal sitting under a dark cloud with a tear in his eye.

Ziggler interrupted and was sick of Miz. He offered Miz his rematch right now. Miz said no. He and the Spirit Squad were about go after him, but Heath Slater and Rhyno ran out. Slater mocked them for backing off and hiding behind a woman.

Either Slater lost his place or he just had nothing to say, because he basically repeated what he just said. Miz called him a joke and reminded us that Kenny beat him last week. Miz said Spirit Squad wanted a title match. Slater hesitated and mentioned buying timeshares in Puerto Rico, but when Miz brought up “male cheerleaders,” Rhyno got mad and accepted the match. This also sucked.

WWE Tag Team Championships: Heath Slater & Rhyno defeated The Spirit Squad

Miz and Ziggler were on commentary. Ziggler reminded us that the World Series was on. They argued and got in each other’s faces. Kenny was pushed into Miz, and Rhyno nailed Mikey with a Gore for the quick win.

They cut to the fake studio set with Scott Stanford, Jerry Lawler, Lita and Booker T who plugged Hell in a Cell. They also pushed that if you start your Network free preview now, you get HIAC and Survivor Series, and officially announced Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg in Toronto.

Backstage, Ambrose ran into a sad James Ellsworth. Ambrose wasn’t feeling any sympathy, but Ellsworth pleaded with him and asked again to be in his corner. Ambrose caved and agreed. Ellsworth is happy now.

Non-Title: WWE World Champion AJ Styles defeated Dean Ambrose (w/James Ellsworth) via DQ

Ambrose clotheslined Styles out of the ring, leading to Styles decking Ellsworth. Ambrose checked on Ellsworth, allowing Styles to nail Ambrose with a springboard forearm. After a break, Ambrose hit a suicide dive, followed by forearms, a clothesline and Fisherman’s suplex for two. Ambrose then applied an armbar and switched into a Texas cloverleaf, but Styles got to the rope.

The crowd chanted “AJ Styles” and “AJ sucks” when Styles hit a dangerous-looking snap suplex on the apron. The crowd gasped. After another break, Ambrose pushed Styles off the top and hit a flying elbow drop. They traded strikes leading to an Ambrose neckbreaker for two. Styles followed that with a springboard inverted DDT for a near fall.

Ambrose then killed Styles with a rebound clothesline, followed by a superplex. Ambrose couldn’t get up in time to make a cover and Styles caught him in the calf crusher. Ambrose countered by smashing Styles’ head against the mat, but Styles reapplied the hold. Ambrose got to the rope but couldn’t stand up. Styles noticed this and dropkicked Ellsworth.

They traded moves again leading to a Pele kick by Styles, but Ambrose tossed him outside the ring next to Ellsworth. Ellsworth fired up and hit Styles with “no chin music,” but the referee saw it. Ambrose pleaded with him not to call a DQ, but he did. The crowd was despondent because of Ellsworth’s mistake, and Styles was announced the winner.

They cut to Styles on the floor who had the perfect reaction. Ellsworth was on the verge of tears and Ambrose was pissed.

Final Thoughts —

Like last week, this wasn’t much a show until the main event. The main event was really good, though, and I liked the ending. It seemed really predictable, but they did something different.