WWE SmackDown live results: The fate of AJ Styles

Date: March 21, 2017
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT

The Big Takeaway —

Shane McMahon laid out AJ Styles with a diving elbow drop through the announce table. Styles is still officially a member of the SmackDown roster and the match with Shane is official for WrestleMania.

The Usos are the new Tag Team champions after defeating American Alpha in a very entertaining match. The other highlight of tonight’s show was a couple of entertaining segments from “Total Bellas” featuring The Miz playing the role of John Cena and Maryse playing the roles of Nikki and Brie Bella.

Dean Ambrose returned after a rare week off and accepted Baron Corbin’s IC title challenge at WrestleMania.

Mauro Ranallo was not on the show.

Show Recap — 

They aired a recap of the Styles/McMahon angle from last week.

Daniel Bryan was backstage telling a stagehand that he doesn’t want any timing issues. AJ Styles jumped in filled with glee, wearing a WrestleMania visor and t-shirt. Bryan said he didn’t agree with Shane’s decision, but warned Styles that he didn’t know what he was in for at WrestleMania. Styles said he would go to the ring to let the world know how good it felt to beat up Shane. (Bryan said Shane was on his way to the show.)

Tom Phillips, JBL and David Otunga are on commentary. Phillips said Mauro Ranallo is out sick this week.

AJ Styles promo

Styles acted like he might apologize but said he wasn’t sorry for anything he did last week. He happily recalled punching Shane and seeing the welt form on his face. Styles called him crazy and laughed at the idea that Shane would challenge him to a match. Styles accepted the match, explaining that he just wanted to part of WrestleMania.

He said the bigger question was why Shane would want to face Styles. Styles explained that without him, SmackDown would fall and social media would crash, the same way Shane crashed through a car window. Styles called himself untouchable and again celebrated that he was going to WrestleMania. Styles said he would meet Shane again in the parking lot and what he does to him tonight would be phenomenally worse.

They advertised never before seen footage of Total Bellas featuring Nikki Bella and John Cena.

Backstage, Bryan was on the phone with Shane and warned him about Styles. Bryan chuckled at whatever Shane said in response. Baron Corbin entered looking for Dean Ambrose. Corbin wanted an answer for his IC title challenge at Mania. Bryan said he hasn’t heard from Ambrose all week. Corbin figured he had the night off and wanted to play blackjack, but Bryan put him in a match with Randy Orton instead (for the first time ever).

Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots was shown at ringside.

JBL sent best wishes to Jim Ross from himself and everyone at WWE. “We love you, J.R.” 

The Usos defeated American Alpha to become Tag Team Champions

Otunga mentioned Jason Jordan getting married a few days ago. The Usos got the heat on Chad Gable. He almost made the hot tag but an Uso pulled Jordan off the apron. Gable was clotheslined outside the ring and barely made it back in before the 10-count. Usos didn’t go after him for some reason.

Jordan eventually did get the hot tag and ran wild, hitting an Angle Slam for a nearfall. An Uso got a nearfall on Gable on a rollup. An Uso superkicked Gable and hit a diving splash for a very close nearfall. Crowd thought this was a title change. American Alpha also got a close nearfall on a Steinerizer off the top, but Jordan was yanked out of the ring.

A brawl outside the ring resulted in Gable being sent into the crowd. Jimmy Uso crotched Jordan on the ropes with the referee distracted and Jey Uso hit a superkick for the win. Crowd got really into it and popped for the title change. Good match that went about 14 minutes.

John Cena will face his broadcast partner Fandango tonight. The unseen Total Bellas footage is up next, courtesy Miz and Maryse. 

“Total Bellas” Footage

Oh boy. They aired footage from “John Cena’s house” with Maryse playing the roles of Nikki and Brie Bella, and Miz playing John Cena. “Nikki” went on about how perfect she was and “Brie” yelled “Brie mode.” “Cena” showed up and told “Nikki” she was breaking the rules of the house by having her feet on the patio table. “Cena” then popped the question by popping a balloon with the word “Question” on it. “Nikki” was sad. This was something else.

Randy Orton defeated Baron Corbin

Besides this year’s Royal Rumble match, this is the first time these two have been in a match of any kind together. Corbin had control for a bit until Orton hit a powerslam and full nelson slam. Orton then hit a draping DDT while blowing a kiss to the WrestleMania sign.

Orton went for an RKO but Corbin countered with a Deep Six for a two count. Corbin tried to shoulder tackle Orton into the steel steps but Orton slipped back in the ring (perfectly timed). Corbin rolled back in the ring, and with both guys down, the crowd started cheering and chanting “Dean” but the announcers tried to ignore it.

Suddenly, they cut to the stage area where Ambrose stood on top of a forklift. He asked Corbin if he was busy and the distraction allowed Orton to hit an RKO for the win. Orton saluted Ambrose for the assist.

Ambrose got in the ring, accepted Corbin’s challenge at WrestleMania, picked him up and dropped him with a Dirty Deeds.

They plugged Cena vs. Fandango again as Phillips said, “This should be a big one.”

Backstage, Orton told Renee Young he doesn’t know to expect next from Bray Wyatt and rubbing the ashes of Abigail on himself was the last thing Orton expected. The lights began to flicker and Renee bailed. A bunch of guys in sheep masks suddenly appeared behind Orton. He tried to attack them but they managed to hold him down. Bray showed up and placed an “X” on Orton’s chest. Bray said, “You changed me, Randy. You exposed my one flaw. But what you didn’t know was that one flaw would become my greatest strength.” He then sang He’s Got The Whole World to Orton. If you’ve forgotten, this feud is over the WWE Championship.

John Cena defeated Fandango (w/Tyler Breeze)

Breeze dressed as Nikki Bella, including the shorts. Fandango said we saw Cena being a bad boyfriend earlier on Total Bellas and gave him a ticket. Fandango also gave him tickets for wearing jorts and being a bad wrestler. He introduced us to his muscle, Breezy Bella. Cena didn’t instantly rip their heads off but instead brought out Nikki Bella.

Cena immediately hit Fandango with shoulder tackles, a side slam and five knuckle shuffle. Breeze tried to interfere, so Nikki speared him. Cena gave Fandango an AA and Nikki gave Breeze a Rack Attack 2.0. They both applied STFs and both guys tapped.

The Usos and Dean Ambrose will be on Talking Smack with Renee Young and Daniel Bryan.

Carmella (w/James Ellsworth) defeated Becky Lynch via DQ

Carmella and Ellsworth skipped to the ring together holding hands. Natalya was on commentary but quickly jumped off to attack Carmella with a discus clothesline and the referee called for the bell. Match was under a minute. As Natalya continued the attack, Mickie James ran down to join in, followed by Alexa Bliss.  As everyone brawled, Lynch nailed Ellsworth with a missile dropkick. Bliss was the last woman standing after clocking Mickie with a forearm.

More Total Bellas footage up next. I don’t mean to nitpick but Miz and Maryse went to Daniel Bryan (or Shane McMahon) with this and he decided to air it?

Neville plugged 205 Live and his match against Mustafa Ali.

“Total Bellas” Footage

“Cena” robotically told “Nikki” that he loved her. “Cena” agreed to take us on a tour of the house even though it’s against Rule 24. She thought he was about to give her a diamond, but it was actually a Diamond Dallas Page yoga DVD set. He later gave her a ring… a toy WWE ring. Miz/Cena had a great line where he referenced their servants, but they couldn’t be shown on camera because it wouldn’t be relatable. In the bedroom, he got on one knee to tie the knot… on his shoe.

Cena and Nikki will also be on Talking Smack tonight.

Renee caught up to Styles who was waiting for Shane in the parking lot. Before he could answer her question, a black car with tinted windows showed up. It was Rhyno and Heath Slater. Why are they so late? (I suppose this could’ve been part of Shane’s plan.) Styles was disappointed.

Shane McMahon calls out AJ Styles

Shane McMahon walked to the ring and called out Styles. They cut backstage where Renee let Styles know Shane was in the ring.

Shane, who has a black eye, called out Styles again. He said Styles should’ve come to him man-to-man and handled it, even if it resulted in a fight, instead of attacking him from behind. The crowd yelled, “What” at Shane (although not that loud) and chanted for Styles.

They cut to Styles walking backstage toward Gorilla. Styles hesitated before grabbing a microphone and going through the curtain. Styles told Shane to calm down. Styles explained he was frustrated and admitted to crossing the line last week. He apologized. He also thanked Shane for giving him a match at Mania and said he wasn’t like the other McMahons.

Styles said he would step in the ring and shake Shane’s hand. As soon as he entered the ring, Shane attacked him with strikes that looked as bad as you would imagine. Styles got the better of Shane, sent him outside and suplexed him against the barricade. However, Shane managed to backdrop Styles on the floor, then cleared the announce table.

Shane gave Styles a few more shots and laid him out over the announce table. Shane climbed to the top rope and nailed a diving elbow through the table. Crowd chanted “Holy shit” as officials ran down to check on both men.

I thought they should’ve ended it there, but they aired a few replays and showed Shane get to his feet, point at the Mania sign, and walk away on his own.

Final Thoughts —

There was some enjoyable stuff on this show between the tag title match and the Total Bellas segments. The brawl between Shane and Styles was a sign of why so many people are afraid of this match, which would be fine if it was Styles beating up Shane for 99-percent of it. The bigger negative is that the WWE World title and Women’s title programs are the least interesting things on this show.