WWE SmackDown live results: Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles

Date: March 7, 2017
Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

The Big Takeaway —

Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles clean with an RKO to earn a one-on-one title match against Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania. It was a strong match on an otherwise poor show.

Also, Alexa Bliss will have to defend her Women’s championship at WrestleMania against “every available woman” on the SmackDown roster. This will at least include Becky Lynch, Natalya, and Mickie James, and leaves the door open for Naomi and perhaps others.

Show Recap — 

They aired a lengthy recap of the Orton-Wyatt angle, including Orton doing his signature pose in front of the flames.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan came out to start the show as Mauro Ranallo pushed AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton for the first time ever. JBL mentioned that Bryan and Shane were having doubts about doing this match tonight.

Bryan thought the title match should go to Orton, but Shane thought it should be Styles. Bryan noted the tradition of the Royal Rumble winner headlining WrestleMania, but Shane mentioned that Orton relinquished his shot and showed a replay of him doing so. They didn’t know what Orton’s eventual intentions were so they went ahead with other plans and Styles earned the shot.

Bryan figured they had it settled when Styles beat Luke Harper, but then Orton burned down Bray’s shack and they showed another replay of the incident. Bryan didn’t agree with Orton’s actions but still thought he deserved the title match.

They polled the crowd who seemed to be more in favour of Styles. They didn’t want to have a debate, so that’s why they announced Orton vs. Styles for tonight. Bryan asked if the crowd was ready for one of the most must-see matches in SmackDown history and led them in a “Yes” chant.

This segment felt like such a time killer. This would’ve been fine if they hadn’t announced the match already and if they were building it up for next week.

AJ Styles confronted Bryan and Shane backstage and accused them of conspiring against him. He said he would take out Orton, which would be on them. He wasn’t afraid of fire or a viper, and he wasn’t a fan of them either (which he said right in Bryan’s face).

John Cena & Nikki Bella defeated James Ellsworth & Carmella

Ellsworth cut a promo before the match calling himself the mack daddy of SmackDown Live and said he was about to smack Cena. Nikki and Cena got separate entrances. Ranallo said Carmella and Ellsworth went together as well as alcohol and social media.

As soon as the bell rang, Miz and Maryse entered to their music and the distraction allowed Carmella to hit a superkick on Nikki. Commercial break. Miz and Maryse were on commentary after the break.

Miz noted that Cena was the one who made this match, not Bryan or Shane (so I was wrong last week about them not bringing this up). Cena made a hot tag but Ellsworth was terrified and took forever to get in the ring. He pleaded with Carmella but she forced him to stay in.

Cena easily blocked a superkick and slammed Ellsworth. Carmella got in Cena’s face, so Nikki knocked her down too. Cena and Nikki each did the Five Knuckle Shuffle, which they mistimed, and each hit their finishers. They both applied STFs and the heels tapped. Maryse (and me) wanted to puke.

Miz and Maryse jumped them afterwards and laid them out. Miz said he couldn’t take anymore and called their relationship a lie. Miz said he loved Maryse, but wondered if Cena loved Nikki and mentioned that he made her sign a contract to be with him. Miz called Cena emotionless and does everything for his brand, including being with Nikki. Maryse said, “Hey Nikki, break that bitch!” and dropped the mic.

Backstage, Orton told an uncomfortable Renee Young that he burned down Bray’s compound to the ground, so what does that mean for Styles tonight? He said Styles was phenomenal, but he’s one RKO away from main eventing WrestleMania and suggested Styles run.

They announced Rick Rude for the Hall of Fame.

Curt Hawkins was in the ring and called out Dean Ambrose for attacking him last week. As Ambrose walked out, Chad Hawkins (as Ranallo called him) tried to attack him, but Ambrose just clotheslined him and hit the ring to cut a promo on Baron Corbin.

Ambrose called Corbin a scumbag and a neutered wolf with no testicles. Corbin appeared on the screen and said he wasn’t going to go to the ring. He said Ambrose should appreciate being Intercontinental champion while he can. Ambrose said he would go back there and find him. As Ambrose was about to leave, Hawkins tried to attack him, but Ambrose gave him a Dirty Deeds on the floor. That was funny.

They played the Trish Stratus and Lita video package from Raw.

Ambrose was shown backstage looking for Corbin. After a break, Ambrose was still looking.

Mojo Rawley (wearing a suit) told Dasha Fuentes that everyone wants their WrestleMania moment and last year, he got to witness Zack Ryder get his moment. However, as much as Rawley enjoyed it, it wasn’t his moment. He announced himself for the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal.

Dolph Ziggler showed up and said Rawley needed to earn a WrestleMania moment. Rawley responded, “Oh, is that why you don’t have one?” which got a nice reaction. Ziggler told Rawley not to hurt himself reaching for the brass ring.

As Ambrose continued walking backstage, Corbin was hiding behind a corner and tossed a random person (maybe a security guard) into Ambrose and attacked him with a pipe. Ambrose was in pain but made sure to say, “Good talk,” which got Corbin’s attention. Corbin attacked him again and noticed a forklift. He lowered the lift on Ambrose in an attempt to crush him to death. Some officials jumped in to get Corbin away and help Ambrose. This was pretty good.

Alexa Bliss’ Blissertation

This was the top-of-the-hour segment. Bliss came to the ring with Mickie James and wanted to announce her WrestleMania opponent. Bliss said it wouldn’t be Naomi, Nikki Bella, Carmella or Becky Lynch. She had lame insults for all of them as the crowd sat in silence.

Lynch interrupted and told Bliss to shut her face. Lynch had a “Beckleration,” which was that she would win back her Women’s championship at WrestleMania. This brought out Natalya, who said Lynch wasn’t in their league. Bliss told Natalya she wasn’t getting a shot either and called her “the worst there is, the worst there was and the worst there ever will be.”

They started bickering until Mickie told them to shut up. She said Bliss was about to announce “who” was going to face her at Mania, so the crowd started chanting “who.” Mickie announced she was Bliss’ Mania opponent. Bliss didn’t seem to like this idea either. Lynch said she beat Mickie twice last week and Natalya called Mickie ugly.

The crowd was dying at this point. They bickered for a bit until Bryan came out. Bryan graded this Blissertation an “F” and made a title match for Mania. Bliss would have to defend the title against every available woman on the SmackDown roster (which leaves the door open for Naomi to return, supposedly.)

Bliss said he can’t do that, but Bryan said he can–that’s literally his job. He said he got a tip from Teddy Long and announced a “holla holla” tag match up next. This segment was no good, but thank god for Daniel Bryan. Did Bliss think she just wasn’t going to defend the title at Mania?

More than an hour into the show, there’s been one 7-minute mixed tag match.

Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss & Mickie James defeated Becky Lynch & Natalya

Ranallo said Mickie has acquitted herself well since returning. She has one win in five matches since returning to SmackDown. They worked over Lynch who made her own comeback instead of making a tag, I guess because she knew her partner was a heel.

Natalya didn’t like that and jumped in the ring to give Lynch a German suplex, which actually got a lot of heat. It was also enough to put Lynch away. Bliss tagged herself in and pinned Lynch for the win. Mickie, annoyed that Bliss stole the pin, gave her a Mick Kick afterwards and posed with the title.

The announcers updated us on Ambrose who they said was having difficulty breathing and was coughing up blood. They tried to treat this seriously with even JBL admonishing Corbin.

Alexa Bliss, Apollo Crews, Miz and Maryse will be the guests on Talking Smack. Should be interesting how they get Renee to react to what happened to Ambrose.

Austin Aries plugged 205 Live and they showed a replay from Raw here on SmackDown.

Number One Contender’s Match: Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles

Before the match, Styles welcomed us to SmackDown Live–the house that AJ Styles built. Styles said when he was the champion, the ratings couldn’t be any higher, and he turned a B Show into The Show. He’s still getting nothing but disrespect from Bryan and Shane, whereas Orton is getting rewarded for burning somebody’s house down. The crowd chanted for Styles. Styles said he deserved to main event WrestleMania and would make it phenomenal.

Styles tried to catch Orton off guard right away which almost resulted in an RKO, but Styles escaped. Orton got the better of Styles early on, using a hard Irish whip, stomps, and European uppercuts. Styles came back with kicks to the legs, but Orton caught him and hit a t-bone suplex. Orton then backdropped Styles on the barricade (which reminded me that Styles had/has a bad back). Styles chop-blocked Orton upon returning to the ring. Commercial break.

Styles worked over Orton’s leg but Orton came back with clotheslines, a powerslam and full nelson slam for a two count. Orton went for a superplex but Styles slipped out and dropped him face first on the turnbuckle, followed by a fireman’s carry neckbreaker for two. Orton avoided a Styles Clash by backdropping Styles over the top rope. Styles countered a draping DDT and applied a Calf Crusher, but Orton got a rope break.

Styles went for the Phenomenal forearm but Orton pushed him off the top and nailed a draping DDT. Styles then countered an RKO with a Pele kick. Styles got ready for a Phenomenal forearm and Orton tried to counter with an RKO–but Styles saw that coming and faked him out. With Orton down, Styles went for a springboard 450 splash, but Orton dodged and hit an RKO for the win.

Randy Orton is going to WrestleMania to face Bray Wyatt. As Orton celebrated, a stunned AJ Styles watched from the ramp. Really good match with a great finish. Match was just under 18 minutes.