WWE SmackDown live results: Styles vs. Ambrose for the WWE World Title

Date: September 27, 2016
Location: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH

The Big Takeaway —

AJ Styles retained his WWE World title in a great match by defeating Dean Ambrose after John Cena got involved. Cena laid out both men to end the show in a heated segment.

Speaking of heated, Dolph Ziggler will put his career on the line at No Mercy for a shot at The Miz’s IC title following a really good segment between the two in their hometown of Cleveland.

Show Recap — 

The show started with a promo for the WWE World title main event.

Randy Orton came out to a pretty big reaction. He’s wearing track pants and has grey in his beard. Orton claimed Bray Wyatt was afraid, but that’s okay, because people are afraid of many things, like spiders and snakes. Orton said Bray was afraid of him, and called him out to face his fears.

Bray appeared on the screen, apparently ready for this. He told the story of Hansel and Gretel, called himself a god and omniscient being. He said the sands of time wait for no man and sang, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” The screen went black, so Orton left the ring and stormed to the back.

Backstage, Charly Caruso asked Dean Ambrose for his thoughts. Ambrose said he had many thoughts, but it’s a PG show. He said AJ Styles has been bragging about beating John Cena, which is no big deal, because he did it last week. Styles beating Cena was old news, just like Cena was old news. Ambrose said he would break Styles’ face, make him cry, and take back his WWE World Championship.

8-Man Tag Match: The Usos & The Ascension defeated Heath Slater, Rhyno & American Alpha

The Usos have new music. They’re the only team that got an entrance. Jimmy = shirt, Jey = no shirt.

Gable used an armbar on Jimmy over the ropes, but Jey took him out from behind with a chop block to the bad leg. As they worked over Gable after a break, the crowd chanted “Rhyno” and “ECW.” The Ascension took out Jordan, so Rhyno took out the Ascension. That left Slater on the apron as the crowd chanted “Heath.”

Slater got the hot tag and ran wild on the bad guys. Everyone got involved, but it came down to Slater and the Usos. They attacked his leg, an Uso applied a Tequila Sunrise, and Slater tapped.

Charly Caruso asked John Cena, who will be at ringside for the title match, if he cares who walks out as champion. Cena said Ambrose at least has guts, unlike Styles. Either way, he would walk out of No Mercy as 16-time champion.

They showed Miz and Maryse backstage staring at a Cleveland Cavaliers championship banner. A stagehand came by with a Miz poster to cover up a poster of LeBron James and the crowd booed.

They cut elsewhere backstage to Orton searching for Bray’s dark room. There was an object on the wall in the form of an arrow, pointed toward the right. He tried turning it around thinking it might do something, perhaps open a door, but it didn’t. Orton left, but when they cut back to the arrow, it was pointed toward the right again, and Erick Rowan was standing there. After the break, Bray laughed and said Orton was always bad at taking direction.

Natalya & Carmella defeated Naomi & Nikki Bella

The heels worked over Naomi after Natalya gave her a Michinoku Driver on the floor. Ranallo talked about Naomi’s resilience as she fought back. JBL said, “It’s the glow!” and Otunga responded, “It’s definitely the glow.” Ugh.

Nikki made the hot tag and used shoulder tackles in the corner on Carmella. She turned around to nail Natalya with a forearm, but Carmella rolled her up for the win after about 10 minutes. This was bad. Carmella is terrible.

Backstage, Orton saw “One way out, choose wisely” written on the wall. There were two doors to choose from. He opened one and there was a cardboard cutout of Orton (with the eyes missing) behind the door. Orton opened the other door, and Rowan was standing behind waiting for Orton to enter. There was also a camera man back there, and they cut back and forth to make this feel as fake as possible. Orton outsmarted him. He closed the door, locking Rowan inside whatever room he was in.

The Miz’s Homecoming Celebration

Miz and Maryse entered to a huge fireworks display. Miz got a mixed reaction, and they played a video package of his career. Miz announced that he’s home and put over the Cavaliers winning “the NBA finals.” However, he turned on the crowd because the Cavs got 1.2 million people at their celebration and he didn’t. Miz called LeBron a traitor, and Miz was winning championships while LeBron was gone.

Miz welcomed his parents, who were in the front row. Maryse informed Miz that Dolph Ziggler’s parents were at ringside too. Miz told them they created an elite-level loser, so Ziggler stormed out. Maryse got between him and Miz. Ziggler grabbed a mic and told Miz he shouldn’t say anything about his parents or his city.

Miz said he’s already beaten Ziggler over and over, and Ziggler reminded him that he cheated over and over. Ziggler was about to leave, but Miz noted that the record books won’t show that he cheated, they’ll just show how many titles he’s won. Miz said Ziggler loses constantly now. He thought Ziggler’s career was embarrassing, and that his parents and friends should be embarrassed.

Miz said he was going to celebrate in Hollywood and left the ring. He passed Ziggler’s parents and told them, “You must be so proud.” Ziggler asked him to stop and called him Mike. Ziggler said Miz was right – the ring was all he had, but sometimes the things you love don’t love you back. Ziggler mentioned fans asking why he still does it, but he can’t stop himself.

Ziggler told Miz to put the title on the line one more time (the crowd chanted “one more time”) and Ziggler would put up his career. Miz wanted clarification that his career would be over–Ziggler can’t go to Raw or NXT or come back in 30 days. Ziggler said he’ll walk out as champion or he’ll be done. Either way, he’ll be out of his misery. Miz accepted (at No Mercy). I wasn’t looking forward to this feud continuing, but this was really good.

Backstage, Bray Wyatt is still waiting. “The door is open, Randy.”

Becky Lynch began making her entrance to the ring but was attacked from behind by Alexa Bliss. Bliss grabbed her title and told Lynch she doesn’t deserve it. The crowd booed and she tossed the title down.

Curt Hawkins promo. He’s making an announcement next week.

Bray is still waiting. He’s disappointed, and began yelling “Where you at, Randy?” Suddenly, Orton popped up behind Bray wearing a sheep mask. Bray turned around and Orton attacked him. Bray shoved him off and ran away. Orton chuckled, sat down, and put the sheep mask on. He began singing “he’s got the whole world,” but the camera started shaking and Bray re-appeared on the screen in the seat. They cut to the announcers who talked about how serious this was as the crowd chanted “New Day rocks.”

Caruso caught up to AJ Styles. Styles said he beat up Cena, then beat Cena. He beat up Ambrose, then beat Ambrose for the title. He’ll beat Ambrose again tonight.

WWE World Championship: AJ Styles defeated Dean Ambrose

Cena is on commentary. Ambrose was all over Styles and tossed him onto the announce table. JBL began sending it to commercial, but he was too early. Ambrose climbed back in the ring as Cena noted Ambrose can’t win the title on a countout, and then they did go to commercial. The world title is on the line and they scheduled a commercial break one minute into the match.

After a break, Cena talked about the importance of No Mercy, and acknowledged that he’ll go down as one of the all-time greats. Otunga asked about his other commitments getting in the way. Cena compared himself to Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, because they were two-sport athletes. Cena, not a two-sport athlete, said he’s able to do two things at once and he’s not leaving anytime soon.

Ambrose was in control as they kept cutting back to Cena. Ambrose applied a Texas Cloverleaf, but Styles got to the rope. Ambrose followed with a suicide dive and flying elbow to the outside, and they went to commercial.

After the break, Styles targeted the leg and applied the Calf Crusher. Ambrose was in the hold a long time before breaking out by bouncing Styles’ head off the mat. They traded strikes leading to Ambrose hitting a chickenwing facebuster for a nearfall. Styles followed with a rack bomb for two.

Ambrose crotched him on the top rope and nailed a hard clothesline off the ropes for two. Styles came back with a back elbow and Pele kick, but missed a springboard 450. Ambrose followed with a flying elbow drop for a nearfall.

Ambrose tried a plancha, but Styles moved and nailed with a running knee strike. Styles tossed Ambrose back in the ring, then clobbered Cena with a forearm.

Cena jumped on the apron to go after Styles but the referee stopped him. Ambrose rolled up Styles but the referee was still distracted. The ref turned around and began the count, but Styles kicked out. Ambrose spilled out of the ring and knocked down Cena for costing him the match.

Ambrose jumped back in the ring, but Styles caught him in a rollup holding the tights for the pinfall victory.

Immediately afterwards, Cena jumped in the ring and he argued with Ambrose. Ambrose tried to hit Dirty Deeds, but Cena countered into an AA. Styles then tried to attack Cena from behind, but Cena got him with an AA as well. He held up the title as the announcers put over Cena chasing the record at No Mercy. Great stuff.

Final Thoughts —

Really good show thanks to a great world title main event and the segment between Miz and Ziggler. While the main event result might have been pointless thanks to the upcoming triple threat, they made the most of it and told a good story.

I wasn’t a fan of the Bray Wyatt/Randy Orton stuff.