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My Thoughts on SmackDown (10/11/16): ELLSWORTH WINS!

  • We kick off the show with the new Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler says he put it all the line to win the title at No Mercy and that he didn't know if this was the last time he would ever walk down the aisle to the ring. He says he had to do it, but now he knows that WWE is where he belonged and he knew he was walking out as Intercontinental Champion. Outcomes the Miz & Maryse in all black, staying silent as the mourn the death of the Intercontinental Championship. Miz says he brought prestige back to the title, and Ziggler's victory killed it. Miz says this isn't the end of the story, it's just Act II. Miz says he's the hero and Ziggler is just temporary. He says every story ends with the hero getting the gold and the girl, and he's already got the girl, so he wants his gold back. Ziggler mocks Miz with the clip of him making a sad face at No Mercy, and Miz defends it by saying he made that face because he saw everything he worked for ripped away from him. He says Ziggler & the crowd don't know anything about sacrifice, and says if he did anything to keep the title, then you can't imagine what he'll do to get it back. Miz says he's not done with Ziggler, and neither are his opponents tonight...THE SPIRIT SQUAD.
  • Dolph Ziggler vs The Spirit Squad-Mikey starts off against Ziggler, but Ziggler sends both of them out of the ring before the commercial break. And for some reason, they go back to that mini screen they used on the draft episode of SmackDown once and never again. I didn't bother watching, I went to get pizza bagels. We come back to Kenny working over Ziggler, hitting a big clothesline. Mikey & Ziggler exchange sleeper holds before Mikey forces Ziggler into the corner. Ziggler takes out Kenny before going for a sunset flip, but Kenny gets back in time to tag in Mikey to prevent the roll up. Ziggler hits a double jumping DDT before hitting a Stinger Splash on Kenny, but Kenny counters a Famouser and clotheslines Ziggler after Mikey yanks him down onto the ropes. Kenny goes for a Powerbomb, but Ziggler rolls out and superkicks Kenny for the win. Mauro Ranallo says "Oh my god, he killed Kenny!" right after the superkick. Perfect. Mauro Ranallo is great. After the match, Miz attacks Ziggler and calls for the Spirit Squad to hit High Spirits, but Heath Slater & Rhyno run down to make the save.
  • Backstage, Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon announce that they are proposing that SmackDown & RAW go head to head, having three 5-on-5 Survivor Series matches. One between the male superstars, one between the tag teams, and one between the female superstars.
  • Carmella vs Naomi-During the acid trip Naomi's entrance, Carmella blindsides her and the ref pulls her off before the commercial break. We come back to Carmella working over Naomi with a chin lock. Carmella hits a sit-out reverse facebuster for a near fall. Carmella continues to dominate the match until Naomi hits a jawbreaker. Naomi does her Mike Bailey kicks and hits a corner bulldog followed by a diving crossbody for a near fall. Carmella throws Naomi down into the mat before Nikki Bella walks down. The referees tell her to go back, but the distraction is enough to allow Naomi to roll up Carmella for the win. After the match, Nikki chases Carmella around ringside before Carmella escapes through the crowd. Naomi & Nikki then hug in the ring after successfully cheating because they're the faces.
  • Backstage, Alexa Bliss gets interviewed. She says if she had known she was going to face Naomi at No Mercy beforehand, she would have won and says she would beat Naomi any day of the week. Suddenly, Daniel Bryan shows up and tells Bliss she'll be facing Naomi next week.
  • Jimmy Uso vs Chad Gable-Gable starts by working over Uso's left arm, locking in an armbar. Uso responds with a kick to the gut and a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Uso tosses Gable over the top rope, but Gable skins the cat and pulls him back in with his legs. Gable goes for the punches in the corner before hitting a diving clothesline and an Alpha-Plex. Gable locks in an armbar over the top rope, but Uso is able to roll Gable up when Gable charges him in the corner. Jey pushes Jimmy to give him extra leverage to get the win.
  • Backstage, Mojo Rawley questions where Zack Ryder was because he had three hot girls with him, but he needed Ryder to jump on a "grenade" for him...bro. Does Mojo Rawley not know who Zack Ryder's girlfriend is? Why the hell would he deal with you or any grenades and what not when he already gets to go home to Emma? Stupid idiot... They are confronted by the Ascension, who say nothing before walking off.
  • Outcomes AJ Styles. He brags about beating both John Cena & Dean Ambrose on Sunday. He then makes fun of the crowd for cheering for Dean Ambrose before going back to bragging about his win. Styles says he's not taking a night off and decides to give someone an opportunity. He says to bring them down, but Ambrose comes down instead. Ambrose says that Styles doesn't want any of him, but Ambrose says he's not done with him and says no one on the roster is jumping in front of him in line. Styles clarifies that his opponent isn't on the roster, his opponent is...JAMES ELLSWORTH! THE G.O.A.T IS BACK! Styles says that because Miz beat him up a couple of weeks ago, he's giving him a non-title match tonight. Ambrose says he kind of wants to see that, so he's going to sit at ringside, but Styles tells him to leave to not distract Ellsworth. Daniel Bryan comes out, who says Styles doesn't book the matches, but he books the match anyway. He says Ambrose can't be at ringside...because he's the special guest referee! Bryan also clarifies that if Styles puts his hands on Ambrose, like any other official, Styles will be fined or suspended.
  • AJ Styles vs James Ellsworth with Dean Ambrose as the Special Guest Referee-Ambrose checks all of Styles gear before checking if both men are ready about three times each and constantly getting in the way of the action for no reason. David Otunga constantly talks about how bad Ellsworth is. Yeah, like David Otunga is any better. Ellsworth lands one punch but flees. Style chases him back into the ring, where Ambrose trips Styles and Ellsworth almost gets the win while Styles argues with Ambrose. Styles locks in the Calf Crusher, but Ambrose misses the tap because he's answering a phone call. Styles throws Ellsworth out of the ring and beats him up at ringside. After Ambrose goofs around at ringside, Styles finally hits the Styles Clash, which terrified me because Ellsworth tucked his head for instead of throwing it back. That's how a bunch of wrestlers have broken their neck taking the Styles Clash. Hopefully, he's fine. Styles pins him, but Ambrose doesn't count the pin and hits Dirty Deeds. Ambrose throws Ellsworth onto Styles, but Styles kicks out of the pin. Ambrose hits another one and throws Ellsworth onto Styles again before fast counting, GIVING ELLSWORTH THE WIN! YES! YES! YES! HE WAS RIGHT! ANY MAN WITH TWO HANDS DOES HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE!
  • Backstage, Randy Orton & Kane talk about going through Hell and teaming up to face the Wyatt's.
  • Backstage, Styles yells at Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan, but Shane says Styles was the one who asked for the match. Styles walks out before Bryan says he's got an idea for Ellsworth next week.
  • The Wyatt Family vs Kane & Randy Orton-Pre-match, Luke Harper says this world has put him to sleep, but now he's wide awake and sees the light. Bray Wyatt tells Orton to bring out his monster Kane because he has his. Kane and Harper start off before Wyatt quickly tags in. Wyatt & Kane fight before Kane hits a big boot and Wyatt rolls out of the ring, but Orton rolls him back in. Kane goes for a chokeslam, but Wyatt escapes and goes back to the outside before the commercial break. We come back to Orton hitting a superplex on Harper. Orton tags in Kane, who hits two corner splashes followed by a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Wyatt yanks Kane's arm down onto the ropes, allowing Harper to dropkick him out of the ring. Back in the ring, Wyatt hits a senton for a near fall before tagging in Harper. The Wyatts continue to work over Kane until Kane hits a DDT on Harper. Orton gets the hot tag and runs wild on Wyatt, hitting a powerslam and a Lou Thesz press before the two start brawling to the outside. Orton throws Wyatt around ringside before rolling Wyatt back in the ring. Orton goes hits the draping DDT before calling for the RKO. For some reason, the referee starts yelling at Kane at ringside for no reason. This allows Harper to superkick Orton. Wyatt goes for the senton, but Orton dodges and crawls over to Kane. Suddenly, the Wyatt effect hits and when the lights come back, Kane is gone and Harper is where Kane was standing. Orton turns into a Sister Abigail and gets pinned, giving the Wyatts the win. Fine match, nothing special though. 

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