Last night, Goldberg returned to Monday Night Raw for the first time in 12 years. However, tonight’s episode of SmackDown could be even more historic. James Ellsworth, the man with two hands and a fighting chance, challenges AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship.
Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper
At No Mercy, Randy Orton faced Bray Wyatt in at main event that ended differently than most expected. The lights went out, and Luke Harper appeared out of nowhere to distract Orton and give Wyatt the win. Last week, Orton would team up with Kane to take on Wyatt and Harper, but the Big Red Machine disappeared seemingly out of thin air. This match is Orton’s first chance at getting revenge.
During this match, Bray Wyatt is wheeled to the ring in a casket to continue playing mind games with Orton. As Orton goes for the Hangman DDT, Bray Wyatt interferes and initiates an assault. Winner (via disqualification): Randy Orton
Wyatt and Harper look to put Orton in the casket, and when they open the lid, Kane is already inside. They almost hit their finishers on the Wyatt Family, but they manage to vanish.
Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi
Alexa Bliss was supposed to face Becky Lynch at No Mercy for the SmackDown Women’s Champion, but the match was postponed due to Lynch being out of action. Instead, Bliss fought Naomi and ended up getting rolled up by the former Team B.A.D. member. Since Bliss says she can beat Naomi “any time, any place,” General Manager Daniel Bryan set up this match tonight.
Naomi goes to the top rope, but she is tripped up and slammed off of the turnbuckle. Bliss then follows up with Twisted Bliss and picks up a redeeming win over Naomi. Winner: Alexa Bliss
Apollo Crews vs. Curt Hawkins
Hawkins said he was going to step in the ring at No Mercy, and that is exactly what he did. He stepped in the ring and left. Tonight, after getting in Apollo Crews’s face, Crews hits Hawkins in the face. Hawkins then decides to retreat and not have his debut yet. Result: No Contest
In-ring Segment
Carmella tries to trash talk Nikki Bella by saying that John Cena is the reason for Nikki Bella’s success. What it ended up being is that Carmella just seems jealous of the former longest-reigning Divas Champion of all-time.
The Miz, Kenny, & Mikey (w/Maryse) vs. Dolph Ziggler, Heath Slater, & Rhyno
Last week, Dolph Ziggler defeated his former Spirit Squad teammates in a handicap match. The Miz would then lead an assault on the Intercontinental Champion that would get broken up by Beauty and the Man-Beast. In true Teddy Long fashion, that scuffle last week turns into 6-man tag team action tonight.
The Miz hits Heath Slater from the outside, giving Kenny the perfect opportunity to roll-up Slater and pin the SmackDown Tag Team Champion. Winners: The Miz, Kenny, & Mikey
Backstage Segment
Natalya is the first woman to put her name in for the SmackDown vs. Raw Women’s Survivor Series 5-on-5 women’s match (wow that’s a long match name), but Daniel Bryan has made no decisions.
Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger
Corbin and Swagger have been frequently facing each other recently, and two of the biggest men on the SmackDown roster are ready to brawl again.
Almost immediately, Baron Corbin hits the End of Days on the former World Heavyweight Champion for a surprisingly dominant victory. Winner: Baron Corbin
AJ Styles (c) vs. James Ellsworth – WWE World Championship
Last week, Dean Ambrose was the special guest referee for James Ellsworth’s match against AJ Styles, and Dean Ambrose used his authority to help Ellsworth win. This would make Ellsworth #1 Contender, so Daniel Bryan made a title match for Ellsworth. As the challenger says, “any man with two hands has a fighting chance,” and tonight could be a miracle.
Since Ambrose can’t be special guest referee, he is the guest ring announcer for this match. He is also the guest bell ringer. He antagonizes Styles throughout the entire match, and it leads to AJ Styles getting a disqualification by ignoring a 5-count. Winner (via disqualification): James Ellsworth
However, AJ Styles still remains the WWE World Champion.
