We start off with a look back at last week when John Cena and AJ Styles tried to regain the WWE Title from Bray Wyatt as part of a Triple Threat Match. We saw Wyatt retain the title and then find out that he no longer has an opponent for Wrestlemania.
Who will emerge from the Battle Royal tonight as the new challenger for Wyatt in Orlando?
– We go to the ring and out comes SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan to a pop.
Daniel welcomes everyone to Smackdown. He reminds us that we are 40 days away from Wrestlemania. On the Road to Wrestlemania, there are unexpected twists and turns. Daniel brings out the Women’s Champion Naomi. Naomi has a brace on her knee and she is not doing her usual entrance to the ring.
Daniel says that everyone here believes that she deserves it. He says there is a reason why. For years, you have worked so hard. You have scratched and clawed. You saw people given more opportunities than you, but you are the Smackdown Women’s Champion. He says that they are so proud of her.
Daniel says this is the hardest thing he has had to do as General Manager. Daniel says that he can relate to this. For years, he fought and scratched. He went against the Authority. He made it to the top and then he got injured. Daniel says he had to relinquish his title. It wasn’t he wanted to do, but he needed to do it. Daniel says he has been over Naomi’s medical records with Shane. He says that they know because of the injury, you will be unable to defend your title in the required 30 days. Daniels says that Naomi will have to relinquish the Smackdown Women’s Title.
Naomi says that she would like to say a few things. She thanks Bryan for the comments because he knows what is going on in her mind. Last week, she was crying tears of joy because she accomplished her dream. Now she is here today, filled with sadness and frustration. She feels that she reached the top of the mountain at Elimination Chamber and the view was so sweet. Now she has been knocked off that mountain. Naomi says she feels bad for her fans who have been on this journey with her. Naomi says that she feels she has let them down.
Naomi says that when she hands the title to Bryan, Wrestlemania is probably gone for her too.
Naomi gives the title belt to Daniel.
Naomi says whoever is borrowing that title and every female in the back, when she comes back, everyone will be feeling the GLOW.
As Naomi goes up the ramp, Alexa Bliss’ music plays and she walks to the ring and she gives Naomi ‘that look’ as she passes Naomi.
Alexa says that was AMAZING. She says she could have gone without the sob stories, but that end part when Naomi gave up the title. It was perfection. Alexa says for the past two weeks, all she has wanted is her rematch and Naomi has been unable to defend. Alexa says we are in a bit of a jam. Alexa says she has a heart of gold and she wants to help figure this out.
What do we do? We cannot go into Wrestlemania without a champion so what do we do? Alexa says she has an idea. Her arms and legs work fine and she was going to get the rematch she deserves, Daniel should return the title to her. Alexa says that is teamwork.
Daniel says as difficult as it was to take the title from Naomi, what she is about to do is more difficult. Since you are the former Women’s Champion, it does make sense to give you back the championship… But Daniel is not going to do that. He will give Alexa an opportunity. You have had two long weeks for your rematch and since you are ready to fight. Even though Naomi is not ready, Daniel knows someone who is. Alexa will fight for the Smackdown championship tonight and it will happen right now. Daniel brings out Alexa’s opponent and it is Becky Lynch. We go to commercial.
Smackdown Women’s Title – Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss
They lock up and go to a stalemate. Alexa pushes Becky and Becky pushes back. Alexa has a kick blocked and Becky with a near fall. Becky bridges out of a cover. Becky with a rollup for a near fall and then she gets another near fall after an enzuigiri. Alexa escapes a slam attempt but Becky with a shoulder tackle. Becky trips Alexa on a leap frog and Becky with a front face lock. Alexa with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Becky with a back slide for a near fall. Alexa with an Irish whip and Becky floats over. Becky with arm drags into an arm bar.
Becky goes for an O’Connor Roll but Alexa holds on to the ropes. Alexa with an STO and she gets a near fall. Alexa chokes Becky in the ropes and then connects with a double knee strike to the back for a near fall. Alexa stands on Becky’s hair and the referee warns her. Becky with punches but Alexa with a knee. Becky with an Exploder for a near fall. Alexa rolls to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Becky with the running forearm into the corner followed by a jumping side kick and back heel kick. Becky with an exploder for a near fall. Becky is sent to the apron but Becky with a forearm and a missile drop kick for a near fall. Alexa goes after the apron and ring skirt and while the referee adjusts it, Alexa with a double thrust to the throat and a rollup for the three count.
Winner and NEW Smackdown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
After the match, Mickie James comes out to celebrate with Alexa. While Alexa goes to the back Mickie goes to the ring to go after Becky, but Becky fights her off.
Backstage:
– Dean Ambrose says things happen. It is not the end of the world. Being hurled through bulletproof glass and having your hair singed in the same week could be a problem. Tonight, he has a chance to main event Wrestlemania. He does not care who it is. If he can break Baron Corbin’s leg, that would be fine with him.
– Kalisto says he was never meant to be a WWE Superstar, but he fought and struggle to get to the WWE. There are no limitations to what he can do. He can main event Wrestlemania while the crowd chants LUCHA.
– Miz points out his accomplishments. He says on April 2nd, he will become the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Renee Young asks Natalya about the way the WWE Universe is supporting Nikki Bella. Natalya says that Nikki is manufactured in a lab. She has everyone fooled with her fake laugh, her fake sincerity, and her silicone body. Natalya says she will expose Nikki as a cheap Natalya knock-off.
Tyler Breeze and Fandango vs. American Alpha
Breeze and Fandango attack Gable and Jordan as they get into the ring.
The referee checks on Jordan and the match starts. Fandango kicks Jordan and chops him. Fandango drops Jordan on the top rope and Breeze tags in and they connect with kicks to the temple. Breeze punches Jordan. Breeze gets a near fall. Breeze with a front face lock. Fandango tags in and they go for a double suplex but Jordan escapes and Gable tags in. Breeze is sent to the floor with a clothesline and then Gable with a bulldog to Fandango off Jordan’s shoulders and the three count.
Winners: American Alpha
The Usos appear in the crowd and they say that American Alpha will be your ex champions.
The Usos tease going into the ringside area, but they say not tonight. They did not come out here for a fight. They tell Alpha that you cannot get ready for them. You cannot get ready for two people who have nothing to lose. The Usos say what Gable and Jordan are going to do and they will have the Usos on their mind. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
– AJ Styles walks in the back and he stops someone in the back and he asks him if he knows where he is going. He says he is going to the main event of Wrestlemania.
– Dolph Ziggler says the new era of the WWE has been canceled by him. If you think you can replace him… Ziggler super kicks the green screen and he says to replace that.
– Mojo says he has been in Battle Royals but tonight is for Wrestlemania.
– Luke Harper says for years he has followed Bray Wyatt. He obeyed him. At the flick of a switch that all changed. Now he is free. After he is victorious tonight, there will be nowhere left for him to run.
– Renee Young asks Nikki Bella for thoughts about her match. Nikki says she had some feelings for Nattie but now she does not care. She will show that she is more than a pretty face. She was the longest reigning Divas Champion for a reason. She will leave it all out there. After tonight, Nattie will be known as the Broken Hart.
Falls Count Anywhere: Nikki Bella vs. Natalya
We go to the ring and out first comes Nikki Bella. Back to commercial.
Nikki with a take down and she punches Natalya. Natalya goes to the floor and Nikki follows. They go back into teh ring and Natalya with a kick but Nikki with a facebuster and Nikki gets a near fall. Nikki goes to the floor and she gets a table but Natalya with a baseball slide to stop her. Natalya puts the table under the ring and Nikki with a rollup for a near fall. Nikki with kendo stick shots to Natalya’s leg. Nikki gets a near fall. Nikki sends Natalya into the ringside barrier and she gets a near fall. Nikki sends Natalya over the ringside barrier into the crowd.
Natalya with a forearm and she mocks Nikki’s boyfriend. Natalya sends Nikki into a guardrail. Natalya sensd Niki into the sound equipment. Natalya climbs onto the guardrails and Natalya tries to suplex Nikki to the floor. Nikki blocks it and she kicks Natalya in the knee and Natalya lands onto the barrier. Nikki with a round kick and she gets a near fall. Nikki sensd Natalya back into the ringside area.
Natalya sends Nikki into the ringside barrier and she kicks Nikki. Nikki is sent into the ring post by Natalya. Natalya sends Nikki into the ring steps and Natalya gets a near fall. Natalya takes the kendo stick but she puts it down. Natalya decides to rearrange the announce table. Nikki with forearms and she sends Natalya into the ring. Natalya with a shoulder and she tries to power bomb Nikki through the table but Nikki cannot hold on to the ropes. Nikki is able to escape the hold before going through the table. Nikki with an Alabama Slam onto the table and Nikki gets a near fall on the table as we go to commercial.
We are back and Natalya with a Sharpshooter and Natalya releases the hold. They go to the ramp and Natalya suplexes Nikki onto the ramp and she gets a near fall. Nikki with a forearm and she sends Natalya into the barrier. Natalya with elbows and kicks as they go to the back. Nikki is sent into some storage cases. Natalya gets a near fall. Nikki kicks Natalya in the midsection. Natalya spits on Nikki and they Nikki is thrown by Natalya and Nikki collides with Maryse.
Nikki sends Natalya through a mirror but Natalya kicks out. They go back into the arena area and they go to the stage. Nikki with a spear for a near fall. Natalya with a forearm and she goes for a Sharpshooter on the ramp but Nikki counters with an STF and Natalya is about to tap out but Maryse hits Nikki with a pipe several times. Miz has to hold his wife back.
Natalya covers Nikki and gets the three count.
Winner: Natalya
– After the match, Natalya taunts Nikki as she makes her exit. Officials run down to check on Nikki as we go to replays. We come back to Nikki clutching her leg.
– Still to come, our battle royal main event. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
– Baron Corbin says he likes destruction. He likes inflicting pain. Most of all, he likes the spotlight. After he throws nine men out of the ring, he will take his rightful place in the main event of Wrestlemania.
– Apollo Crews says Dolph Ziggler thought he could keep him down by attacking the leg. People mistake his smile for weakness. If anyone wants to stand in his way, they are going to get rolled over, run over, and tossed over real quick.
– Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt show up and Bray says that with great sacrifice should come great reward. You have earned the keys to the kindgom. Speaking of sacrifice, whoever wins will be his sacrifical lamb for slaughter at Wrestlemania.
#1 Contender’s Battle Royal: Baron Corbin, AJ Styles, John Cena, The Miz, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Apollo Crews, Kalisto, Mojo Rawley, Luke Harper
We go to the ring and out comes John Cena to a mixed reaction. The winner of this match will face Wyatt in one of the WrestleMania 33 main events. Cena hits the ring as Greg Hamilton makes the introductions. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and Cena has been joined by Dolph Ziggler, Mojo Rawley, Apollo Crews and Kalisto. We cut backstage to a promo from Jack Gallagher to promote tonight’s 205 Live episode. Baron Corbin is out next. Luke Harper is the next man out, followed by The Miz and then AJ Styles. WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose is the last man out. The match starts as soon as Ambrose hits the ring.
Ambrose enters the ring and he goes after Corbin so the match starts. Harper tries to eliminate Styles but Styles stops Harper wtih a rake of the eyes. Miz kicks Rawley and Kalisto stops Miz. Ambrose picks up Crews but Crews gets to his feet and he picks up Ambrose but Ambrose gets to the ropes. Ziggler knocks Cena down. Styles and Ziggler work on Cena. Cena is on the apron and Styles tries to eliminate Ziggler but Dolph lands on the apron. Miz is sent to the apron and he holds on while Rawley and Crews try to send Miz to the floor. Styles is on the apron after Corbin and Ambrose work together. Ambrose blocks a hesitation DDT and Ambrose tries to eliminate Ziggler, but Dolph lands on the apron.
Ambrose sends Dean into the turnbuckles and Ziggler gets back into the ring. Harper fights off Corbin in the corner. Ambrose kicks Styles and sends him to the mat. Ambrose chops Kalisto and Styles. Ziggler punches Harper in the corner but Harper sends Ziggler to the apron. Rawley has MIz up but Miz gets to his feet and he punches Rawley. Cena gets Corbin on his shoulders but he collapses under Corbin’s weight.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Corbin gives Miz Deep Six while everyone else is down. Rawley with punches to Corbin and a splash in the corner. Corbin eliminates Rawley. Harper with a super kick to Corbin. Kalisto with Salida Del Sol to Ziggler followed by a drop kick to Harper. Kalisto with a quebrada in the corner. Ziggler is sent to the apron by Kalisto. Ziggler sends Kalisto to the apron and Kalisto with kicks. Ziggler adjusts the mask and he super kicks Kalisto off the apron.
Crews with a flying clothesline to Corbin and Ziggler drops Crews across the top rope from the apron. Crews with an enzuigiri to eliminate Ziggler. Ziggler gets a chair and Crews puts down Ambrose. Kalisto is hit with a chair and Corbin eliminates Crews. Crews gets the chair and he chases Ziggler to the back.
Styles punches Cena and Cena punches back. Cena gets Styles up and he goes for the Attitude Adjustment but Styles lands on his feet. Harper with a super kick to Cena. Styles with a Pele Kick to Styles. Ambrose hits a clothesline on Corbin. Miz stands tall in the center of the ring. Miz mocks the finger pointing skills of Daniel Bryan, but the crowd joins in. Miz with a drop kick to Harper followed by Ambrose and Styles. Miz hits Corbin with a drop kick. Miz with kicks of Yes to Cena. Cena ducks on the round kick and Cena eliminates Miz.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Styles with foraerms. Cena with a human centipede German suplex to Styles and Ambrose. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles to Styles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb. Corbin with End of Days when Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Dean Ambrose eliminates Baron Corbin and Corbin pulls Ambrose to the floor and hits End of Days on Dean.
Miz comes back into the ring and he throws Cena over the top rope. Cena is told he must go even if Miz was prerviously eliminated.
We are down to AJ Styles and Luke Harper (and maybe Dean Ambrose since he was not thrown over the top rope).
Harper tries to pick up Styles and throw him over the top rope but Styles lands on his feet. Harper with a double leg take down and he sends Styles to the apron. Dean comes from behind and he sends Styles to the apron. Harper and Styles hang on the apron and Luke pulls Ambrose to the apron. Ambrose punches Styles while Styles kicks Ambrose. Styles punches Ambrose and Ambrose with a forearm. Ambrose gets Styles on his shoulders and Harper with a thrust kick and Styles falls into the ring and Ambrose is eliminated.
Harper tries to suplex Styles to the floor but Styles hangs on the apron. Harper with a forearm. Styles with a forearm as they fight on the turnbuckles. Styles kicks Harper into the ring while Styles stays on the apron. Styles returns to the ring. Styles kicks Harper in the leg and Harper with a punch. Harper gets Styles on his shoulders and Styles with a sleeper as Harper leans against the ropes.
Harper with punches and Styles goes through the ropes to the apron. Harper sends Styles to the apron on a suplex attempt. Styles with a punch and forearm. Styles puts Harper on the apron and Harper with a forearm and kick. Styles kicks Harper in the knee through the turnbuckles and Harper falls to the apron. Harper pulls Styles over the turnbuckle and Styles is sent to the floor.
They both fall to the floor but AJ’s feet clearly touched first. The referees talk it out and they’re saying Harper and AJ touched at the same time.
Winner: Draw
Harper and AJ have words in the ring while the referees try to keep them apart. The music finally hits and out comes Daniel Bryan. Bryan talks with the referees and the match is announced as a draw. Bryan announces that there is no winner but they will determine a winner next week. Fans boo. AJ and Harper are upset. AJ puts his hands on Harper but gets dropped with a big clothesline. Harper hits the corner and gets the crowd riled up with the WrestleMania banner in the background. The graphic flashes and we cut to Wyatt and Orton. SmackDown goes off the air with Wyatt laughing at Harper.
