– Last week on Talking Smack, Miz and Daniel Bryan had a dialogue about the Miz’ in ring style and Daniel Bryan’s history of injuries. What will happen tonight?
Backstage:
Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon are in the office watching the footage. Shane tells Daniel he owes Miz an apology. He says you cannot provoke talent like that. Shane says he agrees with what Daniel said, but he cannot get in the talent’s face. Daniel says he finds this advice interesting considering what Shane did with Brock Lesnar.
Miz makes his way to the ring with his wife Maryse and he looks angry. He tells them to cut the music. Miz wants to know if you have his attention. He tells the people not to boo him. After he has been pushed aside by the general manager and commissioner, you are going to boo him? It took 148 days to get everyone’s attention for a prestigious title that was once prestigious, but now it is tarnished by quitters and serial failures. It will be restored to prestige by him. Miz says he has a soft style and he does not like to get hit in the face.
Miz says he is smarter and he finds a way not to get hit. Miz says if Daniel Bryan wants to apologize and the commissioner agrees with him. All you see is what is on the surface. You don’t see what is going on in the back. Who do they call when they need a spokesman, a commercial, a movie star, or play a fricking chicken? It is him. He does it day in and day out and he does not get injured. You find him unworthy because he does not get injured or fight in VFW halls in front of 50 people. You cheer and applaud people who get opportunity after opportunity after opportunity and they fail.
Miz wants to know what it means to the fans when they consider him unworthy? It makes you cowards.
Dolph Ziggler’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring. He says Miz is making a good point. He does it all. There is a reason why the people will not get behind you. They see through you. Everyone goes above and beyond the call, but MIz, you just want to be famous. That is why no one will ever believe in you. That is why Daniel Bryan calls you soft and a coward. They see through the facade. You just want to walk the red carpet and hold up a title and be famous. Every single week, you and you alone have a chance to change that perception and prove that you are not a coward and not soft. You have the ability to prove that you are not a coward, but you don’t.
You want to prove it to the people, Daniel Bryan, or your wife? You want to prove to yourself that you are not a coward, do it right now. No title shots, no referees, no ring bells. Just you and me. Prove that you can fight me right here and right now and you can prove you are not a coward.
Miz says that Ziggler is on and Ziggler takes off his shirt. Miz tells Ziggler to wait a minute and he goes to the floor and removes his jacket. Miz gets on the apron and then he goes back to the floor. Ziggler says that Daniel Bryan was right. You are nothing but a soft, safe coward.
Miz gets upset but Maryse tries to calm him down. Ziggler tries to get him in the ring but he leaves with Maryse. Ziggler’s music hits.
– Still to come, Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler. Also, Bray Wyatt has a sermon for Randy Orton and the SmackDown Tag Team Title tournament continues with The Hype Bros. vs. The Vaudevillains. We go to commercial.
The Hype Bros. vs. The Vaudevillains
English with a shoulder tackle to Ryder but Ryder with a drop kick and a running forearm into the corner and more forearms. Ryder sets for the Broski Boot and Gotch pulls English to the floor. Ryder with a baseball slide to Gotch but English with a swinging neck breaker. English with a hammer lock using the leg and then he does some squats and drops back. Gotch tags in and he hits a belly-to-back suplex and gets a near fall. Gotch with a hammer lock and a Finlay Slam. English tags in and he misses a swanton.
Rawley tags in and he connects with shoudler tackles. Rawley with a Stinger Splash and he hits a second one. Rawley sends English face first to the mat and Gotch breaks up the cover. Ryder with a Broski Boot to Gotch and then Rawley with a forearm to English. Ryder tags in and they hit the Hype Ryder for the three count.
Winners: The Hype Bros.
After the match, Cathy Kelly congratulates Mojo and Zack. Zack says there are a lot of great teams and the Hype Train has left the station. Mojo says they are going to take the tag titles at Backlash.
Backstage:
AJ Styles walks in the back and he says hello to everyone. He stops and talks to Apollo Crews. Crews reminds AJ of his name. AJ says this is not a spelling bee, this is Smackdown live. He says that he is the face that runs the p-l-a-c-e. We go to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and AJ Styles makes his way to the ring and the Face that Runs the Place is going to address the Smackdown crowd. AJ tells everyone the Phenomenal One is here. The face that runs the place is here. The face that beats up John Cena and the face that beat John Cena at SummerSlam and the Face that will beat Dean Ambrose. Dean Ambrose will see this face in his nightmares. Dean Ambrose will see this face while lying on his back when AJ Styles is declared the WWE Champion.
AJ is interrupted by Apollo Crews. AJ is not happy that he is interrupted by Apollo Crews. He asks Apollo if he went to Daniel Bryan to challenge him to a spelling bee. Apollo says he went to Daniel Bryan and he was given the chance to have a match against AJ and that match is now.
Apollo Crews vs. AJ Styles
Styles punches Crews and chops him in the corner. Crews kicks Styles and Crews with a leap frog and drop kick. Styles goes to the floor and Crews follows. Styles goes back in and he tries to kick Crews but Crews pulls Styles to the floor and sends Styles into the apron and punches AJ. Crews goes to the announce table to spell out punch as we go to commercial.
We are back and Styles with a rear chin lock and we see Styles knocking Crews off the apron during the commercial break. Crews with punches but Styles punches back. Crews with clotheslines and a kick. Crews with a boot to the head and a Stinger Splash and jumping clothesline. Styles with an arm drag but Crews back drops Styles over the top rope to the floor. Crews with a moonsault from the apron. Crews sends Styles back into the ring.
Crews with punches and then he puts Styles on the turnbuckles. Styles avoids the superplex attempt and he drops Crews on the turnbuckles. Styles with a flying clothesline into the corner and then he goes to the turnbuckles but Crews catches Styles and hits a fallaway slam and gets a near fall. Crews goes up top and he leaps over Styles. Styles drops Crews on the top rope and Styles sets for the Phenomenal Forearm and connects for the three count.
Winner: AJ Styles
– Still to come: Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin. We go to commercial.
– We are back and John and Mauro talk about Heath Slater while David Otunga flexes.
We go to Renee Young visiting Heath Slater last week. Rhyno is there and Heath says that Rhyno is focused. Heath introduces Renee to his wife Beulah. Heath tells her to calm down. Heath is asked how long they have lived there and he says a few years. Beulah brings some crackers and string cheese. Renee says this is so lovely and she is okay with the food situation.
Renee asks Heath about not being drafted. He says it wasn’t that they didn’t want him, but it was an oversight. One thing that Heath Slater is not is an afterthought. Beulah tells Heath she got some pizza crusts for dinner. Renee asks Heath about standing up to Brock Lesnar while Rhyno makes frowny faces using the string cheese. Heath says it was a wonder he is still alive after Brock. Heath says he was honored to be one of Randy’s first matches back and it was the icing on the cake. Beulah says she loves icing. Heath explains what happened in the medical room. Heath says they probably couldn’t have reached his salary demands.
Renee asks about what is next and teaming with Rhyno. Heath says it is not for him any more, it is for his family. Beulah belches while Rhyno continues to eat crackers. Renee asks Rhyno why would he team with Heath. Heath says Rhyno is doing it to help his family. When he wins the tag titles, they are going to upgrade to a double wide. Beulah says she wishes Renee could meet the kids and Renee asks if they are in school. Heath and Beulah say that they are picking up cans.
Heath is about to show Renee the above ground pool when he has to deal with Roscoe outside. Heath and Beulah go outside while Rhyno continues to eat crackers and Renee wonders about her professional choices. We go to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and Bray Wyatt makes his way to the ring.
Bray says he does not fear snakes. He does not fear monsters. He fears no man because he is fear. When he thinks of the legend of Randy Orton, he does not think of him as a mythological serpent. He is just a man who believes he has venom running through his veins. Bray says that excites him. You are sick Randy. That is what he likes about Randy. What Brock Lesnar did to you at SummerSlam was very interesting. He exploited all of your flaws. You went into the match with no fear, thinking you were untouchable. You came out of the match as a man who was damaged. Bray introduces himself to Randy and he says that is his game. He eradicates the infected. If you really do have voices in your head and they tell you what to do, he hopes they tell you to run. Run Randy. Run.
Randy’s music plays and he makes his way to the stage and then he goes at the Ortonly pace to the ring.
Randy tells Bray the voices in his head, they are asking who the hell does this guy think he is. Bray thinks that Randy is damaged because he has staples in his head? Randy says he has been damaged for a long time and that gives him his charm. From one damaged man to another, he tells Bray he has his attention.
Bray says that is what he wanted. That is the predator he wanted to see. That is the courage that he appreciates. You are no longer the predator in this situation. You are damaged. You are weak. Bray says that he is the predator now. You should know better than anyone what a predator does best. He kills. At Backlash, he will cut the serpent’s head off and put it on his mantle like the trophy you are.
Randy says he has played that game with many people before and he is still standing here. Randy mentions the scars from Cactus Jack and The Undertaker. Those are not the scars you have to worry about. They are the internal scars and the demons inside. Maybe that is why he half ass respects Bray. He knows Bray has demons too. So Bray Wyatt wants Randy Orton at Backlash. You got it. Randy says fear… he is not afraid of Bray. He is not afraid of a man who calls himself a God. Randy says he is not afraid of kicking Bray’s ass… right now.
Orton goes into the ring and the lights go out. We go to commercial.
– We are back and Nikki Bella is with the announcers and she is asked about her health and Nikki says she is a real life Wonder Woman. We see Nikki being attacked by Carmella last week on Smackdown and then on Talking Smack.
Alexa Bliss and Natalya vs. Naomi and Becky Lynch
Natalya and Naomi start things off and Natalya with a slingshot atomic drop. Naomi sends Natalya to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Natalya with a side head lock into a front face lock. Natalya sends Naomi to the mat and sends Becky to the floor. Natalya tags in Alexa once the referee is done dealing with Becky so he can see the tag. Alexa chokes Naomi in the ropes. Alexa sends Naomi to the mat and she stomps on Naomi’s head while standing on Naomi’s back. Naomi with forearms and a drop kick to Alexa but Alexa keeps Naomi from making the tag.
Alexa with punches to Naomi. Alexa works on the neck but Naomi with elbows. Alexa with a knee. Naomi with a modified sole food to Alexa and both women are down. Becky tags in and she hits two clotheslines followed by a leg lariat. Becky with a running forearm into the corner. Alexa with an elbow to Becky and then Becky is sent to the apron. Becky with a forearm and she goes up top and hits a missile drop kick but Natalya breaks up the cover.
Carmella attacks Nikki at the announce table so who needs to know what is going on in the match. Alexa sends Becky into the ropes and gets the three count with a rollup.
Winners: Alexa Bliss and Natalya
After the match, Carmella steps on Nikki and stands on top of the barrier to pose. We go to replays and come back to Naomi and Becky checking on Nikki.
– We take a look at the Headbangers since they will be facing Heath Slater and Rhyno next. Back to commercial.
The Headbangers vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Slater and Mosh start things off and Slater with a waist lock. Mosh with a side head lock and Slater with a forearm and he celebrates. Mosh punches Slater and hits a springboard cross body on the apron. Thrasher tags in and he hits a clothesline off the turnbuckles. Slater punches Thrasher and Thrasher with a belly-to-back suplex. Thrasher with a punch and Mosh tags in. They send Slater into the air and face first into the mat. Mosh gets a near fall. Mosh with a reverse chin lock.
Mosh with a forearm to the back followed by an Irish whip. Mosh with a running butt splash into the corner and he knocks Rhyno off the apron. Thrasher with a leg drop off the turnbuckles while Mosh hits a side slam. Rhyno sends Mosh to the floor and Rhyno pulls Slater into the corner to make the tag. Rhyno with a GORE for the three count.
Winners: Rhyno and Heath Slater (Advance to the semifinals)
– We are back and the Face that Runs the Place AJ Styles is with the announcers on commentary for the main event.
In the Arena:
Gary “The Milkman” Milliman is in the ring and he says he was given a license to compete tonight, but there is no one here who wants to get in the ring with him. He says he is not leaving this ring until a competitor comes into the ring. Gary strips down to his tighty whiteys and he may have made a mistake not to have an extra layer of clothing. Gary tries to put his pants on but has some trouble.
Kane grabs Gary and hits a choke slam.
Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose
Corbin works on the arm and Ambrose with a side head lock. Corbin with a shoulder tackle. Corbin with forearms to Ambrose and then he punches Ambrose in the ribs. Corbin with a knee to the midsection. Ambrose with a cross body and he punches Corbin. Ambrose clotheslines Corbin over the top rope to the floor. Ambrose with a clothesline off the apron. Ambrose slams Corbin’s head into the announce table. Corbin grabs Ambrose on the apron but Ambrose drops Corbin across the top rope. Ambrose with a missile drop kick and he follows with a running forearm and then Corbin sends Ambrose into the turnbuckles on a bulldog attempt.
Corbin with a Northern Lariat and then he punches and kicks Ambrose. Corbin sends Ambrose over the top rope as we go to commercial.
We are back and Corbin stands over Ambrose and then he applies a quarter nelson and chin lock. We see footage from the commercial break when Corbin Irish whipped Ambrose into the ring steps. Ambrose with elbows but Corbin with a forearm. Ambrose bounces off the ropes but he grabs Ambrose by the throat and hits an STO choke slam and gets a near fall. Corbin returns to the quarter nelson and chin lock on Ambrose. Ambrose with punches.
Corbin with a knee and Ambrose with an Irish whip but Corbin slides to the floor. Corbin goes for a clothesline but Ambrose ducks and hits a swinging neck breaker and both men are down. Ambrose with punches. Corbin with a knee and Ambrose with a kick and he sets for the double underhook DDT but Corbin runs Ambrose into the corner. Corbin goes for a shoulder in the corner but Ambrose moves and Ambrose with a near fall. Corbin with a clothesline. Ambrose with a forearm and Corbin fires back and Dean bounces off the ropes and hits a clothesline for a near fall.
Ambrose goes up top and Corbin with a forearm to stop Ambrose. Corbin sets for a superplex but Ambrose blocks it and Ambrose with forearms to knock Corbin to the mat. Corbin charges at Ambrose and Ambrose drops down and Corbin goes over the top rope to the floor. Ambrose with a suicide dive and he sends Corbin back into the ring. Corbin with Deep Six for a near fall.
Ambrose goes to the floor and Corbin follows. Corbin sends Ambrose into the ringside barrier. AJ gets up from the announce table and he tells Corbin to finish him. Corbin argues with Styles and Ambrose sends Corbin into Styles and then Ambrose with an elbow from the top turnbuckles for a near fall. Styles gets on the apron and Corbin with a rollup for a near fall. Dean goes for the double underhook DDT but Styles with an accidental round kick to Corbin and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner by DQ: Baron Corbin
After the match, Ambrose with a pescado onto Styles. Styles and Ambrose fight on the floor but Corbin hits Ambrose from behind. Corbin and Ambrose return to the ring and Ambrose with a double underhook DDT. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm but Ambrose crotches him and then Ambrose shakes the ropes.
We go to credits.
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