Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 12.21.16: Smackdown Live Detroit Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you the Smackdown Live Recap for the week.

This week Smackdown Live was live in Detroit, Michigan. Smackdown Live kicked off with AJ Styles defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against James Ellsworth. The Miz defended the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Apollo Crews. We finally get to the bottom of who attacked Nikki Bella at WWE Survivor Series. Dean Ambrose battled Luke Harper of The Wyatt Family in a one on one match. WWE Smackdown Live Women's Champion Alexa Bliss battled La Luchadora in a non title match. Curt Hawkins battled Mojo Rawley in one on one action. The main event saw Dolph Ziggler putting his #1 Contendership on the line against Baron Corbin.

** Smackdown Live **

- "WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match": AJ Styles (c ) vs. James Ellsworth: Styles annihilates Ellsworth, blocks a No Chin Music attempt and scores the easy pinfall to retain the title. After the match, Styles throws Ellsworth outside, hits a back breaker on the announcers table, rips off Ellsworth's shirt, hits a forearm, sends Ellsworth into the steel steps then into the apron. Styles finally finishes Ellsworth off by suplexing him into the barricade.
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall.

- AJ Styles Promo: Styles says he has no remorse for what he just did and now James Ellsworth can go back to the Island of Misfit Toys. Dolph Ziggler interrupts, congratulates Styles and reminds Styles that Ziggler is the new #1 Contender. Styles says facing Ziggler will be a cake walk, but Ziggler reminds Styles it took him 4 times to finally beat Ellsworth and Ziggler is always willing to put it all on the line. Baron Corbin interrupts and wants to know how many chances does Ziggler get and knows Ziggler will just lose again as always. Corbin is sick of Ziggler stealing opportunities and then wasting them. Corbin swings and connects on Ziggler, but Ziggler comes back with a series of punches of his own. Corbin lays out Ziggler with End of Days to end the segment.

- Backstage, Daniel Bryan informs Dolph Ziggler that he'll face Baron Corbin later. If Ziggler loses to Corbin then Ziggler must forfeit his #1 Contendership.

- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": The Miz (c) vs. Apollo Crews: The match closes out with Miz countering a back body drop and rakes Crews in the eyes. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale and scores the pinfall to retain the title. After the match, Renee Young asks Miz about his obsession with Dean Ambrose unlike Renee who's sleeping with Ambrose. Renee slaps Miz in the face before Miz leaves the ring.
Winner: The Miz, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

- Nattie Neidhart Promo: Nattie says she's sick of the rumors and wants to talk to Nikki Bella. Nikki comes out and so does Carmella, as she wants to see how Nattie gets out of this, because she knows Nattie attacked Nikki at WWE Survivor Series. Carmella says she remembers a time when Nattie said Nikki was taking her spotlight and no one cared about the Bella Twins outside of the WWE. Nikki asks Nattie if she attacked her, but Nattie attacks Carmella and tosses her into the christmas tree decorations at ringside. Nattie finally admits that she attacked Nikki, calls Nikki a bitch, Nattie has always hated Nikki and Nattie reminds us she's a Hart, who are wrestling royalty. Nattie ends her rant by stating that Nikki is nothing, she's sick of Nikki's magazine covers, Total Divas spin off, her red carpet appearances and Nattie's cat has more charisma than Nikki and that's why John Cena won't marry Nikki.

- Backstage, Daniel Bryan asks Alexa Bliss how she's doing with her leg injury. Alexa says it still hurts and wants to know what Bryan is going to do about Becky Lynch. Bryan says Becky Lynch will face Alexa next week for the WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship and Bryan already got Alexa's doctor to okay the match. If Alexa chooses not to wrestle than she will be stripped of the title.

- Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper: The match closes out with Ambrose countering the Harper Lariat and Harper countering Dirty Deeds. Ambrose inside cradles Harper and scores the pinfall. After the match, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton attack Ambrose. Bray tosses Ambrose at Orton, who hits an RKO on Ambrose. The Wyatt Family poses as The Miz hits the ring. Ambrose gets back to his feet and is dropped immediately by Miz with Ambrose's own Dirty Deeds finisher.
Winner: Dean Ambrose, by pinfall.

- Alexa Bliss vs. La Luchadora: The match closes out with Alexa unloading strikes on Luchadora. Luchadora hits a forearm and then traps Alexa in a Dis-Arm-Her submission, forcing Alexa to tap out. After the match, La Luchadora unmasks and reveals herself to be Becky Lynch.
Winner: La Luchadora, by submission.

- Curt Hawkins vs. Mojo Rawley: The match closes out with Mojo blocking the Uranage Slam and unloads on Hawkins with a back body drop, a series of shoulder tackles, a clothesline, a stinger splash and a running shoulder tackle. Mojo finishes Hawkins off for the pinfall with a running forearm.
Winner: Mojo Rawley, by pinfall.

- "Ziggler's #1 Contendership On The Line": Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin: AJ Styles was on commentary for this match. The match closes out with Corbin and Ziggler brawling on the floor. Corbin tosses Ziggler into the barricade. Corbin then tosses Ziggler into Styles. Ziggler hits a super kick on Corbin as both Ziggler and Corbin get counted out. After the match, Styles grabs a steel chair and unloads chair shots on both Ziggler and Corbin. Daniel Bryan arrives and announces that next week AJ Styles will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against both Ziggler and Corbin in a Triple Threat Match.
Winner: Double Countout