Here are your quick and dirty, editorial-free WWE Smackdown Live results for September 13, 2016. This was the first show after Backlash, and the first episode of the AJ Styles Era. It’s also the first show since the WWE Draft with Heath Slater having a paying job.
Be back here tomorrow for the full Best and Worst of Smackdown column.
WWE Smackdown Live results:
— The show opened with new WWE Champion AJ Styles addressing the WWE Universe. He says as long as he’s been in the company, he’s done everything he said he was going to do. He declares himself the champ that runs the camp. John Cena’s music hit and he made his return to Smackdown. Cena says Styles has something that belongs to him and he’s decided he’s going to take it back: the WWE Championship. Cena wants to tie Ric Flair’s championship title record. Dean Ambrose comes out and says Styles made him his enemy. Cena runs down Ambrose and says he hasn’t stepped up once. Ambrose calls Cena out for being a part-timer and says he can’t hang anymore. Shane McMahon says at No Mercy, all three men will fight for the title in a triple threat match. For tonight, he is making Cena and Ambrose team up against Styles and a partner of his choosing.
1. The Usos defeated the Hype Bros. The Usos took advantage of Zack Ryder’s injured leg and dominated the match. They eventually hit a top rope splash and got the pin on Mojo Rawley.
— The Miz came to the ring and listed his accomplishments and insisted he isn’t a coward. He was interrupted by Dolph Ziggler, who insists every other Superstar and all the fans will never see him as a top guy and will always see through him. Ziggler challenges Miz to “one more match” with “no gimmicks.” Daniel Bryan interrupted and agreed Maryse is the only reason Miz retained his title. Bryan says Ziggler gets a rematch, but Miz says he will not defend his title on any show until he renegotiates his contract. Miz and Maryse left through the crowd.
— Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews were supposed to have a Backlash rematch, but Corbin attacked Crews before the match began and hit an End of Days on the floor. Jack Swagger came out in street clothes and stared down Corbin, who left. He said Smackdown is his new home and people may think they know him, but they don’t know Jack.
2. Fatal 5-Way No. 1 Contender Match: Alexa Bliss defeated Nikki Bella, Carmella, Naomi and Natalya. New Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch sat at ringside for this match. Carmella hit Nikki with a huge head kick and went for the pin, but Alexa tossed Carmella out of the ring and stole the pin for herself.
— Shane McMahon welcomed new Smackdown Tag Team Champions Rhyno and Heath Slater to the ring for Slater’s contract signing. Slater signs and thanks Shane and Daniel and his wife and kids, as well as Rhyno. Slater says him and Rhyno will take on anyone, anyplace, anywhere. The Ascension interrupted the celebration and said they wanted to take Slater up on his challenge right here, right now. Shane makes the match.
3. Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: Heath Slater and Rhyno (c) defeated The Ascension. Rhyno eventually managed to hit the Gore to get the win for his team.
— Backstage, since AJ Styles has failed to recruit a tag team partner thus far, Daniel Bryan introduces him to James Ellsworth, his partner for the night. Ellsworth was previously seen on Raw as the “any man with two hands can” jobber who lost to Braun Strowman.
— Randy Orton came to the ring and challenged Bray Wyatt to step in there with him. Wyatt appeared on the video screen and warned Orton not to sleep. Wyatt appeared behind Orton outside the ring and Orton again dared him to get in. The lights went out and Erick Rowan appeared and attacked Orton from behind. Orton hit an RKO on Rowan and then his music played again.
4. John Cena and Dean Ambrose defeated The Miz and AJ Styles. While James Ellsworth was making his way to the ring, he was jumped from behind and beaten unconscious by Miz, who took his place as Styles’ partner, because he is the main event. Ambrose wiped out Styles with a dive, allowing Cena to hit an AA on Miz for the pin.
— After the match, Ambrose hit Cena with Dirty Deeds and jawed at him. He stared down Styles, who posed with his belt at the top of the ramp to end the show.
