WWE SmackDown LIVE Results: October 11, 2016

Detailed Results

Two nights after defeating The Miz in an incredible match at No Mercy to save his career and become a five-time Intercontinental Champion, SmackDown LIVE kicks off with the brand new Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler. The fans in San Jose greet the new champion with chants of “you deserve it” before Dolph said he let his emotions get the better of him and he put his career on the line, giving himself “one way out” and that was to win. Dolph then says that he didn’t know if No Mercy was going to be the last night he was going to walk down the aisle and enter the ring. The champion continues, admitting that he doubted himself before saying that he knew once he stepped into the ring that this is where he belongs.

Dolph then proclaims that “we did it” before Ziggler is interrupted by the former champion as the man he defeated for the Intercontinental Title at No Mercy, The Miz, makes his way to the ring with his wife Maryse in tow. With both The Miz and Maryse dressed like they’re attending a funeral, The Miz says that he wants to take a moment to “mourn the death” of the Intercontinental Championship, saying that he was the one to bring the “prestige” back to the Intercontinental Title.

The Miz then says that the Intercontinental Championship is “tainted” by the “mediocrity” of Dolph Ziggler before saying that Dolph’s reign as champion is just a “temporary layover”. The Miz continues, saying that the “hero” gets the gold and the girl and he’s already got the girl, so he wants his gold back. The champion then says that he had something he wanted to show the fans, but it’s better now that The Miz is out there. Dolph then shows footage from No Mercy where he pinned The Miz to win the Intercontinental Title before asking The Miz if he was crying after losing the title.

The Miz says that this isn’t funny, saying that he takes this very seriously before saying that he did everything to keep the Intercontinental Title so just imagine what he will do to get the title back. The Miz then says that he is not through with Dolph Ziggler and neither are they. With that, Kenny & Mikey come out to the ring, saying that Dolph is going to face them in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match.

With The Miz & Maryse seated at ringside, the opening match of the night would see new Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler face The Spirit Squad in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. In the end, it was Dolph Ziggler catching Kenny with the super kick, pinning Kenny to pick up the win. As soon as the match is over, The Miz ambushes Dolph Ziggler, beating down the new Intercontinental Champion before planting Dolph with the Skull Crushing Finale. The Miz and The Spirit Squad were then set to further damage Ziggler, but SmackDown Tag Team Champions Heath Slater & Rhyno make the save, chasing The Miz and The Spirit Squad out of the ring.

SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan would then have a big announcement regarding next month’s Survivor Series pay-per-view. Daniel says that he and Shane have been talking about how they can make the 30th annual Survivor Series the biggest Survivor Series in history. Shane then says that they are looking to “up the ante” at this year’s Survivor Series, revealing that this year’s Survivor Series will be the one night of the year where SmackDown LIVE Superstars will compete against RAW Superstars in the “biggest way imaginable”. The Commissioner says that “opportunity” is what SmackDown LIVE is all about, so they are proposing a Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Tag Match pitting five of SmackDown LIVE’s top Superstars against five of RAW’s top Superstars!

The GM then says that the only way to prove which brand is the best is by proving it in the ring which gave them the idea to pit the best tag teams from SmackDown LIVE against the best tag teams from RAW! Shane then says that they also want to see a Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Tag Match pitting SmackDown LIVE’s five best female competitors against RAW’s five best female competitors! Daniel says that they both think that RAW should say “yes” before asking if the fans think RAW should accept with the GM starting a “yes” chant.

After responding to her No Mercy loss by attacking Nikki Bella backstage earlier in the night, “The Princess of Staten Island” Carmella would go one-on-one with the woman who beat #1 Contender Alexa Bliss at No Mercy, Naomi. During the match, Nikki Bella would come out with revenge on her mind, distracting Carmella long enough for Naomi to take advantage as Naomi rolls up Carmella for the win. After the match, Nikki Bella would chase after Carmella, but “The Princess of Staten Island” would narrowly escape Nikki, exiting through the crowd.

After coming up short in their match for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles at No Mercy, The Usos were on SmackDown LIVE as Jimmy Uso, with Jey Uso in his corner, would go one-on-one with American Alpha’s Chad Gable, with Jason Jordan in his corner. In the end, it was Jimmy Uso rolling up Chad Gable and, with Jey Uso providing the illegal assist, Jimmy would pick up the win.

Two nights after using a steel chair in the Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Championship to defeat John Cena and Dean Ambrose and successfully retain the WWE World Title, WWE World Champion AJ Styles would appear on SmackDown LIVE for his victory speech. The champion says that he beat Dean Ambrose and John Cena at the same time at No Mercy before calling the fans a “bunch of losers”. Styles then says that there is only room for one on this “bandwagon” before telling them to go cheer for John Cena, saying that they can’t cheer for Cena because he’s out being “Kelly Ripa’s co-host” before calling Ambrose a “lunatic loser”. AJ then says that he is a “winner” and winners find a way to win before again touting that he beat Dean Ambrose and John Cena at the same time. Styles continues, saying that he knows that SmackDown LIVE is the “land of opportunity” before saying that he is going to give a “man of main event status” an opportunity. The champion then calls for his opponent, but instead, the WWE World Champion is greeted by the arrival of “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose.

Ambrose says that Styles “don’t want none” of Dean Ambrose and the champion argues that two men can’t beat one in a Triple Threat Match, eluding to when he tapped out at No Mercy to both Ambrose and Cena. Ambrose says that he’s not going anywhere and that AJ belongs to him, saying that nobody on the SmackDown LIVE roster is jumping him in line. Styles responds by saying that his opponent tonight is not even on the roster and, with that, the champion brings out a familiar face that has made an appearance or two on RAW and SmackDown LIVE over the last few months, James Ellsworth!

AJ says that he is going to give Ellsworth an opportunity and, much to the elation of Ellsworth, AJ Styles says that Ellsworth is going to face the WWE World Champion in a non-title match right now. Styles tells Ambrose to leave the ring and, surprisingly, Ambrose is more than willing to do so as “The Lunatic Fringe” comments that he actually wants to see this match before saying he’s going to take a front row seat. However, the champion says that he doesn’t want Ambrose distracting Ellsworth during the match, telling Ambrose to “scram”.

However, this brings out SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan, who says that he makes the matches and he is a huge James Ellsworth so the match is going to happen right now before adding that Ambrose will not be at ringside for the match. The GM then announces that Dean Ambrose is going be the Special Guest Referee for the match! Ambrose then puts on the referee’s shirt as Daniel tells AJ that, since Ambrose is the referee, if AJ puts his hands on the special referee, then AJ will be fined or suspended!

Per the orders of SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan, SmackDown LIVE would see WWE World Champion AJ Styles go one-on-one with preliminary competitor James Ellsworth with “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose serving as the Special Referee! Throughout the match, Dean Ambrose would repeatedly mess with AJ Styles, knowing that the WWE World Champion cannot put his hands on the Special Referee without serious repercussions. At one point in the match, AJ Styles locks in the Calf Crusher on James Ellsworth and that is when Ambrose would conveniently get a phone call, turning his back just as Ellsworth taps out, not seeing the submission.

AJ then hits Ellsworth with the Styles Clash, but Dean Ambrose refuses to make the three-count, instead spiking the champion with Dirty Deeds! The Special Referee then decides to put James Ellsworth on top of Styles, but AJ is narrowly able to kick out. “The Lunatic Fringe” would then hit AJ Styles with Dirty Deeds for a second time, putting Ellsworth on Styles again, this time making a lightning quick count, giving James Ellsworth a major upset victory over the WWE World Champion!

Before facing Randy Orton & Kane in the main event, Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper would address the fans. Luke Harper says that this world has put him to “sleep”, but he has been awaken and he has “seen the light”. Bray Wyatt then says that there is this “black hole” that consumes everything that comes near it, telling Randy Orton to bring on his “monster”, saying that he’s brought his. Bray then concludes by telling Orton & Kane will be pummeled into this “never-ending black hole abyss”.

Then it was time for the main event of SmackDown LIVE as, after Luke Harper’s surprise re-emergence cost him his match against Bray Wyatt at No Mercy, “The Viper” Randy Orton would join forces with “The Big Red Monster” Kane to face the newest incarnation of The Wyatt Family, Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper. During the chaotic match, Randy Orton would crawl for the tag to his partner, Kane, but that is when the lights would go out and, when they came back on, Luke Harper was standing on the ring apron where Kane was just standing! Much like at No Mercy, Orton would stare at the smiling Luke Harper and this would give Bray Wyatt the opening to strike as Bray connects with Sister Abigail, pinning “The Viper” to pick up the win for The Wyatt Family. As Bray Wyatt kneels on the ramp with Luke Harper standing behind him, the question of Kane’s disappearance is at the forefront of discussion. What did The Wyatt Family do with Kane? How did Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper make “The Big Red Monster” disappear in the blink of an eye?

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