INQUISITR.COM / Sports

‘WWE SmackDown Live’ Results: James Ellsworth Earns Contract And Title Shot In Ladder Match

By Dustin Murrell
Published on: 10:47 PST, Nov 22, 2016

As the superstars from SmackDown Live were recovering from Sunday night’s Survivor Series 2016, many of them were already forced to look ahead to WWE TLC 2016, which takes place in less than two weeks. While Dean Ambrose challenges AJ Styles for the WWE Universal Championship in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match, the sole survivors of the Men’s 5-on-5 Elimination Match were Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. How will The Wyatt Family be rewarded for their efforts at Survivor Series, and how will AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose be punished for their failure to get along? And after the brutal spear he received from Roman Reigns, what condition will SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon be in this week?

Shane McMahon at Survivor Series 2016 [Image by WWE]

WWE SmackDown Live Results

The following includes the results of all the matches and segments from SmackDown Live on November 15. This episode of SmackDown aired live from the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. SmackDown Live hasn’t won the ratings war with Monday Night Raw since the week the blue brand hosted the WWE Draft. With this week’s episode of SmackDown providing the blue brand’s first response to Survivor Series 2016, will this be the first time Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan’s show defeats WWE Raw?

Randy Orton and The Wyatt Family at Survivor Series [Image by WWE]

James Ellsworth is given a contract and a Ladder Match

SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon started out this week’s SmackDown Live by talking about Survivor Series. Dean Ambrose joined him in the ring, and they were both joined by James Ellsworth. Together, they announced that James would be given a SmackDown Live contract for his efforts at the PPV, and that Ambrose would be suspended and banned from the building for one night after turning on his own team. AJ Styles, still upset about Dean’s actions, was also upset that Ellsworth was given a contract. So, as a warm-up to his title defense at WWE TLC, Styles was booked in a Ladder Match against Ellsworth. The stipulation that was added was if James wins, he gets a full-time contract and a shot at AJ’s title. If AJ wins, Ellsworth gets no contract at all.

Despite being kicked out by Shane McMahon, Dean Ambrose would reappear all throughout the night, including once dressed as The Mountie and then again with an Ottawa Senators jersey.

The Miz defeated Kalisto

General Manager Daniel Bryan interrupted a backstage photo shoot to let The Miz know that he would have to defend his title against Kalisto. After a very competitive match, Baron Corbin made an appearance — and a distraction — at ringside, that gave The Miz just what he needed to get the win. After the match, Corbin continued to beat Kalisto. But as The Miz tried to sneak away, he was laid out at the top of the ramp by Dolph Ziggler. Later in the show, GM Daniel Bryan would announce that The Miz will defend the IC title against Ziggler at WWE TLC.

American Alpha won Tag Team Turmoil

The two teams that started this match were The Hype Bros and The Ascension. After connecting with The Hype Ryder, Viktor was pinned and Breezango entered the match-up to replace The Ascension. After a clever double-team move, Fandango pinned Zack Ryder and eliminated The Hype Bros. American Alpha entered the match next, and when Breezango tried the same finishing move on Chad Gable, it was reverse and Gable pinned Fandango. The Vaudevillains entered next, but they were eliminated almost immediately. Finally, The Usos made their way to the ring, but in the end, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan got the win.

Tag Team Turmoil on SmackDown Live [Image by WWE]

After the match was over, American Alpha’s celebration was cut short when The Wyatt Family showed up on the TitanTron. Bray informed them that they would be coming after American Alpha next week on SmackDown Live, with all indications seeming to be that the No. 1 contendership is on the line against Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. Later, on Talking Smack, Gable and Jordan would admit that they didn’t think it was fair, but that they had no problem going through The Wyatt Family.

RELATED REPORTS BY THE INQUISITR

Becky Lynch defeated Natalya

In a non-title match, SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch forced Natalya to tap out when she locked in the Disarmer. Alexa Bliss, who provided guest commentary for the match, attacked the Lass Kicker after the match, leaving her laid out in the ring. Bliss gets her title shot at TLC, although no other stipulations have been added at this point.

Kalisto interrupted Baron Corbin vs. Kane

As a way of punishing Corbin for costing SmackDown Live the chance to get the Cruiserweight Division, Daniel Bryan put him in a match against his former tag team partner, Kane. Before the match ended, Kalisto came out and attacked Corbin, setting him up for a Chokeslam from Kane. After the match, Kalisto chased Corbin off with a chair. On Talking Smack, Daniel Bryan would confirm that Kalisto would face Baron Corbin in a Chairs Match at WWE TLC.

James Ellsworth defeated AJ Styles in a Ladder Match

Putting his brand new job on the line, Ellsworth ended up improving his record against the WWE World Champion to 3-0. With a little assistance from Dean Ambrose (in Ottawa Senators gear), Ellsworth climbed the ladder and grabbed the contract that guaranteed him a spot on the SmackDown Live roster and a future title shot.

Talking Smack on the WWE Network

After Renee Young and Daniel Bryan briefly discussed Survivor Series 2016, they were joined on the wrap-up show by American Alpha. They hyped their match against Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt next week, and Bryan mentioned how much he enjoyed watching them every night of the European tour. Soon after, they were joined by Baron Corbin, and his Chairs Match against Kalisto at WWE TLC was confirmed.

The final guest on Talking Smack was James Ellsworth. He officially signed the contract that he had retrieved from the Ladder Match earlier in the night, and expressed his gratitude for Daniel Bryan. Daniel and Renee started a round of “Ells-worth!” chants as the show ended.

The above SmackDown Live results will be corroborated by WWE’s official SmackDown Live page.

Updated WWE TLC 2016 Card

  • AJ Styles (c) vs. Dean Ambrose — WWE World Championship TLC Match
  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Alexa Bliss — SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
  • Heath Slater and Rhyno (c) vs. American Alpha/The Wyatt Family — SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
  • The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler — WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
  • Nikki Bella vs. Carmella — No Disqualification Match
  • Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto — Chairs Match

WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2016 will be the next PPV featuring stars from SmackDown Live. Very little information about WWE TLC had been confirmed prior to SmackDown Live, aside from the main event. TLC 2016 will air live on Sunday, December 4, from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. As more information is confirmed, it will be updated at WWE’s official TLC preview page.

Where To Watch WWE SmackDown Live

WWE SmackDown Live airs Tuesdays on the USA Network at 8/7c. Replays of WWE SmackDown aren’t made available on the WWE Network until several weeks after the original air date. However, a replay of SmackDown Live is available to stream on-demand Wednesdays via Hulu.

Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles at Survivor Series 2016 [Image by WWE]

WWE Survivor Series 2016 is currently available to stream on-demand via the WWE Network. WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2016 will air live on the WWE Network on Sunday, December 4, at 8/7c, with the WWE TLC Kickoff Show scheduled for 7/6c.

[Featured Image by WWE]

Share this article: ‘WWE SmackDown Live’ Results: James Ellsworth Earns Contract And Title Shot In Ladder Match
Randy Orton
More from Inquisitr