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‘WWE SmackDown LIVE’ And ‘205 Live’ Results: John Cena Cuts Epic Promo — One Wrestler & One Match Added To ‘Royal Rumble’

By Dustin Murrell
Published on: 11:49 PST, Jan 24, 2017

This week’s episode of SmackDown LIVE was the last episode of regular WWE programming before Royal Rumble 2017. One of the final ten remaining spots for the Royal Rumble Match was claimed, WWE Champion AJ Styles called out John Cena, and a six women were added to a match on Sunday’s PPV card. General Manager Daniel Bryan booked a Lumberjack Title Match for the main event, while the show opened with Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper.

NOTE: The WWE SmackDown LIVE, 205 Live and Talking Smack results were updated here in real-time as the shows aired live, along with available video highlights and commentary. Any updates to the upcoming WWE Royal Rumble 2017 card were be posted here as well.

WWE SmackDown LIVE Results

The following includes the results of all the matches and segments from SmackDown LIVE, 205 Live, and Talking Smack on January 24. SmackDown LIVE finally defeated Monday Night Raw in the ratings during the last week of 2016, but hasn’t won again in 2017. Will the last episode of network WWE television before Royal Rumble 2017 be enough for Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan’s show to defeat WWE Raw in the ratings once again?

Daniel Bryan booked an IC Title Lumberjack Match

In the opening segment of this week’s SmackDown LIVE, General Manager Daniel Bryan booked The Miz’s rematch for the Intercontinental Championship, making it a Lumberjack Match to make sure Maryse couldn’t get involved.

Randy Orton defeated Luke Harper

The Wyatt Family kicked off the in-ring action, as all three men walked to the ring together. Randy Orton hit Luke Harper with his patented RKO and scored the pinfall victory. After the match, Bray Wyatt got in the ring and hit Harper with the Sister Abigail before walking out with Orton.

Renee Young interviewed Mickie James — Becky Lynch & Alexa Bliss got involved

Mickie James explained during her in-ring interview with Renee Young that she was sick of hearing about the so-called “revolution” in women’s wrestling, as if all of her contributions and sacrifices didn’t matter. She claimed that Alexa Bliss was the only one who gave her the respect she deserved and that she came back to shut people like Becky Lynch up.

The Irish Lass-Kicker came out and things got physical between James and Lynch. Alexa Bliss would get involved as the fight spilled into the audience. Back in the ring, the duo of James and Bliss laid Lynch out before leaving helpless in the ring.

Carmella took James Ellsworth Shopping

WWE continues to get as much as they can out of James Ellsworth, having a heel Carmella force him to dress a little more like Enzo Amore at a store that he can’t afford to shop at.

Mojo Rawley earned a spot in the Royal Rumble Match

A 10-man battle royal was set up with the winner earning a spot in Sunday’s Royal Rumble Match, and potentially a main event title shot at WrestleMania 33. Mojo Rawley would win the match that also included The Vaudevillains, Breezango, The Ascension, Curt Hawkins, Heath Slater and Rhyno.

Natalya attacked Nikki Bella outside

In a segment that was recorded prior to the SmackDown LIVE taping, Dasha Fuentes was interviewing Nikki Bella outside when they were interrupted by Natalya, who threw Nikki head-first into one of WWE’s semi-trucks.

AJ Styles called out John Cena

AJ Styles cut an in-ring promo about the lack of respect he receives as the WWE Champion compared to John Cena. AJ Styles was placed in a rather insignificant spot on the Royal Rumble 2017 poster and was referred to simply as “the guy from Atlanta” when John Cena co-hosted the Today show.

In response, John Cena cut a promo saying that he wasn’t built for indie wrestling, but that he was built for WWE and for huge matches like their title bout at Royal Rumble 2017.

Dolph Ziggler defeated Kalisto

In a rather decisive victory, Dolph Ziggler got a clean win over Kalisto. As the freshly-turned-heel Ziggler grabbed a chair after the match to inflict additional pain on Kalisto, Apollo Crews came to the ring to make the save.

Alexa Bliss confronted Naomi

Naomi was scheduled for singles competition against Natalya, but the graduate of the Hart Dungeon was busy backstage after being attacked by Nikki Bella. When Naomi invited anyone from the back to step in the ring with her, SmackDown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss came to the ring. She didn’t offer Naomi a title shot or a match at all. She simply said that Naomi wasn’t even on her level.

Later in the show, it was announced that the SmackDown Women’s Division would be highlighted on the Royal Rumble 2017 Kickoff with a six-woman tag team match: Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James and Natalya.

Dean Ambrose defeated The Miz in a Lumberjack Match for the Intercontinental Championship

Predictably, with the Royal Rumble just five days away and more than a dozen WWE Superstars at ringside, chaos broke out near the end with all of the lumberjacks brawling inside the ring. In the end, when Ambrose and The Miz were once again alone in the ring with the referee, The Lunatic Fringe hit the Dirty Deeds and retained his Intercontinental Championship, building momentum before hopping into the Royal Rumble Match on Sunday.

Talking Smack on the WWE Network

Shane McMahon sat in for Daniel Bryan once again with Renee Young as co-host of Talking Smack, which Shane said was because of how busy the General Manager was with Brie and their baby. Their first guest was Mickie James, who talked more about the lack of respect she feels that she’s getting from the new generation of female wrestlers in WWE.

Their second guest of the evening was Mojo Rawley, who was fresh off his battle royal victory and on his way to the Royal Rumble Match. He talked mostly about how excited he and his entire family was that he’s a part of something so legendary.

The final guest of the night was WWE Champion AJ Styles. They talked about the in-ring promo between Styles and Cena from earlier in the night and the disrespect AJ feels that he’s received from the WWE, even as the man holding the most prestigious title in the history of professional wrestling.

The above SmackDown LIVE results have been corroborated by WWE’s official SmackDown LIVE page.

RELATED REPORTS BY THE INQUISITR

WWE 205 Live Results

The following includes the results of all the matches and segments from 205 Live on January 24. The only match announced prior to the show airing live was the main event, Neville vs. Cedric Alexander.

TJ Perkins defeated Tony Nese

In the opening match, TJ Perkins got a pinfall victory over Tony Nese, using a roll-up that seemed to come out of nowhere. Moments after the bell rang, however, Nese delivered a rather harsh post-match beat-down. Perkins would be assisted to the back by a few referees.

The Brian Kendrick defeated Tripp Bradshaw

Tripp Bradshaw was a local talent that The Brian Kendrick berated from the moment he was announced for the match. With Neville challenging for the Cruiserweight Championship and Tajiri sidelined with an injury, it’s not clear what direction they are going with The Brian Kendrick.

Neville defeated Cedric Alexander

Just five days before he faces Rich Swann for the Cruiserweight Championship at Royal Rumble 2017, Neville got a victory over Cedric Alexander by making him tap out to a Double Underhook Crossface submission hold. The end of the match came just moments after Noam Dar came to the ring causing a distraction for Alexander.

After the match, Neville showed no appreciation for Noam Dar’s actions, tossing Alicia Fox’s new boyfriend out of the ring before dishing out more of a beating to Cedric. This brought out Rich Swann, who ended up getting the best of Neville before the referees pulled the two men apart.

The above 205 Live results have been corroborated by WWE’s official 205 Live page.

https://www.playbuzz.com/inquisitr/royal-rumble-match-2017

Updated WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Card

  • The Undertaker, The Wyatt Family, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Baron Corbin, Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Braun Strowman, Mojo Rawley, Chris Jericho, The New Day, Cesaro, Sheamus, Big Show, Rusev, Big Cass and 9 others TBD — Royal Rumble Match
  • AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena — WWE Championship Match
  • Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns — WWE Universal Championship Shark Cage Match
  • Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Bayley — Raw Women’s Championship Match
  • Rich Swann (c) vs. Neville — WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
  • Cesaro and Sheamus (c) vs. Anderson and Gallows — Raw Tag Team Championship Match
  • Alexa Bliss, Mickie James and Natalya vs. Naomi, Becky Lynch and Nikki Bella — Six-Woman Tag Team Match
  • Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

Prior to this week’s episode, only one SmackDown-exclusive match had been confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble 2017. The Royal Rumble will feature stars from both WWE Raw and SmackDown LIVE. Royal Rumble 2017 will air live on Sunday, January 29, from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. As more information is confirmed, it will be updated at WWE’s official Royal Rumble preview page.

Renee Young is scheduled to interview Mickie James, who was revealed to be La Luchadora on SmackDown LIVE last week. [Image by WWE]

Where To Watch WWE

The WWE Royal Rumble 2017 will air live on the WWE Network on Sunday, January 29, at 7/6c. WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Kickoff will begin at 5/4c, hosted by Renee Young, Booker T and Jerry “The King” Lawler. WWE Elimination Chamber 2017 will air Sunday, February 12 as a SmackDown LIVE-exclusive PPV on the WWE Network.

The show 205 Live, featuring the best of WWE’s Cruiserweight Division, airs weekly on the WWE Network at 10/9c on Tuesday nights. Replays of the show are available to stream immediately.

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. WWE Talking Smack begins at 10:45/9:45c on the WWE Network, and is immediately made available to stream on-demand.

[Featured Image by WWE]

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