WWE Smackdown LIVE Coverage & Discussion - February 28th, 2017

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Smackdown Live - Live Coverage
Date - 28th Feb 2017
Location - XCEL Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota

Advertised for tonight:

AJ Styles vs. Luke Harper in a number one contender match to the WWE championship
John Cena on Miz TV
Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match
and more!

The show starts off with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan watching the finish of the number one contender’s battle royal from last week. Bryan said that he didn’t have a good enough angle. AJ Styles enters the office. Styles says that if Bryan and Shane had another angle, they would’ve seen him win that match.

Shane McMahon says that Styles is lucky to have this rematch tonight. Styles wants to know if the match against the Hillbilly Hick is still going to happen? Styles makes fun of Harper’s appearance. Harper walks up behind Styles. Bryan and Shane play along with the act. Styles turns around and walks away. Harper walks up to Bryan and Shane. Harper thanks them for the opportunity.

Welcome to Miz TV! Miz welcomes his guest, John Cena. Miz tells the production truck to cut Cena’s mic. Cena doesn’t talk until Miz tells him to talk. This is a special edition of MizTV. Miz has ten years of frustration to get off his chest. Cena would say that Miz’s arrogance cost him jobs. Cena’s word is gospel to the guys in control. Cena manipulates everyone who gets in his way. Have you been in a job where you wonder how this guy has the position you want? That person talks to the right people and making the right connections. Miz works ten times as hard and he just becomes the other guy. Miz is not the other guy, he’s the Miz. It’s funny because Cena won’t let him be anything other than the other guy. WrestleMania is right around the corner and he defeated Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 27.

Miz’s legacy was cemented as iconic, but Cena was able to manipulate things two weeks later. Cena turned that moment into nothing. It’s because Cena is jealous of The Miz. He’s not the only person who sees through Cena’s facade. Cena is a hypocrite. If you don’t believe him, John Cena went toe to toe with the Rock. Cena read Rock the riot act about going to Hollywood and walking away from WWE. Cena walked and talked WWE, until you got that phone call from Hollywood. Now, we can’t see you him. The Saint Paul crowd calls Cena a sell out. Cena plays the character of John Cena. He’s playing a parody of himself. He’s no longer Super Cena. Half of the crowd thinks he sucks and at the same time, they’ll go out of their way to buy any of his merchandise. Cena wants to have his cake and eat it too. Miz does the media work, meanwhile Cena can’t make up his mind whether or not he wants to be a part-timer. Miz makes SmackDown, must see.

Cena was gifted a WWE Title match and manipulated his way into the history books. There’s only one greatest of all time, The Miz. Cena cost him the WWE Championship at the Elimination Chamber. Then the following week, he costs him the battle royal. Miz eliminated Cena, so he could feel what Miz has been going through the past decade. Now Cena can talk. Miz wants to go toe to toe with John Cena, but he says the same things everyone has been saying for a decade. People say he can’t wrestle, he can’t act and he manipulates everything. Cena takes away everyone’s opportunity. This is where Cena turns that theory into crap.If Cena had that power, would he be in the ring face to face with Miz so close to Wrestlemania? Hell no. Cena would’ve been in the ring with The Undertaker. It’s easier to blame him. Half the crowd will chant at the top of their lungs, Cena Sucks, but he’s never asked anyone to buy into what he believes in. You can’t fake heart. It’s something that you feel and see. It’s something that you know is true.

With him or against him, everyone knows who John Cena is. Who the hell is The Miz? He’s a dude named Mike who shortened his name and bootlegged the Rock’s charisma to get a job in the WWE. Then the Miz decides to steal Chris Jericho’s personality, Ric Flair’s Figure Four Leg Lock and Daniel Bryan’s moves. You ask any of the greats and they will say that they are themselves with the volume as high as it can go. That’s why they believe. Miz is nothing more than a trendhopping, joke stealing, shell of a WWE Superstar.

If Miz thinks he’s angry about what happened. While Miz blames everyone else, Cena stands up and continues to fight. The next time they talk, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Miz is not the Undertaker, but if he presses him again, he’s a dead man. Maryse gets in the way of Cena exiting the ring. Cena is half the man that her husband is. Cena’s problem is his ego. Maryse says that Cena is a control egomaniac freak. Bigger the ego, the smaller the package. Cena talks about respect, well Maryse says respect this. Maryse slaps Cena in the face. Cena says that Maryse made the biggest mistake of her life. Nikki Bella storms into the ring and goes after Maryse. Nikki says that if Maryse messes with her man, she’ll break her. Nikki goes on to call Maryse a bitch. Cena and Nikki make out in the middle of the ring.

First Match: Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James in a Two Out Of Three Falls Match

Becky and Mickie goes into the collar and elbow tie up. Becky with a go-behind. Becky transitions into a side headlock. More grappling as Becky applies a wrist lock. Mickie cartwheels out of the wrist lock. Becky irish whips Mickie to the corner. Becky goes for a springboard side kick, but Mickie hops off the ring apron. Becky connects with the baseball slide dropkick. Coming out of the commercial break, Mickie is grounding Becky with a rear chin lock. Mickie kicks Becky in the back. Mickie with a boot to the face for a two count. Mickie applies a half nelson chin lock. Mickie follows that up with a knee strike.

Mickie connects with a snap mare. Mickie goes for another knee strike, but Becky ducks out of the way. Becky with a series of clotheslines. Becky dropkicks Mickie to the corner. Becky connects with the Straight Firearm. Mickie whips Becky face first to the second turnbuckle. Mickie plants Becky with a DDT and scores the pinfall. Mickie launches Becky back first to the turnbuckles. Mickie with a slingshot stomp to the back for a two count. Becky responds with a spinning back kick. Mickie connects with a flapjack.

Mickie kicks up. Mickie ascends to the top rope. Mickie goes for a flying crossbody, but Becky ducks out of the way. Becky with a rollup and scores the pinfall. Mickie chokes Becky in the corner with her boot. Becky connects with the Bexploder Suplex. Alexa Bliss comes down to the ring. Mickie goes for the Mick Kick, but Becky counters with the side slam. Becky has Mickie in the pinning position, but Alexa Bliss hops on the ring apron to distract Becky. Becky knocks Bliss off the ring apron. Mickie goes for a rollup, but Becky counters with the DisArm Her which forces Mickie to tap out.

Winner: Becky Lynch via Submission 2-1

Luke Harper Promo:
Harper has always been fighting a constant battle with the demon inside. He’s made peace with them now. Now they help him because he has new eyes and he can see what true evil is. Harper is no longer afraid of Bray Wyatt. When Harper wins tonight and earns his chance to face Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania, Bray will be very scared.

Bray Wyatt Promo:
May the best man win. The whole world will want to hear what he has to say tonight. Bray will be joined by his brother Randy Orton. Glory be to me, the holder of the Holy Grail. The god you know is Bray Wyatt.

Alexa Bliss & Natalya Backstage Interview:
Bliss is being interview by Dasha Fuentes. Bliss is asked about her plans backfiring and she is asked for comment. Alexa asks if the first question after winning the title last week is about Becky Lynch. Why not ask about being the first two time SmackDown Women’s Champion? This is so unexpected, she says it’s such an honor to represent SmackDown as the Women’s Champion.

It’s a team effort. She thanks herself for being such a great athlete. Bliss thanks Naomi for having such bad knees and horrible coordination. Natalya interrupts the interview. Bliss congratulates Bliss on both of them having big wins last week. Bliss says that her win was pretty historic. Natalya says that they’re both championship caliber superstars. Bliss wants to know what Natalya is talking about. Natalya says this is all about Alexa, until she takes the title from her.

Second Match: AJ Styles vs. Luke Harper. The winner will take on Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 33

Harper shoves Styles to the corner. Harper poses for the crowd. Harper grabs Styles by the leg. Harper places Styles on the top rope. Styles applies a side headlock. Harper goes for a back suplex, but Styles gets back on his feet. Styles leapfrogs over Harper. Harper dropkicks Styles. Styles rolls out of the ring. Harper launches Styles back first to the barricade. Harper bounces Styles head on the steel ring step and the announcers table. Styles with a leaping roundhouse kick to the leg of Harper. Styles follows that up with the Pele Kick. Style comes back into the ring and stomps on the back of Harper. Styles lands a forearm smash. Harper shoves Styles to the other side of the ring.

Harper with a right hand to the jaw of Styles. Styles with a roll through, but Harper drops him with a big right hand. Harper connects with a slingshot senton. Harper follows that up with a big boot for a two count. Harper catapults Styles throat to the second rope. Styles tumbles to the outside. Harper connects with the suicide dive. Harper rolls Styles back into the ring. Harper goes for a sit-out powerbomb, but Styles counters with a hurricanrana. Styles lights up Harper with the Phenomenal Blitz.

Harper responds with a Dragon Suplex. Harper plants Styles with a Sit-Out Powerbomb for a two count. Harper has Styles on a fireman’s carry position. Styles lands on the ring apron. Styles with an enziguri. Styles connects with the Phenomenal Forearm and scores the pinfall, but Harper’s boot was placed on the bottom rope. Shane McMahon comes out and reverses the decision of the match. Styles goes for the Styles Clash, but Harper counters with a jack knife cover for two count. Harper tosses Styles to the outside. Styles begins to argue with Shane. Harper SuperKicks Shane. Styles whips Harper face first to the steel ring post. Styles connects with the Springboard 450 Splash to pickup the victory.

Winner: AJ Styles

– Next Week, John Cena & Nikki Bella will take on James Ellsworth and Carmella.

– Daniel Bryan tries to congratulate AJ Styles on his victory. Styles refuses to shake hands with Bryan. Styles is going to attend Bray Wyatt’s Invocation later on tonight.

Dean Ambrose & Baron Corbin In-Ring Segment:
Ambrose drops Curt Hawkins with the Dirty Deeds. Over the years, Ambrose has learned a number of valuable life lessons. When you are pushed, you have to push back. Over the last few weeks, he’s been pushed, prodded, and left for dead, but if Baron Corbin thinks he’s just going to lay down. Corbin is going to learn a tough life lesson. Messing with Dean Ambrose is a bad idea.

Ambrose calls out Corbin. Baron Corbin appears on the Titan-Tron. If Ambrose wants to fight, that’s too bad. He doesn’t come out when Ambrose calls him. Ambrose didn’t validate his parking so he only has fifteen minutes left. Ambrose cost him the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber. He’s a speed bump on his way to the title. Now he’s a deer standing in the highway. They have some similarities. Ambrose loves pain and he loves handing it out. Ambrose better not cross the line. Ambrose says he will give Corbin another lesson. Do not start that which you can’t finish. Ambrose says that this is far from over.

Third Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Apollo Crews in a Chairs Match

Crews blindslides Ziggler. Crews rolls Ziggler back into the ring. Crews connects with a running clothesline. Crews with a over the head belly to belly suplex. Ziggler rolls out of the ring. Crews launches a steel chair into the ring. Crews rolls Ziggler back into the ring. Ziggler kick the knee of Crews. Ziggler with a hangman’s neck breaker for a two count. Ziggler with a right hand to Crews. Crews dropkicks Ziggler. Crews with a Standing Moonsault off the ring apron. Crews with a running boot to Ziggler.

Crews follows that up with a leaping lariat. Crews throws a chair at Ziggler. Crews connects with an enziguri. Crews follows that up with another Standing Moonsault for a two count. Ziggler backs himself to the corner. Ziggler lands a back elbow. Ziggler sends Crews shoulder first to the steel ring post. Ziggler with a rollup for a two count. Crews plants Ziggler with a back suplex on the chair for a two count. Crews goes for the Sit-Out Powerbomb, but Ziggler rakes the eyes of Crews. Ziggler with a drop toe hold that sends Crews throat first to the steel chair. Ziggler places Crews crotch first on the steel chair to pickup the victory. After the match, Ziggler talks smack to Crews.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

AJ Styles, American Alpha and Natalya will be on Talking Smack.

Bray Wyatt’s Invocation:

AJ Styles it is. To be honest it didn’t matter either way. Both of them are just mortals. Something happens to a man when he steps into the ring and realizes that he is in the presence of a deity. That is exactly what is going to happen to Styles. He’ll end up like all of the rest. When that bell rings, Styles is going to feel the spirit of Beelzebub. Bray comes from hollow ground. He comes from a place that starts in the earth and it continues until you get to the core. Bray also comes from a place that Randy Orton is in now. Orton appears on the TitanTron. Orton is Bray’s Kingdom. Bray gave him the keys to the kingdom and now he’s dead center in the kingdom. Orton is in a place where you can smell the stench of evil in the air. This is Bray’s world, not his.

It never was. There was a time when he said, if you can’t beat them, join them. He has another saying, when you join them, and at the right time, screw them. This is Bray’s temple, is it not? His place of worship. This is sacred ground because when Bray looks under this floor, he has the sister of Satan. Sister Abigail was laid to rest right under his feet. Orton has an axe . How long has it been since Bray heard Sister Abigail scream? How long has it been that the maggots and worms have been eating her flesh and bones. All that is left is her spirit. Orton sees Bray as helpless.

Bray is stripped of his powers and is ready to explode. His black heart is beating through his chest because he might find out what makes him tick. Orton will burn the spirit of Sister Abigail. As long as he’s are the master and Orton is the servant, he would pledge his loyalty to Bray. In a few moments, Orton will be the Master and Bray will be the servant. Orton tosses the axe away. He grabs a can of gasoline and pours it all over the shed. Orton says that he’s coming for Bray Wyatt and is coming for his title at WrestleMania. Bray is about to hear Sister Abigail scream. The last time Bray heard her scream was when she took her last breath. Orton leaves the kingdom and pours a lot more gasoline. Orton lights a match and he says he is going to burn the soul of Sister Abigail to eternal damnation. Orton lights the shed on fire. Bray breaks down to close out the show.