WWE SmackDown Live Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for January 17
By Grant Mannis
AJ Styles vs. The Miz
Result: The Miz wins via DQ
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Backstage, Dean Ambrose approaches Shane McMahon about acquiring a new Intercontinental Championship. Shane rejects the offer which leads to Ambrose asking for a match with Randy Orton. The request is accepted, setting up another match for later in the evening.
Starting off with some impressive technical wrestling, it didn’t take long for this match to fall under Styles’ control. Early on he seemed to have Miz beaten as he set-up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but a distraction by Maryse allowed Miz to knock him off the apron. When we returned from the commercial break Miz was still in control, slowly wearing down his competition. The action then spilled to the outside of the ring, with Styles attempting to throw his opponent into Cena.
Rather surprisingly, Cena stopped Miz and threw him into the apron, and then went after the WWE Champion. Miz would recover and attempt to attack Cena from behind, but the former fifteen-time world champion bounced back and hit the AA. Styles returned to the ring and tried to take advantage of the distraction, however, he too would suffer an AA. Standing tall with the WWE Championship, Cena foreshadowed a possible victory at the Royal Rumble before exiting the ring.