WWE SmackDown Live Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for January 31
By Grant Mannis
AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose
Result: AJ Styles wins via pinfall
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
In our main event for these evening, two main event stars in the form of AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose went one on one. As an added twist, both Baron Corbin and The Miz were on commentary for this match. While the two of them bickered on and off throughout the match, Ambrose and Styles produced a solid encounter inside the squared circle. At this stage of the game Ambrose and Styles are familiar with one another, so the action inside the ring was a mix of hard hitting and back and forth style fighting.
More from SmackDown
- Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline
- Potential Challengers for Roman Reigns before WrestleMania
- WWE SmackDown Predictions: AJ Styles Will Help Randy Orton
- WWE SmackDown Predictions: Street Profits Will Dethrone Judgment Day
- SmackDown reminded us of how pointless the brand split is
Eventually, the two competitors were distracted by an event at ringside, which involved Corbin and Miz coming to blows over their trash talking. Ambrose (who had the match won at this point), went outside and laid waste to both men. He ran back in the ring to assume control, but the distraction had allowed Styles to recover. The former world champion went on to hit the Styles Clash to steal the victory. After the match, Corbin would rush the ring and hit both Ambrose and Miz with the End of Days. Meanwhile, a content Styles watched from the entrance ramp as SmackDown Live came to a close.
With the Royal Rumble behind us, the men and women of SmackDown Live wasted little time in creating compelling storylines ahead of Elimination Chamber. The event is shaping up to be quite the spectacle, and the coming weeks will only aid that belief. Yet again, the Blue Brand produced a solid show which continues the superiority its displayed when compared to RAW.