11/10 WWE Smackdown in Cardiff, Wales (2nd report): American Alpha & Kane vs. Wyatt Family, Lynch vs. Bliss, Ziggler vs. Miz

WWE LIVE EVENT REPORT
NOVEMBER 10, 2016
CARDIFF, WALES
REPORT BY OWAIN COOKE, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT

(1) Heath Slater & Rhyno defeated The Usos and Breezango in a three-team match to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Titles.

(2) Apollo Crews defeated Curt Hawkins.

(3) Baron Corbin defeated Jack Swagger. Corbin was surprisingly over, especially considering that at the NXT show in the same venue last year he got non stop “Corbin sucks” chants.

(4) Naomi & Nikki Bella defeat Natalya & Carmella.

(5) Dolph Ziggler defeated The Miz (w/Maryse) to retain the Intercontinental Title. Miz was just about to make the pin from a Skull Crushing Finale after interference from Maryse, but Daniel Bryan made a surprise entrance, his distraction allowed Ziggler to retain.

Intermission.

(6) Hype Bros defeated The Vaudevillains. After the match The Ascension came out and got the first wrestler mic time of the evening. After calling the Hype Bros “funboys” and Cardiff “the biggest wasteland the U.K. Has to offer” they were defeated in 30 seconds by a roll up pin from Zack Ryder.

(7) Becky Lynch defeated Alexa Bliss to retain the Smackdown Women’s Title.

(8) American Alpha & Kane defeated Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper & Randy Orton. At one point early in the match, Bray Wyatt mocked a portion of the crowd who were chanting for Jordan and Gable with a DX crotch chop, which is a good example of the comedy they added to make it a fun house show match, along with the extremely over Orton constantly tagging out to deprive the crowd of what they wanted to see. After a succession of signature moves and an RKO, Kane won the match with a chokeslam to Harper.

(9) A.J. Styles defeated Dean Ambrose with guest time keeper James Ellsworth. Despite his reception on TV tapings, I was surprised to hear Dean get 70/30 cheer/boo when Greg Hamilton was announcing as he’s always been extremely over at previous house shows I’ve been at. While Dean recovered after kicking out of a Styles Clash, A.J. went outside the ring and flattened Ellsworth. After being thrown back into the ring after trying to exit with the title, A.J. hit Dean into a previously exposed turnbuckle and pinned him with a roll up. After the match, Ellsworth stepped into the ring to defend Dean, who he hit with No Chin Music, before Dean hit A.J. with Dirty Deeds.

FINAL NOTES: The show had sold out months in advance and was a characteristically family audience. The last two matches got by far the biggest reaction as to be expected, but the crowd were satisfied throughout.

NOW CHECK OUT A PREVIOUS REPORT ON THIS SAME EVENT HERE: 11/10 WWE Smackdown in Cardiff, Wales: James Ellsworth joins main event as guest time keeper for Styles vs. Ambrose, plus Lynch vs. Bliss, Crews vs. Hawkins