#SDLive Thread: WWE Title and Intercontinental Title matches to kick off SmackDown LIVE tonight

[Kross Rhodes]

SmackDown preview, Dec. 20, 2016: WWE Title and Intercontinental Title matches to kick off SmackDown LIVE tonight
Tonight, SmackDown LIVE will kick off with AJ Styles defending his WWE Title against James Ellsworth and The Miz defending his Intercontiental Title against Apollo Crews. Plus, Luke Harper will look to unleash his dark brand of retribution into The Ambrose Asylum.

Luke Harper targets The Lunatic Fringe
In recent weeks, The Wyatt Family has been on an absolute tear, capturing the SmackDown Tag Team Titles and gaining a strong foothold on SmackDown LIVE. But in last week’s Fatal 4-Way Elimination No. 1 Contender’s Match, Luke Harper failed to emerge from the chaos with a WWE Title opportunity after Dean Ambrose hit him with Dirty Deeds for the pin.

Tonight, Harper will attempt to unleash his own dark brand of retribution on The Lunatic Fringe. Will he take down the unstable Superstar? Or will Ambrose introduce his bearded opponent to the Ambrose Asylum?

When will the WWE Universe finally learn who attacked Nikki Bella?
Last week during Natalya’s match against Carmella, The Queen of Harts once again tried to explain that it wasn’t she who attacked Nikki Bella at Survivor Series. However, in the heat of the moment, Natalya pushed Nikki. Was she simply shoving the fearless competitor out of the way of The Princess of Staten Island? Or was Natalya, for one moment, outing herself as Nikki’s attacker all along?

In any event, the lingering controversy continues to surround all three Superstars like a dark cloud that refuses to dissipate. Will we finally learn who attacked the star of both “Total Divas” and “Total Bellas” tonight on SmackDown LIVE?

Is SmackDown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss really injured?
Forced to compete in a SmackDown Women’s Title rematch against Becky Lynch by SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon last week, Alexa appeared to suffer an injury and was unable to finish the match … or did she?

Moments after the bell, The Wicked Witch of WWE attacked her opponent and seemed absolutely fine. Later, on WWE Talking Smack, we learned that the titleholder hadn’t even gone to the trainer to get checked out.

Will Shane-O-Mac and Daniel Bryan get to the bottom of this controversy? Regardless of what they determine, we are pretty sure Becky Lynch will have a few things to say about it.

WWE Title and Intercontinental Title matches to kick off SmackDown LIVE tonight
WWE.com has learned that tonight’s SmackDown LIVE will kick off with AJ Styles defending his WWE Title against James Ellsworth. Immediately following that contest, The Miz will put his Intercontinental Title on the line against Apollo Crews. These two title matches have set the stage for a huge night for Team Blue.

Can the chinless Superstar somehow find a way to earn a fourth victory over “The Champ That Runs the Camp” without Dan Ambrose in his corner? Can he claim WWE’s most illustrious prize in the process? Will Crews turn The A-Lister into a B List player? Find out tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Is time for the Era of Ellsworth?

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Kicking things off with the champ. That's how you do it.

 

[Deezy]

Time to die Ellsworth

 

[Kross Rhodes]

The question is does Styles kill Ellsworth or does Ambrose finish him off?

 

[Deezy]

Break that non existent jaw

 

[Deezy]

Beatr him with grapple one off the game.

 

[Kross Rhodes]

I missed the whole match typing a response! What happened?

 

[Vegeta]

I missed it making room for my pizza that's coming haha.

 

[Deezy]

Did his combo strike and it was over.

 

[Deezy]

Crowd turned on Ellsworth....Cheering this beatdown.

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Ellsworth couldn't even handle a back fist?

 

[Vegeta]

I'm loving AJ as champion!


Ziggy!

 

[Deezy]

One jobber to another

 

[Kross Rhodes]

WWE dropped the World for the title again.