*OFFICIAL* SmackDown Discussion Thread: 6th December 2016

[Awesome]

James Ellsworth stunned the WWE Universe at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs when he emerged from nowhere to betray his friend, Dean Ambrose, and pave the way for AJ Styles to retain his title in an absolutely brutal TLC Match on the award-winning WWE Network.

Explaining his actions on WWE Talking Smack afterward, Ellsworth went a step further by announcing that he will redeem his earned WWE World Title Match against “The Face That Runs the Place” tonight on SmackDown LIVE. 

Though Ellsworth does technically hold three victories over Styles, it’s safe to say that Ambrose won’t be helping him this time around. In fact, considering that The Phenomenal One hates him and The Lunatic Fringe will be out for retribution, the chinless No. 1 contender’s best strategy for the imminent title showdown had better include a lot of running.

Nikki Bella may have triumphed over Carmella in an intense No Disqualification Match at WWE TLC Sunday night. However, The Princess of Staten Island quickly ruined Nikki’s celebration when she claimed that it was actually Natalya who carried out the mysterious backstage assault on her “Total Divas” co-star at Survivor Series.   

Later in the pay-per-view, Natalya flat-out denied Carmella’s allegations, calling the claims “absurd” and her accuser “a liar.” But, did The Queen of Harts actually do it? Natalya went on to send out this tweet challenging Carmella to a fight tonight on SmackDown LIVE.

Will she make Carmella pay for saying she did? Will Carmella accept her challenge? And will Nikki Bella herself have anything to say about it?

A dark shroud has truly descended upon SmackDown LIVE. At WWE TLC, Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton vanquished Heath Slater & Rhyno to become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The New Wyatt Family will now turn around tonight and defend the titles against Slater & Rhyno in a rematch, as first announced on WWE's official Twitter account.

Not only did they convincingly end the fairytale reign of Beauty & The Man Beast, but they’ve  truly given themselves the foothold on Tuesday nights that The New Face of Fear has sought since WWE’s Brand Extension.

At the same pay-per-view, Alexia Bliss powerbombed Becky Lynch through a table to become the SmackDown Women’s Champion. The Wicked Witch of WWE demonstrated once again what a vicious competitor she is, but will the predator prove to be as dangerous now that she has become the prey? Does she have what it takes to stay on the top of the mountain, or will The Irish Lass Kicker (or another determined SmackDown competitor, for that matter) swiftly knock her back off?

Find out what happens tonight on SmackDown LIVE.

Pop culture sensation Sophia Grace is coming to SmackDown LIVE when the show travels to Houston tonight. The singer and actress – who took the world by storm alongside her cousin Rosie on “Ellen” in 2011 – has accepted an invitation from Nikki Bella to visit SmackDown LIVE.

It’s unclear what sparked the invitation, but Nikki mentioned in her Twitter invite that she “had so much fun” with Sophia “on set,” teasing a potential collaboration.

In her reply to the invitation, Sophia said she was excited to attend SmackDown LIVE.

Tune in to SmackDown LIVE tonight!

[Awesome]

An interesting start to SmackDown, with Dean Ambrose hitting the ring, hitting James Ellsworth with Dirty Deeds, and then leaving again immediately without paying any attention to AJ Styles or his theme music even nstopping.

No surprise to see "The Wyatt Family" Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.

Okay, I have to admit that it was funny to hear the crowd chant "you deserve it" for the Miz TV Participation Award.

It was inevitable that James Ellsworth was going to play a part in the Intercontinental Championship match so that The Miz would retain his title, but for some reason I was expecting it to be purposeful due to the earlier Dirty Deeds rather than what happened, which was causing enough of a diestraction for The Miz to take advantage in what makes more sense as his attempt to get back into Dean Ambrose's good books after the betrayal at TLC.