After "WWE TLC" last week, many of the storylines on "WWE SmackDown Live" came to an end. A lot of new championship angles need refreshing, and after starting the transition phase last week, this week's episode wasted no time laying the foundations for the blue brand's new year.
The biggest story to come out of "WWE SmackDown Live" this week is the crowning of a new top contender to AJ Styles's WWE Championship. Last week, it seemed as though underdog-turned-misguided-villain James Ellsworth was set to challenge for the title after costing Dean Ambrose the match at "WWE TLC." However, it looked like "WWE SmackDown Live" adjusted on the fly, writing Ellsworth away with the flu, and going with a completely new contender after a few months of AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose. After a hotly contested (according to PWTorch) four-man elimination Battle Royal in the main event, Dolph Ziggler defeated Ambrose, Luke Harper, and the Miz to become AJ Styles' next challenger, thanks to a little interference from an eliminated Miz.
New contenders to the SmackDown Tag Team Championships were also named in this episode of "WWE SmackDown Live." The Hype Bros defeated the Ascension, American Alpha, the Vaudevillains, previous champions Heath Slater and Rhyno, and the Fashion Police in a battle royal to become the new challengers to the Wyatt Family. However, it was reported by WWE.com that Zack Ryder suffered a knee injury in the match, so it remains to be seen who will move forward as the contenders.
In "WWE SmackDown Live" women's action, Carmella defeated Natalya after the former revealed that the latter attacked Nikki Bella in "WWE Survivor Series" last month. Also, new WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Alexa Bliss defender the title against previous champion Becky Lynch in a rematch. The match ended in a countout, however, and it seems as though their feud will continue.
