Orton targeting Wyatt's WWE Title at WrestleMania after burning compound; Styles beats Harper in No 1 Contender's Match
Thursday 2 March 2017 09:14, UK
Randy Orton stunningly turned on Bray Wyatt on Smackdown, torching the Eater of Worlds' Compound and confirming he was coming after his WWE Title at WrestleMania 33.
The Viper had previously refused to invoke the WrestleMania title shot he had earned by winning the 30-man Royal Rumble Match in January, stating he did not want to face his "master".
Orton made a dramatic about turn on Tuesday night, though, revealing he would fight for the belt on April 2, before igniting Wyatt's cherished cabin and burning the spirit of Sister Abigail, much to Wyatt's horror.
AJ Styles had earlier beaten former Wyatt Family member Luke Harper with a 450 Splash to seemingly secure a title tilt against Wyatt in Orlando.
However, Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan and Commissioner Shane McMahon later announced that Orton's change of heart means there is currently no No 1 contender.
Styles' victory was not without controversy - McMahon re-starting the match after Styles had pinned Harper following a Phenomenal Forearm with Harper having managed to get his foot on the rope.
Elsewhere, John Cena's appearance on MizTV - stemming from The Miz eliminating him from last week's WWE Title No 1 Contender's Battle Royal - became predictably heated.
The Miz went on on a verbal tirade about how Cena was jealous of him, before Cena claimed the A-Lister was a shell of a WWE Superstar who had stolen traits from Chris Jericho, Ric Flair and Daniel Bryan.
Miz's wife Maryse then slapped Cena, leading to the latter's girlfriend, Nikki Bella, hitting the ring and chasing off the Canadian, who had smashed her with a lead pipe on last week's show.
Cena and Bella were then confronted by James Ellsworth and Carmella backstage, with the 16-time world champion and his partner subsequently challenging them to a mixed tag-team match.
Becky Lynch conquered Mickie James 2-1 in a Two-Out-Of-Three Falls Match, the Irishwoman recovering from a DDT defeat to roll-up her opponent and then submit her with the Dis-arm-her.
Smackdown Women's Champion Alexa Bliss, who attempted to interfere in pal James' match, was later warned by Natalya that she wanted an opportunity at the championship Bliss regained by beating Lynch last week.
Plus, Dolph Ziggler bested Apollo Crews in a Chairs Match, while Dean Ambrose's calling out of Baron Corbin worked - to an extent - with the Lone Wolf agreeing to face him on his terms at a later date.
Watch a repeat showing of WWE Smackdown at 10.25pm on Thursday on Sky Sports 5.
