Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for January 17, 2017

Commissioner Shane McMahon starts tonight's show. After running down a list of names who will be in the Royal Rumble match, he announces that in four weeks' time, the WWE Championship will be defended in the Elimination Chamber. AJ Styles shows up, showing his displeasure with having to defend the title in this match, but Shane tells him that's only if he's still WWE Champion in that time. Styles tells him to consult him before making such a match, but Shane says he's in charge here and says he wants the best of the best in that match. Shane then says he doesn't like Styles' attitude, and Styles threatens to take himself, his attitude and the WWE Championship back to Japan. As if on cue, John Cena shows up, but as soon as he starts to speak, Styles tells him to shut up since his "brother-in-law" General Manager Daniel Bryan handed him a title shot before telling Shane as well as the fans that nobody cares about him or the WWE Championship. He then asks who's next to steal his thunder, which leads to The Miz and Maryse making an appearance. Miz says he will beat Dean Ambrose and get the Intercontinental Championship, and whether he wins the Royal Rumble or the Elimination Chamber match, he will be at the main event of WrestleMania like he wants to be, where he will be a dual champion. Styles doesn't want him in the match, but Miz proceeds to make fun of Styles' hair before saying he beat Cena up before it was cool. Styles tells Miz that the last time they were in Memphis, Tennessee, he knocked his teeth out, and that he should be lucky he isn't walking out with a limp. Cena tries to instigate a fight by asking Miz if he's going to let Styles talk to him like that. Miz and Styles are about to throw down when Shane stops a potential brawl by putting them in an official match, which begins next.

Shane McMahon meets up with Dean Ambrose, who wants a new Intercontinental Championship because it smells too much like The Miz. Shane sees his point, but he can't do anything for him. Dean then wants a match against Randy Orton just for fun. Shane makes it official for later tonight.

John Cena guests on commentary for the next match.

AJ Styles vs. The Miz ends when Styles attacks John Cena. Cena goes after Styles, but The Miz catches Cena and tries to put him in the Skull Crushing Finale. Cena reverses this into an Attitude Adjustment, then dodges a springboard knee from Styles before putting him in the Attitude Adjustment as well. He lifts the WWE Championship into the air, then leaves.

Nikki Bella shows up. She tells Natalya that they will finish what they started, and calls her out. Natalya shows up in the crowd and tells her to look at the TitanTron before running away. We then see Nattie in the back as Nikki goes to look for her, heading to the merchandise table and trashing it, accusing Nikki of pitting her family against her and trying to take all the Nikki Bella merchandise and throwing it in the trash. Nikki catch her doing the last act and fights her. Security moves in to restore order, and it takes a minute or two as one of them gets slapped in the face by Nikki and another gets kicked in the face by Natalya.

Dash Fuentes interviews Alexa Bliss, who says that she is not afraid of facing Becky Lynch in a steel cage tonight.

Dean Ambrose beats Randy Orton with a schoolboy pin after Bray Wyatt has to pull Luke Harper off the apron, with Orton distracted all the while. After the match, Orton and Harper come to blows again.Wyatt has to punch Harper in the face to keep from going at Orton again. Wyatt then dares Orton to challenge his authority, then Harper leaves.

Dasha Fuentes interviews Becky Lynch. Becky says Alexa Bliss won't be SmackDown Women's champ after tonight.

It's time for The King's Court with Jerry "The King" Lawler, for the first time on SmackDown Live. His guest tonight is Dolph Ziggler, who shows up. Lawler says he's known Ziggler to be a good perrson, but admits that hasn't been true as of late, especially when Ziggler has been on a losing streak out of late. He asks Ziggler if he thinks his attitude change will win him some matches, but all the while, Ziggler stays silent. We then see footage of his upset loss to Kalisto and post-match attack on Kalisto and Apollo Crews from last week, Ziggler almost walks out on the segment, but Lawler coaxes him back. Ziggler breaks his silence, saying he knows Lawler would try to make him look bad and that he has footage himself. We then see the tag match on Raw where they faced each other in September 2012, when he dropped multiple elbows on Lawler minutes before his heart attack. Ziggler says he knows Lawler blamed him for it, and that he should have, and that if he doesn't stop with the questions, he'll finish what he started four years. Lawler tells him that no matter how many times he changes his attitude, he'll always be a loser. Ziggler then superkicks Lawler and leaves the ring, and JBL scrambles to the ring (unintentionally tripping as soon as he leaves the commentary table) to check on Lawler. Lawler screams at Ziggler, saying that if he has any guts, he'll get back in the ring.

We see a preview of Shooter starring Randy Orton.

We look back at the extreme exploits of Shane McMahon courtesy of XXX: Return of Xander Cage.

Bray Wyatt announces that The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, Luke Harper) will participate in the Royal Rumble match, and that next week, it will be brother versus brother and one must fall as Randy Orton and Luke Harper settle their differences in the ring.

Alexa Bliss retains the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship against Becky Lynch in a Steel Cage Match after La Luchadora shows up and keeps Becky Lynch from escaping. After the match, Alexa Bliss and La Luchadora attack Becky, but Becky fights back and manages to unmask La Luchadora...who turns out to be Mickie James, who hasn't been seen since NXT TakeOver: Toronto. Alexa Bliss blasts Becky from behind with the Women's title, then celebrates with Mickie.

During Talking Smack, Jerry Lawler announces that he will be on commentary during the Royal Rumble match.

During Talking Smack, Bray Wyatt explains that Luke Harper and Randy Orton are in a match next week as the only way to settle it is through brutal means and that once everything explodes, the air will be clear and differences will be settled. He also says that regardless of whoever in The Wyatt Family wins, he will win the Royal Rumble.