SmackDown: January 14, 2016

Ambrose challenged Owens to a Last Man Standing Match at Royal Rumble

LAFAYETTE, La. — SmackDown on USA Network’s huge triple main event lived up to the hype as The Dudley Boyz and Wyatt Family destroyed some tables, a championship changed hands and Dean Ambrose — alongside The Man That Gravity Forgot — turned the Cajundome into the Ambrose Asylum.

While The Lunatic Fringe is sniffing around for a fight at Royal Rumble, Kevin Owens and Sheamus are looking for a little payback on SmackDown.

Thursday’s hottest show began in unfamiliar fashion as Renee Young was waiting backstage to hear from Dean Ambrose about a supposed statement. Luckily, The Lunatic Fringe’s entrance in a black pickup truck occurred just in time for the start of the show. Ambrose made a beeline toward the ring to state that he was challenging Kevin Owens to a Last Man Standing Match at the Royal Rumble on Jan. 24 on WWE Network.

Photos: Ambrose gets interrupted |  Royal Rumble: Last Man Standing Match preview

Sheamus suddenly crashed the announcement, looking to repay Ambrose for the gash on his forehead that required three stitches after their battle on Raw. Just as the two were prepared to settle their differences, Fight Owens Fight finally appeared to accept his rival’s Royal Rumble challenge. WWE’s prizefighter proceeded to join The Celtic Warrior to attack their mutual adversary before Neville raced down to save the unstable one from further damage.

The Dudley Boyz def. The Wyatt Family’s Luke Harper & Erick Rowan in a Tables Match

The Wyatts are ready for war in a match made famous by their extreme opponents, Bubba Ray and D-Von.

Bray Wyatt was noticeably absent during Luke Harper & Erick Rowan’s Tables Match against The Dudley Boyz, but that didn’t slow down his faithful followers.

Photos: The Wyatt Family decimates The Dudley Boyz

Despite an early setback that saw the frightening Harper & Rowan blindside The Dudleys — as well as the attempted interference from Braun Strowman — WWE’s extreme tag team prevailed after pushing Harper through a table set up at ringside. This didn’t sit well with the intimidating trifecta, which proceeded to decimate their hardcore adversaries. The New Face of Destruction hurled D-Von Dudley through two separate tables before his fellow bearded monsters double-chokeslammed Bubba through two tables. To top it off, The New Face of Fear’s voice cryptically ran out throughout the Cajundome, declaring “Follow the buzzards!”

The Social Outcasts def. Goldust, Damien Sandow, Jack Swagger & Zack Ryder

Bo Dallas, Adam Rose, Heath Slater & Curtis Axel look to prove themselves against a formidable foursome.

The Social Outcasts continued to trend in the right direction on SmackDown as they prevailed over Goldust, Damien Sandow, Jack Swagger & Zack Ryder in an 8-Man Tag Team Match.

Photos: Social Outcasts continue to trend upward

New Zack City appeared to have control of the contest, but Heath Slater provided a right hand from the apron, opening up Bo Dallas to hit his Running Bo-Dog — simultaneously using The One Man Band’s back for support — for the victory. #SocialOutcasts

Alberto Del Rio def. Kalisto to win the United States Championship

Three days after the biggest win of his career, the new United States Champion engages The Essence of Excellence in a U.S. Title rematch.

Just three days after Kalisto defeated Alberto Del Rio for the United States Championship in arguably the biggest upset in Raw’s 23-year history, the two Superstars’ rivalry reached new heights on Thursday’s hottest show in an epic United States Championship rematch.

Midway through the veteran ring general and high-flying luchador’s fiery battle, Del Rio’s League of Nations cohort King Barrett made his way down to the ring. After merely watching the contest for a short time, the British brawler got up on the ring apron, distracting the titleholder just long enough for a relentless Del Rio to lock in his Cross Armbreaker submission. The diminutive dynamo would not give up, however, as he valiantly willed his way to the ropes.

Photos: Kalisto's valiant battle

The clash continued, but so did Barrett’s involvement, as he later pulled a dazed Del Rio out of the way of the flying Lucha Dragon. The courageous champion’s missed dive to the outside allowed the Essence of Excellence to once again lock in his devastating submission, forcing the United States Champion to tap out.

Becky Lynch def. Brie Bella

The Irish Lass Kicker battles the full power of Brie Mode.

During a backstage interview before her match on SmackDown, Becky Lynch proposed a match at the Royal Rumble against Divas Champion Charlotte, but will Becky's former friend accept?

Photos: Becky hands Brie an Irish Lass Kicking

Meanwhile, in the ring, the fiery Diva continued to make her case for another Divas Championship opportunity by withstanding Brie Bella’s onslaught of kicks to lock in the Dis-arm-her submission for the tap out victory.

Dean Ambrose & Neville def. Kevin Owens & Sheamus by Disqualification

The Lunatic Fringe joins forces with The Man That Gravity Forgot against the prizefighter and The Celtic Warrior.

SmackDown on USA Network’s third main event of the evening could not be contained by the traditional rules of a tag team contest, as Kevin Owens & Sheamus made sure of that. The Celtic Warrior and KO’s relentless attack against The Lunatic Fringe outside the ring — which included the steel steps and the top of the SmackDown announce table — forced the referee to disqualify the brash pair.

Photos: Battle in the Ambrose Asylum

The bell did not slow down the heavyweight fighters, but The Man That Gravity Forgot sure did, as he flew over the ropes to the outside, taking out both men. Ending the evening on a high note, Neville then hit a spectacular Red Arrow inside the ring on the fallen prizefighter.