though, chipped away and left Perry to get 32 with the l

With only three episodes of SmackDown Live left in the year, it would be completely reasonable for the show to start mailing it in as the holidays start to roll around and audiences start to wane. While there was definitely some element of that in play Tuesday, with some major storylines put on pause, SmackDown made a smart decision heading into the last two weeks of the year: They elevated performers who could use the opportunity.The promised WWE world championship match between AJ Styles and James Ellsworth was once again pushed off for another week, leaving a void that was filled by a Fatal 4-Way elimination match to determine a new No. 1 contender. Zack Ryder once again proved his stunning record of success in battles royal to make the Hype Bros No. 1 contenders for the SmackDown tag team championships (although a knee injury suffered during that match might make that victory moot). And an impromptu SmackDown womens championship match, albeit a brief one, gave Alexa Bliss another opportunity to prove just how far shes come in the last six months.Giving shots to guys like Dolph Ziggler, who seemed to be on a meandering path without anywhere to go after his feud with The Miz, makes the most of a window thats historically been filled with multiman tag team matches and silly gimmick matches. That goes for Luke Harper?too, who got a chance to prove he belonged against SmackDowns main event-level talent. And putting The Miz in the world title picture, which both myself and Brian Campbell have clamored for over the last couple of months, is a fitting reward for someone whos done so much to help carry the show as Intercontinental champion.There are a few different ways to manage a smaller roster effectively, and while a large contingent likely lamented the unfulfilled tease of adding Sami Zayn to the mix on SmackDown, giving underutilized talent a chance in the spotlight is another great way to make the show feel fresh. With John Cena set to return on Dec. 27, and a WWE world championship to boot on the last 2016 edition of SmackDown, it seems like coasting is the last thing on their minds.The build to the Royal Rumble and the show as a whole should benefit once the calendar turns over to a new year.Ziggler becomes No. 1 contender, and Harper truly shinesFor whatever reason, the epic clash between Ellsworth and Styles was postponed yet again as Ellsworth showed up to a meeting with Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon sick as a dog in the shows open. Ellsworths ability to fake sneeze on command and contamination of Bryan aside, there was a sudden need for a new No. 1 contender to the WWE world championship, and wouldnt you know it, wed get a solution right off the bat.A mutual admiration society between Styles and The Miz kicked off another edition of Miz TV, but the WWE nailed the execution of a fairly simple, but truly effective concept -- the good guys dont have to get along with all of the good guys, and the bad guys dont have to like all of the other bad guys. After running down mutual acquaintances, things broke down as The Miz claimed to have made the Intercontinental championship legendary and suggested he might do the same for the world championship.You said nobody is on your level, Miz said, after Styles dismissed every legitimate contender. Well, youre right. Im above it.Cue the inevitable chaos, as a mutual enemies in Dean Ambrose and then Ziggler came out. Ambrose laid out both Miz and Ziggler, but as Styles walked away, the Wyatts entrance hit and Harper appeared in the ring, clotheslining Ambrose out of his boots. The unlikeliest of four contenders then stared down the world champion, and even as the match went on, Styles put Harper over as a powerful unknown X-factor.As for the Fatal 4-Way itself, Harper cleaned house early and showed his versatility and mobility for a man of his size. Hes been an underutilized talent for most of his main roster run, excepting this most recent stretch and a brief run with the Intercontinental championship. But with any luck, this appearance in the main event is more evidence that the recent Wyatt Family surge also elevates Harper along the way.We also got a backdoor chance for a little more Miz-Ziggler after their rivalry seemingly closed at TLC. This Fatal 4-Way felt similar in a lot of ways to conflicts between Miz, Ziggler and Ambrose, but the inclusion of Harper kept things fresh in terms of story and pacing.Miz ultimately got caught up trying to vulture a fall, and he ended up the first person out of the elimination match after Ambrose rolled him up. Similarly to American Alphas failure to become No. 1 contenders earlier in the night, you have to believe Mizs time in the world title picture is coming, but not quite yet. It was a competitive match for the next 10 minutes, and it took a superkick and a Dirty Deeds in quick succession to finally neutralize Harper.Ziggler vs. Ambrose seems to be a good mesh of styles, and the pairing showed some signs of great in-ring chemistry in about five minutes of action to close out the match. Keep an eye on this as a potential direction for both men once Ziggler gets his shot at Styles and Cena reintroduces himself to the mix.The Miz ultimately came back out and distracted Ziggler, but Ambrose hit a tope suicida, and Ziggler followed with a superkick. In the waning moments, Miz ultimately cost Ambrose the match by holding onto his leg, and thus laid out another potential path for Ambroses future. While few might foresee a Ziggler upset in two weeks, any excuse to get two of the best workers in the company into the ring and competing for a world title should be taken -- and it should be a great way to wrap up whats been a great year for SmackDown.Hits and misses? Some people might be disappointed by American Alpha not getting another shot at The Wyatts, but with Harper, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton looking like theyre going to hold on to the Smackdown tag team titles for a while, its probably for the best for a few other teams to get a shot in the spotlight while Chad Gable and Jason Jordan rack up some wins and build back to the top. They seem to be the favorites to get a shot down the line, especially once Orton and Wyatts unlikely partnership likely dissolves at some point down the line.? The tag team battle royal was a fun and believable mechanism to give the Hype Bros their highest-profile opportunity since joining the SmackDown roster. Unfortunately, it appears they wont get to cash in on it in the near-future with Ryders injury. It could be The Usos, who missed the match because of a leg injury of their own but pleaded with Daniel Bryan on Talking Smack for a shot, who are now next in line? We also witnessed the likely end of the partnership between Heath Slater and Rhyno, as Slater accidentally knocked out his partner of the battle royal and then couldnt get it done on his own.? Carmella and Natalya had a pretty solid match, and Carmella is getting noticeably better in the ring by the week. Natalya, who for a long time in the WWE womens division was the most experienced in-ring competitor, has been a bit inconsistent of late, but this was a good showing for her too.? Alexa Bliss match with Deonna Purrazzo never started, with the champion indicating her disgust for even having to get into the ring. I dont do charity cases, Bliss said, followed by a forearm to Purrazzos face for good measure. Becky Lynch came out to demand a rematch, and as Bliss tried to exit, McMahon inserted himself into the situation and made the title shot a reality.The match and everything that preceded it was all good for Bliss, who displayed great heelish instincts in dismissing contenders and faking a knee injury to get herself counted out. The match itself was good, but the best part for Bliss was how quickly she went from faking the injury to laying in kicks to Lynch and then hobbling back up the ramp. Shes been thrown into the deep end of the pool with this title reign, but so far Bliss is more than holding her own.? Im not always a fan of the way WWE does its commercial tie-ins, but any excuse to play the Honky Tonk Mans Cool, Cocky, Bad music video gets a big thumbs up from me.? We didnt get a Baron Corbin appearance, but a sharp-looking promo video fit the bill and kept him fresh in our minds. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we got a rare Apollo Crews appearance, which featured an interaction with Miz, Maryse and comedian Gabriel Iglesias. The Miz got in some of the best lines, and Iglesias fell flat with his sophomoric line about Uranus, but if this is a sign that Crews can start making more regular appearances, Im all for it. Greg Gaines Womens Jersey . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Cory Littleton Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. http://www.laramsfootballshops.com/deacon-jones-jersey/ . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. Cory Littleton Womens Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Robert Woods Youth Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Australia Women 230 for 8 (Perry 93*, Luus 3-52, Khaka 2-52) beat South Africa Women 226 for 5 (Luus 52, Lee 38, Perry 2-33) by two wicketsScorecard Ellyse Perry anchored a tense chase of 227 with an unbeaten 93 to help Australia beat South Africa by two wickets in the first ODI in Canberra. Perry, who walked out to bat with Australia at 39 for 2 in the 10th over, held the key for the home team throughout the innings, and succeeded in taking them across the line off the penultimate ball.She struck six fours and two sixes in her 107-ball knock. That was after Australias bowlers had combined to keep South Africa down to 226 for 5 at the Manuka Oval.After Australia fell to 49 for 3, Perry began rebuilding with a 52-run, fourth-wicket stand with Alex Blackwell. South Africa hit back when legspinner Suné Luus had Blackwell caught for a 51-ball 25. Jess Jonassen got going in a hurry, slapping two fours and a six, before Luus struck again, ending her innings on 21 off 17 balls.Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy and Perry then shifted momentum towards Australia with a 48-run partnership. South Africa, though, chipped away and left Perry to get 32 with the lower order. Perryy added 28 with Megan Schutt in an eighth-wicket stand off 20 balls, reducing Australias target to just four off the last five balls.dddddddddddd Schutt was stumped off the legspin of Dane van Niekerk, the South Africa captain, in the first ball of the final over, before Perry struck a boundary four balls later to seal the game. Luus finished with three wickets, but was expensive, leaking 52 runs in seven overs.South Africas innings was built on the back of a combined team effort. Openers Lizelle Lee and Luus got off to a start, putting on 52 at a run-a-ball. Lee was dismissed off legspinner Kristen Beams for a 29-ball 38. Luus added 67 more for the second wicket with Mignon du Preez, before she was caught behind off Perry, having top-scored with 52. Contributions from du Preez (37), Marizanne Kapp (29 not out) and Chloe Tryon (25 not out) helped South Africa add quick runs in the end overs.Perry shone with the ball too, finishing with 2 for 33 in eight overs. Beams and Grace Harris were both economical and took a wicket apiece. ' ' '