by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
November 20, 2009
Taped 11/17/09 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


-WWE Open.

-Smackdown Open.

-After the requisite pyro and introduction from Todd Grisham, he and Matt Striker plugged the main event of Undertaker & Kane taking on Chris Jericho and Big Show. They also mentioned Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison in a two-out-of-three fall match for the Intercontinental Title.

1- BATISTA vs. MATT HARDY

I really didn’t need to see this re-match. Batista went to the outside right off the bat, where he pulled Matt. Hardy got the best of him there too, but Batista got him coming back into the ring. Batista threw Hardy face-first into the middle turnbuckle to take control, then slammed him to the mat for two. Batista worked the lower back of Hardy and worked a chin-lock about 1:20 into the match. Pretty early for that, leading me to believe this’ll be a relatively short match. Jaw-breaker got Hardy out of a bad situation. Elbow to the back of the head off the second rope by Hardy. Twist of Fate was shrugged off and Hardy got out of a Batista Bomb. DDT followed it up for two. Rake of the face by Batista, who elbowed out of a Side Effect. Chop block took Hardy to the mat. Hardy with a drop-toe hold into the second buckle, but Batista dropped him face-first in the corner. Spinebuster shook the ring. And another. One more for the road. He seemed to have a minor bloodied lip. Batista Bomb finally sent Hardy packing.

WINNER: Batista, at 4:25. They really protected Hardy here, more than I thought they would.

-Striker and Grisham explained on camera about the Hold Harmless agreement Rey Mysterio signed last week during the Survivor Series match contract signing with Batista. Then we saw video of what went down during the segment.

-Josh Mathews caught up with Batista backstage. He didn’t want to hear where Mathews was going with his question, so he interrupted and said Rey Mysterio made three mistakes: costing him the title, signing the Hold Harmless deal, and embarrassing Batista like he’s never been embarrassed before. What about the Punjabi Prison match? Batista said in turn, he’d embarrass Rey at Survivor Series with no regrets and no remorse.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed a video package of the history between Kane and The Undertaker. Afterward, Striker again plugged the tag match taking place tonight.

-Teddy Long was backstage when Vickie Guerrero and Eric Escobar walked in. She asked what Teddy was thinking by reuniting the Brothers of Destruction. Long passed the buck to McMahon on that one, and Vickie told him he needs to take control. “No wonder you’re still on probation,” she said. She also complained about how Long hasn’t been using Escobar lately. Long scoffed at the idea of taking Vickie’s advice, and suggested they leave his office. Big pop for that. But Vince McMahon walked in and shook Escobar’s hand. McMahon said teaming the Brothers of Destruction is “imbecilic” and asked where Long came up with the idea. McMahon told Teddy he said it could destroy the main event at Survivor Series. So he had an idea: Vickie would be named Smackdown consultant, to (somehow) help Teddy get off probation. Vickie jumped up and down and cheered with an inordinate amount of joy. Long….not so much. I love how they can pretty much write Vince to do and say anything to get where the writers want to go, no matter how little sense it makes, because they think fans can just write it off as “Vince’s character acting crazy as usual.”

-Drew McIntyre came to the ring for his match with Finlay, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

-A video package aired on the Finlay vs. Drew McIntyre feud. Back in the arena, McIntyre was on the mic and said Finlay loves to cry and whimper, not fight. He said Finlay reminds him of a little old lady, scared to death of him. He told Finlay to come out and fight.

2- DREW MCINTYRE vs. FINLAY

Double-leg takedown by Finlay started the match. McIntyre got away and fled to the outside, but did not find safety out there. Finlay chased him down and the two continued to brawl in the ring. Finlay kicked away at McIntyre in the corner as the ref struggled to separate them. Finlay had a handful of hair as the ref got him back. McIntyre went after Finlay’s eye with a right hand behind the ref’s back. As he tried to recover, McIntyre hit a swank version of his double-arm DDT for the win.

WINNER: McIntyre, at 1:39. McIntyre won in short order, but from bell-to-bell, they didn’t give him much.

-C.M. Punk was walking backstage. He has a message of survival for the WWE Universe, and we’ll hear it next.

[Commercial Break]

-Another mention of Taker & Kane vs. Big Show & Chris Jericho, slated for later tonight.

-C.M. Punk came to the ring. In the ring was a table with three white buckets spaced apart, each upside down on the table with a red “X” on each one, as well as a metal trash can. Punk said this was a Straight Edge intervention. The first step to recovery, of course, is a confession. Each person must admit they have a problem. I’m Greg Parks, and I’m a Punk-aholic. He told everyone to put their hand up (and if they’re watching on TV, put their hand on the television set). The fans booed and Punk pointed to people in the crowd and said they are in denial and are nothing without their substances that wither away their body. He said he’d teach everyone how to survive. Underneath the first bucket was a cigarette carton. Ah, generic “Cigarette” brand cigarettes. Punk said the Surgeon General knows more about cigarettes than anyone else. He said people might as well throw their lungs in the garbage. But Punk, took the cigs out and threw them in the trash can. Some clapping for that.

Under bucket number two was a bottle of prescription medication. Punk assured everyone that what’s in the bottle is not candy. He said every time someone takes a pill, they are failing at life. He said the warning label says “take as prescribed,” but it’s hard for the people to understand, since they’re all likely under the influence now. He took the top off the bottle and poured the contents into the trash can. The final bucket was a bottle of imported whiskey, which the crowd cheered. I gotta get that screenshot of Punk kneeling down near the bottle with a look of disappointment on his face. Punk asked how many people would like for him to take a big chug of that bottle right now- the crowd popped, as expected. Can you imagine if Punk was cutting this promo in the old ECW? He said alcohol is the worst of them all. When you drink it, you are poisoning yourself. He said like the bottle of whiskey, everyone’s life is going down the drain. He slowly poured the whiskey into the garbage can. When he finished, R-Truth and his music interrupted.

“What’s up?” The truth, according to the man with the word in his name. He said Punk thinks he’s better than everyone else and each person makes their own decisions in life. Truth said he doesn’t like Punk, then kicked the can into Punk and DDT’d him. Truth took the trash can and poured it all over Punk. Too bad he didn’t get closer to his face. Then a trash can shot to the lower abdomen. I say, there’s money in having Punk accidentally (or not) fall off the Straight Edge wagon, show up drunk one time (whether someone spiked a drink or whatever), but continue to be Straight Edge after he recovers, being even more angry about it. Segment was awesome, and the crowd stayed with Punk through the entire thing. It was the same message he’s been preaching, but this was scripted much better and had props!

-Morrison vs. Ziggler, two-out-of-three falls, for the I.C. Title, next!

[Commercial Break]

3- JOHN MORRISON vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER- TWO-OUT-OF-THREE FALLS FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Ziggler went for a few quick covers, but got nothing out of it. Standing dropkick from Morrison in retaliation, then a flying heel kick. He got a two-count from that. Morrison dodged a boot and tripped Ziggler up. Starship Pain, but Dolph moved and Morrison landed on his feet. Morrison then did a springboard 450 over the top rope and onto Ziggler on the outside. He brought Ziggler back in, but Ziggler lifted his knees on the Starship Pain. Ziggler went to capitalize, but Morrison hooked him in an Inside Cradle for the first fall, at 2:13. Completely unbelievable that it would be that short. Anyway, they went to break before the second one could begin.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the match, Ziggler got a two count during the second fall. Striker noted that Morrison’s ribs and back were being worked on throughout the break. Roll up by Morrison for two, then a Zig Zag from Ziggler for the second fall at 7:04. Once they got started for the third one, Ziggler kicked Morrison in the mouth for two. High elbowdrop in the ribs for two. Ziggler continued on offense and took Morrison off his shoulders and onto his knees as he fell back for a gut-buster. Ziggler intensified the pain quotient by twisting Morrison’s torso around the ring post. High X-Factor face-plant for a two-count by Ziggler. Morrison countered a suplex with a DDT. He then set up Starship Pain, and this time hit, and retained the title.

WINNER: Morrison, two falls to one, at 10:46. Really disappointing. Not the match itself, but how it was booked. Most of their one-fall matches (including last week’s) went longer than this. Where does Ziggler go from here?

-The Brothers of Destruction face Chris Jericho and Big Show in the main event tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Striker thanked Art of Dying for “Get Thru This,” the official Survivor Series theme.

4- MICKIE JAMES vs. LAYLA

Mickie sent some forearms into the kisser of Layla, then landed a Thesz Press. I hope Matt Striker brings out the chalkboard to explain the Survivor Series Elimination match possibilities. Dropkick by Layla while Mickie was on her knees. That got two, despite the pleas from Layla. Roll-up into a bridge by Mickie, nicely done, for the win.

WINNER: Mickie, at 1:10.

After the match, Layla got the mic. I’m glad they’ve given Layla some outfits to show off her body. She said that Mickie should look at the Titan-Tron before she starts partying. It was a rooster crowing. Michelle McCool, with a farm in the background, called Mickie “Piggie James.” She even sang “Old McDonald,” inserting Mickie as the pig. They even did the Looney Tunes ending with the “That’s all folks!” with Mickie’s face as a pig. You stay classy, WWE.

-Rey Mysterio was walking backstage- he faces Tyson Kidd next.

[Commercial Break]

-Batista joined Grisham and Striker on commentary, but didn’t seem to want to say anything.

5- REY MYSTERIO vs. TYSON KIDD

Kidd tripped up Mysterio on the top and put a knee into the throat. Hard whip into the buckle by Kidd. Hard kick in the back and a cover got two. Still nothing from Batista. Rey kicked away at the head of Kidd, but Kidd landed a dropkick to Rey’s face for two. He missed a springboard elbowdrop though. After Kidd rolled through a hurricanrana, Rey kicked him in the face and got two on a pin attempt. Rey set Kidd up in the 619 position, but Kidd slipped out of the ring. Rey went to the top, but Batista shoved Kidd out of the way so Rey would have to jump on him. The ref called for the bell, which Striker disagreed with.

WINNER: Kidd by DQ, at 2:36. Good, high-energy match between the two. I’d like to see an extended contest between these two.

After the match, Rey jumped onto the announce table and then onto Batista, sitting down on him as he fell backward onto the chair he was sitting in. Batista tried to chase Rey around ringside, to no avail. Batista was left angered in the ring.

-Jericho and Big Show were arguing backstage, and Show said Jericho was scared. Jericho denied it. Show said he knows what it takes to survive in there with Taker and Kane, but Jericho said he knows what it takes to survive too. Show said if it comes down to him or Jericho at Survivor Series, it’ll be him because he won’t hesitate to knock Show out. After Show walked out, the lights went out. Jericho panicked, but when they turned on, it was just Show messing with him, proving to him that he was scared.

[Commercial Break]

-Striker and Grisham talked about Philadelphia and its wrestling history.

-The Madison Square Garden-WWE video aired, with some video from this past week’s Raw spliced in as well.

-Chris Jericho and Big Show made their entrance for the main event. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

6- CHRIS JERICHO & BIG SHOW vs. THE UNDERTAKER & KANE

Taker and Kane came out at the same time. Kane didn’t vacillate at all when the bell rang, attacking Jericho at the outset. Taker then came in and wailed away at Jericho himself. Finally, Jericho grabbed the ropes on a whip and tagged in his bigger half. The two giants went toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring. Show missed a punch and Taker hit him with rights of his own. Taker put his boot up on a Show charge, then nailed him with a flying clothesline. Double-team clotheslined Show over the top. Jericho checked on him as they went to break about 2:30 in.

[Commercial Break]

Taker clotheslined Jericho as he came out of the corner. The Dead Man planned to go Old School, and did so successfully. Double boot by the Brothers of Destruction and Kane’s pin got a two-count. Kane went for a chokeslam, but Big Show speared him. Show was the legal man at this point, and cornered Kane in the heel section of the ring. Jericho did some cheating behind the ref’s back to soften Kane up a little more for his tag partner. Kane fought back from his knees, but speaking of, Show kneed him right in the face. Jericho came in and applied the boots to Kane. Lionsault landed right on Kane’s knees. Both men went for tags- Jericho was successful, Kane not so much. Big Show struck Kane in the ribs with his massive fists, then set Kane on the top rope. He went to the middle rope, but Kane knocked him down. Kane, off the top, hit a not-so-good-looking clothesline. Show tagged Jericho and Taker tagged in as well. Snake Eyes in the corner on Jericho, followed by the running boot and legdrop. Only got two on the cover. Taker knocked Show off the apron, then he grabbed Jericho by the throat. Jericho turned it into a roll-up and tried a Walls of Jericho, but Taker caught him in the Hell’s Gate. Before he could tap, Show legdropped Taker. The match broke down at this point and all four men brawled on the outside. Show was thrown into the barricade and into the announce bay. We have a Lauren Mayhew sighting! I think it’s a count-out by now. They went to double-chokeslam him through the table, but Jericho broke it up. But he barely affected the faces, and they threw him into the ring. I guess we’re still going. Chokeslam by Kane, but Show pulled Kane out of the ring and decked him with a right. Taker grabbed him by the throat on the apron, then caught Jericho with a boot. Show came in the ring and chokeslammed Taker. Show stood tall in the ring, then got Jericho to his feet. Jericho gave him a Codebreaker and went to grab the World Heavyweight Title. He fled the ringside area as Grisham and Striker debated on whether or not Jericho knew he was giving the Codebreaker to Show. I still didn’t hear a bell, but I saw the ref counting Jericho out, so let’s say….

WINNERS: Taker & Kane, by count-out, at about 15:00. Interesting end of the match.

Jericho stood tall with the World Title on the top of the ramp as Show and Taker recovered in the ring. The show faded out at this point.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. You can also read his frequently updated blog in the VIP forum. Check out his column each week in the PDF-exclusive version of the Torch Newsletter. Also, look for his Tuesday chats with James Caldwell each Tuesday afternoon on the Torch. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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