by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
December 4, 2009
Taped 11/29/09 in Hampton, Va.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


- WWE Open.

- Clips aired of last Friday’s main event of Chris Jericho vs. The Undertaker, and how Batista factored into the decision.

- Smackdown Open.

- Matt Striker and Todd Grisham opened the show by announcing that the Undertaker will call out Batista tonight. At least, that’s what the graphic said, even though Grisham only asked if Taker would indeed call Batista out.

1 - C.M. PUNK vs. R - TRUTH

Punk was accompanied to the ring by Luke Gallows. Striker said Punk stands against people “going to the disco-tech to listen to the hip and the hop music.” Punk was aggressive from the start, angry that Truth disrespected him a few weeks ago. Punk missed a corner charge and Truth grazed him with a heel kick for two. On second look, it appeared to hit more flush than I first thought. Punk came back with a hard kick to the back. Striker even delved into politics, discussing the health care bill as it relates to the transformation of Gallows. “I prefer the public option,” said Grisham. On the outside, Punk shoved Truth into the ring post, where Truth hit shoulder-first. He favored the arm as they went to break about three minutes into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Punk got a nice suplex, with Truth’s arm in a hammerlock, for a two-count out of break. The crowd was still into it, even as Punk slowed the match with a key-lock and general mat-holds. Punk jawed with the fans, and paid for it as Truth reversed a suplex attempt and started his comeback. Hip-toss by Truth, but he continued to favor the arm. He hit the ropes, but Gallows tripped him up in full view of the referee, earning Truth a DQ win.

WINNER: Truth, at 10:00. Nothing wrong with this match; the psychology of working the arm was sound.

Gallows continued the Punk-directed beat-down after the match. Punk with the running knee in the corner, then Gallows did his double-arm tree-slam maneuver.

- Still to come, Undertaker will call out Batista. Striker confirms that it’s just a rumor going around, though.

[Commercial Break]

2- KANE vs. MIKE KNOX

Shoulder knock-down by Kane, who went into a front face-lock on Knox. Low dropkick from Kane for two. Knox got an elbow up in the corner, then landed his trademark cross-body. Shoulder into the gut by Knox, then a big splash for a near-fall. Striker referred to Kane as “Jacob Goodnight,” his name from the “See No Evil” movie. Flying clothesline by Kane, who then set up for the chokeslam. Knox got away, but Kane countered his pump kick and chokeslammed him for the win.

WINNER: Kane, at 3:38. Crowd didn’t know how to react for much of the match, thanks to Kane’s constant heel and face turns.

- Josh Mathews was backstage with Chris Jericho and Big Show. They face Cryme Tyme tonight, and Jericho promised he wouldn’t be distracted by having to face DX in a handicap match on Raw. Jericho assured the fans that he and Show will end DX once and for all at TLC. He once again talked about the possibility of Show hitting someone with a steel chair and the pain it would cause. Jericho talked about the hypocrites who will take out their camera phones to take pictures of the carnage. He then said Shawn Michaels, with his history of back problems, could have his career ended in such a match. He said the TLC match is the most dangerous ever created in WWE. Speaking of dangerous, he put over Show’s size and Show motioned a punch to the camera, which faded to black. Pretty long for a backstage interview but Jericho did a good job putting over the possibilities in regards to the heels taking out the faces at TLC.

[Commercial Break]

- Undertaker calls out Batista….maybe….sometime tonight.

- Michelle McCool and Layla, in matching “Piggie James” t-shirts, were at ringside for the following Triple-Threat match to find out a number one contender to McCool’s title.

3- MICKIE JAMES vs. BETH PHOENIX vs. NATALYA – TRIPLE-THREAT MATCH TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Mickie had to fight off Beth and Natalya, and landed a hurricanrana on Natalya. Beth sent her to the outside, leaving Phoenix and Natalya one-on-one. They had a shoving match that ended when Natalya grabbed a side-headlock. Neither woman would budge an inch, so when Mickie entered, they turned their focus to her and threw her outside the ring again. Beth and Natalya collided heads as they went to break. During a women’s match?

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Natalya was stretching the arms of Mickie James as Beth was recovering in the corner. Crowd was behind Mickie, but that didn’t stop Natalya from locking her in a rear chinlock, until Beth broke it up with a series of rights to the head. Phoenix broke up a pin, but Natalya rolled Mickie up after Beth tried a slingshot suplex. Beth had Mickie up for a powerslam, but Natalya dropkicked her back and Mickie got a two-count. Sharp-shooter locked in by Natalya, but Beth broke it up and Glam Slammed her. She went for a pin, but Mickie dropkicked her out of the ring and pinned Natalya herself to pick up the victory.

WINNER: James, at 7:02. Solid enough match, even though about half of it took place during the break.

Josh Mathews joined James in the ring and he asked her about getting her opportunity at McCool. James said she felt like she was on top of the world. She said her sights were set on not only becoming Women’s Champion, but on taking out McCool as well. She warned Michelle that things have gone beyond personal with those two. Mickie took the mic and went out of the ring to approach the heels. Mickie said Michelle loves to talk, and she’s going to shut her mouth permanently. She insulted Layla, then shoved Michelle backward into her announce chair and attacked Layla. Michelle recovered and the two heel divas threw Mickie into the ring. Maria came to Mickie’s aid, tackling Layla. Michelle grabbed her by the hair, but Maria slapped her. Mickie jumped on Michelle and the two face divas cleared the ring of the heels.

- Batista was backstage, flustered with Teddy Long’s decisions apparently. Long said he doesn’t approve of the way Batista has treated Rey; Rey deserves a re-match on his terms. Next week, it’ll be Rey vs. Batista in a street fight. Batista promised he’d beat up Rey again, provided the Hold Harmless agreement is still in tact. He then complained about Undertaker calling him out and Long letting it happen. Long said his hands are tied after what happened last week. Do Long and Taker still have issues or what?

- John Morrison walked into Matt Hardy’s locker room as Matt was playing Smackdown vs. Raw 2010. Morrison said he had to create his opponent for tonight, Drew McIntyre, in that game. He faces McIntyre next.

[Commercial Break]

- Tonight, will Undertaker call out Batista?

4- JOHN MORRISON vs. DREW MCINTYRE

McIntyre got the mic before the match and accused Morrison of letting the I.C. title go straight to his head. He said that’s based on the fact that Morrison challenged him tonight. After all, he hurts people. Morrison didn’t let him get any further and stopped him with a right hand. The ref separated them and rang the bell to start the match.

Morrison got a standing Shooting star press off the bat, but McIntyre was soon on offense. Morrison hit the mat on an attempted McIntyre big boot, then nipped up to hit a bicycle kick. With Morrison on the apron, McIntyre rammed him head-first into the ring post, then he fell to ringside against the barricade. Back in the ring, McIntyre pounded away at Morrison in the corner. Mac locked Morrison into a painful-looking submission move. A half-camel clutch was then applied by McIntyre. Morrison tried to avoid a corner charge by hopping up, but McIntyre instead kicked him in the chest on his way down. Ouch. More after the break.

[Commercial Break]


McIntyre went for two quick covers out of break, netting him two counts on each try. More ground work by McIntyre, but they were interesting moves at least. He tried to wear Morrison down with a double-underhook. Morrison fought his way back to his feet with kicks and punches. Flying shoulder tackle by Morrison, then a heel kick for two. Running knee from Morrison for two, as he held his rib-cage area in pain. Flying Chuck kick attempt, but Drew tripped him up. They picked up the pace with McIntyre hitting a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker for two. Morrison tried to go for Starship Pain, but McIntyre rolled to the apron. He choked Morrison on the top rope, but Morrison hit a Flying Chuck kick, sending McIntyre to the arena floor. McIntyre rolled partially under the ring. McIntyre held onto the steel support beam under the ring to prevent Morrison from dragging him out. Then he saw his chance and slammed Morrison’s head into the steel. He picked the Intercontinental Champion up and threw him into the ring. He landed his double-arm DDT finisher for the win.

WINNER: McIntyre, at 13:14. McIntyre’s first real test for a long match, and he passed with flying colors. Didn’t hurt that he was taking on Morrison, either.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker thanked Switchfoot for “Bullet Soul,” the official theme song of TLC

- Vickie Guerrero came out. They showed her break-up with Eric Escobar from last week. Guerrero touched on the subject of her ex. She called him out for the audacity he had to raise his voice to her. She said that was a big mistake, because he’s going to face the consequences. Consequences Creed? Vickie said not only is she beautiful and powerful, but fair as well. More “excuse me” from Vickie. She called out Escobar to apologize to him, or he’ll be out of a job. Escobar came out, laughing. He did apologize to her, but then said he was sorry they ever met. Escobar also said he’s sorry he wasted his time with her. All this got him over as a face in front of the live crowd. Vickie said she was “so done” with Escobar. She said she could fire him and end his career tonight, but it’s just too easy. They’ve got to think of another explanation for not firing guys; the “too easy” excuse is getting tired. She said she’s putting him in a handicap match with the Hart Dynasty, which is taking place now.

5- ERIC ESCOBAR vs. THE HART DYNASTY – HANDICAP MATCH

Clothesline, then a beal out of the corner by Escobar on Kidd. Guerrero was watching from ringside. Kidd went low after dodging Escobar, taking out his leg. David Hart Smith tagged in and tagged Escobar with a European Uppercut. Frequent tags by the Hart Dynasty, but Escobar did land a modified sky-high (as called by Striker) on Kidd for two. More aggressiveness from Smith after he came back in. Kidd finished him off with the double-team Hart Attack move.

WINNERS: The Hart Dynasty, at 2:25.

After the match, the Harts stayed in the ring as Vickie yelled at Escobar. Smith held Escobar for Vickie to slap. Escobar told her to get it over with and to slap him. She did, and Smith added a kick to the gut for good measure.

- Punk and Gallows were backstage. Gallows spoke for possibly the first time on camera as he answered Josh Mathews’ questions. He said his previous existence wasn’t his fault, but the people he loved were no better than common street-pushers, forcing him to walk around in a comatose state. He said it was induced by a prescription pill addiction. But C.M. Punk changed all of that. Punk said his miraculous recovery could happen to anyone, anywhere, but they need some help. Gallows said he was lost, but now he’s found and he hopes that the other lost souls can adopt the Straight-Edge lifestyle and see Punk as the savior.

- Still to come, Undertaker calls out Batista.

[Commercial Break]

-Striker and Grisham discussed the TLC card.

-Cryme Tyme came out for their match against the tag champs, and its next.

[Commercial Break]

6 - CRYME TYME vs. CHRIS JERICHO & BIG SHOW

Jericho went after JTG, but his onslaught was brief. Jericho collected himself on the outside and a Shad distraction led to JTG hitting a sliding dropkick. Back in the ring though, Jericho took over and landed a back suplex. JTG came back with a few of his pet moves and both men were down. Jericho tagged Show in and all he did was land one punch on Shad to pick up the win.

WINNERS: Jericho & Show, at 3:15. Just a match to get over Show’s punching prowess heading into TLC. It’s like the tag champs get squashed verbally or physically on Raw, then get built back up on Smackdown.

[Commercial Break]

- Undertaker made his trademark entrance to presumably call out Batista. Once he got to the bottom of the ramp, Batista came from behind and nailed him in the back with a steel chair. Batista continued the attack at ringside, throwing Taker into the stairs and using the chair some more. He choked Taker with the chair at ringside, and gave him a chairshot to the head in the ring. Spinebuster by Batista; he then took the title and stood over Taker, posing with it. Grisham wondered if this is what would be in store for Taker this Sunday. “You suck” chants from the fans. They showed a replay of the initial attack, then Batista got to the middle rope to pose with the title again.

- The show ended with a plug for Batista vs. Rey Mysterio next week in a street fight.

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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