KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
DECEMBER 4, 2009
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-Highlights aired of last week's Batista-Undertaker angle. Then the Smackdown opening aired and Todd Grisham introduced the show.

1 -- C.M. PUNK (w/Luke Gallos) vs. R-TRUTH

A clip aired of R-Truth dumping a garbage can of beer and drugs on Punk. Matt Striker talked about Punk helping Luke Gallos escape from prescription drug abuse. Striker said Gallos now has clarity of mind and spirit. Grisham called him a "new follower of the Straight Edge Society." It continues to just be odd, to put it nicely, that Punk is being cast as heel for saving someone from prescription pill abuse. They tie themselves into knots trying to make sense of it, with Striker derisively calling him the "Surgeon General" of WWE. Truth then rapped his way to the ring. Striker said Punk is against Truth's type of music and what it represents. Somehow the match didn't begin until seven minutes into the show. At 2:00 they cut to a break after Punk shoved Truth into the ringpost. [c] Striker and Grisham began to talk on and on about Punk's message being okay, but his relentless delivery being too much. They even said R-Truth, who at last check was a smoker trying to quick, doesn't need to be told not to smoke or drink to excess because he was told not to as a kid. Punk controlled the offense after the break with methodical offense including some mat holds.

[Q2]

At 8:00 Truth began a comeback, so Gallos tripped Truth from ringside, leading to the DQ. Gallos threw Truth into the corner and then held him as Punk charged with a running knee to the chin. Punk then handed Truth to Gallos, who finished Truth with his signature slam.

WINNER: Truth via DQ in 10:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- Is this where Punk is settling to on the roster? From Jeff Hardy to Undertaker to... R- Truth? I'm for rotating guys in and out of the top spot, so this shouldn't be seen as a burial of Punk, but it does send a message that he's not a perennial top tier guy in Vince McMahon's eyes. [c]

-WWE Fact: Fans from all 50 states and 22 countries have already purchased tickets to WrestleMania 26.

2 -- KANE vs. MIKE KNOX

Striker: "It doesn't get much bigger than this - Kane versus Mike Knox." Hope he means that literally, in terms of size. After Kane took control early, Knox hit a big crossbody block for a two count at 1:00. Then he settled into a bear hug on the mat. Kane came back and hit a flying clothesline off the ropes. He followed with a chokeslam for the win. Grisham called it an "inspired, rutheless performance."

WINNER: Kane in 3:00.

[Q3]

-Josh Matthews interviewed Jericho and Big Show backstage. Jericho blew off the question about facing both Shawn Michaels and Triple H on Raw, but said he has supreme confidence no matter what. He said in ten days, the most dominant tag team of this or any generation will end DX forever in a TLC match. He talked about what Big Show can do with a chair, the power of Show slamming Michaels's surgically repaired back through a table, and what Show can do with a ladder as a weapon. He said TLC is the most dangerous match ever created in WWE. He said it hurts people, ends careers, and ruins lives. He said they know what it takes to get through a TLC match with their belts. He said DX will be finished afterward - no more worthless merchandise, no more jokes, no more catch phrases. He said Show will end the DX mythology forever because Show is a more lethal weapon than any table, ladder, or chair. Good hard-sell promo with calm talking that made you listen harder to what he was saying. Show said nothing, but he just stared at his fist at the end and threw a punch at the camera. [c]

-Grisham hyped that tonight Undertaker calls out Batista.

-They showed Michelle McCool and Layla sitting at ringside. Then the camera panned to Grisham and Striker talking about the triple threat Divas match up next for a title shot.

3 -- MICKIE JAMES vs. "GLAMAZON" BETH PHOENIX vs. NATALYA

McCool and Layla applauded Mickie being knocked to the floor. Glamazon and Natalya shoved each other a few times. When Mickie returned to the ring, the heel duo worked together to toss her to the floor again, then went back to work on each other. [c]

[Q4]

Mickie came back with a neckbreaker on Natalya. Glamazon went for a slingshot suplex. Mickie escaped, but Natalya got an opportunistic two count on Mickie. Natalya went for a sharpshooter, but Glamazon broke it up and hit her Glam Slam. Mickie hit a low dropkick and scored the in on Natalya.

WINNER: Mickie in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *

-Afterward, Matthews interviewed Mickie in the ring. Mickie said McCool took things too far and got personal. She said after all of the twisted and hurtful things she's said and done, the one thing she's proven to her is she loves to talk, so she's going to do everyone a favor and shut her mouth permamently - "that is, once I dislodge Layla from your butt." Layla stood up and protested the accusation. Then she shoved McCool. McCool and Layla stood up and attacked Mickie. Maria ran out to even the odds and help Mickie clear the ring.

-Batista complained to Teddy Long backstage. He said "the guy doesn't belong in the ring with me," in reference to Rey. Long said Rey deserves a rematch on his terms. Batista asked what his terms were. Long revealed it would be a street fight. Batista said that was fine with him, but he still has a problem with Undertaker calling him out. He asked Long who's calling the shots around there. Long said after what he did to Undertaker last week, his hands are tied.

-They went to Matt Hardy playing a video game backstage when John Morrison walked in. Hardy was playing as Morrison beating up Drew McIntrye. Morrison said the real thing was about to play out in the ring. [c]

[Q5]

4 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. DREW MCINTYRE

Drew mouthed off to Morrison before the match, so Morrison slapped him. The ref ordered the match to officially start. McIntrye ended up controlling the match early. At 3:00 they cut to a break. Not exactly the most dynamic way to program the top of the second hour. You can see WWE treats Smackdown ratings so much more casually than Raw. It's not as if there's not competition on other channels on Friday nights like there is for Raw on Monday nights. [c] At 7:00 Morrison showed some signs of life, but McIntrye slowed him with two headbutts. Grisham gave Striker a hard time for talking over and over about Morrison's "good looks." Striker said his sister is a big fan. At 11:00 Morrison made a full comeback and set up Starship Pain, but McIntrye rolled to the apron, then snapped Morrison's head over the top rope. Morrison kicked McIntrye off the ring apron. He rolled under the ring. When Morrison tried to yank him out from under the ring, McIntrye yanked Morrison head-first into the steel support beams running along the side of the ring. He then threw Morrison back into the ring, gave him his finisher, and scored the pin, which Striker called the Kobash DDT.

WINNER: McIntyre at 12:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- Borderline dull much of the time, but McIntrye applied holds like he was trying to actually hurt Morrison and not just fill time, so that helped. A creative finish, too. [c]

[Q6]

-A video package aired on the breakup of Eric Escobar and Vickie Guerrero. Then Vickie walked to the ring, yelled excuse me, and said in additional to being beautiful and powerful, she is fair. Therefore, she wanted Escobar to face the consequences of what he did last week and beg for her forgiveness. She said if he does that, they won't wake up next to each other tomorrow, but at least he'll have a job. Escobar walked out enthusiastically with a smile on his face. "I guess that's what freedom will do," said Striker. Escobar said he was very sorry, then paused, then added, "that we ever met."
And that he wasted his time with her and that he ever saw her in her neglige. She got so upset, she booked him against both members of the Hart Dynasty.

5 -- ERIC ESCOBAR vs. THE HART DYNASTY (Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith w/Natalya)

Striker wondered if Vickie would now be listing herself with an online dating service. Escobar got in some offense at 2:00, which caused Vickie to frown at ringside. When DHS took over, she smiled and nodded. Kidd tagged in and hit the springboard Hart Attack for the win.

WINNERS: The Hart Dynasty at 3:00.

-Afteward, the Hart Dynasty held Escobar so Vickie could slap him. DHS kicked him in the ribs, too.

-Matthews interviewed Punk and the former Festus, Luke Gallos, backstage. Gallos said his previous existence wasn't his fault. He said his family and friends were no better than a common street pusher because they let him walk around in a prescription pain pill stupor. He said thankfully someone changed that. Punk said nobody will ever take advantage of him ever again in that way. Punk said his miraculous recovery can happen to anyone else with the same problem. "You listened to me tell you the right way to live your life," Punk said. Gallos said he was lost, but now he's found. He said he prays all the other lost souls can reach down within them and adopt the Straight Edge lifestyle and see Punk as he sees him, "Our savior."

[Q7]

-Grisham plugged Undertaker calling out Batista. [c]

-Grisham and Striker hyped the TLC PPV line-up. Then Cryme Tyme made their ring entrance. [c] The ring intro for Jericho and Show took place.

[Q8]

6 -- CHRIS JERICHO & BIG SHOW vs. CRYME TYME

Shad Gaspar's new look with the shaved head suits him well. Jericho started the match and got in some early offense. After some back and forth action, Jericho hot-tagged Show. When Shad tagged in and charged at Show, Show KO'd Shad instantly for the clean win.

WINNERS: Jericho & Show in 4:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Not very long and not a lot to it, but it's about what it needed to be to give Jericho & Show a dose of credibility headed into their DX title defense. Shad sold the Big Show punch well. [c]

-Undertaker's ring entrance took place. As he walked down the ramp, Batista ran out and hit him with a chair from behind. A woman in the crowd began screaming repeatedly. He threw Taker into the ringside steps. In the ring, he swung the chair at Taker's skull. Taker got a hand up to protect himself, but it was well done in that it didn't look like he blocked it at full speed even though he did. Batista powerslammed Taker onto a chair, then trash-talked Taker and raised the World Title belt in the air. Striker said Batista may have solved the riddle of the Undertaker with that attack. Batista hit Taker in the head with the title belt, then took off his shirt and posed with the chair and belt as the show ended.

QUOTEBOOK

Matt Striker: "Whatever happened to real lyricists? Kenny Loggins? Donald Fagen?"

Matt Striker: "Let's define what Straight Edge means. Straight Edge is the term used for clean living, wholesome living. It's almost a cult-like following. Straighter Edgers think non-Straight Edgers don't know what's good for them."

Todd Grisham: "I think it's safe to say, based on the WWE Universe's reaction, that they're not part of the Straight Edge Society."

Matt Striker in response: "R-Truth has faith in people common sense. R-Truth really believes, do you need to be told what is right and what is wrong?"

Matt Striker: "If you really want to press the issue, I'm inclined to believe in most of what C.M. Punk says. You can't find fault in it."

Todd Grisham: "Do you need to be told each and every week relentlessly over and over again."

Matt Striker in response: "Some people do."

Todd Grisham in response: "Some people don't."

Chris Jericho: "An average hypocrite on the street hitting you with a steel chair can be painful, but if Big Show does it, when Big Show does it, at best you have a concussion, at worst you're in the hospital in a coma."

Matt Striker to Todd Grisham: "John Morrison is disturbingly seductive. Men and women alike go crazy for the Intercontinental Champion... Don't look at me. I see you looking at me out of the corner of my eye."

Matt Striker to Todd Grisham: "Have you ever been in a bad relationship, Todd? Oh, you're married, so yes."

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