by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
December 11, 2009
Taped 12/8/09 in Houston, TX
Aired on MyNetwork TV


- WWE Open.

- Highlights aired of what happened two weeks ago, when Chris Jericho challenged the Undertaker, with Batista interfering at the end. And last week, Batista again one-upped the Undertaker, attacking him before Taker was to call him out.

- Smackdown Open.

- Todd Grisham (joined as usual by Matt Striker) plugged Batista taking on Rey Mysterio tonight in a Street Fight.

- Batista came out as Grisham talked about Taker and Batista’s Chair Match at TLC this Sunday. Batista said there were a couple things he wanted to get off his chest. He said he didn’t ask for the match with Mysterio tonight. Apparently, it was Rey who demanded the Street Fight: Batista didn’t think Mysterio even deserved to be in the same ring as him. Batista also said it seems people are not very happy with him. He noted that he’d been getting booed and awful lot, but he said he didn’t care. He said he didn’t care, and that he was born to be World Heavyweight Champion. Evolution needed him, he didn’t need them, according to Big Dave; he used them, and when he did, he was on his way to the top. Similarly, he said Rey has always needed him, not the other way around. Then, for the icing on the cake, he said he didn’t need any of the fans; he just tuned them out. Batista then asked for a spotlight. Who does he think he is? Batista used it to drill into the heads of fans that it’s about him, not them, and that he deserves to be in the spotlight. Cute. Batista said he was there to make money and win titles. Isn’t that Kevin Nash’s gimmick? He went on to say that everything he does, from the way he dresses to his domination in the ring, screams “championship material.” He then turned his attention to the Undertaker. He said Taker is not the dominant force everyone assumes he is. As an example, he talked about the last two weeks and what he has done to him. Batista said the fans are too stupid to realize that Taker has already lost, and that winning on Sunday is a mere formality. He told everyone to get used to referring to him as “World Heavyweight Champion Batista.” Fine heel promo from the big man, and the use of the spotlight to emphasize his point was a nice touch without getting cheesy.

- Next, R-Truth teams up with Matt Hardy to take on C.M. Punk and Luke Gallows.

[Commercial Break]

- Punk and Gallows came to the ring first. Before the match, Punk got the mic. He once again had the Jeff Hardy Digital Video Disc (as he called it) and said it is apparently flying off the shelves. Punk said what disturbs him is the horrible parents who are buying that trash as Christmas gifts for their children. Punk said the parents might as well be stuffing their children’s stockings with hallucinogenic mushrooms. Are those available on WWEShop.com too? He said watching it means you’re a washed-up, unemployed junkie. Then Gallows stepped on the DVD and jumped on it, to ruin it.

1 – LUKE GALLOWS & C.M. PUNK vs. R-TRUTH & MATT HARDY

At one point, when Truth was yelling, “what’s up?” as part of his intro, Punk replied “Straight Edge!” Matt followed Truth and was handing the Hardy DVD to fans. Punk’s indignation and desperate attempts to convince fans not to accept them while Truth was still rapping was funny. Truth gave a cheap-shot to Punk before the match as Punk was yelling at Hardy in the ring.

After Punk recovered, the match began. Punk got in Truth’s face and taunted him. Not Punk’s most sagacious moment, as Truth came back with a clothesline and sent Punk to the outside as they went to break under a minute into the match.

[Commercial Break]

They returned to action about 3:30 into the match. The faces were double-teaming Punk, but Punk came back to hang Truth waist-first on the top rope. Gallows tagged in and registered a gut-buster on Truth. Striker lauded the team of Punk and Gallows, while Grisham reminded him it was their first match together. Scoop slam by Punk for two. The heels isolated Truth and worked him over. Gallows cinched in a bearhug. Belly-to-back suplex by Punk, then some taunts of the fans to draw some more heat. He went for a springboard clothesline, but Truth dropkicked him in the chest as he came down. Matt tagged in and went to work on Punk. Powerbomb-like move out of the corner, then a legdrop off the second rope. Gallows broke up the pin, but Truth took care of him. Punk tossed Truth. Couple of reversals by the legal men. Twist of Fate, but Punk made a blind tag prior to that and Gallows gave him a big boot and his finisher (which Striker called “The 12th Step” and “The Gallows’ Pole”) for the win.

WINNERS: Punk and Gallows, at 8:51. Good tag match to put over the Punk/Gallows relationship.

- A face-off is scheduled for tonight between John Morrison and Drew McIntyre, and apparently, Morrison has a surprise for Drew.

- Also still to come, a Street Fight between Rey Mysterio and Batista.

[Commercial Break]

- Backstage, Eric Escobar and Vickie Guerrero were arguing in Spanish. Teddy Long was there and asked Escobar for a translation. He said he just told Vickie that she was often mistaken for his mother. Guerrero, in retaliation, put him in a match with Chris Jericho. Escobar said he was ready for it as Vickie was about to explode with rage.

- Kane was walking backstage when he came upon Mike Knox. Knox said he and Kane are the same: Both monsters who no one understands. He said he enjoyed fighting Kane last week, and he’d like to do it again. Kane replied that they’re nothing alike, and he’s the only monster among them. Kane said he enjoyed beating Knox, and he’d like to do it again tonight. Knox said Kane would leave a broken monster tonight, but he promised to ride in the Ambulance with Kane. Kane grabbed Knox by the throat and Knox warned him that asphyxiation can cause euphoria throughout the entire body. Kane released his grip and Knox told him he’d see him in the ring. Weird stuff.

- Eric Escboar came out for his match with Jericho. The fans needed a reminder that Escobar was a face now, so they replied clips of him “apologizing” to Vickie last week. The match is next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – ERIC ESCOBAR vs. CHRIS JERICHO

Jericho slapped Escobar after a brief face-off, but Escobar came back with some rights. Jumping leg lariat by Escobar, then he walloped Jericho some more in the corner. Sky High by Escobar for only two. He clotheslined Jericho over the top and to the outside. At this point, Vickie came out to make it a two-on-one handicap match with Big Show and Jericho taking on Escobar. You could see that one coming as soon as Jericho was thrown over the top rope.

2 – ERIC ESCOBAR vs. CHRIS JERICHO & THE BIG SHOW – HANDICAP MATCH

Escobar tried for a quick pin before Show got to the ring, but it was unsuccessful. Jericho took over on offense and immediately tagged Show. After about a minute of beating down Escobar, Jericho tagged back in and locked in the Walls of Jericho to pick up the submission victory.

WINNERS: Show and Jericho, at 2:59. I wouldn’t say this makes the champs look especially strong heading into TLC.

After the match, Jericho guaranteed the end of DX. He said TLC was more than just about the championship, but eradicating DX from WWE. He promised to change Shawn and Hunter’s lives for the worse. He said he’d use the most lethal weapon of them all, the Big Show. Show grabbed the stick and told DX that when they’re in their hospital beds, remember his and Jericho’s faces, because they represent the end of DX.

- Drew McIntyre was angry and walking through the backstage area. He meets John Morrison for a face-off in the ring next.

[Commercial Break]

- McIntyre came to the ring with what appeared to be a rolled-up magazine in his hand. McIntyre rhetorically asked why Vince McMahon personally signed him to a contract. Then he took out the magazine, WWE Magazine, and complained that it was Morrison, not he, who was on the cover of the mag. He said that he beat Morrison last week, and showed how that happened on the Titan-Tron. He asked the people why they cheered Morrison. Is it because Morrison is American? Because he does a flip or two? Or because he’s Intercontinental Champion? And of course, the fans chanted, “USA, USA.” He said Morrison retaining the title on Sunday is as fictitious an idea as the Loch Ness Monster. Then bagpipes starting playing and Morrison walked out dressed as William Wallace, from “Braveheart.” He did his pose with the sword in lieu of his belt. McIntyre was visibly upset by this portrayal.

Morrison got the mic and spoke in a Scottish accent, scolding McIntyre for making fun of Wallace. What would’ve happened if McIntyre hadn’t mentioned him? Clearly, Morrison was ready for that reference. McIntyre said this must be Morrison’s idea of a joke, but Morrison tried to convince McIntyre that he was the real William Wallace. Morrison said McIntyre embarrasses himself because no one could understand what he’s saying. McIntyre vowed that this kind of joking would get Morrison hurt. Morrison replied, still with his Scottish accent, that he didn’t know this was a serious episode of Smackdown. He used the sword to keep McIntyre at bay. McIntyre told him to drop the sword, but Morrison refused. Did Morrison nick himself in the eyebrow? Morrison said McIntyre has been cavorting around with the likes of Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat, John Laurinaitis, Irwin R. Schyseter and Arn Anderson. I’m sure he used the names more so he could roll the “R’s” than any inside reference. Morrison reached the crescendo when he said they’d never take his I.C. Title. McIntyre said he’d been trying hard to maintain his composure, but he won’t stand for it any longer. He said he’s ready to fight now. Morrison dropped the sword and the accent and asked why McIntyre thinks he runs the place just because some crazy old dude gave him an endorsement. Morrison said the fans authorized him to give Mac the beating he deserved since he got there. The two started brawling in the ring. It didn’t last long, as McIntyre rolled out to avoid any more punishment. Don’t know why, with the way McIntyre has been portrayed thus far, that they wouldn’t have Morrison take him seriously. They needed a segment like this to sell the match, and while it was nice and long, Morrison’s material could’ve been better. Still, both men did a good job overall.

- Clips aired of the Rey vs. Batista match from Survivor Series, and the destruction Batista left behind. Mysterio will be on Smackdown for the first time since that night, when he faces Batista in a Street Fight.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker thanked Switchfoot for supplying the theme song to TLC.

3 – KANE vs. MIKE KNOX

During Knox’s entrance, they replayed the finish of last week’s match between these two. Kane got a big boot early on, then a snap-mare, but Knox fled the ring before Kane could hit him with the low dropkick. As he came back in, Kane grabbed him by the throat. Knox elbowed out, then hit a pump kick. Knox kept Kane grounded with elbows and punches. Short-arm clothesline from Knox. Kane got his knees up on a splash, then came the low dropkick. That got a two-count. One-armed sidewalk slam by Kane, an impressive sight. The Big Red Monster missed a clothesline off the top and Knox responded with a cross-body for two. He went for a Knox Out, but Kane countered with a chokeslam for the win.

WINNER: Kane, at 2:55. Knox’s gimmick doesn’t really work when the guy never wins.

- They replayed the worst segment from Raw this past week, DX’s backstage shtick. Thankfully, it was edited for time. Even then, it was still too long.

[Commercial Break]

4 – MICKIE JAMES & MARIA vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL & LAYLA

They officially announced Mickie James vs. Michelle McCool for the Women’s Title at TLC. Maria opened the match with a couple arm-drags on McCool. Michelle recovered and came back with a back-breaker. McCool knocked James off the apron and as the ref tried to restrain James from coming into the ring, the heels took advantage with some double-teaming. Maria fought back with a head-scissor take-down and tagged James. McCool tagged out to Layla, who ate Mickie’s offense. Hair pull took Mickie down, but Layla got nailed with a Thesz Press. Mickie shoved her into McCool, who was on the apron, then rolled Layla up for the win.

WINNERS: Mickie and Maria, at 1:56. The match served its purpose, nothing more.

- Striker reminded fans of the Hold Harmless agreement between Batista and Rey heading into their Street Fight tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Grisham and Striker were in the ring to preview the TLC PPV.

- Rey Mysterio made his entrance for the Street Fight. I’m surprised he didn’t get a promo somewhere on this show. Anyway, the match is next.

[Commercial Break]

5- REY MYSTERIO vs. BATISTA – STREET FIGHT

Batista started the match on offense, whipping Rey hard into the buckle. Hard elbow to the chest put Mysterio down again, and got a two-count. Batista really worked over Mysterio, bodyslamming him and paint-brushing the back of Rey’s head. Mysterio finally fought out of a powerslam and took out Dave’s knee. Batista got set up for the 619, but escaped. Rey used some tomfoolery to get into Batista head, stepping over him to get out of the ring, then coming back in when Batista went out after him. Baseball slide and Batista landed hard against the barricade as the show went to break a little under three minutes into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Batista was twisting Rey’s body around the ring post as the show returned. They showed a replay during the break of Batista taking over on offense with a boot to the face and a whip of Rey into the ring steps. He began to whip Mysterio with camera cables at ringside. Batista dropped Rey jaw-first onto the announce table. Hey, I just noticed sign guy in the front row. The Animal worked over the back of Mysterio in the ring. Striker wondered aloud if, because Batista’s milk intake is more than the normal man, and milk strengthens bones, whether it makes Batista’s head harder and requires more chair shots to daze him. I wonder what goes through his mind sometimes. Batista brought a chair into the ring, but Rey came back and prevented him from using it. Mysterio got the 619 and the springboard splash, but only for two. Mysterio whacked Batista in the back with a chair, then went after him with it raised above his head, resulting in him getting speared by Batista. Spinebuster by the big man. Chairshot to the head by Batista, followed by a pin for the win.

WINNER: Batista, at 11:11. Well, Batista has the match at the PPV, so he had to go over here.

Batista went back for seconds, but the lights went out and Taker’s gong sounded. The lights came back on, and Taker was in the ring. He pummeled Batista and grabbed the chair, but Batista escaped before Taker could wield it successfully. Batista crawled up the ramp, trying to catch his breath, as Taker did the throat-slash gesture in Batista’s direction.

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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