WWE Smackdown TV taping report
December 8, 2009
Houston, Tex.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

After the ECW TV taping concluded, the Smackdown announcers came to the ring to call two Superstars matches for Thursday night's show. Many folks in the arena took an opportunity to grab some food or hit the merchandise tables. Also of note, there was no message about Umaga or "In Memory of" at any point in the taping.

The crowd was within the 7,000-8,000 range, which was well off from past TV tapings in Houston. The make-up was almost entirely parents with their kids, fulfilling what WWE CFO George Barrios said earlier this week about a WWE audience being similar to what you'd see at "Disney on Ice." Also, many wrestling fans in Houston already spent their "yearly wrestling money" on WrestleMania 25 back in April, which most-likely contributed to the weaker crowd. This was the first WWE show in Houston since Raw the night after WrestleMania.

On Tuesday morning, the local Ch. 13 ABC affiliate talked about Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's involvement on Raw the previous night and translated that into a plug for the Smackdown taping in Houston. WWE received some local pub for the taping, which may have helped ticket sales.

Superstars taping for Thursday's show

(1) Dolph Ziggler beat Finlay at 9:17. The action started off slow, which wasn't interesting to the crowd. Finlay then got the crowd involved with his unique move trapping Ziggler inside the ring apron to pound away on him. Good spot to raise the level of crowd involvement momentarily. Ziggler then went on the attack back in the ring, working Finlay's left arm and shoulder. That played into the finish. Finlay made his comeback, but missed a corner attack and sold pain in his arm. Ziggler capitalized with the Zig-Zag finisher for the pin and the win.

(2) Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd & D.H. Smith w/Natalya) beat Jimmy Wang Yang & Slam Master J at 3:48. One of the spots of the night was Natalya giving Wang a bodyslam on the outside after Yang was knocked to the floor. The crowd ate that up and buzzed about the spot for a few moments before Yang made a comeback back in the ring. SMJ then took a hot tag, the action broke down, and Yang cleared Hart to the outside. Back in the ring, Kidd executed a flip-over neckbreaker on SMJ for the pin and the win. Nice victory for HD. The group looked impressive and Wang got his chance to shine with the high-flying.

Smackdown taping for Friday's show

After the ring crew changed the ring ropes, canvas, and banner to the appropriate Smackdown color scheme, Batista's music hit to start the Smackdown taping. 85 percent babyface reaction when his music hit, but his music stopped and he was showered with 85 percent boos.

In-ring: Batista proceeded to cut one of the best promos of his career. Seriously. He methodically marched through talking points for the TLC PPV title match against The Undertaker while drawing heat by insulting the fans in a credible way without needing any cheap heat. Batista said he doesn't care about the boos because he's tired of people like Rey Mysterio standing in the way of his campaign to become World champion. Batista added that he didn't need Evolution; they needed him. He didn't Rey; Rey needed him. He didn't need any of the fans, then he pointed at Sign Guy facing the hard camera and said, "I definitely didn't need you."

Batista then asked for the spotlight on him center ring to illustrate his point that the focus should only be on him. Crowd heat was great for this bonus illustration. Batista said he's not here to make friends, but to make money and win championships. Best line in wrestling promo in a long time re-focusing on the goal. He turned his attention to Undertaker and said he doesn't think he's dominant. He said he's seen fear in Taker's eyes. Loud "Under-taker" chant at this point. He then told the crowd to say it with him: "World Heavyweight champion, Batista." He dropped the mic and glared into the crowd to close the promo.

Up next: They announced Matt Hardy and R-Truth vs. C.M. Punk and Luke Gallows (formerly Festus).

In-ring: After a break, Punk and Gallows came out to the ring. Another promo. Punk was equally effective with his material. He held up the "Jeff Hardy Digital Video Disc," which drew cheers. Punk then cut a promo on the DVD flying off the shelves and being bought by irresponsible parents. "It's a banner year for drug addicts," Punk said. The problem with this storyline, as Sean Radican and I talked about texting during the taping, is that WWE is turning Hardy's potential real-life drug issues into a storyline before we even know if he's healthy. Anyways, Punk cut a promo on the parents buying the DVD. He said "it's poison" and they might as well buy their kids drugs for Christmas. (Subtle plug for buying the DVD on WWE Shop.) He said the kids will turn out just like Jeff Hardy - "washed up, good for nothing, unemployed, and a junkie." Truth's music interrupted to a strong reaction, which was helped by Punk's promo. Heat transition exemplified. Hardy came out with Truth throwing DVD copies into the crowd. Punk was great shouting at the audience members receiving the DVDs over Truth's music. Truth then did his rap and the match was on. (You'll notice there was a whole lot of talking before the first match, but the two promos to start the show were delivered magnificently.)

(1) C.M. Punk & Luke Gallows beat Matt Hardy & R-Truth at 7:11. Gallows looks like a cross between every big-man gimmick in WWE history - Undertaker's biker gimmick, the Acolytes, Ron & Don Harris, and Kurgan. Punk played an over-the-top heel avoiding contact to agitate the babyfaces and the crowd. Punk then over-the-top sold for the babyface offense to get a reaction from the crowd before taking control on Truth. Punk wanted his trademark springboard fist smash, but Truth countered in mid-air with a dropkick. Hardy hot-tagged and the action broke down. In the confusion, Gallows blind-tagged in when Hardy shot Punk off to the ropes, then Gallows big-footed Hardy and gave him a necktie sit-out powerbomb for the pin.

Backstage: Eric Escobar and Vickie Guerrero were talking to Teddy Long. Escobar said he's tired of people thinking Vickie's his mom. He got a cheap pop saying he didn't want people thinking his mom was as big as Texas. (Yes, another size joke on Vickie.) Cheap storyline. Vickie was about to explode with anger, but she booked Eric vs. Chris Jericho.

Elsewhere backstage: Kane was walking down the hallway when he bumped into Dr. Mike Knox, who turned his head sideways and creepily said he enjoyed their match last week. Kane said he didn't and he doesn't enjoy Knox's style. Knox agitated Kane, who put his hands around Knox to choke him, but Knox said the sense of choking can lead to a euphoric sensation. Kane then released his grip and walked away. Kane vs. Knox later. That was odd, creepy, and weird. In other words, a perfect Kane skit.

(2a) Eric Escobar vs. Chris Jericho. There was almost a babyface vibe in the crowd for Jericho, mainly because the audience wasn't sure what to make of Escobar. So, most fans were either quiet not wanting to cheer either one or they cheered for Jericho because they knew who he was. After two tedious minutes, Vickie Guerrero came out on-stage and re-booked this as a handicap match...with Big Show. Big Show then walked out past Vickie, prompting horrible memories of Show fooling around with Vickie in the recent Smackdown storylines to get World Title shots. Moving along...

(2b) Unified tag champions Chris Jericho & Big Show beat Eric Escobar in 3:05. Show hit the ring and everyone pulled out their cameras. He truly is a major attraction, as people were snapping photos left and right of the big man. Show immediately took a tag, ran clear across the ring, and landed a hard clothesline to show off having an extra pep in his step. Considering he was coming off knee surgery, it was impressive to see a quick burst of speed from Show. Jericho then slapped on the Walls of Jericho for an easy submission for the win. Turned into a squash after Jericho vs. Escobar was even during 2a.

Post-match: Jericho took the mic and vowed to end DX and the DX Army at the TLC PPV on Sunday. He added that he has a more lethal weapon on his side - Big Show - than any table, ladder, or chair. It was a good line with his delivery. Big Show said he looks forward to putting DX in the hospital.

Backstage: They showed Drew McIntyre walking down the hallway in a suit.

In-ring: After a break, McIntyre came to the ring for a confrontation with John Morrison. This is where things got silly. McIntyre first cut a promo reminding the audience that Vince McMahon declared him a future World champion, yet he's not on the cover of a WWE Magazine showcasing the top, young stars in WWE. He turned to IC champ John Morrison and said he'll start with an IC Title victory at TLC. McIntyre said a flip or two doesn't impress him. He said Morrison as a champ is as much of a fabrication as the Loch Ness monster or the portrayal of William Wallace in the Braveheart movie. On cue, some generic music hit and out came John Morrison on stage dressed as...yes, Mel Gibson in Braveheart. He even had a sheepish smile on his face wearing the classic face paint, a half-leotard, and carrying a sword. It was weird.

Morrison hit the ring for a verbal showdown. He used a faux accent and this turned into one of his better promos. Since his regular promos are usually pretty bland, perhaps he should cut a promo with an accent every time he's given the mic. Things went "insider" when he mocked McIntyre for apparently being a brown-noser. He said everyone sees McIntyre fetching coffee for Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat, sun-tanning pool-side with Arn Anderson, and hanging out with Irwin R. Schyster. He even name-dropped John Laurinaitis and said McIntyre has his head so far up Vince McMahon's "arse" that his nose has crap on it. He added it doesn't mean much to receive an endorsement as a future World champ from a "crazy, senile old man," referring to McMahon.

After the verbal exchange complete with McIntyre trying not to bust up laughing at Morrison's get-up and faux accent, a fight was on. After few moments of brawling and the crowd not reacting to it because Morrison looked so silly fighting in his Braveheart outfit, McIntyre rolled to the outside and headed to the front row. Morrison then posed in the ring and stared down at McIntyre to set up their match at the PPV. Just an odd promo exchange, although Morrison found his niche - promos with accents.

(3) Kane beat Mike Knox at 2:52. This was a bathroom break match for many folks awaiting the Batista vs. Rey street fight. Kane and Knox teased nearfalls from the very beginning to keep folks interested in the short match. Eventually, Kane hit a chokeslam for the win.

From the "grammar check" department, the "Did You Know" feature incorrectly used "it's" instead of "its" to announce WWE Smackdown is celebrating "its" 10th Anniversary. A slap on the wrist will suffice.

(4) Mickie James & Maria beat Women's champion Michelle McCool & Layla at 1:55. Barely there match. After Maria was isolated, they quickly went to the finish. Mickie bumped Layla into McCool, who fell off the apron, then Mickie rolled up Layla for the pin and the win.

In-ring: After a break, Todd Grisham and Matt Striker broke down the TLC PPV card for Sunday.

In-ring: After a break, Rey Mysterio returned for the main event Street Fight against Batista. Rey had a slight limp in the ring, but it wasn't noticeable unless you were looking for it. Batista then came out.

(5) Batista beat Rey Mysterio at 9:08 in a Street Fight. This was an excellent ten-minute TV match. The wrestlers really took the audience on a roller-coaster ride and generated the most heat on the entire show. The bell sounded and Rey started kicking and slapping Batista, but Batista over-powered him. The match then developed into a series of sequences where Batista threatened to bash Rey's head in with various objects, but Rey would escape each situation and the crowd would go nuts. Rey hit his signature sequence of the 619 and springboard splash, but Batista kicked out just before three to a big reaction. Rey blasted Batista across the stomach and back with chair shots, but he wound up for a big chair shot and Batista speared him. Batista then popped Rey over the head with the chair. I had a good look at it and Rey took the brunt of the chair shot with his hands. Still, the implication of a chair shot to the head needs to be eliminated. Batista then made the cover for the win.

Post-match: Batista teased smashing Rey's head in-between the chair, but the bell tolled and the lights went down. With the lights down, Taker popped out from under the ring and entered the ring while Rey rolled out of the way. When the lights came back on, Taker was standing up while Batista was on the middle rope. Taker then proceeded to deliver a giant flurry of offense that the crowd went nuts for. Taker had one flurry in him tonight. Batista then rolled out of the ring and they closed the show with a stare-down from a distance to set up the World Title match at TLC.

After the Smackdown taping, WWE announced a World Title defense by Undertaker. C.M. Punk's music hit and he came to the ring.

Dark match: World Hvt. champion The Undertaker beat C.M. Punk at 6:59 to retain the World Hvt. Title. Fun little match to send 'em home happy. Punk created movement for seven minutes to cover for Taker, who was noticeably ginger on his bad wheels. One great moment in the pre-match intros was Punk stealing the belt from referee Scott Armstrong and holding up the title belt as if he was champ while Armstrong scrambled to re-take the belt. Punk played cat and mouse with Taker for a while, then teased Old-School, but Taker hit Old-School instead. Punk eventually hit the G2S on Taker (surprisingly), but Taker kicked out after Punk did a pre-mature celebration. Punk then hit a high knee in the corner, but he lingered too long and Taker hit the Last Ride powerbomb out of the corner for the pin and the win. Taker then did his salute to the crowd and exited up the stage to wrap up the taping.

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