WWE Smackdown TV taping report
December 20, 2011
Taped in Richmond, Va.
Report by Ashley & Christopher & Glen, PWTorch readers

SMACKDOWN SPOILERS 12/23

Booker T had the biggest pop so far at the TV taping and Michaeal Cole got the most boos yet.

Big Show came out to cut a promo about working hard to get the World Title back. When he mentioned Daniel Bryan, it was met with a mixed reaction. They cut to a clip from Raw of Josh Mathews asking him if he was mad about losing the title, to which Show said he was proud. Mark Henry came out to boos and cut a promo on how Show should be mad and quit wrestling. Henry demanded his re-match right before Daniel Bryan came out. He said he wasn't big or strong, but he is the champion. Show and Henry argued over who got a re-match and Teddy Long came out to announce they would fight tonight to determine the number one contender.

(1) U.S. champion Zack Ryder beat IC champion Cody Rhodes via the Rough Ryder after Booker T distracted Cody by singing Cody the Red Nosed Reindeer. The crowd was behind Zack, and also firmly behind Booker. The match started somewhat cold and ended really hot.

After the match, Santino was in Teddy Long's office applying to be Assistant to the GM. Aksana interrupted, then Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler came in. Dolph asked for a match with Daniel Bryan, and, of course, Teddy obliged.

Big Show vs Henry was next, but David Otunga came out and said the match couldn't happen because Henry wasn't cleared to wrestle. Big Show then hit Otunga with the WMD to end the segment. Coffee spilled all over the canvas from Otunga's coffee mug.

Teddy Long was shown walking when The Miz showed up to ask what he was doing tonight. He also bragged about how many PPV main events he'd been in. He told Teddy he would interrupt the show and wait in the ring until Teddy found someone for him to wrestle.

The Miz then came to the ring and stood there. He threw to clips of him beating up R-Truth and John Morrison. After taunting the locker room, Sheamus came out to wrestle him to a big pop. The best sign I saw was "I'm dreaming of a (Great) White Shea-mas."

(2) Sheamus beat The Miz. Sheamus won with a Brogue Kick after Miz broke out of a High Cross.

Wade Barrett then came out to to heavy boos and cut a promo about the Barrett Barrage and his victories over Randy Orton, not mentioning the loss at TLC. After he wished the crowd a "happy Christmas," he left the ring and Orton came out to attack him. They didn't fight in the ring, but opted for a backstage brawl. Orton eventually beat Barrett down enough to end the segment.

Primo and Epico then came to the ring and, after an extended dance from Rosa, so did Air Boom.

(3) WWE tag champion Kofi Kingston (w/Evan Bourne) beat Primo (w/Epico and Rosa Mendes). The crowd was really into this match and even started a "Primo Sucks" chant. It was a fun match between the two high-flyers. Kofi won with Trouble in Paradise and celebrated in the ring with Bourne.

(4) World Hvt. champion Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) went to a No Contest. D-Bry and the Zig-Zag Man put on a great show with some great spots. They really are the future of the business. Jack Swagger came out during the match and leveled Bryan while Vickie distracted the ref. After that, Big Show came out to cheer on Bryan and make sure Swagger was under control. Bryan and Ziggler were stellar in the match, and the crowd went along for the ride. After a few minutes, Show and Swagger ended up in the ring, with Show almost chokeslamming Swagger. Teddy Long then came out and turned it into a tag match.

(5) World Hvt. champion Daniel Bryan & Big Show beat Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero). Swagger and Show started off the tag match and the crowd was pretty excited to see Show wrestle. All four guys put on a pretty exciting match, with some great spots and a good rhythm. At one point, Ziggler flew out of the ring and started selling his knee. Swagger put Bryan in the anklelock, which he reversed into the LeBell Lock for the win. That ended the Smackdown taping.

***

For the live audience, The Miz came out and demanded another Superstar to face. Randy Orton came out to answer The Miz's challenge, with Booker T as the special referee. Orton got by far the biggest pop of the night.

Dark Match: Randy Orton beat The Miz with Booker T as special referee. The crowd was into the match, chanting Randy's name throughout. Then, Cody Rhodes came out to attack Booker, Ziggler came out to attack Orton, and Ryder came out to even the field and attack Miz. Booker, Ryder, and Orton all hit their finishers on Rhodes to send the crowd home happy. But, Booker T called for one last treat: a Spinaroonie, a Ryderroonie, and an RKOaroonie. Orton sold embarrassment, but the crowd went nuts when he hit the RKOaroonie.

Overall, it was another quality Smackdown and another crowd pleasing WWE event.

Biggest Pops: Orton, Booker T, Ryder, Big Show
Biggest Heat: Henry, Miz, Rhodes, Barrett

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