WWE Smackdown review
December 10, 2010
Taped 12/7/10 in Dayton, Ohio
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- The voice-over man plugged Edge and Rey Mysterio taking on Kane and Alberto Del Rio in a tag match on Smackdown tonight.

- Opened straight to the arena, where Kane’s pyro blasted and he came out. We were greeted with the dulcet tones of Josh Mathews, who was shown at the announce desk with Michael Cole and Matt Striker. Cole brushed off comments by Mathews about his incident with Randy Orton this past week on Raw. Kane said this has gone on far too long. I would agree. He said Edge has been toying with Paul Bearer, and said neither of them deserve this. He even said he has done everything Edge has asked of him. He said it was not him who was the monster, but Edge. He again begged Edge to return Bearer to him. Edge appeared on the TitanTron and said this all may end tonight, however, Edge disagrees. He said this will end at the TLC PPV. He had Bearer next to him with tape over his mouth. Edge also had a steel chair with him. He said he’s a master of the TLC match, but if you don’t use it, you get rusty. He suggested he work on his chair-swinging prowess against Bearer. He went behind him but stopped short of hitting him, saying his wind-up was off. He did it again, and on the third time, hit Bearer in the back. Kane ran to the back and found Edge, asking him to stop. They were quite a distance apart, and Edge warned Kane not to get any closer. Bearer was on the ground and Edge nailed him in the back again, but once again, it was a dummy. Kane believes it EVERY TIME…who’s the real dummy here? Kane seethed when he found out, but Edge was shown behind a stairwell with Bearer in the wheelchair. He went back on the run as Kane chased him again.

[Commercial Break]


1 – JACK SWAGGER vs. KAVAL

Kaval gave a double-boot to the chest of Swagger, then got a near-fall from a kick to the chest. Swagger had Kaval up for an electric chair, then threw him off in front of him, and Kaval came up lame. The ref gave Kaval room to try to get to his feet. Swagger picked Kaval up by the foot and almost flipped him on his head, but Kaval was able to come down on his leg to continue selling it. Kaval chopped Swagger in the corner, to give him some breathing room. He fought out of a gutwrench powerbomb, and both men ended up on the mat. Kaval surprised Swagger with a kick to the face, then one to the chest. Kaval continued with kicks, all the while selling the left ankle. Kaval got a good pop coming out, but the fans haven’t really been into him during the match. Cover after a knee to the temple got Kaval a two-count. Kaval tried to go to the top with Swagger flat on the mat, but Swagger took out his leg with Kaval on the apron. Back in the ring, the ankle-lock was immediately applied, and Kaval fought it for as long as he could, but ended up tapping.

WINNER: Swagger, at 5:24. Another loss for Kaval, but he showed good fight with an injury within the match, so he certainly didn’t lose much heat.

After the match, Swagger got a mic and proclaimed, “that is how it’s done.” He said what happened last week was a travesty, and that Kofi Kingston shouldn’t be the #1 Contender to the Intercontinental Title. They showed the controversial ending to the match, which wasn’t controversial at all. Swagger thought differently, and said he was struck while being in the ropes, which is illegal. Swagger said the ref blew the call and Kofi cheated to win. He said he was protesting tonight’s IC Title match. He called himself “the future fifth face on Mount Rushmore.” He said any IC Title match without him in it is unacceptable. It seems that his promo style has gotten more deliberate, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

- Coming up next, the Swagger Screaming Eagle vs. Hornswoggle. For once, I agree with Cole’s indignation.

[Commercial Break]

-Mathews plugged the Best of 2010 video clips on WWE.com. Wade Barrett was on the left and John Cena was on the right, but when I quickly looked up at the TV and down at the computer, I thought it was Tommy Dreamer on the left.

2 – HORNSWOGGLE vs. THE SOARING EAGLE

Hornswoggle was accompanied by Rosa Mendes. Justin Roberts was doing ring intros instead of Tony Chimel, and he announced the Eagle’s wingspan. They chyron simply read “The Eagle,” while Roberts announced him as the Soaring Eagle. Cole said this was a PG show and Hornswoggle couldn’t “flip the bird.” Mendes handed Horny a paper bag that read “Acme Birdseed.” Striker noted that Acme was spelled wrong (AKME on the bag) and Mathews said Acme was probably copyrighted. Hornswoggle knocked the bird down after distracting him with birdseed. He got a napkin, put salt on the leg and bit the bird. He then rode him on his back until the eagle kicked Horny. Cole was vociferous in his support for the eagle. He kicked at Horny and missed MVP’s Ballin’ elbowdrop. Horny to the top, Tadpole Splash, which finished it.

WINNER: Hornswoggle, at 2:18. The only worthwhile thing here was the commentary, which was well into NXT Season 3 commentary territory.

- Striker had the unenviable task of transitioning to plugging the much more serious tag team main event, coming up tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Teddy Long was backstage talking to someone off camera, congratulating them for their big win on Monday night. The camera panned back to show Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov. Marella sang “We are the Champions,” while Kozlov used a lighter. The announcers were quite amused. Chavo Guerrero barged in and said they were making too much noise. Santino suggested Chavo wanted a picture taken with them. An irate Chavo told Teddy to let him find a partner, and they’d beat the champions in no time. Santino continued seeing the Queen song as Chavo walked out.

- Up next, Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston. They aired a video package on Kingston, to familiarize him with the audience.

- Dolph Ziggler was backstage with Todd Grisham. Grisham asked him if it concerned Dolph that Kofi knows him so well. Ziggler wasn’t fazed and said Kofi is a contender, while he’s a champion. And the fans can relate to failure. Ziggler said people can’t relate to him because he’s exemplary at what he does. He said after the match, Kofi will still be just a contender.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker plugged “Na Na Na” by My Chemical Romance, the official theme song of TLC.

3 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER – INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Kingston went for a few quick roll-ups. Ziggler stopped him and went on the offensive, attempting to keep Kingston grounded. Crowd was into Kofi early on. Kofi countered a clothesline into a monkey flip. Off the ropes, forearm to the face. Trouble in Paradise attempt, but Ziggler rolled out of the way and out of the ring. He and his main squeeze, Vickie Guerrero, had a pow-wow outside the ring as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

The show resumed with Ziggler holding Kingston on the mat with a rear chinlock. High dropkick from Ziggler for a two-count. High elbowdrop, another two-count. When Kofi tried to come back, Ziggler gave him a swinging neck-breaker. Back to the headlock from Ziggler. Kingston got back to a vertical base and monkey-flipped Ziggler into the corner. Kofi got to his feet first and nailed Ziggler with a couple chops and a dropkick. Boom Drop attempt, But Ziggler got out of the way. Kofi missed a corner splash, but he hit Ziggler with the corner flip kick. Dropkick off the top by Kingston. Vickie got on the apron briefly to distract the ref and Kofi, leading to Ziggler getting out of the pin. Small package by Ziggler for two. He got to his feet and landed a big front kick. Kingston knocked Ziggler off the second rope and landed a cross-body from the top. Mathews proclaimed Kingston as new IC Champ so of course, Dolph kicked out. Ziggler countered a suplex with a sleeper hold. Kingston was sent into the corner, but Kofi surprised Dolph with a Trouble in Paradise that caught Dolph in the shoulder or back. As he went for the pin, Jack Swagger ran in to break up the pin.

WINNER: Kingston, via DQ, at 12:44. Three-way IC Title match at TLC? The usual Kingston vs. Ziggler match, which is not bad, but Ziggler’s offense is a bit too methodic at times.

- Edge was standing on a platform several feet above the ground backstage. He warned Kane not to get any closer, as this was the real Bearer and not a dummy. Kane ran over and the chair and Bearer fell from the platform and through the table. Yes, it was a dummy.

[Commercial Break]

- Chris Masters was in the ring for a Masterlock Challenge. What is this, 2007? The challenger was “Dashing” Cody Rhodes. Rhodes asked for a mic after the bell rang, I guess to signal the start of the challenge. Nope, not a mic, but he got a few wipes to wipe off the chair so presumably, his bottom didn’t get dirty. Rhodes stopped Masters before he hooked in the move, and he pulled out a nail file and told Masters to file them. Masters threw it to ringside and playfully slapped Rhodes in the face. That, of course, upset the Dashing one. Masters took Rhodes’ lip, then grabbed his nose and tweaked it while yelling at him. Rhodes kicked the chair out of the ring and kicked the ropes. He even took a back-bump in anger. He had someone at ringside get his ring jacket so he could check on his face, but Masters locked in the move while Cody was on the apron. Rhodes passed out and the ref called for the bell. Thrilling.

- Edge & Mysterio beat Kane & Del Rio in the main event, tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers sent it to a quick video of the SyFy original movie, Ice Quake, which debuts Saturday at 9pm. My roommates and I need to get on writing our own idea for a SyFy movie, Hurricano (a combination Hurricane and Volcano hits a small town).

4 – SANTINO MARELLA & VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. CHAVO GUERRERO & DREW MCINTYRE

Arm-lock take-over, but Santino got too cocky and walked into a punch by Drew. Kozlov tagged in and he and Drew traded offense. We’ve got an Italian, Russian, Mexican and a Scotsman in this match. Chavo cheated to help his team keep Kozlov at bay. Santino tried to tag in, but almost ate it as he was leaning too far over the top rope. That was funny. Marella tagged in and so did McIntyre. Hip-toss and he went for his headbutt, but McIntyre got his boot up. Drew lined up for a DDT, but Chavo tagged himself in. Chavo then missed the frogsplash and Santino gave the cobra to him, then rolled him up for the win.

WINNERS: Marella and Kozlov, at 3:09. Pure comedy match with the new champs now able to go to Smackdown.

Back in the ring, McIntyre was asking Chavo why he tagged himself in. Didn’t Drew just get done having tag partner issues? Why would he agree to be in another one? And on cue, he gave his DDT finisher to Guerrero.

- The announcers discussed the main event on camera. We saw parts of Kane’s promo from earlier tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- The announcers discussed the TLC card. A new match has been announced, with Rey Mysterio taking on Alberto Del Rio in a chairs match.

- Layla and Michelle McCool were walking backstage. Layla takes on Natalya next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – LAYLA vs. NATALYA

Natalya evened the odds by bringing Beth Phoenix out to second her for this match. Single-leg take-down and roll-up, nicely done by Layla. Standing suplex and squat by Natalya. Layla rolled out of the ring afer that one. Natalya pushed McCool down and Layla kicked Natalya to the ground. Beth helped her up and kept McCool at a distance. Nattie slammed Layla into the corner, and the two connected on a double dropkick. Dropkick was caught by Nattie and she tried a Sharpshooter. McCool grabbed Layla by the hand, and Natalya dragged Layla across the ring while in the move, which brought McCool into the ring. Beth peeled McCool off Layla and Layla submitted.

WINNER: Natalya, at 2:02. Better-than-average two-minute Divas TV match. Layla has really improved, and it’s especially noticeable against a good woman wrestler like Natalya Neidhart.

- Del Rio & Kane vs. Edge & Mysterio is next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – REY MYSTERIO & EDGE vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO & KANE

Before the match began, Teddy Long walked out onto the stage, as Kane did not show up. Long said this would be a handicap match. Mysterio started with Del Rio. Legdrop and cover got two from Rey. Shoulder into the corner by Edge, then a dropkick from Rey. Del Rio fired back with elbows to the back of Edge’s head. Flapjack by Edge and a tag to Rey, who splashed Del Rio with an assist from Edge. Both Mysterio and Del Rio sporting the gold look tonight. Del Rio was sent to ringside right in front of the announce table. Finally, Kane showed up. Edge met him in the aisle and the two brawled briefly, until Edge went backstage. Kane followed. Rey was distracted by this, and Del Rio took advantage. Gutbuster by Del Rio for a two-count. Body-scissors applied by Del Rio as the crowd chanted “619.” Enziguiri by Del Rio knocked Mysterio off the apron. Alberto rolled to the outside and kicked Rey in the gut. He bounced Rey’s head off the announce desk as Ricardo Rodriguez directed traffic at ringside. Perched on the top rope, Del Rio went to suplex Rey off. Instead, Rey knocked Del Rio off. Seated senton by Mysterio, then a bulldog. Del Rio came back with a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker. Mysterio landed the 619, to the delight of the crowd. Splash of the top rope sealed the win for Rey Rey’s team.

WINNERS: Edge and Mysterio, at 7:10.

- They didn’t show much of Rey’s celebration, instead going backstage to Edge on the ground, talking to Bearer on a scaffold. Kane ran up and assumed it was another dummy. Kane laughed and knocked over the ladder, which held the platform. The wheelchair (which is all we could see) went spilling down to the first level of the building. Kane looked down and realized this time, it wasn’t a dummy. Medics were shouting for help as Bearer laid on the ground down below. Kane had an incredulous look on his face, as Edge stood several feet away saying, “I told ya.”

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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