WWE Smackdown TV Report
December 31, 2010
Taped in Rochester, N.Y.
Aired on Syfy
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The final WWE Smackdown episode of 2010 opened with a video package promoting tonight's advertised main event of Kane & Alberto Del Rio vs. World champ Edge & Rey Mysterio. After the standard Smackdown intro video and pyro, Josh Mathews plugged the end of the year. Mathews and Matt Striker then plugged the "action elements" of the main event tag match tonight.

In-ring: Out to start the show was IC champion Dolph Ziggler, who was joined by Vickie Guerrero. Vickie was selling pregnancy or an upset stomach. They cut to Michael Cole, who complained about having to spend New Year's Eve with the other two announcers. Ziggler consoled Vickie, who opened with a few "Excuse Me!" lines. The crowd tried to follow the Austin, Tex. Raw crowd shouting over Vickie to interrupt her, but she kept talking. Vickie complained about John Cena trying to give her the Attitude Adjustment last week. "I don't have an attitude," she said with an attitude. "And it certainly doesn't need to be adjusted."

After a video package on Cena hoisting Vickie on his shoulders last week, Vickie said she is suffering from vertigo. Now, under strict doctor's orders, she cannot be lifted above two feet on the ground. She said she suffers from the rare, rare disease of nauseousness. Vickie said she knows a few of the people don't like her (increased boos), but she expects increased compassion during her health issue.

Kofi Kingston interrupted and Michael Cole heeled on Kofi while siding with the heel complaining about her "condition." Kingston told Vickie to show some compassion...and be quiet. Kingston said everyone is getting nauseous listening to this non-sense. Vickie said she has a serious condition. Kofi reminded Vickie that she tried climbing a ladder at TLC and said Vickie must be suffering from amnesia. Ziggler tried to claim the photo was doctored. All he had to do was say the timeline doesn't match up since TLC happened before Cena gave Vickie a case of vertigo. Of course, heels are booked to look dumb in WWE.

Jack Swagger then interrupted to join the opening verbal discussion. Swagger said for the first time in his life, Kofi Kingston is right about something. Swagger said the ladder match at TLC was an All-American American injustice. He flashed back to TLC when Swagger and Kofi knocked the belt off the hook to the mat, allowing Ziggler to grab the belt off the mat to retain the title. Ziggler said she could have beaten both them back-to-back, one-on-one, or any other way. Kingston said he deserves a re-match. Swagger had something to say about that and said he deserves the re-match. Ziggler said he would really, really like to give them a re-match, but they're the guests of honor at Teddy Long's NYE party

Ziggler then tried to throw a punch, but Kingston blocked and decked him. Cole said this is ridiculous; like high school. Kingston eventually cleared the ring before Teddy Long interrupted and told the playas in the ring that he was upset with how things went down to TLC. He was apparently so upset that it took him two weeks to express how upset he was. Long said everyone is invited to his NYE party and announced Ziggler will be defending the IC Title tonight in a three-way re-match. Kingston pointed down at Ziggler and told him he's his tonight. Cole called Long the Matt Millen of WWE. That's just low and uncalled for. Mathews plugged Del Rio & Kane vs. Rey & Edge still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Big Show's music hit to bring out Show, was sporting a new t-shirt reading: "Knockouts Served Daily." Moving on, they recapped Cody Rhodes ruining Christmas for Big Show, Hornswoggle, and Rosa Mendes last week. Cole said he's just glad Big Show isn't in that silly Santa costume this week. Cody Rhodes then came out and admired himself in the mirror. Cole noted Rhodes's NYE routine grooming himself. Mathews said it's a little creepy how much Striker and Cole are into Rhodes's grooming tips and he wants to see Show destroy Rhodes.

1 -- BIG SHOW vs. CODY RHODES

Show quickly forced Rhodes into the corner to deliver a frying pan-like chop to the chest. Show then flung Rhodes across the ring and landed another big chop to the chest. Show then sat on Rhodes's face with his butt crack and waited out a five count from the referee. Rhodes quickly scampered to the outside and asked for his ring jacket to check on his face. Show then palmed Rhodes's head to bring him over the top rope back into the ring. Show continued to ragdoll Rhodes around the ring before measuring him for a big running butt bomb that Rhodes avoided. Rhodes then nailed a springboard kick to the head and flailed away with stomps, kicks, and punches. Show came back with another back body drop before calling for the KO Punch. Rhodes saw it coming and just left the ring. The camera zoomed in on Rhodes having a significant cut across his chest. Rhodes never looked back to the ring and just disappeared to the back as Show scored the count out victory.

WINNER: Show in 3:00. Rhodes is such a great heel. Just stay in the game, continue to get over, and eventually break out of the mid-card gimmick. Fine booking to get Show a measure of revenge on Rhodes, but not the ultimate prize. (*)

Backstage: Time for Long's New Year's Eve party. It looked like a Halloween costume mixed with a Village People reunion. Rosa fed Hornswoggle some cheese. Conor O'Brian then walked in and sniffed the cheese before Del Rio interrupted. Long cut off the cheesy...ahem...background music and Long stepped to the mic to ask everyone to make New Year's Resolutions. Drew McIntyre stepped right up and vowed to become "champion" in WWE. He looked at Kelly Kelly and said he vows to become a better person. Chavo Guerrero, with booze in his hand, interrupted and said all of the other stars are a bunch of self-centered, selfish jerks. Long was finally able to interrupt and tell him that's non-alcoholic champagne. Chavo realized he was caught trying to act drunk and stuttered out, "Happy New Year." ... Segment Note: This was not taped in front of the live crowd, so the background crowd reactions were piped in and not from the live crowd.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Drew McIntyre came out for the next match as Michael Cole heeled on Kaval, who had his final WWE match against McIntyre last week before he was released. That's two scripted digs by Cole on Kaval this week. Trent Barreta was out next and Mathews asked aloud if anyone thinks Barreta is a future World champ. Cole was taken aback by the question and declared, "Absolutely not!"

2 -- DREW MCINTYRE vs. TRENT BARRETA

After 30 seconds, Mathews noted Barreta lasted longer than McIntyre's "opponent" last week. Mac dominated the action early on before landing a flying buckle bomb that crunched Barreta in the corner. Mac followed with multiple forearm blows to the upper chest and cut off Barreta's attempted comeback. Cole and Mathews undersold Barreta, who then made a comeback with a top-rope missile dropkick that cleared Mac to the floor. Barreta tried to follow with a flying splash over the top rope, but Mac moved and Barreta ate the floor. Barreta landed clean, but sold a serious injury. The referee immediately stopped the match and ran over to the timekeeper to declare Mac the winner. Mac smiled and mockingly applauded Barreta before scooping him up for the Future Shock DDT on the floor. Mac waved good-bye to Barreta as the announcers moved along to plugging the big tag match and IC Title match still to come.

WINNER: McIntyre via referee stoppage in 4:00. Apparently the "rebuilding effort of Drew McIntyre" will feature him hurting undersized mic-card babyfaces to look dominant. (*)

Backstage: Chavo Guerrero was talking to someone off-camera about no one respecting him. The camera pulled back to show Chavo talking to Eagle mascot. Chavo and Eagle hugged it out as NXT Season 3 winner Kaitlyn looked on puzzled. She'll get used to it. Long then stepped up to the podium, but Lay-Cool interrupted and had jokes on Beth Phoenix and Natalya. Beth interrupted and asked Lay-Cool if they wanted to say that to her face. Natalya joined Beth and everyone started yelling. Poor Long finally calmed them down and booked a tag match for later tonight. Everyone ran off, then Long told "Mr. Eagle" that was a close one. Eagle just nodded. ... Back to the announcers, who plugged the IC Title re-match still to come tonight.

In-ring: World Hvt. champ Edge came to the ring first for the semi-main event tag match. Edge was sporting some old-school red sunglasses. He posed in the ring as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Rey Mysterio came out as Edge's tag partner back from break. Mathews described Rey as a "real-life superhero" and a "live action video game." Ricardo Rodriguez was given the floor to introduce Alberto Del Rio, who completed his ring entrance before Kane's pyro shot off to bring out Kane. Here's Kane, whose "father" was "killed" thanks to Edge and everything is just back to normal. One of those ridiculous storyline conclusions they can't get out of and try to ignore.

3 -- World Hvt. champion EDGE & REY MYSTERIO vs. KANE & ALBERTO DEL RIO

Rey teased an early 619 on Del Rio before Edge tagged in and went to work on Del Rio. Kane and Edge briefly battled before Edge and Rey cleared Kane to the outside. Edge then teamed up with Rey to flip him over the top rope for a splash on both heels. With the faces in control and the heels recovering on the floor, they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Mathews sounded like Vince McMahon introducing an episode of Monday Night Raw in '94. Kane and Del Rio worked over Edge and the crowd, on cue, started a slow clap trying to get Edge back in the ring while the announcers focused on the basic heel characteristics of Kane and Del Rio. Rey eventually tagged in and was knocked to the outside. Kane flung Rey into the ringside barrier, drawing shouts from the fans sympathetic to Rey. As the heels worked over Rey back in the ring, Cole noted it's all about becoming World champion and said the wrestlers are doing whatever they can to get there.

Edge took a hot tag at 11:00 and fought off Del Rio before dropping him with an elevated DDT. Edge got that look in his eyes and wanted the spear, but Kane cut him off with a chokeslam attempt. Edge blocked, then shoved Kane over the top rope to the floor. Rey then quickly set up Del Rio for the 619, Rey hit the 619, Del Rio spun back to center ring, and Edge dropped him with the spear center-ring for the pin and the win. Rey and Edge hugged it out and celebrated to conclude the match.

WINNERS: Edge & Rey in 13:00. One of those house show main event tag matches to give Smackdown viewers a happy ending to 2010. Since WWE doesn't emphasize wins and losses, Del Rio didn't lose anything taking the fall, as no one will remember the outcome by this time next week. (**)

Backstage: Back to the NYE party where Chavo Guerrero was trying to impress Kaitlyn. He tried to do the helium voice trick, but Kaitlyn noted there was no helium in the balloon. Hornswoggle and Chris Masters then tried a Pec Dance contest, which Masters easily won. Cody Rhodes interrupted and said he can't carry into 2011 when Big Show is trying to break his face. Big Show said he could break Rhodes's face anytime he wants. Long interrupted and said he won't have any of this fighting at the party. Long then announced two big main events for next week's first show of 2011. Long booked Rey vs. Del Rio two-out-of-three falls and Edge vs. Kane in a Last Man Standing match for the World Title.

Reax: Like Miz vs. Morrison in a Falls Count Anywhere match this Monday on Raw...why is there a stipulation? It's so inefficient to randomly assign a stipulation to a title match trying to make it seem more important. The title being on the line should be important enough. The titles aren't over thanks to WWE's booking, so they're forced to over-compensate when nothing about the build-up to either title match naturally leads to a Falls Count Anywhere or Last Man Standing match. Same with a two-out-of-three falls match for Rey vs. Del Rio.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- Divas champion NATALYA & BETH PHOENIX vs. LAY-COOL (MICHELLE MCCOOL & LAYLA)

They came back from break with Lay-Cool already in the ring before Phoenix and Natalya came to the ring for a re-match from TLC, which Beth and Natalya won. After a minute of action, they cut to break with the heels in control on Natalya and Beth selling concern from ringside.

[Commercial Break]

Phoenix took a tag, but Lay-Cool quickly cut her off and began working on Phoenix. The action went back-and-forth with each team scoring close nearfalls. Eventually, Natalya cleared Layla out of the ring and Phoenix trapped McCool for a Glam Slam. McCool sold like she was about to take a big drop on a rollercoaster. Phoenix with the pin for the win. Afterward, Lay-Cool tried to put the pieces back together while Natalya and Phoenix celebrated in the ring.

WINNERS: Natalya & Phoenix in 10:00. Nice, full-length Divas match with six minutes of action presented on the other side of the break. It sets up Lay-Cool to enlist the services of a third person who can match up against Natalya and Phoenix if this feud is going to continue. (**)

Backstage: Long was back at the podium thanking everyone for a great year. Long said for the first time in WWE history, they've had a party that did not break out in a fight. Chavo decided to interrupt and said this is the lamest party he's ever been to. Big Show offered Chavo a drink and Chavo was ready to get his drink on. Show then dumped the punch bowl on Chavo's head and Hornswoggle cracked up laughing. Chavo threw cake in Horny's face, then a food fight broke out among the Smackdown mid-carders. Reks, dressed in regular street clothes that didn't match his character's aura of mystery, threw a plate of cookies in JTG's face. Chavo eventually found himself on the ground covered in cake frosting as Hornswoggle laughed at him.

[Commercial Break]

Raw Rebound: Nexus is under new management led by C.M. Punk against John Cena.

In-ring: Kofi Kingston was out again for the main event Intercontinental Title match. Mathews said it's the last main event of 2010 and compared Kingston's athleticism to LaMichael James, the Heisman Trophy contending RB at Oregon. Jack Swagger, a former DT from Oklahoma, was out next to join Kingston. Ziggler was out next with Vickie Guerero, who sneered at the challengers.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- IC champion DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. KOFI KINGSTON vs. JACK SWAGGER -- Intercontinental Title match

Swagger and Ziggler quickly took down Kofi and began taking turns working him over. Very methodical pace with the heels taking advantage of a numbers advantage and not allowing Kofi to build any momentum. Ziggler stood over Kofi to taunt him, then Kofi finally scored offense to pop the crowd. Kofi cleared Swagger to the outside, then cleared Ziggler on the other side. Swagger tried to sneak up on Kofi, but Kofi saw him coming and dumped Swagger to the floor. Kofi followed with a suicide dive on both men as Mathews sold excitement over Kofi's comeback. Kofi with the advantage going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, the action was still on the outside where Swagger and Ziggler's alliance dissolved. Eventually, Ziggler and Kofi went one-on-one in the ring with Ziggler scoring a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Ziggler followed with a leaping elbow drop for a nearfall as Vickie screamed at Ziggler to finish him off. Ziggler bumped Swagger off the apron as Swagger tried to re-enter, then Ziggler went back to work on Kofi with a headlock. And Vickie went back to screaming. Kofi made a big comeback, which brought more concerned screams from Vickie.

Kofi hit a Boom Drop, then Swagger interjected himself into the match to suplex Ziggler for a nearfall. The pace quickened and Swagger tried a pin on Kofi, who had bumped heads with Ziggler, but Kofi kicked out. Moments later, all three found themselves in the corner and Swagger dropped Ziggler with a powerbomb. Swagger then turned around and took a high cross-body splash from Kofi, who scored a super close nearfall that had the crowd buzzing. The announcers paused to let the moment breathe. Swagger then tackled Kofi and went for the Anklelock, but Ziggler snuck in the back door and dropped Swagger with the Zig-Zag. Ziggler made a cover on Swagger and Kofi broke up the pin. "What's wrong you with?!" Vickie screamed at the ref.

All three men collected themselves on the mat as Vickie paced ringside. The crowd tried rallying behind Kofi, who battled Swagger as he sold the leg work. Kofi blocked a suplex attempt with a DDT and made a cover, but Vickie put Swagger's foot on the bottom rope. Cole tried to defend Vickie by suddenly saying it's No DQ in a triple threat match. Okay, so Vickie should have blasted everyone with a steel chair 15 minutes ago. One of those inane, illogical moments on WWE TV.

For the finish, Kingston dropped Swagger with Trouble in Paradise and the crowd popped thinking he had the match, but Ziggler snuck in the back door with a roll-up on Kingston with a handful of tights for the win. Cole sold excitement as the crowd came down from their high. After a video recapping the high points of the match, they went to a final slow-motion shot of Ziggler clutching the IC Title and celebrating with Vickie to conclude 2010.

WINNER: Ziggler in 16:00 to retain the Intercontinental Title. Very good TV match in spite of the three-way format. They certainly continued the issue between Ziggler and Kingston, with Kingston having two close calls during the match. It was a nice touch giving this match the main event spotlight trying to elevate the IC Title. What are the chances of U.S. champion Daniel Bryan main-eventing an episode of Raw? (***)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "Smackdown Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Smackdown, email pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Kevin Owens vs. Ryback in an Intercontinental Title Match

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/24: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Kevin Owens & Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler & Ryback

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/17: Ongoing coverage of the Thursday night show, including Seth Rollins & Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns