WWE Smackdown review
November 18, 2011
Taped 11/15/11 in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Aired on Syfy
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch Contributor

[Q1]

-WWE open.

-Cold open to Mark Henry, who has Daniel Bryan by the throat. He threatens him, then bashes the back of his head against the wall a few times and drags him out to ringside. Bryan gets a little offense in when they hit the ring, but Henry grabs his leg and shoves him down. Mark Henry keeps yelling at Daniel about not respecting him and splashes him on the mat. Henry picks him up and delivers the World’s Strongest Slam two times before the refs are able to peel him off the mat and drag his carcass to the back!

Henry grabs a microphone and yells that that is a man in pain and there is more where that came from. He says that Big Show felt the pain, but what he gave him wasn’t enough, so he will deliver more at Survivor Series. He vows that on Sunday Big Show will have to be carried out of there and Henry will leave World Heavyweight Champion!

-Henry throws the mic down, gets out of the ring and snarls at Daniel Bryan, then leaves.

-Josh Mathews replays the start of the show for viewers who are five minutes late to the show.

-At the announce table, Josh, Michael, and Booker say that Big Show isn’t scheduled for Smackdown, but they wonder what he thinks of what happened to Daniel Bryan.

-Still to come tonight in the main event: Sheamus and Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes.

-Josh plus the hashtags for tonight and Sin Cara takes on Dolph Ziggler, next!

(Commercial)

-Josh Mathews welcomes everyone back to Smackdown and Vickie Guerrero cuts in with “Excuse me” while the crowd drowns her out. Vickie announces officially that Dolph Ziggler will not only help Team Barrett march to victory this Sunday, but he will also defend his U.S. Title against John Morrison as well.

1 - U.S. champion DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guererro) vs. SIN CARA – non-title

Match starts out with an amateur takedown by Ziggler and he rides Sin Cara while he is down. Slap by Ziggler and he bolts for the ropes while the crowd chants for Sin Cara. Arm drag into an armbar by Ziggler grounds Sin Cara and he plays to the crowd, letting Sin Cara up. Ziggler grabs a headlock, gets shot into the ropes and shoulder blocks Sin Cara to the mat.

[Q2] Dolph whips Cara into the ropes and he comes back with a handspring elbow, head scissor takedown, and then a suicide plancha onto Dolph who retreats to the outside. Both men are down and Dolph is to his feet first, he throws Cara into the barricade and rolls him back into the ring. Ziggler works a armbar again on Sin Cara and taunts him all the while. This crowd is firmly behind Sin Cara as they continually chant his name. Cara fights to his feet and flips out of the armbar and springboard armdrags Dolph across the ring. Sin Cara goes to the top and tries a Swanton, but misses, roll up by Sin Cara gets reversed and Dolph scores the surprise win!

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler by pinfall in 4:00.

-Post match: Dolph smack talks Sin Cara, who must believe that words can hurt and he ends up brawling with Dolph. He gets the better end of the deal until Jack Swagger runs in and they double team Cara, getting a double team Fame-asser. Mason Ryan then runs in and chases off the heels and checks on Sin Cara.

Mike’s Reax: Dolph was the star of that match and it looked like a squash to me. Minimal offense by Sin Cara; I mean, he did get a few spots in, but that match was 90 percent Ziggler. Good to see him get a solid win after a few weeks of losing on Raw.

(Commercial)

2 - MASON RYAN vs. JACK SWAGGER

Apparently this match was made during the break, so it is joined in progress. Jack works a waistlock and shockingly Ryan powers out. Ryan rams Swagger kidney-first into the turnbuckle, then picks him up and does it again in the opposite turnbuckle. Ryan picks up Swagger for a slam, but Swagger slips behind him and clips the knee. Swaggerbomb gets a two count and he proceeds to stomp a mudhole in Ryan in the corner. Three charging clotheslines into the corner on Mason who looks blown up already so Jack grabs a hold. Suplex attempt is blocked and reversed by Ryan that Swagger no-sells. Clotheslines by Mason Ryan and Ryan is calling that the match is over, running powerslam, and Swagger kicks out at two. Ryan tries a full nelson, Swagger reverses out, clips the knee, tries the Swaggerbomb, but Mason blocks it, gets the full nelson and turns it into a slam for the win.

WINNER: Mason Ryan by pinfall in about 4:00.

Mike’s Reax: Get that man back to Florida, stat! Ryan was gassed (no pun intended) early in the match and couldn’t keep up with Swagger. But, Vince likes him, so who am I to argue?

-Backstage, Justin Gabriel flirts with Alicia Fox. Zack Ryder interrupts the lovebirds and asks if they signed his petition. Big Show lumbers in and says that he never signed it, WWWYKI. Ryder gets Big Show up to speed about what happened at the start of the show with Mark Henry and Daniel Bryan.

[Q3]

(Commercial)

-Shot of Times Square where a poster for WrestleMania is shown.

-Ted DiBiase and Hornswoggle are playing WWE ’12 when Teddy Long walks in. He congratulates Ted on his wins the last few weeks on Smackdown and likes the Posse thing. Aksana walks in and says hello to Teddy, both men say hello back. Long says she is talking to him and in no certain terms tells DiBiase and Hornswoggle to hit the bricks. She makes double entrendes about playing WWE ’12 and playing with joysticks. He says that he is busy and she should come back later to play. He says under his breath, “Don’t have another heart attack!”

-Christian limps out with a neckbrace and a crutch. He says that he was assaulted by the Big Show for no reason two weeks ago that lead to a serious neck injury. He says that even though he filed a complaint and asked not to, he fought Sheamus last week at Teddy Long’s demand. He says that he also fought Sheamus all over Europe and ended up injuring his ankle really bad. He shows a picture of his swollen ankle. Christian suggests that he might be out for months and when he comes back he may never be the same.

As a result of the injury, he was taken off Team Barrett at Survivor Series, but he will inspire his team to victory instead. Christian then goes to his one more match material but tweaks it to say that he would like any one more match, but he doesn’t think it will happen with his injury. He then berates the crowd for their lack of respect for his injury and asks if they care that he is injured, they yell “NO!” He says that their lack of caring hurts his feelings because he is human, but he feels bad for Teddy Long because when his lawyers are done with him, he won’t be the same either. Christian says that he is sick of the people in the WWE Universe, says good riddance, and storms off.

-In the trainer's room, Daniel Bryan is on the table being checked out by a trainer while A.J. is with him. Big Show walks in and says that it is all his fault for starting this. Bryan says it isn’t his fault. Show says he will find Mark and walks off.

(Commercial)

[Q4]

-Did you know: Raw trended last Monday during Raw?

3 - TED DIBIASE vs. DERRICK BATEMAN (w/ Maxine)

They do an inset interview with Derrick and Maxine pre-match where Maxine withholds sex until Derrick wins. Pfft. Hip toss and clotheslines from Ted to start. Maxine gets on the apron to yell at the ref and Bateman hangs Ted up on the ropes. Cole calls NXT Season Three a disaster. Bateman whips DiBiase hard into the far turnbuckle and gets a two count. Neck vise by Bateman and Ted calls out to the Posse to help him out of the hold; he fights out and dropkicks Bateman for a two count. Irish whip by Bateman gets reversed into Dream Street and Ted picks up the win.

WINNER: Ted DiBiase by pinfall in 3:00.

Mike’s Reax: Good to see DiBiase get some consecutive wins. We’ll see where this goes or for how long it lasts.

(Commercial)

-Big Show is looking for Henry. He kicks down the door to Mark’s teeny tiny locker room, but he isn’t there. Show runs into Tyson Kidd and Jinder Mahal who are laughing that Henry is long gone. Jinder says something in Punjabi, Show asks him to repeat it; he refuses, so Big Show punches him out.

-Replay of the opening of Smackdown where Henry disassembles Daniel Bryan.

-Big Show makes his way out to the ring, and he looks ticked off. He says that it is too bad that Mark left the building because the Survivor Series match could have happened tonight. He says that he needs to lose the anger and rage that he has been feeling toward Henry or else he will get DQ’ed on Sunday. He then says that he always carries a piece of footage with him wherever he goes, he asks for it to be played and it is from Money in the Bank when Mark Henry inducted Show into the Hall of Pain. Back in the ring, Big Show says that that footage is a reminder to keep him focused on his goal of winning the World Title. He then switches to addressing Mark Henry saying that someone will be carried out of Survivor Series and he says that it will be Henry who get carried out after he pays for what he did to Show and D. Bryan. Big Show makes a fist and tells Henry to look real close because it is coming for him!

[Q5]

-Kofi Kingston comes out; he faces Hunico next!

(Commercial)

-Hunico is out and he cuts a promo in Spanish. The crowd boos, but he refuses to speak English.

4 - WWE tag champion KOFI KINGSTON vs. HUNICO

Armbar by Hunico and Kofi flips and flops out of it and works an armbar of his own. Both men run the ropes and Kofi goes down for a monkey flip, but Hunico dropkicks him in the face as a reversal! Awesome spot. Modified STF by Hunico. Kofi manages to fight out of the hold and gets a sunset flip on Hunico for a two count. Booker says that since winning the tag team title, Kofi hasn’t seen singles action in a long time. What?! Where has Booker been? Hunico reapplies the STF and elbows him in the sternum in a vicious looking maneuver. Hunico is doing a good job of keeping Kofi grounded and he switches between holds and kicking Kofi around the ring.

Samoan Drop by Hunico followed by a Lionsault, but Kofi rolls out of the way, Hunico lands on his feet. Dropkick by Kofi followed by another and Kingston gets the Boom Drop on Hunico. Kofi calls for the Trouble in Paradise, but Hunico ducks. High cross body gets reversed into a pin by Hunico. He argues with the ref as Cole thinks that the ref screwed Hunico, he thought it should have been a three. Kofi is back up and the S.O.S. gets the three count.

WINNER: Kofi by pinfall in 5:00.

Mike’s Reax: Hunico looked like a threat in this match, and he was very impressive with his ground and pound offense. He was very credible.

-Ezekiel Jackson vignette.

-Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes is still to come.

(Commercial)

[Q6]

-Josh Mathews and Michael Cole argue about the best way to drive to New York City from Bridgeport. I wonder if that trended?

5 - DIVAS OF DOOM (Divas champion BETH PHOENIX & NATALYA) vs. A.J. & KAITLYN

Kaitlyn and Beth start things off. Stiff shot from Kaitlyn starts things off and she staggers Beth into the corner, but the ref calls for a clean break. Kaitlyn charges Beth, but she stunguns Kaitlyn on the top rope. Tag to Nattie and they double electric chair Kaitlyn for a two count. Scoop slam by Natalya and she misses a leg drop. Tag to the spunky A.J. who comes off the top ropes with a cross body, she then kicks Natalya in the nads. A.J. botches a sunset flip, so Natalya stomps on her stomach and locks her in the Sharpshooter.

WINNER: Natalya and Beth Phoenix by submission in 2:00.

-Post-match: Kaitlyn isn’t happy with A.J., who is selling the effects of the Sharpshooter.

(Commercial)

[Q7]

-#Josh #Mathews #throws #to #a #video #package #of #the #latest #chapter #in #the #Cena/#Rock #feud #from #last #Monday #when #Raw #got #Rocked. Actually 99 percent of Twitter references weren’t shown during the recap highlight package. 1 percent of Twitter references is still 1,337 references to Twitter from Monday night.

-The announcers run down the card for Survivor Series this Sunday.

-Randy Orton makes his way to the ring, and the main event is next!

(Commercial)

6. RANDY ORTON & SHEAMUS vs. WADE BARRETT & Intercontinental champion CODY RHODES

[Q8]

Cody’s theme music remix version three is too energetic for me and I think for his character. Cody has an inset interview before the match where he says that he will keep his personal feelings for Orton in check at Survivor Series. Sheamus and Cody start things off. Tie up by both men, Sheamus powers Rhodes into the corner then slams him in the middle of the ring. Cody tags into Barrett. He gives Sheamus some stiff shots to keep Sheamus off balance. Irish whip gets reversed by Sheamus and he back elbows Wade. Sheamus then ties Barrett in the ropes and clubs him across the chest as the crowd counts along with the shots. Suplex by Sheamus gets a two count. Mule kick by Barrett and he uses the opening to flying elbow Sheamus in the nose. Bow and arrow by Barrett as the crowd gets behind Sheamus while he powers out and snapmares out of the hold.

Tag into Randy Orton, who clotheslines and powerslams Wade. Hanging DDT by Orton as Rhodes backs off and watches. Orton calls for the RKO, but Rhodes distracts Orton who gives Rhodes a neckbreaker, giving Barrett the chance to recover and take Orton out with a big boot to the face. Cole says that the referee is giving these men some leeway in this match concerning the double-teaming because they are so close to Survivor Series. That doesn’t make sense, Michael!

(Commercial)

Orton is being manhandled by Rhodes when Smackdown returns and Christian is now at ringside being inspirational to his former team mates, Orton fights back with some right hands on Barrett, but Wade ducks one and puts Orton back in his place! Tag to Rhodes who puts Randy in a front facelock. Orton back body drops Rhodes to escape the hold and before Orton can tag Sheamus, Wade runs across the ring and clocks Sheamus who then chases Barrett across the ring.

Tag to Wade, who comes in and swinging neckbreakers Orton then locks him in a chinlock. Orton elbows out of the chinlock and gives Wade a backbreaker and crawls to Sheamus to make the tag as Rhodes gets tagged in. Sheamus is a house of fire punishing Rhodes with some clotheslines and big boots. Battering ram from the top rope by Sheamus, then he launches Wade Barrett out of the ring. Sheamus is calling for the Brogue Kick, but Christian hooks his ankle then cracks him with a crutch to cause the DQ.

WINNERS: Sheamus and Randy Orton in 10:00 by DQ.

-Post match: Barrett and Rhodes double team Sheamus for a few seconds until Orton evens things up and RKOs Barrett and Sheamus takes Rhodes out with a Celtic Cross. Both men stand triumphantly in the ring while replays are shown.

Mike’s Reax: You know what I liked about this episode of Smackdown? They didn’t start a match, go 30 seconds, cut to commercial, then come back and show the last 30 seconds of the match. With the exception of the main event, no matches were cut short by commercial break. I think Raw needs to start doing this. Also I don’t know if WWE got the memo or not, but the Twitter stuff was toned down tonight. It may have been because the show isn’t live, but Twitter didn’t dominate the show. Bottom line, very acceptable episode of Smackdown that didn’t seem to drag at any time during the show. The matches were fast-paced and guys like Dolph Ziggler and Hunico looked real strong coming out of their matches. Unfortunately, so did Mason Ryan!

Please follow me on Twitter @MJCupach as I tweet during Raw and most WWE PPVs, including this Sunday’s show.

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