WWE Smackdown review
Dec. 16, 2011
Taped 12/13/11 in Raleigh, N.C.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- Smackdown Open.

- Fireworks went off inside the arena on the campus of North Carolina State University. Michael Cole opened the show, and Josh Mathews talked about the Jack Swagger vs. Big Show match for later tonight. Cole plugged Randy Orton & Zack Ryder teaming up to take on Wade Barrett & Dolph Ziggler in the main event.

- Mathews was in the ring (quick transition there) and he introduced the man who will challenge Cody Rhodes for the Intercontinental Championship at TLC, Booker T. They showed Rhodes’ attack on Booker last week. Then they aired a clip of Booker involving himself in Cody’s match against Daniel Bryan, also last week. Mathews asked Booker if he was ready for Sunday, and Book asked the fans if he looked ready. He said he didn’t want this match, and he was happy and content moving on with his career, announcing with Mathews, but “to hell with Michael Cole.” He said Cody needs a “legitimizer,” and Booker wasn’t going to be that guy. Mathews asked Booker if he wins, will he return to the ring full time. Finally a good question from an interviewer! Booker said he’ll cross that bridge when he gets there, then ended with his catchphrase. But Cody’s music hit and he walked out.

Rhodes said it was a lovely piece of fiction that Booker was spinning. He described what would happen on Sunday, saying Booker’s appearance would spark feelings of nostalgia. He said if this were a movie, Booker would win the match and the title. But it’s not a movie. I like how he keeps calling Booker, “announcer.” He said reality dictates that Booker will lose to Cody. Booker interrupted and threatened violence toward Rhodes at this moment. Cody, finally getting to the ring, said he went to Teddy Long and asked for a third match with Daniel Bryan, and this time, if Booker interferes, his match at TLC will be off, and Cody will file a motion to have him suspended. Mathews left the ring as Cody entered, leaving just Rhodes and Booker. Rhodes told Booker to leave so he can show Booker how legitimate he already is….”sucka.” Cody then laughed until Bryan’s music hit, which put an end to said laugh.

1 – CODY RHODES vs. DANIEL BRYAN

Booker joined in on commentary after his segment. Bryan still had his ribs taped. He tried a quick LeBell Lock :30 into the match, but Rhodes fled to ringside before any damage could be done. They went to break :44 in.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 3:35 of the match. Rhodes went for a leap-frog, but Bryan dropkicked him a little low, just above the waist-line. Cole got on Booker for getting involved in a match rather than focusing on commentary. Rhodes suplexed Bryan from inside the ring to outside. You always hold your breath on that move. Back in the ring, front-first suplex for two. Body-scissors by Rhodes. Rhodes blocked a kick and took the offense to Bryan again, with another two-count at 6:11. Backslide attempt by Bryan, then a magistral cradle for two. Missile dropkick off the second rope by Bryan for a two-count. Cole continued challenging Booker, with the two paying almost no attention to this match. At least they’re using the time to hype up a PPV match. Top-rope back suplex by Bryan, but Rhodes turned in mid-air and landed across Bryan’s ribs. Bryan kicked out at two. Rhodes countered a roll-up, hopped to his feet, and hit Cross Rhodes for the win.

WINNER: Rhodes, at 8:35. Solid match and a good win for Rhodes. Not sure where this leaves Bryan.

- Alicia Fox was walking backstage. She faces Natalya next. Fox was…unnaturally happy. Almost Kelly Kelly-level.

[Commercial Break]

2 – ALICIA FOX vs. NATALYA

Natalya brought a box of tissues to the ring and pretended to cry, using them and then tossing them aside. Fox tried a quick roll-up in the corner, but Natalya held on and stomped Fox in the stomach. Mathews said three Divas will be blogging for Perez Hilton starting on Monday. Abdominal stretch, but Nattie rolled up Fox for two. Fox kicked out, sending Nattie into the ropes, and Fox rolled Natalya up with a small package for the win. She had a handful of extensions too.

WINNER: Fox, at 1:02. As I talked about in my chat with James Caldwell earlier today on the Torch, it looks like Fox is next in line for a Divas Title shot.

Fox got the mic and said Nattie is so synthetic it’s pathetic. She told Natalya to go back and have a good cry because she just got out-foxed. Natalya hit the ring to try to attack Fox, but Alicia took her down and hit the flip leg-drop (which MAY have grazed Natalya’s forehead – surprised they went so close up on that one). Fox then celebrated, leaving Natalya down in the ring.

- Ryder & Orton vs. Ziggler & Barrett is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers talked about Tribute to the Troops, airing tomorrow night on NBC at 9pm EST.

- They showed the nominees for Pipe Bomb of the Year Slammy.

- Jack Swagger and Vickie Guerrero were getting hyped up for Swagger’s match. Mark Henry walked up and asked Swagger to hurt Big Show’s ankle again. He said if Swagger does it, he’ll be first in line for a shot at the World Title. Swagger said Henry isn’t in his future – he’s going to hurt Show tonight, but for him, not Henry. Swagger said he’s going to beat Show, but for himself. He said he sees himself as World Champion in the future. Swagger reminds me of Schmidt from FOX’s “New Girl.”

[Commercial Break]

3 – THE USOS vs. EPICO & PRIMO

Jimmy and Jey did their Polynesian battle cry atop the stage before they came to the ring. Rosa Mendes accompanied Epico and Primo to the ring. Flying elbow by Jey on Epico for two. Quick tags by the faces early on. A distraction led to Primo bringing Jimmy throat-first over the top rope. Double-team by Primo and Epico. Jey made the hot tag at the 2:00 mark. Running butt splash on Primo in the corner, but the pin was broken up by Epico. Distraction by Rosa led to one of the Usos getting crotched after going to the top rope. Primo hit the backstabber for the pin.

WINNERS: Epico and Primo, at 2:58. I never thought Primo would get off of Superstars let alone get some wins, but he’s been underutilized for a while. Giving him a push and doing it by propping up the tag division is win-win.

- They showed a clip form July of 2010 on Smackdown when Swagger seriously injured Show’s ankle.

- Big Show came out for his match with Jack Swagger. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – THE BIG SHOW vs. JACK SWAGGER

As soon as the bell rang to begin the match, Mark Henry’s music played. He walked out in a Hall of Pain t-shirt, jeans, and carrying a steel chair. Swagger tried to get Show from behind, but Show wasn’t having it. He did manage to take Show off his feet, but not for long. Show mowed Swagger over. Show seemed more motivated with Henry sitting at ringside. Bodyslam on Swagger. Show choked Swagger on the middle rope, then chopped him. Two Swagger bombs in the corner on Show after the All-American American avoided a corner splash. Show made a comeback by chopping Swagger while he was on his knees. The splash connected, as did the shoulder tackle. He signaled for the chokeslam next. Swagger rolled through the chokeslam and hooked on the ankle-lock. Henry yelled for Swagger to “break it (the ankle)!” Show was in the move for a while, but stared at Henry, the broke the hold. Knock-out punch (the WMD) dropped Swagger for the three-count.

WINNER: Show, at 5:46. Good psychology in this one (and I’m sure Henry isn’t terribly sad for Swagger, who blew him off backstage) and Show looked dominant against Swagger.

After the match, Show threw Swagger to ringside…then Henry hit Swagger in the back with the chair. I guess I was right. A cameraman also took a chair to the back. That upset Show, who went to check on the fallen crew member. “You’re gonna get all of me you can handle,” shouted Henry at Show. Referees came down to check on Swagger while medics checked with the cameraman.

- Another plug for the tag-team main event.

[Commercial Break]

- Randy Orton was backstage when Zack Ryder came up. Ryder wanted to know if they were on the same page. Orton said “no.” Ryder asked if they were on the same book…and Orton said maybe. This excited Ryder, who exited after reciting his catchphrase.

5 – HEATH SLATER vs. TED DIBIASE

They actually showed clips of the DiBiase Posse that takes place before shows. Roll-up by DiBiase right off the bat. Roll through into a pinning predicament by DiBiase for two. The roll-ups started to frustrate Slater, who slapped DiBiase in the face. Hard whip into the buckle by Slater. Chop off the top rope by Slater for two. DiBiase came back and planted Slater with Dream Street for the pinfall.

WINNER: DiBiase, at 3:09. Another week, another win for DiBiase. Nothing wrong with that.

After the match, Jinder Mahal attacked DiBiase from behind. Camel Clutch applied, and before he broke, Teddy Long came out. Long said he has someone Mahal can take that aggression out on, someone who he has some unfinished business with from Monday. Sheamus then came out. Match takes place after the break.

[Commercial Break]

6 – JINDER MAHAL vs. SHEAMUS

After a collar-and-elbow tie-up, Sheamus took Mahal down. Mahal came back with rights. Size-wise, Mahal matches up surprisingly well with Sheamus. Sheamus avoided a knee-lift, which allowed Sheamus to then nail Mahal across the chest with ten forearms. He launched himself from the apron over the top rope with a shoulder block. Neck-breaker by Mahal for a near-fall. He brought forearms of his own across the chest of Sheamus. Sheamus didn’t allow Mahal an extended offensive run and hit the Irish Curse back-breaker. Brogue Kick finished things.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 3:50. Mahal could use a few quick wins like DiBiase has been getting lately in order to bring that feud back to an even standing.

- The main event tonight is Orton & Ryder vs. Ziggler & Barrett. It’s next, according to Cole.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged WWE.com for the details of WWE going overseas to visit the Troops.

- After a shot of the exterior of the RBC Center, they showed clips of the Slammy Awards from Raw.

- The announcers discussed the return of Kane. Michael Cole pointed out his three Slammy Awards, noting he received one this year that was handed out on WWE.com and told fans to go there to find out which one it was.

- They did a WWE ’12 mock-up of Big Show vs. Mark Henry, a match that will take place at TLC.

- Randy Orton came out for the tag main event. The match is next. For real this time.

[Commercial Break]

- The mystery video aired, then cut back into Smackdown as Zack Ryder made his entrance. Dolph Ziggler and Wade Barrett each made separate entrances.

7 – RANDY ORTON & ZACK RYDER vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER & WADE BARRETT

Ryder face-planted Ziggler, then tagged in Orton at 1:03 of the match. Orton stayed on offense with ease against Ziggler, suplexing him for a two-count. Ryder came back in and Ziggler knocked Ryder off-balance after Ryder headbutted him. Barrett was in and Ryder tagged Orton, but Barrett scampered back to his corner and tagged Ziggler in. Orton took Ziggler down and knocked Barrett off the apron while he was at it, but he took his eye off Ziggler and paid for it. Ziggler countered an Orton back-breaker, and Ryder came in to dropkick him out of the ring. They went to break with the faces standing tall at 4:33.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:48 of the match, with Orton having mounted the second rope, delivering punches to the head of Dolph Ziggler. High knee-drop right on target. Ziggler missed a clothesline and it appeared his momentum forced him to slide outside the ring and to ringside – that would’ve been some clothesline – but perhaps it was just a way to allow Barrett to enter the ring and boot Orton in the face. Knee-lift on Orton, then Ziggler tagged in. The heels isolated Orton in their corner. Ryder made the hot tag just after 12:00, and he hit Barrett with the Broski Boot. Rough Ryder missed and Ziggler punched Ryder in the head to stop his momentum. Ryder desperately tried to make a tag, but Ziggler held him back. Barrett tried to hit Wasteland on Ryder, but Ryder countered into a DDT and both men were down at 14:50. Orton finally made the hot tag and took apart Ziggler. Gutwrench into a neck-breaker by Orton for two. Pin was broken up by Barrett. Ryder clotheslined Barrett over the top, but outside the ring, Barrett whipped Ryder into the barricade. Roll-up, with the tights by Ziggler, only got two. Fameasser attempt, but Orton dodged it and RKO’d Ziggler. Barrett was about to interfere before the pin, but Orton made eye contact with him, and that was enough to keep Barrett out of the ring.

WINNERS: Orton and Ryder, at 16:07.

Orton and Barrett continued to stare at each other (Orton in the ring, Barrett standing on a table outside the ring) as the show went off the air.


What do you think? If you saw this show, we invite you to send your thoughts. Send your name, hometown, a 0-10 score rating the quality of the show, your picks for best and worst segments, and then a brief paragraph of thoughts on the show that we can publish in the Reader Reax segment later tonight or tomorrow. Send to pwtorch@gmail.com.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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