WWE Smackdown review
December 14, 2012
Taped 12/11/12 in Bridgeport, CT.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- During the opening video package, the voice-over man (he really should have a name to make this easier!) talked about the Shield’s latest attack, as well as Sheamus and Big Show’s no-contact clause. The question was raised whether or not Big Show and Sheamus could keep their hands off each other tonight.

- At ringside, JBL and Josh Mathews were joined by Antonio Cesaro (next to Mathews) and Sheamus (next to Cole).

1 – THE BIG SHOW vs. R-TRUTH

Show pounded on Truth with headbutts and a chop. Show picked Truth up like a rag doll, set him stomach-first over the top rope, and punched him in the gut. Show went to ringside to taunt Sheamus, which allowed Truth to get some brief offense in. It didn’t last long, and Show hurled Truth into the ropes from ringside. Cesaro got up from his chair and appeared ready to pounce on Truth, but Sheamus got up and shoved him down. The men returned to their ringside seats. Show bealed Truth back into the ring. Truth jumped on Show’s back and Show put him down. Big elbowdrop missed, though. Axe kick for two and Show returned with the knockout punch.

WINNER: Show, at 4:43. A virtual squash that didn’t do much to make people think Truth has a chance against Cesaro.

Show went to ringside and taunted Sheamus again, this time holding the title. JBL tried to talk Sheamus off the ledge and Sheamus got to his feet, only to be attacked by Cesaro from behind. Show laughed at Sheamus because Sheamus bumped into him when Cesaro hit him from behind.

[Commercial Break]

- They replayed Sheamus brushing into Show thanks to Cesaro. JBL argued that it shouldn’t force the match at TLC to be called off.

- Backstage, show approached Booker T. to ask if he saw what happened. Show talked as if Sheamus hit him on purpose, but Booker wasn’t buying it. Their match was still on.

- Damien Sandow was in the ring. Sandow complained about the quality of people he’s interviewed during his apprentice search. So instead, he welcomed back his tag team partner (and best friend!), Cody Rhodes. A video showed Team Rhodes Scholars winning a Fatal Four-Way on Monday to earn a #1 contender shot at TLC. The crowd made fun of Cody for his mustache, while Rhodes said he was honored to be in the ring with Sandow. He chided anyone who would try to drive a wedge between them, but before he could get further, the Usos came out, for a match I guess. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – TEAM RHODES SCHOLARS vs. THE USOS

The match was joined in progress out of break. Rhodes and Sandow did some double-teaming while Rhodes was the legal man. The heels cut off the ring against the Usos. Jey finally tagged in and was on fire. Samoan drop on Sandow. The Usos set up for their finish, but had to call an audible when Sandow went to make the tag. A distraction by Rhodes allowed Sandow to roll up the legal Uso, using the tights, for the victory.

WINNERS: Team Rhodes Scholars, 3:52 shown. Usos got a chance to shine after a nice reaction from the crowd on Monday night.

- David Otunga was (what else?) sipping from his coffee mug backstage. He was looking over the clause in the Big Show vs. Sheamus contract about contact between the two. Otunga said they should take care of it publicly, in the ring.

[Commercial Break]

- Show and Otunga were both in the ring. Show argued his case, and Otunga backed him up. He threatened to bring it to the WWE Board of Directors. In addition to getting the match cancelled, he said they’d be seeking Booker’s removal as GM. That brought out said GM. Booker put down Otunga and said his decision was based on the spirit of the contract. He said his decision has not changed. Show pitched a fit. Otunga said that since Booker has been to prison, it doesn’t make him a legal expert. Otunga said he’d be seeking Sheamus’s dismissal from the company, too. Sheamus then came out. He had a chair and charged past Booker. He entered the ring and said if Show gets the match called off, there’s nothing stopping him from kicking Show’s arse now. Show got the hint and backed off his demands. Show left the ring, leaving Otunga to take a Brogue Kick. The kick was replayed.

- The announcers talked about their TLC match on-camera.

- They showed clips of Randy Orton’s Raw match with Brad Maddox two weeks ago. Orton was then attacked by The Shield.

- Matt Striker was talking to a man in a headset backstage. He’ll be talking to Randy Orton about that incident, next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Shield was in the middle of an attack on Randy Orton backstage, apparently having put him through a table. They walked away after putting the boots to him several times.

3 – AKSANA vs. KAITLYN

No entrance for either woman. Aksana worked a long headlock, with Kaitlyn attempting unsuccessfully to break several times. Aksana even held on after a sidewalk slam. This has to be some kind of record. Kaitlyn finally broke free at almost the four-minute mark(!) and tossed Aksana around. Gut-buster for the win.

WINNER: Kaitlyn, at 4:17. I guess that was the blow-off to the September attack by Aksana?

- Striker was backstage outside the trainer’s room. He reported that Orton had a separated shoulder and that his shoulder was “literally” hanging out of its socket. He also may have a concussion.

- MizTV is next with Team Hell No.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews plugged the Santa’s Helper #1 contender Divas Battle Royal that will take place on the TLC pre-show.

- Miz was in the ring for MizTV. He acknowledged the controversy created by The Shield. He then introduced two of their TLC opponents, Team Hell No. Bryan criticized Miz’s first question before he could even get it out. He said he’ll take all of his anger out on The Shield Sunday night. Kane said The Shield’s attack caused he and Bryan to get on the same page. He said they’d use tables (YES!), ladders (YES!) and chairs (YES!) and will love every second of it. Another Shield hand-held video interrupted. Set Rollins called themselves “harbingers of justice.” They talked about what they did to Kane and Bryan previously. Kane asked, “why wait ‘til Sunday?” The Shield seemed to take the bait, and Team Hell No readied for them. The Shield were shown up in the boxes. They began to make their way through the crowd, but Ryback’s theme caused them to stop in their tracks. Ryback joined Team Hell No in the ring. The Shield got no further.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews again plugged the TLC six-man tag match

4 – THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS & THE COLONS vs. TYSON KIDD & JUSTIN GABRIEL & THE GREAT KHALI & HORNSWOGGLE

Khali landed an overhand chop to Titus O’Neil’s chest. Horny gave him a chop of his own before O’Neil clotheslined him. Nice tag-team work from the Colons on Kidd. Rosa Mendes slapped Kidd, but Natalya took her out. Out of nowhere, Kidd got the pin on Primo.

WINNERS: Khali, Hornswoggle, Gabriel and Kidd, at 3:16. Well, at least Hornswoggle didn’t get the pin.

The heels tried to attack after the match, but the babyfaces flew all over the heels. Except for Khali. Then everyone danced.

- Still to come, Sheamus vs. Antonio Cesaro in the main event.

[Commercial Break]

- JBL thanked Shinedown for providing one of the themes to Tribute to the Troops.

5 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO

Standing dropkick into the first cover of the match, for two, by Kofi. Kingston mounted Del Rio and gave him ten punches in the corner. Springboard top-rope tomahawk chop from Kingston, who then clotheslined Del Rio off the top rope. Kofi continued the fight outside the ring. Del Rio used Kingston’s momentum against him on the outside to take over. They went to break at 4:32 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:29 with Del Rio still in control. Sunset flip by Kingston, but Del Rio followed with a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker. Del Rio missed a charge, but whipped Kingston hard into the turnbuckle. Kingston went on his comeback, however, Del Rio dropped him with a back suplex. Kofi rolled through another suplex attempt and rolled Del Rio up for three.

WINNER: Kingston, at 12:39.

As Kofi celebrated outside the ring, Wade Barrett tried to attack from behind, only to be laid out with Trouble in Paradise.

- Up next, a preview of the John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler ladder match from Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- A graphic aired for Cena vs. Ziggler at TLC. At ringside, the announcers discussed that match.

- The announcers also talked about the World Title match and replayed the incident from earlier tonight relating to the competitors.

- William Regal and Sheamus were chatting backstage. Regal gave Sheamus sage advice, and told him to focus on Cesaro tonight. Sheamus told Regal what he’d do to Big Show at TLC. Hint: It involved hitting Show many times with chair shots. Sheamus left the locker room, as his match is next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – SHEAMUS vs. ANTONIO CESARO

During Sheamus’s entrance, they showed a portion of the contract signing from the previous week between him and Show. Shoulder knock-down by Cesaro and Sheamus got up smiling. Body shots in the corner by Cesaro, but Sheamus came back with a knee-lift and clothesline. Sheamus rolled through with Cesaro on his shoulders. Cesaro returned the favor, giving Sheamus a knee-lift as the World Champ attempted to re-enter the ring. Cesaro got his knees up on a corner charge, then gave Sheamus a European uppercut to the back of his neck. Dead lift into a suplex by Cesaro. A brawl broke out between the two, one that Sheamus got the better of. He went to the top and took Cesaro down with a shoulder block. Sheamus brought the forearms across the chest of Cesaro int eh ropes. He suplexed Cesaro back in the ring, and as he did so, Show brought out William Regal and tossed him onto the stage. Regal got up and told Sheamus not to let Show get to him. Regal, using Sheamus to hold himself up, was then given a chair shot to the back by Show. Sheamus was counted out.

WINNER: Cesaro, via count-out, at 7:22.

Sheamus didn’t attack Show, but clearly showed his rage as they went off the air.


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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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