WWE Smackdown Blog 12/13
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch specialist

1 - DANIEL BRYAN vs. ERICK ROWAN (w/The Wyatt Family)

I finally figured out what happened to Bryan when he was abducted by The Wyatts a few weeks ago: they stole the rubber band he was using for his hair. Bryan used to have his hair pulled back, but after that abduction, he lets his hair flow freely in the wind. Meanwhile, Luke Harper looks like an absolute creep outside the ring staring at Bryan while Bray Wyatt rocks in his chair. (By the way, wouldn’t it be great if they figured out a way to put his rocker on the apron and he sits on it while waiting to be tagged in on Sunday?)

Bryan was rocking and rolling against Erick and holding off Luke outside the ring by himself until Bray tripped him up and the referee saw it, causing the DQ. Bray ended up hitting Bray with a surprise knee to the head and “Yes’ed!” all the way to the back!

WINNER: Daniel Bryan by disqualification.

-Zeb Colter and the Real Americans were in the ring and Zeb cut a promo about seeing someone panhandling in a Santa Clause hat. The panhandler said “Feliz Navidad” and Zeb took offense to this illegal immigrant seeking a hand-out. I wonder what Zeb has against The Salvation Army!

2 - WWE Tag Team champions GOLDUST & CODY RHODES vs. THE REAL AMERICANS (w/Zeb Colter) – non-title match

The crowd was really into the “We the People” mantra of The Real Americans as slight chants of that broke out throughout the match. I kind of take that as Cody and Dustin losing some of their shine - they have been lost in the shuffle the last month or so and the crowd isn’t popping for them like they once were. Cody got some of the cheers back towards the end of the match when he single-handedly fought off both Americans and showed some fire and high risk moves.

Goldust was gingerly thrown out of the ring by Cesaro and played dead for the next three minutes while Cody fought off Swagger and Cesaro, but succumbed to a uppercut mid-air after coming off the top rope. So, the Americans got a win over the tag champs, the same Americans who lose some and win rarely beat The Rhodes Boys pretty easily. We’ll see what happens at TLC on Sunday!

WINNERS: The Real Americans via pinfall.

-#BadNewsBarrett time. 24 hours of a "Christmas Story" on TBS has been replaced by 24 hours of Total Divas! Okay, I made that up, but that would suck!

3 - DAMIEN SANDOW vs. MARK HENRY

Big E. Langston is on commentary. Again. Someone behind-the-scenes must like to hear his voice. After 90 seconds of “action,” Sandow rolled out of the ring and was purposely counted out. Langston rolled Sandow in the ring for a beating, but Sandow outsmarted both men by shoving Henry into Langston. This somehow didn’t turn into a misunderstanding that had Henry and Langston staring each other down.

WINNER: Mark Henry by count-out.

-Booker T was at the merchandise stand hosting an episode of “Homeboys Shopping Network.” Booker claimed that the World and WWE Titles have fallen off the truck and are now on sale for 25 percent off!

4 - THE BELLA TWINS vs. Divas champion A.J. LEE & TAMINA

Natalya is on commentary. She talks up Total Divas and how it has led to the success for the Bella Twins and for Natalya getting her first title shot in three years on a PPV. Natalya wants to be a leader for the Divas and a role model for women when she wins the Divas Title. A.J. shoved Brie into Nikki, who then got knocked into Tamina and the three got knocked out from this combo shot. A.J. then put Brie in the Black Widow for the submission win.

WINNERS: A.J. Lee and Tamina by submission.

- John Cena In ring Promo. Cena cut a promo about TLC and the importance of the match and why it needed to happen. Cena did his thing where he talks quietly, then he yells, then he talks quietly, then he yells, then he had some jokes, and he capped it off by declaring himself the next champ to be here (there). This was actually a good PPV lead-in promo from Cena. I usually enjoy Cena’s work on the mic when he refrains from the cheesiness and does a serious street preacher-like promo.

5 - THE USOS vs. THE SHIELD (w/Dean Ambrose)

It must be "guest commentary night" because Dean was on commentary for this match. Cole brought up the cracks in the foundation of The Shield and how Dean has alienated himself from the group, but Dean reversed things and started asking Cole questions. Eventually, Dean shrugged things off and said that dissension is really a passion from them.

Overall, the Usos and The Shield have “it” together in the ring. They know each other so well and have had so many classic matches against each other this year that they could put on a quality match in the sleep at this point! Tonight was no exception! Jey Uso hit Seth with a flying Samoan drop that popped the crowd when it got a 2.99999 count from the referee and then Jey followed up with a few more nearfalls as he held off The Shield. Rollins and Reigns turned things around by destroying both Usos on the floor, leaving Jey outside to be counted out, but he barely made it to the ring. Seth Rollins then taunted Uso and C.M. Punk by teasing a GTS, then Reigns nailed the Spear for the win. Awesome match!

WINNERS: The Shield by pinfall.

-C.M. Punk broadcast a message from the basement of the arena. Punk said that he knew he was walking into a slaughter at TLC, but if he is going down he will take as many with him as he can. Punk asked who will fall with him and then told them to believe in the best in the world!

-Cole announced that Vickie sent out a memo for TLC: the Rhodes Brothers will defend their Tag Team Titles against The Real Americans, Rey & Big Show, and Rybaxel in a Fatal Four-way match.

6 - BIG SHOW (w/Rey Mysterio) vs. RYBACK (w/ Curtis Axel)

Big Show made short work of Ryback and put him away pretty handily.

WINNER: Big Show by pinfall.

-Bray Wyatt is backstage with his family and he calls Bryan a liar and deceiver for spurning his invitation. Bray sings himself a lullaby and then vows to make Bryan pay this Sunday at TLC.

7 - ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. KOFI KINGSTON

This was supposed to be a re-match from Raw last Monday, but Del Rio had a concussion. Just as I was questioning that, Miz ran down and beat up Kofi around ringside before the match started. I guess that is how they get around a match with the concussed Alberto Del Rio!
WINNER: No contest.

- Randy Orton Public Apology. Orton admitted that things got out of control last Monday and apologized to Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. He then called them out so he could do it face-to-face. Hunter came out alone and Randy threw to a video recap of the end of Raw with Orton accidentally knocking down Stephanie. Orton call it an accident, then the crowd interrupted him with “Yes!” chants and Orton got noticeably rattled when he threw to footage from another angle.

When they came back, a "Daniel Bryan" chant drowned out Orton as he apologized again. Hunter came back by saying that he didn’t need to come out to watch footage and that he owns the camera that shot the footage. Hunter then threatened to fire Orton, which got another “Yes!” chant from the crowd. At the end of the day, Hunter accepted the apology and said that this better not happen again.

Orton then asked Hunter about Cena standing next to The Authority as Stephanie got up. He wanted an explanation as to why they stood with Cena as Raw went off the air. Hunter never gave a reason, but Orton said that he knows where The Authority’s faith lies, at which point Hunter shook his hand and said with a big smile that everyone knows where his faith lies. Hunter then went backstage as Orton was left alone in the ring looking up at the belts.

Thanks for reading, make sure to follow me on Twitter @MJCupach for more wrestling thoughts as I live-tweet during Raw and PPVs. Also, make sure to check out my Total Divas blog and Main Event recap here on PWTorch.com!

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