12/22 Super Smackdown: Parks’s complete live report

It’s a Super edition of Smackdown airing on the blue brand’s soon-to-be new home, the USA Network. On tap tonight: The Lucha Dragons challenge for the WWE Tag Titles against New Day; and Dean Ambrose defends his Intercontinental Title in a Triple Threat match against Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens.

WWE Smackdown review
December 22, 2015
Live from Des Moines, Iowa
Aired on USA Network
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)

– WWE Open.

– Smackdown Open.

– After some holiday fireworks, Michael Cole opened the show as they showed all kinds of gifts and Christmas trees atop the ramp. The first match plugged was the Intercontinental Title Triple-Threat, in which Dean Ambrose would defend against Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler.

– Eden Stiles (in a Santa hat) introduced New Day for the tag title match. They wore Santa hats AND unicorn horns. Big E. complained about not winning the Tag Team of the Year Slammy last night, but said that result wouldn’t ruin their holiday. Xavier Woods said the WWE Universe would get the greatest present of all: The Lucha Dragons being sent home with coal in their stocking, ensuring that the tag titles would stay around their waist. Kofi Kingston plugged their upcoming Christmas album. It would feature favorites like “The Little Trombone Boy” and “Big E. Claus is Coming to Town.” The team showed off their pipes a little bit, then the Lucha Dragons came out for the match.

1 – KOFI KINGSTON & BIG E. vs. THE LUCHA DRAGONS – WWE TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH

They replayed the Salida del Sol from the ladder at TLC, the move that won Kalisto a Slammy. Sin Cara began the match with Kofi Kingston. Cara chopped Kofi hard. Cara monkey-flipped Kalisto onto Kingston for a one-count. For what it’s worth, Booker T. and Jerry Lawler joined Cole on commentary. Big E. tagged in to face Kalisto. He did some trash talking to his smaller foe. Big E. used his oft-discussed booty to create separation. Dropkick from the top by Cara for a near-fall. Woods, at ringside, tried to talk Cara out of chopping Kofi, to no avail. Kingston came off the middle rope with a hurricanrana, but Cara turned it into a pinning combination. Woods and his trombone distracted Cara, allowing Kingston to take over. Woods played the trombone into break, at 3:43 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:34 of the match. New Day was still in control. Tags were made to Kalisto and Kingston at 7:12. Woods low-bridged Kalisto out of the ring (using the middle rather than top rope) when the referee’s attention was elsewhere. Big E. grabbed Kalisto and, with a running start, drove him back-first into the barricade. New Day performed the Unicorn Stampede (c/o JBL) stomps in the corner. Kalisto grabbed the bottom rope on a pin attempt to save his team from a loss. Kingston showed some aggressiveness in pounding away on Kalisto in the corner. Kalisto got to his feet but on a belly-to-belly throw, Kalisto rolled through and made a tag to Sin Cara. Cara made a pin on a springboard moonsault, but Kofi broke it up. Both Big E. and Kofi went to ringside where Cara and Kalisto did stereo suicide dives, but Cara fell short in an ugly face-plant. Springboard cross-body by Kalisto and a pin, but Woods distracted the ref. Salida del Sol on Big E. Cara went to the top, but too slowly. He avoided a trombone shot from Woods and moonsaulted into Big E’s arms. Big Ending finished it.

WINNERS: New Day, at 12:44. You can slowly see how New Day is being overexposed, and the crowds not reacting to them as strongly as they once did. Despite the loss, the Dragons were protected as much as one team can be here, getting a visual pin and fighting off numerous interference attempts.

Replays highlighted major moments in the match.

– Still to come: The Usos take on Alberto Del Rio & Rusev.

– Plus, Dean Ambrose defends the I.C. Title against Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler.

– Santino Marella was backstage getting ready for his Christmas party (perhaps an Ugly Sweater party, given his getup). His cobra helped him top the tree with a red star. It was then removed by an arm, body unseen, though it appeared to be Stardust.

– Dolph Ziggler, Charlotte, Tyler Breeze, and Roman Reigns gave separate Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas wishes.

[Commercial Break]

– Renee Young welcomed in Dean Ambrose for a backstage interview. She asked him about his upcoming Triple Threat match. He said he has six staples from his cage match last night and his jaw clicks from the superkick Ziggler gave him last week. He gave a few metaphors about what he’ll do to Owens and Ziggler tonight. He talked about knowing how much both Ziggler and Owens want the title, but it’s not going to be their night.

2 – THE WYATT FAMILY vs. THE DUDLEY BOYZ & RYBACK & KANE

Erick Rowan began the match with Ryback. Cross-body by Ryback. The Dudleys came in and double-teamed Rowan. Rowan backed into the corner to re-group, with the show taking a break at 54 seconds of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:52 with the Wyatts having the advantage. Braun Strowman tagged in and demanded Kane. Bubba obliged. Kane delivered some soup-bones to Strowman. Big boot to Luke Harper for good measure. That allowed Strowman to explode out of the corner with a clothesline. Kane tagged in Ryback at 8:25. He knocked Harper around a bit. Harper literally walked into an elbow in the corner. Ryback looked to Shell Shock Harper, but Rowan made the save. Michinoku Driver on Ryback for two. Tag to Bray Wyatt as the show cut to break at the 9:31 mark.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 12:58. Rowan slammed Ryback down to the mat. D-Von Dudley finally tagged in and worked over Bray Wyatt. Diving shoulder tackle, then D-Von went to the top. Flying headbutt found the mark. Strowman interrupted the pin attempt. Kane clotheslined Strowman over the top rope, but Kane was tossed into the ring post. Rowan deposited Ryback into the crowd. 3D on Wyatt, but he kicked out. D-Von mistakenly dove into Strowman’s arms at ringside. Strowman put him out. Sister Abigail to Bubba in the ring for the victory.

WINNERS: The Wyatt Family, at 16:06. A daunting task to go this long considering some of the talent involved in this one. So much for a cheery holiday show, with two major heel acts going over in the first hour.

Replays were shown of the last few moments.

– Santino’s party was underway. Summer Rae and Adam Rose were dressed up, but weren’t happy that the party seemed dead. They left. Damien Sandow and Adam Rose were observing Santino’s fallen tree and decorations. Santino was unhappy that someone ruined his party. Stardust and The Ascension came up and spoke threateningly to Santino. Neville came up with an elf hat and elf ears to put The Ascension in their place. Titus O’Neil walked up to provide backup. Titus threatened to put a boot down The Ascension’s chimney. Stardust canceled Christmas…unless Titus and Neville could take it back by beating The Ascension.

– Next, The Usos vs. Del Rio and Rusev.

[Commercial Break]

– The League of Nations came out. They advertised John Cena’s return on Monday, to take on Alberto Del Rio. They also showed the Nation taking out The Usos backstage on Raw.

3 – ALBERTO DEL RIO & RUSEV vs. THE USOS

After a double-team, Jey snap-mared Rusev down for a two-count. It didn’t take long, though, for Jey Uso to get stuck in the heel corner. Rusev rubbed his boot in the face of Jey. Jimmy came in and dropkicked Rusev out of the ring, though he didn’t get enough of him for Rusev to fly that far. Jey and Jimmy dove out of the ring and onto Del Rio and Rusev. However, the League turned the tide soon after and they went to break with the heels in control at 4:17.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:45 with, surprise!, the heels in control. Kick to the back of the head of Rusev by Jimmy put Rusev on rubber leg street. Jey tagged in and took out Del Rio with a Samoan drop. Running hip attack from Jey for a two-count, with the pin broken up by Rusev. Del Rio fought Jey off on the top rope. King Barrett got on the apron to provide a distraction, allowing Rusev to interfere. Del Rio stomped Jey in the corner to finish him off.

WINNERS: Del Rio and Rusev, at 10:28. Not a particularly inspiring match. Each of these first three matches on the show have followed the same, tired formula so much that it feels like you’re watching the same match over and over.

The League of Nations went on the attack post-match. Sheamus set up for a Brogue Kick with the U.S. Title on the face of Jey. But before he could hit it, Roman Reigns pulled Sheamus out of the ring and tossed him over the announce table. He was attacking every heel in sight. Superman punch to Del Rio. Then to Rusev. Only Barrett escaped unscathed. Sheamus was with Barrett as well, apparently having recovered from the table spot. The post-match was shown in replay.

– The I.C. Title Triple Threat is still to come.

– Dean Ambrose, Santino Marella, Becky Lynch, and New Day sent holiday greetings.

[Commercial Break]

– Stardust and The Ascension were finishing up their entrance. Santino then came out to introduce “my favorite Irishman,” Titus O’Neil, and Neville.

4 – THE ASCENSION vs. TITUS O’NEIL & NEVILLE

Neville got some of his trademark spots in early until a distraction by Stardust allowed The Ascension to take over. Konnor splashed Neville in the corner, then whipped him into Viktor for a knee to the face. A missed charge in the corner by Konnor led to a tag to Viktor. Neville managed to tag O’Neil as well. He cleaned house on both opponents, though Viktor got his feet up on an O’Neil charge. Stardust began to stalk Santino at ringside. He was surrounded by Stardust and The Ascension, so he brought out the Cobra. He used the cobra to wipe the sweat from his brow. Eventually, Stardust took out all three men with a dive. Kick by O’Neil to Viktor back in the ring. Red Arrow followed.

WINNERS: O’Neil and Neville, at 3:08. Christmas is saved!

The Red Arrow was replayed.

– The announcers at ringside talked about the I.C. Title Triple Threat match, and they showed clips of Smackdown from last Thursday where Dean Ambrose, Kevin Owens, and Dolph Ziggler all seemed to have issues with each other.

– Renee Young was backstage with Dean Ambrose. Ziggler said he feels like he’s gone about this all wrong. He said he’s stuck in the middle of this Owens and Ambrose thing. He said the I.C. Title is the first singles title he won and winning tonight can propel him into 2016.

[Commercial Break]

5 – BRIE BELLA vs. CHARLOTTE

Becky Lynch was on commentary. Entrances for no one! Charlotte was wearing an outfit that looked like it was a remnant of the old Santa’s Little Helper Divas matches of a bygone era. Charlotte got the better of Brie early on. Front chancery applied with knees delivered by Charlotte. Brie made a comeback as Becky Lynch struggled to answer questions about Charlotte on commentary. Brie missed a kick and Charlotte speared her. With both women down, Team BAD entered the arena dressed up for the holiday season. Sasha Banks was dressed like a snowman and Naomi had on reindeer horns. Naomi poured eggnog onto Lynch. Charlotte watched the three-on-one attack, but Charlotte, instead of helping her friend, picked up the win with the Figure Eight.

WINNER: Charlotte, via submission, at 3:26. I have to admit, I don’t see what Charlotte did as being wrong. Winning should be important enough for that to be the sole focus, even if the title isn’t on the line.

Charlotte checked on Lynch after the match. The ringside attack and finish was shown. Charlotte even seemed to find some humor in trying to console her friend.

– Backstage, Renee Young was with Kevin Owens. Owens still referred to the belt as “my” Intercontinental Title. And he said Neville has his Slammy for Breakout Star of 2015. He said he’ll take back what’s his from Ambrose tonight. Owens said he’s turning Smackdown into the Kevin Owens Show and he’s taking back his title. He ended things by saying Young, dressed all in white, looked ridiculous.

– Dean Ambrose came out. The Triple-Threat is next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – DEAN AMBROSE vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. KEVIN OWENS – TRIPLE-THREAT MATCH FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

When Owens came out, they showed him and Ziggler brawling at the Slammy Awards last night. Owens pulled Ziggler out of the ring and threatened to powerbomb him at ringside. Ambrose stopped it with a suicide dive. Owens delivered a back senton to both men on the outside. They went to break at 1:13 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:10. Owens dove at Ambrose, but Ambrose pulled down the top rope and Owens spilled to ringside. Ziggler clotheslined Ambrose out as well, and Ziggler’s momentum took him over. All three fought on the ramp. Owens threw Ziggler into the gifts and trees situated atop the ramp. He sent some in the direction of Ambrose as well. Ziggler superkicked Owens before he could powerbomb Ambrose off the stage. Ambrose and Ziggler shoved Owens off the stage and onto more gifts and trees. Ambrose used, as Cole called it, “the dreaded empty box” as a weapon. The see-saw battle continued with no one able to get a sustained advantage. Ambrose went to the top, but Ziggler met him there and gave him a face-plant off the top. Owens broke up the pin, sent Ziggler into the steps, and tried to steal the pin on Ambrose. It didn’t work. Sleeper on Owens by Ziggler. Owens broke the hold by falling backward onto the prone Ambrose. Ziggler went shoulder-first into the ring-post. Owens saw the end in sight. Overhead suplex with Ambrose landing on the back of his head. Mike Chioda backed Owens off of Ambrose for a minute to give Ambrose time to recover. Owens went out to continue hurting Ziggler, giving him a fallaway slam into the barricade. Owens trash-talked Ambrose. Dirty Deeds was lined up, but Ziggler hit Zig Zag on Ambrose. Pin attempt by Ziggler, but only for two. In the end, Ambrose hit Dirty Deeds on Ziggler after Ziggler superkicked Ambrose out of the ring.

WINNER: Ambrose, at 13:24.

Ambrose celebrated by waving around the I.C. Title at ringside. The Owens suplex on Ambrose was replayed, but Ambrose stood tall on the steel steps as champion. Cole pushed the Tribute to the Troops special tomorrow night as the show closed.

Did you watch Thursday’s Smackdown episode? Send your 0-10 score & Reax to pwtorch@gmail.com for our TV Reax feature.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. He is the host of “Moonlighting with Greg Parks,” a PWTorch VIP-exclusive audio show posted each weekend. 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.