by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
December 18, 2009
Taped 12/15/09 in Laredo, TX.
Aired on MyNetwork TV



- WWE Open.

- Clips aired of the Chairs Match between Batista and Undertaker at TLC this past Sunday.

-They opened to the arena, where Teddy Long came to the ring. Long said Taker retained the title at TLC, and tonight, they’d find a new number one contender for that belt. Batista interrupted immediately, not liking what he was hearing. Lots of screams from the ladies when he came out. Batista said he should be the number one contender, since he was robbed on Sunday. Batista told Long to “make it right.” Batista calmly said there was no one in the locker room who could beat him to become number one contender. As he told Long he should be the number one contender, Rey Mysterio’s music hit and he came out.

Rey said he wanted to challenge Batista. He said you don’t have to be 6’5” and jacked to be champion. Ask Vince McMahon about that one. Rey called Batista a bully and said unlike Dave, he has heart. He said the best way to get back at Batista is to make sure he never holds the World Championship again. Mysterio then officially proposed the match. Batista said he’d be happy to beat up Mysterio again. Long made the match for the number one contendership. He told Batista this is a straight-up match with no chairs or gimmicks. He then said the winner would face Undertaker next week on Smackdown, Christmas night. Interesting to put that match on Christmas night, considering I doubt many people will be watching compared to the usual audience.

[Commercial Break]

- Todd Grisham and Matt Striker reminded the audience about Batista vs. Mysterio tonight.

1 – JOHN MORRISON & MATT HARDY & R-TRUTH vs. DREW MCINTYRE & C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS

Grisham called Punk the “preaching pugilist.” Oh no, Striker’s love for alliteration is rubbing off on his announce partner. Truth and Hardy double-teamed Punk, but a hesitation by Truth allowed Punk to make the tag to McIntyre. Morrison got the best of McIntyre in their first hook-up following Morrison’s I.C. Title loss at TLC. They went to break with McIntyre attempting to re-group on the outside of the ring.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the action, Morrison was still in control, but of Punk this time. Flying leg kick got two for Morrison. With Morrison on the apron, McIntyre landed a cheap shot foot to the chest to knock Morrison to the floor. Gallows tagged in as Morrison was trying to fight out of the heel corner, and he leveled Morrison with a big boot. Punk tagged in and he and Gallows each held a leg, with Morrison standing on his head, and Punk kicked him in the chest while Gallows took the back. Back-breaker by Gallows, followed by a knee off the middle rope by Punk while Morrison was still being held. The knee to the throat flipped Morrison over, but Punk could only get a two-count. Morrison countered a GTS attempt with a roll-up, but he couldn’t get the pin. He did manage to tag Hardy though. Hardy with an elbow off the middle rope. Punk created some separation, but Punk kicked out of a Side Effect. Everyone began to get involved, so the finish was coming next. Punk illegally used a Slammy to the abdomen of Hardy while the ref was busy getting Morrison out of the match. That led to a pin for Punk.

WINNERS: Punk, Gallows and McIntyre, at 11:41. A serviceable match.

- Maria and Mickie James were playing Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 backstage. Interesting hairstyle for Mickie. Beth Phoenix unplugged the TV and scolded Mickie, saying this is why Mickie didn’t win the title at TLC. Beth told Maria that when she won the Slammy for Diva of the Year, she was hungry for competition. Beth said she and Maria have a match tonight and that she’ll make sure Maria’s return to Smackdown is short-lived.

- Still to come, Batista vs. Rey Mysterio in a #1 Contender’s Match.

[Commercial Break]

- They replayed DX’s LONG merchandise plug from Raw, with a cameo by Hornswoggle.

-On Christmas night, DX invades Smackdown with a DX Christmas celebration.

[Commercial Break]

- Eric Escobar came out. Escobar desperately tried to get the fans pumped up when he walked out, showing that he’s a face. It was sad to watch really, as no one reacted. He got the mic prior to the match and said he called National Geographic to tell them about his sighting of a Chupacabras: Vickie Guerrero in her undergarments. Hey, don’t joke about El Chupacbras: they’re dangerous! Vickie came out and said it was Escobar’s birthday, so she brought him a gift: A match with Kane.

2 – ERIC ESCBOAR vs. KANE

Escobar tried to go toe-to-toe with Kane, but he didn’t exactly survive that unscathed. Guerrero was looking on from ringside. Kane clotheslined Escobar over the top and worked him over on the outside. Comeback for Escobar ended when he ran into a big boot. Chokeslam finished him off.

WINNER: Kane, at 1:18. I’m off the Eric Escobar bandwagon, I think.

Vickie cackled at Escobar after the match ended. She told him to choose his words more wisely next time he talks about her. Escobar got a mic and said he’s been talking himself into some brutal beatings lately. He said he’d wake up tomorrow very sore, but still standing to fight another day. Bad news for Vickie is that she’ll wake up tomorrow looking like that. She demanded the mic from him, as she had a response, but Escobar being a real face by not giving it to her.

- Coming up next, The Great Khali faces Chris Jericho.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker thanked Switchfoot for providing the theme to TLC.

- Chris Jericho came out with his Slammy for Tag Team of the Year. He said he was unfairly ejected from Raw this past week. He said he and Big Show never lost their tag title re-match. He said he was the victim of the biggest screwjob in WWE history. He said he’d leave Raw when he’s good and ready. Jericho said he’s being punished for being the best and the fans are against him. He said Show has been taken from him, leaving him alone to fend for himself. He said this was one of the worst moments of his career. He said he will be back to dominating as the face of Smackdown.

3 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. THE GREAT KHALI

Jericho went to the outside before locking up with the giant. Khali took Jericho down with a clothesline once Jericho re-entered the ring. Khali stomped him in the corner, then stepped on him. Jericho went to the top, but got caught in a choke from Khali. Jericho walked into a chop to the head, then set up for the Khali Vice. Jericho saw it coming at the last second and fled the ring. He was counted out walking to the back.

WINNER: Jericho, at 2:26. I guess it fits with Jericho’s character, but still, even a count-out loss to Khali is not what he needs after losing to DX at TLC, then being embarrassed by them Monday night.

- Batista will take on Rey Mysterio for the right to face Undertaker next Friday. It’s still to come.

[Commercial Break]

4- THE HART DYNASTY vs. SLAM MASTER J & JIMMY WANG YANG

Even though they’re pretty much jobbers, anything that gets Yang more TV time is OK with me. Hurricanrana by Yang on Tyson Kidd, then a clothesline over the top. He kicked David Hart Smith in the head, sending him to the floor. Both J and Yang dove through the ropes onto the Canadian duo for a good pop. Back in the ring, Kidd got the advantage once more. Delayed vertical suplex by Smith, shades of his father the British Bulldog. Smith with three unreleased bell-to-belly suplexes. Yang fought back and eventually, both men were down. They both made tags and the Slam Master landed a head-scissors. Northern Lights suplex for two. Kidd tried to jump over the top rope and into the ring, but J dropkicked him in mid-air and sent him to the outside. Natalya got involved and bodyslammed Slam Master J. Smith tagged in and the Harts hit their finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Hart Dynasty, at 4:33. Entertaining match. Everybody looked impressive in their time in the ring.

Natalya got the mic after the match and said revenge is a dish best served cold. She said they finally get their opportunity with DX. She said next week during DX’s Christmas, it’ll be the Hart Dynasty’s time to celebrate. Smith said they’d end DX’s run as tag champions last week. He said unlike their fathers (his and Natalya’s), they won’t be intimidated and won’t back down. Kidd said they’ll do what the previous generation couldn’t. Just another layer to build for Bret Hart’s return and it made sense for this confrontation to happen with DX coming to Smackdown.

- Batista vs. Rey, still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Backstage, Beth Phoenix walked out of the Divas locker room. Michelle McCool and Layla stopped her and McCool wanted to apologize if they rubbed her the wrong way upon Phoenix’s debut on Smackdown. Michelle and Layla made more fun of Mickie as Beth stood there and had to listen to it. She looked displeased and said, sarcastically, “who would want to see a big girl shut your big mouths in a big way?”

5 – MARIA vs. BETH PHOENIX

Maria caught Beth charging into the corner with a boot or two. Maria got caught by Beth as she jumped off the second rope though. Phoenix slammed her down but got caught with an inside cradle for two. Another boot to the face and Maria got on Beth’s shoulders – but Beth slammed Maria down butt-first in a painful looking move. Then the Glam Slam (that looked a bit odd) finished things.

WINNER: Phoenix, at 1:42.

- The trailer for The Marine 2 aired.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers plugged the WWE.com Advent calendar.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Next week on Smackdown, it’s a DX Christmas, plus, they face the Hart Dynasty for the tag team titles.

- Also, Undertaker will defend his World Championship against either Batista or Rey Mysterio.

- Rey Mysterio made his entrance for the main event, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – REY MYSTERIO vs. BATISTA – NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Mysterio hit the ropes and jumped into Batista’s arms, and Batista rammed him back-first into the turnbuckle. Batista threw Mysterio to the outside, underneath the bottom rope. He tried for a Batista Bomb, but Mysterio grabbed the top rope. He landed a springboard dropkick that sent Batista outside the ring. Seated Senton to the outside, but Batista recovered and put Rey back in the ring. Rey wouldn’t allow Batista to get back in the ring. He caught a moonsault attempt by Rey, then slammed him back-first into the barricade. They went to break about 3:00 in.

[Commercial Break]

Batista continued working the back of Mysterio, slamming him into the ring post. The mat had slowed down as Batista focused on one body part. Batista got a hard clothesline to Myserio and Striker assumed that would be it. It wasn’t, of course. Batista was on the top rope, and Mysterio met him there. He tried a huricanrana, but Batista held on. Dropkick caught Batista coming off the middle rope and looked to be the turning point of the match. Rey made his comeback with a bulldog for two. Batista finally caught Rey and went for a powerslam, which Rey turned into a DDT for a near fall. Rey dropkicked Batista’s knee and hit the 619. But in his splash attempt, Batista got his knees up. That got a two count. Another slam by Batista, who had an incredulous look on his face when it didn’t garner him the pinfall. Boss-Man slam (as called by Striker), and Rey grabbed the bottom rope to break the pin. Batista Bomb attempt, but Rey sent him to the outside. Batista exploded with anger and grabbed a steel chair from ringside. The ref warned him against using it so he dropped it and went into the ring to spear Mysterio. That only got a two-count as well. Batista went for a spinebuster, but Rey turned it into a small package for the win.

WINNER: Mysterio, at 15:54. Solidly worked match that told a good story.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. You can also read his frequently updated blog in the VIP forum. Check out his column each week in the PDF-exclusive version of the Torch Newsletter. Also, look for his Tuesday chats with James Caldwell each Tuesday afternoon on the Torch. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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