by Greg Parks, Torch Columnist

WWE Smackdown review
January 15, 2010
Taped 1/12/10 in Green Bay, Wis.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


- WWE Open.

- They began the show with clips of last week’s number one contender’s match, including the non-finish.

- Smackdown Open.

- After panning the crowd, they showed the steel cage hanging ominously over the ring. Todd Grisham announced that Rey Mysterio and Batista would once again do battle, in said cage, for the right to face Undertaker at Royal Rumble. Man, Batista vs. Rey was such a hot feud, but they’ve run it dry having these matches seemingly every week on Smackdown. And the non-finish last week didn’t help. Oh, and we’ll hear from The Undertaker as well.

- Chris Jericho came out for a match. During his entrance, we saw Jericho and Mike Tyson’s interaction in the main event of Raw from this past week. Jericho did some mic work with a giant bruise on the left side of his face by his mouth. He talked about what happened Monday night and how none of that matters because he’s the baddest man on the planet. He discussed winning the World Championship once again and called the fans “tapeworms.” Then John Morrison’s music played and he came out for the match. He gave his sunglasses to a fan, a la Bret Hart.

1 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. JOHN MORRISON

Morrison went right after Jericho’s bruise and clotheslined him over the top rope. As Morrison stood on the top rope awaiting Jericho re-entering the ring, Drew McIntyre’s theme played and he came out. Morrison stared him down as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, McIntyre was sitting right in front of the announcers. A heelish thing to do, theoretically blocking their view of the match and pretty much confirming he’s only concerned about himself, but they didn’t play up that angle. Morrison had the advantage, but kept glancing over at the I.C Champion. He went for a springboard, and Jericho pushed him over the top and to the outside. Jericho slowed the pace down back in the ring. Morrison caught Jericho with a right hand to the gut as Jericho tried a double-axe handle from the middle rope. Running knee to the jaw by Morrison for two. Jericho landed a running bulldog, but Morrison recovered and landed a Flying Chuck kick for a near-fall. Morrison set up for Starship Pain, but landed on his feet. Jericho tried to lock in the Walls, but Morrison came up with a weak-looking roll-up for two. It was unique, but didn’t look “realistic.” Moonlight Drive was countered into a Walls of Jericho (Boston crab version) and McIntyre walked up to the ring and held the IC Belt in Morrison’s face. Morrison crawled toward McIntyre and got the ropes. Morrison was slightly distracted by McIntyre, allowing Jericho to connect with the Codebreaker for the win.

WINNER: Jericho, at 10:42. Good match and a quality singles win for Jericho, and it didn’t hurt Morrison that much.

- Matt Striker noted the steel cage, and plugged tonight’s main event.

- C.M. Punk saves another member of the WWE Universe, next.

[Commercial Break]

- C.M. Punk and his follower, Luke Gallows, entered the arena. Punk talked of what happened on last week’s show and said he was the leader of the Straight Edge Society. He said everyone would be “one nation, under Punk, with liberty and sobriety for all.” He pointed to Gallows as an example of what the fans can turn into. Gallows then spoke, and said people need to know they don’t need pills to get through the day, but rather, they need C.M. Punk. Punk turned his attention to the Royal Rumble, and how he will win it. He said the fans are too stupid to save themselves, so he has to save them, one person at a time. The person picked out of the crowd, was a 20 or 30-something black man. Trevor was the man’s name. Punk told him he’s among friends, and he didn’t mean the fans. Trevor confirmed that he was ready to make a pledge. Punk asked Trevor how many drinks he’s had this year, and he said he didn’t even know. Punk repeated it, and it got a big pop from the crowd. Funny. Punk told Trevor to say the pledge, which was basically, “I am ready to accept Straight Edge into my life.” Then Punk took the razor and cut the man’s hair. Punk said Trevor’s weakness is no more. He and Gallows raised Trevor’s arms and Punk introduced him as “one more person who is better than all of you.” The Great Khali’s music played and he, Ranjin Singh, and Matt Hardy came out. Apparently, we have a tag match next. If they keep up with this “saving” stuff for a few more weeks, someone interrupting it or rebuffing Punk’s offer will get some major face heat.

[Commercial Break]

2 – C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS vs. THE GREAT KHALI & MATT HARDY vs. THE HART DYNASTY vs. CRYME TYME- #1 CONTENDER FOR THE UNIFIED TAG TEAM TITLES

Does this mean there are no ECW or Raw tag teams worthy of a #1 Contender opportunity? You mean there’s not team more worthy than Khali and Hardy? Matt and D.H. Smith started things off, and Hardy tagged Khali. Khali did Matt’s yodel and hand motion along with Matt when Hardy came off the second rope. Khali clotheslined Smith over the top and to the outside. There was a stand-off between Hardy/Khali and The Harts as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

After Khali did the damage to Gallows, JTG tagged himself in and got two on a pin. Gallows tagged Punk in. Gallows and Tyson Kidd both broke up the pin of Punk. Everyone threw everyone else over the top rope and Hardy dove onto them on the outside. Punk got JTG up, but couldn’t seal the deal. Gallows made the blind tag and tagged JTG with a boot to the face. The 12th Step (officially now, I guess) finished the match, and Punk and Gallows got the win.

WINNERS: Punk and Gallows, at 6:50. The seriousness of Punk’s angle matched with the comedy of DX would seem to spell disaster.

Trevor joined the Straight Edge Superstars in celebrating their victory.

- Josh Mathews knocked on Batista’s door backstage and asked the big man to comment about Rey. Batista said he was done talking about Mysterio. He also said he wasn’t intimidated by The Undertaker. The Animal threatened Mathews if he came questioning him again.

- The Undertaker will be next, with some sort of message.

[Commercial Break]

- The Undertaker came out. He talked about the dawning of a new decade bringing new hopes to wrestlers in the WWE Universe. However, he said his darkness and collecting of souls will continue unabated. He said Batista and Mysterio felt his presence last week, and experienced a warning, one they will only get once. He opined that it didn’t matter who won tonight, as he is hell-bent on destruction, as the winner of tonight’s match won’t survive him at the Royal Rumble. Then, he touched on Wrestlemania. Taker bragged about his 17-0 record and said all of the fallen warriors but one have asked for no more. He said that Shawn Michaels has shined brightly in defeat. He said Michaels almost broke the streak….but ultimately failed. Taker said he decided to come to Raw this Monday night to give Shawn his answer personally. He said regardless of his decision, Shawn will rest in peace.

- Still to come: A #1 Contender’s match in a steel cage. They showed clips of Batista tearing apart Rey at Bragging Rights.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker plugged WWE.com’s Royal Rumble microsite.

3 – MICKIE JAMES vs. BETH PHOENIX

Referee John Cone had to hold them back before the bell rang. James fired away at Phoenix, but Beth took out her legs. Butt splash in the corner by Beth. Mickie tried to fight away from Beth’s grasp, but couldn’t do it. Back-breaker by the Glamazon for two. Beth hot-shotted Mickie off the top rope, then powerslammed her into the corner. She was tied in the Tree of Joey Lawrence according to Striker (aka the “Tree of Woah”). Beth got DQ’d for not breaking out of the corner.

WINNER: James, via DQ, at 3:06.

Michelle McCool and Layla came out to pick up the scraps. Phoenix at first stood between the heels and Mickie, who was still hung upside-down. Then she walked away, allowing Layla and McCool to do their worst. They slammed James’ head off the turnbuckle in the corner. James tried a few times to fight back, but it was to no avail. Faith Breaker by McCool closed things out.

- Another plug for the #1 Contender’s Match.

[Commercial Break]

4 – KANE vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Ziggler was backstage with Mathews after Kane’s entrance. Ziggler had big plans following tonight’s match. Striker complimented Ziggler for bringing back the sleeper (even though people have used it as a mid-match resthold for years), and brought up the likes of Roddy Piper, Jay Strongbow and Adrian Adonis as those who have finished opponents with that move. This is the third match in recent history among these two men. After some non-descript offense, Kane got a low dropkick for a near-fall. Kane was dominating the match, landing a few big elbowdrops. Ziggler caught Kane with a boot as the big man charged in, and Ziggler hopped on his back for a sleeper. Kane dumped him over the top rope to break the hold, and they went to commercial under three minutes in.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the match, Ziggler clamped on a rear chinlock. Ziggler took control during the break, as they showed a replay of that fact. Kane tried to cover up from punches by Ziggler in the corner. Another chinlock. More punches from Ziggler in the corner, but Kane swatted him away. Ziggler ran into a choke, but Ziggler grabbed the ropes to prevent the “slam” part of that equation. Powerslam by Kane for two. Kane then proceeded to the top rope, but Ziggler cut him off. Kane headbutted Ziggler down, but Ziggler rolled out of the ring before the flying clothesline could take off. Striker complimented the foresight of Ziggler. He dropkicked Kane off the apron, then jumped on his back and applied the sleeper on the outside, much like last week. Kane broke it, using the ring for his advantage. Kane broke the count at nine. He tried to shake off the cobwebs as he headed to the top. Clothesline missed, and Ziggler connected with the Fame-Asser. Striker corrected himself for calling it the Zig-Zag. Only two on that. Ziggler tried a Zig-Zag, but Kane countered with a chokeslam for the win.

WINNER: Kane, at 12:30. Good psychology, but this feud does nothing for me. Middle of the match, with the Ziggler rest-holds and constant punching, was especially brutal to sit through.

- Coming up, Rey Mysterio meets Batista in a Steel Cage, with the winner facing Taker at the Royal Rumble.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed the Green Bay Packers Hall-of-Fame, as they’re in Cheeseland this week.

- Grisham and Striker discussed John Cena at the Fiesta Bowl last weekend.

- Mysterio had his face to the locker, saying a prayer with his mask off. Then he put the mask on and started walking backstage. Maria, Jimmy Wang Yang and Slam Master J wished him luck. Josh Mathews approached him and asked what Rey was feeling. Mysterio said tonight would be a dream come true.

- The cage began to lower in the arena, as the crowd awaited in silent anticipation.

[Commercial Break]

5 – REY MYSTERIO vs. BATISTA – WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDER MATCH, STEEL CAGE

Rey made the mistake of trying to go toe-to-toe with Batista off the bat, then attempted to scale the cage. Batista stopped him and Rey missed a cross-body off the top rope. Shoulders to the gut by Batista. Rey set up Batista for the 619, but climbed up his back and to the top of the cage. He couldn’t get out, though. Batista picked him up in position for a powerbomb, but he couldn’t hit it. Instead, he threw Rey into the side of the cage. Batista pressed Rey over his head and tossed him head-first into the cage. He tried it again, but Rey held on and tried to get out. Once again, Batista stopped him. Modified West Coast Pop landed, but Batista booted Rey in the face, sending him again to the mat. Legdrop off the middle rope by Rey. It didn’t help, as Batista was back on offense soon after. He speared Rey to the mat, but chose not to go out through the door. Spinebuster followed that up. He did push-ups, taunting the fans and Mysterio. The door was open and Mysterio began to crawl out, but Batista grabbed him by the leg. Rey fought out of a powerbomb and got to the other side of the cage. He started climbing down and Batista went out the door, but Rey was close enough to the door to kick it shut in Batista’s face, then finished the climb down.

WINNER: Mysterio, at 7:15. Good enough match.

Batista looked on with regret in the ring as they faded out.

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, posted on the Torch website. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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