WWE Smackdown
November 20, 2009
Philadelphia, PA
Report by: Mike Tedesco of WrestleView.com
?Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event?? The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays and we roll into the arena with a fireworks display. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcome us to the show. Our Main Event is a good one as the Brothers of Destruction reunite for the first time in over a year to face Jeri-Show. Also we?ll see John Morrison defend his Intercontinental Title against Dolph Ziggler in a two-out-of-three falls match.
We kick things off with the guy who walks alone, Batista. Batista is in a foul mood after Rey Mysterio embarrassed him last week on Smackdown.
Batista vs. Matt Hardy
The bell rings and Batista immediately goes for a clothesline but Hardy ducks it and begins punching. Batista quickly drops down and rolls out of the ring. Batista drags Hardy out of the ring and goes to smash him off the barricade but Hardy ducks it. Hardy bounces Batista’s face off the barricade and throws him back in the ring. Hardy gets in and Batista stomps him a few times. Batista sends him into the ropes and lowers his head so Hardy kicks him in the face. Hardy hits some punches but Batista changes the momentum by sending him face first into the corner.
Batista hits a powerslam for a two count. Batista slams on Hardy’s back before locking on a rear naked choke hold. Hardy desperately tries to get out so Batista transitions to a chin lock. Hardy counters out with a sloppy jawbreaker. Hardy hits some punches but Batista cuts him off with a knee. Batista sends him into the corner and charges into his boots. Hardy comes off the second rope with an elbow to the back of the head. Hardy sets up for the Twist of Fate so Batista counters to a Batista Bomb attempt. Hardy gets out of that and hits a DDT for a near fall.
Batista rakes the eyes and goes for a clothesline but Hardy counters into a Side Effect attempt. Batista elbows out of that and chop blocks him. Batista charges and Hardy hits a drop-toe-hold into the corner. Hardy goes for the ten punches so Batista counters with the snake eyes. Batista drops him with a huge Spinebuster and picks him up for another big one. Batista drops him with a third Spinebuster before finishing him up with a Batista Bomb for the decisive win!
Winner by Pinfall: Batista
Match Rating: * ?
Todd Grisham and Matt Striker bring us back to last week when Rey Mysterio embarrassed Batista at the contract signing. Mysterio pushed the table over on Batista in case you forgot.
Josh Mathews catches up with Batista backstage and asks him about Rey Mysterio. Batista cuts him off and says Rey Mysterio made three major mistakes: he cost him his World Heavyweight Title, he signed a hold harmless agreement, and he embarrassed him like he’s never been embarrassed before. Batista promises he?ll never embarrass him again because at Survivor Series he?ll punish Mysterio with no mercy, regrets, or remorse.
-Commercial Break-
We get a shot of the arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We take a fun look back at the Brothers of Destruction. They?ll face Jeri-Show in a non-title match tonight.
Teddy Long is backstage when Vickie Guerrero walks in with Eric Escobar. She says in all her time as General Manager of Smackdown she never even considered reuniting the Brothers of Destruction. Long says that was Mr. McMahon’s decision. Vickie says they could ruin the Main Event of Survivor Series and says he’s in way over his head, hence why he’s on probation. Vince McMahon walks up and says it was imbecilic of Long to make tonight’s Main Event. Long tries to argue but McMahon cuts him off. McMahon reminds him that he’s still on probation so to help get him off that he’s making Vickie Guerrero creative consultant to Smackdown. Vickie celebrates all crazy to end the segment.
Drew McIntyre makes his way to the ring. He?ll face Finlay next.
-Commercial Break-
They do a quick highlight package of the Drew McIntyre vs. Finlay mini-feud. Last week McIntyre left him lying in the ring after two shillelagh shots.
Drew McIntyre is smiling and says Finlay loves to fight but in his experience he loves to cry and whimper. Finlay reminds him of a little old lady, scared to death of Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says those are fighting words so he wants Finlay to get out there and fight.
Drew McIntyre vs. Finlay
The match begins and they take some time before Finlay hits a double leg. Finlay viciously assaults McIntyre with punches until he escapes from the ring. Finlay follows him outside and continues the assault. McIntyre pushes him away and runs into the ring. Finlay runs in and takes him down. Finlay punches him in the corner and stomps him. Finlay continues punching and kicking him until the referee backs him away. This is pretty vicious. The referee finally gets Finlay away from him, allowing McIntyre to poke him in the eyes. McIntyre then hits a Double Arm DDT for the win. What?
Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
Match Rating: *
Drew McIntyre gets out of the ring as Finlay continues rubbing his injured eye.
CM Punk is seen walking backstage. He has a message of survival for the WWE Universe and we?ll hear it next.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know the WWE Superstars just completed a 22 show, 2 week tour of Europe, performing in front of over 170,000 people?
Still to come tonight is our Main Event of the Brothers of Destruction taking on Jeri-Show.
CM Punk’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. In the ring is a table with three large, white containers with the letter ?X? on them. There is a garbage can in front of the table. Punk says tonight he’s going to do for us what people who love us should have done a long time ago. He knows we?re sick and helpless so he?ll help us in the form of an intervention. It’s not just any intervention ? it’s a straightedge intervention. The first step to recovery is a confession. We need to stop lying to ourselves and say we have a problem. Punk asks the crowd to stand up and admit they?re addicts. They boo and Punk says it is denial. Punk berates the crowd on being addicts before saying not to worry because he’s about to teach us how to survive.
Punk takes the first container off and it’s a carton of cigarettes. Punk says no one recognizes the danger of inhaling the smoke. Punk reads the Surgeon General’s warning, which sounds a bit exaggerated. ?Smoking may cause a long and painful death.? Punk takes the cigarettes and throws them in the garbage.
Punk removes the second container and it’s a pill bottle. Punk says people hide behind prescriptions and doctors while eating the pills like candy. Punk says it’s ?failure in a bottle.? Punk says people fail at life when they eat them. Punk reads the direction, saying ?use only as prescribed.? Punk says the people probably don?t understand because they?re all under the influence. Punk then throws it in the garbage.
Punk removes the last container and it’s a bottle of cheap whiskey. The crowd cheers and Punk says that judging by the reaction he can tell that it controls everyone’s lives. Punk asks if the crowd wants to see him take a swig and they cheer. Punk says they make him ill and that will never happen. Punk says he can only imagine how many in the arena have partaken in the liquid hell. Punk says what is in the bottle is poison. Punk says it ruins lives and says it’s the worst of them all. Punk says when people drink it they poison themselves. Just like the bottle their lives are going down the drain. Punk opens the bottle and pours it out into the trash can. The crowd does not like that. The whiskey looks like it has the consistency of iced tea.
R-Truth’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring not rapping. R-Truth asks what’s up before saying the truth is what’s up. The truth is CM Punk thinks he’s better than everyone else. The truth is everyone makes their own decisions in life. The truth is he doesn?t like Punk. R-Truth kicks the trash can into Punk and DDTs him. R-Truth picks up the trash can and empties its contents, whiskey and all, all over Punk. R-Truth then smashes the trash can on Punk and leaves. That was a great segment.
Coming up next we?ll see the Intercontinental Title defended in a Two-out-of-Three Falls Match.
-Commercial Break-
We get an aerial shot of the city of brotherly love.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Two out of Three Falls Match
John Morrison (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
The match begins and Ziggler quickly hits a takedown for a no count. Ziggler hits a right hand for a one count. Ziggler hits some kicks and a snapmare. Ziggler punches again for a one count. Ziggler sends Morrison into the ropes. Morrison slides through his legs and hits a dropsault. Morrison hits a clothesline before sending him into the ropes and hitting a high calf kick for a two count. Morrison sends Ziggler to the corner and charges. Morrison slides out of the ring and pulls Ziggler’s legs out. Morrison goes for Starship Pain but Ziggler moves and he lands on his feet impressively. Morrison then hits him with a top rope 450 Splash to the outside!! Are you kidding me??
Morrison sends Ziggler into the ring and sets him up. Morrison goes for Starship Pain but Ziggler gets his knees up. Ziggler approaches Morrison and Morrison hits a possum pin to win the first fall!
John Morrison leads 1-0
Dolph Ziggler argues it as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Ziggler hit a rolling neck snap for a near fall. Ziggler locks on a rear naked choke. Morrison gets out with some elbows. Ziggler holds on to a waist lock. Morrison counters into one of his own and rolls him up for a two count. Ziggler ducks a running kick and hits the Zig-Zag for the win out of nowhere.
Series tied 1-1
It takes Morrison time to get up and he’s immediately dropped by a dropkick for a near fall. Ziggler hits a punch and drops some elbows. Ziggler hits a big elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler locks the rear naked choke back on. Morrison elbows out but Ziggler cuts him off with a knee. Ziggler hits a HUGE gut buster for a near fall. That was close. Ziggler uses the ring post to stretch Morrison’s midsection some more. Ziggler then dropkicks him into the ring post abdomen first. Ziggler covers but Morrison surprises him with a cover of his own for a two count.
Ziggler hits the X-Factor for a two and seven-eighths count. Ziggler can?t believe it. Ziggler hits some punches and goes for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Morrison counters into a DDT! Morrison hits Starship Pain for the win!
Winner & STILL Intercontinental Champion: John Morrison
Match Rating: ** ?
John Morrison holds his ribs in pain while raising his Intercontinental Title in victory.
Our Main Event will be the Brothers of Destruction taking on Jeri-Show.
-Commercial Break-
Matt Striker thanks Art of Dying for ?Get Thru This,? the official theme song of Survivor Series.
Mickie James vs. Layla
Mickie, remembering how Layla and Michelle McCool destroyed her clothes last week, starts off with some forearms and a Lou Thesz Press. Mickie hits a kick and stomps her in the corner. Layla kicks her in the knee and stomps her. Layla hits some punches and a low dropkick to the face for a two count. Mickie hits some punches until Layla kicks her. Layla sends her to the corner but Mickie slingshots over her and rolls her up for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Mickie James
Match Rating: *
Layla gets on the microphone and says that before she celebrates she should watch a video. It’s a video of Michelle McCool with a farm in the background. She calls her ?Piggy James? and has her head superimposed on a pig’s body. McCool sings ?Old McDonald? and it ends with the Looney Tunes ?That’s all folks? with Mickie James playing the part of Porky Pig. Mickie James cries in the ring before leaving.
Rey Mysterio is seen walking in the back. He?ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Batista is at ringside for the next match, which just so happens to involve his Survivor Series opponent Rey Mysterio.
Rey Mysterio vs. Tyson Kidd
They lock up and Kidd quickly hits a knee and a punch. Kidd sends Mysterio into the corner and charges into some boots. Mysterio goes to the top rope but Kidd quickly hangs him in the tree of woe. Kidd kicks him in the back a few times. Mysterio drops to the mat and Kidd stomps and chokes him. Kidd hits a hard whip to the corner. Kidd hits a snapmare and kicks him in the back for a two count. Kidd hits a surfboard stretch. Mysterio gets out with kicks but Kidd cuts him off with a spin kick and a dropkick to the head for a two count. Kidd goes for a springboard elbow drop but Mysterio moves.
Mysterio whips him to the corner and hits a hurricanrana but Kidd holds on. Mysterio rolls through and kicks him in the head for a near fall. Kidd reverses a whip to the corner but runs into a back elbow. Mysterio gets him in position for the 619 but Kidd quickly rolls out of the ring. Mysterio goes to the top rope but Batista, who never said a word on commentary, gets up and throws Kidd into the barricade, costing Mysterio the match.
Winner by Disqualification: Tyson Kidd
Match Rating: * ?
Mysterio angrily jumps over the announcer’s table and hits a seated senton on Batista! Batista angrily chases Mysterio but Mysterio is too quick for him, getting in and out of the ring. Mysterio hits a baseball slide and runs to the ramp! Batista angrily runs into the ring as the crowd goes nuts. That was some great interaction.
Backstage Chris Jericho is talking with Big Show. Jericho says they need to be on the same page or the Brothers of Destruction will beat them. Big Show says they should have their minds on the present but his mind is on the future. Big Show’s mind is on Survivor Series and leaving as the new World Heavyweight Champion. Jericho says that’s the selfishness that might cause them to not make it to Survivor Series. Big Show says it sounds like Jericho is scared. Jericho says he’s not scared of anything. Big Show says not to worry about it because he’s held tag titles with both Undertaker and Kane so he knows what makes them go. Big Show says he won?t hesitate to knock Jericho out at Survivor Series if it comes down to the two of them. Jericho says he’s not intimidated by Big Show or Undertaker. Big Show leaves and the lights go out. Jericho flips out and they come on to reveal Big Show hit the switch. Jericho angrily looks at him as the segment ends.
-Commercial Break-
We get a shot of the Liberty Bell before being introduced to the Raw Rebound. That video is way over the top.
Jeri-Show makes their entrance. They?ll face the Brothers of Destruction next.
-Commercial Break-
The Brothers of Destruction make their entrance. There are two big metal Undertaker symbols on the corners of the stage. They set fire as they come out.
Jeri-Show vs. Brothers of Destruction
Kane will start the match out against Chris Jericho. Jericho ducks a clothesline and hits some punches. Jericho hits some knees and goes into the ropes, running right into an uppercut. Kane hits some punches in the corner. Kane whips Jericho the opposite corner and follows up with a clothesline for a two count. Undertaker makes the tag and he kicks Jericho in the ribs. Undertaker hits some punches in the corner before bouncing Jericho’s face off the opposite corner. Undertaker sends Jericho into the ropes but Jericho holds on and desperately tags in Big Show.
Big Show enters the ring and goes face to face with Undertaker. Big Show talks some trash but Undertaker doesn?t care. Undertaker ducks a clothesline and hits some punches. Big Show comes back with body shots. Big Show sends Undertaker into the corner but charges into a boot. Undertaker goes into the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and hits his trademark flying clothesline. Kane enters the ring and they double clothesline Big Show over the top rope. Jericho checks on his partner as we go to break.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jericho punching and kicking Undertaker in the corner. Undertaker reverses a whip into the corner and clotheslines Jericho. Undertaker wrenches the arm and climbs the top rope. Undertaker hits Old School and covers for a two count. Undertaker wrenches the arm and tags in Kane. They double whip him into the work and hit a double big boot. That gets Kane a near fall. Kane hits some punches before whipping Jericho into the ropes. Big Show makes a blind tag as Jericho kicks Kane in the face. Kane tries to Chokeslam Jericho but Big Show comes in and spears him for a one count.
Big Show head-butts Kane and kicks him. Big Show hits some body blows in the corner. The referee admonishes him as Jericho gets some cheap shots on Kane. Big Show hits a massive blow to the midsection. Kane tries to hit some punches but Big Show simply knees him in the face. Jericho is tagged in and he kicks Kane in the shoulder. Jericho talks some trash and kicks at Kane before locking in an arm trap chin lock. Kane fights to his feet but Jericho cuts him off with a knee. Jericho hits a bulldog and taunts. Jericho is scared off by Undertaker before going for the Lionsault. Kane gets the knees up and they?re both down. Jericho makes a tag to Big Show and Big Show cuts Kane off from making a tag. Big Show gets Kane on the top rope for a Superplex but Kane punches him off. Kane hits a flying clothesline and they?re both down.
Undertaker and Jericho are tagged in. Undertaker takes him down with a trio of punches. Undertaker hits snake eyes, a big boot, and a leg drop (brother) for a near fall. Undertaker takes Big Show out with a right hand and goes to Chokeslam Jericho but Jericho counters into a roll up! Jericho stops the pin and goes for the Walls of Jericho but Undertaker counters into Hell’s Gate! Big Show breaks it up with a huge leg drop. Kane kicks Big Show out of the ring and punches him on the outside.
Jericho clotheslines Undertaker out of the ring. Undertaker drags him out of the ring and throws him into the barricade. Kane and Undertaker double whip Big Show into the barricade and he goes over. They take apart the announcer’s table and get Big Show. They go for a Double Chokeslam but Jericho stops them. They punch Jericho and send him in the ring. The referee loses control here so this is over.
Winner: No Contest
Match Rating: **
Undertaker punches Jericho and Kane Chokeslams him. Big Show pulls Kane out of the ring and knocks him out cold! Undertaker goes to Chokeslam Big Show but Big Show elbows out. Jericho runs into a big boot and Big Show Chokeslams Undertaker! Big Show helps Jericho up and Jericho takes him out with a Codebreaker! Jericho runs out of the ring and steals the title. Jericho says it’s his and raises it in the air on the ramp.
Quick Match Results
Batista def. Matt Hardy
Drew McIntyre def. Finlay
John Morrison def. Dolph Ziggler 2-1 to retain the Intercontinental Title
Mickie James def. Layla
Tyson Kidd def. Rey Mysterio via DQ
The Brothers of Destruction NC Jeri-Show (non-title)
Bump of the Night: Morrison’s 450 Splash to the outside!
Match of the Night: Morrison vs. Ziggler ** ?
Mike’s Thoughts
This was a good go home show for Smackdown. All of the feuds have reached their boiling point and will explode at Survivor Series. Smackdown has its bases covered here.
One match I?m particularly looking forward to is the World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat. They?ve done a great job building this match up. Undertaker has been great as a champion and has done a good job hyping the importance of Survivor Series to him. Chris Jericho and Big Show, of course, have done their parts just as well, adding some great intrigue to the match. I?m excited about this one.
Man, Batista versus Rey Mysterio at Survivor Series is going to tear the house down. Their stuff has been gold to watch on TV. Every interaction, no matter how big or small, has been fantastic. Their exchange after Mysterio’s match tonight was so much fun to watch. I can?t believe this is the same Batista who has been boring me to tears over the past two years. The guy is fresh and relevant again. I love his character. Batista is doing a great job of carrying himself. Kudos to Batista and creative on the reinvention. Rey Mysterio deserves some credit, too. 2009 has been a banner year for him and everything he touches has turned to gold since coming back to Smackdown. Mysterio plays his part well and is the greatest underdog wrestler to ever lace up a pair of boots. That’s my opinion.
I loved that CM Punk and R-Truth segment tonight. I?m not the only one ? my good buddy Dave Stephens texted me during it to say how awesome he thought it was. CM Punk was great in this. I can?t believe this guy is churning out segments like this and he’s back in the mid-card. R-Truth was awesome in his part tonight. I, dare I say it, really enjoyed R-Truth tonight. There have been times where R-Truth has shined since he came to WWE but they never follow up. I only hope they follow up with this after Survivor Series because this was R-Truth’s highlight since coming to WWE in September 2008.
Was I the only one who was disappointed with the Two-Out-of-Three Falls match or what? It’s got nothing to do with the performers. They did an awesome job and worked their butts off. Morrison even hit a springboard 450 splash to the outside! My disappointment lies with the booking crew. Just about ten minutes of TV time for a match involving three falls. The match was like lightening. A few flashes of brilliance and then BAM it’s over. I wanted so much more from that but they did the best with what they got.
I can see how people would be offended by the Mickie James segment tonight but I?ve got to admit I found that to be funny as hell. I laughed out loud. I felt bad afterwards but that didn?t stop me from watching it again. Mickie James did some good acting after that. Good segment all around ? mean, but good.
I missed my Beth Phoenix squash match this week. I also found it strange that the announcers didn?t get in the ring and go over the Survivor Series card. Instead of promoting Survivor Series we had to sit through a long, long, LONG production of Raw at Madison Square Garden. They tried to make it seem like it’s another highlight for MSG but I thought the show was average. Their priorities are so backwards anymore. To hell with buyrates ? just make sure Raw gets a 3.4 this week dammit! When did PPVs become so unimportant?
Final Rating: ** ?
Agree with my thoughts or not? Like the recap or not? E-mail me!
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out yesterday’s Superstars recap.
I?m not sure if there will be a Superstars episode next week so I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for reading! Enjoy Survivor Series 2009!
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