WWE Smackdown
November 18, 2011
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We open the show to see Mark Henry squishing Daniel Bryan against a wall. Henry screams, “Come on, Mr. Money in the Bank,” before beating him down. Henry picks him up, and he brings him out to the arena. Henry kicks him near the entrance ramp. Henry drags him toward the ring, and he head-butts him. Henry throws him into the ring, and Bryan attempts to comeback with some kicks and punches, but Henry quickly swats him down. Henry screams about Bryan disrespecting him before chopping him down. Henry hits a big splash, and he says he’s not done. Henry picks Bryan up, and he hits him with the World’s Strongest Slam. The referees run down to the ring as Henry lifts Bryan up for another World’s Strongest Slam. The referees grab Bryan, and they drag him out of the ring.
Henry grabs a microphone and asks if the crowd saw that. The crowd is booing loudly. Henry says Bryan is in pain, and he promises that there’s more where that came from. Henry says Big Show felt the pain, but obviously what he did wasn’t good enough, so he’ll have to get more. Henry promises that, at Survivor Series, one of them will get carried out of there. It won’t be him, though, because he’s leaving as the World Heavyweight Champion. Henry leaves the ring, and he screams at Bryan, who is still on the floor being tended to by the referees.
The announcers talk about what just happened. They then announce that the main event will be Randy Orton and Sheamus taking on Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes.
Sin Cara’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Dolph Ziggler next.
-Commercial Break-
EXCUSE ME! Vickie Guerrero is in the ring with her client, the WWE United States Champion, Dolph Ziggler. Vickie introduces him as the only man who will compete in two matches at Survivor Series. He will not only lead “Team Barrett” to victory, he will also retain his title over John Morrison.
Sin Cara vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero
They circle the ring and lock up. Ziggler quickly takes Cara down with a waist lock, and he rolls around on him before gloating. They circle the ring, and Ziggler slaps him. Cara angrily charges, but Ziggler puts himself through the ropes. They circle the ring again, and Ziggler takes him down with a firemen’s carry takeover. Ziggler works the arm before kicking him in the ribs. Ziggler kicks him and elbows him down. Ziggler applies a side headlock, but Cara whips him off. Ziggler takes him down with a shoulder block. They go into the ropes, Cara leapfrogs him twice, and Ziggler hangs on to the ropes. They circle the ring one more time, and Ziggler kicks him. Ziggler punches him down, and he sends him to the ropes. Cara counters with a handspring back elbow. Cara hits a head-scissor takeover that takes Ziggler out of the ring. Cara immediately follows up with a suicide dive!
Cara throws him into the ring, goes to the apron, and Ziggler knocks him off. Ziggler throws him back into the ring, and he drops a big elbow. Ziggler kips up, and he gloats around the ring a bit. Ziggler applies an arm bar, and he’s looking for a submission. Ziggler picks him up, and Cara comes back with a flurry of kicks. Cara grabs the arm, leaps off the ropes, and executes an arm drag. Cara charges, but Ziggler puts him on the apron. Cara immediately hits a pelé kick, and he goes to the top rope. Ziggler avoids a Swanton Bomb, but Cara just rolls to his feet. Cara goes for a modified roll up, and he spikes Ziggler on the head in the process. Ziggler rolls through, grabs the tights, and picks up the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Match Rating: * 3/4
Dolph Ziggler celebrates a little bit as the show replays of the finish. When the replays finish, we see Ziggler and Cara arguing in the ring. Ziggler shoves Cara, and Cara responds with a nice hurricanrana. Cara dropkicks him in the corner, and he stomps away at him. Jack Swagger all of a sudden runs down, and he clotheslines Cara down. Swagger viciously beats on Cara before lifting him up. Swagger puts Cara in the wheelbarrow position, and Ziggler finishes him off with a leg drop bulldog. That’s a nice double-team move. Mason Ryan all of a sudden runs in, and he KILLS Ziggler with an AMAZING flapjack! Swagger watches on at ringside. Ryan then goes to check on Sin Cara.
-Commercial Break-
Jack Swagger w/ Vickie Guerrero vs. Mason Ryan
We join this match in progress. They’re locked up, and Ryan powers him to the corner. Teddy Long put this match together during the break. Swagger kicks and punches Ryan down. Swagger applies a waist lock, but Ryan fights up, and he breaks Swagger’s grip. Ryan hits an arm drag, a shoulder block, and he powers Swagger into the corner. Ryan throws him to the opposite corner, and he hits a running shoulder thrust. Ryan hits a short-arm clothesline, and he gets the crowd pumped up. Ryan gets Swagger on his shoulder, but Swagger slides off, and he hits a chop block. Swagger hits a Vader Bomb, and he picks up a two count.
Swagger punches Ryan down in the corner, backs up, and beats him down some more. Swagger clotheslines him in the corner a few times. Swagger under-hooks the arms, and he beats him some more. Swagger goes for a suplex, but Ryan blocks it, hitting one of his own. Ryan gets to his feet, blocks a punch, and hits one of his own. Swagger punches away, goes into the ropes, and eats a pair of clotheslines. Ryan sends him to the corner, hits a running knee, and finishes with a nice big boot. Ryan hits a powerslam for a two count. Ryan waits for Swagger to get up, and he goes for his Full Nelson Slam, but Swagger elbows out, and he hits a chop block to the knee. Swagger goes for the Swagger Bomb, but Ryan holds on. Ryan ducks a short-arm clothesline, locks on a Full Nelson, and slams Swagger down hard for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Mason Ryan
Match Rating: * 1/4
The commentators remind us that both “Team Barrett” and “Team Orton” are tied at one win a piece at the moment.
Justin Gabriel is backstage with Alicia Fox. Fox says that he is “dreamy”. Zack Ryder walks up to them, and he asks them to sign his online petition for a US Title Match. They sign it, and Big Show walks up. Big Show says he’ll sign it, and he does Ryder’s catchphrase. Big Show signs it, and he notices them looking at him timidly. Big Show asks why they’re looking at him like that, and Ryder mentions that Mark Henry beat down Daniel Bryan to send a message to him. Big Show asks where Henry is. They don’t know, and Big Show walks off.
-Commercial Break-
Ted DiBiase and Hornswoggle are playing WWE ’12. Teddy Long walks in, and congratulates DiBiase on his impressive wins over the last few weeks. Long also loves the “DiBiase Posse”. The cheesy saxophone music hits, and Aksana walks in. Long asks them to leave. Aksana says she likes to play video games. She says she’s an expert at handling a joystick. Long says after the show they can play together. Aksana leaves, and Long checks his pulse. Long says he doesn’t want another heart attack.
Christian’s music hits, and he comes out with a neck brace on, a cast on his foot, and some crutches. Christian says he was brutally chokeslammed by the Big Show two weeks ago on Smackdown for no reason whatsoever. This caused a serious neck injury. Instead of taking his claims and injuries seriously, Teddy Long books him in a match on Smackdown against Sheamus. Christian could have left, but he stayed to fight Sheamus like a man. Christian fought him tooth and nail all over Europe, and in doing so he brutally injured his ankle. Christian shows a picture of his foot. Christian says this will keep him out a few months, and he may never be the same again. The fact is that he’s been removed from “Team Barrett”. He will continue to inspire them on to victory at Survivor Series. The reason why he’ll do that is that he’s special. He makes people better.
Christian says normally he’d ask for “one more match” for the World Heavyweight Championship, because everyone knows he deserves it. Now, all he wants is just “one more match” in general. That would be a dream, but Teddy Long and his incompetence have taken it away from him, which is no surprise. He also notices the lack of respect from the WWE Universe. Christian asks if they care that he’s injured, and they say, “NO!” Christian asks again, and he receives the same response. Christian asks if they care that he walks around in constant pain, and they respond the same way. Christian says he’s not a piece of meat, and he warns that there will be severe consequences for Teddy Long. Christian has also never been more embarrassed looking at a collection of people than he is right now. Christian says he’s ashamed of them all, and wishes them good riddance. Christian hobbles to the back.
Daniel Bryan is in the trainer’s room being tended to. AJ is with him. Big Show walks in, and he says that it’s his fault. Big Show says if he was here then this never would have happened. Big Show says he’s going to find Mark Henry.
-Commercial Break-
JOBBER ALERT: Derrick Bateman is in the ring with no TV entrance.
Derrick Bateman w/ Maxine vs. Ted DiBiase
They show a pre-taped video with Derrick Bateman and Maxine. They say that they are NXT’s power couple. Maxine says they’re bringing their love to Smackdown. Bateman goes to kiss her, but she says later.
They circle the ring, and DiBiase gets a quick waist lock. DiBiase applies a headlock, but Bateman pushes him off. DiBiase grounds him with a shoulder block, goes into the ropes, blocks a hip toss, and he hits one of his own. DiBiase hits a nice dropkick before sending him into the ropes for a big chop. Maxine distracts the referee, and Bateman snaps DiBiase off the top rope. Bateman hits a modified neckbreaker for a two count. Bateman puts him in the corner, and he beats him down. DiBiase turns the tables, and he stomps him down. Bateman comes back with a kick, and he sends him into the corner hard for a near fall. Bateman applies a chin lock, but DiBiase fights out. DiBiase hits an inverted atomic drop and a straight right hand. DiBiase hits a running knee, and a nice rebound clothesline. Bateman quickly kicks him, but he has a whip reversed into the Dream Street for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Ted DiBiase
Match Rating: 3/4 *
Randy Orton and Sheamus will take on Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Big Show bursts into Mark Henry’s locker room, but he’s not in there. Big Show walks up to Jinder Mahal and Tyson Kidd. Kidd says Henry just left. Mahal then speaks in his native tongue. Big Show asks him to repeat that in English, but Mahal simply says, “No”. Big Show then knocks him out. Big Show stares down Tyson Kidd who puts his head down and walks away.
They show replays of Mark Henry beating down Daniel Bryan at the start of the show.
Big Show’s music hits, and he walks to the ring with a purpose. Big Show says it’s a shame that Mark Henry left the building because they could have had that Survivor Series match tonight. He says he needs to remember and keep focused on. If he goes to Survivor Series with all the rage and anger he has in his heart, he’s going to get disqualified. He wants to beat Mark Henry and become World Heavyweight Champion. Big Show then rolls a clip of Mark Henry breaking Big Show’s ankle at Survivor Series. Big Show says that footage will keep him focused on his goal. That goal is to take Mark Henry’s World Heavyweight Championship. Big Show says he heard Henry’s line about one of them being carried out. Big Show says after all the atrocities that Mark Henry has committed Henry will be carried out. Big Show promises that, and he says he’ll lose the title to him. Big Show clenches his fist, and tells Henry that it’s coming for him. Big Show then celebrates, and he throws some shadow punches at the camera.
Kofi Kingston’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring. He’ll be in action against a member of “Team Barrett” in Hunico next.
-Commercial Break-
Kofi Kingston vs. Hunico
Hunico gets on the microphone before the match begins, and he cuts the promo entirely in Spanish. Unfortunately, I was a terror in Spanish class, so I cannot translate that for you.
Kingston gets a waist lock, but Hunico quickly wrenches the arm. Kingston twists out, and they exchange some arm drags. Hunico kicks, and they crisscross the ropes. Kingston goes for a monkey flip, but Hunico dropkicks him. Hunico hits a sit-out front suplex for a near fall. Hunico applies a modified chin/leg lock combination, but Kingston fights out. Kingston quickly rolls him up for a one count. Hunico quickly dropkicks him down, and Hunico chokes him on the ropes. Hunico kicks him a few times, and he gets a two count. Hunico applies a modified arm submission, but Kingston rolls out of it. Kingston fights up, but Hunico takes him down by the hair. Hunico kicks him in the corner, and he chokes him again. Hunico pulls him out of the corner for a two count. Hunico continues to elbow away, but Kingston attempts to come back with some punches. Hunico counters with a modified Angle Slam. Hunico goes for a Lionsault, but Kingston moves.
Kingston hits a nice dropkick and some chops. Kingston hits a second dropkick, and he follows up with the superman punch. Kingston hits the Boom Drop, and he signals for his finisher. Hunico avoids the Trouble In Paradise, and he sends him to the corner. Hunico charges into a pendulum kick, and Kingston catches him with a top rope cross-body block. Hunico rolls through, and he picks up a near fall. Hunico complains to the official, and he turns into the SOS for the loss!
Winner by Pinfall: Kofi Kingston
Match Rating: * 3/4
They play a hype video for Ezekiel Jackson. Later tonight we’ll see Randy Orton and Sheamus take on Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes.
-Commercial Break-
Beth Phoenix and Natalya vs. Kaitlyn and AJ
Beth and Kaitlyn start this out. Beth pushes Kaitlyn, and Kaitlyn angrily comes back with a forearm. Kaitlyn hits a nice dropkick, and she hits some knees. Beth gets out of a body slam, and she snaps Kaitlyn off the ropes. Beth kicks her in the ribs, and she picks up a two count. Natalya is tagged in, and they hit a double team slam for a near fall. Natalya covers again for the same result. Natalya applies an abdominal stretch, but Kaitlyn gets out with a hip toss. Natalya prevents her from tagging in AJ, and she body slams Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn avoids a leg drop, and she tags in AJ. AJ quickly hits Natalya with a nice cross-body block. AJ kicks, and she goes for a sunset flip, but Natalya kicks her. Natalya applies the Sharpshooter, and she falls back, putting AJ’s back in a sickening contortion. AJ is forced to tap out. That was nasty!
Winners by Submission: Beth Phoenix and Natalya
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Kaitlyn stares at AJ after the match, and she doesn’t help her get out of the ring. The announcers wonder if there is some anger between them.
We’ll take a look at the tag team of The Rock and John Cena next.
-Commercial Break-
They replay the entire final segment of Raw. It involved The Rock, John Cena, The Miz, and R-Truth. If you missed it, then check out the Raw Results on this site. The announcers then went over the entire card of Survivor Series.
Randy Orton makes his entrance. He’ll team with Sheamus to take on Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes, next.
-Commercial Break-
Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes
They showed a pre-taped promo with Cody Rhodes in the corner of the screen. Rhodes says that Wade Barrett asked him to put his personal feelings against Randy Orton to the side, and he told him to focus on the task at hand. Rhodes says winning tonight is about momentum for Survivor Series. He then asked Barrett, “What personal feelings?” Rhodes laughs and then quickly stops.
Cody Rhodes will start off against Sheamus. They lock up, and Sheamus powers him to the corner. Rhodes quickly kicks Sheamus in the knee and applies a front face lock. Sheamus quickly powers him off, and Rhodes tags in Wade Barrett. They circle the ring, and Barrett elbows at Sheamus. Barrett punches away at Sheamus, but Sheamus sends him to the ropes and drops him with a back elbow. Sheamus picks up a one count. Sheamus ties Barrett up in the ropes, and he clubs away at Barrett’s chest. Sheamus executes a nice suplex for a one count. Barrett gets out of a powerslam, kicks Sheamus in the midsection, and he hits a running elbow to the head. Barrett digs his knee into Sheamus’s back, and he looks for a surfboard stretch. Sheamus fights up, and Sheamus backs him to the corner.
Randy Orton is tagged in, and he clotheslines Barrett a few times. Barrett ducks a clothesline, but he quickly gets caught with a powerslam. Orton hits Barrett with a draping DDT, and he begins to stalk his prey. Orton kicks Rhodes coming off the top rope, and he hits that awesome patented shoulder slam. Orton then turns into a big boot from Barrett.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see that Christian has hobbled down to ringside to observe the action. Rhodes kicks away at Orton, and he hits him with a front suplex for a near fall. Barrett is tagged in, and he kicks Orton in the ribs. Barrett punches, but Orton comes back. They trade punches until Orton goes into the ropes, and Barrett knees him in the midsection. Rhodes is tagged in, and he applies a modified guillotine choke. Orton fights up and hits a back body drop. Orton goes to tag in Sheamus, but Barrett runs across the ring to knock him off the apron. Barrett drags Orton to their corner, and they double-team Orton. Barrett hits a nice neckbreaker, and he follows up with a nice knee drop for a near fall. Barrett applies a chin lock, but Orton fights up and punches out. Orton hits his patented backbreaker.
Both Sheamus and Rhodes are tagged in. Sheamus clotheslines Rhodes a few times, and he viciously beats him down in the corner. Sheamus clotheslines him in the corner, and he goes to the top rope for a flying shoulder block. Sheamus throws out Barrett trying to interfere. Sheamus gets the crowd pumped up, and he backs up for the Brogue Kick. Christian tries to trip him with the crutch, and then he hits Sheamus in the face with it. The referee calls the match.
Winners by Disqualification: Randy Orton and Sheamus
Match Rating: **
Cody Rhodes immediately takes Sheamus down with the Beautiful Disaster. Orton stalks Christian at ringside, but Barrett attacks him from behind. Barrett sends him into the barricade. Barrett then joins Rhodes in the ring, and they viciously beat on Sheamus in the ring. Christian hands Barrett the crutch, and Sheamus takes Rhodes out with a Brogue Kick! Sheamus hits Barrett a few times in the midsection with the crutch before destroying it on his back! Barrett then turns into an RKO! Sheamus then takes Rhodes, and he gives him the Celtic Cross for good measure! Orton and Sheamus celebrate in the ring.
Quick Match Results
Dolph Ziggler def. Sin Cara (non-title)
Mason Ryan def. Jack Swagger
Ted DiBiase def. Derrick Bateman
Kofi Kingston def. Hunico
Beth Phoenix and Natalya def. Kaitlyn and AJ via Submission
Randy Orton and Sheamus def. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes via DQ
Bump of the Night: Orton & Sheamus vs. Barrett & Rhodes **
Match of the Night: Natalya’s NASTY Sharpshooter on AJ!
Mike’s Thoughts
This was a very good Smackdown. It was the tried and true classic version of the “go home” show. I really hate that term, so I promise to try not to use it again. The show gave each of its big PPV matches a last chance to sell you on buying the show. The World Heavyweight Championship match saw some good promos from each competitor, and the Survivor Series tag team match saw each of its competitors in action. That’s the old school way to do it and, in my opinion, is the most successful way to get that final buzz for a PPV.
The show kicked off with the image of Mark Henry squashing Daniel Bryan’s face into some cabinet. Henry then kicked him around backstage, then the ringside area, and finally the ring. Henry destroyed him with his finisher, and the referees came to Bryan’s rescue. Henry then cut another one of his awesome promos against the Big Show. Henry is simply on a roll that we have not seen from a monster heel in quite some time. This one-minute promo was out-of-control good. I’ve been sold on this match for a while, but that promo made me even more anxious to see it. Mark Henry is money. The trash talk to Daniel Bryan and the crowd afterward was spot on as well. Nobody does better off the microphone trash talking than Mark Henry.
Dolph Ziggler and Sin Cara kicked off the wrestling for the show. Each will face each other on Sunday as parts of “Team Orton” and “Team Barrett”. They had a very nice match. Ziggler’s improvement is astounding. He looks like he’s ready for the big time, in my opinion. He performs like he has more confidence than ever, and he seems to be a little more comfortable on the microphone. After the match, Mason Ryan ran down, and he gave Ziggler an awesome flapjack. Yes, a flapjack was awesome. He must’ve shot Ziggler 8-feet up in the air. It was a really cool sight.
Mason Ryan stayed out there, and he had a match against Jack Swagger. This wasn’t a terrible match; it was just a little slow and plodding. Ryan has shown some improvement, but I’m not sure he’s really ready to continually be featured in singles matches for now. It doesn’t seem like he can really carry his own weight yet. He has the passion, so hopefully that’ll help him improve. I think tag matches are the way to go with him for now. Accentuate the positives, and hide the weaknesses. Character building 101.
Christian came out, and the scenario we talked about on Wrestleview Radio on Monday night seems to be coming true. Christian came out all bandaged up, and he complained about his injuries, and how he hoped to have just one more match in general. I was laughing so hard while he was cutting that promo. This Christian injury, while legitimate and sad, can create some of the funniest moments in his career if done right. If he wound up in a full body cast that would be it for me. That’d be absolutely hilarious. I don’t think they’ll go that far, but some comedy (and cheating) with the injury could be funny until his ankle actually heals.
Ted DiBiase had another showcase match. This time it was against NXT’s Derrick Bateman. I’ve never actually watched the guy wrestle before, but I didn’t really see enough to form a true opinion. In any case, DiBiase easily handled him. I said a few weeks ago in my thoughts section that DiBiase needs to be repackaged. He needs to get as far away from his father as possible. I called for a change of theme music, finisher, and pretty much everything except his actual name. WWE has instead deemed that “The DiBiase Posse” is the way to go with him. Yeah, good luck with that.
Big Show came out next to cut a promo about Mark Henry. He’d been looking for Mark Henry, but Henry had left the building. His search for Henry backstage was pretty funny when he knocked out Jinder Mahal. Big Show cut a promo, and he got some audience participation on it. Big Show is greatly charismatic. While his promo wasn’t as good as Henry’s was, it still drove the point home. I liked the intensity that Big Show showed after that promo finished. This should be an awesome match on Sunday. For some reason, the wrestlers seem to try a little harder when a show is at Madison Square Garden. I fully expect Big Show and Mark Henry to tear the house down.
Just a public service announcement: I have not been kidnapped, and I assure you that this truly is Mike Tedesco writing this next little section. I really liked the Divas tag team match tonight. I even wish they were given more time. Beth and Natalya were good in their roles, but Kaitlyn and AJ have improved tremendously. I liked the intensity from both girls during their spots, particularly AJ. She looked great with the little that she did. Then the finish was just flat-out nasty with Natalya nearly snapping AJ in half with the Sharpshooter. That looked amazing. Just all around good stuff from the divas tonight.
The main event was a well-done tag team match. Christian even managed to get involved. Everyone looked good here, and that’s really all I’ve got to say about the match. I know some people will gripe about Orton and Sheamus ending the show so strong over Barrett and Rhodes, but I don’t see that same result happening at Survivor Series. Besides, you need to leave the casual fan feeling excited about the good guys going over. Maybe they’ll buy the PPV to see it happen again. It most likely won’t. I’d love to see Wade Barrett go over Randy Orton in the Garden. That’d shoot his stock up tenfold, and he’d be back in the main event scene, a place where I feel like he belongs. He’s been great for so long so it’s time to cash in on the Barrett Barrage.
Final Rating: ** 3/4
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E-Mail – MikeTedesco@wrestleview.com
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Thanks for reading! Enjoy Survivor Series 2011!