WWE Smackdown
December 21, 2010
San Antonio, TX
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video plays hyping up WWE Week on the USA Network as well as tonight’s live show. The Smackdown video plays and we’re brought into the arena with a big fireworks display. Josh Mathews, Matt Striker, and Michael Cole welcome us to the show. John Cena returns tonight to take on Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero. They hype Smackdown as the show where Cena’s career began. New World Heavyweight Champion Edge will also be on the show.
Randy Orton’s music hits and we’re set for our first match! As The Miz makes his way to the ring they show the end of Raw’s main event from last night when Jerry “The King” Lawler pinned him.
Randy Orton vs. The Miz w/ Alex Riley
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee, is the official for this match. They circle the ring and lock up. Orton backs him to the corner and they tussle around the ring. Orton backs up and The Miz gives him a cheap shot. Orton gives him a look and The Miz ditches the ring. Orton chases him back into the ring and hits a Lou Thesz Press. Orton kicks him in the ribs and he falls out of the ring. Orton sends him into the barricade twice and clotheslines him. Orton now turns his attention to Alex Riley, scaring him off. Orton hits an uppercut and puts The Miz back into the ring.
Orton clubs his chest and stomps him while on the apron. Orton then hits a guillotine catapult into the bottom rope for a near fall. Orton uppercuts him a few times in the corner. The Miz rolls to the apron and stuns Orton with a snap shot. The Miz goes into the ropes and hits a running boot to the face for a near fall. The Miz stomps Orton and pulls on his nose. Orton comes back with some punches but Miz is able to reverse a whip and dig a knee into his midsection. The Miz elbows him in the neck a few times before hitting a nice suplex for a two count.
Orton comes back with some punches but The Miz is able to answer right back. Orton, however, is able to counter a whip into his patented backbreaker. Orton backs up and clotheslines The Miz a few times. The Miz misses a clothesline and takes a powerslam. The Miz rolls to the apron but Orton catches him and goes for his draping DDT but The Miz drops him to the apron. Orton punches him and Alex Riley pulls him off the apron while the referee’s back was turned. The Miz goes outside and sends Orton into the steel steps!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Orton trapped in a sleeper hold. Orton is able to fight up and whip him off. Orton catches Miz in a sleeper of his own. The Miz whips him off and gets the sleeper hold back on so Orton counters out with a back suplex. During the commercial break The Miz kicked Orton in the head. Back to live action The Miz hits a big boot for a near fall. The Miz punches and stomps away at Orton until the referee admonishes him. The Miz goes to the top rope and Orton crotches him up there. Orton punches him and hits a superplex! Orton clutches at his neck and may have hurt himself as he gets a near fall…
They trade punches with Orton coming out on top, punching and stomping him down in the corner. Orton hits an Angle Slam for a near fall. Orton sends him to the ropes but lowers his head and eats a kick. The Miz catches Orton with a backbreaker/neckbreaker combo for a near fall. The Miz misses a running boot and eats a beautiful dropkick for a near fall! Orton kicks him and puts him in powerbomb position but Alex Riley provides a quick distraction. Miz back body drops him and hits his patented corner clothesline. The Miz follows up with a snap DDT for a near fall.
The Miz waits for Orton to get up and goes for the Skull Crushing Finale but Orton gets out of it. The Miz comes right back with a backslide pin for a near fall. Orton uppercuts him and hits his draping DDT! Orton is now setting up for the RKO! The Miz slowly gets up and Orton punches Alex Riley off the apron! Orton hits the RKO and covers but Alex Riley breaks up the pin, causing a disqualification!
Winner by Disqualification: Randy Orton
Match Rating: ** 1/2
Randy Orton angrily clotheslines Alex Riley over the top rope. Over in the corner The Miz is crawling so Orton looks for the punt. Orton goes to charge but Riley runs in and takes an RKO! The Miz escapes the ring and crawls up the ramp. Orton looks at him furiously before posing for the crowd.
Footage is shown of John Cena dumping a ton of chairs on Wade Barrett at TLC. Tonight John Cena will take on Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero in a Handicap Match.
Big Show, dressed as Santa Claus, is walking around with Rosa Mendes, his elf. They’re giving out gifts when all of a sudden Hornswoggle comes up dressed as an elf as well. They’ll be out in the ring next.
-Commercial Break-
Big Show, Rosa Mendes, and Hornswoggle come out in their costumes throwing out gifts to the crowd. The ring is decorated with a red carpet, a Christmas tree, stockings, and some cookies. Santa Show sits down on a chair and it collapses under his weight. Santa Show gives a “Ho, ho, ho” and grabs a book. Hornswoggle sets up another chair and this one survives him sitting down. That gets a nice reaction from the crowd. Big Show reads an updated “Night Before Christmas” that’s pretty humorous. The Christmas poem recaps the events of TLC, finishing with Big Show stripping “Dashing” Cody Rhodes down. They hype “Knucklehead” again. Big Show wishes the crowd a Merry Christmas and leaves. That was a nice segment for the holidays.
Just as I typed that “Dashing” Cody Rhodes runs in and beats Hornswoggle up. Rhodes kicks Big Show off the apron, destroys the decorations in the ring, and gets out before an angry Big Show takes him out.
Tonight we’ll hear from the new World Heavyweight Champion Edge.
-Commercial Break-
They hype the two-hour Tribute to the Troops special on the USA Network tomorrow night. They then lead us into a recap of John Cena’s segment last night. They then show Vickie Guerrero coming out with Dolph Ziggler to challenge him. Cena made some fat jokes to her as well as Jerry Lawler. As a result of that we’ll see John Cena take on Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero.
Todd Grisham is backstage with Beth Phoenix. They show a slow motion replay of Beth Phoenix landing on her head at TLC. Beth says she’s OK when all of a sudden Santino Marella comes up with Vladimir Kozlov. Santino says they’ve had complications in the past but he wants to know how she is after that fall. Beth says she’s ok. Santino wants a kiss and Kozlov holds some mistletoe over their heads. Beth reminds him that he’s dating Tamina but Santino says that’s Raw and this is Smackdown. Santino closes his eyes and waits for the kiss but Beth kisses Kozlov instead. Beth walks off and Santino isn’t happy that Kozlov kisses her. Santino says it’s like kissing him because he kissed her before. Kozlov blows a kiss and says “Glamazon”.
-Commercial Break-
Chavo Guerrero vs. Santino Marella w/ Vladimir Kozlov
Santino slowly approaches Chavo and hits a hip toss. Chavo kicks and punches Santino down. Chavo sends him to the ropes but Santino holds on and back body drops him out of the ring. Santino throws Chavo back into the ring and gets kicked in the face getting back in. Chavo uppercuts him down and taunts the crowd. Chavo hits a nice back suplex for a near fall. A bad camera angle catches Chavo completely missing a punch.
Chavo then bounces Santino off the turnbuckle until he “hulks up”. Santino bounces Chavo, splits under a clothesline, and hits a hip toss. Chavo gets the knees up when Santino goes for a diving head-butt. Chavo goes for the Three Amigos but Santino blocks the third and hits a jawbreaker. Santino sets up for the Cobra, hits it, and rolls him up for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Santino Marella
Match Rating: 1/2 *
New World Heavyweight Champion Edge will address the crowd next.
-Commercial Break-
Tony Chimel introduces the NEW World Heavyweight Champion Edge. The crowd gives him a great reaction as he makes his way to the ring. Edge says for the past four weeks people have been asking whether the insanity with Kane and Paul Bearer would all pay off. All the dummies, deception, and Paul Bearer screaming for Kane. Edge says it was worth it because he’s the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Edge says that TLC match shortened his career and he is in a lot of pain. Edge says it was all worth it. He said he would make it to WWE, win the Tag Titles with his best friend Christian, become Intercontinental Champion, and win the World Championship some day. It wasn’t cockiness but confidence that he felt he had to have to accomplish all that. Never did he think in his wildest dreams that he’d be standing here…
Kane’s pyro explodes and he says that’s enough! Kane says no one wants to hear Edge’s sentimental story. Edge says he wasn’t finished but Kane says it is finished. Kane says he doesn’t get to write the end to his story – he does. That story will not have a happy ending. That story will end with his body broken and the World Title back in his possession. Edge says he may be sore but nothing is more painful than listening to Kane’s psychotic ramblings. Since Smackdown is LIVE, let’s cut to the chase. Let’s have the match right here and now. Kane vs. Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship!
Kane looks at him maniacally and walks toward the ring but stops at the end of the ramp. Kane smiles and asks if Edge really thinks he can manipulate him so easily. For six weeks they’ve been playing the game according to Edge’s rules. Kane will get the World Heavyweight Championship back but he’ll do it on his terms and when he’s ready. Kane then leaves as Edge looks a little concerned.
Tonight we’ll see Alberto Del Rio team up with Jack Swagger to take on Rey Mysterio and Kofi Kingston. We’ll also see John Cena take on Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero.
-Commercial Break-
A video hyping up Ezekiel Jackson coming to Smackdown plays. It says he’s coming soon. Last week they said he was coming this week.
Drew McIntyre vs. Kaval
Drew McIntyre comes out to his usual reaction, which is none. Sometimes it’s painful to watch his entrance.
McIntyre takes Kaval down and punches away at him as soon as he gets in the ring. The bell hasn’t rung yet as the referee checks on Kaval. Kaval says he’s ok to continue. Kaval ducks a clothesline but eats a big boot. McIntyre then hits the Future Shock DDT for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
Match Rating: -**
The announcers put over the two-hour Tribute to the Troops tomorrow night on the USA Network. They then show a long video hyping it up.
Ricardo Rodriguez introduces Alberto Del Rio for his tag team match. He’ll team with Jack Swagger to take on Rey Mysterio and Kofi Kingston next.
-Commercial Break-
Alberto Del Rio & Jack Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston & Rey Mysterio
Mysterio will start the match out against Del Rio. Swagger and Kingston get into a shoving match, distracting Mysterio so Del Rio can blindside him for a quick two count. Del Rio knocks Mysterio off and tries to rip Mysterio’s mask off! Del Rio kicks Mysterio in the back and gets a two count. Swagger is tagged in and he punches Mysterio down. Del Rio is tagged back in and he stomps Mysterio. Mysterio is sent to the corner but he slingshots over Del Rio, hits a hurricanrana, and tags in Kingston. Kingston hits a superman punch and gets a two count. Kingston tags Mysterio in. Kingston hits an atomic drop and Mysterio hits a seated senton for a two count. Kingston is tagged back in and Mysterio holds Del Rio for a missile dropkick.
Swagger breaks up the pin and Del Rio knees Kingston. Del Rio charges but Kingston ducks and he flies out of the ring! Swagger charges but Kingston ducks again and Mysterio pulls the top rope down! Mysterio and Kingston both go up top and dive to the outside with stereo cross-body blocks!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Mysterio trapped in a chin lock applied by Del Rio. During the commercial Swagger crotched Mysterio on the top rope and Del Rio kicked him in the head. Del Rio stomps Mysterio and covers him as we go back to live action. Swagger is tagged in and he clubs away at Mysterio. Swagger hits a nice high angle body slam and a Vader Bomb for a near fall. Swagger applies a bear hug and the crowd is into this match. Mysterio punches out and kicks Swagger in the face. Swagger stops him from making the tag and shoves him to the corner. Swagger runs into a drop-toe-hold into the corner.
Kingston is tagged and he hits a springboard clothesline followed by some slaps and a dropkick! Kingston then runs right into a big boot from Swagger. Kingston gets up and takes another one for a near fall. Del Rio is tagged in and he hits a NASTY back suplex for a near fall. Del Rio mocks Kingston’s taunts and Kingston punches back. Del Rio quickly controls him again and chokes him with his boot. Swagger punches away at him while the referee admonishes Del Rio. Swagger is tagged back in and he applies a front face lock. Kingston fights up but Swagger kicks him down. Swagger whips him to the corner but Kingston leaps to the second rope and hits a springboard cross-body!
Del Rio and Mysterio are tagged in. Mysterio hits a springboard seated senton and a wheelbarrow twisting DDT for a near fall! Mysterio kicks him in the head and gets another near fall! Del Rio shoves him to the corner but runs into a boot. Mysterio goes into the ropes and Del Rio catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall! Del Rio argues the call but it’s upheld. Del Rio taunts the crowd and goes for a body slam but Mysterio counters into a dropkick. Mysterio goes for a 619 but Swagger tags in and clotheslines Mysterio!
Swagger goes for the Gutwrench Powerbomb but Mysterio gets out of it and hits a wheelbarrow arm drag. Mysterio then dropkicks Del Rio into position next to Swagger. Mysterio hits a 619 on Swagger as Del Rio gets away but Kingston quickly takes him out! Kingston hits Trouble in Paradise on Swagger and Mysterio finishes him with a springboard splash for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: Kofi Kingston & Rey Mysterio
Match Rating: ** 1/4
They show John Cena dumping those chairs on Wade Barrett again. Tonight we’ll see John Cena take on Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero in a Handicap Match.
-Commercial Break-
Drew McIntyre catches up with Kelly Kelly backstage and he apologizes for being so weird last week. Kelly says he was normal. McIntyre say he may be intense in the ring but she can be assured of one thing – he will never hurt her.
Vickie Guerrero is stretching backstage in her EXCUSE ME tights with Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler asks if she’s sure she wants to go through with this. Vickie says Cena embarrassed them last night and if he loved her then he’d destroy John Cena tonight. Ziggler helps her stretch. That match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Edge and Rey Mysterio will take on Kane and Alberto Del Rio in next week’s main event on New Year’s Eve!
Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero vs. John Cena
Ziggler has to hold Vickie back from attacking Cena. Cena simply laughs. Ziggler gets her on the apron and goes for a clothesline, which Cena quickly ducks. Cena takes him down with a headlock takeover but Ziggler is able to turn it to a quick one count. Ziggler goes into the ropes, over and under Cena, and Cena gets a shoulder block. Cena applies a chin lock but Ziggler fights to the corner. Cena releases the hold and Ziggler gets a cheap shot as Vickie yells at him. Ziggler kicks away wildly at Cena before punching him down.
Ziggler punches Cena down in the corner and Vickie gets a blind tag! Vickie laughs and steps on Cena’s head! Cena powers her up with one hand and Ziggler blind tags in. Ziggler quickly punches away and gets a near fall. Ziggler hits a fireman’s carry takedown and drops some elbows. Ziggler finishes him off with that big elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler punches away at Cena before attempting a whip. Cena reverses it and catches him with a bulldog for a near fall. Cena quickly goes for the AA but Ziggler slides off and hits a DDT for a near fall!
Cena rolls hear Vickie but she doesn’t do anything. Ziggler chokes him on the ropes and then Vickie kicks him as the referee isn’t looking. Ziggler hits a nice neckbreaker for another near fall. Cena pulls himself up on the apron and Ziggler punches him off to the outside. Cena crawls around at ringside as Ziggler looks for the count-out. Ziggler goes outside and bounces him off the announcer’s table. Ziggler picks him up and goes to bounce him off the stairs but Cena blocks it and bounces Ziggler!
Cena rolls Ziggler back into the ring and gets in only to eat a dropkick for a near fall. Ziggler goes for a suplex but Cena block it and hits one of his own. They both fight up and trade punches with Cena coming out on top. Cena has a whip reversed so he goes for his shoulder block but Ziggler ducks it! Cena flies out of the ring as a result! Vickie goes up to Cena at ringside and kicks away at him. Cena gets back in the ring and out of nowhere hits Ziggler with a gutwrench suplex! Cena looks at Vickie and charges Ziggler in the corner but Ziggler moves. Ziggler now applies a chin lock and is looking for a submission. For the first time in years Smackdown has an overrun. Cena fights Ziggler off but Ziggler comes right back with a jawbreaker for a near fall!
Ziggler waits for Cena to get up but Vickie blind tags in again! Vickie mocks the “You Can’t See Me” and goes for a splash but Cena moves! Vickie tags Ziggler back in and he misses a clothesline. Cena hits a pair of shoulder blocks and his back suplex/powerbomb combo! Cena hits the 5 Knuckle Shuffle and goes for the Attitude Adjustment but Ziggler lands on his feet and hits a leg drop bulldog for ANOTHER near fall! Ziggler backs up and goes for the Zig-Zag but Cena counters into the STF! Vickie runs in and grabs Cena, screaming in his face! Cena kisses her on the lips and hits the Attitude Adjustment on Ziggler for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: John Cena
Match Rating: **
Vickie screams in Cena’s face so he picks her up for the Attitude Adjustment! All of a sudden CM Punk runs in and hits him with a chair before he can finish the move! Punk tattoos the chair on Cena’s back and leaves the ring as the crowd boos!
Quick Match Results
Randy Orton def. The Miz via DQ (non-title)
Santino Marella def. Chavo Guerrero
Drew McIntyre def. Kaval
Kofi Kingston & Rey Mysterio* def. Alberto Del Rio & Jack Swagger*
John Cena def. Dolph Ziggler* & Vickie Guerrero
Bump of the Night: Kingston & Mysterio’s stereo cross-body blocks to the outside!
Match of the Night: Randy Orton vs. The Miz ** 1/2
Mike’s Thoughts
This was a very bi-polar episode tonight. The show started off hot, went down like a lead balloon for what felt like the longest hour ever, and picked up with the last two matches of the night.
The show started off red-hot with Randy Orton taking on The Miz. They put on an excellent match that really got me going. It was, in my opinion, better than the match they had at TLC. I didn’t mind the DQ finish. The Miz is being booked as a weak champion but that’s OK with me. I love the coward heel who squeezes out victories by the skin of his teeth. It shows that he’s beatable and lose the title at anytime. That makes it more exciting for the crowds who pay to watch him wrestle. Every title match feels like it has the potential to see him go down. I think it’s more fun that way instead of having a dominating heel champion.
After that awesome match the show completely fell off the tracks. Actually that’s unfair to say because I actually liked the Big Show as Santa Claus segment. I would have been fine with that little thing for Christmas but the backstage segments kept going on and on. Did we really need that ridiculously long video highlighting what John Cena did to Vickie Guerrero last night? Did we? The answer is no. It was funny last night – I’ll admit to chuckling at it – but it took way too much time that could have been devoted to something like, I don’t know, WRESTLING! The Santino match was a waste of time as well.
I wasn’t big on Edge’s victory speech until Kane came out. Kane was really good tonight in the little that he did and got me moderately excited for their upcoming one-on-one.
After that we went right back to the garbage from the first hour. Why does WWE feel the need to bury Kaval at every given chance? What was the point of tonight’s match? If Drew McIntyre hasn’t gotten heat in over a year of being a WWE heel then he’s not going to get it by beating Kaval in less than a minute. That was such crap and a waste of a match. It was at this point that I thought the show was hopeless and they had screwed up another live Smackdown.
Thankfully the tag match was after that. That saved the show in my opinion. I love the high energy that comes from all four of those guys and they put on an excellent match. That spot with the stereo cross-body blocks was awesome and if you get the chance you should check that out. I was really impressed by Alberto Del Rio’s performance, especially since he was only two days removed from that sick bump through the table at TLC.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the main event. I don’t think it was as good as their match last night but this had its moments where I got really excited. I didn’t mind Vickie screaming throughout the whole thing and I was excited to see what happened every time she blind tagged in. I never thought I’d rate a match with Vickie Guerrero in it over two stars but I did tonight. I figured CM Punk would run in after the match so I wasn’t surprised to see him. I’m looking forward to their upcoming feud and to hear Punk’s explanation as to why he’s doing what he’s doing to Cena.
If they had used that half hour after Orton vs. The Miz more properly this would have been the best Smackdown of the year. Unfortunately they blew that but luckily it was saved in the final parts of the show.
Final Rating: ***
E-Mail – MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Did you miss last week’s Smackdown? Check it out here! Also click here to see my Tribute to the Troops recap!
Be on the look out for my third annual Smackdown Year in Review on Christmas Eve!
Be sure to check out the Win-Loss Record of your favorite WWE Superstar on the main page!
I’d like to wish those of you out there who celebrate a Merry Christmas! Have a safe and great holiday! Thanks for reading!