WWE Smackdown
January 1, 2010
East Rutherford, NJ
Report by: Mike Tedesco of WrestleView.com
Welcome to the first Smackdown recap of the new decade!
?Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event?? The WWE video leads us into the show.
We open up with a video highlighting Rey Mysterio defeating Batista two weeks ago to get a shot for Undertaker’s World Heavyweight Title on Christmas. We then see footage of that match, which was ended abruptly by Batista. Both Undertaker and Batista wound up getting a 619. That was some nice action.
The Smackdown video plays and we?re brought into the arena with a huge fireworks display. I was by the stage at this show ? I can?t come up with the words to express just how loud that damn pyro is. It’s an amazing spectacle. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker bid us a Happy New Year. Tonight we?ll determine the number one contender for Undertaker’s title at the Royal Rumble. It?ll be a Beat the Clock Challenge. Also tonight we?ll see Drew McIntyre defend his Intercontinental Title against John Morrison, McIntyre’s first defense since winning it.
CM Punk’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring with Luke Gallows and his Slammy. Punk asks for a show of hands to see who made New Year’s Resolutions and who already broke them. Punk picks on an overweight guy at ringside. Punk asks who said they would stop drinking for the New Year. Punk says New Year’s Resolutions are about bettering yourself, which is why he’s never made a resolution himself because he’s already better. Punk says he can save us like he did for Luke. Punk asks the crowd to stand up (I did) and repeat after him. The pledge was that we are tired wasting our lives being losers and treating our bodies like sewers. In 2010 we will adhere to the straightedge lifestyle by not smoking, drinking, or doing drugs. The crowd doesn?t exactly follow along and he gets upset.
Punk says we shouldn?t make him beat that into us, because he can. Punk says he?ll beat up everyone in this arena if that’s what it takes to get through to us. Punk says that next week he?ll save someone from the audience because he has heart. Then city to city, person by person, his message will grow and spread. We?ll realize that he’s not just a minor threat. The youth of today will come together as one straightedge society. He?ll start it all off tonight by setting the winning time in the Beat the Clock Challenge. Then he?ll go to the Royal Rumble and destroy the Undertaker.
His opponent will be Matt Hardy. They?ll lock up next.
-Commercial Break-
Beat the Clock Challenge
CM Punk vs. Matt Hardy
My favorite referee in the world, Charles Robinson, has this one. The bell rings and they lock up. Hardy gets a side headlock and a hammerlock before rolling him up for a quick one count. Punk stands back for a few before Hardy catches him in a front face lock. Hardy gets an inside cradle for a two count. Punk keeps his distance before getting a waist lock. Hardy breaks out of it and wrenches the arm at the 1:00 mark. Hardy yanks on the arm before Punk kicks away. Hardy blocks a kick, takes him down, and stomps on the midsection. Hardy kicks him in the ribs a few times before driving some shoulders in the corner. Hardy hits a front suplex for a two count.
Punk goes to the apron and snaps Hardy’s neck off the top rope at the 2:00 mark. Punk springboards off the top rope with a clothesline attempt but Hardy hits him in the midsection and covers for a two count. Hardy hits a Russian leg sweep for a two count at the 2:30 mark. Hardy has a whip into the corner reversed on him. Punk charges and catches Hardy’s boot. Punk spins him through the ropes and kicks him hard in the back. Punk pushes him down hard to the mat and covers for a one count as Hardy gets a hand on the bottom rope.
Punk stomps away at him at the 3:00 mark before hitting a nice neckbreaker for a two count. Punk grapevines the neck and turns up the pressure. Punk releases and covers for a two count. Punk elbows away at Hardy’s head around the 4:00 mark. Punk punches Hardy to the mat and slowly covers for a two count. Hardy hits a kick and bounces Punk’s head off the turnbuckle. Hardy clotheslines him in the corner and tries for a bulldog but Punk pushes him into the opposite corner. Punk takes him down with a jumping calf kick for a near fall at 4:40. Punk hits a back suplex for a near fall at the 5:00 mark. Time is ticking away. Punk gets a rear chin lock cinched on. Hardy eventually fights up at 5:30 and punches. Hardy gets out with a back suplex.
Hardy recovers a bit and kicks Punk in the face as he charges. Hardy bounces him off the turnbuckle before hitting a big clothesline at the 6:00 mark for a two count. Hardy clotheslines him in the corner and hits a bulldog for a near fall. Punk pushes him and runs right into a Side Effect for a near fall. Hardy signals for the Twist of Fate at 6:45. Hardy tries for it but Punk pushes him into the corner. Charles Robinson keeps Hardy away at the 7:00 mark. Hardy runs into a huge roundhouse kick to the temple. Hardy is loopy as Punk hits the GTS and covers for the win. The time to beat is 7:20.
Winner by Pinfall at 7:20: CM Punk
Match Rating: **
Luke Gallows then comes into the ring but Hardy fights him back. Punk then kicks him in the back of the head and Gallows hits his finisher. Punk talks some trash as his music hits.
Still to come tonight is John Morrison’s rematch for the Intercontinental Championship. Also our other matches to come for Beat the Clock are Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler, Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio, and Batista vs. R-Truth.
-Commercial Break-
Kane’s pyro hits and that nearly gave me a heart attack live. No warning whatsoever!
Beat the Clock Challenge
Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler
The bell rings and Ziggler immediately gets on the attack. They struggle on the mat with some amateur wrestling maneuvers. That burns up some time and by the time it stops we have 6:45 left. Ziggler dropkicks Kane in the knee and chop blocks him down. Ziggler really works on the knee with elbows and wrenches. Ziggler goes into the ropes and gets clotheslined down for a near fall at 6:05. Kane hits a delayed vertical suplex and covers for a near fall at 5:47. Kane gets a snapmare and a low dropkick for a near fall. Kane sends Ziggler into the ropes and goes for a back body drop but Ziggler hangs on and DDTs him for a two count. Ziggler hits a rolling neck snapper with 5:00 left for a two count.
Ziggler pounds away at the head and dropkicks him in the face for a no count. We?ve got 4:30 as Ziggler works on the neck with a neck wrench. Kane gets to his feet and hits a body slam. Kane misses an elbow drop with 4:00 left. Ziggler hits a Fame-ass-er for a near fall. Ziggler stomps away and elbows Kane. Ziggler drops a huge elbow and covers for a near fall. Ziggler locks on a rear chin lock and really applies the pressure. Kane is completely grounded with 3:00 left. Kane fights up and whips him into a big boot. Kane covers for near fall with 2:30 left.
Kane sends Ziggler to the corner and hits a clothesline. Kane hits a sidewalk slam at 2:15 for a near fall. There’s less than two minutes left as Kane hits a running powerslam for a near fall. Kane goes to the top rope but Ziggler cuts him off. Ziggler attempts a superplex but Kane pushes him away. Kane hits his flying lariat with 1:10 left and gets a near fall. The match continues! We?ve got less than a minute left as Kane attempts a Chokeslam but Ziggler gets to the apron and snaps Kane’s neck on the top rope. Ziggler quickly jumps on Kane’s back with a sleeper hold. We?ve got 30 seconds left and Kane is starting to fade as he drops to a knee. 15 seconds left and it doesn?t look good. 5? 4? 3? 2? 1 ? Time has expired!
Winner: Time Limit Expired
Match Rating: * ?
Dolph Ziggler angrily punches the mat. Kane gets up and Ziggler immediately drops him with the Zig-Zag! Dolph Ziggler really dominated this. CM Punk is seen backstage happy that his time still stands.
The time to beat is still CM Punk’s 7:20. We?ve still got Batista vs. R-Truth and Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho coming up.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know fans from all 50 states and 22 countries have already purchased tickets to WrestleMania 26?
The Raw Rebound airs.
In the ring is some jobber in a Carolina Panthers jersey. He’s actually called the Carolina Panther. They Panthers spanked the Giants this past weekend so this is just some cheap heat. Giants Stadium is less than a mile from the Izod Center.
The Carolina Panther vs. The Great Khali
The bell rings and the Panther gets in the three point stance. He charges into Khali and gets no result. Khali quickly hits the Punjabi Plunge for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: The Great Khali
Match Rating: No stars
-Commercial Break-
John Morrison and Drew McIntyre make their entrances. We see footage from last week’s Superstars when Morrison told McIntyre he was invoking his rematch clause on New Year’s Day. Well it’s New Year’s Day today and that match will be next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
John Morrison vs. Drew McIntyre (c)
The bell rings and Morrison quickly takes McIntyre down with a waist lock. Morrison gets a quick one count. Morrison continues the attack with punches. McIntyre reverses an Irish whip but Morrison counters him with a big jumping calf kick for a one count. Morrison clotheslines him over the top rope and follows. Morrison gets on the barricade and flips off but McIntyre moves. Morrison amazingly lands on his feet and ducks a clothesline. Morrison then moonsaults off the barricade into McIntyre ? he still lands on his feet! Morrison sends McIntyre into the ring and covers for a two count.
The kick out sent Morrison to the outside so as he gets in McIntyre kicks him in the head. Morrison’s foot gets tangles in the ropes and he hangs for a few. McIntyre kicks at the knee until Morrison gets out of the ropes. McIntyre drops some elbows on the knee and locks on a knee wrench. Morrison kicks at him but McIntyre simply shakes it off and kicks his knee. McIntyre stomps the face quickly before wrenching the knee. Morrison then kips up on one leg and dropkicks him.
Both men are down and Morrison is the first up. Morrison punches away at McIntyre and hits a clothesline. Morrison ducks a clothesline and hits a pele kick for a near fall. McIntyre quickly punches the knee and gets back in control. McIntyre tries for the Scot Drop but Morrison sends him to the corner. Morrison then hits the Flying Chuck for a near fall. Morrison goes for the Moonlight Drive but McIntyre sends him into the ropes. Morrison tries for a head-scissors takeover but McIntyre counters into a nice backbreaker for a near fall! McIntyre takes the top turnbuckle pad off and Morrison punches away at him. Morrison pushes the referee away to continue the assault. The referee admonishes him a bit before picking up the turnbuckle pad. As the referee does that, McIntyre pushes Morrison into the referee. The referee thinks Morrison did it on purpose and disqualifies him!
Winner by Disqualification: Drew McIntyre
Match Rating: **
Drew McIntyre walks up the ramp with his Intercontinental Championship when Morrison runs up from behind and attacks him. They fight hard and the referees have to separate them from one another.
The Beat the Clock Challenge continues with CM Punk’s 7:20 being the time to beat.
-Commercial Break-
Women’s Champion Michelle McCool and her lackey Layla are sitting ringside. They?re wearing headbands like Beth Phoenix.
Beth Phoenix vs. Mickie James
The match begins and Phoenix quickly shoves her. Mickie punches away and goes into the ropes but Phoenix hits her with a backbreaker for a two count. Phoenix sends her to the corner but Mickie slingshots to her shoulders. Phoenix pushes her to the apron but Mickie strikes her away. Mickie comes off the top rope with a Thesz Press for a two count. Mickie punches away until Layla distracts the referee. Michelle McCool tries to kick Mickie but instead kicks Phoenix. That failed interference costs Phoenix the match with a quick roll-up.
Winner by Pinfall: Mickie James
Match Rating: ? *
McCool and Layla double team Mickie until Phoenix attacks them. Mickie and Beth clear the ring and look to be united against a common enemy. That’s short-lived as Phoenix quickly disposes of Mickie with the Glam Slam.
Chris Jericho is walking backstage. He?ll be in action against Rey Mysterio next.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know in 2009, WWE had more live events in Europe than the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL combined? What a ridiculous statistic.
Chris Jericho’s pyro hits and that nearly gave me a heart attack as well. Jericho gets in the ring and quotes an old western saying, ?This town isn?t big enough for the both of us.? Jericho says that means Smackdown isn?t big enough for him. He’s bigger than the show and bigger than us gelatinous tapeworms. Most importantly he’s bigger than WWE. Jericho says this Monday night he and Big Show will defeat DX and take back their Unified Tag Team Championships. As a result he?ll not only be the face of Smackdown but the face of Raw as well. He?ll go on to become the face of ECW, Superstars, Pay Per Views, Live Events, WWE On Demand, and WWE Classics. He?ll be the face of the whole company.
His New Year’s Resolution, as a result of being on every show in the company, will be to win every championship in WWE. That?ll start tonight when he beats Rey Mysterio in record time and go on to defeat the Undertaker to become a six time World Champion. He’s good enough to do it and us hypocrites know he’s good enough to do it. All us thick-headed, lollygagging dullards need to get used to Chris Jericho because in 2010 he?ll take his rightful place as the omnipotent epicenter of the WWE Universe.
Rey Mysterio makes his way to the ring. The time to beat is CM Punk’s 7:20. They?ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Beat the Clock Challenge
Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio
The match begins and they circle the ring. Jericho quickly kicks him in the midsection and bounces his head off the turnbuckle. Jericho punches him down and slaps his head. Mysterio blocks a move and hits some punches. Mysterio goes into the ropes and over Jericho. Mysterio tries a wheelbarrow but Jericho pushes him off and forearms him in the back of the head. Jericho slides Mysterio out of the ring and he lands sternum first on the ground. Jericho taunts the crowd and wants a count-out with 6:30 left. Mysterio slowly recovers as CM Punk is seen watching backstage.
Mysterio gets on the apron and shoulders Jericho in the midsection. Mysterio springboards off the top rope with a cross-body for a two count. Mysterio goes into the ropes and eats a clothesline, giving Jericho a two count. Jericho hits a nice back suplex and covers at 5:30 for a two count. Jericho stomps the head and head-butts him down. Jericho covers for a two count and there’s now less than 5:00 left. Jericho sends Mysterio into the corner and charges. Jericho catches Mysterio’s boot but Mysterio counters with an enzuigiri, putting Jericho in position. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Jericho hits a nice back body drop! Jericho drops an elbow for a two count. Jericho shouts about the clock, which has 4:25 left.
Jericho gets on his arm trap chin lock. Jericho talks trash and we soon have less than four minutes left. Mysterio punches but can?t get out and we have 3:30 left. Mysterio fights up and elbows out. Jericho knees and kicks him. Jericho sends him to the corner and charges into a drop-toe-hold! Mysterio goes to the top rope and dives off with a head-butt, taking Jericho down for a near fall. There’s 2:45 as Mysterio ducks a clothesline and springboards off the second rope with a cross-body block for a near fall! Mysterio runs into a kick and Jericho attempts a sunset flip. Mysterio rolls through and tries to kick him in the head but Jericho catches him and attempts the Walls of Jericho! Mysterio fights out but can?t avoid a clothesline for a near fall.
There’s less than two minutes left as Jericho sends Mysterio into the corner. Mysterio slingshots over Jericho and runs right into a spinning torture rack backbreaker for a near fall! Absolutely beautiful! There’s 1:30 left now as Jericho talks trash. Jericho sends him into the ropes but Mysterio holds on. Jericho charges into a dropkick and he’s in position. Mysterio goes for it but Jericho catches him and brings him in for the Walls of Jericho! Mysterio fights for the ropes but Jericho drags him back to the center! Mysterio slides through and gets Jericho in position! Mysterio hits the 619 and goes for his springboard splash but Jericho hits him with a Codebreaker! Jericho covers for a near fall! There are 10 seconds left and Mysterio gets an inside cradle and the win with ONE SECOND left!!
Winner by Pinfall at 7:19: Rey Mysterio
Match Rating: ** ?
CM Punk is seen looking none too pleased that he is no longer the leader. Rey Mysterio celebrates big time with the fans as Jericho sulks.
Our final Beat the Clock Challenge will be Batista vs. R-Truth and it’s next.
-Commercial Break-
Rey Mysterio is sitting ringside to observe. He looks like he’s cooled off since his match. I?ll explain why in my thoughts.
Batista and R-Truth make their entrances. They?ll square off next.
-Commercial Break-
Beat the Clock Challenge
R-Truth vs. Batista
My favorite referee in the world, Charles Robinson, is calling this one as well. The match begins and they lock up. Batista powers him to the corner and knees him in the midsection. Batista punches before whipping him to the opposite corner and hitting a clothesline. Batista hits some shoulders to the midsection but R-Truth gets a knee in his face and rolls him up for a two count. R-Truth hits a drop-toe-hold and a leg drop for a two count. Batista rakes the eyes and takes him out with a clothesline. Batista stomps and hits a suplex for a two count. We?ve got 5:45 left.
Batista goes for a powerslam but R-Truth slides off and punches. Batista sends him to the ropes but R-Truth slingshots over him. R-Truth splits but Batista wasn?t moving and he kicks him hard in the face. Nice! There’s 5:15 left as Batista attempts a Batista Bomb. Rey Mysterio gets up for his chair as Batista lifts R-Truth. R-Truth gets out of it and hits a jumping heel kick, sending Batista to the outside. R-Truth then hits an over the top rope dive with 4:40 left on the clock.
Both are being counted out until R-Truth throws Batista back in the ring. Batista kicks R-Truth and sends him into the ring post. R-Truth drops to the floor after that. Batista whips him hard into the stairs as Rey Mysterio looks on intently. Batista throws him in the ring and sends him shoulder first into the ring post. Batista stomps him in the corner and we have less than 3:00 left. R-Truth punches away at Batista. R-Truth ducks a clothesline and hits a dropkick. R-Truth goes into the ropes and hits a Bossman slam for a near fall.
Batista sets up in the corner and goes for a spear but R-Truth counters into a DDT for a two count. We have 1:50 left. R-Truth hits his Scissors Kick for a near fall. Less than 1:30 left as Batista pushes him into the corner. Batista charges into a boot and a drop-toe-hold. R-Truth goes to the top rope and goes for a missile dropkick but Batista swats him away. Less than a minute left and Batista is taunting Mysterio. Batista breaks R-Truth in half with a spear and looks at Mysterio again. Less than 30 seconds left as he hits a Spinebuster. Batista knows he can win at any time. Batista hits a Batista Bomb with 8 seconds left. Charles Robinson counts the pin but Mysterio pulls him out at two! The clock expires and Batista has failed to beat the clock!
Winner: Time Limit Expired
Match Rating: * ?
Rey Mysterio is named the number one contender for Undertaker’s title at Royal Rumble!
EXCUSE ME! Vickie Guerrero makes her way out to the stage and puts her arm around Mysterio. Guerrero says she’s sorry but on Smackdown we follow the rules. It’s clear as day that he cheated Batista. Since we couldn?t determine who will be Undertaker’s opponent at the Royal Rumble, as official consultant, she’s advising that Rey Mysterio and Batista fight to determine the true number one contender!
Quick Match Results
CM Punk def. Matt Hardy at 7:20 (Beat the Clock)
Kane NC Dolph Ziggler (Beat the Clock)
The Great Khali def. The Carolina Panther
Drew McIntyre def. John Morrison via DQ to retain the IC Title
Mickie James def. Beth Phoenix
Rey Mysterio def. Chris Jericho at 7:19 (Beat the Clock)
R-Truth NC Batista (Beat the Clock)
Bump of the Night: John Morrison’s moonsault on the outside!
Match of the Night: Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio ** ?
Mike’s Thoughts
What a great way to open up the new year and new decade with some great wrestling. Who?d have thought to have a wrestling show with just wrestling? There was not one backstage segment or interview. Everything happened in the ring, where all the storytelling should take place in my opinion.
I love the Beat the Clock Challenge because you?re guaranteed to have the matches go for the time limit or almost to the end. That means you?ll get some good and decent matches. None of that two minute wham, bam, thank you, ma?am stuff we get on Mondays. Actual matches that have some time to build and be exciting. I was sitting in the arena wondering why they paired Batista and R-Truth but even they made that work.
The best Beat the Clock of the night was Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio. Anytime those guys get in the ring you know it’s going to be something special. Their timing is perfect and their skill is unparalleled. That final minute was absolutely intense. I only wish everyone could have experienced it live right alongside me. There’s nothing like watching two veterans create art on that canvas. Absolutely brilliant stuff. It’s also exciting too because we don?t yet know who is the number one contender. The mystery continues another week after Mysterio screwed Batista. I?m predicting the Triple Threat.
It was interesting to see how the Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler match was booked. Ziggler absolutely dominated Kane for those seven minutes. I wonder if that’s a sign of things to come for Ziggler. I?m predicting a big 2010 for him. He’s got the look and ability. He can even cut a decent promo. I expect big things from him.
Man did I enjoy CM Punk’s promo before his match. I was laughing my butt off and standing up with his pledge. It was great. I wish they?d do more with him though. Hopefully he has a good performance in the Royal Rumble. I?d like to see him be in the final four. He deserves it.
This show had seven matches tonight but there was an eight that was taped on Tuesday. It was the Hart Dynasty vs. Jimmy Wang Yang, Slam Master J & Maria. The Hart Dynasty won in quick fashion and Natalya locked the Sharpshooter on Maria. It was a quick match right in between the final two Beat the Clock matches. That’s why when Mysterio was at ringside he wasn?t sweating anymore. He had time to freshen up for that match. I thought that was interesting. They also cut R-Truth saying East Rutherford. I guess they were really running long. Other than that there was nothing that happened live that wasn?t shown on TV. There weren?t any redo’s or anything. It was a great event.
Final Rating: *** ?
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
On behalf of myself and my girlfriend Marianna I?d like to wish you and yours a happy and healthy 2010.
Thanks for reading!
Follow WrestleView.com on Twitter: twitter.com/wrestleview
Send us news/results: click here