LAW

Smackdown Report for Nov. 16

Joseph Bernard / November 17, 2012 - 2:02pm

Tonight’s show comes to us from Cleveland, Ohio and starts with Miz TV.  This week’s guest is the Hardcore Legend himself in one Mick Foley (resplendent in his trademark sweatpants, flannel and bushy beard).  Miz and Foley go back and forth on the mic and are joined by the rest of their team (the distinguishing feature about Team Foley is that no one likes each other).  And so this week’s edition of Dysfunctional Family Feud plays itself out (and I do have to admit that it’s pretty entertaining).  Then Team Ziggler appears on the ramp (and these guys - despite being the ‘heel’ faction - actually do seem to like each other).  Oops - spoke too soon there as Alberto Del Rio and Ziggler start to argue over who really should be the captain.  Foley suggests that the Miz and Orton take on Del Rio and Ziggler.  Before long everyone’s cutting promos on everyone else (and it’s all good - I really liked this segment).  In the end there are 3 big matches made for later tonight and the first starts now!

Match One

Damian Sandow vs. Kofi Kingston

We start this match in progress coming out of the commercial break.  Kofi’s always a joy to watch and Sandow bumps like the 2nd coming of Randy Savage so it’s easy to see this being Match of the Night (not too shabby for a curtain jerker).  Kofi hits a tope as we cut to another commercial.  Back from the break and Kofi’s still working over Sandow.  Sandow makes his comeback (posturing and all).  Sandow drops the Elbow of Disdain.  Kofi makes his high-energy comeback, hitting the Boom Drop and positioning himself for the Trouble in Paradise which Sandow evades.  Kingston manages a High Cross Body from the top rope.  Sandow counters with a jawbreaker.  Outta nowhere Sandow picks up the win with the ‘handful of tights’ rollup.

Winner - Damian Sandow

Back in the parking garage we see a very angry looking Sheamus dressed in his street clothes (lookin’ for the Big Show perhaps?).  Back from the commercial break and we get a recap on RAW’s love-interest angle between A.J. Lee & John Cena (super-lame).

Match Two

Layla, Kaitlyn & Natalya vs. Alicia Fox, Eve & Aksana

Wow - it’s like I looked down at my keyboard for a moment and this match was underway.  Too many spots to call here and the ladies really did work pretty hard.  Alicia’s on the heel team for some reason (hmmm).  JBL was particularly amusing on the commentary end of things (mind you the conversation had nothing to do with the match but what are you gonna do?).  In the end Kaitlyn picks up the win (and yet I really don’t see her getting the belt).

Winners - Natalya, Layla & Kaitlyn

Back from another commercial break and G.M. Booker T orders Sheamus to cool off and leave Big Show alone until their match at Survivor Series.

Match Three

Randy Orton & The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio

Ziggler and Miz start things off (say what you want about Ziggler ‘cooling off’ since Money in the Bank I’m still pulling for a championship run for this guy - he TOTALLY deserves it).  The heels are in charge going into the first commercial break.  Back from the break and it’s Ziggler and Orton.  Ziggler tags out to Del Rio and then back in again after a minute.  Orton tags in the Miz who goes to work on Ziggler.  Miz hits a top rope axehandle and goes for the cover.  Del Rio pitches a distracted Miz to the floor while the ref was paying attention to Ziggler.  Ziggler with a cover and a tag out to Del Rio.  Del Rio works over the Miz in the corner.  Del Rio hits an enziguri but Orton makes the save.  Miz tries to make a comeback and eventually does manage to backdrop Del Rio to the floor (this looked great - one helluva bump).  Orton takes over the match - hitting Ziggler with a powerslam and Del Rio with a draping DDT.  The Miz blinds tags himself in and picks up the victory over the Mexican aristocrat with the Skull Crushing Finale.  That doesn’t seem to sit too well with the Viper who waits for his moment and eventually hits his celebrating partner with an RKO.

Winners - Randy Orton and The Miz

Sheamus comes down to the ring in his street clothes and wants to fight the Big Show now (am I the only one who thinks Sheamus looks like a jacked up James Hetfield - I mean c’mon the similarity is remarkable right?).  Big Show appears on the ramp and cuts a promo.  G.M. Booker T appears in time to stop the inevitable confrontation.  Booker orders Sheamus out of the building as we go to another commercial break.  Back from the break and Big Show is commending Booker for handling the situation.  Booker announces that Big Show’s facing a mystery opponent in tonight’s Main Event.

Match Four

Kane vs. Wade Barrett

Kane moves great for a big guy and Barrett’s potential in the ring has yet to be reached so I was expecting a pretty decent match here.  Barrett hits a Black Hole Slam on the Big Red Monster.  Kane ejects Barrett from the ring.  Back inside the ring Kane hits Barrett with a top rope axehandle.  But then all the remaining Team Ziggler guys jumped in to beat up on Kane and this brings out Mick Foley, Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingston and finally Orton.  In the end it’s Team Foley standing tall (minus the Miz).  Miz does appear on the ramp at this point and there’s a standoff going into the commercial break. 

Match Result - no contest

Sheamus weighs in on Twitter since he can’t be in the building (with a picture of a pint - a pint of Guinness I believe).  Back from the commercial break and we get an extensive rundown on the events leading to the 3-way between Cena, Punk & Ryback at this Sunday’s ppv.

Match Five

Antonio Cesaro vs. Sin Cara

R-Truth joins the commentary team for this one (I really like this pairing of Cesaro and Truth for the U.S. title - it elevates the title AND Cesaro).  JBL actually refers to Sin Cara as the “former CMLL” champion (cool - it’s always great when they actually acknowledge a competitor’s prior accomplishments).  Cesaro employs his strength and size advantage and pretty much dominates Sin Cara from the get go.  Sin Cara makes a bit of a comeback with a whole lotta quick and beautiful moves including a multi-revolution headscissors.  In the end though his momentum is cut off by that backdrop/forearm combo.  Cesaro puts his opponent away with the Neutralizer.  Post-match R-Truth stands on the announce table with a live mic and leads the crowd in a “U.S.A.” chant.

Winner (and Starbucks Gold Card member) - Antonio Cesaro

Sheamus weighs in again on Twitter with a photo of an empty pint glass and the message that he can’t wait to see the Big Show in action in the Main Event.

Main Event

Big Show vs. The Great Khali

Short match.  Khali manages some offense with some big chops to the chest.  Khali works over Big Show in the corner.  Khali works Big Show over using the 2nd rope and headbutts.  Big Show works in his Spear (which I’ve said before should TOTALLY be a finisher - I mean c’mon!).  Khali counters a chokeslam attempt with a big chop to the head (which Show kicks out of - remember when he knocked out ‘Taker with that same move back in the day?).  In the end Big Show picks up the win with the
W.M.D. punch.

Winner - Big Show

Sheamus’ music hits and then stops and Big Shows music starts up again.  Show looks a little confused and concerned (remember Sheamus was ordered to leave the building).  Show is approached for an interview in the parking lot but waves it off.  Suddenly Sheamus emerges from a tour bus and it’s on!  Both men start brawling and they take out 3 windshields (thank God for gimmicked glass!).  Sheamus is hauled away and Big Show is left layin’ as Smackdown goes off the air.

My 2 Cents Worth

Now normally I don’t weigh in on what I think of the show as a whole and I’m still hesitant to apply a rating out of 10 as I’m not really sure what good that does anyway.  Having said that - this was as good a ‘go home’ show as you could ask for going into Sunday’s Survivor Series ppv.  IMHO Smackdown is a far easier show to watch than RAW since they went the 3-hour route (something’s gotta be done about that - it’s not helping anything and I think we’ll actually see a revenue decline over the next year as a result).  It’s just not a good strategy - people are burned out by your main show and so they don’t bother watching the better of the 2 shows and largely ignore the 3rd (the almost always excellent NXT).  I’m not saying I have a solution but for me the wrestling week begins on Wed. with NXT which I love and continues with Smackdown on Friday and ends with RAW (which I largely ignore).  Thanks for reading.