Welcome to Tuesday Night Smackdown. We all get to experience what those with ticket stubs get…Smackdown a full three days early! Merry Christmas to me. Oh, and to you all, too.
Randy Orton is entering . For a match. Hm. Well, cool! Against Miz. A rematch I don’t mind watching. I didn’t watch Raw last night, and boy, did I miss a lot. That might be sarcasm, but I’m unsure.
Here we go! Miz retreats, they run around the ring, and Orton pounces. Miz gets introduced to the barricades, and Randy’s anger is raging. Some lazy kicks from Orton, goes for a pinfall, for two. Miz gets the upper hand quick, slowing down the show and making it hurt. Back and forth, backbreaker from Orton, killer clothesline, scoop slam, but Miz rolls away. Multiple reversals, and A-Ri comes in. Orton is sent into the steel steps, both men collect themselves and then…
Commercial.
We come back, both men in the ring, back and forth. Miz in control, to the top rope, knocked down by Orton. Both men at the top rope, Orton suplexes Miz for two. Randy backs the champ into a corner, looking a little more like his old self, but Miz regains control. But wait! A high, high dropkick from Orton. Momentary distraction from Riley, enough for Miz to counter. Hell of a DDT from Miz, goes for SCF, countered, Orton is rolled up, Orton gets Miz on the ropes for his own DDT, and the mat-slamming begins. Once more, Riley tries to interfere as he is knocked down, RKO from Randy, pin…but Riley breaks it up for a DQ.
Grade: B
Solid, solid way to start the show. It was exciting to watch and I really enjoyed it.
Miz is in punt position, and Randy is licking his lips. He goes for it, Riley appears to receive his own RKO and Miz rolls out. Orton’s music plays, and it’s all done.
Big Show is backstage passing out merch dressed as Santa with Rosa. Oh, and Hornswoggle.
Commercial.
And boom. There he is, Big Santa passing out more presents. His chair breaks as he goes to sit down…yeah. He reads the WWE/TLC version of “The Night Before Christmasâ€. This just sufficiently wasted my time. As they leave, Cody Rhodes attacks. “You should all be thanking me!†he shouts. I have to say, thank you Cody!
Commercial.
Randy Orton, John Cena, and Rey Mysterio against Alberto del Rio, The Miz, and Wade Barrett tomorrow night on Tribute to the Troops…well, I’m down for that!
Recap of John Cena’s shenanigans last night. The Looney Tunes music is making this much more ridiculous than it should be (which, was pretty ridiculous). So glad I missed all this last night. Well, wait, this didn’t register the first time…Dolph AND Vickie are teaming up against John Cena? That sounds horrendous.
Cut to Todd Grisham interviewing Beth Phoenix who is looking awfully lovely tonight. He asks her about the horrible, nasty fall she took on Sunday. But wait! Santino and Kozlov interrupt. He wants to check on her, and see if she wants to smooch. Kozlov holds up the mistletoe, as she jerks his arm a different direction and lays a big ‘ole smooch on him.
Commercial.
The tag champs make their way out, though Santino is the only one in ring gear. Chavo is already in the ring…well, nice to know he doesn’t even get an entrance anymore.
Here we go. Both look great, back and forth. Santino launches Chavo out of the ring, but once back in Chavo takes over again. He fails to send Santino into the corner, as the Italian gets fired up…for a second. Three Amigos…well, two, and Santino prepares for the Cobra…connects for three.
Grade: C-
You know what, these two actually didn’t look bad. More and more, Santino is getting more serious in the ring. There’s a small amount of comedy, but now he shows what he can really do.
Commercial.
Edge makes his way out, strap thrown over his shoulder. And the crowd goes wild! He discussed how all the craziness with Paul Bearer was worth it, and how amazing it is to be…
Kane’s pyro goes off! He’s maaad. Says he gets to write the ending to Edge’s story. Edge suggests a title shot that evening and sets down his microphone. Kane advances towards the ring, but stops. And laughs. He’s retreating, and says it’ll be under his own terms that he’ll win it back.
Commercial.
Drew’s music cues up. And then…Kaval!
As Kaval jumps into the ring, Drew pounces…no bell yet. “Merry Christmas!†Drew shouts. Bell finally rings, and Kaval takes a solid kick to the face, immediately into the Futureshock, and it’s over.
Grade: N/A
Are you serious? Two highly entertaining men, and BOOM. It’s over. What a complete waste of time, and talent.
Tribute to the Troops promo, then Alberto del Rio is announced.
Commercial.
Jack Swagger out next. Kofi, as well. And then Rey.
Alberto and Rey off first, but Kofi and Jack already fighting. So Alberto pounces and the mask comes off! Well, partially. Jack in, Alberto back in, Rey hurricanranas Alberto into 619 position but tags Kofi after he rolls away. Quick offense, combined offense, tagging quick and Jack breaks up a pin. Alberto launches himself at Kofi but Kofi dodges and Alberto goes flying outside of the ring. Jack is thrown out next. Kofi and Rey to the top rope, crossbodies from both…
Commercial.
Come back, and Alberto has Rey under his control. Jack tags in after a two-count, in control. Rey goes for a tag, caught by Swagger, and it’s a no-go. Kofi tags in, getting crazy, and the fight heats up. Alberto mocks Kofi’s claps, while landing some solid kicks. Jack is in, Rey back in, Alberto in. Senton, the most WICKED DDT I’ve ever seen (sold perfectly by del Rio), a kick to the head, for two. Crazy backbreaker from del Rio, but wait, 619 position, Swagger tags in quick and mows down Rey. Goes for Gutwrench, but countered and now both men are in 619 position, Alberto out of the way, Swagger hit, Swagger gets the TiP from Kofi, and Rey gets the pinfall.
Grade: B+
You know what? This was amazing. The action was ALL over the place and the spots were hit with a lot more power than normal. Everything looked great and I’m thrilled with what they did tonight. More like this, please!
Hey, did you know Cena was facing Ziggler and Vickie tonight? Well, you should, as they’ve shown the promos for it about four times tonight.
Commercial.
Drew is chatting up Kelly again, apologizing for his behavior. He says he would never hurt Kelly…well, okay!
Vickie is stretching backstage, and Dolph asks her if she wants to go through with it. She instructs him to destroy Cena, and makes him stretch her arm… gross.
Commercial.
Let me go off on a tangent, for a moment. WHY is Cena given the main event slot every time? First and foremost, he’s a Raw Superstar, so let’s give the Blue Crew a chance to shine in the main event, shall we? Not to mention, he’s not even holding a belt, so can we fill him in somewhere else? I understand he gets great ratings, and I like seeing Ziggler in the main event. But just because Superman is appearing on Smackdown, shouldn’t mean he earns the spotlight. And that’s my little rant for tonight.
Might I also add…how great does Vickie look lately? Well, great isn’t the word. But you know what I mean.
Here we go! Dolph charges after convincing Vickie into the corner, but Cena is in control. Wow. Cena does know how to jump. Slows it back down, to the mat. In the corner, Vickie distracts Cena long enough for Dolph to attack. Vickie tags in and stands on Cena’s head. In an impressive move, Cena lifts Vickie up whilst laying down by grabbing the bottom of her feet…Dolph tags back in. Slow assault on Cena, who gets back in the game with a bulldog. AA position, countered, for two. Cena oversells a nudge kick from Vickie, neckbreaker, for another two count. Cena launched out of the ring, he crawls away as the ref counts, Ziggler drives his skull into the announce table. Ziggler is thrown into the steel steps, but once back in the ring throws a dropkick. Both men are down after tearing each other apart, both still trade their offense. Vickie tags herself in once more. She tags Dolph back in, but Cena is doing what he normally does, going for Five Knuckle Shuffle. Goes for AA, but Dolph gets out! Goes for Zig Zag, misses, goes right into the STF, Vickie breaks it up. CENA KISSES VICKIE. AA connects, and it’s over.
Grade: C
I’m in between. Cena looked great at parts, and he looked terrible at parts. Dolph looked great at parts, but he had Vickie in his corner. There was stupid parts, and some great parts. So, whatever.
Vickie is in AA position now but OUT COMES CM PUNK WITH A CHAIR! He kills Cena in the ring, and god damn it’s great to see him back in ring gear! He retreats, and Cena cries.
Credits roll.
