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WWE seemed to have three goals for Smackdown this week. One was hyping the TLC PPV, and I think they did as good a job doing that as could be expected, devoting segments and matches to pushing their part of the card. Second was continuing some of the Smackdown undercard storylines, like CM Punk & Luke Gallows, Eric Escobar vs. Vickie Guerrero and Mike Knox vs. Kane. They accomplished that as well. Third was pushing WWE products, like the Jeff Hardy DVD, WWE Magazine and various other merchandise. Again, that was accomplished. So, it was a good Smackdown from a promotional perspective, and it was topped off with an entertaining main event. I'd say it was a thumbs up show going into Sunday's PPV, but nothing you need to go out of your way to see.
Here's my thoughts on the show, as it happened:
The opening video package, showing how Batista has twice laid out the Undertaker in recent weeks, was a good way to get the PPV hype machine rolling for the Chair match this Sunday. This was followed by a good promo by Batista, combining hype for the PPV, his Street Fight with Rey Mysterio this week, and his current heel attitude. I liked the bit with him calling for a spotlight, because it is "all about him" now. It probably could have been a tad shorter, but it was still good heel promo.
Anyone notice the guy in the crowd with the World Title AND Million Dollar belt replicas on his shoulders? Couldn't he decide on one belt?
CM Punk helps WWE move a few more Jeff Hardy DVDs, and if Jeff get through his legal issues (and comes back to WWE) there certainly is a ready-made feud for him. I thought Hardy throwing out copies of the DVD while Punk complained on the mic during R-Truth's entrance song was a different move. Punk saying "Sell it on Ebay" was hilarious. This was a fun match, from Hardy & Truth's teamwork to Gallow's power offense, to Punk's usual strong work (and nice touches, like blowing a kiss to Hardy before suplexing Truth). The ending, with Hardy and Punk going for finishers, and Hardy hitting his, but not realizing Gallows was tagged in, was well done. Gallows getting the pin was nice, since the former Festus needs to be established as a legitimate force, and not just Punk's lackey.
Eric Escobar and Vickie Guerrero argue backstage, and Vickie orders Escobar to face Chris Jericho. Teddy Long is amused by it all. I'm wondering if WWE will keep hanging Hulk Hogan DVD posters backstage after January 4th.
Continuing our backstage fun, Mike Knox shows appreciate for Kane, and wants a rematch from last week. Kane and Knox enjoy fighting each other, so they'll do it again. Knox telling Kane he would ride in an ambulance with him was rather freaky. Rather strange way to try and get a feud over.
Eric Escobar got a nice burst of offense against Chris Jericho, but you just knew Vickie had more in mind for him (and Escobar should have known this too). Besides, Chris Jericho is main eventing a PPV Sunday, Eric Escobar is not. I liked how Escobar tried to keep working on Jericho, but his eyes kept going towards Big Show as he got on the apron. From there it was squash city, and they didn't drag it out long. Jericho & Show's post-match promo was okay, but if you weren't sold on the DX-Jericho vs. Show match on Monday, this wasn't going to make a difference.
Product placement continued to be a theme on the show, as Drew McIntyre pulled out WWE Magazine for a mention during his promo. John Morrison then enters for his "Braveheart" joke and I'm just not that amused. Shouldn't Morrison be a bit ticked off after being pinned last week? Instead, he is playing games. The fact that Morrison apparently cut his eyebrow with the sword seemed somewhat fitting. Morrison's promo got somewhat confusing with his bringing up WWE legends and agents, then he went back to the "Braveheart" stuff. Morrison calls Vince McMahon "senile" and plays up to the fans, then went get the fight. Unfortunately, it wasn't much of a fight, as McIntyre backed off rather quickly. At least it was PPV hype, but I think it could have been a better segment.
Did I really hear Matt Striker mention David Carradine and Michael Hutchence (who both died of autoerotic asphyxiation) while commenting on how Mike Knox seemed to enjoy being choked by Kane earlier? That's one reference I didn't expect to ever hear on a wrestling show. Kane vs. Knox, Part II, was a little better than last week's match, as it seemed more competitive to me. That is, until the finish, which came off weak. Knox is holding Kane, the Big Red Machine reverses into a chokeslam setup, and Knox really does nothing to fight it off. They didn't even stick around to show if Knox, perhaps, "enjoyed" getting the match he wanted, given the result.
Yep, I know I needed to see the DX-Hornswoggle segment from Raw again. At least they edited it. Hey, product placement is important!
The Divas tag match made sense given the angle last week, and it was a good way to hype the Mickie James vs. Michelle McCool match at the PPV. Is it just me, or did Maria bust out the Christmas colors a few weeks early with her outfit? As you would expect, Mickie and Michelle were kept apart for most of the match, with Michelle briefly working with Maria and then Mickie going at it with Layla and getting the pin. Short bout, but accomplished the goal, which was to hype the PPV bout.
I actually watched Smackdown in "real time" this weekend, so I had to sit through a Raw Rebound in the final half-hour of the show. This is why I normally time-shift when I watch Smackdown.
The Street Fight started off with Batista dominating Mysterio, having little trouble with Rey. Mysterio got a hope spot, culminating in the baseball slide kick that sent the show into commercial. However, back from break, Batista was in control again, bending Rey around the ringpost. Batista whipping Mysterio with the television cable was a neat twist. Batista brought in the chair, which set up for Mysterio's final hope spot, giving Batista a drop toe hold into the chair and then hitting the 619 and the springboard splash for a two count. Mysterio then used the chair, which was overdue, considering he was the one who wanted a match with Street Fight rules in the first place! Batista takes a few shots, absorbs them, then hits a spear, a spinebuster and a chair shot for the win. Pretty much a definitive end to the Mysterio-Batista feud. Batista then goes to break Mysterio's neck, which brings out the Undertaker. Undertaker beats down Batista with a flurry of punches, and Batista heads for the hills, giving us the usual "staredown before the PPV" ending to close the show.
What To Make Sure And Watch If You DVR'd The Show: Batista vs. Mysterio. Everything else is solid, and I thought enjoyable, but not "must see" heading into the PPV.
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