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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 11.22.16

November 22, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 11.22.16  

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 11.22.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
IC Title Match: Champion The Miz defeated Kalisto @ 7:45 via pin [**¾]
#1 Tag Team Turmoil Match: American Alpha won @ 20:00 via pin [***]
Non-Title Match: Champion Becky Lynch defeated Natalya @ 7:30 via submission [**¾]
– Baron Corbin defeated Kane @ 1:45 via DQ [NR]
Ladder Match: James Ellsworth defeated AJ Styles @ 5:40 [**]


– We get highlights from Survivor Series. Shane starts off the show, good to see he’s alive.

Shane McMahon is alive and somewhat well: He is happy Smackdown won, and gives Team Raw a shout out for a great Survivor Series match. He then thanked Orton and Wyatt for their work, and then noted that Ambrose and Styles couldn’t put their differences aside for an hour, and here comes Ambrose. Ambrose says today is a new day and Smackdown won at Survivor Series. Shane was not pleased with Ambrose due to the Shield reunion, but Ambrose brought out Ellsworth, calling him the Team MVP for taking out BRAUN. Ambrose teases a big surprise for Ellsworth, but Shane was going to do it in the back. Ellsworth is getting a Smackdown contract for his hard work. The poor little fella is wearing a neck brace. Shane then gave Ambrose the night off and offered to buy wings. Shane tells him to leave the building. Ambrose leaves as Styles makes his way out. Styles is not pleased Ellsworth got a contract and wants Ambrose off of Smackdown. Styles doesn’t want Ellsworth to get a contract, but Shane says he deserves it, calling him a charity case. Styles then ran down Ellsworth and says he needs to prove himself, and face Styles tonight, in a ladder match. If Ellsworth climbs and gets the contact, he will have earned it. Styles promises to get the contract and rip it up. Ellsworth reminds Styles he beat him twice and accepts. But if he wins, he wants a future title shot. Solid start to the show, but I wish there was more focus on Ambrose being punished for his actions at Survivor Series as opposed to Ellsworth.

– Ambrose then returned to the ring.

– Miz and Maryse are in the back meeting with Bryan. Miz is expecting a giant celebration for saving the IC Title and keeping it on Smackdown. Bryan says he humiliated Smackdown by how he won, but Miz claims he was a fighting Champion and was successful. Miz will defend his title against Kalisto tonight.

– Shane talks with Ambrose backstage and still wants him to leave. Ambrose promises to bring Shane some food back.

IC Title Match: Champion The Miz vs. Kalisto: Bryan is forcing Miz to defend here due to his shenanigan filled victory at Survivor Series. Miz controlled early, Kalisto used his speed to counter the early attacks. Kalisto then got a roll up and sent Miz to the floor and hit a dive as we went to the commercial. Champion The Miz defeated Kalisto @ 7:45 via pin [**¾] Miz steals another, while Corbin screws Kalisto to continue their feud. The segment did a good job of continuing stories as we head to the PPV. They also worked a fun little match.

– Ziggler arrived and Superkicked Miz to stand tall.

– Shane and Bryan say this shit cannot stand, and Bliss arrives and wants her title shot. Lynch arrives and says she can have it at TLC. Natalya comes in and blames the Survivor Series loss on Lynch. Shane books Lynch vs. Natalya for later tonight, and then Ambrose has some Pizza for Shane. Shane banishes him again.

– Baron Corbin walks, and Bryan meets with him and is upset. Corbin claims he is the big picture, so Bryan books Corbin vs. Kane.

#1 Contender’s Match Featuring American Alpha, The Hype Bros, FaBreeze, The Usos, The Ascension and The Vaudevillains: The Hype Bros and Ascension to begin. The Ascension attacked right away, sent Ryder to the floor and then followed to beat on him, taking the heat. Quick tags by The Ascension, Ryder made a comeback and then Mojo got the hot tag, HYPE RYDER connects and The Ascension are gone. Fabreeze in next, and Ryder hit a dive to the floor to wipe them out. Post break, Ryder hit a missile dropkick on Breeze but Fandango helped Breeze, avoiding the bosky boot. They then double teamed Ryder and eliminated him. American Alpha is in next. Fabreeze took the heat on Gable right away, but he cut off the double team and rolled up Breeze for the elimination. The Villains were in next, Grand Amplitude put them away. Finally, The Usos arrived as Slater and Rhyno watched on from the back. They took a quick commercial break, and post break, The Usos worked the heat on Jordan. Nice work from the Usos, methodical but not boring as thy have good sense of urgency to their work. I also like that they got the heat on Jordan as opposed to Gable. Gable is a great Ricky Morton, but I appreciate the small change. Quick tags by the Usos as they isolate Jordan in their corner. Jordan finally fought back, sent an Uso to the floor and got the hot tag to Gable. Good run from Gable, he started suplexing fools and got a near fall as he ran wild. On the floor, Gable got posted, back in and the Usos hit a version of the demolition decapitation for a near fall. Gable fought back, Jordan blind tagged in and they hit the doomsday bulldog ala the Steiners for a near fall. It broke down, superkick to Jordan, who then blocked the splash with knees and got a roll up for 2. The Usos then attacked the knee of Jordan, Gable back in and grand amplitude finished the Usos.

BUT WAIT… Bray Wyatt revealed that he and Orton will face Alpha next week. The winners get a tag title shot at TLC.

– Bryan and Ambrose (dressed as the Mountie) told Ellsworth to be careful tonight. Shane discovered this and told Ambrose to leave again. Shane then left, and Ambrose told Bryan to tell AJ that the mountie always gets his man.

American Alpha won @ 20:00 via pin [***] On one hand I hate that they advertised this and then didn’t pay it off completely, instead opted for “To Be Continued.” But I enjoyed the match, Alpha finally got to shine and get revenge and I have been enjoying the Wyatt/Orton stuff as of late. I also want to see how jealous/not approving Luke Harper reacts next week.

Non-Title Match: Champion Becky Lynch vs. Natalya: Alexa Bliss is out on commentary, destroying Otunga in grand fashion. Solid back an forth to begin, with both trading strikes but Natalya cutting off the champion with a sitout powerbomb. Post break, Natalya controlled post break, hitting a Michinoku driver, for the near fall. Lynch fired up, back elbows and lariats connect. corner forearm by Lynch followed, they both work for pinning combos, XPLODER by Lynch, but Natalya gets a roll up and then the sharp shooter, but Lynch counters into disarmher for the win. Becky Lynch defeated Natalya @ 7:30 via submission [**¾] Really solid stuff with Lynch getting a clean win prior to the PPV, while Bliss got the chance to talk on commentary.

– Post match, Bliss attacks and lays out Lynch with a DDT.

– Miz is upset and meets with Bryan, holding an ice pack to his face and demanding that Ziggler gets suspended. Bryan then gives Ziggler his IC Title rematch at TLC in a ladder match. Bryan said that after TLC the two will go their separate ways.

– Carmella was on the phone, and Nikki Bella arrived and accused her of taking her out at Survivor Series. Carmella denied this and blamed pretty much everyone, and then claimed Nikki was no Mother Teresa. They will face at TLC in a No DQ match.

Kane vs. Baron Corbin: Bryan made this match to Punish Corbin for being a dick the past few days. I saw these guys on main event a few weeks back, it was no good. Corbin tried to attack right away but then ran into big boot. Corbin then fired back with rights, but Kane cut him off with a clothesline. Kalisto then ran in for the DQ, getting some revenge on Corbin. Kane then chokeslammed Corbin and stood tall. Baron Corbin defeated Kane @ 1:45 via DQ [NR] Thankfully a short match, with Kalisto’s run in making complete sense as he wants revenge.

Ladder Match: AJ Styles vs. James Ellsworth: If Ellsworth can climb the ladder and win, he gets a WWE Smackdown contract. AJ mocked the injured Ellsworth, removing the neck brace and then sliding a ladder into the ring. Ellsworth managed to stop AJ from using it as commentary ran through every underdog cliché you can think of. Ellsworth also had his back wrapped up, selling his Survivor Serried injuries, AJ set the ladder onto of him and climbed and also talked trash. Dean Ambrose then arrived, attacked AJ and sent him to the floor before helping Ellsworth. AJ then did the HBK finish where got his foot caught in the ropes. Ellsworth then hit chin music, Ellsworth climbed the ladder and won a contract and future title opportunity. James Ellsworth defeated AJ Styles @ 5:40 [**] I get that the angle is Ambrose messing with AJ and using this dude to make it even worse, but it only works because of AJ’s work and the fact that Ellsworth is such a wacky looking character. It is fun at times, but I also feel that we’re wasting a lot of AJ’s title run with all of this stuff. It also feels very WWE, rind something run and run it into the ground.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
I felt that tonight’s show was good, fun and a bit chaotic in a good way, following up on the established angles and setting the stage setting up a lot for TLC; although the Ellsworth stuff is nearing its expiration date with me. This was an easy two-hours to watch, like most weeks.
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