Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 11.29.16

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 11.29.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto defeated Baron Corbin and The Miz @ 7:55 via DQ [**½]
– Kane defeated Luke Harper @ 11:13 via pin [**½]
– #1 Contender’s Match: Orton and Wyatt defeated American Alpha @ 15:50 via pin [***½]

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Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss Contract Signing: Renee Young is the host for the segment. Alexa cuts off Renee right away, noting that they do not need Renee. Alexa mocks her fashion sense, and Lynch says that Alexa is a Harley Quinn rip off. Alexa then says Lynch is only the champion due to dumb Irish luck. Lynch fired back, saying that Alexa acts like her four-year-old relative, and signs the contract. Alexa says Lynch lives in a fairytale, and Lynch reminds Alexa that she was in the biggest women’s match at WM, was Smackdown’s #1 pick and became champion. Alexa says this isn’t the Disney channel and she is simply better. She then used Irish humor, promising to be the new champion at TLC. Lynch then attacked and they brawled. XPLODER by Lynch and then slams Alexa to the corner, Lynch then sets Alexa up top and looks for another XPLODER, but Alexa shoved Lynch off and through the table. I felt that the verbiage was weak at times, too junior high for my tastes, but the brawl was good stuff and I felt made up for it. At the very least they both sold the fact that they wanted to win and more importantly to be the champion.

Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin and The Miz: Corbin tried to attack early, but ate a dropkick from Ziggler. Corbin fired back and took control as we took the break. Post break, Corbin worked the heat on Ziggler. Corbin also knocked Kalisto to the floor and Miz tagged in, and then got the ladder. Ziggler fought back and hit a DDT on the floor and then hit a superkick to Corbin. Ziggler back in, tag to Kalisto, he ran wild on Miz, hit the spike RANA and that got a near fall. Big boot by Miz, and he and Corbin worked over Ziggler on the floor, but Kalisto hit a dive to Corbin. Back in and Kalisto hit Salida del sol on Miz, but Corbin broke it up with a chair. Dolph Ziggler and Kalisto defeated Baron Corbin and The Miz @ 7:55 via DQ [**½] I like the theory behind the match, setting up two PPV matches without giving away more singles matches before the PPV. The match was solid overall, with good teases for the PPV matches, so it did its job. No complaints.

– American Alpha warm up backstage. They say they are prepared for tonight’s match. They promise to suplex Orton and Wyatt around tonight, and they will prove why they are the bet team on Smackdown.

– Orton and Wyatt promo time. Wyatt says Alpha are delusional. Orton says he used to be like them, but now he feels as if he can belong. Orton discusses their partnership, and Harper doesn’t appear to buy into this. Wyatt tells Harper to send Kane back to hell.

– Carmella walks.

– Carmella has a message for Cena, and says she wants him to see this and apologizes for what she will do to Nikki, and promises to pop her “Bella twins.” She will mess her up so bad that she won’t be thinking about a wedding. Nikki arrives and rushes the ring and attacks. They brawl to the corner; Carmella fights back and then escapes to the floor. This was a solid brawl to add to the build of the PPV match.

– We get highlights from last week’s Styles vs. Ellsworth match.

The Ambrose Asylum w/James Ellsworth: Ambrose welcomes his little buddy, James Ellsworth, to the show. Tables, Ladders and Chairs are in the ring. Ellsworth is selling the beating from last week. Ambrose congratulates him on winning his contract. Ambrose jokes about his old ass boots, and then asks if he ever thought he’d be an official Smackdown roster member. Ellsworth says he kept showing up and was at the right place at the right time. He thanks Ambrose and says if he ever needs anything, he is there for him. Ambrose tries to put over Ellsworth’s skills, but can’t think of anything. Ambrose then gives Ellsworth some errands to do after the show. Ambrose asks him who he is rooting for at TLC, and Ellsworth says he beat AJ three times and he may just have his number. Styles arrives and mocks the entertainment level of the show. Styles says Ellsworth is a prop to humiliate him and says he is as smart as and as strong as a Vanquilitrist dummy. Ambrose mocks Styles for losing to a dummy three times and Styles says Ambrose got involved in every one of those losses. Styles demands respect or he will beat it out of Ambrose on Sunday. Styles says after he beats Ambrose, he has something special for Ellsworth and dares him to show up. Ambrose then says is athletically gifted, but that he’[s in his head. In five days, Ambrose says the fun and games are over and the carnage begins and he will win the title. Styles attacks Ambrose and Ellsworth, sends Ambrose to the steps and then drops them on Ambrose. Ellsworth fired up, but Styles beat him down with the ladder. Ellsworth tries o crawl to the floor, but beat on him with a chair. Styles then hit the clash to Ellsworth on the floor, off the steps and stood tall. This was an overall good segment, with Ambrose finally admitting that he was getting in Styles’ head, and Styles finally getting some heat back after the recent setbacks due to Ellsworth. Styles has officially had enough of this bullshit and is ready for war on Sunday.

EMTs tend to @RealEllsworth at ringside, hurting after an immense #StylesClash! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/61vStaDJYs

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 30, 2016

"It's my fault, man … we'll fix it." – @TheDeanAmbrose to @RealEllsworth #SDLive pic.twitter.com/yZ1Me2oz8c

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 30, 2016

– We see Ellsworth being stretchered to the back. THIS IS ALL ON YOU AMBROSE!

Kane vs. Luke Harper: They circled and stalled early, Harper then attacked but Kane hit a shoulder block, but Harper fired back with uppercuts. Uppercuts by Kane, and Harper bailed to the floor. Then hit the stun gun to Kane, but Kane then sent Harper back to the floor as we took a commercial break. Post break, Harper had control, working the side headlock. Kane fought back, Harper escaped the chokeslam, but Kane cut him off with the DDT. Clotheslines by Kane followed, and then the side slam got 2. Harper then hit a dropkick, corner mounted rights followed but Kane hit the powerbomb out of the corner for 2. Harper again fought back and hit the bossman slam for a near fall. Kane fought back with a belly to back suplex, Kane up top and missed the clothesline, a superkick by Harper and that got 2. Harper up top now, Kane cuts him off with uppercuts, and then hits the superplex. They traded strikes back and forth; chokeslam by Kane and that is that. Kane defeated Luke Harper @ 11:13 via pin [** ½] That was a solid back and forth big man match, but Harper losing only makes sense if it causes more issues with Wyatt and his new second, Randy Orton. If they can play into that, then the result makes sense, but I am not a fan of it.

– Renee asks Becky if she’s hurt from the table bump. She’s icing it, and says she will be ready for TLC. They are now facing off in a tables match.

#1 Contender’s Match: Gable and Jordan vs. Orton and Wyatt: These teams recent did some six-mans, with Kane and Harper involved. I saw some fan/phone footage, and they seemed to have some good chemistry. Slater and Rhyno watch on from backstage, enjoying some snacks. Alpha worked quick tags early, hit the double dropkick and Wyatt was pissed. After a brief powder to the floor, Wyatt ducked a cross body and Jordan missed, hitting the ropes and that allowed Wyatt and Orton to take the heat. Nice aggression from Orton and Wyatt, keeping Jordan grounded. Got blind tag and hit a high cross on Orton for the near fall. Orton looked for a superplex, but Gable worked the hanging arm bar in the ropes. We took a commercial break and post break, Wyatt was destroying Gable. Wyatt cut him off with a DDT onto the apron, and then Orton in for a cover, and that got two Gable kept trying o fire up, but ran into the snap slam for a near fall. Gable finally hit the dropkick to Wyatt, but Wyatt hit the big uranage, which got a near fall. Orton then tried to superplex Gable, but Gable fought it off for a bit, but Orton finally hit it and Gable then got the hot tag to Jordan. He started suplexing fools around, Orton to the floor and Gable hit the cannonball off the apron. More suplexes by Jordan, but Luke Harper then appeared at ringside. Orton RKO’d Gable to break up grand amplitude, Harper made the save for Wyatt, who then planted Jordan with Sister Abigail. Orton and Wyatt defeated American Alpha @ 15:50 via pin [***½] This turned into a really good main event, with nice near falls and the teams working well together. Orton and Wyatt are a way more interesting pairing than expected, and they worked well with Alpha. I loved Harper getting involved, to try and get back on Bray’s good side. I said it before, the Luke Harper subplot adds a lot to the Orton/Wyatt angle.

– Backstage, Styles argued with Slater and Rhyno. Dean Ambrose ran in and attacked AJ for his earlier attack on Ellsworth.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Tonight’s effort was an overall good show. It lacked a bit in the wrestling department, but he focus on building to and selling the PPV was on point. It was another show that felt as if it flew by.