411’s WWE Smackdown Report 11.19.10

Welcome to the WWE Smackdown Report.

In order to change things up a little bit, I have dug into the 2010 Smackdown archives and recorded the Win/Loss record of every current Smackdown superstar. Here are a few guidelines:

– These records only reflect matches that have taken place on Smackdown or Pay-Per-View.
– Matches that end or have ended in a No Contest are not counted.
– In the case of Tag Team matches, each member of the losing team gets a Loss and each member of the winning team gets a Win.
– In the case of multi-man matches, every participant besides the winner gets a Loss.
– Some wrestlers will have a third number in their record. This number represents matches that have ended in a Draw.

We begin with a recap of the latest in the Edge/Kane saga. After some Green Day and pyro, Todd Grisham welcomes us to Smackdown. Later tonight, Rey Mysterio takes on Alberto Del Rio.

This serves as a nice segue for Ricardo Rodriguez’s introduction of the Essence of Excellence. His name is Alberto Del Rio, but you already knew that. After 24 years, Survivor Series is going to be great because Del Rio will lead his team to victory. His team will destroy Team Mysterio. He will teach them a lesson, just like he did on Old School Raw. This sets up a video of Del Rio beating Sgt. Slaughter. He took our little hero and made him cry. When it comes to heroes, Del Rio is our hero…

Which brings out MVP. Do you hear that? MVP knows that Del Rio doesn’t have a firm grasp of the English language, so let him translate: that is the WWE Universe saying, “MVP, please punch Alberto Del Rio right in his mouth.” MVP is tired of Del Rio disrespecting the ring, and everything it represents. Del Rio thinks there is no one like him out there. MVP says guys like Del Rio are a dime a dozen. He is too foolish to realize that all the legends paved the way for him and his big mouth. Del Rio thinks the only reason MVP holds the legends in this high a regard is because he will never be one of them. Del Rio, on the other hand, is already a legend. MVP thinks it’s a good idea to get Survivor Series started right now with a legendary beat-down. Del Rio says he will be in a fight tonight, but against Rey Mysterio. Even if he wasn’t, MVP couldn’t handle him. Del Rio sees MVP really wants a fight, so he will give him Drew McIntyre.

Match One: Survivor Series Showdown- MVP (9-12) vs. Drew McIntyre(18-18-1)
MVP attacks with rights but McIntyre goes low with a kick. MVP comes back with an overhead suplex that sends McIntyre outside. MVP follows but gets sent into the barricade. MVP regroups and drops McIntyre over it. He sends McIntyre back into the ring as we go to commercial.

Back from break, MVP drops McIntyre across the top rope. McIntyre retreats to the outside and hides under the ring. MVP follows and tries to grab him, but McIntyre rams his shoulder into the apron. He sends him into the steel steps shoulder-first then back into the ring for a two count. McIntyre continues the attack on the arm by wrapping it in the middle rope. Cover gets two. McIntyre applies a keylock but MVP fights out. McIntyre regains control with a shoulderblock then some stomps on the shoulder. He sends him to the corner, but eats a boot on a charge. MVP continues with rights and a big boot for two. He sends McIntyre into the corner and connects with a nice modified T-bone suplex. Ballin’! That thing, no matter how old the phrase has become, still gets a pop. McIntyre gets back into it with a quick kick to the shoulder and a neckbreaker for two. He slugs away in the corner, but misses a splash. This allows MVP to hit with a running kick to the side of his face for the win.
Winner: MVP in 7:00
Rating: ** (Rock solid match considering the length and commercial break. MVP can deliver on the mic and in the ring when motivated- he did both tonight.)

In the back, Edge is talking to himself. He has heard reports that Kane is maniacal. He looks down and the camera zooms out to reveal a tied up Paul Bearer in a wheel chair. Damn, must suck to be tied up like that for an entire week. As soon as Edge removes the tape from Bearer’s mouth, he screams out for Kane. Edge quickly covers it up again. No one will ever find them (that cameraman must have an inside scoop). If Bearer is a good boy, they might go see Kane later. Edge has another wheel chair and he challenges Bearer to a drag race. Edge easily wins. He sees that Bearer didn’t like that game. Maybe they could play Trivial Pursuit or Jenga. Edge has a better idea…That was super weird.

Chavo Guerrero is with Teddy Long in his office. In walks Kane and Guerrero exits. Where is he? Where is Kane’s father? Long has no idea. Kane goes nuts and destroys the office.

Match Two: Survivor Series Showdown- Chris Masters (2-6) vs. Jack Swagger (12-17-1)
Lock-up to start and Swagger takes Masters down with a front facelock. He starts to knee him in the corner but Masters is able to get back up and knock Swagger down with a shoulderblock. He gets in a chop in the corner and tries for a powerslam but Swagger escapes and connects with a Northern lariat. Running, Leaping Swagger Bomb gets two. Swagger continues with an abdominal stretch, but Masters counters it with a hiptoss. Masters then hits a Samoan Drop as Striker tells us how good the Masterpiece smells. He continues the comeback with a shoulderblock and a flying shoulderblock off the middle rope for two. Masters tries to go for the leg but Swagger kicks his knee. Swagger misses with a clothesline and gets caught with a Masterlock. Swagger leaps onto the apron to break it up. He grabs Masters’ leg and rams it twice into the ring post. Back in the ring, Swagger spears the leg and locks in an anklelock for the win.
Winner: Jack Swagger in 3:00
Rating: *1/2 (Good performance by both in the limited time they had to work with. Masters dished out enough offence to not look like a pushover come Survivor Series and Swagger looked resourceful in the victory.)

In the back, Edge is still with Paul Bearer. He is going to have to be on the top of his game to beat Kane. He is going to have to be agile. That said, Edge grabs a soccer ball and says Bearer can help him with a game of dodge ball. Edge throws and misses the first two times, but connects on the third. He bounces it off Bearer’s head a few times and goes back for one more throw. He nails him in the head! Haha, that was great. If he goes for a wrench, I will forgive this segment for its stupidity. Damn, no luck.

Before our next match, Dolph Ziggler has some words. He is on a roll. He dominated Sexual Chocolate and has the hottest girlfriend on the planet. Kaval has no chance of winning. He is a nobody.

Match Three: Kaval (1-5) vs. Dolph Ziggler (18-19-1)
Ziggler starts out with quick strikes. An elbow to the back of the head sends Kaval to the corner where Ziggler chokes him with his boot. Kaval momentarily gains control by sending Ziggler shoulder-first into the ring post, but Ziggler regroups and connects with a boot. Kaval comes back with some flying forearm shots and a front facelock but Ziggler slows him down with some strikes to the gut. Not for long though, as Kaval handstands off the ropes and comes down with a splash for two. Kaval misses a splash in the corner but is able to block a Zig Zag attempt by holding onto the ropes. They exchange quick near-falls and Kaval sneaks out a victory out of nowhere.
Winner: Kaval in 2:00
Rating: *1/2 (Tough to rate this. What they did in those two minutes was exciting, but it was barely a match. That was smart though; it gave the audience a taste of what they can do together at the PPV. I look forward to it.)

Post-match, Kaval announces that he will redeem his NXT title shot at Survivor Series. It will be Kaval vs. Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. Hell yeah, shoot for the moon Kaval! Kidding aside, I’d much rather see Kaval/Ziggler than Kaval/Kane.

Later tonight, Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio. Up next, Cody Rhodes vs. Kofi Kingston.

In the back, Edge works up an appetite pushing Paul Bearer around on the wheelchair. He has ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut. Ah, I guess Bryce from Minnesota convinced him to not go with Domino’s.

Match Four: Survivor Series Showdown- Kofi Kingston (19-10) vs. Cody Rhodes (10-8)
Lock-up to start and Rhodes gets it a forearm shot. Kingston comes back with some kicks and a slap to the face. Rhodes storms out of the ring- “He hit me in my face!” He snatches his entrance jacket and checks himself in the mirror as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Rhodes is attacking Kingston in the corner. Rhodes knocks him down with a shoulder but Kingston comes back with a flying back elbow for one. Kingston slows things down with a side headlock. Rhodes escapes but gets a hiptoss reversed into a monkey flip. Kingston charges, but Rhodes retreats to the outside. As he goes to re-enter, Kingston knocks him back out with a dropkick and follows. Back in, Kingston gets in some uppercuts and ducks two clotheslines. Rhodes is finally able to put him down with a knee lift. He connects with two gordbusters and a knee drop for two. He heads outside and wraps Kingston on the ring post, stomach-first. Back in, covers gets two. Rhodes continues with some punches to the head and a inverted full nelson. Kingston back drops his way out of it and slugs away in the corner. He continues the comeback with two double-handed chops and a dropkick. He misses a splash in the corner but connects with a pendulum kick and hits a high crossbody off the top rope for two. The Boom Drop connects and he calls for Trouble in Paradise but Rhodes ducks it, tries for Beautiful Disaster and misses. Kingston rolls him up for a near fall. Rhodes pulls Kingston into him by the hair and tights and connects with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes in 10:00
Rating: *** (Damn fine match right there. Rhodes is really entertaining to watch and has improved tremendously since Legacy. He is always aggressive, yet manages to work his gimmick perfectly at the same time.)

In the back, Kane speaks. Paul Bearer has always been a part of him. Edge abducted him and is now playing games with him. Edge has no idea what torture is. When Kane finds him, he will rip his guts out and shove them down his throat. PG= Pouring Guts.

Later tonight, Captain vs. Captain- Mysterio vs. Del Rio.

Match Five: Michelle McCool (15-12)/Layla (13-11) vs. Natalya (4-1)/Kelly Kelly (9-7)
Layla and Kelly start with a lock-up. Kelly catches a kick and hits with an elbow. She hits a Thesz Press and tags in Natalya who hits with an elbow. Layla makes it to her corner and tags in McCool. Natalya drags her in and wheel barrels her for one. Natalya telegraphs a back body drop and kicks McCool in the chest. McCool is able to tag in Layla as Natalya goes for a roll-up. LayCool knock Natalya down with dual big boots and Layla covers for the win.
Winner: Michelle McCool/Layla in 1:00
Rating: ½* (Point of this was to show that Natalya can dominate each member of LayCool individually, but she can’t quite handle them together. Effective stuff heading into their Handicap match.)

In the back, Edge is feasting on a Pizza Hut meal. He grabs a marinara-dipped breadstick and paintbrushes Paul Bearer’s hair; dumps the marinara cup over his hair; stuffs a brownie in his ear; dumps the chicken wings on his chest; and slams the pizza over his head. They are ready to go see Kane.

Somewhere else in the back, Kane cries. No really, he cries.

Match Six: Survivor Series Showdown- Big Show (22-5-1) vs. Tyler Reks (3-0)
Show has a red sleeveless Knucklehead shirt on. Reks attacks at the bell with strikes to the legs, but gets caught with a goozle. He aggressively fights out of it and takes out Show’s knee with a low dropkick. He takes him off his feet again with a flying shoulderblock. Cover gets two. Show catches a Reks boot and drops him with a clothesline. He hits a big back splash in the corner and knocks Reks down with a shoulderblock. Chokeslam ends it.
Winner: Big Show in 1:00
Rating: ¼* (Right on.)

In the back, Josh Matthews is with Alberto Del Rio. Rey Mysterio is not a survivor. He doesn’t have the essence of excellence. Tonight and Sunday, he will be witness to Del Rio’s greatness. Del Rio will give us a hero.

At ringside, Michael Cole, Todd Grisham and Matt Striker send it to a fantastic video recapping the Cena/Nexus saga. Great stuff; kind of similar to the “If I could, make a deal with God…” video from Wrestlemania.

In the parking lot, Edge and Paul Bearer look for Kane. Bearer yells out his name. Kane hurries through a corridor calling Bearer’s name…and we get a Luke Gallows sighting! Camera switches to Bearer loaded up in a white van. Kane makes his way into the picture and reunites with him. Kane turns around looking for Edge, but doesn’t notice that he is on roof of the van. He jumps off onto Kane and throws him into a cart. Then, he gets in the van and drives away saying “I don’t know if he can swim, but we will see if he floats.”

I don’t know if ticket sales are slow, but down here in Miami, there has been a commercial to buy tickets for Survivor Series during almost every commercial break. On that note, I’ll be at the show this Sunday, so look out for pictures on here next week.

Match Seven: Survivor Series Showdown- Alberto Del Rio (8-2) vs. Rey Mysterio (24-11)
Just as in every Del Rio match I’ve seen, they lock-up and he powers Mysterio into the corner where the ref backs him up and he comes back with a kick. He stomps away in the corner and comes down with hard clubs to the back. Mysterio comes back with elbow shots and floats over in the opposite corner. He continues with kicks to the left leg. He slides underneath Del Rio but Del Rio catches him with a kick to the midsection. He goes for a sunset flip but Mysterio rolls through and connects with a kick to the head. Cover gets two. Mysterio sets him up for a 619 but Del Rio rolls out of the ring. All of a sudden, the rest of Team Del Rio head down the ramp and into the ring. They attack Mysterio and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner: Rey Mysterio in 2:00 via Disqualification
Rating: N/A (The start of a good, aggressive match. Probably a good idea that they didn’t show another full match between the two right now.)

Post-match, the rest of Team Mysterio comes out for the save and all hell breaks loose.

Teddy Long comes out and announces a 10-man Survivor Series Showdown Battle Royal…right now!

Match Eight: 10-Man Survivor Series Showdown Battle Royal
Swagger and Rhodes double team Kingston, Show attacks McIntyre, Del Rio goes for Mysterio and MVP and Masters focus on Reks. Show delivers some chops and saves Mysterio from being eliminated. Masters eliminates Rhodes then teams up with MVP to take out Reks but to no avail. Reks eliminates Masters. Kingston eliminates Reks with help from Show. In a funny spot, Kingston and Show both see Mysterio trying to eliminate McIntyre, but they just ignore it and attack Del Rio. Show headbutts Del Rio and saves Kingston from being eliminated by Swagger. McIntyre eliminates Kingston. MVP delivers a running kick to Swagger in the corner but gets eliminated by Del Rio right afterward. Show easily eliminates McIntyre. Final Four: Show, Mysterio, Del Rio and Swagger. Mysterio gets on Del Rio’s shoulders and headscissors him out of the ring. Swagger takes out Show’s knee and knocks him down with a boot to the face. Mysterio heads to the top and comes down on Swagger with a senton but gets caught with an anklelock on a wheel barrel attempt. Mysterio escapes and Swagger runs right into a Show super kick which puts him in position for a 619. Mysterio connects with it and Show eliminates him for the win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio and Big Show in 5:00
Rating: **1/2 (Pretty good for a Battle Royal. Short and sweet. So, would you guys count this as a win for only Mysterio and Show, or all of Team Mysterio?)

(Strange show. The build-up for the Traditional Survivor Series match was great, but the Edge/Paul Bearer/Kane stuff was really dumb. Whatever happened to the normal, babyface Edge that was on a mission to kill everything stupid? I’d say playing dodge ball with a guy in a wheelchair and coloring his hair with marinara sauce is pretty stupid. I get that he was trying to out-manipulate Kane, but it was really over the top. Are we supposed to cheer the face who is kidnapping an old man and boo the heel who is crying in the back?)