411’s WWE Smackdown Report 11.26.10

Welcome to the WWE Smackdown Report. I went to Survivor Series (otherwise known as “The PPV that was basically nullified the following night on Raw”) this past Sunday. In spite of that, it’s the holiday season and I feel like sharing; so in-between match recaps, I will sprinkle a few pictures I took. Enjoy!

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.

No opening video or pyro this week. Straight to the ring for a Kane promo. Two weeks ago, Edge abducted the one thing that means more to him than the World Heavyweight Title; more than his own life. Paul Bearer. Last week, Edge humiliated them both in a perverted game of cat and mouse. Worse than all of that, Edge used Bearer as bait to lure Kane. Then, Edge taunted him with an empty wheelchair. Despite all of this, Kane is still World Heavyweight Champion. But what is he without Bearer? It is unprecedented and unlawful, but he is willing to not press charges and let this whole thing slide. All Edge has to do is bring back Bearer. If he does, Kane promises not to annihilate Edge, because quite frankly, Kane is not who we think he is. He is not a freak; he is not a monster. He has feelings. Deep down, he is a warm, caring human being who only wants to be with his family for the holidays. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, New Year’s- all of them. He just wants his father back…

And with that, Edge comes out with an empty wheelchair. How you doin’ big fella? Like Kane, Edge loves the holidays. Bearer is here tonight and he was sitting in this wheelchair all day. If Kane wants him back, all he has to do is ask. Where are Kane’s manners? Can he ask politely? Kane proceeds to ask politely, but Edge notices he didn’t use the magic word. Kane repeats, ending with “please.” Edge doesn’t think that was a proper please. Kane says please again. Edge couldn’t hear him, and the crowd chants “on your knees.” Once more, Kane repeats the question. Edge doesn’t think it was sincere, and leaves.

Up next, Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match.

Match One: King of the Ring Qualifier- Kofi Kingston (21-11) vs. Jack Swagger (13-19-1)
Yes! The Swagger Soaring Eagle is back! Cole says he went away for a while because he was afraid with Thanksgiving around the corner. Nice. Lockup to start and Swagger gets a takedown for one. Another lockup and swagger with a go-behind and another takedown. Cover gets one but Swagger keeps the arms locked around Kingston. In the corner, he slaps him around a bit but Kingston comes back with a roll-up for two. A crucifix pin gets two more and Swagger retreats to the outside. Back in, another lockup and Swagger knees Kingston. He misses a clothesline but grabs the legs on a dropkick and catapults Kingston to the turnbuckle. Kingston holds on and jumps off the middle rope with a crossbody for two. Kingston with a go-behind but Swagger clubs the back. He pins him down with a knee and rubs his face against the mat. Back up, he applies a standing side headlock and drops Kingston with a shoulderblock. He tries for more but Kingston leaps over him once. On the second leap attempt, Kingston’s foot catches Swagger’s shoulder by accident. Swagger covers up nicely by knocking Kingston back down and locking in an anklelock. Kingston quickly escapes but Swagger starts to work over the leg. Kingston pushes Swagger off from the leg lock and slips out of the ring as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Kingston is in control with a quick boot and monkey flip. He charges at Swagger on the ropes but gets back dropped onto the apron. He is about to hit a springboard move but the SSE grabs onto his feet and distracts him. This allows Swagger to knock him off the apron and onto the floor. Swagger follows and tosses him back in. Cover gets two and Swagger locks in a bodyscissors. Kingston elbows out, ducks a clothesline but falls to a knee lift. Swagger goes right back to the leglock. He bends Kingston’s back against the middle rope and gives him some knees. He clubs the back and applies an abdominal stretch in-between the ropes. Cover gets two and Swagger puts in a shoulder stretch. Kingston escapes and slugs in the corner, but Swagger comes right back by dropping his face against the top turnbuckle. He continues by kicking him out of the ring. The SSE looks happy. Swagger follows but ends up getting rammed into the steel steps. Back in, Kingston falls to a clothesline. Cover gets two. Swagger applies another shoulder stretch and Kingston escapes. Swagger punches him a few times but it doesn’t stop Kingston from firing back with kicks and clubs. Kingston drops Swagger with two double arm chops and a dropkick. He goes for a superman punch but Swagger ducks it. Kingston regroups and sends Swagger head-first into the bottom turnbuckle. Swagger positions himself across the bottom corner turnbuckle, allowing Kingston to hit a modified Boom Drop. Cover gets two. Kingston heads to the top but Swagger catches him in midair and hits a powerslam. Running, Leaping Swagger Bomb misses! He charges in the corner and catches the pendulum kick. He grabs the leg and applies an anklelock. Kingston quickly flips out of it and sends Swagger into the ring post. Trouble in Paradise connects for the win.
Winner: Kofi Kingston in 17:00
Rating: ***1/4 (This got really good down the stretch, but what held it back from a higher rating was the extended slow portion in the middle and a couple of missed spots. Still, a really good TV match.)

In the back, Kane wants to apologize to Teddy Long for last week. He didn’t mean to wreck his office. He is just asking Long, man-to-man, to do what is right. Long must have been close to his father, right? Long barely knew his father, but it didn’t stop him from being who he is today. Edge appears on a TV screen. He is with a tied up Paul Bearer. Mother Nature is calling Bearer right now. Edge un-tapes his mouth and lets him speak. None of us deserve to have fathers!

Back from break, Kane is looking for Paul Bearer outside a bathroom. He enters, and only finds an empty wheelchair with the words “GONE FISHIN” written on the wall.

In the back, Josh Matthews is with Alberto Del Rio. At Survivor Series, he learned a valuable lesson. Never share the spotlight with those who aren’t equal to you. Big Show is not his equal.

Match Two: King of the Ring Qualifier- Alberto Del Rio (8-5) vs. Big Show (25-5-1)
Show comes out wearing a Knucklehead shirt. Still not interested. They stare each other down for a few seconds as Del Rio throws some words at Show. Show powers Del Rio into the corner but misses with a chop. Del Rio fires with some strikes and connects with a dropkick. He heads to the top but Show grabs him by the throat. Del Rio escapes by jumping to the outside, snapping Show’s arm across the top rope in the process. Show regroups and gives Del Rio a big wink as we go to commercial.

Back from break Del Rio has a standing waistlock applied. Show easily breaks it and butt thumps Del Rio into the corner. he delivers a big chop then a couple of headbutts. Show chokes Del Rio on the middle rope and breaks on three. He clubs the back. Del Rio mounts a comeback off a jawbreaker. He connects with some kicks but Show grabs his throat. Del Rio escapes and dropkicks the knee. He ducks some clotheslines a takes out the knee a second time. Cover gets one. Del Rio kicks the knee and hits another low dropkick. Show no-sells and drops Del Rio with some clotheslines. He misses a splash in the corner and Del Rio connects with an enzuigiri. He kicks the knee one more time and goes for a cross armbreaker but Show fights it off. Show calls for a Knockout Punch but Del Rio retreats to the outside. Show follows and chops Del Rio on the announce table. He throws Del Rio back in and Ricardo Rodriguez sacrifices himself in an attempt to distract him. Show knocks him out with a Knockout Punch but can’t beat the 10-count.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio in 8:00
Rating: **1/4 (Del Rio worked hard to make it look like he could beat Show, but for some reason, Show did not want to sell the injured knee. Don’t know what that was about. Solid match nonetheless.)

Post-match, Edge appears in the crowd with Paul Bearer. On behalf of Bearer, he would like to wish us a happy holiday. He wants Kane to come out for a conversation. He lets Bearer get on the mic and he screams for Kane. Kane appears on the entrance stage. How dare Edge? “How dare I throw Bearer down the stairs,” questions Edge. Kane calls Edge the real monster. Edge thinks that after all the things Kane has done to others in the past, he has just described himself. Tonight, Edge will do the right thing- he will ask the people what they think he should do. Bearer screams, I hate you! I hate all of you! Should Edge give Bearer back to Kane? No!!! Should Edge shove Bearer down these steps? Yeah!!! Kane knows what this is about. Edge just wants another shot at the championship. He can have it. Edge accepts and invites Kane to join them at the hotdog stand. By the time Kane makes it up there, he only finds an empty wheelchair.

Match Three: King of the Ring Qualifier- MVP (12-12) vs. Drew McIntyre (18-21-1)
Last week, MVP beat McIntyre. Lockup to start and McIntyre powers MVP into the corner. He trash talks a little before the ref pulls him off. MVP replies with a slap and slugs away in the corner. He takes McIntyre down and delivers a knee to the back of the head for two. MVP mounts and punches, then dropkicks McIntyre out of the ring. He follows and rams McIntyre into the barricade. McIntyre takes back control and throws MVP into the steel steps. He stomps on the arm on said steps and goes back into the ring. He goes back out and kicks the arm into the steps. He rams the arm once more for good measure then rolls him back in for a two count. McIntyre stomps at the arm and slows things down with a keylock. MVP fights out but McIntyre wrenches the arm down to the mat and covers for two. He mounts and punches away. MVP goes outside and McIntyre heads to the apron. McIntyre stomps on the head but MVP takes his leg out from under him. Back inside, MVP drops McIntyre with clotheslines and a facebuster. He calls for Ballin’ and connects. He goes for the Playmaker but McIntyre blocks it. MVP goes to block a McIntyre punch, but hurts his injured arm in the process. Nice. MVP doesn’t let it deter him and he punches with is good arm. In the corner, he tries for a float over, but his arm gives way and he walks right into a Future Shock DDT.
Winner: Drew McIntyre in 5:00
Rating: **1/2 (Hard work by both guys. McIntyre is great at finding different ways of working over a body part instead of the usual submission/rest holds. MVP did a phenomenal job of selling the injured arm.)

In the back, Jack Swagger blames the Swagger Soaring Eagle for his loss. The camera moves over to find Hornswoggle dressed as a female Indian. Rosa Mendes brings him a burnt turkey. Horny gets upset, but notices the SSE. He wants to eat him. Mendes tries to talk him out of it but Horny shoots an arrow at it. Cole calls him “little HBK,” a dig at Shawn’s YouTube video.

Lay-Cool comes out. This has been the worst week ever. At Survivor Series, Natalya stole the Diva’s Championship from them. On Raw, she got them kicked out of the building. Real talk, they hate that show. On the bright side, they are in McCool’s hometown- Jacksonville, Florida! All the people are so ugly. That’s ok, because Lay-Cool will always be flawless.

Match Four: Kelly Kelly (9-8) vs. Michelle McCool (16-13)
We are also in Kelly’s hometown and Striker wonders whether she really graduated high school. Kelly kick starts things by knocking Layla out of the ring and rolling McCool up for a quick one count. McCool gets in belly to belly for two then rams her head into the mat. She attacks with knees and drops her over the top rope. McCool tries for a Faithbreaker but Kelly blocks in and rolls her up for the win.
Winner: Kelly Kelly in 1:00
Rating: ¼* (Hasn’t been a good week for Lay-Cool.)

Post-match, Lay-Cool start to beat Kelly Kelly down but Beth Phoenix runs in to make the save. She is a breath of fresh air in this division.

Later tonight, Rey Mysterio takes on Cody Rhodes in our final King of the Ring Qualifying match.

We get a video package on John Cena’s fantastic goodbye speech. They didn’t include his run-in during the main event.

The Raw Rebound focuses on the Orton/Barrett match and Miz’s subsequent WWE Champion win. This video included the Cena run-in.

Match Five: King of the Ring Qualifier- Rey Mysterio (27-11) vs. Cody Rhodes (11-10)
In a great bit before the match, Rhodes tosses his new shirt at Striker and he puts it on. Del Rio is out for commentary. Mysterio goes to work at the bell with kicks to the leg. He slides under Rhodes but gets caught with a kick and a sunset flip. Mysterio rolls through and misses with a kick. Rhodes retreats to the outside and Mysterio follows. Rhodes hits a Beautiful Disaster off the steel steps. Back in, Rhodes hits an Alabama Slam for two. He stomps on Mysterio and sends him to the outside as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Rhodes is working over the arm. Mysterio charges in the corner but runs into a boot. Rhodes hits a knee drop off the middle rope for two. He continues to stomp away and wraps Mysterio’s arm in the bottom rope. Mysterio retreats to the apron but Rhodes powers him back in and covers for two. In the corner, Rhodes sets Mysterio up for a superplex but Mysterio knocks him off and hits a seated senton. He connects with a springboard crossbody for two. Mysterio telegraphs a back body drop and kicks Rhodes in the chest. Rhodes quickly regroups and pulls him by the pants into a Cross Rhodes attempt. Mysterio blocks it and rolls him up for two. Rhodes backslides for two. He misses a dropkick and Mysterio connects with a kick to the face for two. Mysterio dropkicks Rhodes from behind and puts him in the 619 position. Del Rio alerts Rhodes and he escapes to the outside. Mysterio heads to the apron and tries for a seated senton on Rhodes but Rhodes ducks and he connects with Del Rio instead. Rhodes charges but Mysterio side steps and sends him into the barricade. Back in, Mysterio kicks Rhodes from the corner into the ref. Del Rio crotches Mysterio on the ring post as payback for the senton. Rhodes takes advantage and connects with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Cody Rhodes in 9:00
Rating: **3/4 (I expected better going in, but considering that the Mysterio/Del Rio interactions were more important than the match itself, it was well-executed. Mysterio doesn’t need to be in a KotR tournament; Rhodes gets the win in a heel-like manner; and the Mysterio/Del Rio feud progresses- very logical booking.)

In the back, Kane storms into Teddy Long’s office. This is all Long’s fault, and he will pay. Edge appears on the TV screen again. He thinks Kane should come out and get some fresh air. They are in Jacksonville, Florida. Edge repeats the name quite a few times. The camera focuses on a tied up Paul Bearer, then on Kane running to the parking lot. Just as he is about to reach his father, a car hits Bearer from the side…only, it wasn’t Bearer. It was a dummy. Edge rolls down the window to reveal Bearer in the back seat. They drive away as Kane throws the dummy’s head at them. End show.

(Oh, I get it now. Taker realized that his body was not strong enough to take on Kane, so he transferred his magical powers to Edge. How else would you explain the lightning fast speed at which Edge pulled off the Bearer/dummy switcheroo? That, or maybe the shot of Bearer yelling for help just before he got hit was in Kane’s imagination. I understand that the viewer is supposed to get a kick out of Kane being one-upped by Edge, but they are doing it in a really stupid way. At least the strong wrestling was able to balance that out. Mixed bag tonight.)