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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 12.05.17

December 5, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Randy Orton WWE Smackdown 120517
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The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 12.05.17  

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 12.05.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Rusev & Aiden English defeated New Day @ 9:30 via pin [**¾]
– The Bludgeon Brothers defeated Adam James and Josh Car @ 1:08 via pin [NR]
Non-Title Match: Bobby Roode defeated US Champion Baron Corbin @ 3:26 via DQ [*]
Non-Title Match: Champion Charlotte defeated Tamina @ 6:33 via submission [*]
– Randy Orton defeated Sami Zayn @ 11:45 via pin [**½]


– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

The Besties, Kevin & Sami Are Here: We get highlights from last week, where they worked around Shane’s poorly constructed match stipulations. They put each other over, and says a McMahon will do anything to get their pound of flesh, just ask Daniel Bryan, Bret Hart, Steve Austin… or just ask them because they are better than those guys anyway. It is why Shane is after them, and last week, they tried to use Randy Orton to use his dirty work, just like Stephanie used Orton; he’s been given everything while they have clawed for what they have. Shane led Smackdown to failure at the Survivor Series. They have to outsmart Shane McMahon, which isn’t hard since Shane is blinded by his own shortcomings. Sami explains that he is in the ring, and then shows himself at ringside, where you find a bad announce team, a bell guy maybe named Steve and some unpleasant looking fans. He then shows the ramp, something very different. This is where he laid waste to Orton, NOT at ringside, so Shane should watch his words, because they worked the system and won. Orton sneaks in and RKOs Owens! Sami looks to bail, but Shane is here. Shane thanks him for the tutorial, and says he doesn’t have a vendetta against them. At Clash of Champion, Kevin and Sami will face Randy Orton and a partner of Orton’s choosing. Shane now books Sami vs. Orton. And Kevin is welcomed at ringside, because Kevin will be handcuffed to the ring. Good opening segment, with Sami beautifully and sarcastically broke down how they out smarted Shane. Orton got some revenge, and they set up a match for the Clash, with Nakamura likely to be Orton’s partner.

– Kevin and Sami talk, as Kevin sells his neck and then gets informed of the stipulation. Kevin says he’s going to talk with Daniel Bryan.

– English says today is Rusev day, just like every day is Rusev day, which gets Rusev day chants. He then sings the 12 days of Rusev day. New Day rudely interrupts.

New Day (Kofi & Big E) vs. Rusev & Aiden English: New Day takes control, working over English, and Kofi hits a high cross for 2. Rusev saves English, pulling him to the floor. We go screen in screen, and Rusev tags on and takes control over Kofi. Rusev works knee strikes, English distracts Kofi, allowing Rusev to beat him down. English low bridges Kofi, sending him to the floor. English then works him over, rolls him back in and then isolates Kofi, choking him out in the ropes. English lays the boots to him as we go back to full screen. English is singing Rusev day as he maintains control over Kofi. Kofi hits a desperation jawbreaker, but English cuts off the tag. Rusev tags back in, and works a bear hug. Kofi tries to escape with head butts, but Rusev hits a spin kick, cutting him off and covering for 2. Kofi cuts off Rusev with a boot, but Rusev cuts off the tag. Kofi hits a double stomp on the charging Rusev, and we get wholesale changes to English and Big E. Big E starts hitting suplexes and tossing English around. The running splash connects for 2. English rakes the eyes, Rusev in and runs into a spinebuster for 2. Kofi tags in and Rusev pulls Big E to the floor and slams him to the steps. Kofi wipes him out with a dive, back in and Rusev trips Kofi off the ropes, hits the superkick and picks up the win. Rusev & Aiden English defeated New Day @ 9:30 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good match, with Rusev & Aiden English winning and likely getting themselves into the tag title match at the Clash. I am really over all of the multi-man matches this year, but at least it’s new.

– We see footage on the Hype bros break up, and Mojo is now interviewed. Mojo says when Ryder got hurt, he won the Andre battle royal and things were going his way, Ryder came back and dragged him down. He is a serious competitor, and no one’s partner, and he is a superstar. If anyone has an issue with what he did, they can shove it.

– Yup, Rusev & Aiden English have been added to the tag title match at the Clash.

– The women yell at Bryan and Carmella wants a spotlight at the Clash. Lana feels Tamina deserves the chance. Daniel says Carmella could join the Charlotte vs. Natalya match is she hands on her contract. The Riott Squad arrives and Ruby wants to know why she’s being excluded, after pinning Charlotte last week. Logan claims Bryan is prejudice against people from the south, while Morgan says he’s too into brunettes. Bryan yells at them and makes Charlotte vs Natalya a lumberjack match, so they can all be involved. Horrible segment with everyone yelling over everyone.

– Corbin meets with Roode and says Ziggler doesn’t belong in their title match at the Clash. Roode says he can beat Corbin, and they talk WWE match as Ziggler arrives. He says he got added to the math due to all of his success in WWE, including a successful MITB cash in. He says they have no odds to win now that he’s in the match.

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. Adam James and Josh Car: One of the jobbers is Peter Avalon. The Bludgeon Brothers run wild at the bell, work double teams and the double slam finishes things. The Bludgeon Brothers defeated Adam James and Josh Carl @ 1:08 via pin [NR] SQUASH

– Kevin meets with Sami, and Kevin says that Bryan will think things over regarding tonight’s main event stipulation.

– Ziggler is out on commentary.

Non-Title Match: US Champion Baron Corbin vs. Bobby Roode: Corbin does the tough guy chest poke, and then a shoulder tackle. Roode battles back, takes out the knee and sends Corbin to the floor. Corbin fires back with a big right, and back in the ring, lays in more rights to Roode. Corbin grounds the action, but Roode gets to his feet, lays in chops and avoids the chokebreaker but that leads to a double down. Ziggler gets involved and slides in the ring, and zigzags Roode. He then lays out Corbin as well. Bobby Roode defeated US Champion Baron Corbin @ 3:26 via DQ [*] Completely lazy and predictable booking as they had to try to make sense of adding Ziggler to the match after Roode already ended the feud and Ziggler had been absent for a few weeks. This did nothing to make me care about or look forward to the US Title match.

– Natalya kisses up to Lana, Tamina, and Carmella. She talks shit about the Riott Squad, and they appear. She kisses their asses, and leaves.

I have some bad news guys


WWE hates the troops

– We get a video package for Styles vs. Mahal at the Clash.

Non-Title Match: Champion Charlotte vs. Tamina: Both ladies get the already in the ring treatment. Lana, Carmella and Natalya are at ringside; Charlotte has no friends, because they all got beat up. Tamina attacks at the bell, Charlotte starts to fight back and that leads to an awkward exchange off the ropes, with Charlotte covering for 2. Charlotte lay in forearms, but Tamina slams her to the corner and we go screen in screen, Tamina hits a superkick but Charlotte kicks out at two. Tamina trying to show emotion is always humorous. She grounds the action with a side headlock, Charlotte fights to her feet and they run into each other, and then Charlotte hits a charging forearm for 2. She slowly lays the boots to Charlotte, and then chokes her out in the ropes. Tamina grounds things again, back from break, and Tamina continues to keep tings grounded. Charlotte fights to her feet, but Tamina takes her back down and covers for 2. I’d say Tamina had the heat, but there was none as the crowd chanted for Lana. Charlotte makes her comeback, waking the crowd up a bit; the big boot connects and then the figure eight and Tamina taps. Champion Charlotte defeated Tamina @ 6:33 via submission [*] That was bad, and the worst Charlotte match in forever; good work Tamina… you can collect your things on the way out.

– Post match, Natalya says she will win the title back at the Clash. The Riott Squad arrives and Riott says she agrees with Natalya, and says they should give Charlotte a preview of the Lumberjack match. Tamina attacks Logan and we get a brawl at ringside. Charlotte smartly bails. Well that was completely anticlimactic and not good.

– Kevin and Sami meet with Bryan and thank him for his time and consideration. Bryan won’t overturn things and says Kevin will be handcuffed to the ring.

Sami Zayn vs. Randy Orton: Kevin Owens is handcuffed to the bottom rope; seems like bad planning as he could still interfere. Orton attacks at the bell, dumps Sami to he floor and tosses him over the announce table. He then suplexes him onto the barricade. Sami battles back and runs to Kevin for safety. Back in and Orton lays in strikes and uppercut, back to the floor we go and they battle back and forth. Orton slams Sami to the announce table, and then suplexes him onto it. Kevin distracts Orton, allowing Sami to attack and take control back, slamming Orton to the steps. Back in the ring they go, Sami lays in rights and tosses him back to the floor. Kevin talks shit to Orton as we take a break. Post break, and Sami grounds the action while talking some shit. To the corner but Orton rebounds with clotheslines and a snap slam. Sami stuns Orton off the ropes, heads under the ring and gets bolt cutters. He tries to free Kevin, but Orton stops that and posts Kevin. Sami attacks, rolls Orton back in and heads up top but Orton crotches him. Orton follows him up top, and hits the superplex. Kevin gets the cutters and frees himself, but Orton takes him out. The draping DDT on Sami follows. Orton sets for the RKO, but he goes after Kevin, but Sami rolls him up for 2. Orton then rolls up Sami for the win. Randy Orton defeated Sami Zayn @ 11:45 via pin [**½] Considering the talent involved, I felt that this was an extremely average and overall disappointing main event. The match only served as the set up for the post match angle, which while fine, was far from a blow away angle overall.

– Post match, Kevin and Sami attack Orton, but Nakamura makes the save. Kinshasa to Owens! RKO on Sami. Orton and Nakamura stand tall, and then Orton hits an RKO on Kevin, and then a Kinshasa on Sami follows.

– Shane is pleased, and Bryan questions if they are done punishing them. Shane says no, because he will be the special ref at the Clash, and if Sami and Kevin lose, they are fired from WWE. Bryan silently objects.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

5.0
The final score: review Not So Good
The 411
After last night’s quality episode of Raw, I was really hoping WWE was primed for quality week, but Smackdown was just a really flat and uninteresting show. They made some changes to the Clash card, but two bad matches, some poor promo work and just the feeling that nothing was must see made this feel like a completely disappointing show. Also, the tease of a Daniel Bryan heel turn seems completely tone deaf, if he aligns with Steenerico, he'll be treated as a hero.
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