Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 12.12.17

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 12.12.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Non-Title Match: Champion Charlotte defeated Ruby Riott @ 5:03 via DQ [*½]
– Non-Title Match: Dolph Ziggler defeated US Champion Baron Corbin @ 1:37 via DQ [NR]
– The Bludgeon Brothers defeated Jimmy & Johnny Boots & Tights @ 0:45 via pin [NR]
– Non-Title Match: Rusev & English defeated Champions The Usos @ 4:18 via pin [*½]
– Kevin Owens defeated Shinsuke Nakamura @ 14:25 via pin [**½]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– I ranked the Raw women’s division from worst to first at this link.
– I ranked the Smackdown women’s division from worst to first at this link.
– I wrote about the winners in the battle for the Broken Universe at this link.

– Kevin & Sami are wearing Daniel Bryan style “YEP” shirts and are looking to gain support against Shane and are threatening to occupy Smackdown.

AJ Styles Talks: WWE Champion AJ Styles is here to kick off the show. He welcomes us to the house that AJ Styles built. All he can think about is defending the WWE Title at Clash of Champions. But what good is being champion if you’re not a fighting champion. He knows Mahal will do anything to win back his title. And he knows what it’s like. The Singh brothers arrive. They show clips of Jinder kicking their asses last week. Styles says he feels sorry for them and offers to hug it out. The Singhs hug, but Styles offers a hug from uncle Al. They arrive in the ring and Styles gives them hugs. They thank Styles for his support, but say at Clash of Champions, they want to be in his corner. They are done with Jinder Mahal and he will have to fight on his own. Styles tells them to tell the world. They rant about Mahal traveling first clash while they are treated like trash, Mahal even thinks they are twins and make them dress alike. They also say they had to kiss his disgusting feet. Styles asks if they are so upset with Mahal, then why were they with him in India over the weekend. BUSTED. Styles asks if they are still with Mahal, and they say they aren’t. Styles offers a handshake, and Mahal arrives. Styles tells Mahal to not even come down here, because he knows what’s going on. Styles then says he wants it one on one at the Clash and beats down the Singhs and tosses them to the floor. Mahal teases coming to the ring, but backs off as he yells at AJ, saying the title belongs to him. Mahal then checks on the Singhs. This was a solid opening segment, adding to the build for Styles vs. Mahal.:

– We get a video package of the Riott Squad’s actions since arriving on Smackdown.

Champion Charlotte vs. Ruby Riott: Logan and Morgan are at ringside. Natalya is on commentary. Charlotte controls early, hitting slams and then gets distracted. She hits a sack of shit slam, taking Ruby to the floor. Screen in screen, and Charlotte keeps control and gets tripped up by Logan, allowing Ruby to take over. She slams Charlotte to the buckles, and then gets a crucifix for 2. She ties up Charlotte’s arms, grounding the action and then transitions to a chinlock. Charlotte finally gets to her feet, hits a big boot and chops. Back full screen as Ruby looks for a fall way splash but eats knees. The knee strike follows, Charlotte takes out Logan and sends Riott to the floor. Charlotte works over the Squad, lays out Natalya and Natalya attacks for he DQ. Champion Charlotte defeated Ruby Riott @ 5:03 via DQ [*½] This was ok for the time given, but was more about setting up the dynamic between the Squad and rest of the women as well as building to Natalya vs. Charlotte.

– The Squad beats down Charlotte, slamming her to the steps but Naomi is back and makes the save. She runs wild, laying into Ruby, hits the rear view and stands tall as the Squad retreats. Carmella, Tamina, and Lana attack them as Naomi checks on Charlotte.

– Bryan is on the phone, and tells Shane he has everything under control. Kevin & Sami arrive, and leave an occupy Smackdown sign.

What must @WWEDanielBryan be thinking right now? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/8S1R6kCSn6

— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2017

– Bobby Roode is on commentary.

US Champion Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler: This is part of the build to Corbin vs. Roode vs. Ziggler at the Clash. Roode and Corbin went to a DQ last week, when Ziggler attacked and laid everyone out. Corbin talks shit, they push and shove and then Corbin hits a right. Ziggler hits a dropkick, and then Corbin misses a charge and posts himself. Roode drops the robe and leaves commentary. He gets in the ring and hits Ziggler with the DDT for the DQ. He then lays out Corbin with the DDT as they basically ran the same deal as last week. Dolph Ziggler defeated US Champion Baron Corbin @ 1:37 via DQ [NR] Same shit, different week. How anyone could care about this triple threat on Sunday is beyond me. Also, two DQs in a row? Is this 1997 Raw?

– We get some Fashion Files, which now streams on WWE.com. They argue with the Ascension, who are still alive. The Fashion Police will face the Bludgeon Brothers at the Clash of Champions PPV.

The Bludgeon Brothers vs. Jimmy & Johnny Boots & Tights: One of the jobbers is Colin Delaney. The Bludgeon Brothers run wild and kill these poor men. They then hit the killer bomb and double crucifix slam for the win. The Bludgeon Brothers defeated Jimmy & Johnny Boots & Tights @ 0:45 via pin [NR] The Bludgeon Brothers continue to dominate ahead of their PPV match with the Fashion Police; it was exactly what it needed to be.

Kevin & Sami Occupy Smackdown: They say that the fans are with them, united, in the name of change. Sami says management took things one-step too far when Kevin was handcuffed to the ring, leading to Orton & Nakamura laying them out. Kevin says you thought Vince & Stephanie were bad, but Shane is worse than both of them. But the worst thing is that Shane’s the special ref for their match on Sunday and they could lose their jobs. Kevin claims that Shane is on a rage bender, and they want to show that wrestling is bigger than Shane. They call for everyone to occupy Smackdown, but only Bryan comes out. Bryan makes his way to he ring and Kevin calls him an inspiration. Sami praises Bryan, and Bryan asks what they were doing. Kevin says they are paying tribute to him with the YEP movement, fighting against the machinelike Bryan did. Bryan says they are nothing like him. Bryan says the YES movement was never about him, it was about the fans. Sami says it’s similar, because it’s about him and what they want. Bryan says that Shane will screw them at the Clash, taking food from their families tables. They worked hard to get here, but Shane wants to take it all away. Bryan says he and Shane have each other’s back. He knows that Bryan & Sami are talented, and will make sure their Clash match is fair. He trusts in Shane, so at the Clash, Bryan will be the second ref in their match. This was a solid and at times fun segment, with it continuing the Kevin & Sami angle as well as the issues with Shane and Bryan that they have been building.

– New Day in out on commentary.

– English tries to finish the 12 days of Rusev song and actually does.

– The Usos arrive and run them down, talking about possible presents for Rusev & English. Gable & Benjamin now arrive. Gable has heard enough, calling them all weak. The only thing that matters is Sunday, when they win the tag titles.

Champions The Usos vs. Rusev & English: This is part of the build to the four-way tag title match at the Clash. They start during the break, with Rusev taking early control. he beats on an Uso in the corner, and tags in English. They continue to control, isolating the Uso and we’re back to full screen. Rusev works a bear hug, as Graves yells at New Day for throwing pancakes. The Uso makes a comeback, hitting an enziguri and we get wholesale changes to English and Jimmy. Jimmy runs wild, English cuts him off with a boot but jumps into a superkick; Rusev makes the save. Rusev cuts off the dive, hits a superkick from the floor and that allows English to pick up the win. Rusev & English defeated Champions The Usos @ 4:18 via pin [*½] there was nothing to see here, other than a late push to give Rusev & English credibility before Sunday’s title match. Happy Rusev Day.

– Styles says he needs no one to keep his title, but just as he says that Jinder and the Singhs attack, with Mahal laying out the champion and promising that Styles won’t beat the odds.

– Mojo Rawley vs. Zack Ryder has been added to the Clash kick off show.

– Randy Orton makes his way out to the ring, followed by Shinsuke Nakamura. Renee is here to interview them. Orton says he can’t speak about Bryan or Shane’s motivations, but he hates Kevin & Sami and will send them packing. Nakamura agrees.

– Daniel Bryan joins commentary.

Kevin Owens vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Kevin attacks right away, looks to ground the action as he lays in elbow strikes. Nakamura battles back and Kevin bails to the floor. Kevin follows and slams him to he apron repeatedly, and then takes him back in and grounds the action. Kevin lays in strikes, keeping things grounded. Nakamura fires back, lays in knee strikes but Kevin misses the running strike and pulls Nakamura to he floor. Post break, Nakamura fires up and tries to rally, but Kevin cuts him off, covering for 2. Nakamura counters the senton with knees, they trade strikes and Nakamura hits a running kick for the double down. Nakamura lays in strikes, hits a gourd buster and follows with kicks. Nakamura backs off, charges and lays in knee strikes in the corner. He follows with good vibrations, more knees follow and Nakamura covers for 2. Nakamura sets Kevin up top, follows him up but Kevin lays in strikes and knocks Nakamura to the mat and the swanton eats knees. We get a ref bump, and Bryan has to take off his shirt so he can officially take over. Kevin and Nakamura battle back and forth, and Bryan takes over as ref, counting 2. Orton rushes in and takes Sami out. To the floor and Sami posts Orton. Sami distracts Nakamura, Kevin hits the powerbomb for the win. Kevin Owens defeated Shinsuke Nakamura @ 14:25 via pin [**½] Bryan & Saxton were completely overbearing as they argued on commentary, really taking away from the match. The match was perfectly solid, but it came across as both guys were stuck in second gear, with no desire to do anything more. They were too heavy handed about Bryan aligning with Sami & Kevin, which means that Shane gets taken out, Orton turns on Nakamura and Bryan has to count the pin to be “fair” about things.

– Renee talks with Kevin & Sami. They say no one will take this away from them because they are the best in WWE.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

3.0

The final score: review Bad

The 411

I have said it before and will say it again, I don’t buy the excuse that it’s the “Network era,” the art of the go home show has largely been lost in 2017, especially with WWE. This was lazy, uninspired, and gave us nothing good overall. To me, this show said, “Hey kids, we have Clash of Champions on Sunday, hope you like crap!” Clash of Champions may end up being solid or good, but the final build to it sucked.