By Marv Hermanstyne

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on December 20 in Richmond, Va.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Josh Matthews welcomed us to Smackdown. The Big Show came out for a promo and the announcers talked about Big Show winning and losing the belt at the TLC PPV. Show admitted that he would be the world champion but he can’t believe that Daniel Bryan is the world champ. He talked about how he scratched and clawed for nine years to be world champion and he put Henry over in a good way. He said he had mixed emotions about losing the world title and he showed a video of Josh Mathews from Raw asking him about having the shortest world title reign in history.

Show said he is proud of himself for not going over the edge and Mark Henry interrupted him.

Mind of Marv: Do not adjust your computer…I’m doing Smackdown coverage for the first time in forever. I’m doing a favor for the bald guy who runs this site and I’m still a contributor…just on a very limited basis.

Henry asked Show why he was proud to have the shortest reign and he should put this accomplishment on his tombstone. Henry said Show should feel embarrassed and humiliated. Henry then said that Show should take the week off and quit. Henry demanded his rematch and Daniel Bryan came to the ring. Josh Mathews compared Bryan’s reign to Tebowmania…sigh.

Bryan said that no one believes that he is the world champion. He said he’s neither the world strongest man nor the world’s tallest athlete. He said there is nothing that screams WWE superstar about him. He said that he is a great wrestler and he is the world champion. Henry said that every time he puts his hands on Bryan he beats the hell out of him. Henry and Show bickered about getting a rematch.

Teddy Long came out and said both Henry and Show deserve to face Bryan for the world title, but they will face each other tonight to determine the number one contender for the world title.

Mind of Marv: Show vs Henry is getting tiresome but since Henry is legit injured, expectations should be lowered about this matchup. Overall, this was a decent segment to kick the show off.

Zack Ryder vs. Cody Rhodes is next in a champion vs. champion match….[C]

[Q2] Cody Rhodes made his entrance and Cole poked fun at Booker for losing at TLC. Meanwhile, Ryder got a nice ovation and still shots were shown of Ryder winning the US title at TLC.

1. United States Champion Zack Ryder defeated Intercontinental Cody Rhodes in a champion vs. champion match in 9:33. The matchup started technical and Ryder got the advantage with a couple of arm drag takedowns. Cody hit an uppercut and threw Ryder out of the ring. Both men were back and forth outside of the ring. Cody threw Ryder into Booker… [C]

The show returned around the 6:00 mark and Cody hit an Alabama slam to Ryder. Cody applied a submission to Ryder and Ryder broke out. Ryder missed a crossbody, hit the ropes and Cody covered twice for a nearfall. Both men bumped heads and Ryder took over on offense with a bulldog, a splash and the Broski Boot for a nearfall. Booker said he was in the holiday spirit and he sung started his version of Cody the Red Nosed Reindeer. The distraction cost Cody the matchup when Ryder hit the Rough Ryder for the win. Booker continued to poke fun at Cody’s expense after the match.

Mind of Marv: Good match to start but the champion vs. champion concept is so watered down, I don’t know where to start. Cody is developing as a better heel and I’m so glad that his character has matured. Ryder on the other hand is getting over quite nicely with the crowd which is good for this current push.

[Q3] Backstage, Teddy Long was smiling and Santino had a puppet cobra to scare Teddy. Santino suggested that he the assistant to Smackdown. Teddy told Santino that he will consider it and Aksana popped up in the room. Santino was being hilarious with the puppet and Vickie Guerrero walked in with Dolph Ziggler. Dolph said he wanted his rematch for the US title he asked to face Bryan tonight and Vickie yelled Bah Humbug. Teddy started to jig…yeah, he really did.

Show vs. Henry is next… [C]

When Henry and Show was getting ready to lock up, David Otunga of all people came out to the ring. Otunga introduced himself as the legal counsel of Raw. Otunga said that Henry was not medically cleared because of bruises and high blood pressure. He said the match will not take place and he said on behalf of Johnny Ace, he wished every a healthy and happy holiday. Show hit the Weapon of Mass Destruction on Otunga to put him to sleep for the night….

Mind of Marv: Otunga getting knocked out is always good in my book! Carry on…

Bryan vs. Ziggler face each other tonight…[C]

[Q4] Teddy Long was walking backstage and The Miz approached him. Miz said he was told to be at Smackdown tonight. The Miz buried Long, ripped Smackdown and said since he won the WWE title in 2010, not one Smackdown superstar was featured in a main event of a PPV. He put himself over and he said that he will make Smackdown awesome.

Mind of Marv: What a way to bury the Smackdown brand, WWE. We all know that Raw is the "A" show but don’t have one of your best heels bury the brand because of the lack of main event booking on the "B" brand. By the way, roughly ten minutes of wrestling and it’s an hour into the show?

Tribute to the Troops coverage was shown and The Miz came to the ring. [C]

The Miz was in the ring for a promo. Miz basically begged Teddy for a match and showed footage of him beating down R-Truth and John Morrison. He said anyone and called the entire Smackdown locker room cowards. He said that he’s a crossover superstar and he talked about being on talk shows and radio shows. Sheamus came out and interrupted him.

[Q5] 2. Sheamus defeated The Miz in 3:00. Both men exchanged blows and Sheamus got the early cover for a nearfall. The Miz hit a big boot and a DDT for nearfall. Miz worked on Sheamus in the corner and Sheamus countered with a clothesline and an Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus went for the Celtic Cross but Miz countered. Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale but Sheamus countered. Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick for the win.

Mind of Marv: So you have The Miz talk shit and have him lose in three minutes? The match was passible, but I blinked and it was over.

Bryan vs Ziggler is still to come, tonight…[C]

Wade Barrett came to the ring for a promo. He had stitches over his right eye and he said that he’s been in Randy Orton’s head like no one else has. A video recap was shown of the Barrett and Orton feud. He said that beating Orton should put him in line for a world title match and wished everyone a Happy Christmas.

[Q6] Orton came out and attacked Barrett. Orton went for a RKO but Barrett ran off. Orton and Barrett fought backstage and in the parking lot. Orton took a hose and sprayed Barrett with water. He then tossed trash on him and kicked his ass on a car. Barrett eat a RKO on the roof of the car…[C]

Mind of Marv: Nothing like a pre-holiday ass kicking and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Primo was already in the ring for his match and Air Boom came out to a nice ovation…

3. Kofi Kingston (w/Evan Bourne) defeated Primo (w/Epico and Rosa Mendes) in 3:06. Primo attacked Kofi with punches. Primo hit a Russian leg sweep in Kofi and applied a submission. Primo hit a leg sweep, leg drop and elbow combo on Kofi. Kofi came back with his instant offense on Primo. Kofi hit a crossbody to Primo for a nearfall. Primo hit an arm drag from the middle rope to Kofi for a nearfall. Primo took too much time and Kofi hit the Trouble in Paradise to Primo for the win…

Mind of Marv: Another three minute match which the heel gets 90 percent of the offense and the babyface hits his finisher for a win. I’m trying to be optimistic here, but three minutes dominated by heels just to job out to babyfaces is pathetic.

[Q7] The Raw recap was shown… Daniel Bryan came to the ring and he will face Dolph Ziggler, next…[C]

4. Daniel Bryan fought Dolph Ziggler to a no-contest in 12:45. Bryan hit a dropkick to Dolph to start the matchup. Bryan applied a couple submissions to Dolph and hit an uppercut. Dolph got back on offense and he did sit ups. Bryan went for the LeBell lock and Dolph countered with a belly to back throw for a nearfall. [C]

The show returned around 6:30 and Dolph hit a nice dropkick to Bryan. Both men collided into each other in the middle of the ring. Jack Swagger walked out to the ring and Bryan threw Dolph out of the ring. Bryan launched himself to Dolph outside of the ring. Swagger ran into Bryan and Big Show came out to even the score. Dolph applied the sleeper but Bryan countered with a German Suplex for a nearfall. Dolph went for the Zig Zag but Bryan countered and kicked the crap out Dolph for a nearfall.

[Q8] Dolph hit the Rocker Dropper to Byran for a nearfall. Bryan hit a nasty back suplex from the top rope for a nearfall. Swagger and Show played cat and mouse until Show caught him. Teddy Long came out and made it a tag team match…

Mind of Marv: This match was getting so damn good and they had to make it a tag team match? Giving away matches like this for free is sad because I can see a LOT of money for Bryan-Ziggler main event program.

5. Daniel Bryan and Big Show defeated Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. This match (already in progress) returned with Show dominating Swagger. Show lit up Swagger chest with chops and Swagger tagged in Ziggler. Show dominated Dolph with his power and tagged Byran back in. Bryan lit Dolph up with kicks and he missed a missile dropkick in the corner. The heels exchanged blows and worked on Bryan in the corner. Dolph applied a half Boston Crab to Bryan and he hit a leaping elbow. Dolph applied the sleeper but Bryan threw him off him.

Show and Swagger tagged in and Show hit instant offense to Swagger. Swagger went for the ankle lock but Bryan countered with the LeBell Lock for the win.

Mind of Marv: Good but a not great tag team match. The singles match was much more appealing but I can understand they didn’t want to give a lot of away on TV. Pay attention to this slow burning possible heel turn by the Big Show. As I explained on Twitter, Bryan is going to be a transitional champion because of the Mark Henry injury. The booking of the last couple of MITB winner has been horrid and unless they can convince me that he will be booked properly, my expecations will remain low for the moment. Overall, this was an average show and with the holidays being right around the corner, the ratings should reflect.

Monday Night Raw is returning to Chicago for the first time since the Money in the Bank PPV. If you would like to follow me on Twitter, my handle is @InfamousMarv. Warning: I’m a sports addict, I tweet a TON, and it's not always PG or PC. Have a Happy Holiday!

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