Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 11/30 in Hamilton, Va.

Shore’s Slant: For those that haven't heard Ed Fatu who wrestled as Umaga passed away today at 36 years of age. The cause of death is unconfirmed at this time. We have lost a great performer, but the Fatu family has lost a husband, father, son, and brother. My prayers and heart felt condolences go out to them.

[Q1]A video package recapped Undertaker vs. Jericho from last week, and the subsequent Batista beatdown…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped Taker calling out Batista…

CM Punk's music hit and he came to the ring with the artist formerly known as Festus. A video recapped the wet cigarette dump by Truth two weeks ago and the debut of Luke Gallows (Festus) last week. Truth made his lame ass entrance…

1. R-Truth defeated CM Punk by disqualification at 10:00. Truth danced a little and Punk ran in. Truth ducked and worked strikes. Punk got in a cheap shot and then worked Truth in the corner. He whipped and charged in. Truth flipped out and did his split duck, followed by the flying heel kick for two. Punk got in a head but and took control. Truth kicked him in the stomach and hit the ropes for the scissor kick. Punk hit a forearm and Truth rolled to the floor. Punk slid out and drove Truth into the post. Truth recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 5:51, Punk worked the back. Striker heeled it up, defending Punk and the straight-edge lifestyle. Punk hit an arm breaker for two and went to an arm bar.

[Q2]CM Punk tried for a suplex, but Truth flipped out and worked his offense. He hit several quick clotheslines and a hip toss. He kicked Punk and hit the ropes for the scissor kick. Gallows grabbed the feet, causing the DQ. He drug Truth from the ring and drove him into the railing. Gallows rolled him back in the ring and drove him into the post. Punk hit the knee in the corner, and Gallows hit his powerbomb move. Punk kissed Gallows on the top of the head and they posed…The announce team hyped Taker calling out Batista…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good opening match. Truth is looking better all the time. He still needs to work on selling, but he is improved. I really like Gallows, but Punk didn't get any real heat until Gallows got involved, and that's not good.

Back from commercial, Kane made his ring entrance. Knox was out next…

2. Kane defeated Mike Knox at 3:35. Kane hit a shoulder block, a snap mare, and a sitting dropkick for a quick two. Knox got in immediate strikes and worked Kane in the corner. Kane hit an uppercut and whipped Knox to the corner. He charged in and Knox hit an elbow. Knox hit the far rope and then the crossbody for one. Knox beat on Kane and slapped on a waist lock.

Kane fought out and hit a big boot. He whipped Knox to the corner and hit two clotheslines. He followed with a sidewalk slam for two. Kane went to the top and hit the diving punch and called for the chokeslam. He grabbed Knox by the throat, but Knox hit a knee. Knox went for his kick finisher, but Kane caught the foot and hit the chokeslam for the win. Kane popped his pyro and left…

[Q3]Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed JeriShow. He asked Jericho if his loss to Triple H would be a psychol:ogical disadvantage for him tonight against Cryme Tyme. Jericho said it didn't matter because they were going to end DX at TLC. He put over each part in a TLC match and put over he and Show destroying Jericho. He pointed out he had won a TLC. He said after TLC there would be no more jokes, just the best in the business standing tall. Show made a fist and looked at his hand. He looked at the camera and threw a punch…[C]

Shore’s Slant: It was only three minutes, but it was still a very good big man's match. The cross body collision was sick. That's a lot of meat in a small space. I wish they would do more with Knox. I wanted to see he and Umaga. Sadly, we never got the chance.

Back from commercial, Michelle McCool and Layla had joined the announce teams, but mercifully not on the head sets. They were wearing shirts that said Piggie James. Justin Roberts announced that this was a number one contender's match. Mickie James made her entrance. Beth was out next, followed by Natalya…

3. Mickie James defeated Beth Phoenix and Natalya to become the Number One Contender for the Women's Championship at 7:01. Mickie was the first one taken out and McCool and Layla cheered. Natalya and Beth pushed each other, and then hit no sell shoulders on each other. It was like Kane vs. Undertaker or something. Mickie slid in and they tossed her to the floor and then hit clotheslines on each other. Everybody recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 4:48, Natalya had a back submission hold on Mickie. A video showed Mickie getting the better of Beth during the break. Mickie escaped the hold, but Natalya whipped her. Mickie ducked and hit a neckbreaker. Beth broke the count. All three women battled in the ring. Natalya hit her spinning clothesline and setup Mickie for the Sharpshooter. Beth snatched Natalya up and hit her finisher. She went for the pin and Mickie dropkicked her out of the ring and pinned Natalya.

[Q4]Post match, Josh Matthews got in the ring and asked Mickie about her win. Mickie took the mic and cut a promo on McCool. She got out of the ring and got in McCool's face. She said she was going to shut McCool up after she dislodged Layla from her ass. She attacked McCool and Layla. They got the better of her and rolled her in the ring. Maria ran out and made the save. They chased the heels off and hugged in the ring…

Backstage, Batista complained to Teddy Long about Mysterio wanting another match. Teddy said that next week it would be Batista vs. Mysterio in a street fight. Batista said that was fine as long as his hold-harmless agreement was still in place. He said he was really upset about Teddy letting Taker called him out. Teddy said after what Batista did to Taker, his hands were tied…

Matt Hardy was shown playing the new Smackdown vs. Raw. He was playing Morrison beating up McIntyre. Morrison walked up and said the only thing better than that was to see it in real life, which was about to happen…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Is it bizzaro day? The women got seven minutes. Wow. Really good match that showed that the Divas have some girls who could hang with any of the Knockouts. I'm OK with Maria coming in to help with Layla, but they need to put the belt on Mickie and let her feud with Natalya and give McCool to Beth. I am surprised after all that work building Beth up they would throw it away, but at least the women have a story.

Back from commercial, John Morrison made his ring entrance. McIntyre was out next. Drew started to cut a promo and Morrison punched him in the mouth. Drew shoved him back and they started the match…

[Q5]4. Drew McIntyre defeated John Morrison at 13:13. Morrison started out quick and hit the standing shooting star press for two. Drew fought back and tossed Morrison to the floor where he hit his head on the wall. McIntyre rolled him back in the ring and worked the head…[C]

Back at 7:30, McIntyre hit a clothesline for two. McIntyre worked clubs and strikes on Morrison. He went to stand Morrison up and Morrison kicked him in the head. Morrison went on attack and worked his offense. He hit the lag lariat and the running knee for two. He whipped McIntyre to the corner and went for the chuck kick. McIntyre kicked his feet out and took control.

McIntyre whipped Morrison. Morrison tried to reverse into a tilt-a-whirl head scissors, but McIntyre hit a back breaker for two. They battled in the corner and Morrison hit the chuck kick. McIntyre rolled to the floor and under the ring. Morrison went to get him and McIntyre drove his face into the exposed ring structure. He rolled Morrison back in the ring and hit the DDT for the win. Post match, the announce team put over how big the win was…[C]

Shore’s Slant: It is bizzaro day. How else do you explain 13 minutes for young guys. Solid match. Either Drew is much better or Morrison carried him very well. No, I don't like Morrison losing, but I have a sneaking suspicion that McIntyre will be the challenger at Royal Rumble. I could be wrong, but I really think so.

[Q6]Back from commercial, Vickie Guerrero was introduced. She came to the ring to her usual heat. A video package recapped her going off on Escobar last week and him dumping her. She did her excuse me line and cut a promo on Escobar. The crowd got silent and she did the escuse me line again. Instant heat. She gave Escobar a chance to come out and apologize. Razor Ramon…uh…Eric Escobar made his ring entrance. Escobar said he was very sorry. He was sorry that they ever met. He was also sorry that he wasted his time with her. And he was deeply sorry that he got to see her wearing her negligee. Vickie went ape shit again and booked him in a match against The Hart Dynasty. They made their entrance…

5. The Hart Dynasty defeated Eric Escobar at 2:25. Kidd and Escobar started. Escobar got in a couple of shots and Smith tagged in. He beat down Escobar and tagged Kidd back in. Kidd went for a move that Escobar reversed into a powerbomb. He covered and Smith broke the count. Smith tagged in and Escobar hit the Mexican Neck Tie. Kidd broke the count and Smith hit a back suplex. They followed with the Hart Attack for the win.

Post match, Vickie got in the ring. Smith held Escobar and Vickie screamed at him. He yelled at her to slap him. She did and Smith kicked him in the gut. Vickie and the Harts celebrated up the ramp…

[Q7]Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed Gallows and Punk. Gallows put over his miserable previous incarnation and said Punk saved him. Punk said he could help anyone. Gallows said CM Punk could be everyone's savior…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Vickie was great as always, but I just don't care about Escobar. I guess this is a face turn, but nobody cares. They just want to boo her. The Gallows/Punk thing is a little Branch Dividian for me. Should be interesting where this angle goes.

Back from commercial, the announce team ran down the TLC card…Cryme Tyme made their ring entrance…[C]

Back from commercial, JeriShow made their ring entrance. They were announced with a combined weight of 711 lbs. Wow…

[Q8]6. Chris Jericho and The Big Show defeated Cryme Tyme at 3:19. JTG and Jericho started. JTG got the better to start and Jericho rolled from the ring. He tried to get back in, but JTG hit a baseball slide. He let Jericho get in the ring and hit a flying leg drop for two. Jericho clipped the leg when Show distracted JTG.

Jericho worked his offense. He hit a back suplex and choked JTG on the ropes. JTG fought back and hit a clothesline on Jericho. Both men made tags. Shad charged and Big Show knocked him out. Jericho punked Shad on the mat and then he and Show celebrated up the ramp…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Meh. The sole purpose was so Show could knock someone out. The match itself did nothing. There just isn't a lot to say here. We all know Show can knock someone out with one punch. Not sure why this had to happen.

Back from commercial, a video package once again recapped the Taker/Batista confrontation last week…Undertaker made his ring entrance. He was half way down the ramp and Batista attacked from behind with a chair. He drove Taker into the stairs and hit him with the chair some more before throwing him into the stairs again.

He choked Taker with the chair and rolled him into the ring where more chair shots followed. He laid the chair down and dropped a spinebuster on the chair. He stood over Taker with the belt gloating. He hit Taker with the belt to end the show…A video hyped the Street Fight for next week…

Shore’s Slant: Batista needed some more heel heat, and beating up Undertaker is a good way to get some. It doesn't make me want to see this match that much more, but not because it was bad. A very good show overall this week. I'll have more to say tomorrow with the Hitlist. Thanks for reading and I'll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.

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