Coverage and thoughts on the December 9, 2011 episode of Smackdown
The show starts with Booker T being attended to by medics after an attack from Cody Rhodes that happened before the show went on the air. They show the attack and then the trainers help Booker backstage.
The announcers mention that the show was scheduled to start with a beat the clock challenge with both Randy Orton and Wade Barrett each being in single action later. Whichever guy wins their match faster will get to pick the stip for their match at TLC.
Tony Chimel introduces the returning Lillian Garcia. Lillian thanks the fans and says how great it is to be back. Cody then gets the mic and stands on the announce table. He says that no one cares that Lillian is back and he’s not sure if anyone knew that she ever left. He says that he likes seeing the return of one announcer (Lillian) and the departure of another (Booker T). Then he asks who will fill Booker’s spot and asks who will talk about a “fav 5 with 11 people in it?” That was funny. He says that he will take Booker’s spot. Then he tells Booker to watch and he might learn something, “sucka.” This was a good promo from Cody.
Ezekiel Jackson vs. Wade Barrett in the beat the clock challenge. Barrett gets the pin at . This was a decent match. Afterwards Barrett gets the mic and says that when he started the Barrett Barrage his goal was to become World Champion, but Randy has been standing in his way. Then he mentions that he repeatedly humiliated and beat Orton. Then he says that only voice that Orton’s hearing in his head right now is his. He then says that Orton usually a psychological advantage over his opponents, but he doesn’t have that advantage with him. Then he says that voice in Orton’s head is telling him that he is out of time. This was a good promo.
They announce that the Big Show-Mark Henry World Title match at TLC will be a chairs match.
David Otunga is in Teddy Long’s office complaining about how Mick Foley had him the street fight with Orton and wants his loss erased from the record books. Teddy mentions that he was on Smackdown last week and that Mick Foley was the guest host. Then he mentions that since Otunga’s on Smackdown this week he will be in a match with Sheamus. This was boring.
Josh Mathews is in the ring and he introduces Daniel Bryan. Bryan Bryan Bryan Bryan Bryan
Zack Ryder vs. Heath Slater. Ryder gets the pin. This was a squash.
They show a Jinder Mahal promo saying Ted will pay for causing him to lose last week.
Ted DiBiase, Jr. vs. Jinder Mahal. Ted gets the pin. This was a short and meaningless match.
Big Show is in the ring and he mentions that it has been 9 years since he beat Brock Lesnar in MSG to win the WWE Title (that was at Survivor Series 2002). He says that a lot of people said that it couldn’t be done and mentions how he made the impossible possible by beating Lesnar (thanks to Paul Heyman turning on Lesnar).He says that 9 years is a long time and that he has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to become World Champion again (I guess the ECW Title doesn’t count). Then he talks about his match with Mark Henry at TLC saying that’s the perfect time to become champion again. Then he says that at TLC the doors to Mark Henry’s hall of pain are gonna get closed. Mark Henry then comes out and tells Big Show that he isn’t afraid of him but he is halfway hurt and that he’s not looking for a fight. Then he tells the fans to shut and the fans chant, “you shut up” at him. That was comical. Then he says he says something that he wants to say to Big Show face to face. Big Show invites him to come in the ring. Henry then says that he wants to promise that he won’t put his hands on him. Show says no to that. Henry then asks what kind of legacy will Big Show lead if he beats him while he’s not at 100%. Then he tells him that he have all of him that he can handle at TLC, but right now he is asking for Big Show not to put his hands on him if he gets in the ring. Show gives his word and Henry gets in the ring. He says that he and Big Show have a lot in common. He mentions that they’re both 2 of the greatest big men to ever come into this business (what about Bam Bam Bigelow, Yokozuna, or Vader?). Henry mentions that Show was a champion and that he is the current champion. Then he mentions that by TLC he should be 100% and then Big Show can have all of him that he can handle. Henry then says that they should put everything they’ve done to each other aside and may the best man win. Henry offers to shake Big Show’s hand and he accepts. Henry then says that he can see in Big Show’s eyes that he thinks he is a monster, but he just thinks it and Henry says that he knows he is. Then he punches Big Show. Big Show then spears Henry and pounds away on him. Then he elbows Henry’s injured ankle and Henry rolls to the outside. Big Show then gets a chair and hits Mark Henry in the back with it, then he hits his bad ankle. Big Show then throws the chair into the ring and walks out while trainers check on Mark Henry. This was a really good segment. Both guys cut great promos and the match at TLC should be interesting. They’ve done a great job with the build.
Lillian Garcia announces that Hornswoggle will be the guest ring announcer for the next match.
Sheamus vs. David Otunga. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a short match. Afterwards he and Hornswoggle celebrate.
They show the 1/2/12 video package.
Daniel Bryan vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Cody wins by DQ when Booker T comes in. They went at it for a bit and then Cody bailed. The match was good, but Michael Cole’s constant ragging on Daniel Bryan really made it hard to watch.
Cody comes in to Teddy Long’s office saying that he wants a match with Booker T and Long tells him that he will face Booker at TLC for the Intercontinental Title. He then asks Aksana what she’s looking at and walks out.
Matt Striker interviews Randy Orton and asks about his thoughts going into his match next. Orton says that he should ask Barrett since he is in his head so that means he knows what he is thinking and that is that Wade Barrett has done Dolph a great favor. Orton then
says he usually likes to make his opponent’s suffering really long but thanks to Barrett Dolph will still suffer but it will be over faster than usual. Than he says that Barrett think that he is in Orton’s head, but Orton has him right where he wants him. This was a good Randy Orton promo.
Randy Orton vs. U.S. Champion Dolph Ziggler in the beat the clock challenge. Orton gets the pin at . Wade Barrett came during the match. After the match Barrett came back out and gave Orton the Boss Man Slam. The he took the mic and says that he’d like to help Orton pick the stip for his match so he is going to make his own suggestion. He throws Orton outside the ring and was about to give Orton the Wasteland through the table but Orton escapes and was going to pile drive Barrett but Barrett escapes, rams Orton into the steal steps and then runs up the ramp. Orton then Powerbombs Dolph through the table and the announcers say that it looks like Orton has picked a tables match. Orton and Barrett then have a stare down to end show.
Note: AJ & Kaitlyn vs. Natalya & Divas Champion Beth Phoenix did not air because. Kaitlyn turned heal at the taping but WWE scratched the idea. Natalya & Beth win.
I thought that this was a good show overall. They did a good continuing the build for Show-Henry and I liked how they set up the Orton-Barrett match. Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes had a good match the segment before it was beyond painful! Michael Cole is really tough to hear these days! I don’t know why they made him this annoying heal character who’s always ragging on Daniel Bryan. It was nice to see Lillian Garcia back and she looked genuinely happy to be back. Cody’s opening promo was good too. I liked the Orton-Dolph match too. The Big Show-Mark Henry segment was also really well done. On the whole I thought this was a good episode of Smackdown.
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