12-7-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the December 7, 2012 episode of Smackdown

They start the show with an article from wwe.com and Josh Mathews reading it. It says that because of what happened on Raw, CM Punk injured his knee. It also mentions that the surgery to repair Punk’s partially torn meniscus was successful. They mentioned that Punk won’t be facing Ryback at TLC but Ryback will get another title match in the near future. Then they show a second article saying that because of what took place on Raw, The Shield will now face Kane, Daniel Bryan & Ryback in a TLC match that be won by pinfall or submission. (Punk will not be facing Ryback at TLC because of a legit knee injury. The WWE article is obviously part of the storyline so Punk can heel). Also since they changed the match why is it still a TLC match?

The actual show starts with Booker T in the ring. He has some business tonight. He says that the fans have watched his career for years. You know if Booker T has some business to take care of, he will take care of it in the ring. Or he will take to the back, the street, or even take it to a supermarket (That bit at the supermarket when Austin attacked him back in 01-02 was terrible by the way). He knows what it means to be in a highly contested feud as a superstar. But now he is the Smackdown GM and it is his responsibility to give the fans a great show every week. This brings him to his next point. Big Show & Sheamus. Right now it’s personal with those 2 and when things get personal it can sometimes get physical (This is supposed to be wrestling so why wouldn’t it?). Tonight Booker has to make a drastic decision but before that drastic action he wants the fans to see why he has to make this tough decision. They reshow the Sheamus-Big Show parking lot brawl from last month. Then they replay Sheamus attacking Big Show with a chair at Survivor Series. Then Booker says that in 9 days Big Show & Sheamus will go 1 on 1 in a chairs match for the World Title at TLC. Booker’s afraid that’s not gonna happen. He’s afraid that 1 guy will do something to the other. So tonight he has made a stipulation. Booker has added a no contact clause before TLC effective immediately. Normally he would go in the back & speak with both guys but tonight he wants to bring Sheamus & Big Show out t the ring and sign the contract to make it official. Then out comes Big Show. Then Sheamus. Booker tells Sheamus that if he wants to go ahead and disobey his no contact clause he can go right ahead. But if he does he will lose his title shot at TLC. Big Show has a grin on his face. Booker tells him that he doesn’t know what he’s smiling about. He knows Big Show has his iron clad contract (In the storyline does he still have that since it was Johnny Ace who gave it to him? Wouldn’t he have lost that when Johnny was canned as GM?) Booker then tells Bog Show that if he wants to disobey the clause too then he will be stripped of the World Title. He tells them, “Let’s get down to business.” Then he asks Sheamus to sign the contract. Sheamus looks over the contract. Then he gets the mic & tells Show that having to wait 9 more days to kick Big Show’s “arse” is like having to wait 9 days for Christmas. He used to hate having to wait to open in presents but at the end it was actually worth it. In 9 days Sheamus’ Christmas comes early. The gift of beating Big Show from head to toe with a steel chair. In the end Sheamus guarantees that he will get the ultimate present. The World Title. Sheamus signs the contract. Then Big Show reads over the contract. Booker tells that it’s legal. Big Show says that Christmas for Sheamus has really come early. The purpose of this contract is to make sure that Sheamus makes in to TLC in one piece. Show says that’s a Christmas present for Sheamus, but Sheamus better be careful what he wishes for. Show says that Sheamus hit him with the steel chair at Survivor Series 25-30 times (They keep saying it was 31 times) and Big Show still got up. What will happen when a 7 foot 5oo pound giant swings a steel chair and destroys that Irish skin of Sheamus’? Big Show only has to hit Sheamus once. The worst in the world that Sheamus can do is ask for a chair’s match against Big Show at TLC. Sheamus should ask Booker to get him out of the match. But Sheamus is too stupid to realize what he’s doing to himself. If Big Show hits him with a chair he will change Sheamus forever. Sheamus will never be the same. Big Show will happily end his career at TLC. Show says that the difference between him & Sheamus is that Show thinks things through. He has experience Sheamus is just vinegar and fire. That Irish temper gets to Sheamus and he wants to fight. Show mocks Sheamus by saying, “Let’s go fight fella.” Sheamus asks Show if he realizes how ridiculous he looks right now. Show talks about a fight. All Sheamus has wanted to do since he came to WWE was to fight and the last to pay per views when they faced each other, Big Show has to admit that those have been the greatest fights of his career. Sheamus says that he made Big Shoe relevant again but he doesn’t believe that Big Show has 1 more left in him, and he believes that down in that big belly of Big Show’s he is shaking. Sheamus says that Big Show knows this chairs match could be the end of him. Sheamus says that he will gladly end Big Show’s career at TLC. Then Big Show topples the table over. Then he signs the contract. Sheamus gets up and wants to fight but Booker stops him as Big Show taunts Sheamus. Sheamus wants to get his hands on Big Show. Booker tells him not to do it. Then Booker tells Sheamus that if he wants to take his frustrations out on somebody, Booker has somebody for him to do that with. Tonight Sheamus will face Alberto Del Rio. Booker tells Sheamus to take his frustrations out on Del Rio. He doesn’t know what Big Show is laughing about because he will be in a match too. Big Show will face the guy that beat him in 45 seconds, Daniel Bryan. That match is next. Then out comes Daniel Bryan and Sheamus & Booker head to the back. This was a bit long. I don’t know why they have these contract signings for WWE and World Title matches. They’re always meaningless and this time the contract wasn’t even to make the match official. It was to make sure Sheamus & Show wouldn’t attack each other before TLC. I thought Sheamus & Big Show were good with their promos but the segment was needed.   

WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan vs. World Champion Big Show. Show gets the pin. This was a solid match. Afterwards The Shield hops over the guard rail. They stand at ringside. Big Show exits the ring as they come in. Then they circle around Daniel and then attack him. Kane makes the save but The Shield get the upper hand. Then they triple powerbomb Kane through the announce table. This was solid. I liked that they had The Shield get their heat back on Kane & Daniel.

Damien Sandow is in the ring. He asks for music to be silenced because he is about to speak. As the intellectual savior he has attempted to raise the cerebral bar in WWE for far too long. This attempt has proven itself to be a fruitless endeavor. However, he is going to give a fan the opportunity to become his apprentice this evening. Who amongst the fans is worthy of such an esteemed position? The fans make noise and Sandow tells them to settle down because they’re acting like ignoramuses. He says this gets worse every week (that was funny). He looks over the crowed and he picks a guy wearing a Santino Marella shirt. As always he urges that the fans pay very close attention and test themselves because next time it might be 1 of them. Sandow tells the “fan” to hurry up. The guy gets in the ring & Sandow tells him that he has the opportunity of becoming his apprentice. He tells the guy not to stand too close to him. Then he tells the guy that all he has to do is answer 3 questions correctly. First question – 5 + 5 =? The guy says 10. Sandow congratulates him for passing math. Second question – Who is the current President of the United States? The guy says Barrack Obama. Then the guy looks for a high 5 from Sandow but Sandow tell the guy that his palms are very sweaty and tells him to put his hands by his side. Third question – What 17^th century’s depicting mortality and transience? The guy has no idea. Sandow is not surprised. He asks the fans if any of them know. The answer is Venetace. Then he tells the guy that he has disgraced himself & everyone in the building. The beard on his face is a disgrace to faces everywhere. He tells the guy that he loses. The fans boo & Sandow tells them to wait. Then he says, “You’re welcome.”  Then out comes The Miz. Sandow asks Miz if he can help him. Miz says how about Sandow answers him a question. What 21^st century WWE super star wears his dad’s bathrobe and buys his pink trunks from Victoria Secret? (That was corny). Sandow scowls & Miz says that the answer is Damien Sandow. Then Miz tells Sandow, “You’re welcome.” This was decent. Sandow was good as usual and the “fan” was kind of funny too. Miz’s part was a bit weak however.

They replay the end of the Cena & Sheamus vs. Dolph & Big Show match, followed by the Vince-Vickie segment where Vince made Vickie book Cena-Dolph in a ladder match for the MITB case at TLC.

Brodus Clay & The Usos vs. 3MB. 3MB win when McIntyre pins Jimmy Uso. This was a decent but short match. McIntyre actually got the win. That hasn’t happened in awhile.

Backstage Matt Striker interviews Wade Barrett. Striker mentions that when Orton was last seen on Monday he was in the ring and The Shield came out. Barrett says that Orton doesn’t need to be concerned about The Shield tonight. Orton needs to be concerned with Barrett. Then he mentions that 1 year ago he threw Orton down the stairs and put him out of action for weeks. Tonight he will put the predator out of his misery. The only thing that Orton needs to be concerned about tonight is Barrett’s bull hammer. Then he points to his elbow. Good promo from Wade Barrett.  

Kofi Kingston is on commentary for the Randy Orton-Wade Barrett match.

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett. Orton gets the pin after Kofi distracts Barrett. This was a solid match.

Josh Mathews again mentions that Punk is out of the TLC PPV.

Great Khali & Hornswoggle (With Natalya) vs. Primo & Epico (With Rosa Mendes). Khali & Hornswoggle win when Hornswoggle pins Epico. This was a squash. Khali dominated this and then Hornswoggle got the pin. Who’d Primo & Epico piss off to be booked as jobbers for Hornswoggle & Khali? Also how come Khali & Hornswoggle are a team? Because Khali is a giant & Hornswoggle is a midget? Hey Vince, 2 words. NOT FUNNY!

Time for the Raw Rebound. Can they do away with this?

They show the wwe.com article that mentioned Punk will not be at TLC.

They show a video from The Shield. They each say who they are. Ambrose asks what they know about injustice. Rollins says they don’t just know injustice. Reigns says they’ve lived it. Ambrose says that on Monday Punk, who has been champion for more than a year was disrespected with a lie detector test by The Miz. Ambrose welcomes Miz to consequences. Rollins says that Orton took advantage of a young, defenseless Brad Maddox. Rollins welcomes Randy to pay back. Reigns says they shield WWE from injustice. Ambrose brings up Kane & Daniel Bryan & Reigns says that no one says no to The Shield. Ambrose then says that Ryback has been handed success on a silver platter. He’s been handed fame and fortune and has been put on a pedestal and they knocked him off it. They stopped Ryback cold. Then Ambrose welcomes Ryback back to reality. Then Rollins says that they don’t work for anybody. Not Paul Heyman. Not the WWE Champion. They work for each other. Then they each say they’re names again. Then Reigns welcomes everyone to The Shield of justice. Ambrose then says that at the TLC PPV bring tables, bring ladders, and bring chairs. The Shield brings the sword. This was a good video.

Antonio Cesaro is in the ring. He says that as U.S. Champion he has learned so much about America. He will tell us what he has learned about the so called greatest country in the world. He says that America is weak. America used to be a super power and there used to be a thing that was called The American Dream. The belief that anybody can achieve everything. He says that’s a lie. He guarantees that most, actually all of the fans will never amount to anything. People used to pursue the American Dream, now they look like the American Dream. Then a pic of Dusty Rhodes shows up the Tron & they play Dusty’s music. Then he says that the people don’t know the meaning of hard work and sacrifice anymore. When he looks at America today he loses all hope, and the sad thing is the people’s children and grandchildren will be even more pathetic then they are. That is the truth. Cue R-Truth’s music and he comes out. Cesaro says he wasn’t done talking. Truth asks Cesaro if he knows what he needs. The fans chant what. Truth tells them, “Don’t what me. Ok you can what me.” (I have no idea why they’re still doing that bit with him). Then Truth says that Cesaro needs a dose of the truth. Truth realized that Cesaro’s not from around here. Because around here the truth will set you free. When Truth looks across America he sees a lot of good hard working people rising up (back on the streets) in the face of hard times. He sees hard working people busting their butts to the bone trying to make ends meat. He sees hard working people trying to get in where they fit in. He sees hard working people staring trouble right between the eyes. And when the time is right those same good people will kick trouble right in its little Jimmy. Truth says that it sounds like Cesaro is picking a fight with America. Truth tells Cesaro that when you pick a fight with America, America fights back. The fans chant USA. Cesaro tells them to shut up because the U.S. Champion is talking. Then Cesaro tells Truth that he is everything that is wrong with America. He says that Truth talks trash and he can’t back it up. Cesaro then says that Truth is delusional. That has nothing to do with Truth having his imaginary friend. It has everything to do with Truth trying to take his U.S Title and like all Americans, failing miserably. Cesaro says that’s the truth. Truth says that maybe Cesaro doesn’t understand what he is saying. Truth gets in the ring. Then he tells Cesaro that what he’s saying is when you kick his dog, Truth will kick his cat (That made no sense). Then he takes down Cesaro and pounds on him. Cesaro gets up & Truth Irish whips him, but Cesaro grabs the top rope and slides out of the ring. Then Truth puts the U.S. Title in front of himself and dares Cesaro to come in and get it. Cesaro doesn’t bother. This was hokey. R-Truth was usual whacky self and I’m tired of the anti American heel gimmick.

Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio. Sheamus wins by submission. This was a good match. Big Show watched from the stage. Afterwards Big Show gets in the ring and applauds Sheamus. Then he dares Sheamus to hit him in the jaw. They scream at each other for a bit. Then Sheamus pounds his chest. Then he grabs Ricardo and throws him into Big Show. Big Show lies on the mat while Sheamus poses to end the show. This was ok.

I thought this was a solid show overall. The Sheamus-Big Show contract segment was ok for a contract signing. Sheamus-Del Rio was good. I was ok with the post match stuff too. The Shield video was solid. Wade Barrett’s promo was good too. I also liked the Orton-Barrett match also. The Truth-Cesaro segment was pointless. Khali & Hornswoggle vs. Primo & Epico was a pointless squash. Brodus & The Usos vs. 3MB was decent. Damien Sandow was good as usual in the “looking for an apprentice” bit. Daniel Bryan-Big Show was solid too. On the whole I thought this was a solid show this week.

12-6-12 Impact results and thoughts

     Coverage and thoughts on the December 6, 2012 episode of Impact

The show starts with Bobby Roode, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian coming to the ring. Kazarian says what stands before everyone is the best part of the most dominant group in Impact Wrestling. That group was fortune. That’s all in the past. They’re concerned about the future. Roode says everywhere in the world people make guarantees and so does he. The difference is he guarantees become realities. The reality is that he will be World Champion again. He made a very important investment into the title and Jeff will find out that is does indeed pay to be Roode. Daniels guarantees this Sunday the fans will see 1 last match with him & AJ. The winner will be the better man and the loser will be AJ Styles. He has 1 more thing to say to AJ face to face. He asks AJ to come to the ring so they can talk like old friends. Out comes AJ Styles. AJ says he knows Daniels better than Daniels knows himself. Daniels has been jealous of him since day 1. AJ has earned everything he got in TNA. Daniels will always be jealous. AJ says that on Daniels best day he couldn’t beat AJ on AJ’s worst. Daniels says every time he called AJ a loser AJ knew he was right. All of AJ’s loses aren’t because of Daniels. AJ’s worst nightmare, finding out that Daniels is better than him that becomes a reality. AJ says the reality is that Daniels talks too much. Then he punches Daniels but Roode & Kazarian attack AJ. Then Jeff Hardy & James Storm come out to run off the heels. This was a good opening segment. They did a good job in putting over the Jeff-Roode & AJ-Daniels matches.  

Austin Aries says he’s pushing Hulk’s buttons because Hulk set him up to fail as World Champion. He says that his plan all along was to become X Division Champion so he can get a World Title match but then Ray had to get involved. He says that Ray made it personal and wants him at Final Resolution and will continue to push Hulk’s buttons till he gets the match. This was a good backstage promo.

TV Champion Samoa Joe vs. Devon for the Title. Devon gets the pin to regain the Title. Some chick came on the apron and distracted the referee. Then DOC came in and hit Joe with the hammer. Then Devon covered Joe for the win. Afterwards Devon & DOC celebrated with some Aces & 8s chicks. The match was solid but I was a bit surprised they had Devon win. I was expecting the usual “Aces & 8s storm the ring and the match ends in a no finish bit.”

Brooke Hogan is backstage on her cell phone. She’s talking to someone who is signed, sealed & delivered. Brooke tells her to give her a call when she gets there.

D’Lo Brown & Al Snow are backstage. Al says that he got food poisoning last week and the next thing he knew he was in the hospital and had no idea what was going on. D’Lo says he will get to the bottom of it. Al thanks him for standing in for him last week. I got a feeling D’Lo & Wes Briscoe are part of Aces & 8s.

Mickie James comes to the ring. She thanks the fans for their support and also her friends and family. When she was recovering she thought about her career and says she wasn’t satisfied. But that will change because she will become Knockouts Champion this Sunday. Then out come Tara & Jessie. Mickie says she wasn’t finished. Tara says she had a great year. She dumped Brooke, got her “Hollywood boyfriend” & the TNA Knockouts Title. Cue Velvet Sky’s music and she makes her return. Velvet thanks the fans. Then she thanks Brooke Hogan for taking care of all the necessities to get her back in TNA. She wishes both Mickie & Tara luck at Final Resolution. Then she says that in 2013 she will become Knockouts Champion. Mickie’s promo was good. Tara’s was the same old shtick. It was nice to see Velvet back. She cut a good promo too and the fans popped huge for her return.

Robbie E is backstage having difficulties paying his Direct Auto insurance on an I pad. Rob Terry asks what he’s doing. They have a match. E was trying to pay his insurance but the machine wasn’t working. T tells him that it’s a touch screen device. T presses the screen for him. This was weak.   

World Tag Team Champions Hernandez & Chavo Guerrero, Jr. vs. Rob Terry & Robbie E. Hernandez & Chavo win when Chavo pins Robbie E. This was solid. Then Joey Ryan comes out. He tells everyone in 3 days he & Matt Morgan will be tag champs. Then Matt Morgan comes in and clotheslines the champs from behind. Joey says that is what happens when you deal with the Big Morgan & the Big Organ.

2 Aces & 8s chicks are making out or whatever. Devon is with another one. He tells DOC he got back what belongs to him. DOC will get to take care of Kurt Angle. Devon says they need to throw a dart. Then the VP says that he made a deal. Money talks and B.S. walks. Tonight they’ll be doing a lot of talking. So Aces & 8s have a financial backer. These Aces & 8s bits have really been and I thought this 1 was just as lousy. I’m thinking the backer is gonna be either Eric Bischoff or Jeff Jarrett.

Kurt Angle & Wes Briscoe talk about Wes getting the contract. Wes thanks Kurt. Angle says Wes did it on his own & Garrett has been doing well too. Then Angle talks about having to face DOC. Wes & Garrett have Angle’s back.

Hernandez & Chavo are backstage. Chavo says Joey Ryan & Matt Morgan got their attention. They will get their fight this Sunday.

Kurt Angle vs. DOC. Angle wins by DQ when Devon and Aces & 8s come in. They surround the ring. Then out come Wes, Garrett & Samoa Joe and they run Aces & 8s off. Angle says Aces & 8s like to run in packs. Angle has a pack of his own. It will be him, Wes, Garrett & Joe vs. 4 Aces & 8s guys at Final Resolution. This was a good match but I knew Aces & 8s were going to come in. However, I’m not sure why they’re having Angle & Joe team up after the major rivalry they’ve had since Angle came to TNA.

Hulk Hogan is on the phone with Joseph Park. He’s looking over some paper work Park sent him. Hulk says that he wants to talk to Al Snow and if everything works out in OVW then he can return to Impact. Then in comes Bully Ray. Ray says last week he asked Hulk for a match worth Aries but Hulk decided it was better to give it to RVD. Now he’s telling Hulk he wants a match with Aries. Hulk laughs and says the wrestling universe doesn’t revolve around Ray & Aries. So Hulk says no again. Ray says by the end of the night the answer will be yes. He’s taking over tonight’s show. This was weak. These Hulk Hogan segments are always crazy.

Jeff Hardy & James Storm are backstage. Storm says that he has Jeff’s back. Then he mentions how Roode will do anything to win the World Title back. Roode pushed Storm’s buttons and Storm doesn’t want Jeff to fall into the same trap. Then we hear Jeff’s “thoughts”. He says to tell him something that he doesn’t know. He’s not sure if Storm is a cowboy or an outlaw. But when you’re World Champion the whole world is after you. This was ok. Storm was good here but I’m tired of this “Hearing Jeff’s ‘thought’s” idiocy.

Kenny King vs. Kid Kash vs. Zima Ion for an X Division Title match. Kenny wins when he pins Ion. This was a really good match.

Bully Ray is on his cell phone. He tells whoever it is that Hulk said no about a match with Aries twice. Ray says he’s going to the ring to get what he wants.

Bully Ray comes to the ring with a chair. He says he mentioned he would take care of business on his own. He’s not going anywhere till he gets what he wants. He wants to fight Aries and Aries wants to fight him and the fans want to see them fight each other. So he’s gonna sit in the chair and isn’t going anywhere till he gets what he wants. Then out comes Austin Aries. He doesn’t believe that Ray wants to fight him. He mentions the last time they fought he made Ray submit. Ray’s pretending he wants to fight because of Brooke. Ray dares him to get in the ring right now. Aries says he will sit by the ramp and take over the show. Cue Hulk’s music and out come the Hulkster. Hulk says he’s gonna fix all the Impact business right now. For 30 years he’s been nothing but business. He tells Ray & Aries that he isn’t gonna let them push him around. He tells Ray to get out of the ring or he will either fire his ass or kick it. Ray gets in Hulk’s face as Aries eggs them on. Then out comes Brooke. She tells her dad to stop. She says maybe “Mark” is right. Maybe Hulk is making it too personal. Hulk says that if they all want this match to happen, then they got it. This was a solid segment. Ray & Aries were both good on the mic as usual. Hulk was ok here too. Brooke, not so much, but I knew they would make the Ray-Aries match “official” for Sunday.

Time for a bobby Roode video package. He talks about being the longest reigning World Champion in TNA history. It’s been 5 months since he’s been Champion.

World Champion Jeff Hardy, James Storm & AJ Styles vs. Bobby Roode, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian. Jeff, Storm & AJ win when Jeff pins Kazarian. This was a good match too. Afterwards Aces & 8s come out and beat down Jeff. Then Storm comes in the ring with a chair and runs them off. Than Roode applauds Aces & 8s and gives Aces & 8s the thumbs up. So he is the guy that paid them. Then he says to the camera that it pays to be Roode. That ends the show.

I thought this was a good show overall. They did a good job building to this Sunday’s Final Resolution. The AJ-Daniels-Kazarian segment that started the show was good and the 6 man tag at the end was good too. I liked that Roode was the guy that paid Aces & 8s too. Kenny-Ion-Kash was really good. That was my favorite part of the show. The Ray-Aries-Hulk-Brooke segment was solid. I liked both Ray’s & Aries’ promos. I was ok with Hulk here too. Brooke calling Ray by his real name was very Russo like. Angle-DOC was good and I knew the rest of Aces & 8s would come in. I don’t know why they’re having Angle & Joe team up at the PPV for the 8 man tag. I also feel a Wes Briscoe turn coming in that match. Possibly Garrett too. Joe-Devon was solid and I was kinda surprised they had Devon win. Hernandez & Chavo vs. Robbie E & Rob Terry was ok too. I liked the Knockouts segment too. It was nice to see Velvet back in TNA. On the whole I thought this was a good show and they did a good job building to Final Resolution.

12-3-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the December 3, 2012 episode of Raw

The show starts with WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan coming out for a match. The Shield is watching from the sky box. Kane says the Shield is real tough way up there. They claim to fight against injustice. Why don’t they come to the ring right now and Kane & Daniel will give them something to fight about. Then out come The Primetime Players. This was decent.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. The Primetime Players. Kane & Daniel win when Daniel pins Darren. During the match Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns walked to the lower levels. Rollins wasn’t there. After the match Reigns & Ambrose attack Kane while Daniel is ambushed by Rollins & Daniel. Reigns & Ambrose trap Kane’s arm against the steel steps. Then they give Daniel the triple power bomb. This was more about The Shield coming in than the match but I thought this was decent. They’re continuing to get The Shield over.

Sheamus thanks Cena for being on Smackdown. Cena said it was a win-win for him because he got to beat up Dolph. Cena mentions Big Show breaking the chair last week. Tonight they have a tag match with Dolph & Show and the need to focus on the match. Sheamus says what he will do later translates into any language. This was weak. They have Cena & Sheamus being the usual hokey baby faces making stupid jokes and then Cena says they need to be focused? Also the “combine 2 PPV matches into a tag match” is very predictable.

AJ Lee vs. Tamina Snuka. AJ gets the pin. This was ok. Tamina dominated here and then AJ got the roll up for the win.

CM Punk & Paul Heyman come to the ring. Break time. Back from break. Heyman says that he was leaving home to fly to Greensboro and he noticed that his kids were reading the WWE Encyclopedia. Heyman’s not out here to plug the book. He doesn’t like it because there isn’t enough info about Punk in it. There was something in there that he & Punk had too busy to notice. Today is day 379 for Punk as WWE Champion. Heyman says tonight at midnight Punk will tie and tomorrow night at midnight Punk will surpass Cena as longest reigning champion of the modern era. Punk is the longest WWE Champion of the past 25 years, which means the fans will have to agree with him when he says that there is no argument against the fact that Punk should be on Mt. Rushmore. Punk says he stands before the fans unfairly persecuted. He has proven for 1 year that he is the best in the world. That isn’t a slogan, it’s a fact. If there was a WWE Mt. Rushmore his face would be over Hogan’s, Taker’s Austin’s & Cena’s. He beat Ryback at hell in a cell. He beat Ryback & Cena at Survivor Series. He asks why he has to defend his title in a TLC match against Ryback. It’s because of all the fans that turned their backs on him and ignored his accomplishments. People who can’t hold onto a job for a year or have a long lasting marriage. Punk says first it was Heyman, then it was Maddox and now it’s The Shield. He says it’s a lie that if it weren’t for The Shield he wouldn’t be champion. Punk says if it weren’t for him no one would be here now. He is the reason the fans bought tickets to be at Raw. If it weren’t for Punk the fans wouldn’t have anything to look forward to on these dismal 3 hour episodes of Raw (They have been terrible). He had nothing to do Maddox or The Shield but he has everything to do with being the hottest thing in WWE today. If the fans can’t accept that they can change the channel or leave the arena. Then out comes The Miz. He tells the fans to enjoy themselves. Miz says no one believes Punk. Miz says that Punk talks about all these lies but everyone knows the truth. Punk asks Miz who he thinks he is to cast judgment on him. Miz is the guy who took short cuts when he was champion but he can admit it. Everyone knows Maddox was in Punk’s pocket. Everyone knows The Shield helped him at Survivor Series. If it weren’t for The Shield coming out last week Ryback would have fed himself some Punk. Miz says they can fight or wrestle anytime. Tonight he wants Punk to be on Miz TV so that he can take a lie detector test. Heyman wants to make sure that he follows what Miz is saying. Then Heyman reminds Miz about how Punk feels about him behind the scenes. Heyman says that Miz wants to subject Punk to his 3 ring circus. Miz calls Heyman a walrus and then the fans chant that. Punk says he isn’t going to stand for that. Miz apologizes that Heyman is a really big walrus. Miz wants Punk with a live mic on Miz TV and to bring his best pipe bomb. Miz says he’s giving Punk a chance to clear his name and show that he is the best in the world. Unless Punk is afraid of the truth and would rather have an asterisk next to everything he’s done, including 379 days as WWE Champion. Punk says he will take Miz’s stupid test. Punk will prove that he is the best in the world and everyone will have to admit it. This was a solid segment, but a lie detector test? Really (as Miz would say)? I thought all 3 guys were really good on the mic here. There was a lot said here and was very hard to catch up with.

John Cena & Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler & World Champion Big Show. Cena & Sheamus win when Cena pins Dolph. This was solid but they had the face beat the heels cleanly again! Cena gave Dolph the AA at the same time Sheamus gave Big Show the White Noise. Then Cena pinned Dolph. Super Cena wins again.

Damien Sandow comes out. He says for what has felt like an eternity he has attempted to help all the fans. An attempt that has been futile but he will not abandon the fans. Tonight he has decided to give a fan a chance to become his apprentice. Her looks over the crowed and picks a “fan” with a Little Jimmy Shirt. Sandow tells the guy to hurry because he’s already losing points. The “fan” gets in the ring. Sandow tells him he has to answer 3 questions. First, H20 is the chemical composition of what? The fan answers water. Second, who was the first U.S. President? The guy says George Washington. The third was a quote from English poetry. The fan doesn’t know. Sandow then tells him that ignorance is curable but stupid is forever. Then he tells the guy that he should be exiled from the country. “You’re Welcome.” Then out comes Santino Marella. Santino says he’s going ask a question for Sandow. How many seashells does she sell by the shore? Sandow rags on Santino. Then he says what the most common type of shell would be. Santino says Sandow’s wrong. The answer is the conch shell. Then Sandow punches Santino. Santino retaliates and Sandow retreats. It looks like Santino will face Sandow next. This was a mixed bag. Sandow was really good here as usual. I wasn’t into Santino’s part of this. Him having difficulty getting that tongue twister out was lame.

Santino Marella vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. This was alright.

Dolph & Vickie are backstage. Dolph says Show is the worst tag team partner ever. Dolph says he can beat Cena and look good in the process. Dolph says that he is a star. Vickie is starting to lose faith in Dolph. He asks Vickie to give him a rematch with Cena at TLC. She grants him the match & Dolph thanks her. Then Dolph goes to kiss Vickie but Vickie stopped him and looked to make sure no one was watching (even though there is a camera right there)! Then Vickie goes into her office. It’s Brad Maddox. Vickie asks what he’s doing there. He’s there to make sure no one forgets his name. They also had a guy filming him. This was idiotic! They’ve made Dolph look like a real loser and I found the bit with Maddox being filmed insulting because they showed a guy filming him! Having Vickie looking around when Dolph went to plant one on her was just as insulting!

Back to the show and Vickie asks Maddox why she should give him a contract. Maddox says that Punk had nothing to do with what happened at the cell PPV. He says she is one of the most influential and powerful women in WWE history and she’s proven that with her eye for talent and entertainment. Maddox says if you put him on TV then TV goes from being good to being great. Vickie gives him a match. If he wins he will get a contract. Maddox asks who he will be facing. Vickie says he will find out later and she tells him that it will be great. He knows it will be because he will be on TV. This sucked! They’re having Maddox wrestle for a contract again? That’s the same crappy bit as when he faced Ryback.

Sin Cara vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a really good match.

Vince McMahon is backstage. He tells some guy to tell Vickie that he’d like to talk to her in the ring now. The guy says ok. Vince asks him to respond again. The guy says yes sir. This was weak. This next in ring segment is going to be painful!

Vickie Guerrero comes to the ring for her yapping segment with Vince. She asks everyone to welcome the chairman, Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Vinnie Mac power walks to the ring. She says Vince looks handsome. She has the best match for TLC. Cena vs. Dolph. If she wants to make it epic they should have a big stip in there. She says a No DQ match. Vince tells her to try harder. This is tables ladders and chair not the no DQ PPV (even though the gimmick matches are NO DQ anyway). Then Vickie says a ladder match. She says that seems impossible because neither guy is a champion. Vince then says that the match will be for the MITB briefcase (I was so afraid they were going to do this)! Vickie says that Cena could gain everything and Dolph could lose everything. Vickie says it’s not fair. Vince says what she & Dolph have been doing to Cena & AJ is unfair. He tells Vickie to make the match official and she does. Vickie yaps some more but Vince cuts her off. Then he brings up the lie detector segment. What if Punk is lying about everything he said? Vince says Punk should be punished and no one likes a liar (He really said that). Vickie says that if Punk is guilty then next week there will be a Ryback vs. Paul Heyman match. This was just as painful as I knew it would be! I had a terrifying feeling they would have Cena-Dolph for the MITB case. I really hope they don’t have Cena win! Vince ragged on Heyman because that what he likes to do and his “no one likes a liar” line was idiotic too.

Time for Brad Maddox’s match. He will be facing Randy Orton.

Randy Orton vs. Brad Maddox. Orton gets the pin. This was a squash. Afterwards The Shield comes out and they pound on Orton. Then they give him the triple power bomb. I’m hoping Maddox having a match for a contract and then getting creamed isn’t going to be a recurring bit. I liked The Shield attacking Orton though. I’m hoping they have them go after Cena next. That would get them over huge.

Vickie Guerrero is screaming at Charles Robinson. Then Dolph comes in and complains about having to defend the MITB case at TLC. Then he brings up when AJ made him defend the case against Jericho. Vickie says Vince was standing right there. Dolph says that is becoming like AJ and then he walks off. Then in comes Paul Heyman. He & Vickie intently stare at each other. Vickie hopes for Heyman’s sake, he better hope that Punk is telling the truth. Then in comes Cena. Cena says she made a great match. He thanks Vickie. Cena says he is the only guy to cash in the MITB case & not win the title. When he wins this case, he will cash in and become champion. Vickie says that AJ’s locker was being cleaned out and they found bow ties with Cena’s pic on them. Cena says Vickie can’t leave well enough alone. Vickie says history keeps repeating itself. This was terrible too. Cena of course was his usual hokey cartoon self and the Vickie character is getting stale. I’m tired of this Cena-AJ crap. Whatever they do, please don’t have Cena win the MITB case!!

Next was supposed to be Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro & Wade Barrett. Then out comes Teddy Long. He says since Vickie is having problems and since Booker T isn’t there and since Vince is looking to spice things up this match will be a fatal 4 way match for either the Intercontinental or U.S. Title. That will be decided by the fans votes. Turning the tag match into a 4 way was predictable and didn’t really spice up anything. This match should be solid though.

Time to find which secondary title will be defended. It will be the U.S. Title.

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. R-Truth vs. Wade Barrett vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro for the U.S. Title. Cesaro wins when he pins Kofi. This was a really good match too.

Time for Miz TV. Miz welcomes everyone. He has some guy there from the Sheriff’s department. Miz talks about Punk denying having anything to do with Maddox or The Shield. Tonight we will get answers through a lie detector test. Miz asks everyone to welcome CM Punk. Out come Punk & Heyman. Miz welcomes Punk to Miz TV. Miz says the lie detector test is simple by nature. Punk says he knows how it works. He says Miz is just like everyone else. Miz’s title reign so he’s trying to bring Punk down to his level. Punk says everyone wishes they could be him. Miz says he wasn’t paying attention. Punk says Miz wasn’t paying attention in wrestling school either. Miz says if Punk’s caught lying Heyman will have to face Ryback. Miz asks Punk what his name is. Punk says his name. Has Punk been champion for 379 days? Yep. Did Rey Mysterio shave his head bald? Punk reluctantly says yes. The year Miz main evented WrestleMania did Punk lose to Orton? Punk says he doesn’t have to deal with. Miz tells him to answer it. Punk says yes, but Miz won because Rock attacked Cena. Punk says everyone wishes they could forget Miz main evented WrestleMania. Miz then asks Punk if he thinks he can beat Ryback by himself. Punk says yes. The detector on the Tron shows that might not be true. Punk says that’s an opinion. Miz asks if Punk worked with Maddox & The Shield to win at the last 2 PPVs. Then out comes The Shield and the go after Miz. Then they destroy the Miz TV set. Then they continue to pound on Miz. Then they give Miz the triple power bomb. Then Kane & Daniel Bryan hit the ring and they go after The Shield. The Shield gets the upper hand. Cue feed me more and out comes Ryback. He cleans house on The Shield. Then Ryback throws Ambrose over the guardrail and pounds on him. Kane & Daniel brawl with Rollins & Reigns. Kane & Reigns brawl into the crowed too. Then Punk stomps on Miz and kicks him out of the ring. Punk poses and then Ryback comes back in and gives Punk Shell Shock. Then Ryback gets a chair from under the ring. Then he gets a ladder. Ryback hits Punk with the ladder. Then he picks up the chair and hit Punk in the back. Then Ryback gets a table out from under the ring. Ryback sets the table up in the ring and power bombs Punk through it. Then Ryback has his foot on Punk’s chest and does the feed me more chant. Ryback leads the fans in the feed me more chant to end the show. This was a mixed bag segment. I wasn’t into the lie detector part of this. I also thought it was too soon to have The Shield get neutralized. I was ok with Ryback pounding on Punk.

I wasn’t into this week’s show too much. The opening with The Shield watching from the sky box was decent. Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. The Primetime Players was ok too. I liked The Shield attacking the tag champs. The Miz TV segment was mediocre at best. Punk was great on the mic as usual but I thought it was too soon for The Shield to get beaten. The Miz-Punk segment from earlier in the show was good. Both guys were good on the mic. Sin Cara-Del Rio & the 4 Way for U.S. Title were both really good. Orton-Maddox was a squash. I’m hoping this doesn’t become a regular bit for Maddox. The Vince-Vickie segment was terrible. So were all the other Vickie segments. I had a bad feeling they’d book Cena-Dolph for the MITB case at TLC! I really hope they have Dolph win! He could really use a win over Super Cena. Cena & Sheamus vs. Dolph & Big Show was alright too but of course the baby faces had to win. Overall I thought this was a lousy show.

11-30-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the November 30, 2012 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with John Cena coming to the ring. He wants the world to know that this is Friday Night Smackdown. (Yeah we already know that). He knows something is mysterious. He tells fans watching home not to adjust their sets. He is John Cena (This is starting out as the typical corny Cena promo). He’s not a Smackdown regular but just like the fans, he is excited about tonight’s main event. Tonight’s main event involves Mr. MITB Dolph Ziggler. There’s a reason he focuses on Dolph. That’s because Dolph is heavily focused on Cena, his business and pointing fingers at him. Tonight Cena points the finger directly back at Dolph. A man whose greatest accomplishment is being World Champion for only 2 minutes. Dolph’s biggest fear is losing his MITB case. Because when that goes so does his identity. It’s been shown that Dolph hides behind the power of Vickie Guerrero yet every week says he’s the show off and says he can run with biggest stars in WWE. That was put to the test on Monday Dolph faced Cena. Of course Dolph lost. For some reason Cena says, “5 day spoiler alert, he lost”. The reason Cena’s here is because Dolph isn’t in a match but a fight. Because in tonight’s main event Dolph has to survive a match with Sheamus. Then out come Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio tells Cena that he shouldn’t be worried about Dolph. Cena should be worried about Del Rio because this is his house and his show. Cena says that Del Rio is wrong. This is a WWE Broadcast, which means that the show belongs to the fans. Then Del Rio gets in the ring and says that Smackdown is his show. He calls Cena a stupid gringo. He reminds Cena that he is a former MITB winner and a former Royal Rumble winner. Then he reminds Cena that he is a former 2 time WWE Champion. Most importantly, the last time they were in the ring Del Rio destroyed him and beat him. Then Del Rio tells Cena to leave his show and his ring (then he snaps his fingers) right now. Cena says he remembers all of that. But he can’t go because he is interested in tonight’s main event. Also Cena figured he would have a match since he is there. He then tells Del Rio that he has match with him now. Then he punches Del Rio. This was a decent opening segment. Cena’s promo was typical Cena at times but I was ok with Del Rio’s promo. The good thing about this segment was that it led to a Cena-Dell Rio match next.

John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio. Cena gets the pin. This was a really good back and forth match, but of course Cena had to win. Afterwards Cena heads up the ramp to the stage. Then out comes Dolph and he hits Cena in the back of the head with the MITB case.

Kane & Daniel Bryan are backstage. They both stare at each other looking pissed off. Then Kofi comes by. He says that he knows Kane & Daniel aren’t going to magically start getting along especially after what happened on Raw. But tonight they have a 6 man tag against Wade Barrett & The Primetime Players. Kane & Daniel have to get on the same page. Kofi asks if they can do that. Daniel doesn’t see why not. His tag team partner is one of the most powerful destructive forces in WWE history. Daniel says that Kane can and will eviscerate anyone who stands in his way. Then Kane says that his partner is  one of the most dangerous submission specialists in WWE history who can and will make men who are twice his size squeal in pain & tap out. Then Kane says, “In other words, the world hasn’t even begun to see just how dangerous and lethal we can be. But they’re about to, starting tonight.” Then Kane says that the answer to Kofi’s question if they can get along is yes. Then they both repeatedly scream yes. This was a decent backstage bit.

Backstage Cena tells Booker about Dolph hitting him in the back. As soon as Dolph get out there for his match, “bam.” Booker tells Cena that he needs to calm down. Cena continues to flip out. Booker knows that Cena is upset. Booker says that he would be too. He needs Cena to do him a favor. Booker doesn’t need his show breaking down tonight. Booker needs Cena to let the Sheamus & Dolph match take place “dawg”. Booker then tells Cena that afterwards if Cena feels the need to handle his business, “Dawg, by all means you do that.” Booker tells Cena to let match take place for Booker. Cena’s ok with that. This was alright but I’m tired of Booker T saying that he can’t have “his show” break into chaos every week. I thought Cena showed more intensity here than usual.    

Great Khali vs. David Otunga. Khali gets the pin. This was terrible but thankfully quick. Afterwards Khali & Hornswoggle dance in the ring. That was corny.

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston and WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett & The Primetime Players. Kane, Daniel & Kofi win when Daniel makes Darren tap. This was a good match.

Matt Striker interviews Sheamus. Striker asks Sheamus for thoughts on his match for tonight with Dolph. Sheamus says the good news for Dolph is that thanks to Booker T Cena will not be getting involved in the match. The bad news for Dolph is he has to face Sheamus. It gets worse too, because as far as Sheamus is concerned he’s not really facing Dolph tonight. Striker asks, “How so?” Sheamus says that because of the last couple of weeks of all the running away, attacking from behind, crying like a baby and pulling the referee in front of himself to save his title, every opponent that Sheamus has been in the ring with has looked like Big Show to him. That’s bad news for “Blondie” because that means Sheamus will fight harder, punch harder and hit harder than Dolph has ever experienced in his entire life. When he’s done with Dolph, Dolph will be begging for Cena to put him out of his misery. He knows that Dolph considers himself to be a bit of a show off. Tonight after the match Dolph can walk around and show off his head because Sheamus will kick it off his shoulders. I thought Sheamus was a bit too cheery here but it was ok. 

Time for the Raw Rebound.  

Damien Sandow comes out. He says that for the last several months he has attempted to enlighten the fans. “An attempt which has proven to be futile.” As the intellectual savior he pledges that he cannot & will not abandon the fans. However he will not be focusing on the masses. He has decided that he will be re directing his efforts and sharing his knowledge with the fans individually. The fans boo and he says, “Silence.” He will be selecting 1 member from the crowd to be his apprentice. He asks who is worth of such a position. Fans raise their hands. Sandow surveys the crowed and rags on most of them. He says to one fan that he has no idea how they even let him in the building. That was funny. Then he picks a “fan” who has on the new CM Punk t-shirt. He tells security to escort this person  in the yellow shirt to the ring. Sandow says that his efforts are refocused on individual bases but the fans can all learn something. Sandow suggests that the fans pay close attention. Then Sandow & the “fan” get in the ring. The “fan raises his arms and acts all psyched. Sandow tells him to stop that. Then Sandow tells him that he has the privilege of having the opportunity to become his apprentice. Sandow will ask him a series of 3 questions that the “fan” must answer correctly. First question, how many wheels on a tricycle? The guy says 3 and Sandow says, “very good.” Second question, how often doe the U.S. hold presidential elections? The guy says every 4 years. Sandow then says, “Smarter than you look.” Third question, what is the orbital velocity of one of Jupiter’s moons? The guy has no idea. Then Sandow calls him an ignoramus. The answer is 13.74 kilometers per second. Then he tells the guy that he has embarrassed himself, his family and the entire state of Louisiana. The fans boo and Sandow screams, “Silence.” Sandow then says that the “fan’s” public display of ignorance is surpassed only by his idiotic looking hair cut. Sandow tells him to leave his ring. The “fan” is dismissed. Sandow tells him to leave the ring, the building, the town, the state & the country. Then Sandow says, “Wait. Wait. You’re Welcome.” What was the point of this? Sandow was good as usual here but this whole segment was meaningless.

Tyson Kidd vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. This was a solid but short match.

They show a video package of John Cena being honored by the Make A Wish. I give the all the credit in the world for what he does for charity!

Matt Striker interviews Dolph Ziggler. Striker that it’s safe to say that tonight Dolph feels like he has something to prove after losing to Cena Monday. Dolph says that match was more like a handicap match. AJ got involved in his business. Then he says that The Golden Boy, Mr. Hustle, Loyalty & Respect John Cena didn’t seem to mind taking advantage of the situation yet some how Dolph is the bad guy in all of this. He is sure that tonight will be no different. This will be another handicap match for Dolph. Dolph says that he’s sure Cena respects Booker T so much that he will mind his own business. Cena is not to be trusted. Cena had a fling with AJ for over a month. Cena is the biggest lair in WWE history and lairs get what’s coming to them. A Money in the Bank briefcase shot to the back of their skull. Dolph then says that he is the show off. He is the show stealer. The sole survivor. He is so sick of being so sick and he is the best thing going in sports entertainment today. Dolph then says that when Sheamus looks across the ring, Sheamus thinks that he is looking at Big Show when he really will be looking at Dolph. Dolph says that when Sheamus is looking his way he will be looking at the next World Champion. Then he says, “Show (pause) off.” This was solid but a bit long.

The Usos vs. Jinder Mahal & Heath Slater. Mahal & Slater win when Mahal gets the pin. This was a decent but short match.

Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler. Sheamus wins by DQ when Big Show comes out. Sheamus had Dolph in the Cloverleaf but then Big Show came out. Sheamus & Show exchanged punches & the referee called for the bell. Afterwards the brawl continues. Big Show gets in the ring and punches Sheamus in the gut. Then Dolph stomps on Sheamus in the corner. Then John Cena storms to the ring and goes right after Big Show. Big Show shoves him into the turnbuckle. Then he was going to charge but Cena got out of the way. The Dolph ran into Cena & Cena gives Dolph an AA. Then Big Show goes to choke slam both Cena & Sheamus but they double suplex him. Dolph & Big Show walk up the ramp as Cena & Sheamus pose in the ring to end the show. This was a good match and it made sense not to have a clean finish. They finally had Dolph not do a clean job. The post match brawl was ok too. I wasn’t really into the faces running off the heels, but that’s what WWE does.

I thought this was a solid show overall. The opening Cena-Del Rio segment was ok and it led right to the Cena-Del Rio match. That match was really good. Sheamus-Dolph was good too and the DQ finish made sense. I wasn’t into the faces cleaning house on the heels but that’s WWE for you. Sheamus’ promo was ok but I though he was too cheery for someone who is looking to beat a giant for the World Title. Dolph’s promo was decent but a bit long. Khali-Otunga was terrible but thankfully quick. The Kane-Daniel Bryan-Kofi Kingston backstage bit was decent too. I also liked the 6 man tag. Hat was really good. The Usos vs. Mahal & Slater was decent but short. The Damien Sandow segment was pointless but he was really good here. Tyson-Sandow was solid but kind of short. On the whole I thought this was a solid show this week.

11-29-12 Impact results and thoughts

 Coverage and thoughts on the November 29, 2012 episode of Impact

The show starts with Hulk Hogan coming to the ring. He says last week his world came together and almost self imploded. He runs the show but he’s a dad first. Last week Hulk the dad & Hulk the GM collided. He wants to know the truth right now. He tells Bully Ray to fess up, look him in the eye and tell him what’s going on “Brother.” Out comes Bully Ray. Hulk says Ray needs to lay it out straight. Ray says Hulk doesn’t trust him but he wants to know what’s going on. Ray says Hulk never trusted him, even when he earned it. Hulk tells Ray to cut the crap and asks what’s going on with him & Brooke. Ray asks if Hulk really wants answers as to who the number 1 guy in her life is. Then Brooke Hogan comes to the ring. Hulk asks Brooke what’s going on. Brooke says she’s not 18. Hulk wants the truth out of her. Brooke says it’s not what he thinks. Hulk says he never wants to see her with any wrestler, especially Ray. Then Aries shows up on the Tron and is in the GM office with the potential X Division Title contenders. Aries says there are 4 guys in Hulk’s office waiting to find who will challenge for the X Division Title tonight. Kid Kash, Zima Ion & Kenny King were in there too and Kash asks where Hogan is. Aries lies on the desk and says it isn’t comfortable. Then he asks Brooke how she does it. Then Hulk walks up the ramp. This was terrible. This Hulk-Brooke-Ray storyline is really idiotic! Aries was good but this segment was the usual Hogan stupidity.

Mickie James vs. Gail Kim. Mickie gets the pin. This was solid but I knew Mickie was going to win since she’s challenging for the Knockouts Title.

Backstage James Storm says that every choice he makes in his life he lives with it. Good or bad. But when someone brings his daughter into this that is what gets him pissed off. Then AJ comes in and tells Storm that’s not something to be bitter about. Not like someone who can’t get a title match for a year. Storm tells AJ to quit worrying about the past look to the future (what for, there’s no world title match in AJ’s future right now) and they need to focus on their tag match tonight. AJ walks off and Storm says he’s just trying to help him. This was a decent bit.

Hulk bursts into his office and gets in Aries’ face. Aries tells Hulk to calm down because he is the GM. Hulk says that he is also a dad. Hulk asks Kenny King why he should show him any respect since he hasn’t done anything in the business yet and finds Aries’ jokes funny. Kenny says he meant no disrespect. He says that since he came to TNA he was making waves and he talks about his match from Destination X. Then Hulk turns to Ion. Ion says that he is a natural choice because he is the former X Division Champion. Then Kid Kash that he started the X Division and is a former 2 time champion. Aries says that means Kash lost the title THREE times (If he only had the title twice then he lost it ONLY twice). Hulk eliminates Kenny from the title hunt. Then he kicks out everyone. Aries says that he was Hogan’s guy. Before he leaves he says, “Aries knows best.” This was idiotic. These segments are all over the place and nothing really happens.

Bobby Roode comes to the ring. He says that last week he made a statement. In 10 days he will be the next World Champion. Last week was also open fight night and Jeff Hardy got called out by a gut check rookie. The same rookie that Roode laid out with 1 move. The same kid that Jeff almost lost too. Roode is a real world champion. Jeff is a paper champion and he will prove it at Final Resolution. If you want to make a name for yourself in this company, don’t bother calling out Jeff Hardy. Call out the longest reigning TNA World Champion in history. Out comes Christian York. Roode tells him this is his time and tells York to get out of his ring. Then York slaps Roode. York says since Roode wanted someone to call him out, that’s what York just did. This was solid but I didn’t care for Roode calling York a rookie and a “kid”. The guy has been around 16 years and is over 30.

Christian York vs. Bobby Roode. Roode wins by submission. This was solid too. Afterwards Roode gets a chair and runs the referee off. Then out comes Jeff Hardy. He goes after Roode. He was going for a Twist of Fate but Roode escapes.

Aces & 8s are in the clubhouse. The VP says this is the holiday season and it’s time to be festive. Next week DOC faces Kurt Angle. Devon wants what was stolen from him. He never lost the TV Title. He wants Samoa Joe. If the VP gives Devon that, then they won’t attack anybody, but if not then all hell will break lose. These clubhouse segments are lame.

Bruce Pritchard, Al Snow & Taz discuss Wes Briscoe. They talk about his heritage. Bruce says that Wes made some mistakes in the ring. Taz mentions Wes was the first gut check guy to win his match. Taz also says for Angle to put the stamp of approval on him that means something to Taz. Bruce says that Angle isn’t deciding.

Bruce Pritchard is with some guy and he tells the guy to find Al Snow. Kurt Angle comes by and tells Bruce that Wes deserves a contract. D’Lo comes by and he & Bruce don’t know where Al is. This was idiotic.

Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian come to the ring. Kazarian says it’s ironic that AJ & Storm are a team tonight. He is sorry about AJ Styles’ luck. In 10 days AJ will hear these words that will haunt him for the rest of his miserable, red neck life. Then he announces Daniels as the winner “forever.”

James Storm & AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian. Storm & AJ win when Storm pins Daniels. This was a good match. AJ wasn’t too thrilled.

Back to the GM office. Aries says Hulk seems upset. Hulk comes in. Kash says he is 1 of the toughest guys in TNA. He’s beaten RVD & RVD has beaten him. Kash says that he has been X Division Champion twice & that he deserves 1 last shot, if that’s what it is. Then Ion arrogantly kisses up to Hulk. Aries says Hulk has to pick him. Hulk says the only person who hates Aries more than Hulk is RVD. So Hulk eliminates both Kash & Ion and gives Aries the title match. Kash says he’s tired of all this. Hulk tells Kash that his day is coming. This was awful. There’s not much else to say.

Samoa Joe says he heard Devon’s challenge. Joe says Devon abandoned the title because he couldn’t cut it as champion. Joe tells Devon to next week and he will be beat. This was good promo.

Joey Ryan comes out. He tells Christie to hit the bricks. He then introduces a man who proves that size matters. He is 1 half of the next world tag team champions. Out comes Matt Morgan.

Doug Williams vs. Matt Morgan. Morgan gets the pin. This was a squash.

Bruce Pritchard’s on the phone with Al Snow’s wife. D’Lo comes by and says he hasn’t found Al. Bruce says they’re screwed without Al. D’Lo says that he can be the third judge. Bruce agrees. This was ok. I’m not sure what they’re doing with this whole “Al Snow is missing” bit. That came from nowhere.

JB is in the ring. He brings out Wes Briscoe. Bruce mentions that Al isn’t there. They called him and his family. No one has heard from him. They will keep the fans informed. Taking Al’s place tonight is D’Lo. D’Lo is a house show gut check judge apparently. Then Bruce makes his decision first. He talks about Wes’ dad & uncle. He & Wes have a lot of history. Last week his gut check match wasn’t the best outing. Bruce says he knows what Wes can do and has a lot of potential and Bruce votes yes. Taz goes next. He says it means a lot that Angle has gone to bat for him. Taz says it wasn’t a great match. He says Wes is close but he votes no. Time for Wes to cut a 30 second promo for D’Lo. Wes thanks Bruce for the support and he respects Taz’s opinion. When he was a kid all he ever dreamed about was being in the ring. He’s doing this for his fans and his family. Especially his uncle Jack. All he’s asking for is a chance to prove himself. D’Lo thanks Taz & Bruce for letting him stand in for Al. He says Wes laid put some powerful words. His match with Garrett last week left him conflicted. Part of D’Lo doesn’t know if Wes is ready to be on the TNA roster. D’Lo says if his in ring work is good enough for Bruce then it’s good enough for him. D’Lo votes yes. Then out come Kurt Angle & Garrett Bischoff. They hug Wes.

Hulk is backstage. The camera guy asks why he made a double elimination. Hulk says he’s not himself right now. Then Ray comes by and asks if Aries offended Hulk, Brooke & him. Ray says yes to all 3. Ray says if he wanted Aries’ head kicked in why didn’t he come to Ray? Ray says that Hulk is confusing business with personal. Then Hulk tells Ray that’s what he’s doing. This was lame.

ODB mentions that she was looking for EY for weeks. Then they reunite last week and Aces & 8s attack him. She says Eric Young is in the hospital and walks off. This was alright.

Aries tells Hulk that facing RVD for the X Title was his plan all along. Hulk wishes Aries luck. He said other stuff too but they played something over it by mistake.

X Division Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Austin Aries for the Title. Aries gets the mic and says RVD is laying flat on his back all sweaty, breathing heavy and his hair’s a mess. He says that RVD looks like Brooke Hogan. Aries then says that he will look like the X Division Champion. Then out comes Bully Ray and the referee calls for the bell. Aries says Ray cost him the match. Then Hulk shows up on the stage. He stares down Ray. Ray says that Hulk still doesn’t trust him. This ends the show. The match was good but the finish was weak. The Hulk-Ray stare down was also lame.

I wasn’t really into this week’s show. I thought there was way too much talking and not a lot of wrestling. Mickie-Gail & York-Roode were both solid. AJ & Storm vs. Daniels & Kazarian was good. Doug Williams-Matt Morgan was a squash. RVD-Aries was good but the finish was kind of flat. This whole bit with Hulk not trusting Ray is idiotic. The bits with Hogan and the X Division guys in the GM office were awful as usual. They really need to ditch the “Hulk decides who gets a title match on championship Thursday” bit. The gut check segment was decent. Devon saying that TV was stolen from him was kind of weird. Joe’s promo saying that Devon abandoned that title was good. This whole “Al Snow is missing and no one knows where he is” bit doesn’t make sense. I’m not sure what they’re doing there. So overall I thought this week’s show was not as strong as other Impacts.

11-26-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the November 26, 2012 episode of Raw

The show starts with Ryback vs. Titus O’Neil. Ryback gets the pin. This was ok. It was mostly a squash. Afterwards Ryback gets the mic. He says whether it’s CM Punk, the 3 guys in black or all 4 he will stand in the ring till he gets what he wants. Then he leads the fans in the feed me more chant.

Back to the show and Ryback is still in the ring. Then out come security. They face if with Ryback. One of them gets right in his face and Ryback chucks him over the top. Then he tells the others to do something. Then out comes Vickie Guerrero. She is a very understanding person. She knows he feels angry and embarrassed for being put through a table twice last wee. However, she will not allow him to touch security. Vickie says she has no choice…Ryback says Vickie has no choice. He wants to face Punk at TLC. Vickie gives him the match and asks him to leave the ring. He tells her to shut up. He wants Punk at TLC but he also wants Punk with tables, ladders and chairs. If Vickie doesn’t give him what he wants, there’s no amount of security that can stop him from tearing up the ring. Vickie says he can have the match but can he please leave the ring so the show can go on. Ryback stares down the other security guys and the bail. This was decent. Ryback’s promo was intense.

Rosa Mendes is backstage getting pissed at Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle says it was a joke. Who would want to kiss her? Rosa says that everybody wants to kiss her. Then Del Rio comes in tells Rosa not to let Hornswoggle deal with her because no woman would deal with him. Then he says if she’s looking for revenge he will be more than happy to help her. Then Khali comes by and tells Del Rio to leave Hornswoggle alone. Del Rio & Rosa leave and Khali helps Hornswoggle down from the stack of crates. This was ok. It was typical Khali-Hornswoggle comedy.

Great Khali vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was weak. Ricardo got on the apron but Khali scared him off. Then Hornswoggle bit Ricardo in the rear end. Rosa Mendes watched backstage.

Vickie is in the GM office and in comes CM Punk. He wants her to explain what she’s doing. He says that he beat Ryback twice already and doesn’t need to be in a TLC match. Heyman says Punk a legit gripe. Heyman tells Vickie that maybe she’s not thinking with a clear head because of the AJ scandal. Vickie says her head is clear. Punk says it isn’t. Heyman says she’s biased against Cena, but also against Punk. Vickie says that Ryback is getting a rematch because of what happened with Brad Maddox at the Cell PPV and because of what happened with “his guys”, Reigns, Rollins & Ambrose. Punk says he had nothing to do with those guys. Vickie tells him that tonight he will face the winner of the Raw fan poll. Kane or Daniel Bryan. Punk & Heyman leave. Punk is flipping and Heyman tries to calm him. This was decent.

They show an interview that Michael Cole conducted with Reigns, Rollins & Ambrose. He says he’s known them for awhile and has worked with them on NXT, but it does feel odd to be having this interview under these circumstances. 9 nights ago people…Ambrose tells Cole to ask what’s on his mind. Cole asks if they’re working for Punk. Ambrose says no. Then why are they there. Rollins says that’s the big question you need to ask. They’ve been in NXT and they saw everything. He mentions that people here have to answer Vickie & Booker T, they have to listen to the Board of Directors and the Board has to listen to the “WWE Universe”. He says this is a popularity contest. They saw things headed in the wrong direction and they righted those wrongs. Rollins says they’re a shield from injustice in WWE. Cole then says that what they’ve done has benefited Punk. Ambrose says Punk had to defend his title against 2 guys he beat already. If Ryback or Cena had been champion they would have done the same. He says that 365 days as champion is a milestone these days. Cole asks Reigns for comments. Reigns says when he wants to say something he will say it. Ambrose says their not mercenaries. They’re about honor and are a shield from injustice. Reigns says they’ve said enough. This interview’s over. This was good. I liked that they had Rollins take a jab at the “Universe” buzz word. I also liked Ambrose saying they’re not Nexus or the nWo.

They show a Fandango video.

Tamina says that if there’s 1 thing she doesn’t like it’s a woman who doesn’t know her place. She hopes AJ is watching because this will be a message not mess with Vickie.

Alicia Fox vs. Tamina Snuka. Tamina gets the pin. This was a squash.    

John Cena comes to the ring. He says Dolph got what was coming to him. Cena says he’s been in WWE for 10 years. He’s had WrestleMania moments with HBK, Triple H & The Rock. But he’s never been interrogated more when people ask him if AJ is a good kisser. Then out comes Vickie. She says that after Cena display of the disgusting lust scene confirms he & AJ are having a fling. Since it’s the holiday season she has gift for him & AJ. She got them matching bathrobes. It’s a token of her appreciation so the can bask in the honey moon phase while it last. She will enjoy watching them implode when the world comes crashing doesn’t on them. She says AJ costs Daniel the World Title at WrestleMania. AJ also proposed to Punk and Kane confirmed that AJ is unstable. Out comes AJ. Vickie asks if AJ will deny that she was acting like a love sick puppy. AJ says Vickie’s right. She knows she’s had a lot of guy issues but she’s trying to become a better person. This whole scandal was based on the face that she & Cena had a relationship while AJ was GM. Now that she’s not the GM she can date whoever she wants and do whatever she wants. Like this. She rubs Cena’s face. Then she slaps him in the rear and then she was going to kiss Cena and then Vickie tells AJ to move on. AJ says that being GM is the only way Vickie can land a man. AJ is not that love sick puppy now but there’s only 1 female dog in this ring. Vickie warns AJ. Then out comes Dolph. While this episode of Jerry Springer is entertaining, he has to break it up. Dolph says that the reality is that Cena can’t handle with the fact that he tackled him through the bathroom stall wall. Then he mentions Cena attacking him on Smackdown. He asks why Cena would do such a cowardly act. Dolph says that last week when Cena kissed AJ and shoved her tongue down his throat, Cena knows that AJ was thinking about Dolph. Cena says he knows he will walk up that ramp and shove the MITB case down Dolph’s throat. Vickie says this will be settled tonight when Cena faces Dolph.  This was terrible and this storyline continues to make no sense!

Wade Barrett is on commentary.

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Tensai. Kofi gets the pin. This wasn’t much. Kofi dominated most of this. Afterwards Wade Barrett gets in the, holding the Intercontinental Title. Then he hands it to Kofi and walks up the ramp.

Daniel Bryan tells Kane no one likes Kane. People like Daniel. Daniel has proof. They show a map on the screen. He says the states in blue voted for Daniel and the red ones voted for Kane (there were no red). No states have voted for Kane. Then Daniel has a map of the world and says that he is winning everywhere. Then he says maybe Kane’s winning in hell. Kane grabs his throat and says how about he sends him there to find out. Then Josh Mathews comes in and it’s time to find out who will face Punk. It will be Kane. Daniels says no. Kane says it looks like Daniel’s polling was skewed. “Red rules.” (Even though there was light blue and dark blue on the screen). Josh tells Daniel that he will face Rey Mysterio right now. This was a typical Kane-Daniel Bryan segment. They’re both good in their roles.

Rey Mysterio vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan. Rey gets the pin. This was a really good back and forth match!

Del Rio & Ricardo are backstage. Then Rosa comes in and thanks him for defending her honor. Del Rio says whatever she needs.

Josh Mathews interviews Dolph Ziggler. He asks if making his issues with Cena person has given Cena more incentive. Dolph says he is Mr. MITB, he was the sole survivor at Survivor Series & he beat Randy Orton. It couldn’t get any better for him. Then he says that Cena is busy dealing with a nutcase who craves attention. He can’t wait to see the look on AJ’s face when she sees what Dolph does to her “boyfriend.”

They reshow the AJ-Dolph bit that was followed by the Cena-Dolph brawl from last Monday. Then they show the end of the Orton-Dolph match from Smackdown, which was followed by Cena locking Dolph in the STF.

John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler. Cena gets the pin. This was a good match but they had Dolph lose cleanly to Super Cena! During the match Cena rolled out of the ring favoring his ankle. The referee & a medic checked on him. While that was happening Dolph goes expose one of the turn buckles. AJ comes out and stops him. Then Vickie comes out and yanks AJ off the apron. The referee gets distracted with those 2. Then Dolph takes a swing at Cena with the MITB case but Cena ducked and gave Dolph the AA for the win. After the match AJ gets in the ring & she & Cena kiss. I’m way tired of this idiotic storyline!

Sheamus vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Sheamus wins by count out. This was a really good match too. Big Show came out with a chair as the count out took place. Then Sheamus tells Show that if he brings the chair he’d better use it. He says that Show has been talking about retiring as World Champion. Sheamus will be happy to make Show’s retirement a reality. He will hit Show with 100 chair shots if he has to. If he gets his hands on a chair he will show him what barbaric is. Then Big Show breaks the chair. This was good too. They’re doing a solid job with the Sheamus-Big Show feud.

Damien Sandow comes out. He says for reasons of good form it is imperative to say again that his purpose is to save the fans from their own ignorance. He will further his crusade by beating the mouth breathing miscreant of an opponent. “You’re welcome.” He will face Zack Ryder.

Zack Ryder vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. This was a solid match.

Paul Heyman is standing outside Punk’s dressing room door. Josh Mathews asks him about Punk’s match with Kane. Heyman says that he should be asked about the fans’ decision to have Punk face Kane. Josh should be asking how Punk feels about surpassing Randy Savage now that he has been WWE Champion for 372 days. Josh should ask how much can CM Punk tolerate. This was good.

They replay the Michael Cole interview with Reigns, Rollins & Ambrose.

WWE Tag Team Champion Kane vs. WWE Champion CM Punk. Punk gets the pin. This was solid too. Afterwards The Shield hopped over the guardrail. They get in the ring and make like they’re gonna go after Punk. Then they attack Kane. Punk exits the ring. Then Daniel Bryan storms to the ring and The Shield beat him down too. Cue feed me more and Ryback comes out. Punk hops over the guardrail. The Shield attack Ryback but Ryback fights them off. Then Punk hit Ryback from behind. Then Ryback was going to power bomb Punk but then Ambrose spears Ryback. Then they give Ryback the triple power bomb. The Shield stand over Ryback as Punk looks on from outside the ring. Then The Shield go back over the guardrail while Punk stands in the ring with foot on Ryback’s chest and raising the belt. This ends the show. This was really good. They’ve been doing a good job with Reigns, Rollins & Ambrose so far. Having them be in the storyline with Punk could really get them over.

I thought this was a solid show overall. Ryback-Titus was a squash but I was ok with the Ryback-Vickie segment afterwards. Kane-Punk was solid and I liked The Shield coming in and going after Kane and then Daniel Bryan. The end with Punk standing over Ryback after The Shield laid him out was really good too. I also enjoyed Mysterio-Daniel. Sheamus-Cesaro was good too and I liked the bit with him & Big Show. Cena-Dolph was good but I hated that they had Dolph lose to Cena cleanly. Khali-Del Rio was weak. The Cena-AJ-Dolph-Vickie bit was terrible as usual. Who cares about this angle? Kofi-Tensai wasn’t much. Alicia-Tamina was a squash. Ryder-Sandow was also a solid match. The interview with Ambrose, Rollins & Reigns was also really good. I thought all 3 guys gave good promos. On the whole I thought this was a solid show.

11-23-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the November 23, 2012 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Miz TV. Miz welcomes everyone to the must most see talk show in WWE history. There’s a reason it’s must see. That’s because of him and also because he gets the biggest stars. Also because he asks the toughest questions and he gets the answers. Tonight he has a lot of questions for his guest tonight. So without further ado he asks everyone to welcome John Cena. Cena sits on the couch and says, “Miz TV I love what you’ve done with the place. It’s, well, awesome.” Miz tells Cena to make himself at home. Miz says that Cena is usually known for things in the ring. Like headlining WrestleMania with him. As of late Cena’s life has turned into a TMZ story. Miz goes into this spiel about the whole bit with Cena, AJ, Dolph & Vickie. He calls it a “he said she said” every week. But this past Monday night Cena had enough. Miz says that Cena did something shocking but it didn’t come without consequence. They replay Cena & AJ making out from Raw. (Man was that terrible)! Miz says it’s getting hot in here. He asks Cena how the kiss was. Cena stands up and Miz gets if he was “out of line.” Then Miz asks Cena how the knee is. Miz says that Cena will probably say that there’s nothing wrong, “but let’s take a look at what happened to you.” They replay Dolph coming in and attacking Cena, which was followed by Cena sliding out of the ring and injuring his knee. (The injury was legit). Cena tells Miz that was a heck of a clip but this is supposed to be Miz TV. A place where Miz asks the tough questions. Cena asks Miz where he’s been. Cena posted on his twitter that he hand an MRI. The MRI showed that he has a little problem with lateral movement. That means that his bad knee can’t do much. But aside from that he’s alright and he can still compete. Then Cena asks Miz if he actually has any tough questions. Miz says he believes that Cena is not telling the whole truth but that’s ok because Miz has from good authority that Cena is telling the truth about his “relationship” with AJ when she was Raw GM. Miz gets it. Cena & AJ didn’t “do it.” That’s fine. Miz then asks but how about now. Miz says that he saw the sparks fly. Miz asks Cena if he & AJ are more than just friends. Cena says that he got tired of everybody making a giant issue out of everything. Every single week he had to listen to Vickie & Dolph come out with these accusations, photos & video clips. He says that all Dolph & Vickie wanted to do was give somebody something to talk about. Cena says that he just ended it. He gave them what they wanted and there’s nothing more that Dolph & Vickie can do. (That doesn’t make any sense. Dolph & Vickie accuse Cena & AJ of having a fling. That wasn’t true, so Cena gave them what they wanted to shut them up? Huh? There was no fling with Cena & AJ but to stop Dolph & Vickie from making their lives hard Cena decided to make out with AJ? I’m not even going to try to figure out that!) Cena admits that he liked kissing AJ and AJ is good kisser. Miz says, “REALLY?” Then they go back and forth saying really for a bit. Miz says that is really fantastic. Miz gets that Cena liked it and clearly AJ liked it because she wanted a whole lot more. Miz asks Cena if the stress of this scandal has brought Cena & AJ together. Let’s assume Cena’s telling the truth about the past. But what about know. Are Cena & AJ now more than just friends? Cue AJ‘s music and she comes out skipping to the ring. (Why would she be skipping and all perky with everything that’s been happening?). She tells Cena he doesn’t have to answer that. Cena says it’s ok. AJ says it’s not fair. Then Miz cuts her off saying this is Miz TV and tough questions come with the territory. AJ says she know that Cena was doing that to prove a point to Vickie Guerrero. Cena says that he was but…Miz chime in again asking if Cena was going to admit that he has feelings for AJ. Miz asks if they’re in love. Miz then asks the fans if they think that. For some reason the fans cheer (maybe that was pumped in). Cena thinks Miz is an idiot (I think whoever came up with this idiotic storyline is an idiot). Cena asks Miz to allow him to have some time with AJ. Then Dolph’s music hits and he comes out. Dolph tells Miz that he’s got this one. Dolph tells Cena that it’s obvious to the entire world that Cena has feelings for AJ. A person would have to be an idiot to not see that (You’d also have to be an idiot to find this entertaining). Dolph’s heard Cena’s a great man but AJ is trouble. If it hadn’t been for her kissing Cena it wouldn’t have been so easy for Dolph to set him (or them) up. If it hadn’t been for AJ bursting into the guy’s locker room Cena might not have hurt his knee (even though he hurt it as he slid out of the ring before the brawl in the locker room took place). Dolph asks Cena how his knee is. Dolph says that if he were Cena he would have feelings for AJ. He would hate her guts. Dolph shows us why. Then they replay the bit from Raw where AJ barged into the guy’s locker room that was followed by the Cena-Dolph brawl. Then Dolph says that’s giving the fans something to talk about. Then out comes Vickie Guerrero. Vickie tells Cena that “his little girlfriend” needs to learn to control her impulses. Then Vickie tells AJ that she thinks Dolph was right. AJ is a pitiful, sad and weak woman. However, Dolph knows how to kiss someone who is authoritative, confident, decisive and passionate. Cena screams liar at Vickie. That’s because Dolph actually kissed Vickie but it still can’t be medically proven that Vickie’s a woman (To quote Miz, “Really”? That line was really stupid!). Vickie tells Cena that she is all woman. She says the relationship between her & Dolph is all professional. Dolph agrees. Dolph then says that if he did kiss AJ it would bring out the real woman in her. But that would never happen. Cena & AJ have gotten into something that they can’t possibly get their way out of. Dolph then says that Cena & AJ deserve each other because they are exactly alike. They’re both two weak losers. Then Cena tells Dolph that he & Vickie deserve each other because they’re the exact opposite. One enjoys eating a lot of nuts and the other is still looking to find his (That was also terrible). Cena then says, “Good day to you.” Why did they start off the show with this idiotic 16 and a half minute promo? This was horrendous! There’s not much else to say about that! I’m really tired of these shows starting off with worthless 15-20 minute promos!

Ryback vs. Darren Young. Ryback gets the pin. This was a meaningless squash. Titus O’Neil was on commentary. Afterwards Titus gets the mic and tells Ryback that Darren is worth millions of dollars. He asks Ryback what’s wrong with him. Then Titus gets in the ring. He says that he knows Ryback hears him talking to him. Then Titus blows his stupid whistle. Then Ryback kicks him in the gut and then gives him the marching Samoan Drop. That was also pointless.

Before the next match Antonio Cesaro says that judging by all the obese faces, bloaded bellies and greasy fingers that he sees in the crowed tonight, clearly they all enjoyed their Thanksgiving (even though this was taped 2 days before that). Another ridiculous U.S. Holiday that celebrates gorging yourselves and laziness. Luckily for the fans they have him as their United States Champion. This was lame. I’m tired of the old anti American heel gimmick.

R-Truth vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Truth gets the pin. This was a decent but short match.

Sheamus is backstage & Booker T comes up to him. Booker asks Sheamus where he thinks he’s going. Sheamus says that he’s going to the locker room. Booker tells him that he’s not. Booker says, “After Survivor Series? Man that thing just totally broke down. I mean you hit Big Show at least 30 times with that steel chair man. He’s banged up. He’s bruised up right now.” Sheamus tells Booker that Big Show deserved it. Sheamus asks Booker if he’s showing pity for Big Show. Then Booker brings up the parking lot brawl. Then he tells Sheamus that before he does something that he will regret for the rest of his life, he can’t let Sheamus compete tonight. Sheamus flips and tells Booker that he can’t do that to him. Then Booker says that at Survivor Series Big Show purposely got DQ’d. Sheamus deserves a rematch. Booker then tells Sheamus that he will face Big Show for the World Title in a Chairs match at TLC. Sheamus likes that idea and shakes Booker’s hand. Booker says Sheamus can thank him later but tonight he doesn’t need Sheamus messing up his show. Booker tells Sheamus to go up to his personal suite and take a few friends with him and have a few pints. Booker tells Sheamus to have a good time and watch the show. Sheamus says that sounds good and thanks Booker. Then Sheamus asks if Big Show isn’t competing tonight. Booker says that Big Show is competing. In a handicap match against Kane & Daniel Bryan. Sheamus smiles and says, “Cheers fella”. This was decent.

 Sin Cara vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a good match.

Kane & Daniel Bryan are in the locker room. Daniel tells Kane to stay out of his way. Kane asks Daniel what he is talking about. Daniel reminds Kane that long before he started teaming with him, Daniel beat Big Show for the World Title in 45 seconds. Kane asks Daniel if he thinks that will happen again. Daniel screams yes. Then Kane screams no. Then he reminds Daniel that years ago he & Big Show were tag team champions. Even back then Big Show was a whiney, oversized baby. Then Kane says that Daniel & Big Show have so much in common that Daniel should team with Big Show and they can call themselves Team No Show (That was kind of corny). Daniel asks Kane is this because he didn’t invite him to his house for Thanksgiving. Kane says maybe. Daniels tells Kane that he wouldn’t have liked it. He mentions Vegan turkey. Kane asks what the point of that is. Then Daniel says that if they win their match tonight Kane can come to his place for Christmas. Kane asks if he can beat up Santa. Daniels says, “Deal.” This was kind of funny.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. World Champion Big Show. Big Show wins when he pins Daniel. This was solid. Kane walked up the ramp after Daniel tagged himself in. Sheamus & William Regal watched from the Sky Box. Afterwards Kane goes back to the ring and stands over Daniel. Big Show holds the title over his head as Sheamus watches from the Sky Box. Then Big Show goes to punch Kane but Kane ducks and grabs Show’s throat, but then Show also grabs Kane’s. Then Daniel kicks Big Show in the left leg & Kane boots him. That sends Show down and he rolls out of the ring and walks up the ramp. Then Big Show gets the mic and asks Sheamus if he is looking at him “Fella”. Show says that at TLC they will have a chairs match. Then he asks Sheamus if Sheamus ever thought that a giant will have a chair in his hands this time “fella”. Sheamus says he’s ready. Then he says that Big Show can hit him with a chair 50 times and Sheamus will still knock him out.

Wade Barrett comes out for commentary.

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Damien Sandow for the Title. Kofi gets the pin. This was a good match. Afterwards Wade Barrett gets a mic and stands on the announce table. He sarcastically congratulates Kofi on winning. Barrett says that Kofi got through that one by the skin of his teeth. Barrett then says that Kofi’s best isn’t going to be enough to beat him. The next time Kofi defends that title it will be the last because he will become the next victim of the great Barrett Barrage.

Time to recap the CM Punk celebration.

Josh Mathews mentions that this Monday Michael Cole will interview Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins.

Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler. Dolph gets the pin. This was mostly Orton dominating and Dolph got the fluke win. Orton was going for the RKO but Dolph rolled up Orton for the win. Afterwards Ricardo Rodriguez shows up and Orton gives him an RKO. Then Alberto Del Rio gets on the apron and Orton invites him to come in the ring, but Del Rio stood on the apron as Orton stared him down. Then they show Dolph on the stage & Cena comes out from behind & locks Dolph in the STF. Referees come in and try to break it up as Dolph screams in pain to end the show. I wasn’t really into this. First Orton pounds on Dolph the whole match and then Dolph gets the fluke win. Then Del Rio & Ricardo show up. Orton gives Ricardo an RKO and then Del Rio, just like all heels in WWE is too scared to face Orton. Then Dolph gets locked in the STF by Super Cena. Del Rio & Dolph really looked weak here. I’m not sure how much more they can get out of the Orton-Del Rio rivalry since Orton has beaten him cleanly every time they fought. I’m also hoping that they don’t have Cena beat Dolph for the Money in the Bank case. That would really be make Dolph look like a loser.

This week’s show was a mixed bag overall. The opening Miz TV segment was painful! Who cares about this Cena-AJ crap!? Orton-Dolph was all Orton till Dolph got the roll up at the end. Then having Del Rio be too afraid to face Orton & Cena locking Dolph in the STF made both heels look weak! Kofi-Sandow and Sin Cara-Del Rio were both good. Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show was solid. I thought the Kane-Daniel Bryan bit in the locker room was kind of funny. The Booker T-Sheamus bit was ok too. R-Truth-Cesaro was decent but kind of short. Ryback-Darren Young was a meaningless squash. Having Ryback flatten Titus O’Neil was pointless too. I get it. Ryback is a monster and The Primetime Players are jobbers. Overall I thought this was a mixed bag show this week.