ThunderStruck: Smackdown! Analysis 11/29/11

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” In this case, because I hate the idea of a complaint column, I’ll keep it brief. I’d like to be as objective as possible but this one is definitely a struggle.

 


 

We open the special holiday edition of Smackdown with Mick Foley coming out dressed as Santa Claus. The arena is decorated for the theme. Foley tells us all about what he plans to do tonight. We have the world title fight between Tiny Tim and the ghost of Christmas Fear inside a steel cage. We have a miracle on 34th street fight and an “All I want for Christmas” battle royal. Foley then brings out Michael Cole dressed in a reindeer suit and Booker T in a Santa outfit. Booker gets in the ring with Mick and does a funny spinarooni and they are interrupted by Cody Rhodes. After an exchange of words, they are booked in a match tonight. Booker looked hesitant. Booker is a great worker and a true veteran for helping put over the younger guys. Foley then introduces the divas mistletoe on a pole match.

The divas match is over before you can blink. The Bella twins work together and Brie Bella is able to grab the mistletoe. Foley comes out after the match and explains that she can now use the mistletoe before Christmas to kiss any WWE Superstar she chooses. I understand the light comic relief for the holiday edition for Smackdown, but really? I’m not going to speculate on who she “cashes in” on.

Justin Gabriel defeats Jinder Mahal after Ted Dibiase comes down with a bag of gifts and distracts Mahal. I like the furthering of this non-major feud between Mahal and Dibiase. I know people think it’s a waste of time with the squash matches and such, but to me it sort of has the early 1990’s feel of keeping feuds alive with guys that aren’t necessarily going to be featured on pay per views just yet. My only complaint here would be the length of the match and wanting to see Ted actually wrestle.

We get the backstage segment of the Christmas party. Dusty Rhodes and Roddy Piper are there. Goldust makes an appearance. Otunga tries to crash the party but Foley books him in the street fight tonight with Randy Orton. We go to an interview with Matt Striker and Booker T but Cody Rhodes attacks Booker. No match tonight between those two. I like this move only for the fact that it pushes the feud to last longer and not just be one match and done.

Kofi Kingston and Tyson Kidd give us a short but entertaining match. Kofi wins by putting on a reindeer face piece and hitting a flying cross body from what looks like 20 feet in the air down on Kidd and scoring the pinfall. Kofi is great; you know there are big plans for him and Evan Bourne when Bourne returns from suspension. I just hope it’s not an immediate split that turns into a singles feud between the two.

We get another Christmas party scene with Aksana and Teddy Long doing their ridiculous flirt segment. Before that, Sheamus asks Long what the winner gets and Long told him he doesn’t know. We go to the Street fight between Orton and Otunga. These guys brawl it out around ringside with the Christmas props and Wade Barrett decides to get involved in the match. He tosses Orton and Otunga back into the ring after nailing Orton. Barretts involvement isn’t enough as Orton beats Otunga down in the ring and hits the RKO and picks up the win. Orton continues to be a dominant force on Smackdown and it makes you wonder exactly what is in the works for him. I’m thinking he’ll do another three or four rounds with Christian upon return after his feud with Barrett, but beyond that I’m not sure if he’ll end up in the World Title picture again right away or not.

Mark Henry and Teddy Long exchange words backstage and Henry blames Teddy Long for this situation. He tells Long he will beat Bryan tonight and then defeat the Big Show at TLC. We go to the battle royal. Hornswoggle hides under the ring for most of the match. Sheamus ends up in the final six with Hornswoggle, Heath Slater, Hunico, Mahal, and Tyler Reks. After Orton is beat down he saves Hornswoggle and eliminates all the heels. Sheamus is tricked by Hornswoggle into being eliminated and Hornswoggle wins the battle royal. Do I really need to explain how I feel about this? More good guy Sheamus to get over with the fans I suppose. Hornswoggle gets a Christmas wish and decides he wants the ability to talk. Foley gives him a hug and he now miraculously talk. Great, another Hornswoggle storyline pending.

Daniel Bryan gets kissed by AJ before his match with Henry. Bryan and Henry start the match with 14 minutes left on the show which gives me a bad feeling about the outcome. Time management made this quite a short match. Bryan eventually gets slammed off the top rope by Henry and pinned. No special storyline where Henry is beat up and Bryan cashes in. No potential victory for Bryan. Bryan looked good; don’t get me wrong. However, it just wasn’t enough and WWE has decided it isn’t quite Bryan’s time to be World Champion. I believe he could cash in at TLC or possibly on the following Smackdown. Either way, Bryan is now in the picture and the possibilities are endless for feuds over the World Title once he is champion.

While it wasn’t the typical Smackdown that we’ve become accustomed to, it wasn’t the trainwreck that Impact has become every week. It fit the feel for the holiday theme, but it just lacked in overall substance. I’m hoping to get a piece on John Morrison out in the next few days, but plans can always go awry so no promises. Until next time, you’ve been ThunderStruck.

www.facebook.com/thunderstruck11 – ADD ME!

Related Articles

Latest Articles

Videos