WWE Smackdown 12/30/2011

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 12/30/2011
From: Indianapolis, Indiana

Smackdown starts off with a video promoting the feud between Randy Orton and Wade Barrett. Tonight, they will square off in a falls count anywhere match.

Josh Matthews and Michael Cole welcome us to the last Smackdown of 2011. Booker T’s music hits and out comes the former five time WCW World Heavyweight Champion to the ring. He thanks the WWE and the fans. He will never forget the Royal Rumble match back in January and mentions how commentary has been fun, aside from having to deal with Michael Cole. Booker reminds us that he beat WWE Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes right in the middle of the ring. He wants the fans to enjoy the show, but he is cut off by the WWE Intercontinental Champion, Cody Rhodes. Rhodes knows the fans don’t pay attention to the news and gets some cheap heat by mentioning the bad Colts team. Rhodes talks about overcoming a facial injury and beating Rey Mysterio Jr. at WrestleMania. He feels like he has brought honor back to the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Booker cuts Rhodes off as he tries to take credit for bringing Booker back to his past success. Booker thinks that the champ should be out here giving him credit. Rhodes congratulates Booker and offers his hand. Booker shakes his hand and goes to sit at the commentary table. Rhodes says that this is over now. He says the fairytale is over and Booker is here for nostalgia. Rhodes rips on Booker saying that he is a joke at commentary. Rhodes wants Booker to go home. Here comes Goldust.. yes, Goldust. He isn’t wearing the face paint. He is instead in a suit and tie. Goldust tells Cody that he is doing this all wrong. Goldust gives Booker credit for having faith in him when he was battling his demons. Cody calls Goldust an even bigger joke. Cody says that when Goldust stopped teaming with Booker, he went right back to his demons. Booker defends his friend and wants to settle things with Cody one more time. Booker wants the Intercontinental Championship on the line. Cody agrees to the match, but that will happen next week. Cody finishes off saying Booker will be irrelevant just like his brother. Booker tells Cody that he will celebrate next week when he wins the championship, sucka! Wait a second, Cody knocks out Goldust with a springboard kick once Booker leaves the ring. Booker returns to the ring and checks on his fallen friend to end the segment.

— Commercials —

Footage from two weeks ago is shown where Jinder Mahal attacked Ted DiBiase after he had beaten Heath Slater. Tonight, they square off in a singles match.

We hear pre-taped comments from Mahal who says that DiBiase’s year will end in defeat.

Opening Contest: Jinder Mahal vs. Ted DiBiase
DiBiase gets the early advantage with right hands and a hip toss. Mahal stops DiBiase by dropping him across the top rope and delivering a running high knee lift. Mahal gets a two count following a under hook suplex and knee lifts DiBiase several times. DiBiase battles back with a clothesline but runs into a big boot only to drive Mahal down to the mat with a sit out spine buster. DiBiase leaps off the top but appears to injure his right leg. Mahal plants DiBiase with a Flatliner and forces DiBiase to submit to a camel clutch.

Your Winner: Jinder Mahal via submission
Match Rating: *1/2

Backstage, Teddy Long is on the phone saying he is getting ready for a party. Aksana comes into the picture and tells Long that she is excited for the party. Drew McIntyre enters the room and Long tells him that he is back on Smackdown. Long isn’t interested in paying Drew the high amount of money if he can’t get the job done. If Drew doesn’t win his match with Ezekiel Jackson, he might be fired. Drew says that Teddy will not have to worry about him. Drew wants Teddy to watch his match tonight.

— Commercials —

Footage from two weeks is shown, which saw Alicia Fox pin Natalya in a singles match. Fox apparently ripped out some of her hair during the match as well.

Second Contest: Alicia Fox & Kaitlyn vs. Natalya & Tamina
It’s the match everyone has been waiting for. Kaitlyn starts off with a cross body and dropkick on Tamina but only gets a near fall. Natalya distracts her and Tamina gets a cheap shot before tagging out. Natalya drives Kaitlin face first into the canvas. Natalya connects with a Michonkiu driver but misses a leg drop and Alicia Fox enters to hit the scissors kick on Natalya for the win.

After the match, Tamina drops Natalya with a super kick and leaps off the top to hit a big splash.

Your Winners: Alicia Fox & Kaitlyn via pin fall
Match Rating: 1/2*

Footage from Survivor Series is shown. Wade Barrett was able to pin Randy Orton at the event. Tonight, they meet in a falls count anywhere match.

— Commercials —

Footage from RAW is shown where Big Show wrestled David Otunga with one arm tied behind his back. Mark Henry and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan got involved. Bryan allowed Big Show to fight off Henry and choke slam Otunga

Backstage, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan is talking to diva A.J. Until Big Show came over and told him that he didn’t need his help. Teddy Long runs over and says that the tag team match is not happening tonight. Apparently, Otunga wants a rematch against Big Show tonight. Bryan says “Maybe giants need saving after all.” before walking away.

— Commercials —

We hear pre-taped comments from Hunico. He says that they are going to take over the WWE in 2012.

Third Contest: Justin Gabriel vs. Hunico
Gabriel backdrops Hunico over the top to the floor but Hunico quickly takes Gabriel out with a springboard moonsault on the floor and got a near fall. Gabriel drops Hunico chest first into the corner but Hunico stops him with a boot in the guy. Gabriel drives Hunico down to the mat with a sit down slam. Hunico arm drags Gabriel off the top rope and hits a top rope Swanton Bomb for the win.

After the match, Hunico catapults Gabriel onto his partner and they hit a swinging neck breaker/samoan drop combo.

Your Winner: Hunico via pin fall
Match Rating: *

— Commercials —

Footage from last weeks show is shown. Big Show knocked David Otunga out with a right hand.

Fourth Contest: David Otunga w/Mark Henry vs. Big Show
Show works on Otunga to start the contest with several right hands and chops. Show power slams Otunga, who bails to the floor and Henry yells at him. Show stops Otunga with a big shoulder block and connects with a big splash in the corner. Henry distracts Show and that allows Otunga to chop block Show and plants Show with a DDT for a near fall. Show powers out and sends Otunga to the floor on the kick out! Daniel Bryan appears from behind Henry and hits him with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Henry chases Bryan to the backstage area, leaving Otunga by himself. Show drops Otunga with a big right hand and wins the match.

Your Winner: Big Show via pin fall
Match Rating: *

Footage from TLC is shown where Randy Orton was able to RKO Wade Barrett through a table to win that match.

— Commercials –

Fifth Contest: Drew McIntyre vs. Ezekiel Jackson
Jackson opens the match with a scoop slam but only gets a two count on the cover attempt. Drew battles back with a dropkick. Jackson flips McIntyre over by the arm and clubs away on Drew. Drew regains the advantage with a big boot and chokes Jackson over the middle rope. Jackson kicks out of a pin attempt after Drew hit a northern lights suplex. Jackson comes back with a big clothesline in the corner and follows up with a side slam for a two count. Drew big boots Jackson in the corner and uses the ropes for leverage on the cover but the referee sees him using them. Jackson rolls Drew up and uses the tights for extra leverage to steal the win.

Your Winner: Ezekiel Jackson via pin fall
Match Rating: *

Backstage, Sheamus is walking towards the ring.

– Commercials –

Backstage, Drew McIntyre is telling Teddy Long that the referee cost him the match and it shouldn’t count. Long doesn’t like losers, especially losers who make excuses. Drew walks away.

Sheamus comes out to the ring to cut a promo. He wants to talk about the future and mostly wants to talk about the Royal Rumble. Sheamus doesn’t care which number he draws, he is going to win the Royal Rumble. Oh great, here comes Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle is going to be in the Royal Rumble match. Sheamus asks him who is going to win the match, and Hornswoggle responds by yelling his own name. Sheamus ends up shaking his hand when Heath Slater comes out. Slater names a few jobbers who says they are going to win the match and no one takes him seriously. Slater thinks he is the number one redhead on the show. Slate thinks Hornswoggle won the Christmas battle royal because Sheamus didn’t want to squash him. Slater tells him that he doesn’t have that problem, though. Sheamus starts to sing a Journey song and sees Slater as being an R Kelly type of guy. Sheamus tosses Slater over the top rope to the floor.

– Commercials –

Sixth Contest: Sheamus vs. Heath Slater 
The match is joined in progress after the commercial with Sheamus working on Slater’s arm with a wrist lock. Sheamus shoulder blocks Slater a couple of times and tosses Slater onto the apron. Slater slaps Sheamus in the face but is met with a knee lift and several clubbing blows for doing so. Slater dropkicks Sheamus face first into the middle turnbuckle and follows up with a neck breaker for a two count. Slate keeps control with a knee lift and several elbow strikes. Sheamus drops Slater with a few forearm strikes and a clothesline in the corner. Slater falls to the mat after a short arm clothesline. Sheamus heads to the top rope and hits a shoulder block. Sheamus nails the Brogue Kick and wins the match.

Your Winner: Sheamus via pin fall
Match Rating: *1/4 

Backstage, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan tells Teddy Long that he thinks he is Big Show’s good luck charm. Show enters the room and says he is annoyed by Bryan helping him. Bryan just wants a thank you but Show isn’t going to give him one. Long announces that next week Bryan will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Big Show. Bryan tells Show, who is laughing, that at least his reign will last longer than forty five seconds.
Footage from last weeks show where Randy Orton attacked Wade Barrett backstage and hit an RKO on the top of a car.

— Commercials –

Josh, Cole and Booker promote the title match on RAW between Punk & Ziggler. They also promote the two major title matches to take place on Smackdown next week as well.

Main Event: Falls Count Anywhere
Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
Orton starts off hammering away on Barrett in the corner. Orton drops Barrett with a clothesline and Barrett bails to the floor. Orton sends Barrett shoulder first into the ring steps and gets a near fall on the floor. Orton stomps Barrett’s head onto the ring steps as well to get another near fall. Barrett blocks the RKO by sending Orton face first into the ring post as the show goes to commercial

— Commercials –

Barrett is mounting Orton with right hands back in the ring and continues to work on Orton with stomps in the corner. Barrett big boots Orton through the middle rope to the floor where he gets a two count on a cover attempt. Barrett drives Orton back first into the apron but Orton fights back with a right hands until Barrett drives him into the guard railing. Barrett covers in the ring for a two count. Barrett drops Orton with a big boot but Orton kicks out at a two count, again. Barrett leaps off the middle rope and connects with an elbow drop but Orton kicks out at two! Orton misses a clothesline and Barrett boots him in the gut. Barrett goes for a pump handle slam but Orton breaks free and snap power slams Barrett. Barrett avoids an elevated DDT but Orton tosses Barrett over the announcers table! Orton tosses Barrett into the crowd and sends him into the referee on accident. Barrett tries to get away but Orton hammers away on him in the crowd. They go to the locker room area where they continue to brawl. Barrett sends Orton crashing through a table. Orton recovers and tosses Barrett into some boxes. Orton misses a chair shot and they continue to brawl. Barrett jumps into an elevator but Orton goes in there as well and they brawl. We get a shot from the security camera in the elevator, which is unique. Orton is pummeling Barrett as the door opens. Barrett shoves Orton down some stairs and Orton is left laying while Barrett leaves the scene. Orton makes a noise as the show comes to an end.

Final Thoughts:
Well, this was a rather lackluster program. The opening segment was done nicely to set up the Cody/Booker match next week, but everything that followed that action wise, aside from the main event, failed to deliver. I think Daniel Bryan might be turned heel with his feud with Show. I’m just assuming based on what we saw this week.

Odds are the back injury Orton suffered is simply an angle. The ending of the show makes me believe that. Orton/Barrett was the best match by far, but it didn’t save the show by any means. Next weeks show will have Cody/Booker and Bryan/Show. Those two matches on paper makes that show better than this one already.

Anyway, this one gets a thumbs down from me.