WrestlingNerd Presents: WWE Smackdown 11/23/12 (Friday Night Raw)

What up wrestling fans, I'm the WrestlingNerd bringing you another written review. Today, we take a look at WWE Smackdown 11/23/12. How did things fair out this week? Let's find out and start the review. 

We open up the show with Miz TV. You know, I'm starting to think Miz TV is an SD exclusive. It only shows up on SD and nothing more. Anyway, tonight's guest is John Cena. Cena on SD? What the hell is this? It's funny how Cena has a new T-shirt on the week he shows up on SD. WWE is pushing hard for the quarterly sales of Cena merchandise. Miz believes Cena and AJ did nothing during her GM days, but he wonders about now. Cena admits that he liked it and it seems AJ enjoyed it as well. AJ arrives to give her thoughts. It appears Cena has feelings for AJ, while AJ doesn't seem to think so. See, how can you support AJ? Nobody likes a tease. Then again, it's like she's teasing the biggest bowl of fruity pebbles. Dolph Ziggler's quota is about time, so he arrives and thinks AJ is trouble. This is a follow-up with Dolph's conclusion/promo from Raw this week. Vickie Guerrero feels lonely, so she arrives. Is this the night of interruptions? They continue to go back and forth, while Cena talks about nuts……I have no comment. It was just to follow things up with the Cena/AJ storyline that's occurring on Raw. I'm not big on the storyline, but it did get a little more interesting when Cena and AJ made out in the public……JUST a little. 

Match #1: Ryback vs Darren Young

It's funny watching the matches that follow for Ryback. You go from Cena and Punk, to Tensai, to Darren. What's next week? Random Independent Scrub #649? Ryback wins with the Shell Shock. Since Ryback didn't get enough turkey, he eats Titus O'Neil as well. Ryback mistook Titus' walrus cry for a turkey, but he doesn't care either. 

Winner via pinfall: Ryback

Match #2: Antonio Cesaro vs R-Truth

Here's another one of Antonio's promos….

Blah blah blah….I hate Americans….blah blah blah…..Americans suck….blah blah blah? Bllllaaaaaaah….

To my surprise, Truth actually picks up the clean victory. Truth hits Little Jimmy out of nowhere and the match is over in minutes. But…but….but….sigh. I don't even understand what happened here. I guess this means the Antonio/Truth rivalry will continue since Truth was able to defeat him. WWE was spending time building up Antonio as an American destroyer, but that's quickly out the window after tonight. I don't care if Truth beats Antonio, but the match and storyline progression don't tell a good story. This feels like a rushed and lazily, put-together, story. I just don't like it. The best thing to do would've been to get Antonio a new rivalry, but I also think Antonio needs to get away from the cookie, cutter anti-American heel. It's been done to death since the 1980s and we need something new. Yes, the argument will be that it draws in tons of heat…..IF you are an American wrestling fan. To me, it's just lazy and redundant, and this is coming from an American wrestling fan as well. 

Winner via pinfall: R-Truth

Match #3: Alberto Del Rio vs Sin Cara

Funny how this is a match Mexico would love and appreciate, but I imagine the rest of the world could care less. I wonder if they had blue and gold lighting in his Mexico matches? Anyway, in a pretty decent match, Del Rio wins with the Cross Armbreaker. Del Rio can't beat the top-tier guys, but can defeat the little ones. When in doubt, aim low. 

Winner via submission: Alberto Del Rio

Match #4: Big Show vs Team Hell No

Kane totally has a point. What is the point of a vegan turkey? Just eat a salad and call it a day. Daniel Bryan and Kane are just a riot. They talk about the match, but it quickly becomes a series of bitter remarks since Bryan didn't invite Kane to Thanksgiving dinner. If they win tonight,  Kane will come over for Christmas, but only if he gets to beat up Santa Claus. And that was the day little Jimmy cried over the reveal of Santa. Santa's not real? Awwwwww. I just enjoy this bromance between Kane and Bryan. It really is a lot of fun. We found out earlier in the evening that Show vs Sheamus for the WHC title will happen at TLC, but in a Chairs match. Seems appropriate with all things considered. Sheamus and WILLIAM REGAL….

…are watching this match in the sky box. The finish comes when Bryan and Kane have more friction between each other. Kane ends up walking out on the match because Bryan didn't buy Kane a fight. When Bryan fails to get the No Lock applied, Show hits the Chokeslam for the victory. After the match, Kane actually checks up on his boyfriend. The couple actually work together to chase Show away. We get some pretty weak build between Sheamus and Show, but they told their story at the PPV. I'm fine with this approach. 

Winner via pinfall: Big Show

Match #5: Kofi Kingston vs Damien Sandow; IC Championship

So, how did Damien get an IC championship match? Was he the 1000th competitor and it was handed to him? Wade Barrett was on commentary for this match. Kofi picks up the clean  victory with Trouble in Paradise. I don't know why, but this bothered me. I didn't like the fact Damien had to take this lose since it was a short match. In fact, I felt it was mind-boggling that WWE would even book Kofi/Damien in an IC match when the are prepping for Kofi/Wade. I understand they are in limbo since Cody Rhodes could be out for sometime, but I just don't like this approach. Regardless, we get some tension between Wade and Kofi. As I mention in the Raw review, I don't like Wade going after the IC championship. While it gives them both something to do, it isn't a very intriguing rivalry. Just say it out loud to yourself. Wade Barrett vs Kofi Kingston. It just isn't a sexy matchup. If you like it, more power to you, but I personally don't like this idea.

Winner via pinfall and still IC Champion: Kofi Kingston

Match #6: Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler

In a very intriguing match, Dolph picks up the victory with a rollup, but not without a fistful of tights. After the match, Del Rio tries to cheap-shot Randy, but Randy scouts Del Rio's presence. On the entrance ramp, Cena arrives out of nowhere and applies the STF on Dolph. The show ends with mass chaos. So, I like the fact that WWE followed up properly with Dolph. They would've normally given the victory to Randy and send the audience home happy, but they are trying something with Dolph. At the same time, I think this was also done for Randy's benefit. I mentioned in the Survivor Series review how I have a feeling that Randy could be ready for a heel turn. These recent loses will definitely help in putting that plan into motion. I could definitely be wrong about this since this is a theory brought about by me, but it would surely be something if I was correct. 

Winner via pinfall: Dolph Ziggler

Overall Impression:

I look at this episode and part of me feels this was similar to what you would see on Raw. For a show that literally followed American Thanksgiving, I thought this was a pretty fair episode to watch. Speaking of which, this is why there's no Impact review this week. I just found it pointless to talk about because of the holiday. I wasn't expecting much since many people are still busy because of the holiday, but this was a decent enough show to take your mind off the holiday madness. The matches were okay to at least passable. WWE continued to build up some of the major rivalries on both Raw and SD. Nothing was brought up regarding CM Punk, but we did find out that Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns will be interviewed by Michael Cole this upcoming week on Raw. It will be interesting to see what they can come up with as that date approaches. Not a great episode, but a nice distraction. That's gonna do it for the review and I hope you enjoyed it. Tell me about what you thought of my review or tonight's show. I will see you guys and girls in the next one. See you next time.