November 26, 2015
Taped November 24, 2015
City: Indianapolis, Indiana
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Commentary: Rich Brennan, Jerry Lawler, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles
Intro Video
“Black and Blue” by CFO$
Ring Area
Roman Reigns’ music hits and he makes his way to a ring filled with tables, ladders, and chairs. Reigns talks about playing with The Usos when they were all kids and dreaming about being the WWE Champ. He mentions Sheamus, and the champ comes out to the stage.
Sheamus calls Reigns an “Adele song.” He also points out that he’s been talking longer than Reigns was champ, that he couldn’t have read even one page in a book by the time Reigns lost his title. Apparently Sheamus reads really, really slowly. He then goes on and on, feigning excitement as he describes the end of Survivor Series.
Reigns wants Sheamus to walk down to the ring. He doesn’t. Reigns then describes what he’s going to do with a chair, a table, and a ladder.
** The segment felt very choppy, like a lot was edited out. Especially when it came to Reigns’ talking portions. Sheamus talked a lot more, and it felt like they cut right into the middle of Reign’s speech at the beginning. As far as talking segments go, this one was pretty meh. **
Match 1
Dudley Boyz vs Erik Rowan & Braun Strowman w/ Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper
(referee: Rod Zapata)
D-Von and Rowan start of brawling with D-Von managing to guide Rowan into the Dudley’s corner. Bubba Ray and Strowman tag in. Side headlock by Bubba. He tries to take Strowman to the mat but is thrown down. Strowman overpowers Bubba and isolates him in the Wyatt Family’s corner.
-commercial-
Strowman is in control and working on Bubba’s arm. Rowan tags in and continues the abuse. Bubba fights out of the corner with a clothesline and tags in D-Von. D-Von knocks Rowan down a few times and covers him for a 2 count that Strowman breaks up. Strowman is thrown to the floor allowing the Dudleys to perform a double-team neckbreaker on Rowan. The tables are gotten. Harper then enters the ring and kicks Bubba.
Result: The Dudley Boyz win via DQ after Luke Harper interferes
Time: 5:53 (1 break)
** On okay match. Kind of slow, but you can’t really expect much more from the matchup. The teams looked pretty even. The DQ finish wasn’t unexpected, but I’m not sure where this is heading, if anywhere. **
Ring Area
The Wyatt’s continue to attack after the match and Harper and Rowan chokeslam Bubba Ray through the table the Dudleys set up.
Match 2
Paige vs Becky Lynch
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Lynch starts off fast, frustrating Paige with a schoolboy, a pair of hip tosses, and a dropkick. Paige slows things down by retreating to the apron. She gets back in only to take a pair of running leg drops from Lynch for a 2 count.
Paige hits a kick to the gut to take control, then follows up with some attacks in the corner and a fall-away slam.
-commercial-
Paige is in control back from the break. She works over Lynch’s arms and back. Paige goes for a knee that Lynch counters into a schoolboy. Lynch takes advantage and mounts a comeback leading to an exploder out of the corner for a 2 count. Lynch looks for Dis-Arm-Her but Paige holds onto the ropes. Paige leverages Lynch into the ropes and covers her (trying to reach the ropes to cheat).
Paige wins via pinfall after pulling Lynch into the ropes
Time: 5:33 (1 break)
** A good match. Both women looked good, though Lynch probably came out better due to all the cheating and backing away that Paige did. It worked for both characters. **
Backstage
New Day (Kofi and Big E) celebrates Thanksgiving with Team B.A.D. “Thanks, to us!” Slater shows up with Slater Slaw (with a band-aid). Adam Rose shows up with rabbit stew. The Ascension shows up with nothing and they are denied entry to the party. Xavier then shows up in a Gobbledy Gooker costume. He says that later on the will show the Lucha Dragons the “power of poultry.” Kofi informs everyone that poultry is another word for turkey. Then they dance.
Ring Area
Del Rio and Colter head to the ring. Colter then questions Swagger’s “blind American loyalty” and calls him a “hater.”
Match 3
Alberto Del Rio (US Champ) w/ Zeb Colter vs Jack Swagger
(referee: Mike Chioda)
The two tie-up with neither gaining an advantage. They then start brawling in the corners. Swagger gets a schoolboy for 2, and Del Rio responds with a kick to the gut. They both seem to be fighting angry. Del Rio hits a DDT that gives him control of the match. Del Rio presses the attacks. He gets Swagger in a corner and starts throwing punches, but Swagger grabs him and slams him for a 2 count.
Del Rio rolls out to the floor. Swagger follows him and clotheslines Del Rio into the timekeeper area. Swagger stares down Colter, and Del uses the distraction to hit him in the back with a chair.
Result: Swagger wins via DQ after Del Rio uses a chair.
Time: 3:07
** This seems to just be a promo for an eventual chairs match at TLC. That will be very good; This was just a means to an end. **
Ring Area
After the match, Del Rio rolls Swagger into the ring to continue the beating, but Swagger grabs the chair and uses it on Del Rio instead. Del Rio retreats.
Backstage
The Usos meet Xavier Gooker. They have an idea.
Match 4
Lucha Dragons vs New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) (Tag Champs) w/ Gobbledy Gooker
(referee: Dan Engler)
The Lucha Dragons effectively double-team Kofi to control the match early. Kofi hits a flying head scissors that’s countered into a pin by Sin Cara for a 2 count. Big E tags in and Sin Cara sends him to the floor. Sin Cara dives onto him, but as Sin Cara is getting back in the ring he is pushed off the apron and into the announce table.
-commercial-
New Day is in control of Sin Cara with a Unicorn Stampede. Big E hits a big splash for 2, but runs into the ring post when he tries to follow up. Kalisto is tagged in and overwhelms Kofi with kicks and speed. Kofi covers Kalisto, using the ropes for extra leverage. The Gobbledy Gooker pushes Kofi’s feet off the ropes, breaking up the pin. Kofi looks over and ends up taking Salida Del Sol from Kalisto off the distraction.
Result: Kalisto pins Kingston after Salida Del Sol
Time: 4:39 (1 break)
** A good match with a nice ending. It was a fun and memorable moment for the annual Thanksgiving Smackdown. **
Ring Area
New Day is incredulous. Jimmy Uso then appears on the stage with Xavier Woods, in his boxers, tied up, and with tape on his mouth. Jimmy rolls Woods down the ramp as Jey takes of his turkey mask. The Lucha Dragons head back to the ring to join in the celebration, and the attack on New Day. Jey shows us that turkeys can’t fly, but they can fall: he splashes Woods from the top rope.
** Awesome. Really fun stuff. **
Video
Earlier tonight, Tyler Breeze talked about his opponents tonight and says that style always wins.
Video
25 years of The Undertaker.
Backstage
Renee Young talks with Dean Ambrose about his luck and the number one contender for the IC title. Ambrose says it’s not luck, but if he were a betting man…
Match 5
Intercontinental Title #1 Contender Triple Threat Match
Tyler Breeze w/ Summer Rae vs Dolph Ziggler vs Dean Ambrose
(referee: Darrick Moore; commentary: Kevin Owens)
Ziggler throws his hoodie at Owens. Owens decides to keep it. Joke’s on Ziggler.
As the match starts, Breeze is sent to the floor immediately and Ambrose and Ziggler match each other in the ring. Ziggler backs out to the floor where Breeze attacks, followed by Ambrose. All three men fight leaving Ziggler as the last one standing.
-commercial-
Back from the break, Ambrose has Ziggler on the top turnbuckle. Breeze tosses them both off, Ziggler to the floor and Ambrose to the mat. Ambrose goes for a bouncing clothesline, but Breeze catches him in the ropes and Ziggler kicks Ambrose from the floor. Ziggler uses his speed to get an advantage over Breeze, then on Ambrose as he gets back into the ring.
All three men are now in the ring and the action is fast. They all get in some attacks and covers. Ambrose and Ziggler both try a running cross-body, catching Breeze in the middle in a violent sandwich. All three men are down. Ambrose attacks from his feet first, but takes a superkick from Breeze, who takes a superkick from Ziggler for 2!
With Breeze on the floor, Ambrose misses a top rope move and takes a Zig-Zag for a cover that’s broken up by Breeze! Breeze hits a Beauty Shot on Ziggler, but takes Dirty Deeds! Ziggler can’t get back up as Ambrose goes for the cover.
Result: Dean Ambrose pins Tyler Breeze after Dirty Deeds
Time: 7:02 (1 break)
** A very good match. All three men brought something different to the match, and it never really felt like it broke down to just one on one. The action was quick and exciting. Really good. **
Ring Area
Ambrose pushes Owens as they stare each other down. Owens walks away.
Show Impressions
Nice show. Good memorable moments with the New Day segments, a few good matches worth watching, and actually a little build up for the PPV. I think the show definitely got better as it went along.
Match of the Night
Breeze vs Ziggler vs Ambrose
I thought the tag match might be the best at first, but the triple threat match was easily the better and more re-watchable match. The tag match was fun, but this one was really good. It kind of felt like Owens and Ziggler might have a thing going too, but I fully support Ambrose versus Owens.