December 22, 2015
Episode 169
(taped December 22, 2015)
City: Des Moines, IA
Venue: Wells Fargo Arena
Commentary: Rich Brennan, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles
Intro Video
“On My Own” by CFO$
Match 1
Goldust vs Tyler Breeze w/ Summer Rae
(referee: Dan Engler)
Goldust is very interested in Breeze’s furry boots. They have a brief exchange, then both of them retreat to opposite corners and sit. They then start to wrestle with a sequence that has Goldust get the better of Breeze. Goldust mocks Breeze by laying down in the corner.
Breeze gets more aggressive and slams Goldust into various corners. Goldust hits an inverted atomic drop and clotheslines Breeze out to the floor. Goldust takes Breeze’s selfie stick and takes a selfie with a downed Breeze.
-commercial-
Goldust is in control, but he quickly takes a foot to the face. Goldust rolls out of the ring. Breeze follows Goldust and rams him into the edge of the ring. He keeps the attack on Goldust back in the ring. Goldust avoids an attacks and goes for a jackknife cover, but Breeze kicks out and continues his attack. Goldust catches Breeze and delivers a spinebuster.
Goldust hits an uppercut from his knees, but he immediately takes a superkick. Breeze tries follow up, but Goldust hits a scoop powerslam for a 2 count. Goldust builds momentum and goes to the top rope but is distracted by Summer Rae. Breeze kicks Goldust to the mat and covers Goldust for the win.
Result: Tyler Breeze wins via pinfall after kicking Goldust who falls from the top rope
Time: 8:58 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
A good match, but the ending seemed a little lacking. It seemed like there should have been more to it. Maybe a bigger move. Something. It felt like there should have been a kick out. Otherwise it was a fine match.
Match 2
Fandango vs Bo Dallas
(referee: John Cone)
Dallas knocks Fandango down with a shoulder block and takes a victory lap. Fandango catches him halfway through and clotheslines him on the floor. He follows up in the ring with a leg lariat for a 2 count on Dallas.
Dallas responds with strikes in the corner. Dallas tries to wear Fandango down with a rear chinlock. Fandango fights to his feet and starts to mount a comeback. He builds momentum with strikes and lands a leg drop from the apron into the ring. Fandango goes to the top, but Dallas knocks him off.
Dallas sets him up on the ropes and hits a whiplash neckbreaker for the win.
Result: Bo Dallas wins via pinfall after a rope assisted whiplash neckbreaker
Time: 3:26
Match Thoughts
An okay match, but it was pretty short. They didn’t really have enough time to develop something great, but it was okay for what it was. I like the switch that Dallas flips to go from smiling to aggressive and back again.
Ring Area
After the match, Bo gets on the mic and says that in 2015 he finished a winner. He Bo-lieves that this is just the Bo-genning.
Video
Recap of the Slammy Awards from RAW.
Match 3
Jack Swagger vs The Miz
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Miz takes off his sunglasses.
Swagger puts Miz in a waist lock and throws him around. A belly to belly from Swagger gets him a 2 count on Miz. Miz gets and advantage by dropping Swagger neck first on the ropes, then follows up with an attack from the top rope for a 2 count. He puts Swagger in a rear chinlock but Swagger gets out with a belly to back suplex.
Swagger tries to suplex Miz out of the ring, but Miz trips him and hits a kick, sending Swagger into the barricade.
-commercial-
Miz is in control. He puts Swagger in almost a camel clutch which Swagger powers out of. Miz gets a sunset flip, but Swagger tries to counter with a Patriot Lock. Miz avoids it and kicks Swagger. Miz then stomps Swagger in the corner.
Swagger comes back with some clotheslines and looks for a Swagger Bomb, but Miz rolls out of the ring and tries to walk away. Swagger puts him back in the ring. He goes for a Swagger Bomb but Miz gets his feet up and hits a kneeling DDT. 2 count for Miz.
The two enter an extended sequence that sees both of them look for and miss their finishers and ends with Miz booting Swagger for a 2 count. Miz continues to boot Swagger in the head. Swagger ducks the third one and hits a Swagger Bomb for a 2 count.
The two exchange punches. Miz hits a jumping clothesline in the corner, but he gets caught and dumped by Swagger. Swagger applies the Patriot Lock for the win.
Result: Jack Swagger wins via submission with the Patriot Lock
Time: 9:35 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was a very good match. There were a couple of really nice extended sequences, both guys kept looking for the signature moves only to be foiled, and when the did their moves it wasn’t always in their usual way. They mixed it up enough to keep it interesting. Very well done.
Show Impressions
Another Main Event with some good matches. The main event in particular was very good. Easily one of the better matches in a while for the show.
Match of the Night
Jack Swagger vs The Miz
All the matches were good, but this was easily the best. It could have been a top of the hour match on RAW.