Five days after Survivor Series, the 536th edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT. Following their confrontation on RAW, Batista would go one-on-one with Kane to determine the new #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title at WWE TLC.
Quick Match Results
- The Hart Dynasty def. Cryme Tyme by David Hart Smith pinning Shad following the Saito Suplex.
- Matt Hardy def. CM Punk by DQ after Luke Gallows interferes.
Luke Gallows is a "follower" of the straightedge lifestyle that CM Punk, and now Gallows, lives. Luke Gallows real name is Drew Hankinson, but was most recently known as Festus.
- #1 Contender’s Match for the World Heavyweight Title: Batista def. Kane by Count-Out to become the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title at WWE TLC.
While on the outside of the ring, Batista used a steel chair on the knee of Kane behind the "shield" of the barricade, which led to Batista getting the count-out victory.
- Intercontinental Championship: John Morrison (c) def. Eric Escobar (with Vickie Guerrero) by pin following Starship Pain to retain.
- Non-Title: The Undertaker def. Chris Jericho by DQ after Batista interfered.
Match Quality
- Batista Vs. Kane
- The Undertaker Vs. Chris Jericho
- Matt Hardy Vs. CM Punk
- Intercontinental Championship
- The Hart Dynasty Vs. Cryme Tyme
Detailed Results
With his and Big Show’s defense of the WWE Unified Tag Team Titles in a TLC Match against DX at WWE TLC just around the corner, one-half of the WWE Unified Tag Team Champions, Chris Jericho, opened the show. Jericho referred to DX as “juvenile delinquents” and vowed that, after WWE TLC, he will “never have to deal” with DX again! The Unified Tag Champion then stated that he has “dominated” TLC Matches, just like he “dominates” everything else in his life and career. Jericho reiterates that DX has never won the tag team titles and, as long as he is a tag champion, they “never will”. The narcissistic Jericho then turns his attention to the World Heavyweight Title be demanding that he be named the #1 Contender, citing that no one “deserves” to be the World Heavyweight Champion more than him! SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long comes out and says he is going to give Jericho what he wants! However, what Jericho got left the WWE Unified Tag Team Champion in shock as Long announced that Chris Jericho would go one-on-one with the World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker in a non-title match! How will Jericho fare in only his second one-on-one match against “The Phenom”?
In a reigniting of their feud, the opening match of the night saw The Hart Dynasty pick up a tag team victory over Cryme Tyme.
Backstage, Intercontinental Champion John Morrison enters the office of General Manager Theodore Long and requests a one-on-one match with either The Miz, Sheamus, or Drew McIntyre; the sole survivors from the Team Miz Vs. Team Morrison Survivor Series Elimination Match. Before Long could reply, the “official consultant” of SmackDown, Vickie Guerrero, interrupts. The “consultant” reminds Long of her position bestowed to her by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, which Long responds to by “reminding” Vickie that he is still the General Manager of SmackDown. Amused by this statement, Vickie reminds Long that the GM is still under “probation” before she “nominates” her boyfriend, Eric Escobar, for a title shot against John Morrison! Long denies Vickie’s “nomination”, saying that Escobar does not “deserve” a title opportunity. Vickie claims that SmackDown “needs” Escobar and his attributes, to which John Morrison replies to by saying that Vickie’s “standards” continue to lower. Vickie then threatens to call Mr. McMahon, but Long diffuses the situation by reluctantly allowing the title match to take place! The GM adds that it will be the only title opportunity he gives to Escobar and assures Vickie that “times have changed” and he will not be “bending the rules” to accommodate her boyfriend. With Vickie Guerrero backing him, can Eric Escobar upset John Morrison and claim the Intercontinental Championship?
Before he would face Matt Hardy one-on-one, “The Straightedge Superstar” CM Punk came to the ring accompanied by a large “associate” of Punk! “The Second City Saint” states that he is “not the only one” who is aware of the “harmful” effects of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes and proclaiming that it is his “crusade” to “help” those individuals who needs it. Punk then introduces the large friend he brought to the ring as Luke Gallows, an apparent “follower” of CM Punk and the “straightedge” lifestyle. Punk reveals that Gallows used to be known as Festus, but that was during Gallows’ days of being under the influence of drugs; an issue CM Punk helped Gallows with!
CM Punk then presents a brown bag and says that the contents are a new “socially acceptable” drug that will be hitting the streets this coming Tuesday, December 1 and that it is “more dangerous” than any drugs, tobacco, or alcohol! Punk then presents the new “Jeff Hardy: My Life, My Rules” DVD set! Referring to Jeff Hardy as a “loser”, Punk states that Jeff ruined his life and career by living by “his rules”. Punk then claimed that the last chapter of the DVD is the “most important”, because it is the one where he “retires” Jeff Hardy! Punk then calls the DVD “garbage” and urges everyone to “just say no” to the DVD! Having listened to all he could take, Jeff’s brother Matt Hardy came out and accuses Punk of behaving like a “cult leader”. Matt then says that Jeff is a “free spirit” and that Punk does not “know” Jeff Hardy! Punk then alleges that, if Jeff accepted his help, then Jeff would still be in the WWE. Matt responded by saying that, if Punk would get off of his “soap box”, then Punk might still be the World Heavyweight Champion!
Following their intense words exchanged between the two of them, CM Punk and Matt Hardy faced off in a one-on-one match; a match that ended when Punk’s new “associate”, Luke Gallows, interfered in the contest! Punk & Gallows then perpetrated a vicious assault on Matt Hardy before Gallows left Matt laid out!
Then it was time to determine the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title as “The Animal” Batista went one-on-one with “The Big Red Machine” Kane! In the middle of the match, the fight spilled to the outside of the ring where Kane sent Batista over the barricade. “The Altered Beast” then formulated a plan; as Kane approached Batista, “The Animal” grabbed a steel chair and blasted Kane in the knee with it, using the barricade as a visual “shield” to prevent the referee from spotting the chair shot! Batista then re-entered the ring to beat the count, but Kane was unable to make it in time, meaning that Batista picked up the win via count-out to become the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title at WWE TLC! Will Batista be able to defeat a very familiar foe in The Undertaker to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE TLC?
In a match urged by the “official consultant” of SmackDown and boyfriend of Eric Escobar, Vickie Guerrero, John Morrison would defend the Intercontinental Title against Eric Escobar. Despite interference from the “consultant”, John Morrison was able to hit Starship Pain and retain the Intercontinental Championship for the second week in a row! After the match, an irate Vickie Guerrero screamed at Eric Escobar about Escobar’s loss before slapping Escobar!
Backstage, Eric Escobar confronts Vickie Guerrero moments after their public spat. Still irate, Vickie told Escobar that he makes her “sick” to which Escobar expresses, in detail, all the ways that Vickie disgusts him before proclaiming that they are “done”! How will Vickie respond to the breakup with Eric Escobar? Does this mean bad things for Theodore Long and SmackDown?
In only their second one-on-one match, World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker squared off with WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho in a non-title match. The contest ended in a disqualification when Batista, who had been sitting on commentary at ringside, attacked The Undertaker and viciously wore out the World Heavyweight Champion with multiple chair shots! What kind of shape is The Undertaker in following this brutal assault by “The Animal”? Has Batista ensured victory at WWE TLC with this attack?