Two days before WWE TLC, the 538th edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. After being assaulted by Batista three weeks prior at Survivor Series, Rey Mysterio would return to SmackDown to face the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title in a Street Fight.
Match Results
- CM Punk & Luke Gallows def. R-Truth & Matt Hardy by Luke Gallows pinning Matt Hardy following the Twelfth Step.
- 2-on-1 Handicap Match: Jeri-Show def. Eric Escobar by Eric Escobar tapping out to the Walls of Jericho by Chris Jericho.
Eric Escobar was placed in a one-on-one match against Chris Jericho by SmackDown’s "Official Consultant" Vickie Guerrero. After the match got underway, Vickie came out and changed the one-on-one match to a 2-on-1 Handicap Match and brought out Big Show.
- Kane def. Mike Knox by pin following the Big Red Chokeslam.
- Mickie James & Maria def. Michelle McCool & Layla by Mickie James rolling up Layla.
- Street Fight: Batista def. Rey Mysterio (in his return to SmackDown) by pin following a steel chair shot to the head.
Match Quality
- Street Fight
- CM Punk & Luke Gallows Vs. R-Truth & Matt Hardy
- Kane Vs. Mike Knox
- 2-on-1 Handicap Match
- Mickie James & Maria Vs. Michelle McCool & Layla
Detailed Results
Two days before he challenges The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title in a Chairs Match and before he faced Rey Mysterio in a Street Fight in the main event, “The Animal” Batista opened the show. The #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title stated that he’s out there to get a couple of things off of his chest. Batista said that he did not “ask” for a Street Fight against Rey Mysterio, but that Mysterio demanded it! “The Altered Beast” claimed that Rey does not “deserve” to be in the same ring as him and stated that a lot of people are “not happy” with him. Batista proclaimed that he does not care if people are unhappy with him because it is about him and being the World Heavyweight Champion. Batista stated that he does not “need” Rey Mysterio or the fans and that he “deserves” to be in the “spotlight”. Batista then said that The Undertaker is “not the dominant force”; claiming that he saw “fear” in the eyes of “The Deadman”! Batista then states that The Undertaker has “already lost” and that WWE TLC is “just a formality”! Batista then proclaims that people better get used to him being referred to as “World Heavyweight Champion Batista”! Can The Undertaker stop the sheer determination and ruthlessness of Batista or will “The Animal” claim the World Heavyweight Championship once again?
The opening match of the night was a tag team match featuring CM Punk & Luke Gallows taking on R-Truth & Matt Hardy. Before the match, CM Punk says that the new Jeff Hardy DVD set is “flying off of the shelves” and refers to the DVD as “trash”. Punk then states that parents might as well buy their kids “hallucinogens”, because the DVD will cause “hallucinations” of being able to “do the impossible”. Punk & Gallows then symbolically destroy the DVD set! R-Truth & Matt Hardy then come out for their match, but Matt is carrying a duffel bag full of copies of the new Jeff Hardy DVD; which he passes out to the audience amidst the protest by CM Punk! Once in the ring, R-Truth blasts CM Punk with the microphone before the match begins!
While R-Truth & Matt Hardy successfully disrupted CM Punk’s speech, they were not as successful in the tag team match as they lost to CM Punk and “The Straightedge Follower” Luke Gallows. Can anyone stop this “Straightedge Society” of CM Punk & Luke Gallows?
At the orders of SmackDown Consultant and ex-girlfriend, Vickie Guerrero, Eric Escobar went one-on-one with one-half of the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions, Chris Jericho. However, Vickie interrupted the match and announced that the match would be a 2-on-1 Handicap Match with Eric Escobar facing Chris Jericho and Big Show! As expected, Jeri-Show dominated Escobar and Jericho forced Escobar to submit to the Walls of Jericho.
After the dominant victory over Eric Escobar, Jeri-Show discussed their TLC Match title defense against DX with Chris Jericho vowing that Jeri-Show will “end” DX at WWE TLC! Jericho also vowed to “change” the lives of DX “for the worst” and proclaimed that they have the biggest weapon available in Big Show. Big Show then declares that Jeri-Show is “the end of DX”! After decimating DX using the available TLC Match weapons on RAW, will Jeri-Show truly “end” DX this Sunday or will DX claim their first tag team titles?
Two days before he challenges John Morrison for the Intercontinental Title at WWE TLC, Drew McIntyre appeared on SmackDown to have a face-off with the Intercontinental Champion before the event. McIntyre stated that any proposed loss to John Morrison is “fictitious” before John Morrison came out dressed as the star character in the hit movie, “Braveheart”, William Wallace! Dressed as the Scottish cinema character, Morrison said that the proud Scotsman that stands before him is a “joke” and that no one can tell what Drew McIntyre is saying with his Scottish accent. McIntyre responded by saying that the Intercontinental Champion should “respect” him. The confident Morrison then proclaimed that McIntyre “will never take” his title! McIntyre then challenges Morrison to “fight” him and “The Friday Night Delight” gladly accepts as champion and challenger engage in a brief brawl before McIntyre opts to exit the ring! Who will emerge as the Intercontinental Champion this Sunday?
After last week’s match with Kane, the bizarre Mike Knox actually requested a rematch with “The Big Red Machine”, to which Kane accepted! Unfortunately for Mike Knox, the result was the same as last week with Kane delivering a chokeslam to “Monstrous” Mike Knox.
It was announced on SmackDown that, at WWE TLC, Michelle McCool will defend the Women’s Title against the Diva she has tormented relentlessly as of late, Mickie James!
Before she would battle her tormenter, Michelle McCool, for the Women’s Title at WWE TLC, Mickie James teamed up with Maria to defeat the Women’s Champion and Layla in tag team action! Will Mickie claim her fifth Women’s Championship reign this Sunday or will Michelle McCool defeat Mickie when it matters the most and retain the gold?
Then it was time for the main event as the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title, Batista, would go one-on-one with his former best friend, Rey Mysterio, in a Street Fight. With vengeance on his mind, Rey held his own against Batista, but was unable to put “The Animal” down for the three count. Rey even utilized a steel chair to take advantage of Batista, but “The Altered Beast” ended it all with a steel chair shot to the skull of Mysterio, which won the match for the #1 Contender.
After the match, the ruthless Batista took the steel chair and placed it around the neck of Rey Mysterio! Batista was ready to jump off of the second turnbuckle and cause serious damage to Mysterio, but the lights went out and the familiar gong symbolized the arrival of The Undertaker! “The Phenom” rained down upon Batista with several right hands and grabbed the steel chair to exact revenge on “The Animal”, but Batista quickly exited the ring; temporarily avoiding destruction at the hands of The Undertaker! When chairs are legal at WWE TLC, who will emerge as the World Heavyweight Champion?