Smackdown opens with the Big Show coming to the ring. Show apologizes again for colliding with AJ two weeks ago on Smackdown. He rambles about this for a bit and talks about not knowing his own strength. He talks about doing some soul searching after the Rumble this Sunday. Daniel Bryan interrupts and continues his verbal assault on Show for his accident two weeks ago. He repeatedly insults Show. He tells Show to leave and retire. Bryan slaps Show twice and Show responds by driving Bryan into the corner. He holds Bryan by the throat and they exchange words before Show tosses him across the ring. Mark Henry comes out. Henry says he doesn’t care about either of them or their problems. Teddy Long comes out. Teddy books Mark Henry one on one with the Big Show.
^It’s funny to watch Bryan stand in the ring with those two giants. I like opening the program with heat on Bryan from both Show and Henry. It’s WWE’s way of trying to convince fans that Bryan might not keep his title on Sunday. Despite whatever they want you to think, Bryan will still be champion after their match this Sunday. Once again, we get a repeat match between Show and Henry. Haven’t heard that one before or anything.
Cody Rhodes vs Justin Gabriel in a non-title rematch from last week on Smackdown. Rhodes and Gabriel put on a short entertaining match that ends with Rhodes nailing his signature crossrhodes finisher on Gabriel. Quick match here once again for Rhodes. Michael Cole called Rhodes his dark horse pick to win the Royal Rumble. I like that idea.
^Rhodes continues to look impressive each and every week. If not for the Goldust rivalry about to start, it would be fitting for Rhodes to elevate himself to the next level and win the Rumble this Sunday. Why does Justin Gabriel have to look so weak by getting flattened two weeks in a row? Granted, Rhodes is the champion, but if you’re WWE creative, don’t you want people to believe that Gabriel is going to win some matches and at least be a contender for a title down the road? The booking just seems to lack in logic at the moment.
Backstage segment #1: Santino is pitching creative ideas to Teddy Long, including a loser leaves town match with odd stipulations. Cracks me up. Yoshi Tatsu is shown in the picture and they propose a tag team to Teddy Long called Santoshi or Yoshitino. They argue. Drew McIntyre comes into the picture and pleads his case for keeping his job. Long talks about Babe Ruth striking out from time to time but mostly hitting one out of the park. He books McIntyre in a match with Sheamus next.
Sheamus takes on Drew McIntyre in a short match. It’s the battle of the United Kingdom. Sheamus connects with the brogue kick for the victory after a short back and forth contest.
^Sheamus’ hot streak continues as we head into the Royal Rumble this Sunday! Drew actually looked really be in this match. It’s nice to know that not every match Sheamus is put in will be a squash contest. I expect Drew to have some sort of involvement in Sheamus being eliminated at the Royal Rumble to set up some sort of rivalry between the two. C’mon WWE, you have to do something worthwhile with these guys! They just showed you the potential for working good matches against each other. Why not work with it?
Santino Marella and Yoshi Tatsu are out next to take on the WWE Tag Team Champions, Primo and Epico. This one goes for about three minutes and ends with Epico hitting the backstabber on Santino for the pinfall.
^What took so long to get Yoshi off Superstars and back on Smackdown? The guy is talented and needs to be used more. Will these two be a permanent tag team from here on out, or will Santino pick a different partner every week to take on the tag champs? Either way, it’s refreshing to see a different tag team outside of the Usos going against Primo and Epico. Primo and Epico continue to set the bar for tag team wrestling and leave this writer begging for WWE to bring in more competition for them.
Backstage segment #2: Mark Henry and Daniel Bryan exchange words backstage. Bryan talks about Show having no business in their match on Sunday. Bryan wants Show to be eliminated from their match on Sunday by having Henry put him into the Hall of Pain.
^I like watching heel Daniel Bryan attempt to manipulate other heels. Who would’ve guessed that putting the title on Bryan’s waist and having him speak would make him such a great character for tv(only the entire IWC)?
Wade Barrett is out next for his match with the returning Randy Orton. Barrett talks trash about Orton on the mic before the match. Barrett says Orton will not be showing up because he is spiritually broken. Orton’s music hits. Orton is shown on the tron walking through the arena to the ring. Orton runs down the ramp and attacks Barrett! Refs try to break up Orton’s attack on Barrett but mostly just stand around and watch. The locker room comes out and holds Orton back and Barrett runs off. Orton hits an RKO on Hawkins, Reks, Baretta, and the Usos.
^So much for a match between Orton and Barrett. Orton looks solid with his return to Friday Night Smackdown. Who is a hotter pick than Randy Orton win the Rumble in his hometown this Sunday? The answer is probably no one, but I have a feeling his rivalry with Barrett could get in the way of his concern for winning the match. Great intensity tonight between the two to fuel the fire in this long term rivalry!
Backstage segment #3: Daniel Bryan is talking to Kaitlyn in the back. Bryan wants Kaitlyn to tell Show that Henry is going to try to injure him tonight. Kaitlyn agrees but wants to know how Bryan feels about AJ. Bryan says he keeps those things private but she needs to talk to Show ASAP.
^More of Bryan showing his heel side by trying to get Show and Henry to destroy one another tonight before their match at the Rumble on Sunday. I love it!
Out next is Ted Dibiase taking on Hunico with Camacho. Dibiase’s wrist is heavily taped for this match because of the injury. Hunico works the wrist throughout most of the match and picks up the victory quickly with a very fast version of the angle slam. Camacho and Hunico beat down Dibiase after the match and work the wrist more.
^Very impressive victory here for Hunico, and I don’t think it hurts Dibiase all that much. Dibiase’s injured wrist is being used as the excuse for his loss, and that doesn’t hurt his credibility too badly. Didn’t this match just happen though? Can we please mix things up a little bit from week to week and not see the same exact matches? Does this Camacho guy ever wrestle?
Backstage segment #4: Teddy is shown with Aksana for their usual routine but Natalya comes in and demands another match with Tamina. Aksana talks about watching Natalya get squashed by Tamina. Natalya talks about beating Aksana and Tamina. Long books Aksana in a match with Natalya. Natalya apparently passes gas and Teddy and Aksana rush off. Santino comes back into the picture and gets a whiff and starts to get sick.
^The usual good comedy here from Santino. I really want to see more of this guy. Anybody else think heel Stone Cold when he was married to Debra was hilarious? I couldn’t get enough of that gimmick and it’s the same for me with Santino. You just know you’re going to crack up at something he’s going to say or do every week.
Brodus Clay is out next to take on Alex Riley. Riley attempts to do some dancing before the match. It’s sad. Brodus hits the what the funk finisher on Riley in a short squash match.
^Brodus dances a lot before and after the match. Typical funkasaurus Brodus Clay here. This gimmick is going to get old fast, as I keep saying. I know a lot of people find it entertaining. Maybe once Brodus has a legitimate rivalry I’ll feel differently about it.
Natalya takes on Aksana in our next match. Aksana gets a quick pin on Natalya and Natalya gets pissed. Natalya destroys Aksana after the match and makes her tap out to the sharpshooter. Tamina comes out after Aksana taps out and hits the samoan drop on Natalya and then hits the superfly splash.
^It’s good to see a legitimate divas rivalry with two females that can wrestle. On the flipside, why do you give the divas match three minutes of air time and only feature the same ones every single week? Where is the changeup here?
Big Show takes on Mark Henry in our main event. Daniel Bryan sits at ringside during the match. Michael Cole talks about Daniel Bryan’s scheme as Champion. Mark Henry apparently got counted during the commercial break to end the match. Daniel Bryan attacks the Big Show with a steel chair as he celebrates his victory. Show then gets control of the situation and chases Bryan until he kicks Show’s legs out from under him. Bryan hits Show with a steel chair multiple times. Show rolls into the ring and Bryan puts on the labell lock. Show is able to power out and hit Bryan with the chokeslam! Show goes for the big fist but Bryan rolls out of the ring. Smackdown goes off the air with Show standing tall.
^Once again, we are left with a small bit of hope that Big Show will be able to recapture the World Heavyweight Championship. This won’t happen. Mark Henry looks like the odd man out in this equation as he really hasn’t been a major factor in this rivalry. I don’t expect either Show or Henry to regain the World Championship in 2012. Both are on the tail end of their careers and neither one stands to gain anything from another title run. We are in the era of Daniel Bryan, and I expect his reign to continue for some time.
This was supposed to be the big show before the Rumble. I love the Rumble. The Rumble is the pay per view I look forward to third behind Summerslam and Mania. This was supposed to be the go home show before the Rumble. I understand that Smackdown isn’t Raw and isn’t the main focus of WWE, but give me a break. This was just another Smackdown and was the same as any other week. It wasn’t necessarily a bad show; it just wasn’t anything special in terms of the big show two days before the 25th Royal Rumble event. I’m scratching my head on this one. Orton looked good and Bryan got his heel heat. Everything else was just another typical week of Smackdown. I’m hoping to have a Retro Rumble column done before the show. Until next time, you’ve been ThunderStruck!
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