Teddy Long opens Smackdown in Omaha, Nebraska. Long announces the participants in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match for the WHC. They are: Daniel Bryan, Wade Barrett, the Big Show, Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry, Randy Orton. Mark Henry interrupts and comes to the ring. Henry complains about the odds of winning the Chamber. Long tells him he’s lucky he’s even in the match after losing at the Rumble. Henry demands a World Title match tonight with Daniel Bryan. Long removes Henry from the Chamber and says there will be no title match for him tonight. Henry grabs Long by the tie and has words. Long suspends him indefinitely. Henry says if he is suspended he is going to get his money’s worth for it. He grabs Long but is interrupted by Sheamus.
Henry has words with Long after letting him go from his grasp and Sheamus hits the brogue kick on Henry. Sheamus tells Long he hasn’t made his decision about who he will face at WrestleMania. He says he will do what he does best week in and week out rather than just cut promos. He is interrupted by Cody Rhodes
Rhodes talks about winning at the Elimination Chamber and being the first IC Champ and World Champ since the Ultimate Warrior. Rhodes continues to insult Sheamus. Long books Rhodes in a one on one match with Sheamus right now.
^Good way to take Henry off tv to heal up whatever injuries might be nagging him at the moment. I like seeing Cody Rhodes being booked in the World Title scene; it’s what he deserves for his high level of improvement over the last year. I like seeing Sheamus being apart of the opening of both Raw and Smackdown after wnning the Royal Rumble. With Sheamus not officially picking his opponent at Mania, creative can book him into several different angles.
Sheamus goes one on one with Rhodes and this match goes for under five minutes. The match ends with Sheamus picking up the victory with a new fireman’s carry slam on Rhodes. Impressive win for Sheamus as he heads towards WrestleMania. How great would it be to see Cody Rhodes as duel champion after winning at the Elimination Chamber pay per view? I would be excited to see Rhodes head into WrestleMania defending his title against Sheamus. These guys could really steal the show working together.
Justin Gabriel is out next to face Hunico who comes to the ring with Camacho. Rhodes, who was still at ringside from losing his match with Sheamus, attacks Justin Gabriel with the help of Hunico and Camacho. As they gang up on Gabriel, out comes the Great Khali to make the save. Khali cleans house and takes everybody out.
Backstage segment #1: Drew McIntyre is pleading his case with Teddy Long yet again. Long tells Drew to find another way to impress him and be glad he still has a job. Santino comes in the office and announces that he has a new tag team partner; Jim Duggan walks into the office chanting USA. Santino and Duggan are booked to face Primo and Epico. Long shakes his head as they leave and Aksana comes in. Aksana points out the 2×4 on the floor that Duggan forgot and refers to it as a massive piece of wood. Couldn’t see that coming from a mile away or something. Undertones getting old here for anybody else?
Duggan and Santino take on Primo and Epico. The match ends quickly after Santino is distracted by Rosa when he goes to use the cobra. Primo hits the backstabber and picks up the pinfall. ANOTHER new partner for Santino next week? I’m thinking yes. Maybe they’ll bring back Kozlov(that was a joke, for those who are wondering). I love Santino comedy, and I’ll say it every single week. Push this guy please!
Daniel Bryan is in the ring for an interview with Michael Cole. Cole said he thought Cole was a nerd who would never make it in the WWE. Cole says Bryan proved something at the Royal Rumble by winning the steel cage match. Cole said it wasn’t a dominant victory and that Bryan was lucky. Cole says he is man enough to admit that he was wrong about Bryan, however. Cole extends for a handshake but Bryan takes the microphone from him. Bryan says this interview is not about Cole, but about Bryan himself. Bryan has something he needs to say. He says he succeeded in defeating two monsters inside a steel cage. Bryan rambles on about injustices that he has to endure as champion and whines about the Elimination Chamber. Bryan is absolute money on the mic. He goes on to insult the Big Show and says he should not be in a championship match. Bryan says he will take his case to the WWE board of directors if Long doesn’t remove the Big Show from the Elimination Chamber match. Big Show’s music hits.
Big Show gets a lot of cheers from the crowd. Big fan following here in Nebraska for Show. Show talks about Bryan not being a role model and not setting any example. Show goes on to insult Bryan for being pompous, arrogant, and lucky. Show says Bryan won’t be champion after the Elimination Chamber match. Bryan says Show will not win the title and will lose like he has over and over. Show attacks Bryan and beats him around the ring. Show chokeslams Daniel Bryan and AJ climbs into the ring. Bryan goes to attack Show but Show grabs Bryan by the throat. He goes to punch Bryan but AJ grabs his hand and stops him. Bryan runs out of the ring and AJ leaves the ring. She hugs Bryan on the outside.
^I have to hand it to the Smackdown writers on this one. I didn’t expect Daniel Bryan and the Big Show to have an interesting feud to last this long. You have to wonder if the storyline is going to be booked as AJ being manipulative and helping Bryan, or if she is an innocent pawn that doesn’t realize Bryan’s true personality. I’m curious to see what direction WWE goes with this one(yes, I actually care about a relationship storyline affecting the WHC, shocker).
Backstage segment #2: Natalya and Beth are shown doing squats in the back and Natalya passes gas twice before running off. Santino walks into the scene and gets sick in the trash can before running off.
^Are you serious? I wonder what Anvil did to piss off Vince. This is ridiculous. Without Santino making it funny with his sick impressions, this whole thing would be horrendous. Mind you, it’s pretty bad as it is. Someone as talented as Natalya should walk out on whatever contract she has and go compete wherever she will be appreciated. What a joke.
Aksana and Tamina are out next to take on Beth and Natalya. This one is over quick as Beth tags herself in and hits the glam slam on Aksana for the pinfall. Natalya goes after Aksana after the match but is once again attacked by Tamina. Tamina hits the superfly splash yet again.
^So, let me get this straight. Natalya is the joke, and Beth continues to dominate? You know a Tamina/Beth showdown is in the cards for the near future. It’s sad if this is the best WWE wants to book for the divas.
It’s announced that the Great Khali is Mark Henry’s replacement in the Elimination Chamber match. Does this actually mean the Great Khali has a chance to be World Champion again? Has WWE forgotten how awful that angle was the first time around?
Backstage segment #3: Matt Striker interviews Randy Orton. Striker asks Orton if his approach with Barrett will be conservative tonight. Orton says he has no problem with what Barrett did to him because he would have done the same. Orton says his career is not over and that he is more venomous than he has ever been. He says he will be World Champion after the Elimination Chamber.
^I love intense Randy Orton. Say what you want about his repetitive moveset, but the guy has charisma. He belongs as World Champion on Smackdown because there isn’t anyone that can have as good a match(outside of Christian) on the Smackdown roster with anybody as Orton can.
Wade Barrett comes to the ring for his match with Randy Orton. Teddy Long, AJ, and Daniel Bryan are shown backstage talking. Bryan says AJ is scared of Show. Long says for them to watch the match with him and they can discuss it. Orton and Barrett give us a brutal no dq match. This thing goes all over ringside. Barrett brings a chair into the ring and goes on the offense on Orton by hitting him repeatedly. Barrett goes for Wasteland but Orton powers out and hits his three clotheslines and signature scoop slam. Orton grabs the chair and hits Barrett repeatedly(three times in the back, once in the gut). Orton sets up the chair in the corner of the ring. He whips Barrett headfirst into the chair. HD shows Orton’s spit coming out of his mouth just before he hits a standing dropkick. Orton tosses Barrett over the announce table and then back into the ring for his on the ropes DDT. Orton goes for the RKO but Barrett blocks it and hits the big side slam. Orton gets his foot on the rope at the two count. Orton grabs another chair and hits Orton in the back with it. Barrett goes for a pumphandle slam but Orton counters out and hits an RKO. Orton hits another RKO on the steel chair and picks up the three count victory!
^Okay, so Orton and Barrett have put on main event matches over and over. However, I could see it being a main event on WrestleMania and still enjoying whatever these two throw at us. It’s good wrestling and these two have insanely good chemistry that never fails to tell a story for the audience. I love watching these two go head to head.
Backstage segment #4: Long tells Bryan that he won’t have to worry about the Big Show next week as he will go one on one with Randy Orton. Bryan tells AJ to stay in Long’s office and watch this. Daniel Bryan comes down to ringside jumping around with his title on his waste. Orton turns around from the turnbuckle and looks pissed. Bryan continues to jump around and leaves the ring as the show comes to a close.
^Bryan and Orton have the potential to put on amazing matches. I’m hoping the finish is ruined early in the match next week because it should really be saved for the main event of a pay per view. Bryan’s role as the ultimate heel is going over flawlessly. I honestly didn’t realize he would be this good as a heel; it’s beyond impressive.
Overall, Smackdown was solid. The divas were a waste of time as usual, but you know Beth/Tamina will be a good match when it finally does take place. A little more in ring action would’ve boosted the show, but it wasn’t overall terrible. I’m hoping Khali being back in the main event picture doesn’t mean he’ll actually have more than one title shot. Raw column will be up on Tuesday at some point. Until next time, you’ve been ThunderStruck.
www.facebook.com/thunderstruck11 – add me
