WWE Smackdown on SyFy in Jacksonville, Fla.

 

Before the show can even kick off, we witness Booker T on the ground having been attacked obviously for his atrocious commentary. Not by any fan unfortunately who couldn’t take the “Somebody call the po-leese” line any longer, but by Mr. Cody Rhodes himself. Rhodes saunters down the aisle with an almost maniacal yet unsure laugh. They proceed to show the replay in which the now deranged Rhodes attacks Booker from behind, catching him off guard, throwing him into the guardrail and stomping some serious sense into him. The referee’s begin escorting Booker to the back like he’s been through a war, seriously Booker? A few stomps are so bad these days that the ref’s have to drag you to the back eh? On another note, Cody Rhode’s new attire is really working for him on many levels. He looks like a legitimate ready to be main eventer, he still has a long way to go but with the proper build, he might become a big time player.

Anyway, we’re left without a third seat at the announcer’s table where Rhode’s starts pointing at to foreshadow who’ll fill in that spot for tonight, or at least part of tonight taking into consideration Booker doesn’t sell those stomps even more like a Mark Henry beatdown. We cut to the ring to catch a shot of the returning Lilian Garcia who gets a good reaction from the crowd and happens to look stunning as well. She thanks the crowd and notes that she’s happy to be back but is soon cut off by Rhodes at ringside. He takes a shot at her by saying nobody missed her and nobody likely even noticed that she left. Ouch. Rhode’s goes off some more before saying he’ll be taking up the position of announcer and that Booker should pay attention because he might learn something, sucka. Rhode’s has mic skills but you get the feeling that he needs to polish them because you never really know where he’s headed and his expressions along with that laugh, seems forced beyond belief.

 

Wade Barret v.s Ezekial Jackson

Lillian introduces the match as a Beat the Clock challenge match and Barret’s music hits. He waits at the ramp with his jacket on and throws it off when Lillian announces his name. Barret heads down the ring confident as usual, crossing some tables ladders and chairs at ringside. His recent feud with Randy Orton should hopefully elevate him up a few notches again as he has had an inconsistent build. Ezekiel Jackson then follows out, doing his usual thing and flexing his biceps in the ring like the freak of nature he is. The match then begins. It’s funny how the match has a different feel to it since we have seen Barret lose to Jackson on multiple occasions when Jackson was being given a push and Barret had lost steam, but now it seems the tables have turned with Barret on the end of a push. The Beat the Clock timer starts and the sense of urgency between the two is evident as Barret moves in and tries to steal one by attempting a schoolboy. Jackson doesn’t even budge, standing upright by grabbing Barret’s arm under him and goes for a elbow drop. He misses by a mile as Barret goes for a quick cover and only gets a count of 1, Barret persistently pushes Jackson back down to the mat for a second cover and gets 1 before a kickout. The two men size each other up with Jackson’s expressions seeming as if he’s been incensed.

Before the lock up, Barret kicks him in the gut, locking him in a headlock. Jackson elbows him, whipping him to the ropes and catching Barret with an elbow, following it up with a quick cover for a kickout. Jackson clubs him on his back with an arm shot and again covers him, same result. Barret, sensing he’s in trouble, slides out of the ring to gain a bit of composure. Jackson stares down Barret a bit before pointing to the clock which is at 55 before Barret quickly slides in the ring and misses a clothesline. Ezekiel catches him with a shoulder block on the way back and Barret gets to his feet wobbly, where Zeke clotheslines him out of the ring….again. Why would you want to do that if you want to end the match quickly, but ok? Zeke pulls Barret by the hair back into the ring, slams his face into the turnbuckle and assaults Wade in the corner. Zeke Irish whips Barret to the ropes, trying to connect with a clothesline and failing as Barret hits the opposite ropes, coming back with a front chop block, bring down Zeke. Wade grabs him and slams his shoulder into the corner post and this time successfully schoolboys him for a 2 count. Barret yells at the ref to speed it up a bit continuing his assault. He locks Jackson in a headlock as the clock is at 2:44 now. Zeke battles back, punching Barret in the gut a few times to loosen it off and trying and missing a clothesline before Wade hits a beautiful back kick to Zeke’s abdomen. Zeke crumbles to the ground in agony. Wade pulls him up and delivers a nicely done pump handle slam. He goes for the cover, only a 2 count. Barret starts showing frustration of not being able to put away Jackson at this point. We go to commercial break.

Barret chokes out Zeke with a second headlock which ends up not helping again as we see Zeke push back Barret into the corner, forcing him to release the hold. The clock ticks down with Barret rushing out of the corner and catching a big tree like clothesline from Zeke knocking him down. He shoots back up scrambling to the corner as Zeke pumps up for an adrenaline rush. He charges Barret with a clothesline, crushing him, backs up and charges again with another.. You guessed it.. clothesline. Zeke starts brutalizing Barret with a barrage of punches, yes, take that Wade Barrage Barret. He pummels him for a bit before Irish whipping him to the opposite corner and catching him stumbling on the way back to him with a sidewalk slam, only getting a 2 count. Barret ends up falling into some bodyslams which sees Zeke getting ready for the Torture Rack. He picks up Barret for the Rack, but Barret slips out on the way up behind Zeke, catching him with a boot and setting up Wasteland! The crowd really coming alive now as Zeke also slips out of the move pushes Barret into the ropes and catches a clothes- wait falls into a swinging Bossman slam by Barret out of nowhere!! He goes for the cover 1…2….3. Barret beats his former Core teammate at the 7.47 mark

Barret proceeds to snatch the mic after the match and take some jabs at Randy Orton. He claims to have humiliated, embarrassed and defeated Orton repeatedly. Barret states that Orton has always had the psychological edge over his opponents, but no longer. He ended by saying his would be the only voice in Orton’s head tonight and that Orton would run out of time, in reference to Beat the Clock.

 

Opinions and ideas: A pretty ok match in which we see the progression of Wade’s, in my opinion, much deserved push. I would imagine it’s really hard to work with what Zeke’s got since he’s so stiff and has some really predictable plus mundane moves. Nonetheless, Barret looked in top form, and that swinging Bossman Slam should be a prominent move in Barret’s arsenal because he can hit it straight out of nowhere for some really explosive impact.

Cut to a backstage scene where we see David Otunga chatting it up with Teddy Long and carrying with him his usual cup of whatever he drinks that’s supposed to make him look legitimate. Otunga whines about having his recent loss expunged from his record and Long looks in no mood to oblige. Long places Otunga in another Smackdown match since he showed up on Smackdown though he’s part of Raw against Sheamus. Otunga looks none too pleased and we cut to Josh Mathew’s introducing the arrival of Daniel Bryan as his music hits.

 

Daniel Bryan Promo

Daniel comes out to some really kick ass gear for a decent reaction from the crowd. Cole starts crying as per routine. They showed a clip of Mark Henry beating Bryan last week. Mathews brought it to Daniel’s attention that he came real close to winning the World Title but didn’t quite make it and asked what his thoughts were. Bryan states that what’s more painful than being in a cage with Henry was letting everyone down. He starts going off about how close he was to being World Champion and we hear Cole grumping at the announce table and yes he cuts Bryan off with a mic of his own. Cole yells what he has consistently been saying about Bryan- that he is a loser. Bryan fires back and tells Cole to do him and everyone else a favor and shut up. They go back and forth a bit before Daniel says he doesn’t know why Cole doesn’t respect him to which Cole argues that he refuses to respect someone who would be whining about blowing a championship opportunity and who’ll probably whine when he won’t cash in his MITB briefcase. Cole throws out how Daniel never earned a title opportunity and Bryan refutes that by throwing a jab at Rhodes by saying he earned that spot by making him tap out.

Very intense back and forth by the two which see’s Cole saying for the 500 th time in his career to Bryan “you should go away”. DB steps out of the ring telling Cole that maybe he’ll make him tap out and make him go away. Of course, Rhodes blindsides Bryan before he can get his hands on Cole, saving us from a pitiful sight of having to see Cole sell a move. He stomps him down a bit before the ref’s pick up the pieces.

Opinions and ideas: A nice engaging little promo from DB escalating more tension between him and Cole but you get the feeling he’s playing the distracter in a feud between Booker T and Cody Rhodes. I am optimistic about the way Bryan can be booked from now till Mania to make him look like a legit contender but WWE has a way of dropping the ball ever so often and they have done it in abundance with The American Dragon. He needs some key signature wins along with a theme song that doesn’t actually suck like his consistently has.

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Zack Ryder v.s Heath Slater

Oh lord. Out comes Ryder to a decent reaction from the crowd to face Heath Slater who isn’t even given an entrance, so he stands in the ring like a jobber ready to start the match of course. Slater was on the offense but the better part of the first half of the match before running in with a full head of steam at Ryder in the corner only to catch double knees to the face and a running Ryder boot to the mug- icing on the cake. Ryder finishes him off with the Rough Ryder to end this squash of a match.

Opinions and ideas: Wow, this was bad. Real bad. I almost wish they would give Ryder mic time to get people who don’t watch his youtube show, like me, to get emotionally invested in him. He certainly gets a reaction from the crowd these days, why not expand on that fully by maybe airing some his youtube material or giving him something to work with promo wise. Does anyone really care whether Ryder beats jobber equivalent Heath Slater?

 

Ted Dibiase v.s Jinder Mahal

Dibiase comes out to his same heelish music like happy go lucky Charlie, slapping fans hands on the way down. They showed a clip of Dibiase causing Mahal to lose to Justin Gabriel. Mahal makes his way down to a pre-recorded message for Dibiase that no one cares about. Dibiase began with a few hip tosses but Mahal soon reversed the tides. Mahal continued to punish Dibiase till he fought back with a clothesline but Mahal kept him down again. Mahal began lining up for his finisher only get caught in a small package, 1..2..3. yay Dibiase wins

Opinions and ideas: Ok. Well. That feud lasted one whole week? Because you do realize, WWE, that starting a feud with the babyface cleanly beating the heel one week into it doesn’t leave much left to see, right? They keep talking about the Dibiase Posse but refuse to elaborate on actual shows what exactly it consists of. Blah. It’s a good thing Dibiase is face but they put his character through hell and a train wreck. Lots of repair needs to be done there…

 

 

Big Show and Mark Henry Segment

‘We’re treated to Big show in the ring with his music blaring revving up the fans for a response. He grabs a hold of a mic and looks to be in a grinning great mood. Show brings up how it’s been 9 years since he beat Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion. He went on about how people believed him to be a hopeless underachiever though they never said it to his face. Show stated how 9 years is too long and he needs to be World Champion again in which TLC will be the perfect time when he stands across Henry with a steel chair in hand. He goes on to say how Mark Henry’s Hall of Pain (yea stolen idea from Brodus Clay) is going to get closed. Henry’s music interrupts Show and he walks down the ramp looking ever so serious before stopping near the ring with mic in hand. Henry’s music dies out and he begins by saying he’s not afraid of Big Show but is halfway hurt. He puts over his injured ankle and tells the audience to shut up(hilarious). They respond with chants of “You shut up”. Henry said he had something to say to Big Show but he wanted to say it to his face, Show invited him to the ring to do it. Henry asked for a promise from Show so he wouldn’t put his hands on him. Show sarcastically quipped to thinking about it before saying no. Henry asked Big Show what kind of legacy will he have if he beats a Henry who isn’t 100 percent and how he will have all of Mark Henry he can handle at TLC. Henry asked again out of courtesy for Big Show to not put his paws on him if he climbs into the ring. Show fights with the idea for a bit before inviting Henry to the ring telling him he won’t put his hands on Henry when he’s talking.

Henry starts mouthing off some more before saying he should be a hundred percent at TLC and Show will have all of Henry he can handle. Henry dragged on about how they did nasty things to each other but to let bygones be bygones and let the best man win. Henry put forth his hand for Show to shake it, Show contemplated it for a while before meeting his hand with his own, shaking it. Henry looks down at his title he dropped a few seconds ago and back at Big Show before releasing the handshake. Henry begins again by saying he looks into Big Shows eyes and he feels Show thinks he’s a monster, but that Henry knows that he himself is a monster. He sucker punches Show before Show tackles him clubbing down punches on Henry. He gets up and grabs ahold of Henrys injured ankle and elbow drops it down as the fans go nuts. Henry slides out the ring writhing in pain but the giant follows. Show looks for and snatches a chair at ringside before making his way over to a fallen Henry and cracking the chair across his back to a gunshot loud sound. He then rears back and slams the chair down on Henry’s injured ankle. Henry starts dancing around the ground in pain as Show’s music plays and the ref’s attend to Mark Henry.

Opinions and ideas: Ok work by the two. The feud has been enjoyable. The interaction was nice leading up to the sucker punch by Henry. This segment leads me to believe Big Show’s going to have to wait a little longer with his 9 years and counting to be World Champion.

Hornswoggle comes down to play announcer. God almighty. David Otunga was introduced first, thankfully without his cup of whatever. Otunga flexed on the corner to a few boos. Out came Sheamus to a great pop beating his chest down the ramp. Hornswoggle displays his favoritism of Sheamus as the match gets underway

 

David Otunga v.s Sheamus

Otunga glares at Sheamus trying to be taken seriously as the two size each other up. Before the two could lock up, Otunga slides behind Sheamus for a back grapple that Sheamus elbows his way out of. Sheamus whips him off the ropes and catches him with a serious back elbow. Otunga comes back with a kick to the shin, elbow to the back and a front headlock. Wow, someone is learning more than two moves. Sheamus overpowers him, flinging him in the air before hitting Otunga with a charging elbow. He begins his brutal kneestomps to Otunga’s head as Otunga slides outside while the ref backs off the Shark, I mean Sheamus. Otunga on the apron tries for a punch; Sheamus blocks and hits a punch of his own. He turns Otunga around, leans him back on the ropes to start hammering his chest with 10 clubs like he always does. Sheamus suplexes Otunga into the ring. Sheamus Irish whips Otunga to the rips, tries for a back body drop but gets caught silly with a kick to the chest. He clutches his chest walking back as Otunga explodes with a devastating clothesline to some “ooohs” from the crowd. Otunga starts booting Sheamus down before hitting an elbow drop, using the ropes as elevation. He goes for a cover, doesn’t even get a 2. Otunga starts some rough combination of punches and kicks to Sheamus in the corner before slamming a running clothesline into him. Sheamus begins smiling while Otunga for some unknown reason, holds Sheamus face in his hands as if to see and freeze at his smile-turn-to-anger expression, Sheamus, of course, swats him off, throws him into the corner and begins his own flurry of kicks and punches, temper in tow. Cole starts with how you shouldn’t make him angry. Right. Do you focus on beating the guy or making him angry, more bad commentating to hate Michael Cole for. Anyway, Sheamus catches Otunga with a stiff clothesline along with a Oklahoma Slam, looking crazed. He starts beating his chest with his hand and of course, rocks Otunga’s world with a Brogue Kick. 1.2.3, see you by David Otunga.

Opinions and ideas: Seems like WWE has not a single thought of what to do with Sheamus after Christian’s off screen time. Sheamus needs a program before he starts losing some of his mojo. Otunga needs a lot more than that, of course.

Next up, Daniel Bryan makes his way down to ringside MITB in hand, getting ready for his match. Bryan sells his rib damage while having a few choice words with Cole. Cody Rhodes music follows and the IC champ struts down the ramp. The bell rings and the match is underway.

 

Daniel Bryan v.s Cody Rhodes

Lots of intense facial expressions on Bryans part as Rhodes swings and misses with a clothesline, only to catch some alternating kicks to the gut. He shrugs Bryan off but Bryan stays on him with right hands and kicks to back him into the corner. Rhodes catches the 3 rd kick, pushes Daniel back and twists him around before slamming an elbow into his back/ribs. Rhodes starts working over his ribs and irish whips him, trying for a clothesline but gets a flying clothesline from DB instead. DB clutches at his ribcage, displaying how he’s not at 100 percent. Rhodes headbutts his ribs as he tries to close in on him. Rhodes sets him up and delivers a face first suplex then going for the cover, getting a 2 count. The previously Undashing one zones in on Bryan’s ribs for a bit before trying for a suplex to the outside of the ring which see’s Bryan reverse-landing on the apron but Rhodes catches him with a thump to the ribs again. He then Irish whips Bryan to the turnbuckle post!! After commercial break, we see Rhodes continuing the assault on Bryan’s injury, at one point even tugging at his bandages to bring him closer so he can knock him down hard with a clothesline for a 2 count. Before soon, Rhodes is caught with a back body drop to the outside of the ring. Daniel regains his composure a little, hits the ropes and lands his trademark suicide dive which is called under question by Cole due to the bad ribs. They both eventually make it to the ring and Bryan starts kicking Rhodes chest silly back to back. Rhodes kicks him in the gut again negating the momentum, He tries for a Irish whip, Bryan reverses and charges with a beautiful corner dropkick. DB heads to the top and misses big time with a headbutt. As Rhodes tries to recover, we hear “CAN YOU DIG IT SUCKA?” on the p,a system as Booker comes running down, recovered from the deadly stomps laid on him earlier, apparently. Booker starts going to town on Cody with punches but Cody backs up out of there before 2 much damage can be dished out.

Opinions and ideas: Not a bad match, nor a great one. The sole purpose was to get Booker out and continue the rivalry with Cody. I see Cody getting a good rub off a legend like Booker who can be used here and there to elevate guys.

 

We come to another meaningless time constraining Aksana and Teddy long segment backstage. Cody soon enters the scene complaining about Booker which prompts Teddy to make the TLC match between Booker an I.C title match. Rhodes leaves as Aksana looks like she’s undressing him with her eyes. Cut to Randy Orton being interviewed by Matt Stryker who reminds him he has to beat Ziggler before Barret’s time. Orton begins his usual predator robotic promo about how he likes to slowly torture his opponents but Ziggler has it lucky in that it’ll still be bad but quick. Orton caps it off by claiming Wade thinks he is in Randy’s head but it is Orton who has Barret where he wants him.

The main event seals the deal as we have Randy Orton’s music cut through with him walking down the ramp to a pretty good pop. Orton eyes the tables, ladders, and chairs at ringside as if to contemplate which match choice he envisions for Wade Barret. He does his taunt in the corner followed up with Ziggler’s entrance.

 

Randy Orton v.s Dolph Ziggler

Randy hit a dropkick right out of the blue to start things off. He got a few immediate covers in after some his early routine clotheslines, kneedrops, and powerslams. Ziggler shifts the tide with a sky high fameasser. He chokes down Orton as the clock counts down at 5:04. A Randy chant emerges. Ziggler crawls on top of Orton as he gets back to his feet so he carries his dead weight, Orton shrugs him off only to fall into a kick and immediate ddt to the canvas. Ziggler gets a cover for 2. Ziggler stays on him with elbow drops and 2 count covers. He locks Orton back into a dragged out headlock. Orton finally manages to get up, only for Ziggler to send him back down with a swinging neckbreaker for a 2 count. Ziggler climbs the ropes but before he came jump off, Orton punches him silly. He stares at the clock at 3:02, hammers Ziggler with punches before picking up the pace and landing an awesome superplex for a 2 count. Orton displays a little frustration as he glares at the clock. Ziggler misses with a flying splash to a cornered Orton as the Viper strikes back with more clotheslines and powerslams. Orton lands his signature neckbreaker for another 2 count. The urgency at 1:38 is increasing at this point. Ziggler runs around while Orton chases him, trying for a Zig Zag upon both of then entering the ring again, missing and Orton sets him up for a outside to inside ddt. He connects for another 2. Ziggler falls out of the ring, Orton follows him and clotheslines him down. He slides Ziggler back in the ring but before he can come back in himself, Barret throws him into the corner post to boos!! 20 seconds left. Orton struggles to get up.. He slides in barely and with 8 seconds left.. Ziggler charges… but runs right into an RKO! Orton goes for the cover at: 04..1….2…3! Orton makes it! Orton celebrates but Barret is back in the ring and hits Randy with a Bossman slam. He grabs a mic and congratulates Orton on his win, letting him know he can pick the stipulation for their match at TLC. Barret said he’d like to help him with the choice so he picks him up and flings Orton out of the ring. Barret fidgets around with the ladders and chairs before setting up Orton for Wasteland near the table!! Orton reverses and tries to powerbomb Barret through the table! Barret though, reverses and drives Orton into the apron. Barret then cowers out of there as Orton, seemingly incensed, drags Ziggler back to the table and powerbombs him through it. The show closes with a stare down of Orton and Barret.

Opinions and ideas: I’m not for the idea of having Ziggler lose AND be put through a table. It seems like he just got a win off Orton recently on Raw and it was completely negated with this match. You could have had Orton win but protect Ziggler at the same time but no. On the other hand, Orton v.s Barret seems to be picking up steam. An okay show overall.