WWE Smackdown TV taping report
May 8, 2012
Roanoke, Va.
Report by Jim H., PWTorch correspondent

Dark Match: Bo Rotundo beat Derrick Bateman. Bateman wore his hair in pig tails. Okay. They traded holds, then Bateman threw Bo into the turnbuckle. The crowd seemed to be siding with Bo, so Bateman started playing the heel. Bo with a sunset flip over the ropes for a nearfall. Bo won with a Tornado DDT. Decent reaction for him given that not many likely knew who he is.

NXT SPOILERS 5/9

William Regal and Josh Mathews are out for commentary. Now Striker is out. Striker and Regal are in the ring as the show starts.

Striker announces a tag team match between Michael McGillicutty & Johnny Curtis vs. Tyson Kidd & Percy Watson. Regal addresses the recent attacks on Watson and Riley. Regal has hired a new backstage security firm at Laurinaitis's suggestion. That firm is Hawkins and Reks. Regal asks security to remove them not realizing they are security. Hawkins says they're there to serve and protect so little guys like Striker don't get kidnapped. Striker wants to fight. Regal says his hands are tied until he talks to Big Johnny about this, but no more people better get hurt backstage or else.

(1) Maxine beat Tamina via submission. Tamina is out first to a decent pop. Maxine comes out handcuffed to Curtis. Maxine kisses up to Regal and Tamina, calling her Tammy. She says she is a new Maxine. Maxine is uncuffed. Curtis on commentary. Tamina with a big chop. Maxine to the outside. She snaps Tamina's neck on the ropes and goes on the offensive. She locks in the dragon sleeper, but Tamina rams her into the corner to release. Clotheslines from Tamina. Samoan drop. Tamina goes for the splash, but Maxine rolls out of the way. She locks in a modified dragon sleeper, almost like a chicken wing. And, Tamina taps.

Afterward, Maxine heads over to the announce table and talks to Regal. She's handcuffed to Curtis again. She acts like a face on the way out, waving and slapping hands.

(2) JTG beat Yoshi Tatsu for his first win of 2012. Tatsu out first. Alicia Fox comes out to introduce a new and "foxified" JTG. He's wearing traditional wrestling gear, sunglasses, an Austin-like vest, and his hair out. Fox does not stick around for the match, though. Back and forth match. Yoshi with some chops and kicks. He misses a roundhouse kick and JTG hits what I assume is his finisher and gets the win. Fox comes out on the ramp and applauds him.

Backstage with Johnny and Maxine. Johnny doesn't like the new Maxine. Reks and Hawkins approach and want to work together. Curtis and Maxine are skeptical. Hawkins and Reks give them a handcuff key courtesy of Laurinaitis. They intimate they are going to destroy NXT. Curtis and Maxine are happy to be uncuffed, and Maxine hints she may not be nice any more.

Kaitlyn and Percy speculate as to who might be the backstage attacker. Bateman comes up and says she shouldn't trust Percy. He's jealous and storms off. Percy goes after him. Kaitlyn reflects on all the people acting crazy. There's a noise and she comes running to find Bateman by himself claiming to have been attacked in the knee behind.

Tyson Kidd & Percy Watson beat Michael McGillicutty & Johnny Curtis. Kidd with some early offense on both heels. He stands on the guardrail and incites the crowd. He's getting relatively good support. He tries a springboard on McGillicutty, but Curtis pushes him over. McGillicutty in control. He tags in Curtis for a backslide/leg drop combo. Curtis now works over Kidd. Double-team fails and Kidd gets the hot tag. Percy unleashes a bunch of offense on McGillicutty, but Curtis breaks up a nearfall. Kidd hits a big kick on Curtis. McGillicutty launches into Percy, but misses and eats turnbuckle. Percy hits his finisher for the pin.

After the match, Reks and Hawkins attack Kidd and Percy on the ramp and drag Percy backstage as the show ends.

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