WWE Smackdown review
January 14, 2011
Taped 1/11/11 in Birmingham, Ala.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist

- WWE Open.

- A video packaged plugged the Big Show vs. Wade Barrett for tonight’s show.

- Smackdown Open.

- Fireworks opened the show as the camera panned a raucous crowd. Josh Mathews talked of the Royal Rumble being in two weeks. Matt Striker plugged the Cutting Edge tonight, with special guests Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero.

- Ricardo Rodrigudez introduced WWE’s man-of-all-shows, Alberto Del Rio. They showed the commentators on camera as Michael Cole defended Del Rio’s actions during Shawn Michaels’ “moment” on Raw. Del Rio got the microphone and said people in the South are slow, but even they know that there’s no one like him on Raw or Smackdown. He said that in three weeks, he will destroy the dreams of many superstars. And after he wins the Rumble, he’ll be known as the new Mr. Wrestlemania. Then R-Truth’s music interrupted and he rapped his way to the ring. Truth said Del Rio has lost his mind and said Truth won’t win the Rumble simply because he has a bunch of fancy cars or because he has a creepy-looking ring announcer. Truth said a championship match on the biggest stage is something you can’t buy or inherit - you have to get it on your own. And you earn it by stepping up to the plate like a man, a man Del Rio can’t be. As Del Rio was about to respond, “Dashing” Cody Rhodes came to the ring.

Rhodes said “Dashing” is in at the Royal Rumble this year, and everyone else is out. If you don’t look like Rhodes, you’re going over the top rope and back to your un-dashing lifestyles. Rhodes said he’s only 25, yet he’s been in three Rumble matches. He said his face is the one that will main event Wrestlemania. Rey Mysterio’s music interrupted and he came to the ring with a mic in hand. Where does WWE get all of these microphones and how do the wrestlers find them so easily? Mysterio, on his way to the ring, said that winning the Rumble isn’t about looking like a Diva, or about destiny. It’s about what you’re made of on the inside. He said it was about beating the odds and surviving, something he’s been doing his entire life. Del Rio said no one wants to hear Rey’s inspirational stories and he plans on destroying Rey like the little dog he is. Mysterio asked Alberto how many Rumbles he has won, since he has actually won one. Rhodes said Rey winning the Rumble is so 2006, and Rey is now out of style. And that’s what’s up. Truth asked Rhodes if he really wanted to steal his catchphrase. Truth said he had a dashing catchphrase, then hit Rhodes in the face. The four men brawled, with Cody paired off with Rey and Del Rio with Truth. Teddy Long came out and told them to stop. He said if they want to mix it up, they’ll do it in the ring. But they ARE doing it in the ring. Anyway, Long made a tag match, with Rhodes and Del Rio vs. Truth and Mysterio, and the match will happen right now. Well, after the break.

[Commercial Break]

1 – ALBERTO DEL RIO & “DASHING” CODY RHODES vs. R-TRUTH & REY MYSTERIO

The bell rang upon return from break. Rhodes slowly worked over Mysterio to start, but Rey came back with some offense of his own. He allowed Rhodes into his corner, and tagged out to Del Rio. Del Rio got a cover on Rey for two about two minutes in. Mysterio fought off Rhodes and then Del Rio, but Del Rio threw him under the bottom rope and to the outside. He tossed Mysterio into the ring barricade, then back in the ring, got a cover for two. Fans chanted “619” as Rhodes tagged in and stomped on Mysterio. He missed a knee-drop at the 3:30 mark, then both he and Mysterio went to the top rope. Rhodes tried a suplex, but Rey knocked him down. Rey flew through the air and landed a cross-body. Both men were down, but then both made tags. Truth hit a couple clotheslines and a hip-toss. Sit-out gourdbuster for two by Truth. Del Rio to the outside, and then he low-bridged Rhodes out there. Mysterio did a springboard moonsault onto them. Mysterio jumped into Truth’s arms back in the ring as they took it to break at about 5:20 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Del Rio was putting the boots to Truth in the corner, then he tagged into Rhodes at about 10:00 exactly. Truth knocked Del Rio off the apron, but Rhodes came at him with a clothesline. Rodriguez was trying to help Del Rio recover at ringside. More stomping from Rhodes. Hard right hand put Truth on the mat. Dropkick by Del Rio with Rhodes holding him. Del Rio settled into a chinlock at 11:45 of the match. Mathews used the old Chris Jericho line of “destroyer of hopes and dreams” to describe Del Rio. Knees to the mid-section by Rhodes, then a float over into a cover for two. Truth picked Rhodes up in the electric chair, then dropped him. Both men were slow to get up, and both men made tags. Mysterio with a springboard cross-body for two. They traded roll-ups ‘til Del Rio broke up a pin attempt. Truth sent him out with a heel kick, then Rhodes clotheslined Truth over the top rope. Rhodes set Mysterio up for a 619, then after that, landed the splash (that looked like post-production may have been involved) for the win.

WINNERS: Mysterio and Truth, at 15:00. Serviceable tag match, but nothing special. Just a way for the announcers to put over the Rumble match.

- Tonight, Wade Barrett takes on Big Show.

- Also, Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero will be special guests on the Cutting Edge.

[Commercial Break]

- “Str8 Outta Brooklyn” with JTG segment aired. He talked about CM Punk initiating Nexus and made jokes about how red Husky Harris was after the beating. He touched on Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero’s relationship and held up a sign saying, “yo killin’ me son.” That was definitely…something.

- Back to the announcers, where Cole said he is learning a lot from JTG. They discussed the #1 Contender Match from last week and showed highlights. They also showed Barrett’s attack on Big Show.

- Backstage, Todd Grisham asked Barrett his thoughts on Show. Barrett said he was like Julius Caesar on Raw, in that he had all the power and everyone conspired against him. But now, he’s on Smackdown. Barrett said he attacked Show as a sign of respect, just like Raw and John Cena, he only goes after the biggest and baddest. Barrett said he’d take down the biggest, foulest, filthiest beast that there is. He said when he was finished, everyone would hail Caesar.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged the Royal Rumble website.

- A brief video package aired on Ezekiel Jackson.

2 – TRENT BARRETA vs. DREW MCINTYRE

This is a rematch from two weeks ago. I thought Barreta was going to be fed to Jackson after that video package. Barreta attacked before the match, knocking McIntyre off the apron. He didn’t capitalize though and once the bell rang, McIntyre was the aggressor. Striker said Barreta is taking this match against doctor’s orders. The match went to the outside where Mac knocked Barreta’s face off the announce table. McIntyre literally backhanded Barreta in the face. Back in the ring they went, where McIntyre continued his physical onslaught with a couple big clotheslines. Dropkick to Barreta for two. Barreta made a comeback with a one-legged dropkick. He went for a springboard, but McIntyre avoided it. He grabbed Barreta and gave him an overhead belly-to-belly, tangling Barreta’s legs in the ropes. McIntyre picked Barreta up for a press slam to ringside, but Barreta slid out the back, rolled McIntyre up, and picked up the upset victory.

WINNER: Barreta, at 3:27. Nice little feud developing here.

- The floor cam picked up The Big Show walking backstage, heading to the ring for his match next.

[Commercial Break]

- Barreta was walking backstage and was congratulated by a passer-by. McIntyre attacked him out of nowhere and asked him if he feels like a winner now. Then Kelly Kelly walked by, disgusted, and walked away. McIntyre caught up to her and said he was going to simply ask Barreta for a rematch. Kelly thought McIntyre changed after he saved her last week. McIntyre said he’s just competitive, it’s his nature. Kelly told him to grow up, then walked away.

3 – THE BIG SHOW vs. WADE BARRETT

Barrett came to the ring with his new theme music. Couple of body shots from Show, but Barrett went low with a dropkick. He took Show off his feet, mounted him, and began punching him. He went back to the lower limbs and then a cover, but Show powered him off before even a one count. Show made it back to his feet and chopped Barrett down. Running clothesline by Show. He signaled for a chokeslam. Striker said Show has the quickness of a cruiserweight. That may be one of the taller tales he’s told, and that’s saying something. Barrett countered the goozle, but Show locked it in again. At this point, Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel ran in out of the crowd, attacking Show, for the DQ.

WINNER: Show, via DQ, at 2:43.

Show was able to fend them off, but Ezekiel Jackson came out and stood on the apron. Show caught his stare and the two locked eyes for a few seconds. The rest of Nexus came to and attacked Show. When Show took them down again, Jackson entered the ring and gave Show a huge running clothesline that put Show on his back. The rest of Nexus feasted on the corpse of Show (metaphorically). Jackson picked Show up and powerslammed him. Impressive feat, for sure. 450 splash from Gabriel followed. They replayed some of the attack.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers somberly discussed what just happened, and they showed clips of it as they discussed what could happen in the ensuing weeks on Smackdown. They also showed officials assisting Show to his feet.

4 – MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. BETH PHOENIX

Phoenix slammed (and I use that term loosely) McCool in the corner, but missed a charge. She went to the middle rope, but McCool kicked her leg and Phoenix fell to the mat. McCool kicked away at the still-recovering leg of Phoenix. Kick to the mid-section of Phoenix. McCool picked Phoenix’s ankle and rolled her onto her back. More work on that left knee by McCool. McCool and Layla celebrated, but Phoenix rolled her up for two. McCool didn’t allow her to stay on offense. Phoenix sent McCool to the outside, then back in, slingshot suplex put one half of LayCool down. Phoenix set McCool up for the Glam Slam, but McCool kicked at the leg. Phoenix got her up again and McCool rolled through for two. Phoenix countered and rolled up McCool for the win.

WINNER: Phoenix, at 4:06. Nice finish. McCool’s offense wasn’t too impressive though, aside from the leg roll-through.

- Dolph and Vickie will be on the Cutting Edge later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Finger Eleven’s “Living In A Dream” is the official Royal Rumble theme song.

- They showed the exterior of the arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

- The video package of Shawn Michaels from Raw aired.

- Teddy Long and Vickie Guerrero were arguing about their roles on Smackdown when Long’s phone rang. It had something to do with the Wade Barrett situation so he had to leave. Dolph Ziggler was there too and after Long walked off, Ziggler said tonight Edge will try to stir things up but they’re stronger than that. He also admitted he said some things last week that he didn’t mean. Vickie said she understands and forgave him. They gave each other Eskimo kisses as they went to break. Certainly seems like they’re setting something up for the Cutting Edge.

- Kofi Kingston was walking backstage…we’ll hear from the new IC Champ next.

[Commercial Break]

- Kofi Kingston came out. Crowd chanted his name after they showed a video of how Kofi won (and kept) his title from last week. Kofi said that after five long, hard, months, he’s finally the I.C. champion again. He said even though Dolph had Vickie in his corner, he had the WWE Universe in his. Kingston was about to speak about what he learned about himself last week, but Jack Swagger’s music interrupted and he came out. Swagger, surprise, got a mic. Swagger said he was proud that Kofi learned something, but 2011 is the year of the All-American. He said he would be raising the bar on Smackdown. He wanted to give Kofi a PSA: The ankle-lock is a dangerous position to be in. Kingston proposed a match between the two right now. There was a ref already in the ring and Tony Chimel announced Kingston for a match, so why did they try to make this feel spur-of-the-moment?

5 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. JACK SWAGGER

Kingston went for a corner splash, but Swagger got his feet up. He kicked Kofi out of the ring as they went to break under a minute into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back with Swagger applying the boots directly to Kingston’s torso. Vader Bomb by Swagger, cover got two. Swagger worked the arm, but Kingston tried to kick at Swagger’s legs. Another Vader Bomb, but it missed. Missed corner charge by Swagger just shy of 8:00 in. Roll-up by Kingston for only two. SOS was blocked and Swagger went for the gutwrench. Kingston countered and missed Trouble in Paradise. Bell-to-belly throw for two by Swagger. Swagger tried a powerslam, but Kofi shifted out. SOS by Kofi allowed him to pick up the win.

WINNER: Kingston, at 9:06. Not even a non-title win for Swagger? I won’t argue too much, as there’s nothing wrong with making Kofi look strong following his title victory last week.

- Up next, the Cutting Edge with Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero.

[Commercial Break]

- Edge came out for his Cutting Edge segment. Edge said he was the last man standing against Kane last week, so he’s still World Champion. He said he goes from facing one monster last week (Kane) to facing another this week (Vickie Guerrero). He brought out Ziggler and Guerrero. Edge said he hoped they could be mature about this, then suggested there was controversy surrounding Ziggler’s win last week. Vickie put the kibosh on that idea. Edge intimated that Vickie still had eyes for him. Ziggler said if Edge is going to be like that, they’re leaving, and he hilariously said for them to stop the cameras. Edge made fun of Vickie’s weight and idiosyncrasies. Vickie said for those who don’t know, she and Edge were married a long time ago, when she was young and naïve. Ziggler said Vickie took Edge in like a little rescue dog, and she breathed life into him. Everyone said Edge’s career was over, but Vickie stood by his side. Ziggler said, at the Rumble, he’s going to pull the plug and watch Edge’s title reign flatline. Vickie said her and Ziggler’s love is true. Vickie brought a clip to show what a better man Ziggler is than Edge. It was Edge cheating on Vickie with their wedding planner, Alicia Fox. This was from July 2008. Edge said he sensed where the hostility was coming from and Vickie interrupted, screaming, “it was our wedding day!” That was funny. Edge admitted that Ziggler is a better man than him, but then Edge showed his own clip of Ziggler making out with Kaitlyn two months ago on NXT. As Edge tried to egg on Vickie’s anger, Ziggler attacked Edge. Edge then kicked Ziggler out of the ring as Ziggler went back to talk with Vickie. Guerrero slapped Edge three times. Edge tried to leave, so Vickie jumped on his back. She was screaming as Edge put Vickie in the corner. He went to the opposite corner and appeared to play up a Spear. Instead, Edge left the ring, until Vickie kept insulting him. He began to get in the Spear zone. Ziggler pulled Edge out of the ring and threw him into the barricade. He tossed Edge head-first into the steel stairs. “You suck” chant by the crowd. Ziggler and Vickie surveyed the damage as the show faded out.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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