WWE Smackdown review
January 28, 2011
Taped 1/25/11 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- They showed highlights of Corre’s show-opening promo from last week, as well as Teddy Long’s mysterious injury, Corre gathering in Long’s locker room to talk to Vickie Guerrero, and the main event. There was a timestamp in between the various segments shown, showing when each aired (in EST, of course).

- Cut to the arena, where Vickie Guerrero was already in the ring. She made her usual attempts to gain the attention of the fans. Guerrero said that Teddy Long won’t be there tonight due to injuries he sustained last week, and therefore she will be the acting general manager. She wished him a speedy recovery, then turned her attention to the Royal Rumble. Before she could make any kind of proclamation, Randy Orton’s music hit and he walked out. Before either could get much more than a word or two out, the crowd began an “RKO” chant. Orton said he was grateful for being invited to Smackdown. He said that he doesn’t know Vickie very well, so she’ll have to excuse him. Haha, I get it. He said she’ll have to excuse him for what he’s going to do to her boyfriend last night, just like Miz will have to excuse him this Sunday when he takes the WWE Title away from him. Orton put his arm around Vickie and jokingly said, “nice hair.” Another “RKO” chant. Louder, this time. He said, as for her, “there is no excuse.” She looked creeped out as Dolph Ziggler came to the ring. Is that a leather jacket hoodie he’s wearing?

Ziggler came to the defense of his girlfriend, while Orton pointed out he beat Ziggler two weeks ago on Raw. Ziggler continued to give Orton a tongue-lashing and said that after tonight, Orton will have no choice but to show him respect. Orton replied that respect is earned, then RKO’d him. They played Orton’s music to conclude the segment. Why they put more effort into Orton vs. Ziggler here, as opposed to either title match taking place this Sunday, is beyond me. I guess it was a way to half-hype each match, but it didn’t feel genuine.

- Tonight, Edge and Randy Orton team up to face The Miz and Dolph Ziggler.

[Commercial Break]

- Matt Striker thanked Finger Eleven for “Living in a Dream,” the official Royal Rumble theme song.

- Michael Cole plugged WWE.com’s Rumble’s Greatest Moment.

- LayCool came to the ring for their match, but they were attacked by Kelly Kelly and Kaitlyn, their opponents, in the aisle. Does this allow Drew McIntyre to lecture Kelly this week?

1 – LAYCOOL vs. KELLY KELLY & KAITLYN

The match began after Kaitlyn hit a double-clothesline in the ring. Bodyslam on McCool, then Layla tried to interfere. When Kaitlyn turned around, she was met with an awesome boot to the face by McCool, who got the pin. Didn’t McCool nail Kaitlyn with a similarly awesome boot to the face in NXT Season 3?

WINNERS: LayCool, at :40. Just a quick win for LayCool to get them over as a threat to the Divas Title on Sunday. They’ve been losing a lot lately, so even though it’s two-on-one, getting them a win before the PPV was smart.

[Commercial Break]

- Drew McIntyre made his entrance for the next match, while Kelly Kelly was seated at ringside to view the next match. And Cole just pointed out Kelly’s pre-match attack as being hypocritical. I feel so dirty now.

2 – DREW MCINTYRE vs. JTG

JTG fired away with rights, then dropkicked McIntyre to ringside. McIntyre pulled JTG outside and decked him right in front of Kelly. He then pounded JTG’s head into the ring steps. Couple swinging neckbreakers back in the ring. “Who knows what’s going through Kelly Kelly’s head, if anything,” quipped Cole. How did the announcers no-sell that? McIntyre angrily put his hands through his hair as if he were entering another zone. Dropkick by McIntyre for only a one-count. JTG built some momentum and hooked in a crucifix roll-up for a near-fall. That was all the offense he could get during that exchange. McIntyre locked JTG in a rest-hold, while the crowd chanted “JTG.” Backslide by the former Cryme Tyme member for two. Another backslide, but McIntyre rolled through, hands locked, for the Future Shock DDT and the win. Nice counter.

WINNER: McIntyre, at 4:37. Give McIntyre credit for helping make undercard guys like Trent Barreta and JTG look good.

After the match, Kelly went into the ring as if she wanted to say something to Drew, but Drew slid out the other side and walked to the locker room without looking back.

-The tag-team main event is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed clips of Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio from last week, and Rhodes’ unfortunate facial injury.

- Backstage, Rhodes had his back to the camera while Todd Grisham tried to get an interview. Rhodes refused to turn around and show himself to the camera. He said that after what Mysterio did to him last week, he may never be able to show his face in public again. He even said Mysterio didn’t even care about winning the match, just disfiguring him. Rhodes said he has a deviated septum, broken nose and will require extensive surgery. He said doctors have advised him to not compete in the Royal Rumble match. He said Rey has shattered his dreams of headlining Wrestlemania. Rhodes said he can’t even look at himself in the mirror. Rhodes’ voice was cracking, then he raised it in anger, saying Rey won’t decide what he does in life. He said on the way to the arena, a kid said he’s not “dashing” anymore, and the kid was right. That was one heck of a promo from Cody.

- Jack Korpela was backstage with Edge. Edge wanted to talk about the Corre. He said he remembers all of their names: Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, DJ Gabriel (Korpela had to correct him on the first name), and “that red-headed rock band guy.” Then he reminisced about his Rated RKO days with his partner tonight, Orton. He said he’s going to take all of his frustrations out on Dolph Ziggler.

- Alberto Del Rio was walking backstage. He came upon Michael Tarver. Del Rio introduced himself to Tarver and called him “friend.” He then got in a white car and headed into the arena.

[Commercial Break]

- Alberto Del Rio was introduced by Ricardo Rodriguez. He said his destiny is to win the Royal Rumble, and he’s going to prove it tonight. Actually, won’t he be proving it Sunday? He said he has 40 of the best fighters backstage and every 30 seconds, another will come down until they are all eliminated.

3 – ROYAL RUMBLE EXHIBITION

Seth Allen was the first one out there to face Del Rio. He lasted just under 30 seconds. Mike Stevens followed Allen, while the announcers made fun of Striker for knowing anything about these guys. Even the 30 second interval is gimmicked. As he tossed Stevens, Kane came out. This was clearly not in Del Rio’s plans. Uppercut by Kane, who then missed a corner charge. Enziguiri by Del Rio, but he ran into a chokeslam. And as Kane had Del Rio in a choke, Kofi Kingston came out. He eliminated both men at the same time, at about 2:45. Del Rio and Kane stalked Kingston and were prepared to take him out until Rey Mysterio charged the ring. The four men faced off but didn’t touch before Vickie Guerrero came out. She made a tag match between the four, which starts next.

WINNER: No Contest, at about 3:45 (no bells). Not a terrible way to showcase the Rumble, and the non-finish doesn’t bother me given that it was an “exhibition” done to get heat on Del Rio and really meant nothing.

[Commercial Break]

4 – ALBERTO DEL RIO & KANE vs. KOFI KINGSTON & REY MYSTERIO

Like the opening tag on Raw this past week, this match seems like it’ll be used as a backdrop for Royal Rumble talk, as well as to discuss each participant’s chances in said match. Striker made a SyFy tie-in, with Merlin airing next, saying someone will need some sorcery to eliminate Kane on Sunday. Cover on Del Rio for two nearly two minutes into the match by Rey. Mysterio did his usual nice job of avoiding Kane, but he dodged a 619 attempt by fleeing the ring. Kane got kicked anyway, then the two heels discussed things on the outside, allowing the faces to take advantage. Kingston flew through the ropes onto Del Rio, while Rey jumped onto Kane with a seated senton. Back in the ring, Kofi went to the top, but Del Rio pushed him off as the ref’s attention was elsewhere. At 4:10, Del Rio tagged in to continue working over Kingston. Sidewalk slam by Kane for two. The heels made frequent tags in order to keep Kingston at bay. Kingston attempted to fight out of the heel corner, and finally made the tag without the two or three teases we’re used to seeing. Mysterio took out Del Rio and made a pin on Kane for two. At 7:50, Mysterio tried a springboard move, but Kane booted him while in mid-air, sending Rey to ringside. They went to break at that point.

[Commercial Break]

Back at nearly the 10:30 mark, with Del Rio elbowing Mysterio down to the mat. Sunset flip by Del Rio, but Rey rolled through and kicked Del Rio in the chops. You’d think wrestlers would stop trying that move on Rey. Gut-buster by Del Rio, as Rey couldn’t recover in time to make a tag. Kane had Rey on his shoulder for a powerslam, but Rey tilt-a-whirled things into a DDT. Both men managed to make tags, with Kofi flying off the top with a cross-body on Del Rio. He was halted though by a back-breaker for two. Del Rio went for the tag, but Kingston had knocked Kane off the apron in Kingston’s flurry. Del Rio argued, allowing Kingston to get the upper hand. Kane broke up the pin, but Del Rio got in Kane’s face. Kane then booted Del Rio in the kisser. He then walked out on his tag team partner. Kingston held Rey while Rey kicked Del Rio in position for the 619. That move connected, as did the Trouble in Paradise for the victory.

WINNERS: Kingston and Mysterio, at 15:38. Slightly above-average, formula WWE tag match. Del Rio taking the pinfall loss here could signal big things for him at the Rumble Sunday. Liked Kane walking out on Del Rio: It fit his character and set up the “every man for himself” aspect of the Rumble.

- The announcers talked about Miz vs. Edge from Raw, and they showed clips of Ziggler interfering in the match while the announcers continued to discuss the happenings.

- Another plug for Ziggler and Miz vs. Orton and Edge, later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The Big Show entered the arena to his music. Show talked about the effects of his size and the accolades he’s received throughout his career. He said his size sometimes makes him a target, and people try to make an impact at his expense. He showed a video of Corre attacking him two weeks ago. Show said the Corre accomplished two things: They made him angry, and they reminded him what it’s going to be like for him in the Rumble match. The Corre then came out and surrounded the ring. Show asked if they’re all going to attack him because they do have the guts to face him one-on-one. Show tried to talk each one of them into coming in to face him one-on-one. Slater attacked from behind, then a ref appeared and apparently we have a match.

5 – THE BIG SHOW vs. HEATH SLATER

Slater wasn’t very successful early on, but he went low on Show and took him to one knee. That’s all he could get, as Show clothesline Slater from one knee, then gave him a huge back-body drop. Running shoulder tackle by Show, followed by a chokeslam.

WINNER: Show, at 1:17.

The rest of Corre attacked after the match, with Zeke Jackson being the one to take Show down. Other superstars, including R-Truth, Chris Masters, Santino Marella, Daniel Bryan, and Vladimir Kozlov helped fend off the Corre. Strangely, most of the are Raw guys.

- The Champions and Challengers tag match, as the main event is being billed, is yet to come.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers threw it to the Royal Rumble Numbers video package.

- Cole, Striker and Mathews previewed the other matches on the card.

- The Miz and Alex Riley came to the ring. Miz gave the fans a history lesson on the Truman Doctrine, then said it has nothing to do with the Royal Rumble, just like what Randy Orton did earlier in the night means nothing on Sunday. Miz said Orton can RKO everyone in the arena, but it means absolutely nothing. He said the only voice Orton will hear after their match on Sunday is his voice…saying “I’m the Miz…I’m still WWE Champion…and I’m awesome!” Nice little promo there from Miz. Ziggler then came to the ring, as Cole proclaimed him “the Miz of Smackdown.” He was accompanied by Vickie for the main event, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – THE MIZ & DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. RANDY ORTON & EDGE

Orton exploded out of the corner with a clothesline on Ziggler. He followed up with a Thesz Press. Edge came off the top with a clothesline on Ziggler after making a tag. Ziggler gained control of Edge, then tagged Miz. Alex Riley decked Edge with a cheap shot as Miz distracted the ref. Edge fired back with a big boot. Orton tagged in and gave Miz a scoop slam. He set up for the RKO by pounding the mat, but they went to break about 3:40 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Mathews apologized for the abrupt break, which Cole blamed on technical difficulties. Ziggler pulled Orton out of the ring during the break before Orton could land his RKO. Miz worked over Orton with a chinlock, then fed a knee-lift right to Orton’s mid-section. Back-breaker, neck-breaker combo from Miz for a near-fall. Miz went for a corner clothesline, but Orton gave him that move instead. With both men down, Miz made the tag first, but Orton tagged Edge soon after. Edge was a house afire, even knocking Miz off the apron. He lined up for the Spear, then had to knock Riley off the apron. Edge-O-Matic on Ziggler for two. Miz broke up the pin, but Orton took him out, and clotheslined Riley for good measure. Back in the ring, Edge shrugged off a sleeper attempt by Ziggler, speared him, and picked up the win.

WINNERS: Edge and Orton, at 11:24. Curious finish. Wondering what it could mean for the finish of Edge vs. Ziggler on Sunday.

Vickie Guerrero got the mic after the match and said that, in the best interest of Smackdown, the Spear will be banned. Didn’t she do this with the Undertaker’s Hell’s Gate finisher too? Anyway, if Edge uses the move and gets DQ’d this Sunday, he loses his championship. Edge took the news in stride and agreed with Vickie’s decision…just kidding, he speared Ziggler off the apron and again at ringside. Guerrero yelled at Edge as she stood in front of Ziggler. Edge ran at Vickie, who moved, and Edge again speared Ziggler. He better show up to the Rumble on Sunday with taped ribs or something to sell this beating. Edge raised his arms as he posed with the title in the ring.

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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