WWE Smackdown review
March 11, 2011
Taped 3/8/11 in Houston, Tex.
Aired on Syfy
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch Contributor

Smackdown opening video starts the show along with full pyro. Cole announces that tonight Triple H will make his return to Smackdown for the first time in over a year to address The Undertaker.

Edge’s theme hits as Justin Roberts, not Tony Chimel, welcomes the World Heavyweight champion. The shot goes to ringside with Mathews, Cole, and Booker who introduce themselves and Booker lets everyone know that the best BBQ is in his hometown of Houston. Sounds to me like he blatantly called out JR and they should have a BBQ contest at WrestleMania. You heard it here first, folks. Anyway, the announcers go over what happened last week in the contract signing when Del Rio and Edge brawled and Alberto was about to shatter Edge’s shoulder, but was stopped by Christian, who made his return to Smackdown.

Back in the ring, Edge states that in 23 days he will teach Del Rio a lesson at WrestleMania. He said that injured arms and bloodied noses wouldn't keep him from getting to WrestleMania. Edge then says that he doesn’t want to wrestle tonight, he wants to fight, so he calls out Alberto Del Rio, and he says that if he doesn’t come out he will go backstage to find him.

Alberto Del Rio and Brodus Clay make their way down the ramp and Alberto says something in Spanish to Edge, then introduces himself and Brodus to the audience. They both get in the ring and Del Rio declares that at WrestleMania he will be the new World Heavyweight champion. Edge says, “I don’t think so,” and attacks Del Rio. Edge gets a few shots in until Brodus Clay intervenes and throws Edge shoulder first into the ring post. Christian’s music hits and he tries to make the save but Del Rio cuts him off and Clay and Del Rio have their way with Edge and Christian as some referees try to break it up.

Teddy Long comes out and says that between last weeks contract signing and tonight's brawl, these four men have some issues to work out. So he makes a tag match for tonight - Del Rio and Clay vs. Edge and Christian.

Back at the announce table, Michael Cole says that he is not just a broadcast journalist, but a pop culture icon. He announces that tonight he has scores a major coup for Friday Night Smackdown because he will be interviewing John Cena!

[Commercial]

Did You Know - Hunter and Hunter alone will be signing 25,000 autographs at WrestleMania? What a great guy!

Flashback to last week when Kane fought Big Show. Kane laid out Show with the chair, but he also laid out Justin Gabriel. What is going on in Kane’s head?

Wade Barrett has a microphone and he says that Kane doesn’t appreciate what The Corre has done for him and that he made a huge mistake when he puts his hands on Justin Gabriel last week. Wade Barrett goes on to say that Kane is a “great big chemical, experiment, mistake.” (crickets chirping) That car crash of a line doesn’t get edited out?

1 -- KANE vs. WADE BARRETT

Wade hammers away at Kane to start and Booker calls Kane a Molotov cocktail ready to explode. Kane takes control and introduces Wade’s face to each turnbuckle as Booker says if there was a time for The Corre to have Wade’s back, now is that time. Here comes The Corre. Thanks for ruining that, Booker. Big Show is out right behind them with a chair and The Corre takes a powder

WINNER: Kane via DQ after The Corre interfered in less than one minute.

[Commercial - this Monday on Raw someone from "Jersey Shore," who loves getting punched in the face, will be the guest host]

2 -- KANE & BIG SHOW vs. THE CORRE (WADE BARRETT & HEATH SLATER)

Back from break, the match is joined in progress with Show and Slater in the ring. Big Show is chopping away at Heath in the corner. Show deposits Slater in his corner and lets him tag Wade in. Big Show takes Wade into the corner and starts chopping Wade in the corner. Big Show whips Barrett into the far corner and gives him more chopping and clubbering in that corner then charges in with a clotheslines. Big Show calls for a chokeslam but Barrett ducks behind him and chop blocks the knee then comes off the ropes with a big boot to the face to take Show off his feet.

Wade tags in Slater, who stomps away at Big Show then goes for the pin, which only gets a one count. The One Man Rock Band locks on a sleeper on The Giant only to have Big Show gets back to his feet and drop backwards to slam Slater down. Kane gets tagged in and he comes off the top ropes with a flying clotheslines. Kane whips Slater into the corner and then sidewalk slams him down. Wade tries to interfere but Kane kicks him off the apron. The Big Red Machine calls for his chokeslam and the rest of The Corre make a run in and cause the DQ.

WINNERS: Kane and Big Show by DQ in 3:00.

While The Corre beat down Kane it appears as if Big Show was going to leave him, but he gets a chair instead and waffles Big Zeke and Wade Barrett. Then, as Kane makes his way to his feet, Big Show lays him out too for payback for last week.

Backstage, Rey is getting dressed. I don’t want to see this.

[Commercial - 23 days to WrestleMania 27 and a hype video to get viewers pumped for Mania.)

Still to come tonight: The Interview of the Year between Cole and Cena.

At ringside, Booker taunts Cole about what happened last week on Raw with his special guest referee. This brings up the segment from Raw with Michael Cole, JBL, and Steve Austin. Truth be told, I would have liked to see JBL be the special guest ref because this would have put all the heat on Cole and stacked the deck for him. Instead, the deck is stacked for Jerry Lawler, who is a professional wrestler and the odds are against the scrawny announcer, Michael Cole.

Back on Smackdown, everyone is laughing at Cole. Cole says that as a former war correspondent he has been in similar predicaments and after tonight interview with Cena everyone will forget what happened last Monday on Raw.

Still to come: Edge & Christian vs. Del Rio & Clay.

Cody Rhodes, who is suited up, will be in action next.

[Commercial]

“Written in the Stars” by Tinie Tempah is the official theme song for WrestleMania 27.

Cody Rhodes comes out in a suit for his match. He takes off the jacket and tie as a clip of Cody Rhodes and his father duping Rey Mysterio is shown.

3 -- CODY RHODES vs. JTG

Cody keeps trying to hide his face from the camera to start. Rhodes starts off aggressively pounding away at JTG, Cody tosses JTG into the corner, and he headbutts him with the mask, which knocks JTG out. Rhodes pulls him to his feet and nails him with Crossroads for the win.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes by pinfall in less than a minute.

Cody slinks backstage as the lights dim.

The Shawn Michaels interview from Monday's Raw is shown in its entirety. Shawn and Hunter looked so young in the DX clips they interspersed.

Cole is in the ring ready to talk to John Cena.

[Commercial]

Michael Cole is in the ring as he asks everyone to welcome the number one contender for the WWE Title, John Cena. John comes out to a nice ovation and runs down to the ring. Michael thanks John for joining him on Smackdown, Cole’s show, and says that it must be difficult after being traumatized last Monday on Raw. Cole calls for a replay of what happened Monday when Miz jumped Cena from behind and hit him with a People’s Elbow. John looks sad.

Cole starts to ask a question, but Cena rips the mic from his hand and tells Cole to hit the bricks. Cena congratulates The Miz for getting one by John Cena. But he says that The Miz made a horrible mistake because he has now put himself on John Cena’s radar. Cena says that he is done wasting his time on BS and now it is time to get back to business and that is breaking Miz’s face!

Cena gives the mic back to Cole and starts to leave, but Cole calls him back. Michael says that Cena is underestimating The Miz because The Miz is the most must-see WWE Champion in recent history. Cole says he doesn’t have to rap for him, all he has to do is answer the question, but maybe he can’t answer it because The Miz shut him up last Monday.

Cena goes to put his hands on Cole, but Swagger makes the save for Cole and starts beating down Cena. Cole barks orders at Swagger saying that he needs to punish Cena and put the ankle lock on him. Cena kicks Cole out of the ring and goes to put Cole in the Attitude Adjustment, but Swagger saves again only to get the AA himself. The heels retreat to the back as Cena poses in the ring.

[Commercial]

Sin Cara is coming to WWE. Will he be “The Real” or will he be “The Jabroni?”

4 -- LAYLA vs. KAITLYN

Apparently Kaitlyn is from Houston and Booker says “shucky, ducky, quack, whack.” Is that one of the phrases Darryl teaches Michael on "The Office?" Collar and elbow tie-up to start and Kaitlyn shoves Layla down. Kaitlyn slams Layla down on her tailbone and Michelle causes a distraction and Layla is able to get a neckbreaker and the pinfall victory! Michelle and Layla look like they are besties again!

WINNER: Layla by pinfall in 1:00.

Lay-Cool beat up Kaitlyn in front of her hometown crowd to show their unity.

Up next: Rey returns to action!

[Commercial]

Did You Know? WWE’s Facebook following grew 595 percent in 2010? Mine grew 1,000 percent on my first day when I went from one friend to ten, so I don’t know what they are bragging about.

Cole is back at ringside and he says that he is tired of getting no respect. He gets no respect, one time he came home from work and saw a guy running down the street naked, he asked why, and the guy said, “Because you came home early!” No respect at all. Booker and Mathews give Michael a hard time about his “interview” with Cena as Rey Mysterio and Drew McIntyre make their way to the ring.

5 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. DREW MCINTYRE

Drew kicks Rey in the face to start, then pounds Rey in the face. Cole makes fun of Booker for calling himself an investigative reporter. The ref pulls him off as Rey gets up. Drew whips Rey into the ropes and gives him a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Drew goes for the pin but only gets a two. Drew puts him in a bow and arrow submission and yells at him that he will not make it to WrestleMania. Rey kicks Drew in the face to escape the hold then sets Drew up for a 619, but Drew rolls under the bottom rope to get out of the way. Both men battle it out on the apron and Drew gets the upper hand by shoving Rey back first into the ring post. Drew then side walk slams Rey onto the apron of the ring as Smackdown takes a break.

[Commercial]

Back from the break, Drew has Rey in a modified surfboard. Rey flips out of it into a pinfall but only gets a two count. Drew starts pounding away at Rey in the corner and Drew gets a two count on Rey. The Chosen One sits Rey on the top rope and it looks like he is going for the Future Shock, but Rey pushes him off and follows Drew down with a sitting senton splash. Rey goes off the ropes for a crossbody, but Drew had it well scouted because he ducked out of the way. Drew goes for a rollup, but gets another two count. Drew whips Rey into the corner and charges in but Rey moves out of the way and drew eats the ring post. Rey kicks him in the head and McIntyre is in position for the 619, which connects. Rey goes to top rope and lands hard on Drew with a splash for the pin!

WINNER: Rey Mysterio in 6:00 via pinfall.

Cody Rhodes comes out to the stage with a microphone. He tells Rey that he is still waiting for his answer. Rey asks Cody why he is scared? Is it because his daddy isn’t here? Rey takes offense to Cody taking the mask off his face because he has been wearing it for 20 years and he will be wearing his mask when he faces Cody at WrestleMania.

Next: Hunter responds to Undertaker.

[Commercial]

Recap of Undertaker's promo from Monday where he said that it will be a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania.

Hunter’s music hits and the crowd shot shows people checking their cell phones and not popping for The Game. The nerve of those people. Hunter says that Monday, Undertaker reminded him of what he was capable of doing in the ring. Hunter wanted to show Undertaker what he was capable. A video titled “Long Live the King” played and it showed highlights of Hunter destroying yesterday, today, and tomorrow’s top stars.

Back on Smackdown, Hunter says that the last two years at WrestleMania he saw the greatest two matches he has ever seen – Undertaker vs. HBK. Those matches always made him wonder how someone like Shawn Michaels, who is the greatest performer, couldn’t beat Taker. But Shawn answered it for him, it was that he wouldn't set aside the emotion in his matches. But Hunter won’t have that problem because Hunter has a dark side and that evil side will help The Game do what needs to be done to beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania. He then thanks Undertaker for making it a No Holds Barred Match and throws the mic down. Cole says that come WrestleMania Hunter has a plan that will help him prevail at WrestleMania.

Backstage, Matt Striker asks Christian what he thinks about teaming with Edge for the first time in ten years. Christian runs down events in entertainment and technological advances that have happened since they last teamed together. But the one thing that hasn't been seen this decade is E&C - the two guys who sooooo reek of awesomeness team together. Edge comes in asks Christian if he is ready and they leave for the ring.

[Commercial]

Justin Roberts introduces Ricardo Rodriguez, who introduces Brodus Clay, then Alberto Del Rio.

6 -- EDGE & CHRISTIAN vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO & BRODUS CLAY

It would have been nice to get the old-school E&C theme, but unfortunately they come out to separate themes. I blame Christian. Christian starts off with Clay and it's worth noting Christian and Edge both have heavily-taped arms. Christian starts by pounding on Clay and an apparent kick to the groin. Christian goes for a Tornado DDT from the top but Del Rio distracts him and Clay is able to take advantage and suplexes Christian off the top and Christian rolls out of the ring. Edge goes to check on him but the ref orders him back to his corner.

Meanwhile Del Rio takes advantage of the ref not looking and he throws Christian into the barricade. Back in the ring, Clay bodyslams Christian down and tags in Del Rio. Del Rio goes for a pin but only gets a two. Alberto gives Christian some shots to the face then locks an armbar on Christian's injured arm. Christian fights out but Alberto hits him in the arm to get control back.

Alberto Del Rio rips off Christians arm bandage and sits him on the top rope and starts pounding away at Christian. Christian pushes Del Rio off and jumps off the top and connects with a flying reverse elbow. Both men tag out and Edge comes in a house of fire, but is quickly put out by Brodus, who powerslams Edge down for a two count. Clay whips Edge into the turnbuckle and misses on a charge in.

Edge knocks Del Rio off the apron and calls for the Spear. Brodus drags Edge into the corner and tries another splash that Edge ducks. Del Rio hits the ring and knocks down Edge, Christian then hits the ring and throws Del Rio to the floor. Christian then hits Brodus Clay with a Tornado DDT and Edge comes off the top rope with an elbow smash, which gets the victory. E&C stand tall after their reunion match to close the show.

WINNERS: Edge and Christian via pinfall in 6:00.

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