WWE Smackdown review
April 29, 2011
Taped 4/26/11 in Greensboro, N.C.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- Highlights from the Raw Draft aired, including match finishes and draft picks that changed brands.

- Smackdown Open, updated to include Monday’s changes.

- Fireworks kicked off the show, as Josh Mathews plugged a new era on Smackdown. The World Title was shown hanging above the ring, then the Tag Team Championship match was previewed. Also, the departing Rey Mysterio faces Mark Henry tonight.

- Smackdown’s newest and biggest babyface, Randy Orton, made his entrance, in a Smackdown tee. Orton took his time, posing for the crowd, then he grabbed a microphone. He really milked it. Orton introduced himself to the fans, as if he hadn’t been on Smackdown in years. He quickly transitioned into the unfinished business he has at Extreme Rules, involving CM Punk. Before he could get much further, Drew McIntyre’s music interrupted and he came out in a Raw t-shirt. He referred to the fact that he was moving onward and upward, to Raw. Mac made his way into the ring and said the WWE Universe is going to have to wait for McIntyre vs. Orton. After McIntyre got in Orton’s face, he kicked Orton in the gut and went for his Future Shock DDT. Orton RKO’d him instead. He picked a mic back up and tried to pick back up where he left off, but Alex Riley and his new generic music came out. No mic, but he walked to the ring.

“I wonder if Riley’s out here to make a statement,” Cole asked. Quite a limb he went out on there. Instead, before he could even get a word out, Orton RKO’d him. Orton paused, then put the mic up to his mouth, but Alberto Del Rio’s music played. He walked out with Brodus Clay and Ricardo Rodriguez. Why is everyone still wearing their brand t-shirts? Did they all make a pact not to take them off ‘til next week or something? I mean, I get it, to establish what brand they’re on, but from a storyline perspective, it’s a bit odd. Del Rio said he knows Orton wants to make an impression, but he feels bad, because they’re losing him from Smackdown. Del Rio and his entourage came to the ring and Del Rio reiterated that Orton knows how to make a great first impression, but he knows how to make a lasting one. The group surrounded Orton, but Christian ran out to stand at Orton’s side. Teddy Long came out before the men could come to blows. Long said if they want to go at it, they’re going to do it right. The main event will be Orton and Christian vs. Del Rio and Clay. Del Rio left the ring but Clay was kicked out by Christian.

[Commercial Break]

- Kofi Kingston came out for a match, but Sheamus attacked him from behind on the ramp. He threw Kingston into the barricade repeatedly. He went into the stairs next. He tossed Kingston into the ring and stalked him as Kofi tried to get on his feet. Kofi used the ropes to assist him, but there was no avoiding the Brogue Kick by Sheamus. Both McIntyre and Kingston were laid out on their way out, just like what used to happen when a wrestler would leave a territory.

- Still to come, Rey vs. Mark Henry.

[Commercial Break]

- Michael Cole was in the ring, sporting a shiner on his left eye. Cole trash talked Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross, his opponents at Extreme Rules. Jack Swagger was then introduced, and he came to the ring. As Swagger’s music ended, Sin Cara’s began, and we’ve got ourselves a match.

1 – JACK SWAGGER vs. SIN CARA

They showed Cara attacking Swagger on Smackdown three weeks ago. They had some weird lighting during the match, orange and blue, with the house lights dimmed. Swagger put the hurt on Cara to start, and when he had him face-down on the mat, he did push-ups on his back. Cara took a chest-first bump into the turnbuckle on an Irish whip. He got bodyslammed, but Cara got his knees up on a Vader Bomb attempt. Cara did his handspring back-elbow, and a headscissors take-over. At 2:40, Cara kicked Swagger in the head from the apron. Springboard, but Cara landed on his feet. He kicked Cara in the head, and you can tell Cara sells differently than the other WWE guys. Swagger was handed an international object by Cole, but Cara got on Swagger’s shoulders and connected with a victory roll for the win.

WINNER: Cara, at 3:20. Looked like there were some communication issues here, but they finished on a nice note.

Cole yelled at Swagger, who charged at Cara. Cara low-bridged Swagger to the outside, then landed a springboard cross-body with nice hang time.

- Kane and Big Show were walking backstage. They face half of the Corre, next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Kharma vignette from Monday aired. That graphic with her name in it reminds me of the Chicago Enforcers logo.

2 – JUSTIN GABRIEL & HEATH SLATER vs. KANE & THE BIG SHOW – WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Slater barely avoided Show’s big offense early, and Gabriel nailed Show with a dropkick off the top rope. He went for a cover :35 in, but Show kicked out and sent Gabriel outside the ring. They went to break :50 in.

[Commercial Break]

Back at the 5:31 mark as Show powered out of another cover. Gabriel turned a chokeslam into a DDT for a two-count as Cole sold the fact that Corre had a good chance here. Kane finally tagged in around 7:00 in, and gave a big boot (that showed a lot of light) to Slater for two. Side slam for two. Kane positioned Slater for a chokeslam, then Gabirel too. the match broke down and Show grabbed Gabriel for near stereo chokeslams. Kane got Slater up and down for the chokeslam, and made the pin.

WINNERS: Show and Kane, at 8:18. It went eight minutes, but we saw only a ibt more than there minutes.

- Great Khali and Ranjin Singh wished Rey Mysterio luck backstage. Then Khali and Singh ran into Jinder Mahal, a wrestler from developmental. They spent a few seconds talking to him.

[Commercial Break]

- Rey Mysterio came out. They showed the beating he took at the hands of Cody Rhodes last week. Mysterio gave his Smackdown farewell speech and talked about winning the World Title last year, together with the fans. He said that just because he got drafted to Raw doesn’t mean the journey has ended. In fact, it continues at Extreme Rules against Cody Rhodes. He said the fans will always be a part of the 619.

3 – REY MYSTERIO vs. MARK HENRY

Henry came out smiling, as if he never attacked John Cena this past Monday. Henry got the mic and said it’s unfortunate that Rey’s farewell will be his debut. Mysterio kicked at Henry’s legs, but Henry grabbed him and choked him in the ropes. Rey had to go to ringside to recover. He took his time to get back into the ring and kicked Henry in the face on the way back in. Rey slid under Henry’s legs, but Henry flattened Rey with his upper torso. He dragged Rey to the ropes and stepped on his chest. Rey tried to kick his way back into the match, but Henry slugged him in the back of the head. Rey was thrown under the bottom rope and outside the ring. When Henry went outside, Rey kicked at his knee. Henry charged at Rey but missed, and toppled over the ring steps. They took a break 2:30 into the contest.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the show at about the six minute mark. Rey went to the top, but Henry crotched him. Henry toyed with Rey a bit and he slammed Rey into the buckle at 7:35. Rey came back and did a seated splash on Henry, getting a two-count at 8:25. Rey set Henry up for the 619, and it connected. Henry was on rubber leg street, but Cody Rhodes came out as Rey set up for his springboard. Rhodes went on the attack, drawing the DQ.

WINNER: Mysterio, via DQ, at 8:48. Henry looked dominant and got the win, but Rey didn’t lose much since it was by DQ.

Rhodes continued dishing out a beating, going into the crowd to do so. Eventually, Rey found his way back into the ring, and was given the World’s Strongest Slam. Rhodes again put a paper bag mask over Rey’s face.

[Commercial Break]

4 – MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. LAYLA

It’s a Divas match, but given the amount of TV time these two have gotten in the past two years or so, I’m surprised this match didn’t get more hype. The ladies took the lock-up all the way outside the ring. McCool whipped Layla into the barricade and the two continued brawling there. Kick to the face by McCool, but at nine, she didn’t try to get back into the ring. Instead, she went back for more.

WINNER: Double count-out, at :53. Well, that’s why they didn’t advertise it I guess.

Referees broke up the brawl after the match. Layla got a mic and asked for a no-DQ match at the PPV. McCool accepted the match, noting Layla would be nothing without her. McCool wanted one more condition – loser leaves WWE. Wow, the pickup on that was really obvious. Layla accepted. That's one "loser leaves town" stipulation I hope doesn't stick.

- Still to come, in the main event, Del Rio and Clay face Orton and Christian.

[Commercial Break]

- A video package aired of WWE’s tour of the Middle East.

- Rev Theory’s “Justice” is the official theme of Extreme Rules.

- Matt Striker was backstage with Christian. Christian said he asked himself what would happen if his career was over when he tore his pec. He mentioned his best buddy Edge having to retire. He said that makes him reflect and think if he really has what it takes to fulfill his potential. He said up until last week, he never put his hands on the World Title because he never felt like he earned the opportunity to touch it. He said his destiny is to win the belt on Sunday.

- The announcers ran down the Extreme Rules card.

- Alberto Del Rio made his way to the ring for the main event tag. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – ALBERTO DEL RIO & BRODUS CLAY vs. CHRISTIAN & RANDY ORTON

The babyfaces made their entrances out of break. Del Rio appeared to start things off, but deferred to Clay. Clay and Christian locked up and Clay took Christian down, then pie-faced him. Springboard sunset flip attempt, but Clay blocked it. Christian ran into a headbutt to the chest. Del Rio came in and worked the arm of Christian. Orton tagged in just shy of 3:00 into things, and he connected on his jumping knee-drop. Snap mare and another knee-drop. The audio sweetener liked those moves. They went to break at 3:33 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back about 7:00 in. Clay had Orton down, then tagged out to Del Rio. Orton and Del Rio both made tags at 8:33. Christian rocked Clay, but couldn’t get him off his feet. Finally, he landed a missile dropkick off the middle rope. That did the job. Behind the ref’s back, Del Rio kicked Christian in the head to soften him up. Booker said he knows about teamwork, since he was part of one of the greatest teams of all-time. “Yeah, you and Goldust were pretty good,” said Cole. Del Rio came in and was knocked out of the ring as Christian desperately tried to make the tag at 11:00. Del Rio made it back in and tagged Clay, who stopped Christian short, headbutting him in the back of the head. Backbreaker by Clay. Del Rio got a near-fall on Christian almost 13:00 in. Running kick to the arm by ADR. Christian fought back and again both men were down and needed to make tags. This time, WWE didn’t need to pipe in the crowd noise. Orton finally made the hot tag and he clobbered Del Rio. Rope-assisted DDT. He set up for the RKO, but Del Rio countered. Clay tagged in after tripping Orton up, but the big man ran right into an RKO. Pinfall, over.

WINNERS: Christian and Orton, at 15:09.

After replays, Christian took off his Smackdown shirt, pointed to it, and then pointed to the title up above as the show signed off.


What do you think? If you saw this show, we invite you to send your thoughts. Send your name, hometown, a 0-10 score rating the quality of the show, your picks for best and worst segments, and then a brief paragraph of thoughts on the show that we can publish in the Reader Reax segment later tonight or tomorrow. Send to pwtorch@gmail.com.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. His new audio show, “Gonzo and The Greg,” is available for download on the Torch VIP page. Give it a listen! Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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