WWE Smackdown review
May 20, 2011
Taped 5/17/11 in Corpus Christi, Tex.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist

- WWE Open.

- Smackdown Open.

- Before even showing the crowd, we got the graphic of Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry, tonight’s main event.

1 – CHRISTIAN vs. SHEAMUS

During Christian’s entrances, they showed Josh Mathews, Michael Cole and Josh Mathews on camera. They had an inset interview with Sheamus during his interview. Sheamus laid a few knees into the head of Christian within the first 30 seconds of the match. Christian came back by jumping over the ropoes and punching Sheamus, who was caught up in the ropes. Hard back elbow by Sheamus. Christian countered Sheamus, and he went over the top and to the outside. Christian ducked under Sheamus, who was on the apron, and pulled his leg out from under him. Sheamus pushed Christian off the top rope, where he was seated, and Christian tumbled to the outside. They went to break with just under 3:00 gone by in the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:30 of the match. Big bodyslam by Sheamus for a two-count. Hard forearms across the chest of Christian. Sheamus wrenched the neck, but Christian came back with right hands. He smoothly countered a slam into a reverse DDT for two. To the top when Christian, and he landed a cross-body for a two-count. Springboard sunset flip by Christian for two, but as both men reached their feet, Christian was taken down with an Irish Hammer by Sheamus. Christian flipped out of a suplex but ran into an Irish Curse back-breaker. Christian again sat on the top rope, and fought off Sheamus. Tornado DDT at 11:15. He then went for a cover, and got two. Dive over the top rope and a shoulderblock by Sheamus for two. Sheamus went for his finisher, but Christian registered a small package for the three-count.

WINNER: Christian, at 12:14. Good win for Christian heading into Over the Limit.

After the match, Mark Henry ran out. He and Sheamus proceeded to beat-down Christian. Randy Orton came out slowly, and paced a bit on the stage. He watched the punishment, then ran to the ring. He took out Sheamus, then pushed Henry aside, and he fell through the middle rope. Cole nicely mentioned Orton was conflicted about helping: He said he wanted Christian at 100%, but part of him wanted Christian softened up for Sunday.

- Still to come, Orton vs. Henry in the main event.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged WWE.com’s list of the top trash talkers in wrestling history.

- They showed the exterior of the AmericanBank Center in Corpus Christi.

- We got a video package on Cena vs. Miz, starting with their Extreme Rules match.

- The announcers discussed the Over the Limit card. Brie Bella vs. Kelly Kelly was officially announced for the PPV.

- Todd Grisham was backstage with Brie Bella. They showed Kharma attacking the Bellas on Raw, then intimidating Kelly. Grisham asked Brie why she left her sister to be attacked n Raw. The Bellas began to argue, with Nikki claiming Brie ran away when the going got tough. Brie said Nikki would’ve done the same thing, and Nikki agreed. Brie asked if they could get back on the same page, as she has to face Natalya tonight. Nikki said they were always on the same page, then walked off, leaving Grisham to stand there awkwardly.

[Commercial Break]

2 – BRIE BELLA vs. NATALYA

Brie snuck out the back of a slam by Natalya as Booker ranted about biscuits and syrup in regards to Kharma. Natalya rolled into Brie and got a one-count. Brie slammed Natalya’s hand off the mat, then worked in an arm-bar. Nattie powered out and both women struggled to get to their feet at 1:35. Hard clothesline by Natalya. Discuss clothesline by Natalya, which Cole said was “shades of Jim Neidhart.” As I struggled to remember The Anvil doing that move, Booker asked “…what?” and he also said he never saw Neidhart do that move. Brie snuck into the ropes and kicked Natalya in the knee. Face-buster by Brie for the win.

WINNER: Brie, at 3:02. I don’t know if Natalya would be the one I’d feed to Brie heading into her PPV title match, but Nattie did what she could to keep the match together.

- Booker and Mathews talked about the situation between Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson. Zeke is here tonight, and we’ll hear from him next.

[Commercial Break]

- Ezekiel Jackson came to the ring. Zeke said he came to Smackdown to write a new chapter in the book of Ezekiel. He said he wanted to make an impact, which is why he joined Corre. He talked about them taking over initially, and how he hoisted Big Show in the air and slammed him. That made him think, does he need the Corre, or do they need him? He said that’s why he left, but the just wouldn’t let him walk away. Jackson said for the last two weeks, he has taken a beating. Piped in crowd noise was evident here. He said Corre could not break him, as he can’t be broken. He said he cannot and will not be stopped. He said he won’t rest until they’ve all suffered. He said Barrett’s reign as champion will come to an end, because he’s the personification of domination. Then he yelled and flexed. This would’ve been better if they didn’t rush the break-up here.

Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater marched to the ring with purpose. They surrounded the ring, but before they could attack, Teddy Long’s music hit and the GM walked to the ring. He said it’s not going to go down like this tonight. He made a six-man tag match, with Jackson teaming with Big Show and Kane to take on Corre.

3 – EZEKIEL JACKSON & THE BIG SHOW & KANE vs. THE CORRE

Gabriel drew the short straw to work with Big Show first. Kane was next to go after Gabriel. Gabriel finally tagged out to Slater, who walked into a right hand. Slater tried to leap over Kane, but he landed on Kane’s shoulder. He got down and tagged Barrett. Jackson begged for a tag. The two went toe-to-toe, with Barrett kicking Jackson in the stomach. Jackson ended up clotheslining Barrett over the top rope. Corre attempted to regroup on the outside as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

The babyfaces were still in control out of break. Corre tried to run interference, but it wasn’t successful. Jackson came in and powered Gabriel down. Once Jackson got the better of Barrett, he tagged out. Kane came off the top with a clothesline. Sidewalk slam for a two-count. Kane was taken to the outside and at 8:10, Gabriel dove over the top and onto him. Barrett tagged in, but his cover was unsuccessful. Slater tried to keep Kane down with a side headlock. Kane suplexed out of it, but Slater made the tag before Kane could capitalize. Barrett came in and he and Kane did the double big-boot spot just short of ten minutes in. Slater came in and pounded on Kane in the corner. Both men made hot tags, and Jackson slammed Gabriel a number of times. Things broke down at the 11:00 mark. Show chokeslammed Slater, then Jackson scoop slammed Gabriel. He got Gabriel in a Torture Rack, and Gabriel tapped.

WINNERS: Jackson, Show, and Kane, at 11:30. There were a lot of very limited guys in there, but they did the best they could.

- Matt Striker was backstage with Christian. They showed what happened earlier in the night with Orton coming to his aid. Christian said he’s not mad at Orton for taking the title from him, so he hopes Orton won’t be mad this Sunday when he gets the title back.

[Commercial Break]

- Chavo Guerrero came to the ring. He got a mic and said he has trained Cara, taught him everything he knows, and then Cara disrespected him last week. Chavo said he’ll beat Daniel Bryan tonight in under five minutes, because it took him more time to do so. Chavo said he’ll beat Cara at the PPV.

4 – CHAVO GUERRERO vs. DANIEL BRYAN

The five minute clock was in the bottom left-hand corner of the ring, counting down to zero. Bryan avoided right hand in the corner and Chavo took his time to size up Bryan. High dropkick by Bryan on Chavo, who appears to somehow grow more hair on his head the older he gets. Whip into the buckle by Bryan, but he got caught with Chavo’s boots as he charged in. European uppercut by Chavo. Side suplex followed that as Mathews tried to wade through Cole and Booker’s arguing to call the match. Bryan elbowed out of a side headlock. Chavo rolled through a sunset flip for two. Diving clothesline by Bryan, who followed that with kicks to the chest. Cover for two. Bryan attempted the LeBell Lock with 1:22 remaining. Chavo reached the ropes with his foot, forcing a break. Chavo rolled out as the clock reached 1:00. Bryan dove through the ropes and into Chavo. Chavo dodged dropkick off the top and made a cover for two. He went into the Three Amigos vertical suplexes, not a great idea for a guy with under :30 in the match. Chavo went to the top and landed the frog splash with nine seconds left. Bryan kicked out of the first one, a surprise, then Chavo went for another cover with four seconds to go. Bryan kicked out again to end things.

WINNER: Bryan, at 5:00. Nice twist with the ending of Bryan kicking out of the frogsplash. It would’ve been nice to see Chavo go over someone strong heading into the PPV, since he hasn’t won in so long.

Chavo got pissed and threw Bryan into the ring post. Sin Cara then came out, wearing his new t-shirt. He trampolined into the ring, then took Chavo out of the ring with a headscissors.

- Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton, the main event, still to come.

[Commercial Break]

- Rise Against was thanked for the official Over the Limit theme, “Help Is On The Way.”

- Ted DiBiase’s music played, and he came out with Cody Rhodes and Cody’s bag men. Cody had the mic and did his usual shtick. Once they got in the ring, Rhodes told DiBiase to put a bag over his head. So DiBiase did. Rhodes asked DiBiase what his name is and he said “Corpus Christi.” Rhodes asked what he was hiding, and with a Latin accent, DiBiase said “I am hideous.” He said he wears the bag everywhere and that everyone in his family is hideous. Rhodes became furious, yelling at the crowd to put their bags on. Rhodes said a beautiful flower is now a hideous shrub. He asked DiBiase if he had anything else to say. Rhodes took off the mask and DiBiase said, “bring out my opponent.”

5 – TED DIBIASE vs. TRENT BARRETA

DiBiase did a slingshot clothesline and went for a cover, only getting two. Barreta went to the top and did a corckscrew…something onto DiBiase. I guess it was supposed to be a kick, according to Booker. Enziguiri by Barreta, but a Tornado DDT was turned into a spinebuster. Dream Street and that was it.

WINNER: DiBiase, at 1:26. Nice to get DiBiase back on track, and the relationship with DiBiase and Rhodes is intriguing.

Rhodes had DiBiase put a bag over Trent’s head.

- They showed a sneak peek of “That’s What I Am.”

- Henry vs. Orton is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

6 -- World Hvt. champion RANDY ORTON vs. MARK HENRY -- non-title match

Back with Henry on the apron, and Orton dropkicking Henry to ringside. Henry regained control in the ring. Two headbutts by Henry put Orton’s back on the mat. Orton began to fight back at the 7:25 mark, and landed two knee-drops. Orton stalked Henry, and got down to pound the mat for the RKO. But Henry exited the ring before Orton could get to him. As Orton readied for the rope-assisted DDT, Sheamus ran in for the DQ.

WINNER: Orton, via DQ, at 8:30.

Christian walked out to the ramp, like Orton did in the first segment, and just waited. The heels choked Orton in the corner as Christian surveyed the scene. Then, he ran to the ring to help Orton out. He got rid of Sheamus and Orton tripped Henry up in the corner. Orton and Christian were standing tall in the ring as the crowd chanted “RKO.” Orton saw Christian and shoved him. The two exchanged words, then Sheamus attacked Christian from behind. Henry and Orton traded blows, ugly blows at that. Christian threw Sheamus out again and Orton RKO’d Henry. Then he leaped in the air, doing a mid-air split, and did some weird fist-pumping celebration that looked totally out of character, but also would make an awesome .gif. Orton had the belt, and he and Christian went face-to-face to end the show.

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 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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