WWE Smackdown review
Feb. 3, 2012
Taped 1/31/12 in Omaha, Neb.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- A video package aired previewing Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett tonight. They had a voiceover for it and everything.

- Smackdown Open.

- Josh Mathews opened the show from ringside as the camera panned the crowd. He said WWE is firmly on the road to Wrestlemania.

- Smackdown GM Teddy Long was in the ring. He said the Royal Rumble was “off the chain,” and Long said Smackdown would be participating in the Elimination Chamber PPV. Shocking! Long listed off the participants the same way it was done on Raw. They are: Daniel Bryan, Wade Barrett, The Big Show, Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry, and Randy Orton. No surprises there. Long explained the rules, which sounded at first like he was explaining the Royal Rumble match rules. After Long wished everyone good luck, Mark Henry came out.

Mathews asked fans to voice their opinions on the Smackdown Chamber field by using #Smackdown on Twitter. Henry said he wasn’t liking this one bit, saying his mathematical chance is 6-to-1 that he’ll win the title, less than that depending on what number he draws. Long told Henry he should be happy he’s even in the match. Henry was offended and said he’s the most dominant man on Smackdown and Long’s meal ticket. Henry told Long to take him out of the Chamber match and to book him in a title match with Bryan tonight. Long wasn’t in a hurry to give Henry what he wanted, but Henry said he deserved it. Long stuck his finger in Henry’s chest and raised his voice, saying he’ll take Henry out of the Chamber but won’t give him a title shot tonight. Henry tried to keep his anger in check, saying Long was replaceable, like John Laurinaitis on Raw. Henry flipped Long’s tie and Long said he’s the GM and Henry just put his hands on him. Long then indefinitely suspended Henry. A light “Goodbye” song chant as Henry grabbed Long’s tie and said if he’s going to get suspended, he might as well get his money’s worth. Before he could do any damage, Sheamus came out to his music and quickly walked to the ring.

Long tried to talk Henry into leaving and while Henry’s attention was on Long, Sheamus surprised him with a Brogue Kick. Henry rolled to ringside and sold the move by staying down. “Sheamus” chant from the fans. Henry began to hobble to the back as Long said security will be waiting to escort Henry out of the building. Long announced Sheamus as the 2012 Royal Rumble winner. Sheamus stared at the Wrestlemania sign as Long asked him what title he’ll go after at ‘Mania. Sheamus said he’s heard that question several times over the past few days, but he’s going to wait until after the Chamber PPV to decide. Sheamus said he doesn’t want to make any speeches, but rather do what he does best. Before he could, Cody Rhodes’ music hit and he continued the parade of superstars.

Rhodes walked to the ring and said no one will remember Sheamus winning the Rumble match; the only thing the people will remember is that he eliminated the most wrestlers in the Rumble (six), two Hall-of-Famers, and lasted over 40 minutes in the match. Rhodes said he’d win the Chamber match and become the first dual champion since Ultimate Warrior. He said Long and Sheamus were parallels to the Warrior, since oftentimes, he can’t understand what the two of them are saying. Sheamus put his arm around Long while Long put Rhodes in a match with Sheamus tonight. He asked for a referee, so the match is next.

[Commercial Break]

1 – SHEAMUS vs. CODY RHODES

This match was joined in progress, with Rhodes working the crowd from in the ring. Back-and-forth action early on, but Sheamus clubbed Rhodes over the chest while Cody was in the ropes. Rhodes fell to ringside just over a minute in. Cody sent Sheamus into the ringpost, then hit Beautiful Disaster by springboarding off the barricade. Nice change-of-pace for that move. Back in the ring, Rhodes connected on a top-rope moonsault for a near-fall. Rhodes worked Sheamus’ arm, then came off the second rope with a bulldog on Sheamus for two. Sheamus began to come back, hitting his signature Irish Hammers. Powerslam for a two-count. To the top went Sheamus. Rhodes went to meet him but Sheamus shoved him off. Flying shoulder tackle took Rhodes down. Each man countered the others’ signatures and finishers until Sheamus hit Finlay’s Celtic Cross, apparently a new move added to his repertoire, for the win.

WINNER: Sheamus, 5:10 shown. Solid enough match, though I wonder if they’ll address Sheamus not being in the Chamber – sure, he has a title shot at ‘Mania, but should that really preclude him from fighting for it before ‘Mania?

- Orton vs. Barrett is a no-DQ match later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Cody Rhodes was still at ringside after his match, showing displeasure over the loss. And who should come out next for a match? Justin Gabriel, of course. Hunico came out to oppose him. On his way to the ring, Hunico, with Camacho, taunted the fans and said they’re not thugs, despite what the fans may think. He made a derogatory comment toward Ted DiBiase and while he did so, Rhodes got in the ring and attacked Gabriel from behind. It was a three-on-one attack until Great Khali’s music hit and he walked out. He fought off Camacho and Hunico, though Rhodes escaped the brunt of his attack. Hunico went after Khali from behind after Khali missed a brain chop on Rhodes. It ended with a tree slam on Hunico. They showed Rhodes and Khali staring each other down from a distance, with Rhodes atop the stage. I really hope this isn't leading to a Rhodes vs. Khali IC Title feud.

- Michael Cole will interview Daniel Bryan later tonight about Bryan retaining his title at the Rumble.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged WWE.com for complete Royal Rumble coverage.

- Teddy Long was backstage with the apparently-not-yet-fired Drew McIntyre. McIntyre said he could be the greatest superstar of all-time, but Long said he’s been nothing but a disappointment lately. Long said predictability does not make for good TV, yet McIntyre losing each week is predictable. He suggested McIntyre find a new way to impress him. Santino Marella walked in as McIntyre walked out. Marella said his tag-team with Yoshi Tatsu didn’t exactly work out last week, but he has a new teammate, and introduced the team name of SantinoHoooo….Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Duggan had his 2x4 and did his “USA” chant. Long said he’d give Santino another shot with a new partner, but his match is next. They walked out and Aksana walked in. Long told her he was stressed, but she said she was impressed with the way he handled Mark Henry earlier. Aksana looked down and pointed out a massive piece of wood – Duggan’s 2x4, of course. Long said it wasn’t his, so Duggan walked back in to take it.

- The announcers laughed at the previous segment, then they talked about the 2012 WWE Hall-of-Fame class. Cole sent it to a video package of the latest inductee, “Iron” Mike Tyson. After the video, Mathews bragged about TMZ breaking the news and all the other media coverage the announcement received.

- Santino Marella speed-walked out for his tag match. His partner, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan made a separate entrance. They played to the crowd as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

2 – SANTINO MARELLA & “HACKSAW” JIM DUGGAN vs. PRIMO & EPICO

Loud “USA” chant before the match began. Santino with a single-arm take-down, then a tag to Duggan. HE connected on some of his legendary right hands. The announcers talked about him winning the first Royal Rumble. Primo and Epico took over on offense and Primo got the first cover, for only a one-count. Duggan was stuck in a rear chin-lock as the fans chanted “USA” to help him out. Booker said Duggan shouldn’t be in the ring, but he loves it too much. Duggan got the advantage in the corner and tagged Santino. Marella hit his diving headbutt for two, but Epico broke up the pin. Duggan took care of him, then Santino set up for his Cobra. Rosa Mendes got on the apron to distract Marella, but it was unsuccessful. Still, Marella missed the Cobra and Primo hit the Backstabber for the win. Duggan cleared the ring with his 2x4 after the match.

WINNERS: Primo and Epico, at 2:23. I don’t mind Santino’s partner-of-the-week gimmick, as long as it keeps the tag champs on TV and picking up wins. Of course, if WWE actually had any more tag teams, they wouldn’t have to resort to Santino picking a new one each week.

- Daniel Bryan was walking backstage. Cole promised to ask the tough questions in his interview next.

[Commercial Break]

- Michael Cole was in the ring and asked for the crowd’s attention. He called Daniel Bryan “the most unlikely World Champion of all-time.” He then introduced Bryan to a chorus of boos. Cole acknowledged his criticisms of Bryan, but said he proved something to everyone at the Rumble by winning the Triple-Threat Steel Cage match. Cole tempered the compliment by saying it wasn’t a dominant win and that some people are saying Bryan was lucky. Cole said he’s man enough to admit that he was wrong about Bryan. Bryan took the mic and said he appreciates the sentiment, but the interview is not in fact about Cole. Everything is not about Cole. He said it’s about him. Bryan shooed Cole out of the ring and said there’s something he needs to say. He said he defeated two monsters in a steel cage on Sunday, proving he’s a great champion.

Bryan said he also considers him a great role model, and urged fans to follow in his footsetps and to live the American dream by being a vegan. He told the fans to stop eating meat, since by eating meat, we’re poisoning our intestines and killing innocent animals. He talked about what goes on at a slaughterhouse as I thought I heard a “we want bacon” chant. Bryan said that by not eating meat, he’s healthier than everyone in the building. He said he’ll never have the diseases others carry around right this second. Turning his attention back to wrestling, Bryan refused to stand for prejudices against him, and said he shouldn’t have to defend his title in the Chamber against five other men. He made a case as to why he shouldn’t have to defend against Big Show in the Chamber, someone who has consistently failed, yet has been consistently rewarded. Bryan reminded fans Show ran over his girlfriend, “as if she was a piece of meat.” Because of his failures, he said Show should not be in a title match. Bryan said if Long doesn’t take Show out of the match, he’ll take his case to the Board of Directors and Long will join John Laurinaitis in the unemployment line. Wait, did he get fired? Bryan was about to end the interview when Show came out.

He was all smiled, seemingly unaffected by Bryan’s comments in this segment. In the ring, Show paused for a “Big Show” chant. He said he would’ve interrupted Bryan earlier, but he was in the back finishing a great, big steak. Show said the key to being a role model is to not tell everyone what to do, but to lead by example. He said Bryan isn’t a role model, but a “pompous, arrogant little ass.” Show said he’ll be the same person after the Chamber, but he won’t be World Champion. Bryan said the odds may be stacked against him, and it’s possible he’ll lose the World Title, but it won’t be to Show. He said Show will lose, just like he always does. “Once a loser, always a loser.” Show warned Bryan not to continue, but Bryan did, sticking his finger in Show’s chest, which sent Show over the edge. He attacked Bryan and bealed him out of the corner. He ripped Bryan’s shirt off and slapped him in the chest. He chokeslammed Bryan as AJ came to the ring. She entered the ring, but backed up when Show came toward her. Bryan tried to ambush Show, but Show stopped him. He lined up for a right hand, but AJ grabbed the hand. Bryan escaped out of the ring as Show again tried to talk some sense into AJ. She slowly left the ring and joined Bryan for a hug at ringside. Lots of boos for that. “I’ll keep you safe,” Bryan told her. I could’ve done without the whole vegan diatribe, which really seemed out of place, but the rest was solid.

- Orton vs. Barrett is still to come.

- Natalya and Beth Phoenix were doing squats backstage. They have a tag-team match tonight. Natalya farted twice, then ran away. Beth held her nose and walked away. Santino unfortunately walked into it again, just like last week. I don’t know how a storyline like this makes it to TV in 2012. Just embarrassing, an obvious Vince McMahon special.

[Commercial Break]

3 – TAMINA & AKSANA vs. NATALYA & BETH PHOENIX

Tamina was already in the ring, but Aksana got an entrance. Bodyslam by Natalya on Aksana, then she knocked Tamina off the apron. DDT attempt, but Aksana was thrown off. The landing did not sound good and didn’t look great either. Beth tagged herself in and gave Aksana the Glam Slam.

WINNERS: Natalya and Phoenix, at :44. A little surprised they jobbed Aksana out so quickly. I thought they’d give her a few more fluke wins.

An upset Natalya tried to put Aksana in the Sharpshooter after the match, but Tamina kicked her in the face, then hit a splash off the top rope.

- The announcers talked about the Chamber match and they showed a graphic of the men in it. Henry was still pictured, but they showed why Henry is no longer in the match, from earlier tonight. Replacing him: The Great Khali. What a waste.

- Randy Orton was stretching backstage. We’ll hear from him next.

[Commercial Break]

- With the camera focused on the Wrestlemania sign in the arena, Mathews sent it to the John Cena video package.

- The announcers talked about Cena vs. Rock, then sent it to Matt Striker, who was with Randy Orton.

- In Orton’s locker room, Striker asked if his approach to his match with Wade Barrett will be more conservative. Orton said he would’ve done the same thing to Barrett as Barrett did to him. But he does have a problem with Barrett bragging about ending his career. He said he’ll beat Barrett tonight, then again at Elimination Chamber, and he said he’d walk out a 10-time World Champion.

[Commercial Break]

- Wade Barrett came out for the main event. Of everybody on the roster, how did WWE feel the need to change Barrett’s theme? Ted DiBiase’s is RIGHT THERE to change! Anyway, during Barrett’s entrance, they showed clips from two months ago of their Falls Count Anywhere match. Long was watching the proceedings backstage when Bryan and AJ walked in. Bryan said Long needed to do something to protect AJ from Big Show. Long told them to watch the main event with him and they’d discuss it. They went to break with Barrett waiting for his opponent.

[Commercial Break]

- Wade Barrett came out for the main event. Of everybody on the roster, how did WWE feel the need to change Barrett’s theme? Ted DiBiase’s is RIGHT THERE to change! Anyway, during Barrett’s entrance, they showed clips from two months ago of their Falls Count Anywhere match. Long was watching the proceedings backstage when Bryan and AJ walked in. Bryan said Long needed to do something to protect AJ from Big Show. Long told them to watch the main event with him and they’d discuss it. They went to break with Barrett waiting for his opponent.

[Commercial Break]

- Randy Orton made his entrance right after the break.

4 – WADE BARRETT vs. RANDY ORTON – NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH

Mathews plugged an interview with Orton in WWE Magazine, on newsstands today. Barrett peppered Orton with right hands and Orton fired back with European uppercuts. Suplex by Orton, who then stomped Barrett a few times. Barrett was thrown over the top rope and to the floor at 1:22. He sent Barrett head-first into the ring steps. Booker was already proclaiming Barrett a future Hall-of-Famer. Orton tossed Barrett into barricade after barricade. “RKO” chant by the fans as Orton continued his ringside assault by dropping Barrett back-first onto the top of the barricade. Orton went under the ring for some plunder. He found a table and brought it out. As he did so, they went to break at 3:28 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:22 of the match with Orton trying to suplex Barrett off the top and through the table set up in the ring. Barrett fought off and shoved Orton through the table. Cover got two at 6:55. Barrett began to focus on Orton’s back, whipping him hard into the buckle. The fight went outside the ring again, but this time, Barrett was the aggressor. He rammed Orton back-first into the apron. Back in the ring for a near-fall. Knees to the face with Orton wrapped up in the ropes, then Barrett nailed him with a running kick to the face. Orton showed signs of life at ringside and Barrett ended up in the first row of fans. They began to brawl in the aisle and through the crowd. They made it back to ringside as Barrett was clotheslined over the barricade. Barrett countered Orton and sent Orton into the ring steps. He grabbed chair and headed into the ring. He dropped the chair right between Orton’s shoulder-blades and hit him with a few more shots, this time into the mid-section. He set up for Wasteland onto the chair, but Orton got out and made his comeback. Orton picked up the chair and nailed Barrett in the back a few times. Orton set up the chair in the corner and whipped Barrett into it – he went shoulder and head first. Dropkick put Barrett down, and he rolled again to ringside. Orton threw Barrett over the announce table, then back into the ring. Vintage Orton DDT, but the RKO was countered into a Winds of Change side-slam (the name may have already been abandoned, since the announcers didn’t call it by that name). It got a two-count. Barrett got another chair and jammed it into Orton’s back. Orton snuck out of a pump-handle slam and hit the RKO. Orton looked to want one more, and he did it on the chair. That was enough to put Barrett away.

WINNER: Orton, at 16:55.

They went right backstage to Long, Bryan and AJ. Long said next week, Bryan will go one-on-one with Randy Orton. Bryan said he’s not afraid of giants or snakes. He told AJ to “stay here where you’re safe” and to “watch this.” Bryan left Long’s office and went to the ring, celebrating…something. Bryan celebrated as Orton saw him from the turnbuckle. He continued celebrating then left the ring as Orton gave him a look like, “what the heck is this guy doing?” They faded to black with Bryan on the stage, still jumping up and down.


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. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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