WWE Smackdown Review
February 10, 2012
Taped 2/3/12 in Tulsa, Okla.
Aired on Syfy
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch contributor

[Q1]

-New…ish Smackdown opening video! No WWE open, though. Full pyro in the arena and Josh Mathews welcomes everyone to Smackdown, which is on the road to WrestleMania. Michael Cole promotes the main event for tonight: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan.

-Lilian Garcia welcomes the 2012 Royal Rumble winner, Sheamus. He makes his way to the ring while Booker goes over why this time of year is so important to competitors. Well, yeah, it is WrestleMania season! Anyway, Sheamus starts off by saying that he has won the right to be in the main event at WrestleMania and he has a decision to make about which title he will go for. He says that he doesn’t know who the champions will be after the Chamber matches and history has shown that one title always changes hands at the Elimination Chamber.

Sheamus says that he has been pressured to pick which title he wants to compete for and he says that he hates being told what to do and he hates being bullied. He tells a story about being bullied as a kid and how it made him a better fighter. Sheamus goes on to say that the bullying continued when he came to the WWE, everyone told him what to do, how to dress, how to spike his hair, and it made him a better Superstar and it turned him into the Royal Rumble winner!

Wade Barrett and his terrible theme music interrupt Sheamus. Wade jokes that his story about being bullied was a heart-warming story, but he feels he needs to tell him what to do. Barrett says that he should go for the WWE Title because if he goes for the World Title, he will be facing Barrett because he is winning the title at the Elimination Chamber. He says that if that happens, Barrett will beat him and shatter his dreams! Sheamus says that he wasn’t paying attention to any of that because he was thinking about last week when Orton kicked Barrett all over the ring!

Cody Rhodes’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. He says that unlike the other two men, he knows what it is like to have his hand raised in victory at WrestleMania and unlike them he is a champion in the present! Cody takes a dig at the audience, then segues into what the Chamber can do to a man both mentally and physically. Cody then tells Sheamus that if he chooses to face him, he will be facing a dual champion!

Big Show's turn to chime in; he has a microphone and enters the ring. Show is a smiling dummy and he starts off by telling Sheamus that he respects him and he tells Cody to shut his mouth before he slaps the taste out of it. Big Show then imagines what Sheamus vs. Big Show at WrestleMania would be like. Barrett interrupts and calls Show a WrestleMania punch line. He says that Snooki has had a better WrestleMania record than Big Show. Cody then calls Big Show the reverse Undertaker who loses every year. Big Show clocks Rhodes and tosses him from the ring and Sheamus gets rid of Barrett. Both men stand tall in the ring as Rhodes and Wade lick their wounds.

-Still to come tonight, Michael Cole will have a one on one interview with A.J.

-The Great Khali faces Jinder Mahal, next!

(Commercial)

[Q2]

-In an inset promo, Jinder Mahal says that if he beats Khali tonight, he demands that he gets Khali’s spot in the Elimination Chamber Match.

Mike’s Reax: I don’t know what would be worse - Jinder or Khali in the Chamber. I’m hoping for a Double DQ and an empty Chamber pod!

1 - THE GREAT KHALI vs. JINDER MAHAL

Mahal starts by slapping Khali while Josh goes over the convoluted back-story between the two men. Khali slaps Mahal around the ring until Jinder kicks Khali in the knee to knock him down. Mahal then chokes Khali on the middle rope, then outs a front facelock on Khali. Khali fights out and throws Jinder across the ring. Punjabi Plunge, Khali wins!

WINNER: The Great Khali by pinfall in 2:00

-At the announce table, Booker T says that Khali has a very good chance to win because of his size. Nothing else, just his size alone will get him the win. Josh Mathews then cuts to a video to remind the audience why Khali was in the match and why Mark Henry was out.

-Backstage, Aksana is with Teddy Long. She continues to seduce and entice him until Daniel Bryan enters the office without knocking, asking what is going on. Bryan asks if it is true, and Long doesn’t know what he is talking about. Bryan says that earlier Long had a BBQ. Long apologizes for not inviting Bryan and they go into a back and forth about why Bryan doesn’t eat meat and what vegans are all about. Daniel Bryan says that all this talk about eating meat has made him sick to his stomach and he can’t compete tonight. Teddy Long says he is sick of these games that Bryan is playing. He tells him to get ready for his match tonight, as he isn’t using veganism to get out of performing tonight!

-It was announced that Teddy Long also made a tag-match for tonight, Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show and Sheamus!

(Commercial)

[Q3]

2 - Divas champion BETH PHOENIX vs. ALICIA FOX - non-title match

The announcers go over the story that Beth has gone through every Diva without any trouble the last few months. They wonder if she will be Divas champion forever. In the next sentence, Booker says that Alicia Fox is a future Divas champion. Alicia sticks and moves with some quick offense to start. Fox tries a back suplex, but Beth shoves her off into the turnbuckle and hits her with the Glam Slam for the win.

WINNER: Beth Phoenix by pinfall in 1:00.

-Post-match, Beth picks up Fox for another Glam Slam, but Tamina makes the save. She has a stare down with Phoenix and Beth backs down, but welcomes the challenge.

-Randy Orton is stretching for his match with Daniel Bryan, tonight.

(Commercial)

-It is 51 days to WrestleMania, which will feature The Rock vs. John Cena. They play yet another Rock hype video. Is this supposed to be better or equal to The Rock actually showing up live?

-Backstage, Tyson Kidd and Natalya talk about her flatulence problem. He calls it a natural, disgusting problem. She breaks wind and he flees. Hornswoggle walks by and pratfalls as Nattie blames it on Tyson.

-Big Show makes his way to the ring for his tag match. Cole quips that they better be careful with all the pyro since there is a lot of gas in the air. Sigh.

(Commercial)

[Q4]

3 - WADE BARRETT & CODY RHODES vs. BIG SHOW & SHEAMUS

For some reason, Big Show came out, then the heels, then Sheamus last. That is a weird series on entrances. That can’t bode well for the face team's teamwork if they can’t be bothered to enter the ring one after the other. Big Show and Cody Rhodes start things out. Rhodes is apprehensive getting into the ring and he quickly tags Barrett in and takes a walk. Show pulls Wade over the top rope and slaps him hard across the chest, then clotheslines him to the floor. Cody enters the match without being tagged in, the ref allows it, and he unleashes a flurry of kicks to the shin until Show stops him with some chops. Gorilla press slam by Big Show sends Rhodes scurrying to his corner and Show tags Sheamus in. Wade tags in.

Both men fight over the advantage in a collar and elbow tie-up. Sheamus takes control with some right hands and a clothesline. Sheamus then ties Barrett up in the ropes and clubs his chest ten times and goes for the pin, but Wade kicks out at two. Both men are up and Sheamus walks into a mule kick from Barrett. Rhodes gets tagged in, but Sheamus quickly clotheslines him down, and then ejects him out of the ring as Smackdown takes a break!

(Commercial)

Rhodes kicks Sheamus in the stomach as Smackdown returns to action, but Sheamus shrugs it off (no-sells) and scores with Kennedy's old finisher on Rhodes. Tag to Show, who does more chopping and then he grabs Cody’s love handle and squeezes. Ew. Cody tags in Wade and both men double team Big Show and take him off his feet. Rhodes gets tagged back in and he nails Show with a missile dropkick for a two count. Rear chinlock from Rhodes keeps Show off his feet for a half a second as he snapmares Rhodes off of him. Rhodes quick tags Barrett who kicks Show in the face to keep him from reaching his feet. Chinlock form Barrett keeps Show down for three quarters of a second before Show squishes Wade in the corner. Quick tag to Cody who nails Show with his Beautiful Disaster Kick, but Show kicks out at two and Cody is livid!

[Q5] Another chinlock, so Show just stands up and sidewalk slams Rhodes. Both men tag out and Sheamus takes Barrett down with some Irish Hammers, then a powerslam. Rhodes tries to sneak attack Sheamus, but Big Show spears Rhodes out of his boots (that looked nasty!) and Sheamus Brogue Kicks Barrett for the win!

WINNERS: Sheamus and Big Show by pinfall in 13:00.

-Still to come: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan

-Next: Michael Cole interviews A.J.

(Commercial)

-Michael Cole is in the ring and he asks for everyone's attention. He says that for the first time since being run down by The Big Show, A.J. will make her first public statement. They then show the end of last Monday's match between Big Show and Bryan where Show almost ran her over again.

Cole starts off by asking how she is, A.J says that her neck is getting better and that the brace will be off shortly and she thanks everyone for their support. Cole jokes that no one knows who she is, so how can anyone support her. He then runs down what happened last Monday and then asks her what business she has at ringside. A.J. says that Bryan asked her to be there and she loves him, so she was there. She says that she doesn’t blame Big Show.

A.J. says the person who did more harm to her and Daniel is Michael Cole. She says that he never believed in Bryan and tried to drive a wedge between them. She says that all he does is knock Daniel Bryan, her, and the entire Divas division. She calls him a biased jerk. She also says the entire WWE would be a better place if he shut his mouth. Cole comes back with a “How dare you” line, and he says that all he is doing is doing his job. Cole says he gets paid for his insightful commentary and his comments. He tries opening her eyes by saying that “everyone” is saying that Bryan set her up to be run down by Big Show and that she is so blinded by love that she is the only person who can’t see what is happening. He tells her that she has no self-respect. Cole finishes by saying that at the Chamber, he will be in his glory because Daniel Bryan will lose his title and become a footnote in history.

[Q6] Daniel Bryan charges down to the ring and tells him not to say another word. Cole hands her the mic and gets out of the ring. Bryan says that his girlfriend has been through enough and that at Elimination Chamber he will retain his title because he is a great wrestler. Bryan changes gears and says that he is a role model to young people because last Sunday, instead of watching the Super Bowl, he took a nature walk. While people were stuffing their faces with the meat of dead animals and getting drunk, he was out there enjoying nature and being healthy. He then rants about recycling and caring for future generations the same way he cares about A.J. He hugs her and says that he and A.J. are so upset that they are leaving the arena, right now. He says that he is so environmentally conscience that he is leaving in a Prius!

-Cole rants at the announce table about why Bryan is such a phony and that A.J. is so blinded. Booker T calls A.J. sweeter than Carnation Milk.

-Backstage, Bryan and A.J. try leaving, but Teddy cuts him off and asks what he is doing. Daniel says that he needs a personal day because he needs to tend to his girlfriend. Teddy says that he will take care of her travel arrangements because if Bryan leaves the arena, he will be stripped of the World Title!

Mike's Reax: So, is A.J. a heel because she is with Bryan or is she a face because she stands up to Cole? I haven’t been this confused since I tried figuring out if Doc Brown in 1885 is omnipotent in Marty McFly's entire life.

(Commercial)

-Hunico cuts a promo from the back of Camacho's bike about breaking Ted DiBiase’s other wrist and putting a end to all Posse Parties from here on out.

4 - HUNICO (w/Camacho) vs. TED DIBIASE

Ted sends Hunico to the outside to start and rams him back-first into the barricade. Camacho tries to interfere, but the ref breaks it up. Back in the ring, Hunico cheap shots Ted as he gets back in the ring, then tosses him out in front of the announcers. Hunico distracts the ref and Camacho cheap shots Ted. Hunico rolls out to the floor and slams the broken wrist of DiBiase against the steel post, then rolls him back in the ring.

Hunico applies a wristlock and Ted screams bloody murder, but won’t give up. Hunico goes to the second rope and Ted catches him with a shot to the gut as he comes off. Ted starts to get some offense going, but Hunico hits the wrist and does a few wrist breakers until Ted rolls him up for a quick three count.

WINNER: Ted DiBiase by pinfall in 2:30

-Tonight: Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton

(Commercial)

-Josh throws to the generic Elimination Chamber video.

-Back at ringside, they discuss the significance of the Chamber match because it sets up the title matches for WrestleMania. Michael Cole then segues into plugging WWE's website and the announcement that John Laurinaitis is staying on as Interim General Manager of Raw! He says they have John on the phone, live from Abu Dhabi, where Raw is touring. John says that it is another exciting trip and anything can happen when he is around and he makes generic comments about being glad and humbled. He says he will be at Raw this Monday.

-Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. He squares off with the World Champion, next!

(Commercial)

-Shawn Michaels returns to Raw this Monday in San Diego. It is speculated by Josh Mathews that he will talk to Triple H about The Undertaker. Josh also welcomes Big Show to ringside; he will be on commentary for the main event.

[Q8]

5 - World Hvt. champion DANIEL BRYAN vs. RANDY ORTON - non-title match

Orton backs Bryan into the corner to start and the ref calls for a clean break, which he gets. Cole bickers with Show about the safety of Bryan and A.J. as Randy shoves Daniel down. Both men up, Daniel Bryan gets a hammerlock on Orton, standing switch, Bryan reverses out and whips Orton into the ropes, clothesline by Orton and he hip tosses Bryan a few times, then puts him in a wristlock. Bryan counters the hold and European uppercuts Orton. Orton whips Bryan in the turnbuckle, Bryan flips off the top rope over Orton, but walks into a dropkick that gets a two count.

Orton tries another clothesline, but Bryan sidesteps him and knees him in the midsection. Elbow to the top of Orton's skull by Bryan followed by some stiff kicks, but Orton fights back with some right hands. Daniel Bryan tries a charge, but Orton back body drops him out of the ring, in front of Big Show. Orton rolls out and gives Show a look, that distraction gives D-Bryan the chance cheap shot Orton, then come off the apron with a knee to the face as Smackdown takes a break!

(Commercial)

Bryan has Orton in a keylock when Smackdown returns. Orton starts to fight out, but Bryan tries an armbreaker. Bryan goes for the LeBell Lock, but Orton counters, so Daniel kicks him in the bad arm. Bryan goes for the armbreaker again but Orton comes back with a suplex/neckbreaker combo that got a two count. Meanwhile Big Show on commentary is matching Booker cliché for cliché!

Back in the ring, Orton fails at a superplex, so Bryan tries a big splash form the top rope, but Orton rolls out of the way. Clotheslines and a powerslam from Orton. He goes for his hangman DDT, but Bryan fights it and kicks Orton in the bad arm again. Bryan tries going up top again and Orton kicks the ropes to knock him off balance. Orton meets Bryan up on the top rope and he connects with the superplex! Orton tries putting Bryan away, but he kicks out at two. Garvin Stomp from Orton followed up by a running high knee that Bryan rolls out of the way of.

Bryan answers back with a running dropkick in the corner then some follow up stiff kicks, Orton blocks one and tries rolling up Bryan, but Bryan turns it into another LeBell Lock, but Orton kicks Bryan out of the ring. On the apron, Orton grabs a hold of Bryan and connects with the hangman DDT for a two count, Bryan rolls out of the ring, grabs his belt and tries leaving. Big Show is sick of seeing Bryan sneak out of matches, so he puts his hands on him and throws him back in the ring. Orton nails him with a RKO, but the ref calls for the bell, DQ’ing Orton.

WINNER: Bryan by DQ in 13:00.

-Post-match, Orton gets into Big Show's face and both men start brawling around the announce table as Bryan looks on from the ramp as Smackdown fades out!

Mike’s Reax: I liked where that match was going, and I feel like it was a good taste of what is to come between these two guys. It also continued the never-ending story of Bryan keeping his title without actually winning matches and finding a way to weasel his way out of them. I can’t wait to see these guys go at it for 20:00 without commercial breaks!

Thanks for reading, be sure to follow me on Twitter @MJCupach as I Tweet live during most WWE PPV’s and every Monday for Raw!

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