WWE Smackdown review
March 30, 2012
Taped 3/26/12 in Atlanta, Ga., and earlier today at Fan Axxess
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Smackdown Open.

1 – ZACK RYDER vs. DREW MCINTYRE

During Ryder’s entrance, they showed Josh Mathews and Matt Striker at the announce desk. Ryder did an inset interview talking positively about his relationship with Eve and how she’ll help Team Teddy go all the way at Wrestlemania. McIntyre was on his heels early on, with Ryder getting the better of him. McIntyre appeared to have the advantage, but Ryder turned the tide with a dropkick. Leapfrog, then a flapjack by Ryder. On a charge, Ryder was sent up into the air and came down on McIntyre’s knee. Snap suplex for two at 2:11. Gut-buster by McIntyre for another two-count. Mathews said we’d be joined by Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler at Fan Axxess throughout the show. McIntyre came off the middle rope and ate a boot. Ryder began to come back at 4:31 and landed the Broski Boot. Cover got two at 5:06. McIntyre created enough separation to get a big boot for two. Ryder got his knees up on a corner charge and hit the Rough Ryder leg drop for the win.

WINNER: Ryder, at 6:00. Basically a Superstars match.

- Still to come, Chris Jericho takes on Kofi Kingston.

- And next, a preview of the End of an Era Wrestlemania match.

- The latest Lord Tensai vignette aired.

[Commercial Break]

- “The Memory Remains” by Metallica is an official Wrestlemania theme song.

- Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler were at the Miami Beach Convention Center for Fan Axxess. They showed the Undertaker’s graveyard, representing his WM victims. They also showed fans walking down the actual WWE set entrance.

- Lawler and Cole talked about Taker vs. Triple H, and then we got the video package that aired on Monday night.

- The announcers plugged Jericho vs. Kingston.

[Commercial Break]

- Lawler thanked Madonna for “Girl Gone Wild,” another official Mania theme song.

- The WWE titles on display at Axxess were shown, as well as the world’s largest merchandise stand. “Over 30 t-shirts are available!” exclaimed Cole.

- Cole plugged the WWE.com pre-show, also airing on YouTube, at 6:30 pm EST.

- A video package on the Divas tag match aired, mostly with clips from that one episode of Extra.

- Cole said after the break, they’d take a special look at perhaps the most controversial match at Wrestlemania, CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho.

[Commercial Break]

- “The Rock Experience” at Fan Axxess gives fans a close-up glimpse of Rock’s sports entertainment life and career.

- Clips of wrestlers signing autographs were shown, including Edge, sporting a new, shorter haircut.

- Lawler talked about the online charity auction being held all weekend long on WWE.com.

- A video aired on the rivalry between Punk and Jericho, including some vintage clips of both men.

- Cole plugged Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy, and a special look at the match, you guessed it, after the break.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole and Lawler talked about WWE taking over YouTube today. Cole and Lawler’s conversations sound incredibly scripted here. Do they really not trust them to just wing it?

- Lawler had a Team Teddy flag and Cole waved one for Team Johnny. Lawler kicked it to a video of the hype this match got on Monday.

- Next, in the arena, we’ll hear from Big Show.

[Commercial Break]

-Back in the arena, Big Show was introduced by Lilian Garcia. Show talked about how fortunate he’s been in his career. But there’s one thing he’s never done, and that is never having a Wrestlemania moment. Show said Cody wanting to make a name for himself by beating him at Wrestlemania is a brilliant plan. But he’ll be stepping in the ring with the World’s Largest Athlete. Show said he feels it in his gut, his mind and his heart that this year will be different. He said Cody calls him a choke artist? Well Rhodes is going to get chokeslammed. He said Rhodes’ career will get broken when he wins the IC Title and has his Wrestlemania moment. Have to think he’s winning after an interview like that.

- Chris Jericho was walking backstage. He faces Kofi Kingston later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Lawler gave a shout out to MGK for providing another theme song for Mania, “Invincible,” with Ester Dean.

- They showed kids playing in a ring with foam blocks at Axxess. A fan with a Little Jimmy t-shirt was shown singing John Cena’s theme inside a booth, which apparently, you can also do.

- Another plug for the Wrestlemania pre-show on WWE.com and YouTube.

- A video package previewing Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan aired.

- Still to come, Kofi Kingston vs. Chris Jericho.

- Later tonight, we’ll see the final confrontation between Rock and John Cena from Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers discussed the WWE Hall-of-Fame ceremony, taking place tomorrow night at the American Airlines Arena. WWE.com has the full list of inductors, and a HOF special will air one hour before Raw on Monday night.

- A video, courtesy of WWE.com, aired on Undertaker vs. Triple H. Comments were provided by Sgt. Slaughter, Pat Patterson, Christian, Edge, Arn Anderson, Gene Okerlund, and Roddy Piper. The announcers talked about the End of an Era match, with Cole asking Lawler his opinion, since he’s been around WWE “all your life.” Uh, okay.

- Next, Jericho vs. Kingston.

[Commercial Break]

- Josh Mathews thanked Flo Rida for “Wild Ones,” an official Wrestlemania theme.

2 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. KOFI KINGSTON

Shoulder knock-down by Jericho, and he did some simple taunting, but Kofi came back with a jumping back-elbow and a corner splash. The match spilled to ringside but quickly went back in the ring. Jericho had the upper-hand when they went to break 1:56 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:50, Jericho still working over Kingston. He connected on a baseball slide that sent Kingston to ringside. Jericho sent Kingston head-first into the exposed steel barrier at ringside. After Kingston worked out of a rear chinlock, Jericho hit an enziguiri for two. More taunting and posing from Jericho, but that opened the door for Kingston. He exploded out of the corner with a clothesline. Chops and a dropkick, then Kofi gathered a head of steam for his Boom Drop. It was successful. Trouble in Paradise missed and Jericho went for the Walls. Kingston flipped out of it and hit a high cross-body off the top for two at 10:15. Another Trouble in Paradise counter and this time the Walls of Jericho was locked in, and it wasn’t the wussy Boston Crab either. It was legit, and Kofi tapped.

WINNER: Jericho, at 11:11.

After replays, Jericho pointed to the Wrestlemania sign.

- Next, the final confrontation between Cena and Rock from Raw will be shown.

[Commercial Break]

- More from Fan Axxess, with the Miami skyline shown. They also showed the Money in the Bank special exhibit at Axxess. Cole asked Lawler whether he was on #TeamBringIt or #Cenation. Lawler said he’d Tweet it to Cole. Cole sent it to clips of the final segment from Raw, with the interaction between Rock and Cena. It took up the last 14 minutes of 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. 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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Kevin Owens vs. Ryback in an Intercontinental Title Match

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/24: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Kevin Owens & Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler & Ryback

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/17: Ongoing coverage of the Thursday night show, including Seth Rollins & Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns