WWE Smackdown review
May 18, 2012
Taped 5/15/12 in Hershey, Pa.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- A recap video aired of the final segment on Raw this past week. Weird, if they lead off with a video package from Raw, it usually has something to do with Smackdown. I guess technically this does, since John Laurinaitis is Smackdown GM.

- Inside the arena, John Laurinaitis’ music hit and he came out. He was not his usual jovial self. Laurinaitis said he disagreed with the decision of the Board of Directors that was announced this week. He talked about how they restricted the way he is allowed to compete with Cena. That’s a unique way of saying, “they won’t let me pay off wrestlers to interfere on my behalf.” Laurinaitis said he asked the Board to reconsider their decision…and they said no. So now, he’s asking the fans to support him in the unfair match. The Hershey fans weren’t having it. Laurinaitis said he doesn’t expect them to cheer him, but tonight, when they fall asleep, say a prayer for Big Johnny. Laurinaitis put the mic down and paused when C.M. Punk’s music hit and he walked out.

The crowd chanted Punk’s name when his music died down. Punk said everybody has been praying already, and those prayers have been answered: This Sunday, the only way Laurinaitis wins is by pinfall or submission. Punk said the best part is when, not if, Cena beats him, Laurinaitis gets terminated. Punk talked of the parties that would occur with Laurinaitis out of power. He brought up Laurinaitis’ treatment of The Big Show on Raw this past week and how he was disgusted by it. Punk asked how it felt to be on the other end of the stick for once. Laurinaitis said he wasn’t there yet and can make any match he wants. So he put Punk in a match with Kane tonight. Punk said he won’t go to the board and complain because he respects Kane, a feeling he doesn’t have for Laurinaitis. Didn’t we basically see this same opening segment on Raw a few weeks ago – Laurinaitis cuts a promo, Punk interrupts with no real purpose, then gets put in a match?

Punk left and Laurinaitis complained about the fans, saying he works hard for them, yet the harder he works, the more they like to crap all over him. He didn’t want to blame Cena or Punk for their actions, but rather, the fans get the blame for supporting what they do and say. “I detest each and every one of you.” Laurinaitis told them to go to hell. He tossed the mic down and walked to the back. Michael Cole claimed that, not for nothing (his newest buzz term), he respects what Laurinaitis has done. Cole, Josh Mathews and Booker T. were shown on-camera reacting to that segment.

- Tonight, Sheamus goes one-on-one with Randy Orton.

[Commercial Break]

1 – KOFI KINGSTON & R-TRUTH vs. DARREN YOUNG & TITUS O’NEIL

Young kneed Truth in the mid-section in the corner. Quick tag to Kingston, who landed a springboard cross-body for two. O’Neil tried to get involved but was kicked off the apron. Young used the distraction to his advantage and connected on a back suplex that sent Kingston hard onto the apron. Big running splash in the corner by the now-legal O’Neil. Second attempt was met with Kingston’s feet. Truth and Young both tagged in at 2:15 and Truth was a house afire. Lie Detector connected (although it’s no longer called by that name). Kingston and O’Neil predictably got involved, with Kingston getting the better of that exchange. Truth with his finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Truth and Kingston, at 2:59. Surprising they jobbed O’Neil and Young here, but they were really the only tag team left with credibility who could job to the champs heading into their match on Sunday.

- A video on the Be A Star campaign aired.

- Zack Ryder was recording his show on his phone when Damien Sandow walked up and looked disgusted. He just shook his head as he saw what Ryder was doing. Sandow is out next.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews thanked Thousand Foot Krutch for “War of Change,” the official theme song to Over the Limit.

- Damien Sandow came out with a mic in hand. Yoshi Tatsu was introduced as his opposition. Sandow wanted to cut a promo before the match, promising to help all of the fans. He said it’s his passion to set them free from the chains of ignorance. Sandow said he stood on the precipice of introducing an era of enlightenment a few weeks ago, but he was pitted against an unworthy opponent. However, he found himself in the same vexing situation tonight, calling Tatsu an “alleged Superstar” and an “unworthy opponent.” Sandow thanked everyone then started walking to the back. Tatsu got the mic and told Sandow he’s chicken. He squawked like a chicken, drawing the ire of Sandow, who disrobed and charged the ring. Sandow, in pink tights and purple knee-pads, went on the attack. He finished Tatsu with a neck-breaker. Sandow visibly regained his composure after the beat-down. No match.

- Tonight, “Why?” asked the graphic that showed Big Show crying from Raw. Apparently, we’ll get to re-live that later on.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed the exterior of the Giant Center in Hershey.

- Video aired from two weeks ago on Raw and the situation that led to the World Title match being changed to a Fatal Four-Way on Sunday. They also showed the combustible situation in regards to the four men from this past Monday.

- Matt Striker was backstage interviewing Orton and Sheamus. He asked for their thoughts on their match tonight. Sheamus said the Four-Way gives him a chance to show what kind of champ he really is. He talked about being able to harness his aggression unlike some people. And Orton said like one of his opponents, he used to be overconfident to the point of looking like an idiot. The two men continued talking about each other without mentioning their names. The two went face-to-face and Orton ended things by saying everyone knows where nice guys finish (after Sheamus said he wouldn’t Brogue Kick one of his opponents at that moment because he’s a nice guy).

2 – ZACK RYDER vs. DANIEL BRYAN

“Yes” chants erupted once the bell rang. Hard European uppercuts by Bryan, then a knee to the back of Ryder’s head. Ryder brought Bryan down head-first on the mat, but a knee-lift put him back down. Running dropkick in the corner by Bryan. Ryder made his comeback and nailed Bryan with a dropkick off the middle rope. He was tripped up on a Broski Boot attempt. Boot to the head followed by the Yes Lock ended the match.

WINNER: Bryan, at 2:27. A convincing win for Bryan heading into his WWE Title match on Sunday. Too bad it had to be against Ryder, but the ship seems to have sailed on WWE doing something with him.

- Kane was backstage….just strangely staring into the camera…he faces C.M. Punk next.

[Commercial Break]

- Bryan joined the announcers at ringside for the next match.

3 – C.M. PUNK vs. KANE

Kane cornered Punk and pushed him around a little bit. Punk fired back and clotheslined Kane over the top rope and to the floor. Kane landed on his feet and regrouped as they went to break, 1:10 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

They returned at 4:16 with Punk kicking at the legs of Kane. DDT by Punk for a one-count. Figure-Four leg-lock by Punk, which the crowd recognized and shouted “whoo” at. Kane kicked Punk away when he tried another submission move and Punk ended up outside the ring. He brought Kane throat-first across the top rope, then a springboard into a Kane uppercut. Kane sent Punk rib-first into the ring post. “I don’t think that’s going to heal by Sunday,” laughed Bryan. Kane locked Punk in a bear-hug in the middle of the ring. Punk broke the hug but fell victim to a back-breaker for a two-count. Kane continued working the ribs by applying the scissors to the mid-section of Punk. Punk came back with a swinging neck-breaker out of nowhere. Lateral press, still for only one. Missed charge by Kane then a running knee in the corner. First bulldog attempt went nowhere, but a bulldog off the second rope worked. Punk got Kane up for the GTS, but the mid-section gave out. Kick to the head by Kane for a near-fall. Kane placed Punk on the top rope and attempted a suplex. Punk knocked Kane off his perch then hit the flying elbowdrop for two at 10:13. Anaconda Vice attempt, but Kane powered out. Another side slam for two. Clothesline off the top by Kane. Bryan was loving it. He set up for the chokeslam, but Punk kicked Kane in the skull, sending Kane to ringside. Suicide dive by Punk hit his target. Bryan grabbed a chair and almost hit Punk with it. Instead, he hit Kane in the back.

WINNER: Kane, via disqualification, at 11:42. Bryan playing mind games with Punk. Really trying to put him over big on this show.

Bryan placed the chair in a spot to make Kane think it was Punk. Kane assaulted Punk with the chair after the match as Bryan watched from atop the stage. In the ring, Kane chokeslammed Punk. A second one followed. They replayed the finish of the match and Kane’s post-match attack. Afterward, they lingered on Punk selling the effects of the beating in the ring.

- Still to come tonight, Randy Orton vs. Sheamus.

- Next, it’s Cody Rhodes vs. Santino Marella in a champion vs. champion match.

[Commercial Break]

4 – SANTINO MARELLA vs. CODY RHODES

Santino did an inset interview proclaiming his love for and to the United States Championship. Apparently, Santino and Cody have been in a Twitter war over the past few days. Single-leg take-down by Rhodes, who then slapped the back of Santino’s head. Booker admitted, when prodded by Cole, that the Intercontinental Championship is more prestigious than the US Championship. Santino reversed an Irish Whip but ate an elbow on a charge. Moonsault by Rhodes missed and Santino took out the Cobra. Instead, Cody hit a dropkick for two. Marella caught Cody coming off the ropes with the strike of the Cobra for the pinfall.

WINNER: Marella, at 1:58. The announcers really did a nice job of putting over both championships during the match.

- A clip aired from earlier tonight of Laurinaitis asking the fans to say a prayer for him, then turning on them later on.

- Next, Big Show’s firing will be shown.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers were shown and Mathews tossed it to a video package from Monday of Big Show attempting to apologize to John Laurinaitis, then the long, awkward firing that ensued.

- Various Tweets were shown in support of Big Show, from fans to WWE Superstars. Even Tyson Kidd!

- Randy Orton came out for his match with Sheamus. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – RANDY ORTON vs. SHEAMUS

Based on the booking, I don’t think this match lasts almost a half hour; I’m guessing a DQ occurs and it gets turned into a tag match or something like that. An extended collar-and-elbow tie-up led to a stalemate. Side headlock by Sheamus, then a shoulder tackle put him down. Dropkick by Orton for a one-count. They seem to be pacing themselves for a longer match anyway. Arm-bar by Orton but Sheamus forced a break by backing Orton into the corner. The referee had to break them up. A shoving match broke out and Orton put Sheamus down with a short clothesline. Orton hammered away on Sheamus in the corner, and Sheamus turned it around. The men began to brawl as the official gave them a fair amount of leeway. Sheamus was dumped to ringside and he brought Orton out to continue their assault on each other. Sheamus sent Orton shoulder-first into the ring steps. Orton worked the arm and shoulder of Sheamus, ramming it into the ring post and steel steps. He stomped on the wrist of Sheamus with Sheamus laid across the steps. They went to break at 4:50.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:12 of the match. Orton had Sheamus tied up in the middle rope and barely broke before the ref’s count of five. He continued working on the left arm and shoulder of Sheamus. Short-arm DDT by the Viper. Only a two-count at 9:12. Sheamus fought out of a rest-hold, only for Orton to go after the arm once again. Rights and lefts by Sheamus, but again, he couldn’t sustain the momentum. Orton whipped him into the buckle and Sheamus took the bump shoulder-first. Sheamus finally created some separation and tossed Orton out of the ring. Orton climbed onto the apron and was knee-lifted by Sheamus. Sheamus then connected on his patented forearms to the chest of Orton. Sheamus then gathered a head of steam and ran through Orton, sending Orton off the apron and into the barricade. They took the final break at 12:04 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

They returned at 16:07. Sheamus buried several knee-drops into the face and chin of Orton. Cover got two at 16:25. This time, it was Sheamus who tried to wear Orton down with a chin-lock. Knee-lift by Sheamus for a two-count. Sheamus hoisted Orton in the air, but Orton countered with a back-breaker. Hard clotheslines by Orton, then a scoop slam. Belly-to-belly throw from Orton, who then set up for his DDT. Sheamus instead brought Orton throat-first across the top rope. Diving shoulder tackle from Sheamus. Powerslam by Sheamus for two at 19:38. Irish Curse back-breaker for two at 20:25. Sheamus ascended the top rope, but Orton tripped him up. Superplex by Orton. He took his time to crawl over and make the cover, allowing Sheamus to kick out at 21:40. Brogue Kick attempt, but Sheamus missed and got caught on the top rope. Vintage Orton DDT at 22:54. Both men’s finishers were countered, and upon countering Orton’s RKO, Sheamus rolled up his foe for the pinfall.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 23:26.

Orton told Sheamus, “you got me” after the match. Then he stuck out his hand for a shake, but Sheamus wasn’t having it. They carried on a conversation without a mic and Orton again offered his hand. Sheamus shook it and of course, Orton RKO’d him. Wrestlers really need to learn to stop shaking Orton's hand. Orton stood over Sheamus as the show drew to a close.


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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