WWE Smackdown review
September 28, 2012
Taped 9/25/12 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- Smackdown Open.

- The camera panned the crowd, then Josh Mathews and Michael Cole opened the show by plugging Randy Orton vs. The Big Show.

- Big Show came to the ring, and while he did, they showed his destruction from Monday night. Show immediately talked about getting back in the title hunt, saying the last time he held the World Title, it was for only 45 seconds. He got angry talking about how embarrassing that made him feel. But it also made him mad to see the man who beat him lose to Sheamus at Wrestlemania. He said that was a turning point, as at Wrestlemania, he was in a match where he was made fun of. I guess we’re ignoring his run challenging for the WWE Title on Raw? Before he could get much further, Randy Orton’s music interrupted and he walked out.

Orton said Show can’t get to Sheamus unless he goes through him first. He said he just heard that their match tonight is to determine the #1 contender for the World Title, and for a match for said title against Sheamus at Hell in a Cell. Orton’s hair has grown out a little more than usual. Show said someone will get bit by an RKO or get KO’d. That line is a little too cute for someone like Big Show to be using. Alberto Del Rio interrupted and he did some mic work on his way to the ring.

He claimed he was robbed of his rightful World Title, and that he’s better than Orton and Show together. He told the two men to get in the back of the line. As soon as ADR entered the ring, Orton RKO’d him. Then his music played and he left. That felt like a somewhat abbreviated opening interview segment. They replayed the RKO on Del Rio.

- MizTV with Sheamus is later on tonight.

- Next, in a United States Title match, Santino Marella vs. Antonio Cesaro.

[Commercial Break]

1 – ANTONIO CESARO vs. SANTINO MARELLA – UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

No Aksana with Cesaro after their break-up last week, and no pre-match mic work, either. Short clothesline by Cesaro took Marella down early on. He followed it up by peppering Marella in the torso with rights and lefts. Overhead suplex for two at the one-minute mark. Marella broke out of a hold with a side suplex. Cobra attempt but Cesaro caught him with a punch to the gut. Gutwrench suplex, but Santino rolled through for two. Hard European uppercut turned the tide back in Cesaro’s favor. Gutwrench suplex worked that time. Pin attempt got two. As Cesaro trash-talked, Marella hit a superkick for two. Cesaro was crotched on the top rope where Marella met him. Suplex attempt didn’t work, but Cesaro was back-dropped down. Santino went to the top, but missed a headbutt. Cesaro recovered to hit the neutralizer for the win.

WINNER: Cesaro, at 4:09. The right result. I thought Cesaro should’ve gone over stronger at first, but the near-falls Marella registered in the match worked pretty well to add a little drama.

Cesaro celebrated as the closing moments of the match were replayed.

- Orton vs. Big Show is still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole and Mathews talked about Kane and Daniel Bryan getting a new team name. Then we saw the first video of the three from Raw.

2 – NATALYA vs. BETH PHOENIX

No entrance for either Diva. They showed a Tout from Eve, discussing the revelation from Raw as it pertains to who attacked Kaitlyn. Some chain wrestling to start, certainly unique given how few Divas could successfully pull it off. Beth worked an arm-bar, but Natalya turned it into one of her own. Some “Let’s go Buffalo” chants for the hometown Diva, Beth. Beth stuck her finger in Nattie’s chest and pushed her away. Nattie slapped Beth. Phoenix tackled Natalya and the two brawled on the mat. Nattie reached the ropes and Beth had to break. She fired up the crowd, but missed a move off the second rope. Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter, exposing the Sabres logo Beth had on her tights. Beth powered to the ropes, but Nattie dragged her back to the center of the ring. Beth crawled over again and reached the rope, which popped the crowd. Roll-up by Beth, but she rolled through. She picked Natalya up and dropped her with the Glam Slam. However, Natalya did the unthinkable and kicked out at two. Victory roll attempt by Beth, but Natalya sat down and got two. Beth reversed it and picked up the win.

WINNER: Phoenix, at 4:15. With the rumors of Beth’s departure and being in her hometown, I thought for sure the kick-out of the Glam Slam by Natalya would lead to Beth’s loss. Good change-up thrown by WWE.

Eve came out after the match and apologized for jumping to conclusions on Raw. Eve said until they can conclude the investigation, Beth will be indefinitely suspended. Which makes no sense as the only thing they have on her is her blond hair and Natalya is also blond. I guess Beth didn’t leave Buffalo unscathed after all. Natalya and Beth argued after the match.

- John Cena’s own pipe bomb from Raw will re-air next.

[Commercial Break]

- Booker T. and Teddy Long were discussing the tag division backstage with Booker talking about an eight-team, single-elimination tournament to find a team to face Daniel Bryan and Kane for the titles at Hell in a Cell. Beth Phoenix barged in and asked for an explanation for why she was suspended indefinitely. That was news to Booker. Eve walked in and said she had the authority to do so. Booker said she didn’t and lifted the suspension. Eve said she was sorry and Beth said she should be. She walked away and Eve blamed Long for the screw-up. Eve tried to spin it as Long being jealous of Booker. She walked out and Booker eyed Teddy suspiciously. Booker just asked him for some time to think about it after Long told Booker not to believe her.

- The announcers talked about WWE’s partnership with the Susan G. Komen foundation.

- The Raw Rebound aired showing parts of Mick Foley and C.M. Punk’s interview, as well as Cena and Punk’s.

- The Miz was in makeup backstage. MizTV is tonight.

[Commercial Break]

3 – ZACK RYDER vs. WADE BARRETT

No entrance for Ryder. Shoulder take-down by Barrett, then a back kick surprised Ryder. Pump handle front slam for two. For what it’s worth, Brad Maddox is refereeing this one. Face-plant by Ryder at 1:51 in an attempt to come back. Middle rope dropkick grazed Barrett’s head to take him down. Broski Boot was set up, but Barrett slid out of the ring. Ryder caught him with a kick through the ropes anyway. Back in the ring, Barrett clotheslined Ryder over the top and to the outside. Barrett tossed Ryder back in and finished him with the Souvenir, elbow to the face.

WINNER: Barrett, at 3:15. Continuing the build of Barrett, but I’m not sold on the finisher yet.

Replays aired of the high points of the match.

- The second Bryan/Kane skit from Raw aired.

- Sheamus was walking backstage. He’s on MizTV next.

[Commercial Break]

- Miz was in the ring for MizTV. He called it “the most must-see talk show in WWE history.” Before he could get any more superlatives out to describe the show, Sheamus’ music interrupted and the World Champ came out, right at the top of the hour. Sheamus said he didn’t want to wait for his introduction because Miz has been suffering from memory loss. He reminded Miz what Ryback did to him and his set last week. He asked Miz how he’ll top the show from Monday. Miz didn’t reply so Sheamus said he’d top it by having the World Champion on the show. Sheamus kept asking Miz questions and pulling the mic away. Miz picked up his own mic and tooted his own horn by reminding Sheamus he’s still the Intercontinental Champion. Miz plugged all of his entertainment properties, and, oh by the way, his sports entertainment career.

Miz said the people have to pay to see him everywhere and tonight, they had to pay to see him on MizTV. Sheamus said no one wants to pay to see him. Miz said he’s surprised Sheamus isn’t more serious, given the stakes of tonight’s main event. He asked Sheamus why he isn’t more worried about facing either Big Show or Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell. Sheamus turned serious and said that no one takes the title more serious than him. He said he knows one tiny error could cost him his title. Sheamus said holding the World Title is a privilege, one of the greatest achievements of his entire life. He said it would be an honor to defend against Randy Orton, and he’s never faced Big Show so that would be something he could check off his bucket list. But he wouldn’t let Miz insult his integrity. He said he knows what the fans paid for tonight and he’s more than happy to give it to them. Instead, Vickie Guerrero walked out yelling “excuse me!” and Dolph Ziggler came out behind her with his MITB briefcase.

Vickie said Sheamus should be more concerned about Ziggler than Orton or Show…or at least, she was going to, before Ziggler took the mic and said he could handle it himself. Ziggler went into the ring and told Sheamus what would happen at Hell in a Cell. Ziggler said tonight’s main event is irrelevant as he’ll be the World Champion after the PPV. Sheamus retorted, telling Ziggler not to be so sure of himself. Miz was sitting down taking in the proceedings. Ziggler and Sheamus dropped the mic – Sheamus pushed Miz out of the chair and attacked Ziggler. Ziggler and Miz double-teamed Sheamus, but Sheamus was able to get the better of the two eventually, finishing it off by back-dropping Ziggler over the top and onto Miz. Not the strongest showing from Sheamus on the mic.

- Still to come, the main event that Ziggler just called “irrelevant,” The Big Show vs. Randy Orton.

- They showed the brackets for the tag team tournament to crown a number one contender for the tag belts. The tourney starts next, with the Usos vs. The Rhodes Scholars. The Cody/Sandow team name sounds like an old Survivor Series team name.

[Commercial Break]

4 – THE USOS vs. THE RHODES SCHOLARS – FIRST ROUND TAG-TEAM TOURNAMENT MATCH TO DETERMINE THE #1 CONTENDERS TO THE TAG TITLES

Sandow took down a charging Jimmy Uso with a boot. Samoan drop by Jimmy. Both men made tags at the :54 mark. Jey flipped and knocked Cody down, but it wasn’t pretty. Sandow broke up a pin attempt and dodged an attack by Jey. Superkick on Rhodes by Jey. Jimmy tagged in and Sandow took out Jey. The distraction allowed Cody to get his knees up on a top-rope splash and hit Cross Rhodes for the win.

WINNERS: The Rhodes Scholars, at 1:54. Hard to make a tournament seem like a big deal when a match like this goes so quickly.

- Bryan and Kane vignette number three aired.

- Randy Orton vs. Big Show, winner faces Sheamus at Hell in a Cell, tonight.

[Commercial Break]

5 – TENSAI vs. RYBACK

Tensai was already in the ring. Long lock-up for the two men, and Tensai landed an uppercut. He pounded away on Ryback in the corner then splashed him. Ryback with a headbutt to the chest and a bell-to-belly throw. Running clothesline, but Tensai caught him and gave him the Tree Slam. Ryback got the shoulder up before even two. Ryback caught Tensai with a clothesline as the former A-Train came off the ropes. Ryback put Tensai on his shoulders and gave him the finish. Crowd was standing for that one.

WINNER: Ryback, at 2:05. Tough to tell if the crowd reaction during the match was genuine or not, as it was one of the louder segments of the show. Even if it wasn’t, the finish got their attention.

- Randy Orton was walking backstage. He’s out next…or not, as Alberto Del Rio attacked him. He pushed a trunk into Orton. Only one referee came on the scene to send Del Rio on his way and check on Orton.

[Commercial Break]

- Del Rio’s attack of Orton backstage was shown.

- Big Show came out for the main event. When Orton’s music played, Alberto Del Rio instead came out. Del Rio smarmily said Orton won’t be able to compete tonight, then put himself in the match in Orton’s place. But Orton attacked Del Rio from behind on top of the stage, and slammed Del Rio’s head off of the WWE logo. Orton held his side as he limped down the ramp. The announcers said it appeared as if Orton would go through with the match. We’ll find out after the break.

[Commercial Break]

- As the ref readied the men for the match, Del Rio shoving the trunk into Orton backstage was shown again.

6 – THE BIG SHOW vs. RANDY ORTON – WORLD TITLE #1 CONTENDER MATCH, WINNER FACES SHEAMUS FOR THE TITLE AT HELL IN A CELL

A quick flurry for Orton was met with a reply in the form of a headbutt from Show. Orton tried to fight back, but was headbutted down. Show just grabbed Orton ribs and squeezed. Cole said Show’s hands were as wide as a football. Show stepped on Orton’s ribs near the ropes. Cole was basically writing Orton off at this point. Elbowdrop by Show for two. The Viper tried to buy himself some time outside the ring and kicked Show a few times when his opponent came out, but Show was just too much. He picked Orton up and dropped him stomach-first over the barricade. Show went back in the ring as Orton convalesced at 3:43 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:20 of the main event match. Orton got a few punches in but ran into a choke. Orton avoided the chokeslam and DDT’d Show. Show kicked out of a pin though. He took back over on offense with punches to the ribs of Orton. Outside the ring once again, Orton used Show’s momentum against him and shoved the big man into the ring post. Orton couldn’t capitalize though and back in the ring, Show signaled for a chokeslam. Out of nowhere, Orton hit an RKO for a two-count, as it took him a second to make the pin. This time, Orton set up for the Punt. He ran at Show and Show chokeslammed him. Orton kicked out at two. A second chokeslam kept Orton down.

WINNER: Show, at 12:35.

Orton’s RKO was replayed, as was Show’s final chokeslam. Show then re-entered the ring and gave Orton a knockout punch. Show got a mic and told Sheamus he’ll be seeing him at Hell in a Cell.


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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