WWE Smackdown review
November 6, 2012
Taped earlier in the day from Birmingham, England
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- A voice-over man ran down some of the big news from Raw relating to Survivor Series. Or at least, previewed talking about it later on. Plus, the man plugged Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio in a Falls Count Anywere match tonight.

- They went into the arena and the camera panned the crowd. Michael Cole was in the ring, and he introduced Sheamus, who entered the arena. Sheamus seemed upset and he was pacing in the ring. Cole noted that Sheamus and William Regal went out drinking in a pub in Birmingham, and apparently there was an incident. He said there was cell phone footage of the incident, and it proceeded to air. Lots of back-slapping for Sheamus from fans until Big Show showed up out of nowhere and attacked Sheamus and Regal. How can a guy that size enter the place unnoticed? That video was a WWE.com exclusive, by the way. Take that, TMZ!

Sheamus took the mic from Cole and told him it’s not a good idea for Cole to be in the ring right now. Sheamus said part of him respects Show for what he has done in his career and for the guys in the locker room. But the problem, he said, is that he’s still standing. Sheamus gave Show the chance to finish what he started. He said at Survivor Series, it’ll be about the title…but right now, it’s about him kicking Show’s ass. Show appeared on the video board. He called Sheamus an “ungrateful ginger.” He said he held back a little so Sheamus could make it to Survivor Series. He threatened to take Sheamus out permanently. Show told Sheamus to ask his “mate” Regal if it was a good idea to fight him. Sheamus accused Show of being scared, but Show said Sheamus has nothing to offer him. Sheamus again told Show to come on down to the ring, but instead, Wade Barrett walked out to his theme song.

Barrett wondered why Sheamus would challenge Show when he has a fight with him on Main Event tomorrow night. He said he’ll make sure there’s not much left of Sheamus to make it to Survivor Series. Sheamus was tired of talk and wanted a fight. Barrett dropped the mic and headed to the ring…but stopped half-way down the ramp and headed back up. Sheamus’s music played as he posed in the ring to end the segment. Not a bad start to the show.

- Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio in a Falls Count Anywhere match is still to come.

- The Miz and Kofi Kingston were walking backstage in a split-screen. The Intercontinental title is on the line next.

[Commercial Break]

- Josh Mathews plugged a Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund for New Jersey.

- Barrett was shown backstage. Booker T. approached him and said he never pegged Barrett as one to back down from a fight. He said he talked to Regal and proposed a tag match: Regal and Sheamus vs. Barrett and Show tonight. “Thank you,” replied Barrett.
- JBL and Mathews were shown on camera. JBL referred to Booker as “King Booker.”

1 – THE MIZ vs. KOFI KINGSTON – INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

I like having Tony Chimel back because of the way he says Miz’s name. They showed the finish to the tag match that involved both Kingston and Miz last Friday on Smackdown. Miz and Kofi traded offense early on. Monkey flip on Miz, who was then clotheslined over the top rope. Kofi was tossed onto the top of the barricade, where he landed on his feet of course. He dove onto Miz with a clothesline. First cover of the match at 1:36, for a two-count. Miz countered and Kingston writhed in pain, holding his knee. They went to break at 2:04 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back 6:06 into the match, with Miz working on the knee/leg area of Kingston. This match seems to be going in a similar direction as their Hell in a Cell match. Surprise roll-up for two at 6:58, and Miz again took out the knee. Kingston avoided a Miz charge, then shot back with a double-leg take-down. Boom drop connected, and then he set up for Trouble in Paradise. It was countered, as was the Skull Crushing Finale. They traded roll-ups, followed by a Miz single-leg Boston crab. Kingston managed to grab the ropes to break the hold. Miz tried a suplex off the top rope, but he was shoved off. Miz tried for it again, but Kofi knocked him off more forcefully this time. Cross-body off the top rope was enough to get the three-count.

WINNER: Kingston, at 11:31. Kofi has now beaten Miz four times, a number WWE isn’t shying away from announcing. There’s been buzz that he might be in for a bigger push, but if that’s the case, why emphasize how many losses he’s taken?

After the match, Miz circled the inside of the ring. He extended his hand to Kingston. Kofi nailed Miz in the mouth. That wasn’t nice. As Miz stomped back up the ramp, they replayed a few clips from the match.

- Next, Sheamus and William Regal take on Big Show and Wade Barrett in a tag match.

- Mathews and JBL talked on-camera about the Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. The Prime Time Players feud. A graphic was shown for that match, taking place later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

2 – THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS vs. SIN CARA & REY MYSTERIO

They must’ve got the graphics wrong before the break in reference to when this and the other scheduled tag match was to take place. I think this is the new Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Tyme. No entrance for the Players. Cara quickly took down Darren Young, but Young came back with a hot-shot on Cara. Back suplex followed that for two at :41. Cara hopped off the second rope and DDT’d Young. JBL continues to hold a grudge against Mysterio. Enziguiri by Cara on Titus O’Neil, then Rey tagged in at 2:13. Mysterio fended off Young, but couldn’t connect on the 619. O’Neil gave Rey his finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Prime Time Players, at 3:17. I think this ties up the series at 485 wins apiece.

- Matt Striker tried to get a word with the heels after the match, but Titus blew on his whistle, which I guess is his new thing. O’Neil conducted the interview after taking the mic from Striker. He asked Young what the win meant and Young replied, “millions of dollars.” O’Neil asked what they’d be getting when they win the tag titles. “Millions of dollars,” of course. O’Neil asked Striker what pops in his head when he sees the Players walking down the aisle. Striker tepidly said, “millions of dollars.” O’Neil asked for a little more stank, so Striker gave it a little more vigor. O’Neil and Young invited Striker to do their dance with them, but Striker wasn’t into it. So they shoved him aside and made fun of his new mustache, which I didn’t even notice until they said something.. I wonder who Striker pissed off lately to be getting the treatment he’s been getting.

- Up next (allegedly), Vickie Guerrero provides more proof of an inappropriate relationship between A.J. and John Cena.

[Commercial Break]

- Vickie’s “evidence” against A.J. Lee and John Cena that she unveiled on Raw last night was shown.

- Mathews and JBL showed a Tweet from Vickie saying she has even MORE evidence, this time, from an anonymous source. Wonderful.

- Booker and Teddy were talking backstage about Vickie Guerrero. Long continued to try to suck up to Booker, which upset Book. He said he didn’t hire Long to do that. Then Booker started laughing and said he was messing with Teddy. They turned their attention to the monitor, where Wade Barrett was making his way to the ring. They went to break as he did so.

[Commercial Break]

- Big Show was in the ring out of break and they again showed Show’s attack on Regal and Sheamus in the pub. Regal and Sheamus came to the ring separately and Sheamus charged in the ring immediately. He and Regal attacked Show before the bell, sending him out of the ring. Show and Barrett regrouped on the outside as the official tried to restore order.

3 – WADE BARRETT & THE BIG SHOW vs. WILLIAM REGAL & SHEAMUS

Barrett and Sheamus began the match. As expected, the two traded hard rights to start. Regal tagged in and the crowd seemed a bit torn at that point. Quick tag back to Sheamus, who clobbered Barrett with a short clothesline. JBL referred to Regal as “the voice of NXT.” I’m not sure how many people watching Smackdown can actually still see that show. Barrett took over on Regal and brought in Big Show for the first time in the match. Show landed an elbowdrop on Regal, which they replayed. Regal was trying to work out of a nerve-hold as they went to break at 5:39 of the contest.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:58 of the match. Regal was still taking a beating from both Barrett and Show. Running boot to a seated Regal by Show. A suplex by Regal bought him some time, and he landed a running elbow to Barrett. Tag at 11:46 and Sheamus came in. He took Show off his feet and then went to the top, where he came off with a flying shoulder tackle. Barrett interfered when Sheamus readied for the Brogue Kick. That led to Show spearing Sheamus. Regal got involved and hit the knee trembler, but Show felled him with a Knockout punch. He then made the pin.

WINNERS: Show and Barrett, at 13:02. Regal was the obvious one to take the pin here. Nice feather in the cap of Show and Barrett regardless.

- More from Mathews and JBL: They talked about Orton vs. Del Rio tonight, then showed what happened between the two last week that led to this match being booked.

- Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez were shown talking backstage. Striker interrupted and asked if what happened in the catering area last week is a harbinger of things to come this week. Del Rio, of course, denied it was such. He also shook off a question about getting RKO’d last night. He promised to beat Orton all over the arena tonight. He sent Striker away, then Rosa Mendes walked up and wished Del Rio good luck.

- Next, Brad Maddox answered the burning questions on Raw last night. We’ll see clips of that after the break.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews plugged the NYC Mayor’s Fund to help those in New York impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

- Back to JBL and Mathews, who led into a video package of Brad Maddox’s confession from Raw last night.

- A graphic aired for the Ryback vs. Brad Maddox match set for Raw, where Maddox gets a $1 million contract if he wins.

- Backstage, Matt Striker was with Randy Orton. Orton said he’s not worried about Del Rio’s talk. Tonight, he said they’re going to have to “get a little sick and twisted.” And Orton said everyone knows just how sick and twisted he can get. Orton’s music played as he ended the interview. He then made his entrance to the ring. The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Somewhere in between last night and tonight, Fangangoo lost an “o.” The graphic that aired tonight referred to him as “Fandango.”

- As Orton was posing in the ring, Mathews sent it to a preview of tonight’s SyFy original show, “Total Blackout,” which follows Smackdown.

4 – RANDY ORTON vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO – FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH

During Del Rio’s entrance, they showed Kofi Kingston registering the upset over Del Rio on Raw, followed by Orton’s RKO on ADR. A chair was introduced just over a minute into the match, but was not used. Del Rio and Orton brawled at ringside while Ricardo Rodriguez fished for something under the ring. Del Rio landed on his feet when Orton tried a suplex into the crowd. He dodged a DDT attempt and retreated into the WWE Universe. They fought into the backstage area at 2:36 of the match. They shoved each other into lots of heavy-looking trunks. They went into the merchandise area, then the show cut to break at 3:10.

[Commercial Break]

Orton and Del Rio were still fighting backstage amongst the trunks and Rodriguez had followed them out. Del Rio was almost dumped onto the concrete, but instead, he brought Orton throat-first across a guardrail. He got two on a pin attempt at 8:36. The two men fought up the stairs, where Orton even made a cover. Rodriguez handed a chair to Del Rio, who clobbered Orton in the back with it. Pin for two at 10:15. Del Rio mocked Orton by doing his pose as they cut to break again at 10:31 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned from the last break at 14:21. The wrestlers had found their way back to ringside, where Del Rio was still in control. Del Rio’s hair still looks great, though. They fought up the ramp where Orton made a cover. Rodriguez jumped on Orton’s back, providing time for Del Rio to recover. Orton tossed Rodriguez aside and stood around for a really long time. He then lined up and kicked Rodriguez in the gut. He stuffed Rodriguez into the phone booth that is contractually obligated to appear atop the stage whenever WWE tapes from England. Orton went back to Del Rio and shoved him into the ring. Del Rio hit the ropes but was taken down by a clothesline. Powerslam at 17:04. Orton rammed Del Rio into the chair that was set up early in the match. Orton coiled for the RKO. I feel dirty for typing that. Del Rio countered with a back-stabber for two at 18:10. He was under the ropes, but Mathews noted a rope break won’t fly in a Falls Count Anywhere match. A table was set up outside the ring and Orton tried to suplex Del Rio into it. Instead, Orton, from the apron, received a kick to the back of the head. He slowly crashed through the table. Del Rio went outside to make the pin and only got two.

Del Rio picked up a mic and told Orton to stop trying to be the Apex Predator of WWE, as that spot has already been taken…by him. Then he told Orton to get ready to tap out. He locked in the cross arm-breaker. Orton struggled and grabbed the mic that Del Rio dropped. He hit Del Rio on the head with it to break the hold. Del Rio recovered first though and threw Orton shoulder-first into the ring post. Del Rio set up for Orton’s patented DDT on a set of stairs that were in the ring, but he couldn’t hook it. Instead, he sent Orton head first into the steps. Del Rio missed with a chairshot onto Orton’s head – Orton surprised Del Rio with an RKO on the stairs for the win.

WINNER: Orton, at 21:46.

They replayed the finish and showed Orton getting his arm raised after the match to close things out.


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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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