WWE Smackdown review
November 11, 2011
Taped 11/8/11 in Liverpool, England
Aired on Syfy
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch Contributor

-The show opens with a tribute to the troops for Veterans Day. Thank you to everyone in the Armed Forces for doing what they do!

-Smackdown opening video and full pyro, then Josh Mathews welcomes everyone to Smackdown, live from Liverpool, England. Michael Cole then announces Team Orton vs. Team Barrett at Survivor Series.

-Randy Orton comes out and Tony Chimel sounds like he has been getting into the helium tanks before the show…okay, it was a new woman doing announcing duties! Michael Cole, Booker T, and Josh Mathews go over the highlights of last week's Street Fight. Randy Orton smiling reminds me of Sheldon on Big Bang Theory smiling – it is a foreign, uncomfortable concept to them! Orton starts by saying that he told Teddy Long that he doesn’t play well with others and that he can’t promise he can control himself at Survivor Series. He says that while he isn’t exactly a leader, he definitely isn’t a follower, so he has no problem being team captain. He then runs down his opponents saying that he has no problem beating them up and shutting them up.

Wade Barrett interrupts and it sounds like piped-in booing for Barrett who, according to Josh, grew up 35 miles from Liverpool. Barrett starts off by saying that it is true that Orton has a huge problem with him because they have gone back and forth in the past beating each other. He points out that both men have been the leaders of groups in the past. While people gravitate towards Wade because he is a natural born leader, people go towards Orton because he is a natural born predator – wait, what? He shifts gears and says that the Barrett Barrage that has been sweeping Smackdown the last few weeks will continue to Survivor Series and will eventually lead to the World Title for Wade Barrett! He says the reason he wants this match at S.S. is to get Orton out of the title picture and prove that he is Orton’s superior! He asks Orton is he is listening, Orton says no, he is wondering how high Barrett's skull would bounce off the mat after a RKO!

Christian comes out next, sporting a neck brace, and he asks Orton who he thinks he is kidding because Orton will be to his team what Yoko Ono was to The Beatles, which got no response from the crowd. Christian says he is in a neck brace because of the vicious Chokeslam that Big Show gave him last week. He then thanks Wade for being a man and taking his place against Sheamus last week and for beating him like a man, fair and square. Christian says that he is a leader because he inspires people to do better. Christian then endorses Barrett as captain. Christian says right now might be a good time to send a message to Orton and his team, but before he can Orton decks Christian, but gets blindsided by Barrett and Christian recovers to double team The Viper. Sheamus runs in for the save, sends Barrett out of the ring, then takes Christians neck brace and he bails.

Teddy Long accuses Christian of faking his injury, so he re-books the match that should have happened last week – Christian vs. Sheamus! He also says that tonight there will be a battle of captains as Orton takes on Wade Barrett in the main event! By the way, Christian vs. Sheamus is next!

(Commercial)

1 -- SHEAMUS vs. CHRISTIAN

The ref rings the bell and Sheamus catches a shoulder block on Christian to start things off. Christian tries calling a time out because of his neck and he proceeds to make Sheamus mad by slapping him! Sheamus flips out and pounds away at Christian. Booker T tells Sheamus to do that boy like he should be done, I know this was taped last Tuesday, but does anyone in WWE watch the news before editing this show? Sheamus misses a clothesline attempt and Christian jacks him in the jaw, but ends up getting a big back body drop from Sheamus. Sheamus whips Christian into the turnbuckle three times, then press slams him, and Christian rolls out of the ring to catch his breath.

Sheamus chases Christian out and Captain Charisma baits him back in the ring, but Sheamus expected it and shoulder blocked him in the gut and sent Christian back out. Sheamus slams his head into the announce table, but Christian reverses a slam into the ring post and instead sends Sheamus face first into it. Back in the ring Christian nails Sheamus with a missile dropkick for a two count. Christian ducks under a Sheamus clothesline and sends him out of the ring, tries a cross body, but gets caught by Sheamus who slams Christian into the barricade!

(Commercial)

Back to action, where Christian has a chinlock on Sheamus. Sheamus tries getting some offense going, but Christian stops him short with a big boot to the stomach and a right hand to the face. He then tries going up top and Sheamus hits him in the stomach with a right hand on the way down. Christian then gets whipped sternum first into the turnbuckle and both men are on the mat selling the fatigue from the match. Sheamus is up first and he is a fury of right hands on Christian in the corner. Christian ducks a clothesline and tries a sunset flip, but Sheamus blocks it and turns it into an Irish Curse backbreaker for a two count. Celtic Cross is reversed into a big right hand, Christian tries going up top for another cross body, and Sheamus catches him again and gives Christian a fall away slam. Christian baits Sheamus again and kicks his leg out from under him. Christian to the top rope, Sheamus chases him up, Christian knocks him down, and Christian follows up with a Tornado DDT. The announcers start putting Christian over as a late game player.

Battering Ram from Sheamus gets a two count out of nowhere. Sheamus calls for the Brogue Kick, Christian ducks and tries the Killswitch, Sheamus powers out and sets Christian up for the Celtic Cross and it connects!

WINNER: Sheamus by pinfall in 12:00

Mike’s Reax: Excellent back and forth match. Both men continue to bring it in the ring. I was surprised that Sheamus hit the Celtic Cross; moves that have wrestlers land on their neck have been typically avoided as of late.

-Post-match: Christian puts his neck brace back on as Sheamus celebrates.

-Tonight: Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton.

(Commercial)

-WWE.com plug featuring Why Rock and Cena *can* make a great team.

-Shot of the Liverpool Football Club. Josh is sure some exciting things have happened there.

-Cole goes over highlights of last week's match between Daniel Bryan and Mark Henry. They play up that Bryan almost broke his promise and tried to cash in Money in the Bank, but didn’t pull the trigger.

-Backstage, Bryan is with A.J. and Kaitlyn, and they say that he really impressed them. Henry stomps in and the girls scamper off in a spunky way. Henry asks him if he thinks it is that easy to becomes champion, because it took him 15 years and Bryan cuts him off and says that he doesn’t care if it took him 500 years because if he is still champ at WrestleMania (at which point Henry laugh at “if”) he will beat him. Henry snorts and says that he likes that he has guts, but tonight Bryan will join the Hall of Pain!

-At the announce booth, Booker gives his expert analysis that when honeys are around, they motivate you to do stupid stuff, like challenge Mark Henry to a match tonight.

-Ezekiel Jackson hype video. They show him out of the ring with his wife and kids and inside the ring with his powerhouse intensity.

-Backstage, Teddy Long is backstage with Charles Robinson, he tells him that he has a big match with The Usos. Aksana walks in and sexy music starts playing. Aksana asks Teddy if he saw her as a bunny on Halloween. They start talking about Aksana competing on Smackdown for the first time. They emphasize “first time” over and over. Teddy says that he wants her to spectate some more and has decided to put her in the corner of Alicia Fox to watch the match. Aksana thinks that Teddy Long got Riana and thanks him. Alicia snaps Teddy out of his infatuation and Teddy wishes her luck tonight.

Mike’s Reax: That was uncomfortable for so many reasons.

(Commercial)

2 - TED DIBIASE vs. JINDER MAHAL

No entrance for Jinder this week. Josh Mathews goes over the parameters of the DiBiase Posse. Cole thinks that should be called The Teddy Bears or the DiBiase Dummies. Inverted atomic drop by DiBiase followed by his trick clothesline spot. Jinder tries a full nelson out of nowhere and Ted reverses into Dream Street for the win!

WINNER: Ted DiBiase in 1:00.

-Inside look at WWE ’12. They show what Big Show vs. Mark Henry might be using the video game for visuals.

-Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry is next!

(Commercial)

3 - World Hvt. champion MARK HENRY vs. DANIEL BRYAN – non-title match

Josh starts off by saying that Big Show is banned from ringside this week after what happened last week. Cole calls Bryan a hypocrite for trying to cash in the briefcase last week after saying for weeks that he wasn’t going to until WrestleMania. Cat and mouse game from both men to start things off. Henry gets his hands on him and throws him to the outside; Henry goes out after him and mashes his face into the ring steps in a fashion that would make the Four Horsemen proud!

Back in the ring, Henry is clubbing Bryan around the ring then stands on him – yes he stands on him! Gorilla slam onto the turnbuckle and Bryan gets a kick to the head that staggers Henry and Bryan goes up top and hits him with a missile dropkick that takes Henry off his feet. D. Bryan tries the LeBell Lock and gets it locked in! Henry powers out by picking Bryan up and sidewalk slamming him! Impressive! Henry splashes a bunch of time sin the corner and the ref puts a stop to it so Henry shoves Bryan to the mat and splashes him for a two count. Henry plays around with Bryan who then eggs Henry on to start really bring it, Henry gets mad and delivers the World’s Strongest Slam for the win!

WINNER: Mark Henry by pin in 4:00.

-Post-match: Henry grabs a chair and It looks like he is inducting Bryan into the Hall of Pain, but Daniel fights back, he gets a hold of the chair and whacks Henry who no sells the shot. Three Strongest Slams from Henry and Bryan goes straight to the fetal position! Henry threads Daniels leg in the chair and starts going up to Pillmanize it, but The Big Show runs in to distract while the referees pull Bryan out of the ring. They almost get him out and Henry hits him with the chair, Big Show is in the ring, Henry goes to hit him with the chair, Big Show knocks it out of his hand and both men have a stare down. The World Title is in the ring and Big Show picks it up and tosses it at Henry in a show of respect.

Big Show is on the microphone and he says if he wants to see something impressive he should stay and watch his match, which is next.

Mike’s Reax: Looks like they are back on track with Henry. I was getting worried that they were losing interest in him when they started making him vulnerable. I really enjoyed this match and it made me wonder if this is where they might be going at WrestleMania with Bryan cashing in his briefcase for a shot at Henry’s title. I don’t know if creative has the patience to keep the strap on him for five more months, but I really hope they do. Also, I thought that was a nice spot in the match where Henry powered out of the LeBell Lock, stuff like that makes Henry looks like an unstoppable juggernaut.

(Commercial)

4 - BIG SHOW vs. JOBBER & JOBBEE & JOBBO

Triple-team takes Show off his feet early, but not for long as he gets to his feet and takes out two men at the same time with a Chokeslam. Jobbo tries fleeing to the dressing room, but Big Show chases him down in an unbelievable spot, throws him back in the ring and takes him out with the WMD for the win.

WINNER: Big Show by pinfall in 1:00

-Henry is on microphone saying he isn’t impressed because none of those guys are him. He says that he impresses Big Show because of the way he slams him and when he sent him on vacation for three months during the summer. He says that at Survivor Series he will give Big Show a lasting impression!

-Clips of the WrestleMania party in Miami when tickets went on sale. I thought it would be funny if some guy had his face digitized because he didn’t want his friends knowing he was a wrestling fan. These are the things I think about while watching these throwaway packages.

(Commercial)

5 - TAMINA (w/Rosa Mendes) vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Aksana)

Natalya is on commentary this week. Before the match they reshow the Maxim cover unveiling from Monday featuring Kelly Kelly. Tamina overpowers Fox to start, whipping her around the ring by her bright red hair. Submission move by Tamina has Alicia screaming. Nattie says that Alicia isn’t so much a fox as a muskrat – bazinga! Fox comes back with some right hands, but gets cut off with a scoop slam. Tamina misses a splash and Alicia finishes her off with a somersault leg-drop.

WINNER: Alicia Fox by pinfall in 2:00.

-Sheamus was a presenter at the European MTV VMAs and he gave an award to Justin Bieber.

-Backstage, Matt Striker is with Sheamus and he asks Sheamus about being a hothead and throws to a clip of last weeks Smackdown where he attacked Wade Barrett backstage after losing a match. Sheamus responds by saying that he doesn’t know what he is talking about because he is a nice guy, whether he is giving Bieber awards or hanging out with Beaker from The Muppets, he is a nice guy. Striker asks about his temper, Sheamus stares at him menacingly and laughs and says he is spirited.

-Hunico makes his way to the ring with Epico and Primo.

6 - HUNICO & EPICO vs. THE USOS

The Polynesian War Dance by The Usos returns to Smackdown. Epico and Jey start things off and Jey overpowers him and tags into Jimmy. Jimmy misses a clothesline and Hunico makes a blind tag and rams Jimmy’s face into the turnbuckle. Quick tag back to Epico, who continues to beat Jimmy down in the heel corner. Tag back to Hunico, who dropkicks Jey in the corner and then puts Jey in a front facelock. Back body drop by the Uso and he tags in Jey who starts cleaning house of Epico and Hunico. Charging splash on Hunico in the corner and Epico breaks up a pin attempt. Primo distracts Jimmy and that gives Hunico the chance to nail Jey with a Samoan Drop and a Swanton Bomb for the win!

WINNERS: Hunico and Epico by pinfall in 3:00

-Post-match: Hunico trash talks Jimmy and Primo sneak attacks him and tosses him out of the ring. The three men triple team him and hit him with all three of their finishers.

-At the speed that Orton was walking backstage, I’m starting to think that his match with Barrett won’t happen until next week. I’m not saying that he needs to pick up the pace, I’m just sayin’!

(Commercial)

6 - RANDY ORTON vs. WADE BARRETT

In my opinion, Barrett needs theme music that isn’t so emo and whiny. Collar and elbow tie-up to start things off and Orton powers Wade into the corner, but the ref calls for a clean break. Another tie-up and Barrett wins and the ref gets another clean break. Headlock takeover by Wade, Orton fights out and hits Barrett in the kisser with a dropkick. Orton throws such beautiful dropkicks. Orton with a series of right hands until he gets whipped into the corner, but he explodes out with a clothesline. Knee drop by Orton gets a one count. European uppercut staggers Barrett into the corner, Orton walks into a big boot and Wade goes to the second rope and drops an elbow on Orton for a two count. Orton rolls out of the ring to catch a breather, Wade follows him out, and Orton was playing possum. He whips Barrett into the corner, but Wade jumps over the stairs in an impressive spot and kicks the chairs into Orton's knee. Barrett then whips Orton knees first into the chairs as Smackdown takes a break!

(Commercial)

Chinlock by Barrett as Smackdown returns. Orton struggles to fight out of it, but can’t follow it up with anything. Pumphandle slam by Wade gets a two count so Wade starts choking Randy on the bottom rope, breaks, then chokes him on the top rope. Running kick by Barrett knocks Randy out and he rolls to the floor. Barrett rams Orton kidney first into the ring apron and then rolls him back into the ring. Sleeper by Barrett and Orton starts to face, then comes back and reverses out of the hold. Orton gets a steam of momentum going until he runs into a Bossman Slam by Barrett that gets a two count.

Both men go on the top turnbuckle and Orton manages to superplex Barrett for a two count. Back and forth brawling from both men, Orton wins the exchange as he clothesline Barrett and takes him out with a powerslam. Hanging DDT by Orton, he calls for the RKO, Barrett shoves Orton into the ref, but he puts on the brakes, and then turns around into a thumb to the eye by Barrett. Barrett rolls up Orton and holds the tights for the three count!

WINNER: Wade Barrett by pinfall in 13:00

Mike’s Reax: Are they going all the way with Wade Barrett? Makes me wonder. Also makes me wonder how far they can go while having Mark Henry as champion. Solid match to end a solid Smackdown!

Please check me out on Twitter @MJCupach as I frequently Tweet live during Raw and most WWE PPVs!

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