1/4 WWE Smackdown Box Score

- Title Implications: IC champion Wade Barrett beat Kofi Kingston to retain the Intercontinental Title.

- Match Times: 54:12 bell-to-bell, 13:02 per match.

- Streaks (carried over from 2012): Primo - 20 match losing streak, Epico - 17 match losing streak, Sheamus - 6 match winning streak, Heath Slater - 6 match losing streak.

- Show Results: (1) The Miz beat Heath Slater. ... (2) Great Khali & Hornswoggle & Natalya beat Primo & Epico & Rosa Mendes in a mixed six-person tag match. ... (3) IC champion Wade Barrett beat Kofi Kingston to retain the Intercontinental Title. ... (4) Tamina Snuka beat Layla. ... (5) Sheamus & Randy Orton beat World Hvt. champion Big Show & U.S. champion Antonio Cesaro.

***

WWE Smackdown review
January 4, 2013
Taped 12/30/12 in Richmond, Va.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- The opening video package with voice-over chronicled The Shield’s attack on Randy Orton from Raw. Tonight, they seemed to hint to a vague confrontation between him and The Shield. Also, Alberto Del Rio and Big Show developed a rivalry on Monday night. How will that affect the World Title picture?

- Inside the arena, the camera briefly panned the crowd, then Orton’s music hit. Josh Mathews and JBL were shown at ringside as Orton approached the ring. Oh thank God, Orton didn’t introduce himself to begin his promo. Orton did share his New Year’s Resolution: He wants to be World Champion. He said Smackdown used to be his show, but it’s not the case anymore. Orton officially announced his entry into the Royal Rumble. That brought out Sheamus.

Sheamus came to the ring as well to do the exact same thing as Orton. He’s also going to be in the 2013 Royal Rumble match. Orton and Sheamus disagreed on what exactly went down between them and The Shield Monday night. Sheamus bragged that he won the Rumble match last year, and Orton threatened to eliminate him this year. Sheamus asked if he kicked Orton’s head off his body, and the head landed outside the ring while the body stayed inside, does that count as an elimination? Before a fight could break out, Big Show’s music came on and he walked onto the stage.

Show didn’t seem too worried about either man winning the Rumble match. Show once again bragged up his size as proof no one can beat him, but then Antonio Cesaro came out. Cesaro said where he’s from, they don’t talk, they take action. He insulted America, of course, which led to Orton offering to RKO both Cesaro and Show. Booker T. came out, and I bet he’s going to make a tag match. Booker said it’s clear the four men don’t like each other. But Cesaro and Show will have to get along tonight, as Show and Cesaro will team up to face Sheamus and Orton. The men looked at their partners with reservations.

- Still to come, a Raw rematch, for the Intercontinental Championship, Wade Barrett defends against Kofi Kingston.

[Commercial Break]

1 – THE MIZ vs. HEATH SLATER

During Slater’s entrance, they showed 3MB as guests of Miz TV at TLC in December. The other two members of 3MB were at ringside for the match. Dropkick by Miz, followed by a headlock take-over. Hip-toss by Miz into another headlock. Running knee-lift by Miz, who was then tripped up by Drew McIntyre (now with chest hair!). Miz kicked him, then knocked Jinder Mahal off the apron. That led to Slater taking over inside the ring and referee Chad Patton sending McIntyre and Mahal back to the locker room. As Slater complained, Miz rolled him up for two. Slater escaped to the outside. They cut to break at 4:02 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:58 with Slater stomping a mud-hole in Miz in the corner. Miz came back with a double-leg take-down and Slater decided it was time to leave. However, Miz didn’t allow him the luxury. Miz ended up going shoulder-first into the ring-post, and Slater keyed in on the injured body part. Sunset flip by Miz surprised Slater for two, but Slater came back with a kick for a near-fall. The men continued to trade close calls. Miz began his comeback, but Slater again countered. Miz broke out of a rest-hold with a back suplex at 14:18. From their knees, they exchanged punches. Slater came off the ropes with a neck-breaker for two. Slater missed a corner splash and Miz came off the top with a double axe-handle. Skull Crushing Finale ended it.

WINNER: Miz, at 16:15. I cannot believe this match got this much time.

Replays aired of high points in the match.

- Big Show & Antonio Cesaro square off against Randy Orton & Sheamus.

- Also, Wade Barrett defends his newly-won IC Title against Kofi Kingston.

[Commercial Break]

- The exterior of the arena in Richmond was shown.

- Clips of Kingston vs. Barrett from Raw were shown.

- Matt Striker was backstage with Barrett. Barrett rebuffed Striker’s attempt to steer the conversation in one direction. Barrett oozed confidence in this promo and bragged about his upcoming defeat of Kingston later tonight.

- As The Great Khali, Natalya and Hornswoggle came to the ring, they showed Mae Young pregnant again, and birthing Hornswoggle on Raw. It’s sad that I just had to type that. They all danced in the ring as the show cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

2 – THE GREAT KHALI & HORNSWOGGLE & NATALYAL vs. THE COLONS & ROSA MENDES

The Colons were just entering the ring out of break. Nattie and Rosa began the match. It was all Natalya, and neither Colon wanted a piece of Khali when he tagged in. Hornswoggle tagged in for some hijinks until Primo put him down. A miscommunication between the Colons led to Khali getting the advantage. He dodged a backstabber and put Epico down with a brain chop for the win.

WINNERS: Khali, Natalya and Hornswoggle, at 4:04. Primo and Epico have inherited the role of foil for Hornswoggle from their relative, Carlito.

- Striker was backstage with Kofi Kingston. Kingston admitted Barrett got the best of him the last time, and that this might be his last shot. He said Barrett is going to be running into trouble tonight. The match is next. Good hype for this match with comments from the competitors. It’s not rocket science.

[Commercial Break]

3 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. WADE BARRETT – INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

During Barrett’s entrance, they showed clips of Barrett’s gauntlet match from Main Event involving these two. Mathews said Kingston’s Twitter followers have dubbed him the “Wildcat.” That sounds more like a WWE creation to me. Back-and-forth match to start, with Barrett giving Kingston some shots to the kidney at about 3:30 of the contest. Kofi registered a few near-falls, but Barrett attempted to lose the match by count-out. Kingston took the fight to him in the ring and Barrett backed off with Kingston in control at the 6:00 mark.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned at 9:33 of the match. Barrett took control with a rear chin-lock. Second-rope elbowdrop from Barrett for two at 10:24. Kingston was sent to the outside and Barrett was happy to take a count-out win. But Kingston snuck back into the ring at the nine-count. Barrett tried to suplex Kingston off the ropes, but Kingston fought free. He came off the top with a high cross-body for two at 12:39. Kingston unwisely got into a battle of right hands with the former bare knuckle boxer. Kingston did hit the SOS though, for a two-count. Boom Drop connected and Trouble in Paradise was next. Barrett dodged it but Kingston rolled him up for two. Barrett caught Kingston with a side slam for two. Kingston hit Trouble in Paradise out of nowhere, but Barrett rolled out of the ring and to ringside. Kofi lifted the dead weight of Barrett and aided him into the ring. He went for a cover, but Barrett grabbed the bottom rope. Barrett got his feet up on a charge and went for the Bull Hammer, but Kingston avoided it. He came off the second rope, where Barrett hit him with the elbow anyway to get the win.

WINNER: Barrett, at 16:42. Another solid match between these two. And it felt important because of the way WWE promoted it during the first hour of the show.

Replays aired of the finish and Barrett’s post-match celebration.

- Tonight, clips from Raw of Dolph Ziggler and A.J. Lee ringing in the New Year.

- Plus, the tag team main event.

[Commercial Break]

4 – LAYLA vs. TAMINA SNUKA

No entrance for Layla. Tamina gave Layla a death stare early on. Tamina ran over her with a clothesline, though it looked like Layla hit the deck a little early. The match slowed with a rest-hold from Tamina. Layla dropkicked Tamiana low and took her down with a face-plant. Tamina caught Layla coming off the second rope and gave her a Samoan drop. She followed that up with a Superfly Splash for the finish.

WINNER: Tamina, at 3:06. Not a good match. Tamina has promise, but Layla isn’t one who can make her look impressive.

- Dolph Ziggler and A.J.’s celebration from Raw will be shown next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- At ringside, JBL and Mathews talked about C.M. Punk vs. Ryback in a TLC match on the upcoming episode of Raw.

- Also on Raw: The Rock.

- The Big Show came out for the main event tag. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – THE BIG SHOW & ANTONIO CESARO vs. RANDY ORTON & SHEAMUS

Cesaro carried the early part of the match for his team, while the babyfaces traded in-and-out. Show finally tagged in and took the fight to Sheamus. Orton and Sheamus deposited Show and Cesaro to the outside as they went to break at 4:32.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:03 with Sheamus and Cesaro as the legal men. Sheamus proceeded to clobber Cesaro in the chest with forearms. Show made a blind tag and dove at Sheamus with a spear. Show continued inflicting punishment on Sheamus, landing an elbow for a two-count. A splash in the corner from Show missed, but Sheamus fell victim to a chokeslam for only two. That move is becoming less and less special with each passing Big Show match, it seems. There wasn’t even a hesitation on the pin that you could say led to Sheamus being able to kick out. Knockout punch by Show missed, but a Brogue Kick by Sheamus did not. Cesaro and Orton both made tags and Orton hit many of his pet moves on Cesaro. Sheamus tagged Orton as Orton was getting back into the ring (which I don’t believe should’ve been legal as Orton wasn’t in the ring yet – he was still on the apron). Sheamus hit White Noise on Cesaro, but as he set up for the Brogue Kick, Orton RKO’d Cesaro. Sheamus slowly made the pin for the win.

WINNERS: Sheamus and Orton, at 14:05.

Orton and Sheamus had a long-distance stare-down after the match, followed by highlights of the end of the match. Back to Sheamus reacting to the gamesmanship shown by Orton, and Orton not looking too happy about the way the match developed.


Did you watch Friday's Smackdown episode? Send your 0-10 score & Reax to pwtorch@gmail.com for our TV Reax feature.

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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