WWE Smackdown
March 25, 2011
Columbus, OH
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video gives us a recap of our tremendous main event from last week. Christian took on, and defeated, Alberto Del Rio in a tremendous steel cage match. After the match, Edge was blindsided by big Brodus Clay and Del Rio gave his left arm a con-chair-to.
Edge and General Manager Teddy Long are backstage in Long’s office. Edge’s left arm is heavily taped up. Edge is arguing about how his arm is all taped up and Long is favoring Alberto Del Rio right now. Edge says what goes around, comes around, and Long isn’t giving him a chance to let that happen. Long says he’s doing what’s in the best interest of WWE, Smackdown’s WrestleMania main event, and the two competitors. Edge asks why he should care about Del Rio’s best interests since he doesn’t care about his. Long says the conversation is over. If Edge or Alberto Del Rio touches one another, then they will both be banned from WrestleMania! Edge angrily walks off.
The Smackdown intro video plays and we’re brought into the arena with a tremendous fireworks display. Josh Mathews, Booker T, and Michael Cole, in his Cole Mine, welcome us to the show. We’re 9 days away from WrestleMania!
WrestleMania Rewind Match
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk
This is a rematch from last year’s WrestleMania. They showed a replay of CM Punk attacking Randy Orton outside his bus as his wife watched on. Whether she watched on in fear or was just really hot for CM Punk has yet to be determined. That girl was a terrible actress.
They lock up and Punk quickly backs Mysterio to the corner. Punk head-butts Mysterio in the chest and stomps him a few times. Punk whips him to the corner but Mysterio slingshots over him, goes into the ropes, and hits a head-scissor takeover, putting Punk in position. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Punk knees him in the midsection. Punk goes for a schoolboy but Mysterio rolls through and kicks him in the face for a two count. Mysterio punches at him, ducks a clothesline, and goes for a springboard cross-body but Punk sidesteps him. Punk gives him a baseball slide and stomps the midsection. Punk covers for a two count.
Punk applies an abdominal stretch but Mysterio fights out. Punk gets a waist lock but Mysterio charges the ropes, sending Punk out of the ring. Mysterio gets on the apron but Punk gets him on his shoulders and slams him on the barricade. We’ll take a commercial here.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Mysterio kick out of a pin attempt. Mysterio recovers in the corner but Punk quickly hits a snapmare and applies a body scissor. Mysterio eventually elbows out of it and kicks away at Punk. Mysterio goes into the ropes but Punk catches him and knees him in the back, getting a near fall. Punk drops a leg on the injured midsection for another two count. Punk goes for a suplex but Mysterio counters it and goes into the ropes but Punk catches him with a cross-body for another near fall. Punk goes to the top rope and jumps right into a dropkick from Mysterio!
Both men take their time getting to their feet. Mysterio kicks away at Punk’s legs. Mysterio ducks a clothesline and goes for a monkey flip. Punk counters it and puts him against the ropes but Mysterio uses his momentum to hit a hurricanrana out of the ring. Mysterio then goes to the apron and hits a picture perfect Asai Moonsault! All of a sudden Cody Rhodes runs down and throws Mysterio into the ring post, causing a disqualification!
Winner by Disqualification: Rey Mysterio
Match Rating: **
Rhodes takes his jacket off and throws Mysterio into the ring. Rhodes head-butts him in the face twice with his facemask and hits a falling head-butt. Rhodes stomps away at him exposes a knee brace, similar to the one Mysterio used to ruin Rhodes’s face! Rhodes then hits a running knee to the face in the corner! Rhodes leaves the ring, trying to make sure the camera can’t see his face. Mysterio is left holding his face in the ring. Doctors run down to help him.
Edge is backstage when Christian walks up to him. Christian says we’re nine days from WrestleMania and says he should give his arm a chance to heal up. Christian doesn’t think he should be in the same building with Del Rio, especially after the ruling. It seems like a big risk just to face Drew McIntyre. Edge says he appreciates what Christian is trying to do but he’ll beat Drew and be in Christian’s corner for his match against Del Rio later tonight. Edge just wants to show the world and Del Rio that he is 100% for WrestleMania.
The Undertaker will address Triple H tonight on Smackdown!
-Commercial Break-
Edge vs. Drew McIntyre
They show the Ohio National Guard at ringside. To any troops reading this, I thank you.
They lock up and McIntyre quickly goes for the arm but Edge viciously punches and stomps away at McIntyre. Edge gets the crowd into it and runs into a back elbow. McIntyre kicks the arm and hits an arm breaker. McIntyre stretches the arm out over the rope and continues stomping. McIntyre punches away and wrenches the arm, taking Edge down in the process for a two count. McIntyre stomps on the arm and goes to the second rope but Edge uses his good arm to pull him off.
Edge ducks a clothesline and hits a pair of his own. Edge goes for an impaler DDT but his arm hurt too much. McIntyre goes for the Future Shock DDT but Edge hits a back body drop. Edge then applies the Edgecator for the submission victory!
Winner by Submission: Edge
Match Rating: * 1/2
After the match that crazy look comes on Edge’s face and he backs to the corner. The crowd chants “Spear” and Edge gives them what they want, splitting McIntyre in half with a vicious Spear. Edge raises the title above his head.
Tonight we’ll see Christian, with Edge in his corner, take on Alberto Del Rio.
-Commercial Break-
We see that video from Raw where the WWE Legends and Superstars talk about Undertaker vs. Triple H. I’m just not completely sold on this match. A lot of their comments seem so forced. At least they got some comments from Harley Race. He’s the man.
The Undertaker will address Triple H tonight on Smackdown. They’ll then meet face to face on Raw this Monday!
Kelly Kelly and Rosa Mendes make their way to the ring. They’ll be in action next against Lay-Cool.
-Commercial Break-
Kelly Kelly & Rosa Mendes vs. Lay-Cool
Lay-Cool are both dressed up like Snooki, mocking her. They do the fist pump and everything. Kelly and Rosa then take them both down, bouncing their heads off the apron. Kelly throws McCool into the barricade but she just as quickly kicks her down. Layla sends Road into the ropes but Rosa hits a pair of clotheslines. Rosa hits a nice suplex for a one count broken up by McCool. McCool dances and Rosa kicks her down. Layla then hits the Lay-Out for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Lay-Cool
Match Rating: Who cares?
Lay-Cool says it’s match time and WrestleMania is here. McCool says they’re dealing the “Trash Stratus”, “John Bore-ison”, and Snooki. Layla calls her a meatball guidette who’s famous. McCool says she’ll never be flawless.
A video recaps the vicious assault The Corre gave Big Show and Kane following last week’s match.
A split screen shows Kofi Kingston and Wade Barrett making their way to the ring. Heath Slater is seen in the background with a massive shiner. The Intercontinental Championship is on the line next.
-Commercial Break-
WrestleMania is 9 days away. I CANNOT WAIT!
Intercontinental Championship Match
Wade Barrett w/ The Corre vs. Kofi Kingston (c)
They circle the ring and lock up. Barrett powers Kingston to the corner and gives a rough break. Kingston comes back with punches and kicks and gets a crucifix pin for a two count. Kingston hits a nice dropkick for another two count. Barrett comes back with some punches but Kingston avoids a move and hits a nice forearm smash for another two count. Kingston kicks him in the corner but has a whip to the opposite corner reversed on him. Barrett runs into a boot but he comes back quickly by kicking Kingston’s legs out from under him as he attempted a springboard maneuver.
Barrett stretches Kingston over the ropes and big boots him out of the ring. Barrett follows and drives him into the apron. Barrett puts him back in the ring and walks into some punches. Kingston goes into the ropes and Barrett catches him with a Boss Man Slam for a near fall. Barrett digs his knee into the back and pulls back on the arms looking for a submission. Kingston fights up but Barrett quickly forearms him down. Barrett hits a body slam and goes to the second rope. Barrett taunts and misses an elbow drop when Kingston moves.
Kingston avoids a big boot and hits some chops. Kingston hits a nice dropkick and goes into the ropes. Barrett ducks a superman punch and he kicks him in the ribs. Barrett goes for a pumphandle slam but Kingston slides through and hits a pendulum kick in the corner. Kingston hits a nice cross-body block for a near fall! Kingston hits a running boot to the face and gets the crowd into it. Kingston hits the Boom Drop and signals for his finisher. All of a sudden The Corre distracts the referee. Heath Slater tries to attack Kingston but he gets hit with Trouble in Paradise! Kingston then goes for Trouble in Paradise on Barrett but Barrett impressively catches him on his shoulders and hits The Wasteland for the win! Wade Barrett is the new Intercontinental Champion!
Winner & NEW Intercontinental Champion: Wade Barrett
Match Rating: **
Wade Barrett celebrates winning his first singles title in WWE with The Corre. All of a sudden Justin Gabriel sets Kingston up in the corner and hits a beautiful 450 Splash. The Corre then lifts Barrett up on their shoulders.
Alberto Del Rio is backstage with Teddy Long. Del Rio says he’s not done with Edge yet. Del Rio says there’s nine more days until WrestleMania and that’s nine more things he can do. Long reiterates that if they touch one another then they’ll be banned from WrestleMania. Del Rio says he doesn’t have the guts to ban him. Long says there’s been 26 WrestleMania events without Del Rio and he wouldn’t have a problem making it 27. Long tells him to concentrate on his match with Christian. Del Rio laughs and walks off.
The Undertaker responds to Triple H next!
-Commercial Break-
Hell’s bells tolls and the last outlaw, The Undertaker, makes his way out to the stage.
“There’s an old saying that goes, ‘The more things change, the more they stay the same.’ Triple H has convinced himself that he has the equation in how to eradicate the Undertaker. He talks with confidence in how he will defeat me at WrestleMania and break the Streak. But this past Monday, I heard Triple H on Raw and that confidence is starting to fade into uncertainty and soon the uncertainty will turn into despair because as the days grow closer to the apocalypse, an Armageddon of mega-sized proportion, he will realize that the words ‘die trying’ were more prolific than he thinks. It is the words ‘die trying’ that will be his epitaph on his tombstone.
“Now I look forward to this Monday night on Raw when I get to tell Triple H all this face to face. Triple H, on 2-21-11, the night that you decided to interrupt me, your fate was decided. Your number was chosen. At WrestleMania, Triple H, you will put all of your accolades, all of your success, all of your fame on the line to become a number, and that number is NINETEEN!”
The Undertaker leaves to the back as Johnny Cash’s haunting song, “Ain’t No Grave”, plays.
Christian takes on Alberto Del Rio in tonight’s main event.
-Commercial Break-
A Sin Cara vignette plays.
Jack Swagger vs. R-Truth
Michael Cole gives Jack Swagger a standing ovation in the Cole Mine. Cole puts over how much Swagger is teaching him. They show a replay from Monday when Cole applied the An-Cole Lock on Jerry Lawler, after an assist from Jack Swagger. In other news, R-Truth got the name of the city right.
They lock up and Swagger powers R-Truth to the corner. Swagger hits some shoulder thrusts in the corner and a nice belly-to-belly side suplex for a one count. Swagger grinds R-Truth’s face in the mat and knees him a few times. R-Truth hits some kicks and punches but Swagger stops him with a hard Irish whip to the corner. Swagger runs into a boot in the corner and misses another running splash. R-Truth hits a pair of clotheslines and pulls the top rope down when Swagger charges him. R-Truth then hits a SCARY plancha over the top rope. R-Truth nearly landed on his head.
R-Truth puts him in the ring and goes to the top rope but Swagger quickly crotches him. R-Truth’s leg gets hung up in the ropes so Swagger works over it quickly. Swagger quickly pulls him into the center of the ring and DDTs the leg. Swagger then applies an Ankle Lock for the submission victory.
Winner by Submission: Jack Swagger
Match Rating: * 1/4
Michael Cole gets in the ring with a microphone and asks R-Truth how he’s feeling. Swagger still has him trapped in the Ankle Lock. Cole sings a rap: “I’m R-Truth and I just tapped to Jack. That’s the truth because I’m just whack. What’s up?!” That was hilarious! Cole says he has an idea for Columbus – he and Swagger will take a victory lap. They then run around the ring and I’m seriously laughing out loud here!
Alberto Del Rio will take on Christian with Edge in his corner tonight.
-Commercial Break-
The Raw Rebound airs and they show John Cena interrupting The Miz as he was attempting to rewrite “Miz-tory”. They then go over the WrestleMania card.
Ricardo Rodriguez is in the ring and he does the introduction for Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio drives into the arena and makes his way to the ring. He’ll take on Christian next.
-Commercial Break-
Alberto Del Rio w/ Brodus Clay vs. Christian w/ Edge
They take their time before locking up. They tussle around a bit until Del Rio knees him in the midsection. Del Rio punches and puts him in a side headlock. Christian whips him off and hits a forearm smash for a one count. Christian applies a side headlock but Del Rio is able to back him to the corner. Del Rio kicks Christian in the ribs rather than giving him a clean break. Del Rio stomps away at Christian and sends him hard to the opposite corner. Del Rio charges and Christian back body drops him over the top rope. Christian goes to the top rope and hits a BEAUTIFUL cross-body block to the outside!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Del Rio run into a sidekick. Christian hits a springboard sunset flip for a near fall. Del Rio then kicks Christian in the face but Christian quickly comes back, clotheslining him over the top rope. Del Rio avoids a baseball slide and throws Christian into the barricade. Del Rio sends Christian into the steel steps and throws him into the ring for a near fall. Del Rio applies an arm bar and is really stretching it out. Christian fights up and punches out but Del Rio stops his momentum, knocking him back down. Del Rio goes to the second rope and hits a senton splash for a near fall! I love that move so much.
Del Rio punches away at Christian and points to the WrestleMania sign. Del Rio goes back to the arm bar but Christian again fights up and punches. Del Rio knees him and slams him down. Del Rio hits a running boot to the face and again goes to the second rope. Christian cuts him off and hits an awesome top rope hurricanrana for a near fall!
Both men fight to their feet and Christian punches away at him. Christian hits a running forearm shiver and uppercuts Del Rio from outside. Christian goes to the top rope and goes for a cross-body but Del Rio avoids it. Del Rio charges but misses a step-up enzuigiri. Christian then hits a second rope tornado DDT and covers but Ricardo Rodriguez puts Del Rio’s foot on the bottom rope. Edge scares Rodriguez away and Brodus Clay blindsides him. Del Rio goes for the Cross Arm Breaker but Christian counters into a Kill Switch attempt. Del Rio gets out of it and hits a step-up enzuigiri for a near fall!
Del Rio nearly gets the Cross Arm Breaker applied but Christian gets to the rope. Del Rio argues with the referee. He and Christian then double clothesline one another. Edge Spears Brodus Clay out of nowhere on the outside and smashes his back with a chair twice. In the ring Del Rio goes for the Cross Arm Breaker but Christian counters into a Kill Switch for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Christian
Match Rating: ** 1/2
Edge gets in the ring with a crazy look on his face. Edge goes to hit Del Rio with the chair but Christian takes it out of his hands. Christian warns him about the edict Teddy Long put out that would ban Edge from WrestleMania if he touches Del Rio, or vice versa. Christian then smashes Del Rio across the back with the chair. Edge then gets in Del Rio’s face and Christian makes sure they don’t touch. Edge says he can put his hands on him at WrestleMania and he’ll beat him because it’s HIS destiny!
Quick Match Results
Rey Mysterio def. CM Punk via DQ (WrestleMania Rewind Match)
Edge def. Drew McIntyre via Submission (non-title)
Lay-Cool def. Kelly Kelly & Rosa Mendes
Wade Barrett def. Kofi Kingston to win the Intercontinental Championship
Jack Swagger def. R-Truth via Submission
Christian def. Alberto Del Rio
Bump of the Night: Edge’s Spear on Brodus Clay outside the ring!
Match of the Night: Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio ** 1/2
Mike’s Thoughts
This was an OK edition of Smackdown. We opened up with Edge arguing with Teddy Long over the edict he passed down saying Edge and Alberto Del Rio can’t touch each other until WrestleMania. That pretty much nixed any chance of any more substantial buildup for their feud heading to WrestleMania in nine days.
Our opening match was a WrestleMania rewind featuring Rey Mysterio taking on CM Punk. These two had a tremendous feud last year and they’ve always meshed well in the ring together so tonight’s effort was a lot of fun to watch. As expected it was a non-finish with Cody Rhodes attacking Rey Mysterio to cause the disqualification. I absolutely love Cody Rhodes’s darker character and he’s really running with it. How far he’ll go remains to be seen. I hope they have an excellent match at WrestleMania. I’m predicting them to be the sleeper hit of the night.
They followed up with Edge defeating Drew McIntyre in a quick match by submission. I had just started really getting into McIntyre and now they’re jobbing him out every week. Is he going to be cut after WrestleMania? I hope not. They put over the Edgecator, Edge’s variation of the Sharpshooter, so that was pretty much the point of that match. I guess it was also to show that Edge is a crazy bastard with crazy faces.
There was seriously no point to the Diva match tonight. All they did was make fun of Snooki and perform one or two moves. That could have all been accomplished in a backstage match and they could have used the leftover time to give the IC Title match more than five minutes.
I really enjoyed the Intercontinental Championship match tonight. It was only logical for Wade Barrett to eventually get his hands on some gold so I was glad to see it happen. I’m a little concerned about Kofi Kingston, though. He has so much talent yet they can’t seem to get on his bandwagon. With all the rumors about the cuts I hope he’s not on that list. He’s too good to be where he’s at right now and this match proved it. That finish was absolutely awesome. I highly suggest you find the video of this match and just watch the ending. It was awesome. It was a little weird that Big Show and Kane didn’t make an appearance tonight since they were on Raw. I wonder if they’ll be doing anything with The Corre at WrestleMania.
The Undertaker’s promo was pretty much the same promo we heard a few weeks ago on Smackdown. Their whole feud is just being built up by video packages and the same old promo every week. These guys must be in really rough shape if they can’t even throw a few punches. I get that “less is more” but the buildup just hasn’t done it for me. As a result I’m not big on this match.
How hilarious was Michael Cole tonight? I could barely concentrate on the match because he was cracking me up so much. Then when he came in the ring after the match and rapped, that was it. I was ROLLING on the floor. Ok, not literally, but I was laughing out loud. I’ll miss him when Jerry Lawler destroys him at WrestleMania. I love this character.
Christian and Alberto Del Rio had another solid outing. It wasn’t as great as the cage match but it was still pretty damn good. Christian has been making Del Rio look great. The stuff after the match was pretty good, too. Edge’s faces are ridiculous. I wonder if they’ll define more clearly what Christian’s role at WrestleMania will be next week. I hope they don’t add him to the match at the last second. I like Christian a lot but this should be Del Rio’s moment at WrestleMania.
Final Rating: ** 3/4
E-Mail – MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Did you miss last week’s Smackdown? Check it out here!
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Thanks for reading!