WWE Smackdown
May 27, 2011
Spokane, WA
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays and we’re brought into the arena with some fireworks. Josh Mathews, Booker T, and Michael Cole welcome us to the show.
Randy Orton’s music hits and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring. Orton grabs a microphone and soaks in the cheers. Orton says his name and he is still the World Heavyweight Champion. That gets a nice reaction from the crowd. Orton goes to talk and…
Christian’s music hits. The former World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring smiling. Christian says he doesn’t want to spoil Orton’s moment but he just wanted to tell him that Sunday was one of the greatest matches of his career. Christian thanks him and congratulates him on the win. They shake hands and the crowd is happy. Christian says Orton is the World Heavyweight Champion and he deserves it. Orton is waiting for the kicker. Christian says the match on Sunday could have gone either way but it didn’t. Orton was the better man and won the match. Christian says he knows he can beat him, which is why he’s out here. Christian issues a challenge for one more match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Sheamus’s music hits and he makes his way out to the stage. Sheamus says it’s painful to watch. How many chances does Christian need? Christian reminds him of some sad gambling addict. He bets the car and doubles down with the house only to lose everything. Sheamus says he looks like he’s putting his kid’s college fund down now believing it will happen but it won’t. It took Christian seventeen years to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Sheamus gets in the ring and says he’ll have to wait seventeen more. As of last Sunday Christian is a two-time loser. Sheamus says he’s a two-time WWE Champion. He’s come to Smackdown to compete in epic matches against the likes of Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. Like it or not, he is the star of the show. If anyone is going to become the number one contender then it’s going to be him.
Mark Henry’s music hits and he wants to interject some good sense into the conversation. Christian’s buddy Edge is on a retirement golf course waiting for him. Henry doesn’t want Christian to miss his tee time. As for Sheamus, being the World’s Strongest Man means you don’t wait in line – you butt in. That leads him to Orton. Henry gets in the ring and says he just butted his way to the front of the line for the championship.
Teddy Long’s music hits and the General Manager makes his way to the ring. Long says there seems to be a little bit of déjà vu with these guys arguing, once again, for the World Championship and who should be challenging for it. Long says he’s going to be straight up honest. He agrees with Mark Henry and Sheamus. He’s had his opportunity but what we say only means so much. What matters is what the people say. Long says he made him defend the World Title five days after he won it. Long says he’s going to ask the crowd what they want. Long asks if they think Christian should have one more chance for the title and the reception is positive. Long says the people have spoken. Christian isn’t home free yet. If he’s going to get one more opportunity then he’ll earn it. Our main event will be a triple threat match to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus versus Mark Henry versus the former World Heavyweight Champion Christian. HOLLA!
-Commercial Break-
Sin Cara vs. Chavo Guerrero
This is a rematch from Over The Limit. They circle the ring and Guerrero kicks him. Guerrero sends him into the ropes and goes for hip toss but Cara lands on his feet. Cara quickly follows up with an arm drag. Cara hits a second arm drag and kicks him. Cara wrenches the arm, climbs the ropes, and hits a corkscrew arm drag that sends Guerrero out of the ring. Cara fakes a plancha and instead does a handspring. Guerrero slowly gets in the ring and runs into a drop-toe-hold. Cara punches and sends him to the ropes. Guerrero avoids a splash and hits a running double knee to the corner.
Guerrero body slams him and stomps the head. Guerrero hits a nice European Uppercut and a nice back suplex for a near fall. Guerrero applies a short arm bar and is looking for the submission. Cara fights up but Chavo knees him down. Chavo goes for the Gory Special but Cara slides out and takes him down, sending Guerrero out of the ring. Cara hits a baseball slide and follows up with an Asai Moonsault! Cara throws him back into the ring and hits a springboard hurricanrana. Cara blocks a punch and kicks away. Guerrero reverses a whip and Cara counters with a springboard back elbow. Cara ducks a clothesline and hits a nice hurricanrana. Guerrero back body drops him to the apron and Cara quickly hits a kick to the skull. Cara hits a springboard cross-body block for a near fall.
Chavo quickly sweeps the legs and gets a jackknife pin for a near fall. Guerrero punches him into the ropes and sends him to the ropes. Guerrero avoids a handspring back elbow but can’t avoid La Mistica giving Cara the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Sin Cara
Match Rating: **
Our main event will be a triple threat match between Sheamus, Mark Henry, and Christian to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.
-Commercial Break-
Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring with his assistants. Rhodes says if he didn’t know any better then he’d be convinced there is no god. Every town he goes to he literally prays that he’ll see even a mildly attractive face and every time he is disappointed. That is why, as a service to all of them, and at great expense to himself, he is providing the crowd with paper bags. Rhodes tells his “baggers” to do their work. Rhodes says they should all be grateful that he is exposing their deficiency of desirability and he is a hero.
Cody Rhodes vs. Daniel Bryan
This is Daniel Bryan’s home state. Rhodes kicks him and gets a side headlock applied. Rhodes goes into the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Rhodes goes into the ropes and Bryan hits an arm drag. Bryan sends him to the corner and runs into a forearm. Rhodes blocks a kick but Bryan quickly takes him down and goes for a Mexican surfboard stretch but Rhodes won’t give his arms. Bryan instead smashes the knees. Bryan kicks him in the chest and covers for a one count. Bryan wrenches the arm but has a whip reversed. Rhodes lowers his head and eats a kick. Bryan goes for a hip toss but Rhodes blocks it and hip tosses Bryan over the top rope.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Rhodes bashing Bryan’s head off the turnbuckle. Bryan fights back but gets caught in a slingshot attempt. Rhodes kicks him in the midsection, a la Hardcore Holly, and kicks him in the face. Rhodes punches him and elbows him in the back of the head for a near fall. Rhodes hits some knees to the midsection and applies a modified crossface chicken-wing. Bryan fights out but Rhodes takes him down and applies a true crossface chicken-wing. Rhodes releases the chicken-wing and keeps the body scissors, head-butting him in the head with the mask. Bryan fights up and gets sent to the corner. Rhodes runs into a boot and Bryan hits him with a running knee.
Bryan comes back with some kicks, ducks a clothesline, and hits a running elbow. Bryan gets the crowd into it and hits a running dropkick in the corner. Bryan goes to the top rope and hits a nice missile dropkick for a near fall. Bryan goes for the LeBell Lock but Rhodes shoves him face first into the turnbuckle. They both go for covers but can’t pick up the win. Bryan is sent to the corner so he backflips over Rhodes but can’t avoid the Beautiful Disaster! Rhodes goes for Cross Rhodes but Bryan counters into a LeBell Lock for the win!
Winner by Submission: Daniel Bryan
Match Rating: ** 1/4
Rhodes immediately attacks him from behind and beats him down. Rhodes punches him at ringside and sends him into the barricade. Rhodes puts him back into the ring and hits the Cross Rhodes. Rhodes grabs a paper bag and puts it over Bryan’s head before leaving. It should be noted that Michael Cole was calling Daniel Bryan a “loser” and a “nerd”. So much for toning down the heel act…
They air the ridiculous Barack Obama “Capitol Punishment” dream sequence. The triple threat main event for tonight is plugged.
-Commercial Break-
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” tonight.
Heath Slater vs. Ezekiel Jackson
The Corre is conspicuous by their absence at ringside. Slater hits a waist lock and clubs him. Jackson no sells it and scares Slater down. Jackson takes him down and punches him in the corner. Jackson grabs him by the throat and launches him across the ring. Jackson runs into some boots and Slater kicks him down. Slater hits a running dropkick to the head for a one count. Slater clubs him and applies a chin lock. Jackson fights up and backs him to the corner. Jackson takes him down with an arm drag. Slater quickly gets up and punches him down in the corner. Slater runs into a back body drop, putting him on the apron. Slater punches but misses a top rope maneuver.
Jackson hits a pair of shoulder blocks and splashes him in the corner. Jackson begins the body slamming spot. Jackson only slams him twice and applies a Torture Rack. The Corre runs in and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner by Disqualification: Ezekiel Jackson
Match Rating: 3/4 *
Jackson clotheslines Wade Barrett over the top rope and punches Justin Gabriel down. Slater gets punched down and Jackson body slams Slater and Gabriel. The Corre retreats for the ring as Jackson screams and flexes. The crowd was really lukewarm on this whole segment.
Christian is backstage with Matt Striker. Striker asks for his thoughts on his last chance at the World Title. Christian says he was always the last one picked for kickball but at the end of the game he kicked more homeruns than anybody. CKC – Canadian Kickball Champion four years in a row. When he got a little older he was the last kid in class to hit puberty. By the time he got to prom he had the prettiest girl in school. Now in WWE he was the last guy anyone thought would get to the top but he proved everyone wrong. Tonight the odds are against him but Captain Charisma will get the last laugh.
We’ll see a “Monster’s Brawl” next – The Great Khali will take on Kane. Oh boy…
-Commercial Break-
Monster’s Brawl
The Great Khali w/ Ranjin Singh vs. Kane
They lock up and Khali pushes him away. Khali taunts the crowd and they lock up again. Khali pushes him to the corner and hits a back elbow. Khali kicks him and chops the chest hard. Kane uppercuts him and kicks him in the knee. Kane goes into the ropes and eats a clothesline. Khali chokes him on the ropes and sends him to the corner hard. Khali kicks him down and applies a nerve hold. Kane fights up and elbows out. Kane punches, ducks a Brain Chop and goes for a Chokeslam. Khali grabs him by the throat and sends him over the top rope. Kane lands on his feet and snaps Khali off the top rope. Kane takes him down with a top rope lariat for the win. When’s the last time Kane won with that move?
Winner by Pinfall: Kane
Match Rating: N/A
Jinder Mahal’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring looking extremely upset. Mahal yells at Khali in their native tongue (Hindi?). Mahal slaps him hard in the face. Ranjin Singh gets in Mahal’s face and he gets shoved down. Khali shoves Mahal and yells at him. Singh gets in front of Khali and continues to yell. Khali applies the Khali Vice Grip to Singh’s skull and takes him down. Khali holds the ropes open for Mahal and they leave the ring together.
Tonight’s main event will be a triple threat match to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. It’ll be Christian taking on Sheamus and Mark Henry.
-Commercial Break-
A video package plays highlighting Big Show and Kane losing the Tag Team Titles followed by Big Show being hit by a car. The announcers say Big Show suffered internal injuries and a crushed knee.
Booker T’s music hits and he’s in the ring. Booker T asks the crowd to bear with him because there’s something he wants to do. It’s something he needs to do. Booker T invites Michael Cole into the ring. Cole looks confused and begrudgingly comes into the ring. Booker says Cole lost the “Kiss My Foot” match to Jerry Lawler at Over The Limit. They show a still shot of Lawler’s foot in Cole’s mouth. Booker asks Cole for the best way to get toe jam out. Booker laughs at Cole and Cole is sad. Booker says he’s just playing and puts his arm around his shoulder. Booker says he won’t let the fans mess with him and starts a chant of “Kiss My Feet”. Booker laughs and Cole leaves the ring.
Matt Striker knocks on Sheamus’s door. Sheamus says he won’t answer his questions. Sheamus says we’ve been hit over the head of how Christian won the title after seventeen years and he’s tired of it. Mark Henry has been here since the Clinton administration and he’s done nothing. That’s one fluke championship between two superstars with a combined career of thirty-three years. That’s pathetic. He won his first WWE Championship in his first couple of months. It only took him a few months to achieve what they strived for their entire lives. Sheamus just needs one opportunity.
-Commercial Break-
Kharma’s breakdown is shown in the rewind. They announce that we’ll hear from Kharma this Monday on Raw.
Alicia Fox & Tamina vs. Kaitlyn & AJ w/ Natalya
Before the match they show Natalya giving the girls a pep talk. Kaitlyn says they have too many “A”‘s in their name. AJ says she’s just excited and they’ve come a long way from NXT.
Alicia starts off against AJ. Alicia grabs her by the throat and AJ comes back with some forearms. Alicia knees her down. AJ comes back with a head-scissor takeover and a dropkick to the face. Kaitlyn is tagged in. Kaitlyn clotheslines her and head-butts her in the midsection. Kaitlyn bounces her face off the mat a few times and pulls the hair. Kaitlyn pushes her to the corner and takes her down. Alicia kicks her away but Kaitlyn comes back with some elbows. Kaitlyn hits a sidewalk slam but Tamina breaks up the pin. AJ takes Tamina out of the ring Alicia hits Kaitlyn with a Scissor Kick. Booker T likes what he sees as Alicia picks up the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Alicia Fox & Tamina
Match Rating: 1/2 *
They promote the WWE All Stars video game. They plug the main event once again. Michael Cole says the winner will face Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship next Friday on Smackdown!
-Commercial Break-
Mark Henry joins Matt Striker. Striker wants his response to Christian and Sheamus’s thoughts on him. Henry thinks Striker agrees with them. Henry says Striker thinks he’s done nothing since Bill Clinton was president. Striker tries to explain and that angers Henry. Henry says Striker is saying he’s an underachiever and is stupid. Henry wants an answer and Striker cowers away. Henry shoves him out of the way and leaves.
The announcers talk about “Macho Man” Randy Savage who left us way too early last Friday. They then play the beautiful tribute video to him. That video literally gives me chills. A huge part of my childhood left with Savage.
-Commercial Break-
Number One Contender’s Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Sheamus vs. Mark Henry vs. Christian
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is the official of the match. Sheamus and Henry quickly take Christian down and take turns beating him up. Sheamus holds Christian up as Henry punches him in the midsection. Sheamus forearms him in the face and hits a body shot. Henry punches him down and Sheamus chokes Christian with the knee. They send him to the ropes but Christian slides to the outside. Sheamus follows him and punches him at ringside. Sheamus then charges into a drop-toe-hold, sending him into the steel steps.
Christian shoulders Henry in the midsection but is brought back into the ring the hard way. Christian avoids a stomp and delivers some right hands. Christian runs into a big flapjack for a near fall. Henry head-butts him down and drags him near the ropes. Henry chokes him with his boot and then stands on his chest. Henry gloats before charging Christian. Christian pulls the top rope down and Henry sails over. Sheamus quickly sneaks up behind Christian and rolls him up for a near fall.
Sheamus hits a hammer smash for a near fall. Sheamus sizes Christian up but misses a Brogue Kick. Christian hits the Kill Switch but Henry pulls him out of the ring! Randy Orton’s music hits and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Henry choking Christian on the bottom rope. Henry stomps him and sends him to the corner sternum first. Orton is shown sitting at ringside and scouting the action. Henry picks up a near fall in the ring. Henry applies a bear hug and shakes Christian viciously. Sheamus gets on the apron and shoulders Henry. Sheamus snaps him off the top rope but Henry quickly comes back with a belly to belly over the top rope! Christian comes back with some punches and runs into a clothesline. Henry picks up another near fall. Henry bounces him off the top rope and kicks away at him. Henry bounces him in the corner and smashes him on the back. Henry does it again and goes for a big splash but Christian moves.
The crowd is getting into it now as Christian goes to the second rope. Christian hits a missile dropkick that doesn’t knock Henry down. Christian repeats it and takes him down for a near fall. Christian goes back up top and Sheamus cuts him off. Sheamus viciously punches him before turning his sights on Henry. Sheamus punches and knees away at him. Sheamus goes back to Christian goes for a superplex but Christian knocks him off the second rope. Christian goes for a cross-body but Henry catches him and hits the World’s Strongest Slam! Sheamus breaks up the pin quickly.
Sheamus punches away at Henry and knocks him out of the ring. Sheamus quickly covers Christian for a near fall. Sheamus can’t believe it and taunts the crowd. Sheamus goes for Pale Justice but Christian slides off. Sheamus charges him in the corner but Christian hits a pendulum kick. Christian hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. At ringside, Mark Henry shoves Orton. Henry gets in the ring and goes for a press slam on Christian but he gets out. Christian shoves Henry into Sheamus and dropkicks him in the knee. Christian then hits Sheamus with a Spear! Orton gets in the ring at this point and RKO’s Henry! The referee yells at him as Christian covers Sheamus. The referee finally sees and counts a near fall. The referee argues that Orton was in the ring at the time. Christian then turns into a Brogue Kick! Sheamus is the number one contender!
Winner by Pinfall: Sheamus
Match Rating: ** 1/2
Randy Orton gets in the ring as Sheamus leaves. Sheamus taunts Orton. They’ll face each other for the World Heavyweight Championship next week on Smackdown! Christian argues with the referee that he had the match won as Orton continues watching Sheamus.
Quick Match Results
Sin Cara def. Chavo Guerrero
Daniel Bryan def. Cody Rhodes via Submission
Ezekiel Jackson def. Heath Slater via DQ
Kane def. The Great Khali
Alicia Fox & Tamina def. Kaitlyn & AJ
Sheamus def. Mark Henry & Christian
Bump of the Night: Sin Cara’s Asai Moonsault!
Match of the Night: The Triple Threat Match ** 1/2
Mike’s Thoughts
This was a pretty good edition of Smackdown with an excellent main event. The show kicked off well with Christian interrupting Randy Orton to congratulate him on the win. Christian challenged him to a match and that brought Sheamus out. Sheamus was excellent all night with his promos. I absolutely love this guy. He’s going to do some great things on Smackdown. Mark Henry came out and he’s been a true revelation since coming over to the blue brand. Henry must have gone to work school at some point this year because he’s been really good since coming over. Teddy Long came out and set up the main event. Christian showed no signs of any bitterness toward Orton in this segment. It’s a real slow build and I love what they’re doing.
Sin Cara took on Chavo Guerrero in an Over The Limit rematch. The match was pretty decent. It was probably better than Over The Limit if only for the sole fact they didn’t botch the finish. Sin Cara should probably slow himself down in a live setting. Smackdown is perfect for him as he adapts to the WWE style and pressure.
Cody Rhodes and Daniel Bryan had a really good match tonight. I really enjoyed it. Rhodes needed a good showing in my opinion. Even though he lost at least he did something different this week. This could be the start of a nice program with Daniel Bryan. Both guys can go. Rhodes and this character have a lot to offer. I hope they run with it for a while.
I really could care less about Ezekiel Jackson and the feud with The Corre. Do you care? It just has no heat and Jackson’s face turn is so flat. They didn’t even bother to pipe in any fake cheers throughout the segment.
They followed that up with a WrestleMania 23 rematch between Kane and The Great Khali. Yes, this was a WrestleMania match. I tried to forget it, too. The match was what it was. It was bowling shoe ugly. After that Jinder Mahal came out and the payoff to the month long buildup happened. Khali turned on Ranjin Singh and joined forces with Jinder Mahal. Stevie Wonder saw that one coming. I hope they make them a tag team and not make Khali a heel singles competitor.
Booker T invited Michael Cole into the ring and had a little fun at his expense. Unfortunately he was the only one who did. That segment was as humorless as it gets. It was actually uncomfortable to watch at times. Just brutal.
It was nice to see them bring AJ from NXT fame up to the main roster. She wasn’t bad and was one of my favorites from that season. She may have been the only thing I liked from that disastrous season. They put Alicia Fox and Tamina over in that match and I think I heard Dave Stephens crying from somewhere not too far from my house. Tamina never even got in the match. Kaitlyn didn’t look bad in this either.
My goodness did that “Macho Man” Randy Savage video give me chills. That is one of the most beautiful video packages they ever put together. It gave me chills to watch it. Savage was such a big part of my childhood and that really hit home with me as a wrestling fan and a person. It literally choked me up when they showed the clips of him with Miss Elizabeth. I’m still having trouble believing she’s gone. That was one of the best wrestler/manager combos in pro wrestling history right there.
They closed it up with an excellent main event. I’m usually not a fan of multi-person matches but this was well done. I questioned them bringing Orton out in the middle of the match but in the end it didn’t hurt it at all. I definitely liked that Orton RKO’d Mark Henry, inadvertently distracting the referee from counting the pin for Christian. It’s the subtle things like that which will push Christian over the edge. This is one of the most interesting builds WWE has done in a while and they are definitely treating this program delicately. In the meantime we’ll see Randy Orton take on Sheamus with the title on the line next week. That should be a great match.
Final Rating: *** 1/4
You can follow me on the Twitter now! Find me on @MikeTedescoWV! As always you can also e-mail me at the address below.
E-Mail – MikeTedesco@wrestleview.com
Did you miss last week’s Smackdown? Check it out here!
Check out “Behind The Barricade”, my wrestling podcast featuring my friends and me. This past week we talked about the new and improved Impact Wrestling as well as Hulk Hogan’s crazy comments about Spike TV. At the end of the show is an interview with Rikishi. Rikishi offered some very interesting comments on “Macho Man” Randy Savage, the bump off the Hell in a Cell in 2000, and his heel turn. It’s an interview you don’t want to miss out on. On Monday (Memorial Day in the United States) we have a great interview with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. Be sure to check that out as well. Be sure to check out behindthebarricade.podbean.com!
P.S.: We’re also looking for someone to make a cool logo for our website. If anyone is interested in doing so please e-mail me.
Be sure to check out the Win-Loss Record of your favorite WWE Superstar on the main page!
Thanks for reading!