WWE Smackdown
January 20, 2012
Las Vegas, Nevada
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
They show footage from last week’s main event. Daniel Bryan was defending his World Heavyweight Championship against the Big Show when tragedy struck. As Big Show was chasing Bryan around the ring, he accidentally ran into AJ who was at ringside. WWE trainers came out to check on her, and they took the unconscious AJ away on a stretcher. Bryan berated Big Show all the way up the ramp. Bryan called him a “bastard”, and he left Big Show on the stage crying.
The Smackdown video plays, and we’re brought into the arena with a big fireworks display. Josh Mathews, Michael Cole, and Booker T welcome us to the “Sin City” Smackdown.
Lillian Garcia asks the crowd to welcome World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan to the ring. Bryan makes his way to the ring looking very gloomy. The crowd boos him as he gets into the ring. Bryan says tonight’s show is aptly named “Sin City Smackdown”. That’s not just because we’re emanating from Las Vegas; it’s because it’s exactly what Big Show did to his girlfriend, AJ. It’s a sin. Big Show is 441 pounds; his girlfriend is a mere 95 pounds. Just like he said on Raw, bowling over AJ wasn’t an accident; it was intentional. Big Show wasn’t sorry. Those tears were not tears of sorrow. They were crocodile tears. Big Show is bitter because his World Heavyweight Championship reign was the shortest in history at a mere 45 seconds. After he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and beat him for the title, he never lived that down. He is a bitter, selfish, vengeful freak. Because of that, his girlfriend AJ has suffered head trauma, a cervical sprain, and her career may very well be over, all because she insisted on being with him at ringside. Why would she put herself in harm’s way? Because she loves him. He’s never had anyone ever say that to him before. He has a great admiration to her as well. He dedicated his match to her on Raw, and he’ll do the same thing tonight. Even though she’s not here tonight, she’ll be with him in spirit.
As for Mark Henry, he is not afraid, just as he’s not afraid of Big Show, who isn’t even here tonight. The crowd is giving him a “You Suck” chant. Big Show isn’t here, and it’s a damn good thing because he cannot be held responsible for what he would do to him. Bryan pleads with him to do the right thing before he has to unleash his fury on him. Before he inevitably hurts another victim, he wants Big Show to do the decent thing and quit. The crowd boos that as Bryan’s music hits again.
There is a big Las Vegas party going on backstage. Teddy Long is with Aksana. They have the old Raw Roulette wheel behind them. Long goes over the various match types you can spin for. Aksana suggests they have a pillow fight. Cody Rhodes walks up, and he talks about his brother, Goldust, winding up in a Las Vegas Showgirls match. Rhodes says he’s the last hope for his family. Long asks if he’s going to talk or spin. Rhodes spins, and it lands on “Player’s Choice”. Long says he can choose his opponent for his match next. Rhodes points at Ezekiel Jackson, and Rhodes says that’s not who he meant. He meant Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle looks sad as he realizes that he was picked.
-Commercial Break-
Before Hornswoggle gets in the ring, Rhodes shoves him down. Justin Gabriel runs down, and he attacks Rhodes. Gabriel gets the better of Rhodes, and he puts him in the ring. Gabriel grabs a microphone, and he tells Rhodes to pick on someone his own size, like himself, or would he rather do a Vegas Showgirls match? Rhodes screams that it will be non-title.
Player’s Choice
Cody Rhodes vs. Justin Gabriel w/ Hornswoggle
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is the official for this match. Rhodes kicks Gabriel, puts him in the corner, and he chops the chest. Gabriel turns him, and he clubs away at him. Gabriel slides through the legs, and he dropkicks him down. Robinson backs Gabriel up as Rhodes is in the corner. They circle the ring and lock up. Gabriel takes him down with a quick arm drag. Rhodes uppercuts him and dropkicks him for a two count. Rhodes hits a front suplex, and he quickly applies a chin lock. Hornswoggle cheers Gabriel on at ringside. Rhodes head-butts Gabriel, and he stomps him. Rhodes punches him down and picks up a two count. Rhodes applies a modified chin lock/hammerlock combo. Gabriel fights up, and he elbows out. Rhodes goes for a body slam, but Gabriel counters into a falling elbow drop.
Gabriel kicks Rhodes down, and he goes to the top rope. Rhodes quickly rolls away. Gabriel gets off, and he whips Rhodes to the corner. Gabriel charges, and Rhodes catches him with an Alabama Slam attempt. Gabriel counters with a roll up for a near fall. Gabriel gets a backslide for another two count. Rhodes quickly kicks him, whips him to the corner, and he runs into a boot. Gabriel catches him with a springboard cross-body for a near fall. Gabriel goes for a monkey flip, but Rhodes counters by dropping him on the ropes. Rhodes quickly hits the Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Cody Rhodes
Match Rating: *
Mark Henry is backstage with Teddy Long. Long says he needs to spin the wheel to determine what type of match he’ll have for the World Heavyweight Championship. Henry says he can’t believe Long is doing this. “Sin City Smackdown” is the worst concept he’s ever heard of. Henry says it’s Long’s fault that AJ got put in harm’s way. Now, tonight, he’s putting Daniel Bryan in harm’s wheel. Long asks him to just spin the wheel. Henry screams, “Who you talkin’ to? You spin the wheel! It’s your idea!” Long spins, and the wheel lands on “Lumberjack Match”. Henry says he’s cool with that. That little egotistical pipsqueak of a champion he has is going into the Hall of Pain.
-Commercial Break-
Tornado Tag Team Match
Epico and Primo w/ Rosa Mendes vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso
A big melee immediately breaks loose at the sound of the bell. The Usos are quickly out of the gate as they take Epico down with a double back elbow. They then take Primo, and they give him a backbreaker/diving throat chop combination. They get a one count. Primo quickly counters back as he gives Jey a back body drop over the top rope. They concentrate on Jimmy, giving him double gut-busters for a near fall. They choke him on the ropes before sending him into the ropes. Jimmy holds on, and Jey runs in to help. Jey hits a clothesline, and he kicks Epico in the midsection. They hit stereo avalanches, and they follow up with stereo running butt bumps to the face.
Mendes distracts Jimmy as he goes to get Primo on the outside. Primo takes him out by driving him into the apron. Inside the ring, Jey catches Epico with a big top rope splash. Primo breaks it up, and he immediately follows up with a Backstabber for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Epico and Primo
Match Rating: 3/4 *
Tonight, we’ll see Daniel Bryan defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Mark Henry in a Lumberjack match. We’ll also see Sheamus take on Wade Barrett in a match stipulation to be announced.
-Commercial Break-
They show footage from last year’s Royal Rumble. Alberto Del Rio thought he’d won it, until Santino Marella snuck up on him having never been eliminated. Santino hit him with the Cobra, and he celebrated like crazy. Santino went to eliminate him, but at the last minute Del Rio turned the tables on him and won.
Teddy Long is backstage with Aksana. Aksana tells him that she loves slot machines because she can keep yanking and yanking, and money comes out. Sheamus walks up, and he says it looks like Long has hit the jackpot. Long asks Aksana to spin the wheel. It lands on “Tables Match”. Sheamus says that’s ok with him since “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”.
Brodus Clay makes his entrance along with his dancers. He’ll compete in a “Dance-Off” next.
-Commercial Break-
EXCUSE ME! Vickie Guerrero makes her way to the ring to massive amounts of jeers from the crowd. Vickie says Lady Luck is on her shoulders since she’s Brodus Clay’s opponent in this Dance-Off. Vickie says, “I’m going to show all of you how I can shake my thing. I wiggle when I walk, and I jiggle when I groove, and I can make it sizzle with my moves. And that is for shizzle! Hit my music!” Vickie begins to dance in what can only be described as truly horrible. It’s pretty much the “Elaine Dance” from “Seinfeld”. Vickie tells him, “That’s how you do it!”
Brodus Clay’s music hits, and he lets Cameron and Naomi do all the work. Clay then removes his jacket, and he shakes like nuts next to Vickie as his time in the competition ends. Lillian Garcia says it’s time for Vegas to judge who won this challenge. Vickie gets loudly booed, and Clay gets cheered. Vickie flips out, and she screams that she’s the better dancer. She demands they hit her music, and she begins to convulse again.
William Regal’s music hits, and he says he cannot allow this to happen anymore as an English gentleman. Regal demands that they stop laughing at this poor, unfortunate lady. Regal puts his arm around her, and he calls her a “buxom wrench”. Vickie takes his handkerchief, and she loudly blows her nose. Clay asks where he’s going. Clay asks if Regal is a “funky chicken”, and he does the chicken clucking, or lack thereof, from “Arrested Development”. Regal takes exception to that, and he gets back in the ring. Regal tells them to hit his music, and he begins to dance lamely but well. Clay takes him out with a running cross-body, and the crowd boos! Clay laughs, and he gets on the microphone saying, “My bad! Somebody call his momma!” Clay and his dancers continue to dance the night away.
Sheamus will take on Wade Barrett in a Tables Match next.
-Commercial Break-
Tables Match
Wade Barrett vs. Sheamus
Barrett quickly knees Sheamus in the midsection, and he beats him down in the corner. Sheamus quickly comes back with some viciously clubs, and he bounces Barrett off the turnbuckle. Barrett slugs back, but he has a whip reversed on him. Barrett kicks Sheamus in the face, and Sheamus quickly throws him over the top rope. Sheamus follows him outside, and Barrett drives him into the apron. Barrett grabs a table, and Sheamus takes him down as he’s attempting to set it up. Sheamus bounces him off the commentary table, and he sets the folding table up. Sheamus goes to powerslam him through the table, but Barrett slides off and sends him into the ring post.
Barrett sends him into the ring, and he chokes him on the ropes. Barrett big boots him to the outside, but Sheamus is able to avoid the table. Barrett clubs away at Sheamus, and he goes to suplex him from the ring to the table on the outside. Sheamus quickly counters, and he puts a beating on Barrett’s chest with massive clubs. Sheamus goes into the ropes and pounds him off, but the force sends Barrett over the table. Sheamus beats him around ringside and throws him back into the ring. Sheamus grabs a table to bring into the ring, and Barrett dropkicks it in his face. Barrett puts the table into the ring, and he rolls Sheamus back in. Barrett sets the table up, and he puts Sheamus over his shoulder. Sheamus counters with a roll up.
Sheamus quickly pops up, and he takes Barrett out with a coupe of hammer clubs to the face. Sheamus powerslams him down, and he looks at the table. Sheamus sets him up, and he goes to the top rope. Barrett quickly gets off the table, and he cuts Sheamus off. They fight it out, and Barrett goes to the second rope. Sheamus punches him down, and he leaps over the table. Barrett quickly throws the table out of the way as Sheamus catches him with the Irish Curse. Sheamus sets the table up in the corner, and he sets Barrett up for the Celtic Cross. Jinder Mahal runs down for the distraction. Sheamus quickly knocks him off the apron, and he turns into a kick from Barrett. Barrett then drives Sheamus through the table for the win!
Winner: Wade Barrett
Match Rating: * 1/2
Jinder Mahal sets another table up in the corner. He grabs Sheamus, but he slides off. Sheamus quickly kills him with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus looks at the table, and he smiles. He picks Mahal up, and he slams him through the table in the corner!
Later tonight, we’ll see Daniel Bryan defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Mark Henry in a Lumberjack match.
-Commercial Break-
Teddy Long spins the wheel, and he announces that the next match will be a “Flag Match”. The ring crew quickly rushes down to set the match up. As they do, they air a pre-taped promo by Ted DiBiase. DiBiase says Hunico and Camacho are upset that they were never invited to his parties, which are open to everyone. After tonight, they’ll throw each other a pity party.
Flag Match
Ted DiBiase vs. Hunico w/ Camacho
They circle the ring, and Hunico quickly beats him down. DiBiase reverses a whip, and he counters a head-scissor takeover with a sit-out face buster. DiBiase begins to climb toward the American Flag, but Hunico powerbombs him off the second rope. Hunico goes for the Mexican Flag, but DiBiase catches him with an electric chair drop. DiBiase charges, and Hunico back body drops him over the top rope. Hunico climbs up to the Mexican Flag, but DiBiase pushes him off the top rope and onto Camacho. DiBiase claws toward the American Flag, and Hunico tries to stop him. DiBiase beats him back, sidesteps him, and he hits the Dream Street. DiBiase fights to the top rope, and he grabs the American Flag.
Winner: Ted DiBiase
Match Rating: 1/4 *
Daniel Bryan is talking with Kaitlyn backstage. Kaitlyn is AJ’s friend. He’ll face Mark Henry in a Lumberjack match with his title on the line tonight.
-Commercial Break-
They play the Raw Rebound. Mick Foley goaded John Laurinaitis into admitting that he intends to screw CM Punk at the Royal Rumble. Laurinaitis then attacked Foley, and he screamed that he was tired of being disrespected.
Teddy Long is backstage with Drew McIntyre. Long says he’s running out of luck. Long says that McIntyre was close to being fired three weeks ago. Long says he’s going to have to let him go, and he fired McIntyre. Santino Marella walks up, and he asks Long to reconsider. Santino says he beat “Drew Macintosh” two weeks ago, and he wants to have “Macintosh” double down and show him the snake eyes. Long says he’ll give him one more chance. McIntyre spins the wheel, and it lands on “Blindfold Match”. McIntyre thanks Long for the opportunity, and he tells Santino that he’ll see him out there. Santino laughs and says it’s a Blindfold Match; he won’t see anything. Santino closes his eyes to practice, and he walks into something that gets destroyed.
Mark Henry is shown warming up for his match backstage. He’ll face Daniel Bryan for the title later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Blindfold Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Santino Marella
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is back for another match. Robinson puts blindfolds on both men, and Santino also puts one over the cobra. They feel around the ring throwing blind kicks and punches. Santino get the crowd to help him find McIntyre. Santino sets the Cobra up, but McIntyre moves. Santino strikes the rope, and McIntyre hears that. McIntyre spears him out of the ring. They feel around at ringside, and McIntyre clotheslines the ring post. They both get in the ring, and Santino nearly gives Charles Robinson a Cobra. Robinson removes the blindfold from the Cobra to stop that. As that’s going on, McIntyre sneaks a peek. McIntyre goes to attack, but Santino ducks to pick up the Cobra’s blindfold. McIntyre flies over the top rope. As he gets back in, Santino uses the crowd’s cheers to find McIntyre, and he strikes with the Cobra for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Santino Marella
Match Rating: 1/4 *
The lumberjacks make their way to the ring. The World Heavyweight Championship match is next.
-Commercial Break-
They announce that Randy Orton will be on Smackdown next week, and he’ll confront Wade Barrett.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Lumberjack Match
Mark Henry vs. Daniel Bryan (c)
The bell rings, and Henry throws his shirt at Bryan. Henry blocks a kick, and he shoves Bryan down. Bryan rolls to the apron, and he tells the lumberjacks not to touch him. Bryan tries to kick at Henry, but Henry head-butts him down. Bryan goes to the apron, and the lumberjacks converge. Bryan warns them not to touch him. Henry clubs him down, and he shoulders him in the corner. Henry stands on Bryan’s chest, and he punches him in the corner. Bryan tries to fight back, but Henry head-butts him down. Henry pressed him against the ropes, and he clubs the chest. Henry sends him into the ropes, Bryan ducks a few clotheslines, and Henry shoulder blocks him down. Bryan rolls out of the ring, and the lumberjacks roll him back in. Bryan isn’t happy about that.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Henry powering Bryan around the ring. Bryan chop blocks the knee a few times, and he chops Henry in the corner. Bryan works on the knee, and Henry swats him away. Bryan quickly comes back, and he works on the knee some more. Henry again swats him away, and Bryan hits a running dropkick in the corner. Henry goes down to his knees, and Bryan kicks him in the head for a near fall. Henry’s kick-out sent Bryan out of the ring. The lumberjacks converge, and Bryan slowly gets back in the ring. Henry takes him down with a clothesline, and he throws him across the ring a few times. Henry runs into the boots, and Bryan quickly gets turned inside out with a clothesline. Henry picks up a near fall.
Henry looks insanely intense right now. Henry military presses Bryan out of the ring and onto the lumberjacks. Bryan raked the eyes before he went flying. The lumberjacks all assault Bryan. Bryan quickly gets to the apron, and Henry tosses him into the ring. Bryan knocks Henry off the apron, and the lumberjacks attempt to throw him back into the ring. Bryan kicks away at the lumberjacks from in the ring, and a big melee breaks out. The lumberjacks attack Bryan in the ring, and Henry throws all the other lumberjacks off him at ringside. Henry tries to get to Bryan, but the lumberjacks won’t stop attacking him. Bryan sneaks out of the ring as a Royal Rumble-type situation breaks out in the ring. Bryan sneaks to the back, and that’s it for the match.
No Contest
Match Rating: * 1/4
Teddy Long confronts him outside the Gorilla position. Long asks him what he’s doing. Bryan says he was in a no count-out, no disqualification match against Big Show, and this week he’s in a lumberjack match with Mark Henry where 30 guys wanted to beat him up. Bryan asks what’s next. Long says he’ll defend his World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble. Mark Henry versus The Big Show versus Daniel Bryan in a Steel Cage Match!
Quick Match Results
Cody Rhodes def. Justin Gabriel in a Player’s Choice Match (non-title)
Epico and Primo def. Jimmy and Jey Uso in a Tornado Tag Match (non-title)
Wade Barrett def. Sheamus in a Tables Match
Ted DiBiase def. Hunico in a Flag Match
Santino Marella def. Drew McIntyre in a Blindfold Match
Daniel Bryan NC Mark Henry in a Lumberjack Match (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
Bump of the Night: Sheamus slamming Jinder Mahal through a table!
Match of the Night: Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett * 1/2
Mike’s Thoughts
This wasn’t a terrible Smackdown this week. The show kicked off with Daniel Bryan continuing his heel ways with a very good promo on Big Show and AJ. There’s just something about Bryan when he talks about AJ. It’s just so creepy. It gave me chills when he said that he has a “great admiration” for her. There’s nothing wrong with a great admiration for somebody, but when you’re saying that person loves you, and you say you greatly admire them, there’s something creepy there. I really like the direction his character is going. He’s a heel, but he hasn’t done anything completely heelish. There’s logic to everything, twisted logic, but logic nonetheless. That was a nice way to open up the show.
Cody Rhodes took on Justin Gabriel in a Player’s Choice match. There was nothing wrong with the execution of the match, but there’s just something about Justin Gabriel. He just doesn’t look like he has any passion when he’s competing. It looked like he was going through the motions again this week. Gabriel is on a Jinder Mahal list with me in that I don’t see why they continue to push him. Yes his finishing move looks great, but that’s about it.
I don’t have much to comment on the tornado tag match. It was decent enough. I’m sad they changed The Usos’ entrance up. I always got a kick out of them screaming “Fatu” and it sounding like it’s something inappropriate.
I got a major kick out of the Dance-Off with Brodus Clay, Vickie Guerrero, and William Regal. Vickie is hilarious and fearless. She simply doesn’t care how ridiculous she looks. She just goes out there and does her thing, and she was awesome tonight. Regal was great in his role as well. He actually isn’t a bad dancer. If they had him dancing and rapping this would’ve been the best thing on the show. If you haven’t seen Regal rapping, look it up. It’s worth the two minutes. Clay laid him out while he was dancing, and the crowd started booing, which I found to be hilarious. Clay then saved face and delivered his catchphrase, and the crowd was right back on his side. It was a ridiculous segment, but awesome nonetheless. Just good old-fashioned fun.
Wade Barrett and Sheamus had a great hard hitting tables match. This would be an awesome PPV match. These two would just go out and destroy each other. They did great tonight. The only thing that marred the match for me was the Jinder Mahal interference. The guy gets destroyed every week, and they still keep putting him out there with Sheamus. I just don’t get it. I don’t mind watching him get destroyed, but hopefully Sheamus can move on to bigger and better things soon. Mahal simply brings nothing to the table for me.
I don’t have any comment on the Flag match other than I really can’t stand the Hunico character. The blindfold match, on the other hand, was great fun. From the backstage setup to the actual match, this was a lot of fun to watch. Santino was on his game tonight, and so was McIntyre. There’s not much to do in a blindfold match, but they made the most of what they had. The crowd interaction was awesome, and this was just more fun on a show that was all about having fun tonight. The Royal Rumble doesn’t provide them much to do in terms of building things up other than title matches, so you have to have shows like this to get through the buildup in my opinion.
Finally we get to the main event. I’m not a big fan of lumberjack matches, but this one served its purpose. There wasn’t much going on with the Daniel Bryan/Mark Henry match, but they continued the trend of making Bryan look like a coward but not really. Bryan quickly defended his move backstage with Teddy Long by saying all the guys were trying to attack him when really he was goading them the entire match. It was a no contest, and they were able to set up the Royal Rumble match for them.
Final Rating: ** 1/2
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