WWE Friday Night Smackdown
Atlanta, Georgia
March 30, 2012
Commentators: Matt Striker & Josh Mathews
Reported by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Are you ready? There are only 2 days until WrestleMania, so stop questioning your heart and join me because it’s time for Friday Night Smackdown!!!
Zack Ryder’s music hits, and he heads down to the ring. Ryder’s head appears in a box screen and he says that his mind is focused on Eve. Plus, he is going to help Team Teddy win at WrestleMania!
Zack Ryder v. Drew McIntyre
They circle up and start the match. Drew hits a quick back body drop and takes a moment to pose. Ryder dodges and hits a hip toss. Cover, but Drew kicks out. They attempt to lock arms, but Drew kicks Ryder and knocks him to the mat. Drew follows up with a couple of stomps and then lifts Ryder back to his feet for a headbutt. Ryder responds with a dropkick and then a facedrop. Ryder pushes Drew into the corner and leaps on top for punches. Drew tosses Ryder down to the mat. He lifts him up for a snap suplex and cover. Ryder kicks out.
Drew wrenches back the arm of Ryder and applies a modified chin lock. Ryder is able to escape, but Drew hits him with a gutbreaker. Cover, but Ryder kicks out. Drew backs him into the corner and stomps him to the mat. Drew steps on the face of Ryder and stomps it into the mat. Drew returns to the chinlock. Ryder manages to wriggle free, but Drew quickly knocks him down. Drew heads to the top rope and leaps, but Ryder catches him with a boot.
Ryder hits an elbow and then a chop splash. Ryder slams Drew’s face into the mat, and then charges for a big punch in the corner. Ryder pumps up the crowd, and hits the Broski Kick. Cover, but Drew kicks out. Ryder lifts up Drew, but gets caught with a surprise big boot! Cover, but Ryder kicks out at the last second. Drew lifts Ryder to his feet and looks for a Powerbomb. Ryder escapes and hits the Rough Ryder! This match is over.
Winner via Rough Ryder: Zack Ryder
Teaser: Lord Tensai
****Commercial****
Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler are shown in Miami at WrestleMania Axxess. They show the exhibit of The Undertaker which features a graveyard with tombstones containing the names of all his WrestleMania opponents.
Video Package: HHH v. The Undertaker
****Commercial****
Cole & Lawler put over the WWE.com pre-show which will air Sunday at 6:30pm on WWE.com & Youtube
Video Package: Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos v. Beth Phoenix & Eve Torres
****Commercial****
Cole & Lawler highlight the online charity auction. Details can be found on the WWE.com website.
Video Package: CM Punk/Chris Jericho feud
****Commercial****
Video Package: Team Teddy/Team Long feud
****Commercial****
The Big Show’s music hits and we are back in the arena. Show makes his way down to the ring and grabs a mic. He takes a moment and shouts out the Atlanta crowd. He says that he has had a very fortunate career. Show has faced the greats in this business, and even won a World Championship in his first match. Show says that despite all of this, Cody Rhodes has taken great privilege in pointing out Show’s failings on the grandest stage of them all. He admits that Cody’s plan is brilliant given the history. However, Cody won’t be stepping in the ring with history – he’ll be stepping in the ring with the World’s Largest Athlete. Show says that while he has felt confident in the past, this time is different. Show has a feeling in his gut, mind and heart that he will win this match. Rhodes may call Show a choke artist, but Rhodes is going to get choke slammed! Show is going to beat him and become the NEW Intercontinental Champion. This Sunday, The Big Show will finally have his WrestleMania moment!
****Commercial****
We are back with Lawler & Cole. They show more clips of WrestleMania Axxess including a booth where fans can sing the entrance theme of John Cena.
Video Package: Daniel Bryan v. Sheamus
****Commercial****
Lawler & Cole preview the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame
Video Package: HHH/Undertaker “End of an Era” feud
****Commercial****
Chris Jericho v. Kofi Kingston
Jericho stares at Kofi, and then tosses him to the mat. Jericho shouts “best in the world” before locking up with Kofi. Jericho rakes his arm, but Kofi reverses. Jericho elbows him in the face and then kicks him in the gut. Jericho bounces off the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Jericho runs, but Kofi leapfrogs and hits a spinning elbow. Kofi hits a splash in the corner and then knocks Jericho to the outside of the ring. Jericho gets back to his feet, only to get hit with a baseball slide! Kofi heads out of the ring and rolls Jericho back inside. Kofi tries to springboard into the ring, but Jericho hits the ropes and Kofi crashes to the mat.
****Commercial****
Back from the break, Jericho teeter-tooters Kofi’s neck into the bottom rope. Chris charges and hits a baseball slide that knocks Kofi to the outside! Jericho takes the moment to taunt the crowd. Jericho exits the ring to retrieve Kofi. Jericho slams Kofi’s head into the table at ringside. Jericho pulls back the protective rubber on the barricade to expose the steel frame. He then slams Kofi into it, before sliding him back into the ring.
Jericho kicks the back of Kofi’s neck, and then follows up with rear headlock. Kofi gets back to his feet. Kofi charges, but gets caught with a knee to the gut. Kofi responds with a quick cover, but Jericho kicks out. Jericho hits a lateral press and tries for a cover of his own. Kofi kicks out. Jericho sets Kofi up against the second rope. Chris uses his legs to apply pressure pushing Kofi’s neck into the ropes. Jericho charges, but Kofi moves out of the way! Kofi blocks a splash, and bounces off the ropes for a spinning tomahawk. Cover, but Jericho kicks out. Kofi is back on his feet first and hits a dropkick. This sets up the Boom Drop, which connects. Kofi heads into the corner to prep for Trouble in Paradise. Jericho counters and tries to apply the Walls of Jericho. Kofi flips free and heads to the top rope. Kofi leaps and connects with a huge crossbody. Cover, but Jericho kicks out!
Kofi kicks him in the gut, and then bounces off the ropes. Jericho stops him with an elbow which plants Kofi on the mat. Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Kofi gets up his knees! Kofi tries for Trouble in Paradise, but again Jericho is able to counter. This time the Walls of Jericho is fully wrenched in! Kofi taps and this match is over.
Winner via Walls of Jericho: Chris Jericho
****Commercial****
Video Package: Encounter between The Rock & John Cena from Monday Night RAW (3/26)
Bonus: Smackdown Road to WrestleMania
In some countries, the WWE aired this special version of Smackdown. I obtained a copy, so I figured I’d post the contents if anyone was interested
A video package starts the show by highlighting the formation of WrestleMania.
Josh Mathews and Booker T are in a studio to welcome us to this special “Road to WrestleMania” edition of Friday Night Smackdown.
Video Highlight: HHH v. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 27
Video Package: History of the Intercontinental Championship
Video Highlight: Randy Savage v. Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania 3
Video Highlight: John Cena v. Edge v. Big Show at WrestleMania 25
Video Highlight: Chris Jericho v. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 19
Video Highlight: Randy Orton v. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 21
Video Package: CM Punk v. Chris Jericho feud
Video Highlight: The Rock v. Steve Austin at WrestleMania 19
Video Package: The Rock v. John Cena feud
Josh Mathews & Booker T close out the show by running down the WrestleMania card.
David’s Thoughts
My good friend Mike Tedesco is down in Miami for WrestleMania, so we switched recaps this week so that he wouldn’t have to worry about rushing through this really lengthy (ha) Smackdown before his plane ride. Before I leave you, just a quick shout out that I’ll be recapping WrestleMania on Sunday so be sure to check that out – oh, and of course my Monday Night RAW recaps!
David Stephens
Follow me on Twitter!@TheDaveStephens
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The Teacher’s Lounge (Sunday)
“The Teacher’s Lounge” is a weekly podcast archived every Saturday on the Wrestleview Radio Network featuring hosts David Stephens and “Mr. V” Anthony Valvo. The show reviews all of the news from the week, tosses out Gold Stars and Detentions, PPV previews and special guests. Past Interviews include: Colt Cabana, Hernandez, Sara Del Rey, CZW Owner DJ Hyde, Shane Douglas & more!
