Thanks to the magic of WWE programming airing on different days in different countries, this is a rare and early version of the Smackdown review.  Lets see if it was worth the hassle of watching it early.

Christian vs. Mark Henry

This is a big match to feature as the opening bout of the show.  Of course, that is what happens when there’s a title match as the main event.  Someone is reminding Henry that he’s a beast and needs to wrestle as such.  Mark lifts and throws Christian over every inch of sky and canvas that the ring provides.  He then grasps Christian on the clavicle and squeezes until the marrow flows out.  Such a simple move but when applied by a man the size of a Kaiju monster its a match ending move.  Well, but not this time.  Christian attempts a missile dropkick but Mark catches him.  Captain Charisma fights out and locks up Mark’s arms for the Killswitch into a pin.

Christian cuts a promo after the match and he wants to get another title shot.  Teddy Long comes out and tells Christian that he’s out of luck.  But he can be involved in the match in a way, as he is now the guest referee.  Referees cant win matches right?

Alicia Fox and Tamina (with Rosa Mendes) vs. AJ and Kaitlyn (with Natalya)

I understand getting a rematch here, and it makes sense to have some sort of continuing story to introduce the new Divas.  But why the hell is Rosa out here?  I forgot she was even employed by WWE.  The announcers talk about Kharma’s pregnancy like she announced she has cancer.  Alicia is wearing pink this week which either means there’s a good coincidence going on or she’s smarter than we all think and Alicia is playing mind games with Natalya.  The new Divas don’t do much and Tamina picks up AJ for a Samoan drop then picks up the pin.

Randy Orton is “visualizing” tonight’s match.  With WWE’s synergy I’m shocked he’s not visualizing it while playing Smackdown vs. Raw.

Seems early for the all talk portion of the show.  But here we are.  Cody Rhodes says things about Daniel Bryan.  Matt Striker tries to interview “former world champion” the Great Khali.  Jinder Mahal interrupts, and that is expected.  But calling Khali a former world champion was not expected.  Yes, its true, but Khali might rank somewhere around David Arquette in the great champions listings.

Jinder Mahal vs. Yoshi Tatsu

Nothing more than a squash match here.  Jinder picks up the win with a full nelson suplex slam.  Khali applies the vice grip on Yoshi after the match.  Not a bad in ring debut for Jinder, but it remains to be seen what he can do against quality opponents.

Ezekiel Jackson vs. Wade Barrett (Intercontinental champion)

The more these two battle, the better they get against each other.  Wade is showing off not just his speed but finally his strength against Jackson.  Not that Barrett is as strong as Zeke, but he’s strong enough to hold his own.  Ezekiel is discovering how to take a little bit of a beating to make his offensive moves look more impressive in his comeback.  Wade takes numerous body slams and he knows what’s coming next.  Barrett hangs on to the ropes and fights off Zeke’s finisher.  Wade falls to the outside and while the rest of the Corre comes out Barrett takes the count out loss so he can keep the belt.  Heath and Justin try to beat down Ezekiel but its only a two on one assault when Wade walks away.  Big Zeke can easily fight off two men, and does.

Sheamus and Christian have words backstage.

Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase

Michael Cole tells us that Ted needs a victory so he can keep rising on Smackdown.  That would mean something if there were some sort of official rankings in WWE.  Which reminds me, didn’t TNA have an official ranking system that has been abandoned?  Bryan is just faster and better than Ted, and on paper would win every time.  The match looks like its over when Ted eats a kick but its only enough for a two.  Cody Rhodes comes out to be an interested viewer of this match.  Ted gets a couple big moves in a row and takes control of the match.  Daniel eventually outruns Ted’s momentum and goes back to the kicks that worked so well before.  DiBiase out smarts Bryan and runs behind him, catching him by surprise with the best clothesline money can buy.  Daniel makes a suicide dive next and neither man is getting ahead here.  Bryan comes off the top but DiBiase catches him with a dropkick and its still only enough for a two count.  Ted goes for Dream Street but Daniel reverses it into the Labell Lock for the victory.

Outstanding match, so far the best one of the night.  Ted and Cody beat down Daniel Bryan after the match until Sin Cara makes the save.  That has the potential to be an amazing tag team match.

NXT Season 4 winner Johnny Curtis cuts a promo.  As winner of the show, he was to get a tag title shot with his mentor, R-Truth. Which obviously wont happen now, as Truth is in a main event push.  Curtis dumps milk, pretends to cry over it, then dumps milk on himself.  What the fuck?  One, not a great way to debut a new talent.  Two, it seems a rip off of Zack Ryder’s YouTube show.

Randy Orton (World Champion) vs. Sheamus with Christian as the special guest referee

The announcers put over Sheamus’s brawling ability and advice Orton to stay away from fighting with Sheamus.  The match immediately drops to a punch and kick contest.  Both men pick up two counts, that no one expects to actually be enough to win the match.  The problem is, when a kick results in a two count it makes the two counts that follow big moves less impressive.  Can someone kick out after a one count anymore?  The story of the match is that Sheamus brawls while Orton dissects.  This is because Randy has that gear that he can kick it into.  A gear that other Superstars don’t have!  Also, Randy Orton rides an 11 speed bike.  Because he has that extra gear.  Sheamus pulls himself up and flips off the canvas over to the top of the turnbuckles.  Such a small move, but really impressive showing of strength and agility from a guy that’s nearly 300 pounds.  Orton catches Sheamus with his hesitation rope assisted DDT.  Its looks like its all over but Sheamus fights off the RKO attempt.  Just to keep things even Orton fights out of the high cross.  And just as I’m about to write that Christian has been keeping things even as a referee, Sheamus runs into Christian and knocks him on his ass.  Sheamus has the match won but Christian pulls up at the two and feigns injury.  Christian and Sheamus exchange words and then a punch.  Orton takes the opportunity to hit an RKO for the pin, which Christian has no trouble counting.

Randy Orton celebrates and it looks like the show is over.  That is, until Christian cracks Orton over the head with the world title.  Christian stands over the unconscious champion and screams out “I can beat you!”  The most riveting man on Smackdown leaves with the title he so desperately craves to regain while the actual champion lays in the ring.

 

Wow, that was an excellent show.  Definitely the best of the week.