Happy Stone Cold Steve Austin day everyone!

We’re going to try something a little different today.  Something only previously done with TNA reviews.  We are going to review Smackdown using only YouTube clips, and in the order that WWE posts them.  No, you tell me what’s important and worth my time WWE!

AJ takes on Nikki Bella with Daniel Bryan at ringside.

Wrestling wise, this match was a mess.  At first I was going to praise it.  AJ came out aggressive.  Nikki showed some impressive (for her) submission work and all was going well.  However, AJ’s splash off the top missed the mark.  Her roll through turned in 5 directions before she got Nikki on the mat.  Then there was the over booked plots of Daniel Bryan, the bad boyfriend angle, and an attempt at twin magic.  All within about three minutes.  As for story, it was a great match.  The larger angle of Bryan and AJ was built up and got over.  He’s a jerk and she is this naive rookie just trying to make it.  It pushed them both forward, and I’m actually enjoying this angle (as long as it doesn’t turn into an abuse angle).

Kane challenges Randy Orton to a match at WrestleMania.

Its always good to see old footage brought in to explain a current angle.  If we are to suspend our disbelief and think that all of this is “real” then these men and women would have long memories and would recall such events.  The best example is CM Punk bringing his title loss into his story with Randy Orton.  Maybe Punk found this Kane footage as well.  That aside, this was almost five minutes of making a WrestleMania match that we all knew was coming.  Well, now its official.  We all knew that unofficially a few weeks ago.  Feels like a ‘Mania match like this could have had a better official unveiling than dueling promos.

The Great Khali takes on Cody Rhodes.

Very strange to see Khali fighting from his back.  He did well and when did Cody become so good at selling?  Its well known by now that Khali is not a great wrestler.  Most of the time he is there to squash someone, or be a comedy act.  To see him in an actual match is a surprise, and it is no doubt due to faith in Cody Rhodes.  The Beautiful Disaster kick will rise the ranks and become the most feared move in wrestling as more and more people succumb to it.  Great match to put over Cody in his WrestleMania build up.  Its very likely Cody will win that match as well, and if he continues to have good matches with anyone Rhodes will top my MITB prediction list.

Chris Jericho explains why he is the “best in the world at what he does” while CM Punk only pretends to be.

Jericho’s promos on CM Punk’s alcoholic father have raised this feud to another level.  Sure, similar angles have been done with CM Punk on the independent circuit.  But that’s the independents.  No, it doesn’t count in WWE and I say this as a huge indy fan.  But the fact is that a story done in front of 200 people at a gym when guys are first starting out is not the same as doing it in front of 1000s of live fans, millions on TV, and years later when both men are main event millionaires.  Its just not the same.  Even little things that Jericho does, like barely saying “CM Drunk” are enraging the fans.  I can only hope that the in ring action equals the intensity of these promos.

Daniel Bryan informs AJ that he will be in her corner for an important Divas match tonight.

Hmmm maybe WWE should have uploaded this video before the previous ones.  I’ve already seen the match that is set up in this video.  Bryan comes off as more verbally abusive in this match and that’s rather shitty.  Also, why do the Divas only have one locker room but all the male stars have their own?  However, WWE usually only concentrates on one Diva at a time so there was probably plenty of room in there.

Yoshi Tatsu takes on The World’s Strongest Man – Mark Henry.

Yay Yoshi is on one of the main shows…. only to get squashed.  Remember back in WWE/ECW when it seemed like Tatsu might be elevated up to at least IC/US title level?  No longer.  By the way, for the uninformed, Yoshi’s red streak in his hair is to symbolize the Year of the Red Rooster.  This is a squash match to build up Mark Henry a little more for the big tag match at ‘Mania and at that it succeeds.  Otherwise though, not much here.

Kofi Kingston takes on David Otunga.

Did Booker T just drop a WBF reference?  The World Bodybuilding Federation?!  Wow.  This match should be a classic just for that reference.  This is an overbooked match.  Too many people out there but then again there will be too many people out at ringside during the match that this is all setting up.  Lot of credit to Otunga though.  While he is not a great wrestler, he is becoming a great sports entertainer.  He will most likely be wearing singles gold by the end of this year.

Sheamus takes on Chris Jericho.

The above review was not to imply that an overbooked match cant work out.  This ending was over booked but for a reason.  Everyone got to look strong going into WrestleMania.  Daniel Bryan will attack his opponent at any time and be shady in order to keep the world title.  Chris Jericho will take a win any way he can get it.  Sheamus must be overwhelmed to be stopped because he is just too damn strong otherwise.  A fun way to build up both championship matches at WrestleMania.

Big Show takes on the newly re-hired Drew McIntyre.

Braids don’t work for Drew.  Well actually there’s not a whole lot that works for Drew.  Former tag team and Intercontinental champion but you wouldn’t know it after the last year of his career.  After the earlier match featuring Cody Rhodes slaying a giant, Big Show needed to look like more than a giant.  And he did.  Multiple ways to finish off an opponent.  Strength and speed.  Agility.  Big Show is far far better than Khali and Cody will have a fight on his hands.

That’s it for what WWE has put on YouTube so that must be all you have to watch this week on Smackdown!