WWE Smackdown Storyline Tracker
By Robin Scannell, PWTorch Specialist

December 23 & 29 episodes

(1) World Title Picture

Big Show opened the 12/23 edition of Smackdown talking in the ring about how he couldn’t believe that Bryan was the World Champion. Mark Henry interrupted and said that Show should be embarrassed over his shortest reign accomplishment. Henry then demanded his title re-match.

Bryan came out and really put his skills downs, but then ended it with saying he’s a great wrestler and the World Champion. Henry and Show both wanted a re-match. Teddy Long came out to the stage and said they would settle it by having a match to determine who would be first to get their title re-match.

Later, David Otunga interrupted Henry and Show before their match. Otunga said that Henry wasn’t cleared to wrestler because of high blood pressure. Show responded by hitting the WMD on Otunga.

Backstage, Dolph Ziggler asked Long to face Daniel Bryan. Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler’s match took place, but was turned into a tag team match by Teddy Long. This was because Jack Swagger and Big Show got involved, attacking one another. The tag match ended with Bryan submitting Swagger with the LeBell Lock.

The following week, in a backstage segment, Daniel Bryan talked to A.J. about saving Big Show, when Show appeared and said that giants didn’t need to be saved. They spoke about the planned tag match of Bryan & Show vs. Mark Henry & David Otunga, when Teddy Long said that it would be Show vs. Otunga instead.

Big Show defeated David Otunga (w/Mark Henry) after Daniel Bryan distracted Henry away from the ring, allowing Show to get the clean victory over Otunga.

Backstage, Teddy Long called Bryan and Show in to announce that they would have a title match the following week. Show was annoyed about Bryan’s role in his match. Show didn’t think Bryan stood a chance in their match. Bryan just said that his title lasted longer than Show’s did.

***

(2) Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

On the 12/23 edition of Smackdown, Wade Barrett cut an in-ring promo about being on a great roll and being in Orton’s head. Orton came out and attacked Barrett. The brawling led backstage and finished with Orton hitting an RKO on top of a car.

The following week, Wade Barrett and Randy Orton faced one another in a Falls Count Anywhere match. The match ended up going to the back. Notably, they fought in an elevator, where the camera switched to the security camera. The match then ended when Orton fell down a flight of stairs, and Barrett ran away. There was no announced finish to the match.

Reax: I wasn’t a big fan of the security footage being usage, as it just seemed contrived. However, I forgive it a little as Smackdown is a taped show. With Orton now out with an injury until at least the Royal Rumble, Barrett will perhaps move onto Sheamus, which just seems all too familiar.

***

(3) Booker T vs. Cody Rhodes

On the 12/23 edition of Smackdown, Zack Ryder defeated Cody Rhodes after Booker T distracted Rhodes by singing Rudolf, sorry, Cody the Red Nosed Reindeer.

The following week, Booker T opened Smackdown by cutting a promo talking about 2011 being a good year. Cody Rhodes interrupted, saying he allowed Booker to regain some of his former glory. Booker said that he had beat Cody and that Cody should just congratulate him. They shook hands. Cody then said that Booker was a nostalgia act.

Dustin Rhodes (Goldust) then came out, wearing a suit, and stood up for Booker. Cody said that he brought honor back to the Rhodes family name. Booker said that Goldust is more of a man that Cody ever was. Booker asked for one more match, for the title, which Cody agreed to for the next week. Cody then hit the Beautiful Disaster kick on Dustin.

***

(4) Drew McIntyre returns to Smackdown

On the 12/30 edition of Smackdown, Teddy Long told Drew McIntyre that he brought him to Smackdown, as he hadn’t been doing well on Raw, but that if he didn’t defeat Ezekiel Jackson, Long would consider letting him go. In a short match, Ezekiel Jackson defeated Drew McIntyre via pinfall where he grabbed McIntyre’s tights. McIntyre had tried to pin Jackson with his feet on the ropes, but the referee saw it.

Reax: The story here seemed to be that McIntyre’s cheating was foiled by the referee, but Jackson’s cheating wasn’t. Perhaps McIntyre will find that he’s better off playing by the rules, leading to a babyface turn.

***

(5) Royal Rumble Hype

On the 12/30 edition of Smackdown, Sheamus cut a promo putting over the Royal Rumble. Then Hornswoggle came out and, in response to Sheamus asking, said that Hornswoggle would win the Royal Rumble. Heath Slater then interrupted, which lead to a match against Sheamus. Sheamus defeated Heath Slater with the Brough kick.

Reax: Sheamus continues to flounder. He does seem like a good pick for the Royal Rumble, but it’s hard to have a high level of interest in his character when he hasn’t had a proper feud for, what seems like, months ever since Christian went down with an injury.

***

Other Stories

- Backstage, Santino wanted to apply to be the assistant to the Smackdown General Manager, as Zack Ryder would be occupied with his United States Title.

- Backstage, The Miz told Teddy Long that he was asked to be on Smackdown. Then, in the ring, The Miz insulted the Smackdown locker room, before Sheamus interrupted him. Sheamus defeated Miz in a short match.

- On the 12/23 edition of Smackdown, Kofi Kingston (with Evan Bourne) defeated Primo (with Epico & Rosa Mendes) in a short match.

- Jinder Mahal and Ted DiBiase’s feud continued on the 12/30 edition of Smackdown when Mahal defeated DiBiase in a short match by submitting him with a Camel Clutch.

- Hunico (with Camacho) came to the ring on a low-rider bicycle. Hunico defeated Justin Gabriel in a very short match. After the pinfall victory, Hunico and Camacho attacked Gabriel.

- Alicia Fox and Kaitlyn defeated Natalya and Tamina in a very short tag match. After the match, Tamina attacked Natalya.

Reax: It looks like Kaitlyn’s heel turn and alliance with Natalya and Beth Phoenix has completely been forgotten, and they’re going with something different.

Feel free to email any comments to scannell.torch@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter @robinocracy for my thoughts on the pay-per-view and non-wrestling related things.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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