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WWE News: Smackdown SPOILERS 3/2 - Very detailed second report on Friday's show, overall news & notes on TV taping events

Feb 29, 2012 - 12:40:37 PM
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WWE Smackdown TV taping report
February 28, 2012
Seattle, Wash.
Report by Joe Neal, PWTorch reader

SD_140_27.jpg

Smackdown SPOILERS 3/2

-- Promo Video: The voice-over announcer hypes the return of Randy Orton, as he faces Daniel Bryan tonight in the main event.

-- Sheamus comes out to a loud ovation. He says he is facing Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania, but the title has changed Bryan. He remembers last year when he won the WWE Championship. It was the best thing he ever did at the time, but he was a jerk in the process. He said he needed someone to change his ways and make him remember where he came from, and at WrestleMania, he hopes to do the same thing to Daniel Bryan.

Out comes "Excuse Me" Vickie Guerrero to HUGE heel heat. She had by far the biggest heel reaction of the night. Dolph Ziggler was in tow. Ziggler told Sheamus that people want to see the "Show Off" main event WrestleMania, not him. He told him, "And, by the way, your hair is on fire." Sheamus responded that his joke was older than his grandmother Vicki standing next to him there. Huge reaction for this. Vickie goes on to say that he will get his match, and that between Laurinitis and Long, they much preferred the GM stylings of a responsible, stand-up guy like Laurininitis.

Cue up Long's music to bring out the GM of Smackdown. He said the wrestling was about to start in the ring right now. He told the playa that if they wanted to run their mouths, he told Ziggler, "I'll show you how I run Smackdown. Ziggler, let me introduce you to your opponent tonight, Sheamus." The match started now.

(1) Sheamus beat Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero). Good back and forth match between these two and was a solid opener to Smackdown. Ziggler tried the sleeper not once, but twice during the match, to which Sheamus was eventually able to escape by backing him into the corner. Sheamus delivered the backbreaker to Ziggler, but he was able to kick out. Later, he delivered it a second time, and this brought out Swagger to interfere on behalf of Ziggler. Sheamus was able to Brogue Kick him off the ropes where he was standing, and was able to deliver a super backbreaker finish for the pin and the win. This move looked pretty sick in-person.

-- Backstage, Long entered his office and found Laurinaitis and Otunga. He tells them that this is Smackdown, and this is his office and asked them what he could do for them. Laurinaitis said that he was trying to be the bigger man, and that his back was hurt after Raw on Monday and that he had to go to the hospital after the show. Otunga chimed in that he was still contemplating a civil suit against him. Laurinaitis said that he simply wanted an apology. Long said that he was not sorry for what he did on Raw, and in fact, enjoyed what he did. He said and as for Otunga, he will have to face the 7-foot Great Khali and told them both to leave immediately. This match never happened, so I am not sure if there is an edit coming, or if this match will be saved for Raw when Long will be running the show on Monday.

(2) Santino beat Heath Slater. Santino received a great crowd reaction in Seattle tonight. This was a fairly quick match, the shortest I believe of the evening. Santino was able to deliver the Cobra to Slater in what seemed like less than three minutes.

-- Backstage, Eve was checking herself in the mirror when Natalya walked up. Natalya asked Eve what changed about her and that they had been friends for years, and that she objected to how she was treating Zack Ryder. Eve told her, "Well, at least I was honest in saying that I used him the whole time." Natalya said that Zack is a sweet guy, and she couldn't believe the treatment he was getting from her. Eve told Natalya, that while Zach may be sweet, he stinks. That segued into.. you guessed it, a farting flatulence noise from Natalya. (It was mic'ed loud, because it was pretty loud in the arena.) Natalya went on to say, "No, Eve, I believe that stinks." The segment ended with Eve covering her nose in disgust. Half of the arena was cracking up hysterically at the end of this.

-- Coming out of commercial, Natalya was already in the ring to face Eve, who got a full entrance. A full-out "Hoeski" chant ensued from the Seattle crowd!

(3) Eve beat Natalya. This match was also quick by Divas's standards once again. Natalya got in a little bit of offense at the outset, but in the span of about two-and-a-half minutes, was pinned with a roll-up pin from Eve. Natalya sat in shock in the ring that she lost to Eve, and Eve left the ring with a big smile. Huge heat on Eve here.

-- Coming up next: Mark Henry vs. Big Show (top of the second hour match). Meanwhile, Lilian Garcia announces to the live crowd that Olympic 4 Cinemas in nearby Bremerton, Wash. has been added to the list of theaters showcasing Edge's new movie, "Bending The Rules," which comes out on March 9. She said the first ten people to buy their tickets online to the Bremerton show will receive a "Bending The Rules" poster autographed by Edge! She encouraged people to go to bendingtherulesmovie.com for more info and to get their tickets.

-- At the top of the hour, Cody Rhodes came out to good heel heat. Rhodes cut a promo on Big Show on more of his embarrassing WrestleMania moments. On the Tron, he showed the WrestleMania still of him with his butt cheeks showing, and of course once again, the still moment with Floyd Mayweather from Mania a few years ago. Show came out to an awesome response! Rhodes bailed out of the ring, and jumped the railing and began to climb the steps in the fans. Show told him to wait a minute, that for all Cody knew, he was just coming out here looking forward to the next WrestleMania Big Show clip. He said that since Rhodes wouldn't come in the ring like a man to deal with him, though, he guessed he would just have to go to him. Before he could make it out of the ring, Long came out for his second appearance of the night. He told Show that there is only one way to settle this - Rhodes vs. Big Show for the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania! Great crowd reaction for this.

Mark Henry then made his entrance for the top of the second hour match, and Rhodes proceeded to join the trio of Booker, Cole, and Mathews on commentary.

(4) Big Show beat Mark Henry. This match was a battle of the big men. Henry eventually delivered a monster World's Strongest Slam to Show, which he proceeded to kick out of. Rhodes was shown on commentary with a concerned look on his face at this development. Show then eventually delivered the WMD knockout punch to Henry for the pin and the win. Show celebrated as they showed replays of the match and Rhodes still selling anger and concern at the announcer's table.

-- Backstage, McIntyre was interrupted by Long. Long told Mcintyre that he has given him a lot of slack lately, and that if he didn't start winning soon, he would have to kick him to the curb. He told McIntyre that tonight was do or die time. If he lost tonight, he was fired! McIntyre sold concern as the segment ended.

-- Backstage, Striker welcomed back Orton to a huge response. Orton said that everything was normal, and that he was back to 100 percent. However, Daniel Bryan cost him his one shot to main event WrestleMania. And, now, Bryan underestimates how steep of a price that he will have to pay. Orton said, "And, tonight...I collect."

[ Commercial - Rock video and promos for the WWE action figures aired here ]

-- Back in the ring, McIntyre also got the "already in the ring, no entrance" treatment as well. His opponent was Justin Gabriel.

(5) Justin Gabriel beat Drew McIntyre. McIntyre got in some back and forth offense toward the start of the match, then Gabriel mounted a comeback. Gabriel was able to land his trademark 450 splash off the top rope for the pin and the win.

Long appeared on the Tron and said "Drew, Drew, playa, I have given you lots of opportunities. But, I am going to have to let you go." Crowd tried to start up a Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye chant to McIntyre. He sold shock and disappointment as he slowly left the ring. I am very curious to see where they go from here, as McIntyre was finally let go storyline-wise. It remains to be seen if he shows up on Raw, or somehow Laurinaitis is able to reverse Long's decision. An interesting thing to monitor with Drew going forward. At any rate, he probably deserves a bit more at this stage of his career.

-- Daniel Bryan was interviewed backstage and said that Orton had said that being World Champion changed him. Well, he is still the same guy, still a vegan, and still a role model for the people of Washington. Huge boo response when Bryan said that here. He said that he beat five other opponents in the Chamber, won his match at the Royal Rumble, and at WrestleMania, he will continue to defy the odds, and not only win tonight against Orton, but beat Sheamus at WrestleMania to remain your World Heavyweight Champion. Great intensity from Bryan on his promo here, and was one of his best that he has given since turning heel, in my opinion.

(6) World Hvt. champion Daniel Bryan (w/A.J.) vs. Randy Orton went to an apparent No Contest in a non-title match. Orton came back to Smackdown to a monstrous ovation from the Seattle crowd. Bryan came out with A.J. in tow. Great main event match that went back and forth, and their styles worked well once again together. Orton did manage to DDT not only from his middle rope, but in a great spot, Orton delivered the DDT outside the ring, with Daniel Bryan on the mat. In the ring, Bryan tried to counter into the LeBell Lock at one point, to no avail. Orton finally entered that Place, but Bryan countered the RKO.

As he attempted to go for it again, Kane's pyro suddenly erupted in the arena. The lights went red to bring out Kane. Bryan scattered from the ring, and so did A.J., who was alone with him when he first entered the ring. Orton started wailing away at Kane, and flew him over the rope to the outside. Eventually, Kane reentered the ring, and chokeslammed Orton to the mat. Kane grabbed a mic and said, "Welcome Back Randy...Welcome Back," with Kane's sinister laughter. The TV show appeared to end with Orton still lying on the mat, and Kane walking up the ramp. (More on this match in the news and notes section)

***

Daniel Bryan came back out to face Big Show (with pyro this time) for the World Title. Show must have been "feeling the effects" of the Strongest Slam as he came out with taped ribs. When Bryan came out, he ripped up a fans sign towards the entrance ramp.

Dark Match: Big Show beat World Hvt. champion Daniel Bryan via DQ; Bryan retained the World Title. The match ended via disqualification in about five minutes when Rhodes came out to attack Show. As a double-team on Show began. Sheamus came out to clear the ring of Bryan, who ran out of the arena to which Sheamus gave chase. This left Rhodes alone in the ring to eat a chokeslam from Rhodes to send the crowd home happy.

Show proceeded to go around the ring shaking fans hands. Garcia thanked the crowd, and told them they were an awesome crowd, and they looked forward to returning to Seattle very soon. No return date was given.

News and Notes

-- I don't know if Orton had legit shoulder pain, but he was seen clenching in pain and favoring his shoulder at certain times towards the end of the main event. At the end of the taping, Orton was pretty slow getting up from the chokeslam. Again, don't know if there is anything more or just really good selling by Orton.

-- It would appear based on tonight's show-closing angle that Kane-Orton could be booked for Mania. I would look to see it official either on Raw or Smackdown possibly next week.

-- The lower bowl was pretty much full, only the entire upper deck of the Key Arena was tarped off for spotlights. It probably had same number if not a few more folks at this show then at Over The Limit last May. The crowd was pretty into Smackdown, but as you could guess, clearly not matching the level that Rock had Monday night at Raw. The acoustics seemed a bit louder at the Key then at Rose Garden, though.

-- Yes, during the beginning of the Show-Henry match, a legit brawl broke out amongst the fans in front of us at the 110 level. Security had a fairly difficult time restraining one guy and getting him out of the arena - it probably took about 10-12 security personnel to control the fistfight. At one point, more fans were paying attention to this brawl than what was going on in the ring. It will probably be edited so you won't be able to tell on TV, though. No idea how it got started or what it was about.

Biggest Chants:

-- Hoeski (for Eve)
-- Rocky (during a Rock promo)
-- Randy (during the Orton match)
-- "We Want Ryder" (This was during the Eve match. This chant was really fairly loud actually! - lot of chanting heel heat for this match.)

Biggest Heat:

-- Eve
-- Daniel Bryan
-- Michael Cole (announcer introductions)
-- Dolph Ziggler

Biggest Pops:

-- Randy Orton (top pop)
-- Booker T (announcer introductions)
-- Big Show
-- Sheamus
-- Lilian Garcia (announcer intro)

Overall, another enjoyable TV experience, from NXT to Superstars to Smackdown. WWE really is a great live experience, and sometimes TV just doesn't do it enough justice. The crowd didn't compare to Rock on Monday, obviously, but was a decently reactive crowd. A little dead for NXT (what crowd hasn't been?), but from Superstars on, the crowd was very involved in the matches. I am intrigued to see what happens now with Regal on NXT, as he alluded to it on Twitter for sometime now, and am curious to see where Orton and Kane are going now. More great focus on the Smackdown side of the Mania matches, overall. A great time to celebrate my great birthday with friends!


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