WWE Smackdown TV taping report
April 17, 2012
London, England at the O2 Arena
Report by Paul Stone, PWTorch reader

Following the NXT and Superstars tapings, WWE changed over to the Smackdown set to tape this week's show.

Smackdown SPOILERS 4/20

- Daniel Bryan came out to start the show. He was the most popular guy at the tapings, and the crowd was about 60/40 his way. He cut a promo saying he is a better wrestler than Sheamus and how Chicago is where it all began. He said he would beat Sheamus twice and prove once and for all that he is better.

A.J. interrupted and wanted one more chance at their relationship, but Bryan berated her and told her to go away. She said "no" while near tears at this point. Bryan said he wishes he never met her, that he never went out with her, and that she had never been born. Great heel promo from Bryan. Bryan left A.J. in tears in the ring.

(1) Natalya beat A.J. via DQ. A.J. sold shock at the bell, standing still and not moving. Natalya checked on her, then A.J. lashed out, not breaking upon the ref's instructions, so the ref called for a DQ. There was a small "A.J." chant afterwards.

- Damien Sandow spoke.

(2) Brodus Clay beat Hunico via pinfall. Brodus came out with Hornswoggle. After the match, which lasted one minute, Hornswoggle hit the tadpole splash.

Backstage, Titus O'Neil and Darren Young made fun of Teddy Long for not signing them. Laurinaitis then came in and put a guard's black furry hat on Teddy's head.

(3) Titus O'Neil & Darren Young beat The Usos via pinfall.

Randy Orton was shown backstage and vowed revenge on Kane.

(4) Alberto Del Rio beat IC champion Big Show via pinfall in a non-title match. Cody Rhodes hit the disaster kick after Ricardo Rodriguez's distraction, allowing Del Rio to cover for the win. Rhodes ran away afterward when confronted by Show.

Antonio Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli) made his WWE TV debut shown backstage with Aksana, who flaunted Cesaro in front of Teddy. They all went into Long's office.

(5) Ryback beat a local jobber. Same as the last two weeks, though, this time the jobber played to the hometown crowd rather than try to antagonize the audience.

(6) World Hvt. champion Sheamus & IC champion Big Show & Randy Orton beat Mark Henry & Daniel Bryan & Cody Rhodes in a six-man tag match. Khali was due to be in the match, but got taken out by Rhodes beforehand. All the faces were beat down, and there were three hot tags. Finally, Show knocked out Rhodes at ringside, then Bryan cowered outside the ring, and Henry took all finishers for the loss. This was capped off by a massive ovation and the biggest cheer of the night.

Not much progressed on the show, but it was fun, helped by a typically hot London crowd.

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