By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN BLOG 2/17
FEBRUARY 17, 2012
AIRED ON SYFY NETWORK

-Randy Orton's stoic, contained reaction to the news that he was being removed from the Elimination Chamber fits his character, but it's an example of why he's not an ideal top star on a brand - at least as a babyface. He just doesn't have anything to say and you don't really feel bad for him in this situation because he just seethes a little and then walks off. There's no way to connect with that as a viewer. At least in the opening match the announcers spent a little time talking about how disappointed Orton must feel.

1 -- BIG SHOW & GREAT KHALI beat CODY RHODES & WADE BARRETT

-Given the belief that Barrett is a big top heel (and top babyface down the line) prospect in WWE, does it make sense to have him sell like a jobber to Khali, who is a limited, short-term freak show with no top shelf drawing power long-term or short-term?

-This match didn't do anything to give a sense of credibility to two of the heels in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match. Maybe it's less important than usual in a match with six wrestlers, but the heel - Daniel Bryan, Barrett, and Cody - have been promoted as inferior to the giants in this match. Giving some credibility to heels so it appears the faces have a challenge to overcome seems like a given in this situation.

-When Michael Cole said the champion has only a "one-in-six" chance of retaining his title, I wonder if that metric changes even in his dimwitted approach to math with Santino in there. Or does Santino have a one-in-six chance of winning, too? If Cole and Lebron James tried out for a starting role on an NBA team next year, would Cole have a "one-in-two" (i.e. 50/50) chance of being the starter? Of course not, just like the champion doesn't have exactly a one-in-six chance. It depends on the relative strength of the other five.

-Quotebook - Mark Henry to The Big Show: "Now you take your heavy breathing and that drooling somewhere else."

2 -- HUNICO (w/Camacho) pinned TED DIBIASE in about 2:00.

3 -- EPICO & PRIMO (w/Rosa Mendez) beat JIMMY & JEY USO in about 5:00.

-Epico and Primo balance out the heel stereotype of Hunico & Camacho, but otherwise these teams aren't inspiring much passion or standout performances. It's a tag division that exists just to exist, not because WWE has any ability or desire to promote exciting acts in feuds that feel like they have any consequences or historical significance.

-Cole announced that Orton and Show have both left the building on their own.

-Daniel Bryan has rejuvenated the enthusiasm of fan signage. "Eat Meat," "Bacon is my Passion," "Carnivore," and "Isn't your belt leather" were all signs WWE showed. They actually zoomed in on the leather sign.

4 -- DANIEL BRYAN beat SHEAMUS via DQ after Bryan provoked Sheamus into disobeying the referee.

-Bryan is doing a good job as the heel you want to see get beat, the agitating weasel of a champion who finds weaknesses in the discipline of opponents and seizes them strategically.

-When Cody Rhodes reacted to Teddy Long's decision to hold an open battle royal later to fill Orton's spot in the EC, he reacted by saying he didn't want a "no-name" in the Chamber. What does that say about the Royal Rumble, for instance, that Cody thinks a battle royal winner hasn't earned anything and could be won by a no-name? I mean, either a battle royal - in the WWE's world - is a great way to test one's skills and earn a big match, or it's an opportunity for a no-name to get a fluke win and an opportunity of a lifetime. But WWE can't have it both ways.

-When Long said he was opening the battle royal to everyone in the arena, including Raw wrestlers, I wonder how many viewers wondered what in the heck Raw wrestlers were doing hanging out backstage at Smackdown.

5 -- JINDER MAHAL beat EZEKIEL JACKSON via tappet in an upset in 1:30.

-Even the announcers seemed a little surprised by the out-of-nowhere tapout by Zeke. It looks like Mahal is being rewarded for transforming his physique seemingly overnight with much more muscle definition and much larger trapezius muscles, an elusive muscle that's very difficult to build. Vince McMahon might admire his dedication to get The Look. Although Zeke, of all people, is an ironic person for the transformed Mahal to squash. He got his push last year and just didn't catch fire, so after being basically a jobber just a couple months ago, Mahal is back getting TV wins.

6 -- TAMINA SNUKA & ALICIA FOX beat BETH PHOENIX & NATALYA when Tamina pinned Natalya after a Superfly Splash.

-They've done a solid job promoting Tamina in this Divas Title Match, making it seem like she has a chance and is a worthy champion. Adding "Snuka" to her ring name gives her a stronger "legacy name" to work from.

-I liked that Tamina shifted Natalya into position for the Superfly splash instead of leaving her to adjust herself awkwardly as Tamina climbed to the top rope.

7 -- SANTINO won a BATTLE ROYAL for a spot in the Elimination Chamber.

-Late in the match it seemed like the only likely winners (as unlikely as they'd seem under normal circumstances) were Ezekiel Jackson (but he was squashed earlier), Drew McIntyre, Justin Gabriel, Ted DiBiase, David Otunga, and Jinder Mahal. Nobody else seemed even plausible, but they went with Santino in a surprise.

-Of those options, Santino is as good as any since there might actually be more people talking about an otherwise weak EC match because of Santino compared to adding anyone else from this battle royal. WWE really didn't leave themselves with many credible options, so the Santino pick is like the result of them throwing their arms up after examining the choices.

-Otunga seemed like another decent option since it would incorporate John Laurinaitis into the mix as someone who might get involved, for better or for worse.

-Drew would have been the most storyline-appropriate choice since he was on the verge of being cut, and then making his way into the EC despite his recent losing streak would be an interesting story. Booker went from saying he would have cut him months ago to saying Drew is his pick to have a hot 2012. Based on what?

-Gotta love WWE's consistent logic. They often talk about the advantage of two wrestlers being aligned and working together in a battle royal, but when one cousin eliminates the other (Primo and Epico), they praise the move because "it's all about the money" rather than pointing out how they should have worked together to assure they survived to the end, then settled things one-on-one if it came down to just the two of them.

-Yep, Cole said after Santino's win that he has a "one-in-six chance" of winning the Chamber. WWE Stupid Math will not die.

-Santino's celebration, I suppose, gave fans a "feel good underdog" to root for, even mockingly, on Sunday.

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