WWE Smackdown Review
January 20, 2012
Taped 1/17 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Aired on Syfy
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch contributor

[Q1]

-WWE open.

-Last Friday on Smackdown, Daniel Bryan defended his World Title against The Big Show in a No DQ, No count-out match. Before the match, Bryan asked his girlfriend, A.J., how much she loved him. The video then cut to highlights of the match and the finish where Big Show ran her over. Big Show cried like me at a Let it Ride table in Vegas after I lost all my money! Bryan dresses Big Show down at the end of the clip.

-Smackdown opening video and full pyro as Josh Mathews welcomes everyone to a special Smackdown in Las Vegas, just nine days before the Royal Rumble.

-Lilian Garcia introduces Daniel Bryan, who comes out to what sounds like canned boos. He is looking choked up and emotional. Michael Cole segues this into a plug for Bryan vs. Mark Henry for the World Title tonight. Bryan starts off by saying that tonight's show is titled “Sin City Smackdown.” He says that last week it was Big Show who sinned because he purposely injured his girlfriend A.J., who is only 95 pounds. He also accuses Big Show of using fake tears and feigning sincerity. Bryan calls Big Show a bitter man because his World Title reign was only 45 seconds while Bryan is reigning triumphantly. Bryan goes on to call Big Show a bitter, vengeful freak.

Bryan then switches gears by listing A.J.’s injuries and saying that her career is in jeopardy because she loves him and was willing to put herself in harm’s way for him. He repeats that she loves him and reciprocates it by saying that he is fond of her. Ha! So, since she can’t be here tonight, he is dedicating his match to her tonight. He also notes that Big Show is not at Smackdown tonight and that it is a good thing because he would hurt Big Show like he hurt A.J. Bryan then pleads with Big Show to quit the industry because of what he did.

-Backstage, a few miscellaneous wrestlers are playing blackjack and craps. Teddy Long is at the Smackdown Roulette Wheel with Aksana and he goes over some of the potential matches. Aksana, who is dressed like a showgirl, wants a pillow fight match with Teddy tonight. Cody then walks into the shot and says that his brother, Goldust, once dressed like that for a match. Cody says that he won’t embarrass himself like that because he wants to bring pride back to the Rhodes name. Cody spins the wheel and it lands on a “Playa Choice Match” and Cody Rhodes picks Hornswoggle as his opponent for tonight. They teased him picking Ezekiel Jackson and Santino, but it turned out he was pointing at Horny.

(Commercial)

[Q2] Cody Rhodes is scheduled to face Hornswoggle, but Rhodes cheap shots Hornswoggle before he even makes it to the ring. Justin Gabriel makes the save for Hornswoggle and he brawls with Rhodes around ringside before Cody rolls back into the ring. Gabriel grabs a microphone and asks Cody to pick on someone his own size. Cody tells the ref that he will face him in a non-title match.

1 -- IC champion CODY RHODES vs. JUSTIN GABRIEL – non-title match

Gabriel unleashes lefts and rights on Cody to start things off, then Cody retreats to the corner. Gabriel shoots Cody into the ropes and puts the head down, then Cody steals Goldust's move and lands on his back and punches Justin in the face. Faceplant suplex by Cody gets a two count. Submission hold by the Intercontinental Champion as Hornswoggle tries to get the crowd behind Gabriel. Justin fights out and delivers an inverted DDT, followed by a stiff kick to the head.

Gabriel goes up top for the 450 splash, but Cody rolls out of the way before Justin can take off. Both men trade a series of nearfalls. Rhodes then runs into a boot by Gabriel. Justin then slingshot crossbody blocks Cody for a two count. Cody then hangs Justin up on the top rope and gets Cross Rhodes on him for the win!

WINNER: Cody Rhodes by pinfall in 3:30.

-Mark Henry is at the Smackdown Roulette Wheel and Henry calls Sin City Smackdown the worst thing he has ever heard of. He then blames Teddy for what happened to A.J. and says he put her in harm's way and tonight he is putting Daniel Bryan in harm's way. Teddy asks him to spin the wheel and Mark yells him to spin the wheel because it is his dumb idea. The wheel lands on “Lumberjack match” and Henry is okay with it because, tonight, Bryan enters the Hall of Pain!

(Commercial)

[Q3]

-Footage of the Tag Title change from last Sunday's house show is shown.

-Earlier today, Rosa spun the wheel and it landed on “Tornado Match" for Epico and Primo in a non-title tag match.

2 -- WWE tag champions EPICO & PRIMO (w/Rosa Mendes) vs. THE USOS -- non-title Texas Tornado tag match

The Usos use the old Demolition finisher to start things off. Epico and Primo then double-team Jimmy and get a double Gourdbuster for a two count. They stomp away at Jimmy while Jey is prone outside the ring. Jey is back in the ring and they whip Epico and Primo into far corners and then get big splashes and running knees to the foreheads on the tag champions. Jimmy lands a big splash from the top ropes, but Primo breaks up the count. Primo then hits the Backstabber on Jimmy and pins him for the win!

WINNERS: Epico & Primo by pinfall in 2:30.

-Still to come: Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry for the World Title and Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett

(Commercial)

-Backstage, Aksana tells Teddy that she loves Vegas and she makes some euphemisms about playing slots. Sheamus interrupts and Teddy has Aksana spin the wheel for him. It lands on a “Tables match” for his match against Wade Barrett. Sheamus says that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, and Teddy couldn’t agree more.

-Lilian Garcia introduces Brodus Clay for the next match, which is a dance-off. Not exactly a match, but I’ll go with it. He shucks and jives his way to the ring, gets in the ring, and does his dance routine. Apparently this doesn’t count for the dance-off, because Smackdown is going to commercial and Cole assures the viewers that the Funkasaurus will dance for real, next!

[Q4] (Commercial)

-Vickie Guerrero delivers her patented “Excuse Me” and she says that she is Brodus’s opponent for the dance-off. She says that she shakes when she walks and jiggles when she dances, or something. She asks for her music and the dance-off is under way. Vickie looks like she is convulsing and the crowd boos. Brodus is up and he undresses for Vickie and shakes his butt in her face to applause. So, Brodus is the winner by unanimous decision.

Vickie is beside herself and asks for another chance. Her music hits and she does the Elaine Benes dance. It looks like a full body dry-heave set to music. William Regal interrupts and sticks up for Vickie. He calls her a buxom wench. Vickie starts crying and Regal's facial expressions are priceless. He starts to escort her to the back and Brodus calls him a funky chicken and goads him back into the ring. Regal says to hit his music and he proceeds to dance. He does a dignified dance where his arms don’t leave his side and he snaps his fingers. Brodus blindsides Regal and crossbody blocks him, which the crowd boos. Brodus says “My bad, someone call his momma!”

-Up next: Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett in a tables match!

(Commercial)

[Q5]

3 -- SHEAMUS vs. WADE BARRETT -- Tables match

Barrett with a kick to the gut and some right hands to start things off. Sheamus battles out of the corner and pounds away at Wade. Sheamus whips Wade into the ropes and gets kicked in the face when he puts his head down. Both men start brawling outside the ring and Barrett runs Sheamus kidneys-first into the apron. Barrett tries setting up the first table, but Sheamus runs him over with a clothesline. He then smashes Wade face-first into the announce table and he sets up a table. Sheamus tries putting Wade through the table with the Celtic Cross, but Wade slips free and shoves Sheamus into a ring post.

Both men get back in the ring and Barrett fights Sheamus onto the apron and teases knocking him off through a table, but Sheamus falls flat on the apron. Barrett tries suplexing Sheamus onto the table, but Sheamus turns the tables (see what I did there) and ties Barrett in the ropes and pounds on his chest ten times. He then boots him off the apron and Wade jumps over the table, avoiding going through it. Sheamus rolls Wade back into the ring and he tries bringing a table in, but Wade baseball slides the tables into Sheamus’s face! Nasty-looking move!

Wade slides a table into the ring and sets it up in the corner. He grabs Sheamus and tries driving Sheamus through it, but Sheamus counters and starts an onslaught on Barrett and puts him down with a powerslam. He props Barrett on the table, then goes to the top rope for a splash, but Wade pops up and starts brawling with him while they are both on the second turnbuckle. Barrett tries a superplex, but Sheamus falls over the table. Irish Curse backbreaker by Sheamus and he goes for a Celtic Cross through the table, but Jinder Mahal runs down to distract Sheamus. Wade Barrett takes advantage and whips Sheamus through the table for the win.

WINNER: Wade Barrett in 7:00.

Mike’s Reax: Very good match from these two, both men are looking very strong heading into the Royal Rumble match. I hope this isn’t the last of these guys in the ring against each other.

-Post-match: Jinder sets up another table and tries putting Sheamus through it, but Sheamus ends up giving him a Brogue Kick and then spinebusters Jinder through the table. Thanks for coming, Jinder!

(Commercial) [Q6]

-Ted DiBiase and Hunico make their way to the ring. Backstage, Teddy Long spins the wheel and it comes up a “Flag Match.”

4 -- TED DIBIASE vs. HUNICO (w/Camacho) -- Flag match

Various ring technicians set up poles with Mexican and American flags on each one. While they set up, there is an inset promo with Ted saying that when he wins the flag match, Hunico and Camacho can have themselves a pity party. The match starts with Ted going for his flag quickly, but Hunico powerbombs him off the top rope. Hunico goes for his flag, but Ted stops him with an electric chair. Ted charges Hunico and he gets back body dropped over the top rope. Hunico goes for his flag, but Ted jumps to his feet and shoves Hunico off the top rope into his homey, Camacho. DiBiase is selling a knee injury and Hunico tries blindsiding Ted, but Ted hits him with Dream Street. He climbs the pole and grabs the American Flag for the win!

WINNER: Ted DiBiase in 2:30.

-Backstage, Daniel Bryan is talking with Kaitlyn.

(Commercial)

-Raw Rewind featuring the six-man tag/handicap main event, particularly when Foley beat Otunga, Punk berated John Laurinaitis, and Laurinaitis cheap shot Foley.

[Q7]

-Drew McIntyre is backstage with Teddy Long, who tells Drew that he is out of luck. He tells Drew that he is letting him go; he is fired. For some reason, he isn’t wishing him the best in future endeavors. Santino interrupts and says that two weeks ago, he beat “Drew McIntosh” and people said it was luck, so he wants to prove those people wrong tonight. Drew and Teddy agree to a match tonight. They spin the wheel and it lands on a “Blindfold match.” Drew thanks both men and says that he will see Santino out there. Santino says he wants to prepare for his match, so he closes his eyes and bumps into stuff in the room.

(Commercial)

5 -- SANTINO MARELLA vs. DREW MCINTYRE -- Blindfold match

No entrance for Drew tonight. Both men don their hoods and Santino puts a blindfold on the Cobra. Both men punch and kick at air to start. Santino points around the ring and the crowd cheers when he points at Drew. Santino goes for the Cobra, but Drew moves, and both men fall to the outside. Drew takes a blind swing and ends up hitting the steel post, almost breaking his hand.

Back in the ring, the ref tends to Santino and Drew sneaks a peak at Santino, then charges and tries taking him out with a boot, but Santino ducks and Drew falls to the outside. He gets back in and Santino does the pointing bit again. He then hits Drew with the Cobra for the win.

WINNER: Santino by pinfall in 2:30

-Next: Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry for the title!

(Commercial)

-Next week, Randy Orton returns to Smackdown!

[Q8]

-The Lumberjacks have surrounded the ring for the main event World Title match. Mark Henry makes his way to the ring and he barks at the Lumberjacks when he gets to the ring. Priceless! Lilian does ring intros and the match is underway.

6 -- World Hvt. champion DANIEL BRYAN vs. MARK HENRY -- Lumberjack match

Booker notes that Bryan has changed since winning the title. Duh, really? Bryan circles Henry to start and Henry nearly shoves Bryan out of the ring. Bryan stalls getting back in the ring. Headbutt by Henry and Bryan rolls out of the ring, yells at the Lumberjacks not to touch him, and then rolls back in the ring. Henry meets him halfway and beats him down in the corner, then stands on him, using the ropes for leverage. Cole continues to call Bryan a geek and every other name in the book while Booker tries giving Bryan sympathy. Does anyone wonder why Bryan isn’t getting over more? More dissection by Henry and Bryan gets knocked out of the ring again, then Wade Barrett throws him back in. Bryan stares down Henry as Smackdown takes a break.

(Commercial)

Sin City Smackdown returns with Bryan trying to mount some offense, but Henry has none of it! Bryan with some kicks and chops in the corner, but Henry pushes him off. Bryan is back on him with a running dropkick, and Henry goes down! Henry goes down! Bryan goes for the win, but Henry presses him out of the ring and Bryan has a stare down with the heels before rolling back into the ring. He misses a dropkick and Henry starts hip-tossing him across the ring. Henry clotheslines Bryan and nearly turns him inside out. That clothesline gets a two count and Henry gives the look of death to Bryan.

Daniel Bryan rakes Henry's eyes and bails out of the ring. The lumberjacks beat him up and Henry tries pulling him into the ring from the apron, but he loses his footing and falls to the outside where all the lumberjacks start beating on him. Bryan tries cheap-shotting some of them and that lures in Wade Barrett. Wade starts laying into Bryan in the ring, Henry rolls in ,and the lumberjacks follow him in. They all converge on Henry, who tries fighting them off.

It turns into one big brawl as everyone starts fighting everyone. In the confusion, Bryan rolls out of the ring and flees to the backstage area, where he runs into Teddy Long. Long can’t believe that Bryan has bailed on another match, so he makes a match for the Royal Rumble. It will be Bryan vs. Henry vs. Big Show in a Steel Cage match for the World Title! Holla!

WINNER: No Contest in 10:00.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter at @MJCupach. I’ll be Tweeting next weekend from the Royal Rumble and I’ll be live Tweeting for Raw! Thanks for reading!

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