WWE Smackdown review
October 5, 2012
Taped 10/2/12 in Tulsa, OK.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- Smackdown Open.

- Tulsa got no fireworks, but they did get The Big Show to start off the show. During his entrance, Josh Mathews and Michael Cole were shown at ringside and they discussed Show’s chances at beating Sheamus at Hell in a Cell. Show took the mic and said if Sheamus has a plan for their match, he might as well throw it out the window. Show cued up a video package, which showed him taking out several top superstars with various moves. Afterward, Show talked up his knockout punch and the camera focused in on Show’s fist, that is, until the music of the World Heavyweight Champion interrupted. Sheamus walked to the ring to confront Show.

Sheamus said he was joking around on Monday night, but their match at Hell in a Cell will be the biggest fight of his life. “May the best man win,”Sheamus told Show, then he offered his hand for a shake. Show looked disgusted and shook his head. He walked past Sheamus and out of the ring. Sheamus stopped Show in the aisle by talking about someone who did have a successful plan against Show…Daniel Bryan, last year at the TLC PPV. Then they showed the video of it happening. If they wanted to bring Mark Henry back soon, and in a big role, I’m surprised they used that footage of him being knocked out and losing the title. Sheamus also said Bryan had a plan against him at Wrestlemania. Again, that video was shown. Show was so angry at the display of nostalgia that he re-entered the ring. He offered his hand to Sheamus. Sheamus pretended to shake it, then pulled back and continued walking past Show and out of the ring.

- Tonight, Big Show vs. Tensai.

- Also, a rare champion vs. champion match (their words) on Smackdown, with the Miz vs. Sheamus.

- Kofi Kingston and R-Truth made their entrance for the final first-round #1 contender tag title tournament match. The face the Prime Time Players next.

[Commercial Break]

1 – KOFI KINGSTON & R-TRUTH vs. THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS - FIRST ROUND TAG-TEAM TOURNAMENT MATCH TO DETERMINE THE #1 CONTENDERS TO THE TAG TITLES

Hard dropkick by Kingston, but a cover only got one early in the match. Double hip-toss by Kofi and Truth on Darren Young. Truth found himself in the heel corner and suffered for it. The heat segment continued with Truth, as both Young and Titus O’Neil had time to shine. Jumping heel kick by Truth put a halt to Young’s offense. Kingston made the hot tag and clobbered both men. Boom Drop found the mark. He prepared for Trouble in Paradise, but O’Neil distracted Kofi. Truth took him out, but Young avoided Kingston’s offense in the ring. O’Neil still managed to trip up Kofi, allowing Young to hit his finish for the win.

WINNERS: Young and O’Neil, at 4:18. Not sure why these two teams were matched up against each other in the first round. This could’ve been a semifinal match, rather than having Santino Marella and Zack Ryder advance as the “upset” entry.

- Coming up next, Ryback is in action.

[Commercial Break]

- Primo was shown already in the ring, along with his cousin Epico, and Rosa Mendes.

2 – PRIMO vs. RYBACK

After a big slam to start, Primo ran into a big boot and was slammed by the back of his head into the mat. Then, for a change-of-pace, Ryback sent him face-first. Primo went on the attack, going after the knee of Ryback. Ryback tossed Primo aside and ran him over with a clothesline. Hard whip into the turnbuckle dropped Primo. Epico tried to help Primo up outside the ring and they appeared ready to walk away, but Ryback took out Epico and pressed Primo back into the ring. Another big clothesline, then the finish.

WINNER: Ryback, at 2:52. After struggling with Tensai on Monday, Ryback had no problem tossing around Primo and lifting him for the finish.

- Paul Heyman and C.M. Punk were walking backstage. Heyman asked a production assistant for the location of Dolph Ziggler’s locker room. He and Punk continued walking as the segment faded out.

[Commercial Break]

3 – LAYLA vs. ALICIA FOX

Mathews tried to sell Layla as “fuming” over her title loss, all the while she was smiling and kissing children on her way to the ring. The two exchanged holds until Fox took out Layla’s knee and did some trash-talking, signifying that she is in fact the heel. Layla avoided another move aimed at her knee, but Fox hit a northern lights suplex for a near-fall. The announcers continued to play up the “whodunit” involving the Divas from Night of Champions. Potential submission maneuver from Fox, again working the knee. Layla fought back with a cross-body, but couldn’t stay on the pin due to the knee. She did manage to round-house kick Fox for the win.

WINNER: Layla, at 3:32. At least it offered something different than most Diva matches, with Fox working the knee with some submission attempts and looking relatively competent in the process.

Matt Striker interviewed Layla after the match. Layla wasn’t buying Eve’s excuses or explanations for what happened at Night of Champions. She said Eve winning the way she did will make it better when she loses. Cole complained about Layla blaming Eve for what happened at the PPV, despite there being no evidence to back it up. Mathews at least chimed in by noting Eve had the most to gain from the attack on Kaitlyn.

- Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero bumped into Paul Heyman and C.M. Punk backstage. Punk had a problem with Ziggler leaving him “high and dry” in their tag match on Raw. Ziggler said it was just desserts for Punk doing the same thing to him weeks earlier. Punk and Ziggler continued arguing, as did Heyman and Vickie, until Booker T. butted in. Booker told Punk he’s not going to just come on to his show and raise hell. He suggested Punk and Ziggler settle their beef in the ring tonight.

[Commercial Break]

4 – WADE BARRETT vs. UNNAMED JOBBER

They aired an inset interview from Barrett on the way to the ring where he talked about amusing himself at the suffering of others since his return. Barrett belted the poor jobber in the stomach with rights, then landed a back kick to the same area. Pump-handle slam, but the jobber came back with some right hands. His barrage wasn’t as successful as Barrett’s. Wade put the guy on the top rope and just shoved him off and to the floor. Back in the ring, the Souvenir elbow finished things.

WINNER: Barrett, at 1:46. Once Barrett is built back up and Mark Henry returns (if he does), the heel side won’t be looking so grim on Smackdown.

- Up next, it’s champion vs. champion. That’s right, it’s not even the main event!

[Commercial Break]

- Big Show vs. Sheamus from the WWE 13 video game was shown. The game seemed to indicate Show would be successful at the PPV.

5 – SHEAMUS vs. THE MIZ

No entrance for Sheamus. Sheamus clubbed Miz in the corner with forearms, then downed him with a back elbow. Sheamus ended up outside the ring and Miz worked hard to keep him there. Sheamus was whipped into the ring post by the Intercontinental Champion. Running boot to the seated Sheamus for a two-count at 2:08. Back-breaker/neck-breaker combo, vintage Miz, but only two. Sheamus made a comeback, but a low dropkick to the knees of Sheamus put a stop to that. DDT for a near-fall at 4:12. Miz went for a corner clothesline, but Sheamus impressively caught him in mid-air and gave him the Irish curse back-breaker. Ten forearms to the chest were followed by White Noise. Sheamus readied for the Brogue Kick, but as he did, Big Show’s music played and he walked to the ring. Sheamus turned his attention to Show, who climbed onto the ring apron. Show knocked out Miz, giving him the DQ win.

WINNER: Miz, via disqualification, at 6:23. Sheamus got an up-front view of what Show’s knockout punch can do, but you’d think Show would rather soften Sheamus up for the title match if he had the chance.

- Later tonight, Big Show vs. Tensai. Let me guess…Tensai will be on the receiving end of the Brogue Kick (which we didn’t see in the match with Miz).

- Also tonight, Ziggler vs. Punk.

[Commercial Break]

- David Otunga was in the ring out of break. He was dressed to compete, but had a microphone. Otunga said he requested some time to speak on behalf of the entire WWE locker room. He showed a WWE.com exclusive of what happened after Smackdown went off the air last week. It showed Alberto Del Rio viciously attacking Randy Orton. Booker T. had to call officials down to send Del Rio to the back. Mathews called it a “calculated assault.” Otunga thanked Del Rio on behalf of the locker room. He said Orton has been a menace in WWE for the better part of a decade. He lauded Del Rio for his courage in standing up to Orton. But Orton’s music played to interrupt Otuna’s speech. Instead of Orton though, Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez emerged from the back.

Del Rio mimicked Orton’s walk to the ring and the icy stare. He even aped Orton’s turnbuckle pose. Once he got the mic, he mocked Orton’s “my name is Randy Orton” standard promo beginning, then laughed and went into his usual intonation. Del Rio bragged about cutting off the head of the snake last week. He said he’s the new apex predator in WWE. Booker’s music hit and he walked out. He said that with Orton out, Del Rio’s schedule is open. And tonight, there will be a tag team match featuring Otunga and Del Rio going against Daniel Bryan and Kane. That’s what Otunga gets for wearing his wrestling gear when cutting a promo. Bryan was the first to hit the ring. Kane then made his entrance for the match, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – DAVID OTUNGA & ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. DANIEL BRYAN & KANE

The match began just out of break. Bryan started the match and did a flying clothesline to take down Otunga. Running dropkick in the corner was successful. He posed like Hulk Hogan for some reason and flexed in front of Kane. Oh, I guess he was mocking Otunga. Otunga fired back with a neck-breaker to take control. Del Rio tagged in and pried at Bryan’s nose. Del Rio charged at Bryan in the corner, but Bryan landed a drop toe-hold on Del Rio. Kane tagged in and gave Del Rio a big boot. To the top went Kane, and he came down with the flying clothesline. Bryan tried to make a tag when Kane set up for the chokeslam, but Kane saw it coming. Del Rio capitalized on the miscommunication. Otunga tagged himself in and gave Kane a spinebuster for two. He appeared panicked after not getting the pin. Chokeslam by Kane and Bryan did tag himself in this time. Flying headbutt off the top rope by Bryan for the pinfall.

WINNERS: Bryan and Kane, at 4:58. They’ve pulled back a little lately, not featuring Kane and Daniel Bryan as much as in the previous few weeks. That’s a good thing.

- Eve and Teddy Long were arguing backstage, with Eve telling Teddy he must not remember telling her to suspend Beth Phoenix, and Teddy denying he ever said such a thing. Long said he knows Eve had something to do with the attack on Kaitlyn. Teddy said Booker is an inexperienced GM but if he were in charge, Eve would be out the door. Booker walked in and told Long he isn’t in charge. He excused Eve to talk to Long alone. He asked Long if he was jealous, then said he can’t have Teddy and Eve bickering all the time. Booker walked away to take care of other business, leaving Teddy to get the awkward close-up to end the segment.

- Big Show vs. Tensai is next.

[Commercial Break]

7 – THE BIG SHOW vs. TENSAI

Like Sheamus, no entrance for Show. And again, no Sakamoto for Tensai. Tensai matched Show’s physicality early on, but Tensai was thrown through the ropes and to ringside by Show. Show proceeded to run Tensai over outside the ring. Back in the ring, Tensai crashed down on Show for a two-count. Corner splash missed, but Show did hit a spear (more like a shoulder tackle, it looked like). Show set up for the Knockout punch, but Sheamus’ theme played and he sprinted to the ring. He gave Tensai the Brogue Kick for the DQ.

WINNER: Tensai, via disqualification, at 2:08. Frankly, I’m shocked.

Show exploded with rage after the match.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Dolph Ziggler vs. C.M. Punk is up next.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged Kid Rock’s “Let’s Ride,” a song dedicated to the armed forces. Clips of WWE’s Tribute to the Troops played in the background.

8 – C.M. PUNK vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

The two got into a shoving match following some trash talk from Ziggler. Ziggler caught Punk with a dropkick to the kisser. They went to a stalemate at 1:27 after Ziggler couldn’t lock in a sleeper. They went to break at that point.

[Commercial Break]

The two men were still chain wrestling upon return from break. Side headlock by Ziggler until Punk suplexed out of it. I do like the blue and pink ring ropes on Smackdown…it’s a nice color combination. Punk and Ziggler fought on the top rope and both crashed to the floor, where their respective seconds checked on them. Once both were recovered, Ziggler missed wildly with a clothesline and Punk rolled him up for two. Fameasser from Ziggler for two at 8:07. Roundhouse kick to the back of Ziggler’s head by Punk, only a two count though. It won Layla her match earlier! Running knee in the corner, then a short-arm clothesline by Punk for two. The announcers questioned the relationship between Punk and Heyman at this point, beyond Punk simply being a “Paul Heyman guy.” Punk was slammed off the top by Ziggler, but Ziggler missed a splash in the corner. He turned around into a GTS for the finish.

WINNER: Punk, at 10:04.

Highlights of the match were shown. Punk then stood atop the announce table with a mic. Punk said he’s heard it from Bret Hart, Jim Ross, and all the fans. He said he knows what he has to do…the fans want to see Punk step into Hell in a Cell against John Cena. Punk said that to get respect, he has to do that. So at Hell in a Cell, Punk will NOT step foot in the ring with Cena. His music played and he dropped the mic. He shouted “best in the world!” as the show drew to a close.


Did you watch Friday's Smackdown episode? Send your 0-10 score & Reax to pwtorch@gmail.com for our TV Reax feature.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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