Christian (8-4) vs. Mark Henry (0-4)
They lockup and Henry breaks it with force. Christian gets a go-behind and Henry backs him up into the corner and hits with a back elbow. Christian ducks a clothesline and strikes with a couple slaps before going down to a big mid-ring standing splash. Henry kicks at the shoulder and Christian retreats to the outside. Henry follows but Christian goes right back in and hits with a dropkick through the ropes. Christian tries for a plancha but Henry catches him in mid-air and press slams him onto the apron. Back inside, Henry drops Christian with a clothesline for two. He continues by elevating Christian and sending him crashing into the mat for two more before focusing on the shoulder with a claw. Henry wants to end it with a big splash but Christian moves out of the way and begins a comeback. Christian rocks Henry with a couple clotheslines and two boots in the corner. He climbs to the middle rope and comes off with a back elbow. Henry still won’t go down. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Henry blocks it and clotheslines him out of the ring. Henry follows but gets drop toe held onto the announce table. Back inside, Christian comes off the top rope with a high crossbody but Henry catches him and tries for the World’s Strongest Slam but Christian avoids it. Christian sends Henry into the corner and hits with the Killswitch on the rebound for the win.
Christian in 4:00
**1/2(Very nice four minute match. It played to Henry’s strengths, and gave Christian a good win after coming up short in last week’s Triple Threat. Henry remains without a win on Smackdown.)
After a commercial, Christian is in the ring with a mic. He just beat the World’s Strongest Man, and that is not an easy thing to do. Even though it was a huge victory, it wasn’t the victory he was looking for tonight. Sheamus is facing Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship, but it should be him. We get a replay of the Triple Threat match from last week complete with Christian doing play-by-play. The video footage doesn’t lie; he had Sheamus beat. All Christian wants is something he feels he has earned- one more chance at becoming champion…
Teddy Long is out. He has already seen that footage, and he couldn’t agree more. Christian was a victim of circumstance. Christian thinks we should poll the Smackdown audience and see what they think. How many of Christian’s peeps would like to see Christian vs. Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship tonight? Big applause. How many would like to see Sheamus vs. Orton? Boos. Long feels Christian’s pain, but he just can’t do that. Christian suggests having a Triple Threat match. Long has been deliberating this dilemma all week, but circumstances or not, Sheamus won the right to face Orton. To make sure there are no circumstances in the title match tonight, Christian will be the Special Guest Referee.
At ringside, Michael Cole, Booker T and Josh Matthews discuss the decision before pitching it to a video package on Sheamus. Nice touch in hyping tonight’s main event.
Later tonight, Randy Orton vs. Sheamus for the World Heavyweight Championship with Christian as the Special Guest Referee.
Alicia Fox (1-1)/Tamina (1-0) vs. Kaitlyn (0-3)/AJ (0-1)
Rosa Mendes is with Fox/Tamina while Natalya is with Kaitlyn/AJ. We get a pre-recorded video of Natalya telling Kaitlyn and AJ that she knows they can win. Kaitlyn and Tamina start. They shove each other before Tamina kicks Kaitlyn and mat slams her. Tamina misses a splash in the corner and Kaitlyn gets a headbutt to the gut for two. Fox tags in and goes down to a Kaitlyn shoulderblock. AJ tags in and she hits with elbows before taking Fox down with a headscissors. Fox gets back into it with a kneelift and tags in Tamina who hits with a boot in the corner. She hits a bodyslam and takes out Kaitlyn on the apron before laying AJ out with a Samoan Drop for the win.
Alicia Fox/Tamina in 2:00
½*(The Diva’s division on Smackdown looks completely different from a month ago. It’s pretty remarkable how big a difference no LayCool makes.)
In the back, Randy Orton looks focused.
Cody Rhodes comes to the ring with his two baggers and it’s promo time. Winning isn’t everything. That’s a lovely sentiment; you know who says that? The losers. Statistics will tell you that Daniel Bryan won his match last week. They are wrong. Does anyone think Bryan beat Rhodes? Let Rhodes educate us. When a man finishes a match flat on his back with a paper bag over his head, he is humiliated. He lost! When the same man radiates wretchedness and oozes ordinary, he looks less like a WWE superstar and more like a member of the paying audience. Loser! Which reminds him- as a service to us and at great expense to him, he will provide paper bags. The most important difference between him and Bryan is that Rhodes will never pay to watch Bryan do anything; however, Bryan will watch Rhodes win the World Heavyweight Championship.
Later tonight, Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase.
In the back, Matt Striker is with The Great Khali. Before he speaks, we revisit Khali attacking his own brother, Ranjin Singh, last week. Back live, Jinder Mahal steps in. If you want to talk to Khali, you talk to Mahal. He switches between Hindi and English. Tonight, Mahal will lead by example and take one step toward immortality. Mahal and Khali walk away together.
Jinder Mahal (0-0) vs. Yoshi Tatsu (0-0)
Mahal is accompanied by Khali and he wears a long white jacket. His ring attire consists of white boots, white knee pads and white trunks with “Jinder” spelled across the front and “Mahal” across the back. Mahal attacks at the bell and slugs in the corner. He hits with a jumping knee and gets two off a vertical suplex. Mahal clubs the back and ends it with a full nelson slam.
Jinder Mahal in 1:00
½*(The suplex and finisher looked good, but this match didn’t provide enough to judge Mahal as a performer. Quick squash and not a particularly memorable in-ring debut.)
Post-match, Jinder Mahal picks Yoshi Tatsu up and offers a handshake before The Great Khali applies the vice grip. Mahal eggs Khali on.
Still to come, Wade Barrett vs. Ezekiel Jackson for the Intercontinental Championship.
We get the latest Capitol Punishment commercial. This one is definitely better than the first, but I really don’t care for dream-type setup with the announcers.
Intercontinental Championship- Wade Barrett© (4-14) vs. Ezekiel Jackson (5-4)
They lockup and Zeke powers Barrett to the corner. Barrett comes out with a boot and slugs in the opposite corner. Zeke trades positions and the ref backs him up. He tosses Barrett out of the corner by the neck and drops an elbow for two. He drops Barrett with a back elbow but Barrett comes back with a knee to the head. Zeke charges and runs into a Black Hole Slam for two before Barrett slows it down with a modified camel clutch. Booker points out that Zeke’s head is so wrinkled “from the work-outs he does.” Barrett hits an atomic drop but gets sent to the outside on a side step. He comes back in and goes down to a few Zeke shoulderblocks. Zeke connects with a big splash in the corner and drops Barrett with a series of bodyslams. It sets up the Torture Rack but Barrett escapes quickly with a rake of the eyes. Barrett hits with a right but gets kicked out of the ring. The ref begins a count and it brings out Corre members Gabriel and Slater. They circle the ring as Barrett gets counted out.
Ezekiel Jackson in 4:00 via Count Out, Wade Barrett retains the Intercontinental Championship
*1/2(By-the-numbers booking with this feud so far. Zeke keeps winning, but Barrett finds ways to keep the title. Not much to see here.)
Post-match, Wade Barrett instructs Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater to go after Ezekiel Jackson. They do, but Barrett stays behind and retreats up the ramp. Interesting. Zeke handles them both easily.
In the back, Matt Striker is with Sheamus. He is not the one Christian should be upset with; as a matter of fact, Randy Orton should be concerned. Sheamus notices Christian and catches up with him. Sheamus agrees that Christian was robbed last week. If it was up to him, this would be a Triple Threat match. Christian hopes Sheamus does a better job against Orton than he just did lying to his face. Sheamus doesn’t know what he is talking about, but if Christian tries anything out there tonight…Christian cuts him off. He will call this match right down the middle.
Daniel Bryan (1-2-1) vs. Ted DiBiase (1-2)
These two had some great matches together late last year. They lockup and Bryan gets a go-behind. DiBiase with the standing switch and they trade positions. Bryan drops DiBiase with a dropkick for one before DiBiase counters a hiptoss into a rollup for one. Bryan turns it on him for a one count of his own. Back up, Bryan wrenches the arm and DiBiase drops him with a right hand. DiBiase hits with a few more rights but Bryan answers with chops and telegraphs a dropkick. Bryan hits with a hard kick to the chest for two. Rhodes and his two baggers come out as we go to commercial.
Back from break, DiBiase is stretching Bryan’s shoulders and back. Bryan makes it to his feet and hits with kicks but DiBiase takes him down with a backbreaker across his knee. DiBiase stomps and presses his foot against Bryan’s throat. He heads outside and stretches Bryan’s back against the ringpost. Back inside, DiBiase throws Bryan into the corner forcefully and covers for two. He gets a few shoulderblocks but Bryan comes back with a flip off the turnbuckle and a flying clothesline. Bryan nails a series of kicks in the corner and perches him on the top rope. He comes off with a headscissors but DiBiase rolls through on the mat for two! They each duck one another’s clotheslines before DiBiase turns Bryan inside out with one for two. He charges but Bryan backdrops him out of the ring and hits with a suicide dive. Bryan throws DiBiase back inside and turns his attention to Rhodes at ringside before climbing to the top. He comes off but DiBiase catches him with a dropkick for two. DiBiase looks for Dream Street but Bryan counters it into the LeBell Lock. DiBiase taps and it’s over.
Daniel Bryan in 9:00
***(Seems like Bryan is having these *** matches every time he steps in a Smackdown ring. That’s not to sell DiBiase short, he did very well and added to the match. I haven’t seen a single bad outing between these two guys; they have terrific chemistry together.)
Post-match, Cody Rhodes attacks Daniel Bryan. Ted DiBiase joins Rhodes on the beating until the lights go down and Sin Cara comes out to make the save. He takes out Rhodes and DiBiase with headscissors. This should be a fun program.
Later tonight, Randy Orton defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Sheamus.
The Raw Rebound highlights R-Truth’s frustrations. It segues nicely into the on-screen Smackdown debut of NXT Season Four winner Johnny Curtis. He was promised a WWE Tag Team Championship shot with his pro R-Truth, but that is not gonna happen. Therefore, he will do what any WWE Superstar would do…cry over spilt milk. He then pours the milk over his head and stares into the camera.
It will be John Cena vs. R-Truth at Capitol Punishment, assuming Truth apologizes for his actions.
World Heavyweight Championship:Special Guest Referee: Christian– Randy Orton© (8-0) vs. Sheamus (3-4)
They lockup and Sheamus powers Orton into the corner. Orton changes positions and Christian pulls Sheamus out of the corner. They lockup again and Sheamus grabs a side headlock that brings Orton to his knees. Back up, Sheamus hits a shoulderblock for two and we have a standoff. They lockup and Sheamus hits with a kneelift before connecting with shoulderblocks in the corner. Sheamus rams Orton into the turnbuckle but Orton comes back with a clothesline out of the corner. He hits an uppercut and slugs in the corner. Sheamus retreats to the outside and drags Orton out there with him. They trade shots and Orton throws Sheamus into the barricade. Back inside, Orton covers for one. They trade some more strikes and Sheamus takes Orton down with a back elbow for two. Outside, Sheamus lifts Orton and drives his back into the ringpost before dropping him with a double axehandle. Back inside, Sheamus covers for two as we go to commercial.
Back from break, Sheamus has Orton in a stretch. Orton stands up on it and headbutts his way out. Sheamus brings him right back down with a kneelift for two and clubs on Orton’s chest. He drops a couple knees across the head and covers for two more before applying a front facelock. Orton blocks a vertical suplex and hits one of his own. Sheamus runs into a boot in the corner and falls to a couple clotheslines and a snap powerslam. Orton continues with a backbreaker for two. Sheamus kicks him away in the corner and lifts himself skin-the-cat-style onto the top rope. They trade blows with Orton getting the advantage and meeting Sheamus up top. He brings Sheamus down to the mat with a superplex and covers for two! Orton tries for the rope-assisted DDT but Sheamus fights it off and flies over the ropes with a shoulder tackle for two. Sheamus lifts Orton onto his shoulder and hits with a running powerslam for two more. He calls for the High Cross but Orton counters into a rollup for two! Back up, Sheamus connects with the Irish Curse Backbreaker for another two-count. He steps back and calls for the Brogue Kick but Orton side steps it and sends Sheamus up and over the top rope. Orton capitalizes with a rope-assisted DDT and readies himself for an RKO. Sheamus shrugs it off and drops Orton with a double axehandle. Sheamus lifts Orton for the High Cross but Orton escapes and tries for the RKO again. Sheamus avoids it and accidently knocks Christian down with a shoulderblock. He turns around and nails Orton with the Brogue Kick! Christian is clutching his shoulder but makes the count anyway…One! Two! And his shoulder gives out! Sheamus is pissed and shoves Christian into the corner. Christian responds with a slap across the face and Orton follows up with an RKO. One! Two! Three! The shoulder works!
Randy Orton in 14:00 to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
***3/4(Great, great main event. Orton has been on an absolute roll this year with consistently strong performances, and this was no different. He and Sheamus put together one of the best matches they have had against each other, if not the best. Everything clicked, the crowd was very into it and the drama kept building and building to the finish.)
Post-match, Christian raises Randy Orton’s hand in victory. What a happy and cheerful picture…until CHRISTIAN SMACKS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ACROSS ORTON’S HEAD! He stands over Orton’s body and shouts, “I can beat you, Randy!” and walks away with the World Heavyweight Championship to end the show.
(For a show that started out pretty slow, it sure ended with a fantastic 45 minutes. From the strong Daniel Bryan/Ted DiBiase match to the very good Randy Orton/Sheamus bout and Christian’s apparent heel turn, it was great television. Is it just me, or has there been evenmore wrestling on WWE TV since they dropped the word “wrestling” from their vocabulary? Christian’s turn at the end was very well done. This is the reason it’s never good to judge an angle before it even gets started. They have been milking the turn for months, even as far back as pre-Wrestlemania when Christian was left out of the big show despite gaining victories over Alberto Del Rio. They kept giving him reasons to burst, and it finally happened tonight- it worked. I’d say he is in a better position now, character-wise, than he was just before winning the World Heavyweight Championship. Elsewhere, Cody Rhodes continued to shine on the mic with another great promo, Jinder Mahal debuted, the Smackdown audience was introduced to Johnny Curtis and The Corre/Ezekiel Jackson rivalry took a different turn with Barrett abandoning his teammates. There is a lot to look forward to on Smackdown, but I do have one important question. Where is Brodus Clay?)
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