Coverage and thoughts on the January 13, 2012 episode of Smackdown
The show starts with World Champion Daniel Bryan coming to the ring and he talks about how he is a fighting champion. Then Mark Henry comes out and tells him that he won’t get involved in the Big Show-Daniel Bryan match because he made a deal with Teddy Long that he will gets his rematch for the Title against the winner if doesn’t get involved in the match. This was a good back and forth segment. Daniel Bryan does a good job at playing tweener/heal and Mark Henry’s promo was really good too.
Justin Gabriel vs. Heath Slater. Gabriel gets the pin after Hornswoggle comes in and distracts Slater. This was a good back and forth match, but I didn’t care for the finish. I don’t why they played Hornswoggle’s music before he showed up.
Daniel Bryan & AJ are backstage and AJ tells him that she loves him. She walks out and Daniel’s in a bit of shock but thanks AJ.
They show the clips from the 1998 Royal Rumble. The second Rumble win in a row for Steve Austin.
Cody Rhodes comes to the ring and cuts a promo about he has been Intercontinental Champion for 5 months and has outshined Pedro Morales, Tito Santana, Booker T and his own brother Goldust. Then he says that his goal in 2012 to go beyond the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. He says that he is going to pull an Ultimate Warrior, meaning that he is going to be both the Intercontinental Champion the World Champion and that it starts in the Royal Rumble match. Then Ezekiel Jackson comes out for his match with Cody.
Ezekiel Jackson
They show the Edge Hall of Fame video package.
Santino Marella is in Teddy Long’s office and now that he is the assistant to the GM he has a list of ideas. He goes on about nonsense and Long doesn’t go for any of it. The David Otunga comes in and says that Johnny Ace wants to know which Smackdown guys Teddy thinks should be in the rumble and he has a list, but Santino says he has an idea and says that he should face David Otunga to see who gets in the Rumble. Teddy agrees. They both leave and then there’s a knock on the door. Long thinks it’s Aksana but Drew McIntyre shows up behind him. Long tells him that if he loses tonight he will be “fired” and that his match is next. This was idiotic. I’m getting tired of Santino & Otunga.
Ted DiBiase, Jr. vs. Drew McIntyre. Ted gets the pin. This was a solid match Hunico & Camacho came out to do commentary. I’m not sure what they’re gonna with Drew now. The guy’s been a jobber for over a year and this whole story about Teddy signing him to Smackdown and then threatening to sack him if doesn’t win doesn’t make sense. Why “bring the guy to Smackdown” just to tell you’re gonna can him if he keeps losing?
Jinder Mahal comes out and says that he is glad that no one expects him to win the Royal Rumble (everyone know he won’t) and that he is the most dangerous when he is least expected.
Sheamus vs. Jinder Mahal. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a decent match.
Backstage Big Show is with referee for the World Title match and then AJ comes in to talk to Big Show about his match with Daniel Bryan saying that Daniel’s a good guy she doesn’t wan to see him get hurt. Big Show says that he doesn’t intend to hurt him. Then Bryan
They show clips from the 2002 Royal Rumble that Triple H won after returning from his quad tear.
Santino Marella vs. David Otunga to qualify for the Royal Rumble. Otunga gets the pin.
They show the Four Horsemen Hall of Fame video package.
Brodus Clay vs. Tyson Kidd. Brodus gets the really quick pin. This match wasn’t even a minute. Brodus’ entrance was longer than the match. Poor Tyson. Nothing against Brodus but that gimmick is idiotic and Tyson Kidd continues to play the role of designated jobber.
Teddy Long is in his office getting into Brodus Clay’s (formerly Earnest Miller’s) theme music and then Aksana comes in. This was more of the same Teddy-Aksana idiocy.
They show clips of the 1995 Royal Rumble that Shawn Michaels won. He was the first guy in that year.
Tamina vs. Natalya. Tamina gets the pin. This was a decent but short match Just like Tyson Kidd, Natalya is the Divas jobber. Nothing against Tamina. I think she is good too and they should have these 2 in a longer match.
After the match Wade Barrett comes out and he talks about winning the Royal Rumble and then he challenges Sheamus to a match next week. This was a good promo.
Big Show vs. World Champion Daniel Bryan for the Title. The match is stopped when Big Show bumps into AJ and she gets stretchered out by the medics. As they were getting her on the stretcher the fans were chanting, “She’s ok.” I thought that was nice little touch. They wheel her up the ramp and Bryan & Show follow and Daniel screams at Show asking him how can he be so reckless and that she only weighs 95 pounds. After they go up the ramp and head to the back Daniel screams at Show some more and Show stands on the stage all upset about what happened. That ends the show. I thought this was good stuff. The match was good and the post match stuff was good too. Daniel Bryan & Big Show both had great reactions after the AJ bump.
I thought that this was a decent episode overall. The opening segment with Daniel Bryan & Mark Henry was good. They both cut good promos. I liked Cody Rhodes’ promo too. Him saying he is going to pull an Ultimate Warrior was a good line. His match with Zeke was solid also. I wasn’t into the Teddy Long-Santino-Otunga bit or the bit with Long & Aksana. Gabriel & Slater had a solid match but Hornswoggle suddenly lying on the mat as his music plays was dumb. The World Title match was good too and I thought Bryan & Show did a good job with their reactions after the AJ bump. On the whole I thought this was a decent show.
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