2-17-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the February 17, 2012 episode of Smackdown

Before the show starts they show a video package recapping the Randy Orton-Big Show match on Raw.

The actual show starts with Randy Orton in Teddy Long‘s office and Long tells him that he isn’t fit to compete and is pulled from the Elimination Chamber. (Randy Orton got a legit concussion on Monday after his match with Big Show when Daniel Bryan hit him with the belt.) This was a good way to start the show. Orton’s expression was good and I hope he isn’t out too long.

Big Show & Great Khali vs. Wade Barrett & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Show & Khali win when Show pins Barrett. This was a decent match. Afterwards Khali gets in Show’s face and Show punches him out.

Teddy Long is on his phone talking about Orton’s concussion and then Mark Henry comes in. He tells Long that he should have him take Orton’s place in the chamber and that he needs him to be champion. Then Big Show comes in and tells Long that he wants Daniel Bryan tonight. Henry then steps up to Show and Show punches him. Then he wrecks Long’s office. This was good. Big Show was really intense here. Henry’s promo was good too and hopefully he will be back in action soon.

Teddy Long is talking to security and tells them to ask Big Show to leave the arena. One of the security guys says that he isn’t going anywhere near him and Long says that they should call for back up. This was good too. I liked how they had the security guy admit that he was afraid to piss of Big Show.

Ted DiBiase, Jr. vs. Hunico. Hunico gets the pin when Camacho gets involved. This was a solid match.

The Usos vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico. Primo & Epico win. This was a decent match too. Afterwards Michael Cole announced that Big Show had voluntarily left the building.

Daniel Bryan comes to the ring and says that unlike Big Show & Randy Orton he is a real man. He says that he has proven he is a winner and demands Lillian announce him as the winner by forfeit. Lillian reluctantly does. Daniel celebrates and then Teddy Long comes out. He tells Daniel that he found a replacement for Randy Orton and out comes Sheamus. I don’t get why they’re having these 2 face each other on Smackdown because this should and will hopefully take place at WrestleMania. This was the usual great promo from Bryan. The guy is a really good heal.

Sheamus vs. World Champion Daniel Bryan. Daniel wins by DQ when Sheamus shoves the referee. Before the match Daniel takes his belt and walks out but Sheamus came after him. The match continued and Daniel got on the top rope and spit in Sheamus’ face and then Sheamus went nuts and shoved the referee leading to the DQ. This was good too. Both these are really talented and I hope they will have a rematch for the World Title at WrestleMania.

Wade Barrett comes into Teddy Long’s office and wants to know who will be replacing Orton in the chamber. Then Cody Rhodes comes in and says he will win the chamber but he also would like to know who will be taking Orton’s spot. Long says that the winner of a Battle Royal will fill Randy Orton’s spot in the Elimination Chamber. Cody then says that Long can’t just fill the spot with a no name guy. Long says that someone will get the opportunity of a life time. Barrett & Cody walk out in disgust. This was a good backstage bit too.

Ezekiel Jackson vs. Jinder Mahal. Mahal wins by submission. This was a short match.

Tamina & Alicia Fox vs. Natalya & Divas Champion Beth Phoenix. Tamina & Alicia win. Afterwards Tamina super kicks Beth and then goes to the top rope for the Superfly Splash but Beth rolls out of the ring. This was a decent match too.

Teddy Long is on his cell phone and Johnny Ace & David Otunga come in and Ace says that David Otunga will be in the Battle Royal. This was kinda weak.

Battle Royal for the empty Elimination Chamber slot. Santino Marella wins after eliminating David Otunga at the end. Why is Santino in this match? This just shows how thin they are of top guys.  This was good for a battle royal but it was filled with low-mid card guys who aren’t even in the World Title picture. 

I thought that this was a middle of the road show overall. Daniel Bryan cut a great promo as usual and he & Sheamus had a great match. Big Show losing it was good too. I liked that they had him flip. The rest of the matches were not that memorable. The Show& Khali-Barrett & Cody match was decent and the Usos-Primo & Epico was a solid match. The Ted-Hunico and divas tag matches were short and not too memorable. The Battle Royal was good for a Battle Royal but does there wasn’t anyone in there that would have been believable challengers for the World Title. They should have had Ezekiel Jackson win. That would have been more believable than Santino. On the whole I thought that this was a mixed bag show.