2-3-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the February 3, 2012 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Teddy Long coming out and announces that Daniel Bryan will defend the World Title in the Elimination Chamber match against Big Show, Wade Barrett, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes & Mark Henry. Then Mark Henry comes out and says that he shouldn’t have to be in the Chamber because he deserves a one on one match tonight. Then he grabs Long and then Long indefinitely suspends him. Henry says that if he’s going to be suspended he will get his moneys worth. He gets in Long’s face but Sheamus comes out and gives Henry the Brogue Kick. Then he says that he hasn’t decided which Title he will challenge for yet and will wait till after the Elimination Chamber. Then he says that he is going to do what he doest best and then Cody Rhodes comes out and tells Sheamus not to let success get to his head because no one will remember that he won the 2012 Royal Rumble. He says the only thing the fans will remember is that he eliminated the most guys, 6 and that 2 of them were hall of famers and that he lasted 45 minutes. Then he says that he will win the World Title at the Elimination Chamber and will be the first duel Champion since The Ultimate Warrior (I guess Kurt Angle being Intercontinental & European Champion or Shawn Michaels being WWF Champion & European Champion don’t count). Then he says that Teddy & Sheamus resemble Warrior because he can’t what they’re saying. Then Long tells Cody that he will face Sheamus right now. This was a good opening segment. I liked Teddy’s promo here. They finally had him not be a buffoon. Mark Henry’s promo was good too and I enjoyed the Cody Rhodes promo also. I also like that Sheamus will say which Title he will challenge for after the Elimination Chamber.

Sheamus vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Sheamus gets the pin.  This was a good match but I’m not sure why they jobbed out Cody.

Justin Gabriel vs. Hunico. The match never happens because Cody Rhodes (who was still at ringside) comes in and attacks Gabriel. Then Hunico & Camacho beat on Gabriel too and then Great Khali comes out and flattens Camacho and Cody bails. Hunico gets some offense in but Khali lays him out too. This was ok for what it was. Justin Gabriel faded into the background.

Drew McIntyre is with Teddy Long asking him to keep him around and Long says that there is nothing worse than predictable TV (someone tell Vince that!) and he mentions that Drew always loses and he should find another way to impress him. Then Santino comes in and says that he found himself a new partner this week and Hacksaw Jim Duggan comes in and they do some comedy stuff. Then Long says that they will face Primo & Epico next. They leave and then cue the lighting and saxophone music for Aksana. She notices Hacksaw’s 2 x4 and Hacksaw comes back in and gets it. This was typical Santino-Long/Long-Aksana comedy that I wasn’t into but I popped for Hacksaw.

They show the Mike Tyson video package from Raw and mention that he will be inducted into the celebrity wing of the Hall of Fame this year.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Santino Marella vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico. Primo & Epico win when Primo pins Santino. This was alright. After wards Hacksaw comes in with his 2 X4 and the champs bail.

Michael Cole is in the ring and interviews Daniel Bryan. Cole rags on Daniel and says that the fans have been critical of him and calls him the most unlikely World Champion and says that he is a nerd AGAIN! Then Cole admits that he was wrong about Daniel and offers him his hand. Daniel takes the mic out of Cole’s hand and tells Cole that this interview isn’t about him. Then he brags about beating 2 monsters in a steel cage and says that he is a great champion. He also talks about how great a role model he is and he tells the fans to be a vegan like he is. Then he talks about how eating meet isn’t good and that he is healthier then everyone in the arena. Then he say that shouldn’t have to defend the World Title at the Elimination Chamber against 5 other guys and especially not against a guy he has dominated over and over and who had a 45 second World Title reign and a man he has already beaten 4 title matches. He says he’s talking about Big Show. He mentions how Big Show has consistently failed but is being consistently rewarded and says that he intentionally ran over AJ. He calls Big Show a failure as a competitor and a human being and he should not be in a title match. Then he says that if Teddy Long doesn’t take Big Show out of the Elimination Chamber then he will take his case to the Board of Directors and that Teddy Long will join Johnny Ace in the unemployment line (was Ace officially canned?). He thanks the fans and then Big Show comes out and says that he was eating a steak in the back. Then he says that role models don’t tell people how to be but they lead by example. Then he calls Daniel a pompous, arrogant little ass and that after the Elimination Chamber he will still be that but he will no longer be World Champion. Then Daniel says that he gets that might lose the Title but it won’t be to Big Show. He tells Big Show that he will lose like he always does. Then he says that he has proven that he can defy the odds. Then he taps Big Show repeatedly on the chest and then Big Show knees beats the crap out of him and choke slams him. Then AJ returns wearing a neck brace and Big Show tries to talk to her but she backs away. Then Daniel tries to sneak attack Big Show but he gets caught and Big Show was about to punch him but AJ grabs Show’s hand and Daniel bails and Show looks at AJ as she leaves the ring in fright. Then she hugs Bryan and he stares down Show and then they head up the ramp and Bryan tells AJ that he will keep her safe. This was a good segment also. I thought both guys cut good promos and played off of each other really well. I’m not sure why they’re pushing the whole bit of Daniel Bryan being a vegan but the rest of this was good.

They show Natalya & Beth Phoenix backstage doing squats and Natalya says that she is excited about teaming with Beth tonight (are we supposed to forget that they were the anti Barbie team?) and says that they’re gonna win tonight. Beth says that she knows she is going to win this one. Then cue the fart noise as Natalya squats and Beth asks what that was. Natalya says that they’re gonna win and cue the fart sound again. Then Natalya runs off and Beth walks away. Then Santino comes by and the same bit that happened last week happens here too. I have no idea why they’re booking Natalya like this!! This is really idiotic!!

Tamina & Aksana vs. Natalya & Divas Champion Beth Phoenix. Natalya & Beth win when Beth pins Aksana. This was a squash. Tamina never even got in there. Beth walks out with a look of disgust. Afterwards Natalya goes to give Aksana the Sharpshooter but Tamina gives Natalya a super kick and then gives her the Super Fly Splash.  

They show the John Cena video package that they showed at the Royal Rumble.

They announce that Great Khali will be in the Elimination Chamber.

Matt Striker interviews Randy Orton backstage and asks how he will handle his match with Wade Barrett. Orton says that he doesn’t hold back and doesn’t have a problem with Barrett throwing him down the stairs because he would have done the same to him. He says that he does have with Barrett talking about how he ended Orton’s career. He says that he is back and that he will beat Wade Barrett tonight and at the Elimination Chamber he will beat him and the other guys and will be a 10 time World Champion. This was a good promo.

Daniel Bryan & AJ come into Teddy Long’s office and Daniel says that they need to talk about Big Show. Daniel says that AJ is scared to death. Long tells them to stick around and watch the next match and discuss it.

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett in a No DQ Match. Orton gets the pin. This was a really good brawl!

Back to Teddy Long in his office with Daniel Bryan & AJ. Long tells him that he doesn’t have to worry about Big Show and that he will face Randy Orton next week. Bryan that he isn’t afraid of giants or snakes and he tells AJ to stay there and watch what he’s gonna do. Then he goes to the ring and celebrates and Orton looks at him like he’s crazy. Bryan continues celebrating and goes back up the ramp saying he is the World Champion. That ends the show. That was kind of a strange bit there.    

(Note: Brodus Clay squashed Heath Slater but they cut the match out of the show).

I thought that this week’s show was a middle of the road show overall. I liked the Orton-Barrett match and the opening promo with Teddy Long & Mark Henry and Sheamus & Cody Rhodes cut good promos too in that segment. The Sheamus-Cody match was good also. I also enjoyed the Big Show-Daniel Bryan segment. They play off of each other really well. I’m not sure what the point of Khali coming in and laying out Camacho & Hunico was or having Justin Gabriel fade into the background when Khali came out. I have no idea why Natalya is being booked in this idiotic bit! The Santino stuff is also stale as is the Teddy Long-Aksana bit. I did pop for Hacksaw though and that tag match was ok. On the whole this was a mixed bag show.