5-25-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the May 25, 2012 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Eve Torres coming to the ring. She mentions that Johnny beat Cena at Over the Limit. Then she says that because of an international business trip Johnny isn’t there tonight, but he left her in charge. She says that Johnny will deal with Cena Monday but tonight she will deal with Sheamus. She says that tonight 2 things will happen. First Sheamus will apologize for bumping into the injured Johnny Ace Monday night. Second she will pick Sheamus’ opponent for No Way Out. She was going to say more but Alberto Del Rio comes out on the stage. He tells Eve how nice looking and smart she is and that she should pick him to face Sheamus because there is no one better. Alberto gets in the ring and he says what happened to him and his quest for the World Title was horrible. He mentions how perfect Eve is but she needs to ask herself if she wants to make Johnny Ace proud. He asks if she does and he says, “The answer is si.” Then he asks her to let him face Sheamus at No Way Out. Eve says that Del Rio makes a very compelling case and there is no one more deserving. Then Randy Orton comes to the ring and says that he knows Eve is new to the job so he tells her who he is. He then says that it looks like she has a major decision to make, so how about the fans help her out with that. Then he asks the fans if they want to see Del Rio or him. Of course the crowed cheers for Orton. Then Orton says that in the name of people power Eve has her answer. Then Kane comes to the ring. He says that neither of the other 2 guys has the qualifications that he does. Kane says that Sheamus (or as he called him, “That pasty white Irish ghost”) should have to face him. He then says that in case that if Eve needs more convincing is because this Smackdown episode 666. Whatever. Eve says there is only one way to settle this and she says that Kane, Del Rio & Orton will face each other in a triple threat match tonight and the winner faces Sheamus. This was a decent opening segment.

Intercontinental Champion Christian vs. Hunico. Christian gets the pin. This was a solid match. Afterwards Cody Rhodes comes out on the stage and he says that for 8 months he spent his time cleaning the dirt off the Intercontinental Title and restoring it back to the pinnacle of its prominence. I’m not too sure about that. He then says that the title was held by joke and abused by the likes of Santino Marella. Then he says that he made the title mean what it meant when it was held by some of the all time greats like Razor Ramon, Macho Man Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels. Then Cody says that in 1 night Christian ruined it. Cody says that no one cares about that title because no one cares about Christian. Cody says that when he gets his rematch it will only take him 3 seconds. Then Christian places the belt down and gestures for Cody to come in the ring. That doesn’t happen. This was good. Cody cut a really good promo here.

They show a clip from earlier in the day where the 2 teams were arguing with each other.

The Usos vs. Titus O’Neill & Darren Young. Titus & Darren win when Titus pins Jimmy Uso. This was a solid match too.

They show a video package hyping the return of Sin Cara next week.

2 guys names Brian Edwards & Kevin Bendl are in the ring. Brian gets the mic and rags on the fans saying that pronounce the name of their own town. Then Kevin takes the mic and says that they know Ryback has beaten 2 guys before but not at the same time. He says they’re there to prove tonight, before he could finish Ryback comes out.

Ryback vs. Brian Edwards & Kevin Bendl. Ryback wins when he puts 1 guy on top of the other and the gets the pin. This was a pointless squash. I don’t know why they still have Ryback squashing unknown guys.

U.S. Champion Santino Marella vs. Ricardo Rodriguez. Santino get the pin. This was a comedy match. Ricardo came out in his tux and gave his own ring introduction.

Sheamus come to the ring and talks about bumping into Johnny Ace on Monday. He acts like he’s going to apologize but of course he doesn’t. He apologizes for Johnny Ace being a “Massive arse.” Then he says that David Otunga & Eve have their heads rammed so far up Johnny’s arse they could tell you what he had for breakfast. Terrible line. Then he apologizes to everyone else who kisses Johnny’s arse including a giant 440 pound arse kisser. Man this is idiotic. Then he talks about his World Title match at No Way Out. He says that if he had his way he’d be facing Orton. Then Vickie Guerrero comes out and says that Eve just told her that he will face someone right now. Then she introduces Jack Swagger. This was idiotic. I don’t know why they have Sheamus make these lame arse jokes. It weakens the character.

World Champion Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a good match.

Damien Sandow comes out for his match with Yoshi Tatsu. Before the match he says that he is here to help the fans. He mentions how last week he was scheduled to face an unworthy opponent. He rags on the fans for being ignoramuses and says that match wouldn’t have done anything to enlighten them. He says that he did the honorable thing so that the fans can place him on the pedestal of enlightenment that they’re yearning for. The fans boo and he asks them to remain silent while he is speaking. That was funny. He says that he chose to depart without incident when he was verbally attacked by the ignoramus who he again stands before tonight. He says that the dunce did not grasp the concept of what he was trying to teach him. Then he says that tonight he will impart his lesson upon Yoshi physically. He says that he does this not just for Yoshi but as always he does it for the common good of the fans. Then he says, “You’re welcome.” This was really good promo. Sandow is great in the intellectual heel role.

Yoshi Tatsu vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. This was a short match.

They show the video package for the No Way Out PPV. This was good. I liked how they did the silent film bit with Daniel Bryan.

Big Show comes to the ring in a suit. He mentions that on the Raw before Over the Limit he was fired. He says he knows that the fans know what that’s like but he had never been fired before. He says that he wasn’t proud to beg for his job. He says the difference between him and those who have been fired before is that they don’t love what they and for them it’s just a job. Show says that he loves what he does. Then he says that when he lost his job he felt betrayed by his friends inside and outside the ring and by the fans. He says that no fan, superstar or member of the production crew came to his defense. I remember the fans getting behind Big Show during that segment but apparently we’re supposed to forget that. Then he says that after all the years and all that he has done this is what he gets. Then the fans chant you sold out at him. Show says that he did not sell out. He says that after everything that he has done for the fans this is the thanks he gets. Then he says that he realized at the moment that he has no friends. He says that he realized that he is alone in this world. He says that then he got the call. He asks the fans if they’re drowning if they really care where the life line is coming from. The fans chant for Cena. Then Show says that he made a deal. He mentions that if he helped Johnny Ace beat John Cena then he would get his job back. He mentions that he got a new contract and a big fat bonus. He then says that all Johnny had to do was escape from Cena and it was set. He mentions that he dragged Ace back to the ring like he wanted revenge. Then he says that it was just a ruse for Cena. Then he says that when he threw Johnny to Cena he knew what was going to happen next. He mentions that with 1 punch he knocked Cena cold. Then he watched Johnny pin Cena for the pin. The fans chant for Cena again. Then he says that at No Way Out he will knockout Cena again. Then he says that the fans never really cared about him. Big Show then says that he doesn’t care about the fans. This was a good promo. The storyline might not make a lot of sense but Show is really good in his delivery with the promos. Then Kane comes out and he and Big Show walked past each other.

Kane gets in the ring and Daniel Bryan hits him in the back with a chair. Bryan pounds Kane with the chair and the fans chant yes after every chair shot. Then referees come in to break it up. Then Daniel walks up the ramp. That was a solid bit.

Randy Orton vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins when he pins Kane. Daniel Bryan comes back out with the chair. Kane goes after him and Daniel runs to the back. Then Daniel comes back and distracts Kane again. Then Orton gives Kane an RKO and went for the pin but Del Rio broke it up. Then Del Rio covered Kane for the pin. This was a good match. As Alberto & Ricardo celebrate on the stage Sheamus comes out and attacks Del Rio from behind. Then he stands over Del Rio congratulating him on becoming the number one contender. The he says that he can’t wait to kick Del Rio’s head off at No Way Out. Sheamus stands over Alberto and holds up the World Title to end the show.

I thought this was a good show overall. The opening segment setting up the 3 way was solid. I liked the main event too. I’m not sure what they’re doing with Kane & Daniel Bryan but Bryan is really good at playing the weasel heel. Big Show’s promo was good too even if the storyline doesn’t make total sense. Cody cut a good promo too about bringing meaning back to the Intercontinental Title was good too. Christian-Hunico was decent also. Santino-Ricardo was total comedy and I wasn’t into it. Damien Sandow was great on the mic as usual. His match with Yoshi was short and it was all him pounding Yoshi Tatsu. Sheamus-Swagger was also a good match. The Usos vs. Titus & Darren was solid too. On the whole I thought this was a good show.