1-18-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the January 18, 2013 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Alberto Del Rio’s Fiesta celebrating his World Title win. They have the ring all decorated and the band is playing. Then Ricardo brings out the new World Champion Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio welcomes everyone to Fiesta Del Rio & says, “Let’s party San Antonio!” He says that he knows that he & the fans haven’t seen eye to eye over the years but they can all agree with him on this. They have to celebrate the fact that the fat jackass Big Show is no longer World Champion. Then out come Dolph Ziggler, Big E Langston & AJ Lee. Dolph says, “Did somebody say Fiesta?” AJ says that she & Big E love a good party and they’re gonna assume they’re invitation got lost some how. Del Rio asks what they’re doing there. This is his party, Ricardo’s party & the fan’s party. Dolph gets in the & says it’s funny Del Rio should say that. It’s funny that Del Rio thinks think that the fans are his friends. What’s even funnier is Del Rio thinks that he holds the World Title but he doesn’t. What Del Rio does have is a giant target on his head & Dolph is Mr. Money in the Bank. Dolph then says that Del Rio knows more than anyone what that contract means. It means that whenever Dolph sees fit to cash it in Del Rio will be saying adios to that World Title (Dolph has had many chances to cash but hasn’t). Del Rio asks Dolph if he really thinks that he can cash in on Del Rio. Dolph says that he will. Then Dolph says tells his associate Big E Langston, “Meet Alberto Del Rio & say hello to his little friend Ricardo.” Big E says to Ricardo, “Que Pasa little man?” Del Rio tells the 3 of them to get out of there right now. Dolph says they’ll go but maybe first Big E will drop Del Rio where he stands, Dolph cashes his MITB contract & he leaves with the World Title. Del Rio tells him to try it & let’s see what happens. Then out comes Big Show. Dolph says he doesn’t know how good Del Rio is with math but the champ is out numbered. Then out comes Sheamus. Sheamus calls Dolph, “Ziggles” (He stole that from John Morrison). Then he says he thought he would come out and help with this numbers situation Dolph was talking about. Sheamus then says that everyone knows that he can’t resist a Fiesta Del Rio (Even though he & Del Rio were feuding over the title when Sheamus was champion just a few months ago, but we’re supposed to forget that) especially when he has so many of his great friends right here. Sheamus tells “Bertie” that he’s not out there to crash his party. He knows they’ve had their differences in the past (Nice to know they mentioned that). Then Sheamus tells Del Rio they beat each other black and blew “Fella”. Sheamus then says that the last time he was there he even tried to steel Del Rio’s car (He actually did steel it). Then Sheamus says that he came out because he wanted to congratulate Del Rio on his epic victory over the giant last week. Sheamus then tells Del Rio that he has no doubt on his mind that Del Rio deserves to be World Champion. Sheamus then says that it would be an honor for him right now to be the first to shake Del Rio’s hand. They shake hands and then Sheamus says to go along with that he would also like to offer his services tonight as a bouncer for this Fiesta to make sure that none of these Muppets get involved in Del Rio’s party. Del Rio thanks Sheamus and then tells him this is a Fiesta. Del Rio doesn’t want anyone fighting. Sheamus says, “What really?” Then Del Rio says, “Maybe just a little bit.” Then Can you dig it Sucka hits & out comes GM Booker T. Booker says it ain’t goin down like this. Booker gets in the ring and says that tonight this is a Fiesta. Then Booker wants to be serious for a minute (What is he Lance Storm all of a sudden)? Booker tells Big Show that if he ever puts his hand on him again he will ruin Big Show’s day “Sucka.” Then Booker says that there will be a fight tonight. Big Show will team with Dolph (again) & they will face Sheamus & Del Rio. That match will be the tag team main event extravaganza. Then he asks Big Show, Dolph Langston & AJ to leave the Fiesta because they’re not invited. Big Show gets in Booker’s face for a bit and then the heels walk out. Then Booker asks the fans if they’re ready to party. Let’s kick this Fiesta Del Rio off right now. Del Rio tells the muchachos to play some music. They play some music and then Del Rio tells Booker to do a Spinnarooni. Booker does that and he & Booker hug. Then Sheamus is about to exit the ring but Del Rio has him come back in. Del Rio puts a sombrero in the middle of the ring & tells Sheamus to do the Mexican hat dance. Sheamus says that no one wants to see him do that (He is so right). He tells Del Rio that he has a reputation to keep. Del Rio says that they wanna see Sheamus, well pretty much act like a hokey baby face. Then Sheamus says this is a Fiesta & he dances with the Spanish dancer. This was way beyond idiotic! This was the typical “Smackdown starts off with a promo with 2 faces & 2 heels & then Booker makes a tag match for the main event” segment. The whole Fiesta bit was a complete waste of time. I don’t get why they’re having Sheamus & Del Rio team up when they were feuding over the World Title a few months ago, or why they’re having Dolph & Big Show team up again since they don’t like each other. This makes zero sense! That’s WWE for you!

Kofi Kingston vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro gets the pin. This was a solid match with a really impressive finish. Kofi was going to Irish Whip Cesaro into the opposite corner. Cesaro reversed that. Then Kofi jumped on the top rope and was going to give Cesaro a Rana but Cesaro turned into the Neutralizer and got the pin. These guys are really talented! They also showed Miz watching the match on a monitor backstage

They cut to Miz backstage and Primo, Epico & Rosa are there for some reason. They call Miz Ric Flair’s new side kick. Then they say really a few times. Miz sarcastically says how cleaver that was, using his reallys against him. Miz says this was the first time that they talked in over 2 years & that’s what they say. Rosa says they talk all the time. They were just talking about how much Miz has in common with Ric. It was a short conversation. Primo & Epico say that Flair was a great wrestler & Miz has catchphrases. Miz tells Epico to listen up, but he was talking to Primo. Miz asks who the other guy is. He’s Epico. Miz says that no one cares. He challenges 1 of them to a match tonight. It doesn’t matter which 1. Miz says they should leave it up to than he looks at Rosa and says, “Whatever it is you do.” This was pointless.

Great Khali vs. Tensai. Khali gets the pin. This was terrible but thankfully short. I don’t know why they Natalya with Khali.

Kane & Daniel Bryan are backstage. Daniel doesn’t get why Shelby thought it was a good idea to bring Cody & Sandow into their therapy session Monday on Raw. Then Kane says that speaking of things that aren’t a good idea, what’s with that thing on Cody’s face? Daniel says that some people just don’t get that their facial hair starts to look ridiculous. Kane says, “Tell me about it.” Daniel then asks Kane what he’s trying to say. Kane says nothing. Daniel tells him to say it. Then Kane says no & Daniel says yes. They scream that back & forth at each other for a bit. Then Randy Orton comes in. He’s curious if Kane & Daniel will act like 2^nd graders tonight or are they actually interested in delivering some pain to Cody, Sandow & Barrett. Kane says both & walks off. Then Daniel tells Orton that they’re not acting like they’re in second grade. They’re working through their anger issues. Daniel then says that’s something Orton knows a little bit about. Daniel says that he & Kane used to be a lot like Orton, but thanks to Shelby they’re in a better place now. Not only that, they are champions. Daniel asks Orton if he wants to be a champion again. Orton says that he does. Then he says that after he wins the Royal Rumble…Daniel cuts him off & says that tonight is not about the rumble. Orton has to take 1 step at a time. First they win the 6 man tag and then…GROUP HUG! Orton says that he is not much of a hugger. Daniel says that he isn’t yet. This was a decent bit. Kane & Daniel were comical here and I thought Orton played well off of Daniel. The group hug line from Daniel & Orton’s reaction to that was funny.

Randy Orton and WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow. Orton, Kane & Daniel win Orton pins Sandow. The match was solid but I’m not sure why they had Sandow job cleanly to Orton. Then Daniel extends his arms out to Orton for the group hug. Orton wants none of it. Then Orton turns to Kane and he extends out his arms too. Then they both hug Orton. Orton’s facial reaction to that was comical.

Time to recap The Rock concert from Monday that was followed by The Rock-CM Punk pull apart brawl.

The Miz vs. Primo. Miz wins by submission with the Figure 4. This was a solid match but I’m not a fan of Miz using the Figure 4. I’m really hoping that they don’t turn Miz into Flair, Jr. like TNA did with AJ Styles.

Kaitlyn, Layla & Alicia Fox are backstage. Alicia tells Kaitlyn that the Divas title looks good on her. The yap for a bit, Layla hold the belt for some reason. Then Kaitlyn says that she has to get to her match. She asks Layla to give her the belt back. Layla gives it back and then Booker T & Teddy Long come by. Booker wanted to congratulate Kaitlyn. He says that she rocked the city. “H Town.” Long congratulated Kaitlyn too. He’s also really happy that she made Eve quit after what she did to him. Long asks Booker what he’s laughing about. Kaitlyn says she has to get ready for her match. This was mostly a filler segment. I can see a Layla heel turn coming out of this since she held the belt for a bit. Besides that this bit was pointless.

Divas Champion Kaitlyn vs. Aksana. Kaitlyn gets the pin. This was ok.

They show a video package on Mick Foley’s career. This was good. Mick is without a doubt a well deserving first ballot Hall of Famer!

Time for promo from The Shield. Ambrose: Attention WWE Universe. Rollins: Attention Sheamus. Ambrose: Attention Randy Orton. Reigns: Attention Ryback. Rollins: We are the Shield. Ambrose: On January 14 The Shield crashed Mick Foley’s Hall of Fame announcement and not for nothing but on behalf of all the broken bodies and broken dreams he left in the wake of his Hall of Fame career. Rollins: We spoiled the celebration in the name of justice. Ambrose: Mick you may live denial for the rest of your life. You may deny responsibility for the example set for all the would be super stars, all those kids who sacrificed their bodies in the name of being hardcore. Reigns: Either way we hold you accountable. Rollins: Everyone is accountable. Ryback was held accountable. And now Ryback you want back what we took from you? Reigns: What’s done is done. You’ll never get it back. Rollins: Randy Orton (then he laughs). Ambrose: Randy there are 206 bones in the human body. There are 206 bones in your body. We broke 1. Reigns: We’re just getting started. Rollins: And Sheamus, you like to fight for fun hey Fella? Reigns: We fight for justice. Then they each say their names. Ambrose: All of you, you will believe. Rollins: Believe in The Shield. Reigns: BELIEVE IN THE SHIELD! This was a good promo.

Randy Orton is watching the monitor in his dressing room & then Sheamus comes in. Sheamus says, “Isn’t it funny how The Shield acts so tough when their hidden somewhere in the building where no one can find them?” Then Orton says he doesn’t really find The Shield that funny. He doesn’t think it’s funny how they injured his shoulder and they sure weren’t laughing Wednesday. Sheamus tells Orton that he is sorry that he’s sorry he wasn’t there to help him out Wednesday like he was Monday. Then Orton says that he doesn’t need Sheamus’ help. Sheamus then sarcastically says that Orton’s doing such a great job fighting off The Shield Monday on Raw from his back. Orton says that is why he likes Sheamus because he always has an answer for everything. Orton then says that what will be interesting is that in 2 weeks at the Royal Rumble, Orton needs this win & he’s gonna get it. While Sheamus might have an answer for everything Orton assures Sheamus that he will have no answer for him. This was a good bit. I thought the tension between the 2 here was well done. I still say they should team up with Ryback and face The Shield in a war games Elimination Chamber match, Sheamus & Orton can have more dissention and that can build to their match at WrestleMania.

World Champion Alberto Del Rio & Sheamus vs. Big Show & Dolph Ziggler. Del Rio & Sheamus win by count out when Big Show walked to the back after Del Rio dumped a bucket of water on him. This match was solid too. Also During the match Sheamus & Langston faced off outside the ring. The referee went out to the floor & kicked Langston out of ringside. Then AJ flipped, got in the ring & the referee kicked her out too. Afterwards the Fiesta continues as red, white & green balloons come down from the ceiling while Sheamus & Del Rio pose on the turnbuckles to end the show.

I thought this was a decent bag show overall. The Fiesta that started the show was idiotic and was the predictable “Segment to start the show that sets up a tag match” bit. Del Rio & Sheamus vs. Big Show & Dolph was solid though. Kofi-Cesaro was also a solid match and I was impressed with the finish. The Shield video was really good too. Lets hop WWE can keep their momentum going. The Sheamus-Orton bit backstage was good too. I liked how they began building the tension between the 2 for their match at WrestleMania. The Kaitlyn-Layla-Alicia-Booker-Long bit was pointless. They might turn Layla heel since she was holding the belt for a bit. The 6 man tag was good too. The group hug attempt from Kane & Daniel to Orton was comical. I liked Orton’s reaction. Kaitlyn-Aksana wasn’t much but it was ok. Khali-Tensai was lousy. Natalya should be booked in a better spot than where she is. The Miz backstage with Primo, Epico & Rosa was pointless. The Miz-Primo match was solid but I’m really hoping that they don’t turn Miz into Flair, Jr. like TNA did with AJ Styles. The Mick Foley video package was really well done too. So on the whole I thought this was a decent show this week.