4-12-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

   Coverage and thoughts on the April 12, 2013 episode of Smackdown  

The show starts with Big E Langston coming out. He says, “And now your new World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler.” He does the introduction like Ricardo Rodriguez. Out come Dolph & AJ. Dolph says that ever since he debuted he has been the most physically gifted athlete this business has ever seen & that’s an understatement. People would walk past him backstage & they knew that he was the future of this company (The way he’s been booked you wouldn’t realize it). The World Title proves that the future is now. He knows all the fans feel like they’re a part of this. He heard 80,000 strong chanting his name at WrestleMania in a match that he wasn’t even in. Then the next night on Raw at the IZOD Center that amazingly insane crowed watched him walk down that aisle and make history. The WWE Universe would love to join in on this celebration but the fact of the matter is this title & the moment that made it Dolph’s belongs to 1 person. Dolph Ziggler. He didn’t win this title because of the fans he won it in spite of them. All of his life people have been riding his coat tails & are jealous of him because his girlfriend is hotter or because his teeth are whiter or that he is better than everyone of the fans. But no matter what they will never be him when they look in….Cue Jack Swagger’s music & he & Zeb Coulter come out. Dolph tell Jack & Zeb that this is his scheduled time and asks what they’re doing out there. Zeb says that he & Dolph haven’t been formally introduces. Zeb tells Dolph his name & he wants to congratulate Dolph on his success Monday along with every other real American in the U.S. He’d also like to thank Dolph for being born in Cleveland, OH & being from Hollywood, FL. But beyond that, as far as the world title is concerned everybody in the WWE universe knows who to thank for what Dolph did Monday night. And it’s not Dolph. His name is Jack Swagger. Dolph says this is his scheduled interview time, this is his celebration. Jack had his chance at WrestleMania for the world title & he blew it. So as far as Dolph’s concerned Swagger should to the back of the line. It’s just Dolph’s time. Swagger walks up the steel steps, stands on the apron & stares down Dolph & Big E and then he backs off. Then Zeb says it’s only fitting that for Dolph to show his gratitude is to give Jack what he wants & what he deserves. Zeb warns Dolph that Jack won’t wait very long. They play Swagger’s music and then Ziggler tells music guy to shut it. As Dolph was saying the fans can go back home tonight, load that DVR and rewind it and play it as many times as they want and try and live through him what it was like for 1 second to be the show off but neither one of them will…Cue Alberto Del Rio’s music & he comes out. Dolph figures Del Rio is out there to complain. He asks Del Rio if he wants his rematch. He tells Del Rio to hobble on down to the ring & he will give it to him right now. He dares Del Rio to come to the ring. Del Rio tells Dolph to relax. He’s not out there to complain, he came out to congratulate Dolph. Del Rio knows how it feels to cash it MITB. That was how he won the WWE Title & it feels great. Then he tells Dolph that when his ankle heals & he gets his rematch it will be Dolph who complains & cries about everything. Until then Hasta La Vista baby. Del Rio winks and his music plays. Then Dolph asks for his music to be shut off too. Dolph was this is his night & his celebration. He is sick & tired of being interrupted (I’m tired of this whole segment). Then Dolph says that the next person that feels like they gotta interrupt him or walk through that curtain & show their face they will see why Dolph is the real World Champion (Now he’s using Ric Flair’s line). Dolph waits for a bit. No one come out & Dolph says, “Yeah that’s what I thought.” Then Chris Jericho’s music hits & he comes out. Jericho asks Dolph to shut up. Jericho says that Dolph has been out there talking about being the new World Champion. Jericho congratulates him for that but Dolph has been babbling about how it’s his time, babbling about how good looking he is & babbling about his crazy girlfriend. Then Jericho tries to get the fans to do an AJ’s crazy chant. The fans make noise & AJ flips out and covers her ears. Then Jericho says that Dolph is talking about how he is a show off but Y2J is the original show off. He tells Dolph that it’s time to stop talking (Way past time for everyone to stop talking) & start rocking. Jericho just came from Booker T’s office & he had some very interesting information for Jericho, for Dolph & for all of his Jerichoholics in this arena tonight & also interesting for everyone of Dolph’s “Dolphins” (That was lame). That news being that Dolph’s very first match aw World Champion will be against Y2J & that will be right here tonight. Then he tells Ziggy that when he is finished with this match Dolph will never eeeeeeever be the same again. This was your typical opening segment that went WAY too long!

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. The Primetime Players. Kane & Daniel win when Daniel makes Titus tap. This was a really quick match.

Then The Shield shows up on the Tron. They congratulate the champs on that win. Ambrose says that having that feeling of standing next to Taker must have raised Kane’s spirits. The brothers of destruction back together again. One big happy family. Ambrose hopes that they didn’t mistake The Shield’s tactics for a sign of weakness because only a fool would do that. Ambrose also hopes they don’t think that The Shield is afraid. You gotta have a brain to survive in this world and that’s knowing when & where to strike. The Shield never backed down. Reigns then says that The Shield doesn’t back down & they never run from a fight. Rollins says to believe that & to believe in The Shield. This was a good promo from The Shield.

Santino Marella vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Barrett gets the pin. This was a decent match.

They show the WrestleMania taking over the NY/NJ area video package.

They show Booker T & Teddy Long in the GM office. Booker says that everyone was so emotional. Then the camera pans to Sheamus. Booker asks him what’s up. Sheamus says, “What’s up Book? I don’t know. You tell me.” He asks Booker why he overruled his match with Big Show Monday. Booker says that he was trying to…Sheamus says that Booker then put him in a match with Randy Orton in a match to see who will face Big Show (That was kinda weird). He asks Booker what that was all about. Booker should have known that Big Show would have capitalized on the fact that he & Orton were going to beat lumps out of each other. Booker & Sheamus bicker for a bit and then Randy Orton comes in. He asks whose bright idea it was to have him & Sheamus face each other. Booker’s or Vickie’s? He & Sheamus were in the same ring together but to what end. Booker was going to speak but then Long tells Orton that he will keep it 100 with him “Playa.” Long says that it was Booker’s idea but we all make mistakes so all Long is telling Orton is to not get on him “Dawg.” (Orton wasn’t even speaking to Long)! Then Orton asks how they will make this ok. How will they fix this? They say that Booker needs to make a decision. Then Booker says that Big Show was wrong & Booker will make it right. Booker says that both Orton & Sheamus want Big Show & tonight they both got him. Tonight they will face Big Show in a handicapped match. Then Sheamus says that Booker is finally talking some sense. Orton says the show’s over & walks out. Then Sheamus slaps Booker on the shoulder before leaving. Then Booker glares at Long. This was really stupid. I’m tired of these backstage segments with the GM’s.

Divas Champion Kaitlyn, Naomi & Cameron vs. Tamina Snuka & The Bellas. Tamina & The Bellas win when Nikki pins a Naomi. This was a typical short Divas match.

Triple H is in the ring. He told everyone that the ass kicker is back. He says that he & Brock weren’t going to wrestle or fight. He said they were going to war. They went to war & Paul Heyman can make any excuse…Then 3MB’s music hit & they come out. Heath tells Triple H to shut up & listen up. Apparently around here you have to jump one of the big dogs to get noticed. What bigger dog is there than Triple H? Heath then says if Triple H thinks that the battle with Brock was bad he hasn’t seen anything yet because 3MB is about to rock his face (Good luck with that guys). They surround the ring & Triple H takes his jacket off. Before 3MB can get in the ring we hear The Shield’s music & they come out through the crowed. They hop the guard rail. 3MB’s standing on the apron & The Shield is on the floor. Then The Shield lays out 3MB. Then The Shield gets up on the apron and surrounds Triple H. Before they can do anything Kane’s pyro goes off & he & Daniel Bryan hit the ring. They stare down The Shield & The Shield retreats. This was a solid bit. It was the same bit that they had on Monday except that Triple H was the guy The Shield was stalking. Will they have Taker or Triple H team with Kane & Daniel to face The Shield? Either one would be interesting.

Backstage we go back to Booker & Long. Booker tells him that this is business and then Big Show comes in. Big Show asks what this is all about. Long walks out. Big Show asks why Booker has him in a handicapped match with Orton & Sheamus. Booker says he made this match because Big Show stuck his nose in business that didn’t concern him on Monday (I don’t get this. What business did Big Show stick his nose in)? Big Show says this is so typical. Booker asks him what’s typical. Big Show says it’s typical of the way Booker treats him. He says that Booker is biased towards him. Then Big Show says that how about he messes up all of Booker’s well laid plans & walk right out of the arena. Big Show then mentions that he has an iron clad contract & he doesn’t have to do what Booker tells him. Booker is tired of hearing Big Show talking about walking out & his iron clad contract. Booker tells Big Show that if he wants to walk out then he go ahead. Booker then promises that he will do everything in his power to make sure that Big Show’s iron clad contract is held up in court till it’s rusted & worthless. So if Big Show wants to do that, he can go right ahead. “Can you dig that?” Then Booker says that if Big Show wants to stay then his match is next. This was a bit weak too.

Randy Orton & Sheamus vs. Big Show. Orton & Sheamus win by count out. This was a short match. They knocked Big Show outside the ring and then Big Show walked up the ramp.

We see Orton & Sheamus backstage. Sheamus is glad they got their revenge on Big Show (Even though there was nothing to get revenge on him for). Then Renee Young pops in for a few words. Orton says he will see Sheamus in the trainer’s room. Sheamus tells Orton to take care of his ribs. Then Rene says that Orton & Sheamus were successful in their match with Big Show tonight it took 2 of them to take down the giant. Sheamus says it did take both of them but as far as he’s concerned revenge was pretty sweet tonight. He’s been in WWE for a couple of years now & he’s noticed that it doesn’t matter how big or strong you are. All that matters, and then he pounds on his chest and says, “Is this.” (Meaning the heart). Then Mark Henry storms in & sends Sheamus into a table. Henry taunts him saying, “It doesn’t matter how strong you are?” Referees come in to hold Henry back & Henry says, “That’s what I do!” Henry then walks off & the referees check on Sheamus. This was solid. I liked that they had Mark Henry come in & attack Sheamus.

Kofi Kingston vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Kofi gets the pin. This was a solid match but Cesaro once again loses a non title match.

Time for a look back at the John Cena-Mark Henry segment and then the Ryback attack.

Fandango makes his way to the ring. He will be at ringside for the Jericho-Dolph match.  

Chris Jericho vs. World Champion Dolph Ziggler. Dolph gets the pin. This was solid. Jericho had Dolph locked in the walls but Fandango got on the apron & distracted the referee. Then Big E punched Jericho and then Dolph rolled him up for the pin. Afterwards Jericho clotheslines Ziggler and then stomps on him for a bit but then Big E comes in. Jericho ducks a Big E clothesline & gives Langston an enziguri. Then Fandango jumps on the apron but Jericho goes after him so he jumps down. Then Dolph gives Jericho the Zig Zag. Then Langston gives Jericho the big ending (Which is a really idiotic looking maneuver). Then Dolph stands over Jericho & poses with the title. Then after Dolph, Big E & AJ head to the back Fandango gets in the ring and stomps on Jericho for a bit and then he punches him a few times. Then he gives Jericho a top rope leg drop. Then his chick comes in and gives him the mic and he says his name. His music then plays as he stands over the fallen Jericho to end the show. This was solid too & clearly the Jericho-Fandango feud is continuing and I’m cool with that.

I thought this week’s show was average overall. The opening segment took WAY too long. I thought the Jericho-Dolph match was solid & I liked the post match attack by Fandango too. The backstage bits with Booker T & Teddy Long throughout the night were weak. I’m tired of the Booker T-Teddy Long team. The tag match was really short but I thought the promo from The Shield on the Tron was good. The Triple H-3MB-Shield-Kane-Daniel Bryan segment was good too. Santino-Barrett was decent, the 6 diva tag was your typical divas match and Kofi-Cesaro was solid. I’m not sure why they had 3MB come out during Triple H’s promo but I liked having The Shield come out beat on 3MB. Then hinting they were going to attack Triple H only for Kane & Daniel Bryan to even the odds was well done. I’m guessing they did the same they did Monday but with Triple H in case Taker can’t go. We’ll find out. Maybe Kane, Daniel, Taker & Triple H will be a team but who would be a good fourth guy for The Shield? The handicap match was really short but I liked the backstage part when Sheamus was talking and then Mark Henry stormed in and laid him out. On the whole I thought this was a middle of the road show.