1-25-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the January 25, 2013 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Kane & Daniel Bryan coming to the ring. Before they speak they reshow highlights of their “graduation ceremony” and JBL mentioned how everyone around the world hugged. That was lousy. Back to Smackdown, Kane says they’ve come out to address that started this week (hello rumors). That they’ve somehow gone soft because they’ve learned to channel their anger. Daniel then says nothing could be further from the truth. Kane then says that for those who don’t believe them to just watch the Royal Rumble because after they beat Cody & Sandow, and retain the tag titles (Daniel screams yes after both comments) then Kane is going to throw 29 other superstars over the top rope, win the rumble & go on to WrestleMania. Daniel starts to shout yes again but then asks Kane, “What did you just say?” Kane says Daniel heard him and says that he is going to win the rumble match. Then Kane tells Daniel that he has been in 13 rumbles, which is the most ever. In 1 rumble he eliminated 11 guys (That was 2001). He says that’s also the most ever. Then Daniel reminds Kane that he never actually won a rumble. Daniels says that’s exactly what he will do this Sunday. Then Kane says he’s winning the rumble and then Daniel says that he’s winning. They go back about that. Then Big Show’s music & he comes out. He says that no one cares about Kane & Daniel’s plans. They both have 1 in 30 chance of winning the rumble (So do the other 28) while he on the other hand has a 100 % guaranteed chance if regaining the World Title from Del Rio. Big Show tells Kane & Daniel that they only plans that they should be making are retirement plans, because if they consider making a career suicide choice by deciding to face Big Show at WrestleMania…Daniel then cuts Big Show off & remind Big Show that he beat him for the World Title last year. Big Show then says that he’s not having any of Daniel’s crap tonight. Big Show then says that Del Rio stole his World Title. Del Rio snuck into the World Title picture like some creepy crawling nasty little cockroach, scurrying across the boarder. This Sunday Big Show will squish that bug, and if Kane & Daniel don’t get out of his ring right now he will squish both off them. Kane tells Big Show that he & Daniel aren’t a couple of bugs, “Big man.” They’re the tag team champions & they’re not going anywhere. Then Daniel says, “In other words NO!” He shouts no a few times. Then out come Rhodes Scholars. Sandow tells Kane & Daniel that they’re making a critical error, putting the cart before the horse, or in their case before the goat (Can they stop with the goat beard gag?). Sandow then says that they should be more concerned with the tag title match this Sunday. Then Sandow says that just as goliath underestimated David, Kane & Daniel are underestimating Team Rhodes Scholars & he assures them this Sunday at the rumble their destruction of Kane & Daniel will be of Biblical proportions. Cody tells Sandow that he’s wasting his breath. “Look at who we’re talking to. Look who we’re talking in front of (The fans).” Cody says he will put this in a language that all simpletons can understand. Sandow says that’s all the fans. Cody then says that at the rumble he & Damien will take the tag titles. Then Sandow proposes an alliance with Big Show. Big Show isn’t thrilled with that. Then Sandow says that by this time next week all 3 of them will be champions, how about they set an example for the entire WWE by decimating Kane & Daniel, “Post haste.” Then out come Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio stares down Big Show while Kane & Daniel stare down Cody & Sandow. Then of course Booker T comes out. He appreciates them wanting to fight because that’s what they do on Smackdown; they fight (After the long promo to start the show). Then Booker says that tonight’s main event will be Del Rio, Kane & Daniel vs. Big Show, Sandow & Cody in a 6 man tag team elimination match. “Now can you dig that? SUCKA!?” Cody & Sandow exit the ring. Then Big Show goes after Del Rio but Del Rio trips him into the turnbuckle. They stare down Big Show & Del Rio winks at him. Then Big Show leaves the ring and topples over the steel steps. This was the same “Guys come out & cut promos, their rivals come out & Booker sets up a tag match” segment that they start Smackdown with EVERY Night, because that’s what they do on Smackdown. I’m also tired of hearing JBL say they fight on Friday nights & Booker saying it here was stupid. They fight on Friday nights AFTER the weekly long winded promos that start the show every week!

Sheamus vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a good match.

They reshow The Rock-Shield-Punk segment from Monday.

They show CM Punk & Paul Heyman talking backstage.

Natalya vs. Rosa Mendes. Natalya wins by submission. This wasn’t much. Khali, Hornswoggle, Primo & Epico were on commentary. Hornswoggle danced on the announce table. That distracted Rosa and then Natalya rolled her up & got her in the Sharpshooter for the win.

CM Punk & Paul Heyman come to the ring. Punk says that he is so frightened that he can’t sleep. What he’s afraid of is his own potential. 432 days as WWE Champion and everything you see around you. The ring, the Tron, Raw, Smackdown the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania it self. This is all just a surface that Punk has just begun to scratch at and that keeps him up at night, that’s terrifying. 1 thing jeopardizes 432 days of unparalleled brilliance. 1 thing stands in the way. 1 thing can make those 432 days go up in smoke like that. It’s not The Rock. Rock is a man, he is breakable & Punk will break him. What Punk is talking about is The Shield. Because of The Shield’s & their independent actions a stipulation has been put in place that was made official by a letter that was handed down by Vince. Heyman takes out the letter and shows it to the camera. Then Heyman reads the letter, which says, “As per the chairman of WWE if The Shield gets involved in the WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble you CM Punk will be officially stripped of the championship.” Then Punk says that now because of The Shield the toupee wearing promoter, Vince McMahon wants to swoop in & try to do what no man could physically do. Taking what belongs to him, the WWE Title. Then Punk says that take doesn’t really fit the picture. Punk says that Vince is trying to steal the WWE Title from him. It looks like the champ has a problem but he will fix it. Right now he will do what no one in this company has had the stones to do since The Shield debuted. Punk exits the ring & says that he wants The Shield out there right now. Punk gets a chair and says that they should clear the air face to face. Punk’s not leaving till he gets The Shield. He knows they’re out there in their little clubhouse hanging out (That would be Aces & 8s). Punk gets back in the ring & says that he & The Shield will have words & he’s not leaving till they come out. Cue The Shield’s theme music and they come out the crowed like usual. They get on the apron & surround Punk. Punk says that he can only explain himself in the simplest of ways. He never asked The Shield to attack Rock. He never asked them to attack Ryback at TLC. He’s never asked them for anything in his life. He tells The Shield to stay out of his way. Punk says, “You believe in justice is that what you 3 stand for?” Punk says The Shield is there to fight injustice. There would be no greater injustice in WWE history if Punk’s historic title reign ended because of their interference. In 2 days at the rumble Punk faces The Rock & he promises everyone that he will beat The Rock. But it’s not just day 434 of the most historic WWE Title reign in history. It is the biggest victory of Punk’s career. Then Punk tells Ambrose that he will do it by himself. Punk never asked for The Shield’s help because he doesn’t want it, or need it. He is the best in the world. Then Punk says that if justice is what The Shield stands for, if that’s truly what they want, then Punk & The Shield never have to cross paths again. Then The Shield go back over the ring barrier and walk out. Then Punk says, “Now that is how the champ takes care of business!” He doesn’t whine or cry like all the fans. When something gets in Punk’s way he meets it head on. He tackles the problem because he is the best in the world. Punk then says, “The Royal Rumble, 2 days, Sunday, Phoenix, AZ. The Rock, he’s great. He’s good. He’s the great 1, but I’m the best in the world.” Then Punk says that Rock is just like the fans when it comes to the champ. The Rock is like the fans when it comes to the best in the world. Punk says they’re inferior. In 2 days Rock’s inferiority meets true greatness when he steps in the ring with the best in the world & Punk will prove at the rumble that not only is he the greatest WWE Champion of all time but he is the best in the world. Punk says that he is the greatest of all time. Punk grabs the belt and gets on the turnbuckle. Then he holds the belt over his head & shouts that he is the greatest of all time. Cue The Rock’s music & out he comes. Punk is taunting Rock, showing him the belt. Then Rock gets a mic & says that he will put an end to Punk’s garbage right now. The Rock’s gut says Punk’s a liar & Punk is working with The Shield. The Rock’s heart says despite that he just doesn’t give damn. That’s because The Rock’s boot says this Sunday it’s getting shoved straight up Punk’s candy ass. They stare each other down intently as the fans chant Rocky. Rock tells Punk that the walls are closing in because what will happen this Sunday in their match at the rumble Punk will panic & will crack. When that happens Rock will hook Punk for the Rock Bottom. He will launch Punk in the air & when Punk gets there time will stand still. Punk will have 1 thought in his mind. It won’t be that he’s the best in the world. It won’t be that Punk is the greatest of all time. In that very moment Punk’s final thought will be, “It’s over.” Rock promises him, like he promised the world he will become WWE Champion, beat Punk in the middle of the ring 1-2-3. “It’s Over.” Then Rock gets in Punk’s face and says his catchphrase in a really intense way. This was a great promo. Punk was really awesome here as usual. The Rock’s promo was really entertaining. He cut a great intense promo here & I’m looking forward to their match this Sunday.

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre. Orton wins by DQ when Jinder Mahal comes in. Orton gives Jinder an RKO and then gives Drew the 2^nd rope DDT. Then Slater comes in to clothesline Orton but Orton ducks & gives Slater an RKO too. Then he pounds on the mat, waiting for Drew to get up. When he does Orton gives him an RKO also. This wasn’t really much of a match & 3MB got flattened like usual.

Antonio Cesaro is on commentary for the next match up.

The Miz vs. Darren Young. Miz wins by submission with the Figure 4. This was short. Then Cesaro stands on the announce table & waves the U.S. Flag as he & Miz have a stare down.

They finally show the Royal Rumble by the numbers video package.

World Champion Alberto Del Rio and WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show, Damien Sandow & Cody Rhodes. Del Rio is the sole survivor. * Kane pins Sandow * Kane gets counted out after Big Show gives him the WMD on the floor * Daniel got counted out after Big Show gave him the WMD too & Daniel fell to the floor. * Big Show gets counted out * Del Rio pins Cody. This was a solid match. The eliminations were a bit fast & I know most of them were by count out to build to the Del Rio-Big Show last man standing match at the rumble.

Afterwards Big Show (Who was still lying on the floor) comes back in & spears Del Rio. Then he takes Del Rio over to the announce table & gives the champ the WMD. Then he topples the announce table on top of Del Rio & counts to 10 both in English & Spanish. Ricardo & security check on Del Rio to end the show.

I thought this was a decent show overall. The opening segment was the same as every week. The main event match was solid. Punk’s promo was outstanding. Him telling The Shield he doesn’t need their assistance was well done. I liked The Rock’s promo too. He was great here. The matches were ok for the most part. Sheamus-Barrett was good, Natalya-Rosa wasn’t much & the commentary was pointless. Miz-Darren Young was short. Orton-McIntyre was short. Overall I thought this was a decent show. They did a decent job building to the Del Rio- Big Show match at the end & they did a great job with the final build for The Rock-Punk match at the Rumble.