2-22-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

     Coverage and thoughts on the February 22, 2013 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez coming to the ring. He says last Sunday at the chamber he retained his world title. That means I, we are going to WrestleMania. He also found out that he will defend the title against Jack Swagger. Swagger has a new mission, a new friend & a new attitude. In this new attitude Jack believes he is everything that is right with America & that Del Rio is everything that is wrong with America. Del Rio saw Swagger’s “State of the Union” address and his youtube videos and Swagger says the problem with this country is immigrants. According to Swagger the immigrants are taking jobs and opportunities from people like him. Del Rio says that this country was built by immigrants. Hard working people chasing the American dream (Not Dusty Rhodes). Real people, hard working people trying to provide their families with a better life. That is why America is so great. Then Del Rio says the world title is the result of his hard work and the result of the American dream. Swagger claims to be a real American but as far as Del Rio’s concerned, Swagger’s nothing but a big jackass (So is whoever came up with idiotic angle). Then he says that if the immigrants want handouts, why doesn’t Swagger come on out so that Del Rio can lay his hand out all across Swagger’s face. Then Randy Orton comes out. Orton tells Del Rio that he will do his absolute best to stay calm, cool and collected, but something was taken from him. At the chamber he was very close to having the chance to regain the world title against Del Rio in the main event of WrestleMania (Even though everyone knows the world title match won’t headline the show). That chance was taken from him by Jack Swagger. Part of him respects Swagger for what he did because he would have done the same. Then he says that a bigger part of him wants to take out his aggression on Swagger tonight. Orton knows that it will be Del Rio vs. Swagger at WrestleMania. For tonight however, Orton asks Del Rio to step aside because Swagger’s his and if they have to fight over it then so be it. Then out comes Booker T. He says that this isn’t the way he sees Smackdown happening tonight (Why not, this is how the show starts ever week). Booker has some plans and his plans are to have a champion vs. champion match tonight. The world champion Alberto Del Rio will face IC Champion Wade Barrett. As far as Jack Swagger goes, he will face Randy Orton. Orton’s got his wish tonight. “Now can you dig that sucka!?” This was the same way they start the show every week. This whole “Start the show with a promo and then have Booker T come out and announce a match (Or in this case 2 matches)” is really old. I really wish they’d start the show off with a match.

Damien Sandow comes out for his match with Sheamus. He asks for his music to be silenced. He is about to speak. Tonight the fans will all bare witness to a monumental occasion. The destruction of their false idol Sheamus. He says that Sheamus is a man whose only purpose has been dragging the fans further into the bowels of their own ignorance. Tonight Sheamus’ reign of terror comes to an end. “You’re welcome.”

Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow. Sheamus gets the pin. This was solid.

Time for a video package from the press conference announcing that WrestleMania 30 will be in New Orleans.  

Now it’s time for a video package showing highlights of the Cena, Ryback Sheamus-Shield match from the chamber & the Jericho, Ryback, Sheamus-Shield match from Raw.

They show a video from their APP. Kaitlyn & Layla says they’re ready for their tag match. Layla walks off. Then Kaitlyn bumps into Cody Rhodes. Kaitlyn likes Cody’s mustache. Cody thanks Kaitlyn. Then he says that some women are calling his mustache a “love stache”. Then they walk off in opposite directions. This was pointless.

Divas Champion Kaitlyn & Layla vs. Tamina Snuka & Aksana. Kaitlyn & Layla win when Kaitlyn pins Tamina. This was a typical Divas match. Then Layla holds the Divas title for a bit before the referee gives it to Kaitlyn. As they celebrate Layla still looks at the belt. It looks like they’ll have Layla turn heel and then will get a Kaitlyn-Layla feud.

Time for a look back at the end of Raw.

Backstage Zeb Coulter gives Jack Swagger a pep talk. He says that Swagger beat Orton in the chamber rand he can beat him again. Then they run into Wade Barrett. Barrett’s not one to give out compliments but it’s about time somebody spoke the truth about what’s going on in this country. Barrett’s relishing the prospect of dishing put punishment to one of the main perpetrators tonight. Then Zeb tells Barrett that there’s a misunderstanding. Barrett doesn’t talk like Zeb & isn’t from America. Zeb asks Barrett where he is from. Barrett says he is from England. Then Zeb says that Barrett is the same as Del Rio. Barrett is also part of the problem because he is also stealing a job from an American. Then Zeb says that Del Rio & Barrett should beat each other up tonight & they can send them both back to where they came from. Barrett was going to tell Zeb off but then Swagger says, “We the People.” This was WAY BEYOND STUPID! This southern bigoted American bit so f***ing idiotic! Zeb doesn’t like anyone who isn’t from America and he doesn’t like people who don’t talk like him! Does that mean he really doesn’t like Swagger either since Swagger’s not southern!? This gimmick is just so tasteless!!

Randy Orton vs. Jack Swagger. Swagger gets the pin with his foot on the rope and a bit of assistance from Zeb.  This was a good back and forth match.

They show Brock Lesnar giving Vince an F5. That was followed up with Vince saying that he & Heyman will “fight” this Monday.

Time for the Goldman box. Cody says that he is tired of the criticism over him growing a mustache. What does that say about them and their lack of a life? Obsessing over what’s on his face. Then he says this isn’t just a mustache. It’s what the ladies call a “love stache.”

The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes. Miz wins by submission. This was decent but I don’t get why they had Miz beat Cody cleanly with the figure 4 again! Also the Miz-Cesaro match on Raw was apparently not for the U.S. Title.

World Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a good match too. Swagger & Zeb watched from the entrance ramp. After the match Del Rio & Swagger have a stare down to end the show.

I thought this was mixed bag show overall. The start of the show was the same like it is every week. Del Rio-Barrett was good though. The Z-b-Swagger-Barrett segment backstage was just stupid, but the Orton-Swagger match was good. Miz-Cody was decent but I’m not sure why they had Miz cleanly beat Cody with the figure 4 for again. Sheamus-Sandow was solid and the Divas match was your typical Divas match. I also thought there were too many video packages/recaps of Raw and that dragged the show down a bit for me. So on the whole I thought there were good matches on this show but some the booking was weak.