WWE Smackdown taping
Buffalo, New York
Report by Dot Net Member Mike Roth

Big Show opened and cut a promo about how he lost the World Hvt. Championship to Daniel Bryan in 45 seconds and then Bryan lost to Sheamus at WrestleMania in 18 seconds. He said that was the turning point in his career and now no one makes fun of him anymore (in reference to his build at Mania with Cody Rhodes).

Randy Orton came out and said that their main event was to become No. 1 contender at Hell in a Cell, then Del Rio interrupted and told them both to go to the back of the line because he was screwed by Booker at Night of Champions. At that point, Orton hit the RKO on Del Rio and left the ring to end the opening segment.

1. Antonio Cesaro defeated Santino to retain the U.S. Championship. Antonio came out solo. Good back and forth contest with Cesaro pinning Santino and retaining (thank god) after The Neutralizer.

2. Beth Phoenix beat Natalya. Beth received a huge hometown pop and she has a Polish eagle and Sabres logo hybrid, and the Sabres "B" shoulder patch on her ring gear. Awesome!  Beth won after a roll-up and the crowd popped huge. Eve came out and suspended Beth indefinitely until the Kaitlyn attack investigation is over.

Beth Phoenix asked Booker backstage why she was suspended. Booker said she wasn't suspended. Eve intervened and said it was Teddy Long's decision to suspend Beth, then Booker told Teddy Long he's got some thinking to do. They showed Miz putting on makeup for a Miz TV segment with Sheamus for later.

3. Wade Barrett beat Zack Ryder. Barrett won with his new finisher.

The Miz came out for Miz TV. Sheamus came out took Miz's mic and turned the tables on Miz and by asking questions.  Miz got the mic back promoted his movie, the book Mick Foley wrote about him, and his SiriusXM show. Dolph and Vickie came out and Dolph guaranteed that after Hell in a cell he will be the World Heavyweight Champion. All three guys eventually started to brawl and ruined the set. Eventually, Sheamus cleared the ring of Ziggler and Miz. Sheamus stood alone at the end.

4. Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes defeated The Uso's. Sandow and Rhodes won after Rhodes scored with the Cross Rhodes. It looks like there's a tournament with tag teams leading up to a title match, so it would appear that Rhodes and Sandow were the first to advance.

5. Ryback beat Tensai. No Sakamoto again tonight. Ryback won with his finisher and got huge pops from the crowd, which surprised my wife and I.

They showed Randy Orton walking to the ring from the back when Alberto Del Rio attacked him. A ref eventually told him to stop. Show made his entrance. Orton's music played and he didn't come out right away. Del Rio came out instead and declared himself in the match instead of Orton. Randy came out behind ADR and beat him up and threw him against the WWE logo.

6. Big Show defeated Randy Orton. Pretty good match with lots of heat on Show. Orton hit an RKO only for Show to kick out. He attempted a punt kick but Show caught him for a chokeslam. Orton kicked out of Show's pin attempt. Show picked him up again hit yet another chokeslam and finally got the pin to become the No. 1 contender.

Show hit his WMD and KO'ed Randy. Show cut a promo about how Sheamus needs to worry about losing his championship and walked away. Del Rio came back out and beat Orton down in and outside the ring. Booker came out with referees to help Orton and that seemed to be the end of the taping. I guess that might be the angle to write Orton off of TV.

Dark Match

1. Sheamus beat Alberto Del Rio to retain the World Hvt. Championship. Sheamus won via the Brouge kick to send everyone home happy. Lilian Garcia said Monday Night Raw is coming to The First Niagara Center on March 4 on the road to WrestleMania. Looks like I'll be at Mania build up show and Mania itself!

Biggest Pops
1. Beth Phoenix
2. Sheamus
3. Randy Orton

Most Heat
1. Big Show
2. ADR
3. Dolph and Vickie

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