10/31 Powell's WWE Main Event live coverage: Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Sin Cara vs. Alberto Del Rio and The Prime Time Players

By Jason Powell

WWE Main Event on ION Network
Taped on Tuesday in Fayetteville, N.C.

[Q1] The opening video played... Michael Cole and JBL checked in on commentary and addressed the Brad Maddox situation. Video footage was shown of the Hell in a Cell incident. Cole stated that Maddox has been suspended and will be questioned by a board of inquiry at WWE Headquarters on Thursday. JBL mentioned the possibility of Maddox roll over on C.M. Punk...

Highlights aired from last week of the angle that set up the six-man tag main event... Ricardo Rodriguez introduced Alberto Del Rio. A video profiled Del Rio. The Players were introduced next. Rey Mysterio was the first man out for the babyface team. Orton was out last... [C]

Powell's POV: It would have been beneficial to have videos profile The Players to help establish their personas and even Sin Cara to establish his background. Then again, I don't know if they've settled in on what the personas of the Players are.

1. Randy Orton, Sin Cara, and Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) and The Prime Time Players. Mysterio and Darren Young started the match.

[Q2] Orton checked in and Young eventually tagged in Titus O'Neil. The Players took turns working over Orton in their corner. Del Rio tagged into the match and had a staredown with Orton heading into the break. [C] After the break, Orton was just tagging out, so there was no immediate followup to him and Del Rio.

Mysterio and Young had a good exchange. Mysterio got most of the offense, but Young caught him trying to springboard and knocked him to ringside. Del Rio and O'Neil walked toward Mysterio, but Orton and Sin Cara were there to scare them off. [C] After the break, the heels worked over Mysterio.

[Q3] The production team focussed on Orton waiting for the hot tag as the heels continued to take turns working over Mysterio. Rey eventually made the hot tag to Orton, who worked over all three heels with his standard offense. Orton hit the hangup DDT on Del Rio.

Mysterio tagged in and hit 619 on Del Rio, then Orton followed up with the RKO. Orton covered Del Rio and got the clean pin...

Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Sin Cara defeated Alberto Del Rio and The Prime Time Players in 22:00.

After the match, Matt Striker interviewed Orton, Mysterio, and Sin Cara. Mysterio spoke first. Sin Cara spoke in Spanish. Mysterio interpreted, noting that Sin Cara said he and Mysterio are teaming up to become tag champions. Orton said there is only one Apex Predator... [C]

Powell's POV: A good six-man tag match. They did a good job of keeping the energy level up. Orton and Mysterio did the majority of the work for their team. I'm surprised they had Del Rio take the pin. I assume this is their way of officially blowing off the Orton vs. Del Rio program.

A graphic boasted that Smackdown was the most socially active show on television on Friday...

Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed the Prime Time Players. Young said the team may have lost, but the Players did not. O'Neil said they are the top team in WWE and they will be the WWE Tag Champions at WrestleMania 29. After the Players walked off, Del Rio stormed the set and pushed Mathews out of the way. He told Orton it's not over yet and he better watch his back on Smackdown...

Powell's POV: I guess I spoke to soon regarding the Orton vs. Del Rio blowoff. Meanwhile, I liked the promo by the Players. It was hardly groundbreaking material, but they played it straight and left out the seal barking and millions of dollars dancing. It's nice to hear both of the teams that appeared on the show tonight express their desire to win the WWE Tag Titles. We need more of that on Raw.

The announcers set up footage of the John Cena, A.J., Vickie Guerrero, and Dolph Ziggler drama from Raw...

[Q4] Cole said Vickie has more evidence that will prove Cena and A.J. had an affair in the form of hotel security camera footage... Ring introductions took place for Wade Barrett vs. Tyson Kidd...

Powell's POV: I hope the security footage ends with Bubba the Love Sponge telling A.J. that they can retire if they ever decide to sell the video.

2. Wade Barrett vs. Tyson Kidd. The match was joined in progress after the commercial break. The announcers spoke about Barrett's father and Kidd's background in the Dungeon. Barrett controlled the offense early, but Kidd came back with a kick. "Barrett is hurt," Cole said in a good call. Barrett cut him off quickly with a side slam.

Kidd came back and got a two count. Barrett charged at Kidd only to tumble over the ropes. Kidd caught Barrett with a kick from the ring apron. Kidd set up for an apparent suicide dive, but Barrett dropped him with shot from the floor. Barrett finished him off with his finisher...

Wade Barrett defeated Tyson Kidd in 3:35 (of televised match time).

After the match, Barrett gloated about his win and received the What? treatment from the crowd. He said he would be champion if he had received the title match instead of Big Show. Sheamus came out. He said there's a misconception that the English and the Irish don't get along. He said some of his best friends are English, but he doesn't like Barrett.

Sheamus said he wants to put Barrett in his place and challenged him to a match on next week's Main Event. "I say it's time to fight," Sheamus said. Barrett thanked Sheamus for his comment about the English. "That got me right there," he cracked while pointing at his heart. Barrett pointed out they will be in England next week. "And I don't lose in England," he said. Sheamus said there's a first time for everything.

Sheamus said he didn't want to wait until next week when they could have some fun tonight. Sheamus charged the ring. He went for a Brogue Kick, but Barrett escaped...

Powell's POV: I liked Cole's call of Kidd's offensive flurry and how he spoke about how Barrett seemed hurt. As much as we talk about how wrestlers should be inspired by MMA, pro wrestlers announcers should be as well. Good setup for next week's show via Sheamus and Barrett. The inclusion of the fact that they will be in England and the potential advantage it could give to Barrett was a nice touch. Overall, a quality show with good hype for next week. I wish they could do the same one week build for Raw matches.