By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on Syfy
Taped March 1 in Cleveland, Oh.

[Q1] A video recap opened the show that ran down the events of last week. It featured the Vickie Guerrero match that resulted in her being fired, followed by Vickie’s reaction. Josh Mathews hyped the Edge/Alberto Del Rio contract signing for later in the show, and then the regular Smackdown them aired...

Edge’s music played and he appeared on the ramp and headed toward the ring. Michael Cole said that history would be made tonight, and made mention of the return of the Undertaker.

Edge grabbed a mic and said he had a contract signing later tonight for his WrestleMania 27 match with Alberto Del Rio. He said he’s looking forward to getting in the face of Alberto Del Rio, and that he wanted Alberto to see what it takes to main event WrestleMania. He took umbrage with the attack on him by Alberto that ended last weeks show, and was exultant about the firing of Vickie Guerrero.

Drew McIntrye ran down to the ring and attacked Edge, but was quickly dumped to the outside. Teddy Long’s entrance music played, and he said the WWE Universe owed Drew a debt of gratitude for the part he played in Vickie being fired. Edge started a "Thank You Drew Chant" as we headed to commercial.... [C]

1. Edge defeated Drew McIntryre at 5:32 Edge started the match with strikes on Drew in the corner. Drew slammed Edge’s shoulder to the mat and made a cover for a near fall. Drew wrenched on Edge’s shoulder and wrapped it around the middle rope. He then left to the outside and slammed Edge’s shoulder into the apron.  

Drew entered the ring and placed Edge in a shoulder lock on the ground. Edge escaped and hit the ropes, but was caught with a big boot and fell to the outside. Drew followed and slammed Edge’s injured arm into the announce booth, and tossed him back in the ring. He made a cover for a two count. 

Drew peeled off the wrap that was on Edge’s elbow and drove some knees into the elbow on the ground, and then locked in another shoulder lock on the ground. Edge escaped to the outside and was able to hit a back body drop on the floor outside on McIntyre. He then climbed to the top rope and landed a cross body block for a good near fall.  

[Q2] Edge then threw McIntyre off the ropes and surprised him with a spear, but pulled him up before a 3 count could be counted. Edge then locked in the Edgucator submission and McIntyre was forced to tap out.

Barnett’s Brief: This was a good opening segment that followed up logically from the conclusion of last week’s show. McIntyre showed good intensity throughout the match and Edge showed some viciousness in pulling up from the 3 count on the spear and applying the submission. I don’t think McIntyre loses anything in this competitive match with Edge, and Edge sent a good message to his WrestleMania 27 opponent in this very good win.  

Josh Mathews plugged a match between Kane and the Big Show, and Booker hyped the Undertakers return....[C]  

Rey Mysterio’s entrance music played, but Cody Rhodes entered the arena and wore Mysterio’s mask. Rhodes stared at his mirror on the stage and laughed while his music transitioned over Mysterio’s. Cody then made his way to the ring and wore the plastic face mask from last week. A video recap played from last Friday and showed the plot executed on Mysterio last week by Cody and Dusty Rhodes.

After the video played, Cody screamed at the crowd not to look at him. Cody said he’s been disappointed every day when he looks in the mirror. He said his father came to him, and he convinced him to set up Rey Mysterio so he could inflict damage to Rey’s face like he did to him. He described the feeling of rubbing Rey’s face into the steel ramp as great and the right thing to do.  

He said he knew his father was watching, and he said he wasn’t going to let a "sideshow freak" like Rey keep him from being the World Heavyweight Champion. He then challenged him to a match at WrestleMania 27, and promised that he would remove the mask of Mysterio and expose his face on the grandest stage of them all. 

Backstage, The Corre surrounded Kane, and reminded him of the help they gave him in his Buried Alive match with the Undertaker. They then said they could offer him help later tonight. Josh Mathews plugged a Tag Title Rematch as next... [C] 

Barnett’s Brief: This was an above average promo from Rhodes, but I know he is capable of better. He had the intensity that he needed to follow up from last week, but he didn’t really come across as bring comfortable enough on the mic to make the promo flow naturally like the best are able to do. He’s getting there though, and he continues to show great promise in the ring and on the mic. The crowd reaction was hot to start the promo, but seemed to tail off the longer it went.  

[Q3] 2. Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater (w/Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson) defeated Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov to retain the WWE Tag Titles. Santino and Gabriel start the match with a collar and elbow tie up. Santino hip tossed Gabriel a few times and tagged in Kozlov, who hit several knees and a sambo throw. Santino and Kozlov taunted The Corre, who were regrouped on the outside... [C]

Kozlov had Slater in a headlock, and hit a shoulder block as we returned from commercial. Slater took control and tossed Kozlov onto the middle rope and hit some strikes. The ref broke them up and argued with Slater, and Wade Barrett took advantage and hit a huge shot from the outside. Gabriel tagged in and grounded Kozlov with a headlock.  

Kozlov fought to his feet and hit a back suplex to break the hold. Slater tagged in, but was unable to stop Santino from tagging in the other corner. Santino hit a big hip toss followed by a splash for a near count. Santino revved up for the cobra, but was distracted by Barrett and hit the cobra on him instead of Slater. Slater took advantage and hit his reverse DDT for the pinfall. 

Barnett’s Brief: I really don’t get what the WWE is doing with the Tag Titles. There don’t seem to be any long term feuds on the horizon, and all we get each week is a throwaway match that allows The Corre to show off some of their heel tactics. This match was no different.  

The announcers spoke about the return of Christian next week, and showed a video of how Alberto Del Rio put him out. They then showed a video recap of the Elimination Chamber PPV, where Christian made a save for Edge at the end of his match and extracted a measure of revenge from Del Rio.

[Q4] Backstage, Del Rio was having a Painting of him commissioned by an artist. Mathews hyped the return of the Undertaker as next... [C]

Josh Mathews welcomed us back and introduced a video of Triple H’s WrestleMania 27 comments from Monday’s Raw. The promo seemed a bit edited from the version that aired Monday. For more detailed information about this promo, please read Jason Powell or Will Pruett’s coverage of the February 28th WWE Raw.

Back in the arena, Johnny Cash blared and The Undertaker strolled out onto the ramp and toward the ring. The Undertaker stopped at the top of the ring steps and brought up the arena lights with his signature pose. Once in the ring, he stared out at the crowd and took in the applause. He grabbed a mic from the corner and looked over the crowd some more before beginning his speech. He opened by saying the strongest of the strong and the greatest of the great never know when to leave well enough alone.  

He said there are mountains that cannot be climbed, seas that cannot be sailed, and streaks that cannot be broken, and that he heard Triple H’s comments on Raw, and agreed with much of it. He said he has a lot of respect for Triple H, and called him perhaps the greatest champion of the last 15 years.

He said many have wondered what it would take to end the Undertaker forever, all you have to do is end the streak, and its easier said than done. He then said Triple H can put his legacy and career on the line, but he bows down to no man and that at WrestleMania he will find out what 18 other men had already found out.  

[Q5] Taker called himself "The Last Outlaw", and that Triple H will find out what it means to Rest in Peace. The lights dimmed and The Undertaker Exited to "Ain’t No Grave"...

Booker T hyped Big Show vs. Kane as coming up later tonight... [C]

A video aired that announced Sin Cara signing with WWE in Mexico City last Friday. Beth Phoenix and Rosa Mendes made their way to the ring, followed by Laycool. Another video recap aired of last week’s show and chronicled tension between Laycool.  

3. Laycool defeated Rosa Mendes and Beth Phoenix at 2:30 Beth started the match by hitting a slam on McCool and tagged Rosa. Rosa slammed McCool’s leg to the mat, but Michelle escaped and tagged her partner. Layla reversed Rosa and hit some strikes, and tagged McCool back in.  

McCool kicked Rosa a few times, but missed with her bad foot and kicked the ropes. Rosa tagged in Beth, who hit a slam on on Michelle. Michelle escaped and tagged in Layla, who was quickly picked up and slammed. Both teams entered the ring and caused a distraction that allowed McCool to hit Beth with her loaded boot for the pinfall. 

Mathews hyped Big Show vs. Kane as next... [C] 

Barnett’s Brief: Honestly, why should I care about any of the Divas right now? I admire their effort in the ring, but I really wish WWE would put some effort into giving the Divas division a direction. Didn’t WWE sign Awesome Kong a few months ago? Where is she, and why isn’t she destroying the entire divas roster? This division is in bad need of a monster heel to take some of the focus off the played out Laycool act.  

Big Show made his way to the ring to some decent applause. A video recap aired of Big Show’s conflict with The Corre.

[Q6] 4. Big Show defeated Kane by DQ at 1:20 Big Show backed Kane into the corner, but Kane hit an uppercut to back him off. Big Show recovered and set up for a Choke Slam, but Kane countered. Kane and Big Show bounced off the ropes and collided, which  knocked both men down. The Corre walked down to the ring, and Barrett handed Kane a chair and he smashed Big Show across the back causing a DQ.  

The Corre entered and attacked Big Show, but Kane swung the chair at Gabriel and knocked him out.  The Corre scattered and Zeke pulled Gabriel out of the ring and The Corre escaped up the ramp... [C]

Barnett’s Brief: Well, it looks like The Corre is headed to WrestleMania to face a combination of Big Men from Smackdown. Maybe Diesel can save this angle? Who knows. I can’t say this makes me any more excited about WWE’s youth movement, which appears to be set aside for WrestleMania 27.

The video aired where Shawn Michaels spoke about WrestleMania and The Undertaker and Triple H match. It did not appear to be different from the video that aired Monday...

[Q7] Jack Swagger’s music hit and he made his way down to the ring. Video aired from Monday’s raw that showed Jerry Lawler being forced to tap out to Swagger’s ankle lock. Cole climbed into the ring to great heat. He said he’s going to humiliate Lawler at WrestleMania 27...

He invited everyone to join him Monday on Raw, where he promised to introduce his referee for his match with Lawler at Wrestlemania 27. He said he’s "awesome", and one of WWE’s all time greats. He also said that like Lebron, he and Jack Swagger thought Cleveland stinks. The crowed booed loudly as Cole and Swagger taunted them... [C]

5. Jack Swagger defeated JTG at 1:06 The Bell rang as we got back from commercial as Swagger started to beat down JTG. He hit a suplex, followed by two of his leaping corner splashes. He then locked in his Ankle Lock and JTG tapped immediately...

Barnett’s Brief: That was a segment that was more about heat than anything else, and Cole and Swagger delivered in spades. You can say what you want about Cole, but he’s entertaining, and Swagger is actually getting a rub from him. This was a squash for JTG, but who cares? JTG hasn’t meant anything in a long time. Swagger hit all his signature spots, and the crowd booed heartily throughout the whole thing. Well done.  

Swagger and Cole pranced around the ring doing Swaggers pose. The announcers introduced The Rock’s response to John Cena from Monday. This was a great video that edited together the feud so far. This was a very typical WWE video package, which means it was great...

Backstage, Edge ran into the painter with his portrait of Alberto Del Rio. He painted a mustache and comedy eyebrows on it, and kicked the painter to the ground... [C]

[Q8] A video aired that plugged Steve Austin on Raw Monday. Teddy Long announced the contract signing between Alberto Del Rio and Edge. Ricardo Rodriguez was introduced and Del Rio drove into the arena in a Mercedes Convertible. Del Rio slowly made his way to ringside and grabbed a microphone.

He introduced the singing of the Mexican National Anthem, and Ricardo sang it while the crowd booed heartily. Edge interrupted the anthem to great applause and made his way to the ring. Both men stared each other down and showed great intensity. Teddy Long wondered aloud if this would be the first contract signing that didn’t end in violence, and asked both men to be seated.  

They took their seats and a USA chant broke out. Edge said once the contract was signed there is no turning back. Edge boasted about being a 11-time champion, but Del Rio claimed that nobody cared. He said the contract represents the next chapter of the WWE, and his destiny.  

Edge retorted that destiny can change in the blink of an eye. He said his destiny could be defeat, and he would be a flash in the pan. Del Rio laughed, and said once the contract was signed, it was the beginning of the end for Edge. Both men stared and mumbled at each other. 

Edge was the first to grab a pen, and the crowd changed "Let’s go Edge!" Edge said he had the answer to Teddy’s question, and both men began brawling. Edge got the best of Del Rio and hit the Edgecution DDT. Edge backed into the corner for the spear, but Ricardo grabbed his leg and Alberto took charge.  

Del Rio kneeled over Edge and hit some punches, and immediately applied the Cross Arm Breaker. Edge bled from the nose and Del Rio threw him out of the ring and rammed his arm into the barricade at ringside. Ricardo handed Del Rio a chair and he placed Edge’s arm in it.

Christian charged and hit Del Rio from behind, and smashed him into the announce booth. Del Rio escaped into the ring, but Christian tackled him again and hit him with strikes. Del Rio escaped again to the outside, but Christian followed and continued the attack up the ramp. Christian was pulled off by the officials and Christian checked on Edge.  

Mathews exclaimed that there was no turning back on the road to WrestleMania to close the show.....

Barnett’s Brief Wow. This whole segment was hot from start to finish. Del Rio is getting excellent heat as a heel, and Edge is about as over as he’s ever been as a babyface. The promo during the contract signing was well done with both men getting their shots in verbally, and the brawl played out exactly how it should have with Del Rio continuing to get the best of Edge heading into Mania. Christian's return got a great pop from the crowd, and I’m genuinely enthused to see how these three fit together leading into a beyond WrestleMania. For the Del Rio haters out there, I’m not sure how you can complain about his performance the past few weeks.  

Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of wrestling on this show, but there were several hot segments. The open of the show was excellent, as was Undertaker's promo, and the contract signing to close the show. I also like Cody Rhodes promo, but as I said earlier I think he’s capable of much better than what we saw tonight. If WWE can somehow pick up the pace with the mid-card and the Divas, Smackdown should be fun to watch from start to finish for the foreseeable future.

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