By Chris Shore

Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 5/17/11 in Corpus Christie, Texas.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Josh Matthews, Michael Cole and Booker T welcomed us to Smackdown. Christian's music hit and he came to the ring for a match. Sheamus was out next. They did the old school promo cut in with Sheamus who said Christian was on his way down while the Celtic Warrior was on his way up…

1. Christian defeated Sheamus in 12:45. Christian hit his punch through the ropes to a great crowd response early. Sheamus had a few bouts of offense, but Christian controlled early until Sheamus knocked him off the top rope to the floor…[C]

Back from commercial, Sheamus worked ground and pound on Christian while the announcers bickered. Christian reversed a lift into his reverse DDT for a near fall. Sheamus hit a brutal clothesline and his backbreaker for two. Christian came back with a tornado DDT for two.

[Q2] Sheamus hit a slingshot shoulder block for two and setup for the Irish Cross. Christian slid out of the lift and hooked an inside cradle for the surprise victory.

Post-match, Mark Henry ran out and attacked Christian. Sheamus jumped in and they mauled Christian. Randy Orton walked onto the stage and watched for about 15 seconds before running to the ring and making the save. He helped Christian to his feet and Christian thanked him for helping…[C]

Shore's Slant: Solid opening match. Christian and Sheamus could be a good feud if they decide not to turn him, but I still think they will. On a side note, does anybody else find it odd that Smackdown opened with a big name match the week "Wrestling Matters" billboards showed up in Stamford? (h/t Jake Barnett for pointing it out to me.)

A video recapped the current feud between John Cena and The Miz. The announce team ran down the current Over the Limit card. They also announced that Brie Bella would defend the Diva's title against Kelly Kelly.

[Q3] Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed the Bellas. He showed footage of Kharma killing Nicki on Raw and then messing with Kelly. The Bellas bickered for a moment and then Nicki admitted she would have left Brie behind too…[C]

2. Brie Bella (w/Nicki) defeated Natalya at 3:01. Natalya showed why she should be wrestling Kharma soon and put on a clinic. The ref yelled at Natty for not breaking in the rope and Brie dirty kicked the knee. She hit a face crusher for the win…The announce team hyped hearing from Ezekiel Jackson next…[C]

Shore's Slant: Not a terrible match, but Natty did most of the heavy lifting. Check that, all of the heavy lifting. So I guess I can say Brie can take a good bump. I guess we get the title change so Kharma can mess with Kelly. Or Kharma helps her win. Or what, exactly? I'm intrigued.

[Q4] Back from commercial, Zeke made his ring entrance and Cole hyped his title match at OTL. Zeke cut a promo about how he knew the first night they were on Smackdown that the Corren needed him more than he needed them. He said he's taken a beating and said he could not be broken. He said he would not rest until they had all suffered.

He said "It is written in the Book of Ezekiel," that Barrett's title match would end because he was the personification of domination. Corre ran out and surrounded the ring. Before they could do anything, Teddy Long's music hit and said it wasn't going down like this tonight. He said he was making a six man match. He introduced Zeke's partners, Big Show and Kane…

3. Ezekiel Jackson, Big Show, and Kane defeated The Corre in 12:15. Gabriel and Show started, but Kane tagged in quickly. He beat up Gabriel, and then beat up Slater. Slater tagged Barrett and Zeke begged to be tagged in. Kane did and Zeke clotheslined Barrett over the top to a huge pop…[C]

Back from commercial, Kane and Show beat up Gabriel. Zeke tagged in and Gabriel kicked him in the knee and tagged Barrett. Barrett attacked, but Zeke just shoved him off. Kane tagged in and got blindsided by Gabriel for the heels to take control.

[Q5] Zeke made the hot tag and took Gabriel apart. The Corre ran in and Show and Kane made a double chokeslam on them. Zeke put Gabriel in the torture rack for the win…

Backstage, Matt Striker interviewed Christian. He asked him about Orton earlier and Christian said he appreciated the help, but Orton sure did take his time. They replayed the video from earlier and Christian said he wasn't mad at Orton, and he hoped Orton wouldn't be mad at him when he beat him for the title…[C]

Shore's Slant: An OK match. Zeke got over on Barrett a little too much for my liking, unless they are actually going to let Barrett beat him. I can’t imagine that's the plan. What a huge mistake that would be at this point. Now you've marginalized everybody.

Chavo came to the ring and cut a promo on Sin Cara. He said Cara disrespected him last week because he was mad he couldn’t beat Daniel Bryan. He said he was going to beat Daniel Bryan in five minutes tonight and Sin Cara in less time on Sunday. Bryan made his ring entrance…

4. Chavo Guerrero failed to defeat Daniel Bryan in 5:00. Chavo went right at Bryan, but Bryan reversed everything and mat wrestled. He whipped Chavo and charged and Chavo hit a kick to take control. Chavo worked a Camel Clutch that Bryan reversed into a roll up. Bryan hit his series of kicks for a near fall, but Chavo shoved him into the buckle.

[Q6] Chavo lifted Bryan, but Bryan escaped into a LaBell Lock attempt. Chavo made the ropes and caused the break. Bryan kicked Chavo to the floor and hit a dive. He rolled him in the ring, but missed the missile dropkick. Chavo hit three amigos and the frog splash with five seconds left, but Bryan kicked out.

Post-match, Chavo grabbed Bryan and threw him into the post. Sin Cara's music hit and he did his trampoline entrance in the new Sin Cara shirt. He ducked a Chavo clothesline and hit a flying head scissor that spilled Chavo to the floor…[C]

Shore's Slant: Fun match between two guys that can work. You know, if Vince would through us rasslin fans a bone once or twice a year and put two guys like Chavo and Bryan in a feud for three weeks and a PPV, I bet we wouldn't complain nearly as much. Just show us you still remember us Vince, that’s all.

Back from commercial, Ted DiBiase's music hit and he and Cody Rhodes came out with the bag guys. He cut his bag promo and handed one to DiBiase. DiBiase put it on and asked Ted his name. Ted said, "Corpus Christie" in a Mexican accent. He said he wore it because he was hideous.

Cody played the pun for a while and then said the only reason a man would wear a bag on his head was if he was a blooming flower and had become a wilted shrub. DiBiase tookt he mask off and asked for his opponent…

5. Ted DiBiase (w/Cody Rhodes) defeated Trent Baretta at 1:22. Ted squashed Baretta and won with Dream Street. Cody handed him a mask and DiBiase put it on Baretta…[C]

Shore's Slant: Cody's act isn't getting any more over. Damn. I'm glad things are turning around for DiBiase, but Cody doesn't need this to cool him off. I'm interested to see where this goes, but Cody needs some gas on his fire soon. Like next week soon.

Back from commercial, Striker hyped hearing from Orton after the next match…Great Khali made his ring entrance alone. A video recapped Jinder Mahal bitch slapping Khali last week. Jimmy Uso was already in the ring…

6. Great Khali defeated Jimmy Uso at 2:05. Khali tossed Jimmy around and then played to the fans. Jimmy hit a drop kick, but Khali shoved him down. Jinder Mahal walked out with a mic and started yelling at Khali. Khali climbed out of the ring and they stood face to face. Jinder yelled some more stuff and slapped Khali again.

Khali got back in the ring and killed Jimmy Uso with a head chop. He hit the Punjabi Plunge for the win. Post-match, Runjin Singh ran out and tried to talk to Khali, but Khali hit the chop on him too. Jinder smiled crazily and backed away…

Backstage, Striker interviewed Orton. He asked Orton about the match on Sunday with Christian being 100 percent. Orton put over his match with Henry first and then said that it was impossible for Christian to be 100 percent, but maybe 99 is good enough. It just wasn't good enough to beat him…[C]

Shore's Slant: I'm not sure Khali turning heel is the right way to go here, but I'll wait to see how it plays out. And is Randy orton doing the best mic work of his career since coming to Smackdown? I think he might be.

[Q7] 7. Randy Orton defeated Mark Henry by disqualification in 9:45. Henry took early control and stood on Orton's chest. He tossed Orton to the floor and followed. He rolled Orton in the ring and got dropkicked to the floor for his trouble…[C]

Back from commercial, Henry hit a shoulder block to retake control. He hit a power slam for a near fall, and then just clubbed Orton while yelling at him. Orton came powering back and hit his backbreaker and called for the RKO. Henry slid to the apron and Orton grabbed him and setup for the DDT, but Sheamus ran in and caused the DQ.

Post-match Sheamus and Henry beat up Orton and Christian came to the stage. He waited like Orton, only longer, and then finally made the save. Orton shoved Christian for not coming out earlier and Christian looked at him all confused.

Sheamus ran in and attacked Christian. Henry was late getting in the ring so Orton had to stand there and watch for a second. Christian took out Sheamus, then made the save so Orton could hit an RKO on Henry. They shook hands and Orton said thank you to close the show…

Shore's Slant: Not a bad way to close the go-home show. This match is the only match on the show that really interests me at this point, and it's not had enough time to simmer to completion yet. I'll have more to say tomorrow on the hitlist and the All Access Smackdown audio review. Thanks for reading and I will see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @the_shore_slant with whatever is on your mind.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: