By Chris Shore

Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 9/27/11 in St Louis, Mo.

[Q1] The opening video aired, and Josh Matthews and Michael Cole welcomed us to Smackdown as Booker T made his entrance. They hyped the Rhodes vs. Sheamus match and the Orton vs. Christian match…Booker T was in the ring and welcomed Mark Henry to the ring.

Booker said he was one of the first to congratulate Henry for his win at Night of Champions. He said after winning the title six times, he knew how difficult it was to do, so he wanted to again congratulate Henry. He stuck his hand out, but Henry just stared at him.

Henry asked Booker if winning the title six times meant he was six times better than Henry. Booker said he meant no insult, and if he wanted to, Henry would know it. Henry said if he put Booker through the announce table, he would know that.

Henry said not only was he going to beat Orton on Sunday, but he was going to induct him into the Hall of Pain. He said he had the heads of Big Show, Kane, and Jerry Lawler at home, and he had a special spot for Orton.

Booker said he wanted to know why Henry wanted to hurt Orton. He said Henry could be a big influence on the WWE Universe. Henry said he wanted Booker to lower his tone. He said he did all the right things for 15 years, and where did it get him? He said it was about domination, and he was going to be the most dominant champion in history.

Booker started to ask Henry what would happen if Orton hit the RKO, but Henry said Orton wasn't going to hit him with anything. He said if Orton could have, he would have done it already and Henry wouldn't be the champion. He said Orton can't beat him, and neither can Khali. He called for Khali to come out and Booker thanked him. He tried to shake hands again, but failed like before. Khali made his entrance while a video showed Henry killing Khali on Raw…

1. Mark Henry defeated Great Khali in 2:30. Khali hit several big chops to start and finally knocked Henry to the floor. Henry drove Khali back into the corner. He beat Khali to the ground and hit two splashes, but Khali kicked out at two. Henry stood Khali, who went for the Punjabi Plunge, but Henry knocked the arms away and hit the world's strongest slam for the victory.

[Q2] Post-match, Henry got the folding chair and set Khali up in the corner. Much to my surprise, no one came out for Khali, and Henry "broke" his leg with the splash onto the chair. The medics attended to Khali as Henry left…[C]

Shore's Slant: Loved it. No, not the match, the opening promo. At some point, you would think I would stop being surprised by Henry. Once again, he delivered a great promo and really made me believe Orton has no chance. That's what the heel is supposed to do. Declare himself the baddest mf'er in the business. Job well done.

Backstage, Khali was being wheeled out on a stretcher. Jinder Mahal ran up and yelled something in Punjabi to Khali and Teddy Long made him leave…

2. Jack Swagger (w/Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero) defeated Evan Bourne (w/Kofi Kingston) at 2:43. Swagger took early control, but Bourne fought back. Vickie distracted the ref, allowing Ziggler to hit a hangman on Bourne. Kofi attacked Ziggler, and the ref dealt with them. Bourne escaped the gut wrench lift and hit a knee to the face. He climbed up for Air Bourne, but Vickie knocked him down. Swagger slapped on the ankle lock for the submission victory…The team announced Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara and wondered which one would show for action next…[C]

Shore's Slant: Ho hum. Looks like Jason is right and this will be a tag match at the PPV. I don't really care. I like the Swaggler situation, but not with Air Boom.

[Q3] 3. Sin Cara (M) squashed Heath Slater at 0:49. Sin Cara won with a top rope senton. Post-match, Sin Cara (H) appeared on the big screen. He took his mask off, revealing a dark version of the mask. He cut a promo and said Sin Cara (M) stole his identity once as Mistico, now he was returning the favor. He said this Sunday, they would decide who should be called Sin Cara. He did the prayer praise and Sin Cara (M) made a throat slashing gesture…[C]

Shore's Slant: Um, OK. So the story is that Mistico took Hunico's gimmick as Mistico? When they don't even have the rights to Mistico? Is this like a worked shoot for the Sin Caras? Oh no.

The announce team setup a video that played on the "Triple H is losing control" story by having Cole point out that the company is out of control and Triple H wasn't there at Smackdown…

[Q4] Backstage, John Laryngitis was talking with the group that wanted to sue Triple H. Ace said he hadn't been able to see Triple H either. David Otunga said he had put something together that he felt would settle the problems. They all agreed to deliver it to Triple H on Monday with Otunga as their rep. Otunga said Ace was a "real company man" and would get it done for them…[C]

Shore's Slant: Good video with Hunter. Terrible segment with Otunga and crew. That part of the storyline is the drizzling shits.

4. Kelly Kelly defeated Natalya at 1:25. Beth Phoenix joined the announce team. Natalya was in control, and then Kelly jumped onto her shoulders and rolled down for a roll-up win. Post-match, Beth attacked and hit the Glam Slam. She had Natty hook on Natty's new submission move and had her hold Kelly there while she cut a promo about beating her at the PPV…Sheamus was shown backstage heading toward the ring…[C]

Shore's Slant: "Kelly Kelly defeated Natalya at 1:25" might be the saddest sentence I have ever written. If Beth doesn't go over Sunday, this program is dead.

[Q5] Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance and cut a promo about the conspiracy against him. He ran down Orton hitting him with the ring bell and nothing happening to Orton, but Cody having to defend his title in a battle royale. He complained about having to face Sheamus again for the title tonight, and then called Sheamus a bar brawling, 272 pound braggart. He said he was defending his championship under protest. Sheamus made his entrance and started to tell the tale of the bar-brawling, 272 pound braggart that beat Cody for his belt, but he said that wasn't Irish folklore…

5. Sheamus defeated Cody Rhodes by disqualification in an Intercontinental Championship match at 11:48. Sheamus powered Cody around to start and hit his clubbing blows on the chest. Sheamus went for the knee lift, and Cody turned his face so the mask took it and Sheamus sold it. Stupid. Cody hit the beautiful disaster kick before the break…[C]

Back from commercial, Cody hit an arm breaker for two. He worked the arm on the apron and slammed it against the post. He tried to throw Sheamus into the post, but Sheamus reversed and drove Cody to the post. Sheamus went on the offense and hit his shoulder tackle from the top for two. Cody ducked a Brogue kick and tried for another beautiful disaster, but Sheamus clubbed him out of the air. Sheamus lifted for the Irish Cross, but Christian ran out and attacked Sheamus for the DQ. He hit the Kill Switch and posed over Sheamus…

Shore's Slant: An OK match, but there was no reason to believe Sheamus was going over there. No drama hurts any match, no matter how good the workers are.

[Q6] 6. Zack Ryder defeated JTG at 2:54. JTG attacked immediately and hit a spinning neck breaker for two. He whipped Ryder to the corner and ran in. Ryder got the feet up and went on the attack. He hit the Broski Boot in the corner for two, and then gave the ref an "Are you serious, bro?" JTG scored a punch and hit the ropes, but Ryder hit the Rough Ryder leg lariat for the win…

Shore's Slant: Woo woo woo, you know it.

Backstage, Johnny Ace was texting and Triple H walked up. Ace said he didn't know Hunter was coming to Smackdown. Hunter said it was terrible being out of the loop, much like when the executive VP of talent relations has secret meetings with talent. Ace said he was just the buffer, the talent came to him to confide in him. He said he was behind Hunter 100 percent. Hunter said loyalty was good, because if someone wasn't loyal, he should just go ahead and wish them the best in their future endeavors. Hunter walked off, and Ace went back to texting…[C]

Shore's Slant: Why in the f*** is Johnny Ace on TV every show? How is this guy getting TV time? Especially when the ratings are down? I'm stunned.

The Hell in a Cell hype video aired, followed by the announce team running down the current card…Backstage, Matt Striker introduced Randy Orton. Orton said Henry claimed he was going to end Orton's career this Sunday. Orton said he has committed some of the most atrocious acts in WWE history and he wasn't scared. He put over what he did to Cody last week and said he had been in the cell three times. Henry has never competed in one. He said something would end this Sunday, but it wouldn’t be his career. It would be Henry's title reign…Christian made his ring entrance…[C]

[Q7] 7. Randy Orton fought Christian to a double countout at . Quick back and forth to start. Christian drove Orton into the ropes and hit his slap after jumping over the top rope. Orton hit a punch and tried for his Thesz press, but Christian reversed into a spine buster for two…[C]

Back from commercial, Christian hit a neck breaker for two. He hit the ropes, and Orton hit his Thesz press. Christian came right back with a straight right hand. Christian hit his pendulum kick in the corner, but Orton came right back with his lifted neck breaker for two. Christian went to the apron and Orton tried for his DDT. Christian escaped and feigned the Sunset flip. Orton went for the RKO, and Christian jumped over him. Orton hit his scoop slam and tried for the RKO, but Christian hit a back suplex instead.

Christian backed into the corner and hit the spear for a great near fall. Orton came right back and kicked Christian. He hit his rope DDT and setup for the RKO. Christian rolled to the floor and ran up the ramp. Orton went and got him and whipped him over the stairs. The ref counted both men out as Orton continued the attack.

Orton cleared the announce table and dragged Christian onto it. Cody Rhodes ran out and Orton jumped off the table onto him. He turned around into a kick from Christian, and then Cody hit the beautiful disaster kick from the apron. Nice. They rolled Orton in the ring and stomped on him.

Sheamus ran out and killed Cody. He chased Christian through the crowd and into the back. Mark Henry's music hit and he came to the ring. Orton attacked him and went for the RKO, but Henry shoved him off and hit the World's Strongest Slam. He started to leave, and then changed his mind. He went for the chair, but stumbled getting back in the ring, and Orton took advantage to hit the RKO. Henry rolled to the floor and stared at Orton to end the show…

Shore's Slant: Fun match, but just like almost every other match, meaningless. I was real suspect about the RKO on Henry from reading the spoilers, but that wasn't too bad. Henry was tangled in the ropes and that gave Orton an opening. And there was a month in-between the world's strongest slam and the RKO so I'm OK with it. You have to give the fans a reason to believe after all.

I'll have more to say tomorrow on the hitlist and member's exclusive audio with Jake Barnett. Thanks for reading along tonight and I will see you then.

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

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