By Chris Shore

Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 10/11/11 in Dallas, Texas.

[Q1] A video recapped Big Show's return last week…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael Cole, Josh Matthews, and Booker T welcomed us to Smackdown. Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis were introduced and came to the stage. Johnny Ace got little reaction, or at least that's what it sounded like on my TV.

They put over Smackdown and Raw as being the number two and one, respectively, longest running shows. They announced the largest battle royal ever with 41 men, and that the winner would get a title match tonight. The Raw wrestlers came out to the Raw music, followed by the Smackdown wrestlers to the Smackdown music. Orton was the last one to the ring.

1. Randy Orton won a 41 man Battle Royal for a title shot in 23:30. Cody Rhodes was the first one eliminated. This stayed a complete mess into the commercial…[C]

Shore's Slant: A couple of guys are getting eliminated, but all undercard guys. This is a terrible idea for TV.

[Q2] It stayed a complete mess into the second commercial…[C] Back at 14:00, there were still about 20 guys left, including Drew McIntyre. That lasted for one more minute. Primo was eliminated a minute later. Really had forgotten both guys were on the roster.

Sheamus took out a wad of guys, including Sin Cara (H) and Sheamus. Punk eliminated Truth, but Miz eliminated Punk. Sheamus hit a brogue kick on Miz and Miz rolled to the floor. Christian eliminated Sheamus somehow and Sheamus chased him to the back. Orton hit RKOs on everybody and eliminated the rest of the guys in the ring. Miz ran in and tried to eliminate Orton, but Orton held on.

[Q3] Both men ended up on the apron and battled. Miz knocked Orton back into the post, but Orton hit an RKO on the apron. Both men fell to the floor, but Miz hit first so Orton won. Post-match, Josh Matthews asked Orton which title he was challenging for. Orton picked Mark Henry and the World Heavyweight Championship…Eve and pissy Kelly Kelly were shown walking backstage…[C]

Shore's Slant: I forgot to hit stop on the timer because this match was about to put me to sleep. That's just terrible TV booking. It's too many guys for the format. Just awful. And why should I believe Orton is going to beat Henry when they spent the open of the show setting up Henry vs. Show? It's like nobody even thinks about it.

The announce team ran down the top ten longest running shows with a graphic to put over Smackdown taking over number two…Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez were walking out when Teddy caught them. He asked Del Rio where they were going and Del Rio said Orton picked Henry so he was out. Teddy said he had to stay because he had to face Sheamus. Del Rio pitched a fit and Teddy left…

2. Beth Phoenix (w/Natalya) defeated Kelly Kelly (w/Eve) at 1:52. Kelly got a great reaction from the crowd. She also attacked Beth to sell her new aggressive style. She went for her handspring elbow in the corner and Beth caught her. Beth dropped her on the turnbuckle and followed with the Glam Slam for the quick win…

Shore's Slant: So why make Beth job to Kelly all those times just so you can have Beth squash Kelly, but only after cheating to win the title? There is no logic to anything they do. None. Especially what they give the Divas.

[Q4][C] Sin Cara's music hit. The camera cut to the back and Hunico was kicking Mistico's ass. A couple of guys ran out and stopped the attack, but Hunico ripped the mask off Mistico. He walked away with the mask and then took his off and replaced it with the blue mask. Justin Gabriel made his entrance, and then Sin Cara (H) made his dark entrance…

3. Sin Cara (H) defeated Justin Gabriel at 1:34. Gabriel got in some offense and then went to the top. Sin Cara knocked his feet off the turnbuckle and followed with the top rope senton for the win…

Backstage, Air Boom was talking with Teddy about Bourne's "injury." Vickie walked up and demanded Air Boom defend their titles tonight. Teddy said no. Ryder walked in and said Swaggler should face Kofi and him tonight. Teddy booked the match and Vickie stormed off…[C]

Shore's Slant: I still don't care about Sin Cara. And Hunico still got cheered. The fans are confused. That's a good way to run a story.

Ricardo Rodriguez introduced Albert Del Rio, who drove an Audi R8. Sheamus was out next…

[Q5] 4. Alberto Del Rio defeated Sheamus at 3:55. Sheamus hit his clubbing blows across the chest early, but Del Rio came back and worked the arm. Sheamus powered back and hit the Irish Curse backbreaker for two. Sheamus went to the top and Ric Rod tried to interfere. Sheamus punched him and Ricardo grabbed the ref. Christian ran out and knocked Sheamus down. Del Rio hit the step-up enziguri and then another kick for the win.

Post-match, Christian slid in the ring and speared Sheamus. Sheamus stood up so Christian hit another. Sheamus staggered to his feet again and Christian looked surprised…A trailer for John Cena on a horse, er, The Reunion played…[C]

Shore's Slant: Is there anything more annoying than using your WWE Champion to get another feud over? I can't think of anything. Meaningless win for Del Rio.

A video recapped Swaggler vs. Air Boom last week. Vickie Guerrero introduced them and they made their ring entrance. Air Boom was out next, followed by Ryder…

[Q6] 5. Zack Ryder and Kofi Kingston (w/Evan Bourne) defeated Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) at 10:06. Ryder and Ziggler started. Ryder took a beating for a minute and got the hot tag to Kofi. Kofi ran in and hit the Boom drop on Ziggler. He called for Trouble in Paradise, but Swagger dragged Ziggler to the floor. Kofi hit a dive on them both…[C]

Back at 5:34, Ziggler worked on Kofi while a video showed Swagger causing Kofi to trip on a springboard attempt. Swagger tagged in, but Kofi hit a big DDT. Both men made tags and Ryder was a house of fire. Ziggler wen for the Rough Ryder, but Ziggler ducked and hooked the sleeper. Ryder drove Ziggler into the post and both men sold. Swagger knocked Kofi to the floor to prevent the tag, but Kofi sneaked in behind the ref as the ref pushed Swagger out and hit the Trouble in Paradise on Ziggler. He dragged Ryder over and the ref counted the pinfall…

Shore's Slant: Good match. It was a little meaningless. Sure, Ryder got the win. But he had to get help from Kofi. It's the second time he has pinned the US Champ, but it sure does feel like Mason Ryan is going to get the shot. Nobody else got anything off this.

[Q7] A video recapped the Raw GM storyline with the first two minutes in the last quarter…[C]

Backstage, Sheamus was pacing and Matt Striker walked up and started asking Sheamus a question about Christian. Sheamus cut him off and started an Irish fairy tale about Sheamus being a troll that got kicked off a bridge by a great white bull. He said he was going to kick Christian's face off his skull…

The video that opened the show aired again…Mark Henry made his ring entrance…[C]

[Q8] Orton made his ring entrance while a video recapped Cody Rhodes attack on Raw…

6. Randy Orton defeated Mark Henry by Disqualification in a World Heavyweight Championship mat at 9:58. Orton went right at Henry, but Henry spilled Orton to the floor and then drove the shoulder into the post. Henry rolled Orton in the ring and worked the arm. Orton tried to fight back, but Henry hit an elbow drop for two…[C]

Back at 7:24, Henry still worked on Orton. He hit a big powerslam for two. He hit a splash for two, and dragged Orton to the corner. He jumped off the second rope, but Orton got the feet up. He went on the attack immediately and hit a drop kick that but Henry on the mat. Cody Rhodes ran out and attacked Orton to cause the DQ. Big Show ran out and made the save. Orton hit an RKO on Rhodes, and Show hit a chokeslam on Henry to close the show…

Shore's Slant: I'm all for a wrestler standing tall at the end and all, but did this really do anything? I mean, do any of you want to see Orton or Show any more than you did before? That's the problem with WWE right now even when thy do something that doesn't suck. Their top guys are so over exposed that nothing they do means anything anymore. It's just the same old, same old. What a mess. I'll have more tomorrow on the hitlist and the member's only audio review. Thanks for watching along tonight.

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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