By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on Syfy
Taped 1/3/12 in Little Rock, Ark.

[Q1] The show kicked off with a recap of Randy Orton and Wade Barrett in the main event of last week's show, where Orton ended up getting tossed down a flight of stairs. The normal theme then played.

Booker T was announced right away once the show got into the arena. He was followed by Cody Rhodes, who got booed heavily.

1. Cody Rhodes defeated Booker T at 12:36. Both men danced in the middle of the ring for a moment, until Booker took control with knees in the corner. Booker then hit a hard clothesline and covered for a near fall. Cody slipped a punch and hit some strikes of his own, followed by a hard toss into the corner. Cody worked over Booker's arm with an arm bar and hammerlock. Both men then got into a chop war, with Booker getting the upper hand. He then hit a flying forearm and a kick to the face.

Booker hit another series of chops and attempted to send Cody over the top, but he saved himself and got back to the apron. Booker then knocked him to the floor with a forearm and followed to the outside. Cody recovered and tossed Booker into the guard rail, followed by a running kick to the ribs...[c]

Booker hit a back slide for a two count as we got back for a near fall. Cody got back to his feet but ate another kick from Booker for another two count. Booker threw Cody into the corner, but Cody hit a back elbow followed by a moonsault from the top for a two count. Cody took control and stomped Booker in the corner. He then locked in a hammerlock. Booker hit another flying forearm and got a quick pin attempt for a two count.

[Q2] Booker then went for the scissor kick and the book end, but Cody avoided both. He was then able to hit a scissor kick, but Cody kicked out at the last possible second in a good near fall. Booker went for another scissor kick but Cody easily avoided. Cody then hit a beautiful disaster kick for a clean pin victory...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Good match for these two guys, and much better than their match two weeks ago on Raw. Booker looked he was a little gassed towards the end of the match, but it could have just been a communication issue in the ring. Either way, I liked the match and the finish, and I hope this is the start of a Booker character change on commentary.

Cole mocked Booker's defeat in the booth as the show got back, and backstage Dustin congratulated Cody on his victory. Cody told him that there is a reason they don't speak, and if he was thinking of putting the paint back on and making another run, he should reconsider. He said he was better than Dustin, and maybe even better than his Dad. He told Dustin he's a joke, but not a laughing stock....yet.

Teddy Long was backstage with Zack Ryder, who told him he could no longer be his assistant, but he had a replacement. Drew McIntyre walked up, but was initially ignored. Zack Ryder introduced Santino as his recommendation for Teddy's new assistant. Santino reminded Teddy about what he said about Drew McIntyre last week, and then Teddy made a match between Drew and Santino. If Drew wins he isn't fired, and if Santino wins he's Teddy's new assistant. Aksana then walked up and flirted with Teddy, and Santino crapped his pants about how hot she was before he walked off...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Cody did really well in his backstage promo, but the rest of that segment was a throwaway.

[Q3] A video recap aired of the Royal Rumble from 2008 with Cody Rhodes winning. Backstage, AJ and Alicia were talking about Daniel Bryan as AJ's boyfriend when he walked up. He acted like he wasn't concerned about his match, and kissed AJ on the forehead.

Lilian announced an over the top battle royal, and Hornswoggle came out first. Next was Heath Slater.

2. Hornswoggle defeated Heath Slater in an over the top rope challenge at 1:24. Hornswoggle stepped on Slater's feet, and then I think bit him. I couldn't quite tell. Slater took control and tossed Hornswoggle down and stepped on him in the corner. He propped up Hornswoggle on the second rope, and Hornswoggle jumped off for a splash. Slater caught him to dump him over the top, but Horswoggle grabbed his hair and pulled him over for the win.

After the match, Slater assaulted Hornswoggle, but Justin Gabriel made the save. He hit the 450 on Slater and the camera caught it from a great angle.

Barnett's Brief: The 450 was the best part of that whole thing.

[Q4] Ted Dibiase made his way out for a match. He got a decent ovation, and looked to have new ring gear. Camacho drive out Hunico on his low rider bike. Hunico said he heard he likes to have fun with his posse, and wondered why they haven't been invited. They then asked if they weren't good enough for him, and told him they'd have to crash his party.

3. Hunico defeated Ted Dibiase at 3:05 Hunico went for a hurricanrana early, but Dibiase pancaked him for it. Hunico recovered and tossed Dibiase into the turnbuckle shoulder first and then worked over the arm of Dibiase. He then locked in a fujiwara armbar, but Dibiase powered out a moment later. Dibaise came back with a dropkick and atomic drop, followed by a flying knee and a big clothesline for two.

Dibiase went for Dreamstreet, but Hunico hit an arm breaker and avoided. He then locked in a submission/pinning combo for the win that I haven't seen before. Looked very cool. Hunico rode out of the arena on the bicycle.

Barnett's Brief: Well, the tongan Camacho is speaking with a Mexican accent, which means this gimmick just went full retard. Hunico continues to look awesome in the ring but he's saddled with some real BS from a character standpoint right now.

Wade Barrett entered the arena to a chorus of boos. He grabbed a mic and said he told the doctors not to come down to the ring because he could handle the medical update. He then introduced the tron clip again with the elevator cam and the stairwell spots. He said Orton's injury was the result of a falls count anywhere match, and had a herniated disc. He said he would never be the same psychologically, even if he doesn't come back, and called him another victim of the Barrett Barrage.

Wade then said he was going to win the Royal Rumble in Orton's home town while he watched from the crowd. He said no other superstar had the ability to stop him, and that's when Sheamus interrupted. Sheamus said “what's the crack, fella?” and compared Barrett to his Uncle Wilford. He said all of his Uncle's stories were fantasies, just like Barrett. He said he would be Barrett's biggest problem at the Rumble, and asked him what his excuse was for acting like a Horse's Arse. He mentioned some stuff about his Uncle in there, but it didn't matter.

[Q5] Jinder Mahal then walked out and slapped Sheamus, and then both he and Barrett double teamed Barrett for a moment until he beat the crap out of both of them. He hit slams on both men, and then went for the Celtic Cross on Barrett, but Mahal interrupted it. The numbers finally got to him and Barrett hit a Bossman Slam he calls the “Winds of Change”. Barrett then left the ring, and Mahal locked in the Camel Clutch for a moment, but nobody cared.

Barnett's Brief: Sheamus is mega over, but his stories about his crazy family aren't helping him in my eyes. They just make him sound like he doesn't take anything seriously. Mahal gets NO reaction from anybody in the crowd.

The announce team went over Daniel Bryan's title win at TLC last month in a video clip, and showed a tale of the tape, which showed Big Show having a 230lb weight advantage...[c]

Santino power walked his way to the ring, followed by McIntrye, who looked like he just smelled a fart.

4. Santino defeated Drew McIntyre at 2:38. McIntyre pushed and shoved Santino around. Drew threw Santino into the corner, and kicked Santino in the chest as he tried to leap frog. He then covered for two. Drew continued to work over Santino with kick and punches. He went for the future shock DDT, but Santino reversed and went for a pinfall for a two count. Drew then set Santino on the top turnbuckle, but Santino slipped out to the apron and McIntyre hit his head on the post. Santino then went for the Cobra, and got the pinfall.

Barnett's Brief: Well, that was what it was. Santino is entertaining, and I have a feeling McIntyre is going to snap here any time now.

Cole showed a WWE 12 video clip that had him tapping out Daniel Bryan. He then postulated that if he could do it Big Show would do it in 8 seconds...[c]

Primo and Epico were in the ring with a hooker, er, Rosa. Rosa had a cut in video in Spanish where she took credit for making her boys a good tag team. Air Boom was out next...

5. Epico and Primo (w/Rosa Mendez) vs. Air Boom. Epico and Bourne started. The pace started ridiculously fast and never let up. The finish came when Rosa prevented Kofi from hitting a dive on Epico. Epico grabbed Kofi and dragged him to the floor, hard. Bourne hit his knee lift on Primo and went for Air Bourne, but Epico pulled Primo out of the way. Primo covered on the missed move for the win...

Backstage, Matt Striker interviewed Big Show. Show was all jovial and said he was excited about facing Bryan. He called Bryan a good wrestler and Bryan walked up and said he was a good wrestler, and one day he would be great. He said he had to work to get where he was because he wasn't a genetic freak like Show. He said if he had Show's size and his own skill, he wouldn't have had a nine year title drought or the shortest reign in history.

Cole showed a WWE 12 video clip that had him tapping out Daniel Bryan. He then postulated that if he could do it Big Show would do it in 8 seconds...[c]

Barnett's Brief Good stuff from Bryan and Show. I'm really liking their dynamic now. The tag match featured great action, but Rosa Mendes continues to be the only thing anyone is paying attention to.

[Q7] The announce team plugged a Jinder Mahal and Sheamus match for next week. Natayla was in the ring. They showed a brief video about Natalya's father Jim Neidhart. Tamina then made her entrance, and they aired a video on Jimmy Snuka.

6. Tamina defeated Natalya at 1:38. Natalya tacked Tamina and hit some punches. She then went for a sharpshooter attempt, but Tamina fought out. Both women hit the ropes, and Tamina hit an ugly looking cross body that looked like a nasty collision. Tamina picked up Natalya and hit a Samoan drop, which Natalya sold like she was dead. Tamina then climbed the top ropes, and hit a Superfly Splash for the 3 count.

Barnett's Brief: I'm not sure what's going on with Natalya, but she's been getting the crap beat out of her for about 3 months now. I don't know why she's fallen down the card, but it bums me out, as she's one of the most talented female wrestlers on the roster. Tamina looked really sloppy here.

After the match, the announce team aired a video package that showed the conclusion of this week's Raw Show. They showed Kane attempt to pull Ryder under the ring, and Cena as he made the save.

Backstage, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan was shown walking toward the ring...[c]

[Q8] A video package aired of the 1988 Royal Rumble, with Jim Duggan picking up the victory.

Mark Henry's music hit and he made his way out to the announce booth. Big Show made his way out next to a nice pop. Bryan made his way out last, and got a good reaction as well.

7. Daniel Bryan defeated Big Show by DQ at 10:08 Henry belittled both Cole and Mathews on commentary. Show tossed Bryan around, and picked him up by the head and slammed him to the mat. Bryan the rolled to the outside...[c]

Bryan got tossed out of the ring again, but he outsmarted the Big Show and hit a drop kick and flying knee on the outside. Show was slow to recover, but avoided the count out. Bryan hit a low dropkick and some kicks to Big Show while he was on one knee. Byran made a cover but Show power kicked out. Bryan hit a dropkick from the top rope, and got a cover for another power kick out that sent him to the outside. Bryan got picked up by his head and pulled up on the apron, but hung Big Show on the top rope. Bryan went for another top rope drop kick, but Big Show moved. Show hit a spear a moment later, but Bryan kicked out. Bryan looked to have a busted mouth.

Show picked up Bryan, but he reversed into a Guillotine choke. Show slipped out a bit, and then Bryan transitioned into the LeBell Lock. Show rolled out of the hold to break it, and went for the WMD. Bryan rolled out of the ring. Bryan confronted Henry in the booth, and Show shoved him to the ground, causing a DQ. Bryan grabbed the belt and celebrated up the ramp like a moron like he did on Monday.

Barnett's Brief: Ok, I'm starting to like what they are doing with Bryan. You can see the heel tendencies boiling to the surface without being so overt as to necessitate a quick turn. Show and Bryan actually put on a very entertaining match, and for once in the last year the announce booth managed not to ruin it. Mark Henry was very good in his role and did Bryan a solid by putting him over as tough on more than one occasion. This was a very entertaining edition of Smackdown. I recommend catching it on DVR or when WWE loads it up online.

Questions, comments, or concerns? Contact me at barnett.jake@gmail.com or on twitter @barnettjake.

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