1/27 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett, Big Show vs. Mark Henry, and Sheamus vs. Drew McIntrye highlight the go home for the Royal Rumble


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WWE TV Reports


1/27 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett, Big Show vs. Mark Henry, and Sheamus vs. Drew McIntrye highlight the go home for the Royal Rumble
Jan 27, 2012 - 07:00 PM


By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped 1/24 in Tucson, Ariz.


Special Note: Stay Tuned immediately following the Smackdown broadcast for my WWE Royal Rumble Preview and Predictions article! Chris Shore and I will also be back tomorrow with an All Access Audio Review of the show.

[Q1] A recap video aired that told the of how AJ ended up in the hospital. It also showed Daniel Byran as he berated Big Show after the incident, and focused on the pained look on Big Show's face as AJ was wheeled to the back on a stretcher.

In the arena, Big Show entered to applause. The announce team explained the conflicting opinions on how the incident went down. Big Show opened by saying he was sorry. He said he already explained to AJ in person. He said he told her in person and she forgave him, and he was asking the crowd to do the same, but was having a hard time forgiving himself. He got a bit choked up. He said that incident wasn't isolated, because he has had trouble in his past with knowing his own strength.

He said he thought when he got to WWE he could put the past behind him, but that wasn't the case. He said he loved what he does for all 13 years of his career. He went on to say that after what happened with AJ, he tearfully said he wasn't sure he had the heart to go on with his career. He said he's honored and proud to be in the Triple Threat Match at the Royal Rumble, but said after Sunday he would have to do some soul searching.

As he said that, Daniel Bryan's music hit and he headed toward the ring. Bryan said he sorry wouldn't cut it. He told him he put a 95lb woman in the Hospital. He said he heard about the apology, but said AJ was medicated and doesn't remember him visiting. Bryan said he remembered everything. He said he remembered watching the WWE as a kid, and remembered it being for athletes and not freaks. He told Big Show not to dare bring up Andre the Giant, because he was no Andre.

Byran told the crowd Show had them all fooled. Bryan said Show has no plans to reassess his career, and that his apologies were hollow. He said if Show was serious about his apologies, he wouldn't be out there apologizing, he would just retire. He yelled that he should do the honorable thing and retire because he wasn't a man, he was a monster. Bryan slapped show several times. Show backed him into a corner and yelled that what happened was an accident, and he deserved what will happen to him on Sunday. Show then threw Bryan out of the corner, and Bryan had a shocked look on his face.

Mark Henry entered the arena as Show stared down Bryan on the ground. Henry said he felt compelled to enter amidst the love fest to remind them that it was a triple threat match. He said he didn't care about Show's feelings, or Bryan's Napolean Complex, or some 95lb girl in a training bra. He demanded Bryan look him in face. Henry said he was going to tear his skin off on general principle for weaseling out of their title match last week. Bryan begged off.

Teddy Long then walked out and announced that Smackdown would go in to the Royal Rumble with a bang. He said Randy Orton would take on Wade Barrett. He then said since Bryan had taken on both Big Show and Henry over the past several weeks, it was only fair that Big Show went one on one with Mark Henry. Bryan slithered out of the ring with a smile on his face.

[Q2] A video package then aired that chronicled the history between Orton and Barrett...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Phenomenal opening promo. All three guys hit home runs, especially Mark Henry, who deserves some kind of award for the past 6 months. He's just off the charts awesome as a heel. I still think Bryan goes over on Sunday, but god damn Mark Henry is a beast.

Cody Rhodes made his way out for the opening match. Rhodes cut a split scene promo and said he was granting Justin Gabriel a rematch out of the goodness of his heart, just so that Gabriel could say he faced the guy who would go on to Main Event Wrestlemania. Gabriel entered next.

1. Cody Rhodes defeated Justin Gabriel at 2:25. Gabriel hit a kick and got a 2 count right away. Rhodes got a DDT for a 2 count of his own a few seconds later. Rhodes remained in control with an arm bar until Gabriel reversed out and hit a monkey flip. Cody rolled to the outside, and Gabriel hit a twisting plancha. Gabriel tossed Rhodes back in the ring and hit a spring board splash, and Rhodes rolled through for a 2 count.

Gabriel attempted a springboard moonsault, but Cody avoided it and hit the beautiful disaster kick. He then followed up with CrossRhodes for the win.

Backstage, Santino proposed a loser leave town match where the loser gets blasted into space. He then introduced his new tag team partner “Toshi Yatsu” and their new team “Santoshi”. Drew McIntyre walked up and begged for his job. Teddy said he couldn't get it done last week even after he cheated, and so he was still fired. Drew asked for one more match, and Teddy relented and booked him against Sheamus next...[c]

Barnett's Brief: That was pretty much an enhancement match between Gabriel and Rhodes, which is too bad since they have decent chemistry in the ring together. The backstage stuff was about as cliché as it gets, which is what I guess we can expect from Santino now. Sigh...

Sheamus entered the ring. Drew McIntyre was already in the ring...

[Q3] 2. Sheamus defeated Drew McIntyre at 2:52. Sheamus pummeled McIntyre early. McIntyre got in a big boot, but Sheamus took control again with a Death Valley Driver. McIntyre surged back with a low dropkick and some clotheslines in the corner. He then hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Drew hit a kick to the spine of a seated Sheamus, who then got an irritated look on his face. Sheamus fired himself up and hit a group of clotheslines and a power slam.

McIntyre hit a cheap shot that backed up Sheamus, but he hit the Brogue Kick immediately after for the win.

Barnett's Brief: Well, that was short and sweet. I get the impression they have no idea what they are doing with McIntyre. I have no idea what he seems to be getting punished for.

A video aired that hyped the WWE Championship match at Sunday's PPV...[c]

The Royal Rumble stat package aired, showing all the various crazy numbers that make up Royal Rumble history.

Santino and Yoshi Tatsu made their way out to the ring for a tag match. Epico and Primo followed with Rosa Mendes...[c]

[Q4] 3. Epico and Primo w/Rosa Mendes defeated Yoshi Tatsu and Santino at 2:21. Santino hit a Judo Toss on Primo, and then did a few amateur wrestling floatovers as a joke. He then did his trumpet dance. Yoshi tagged in and hit some chops, but got caught with a boot coming off the ropes. Epico tagged in and hit a butterfly suplex. Yoshi reversed out of a neck breaker into a back slide for two. Santino tagged in a hit a big hip toss and a headbutt for two.

Chaos broke out with Yoshi getting dumped to the outside. Santino hit the Cobra on Primo, but Epico hit a backstabber on Santino and Primo covered for the win.

Mark Henry was shown backstage prepping for his match when Bryan walked up. Bryan attempted to get in Henry's head and convince him that Teddy Long is favoring Big Show and setting him up later tonight on the main event. Bryan said Show hurt AJ and other wrestlers, and Henry should teach him a lesson by hurting him badly. He tried slapping him on the back to wish him luck, but Henry snapped and sent him away.

The announce team plugged Orton vs. Barrett at next...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Well, the tag match was another throwaway, but Bryan and Henry had a compelling backstage segment. Bryan is doing a good job of getting into the head of Show and Henry, and I like the conniving part of his new heel character.

Wade Barrett made his entrance to a chorus of boos. He grabbed a microphone and demanded some decorum from the crowd.

[Q5] He said there is a lot of pageantry and emotion attached to this week's show due to the return of Randy Orton. He said he went on to say that Orton is letting his ego get the best of him, and that he is returning a spiritually broken man. He then said you don't go through what he did and return the same competitor. They then showed a video recap of Orton's injury from a month ago. Barrett made a life alert joke about Orton falling and being unable to get up. He said the voices in his head are telling Orton that Barrett is a vicious competitor.

Orton's music hit and he was shown backstage headed to the ring. Barrett looked worried. Barrett charged him on the ramp and both men headed into the ring. Orton took it to Barrett in the corner and the refs attempted to separate them. Barrett rolled to the outside and Orton pursued and threw him into the ring apron. Orton continued the assault with punches and european uppercuts. Teddy Long appeared on top of the stage and he called other superstars out to keep them apart.

Both men ended up in the ring and Orton speared Barrett. The other wrestlers pulled them apart and Barrett escaped up the ramp. Orton then took turns RKOing Tyler Reks, Heath Slater, The Uso's and Trent Baretta. He then stared blankly at Barrett at the top of the ramp....[c]

Barnett's Brief: That last bit with the RKO's was beyond stupid. Other than that, it wasn't a bad brawl.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan was talking to Kaitlyn. He asked her to talk to Show about really hurting Mark Henry later tonight as a favor. She said she would but wanted to know how he really felt about AJ. He said he wanted to keep his personal life private, and asked her to talk to Show sooner than later.

Hunico and Camacho headed to the ring on the low rider bike. Ted Dibiase then entered with a wrapped up arm.

[Q6] 4. Hunico defeated Ted Dibiase at 1:26. Dibiase got a two count early after a roll up, but Hunico went right to work on his injured arm. He dropped some elbows and worked a submission, but Dibiase powered out. He then hit a clothesline and went for Dreamstreet, but he couldn't lift him due to the wrist injury. Hunico then hit an Angle Slam type maneuver for the win.

After the match, Hunico set up the injured arm on the steps and stomped on it. Dibiase writhed in pain as he was tended to by trainers. Backstage, Aksana was speaking to Teddy Long when Natalya walked up. She demanded a rematch against Tamina, when Aksana insulted her. She said she would beat them both, and Teddy made a match between Natalya and Aksana. Natalya then farted loudly and walked off embarassed. Aksana and Teddy plugged their noses and walked off as well. Santino then walked on scene and choked...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Seems like they might be sending Ted out for surgery, which is too bad. I have no explanation for that fart backstage. If they are doing a storyline with Natalya about some intestinal problems, I might just quit this job. Bryan and Kaitlyn was another good segment expanding his character. He's doing very well in this role.

Alex Riley was already in the ring. A video recap aired of the Regal/Clay dance contest from last week. The Funkasaurus then made his elaborate entrance. He looks much better in white than he did in red. Riley looked to be having as good of a time as Clay.

5. Brodus Clay defeated Alex Riley at 0:39 Riley did a few dance moves to start. Brodus shook his ass and hit a T-Bone Suplex in response. He then hit the splash in the corner and the the What the Funk crossbody for the win. Brodus and the ladies did a great job celebrating after the match.

Kaitlyn was seen talking to Big how backstage...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Well, the squashed continue for Brodus. I'm hoping this develops quickly after the Royal Rumble.

[Q7] The highlights of the Zack Ryder and Kane match aired again from Monday, culminating in Ryder getting chokeslammed through the stage and getting carted off. They aired most of the match, really, including wheeling him to the ambulance and Cena's hilarious attempt at intensity after Eve told him off.

Barnett's Brief: I don't get this. This wasn't even paced well on Monday, and they didn't even cut much out.

Natalya was in the ring already. Aksana then entered to her porn music.

5. Aksana defeated Natalya at 0:04 Aksana rolled her up immediately for the win. After the match, Natalya put her in the Sharpshooter and she feigned tapping out. Tamina then broke it up and hit her Samoan Drop and Superfly Splash.

Barnett's Brief: Ugh. Nothing but pain here.

[Q8]Big Show made his entrance for the Main Event...[c]

Mark Henry then made his entrance. The announce team played up the mind games Bryan was playing with both men.

6. Big Show defeated Mark Henry via Countout at 3:00? Show took it to Henry early with punches and a headbutt, but Henry rolled to the outside. Henry stared at Bryan and while show followed him to the outside and continued the assault. Big Show and Henry got back in the ring and Show continued the assault. Henry fought back with punches and backed up Show, but he collapsed after it looked like his knee gave out. He rolled to the outside...[c]

After the break Bryan assaulted Big Show with a chair in the ring. Apparently Henry couldn't answer a ten count. Show tossed Bryan around after shaking it off and Bryan bailed to the outside. Bryan hit a low dropkick on Show's knee on the outside and worked him with a chair again. He then locked him in a Lebell Lock in the center of the ring. Show broke the hold and choke slammed Bryan. Bryan then bailed out of the ring when Show lined him up for the WMD.

Barnett's Brief: Weird ending due to the apparent injury to Henry. Bryan looks vulnerable as a Champion, but that's the point of this storyline and so far he's doing well with it. I'm really bummed out if Mark Henry is unable to compete on Sunday, as he is by far my favorite character in WWE right now. Hopefully he just had a temporary problem with his knee giving out and he'll be ok. Otherwise the match on Sunday gets quite a bit less interesting.

Questions, comments, or concerns? Send them to me at barnett.jake@gmail.com or on twitter @barnettjake. RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE:


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