By Chris Shore

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 2/7 in Tulsa, OK.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael Cole, Josh Matthews, and Booker T checked in on commentary and hyped the Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan main event. Lilian Garcia was in the ring and introduced Sheamus. Sheamus came to the ring and said he would decide by the end of the night of Elimination Chamber what championship he would challenge for at WrestleMania 28.

Sheamus said people were trying to push him one way or the other, but he didn't like listening to people because he was bullied as a kid. He said he got over it by fighting back, and when he came to WWE, people tried to tell him what to do. He said he didn't listen and it took him to the main vent at WrestleMania. He said he was a pasty faced, red headed, Irishman and was proud of it.

Wade Barrett's music hit and he came to the ring. He said he had respect for Sheamus so he was going to tell him what to do. He said Sheamus should challenge for the WWE title because if he goes after the World title, Sheamus would have to face him, and he has, and will beat Sheamus. Sheamus said he wasn't listening because he was thinking about how Orton beat Barrett's ass all over the ring last week.

Cody Rhodes's music hit and he came to the ring cutting his promo. He said none of what Wade was saying mattered because only Cody knew what it was like to have his hand raised at Mania, and the only one to be a champion right now. He said if Sheamus picked the World title, he would lose at Mania to Cody.

Big Show's music hit and he came to the ring. He said since Sheamus wasn't the type of guy to tell people what to do, he would do it. He told Cody to shut his mouth before he slapped the taste out of it. He said he wasn't going to make promises, but said Sheamus vs. Big Show for the World title at WrestleMania would be a great match.

Barrett cut him off and said he was trying to be nice, but Snooki had a better WrestleMania career than Show. Cody said that apparently giants could win the Super Bowl, but not a Mania match. He asked who Show was going to lose to this year, and listed "a boxer, a sumo wrestler." He started to say more, and Show chopped him down. A scrum broke out and the babyfaces beat the heels to the floor and stood tall...Cole hyped his interview with AJ for later...[C]

Shore's Slant: Busy, busy, busy opening segment. Too much going on to really get anybody over there. It wasn't bad, but it didn't do much for this viewer.

[Q2] Back from commercial, a tag match of Big Show and Sheamus vs. Rhodes and Barrett was announced...Jinder Mahal was ringside putting his hat (turban?) in a plastic case on a stand. A cut in promo had Jinder talking in Punjabi and then English. He said after he beat Khali tonight, he would demand to be in the EC. Khali made his ring entrance...

1. Great Khali defeated Jinder Mahal at 2:05. Jinder got in a few shots, but it was all Khali. Khali won with the Punjabi Plunge...The announce team setup a video that recapped Mark Henry's suspension. Backstage, Teddy long and Aksana were doing their gimmick. Aksana started doing something to the non-camera side of Teddy's face, and Daniel Bryan came in.

Aksana left and Bryan ran down Teddy for having a BBQ before the show. Teddy apologized for not inviting him and Bryan went off. Teddy said he wasn't a vegetarian. Bryan said he was a vegan. He said Teddy made him sick and he couldn't compete tonight. Teddy told him off and said then sent him to get ready for his match against Orton...[C]

Shore's Slant: Snoozer of a match, but no surprise. The Aksana/Teddy stuff is still old, and Bryan wasn't all that great here. So far, not a great first half hour of show.

[Q3] 2. Beth Phoenix squashed Alicia Fox at 1:12. Alicia showed off a little offense and flexibility, but Beth hit the Glam Slam quickly for the win. Post match, she started to attack Fox, but Tamina ran out. They faced each other for a moment and then smiled at each other. The announce team put it over as Beth welcoming the challenge...Randy Orton was shown backstage...[C]

Shore's Slant: I hope the second half of this show picks up, because right now, Impact last night was better than this. Tamina and Beth has potential, but the women just aren't taken serious enough for it to matter. I'll wait for Kharma to fully return before I allow myself to care about a Divas angle.

A different Rock hype video aired that started with his birth and talked about him growing up...Backstage, Natalya and Tyson Kidd were talking. Natty said when she got nervous—Kidd cut her off and said it was OK, even if it was disgusting. Natty said she talked too much when she got nervous, and asked what he meant. Kidd said never mind, and then a fart happened. Kidd walked off and Hornswoggle walked up and passed out. Natty blamed it on Kidd and ran off...Big Show made his ring entrance...

Shore's Slant: Better video for Rock than the presidential one. In case anyone is confused, and from the looks of Twitter that's many of you, Natty farted, not Kidd. Wait, why am I explaining this ignorant angle?

[Q4][C] The rest of the ring entrances occurred for the tag match...

3. Big Show and Sheamus defeated Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes at 12:27. Big Show and Cody started. Cody tagged and so Wade started. Wade took a chop and tagged Cody. Cody got chopped all over the ring, and then got dropped from a gorilla press. Show cocked for the WMD and Cody slid back into the corner. Sheamus tagged in and so did Barrett. Sheamus hit his clubbing blows on Barrett ans tossed him to the floor...[C]

Back from commercial, Cody was working Sheamus's arm, but Sheamus powered away and hit a body slam for two. Cody tried to do a backslide, but Sheamus powered Cody back over and hit a clothesline. Show tagged in and Show crushed Cody in the corner. Rhodes managed to tag Barrett and they hit hi-low on Show. Cody followed with a missile drop kick for two.

[Q5] Cody worked a rest hold, but Show shoved him away. Cody got the tag to Barrett and Barrett clipped Show and went back to a rest hold. Show stood up and Barrett tagged Cody. Cody hit a nice Beautiful Disaster Kick for two, but on the next rest hold, Show fell on Cody and both men got hot tags. Sheamus came in a house of fire and destroyed Barrett. Show hit Cody with a spear, and Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on Barrett for the win...The announce team hyped Orton vs. Bryan again, and AJ's interview for next...[C]

Shore's Slant: Decent match, but I hate seeing Barrett job out again. I'm not surprised by it, and he's the guy in the match that makes the most sense, but I think they are continuing to damage this guy and they may yet go to far to save him.

Michael Cole was in the ring and introduced AJ, who came to the ring as a video showed Big Show almost running over AJ again on Raw. Cole asked her how she was feeling. She said she was better and should have the neck brace off next week. She started to thank the fans, and Cole cut her off by saying no one who she was.

The fans booed a little and Cole said he was kidding. He asked if she blamed Big Show, and then asked why she was at ringside. She said she was at ringside because Bryan asked her to be and that she didn't blame Show. She said there was one person who caused more damage than Show, and that was Cole. Cole asked how and she said he never believed in Bryan and only wanted to stir things up. She said he insulted Bryan, her, and the entire Divas division. She called him a biased, obnoxious, jerk.

Cole started to speak and she grabbed the mic and said she wasn't finished. She said as far as she was concerned, the WWE would be a better place if he just shut his mouth. He said, "Now you listen to me, missy." He went off about it being his job, and that he was paid for his insight and personality. He asked her if she knew what people were saying about AJ and Bryan. He said people are saying Bryan set her up to get hit by Show, and that she was so blinded by her love that she would run in front of a bus for Bryan.

He said people are also saying AJ had no self respect. He said he would be in a great place at EC because Bryan would lose, and Bryan and AJ would just become footnotes in WWE history. Bryan stormed to the ring and said if Cole said another word to his girlfriend he would break both of Cole's arms. He asked Cole if AJ hadn't been through enough. He said he wasn't a footnote, he was a great wrestler and role model.

[Q6] Bryan said he was on a nature walk while the rest of the people were watching the Super Bowl and eating meat and drinking beer. He asked how many people recycled that day. He said he did because he cared about the environment, future generations, and AJ. He hugged her tenderly and said because he cared for her, and because she had been through enough, he was leaving and taking her home. He said because they loved the environment, they were going in a Prius.

They left the ring and Cole went nuts and said Bryan didn't care about AJ, and then he and Booker T argued. They cut backstage where AJ and Bryan were walking. Teddy walked up and asked what the problem was. Bryan said he had to take a personal day to take AJ home. Teddy said he would provide transportation for AJ if that's what he wanted, but if Bryan left, he would strip him of the belt...[C]

Shore's Slant: Our correspondent said AJ was terrible. I don't know if that lowered my expectations too much, but I didn't think she was terrible. It wasn't great by any stretch, but not terrible. Bryan's schtick is getting old for me, though. He's a granola hippie heel (credit Jake Barnett). That doesn't make him hateable, just eye-rollable. He was doing great for a while, but I've not been impressed the past few weeks with this vegan reboot of CM Punk's character.

Ted DiBiase made his ring entrance as a video showed the attack on him from Hunico and Camacho from two weeks ago. Hunico and Camacho were out next. Hunico said they were going to break both of DiBiase's wrists.

4. Ted DiBiase defeated Hunico (w/Camacho) at 2:37. DiBiase attacked at the bell. He drove Hunico to the floor and followed. Camacho ran around, and DiBiase shoved him. The ref separated them, and DiBiase slammed Hunico into the wall and rolled Hunico into the ring. Hunico kicked the hurt arm and tossed DiBiase to the floor. Camacho got a cheap shot in and Hunico rolled DiBiase back in the ring Hunico continued to work the arm, but DiBiase scored a schoolboy roll-up for the surprise win...[C]

Shore's Slant: Fun match, Hunico is a stud in the ring. Hard to believe he was so botchtastic as Sin Cara. The feud with Ted isn't all that great, but they've managed to not make Ted look bad while making Hunico look good. Difficult to complain about that.

[Q7] An Elimination Chamber hype video aired...John Laurinaitis joined Michael Cole via phone "live" to put over the WWE tour of the Middle East and that Johnny Ace was still interim GM...Randy Orton made his ring entrance...[C]

The announce team hyped the return of Shawn Michaels on Raw next week. Big Show had joined the announce team on commentary, and Daniel Bryan made his ring entrance...

[Q8] 5. Daniel Bryan defeated Randy Orton by disqualification at 12:59. Orton and Bryan started with technical moves, which was a nice surprise from Orton. Orton tossed Bryan over the top in front of the announce table and Show stood up. Orton rolled Bryan back in the ring and asked Show to leave Bryan to him. Show agreed and sat down. Orton turned around and Bryan hit a drop kick through the ropes. Bryan followed with his knee from thr apron...[C]

Back from commercial, Bryan worked Orton's arm in the ring. Orton punched out and set Bryan on the top. Bryan shoved him off and tried for a diving headbutt. Orton moved and popped up for his offensive run. He started for the rope DDT, but Bryan escaped and hit a roundhouse kick. Bryan ran to the top, but Orton swept his feet, and finally hit the superplex.

Orton missed a knee drop and stood in the corner. Bryan hit his dropkick in the corner and followed with several kicks. Orton slipped over a kick and hooked a roll-up for two. Bryan kicked out and into a LaBell Lock setup. Orton fought out and hit a slingshot that sent Bryan over the top rope, but on the apron. Orton hit the rope DDT and setup for the RKO.

Bryan saw it and rolled to the floor. He took his belt and started to leave and then went after Show. Show shoved him into the wall and then back in the ring. Orton hit the RKO, but the ref called for the bell and awarded Bryan the victory by DQ. Bryan left and Orton went after Show. They argued and Orton shoved Show. Show shoved him back, and Orton pounced on him. They were still brawling at ringside when the show went off the air...

Shore's Slant: An OK match from Bryan and Orton. You got the feeling watching it that they were holding back, and that's the right move. They still should have kept them apart to build for this moment, but it is what it is. I really liked the ending with the Orton and Big Show brawl. The arguing felt forced, but the fight didn't. Overall a big miss of a show. 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 @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

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