By Jake Barnett

The following his a live coverage review of the Smackdown special that originally aired on Tuesday. We are moving it to the top of the site so that those of you watching the show on Friday can follow along with the coverage.

WWE Smackdown Supershow on SyFy
Live from Rockford, Ill.

[Q1] The Smackdown intro aired, followed by a Josh Mathews welcome and Michael Cole plugging the CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan main event. Booker then plugged a Mark Henry vs. Big Show match for later on tonight. Lilian Garcia then introduced World Champion Daniel Bryan, who came out to the ring with AJ.

Daniel Bryan cleared his throat a few times to get the crowd's attention, and then recalled when he won Money in the Bank that he said he would main event WrestleMania. He said nobody believed him, yet here he stood as the World Heavyweight Champion. He then screamed that he was heading to the main event at WrestleMania to a chorus of boos. Bryan then mentioned Santino, and talked about him channeling Rocky Balboa at Elimination Chamber. He then called himself a role model, and said he was the real underdog story. He then bragged about beating Big Show, Barrett, Rhodes, and crew at Elimination Chamber, and screamed at the crowd that he did it. He grabbed AJ to celebrate, and she couldn't help but laugh.

He then said Sheamus ruined his moment and embarrassed him at the Elimination Chamber PPV, and that he would return the favor and ruin Sheamus's WrestleMania Moment. He also exclaimed that he would do the same to C.M. Punk later in the show. At that point, The Miz's music interrupted and he headed to the ring. The Miz opened with “Well, look at you.....the World Heavyweight Champion.” He told Bryan that he was wrong. That he believed all along to become a champion, and said he had a lot to do with molding and mentoring him. He said he wasn't out there for thanks for to steal his spotlight, and he said he was there to say congratulations.

He said congratulations on being in the main event at Wrestlemania, just like he did last year. He told him that after he embarrasses Sheamus using the skills he taught him, they should form a tag team. Sheamus's music then hit, and headed out to the ring to confront Bryan. Sheamus said that he too would like to congratulate Bryan on being a massive arse and a hypocrite. Sheamus said he's no role model, he's just a coward. He told Bryan he was a coward for hiding behind a skirt, and that after WrestleMania nobody would be congratulating him, and that they would be saying he got exactly what he deserved.

The Miz grabbed the mic and told Sheamus that he has no place interrupting him and stealing the World Champion's spotlight. Sheamus then told Miz that he should let the people who have a match at WrestleMania talk, at which point Bryan slapped him and bailed from the ring. Sheamus gave chase, but Miz attacked him from behind. Sheamus ended up getting the better of him and tossing Miz out of the ring. Sheamus then stared down Bryan at the top of the ramp...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Good opening segment. I liked the Bryan promo and the Bryan and Sheamus interaction, but the Miz kind of felt tacked on. He didn't give a bad performance, he just felt like a third wheel. I'm assuming he ends up wrestling Sheamus tonight, but we'll have to see.

[Q2] 1. Sheamus defeated The Miz at 6:00. We joined the match in progress with Sheamus having The Miz in an arm bar. Sheamus telegraphed a back body drop and ate a boot, but recovered to send the Miz onto the apron when he charged and hit is clubbing chest blows. Miz fell to the outside and Sheamus stalled a bit before heading out to ringside to pick up the pieces. He tossed Miz back in the ring and hit a flying shoulder block from the apron for a near fall. Miz rolled to the apron and hung Sheamus on the top rope, but couldn't capitalize.

Sheamus hit a running forearm. He tried to hit a spear in the corner but ended up eating the ring post. Miz took control after the misfire and hit a facebreaker. He then hit his signature running clothesline in the corner and followed up with a double axe handle from the top rope. Miz locked in an arm bar, but Sheamus powered out quickly and fired up with some clotheslines. He then followed up with an Irish Curse Back Breaker for a near fall.

Miz hit a back elbow out of the corner, and then hit a neckbreaker for two. He then attempted a Skull Crushing Finale, but Sheamus powered out and missed a Brogue Kick. Miz then rolled him up for two. Sheamus then hit “The Message” for the win, which used to be Finlay's Irish Cross.

Barnett's Brief: Good match to start off the show. No surprise by the finish, and the action was good.

Backstage, Teddy spoke to Natalya with the porn music playing. Laurinitis walked up during one of Aksana's crude jokes, and Laurinitis called him low class. Teddy Long replied that he hoped they were comfortable, and he said he gave them their own office, which was the Men's room backstage. Otunga then said he would beat Zeke Jackson again tonight, and Teddy's office belongs in the dumpster. God this is awful.

A video recap aired of parts of John Cena's promo from Monday, and plugged The Rock's appearance on Monday.

[Q3] Kofi Kingston's music hit, and he headed to the ring. R-Truth followed as his tag partner. Vickie Guerrero then came out and introduced Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler.

2. Jack Swagger and Dolph Zigger defeated Kofi Kingston and R-Truth at 3:20. Truth and Swagger started, with Swagger drawing first blood with a hard looking shoulder tackle for a two count. Ziggler then tagged in and continued the assault with an elbow drop and a chin lock. Truth fought back and got the tag to Kingston, who cleaned house with a couple of drop kicks. He hit a wheel kick and a big splash for a cover, but Swagger broke the count. Swagger emptied Truth from the ring, and Kofi dumped out Swagger, but he turned around into a thumb to the eyes and a Zig Zag for the win.

Barnett's Brief: So Ziggler and Swagger are back to being a tag team now? Ziggler deserves better, but this wasn't a bad match at all.

A promo aired for SyFy's lastest reality show FaceOff. The announcers then plugged the Mark Henry vs. Big Show match by showing Big Show KO Henry last week on Smackdown...[c]

The Ron Simmons HOF video aired that showed his various athletic accomplishments. I'm happy for Ron. I still remember his title win over Vader and the APA days very fondly.

[Q4] Backstage, Santino and the Cobra were knocking solo cups off of a table for practice strikes. Heath Slater then interrupted and knocked all the cups off the table. The cobra then spit in his face and he acted hurt....ugh. Michael Cole then reported on C.M. Punk and Chris Brown's twitter slap fight. They then plugged the Bryan vs. Punk main event...[c]

Drew McIntyre was already in the ring, and then we got an entrance from The Great Khali.

3. The Great Khali defeated Drew McIntyre at 0:32. Khali grabbed Drew and chopped him in the forehead. He then hit the Punjabi Plunge for the victory...

Barnett's Brief: Poor Drew McIntyre....

A video aired from Raw of the conclusion of Raw's battle royal. Show was interviewed backstage and said Cody is on the top of his you know what list, and that he was probably on the top of Mark Henry's you know what list. He said he would KO Mark Henry tonight and break Cody Rhodes in half the next time he gets his hands on him...[c]

A video clip was shown of Big Show knocking out Mark Henry last week. Mark Henry then made his entrace into the arena. Big Show followed and revved up the crowd.

[Q5] 4. Mark Henry defeated Big Show by Count Out at 5:30? Big Show hit some body punches and a splash in the corner to start the match. Big Show then lined up for the WMD, but Henry ducked and hit a clothesline. Henry took control and kept Big Show grounded with elbows and stomps. Show punched his way back to his feet, but ate a clothesline from Henry and went back down. Henry then hit a double axe handle and covered for a two count. Show tried to use the ropes to get up, but Henry kicked his hand off the rope and stepped on his chest.

Henry hit another punch and then choked Big Show against the ropes. Henry talked all manner of trash in the ring, telling him he was the shot caller tonight. Show fought back with a couple of clotheslines, followed by a spear. Show then revved up the crowd for a chokeslam, when Cody Rhodes appeared on the stage to talk trash. Cody then said Show was about to chokeslam someone, so it must not be WrestleMania. He then aired a clip of Akebono beating him in a Sumo Match at WrestleMania. After the clip, Big Show turned around into a World Strongest Slam and a Splash for a very close near fall.

Big Show got up and hit the WMD punch on Henry, and then left the ring to chase after Rhodes. The bell never rang, so I'm going to guess this is a count out victory for Henry?

Barnett's Brief: Well, that was ok while it lasted. It's a shame Henry is being treated like this just because he got hurt. He's got great presence in the ring and he's being punished for nothing.

A recap aired of the the Undertaker and Triple H segment from Monday's Raw. You just saw this last night, so I won't bother you with details. The announce team plugged the main event...[c]

[Q6] WWE plugged it's own Youtube show “Are you serious?” which showcases the worst WWE Clips of all time. Teddy Long's music played and he came on stage to shake the hand of his representative Zeke Jackson. Laurinitis then came out to do the same for David Otunga. A cut in promo aired of Zeke Jackson apologizing for letting down Teddy Long and The Smackdown Brand. He vowed to correct his mistake.

5. David Otunga defeated Zeke Jackson at 1:17. Otunga took control early with strikes, but Zeke worked power and took control. He hit strikes of his own in the corner and a couple of clotheslines. He then followed up with a side slam. Zeke then went for a torture rack, but Otunga grabbed the ropes to free himself. Otunga then hit his spinebuster for the win a few seconds later.

Barnett's Brief: Lots of short matches on the Road to WrestleMania. I don't get a sense of urgency form this show at all.

Another clip from “Faceoff” aired, followed by a main event plug by Booker T...[c]

A recap aired of Eve getting exposed as a horrible human being last night. They weren't able to cut it up in a way that made it any less offensive than it was last night. Backstage, C.M. Punk was interviewed backstage by Matt Striker. Punk said he's happy to be on Smackdown, and he likes the General Manager here. He said he wants Teddy Long to be the GM of both shows, and that he wants John “Snicklefritz” Laurinitis to become a spokesperson for the Men's Warehouse. Punk then ripped on Bryan for being a vegan a bit, and then said since Bryan knows how to win he'll have to teach him how to lose tonight...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Cena and Eve's awkward segment didn't get any better with editing, but that was a very good light hearted interview from Punk.

[Q7] The same Rock/Cena Raw plug that aired earlier was shown here again.

Daniel Bryan's music played, and he celebrated while the crowd booed in the ring. A C.M. Punk crowd chant started and his music hit, and Punk came out to a great reaction.

6. Daniel Bryan vs. C.M. Punk ended in a double pin. Both men locked up in the corner, but the ref broke it up. Bryan then took down Punk with a drop toe hold and locked in an arm bar. Punk reversed into a head lock, and then hit a shoulder block. Punk went for a rollup but it got reversed. Bryan then went for a pin but they traded reversals and ended up at a standstill...[c]

Bryan had Punk in a headlock, which Punk fought out of and hit a knee left off an Irish Whip. Punk went for a cover and got a two count. Bryan landed some kicks in the corner, but ate a kick out of the corner. Punk climbed the ropes and went for a dive but missed, and he then sold the left elbow heavily. Bryan immediately went on the attack, kicking and tweaking Punk's elbow. Bryan hit a suplex and stomped on Punk's elbow, and then covered for two.

Bryan drove a knee into Punk's head and then worked the elbows and shoulders. Punk hit a suplex, but Bryan landed awkwardly on Punk's knee, but everyone appeared to be ok. Both men stood up, and Punk hit a series of kicks followed by a drop kick. Punk went for the GTS, but Bryan escaped, and then Bryan escaped a kick as well. Bryan then rolled to the outside, but Sheamus came down and threw him back into the ring.

Punk hit a kick to the back of the head once it ended up back in the ring, and got a cover for the 3 count. Punk celebrated briefly until Laurinitis restarted the match based on the interference from Sheamus. Punk hit another kick to the gut of Bryan...[c]

Both men were on the ground after the break, and Bryan continued to work the arm of C.M. Punk. Punk went for a rollup, but it got reversed by Bryan. Bryan grabbed the ropes and got the 3, and Teddy Long was quick to break up the celebration and restarted the match. Punk went to work with elbows. They traded about 100 waist locks and then Punk suplexed Bryan over the top rope to the floor. Punk then dove on Bryan and ate the barricade.

Punk hit a springboard clothesline for a near fall. He then followed up with his running knee, but Bryan drove his shoulder into the mat when he attempted a running bulldog. Bryan then hit a running dropkick into the corner on Punk for another near fall. Bryan hit a european uppercut and placed Punk on the top rope. Bryan hit a hurricanrana, but Punk reversed into a near fall. Punk then went for another rollup, but Bryan reversed into a LeBell Lock attempt that failed. Bryan ended up eating another kick to the head, but he was able to get his foot on the ropes to avoid a 3 count.

Punk went back up to the top rope to for an elbow, but Bryan pushed him off the ropes. Bryan attempted a superplex, but Punk pushed him off. Undeterred, he tried again for a Superplex and failed again. Punk then climbed back on the top rope, but again was interrupted by Bryan, who finally hit his superplex. The ref made a count, but both men's shoulders were down, resulting in confusion.

Long and Laurinitis argued at ringside about the finish of the match. They then got in the ring, with Long crowning Punk the winner and Laurinitis crowning Bryan. They had a brief scuffle in the ring with both men tossing their suit coats around and Long leaving the ring. No official conclusion was announced for the match...

Barnett's Brief: Great action throughout the match. I'm not a fan of these matches with multiple finishes, but in the end it kept both champions strong and furthered the conflict between Long and Laurinitis. Overall, this show had some good moments, but I didn't feel the normal urgency that we normally feel with so little time left until WrestleMania. Hopefully we see business pick up and some serious intensity surrounding WrestleMania next week.

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

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