By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on Syfy Live Coverage
Taped Tuesday 3/6 in Uncasville, Connecticut

[Q1] A video aired that chronicled the feud between Teddy Long and John Laurinitis. A cage was hanging over the ring as the show opened, and it was being lowered from the ceiling onto the ring. David Otunga had a microphone, and he introduced John Laurinitis. John thanked Otunga and the WWE Board of directors, and said he was the man to run both Raw and Smackdown. He then said Teddy Long never gave the fans a cage match to open the show, let alone a Title Match. “I’m here to show you and Teddy Long how it’s done”, exclaimed Laurinitis.

Lilian Garcia then announced that we would have a US Title match, and Santino made his way out to the ring first. A video recap was then shown of the events that led to Santino’s title win on Monday’s Raw. Cole bitched about Teddy Long putting his hands on John Laurinitis, and then Jack Swagger made his entrance with Vickie and Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler was wearing his new pink shirt. Swagger is still committed to his bad haircut.

1. Santino defeated Jack Swagger in a cage to retain the US Title at 10:27. The circled each other to start the match, and didn’t engage for about 30 seconds. Swagger opened and pushed Santino into the corner and hit some strikes. He then hit a nice belly to belly suplex for a two count. Swagger continued on offense and tossed Santino into the cage while the crowd booed loudly. Swagger hit a short arm clothesline and made another clothesline for two.

Santino made an escape attempt, but got caught and sent head first into the cage by Swagger. Swagger talked trash, and Santino whiffed and fell down on a punch attempt. He finally hit a few punches and then a hip toss for his first offensive series. He then hit a headbutt and set up for the cobra. Ziggler climbed onto the cage at that point, but Santino cobra’d him off. Swagger then went for a back suplex, but Santino Cobra’d him to the throat and they both crashed to the mat. Ziggler was then ejected to the back by a ringside ref…[c]

Swagger was in control after the break, and hit a running knee lift to put Santino on the mat. Swagger then kicked the Cobra sock out of the ring. Swagger tossed Santino off the ropes, but he reversed into a rollup for another near fall. Santino then revered a suplex attempt into a sunset flip for a second near fall. Swagger then tossed Santino down and hit a Swagger Bomb for another near fall that popped the crowd.

[Q2] Swagger then made an escape attempt, but Santino crotched him and made a cover for another near fall. Santino then climbed the cage, and Swagger followed. They then brawled at the top for a moment, until Santino climbed down and sat on the top rope. Santino then struggled with Swagger for a moment and finally hit a Tornado DDT. Santino made an escape attempt out the door, but Swagger caught him in an ankle lock. Vickie came over and slammed the door of the cage, thinking she was hitting Santino, but ended up hitting Swagger. Santino then crawled out for the win. Santino then celebrated with the crowd and finally Teddy Long on stage.

Barnett’s Brief: Another very entertaining match from Santino and Swagger. The finish wasn’t nearly as contrived as the one on Monday, and I thought both men delivered good performances. You really can’t argue with how over Santino is with the live crowds.

The announce team plugged the main event six man tag which pits Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Big Show vs. Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, and The Miz. A commercial for Cena and The Rock’s Rock Concert aired as well…[c]

They recapped the previous match, and then cut backstage to Otunga and Laurinitis. They both expressed their discontent with the previous match, and then Teddy Long walked up. Laurinitis then mentioned his promise to book a match between Kane and Aksana, and Teddy tried to beg him off. “I’m asking you as a man, to not put Aksana in harm’s way”, Teddy said.

Laurinitis then said he didn’t hear a please, and Teddy complied. Johnny then said he never got an apology for pushing him, and Teddy reluctantly apologized. Johnny then booked a match between him and Long, and said if Teddy wins the match between Aksana and Kane will happen. Teddy looked disgusted and walked off.

The announce team then introduced a video package, which went over Shawn Michaels recent appearances and his addition to the Triple H vs. Undertaker match as referee.

[Q3] After the video package, the announce crew put over the confrontation between HBK and The Undertaker on Raw.

Drew McIntyre made his way to the ring for a match, and while he entered the ring, the announce crew recapped him being fired the previous week. McIntyre grabbed a mic and said that last week he was fired by Teddy Long, and then said he was here because of one man, “Mr. Opportunity, Mr. Excitement” John Laurinitis. He said he was promised his job back if he could beat John Laurinitis’s mystery opponent. “Big Johnny, who do you got for me?”, asked McIntyre. The Great Khali’s music hit and he headed to the ring, and McIntyre looked exasperated.

David Otunga appeared on stage before the match started, and ordered Khali out of the ring to stand at ringside. He then introduced Drew’s real opponent, and Hornswoggle then walked out on stage. Booker T complained that Laurinitis was going to kill the ratings by making matches like this.

2. Drew McIntyre defeated Hornswoggle at 1:48. Hornswoggle looked terrified and tried to avoid McIntyre. Drew got ahold of him about 20 seconds into the match and scoop slammed Hornswoggle. McIntyre made a cover, but Drew pulled him off the mat. Rinse and repeat with another slam and cover. McIntyre hit a back breaker, and the ref called off the match. McIntyre celebrated getting his job back, but got chopped out of his shoes by The Great Khali after he turned around. Khali tended to Hornswoggle and Drew left up the ramp.

Barnett’s Brief: You could feel the oxygen leaving the room when Hornswoggle walked out on stage. I feel bad for everybody involved in this. There was just not much good to be extracted out of this story.

Backstage, Teddy was getting dressed and Aksana walked up sobbing. She begged him to lose the match, but Teddy said he had it under control and Laurinitis insulted his manhood, so he had to be taught a lesson. The announcers put over the six man main event again…[c]

[Q4] Laurinitis was shown backstage in his jumpsuit as he prepped for his match. Zeke Jackson then entered the arena for a match. Mark Henry then made his way out next. The announcers made mention of Henry’s induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame. They showed pictures of his induction and put over what an accomplished power lifter he was.

3. Mark Henry defeated Ezekial Jackson at 1:48. Zeke hit strikes early in the corner, and attempted to lift Henry up for the rack, but got denied emphatically with a clothesline. Henry talked trash and hit a scoop slam center ring. He then went for an elbow drop, but Zeke moved. Zeke went back of offense in the corner with some clotheslines, but Henry recovered and hit a clothesline of his own that put Zeke down. Henry then hit the World’s Strongest Slam for the win.

Barnett’s Brief: Good enhancement match for Mark Henry here, and he was dominant throughout. What are they doing with Henry at WrestleMania? Nothing? Seems like a huge waste.

Laurinitis and Teddy Long were shown walking to the ring backstage form their respective locker rooms. Both men looked confident, but Aksana was still following Long begging him to lose…[c]

John Laurinitis walked to the ring in spandex tights and a windbreaker. Teddy Long then headed down with Aksana. Lilian Garcia then made in ring introductions, and both guys stared each other down.

[Q5] Teddy Long defeated John Laurinitis at 2:36. Laurinitis grabbed a mic and berated Teddy Long, and stated that Kane was right behind the curtain. He told Teddy that he should be a man and lay down to keep his girlfriend from being physically assaulted. Teddy refused, so Johnny called Kane to ringside. Aksana climbed into the ring and hid behind Teddy. Kane climbed up onto the apron, but Orton surprised him from behind and hit an RKO on Kane on the floor. Teddy Long then rolled up Laurinitis while he was distracted for the win.

Backstage, Teddy Long and Aksana celebrated and said they would go out for a nice dinner. Back in the arena, Orton’s music hit as he stood over Kane out at ringside…[c]

Barnett’s Brief: Pretty much exactly how you would expect it to play out. I don’t think anybody really bought into the idea of Kane beating up Aksana on PG TV, and they had to move this feud forward with Kane and Orton.

Kofi Kingston headed to ringside, and his new Tag Partner R-Truth was introduced after him. Primo and Epico then made their introduction with Rosa Mendes.

4. Kofi and R-Truth defeated Primo and Epico w/Rosa at 6:15. Epico and Kofi started, and Kofi hit a nice monkey flip to start the offense. R-Truth tagged in and they hit a double team hip toss on Epico. Truth fired up the crowd and hit some dance moves and an elbow drop. He covered, but only got two. Quick tag back to Kofi, and Truth hit a side kick on Epico and Kofi covered for a near fall. Kofi went to hit the ropes, but Primo pulled the ropes apart and Kofi spilled to the floor.

Primo and Epico traded quick tags and worked over Kofi. Epico hit a butterfly suplex throw for a near fall. He then put Kofi in an abdominal stretch, but Kofi quickly fought out and made a tag to R-Truth, but the ref didn’t see the tag. Primo then tagged in and continued the assault on Kofi with a dropkick for a two count. He then locked in a chin lock on Kofi.

[Q6] Kofi fought out, but got caught with a drop toe hold. Kofi finally freed himself and got the tag, and R-Truth came in fired up. He hit his spinning elbow, and the match broke down. Epico got sent over the top rope, and Rosa got up on the apron. Kofi broke up the interference and R-Truth hit his finisher for the win.

Barnett’s Brief: Good high energy match between these two teams. I hope they actually give them a story, because if they are just going to trade wins back and forth like every other tag feud, this will lose steam pretty quick.

Michael Cole put over an exclusive interview with Daniel Bryan and Sheamus as next…[c]

The announce team introduced another video package, this time of The Rock and John Cena’s interactions from Monday. They then put over the Rock Concert vs. John Cena Rap Battle for Monday’s Raw.

Michael Cole was then in the ring, and said John Laurinitis had granted him time to interview two superstars on a collision course for WrestleMania. Cole then introduced Sheamus first…[c]

Daniel Bryan was introduced next, and came out with AJ. He stared down Sheamus from ringside and said something, but I couldn’t make it out. Cole asked Bryan how much luck has played into his run as World Heavyweight Champion. Bryan responded that you don’t need luck when you’re good. He said it wasn’t luck when he cashed in his briefcase, or when he defeated Big Show and Mark Henry at The Royal Rumble, and it wasn’t luck when he retained in the Elimination Chamber. He said it was also related to his technical wrestling skill, his Vegan Diet, his charisma and undeniable sex appeal that made him a champion.

[Q7] Cole then asked Sheamus how much luck had played into his Royal Rumble win. Sheamus said he was lucky to be in America, he was lucky to be in WWE, but he was a firm believer that you make your own luck. He accused Bryan of hiding behind a 99 pound girl who looked like she should be in a Catholic School Girl uniform. AJ went to speak, but Bryan told her to shut up. He then said AJ had nothing to do with his success, and if anything had gotten in the way. He told AJ he meant that literally, referring to her collision with Big Show. AJ just stood there meekly.

Sheamus then told Bryan that he was an arrogant ass, and said he would take his pride and his title at WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes music then hit and he came out for the Main Event. Big Show’s music then hit and he interacted with some kids at ringside…[c]

Barnett’s Brief: I enjoyed that interaction with Bryan and Sheamus. Both men gave decent promos that didn’t overstay their welcome and were focused on WrestleMania, and it felt like Sheamus was getting under Bryan’s skin with his comments about AJ. Bryan lashing out at AJ did a lot to drive the point home. I assume she will play a role in their WrestleMania match, and this was the planting of that seed.

Randy Orton made his entrance. The Miz must had made his entrance during the break.

[Q8] 5. Randy Orton, Big Show, and Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, and The Miz at 13:23. Cody Rhodes and Sheamus started out, but Orton and Daniel Bryan tagged in quickly. Bryan hit his running dropkick in the corner, but Orton rebounded with a dropkick of his own and tagged in Big Show. Big Show hit a one arm scoop slam, and Bryan ran to his corner and tagged in The Miz. Show feigned a punch and Miz fell down. Show grabbed him and shoved him into the corner and slapped his chest. Miz bailed and tagged in Cody Rhodes.

Rhodes entered for a second and tagged The Miz right back in, who got picked up and tossed back into the ring by The Big Show…[c]

Sheamus and The Miz were in the ring and Sheamus clubbed him hit a suplex mid ring. Miz rebounded and hit some punches in the corner until the ref separated them. Sheamus charged out and hit two double axehandles. Rhodes distracted Sheamus, but got clubs to the chest for his trouble. The Miz pushed Sheamus out to ringside, where Daniel Bryan hit a running knee from the apron. Bryan then tagged into the match and continued the assault on Sheamus with strikes. Bryan dropped some knees onto Sheamus, and then tagged The Miz back into the match.

Rapid fire tags from the heel team, who all entered and hit strikes. The Miz ended up being the active man and he hit Sheamus with a double arm DDT. He then tagged out to Rhodes, who locked in a chin lock. Sheamus powered out, but Rhodes quickly regained control with a running knee. Sheamus hit a knee of his own and went for the Celtic Cross, but Cody slipped out and hit a side Russian leg sweep. Rhodes continued the attack, but Sheamus hit an Irish Curse Back Breaker to turn the tables.

Sheamus finally tagged out to Orton, who hit power slams on both Cody and The Miz. Rhodes got chased up the ramp by the Big Show. Orton went to hit his hanging DDT on The Miz, but Bryan broke it up. Bryan almost ate the same DDT, but he escaped by hanging Orton on the ropes. Sheamus then knocked Bryan off the apron. The Miz recovered and went for a skull crushing finale on Orton, but Orton avoided and hit the RKO for the victory.

Post match, Kane attempted a sneak attack, but Orton saw him and they began to brawl. They traded blows all over the arena to close the show…

Barnett’s Brief: Well, I guess that match featured all of the booked and presumptive Smackdown based WrestleMania matches, but it didn’t really put a focus on any of them. The action in the ring was pretty good and we got to see some offense from everybody, but I can’t escape the feeling that these feuds really need more individual attention and story development. You have to hope they are able to give these matches some exposure on Raw, as there are really only two Smackdown’s left until WrestleMania.

Do you have questions, comments, or concerns about this article? Please e-mail me at barnett.jake@gmail.com or hit me up on twitter @barnettjake so we can talk about it.

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