The following is 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.

By Chris Shore

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Aired live on 4/10 from Hampton, Va.

[Q1] A video hyped the Blast from the Past gimmick. The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Josh Matthews, Michael Cole, and Booker T checked in on commentary. A video recapped Daniel Bryan dumping AJ and the announce team hyped Bryan on Piper's Pit for later...

"Mean" Gene Okerlund was introduced in the ring. He introduced Sheamus, who came to the ring to a good pop. Sheamus took the mic and Gene walked over to the corner. That seemed like a waste. Sheamus said he let his anger get the best of him last week and he broke a code he shouldn't have broken. He apologized to Chad Patton by name, all the WWE officials, and the world.

He asked everyone to forgive him because he made a mistake. He said he had made a lot of mistakes in his life, and the key was learning from your mistakes. He said he had always been a little hardheaded, unfortunately. He started to say more, but John Laurinaitis's music hit.

Ace came to the ring and played the video that showed Sheamus kicking the ref. He asked Sheamus who he thought he was and demanded that Sheamus apologize to Chad Patton. Sheamus said that's what he's been doing for the last five minutes. Ace said he didn't hear it, and told him to do it again while getting in his face. Sheamus did. Ace said he had to apologize to all the refs. Sheamus protested that he already had, and again Ace demanded he do it one more time. Sheamus did.

Ace said it was time to apologize to the world. Sheamus smiled and Ace asked him if this was funny. Sheamus apologized tot he whole world again. Ace said that wasn't good enough and said Sheamus was on probation and would be fined the largest amount in WWE history, $500,000. He said if Sheamus touched a ref again he would be fired. He wished Sheamus good luck in his match, and then told Sheamus what the match was: Alberto Del Rio and Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus and Mean Gene. Gene tried to beg off but Ace left the ring...Backstage, "Cowboy" Bob Orton wished his son Randy good luck in his match...[C]

Shore's Slant: Decent opening segment, but Mean Gene in a match? Ugh. That took too much heat off. We all know how this is going to go. Sheamus takes the loss to avoid having Gene involved, and almost kills a ref in the process. Or worse, Sheamus goes over strong. This main event doesn't look that hot.

[Q2] Randy Orton made his ring entrance while a video showed him beating Kane last week. Mark Henry was out next...

1. Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry. Henry hit a slam quickly and Cowboy Bob was shown backstage watching on a monitor...[C] Back at 5:21, Henry worked a chin lock on Orton. A video showed Henry crashing into the stairs during the break only to come back with a clothesline. Henry slammed Orton around as the announce team argued about whether Punk got himself intentionally disqualified on Raw.

Henry went for a splash, but Orton moved. Orton started on offense, but Henry scooped him up for the World's Strongest Slam. Orton escaped and went for the RKO. Henry shoved him away and to the floor. He followed and tried to ram Randy into the post, but Orton slipped away and rammed Henry to the post twice. Henry went down and Orton rolled into the ring.

Kane's pyro hit and he appeared on the screen. He said he had to beat Orton at Mania to be whole again, but last week Orton proved why he is the WWE's viper. He said it couldn't end now when he was having so much fun. He said it was fun for the whole family as the camera panned back to show Cowboy Bob knocked out on the floor in front of Kane. Orton ran to the back and asked several people where Kane was, but nobody knew. He saw his dad laid out and went to check on him, only to have Kane hit him with a pole and knock him out. Kane closed the segment with "I love family reunions." I shit you not...

Randy Orton fought Mark Henry to an apparent no contest in 11:00.

Shore's Slant: I'm a little all over the place with this. Orton and Kane bore me to tears because we just did it a couple of months ago. The match itself wasn't that bad, but I don't know that having Orton knockout the man in your title match on Raw is the best move. Strange booking. Not bad entertainment, just poor decision making.

[Q3][C] A video recapped what we just saw before the commercial break...Benny Camer was introduced in the ring as Tony Atlas and Ted DiBiase Sr. were shown watching on the monitor. Came started to cut a promo, but was cut off by Ryback's music. Pat Patterson and Hillbilly Jim (I think) joined the other legends to watch...

2. Benny Came vs. Ryback. Ryback hit a clohtesline that nearly killed Camer. He powered him up into his Samoan drop finisher as the Legends laughed backstage...

Ryback squashed Benny Camer at 0:32.

Backstage, Heath Slater told Tyson Kidd he had found a legendary manager to manage them tonight when the face the Usos. He said the manager said he could be the next Honky Tonk Man because he was the one man Southern rock band. He kind of sang the last part. Odd. Jimmy Hart ran in with his megaphone and said he was the manager and they could win. Hart and Slater left happy, but Kidd just shook his head...[C]

Shore's Slant: This might be the strangest Smackdown in a while. The squash worked. I'm curious what the people watching on monitors will turn out to be about. Jimmy Hart's involvement is at least what it should be, even if it is a bit silly.

Mick Foley joined the announce team for some reason. Hart and his guys were out first, followed by the Usos full entrance. It doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was...

[Q4] 3. Heath Slater and Tyson Kidd (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. The Usos. Jimmy Hart went crazy with the bullhorn and distracted completely from the match. He finally got on Foley's nerves and Foley went after him with Mr. Socko. Hart crawled through the ring which distracted Slater and allowed The Usos to win with a top rope splash. Post-match, Mick put the mandible claw on Hart and then apologized using the bullhorn. The crowd just looked at each other...

The Usos defeated Heath Slater and Tyson Kidd (w/Jimmy Hart) at 2:36.

The announce team hyped Piper's Pit for next...[C]

Shore's Slant: Well, that's the official moment Blast from the Past jumped the shark. Even the announce team said they were distracted from the match. Total failure.

Roddy Piper made his ring entrance and the ring was setup for Piper's Pit. He told the crowd he missed them, and then said he had Daniel Bryan as his guest. He said Bryan lost the World Title at Mania in 18 seconds and blames his girlfriend. He had the truck play the video of Bryan dumping AJ again, and then introduced Bryan.

Bryan made his normal entrance and Hampton seemed unsure of what to do. When the music cut, the crowd was chanting "Yes" and it grew to most of the crowd. Piper said Bryan was awful excited for a man who lost the title in 18 seconds. The crowd started chanting "18 seconds" along with something else I couldn't make out.

Bryan said he had just spoken with Laurinaitis and he was granted his rematch with Sheamus. He said he not only wanted to pin Sheamus, he wanted to make the Great White tap out. He said he could do both because at Extreme Rules, it would be a two out of three falls match. He said the reason he lost the title, AJ, wouldn't be there. Piper said she might not be there, but she was in the building, and it was his show, so he wanted her to come out.

[Q5] AJ did, and she thanked Piper for having her there. She said hello to Bryan and Piper asked her if she was really going to speak to him after what they just showed. AJ said even though Bryan could come across bad sometimes, he really was a nice person. Piper said a nice person didn't say all the things Bryan said and she shouldn't fall for his garbage. AJ said Bryan's loss at Mania was her fault and she was sorry. She said if they could just talk, they could work things out.

Piper started to argue with her but Bryan cut him off. He said if AJ really loved him she would leave the ring right now. She did. Bryan started to leave, but Piper said he wasn't done. He pointed to Bryan's new shirt and said he had a bunch of yeses on ther, but he wanted to give him some nos.

He said you don't tell a woman to shut up, that's a no. He said you don;t yell at a woman, that's a no. He said you don't use a woman as a human shield, that was a coward, and that was Bryan, and that was also a no. He said the best part about Extreme Rules was he was going, and he would get to see Sheamus kick Bryan's head off not once, but twice. Bryan smiled and said his dominance of Sheamus at Extreme Rules was going to slap a lot of people, including Piper, across the face. He slapped Piper and quickly left the ring. Piper went after him but stayed in the ring and Bryan left doing his yes chant...[C]

Shore's Slant: WOW! That was the best talking segment in WWE since Punk's promo last year. Piper is great when he stays in control, which he did here. AJ and Bryan were also perfect in their positions. That was simply great.

4. The Great Khali, Alicia Fox, and Natalya vs. Drew McIntyre and the Bella Twins. McIntyre stormed out saying he was better than this. Fox hit a Northern lights suplex with a bridge or the win. Post-match, the babyfaces went to the ramp and partied. Mae Young's music hit and she danced out. She "kicked" Khali so he would bend over and she kissed him...[C]

Shore's Slant: What in the hell was that? How do you follow that great talking segment with that shit? Terrible.

[Q6] Damien Sandow cut another pre-tape promo, this one on sophistication. He trashed social media and said he was there to be a light and a beacon for years to come...A video recapped what happened between Kane and the Ortons. Matthews reported Cowboy Bob had abdominal injuries from the assault.

The Raw Rebound was a recap of John Cena and Brock Lesnar...Backstage, Mean Gene told Sheamus he didn't like their chances. Sheamus smiled and Gene asked if he had something up his sleeve. Sheamus said they were probably going to lose. Gene asked why he was smiling then. Sheamus said he wasn't going to give Ace the satisfaction of seeing him sweat. He said he got to team with the great Mean Gene Okerlund tonight and if they survive, the first pint was on him. Gene asked, "If we survive?" Sheamus said they would either drink to remember or drink to forget...[C]

Shore's Slant: Sandow's gimmick intrigues me. I'm not sure how short his leash will be with Vince, but I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with the character. The shenanigans in the main vent are going to be plentiful it would appear.

[Q7] 5. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan vs. Hunico (w/Camacho). The match started and Camacho tried to interfere. Sgt. Slaughter's muic hit and he came tot he ring. He chased Camacho away and tossed the 2x4 to Duggan. Duggan hit Hunico to cause the DQ. Camacho tried to make the save and took a cobra clutch for his trouble. The crowd chanted USA when it was all over.

Hunico (w/Camacho) defeated "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan (w/Sgt. Slaughter) by disqualification at 1:00.

A video replayed Sheamus telling Gene they would drink to remember or forget, and the announce team hyped the main event...[C]

Shore's Slant: The Americans cheated, so let's cheer now. Good lord, this shit is terrible. And thanks for reminding me about what Sheamus said a mere three minutes after it happened. Do the ratings numbers show a large number of Alzheimer patients watching?

Cody Rhodes was in the ring. He cut a promo on the legends taking up time from the young guys. He said he wanted to talk about the future, the future where he was once again the Intercontinental Champion. Dusty Rhodes's music hit and he came to the ring. Cody told his dad this had nothing to do with him. Dusty said Cody came in as the best athlete to come to WWE since Shawn Michaels but he came in and poked a grizzly bear in Big Show.

Cody cut him off and said Dusty was embarrassing him. He said they could discuss it backstage and started to leave. Big Show's music hit and he came to the ramp. He cut his promo as if he was Dusty and played a video from the "Dashing" Cody Rhodes era of Cody putting lip balm on. Show said that was embarrassing and left. Cody looked at his dad, who shrugged. Cody left and Dusty danced to his music...

[Q8] Mean Gene and Sheamus were shown heading towards the ring...[C]

Shore's Slant: What was the pint of that segment. Better yet, what's the point of Cody getting beat down in these spots? He's been punked out every moment since Mania. Stupid unless they plan to turn Cody, which doesn't makes even less sense.

Bryan was in the ring when the show came back. Ricardo Rodriguez introduced Alberto Del Rio. Lillian introduced Howard Finkle, who introduced Sheamus and Mean Gene...

6. Daniel Bryan and Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) vs. "Mean" Gene Okurland and Sheamus. Sheamus started with Bryan. It was back and forth for a moment, but Sheamus went for the Brogue kick and missed. Bryan hit a drop kick that knocked Sheamus tot he floor. Del Rio ran over and hit his enziguri.

Del Rio chased Gene into the ring, and Ric Rod climbed in as well. All three men closed in on Gene threatening to beat him up. Roddy Piper's music hit and all the legends we had seen came to the ring. Del Rio left through the crowd, but the legends caught Ric Rod. Piper distracted Bryan so Sheamus could recover and setup for the Brogue kick. Bryan turned around and took the move for the finish.

"Mean" Gene Okurland and Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan and Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) at 3:23.

Post-match, a bunch of the legends hit moves on Ric Rod before Sheamus hit the Brogue kick on him as well. Sheamus's music hit...but they were too quick and the show still had about three minutes left. Cole jumped into the ring and asked everyone to give the legends a hand. He said since they had to get back to the retirement home, they should do a photo op and get the back for bed. They swarmed Cole and Pat Patterson knocked him out to finally finish the show...

Shore's Slant: I can't imagine why these live Smackdowns always seem to draw bad ratings. I mean, it's not like the shows suck or...oh, wait. The Piper's Pit segment was great. The opening segment was OK, if confusing. Orton vs. Henry wasn't bad, but there were questionable booking decisions there. Everything else was a mess. Terrible Smackdown as a whole. I'll have more to say about it tomorrow on the hitlist, and later tonight with the All Access audio review. Thanks for watching along tonight.

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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