By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped 5/29 in Baton Rouge, LA.

[Q1] A video package aired that covered the drama between Kane, C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan. It also stated that this is the first time the WWE Title has been defended on Smackdown in 4 (wasn't that 8 on Monday?) years. The normal Smackdown intro then aired.

Lilian Garcia was in the ring and introduced Sheamus. He entered the arena to a pretty good pop. Sheamus immediately introduced a video package from last week, and commented that he introduced himself to Alberto Del Rio last week the best way he knows how. The video was him as he stood over Del Rio after a Brogue Kick. He then said his goal was to set the tone of his match by showing Del Rio he wouldn't kiss his ass, and to show him that money won't buy him everything. He emphazised that it certainly couldn't buy him the World Heavyweight Championhip. David Otunga's music then hit and he headed towards the ring with his coffee mug.

Otunga grabbed a mic, and Sheamus introduced him with a creep grin on his face, and said he was happy to see him. Otunga said he wasn't out there for jokes, he was out there on behalf of Laurinitis for other business. He rolled a video package form a few weeks ago as evidence, and it showed Laurinitis getting bowled over by Sheamus as he headed to the ring to save John Cena. Otunga said the footage spoke for itself and that Sheamus has yet to apologize to Laurinitis. He then ordered an apology from Sheamus. Sheamus said this isn't Starbucks, and that if Sheamus wanted to order him around he be picking his coffee cup out of his arse for the next two weeks.

Sheamus continued and said that if Laurinitis wanted an apology, he should wheel himself out to the ring. Otunga then said that Sheamus might be the whitest bulb, but he's not the brightests. He began to speak more, but was cut off by Alberto Del Rio, who entered the arena in a White Bentley. Mic in hand, Del Rio spoke form the rmap and said that Otunga was wasting his breath and said that he wouldn't get an apology form this "peasant". He called Sheamus a hooligan and said that people like him work for people like "us". He then said that Otunga wouldn't need to worry about it much longer, as he would be the next World Heavyweight Champion. Otunga smiled and said he appreciated the sentiment. Otunga then said Sheamus needed an immediate consequence.

He then said that Laurinitis has authorized him to allow Del Rio to pick Sheamus's opponent for tonight. Sheamus said he was sorry, but said he wasn't sorry for what he did to Laurinitis. He then kicked Otunga into Del Rio, who rolled out of the ring. Sheamus then said he was sorry for what he was about to do to him. He then told Del Rio to never trust a hooligan. The announce team plugged Big Show's destruction from Monday and Sin Cara's redebut...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Not a bad opening segment, but not Earth shattering. Sheamus is still far too happy go lucky for me, and Del Rio doesn't appear to be expanding his character much further outside of his standard "Mexican Royalty" schtick. Otunga is still very dry, which I guess is the point, but the coffee cup routinely displays more charisma than he does.

[Q2] Sin Cara's music played and he headed to the ring in new red gear without his trampoline entrance. Heath Slater was at a ringside, and his entrance was during the commercial.

1. Sin Cara vs. Heath Slater: Slater hit some punches and locked in a chin lock. Cara hit a spring board arm drag, which sent Slater out of the ring. Cara hit a diving plancha and threw Slater back in the ring. Slater hit some kicks and stomps, and locked in another chin lock on the ground. Sin Cara got to his feet and elbowed out. He rolled out of a back suplex, and hit a springboard elbow, followed by another arm drag variation off the ropes.

Sin Cara then hit a springboard splash on Slater, followed up by his La Mistica finisher for the clean finish.

Sin Cara defeated Heath Slater at 2:13.

Barnett's Brief: Pretty basic return match, but it was wrestled clean and Slater made Sin Cara look pretty good.

The announcers recapped the Kane/Punk/Bryan drama and hyped the main event for later...[c]

[Q3] Zeke Jackson was in the ring, followed by Damien Sandow.

2. Damien Sandow vs. Ezekiel Jackson: Sandow grabbed a mic and said he was in the ring with an Ignoramus and wouldn't participate, but Zeke grabbed him. Sandow grabbed some underhooks and hit some knees, followed by a rolling Russian leg sweep and an elbow for two. He hit his wrapped neckbreaker for the clean pin.

Damien Sandow defeated Zeke Jackson at 1:40.

Backstage Del Rio and Ric Rod spoke together when Dolph Ziggler walked up. He said he looked to prove himself elite, and wanted the match with Sheamus for later. Del Rio said he has something in his eye, and liked his passion. He then congratulated him on facing Sheamus tonight. Dolph said "Smart move", and shook his hand.

The announcers then plugged Ryback as next....[c]

Barnett's Brief: Good stuff from Damien Sandow. Ziggler and Del Rio were good too, and I'm wondering if we aren't seeing a face turn from Ziggler. Lord knows he needs to escape his current creative rut.

Ryan Shelton and Chris Lyons were in the ring and cut a brutal promo and ended it by saying "Roll Tide Roll" regarding the U of Alabama. Ryback then entered.

3. Ryback vs. Bryan Shelton and Chris Lyons Ryback hit a powerslam, followed by two powerbombs on Lyons. He then killed Shelton with a clothesline. He picked up Lyons and hit a swinging head and arm slam, followed by picking up both men for his finisher. He covered both men for the win.

Ryback defeated Jobbers at 1:21

Barnett's Brief: Yawn.

The Raw rebound then aired of Big Show's promo and destruction from Monday.

[Q4] The announcers then plugged the Cena vs. Big Show Steel Cage match fro No Way Out. Vickie Guerrero then made her way out for her "Excuse Me!" bit. Dolph Ziggler then ran out behind her and grabbed the mic and said "Tonight, I beat the World Heavyweight Champion" and walked to the ring. Vickie followed him disgusted...[c]

Sheamus made his entrance after the break.

4. Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler: Ziggler locked in a head lock to start, but Sheamus powered out and pushes Ziggler into the ropes. Sheamus then hit a headlock takeover, followed by a shoulder tackle. Ziggler fired back with a nice drop kick, but it didn't last as Sheamus got back in control with a clothesline for two. It broke down into a punch and kick festival for a bit, until Ziggler attempted a cross body from the top rope and dove into a rolling senton from Sheamus for two. ZIggler got tossed to the outside a moment later...[c]

Sheamus hit several double axe handles and a knee lift in the corner. He then tried for the Celtic Cross, but Ziggler avoided. Dolph grabbed the apron, but Sheamus grabbed his leg, but he managed to escape to the outside. Both men fought on the apron for a bit, but Ziggler got back inside the ring and kicked Sheamus into the announce table from the apron. Sheamus beat the count at nine. Dolph then hit a rocker dropper for a two count. He continued the assault with a choke on the ropes and a chin lock, complete with a headstand.

[Q5] Sheamus eventually powered back to his feet, but Ziggler hit him with a DDT for another two count. He then hit some kicks and an elbow drop for another two. After another chin lock, Dolph locked in the sleeper briefly before being dumped onto the apron. Sheamus hit his clubbing blows, followed by a suplex back into the ring for two. He then hit a backbreaker a moment later for another two count. Sheamus went up top, but Dolph crotched him and hit a huge top rope facebuster for a great near fall.

Sheamus lined up for the Zig Zag, but Sheamus avoided and hit white noise. He then revved up for the Brogue Kick, but Swagger interfered to break it up. Sheamus fought off Swagger by throwing Ziggler into him, and followed it up for the brogue kick for the win.

Sheamus defeated Dolph Ziggler at 13:03.

Barnett's Brief: Great match that really showed what these talented young guys in WWE are capable of when given a little bit of a story and some motivation. Ziggler is back on his way towards his 14th breakout moment, and Sheamus continues to his streak of being very impressive in the ring. If they can get the character right with Sheamus, they'll be printing money.

C.M. Punk was interviewed backstage. Striker asked him about his match with Kane and his feud with Laurinitis. He said that Laurinitis hates him and he hates Laurinits. He then said that Kane is tough, but he's the best in the world and tonight Kane goes to sleep.

A video package then aired that showed Young and O'Neill defeating the Usos last week. They were then shown in the ring, and a pre-taped promo was shown where they announced that their name is the Prime Time Players. Santino then made his entrance, followed by Zack Ryder.

[Q6] 5. The Prime Time Players vs. Santino Marella and Zack Ryder: Santino and Young started the match, and O'Neill quickly tagged in. He picked O'Neill and dropped him on Santino. Young tagged back in and knocked Ryder off the apron. Young threw Santino into the corner but he popped out and rolled young up for the quick victory.

Santino and Ryder defeated The Prime Time Players at 1:16.

After the match, Santino and Ryder celebrated up the ramp. Big Show walked out behind them and threw Santino into the WWE sign on the stage. Ryder then got thrown into the barricade down by the ring. Big Show grabbed the lower half of the ring steps and set them up on the steel ramp. He then body slammed Ryder onto it and dumped him off on to the floor. Show then dragged the steps onto the stage. He then kneed Santino in the chest and pressed his head against the steps. Show then applied the camel cluth on Santino while he was draped over the steps. Show then punched Santino in the back of the head to KO him.

Barnett's Brief: Show looks strong here, but that whole beatdown looked like it took place in slow motion. I don't know why they even needed the tag match if they were just going to use that segment to have Show destroy more people. Why take the heat off of the newly named Prime Time Players?

A replay aired of the previous segment!?! AJ was shown backstage in CM Punk regalia. Daniel Bryan walked up and said that Punk doesn't care for her and that he's just using her. She asked why he even cared about what she did, and he said he doesn't. He then said he did once, which is more than he can say for C.M. Punk. Christian was then shown on commentary, and ighlights were then shown of his IC Title win.

Cody Rhodes made his entrance. Tyson Kidd was already in the ring.

[Q7] 6. Cody Rhodes vs. Tyson Kidd: Tyson hit a sweep and a couple of kicks. Cody then sent him into the corner, followed by a inverted suplex. Cody taunted Christian. Tyson hit a springboard arm drag and attempted to lock in a sharpshooter, but Cody fought out. He hit Crossrhodes a moment later for the clean win.

Cody Rhodes defeated Tyson Kidd at 1:18.

After the match, Cody and Christian had a staredown. Kane was also shown backstage walking towards the ring...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Another 1 minute match. I guess it keeps this storyline on TV, but it didn't really do much for me.

C.M. Punk made his entrance to a nice ovation. Kane then made his entrance with the full welder's mask on...[c]

An Antonio Cesaro preview video aired plugging an appearance for next week.

7. C.M. Punk vs Kane: Punches and Kicks aplenty to start. Kane took control early, until Punk low bridged him on the ropes and hit a dropkick from the ring to the outside. Punk the climbed the ropes and dove on Kane to hit a double axehandle. More punches from Punk. Kane fired back with an uppercut, and hit some knees to the chest in the corner.

Punk tripped up Kane, and then wrapped his shoulder around the ring post. Punk then punched and kicked the damaged arm several time, followed by elbows to the back of the head in the corner. Kane kicked Punk in the face after a ref break, followed by a right cross for a two count. Punk kicked the arm again, and locked in a standing wrist lock. Kane used his weight to dump Punk to the outside...[c]

Punk continued to work over the arm, and hit a double axe handle to the shoulder. Punk went for the top rope, but Kane clotheslined him to the floor. AJ then came out to make sure he was ok, and stayed at ringside. Kane threw him back in the ring and threw punches and kicks and an elbow drop for two. Kane then locked in a neck vise, but Punk fougth to his feet and punched out.

Punk hit ropes, but got caught in a choke. Kane lifted up Punk for a chokeslam, but Punk reversed into a DDT. Punk then hit his knees in the corner followed by a neckbreaker for two. Punk then hit a kick to the back fo the head a moment later for a near fall. Kane came back witha Big Boot for a near fall of his own too. Kane hit a clothesline in the corner, but Punk avoided the second one and hit a bulldog for another close count.

Punk lifted up Kane for the GTS, but Kane fell on top of him. Kane then followed up with a seated dropkick for two. Kane then climbed the top rope, but Punk hit him with a dropkick on the way down. Punk climbed the ropes himself, and AJ warned him of Daniel Bryan entering from the stage. Punk dove onto him instead of Kane. Kane got to his feet, but Punk kicked him back down and hit the elbow done anyway for another near fall. Punk then went for a springboard clothesline, but Kane hit an uppercut. He then went for a chokeslam, but Bryan interfered and kicked both men causing a No Contest.

Bryan then stomped and kicked Punk while yelling "Yes!". Punk hit a clothesline on Bryan to break it up. He then went for the GTS, but Kane snuck back in and hit a chokeslam on both men. Laurinitis then wheeled himself onstage and announce that the WWE Title match at No Way Out would be a Triple Threat match to close the show.

The match ended in No Contest at 15:48.

Barnett's Brief: A good match from Punk and Kane that would have actually been improved if Kane hadn't need to do some much heavy lifting in the match. I think the Triple Threat at the PPV will be a good clash of styles, even though I think they have muddled this story a lot with Kane's involvement. I'm in agreement with Jason Powell that this seems to be a step to get the title off of Punk without having him lose, but I'm ok with it if we see Bryan and Punk feud into Summerslam.

Do you have questions, comments or concerns? Contact me at barnett.jake@gmail.com or on twitter at @barnettjake.

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