By Chris Shore

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 10/9 in San Jose, California.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Josh Matthews and JBL welcomed us to Smackdown. Booker T came to the stage to discuss the KO Punch vs. the Brogue Kick. Booker put over the match and said both men felt their move was the most powerful. He said they were going to find out right now. It was at that moment I saw the punching bag game behind Booker. Oh no.

Big Show and Sheamus both made entrances to the stage. Booker stood between them and said tonight was all about them, but they were to take their animosity out on the punching bag machine. My cable had a small seizure, but then Booker said Big Show could go first. Show snatched the mic away and said he wasn't going first. He ran through the people he had knocked out and said ask them how powerful his punch was.

Sheamus took a mic and said he was game to go first. He kicked the bag and scored 1322 pounds per square inch. Show said he still wasn't doing it because it was rigged to make him look stupid. Sheamus mocked him and how short his last title reign was. Show snapped and punched the bag. He scored 1809 pounds per square inch. Big Show said he would see Sheamus at Hell on a Cell and left. Booker asked Sheamus about it, but Tensai attacked before Sheamus could say much…[C]

Shore's Slant: Lame opening. Putting aside that the two title contenders are playing with a game, neither score makes sense. First, they were supposed to just measure pounds because it’s a measurement of force, and second, neither number is even close to what they should be. The strongest punches ever recorded were around 1200 pounds. Nothing was good about that.

Sheamus stood in the ring and Tensai got a full entrance. Sheamus attacked before the bell and they brawled on the floor. They finally made it back into the ring…

[Q2] 1. Sheamus vs. Tensai. Sheamus again attacked at the bell, but Tensai hit a dirty shot and worked Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus sold for less than a minute and then came running back with a strong of offense. They traded moves and misses, and then Sheamus hit White Noise. He followed with the Brogue Kick for the win…

Sheamus defeated Tensai in 3:33.

A video recapped Alberto Del Rio's attack on Randy Orton after Smackdown went off the air two weeks ago. The announce team showed Orton's tweet about Orton showing up tonight, Backstage, Ricardo Rodriguez looked nervous near Del Rio. Del Rio asked him why he was worried about Orton. He reminded Ricardo that he had handled Orton just fine last time. He said since Ricardo was so worried, he should go find Orton. Ricardo didn't want to, but Del Rio sent him anyway…[C]

Shore's Slant: So far, not a great start to Smackdown. It looks like we are in for one of those, "not depressing but hardly worth watching" episodes of Smackdown. The time is already starting to drag. Nothing on this show seems fresh in any way. I hope they are setting a framework for something later.

Backstage, Ricardo looked for Orton. He heard a hissing sound and looked scared. Santino and the Cobra popped out Ricardo nearly died. Santino put over the Cobra and said Ricardo had to be scared of an equally dangerous snake, the viper. The Cobra struck Ricardo and Santino said they had to go work in the ring. Ricardo left like he had been bullied…

[Q3] Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre, and Jinder Mahal made their ring entrance. A video showed them attacking Santino and Zack Ryder on Raw. The three cut a promo and said they were a band now. They played air guitar until Santno's music cut them off…[C]

Shore's Slant: I like Santino's comedy out of the ring most of the time, and I get a real kick out of Ricardo most times. This was terrible. I'm a little surprised at how rough this show has been so far. I like the Band though, so let’s see what happens here.

2. Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal (w/Drew McIntyre) vs. Santino Marella and Zack Ryder. Ryder started, but quickly tagged in Santino. The heels took control and worked over Santino. Ryder got the hot tag and ran his offense on Slater. Ryder hit the Broski Boot and everybody got involved. Slater hit his stunner type move for the win…

Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal defeated Santino Marella and Zack Ryder at 3:47.

A video showed the Kane and Daniel Bryan match from Raw. They showed a Ziggler Tout where he challenged Kane to a match. Kane made his ring entrance…[C]

Shore's Slant: OK, when I said I liked the Band, I didn't mean the stupid air guitar gimmick, just the three guys in the act. I hate the act like they have it now, but maybe it will evolve. I do like Ziggler challenging Kane via Tout. Now if he can just get the win.

[Q4] Vickie Guerrero introduced Dolph Ziggler…

3. Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero). Both guys started fast and Kane tossed Ziggler over the top. Ziggler skinned the cat and Kane kicked him back over the top rope…[C] Back from commercial, Kane continued to work Ziggler in the corner. Ziggler hit a swinging neck breaker for a one count.

Ziggler hit a great drop kick for two, but Kane stormed right back and hit a clothesline for two. Kane worked his offense and hit a side slam. He went to the top, but Ziggler caught him there. Vickie distracted the ref and Ziggler grabbed the briefcase. Kane recovered and jumped off the top rope, but Ziggler hit him with the briefcase. The ref still saw it, so Ziggler was disqualified. Ziggler tried to go after Kane again, but Kane punched him.

Kane defeated Soph Ziggler by disqualification at 10:06.

Daniel Bryan ran out and chased off Ziggler, which enraged Bryan. They argued in the ring and Matt Striker broke them off by asking if this bickering was how they would lose the title. He said some people said Bryan was the weak link, while others said Kane was. Bryan put Striker in the No Lock. Kane stopped him, helped Striker to his feet, and then chokeslammed Striker to leave him out…

[Q5] Ricardo was still backstage looking for Orton, He found Hornswoggle with a Orton's Brawling Buddy doll instead. Ricardo beat it up and left…[C]

Shore's Slant: Wow, it felt just like Monday night. Kane and Ziggler work well together, but again, nothing felt special or must see about this. Hornswoggle was the top of the second hour? I hope we get to see the quarter hours for this show.

Back from commercial, Lilian Garcia welcomed all the breast cancer survivors in attendance and plugged the Susan G. Komen Foundation…Miz joined the commentary team, and Matthews set up a video clip of Miz, Kofi, and Larry King from Monday.

Kofi Kingston made his ring entrance. Matthews pointed out Kofi had challenged Miz to a title match on next week's Main Event. Big Show was out next…

4. Kofi Kingston vs. Big Show. Show took quick control while the announcers bickered and talked about Miz. Show whipped Kofi to the corner and charged. Kofi hit the pendulum kick and the Boom Drop, but Show swatted the Trouble in Paradise away and hit the WMD for the win…

Big Show defeated Kofi Kingston at 2:11.

[Q6] Miz took a mic and cut a promo over a downed Kofi about how Kofi's life is missed opportunity after missed opportunity. Miz said he was leaving with his head held high, just like it would next week on Main Event…[C]

Shore's Slant: The lackluster Smackdown rolls on.

Backstage, Ricardo told Del Rio he couldn't find Orton. Daniel Bryan walked in and scared Ricardo. Bryan and Del Rio traded insults and Bryan said they were facing each other tonight…

Layla, Kaitlyn, and Teddy Long were in Booker T's office. They told Booker T that Aksana told then she had found a blond wig in Eve's bag. Eve walked in and said she found a wig in Teddy's bag and put it on his head. Everybody talked and once and Booker left with Layla and Kaitlyn. Teddy told Eve she knew he had nothing to do with this. Eve said neither did she…[C]

[Q7] Sin Cara and Damien Sandow made their entrances…

5. Sin Cara vs. Damien Sandow (w/Cody Rhodes). Rhodes got in all his offense and looked to be about to win a squash. Sandow was knocked to the floor, and Sin Cara hit a seated senton on Cody. Cody grabbed Sin Cara and the ref ejected Cody. Sandow argued with the ref. Sin Cara hit a surprise ranna into a pinfall to win…

Sin Cara defeated Damien Sandow at 3:16.

Daniel Bryan was shown walking backstage. He walked up to Kane and told him not to come rescue him, no matter what. Kane promised he wouldn't, and Bryan walked on…[C]

Shore's Slant: I guess the Sandow/Sin Cara match was to whet our appetite from Monday's tag finals, but all it did was clue me off to a win from Cody and Sandow. Did I expect that anyway? Sure. But now, it seems so obvious. And not in a good way.

Del Rio completed the entrance he started during the break. Daniel Bryan was out next…

6. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) vs. Daniel Bryan. Both guys got in some early offense. Bryan hit his string of kicks and whipped Del Rio into the corner. He went for the corner drop kick, but Del Rio moved. Del Rio hit the enziguri kick and Bryan spilled to the floor.

[Q8] Del Rio went for a dive. Bryan moved. Del Rio held on to the rope. Bryan kicked him and Del Rio fell. Del Rio shoved Bryan into the announce table and hit a kick into the break….[C]

Back from commercial, Bryan locked on the No Lock almost immediately. Del Rio sold it for some time before finally crawling to the rope. Del Rio used the ref pulling Bryan off to sneak attack the arm and locked on the cross arm breaker in the ropes. He broke at four and then slammed Bryan into the post. Del Rio locked on the arm breaker again for the win.

Alberto Del Rio defeated Daniel Bryan at 9:47.

Del Rio took a mic and said Orton was messing with everyone because he wouldn’t be there. He showed the video of Orton getting knocked out by Big Show from Main Event. Del Rio started mocking Orton's posing. He dropped down like he was setting up for the RKO and Orton was there.

Orton attacked Del Rio and beat him all over the ringside area. Ricardo jumped on Orton's back to stop him. Orton shrugged him off, but Del Rio escaped. He closed the show by hitting an RKO on Ricardo on the table, which still didn't break…

Shore's Slant: I like the clean win from Del Rio, but why over Bryan. Seems like a strange choice of guys to job out to Del Rio. The whole show was like that, though. Strange decisions. Jason Powell might like it when WWE panics because Raw gets a little better, but Smackdown always gets worse. This was a weak show that accomplished nothing more than pouring more water on the rest of the product. I'll have more tomorrow on the Hitlist and All Access audio. Thanks for watching along with me 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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