WWE Smackdown live event
Detroit, Michigan
Report by Dot Net reader Sean Smith

We got to the show with about 15 minutes before the starting time, so we went to the souvenir line and I was shocked to see mostly Raw T-Shirts being sold. I was very upset because it seems like every show I go to, there is not one Daniel Bryan t-shirt, and I always say I'm going to buy one at the show, but they never have it. This is very frustrating especially now that he is the World Heavyweight Champion. So instead of getting a Daniel Bryan T-Shirt, I got the Rock's newest T-Shirt (because I already had the newest Cena t-shirt).

We got to our seats and the arena was 65 to 70 percent filled, which I thought was very surprising because Raw wasn't that filled last time it came, and I heard Smackdown wasn't that filled the time before either. But I believe that since it had almost been a year since they came to my hometown, and people were ready for the show. Also, as I said before I haven't been to a house show before but from the pictures I have seen it seems like there was a new set for the SD house show crew. I know Raw got a new set, so it seems like SD would get a new set as well.

1. Ted DiBiase defeated Jinder Mahal. This was the first match up of the night and it was surprisingly a great way to start off the show, I was a little worried because there matches on SD were boring, but the crowd really like DiBiase and really disliked Jinder Mahal which was surprising. But a real source to the fans reactions were, right at the start of the match where Ted DiBiase got the Mic and said that Mahal should respect the troops in the arena.

Then it was pretty much a USA reaction for DiBiase the rest of the match, it was cheap heat. But hey you gotta start somewhere and it started the show off well. In a good back and forth match that had DiBiase do some stuff that he doesn't normally even do on TV like I saw some Running Knee's to the face and a Leap over the top rope. The finish was DiBiase reserving out of Mahal's finisher into the Dream Street for the win in a good opener.

2. Sheamus defeated Wade Barrett in a Street Fight. The second match of the night, first off before the match Tony Chimel announced that Randy Orton wouldn't compete tonight, which was met by lots of boos and people were very upset. But then Tony Chimel said that people could get a refund if they ask for one before a certain time. Which I thought was a class act by WWE, because to have your biggest star not on the show at the last minute would probably piss a lot of people off and make them want to leave, but most people didn't leave. Wade Barrett then came out and cut a promo on how injured Orton and how it was devastating and that it might keep him out for six months.

Sheamus came out, and Barrett told Sheamus that if he wanted he could leave now and he won't be hurt, but if he stays he will won't hold back and Barrett will hurt Sheamus just like he did Randy Orton. But, of course, Sheamus stayed, the match was Sheamus for the early parts of the match, they even went and fought in the crowd then fought up the stairs. No one was reacting, because no one knew what was going on. That is the problem with Live Events, I know it costs a lot of money, but having a camera at the shows wouldn't be so bad because stuff like that makes it impossible to see.

After they came back down the stairs they fought back into the ring and Barrett dominated for a while by using a Cane and a Chair. But Sheamus fought back, and Sheamus started to build momentum, but then suddenly Drew McIntyre came out and gave Sheamus the Future Shock DDT. Barrett then pinned Sheamus but Sheamus kicked out. McIntyre was shocked and came back down into the ring. Sheamus then cleared McIntyre from the ring, then Barrett hit the Winds of Change on Sheamus and set up for the Wasteland, but Sheamus got out of it and hit the Brogue Kick for the win. Sheamus and Barrett got great reactions and it was a pretty good match for the pace of the show.

Booker T came out to a great reaction, but then Cody Rhodes attacked him on his way down. Cody Rhodes then cut a promo about how he was going to end this matter with Booker T tonight, but Booker T got helped to the back by some doctors. Cody then left and the crowd was very confused, and this really slowed the momentum of the show.

3. Seth Rollins defeated Tyson Kidd. Tyson Kidd had very little heat on him at the start of the night, and no one knew who Seth Rollins was (expect for Me), so he got like no reaction. The Crowd went from red hot to pretty quite for this match, it was a great match from a wrestling stand point, and both Seth Rollins and Tyson Kidd did a great job of building themselves more. Tyson got some heat on him through the match including someone starting a Tyson Chicken chant which Tyson played to, and the crowd got behind Seth's athleticism, I think that Seth has a lot of potential once he gets onto the main roster, but Tyson needs to change some stuff up if he wants to succeed like for starters that hair cut. But other then their lack of connection with the crowd it was a really good match that was back and forth and had some really athletic stuff. I was also disappointed that there weren't that many people who knew that Seth Rollins is Tyler Black, I thought there would be a better showing from the indy wrestling fans but I was horribly wrong. The finish was Seth hitting a Powerbomb to Tyson in the corner then Tyson falling to the crowd and Seth kicking Tyson in the side of the head. This match really slowed down the momentum of the show, I get why it was on the card, but if the WWE Rosters were better then Seth Rollins would have faced someone like Jack Swagger to get more of a reaction for himself.

4. Justin Gabriel vs Hunico with The Macho. This next match didn't help the momentum either, while Justin was decently over, and Hunico got some heat. It wasn't good enough to pick the momentum back up, this was another good match but it was mostly Hunico on the offense. But Justin made a comeback and won with the 450 Splash. But after the match Hunico and Camacho attacked Gabriel, and they had some good moves. I think they could be a really good tag team if they decide to go that route. Then as Hunico and Camacho were leaving, Justin Gabriel wasn't done yet.

5. Booker T defeated Cody Rhodes by DQ in an Intercontinental Title match. Cody Rhodes came out and attacked Justin Gabriel, then Cody went on the mic and introduced himself. Hw said that he would keep on attacking people until he gets Booker T. Cue Booker T's music and Booker T comes out with more intensity, and the match quickly got going. Booker T gets the early advantage but after doing the rolling out of the ring, then running around the ring then rolling back into the ring to get the advantage thing. Cody Rhodes was then in control. During both times when Booker and Cody were controlling the match, they had the crowd eating out of their hand and I have to admit that it was very impressive, especially since I didn't think Cody was that over, but he is.

Cody was in control for a couple minutes then Booker T made a Comeback which was stopped by Cody, then Booker T made another Comeback that was stopped by the Beautiful Disaster and Cody pinned Booker but Booker kicked out at two. Booker eventually got back on the offense and gave him a Book End. Booker T pinned Cody but Cody kicked out at two. Cody got up after this and shoved the referee, which resulted in a DQ. This allowed Cody to retain the title, and Cody tried to escape but Booker T went outside and grabbed him and brought him back inside the ring. Booker T then gave him a Scissors Kick and did a Spinaroonie, which the crowd went wild for and got the show back on the right track.

Tony Chimel then announced that we would have a special guest host. I was hoping for a legend because I felt that the show wasn't very stacked and I know they let some legends host Raw house shows before. But, no, it was Hornswoggle, who then announced a Dance Contest. Now I have read all about these Dance Contest, and I was curious to see one live, now I have. The Dance Contest had only three people when I heard it usually has four people so that was interesting. They picked a man, a woman, and a child. Needless to say, the woman won.....just kidding the kid won, and now I know why because everyone wants the kid to meet his favorite wrestler and not two grown people (including the grown people), so it was obvious the kid was going to win.

Tony Chimel announced it was time for intermission, while most people went to the bathroom, got more beer, or bought some merchandise, or all three. I took some pictures and made sure that I could be right on time for the next match.

6. AJ and Alicia Fox defeated Natalya and Tamina with special guest referee Askana in a Santa's Little Helpers match. And I was fortunate, as I got to see the lovely diva's wrestle and they were looking great. There wrestling however not so much. AJ and Natalya are good wrestlers, so it wasn't to bad but it was more of a joke match, as Askana joked around by hitting Alicia and Natalya on the butt, and Natalya tried to give Alicia a box of tissues, but Alicia hit it out of her hand. Not a very memorable match, Alicia won with a Scissors Kick to Tamina.

7. Air Boom defeated Epico and Primo to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship. Since most people didn't know about Orton getting hurt since it just happened yesterday, most people were not expecting Air Boom. So this was a pleasant surprise for most. Epico and Primo got a good amount of heat and many people think that Rosa Mendes will lead to them turning face, but I don't know about that. Air Boom got a huge pop and they were really over with the crowd (more Kofi then Evan). The match started in the favor of Air Boom but Epico and Primo got the advantage after a Double Team move to Evan.

Evan made a comeback and got a hot tag to Kofi and Kofi cleaned house, and Kofi set up for the Trouble in Paradise onto Epico but Primo interfered, then Evan came in and tried to give Primo a huracanrana over the top rope, but Primo shoved Evan away and Evan went over the top rope. Primo then turned around and Kofi clotheslines Primo to the outside. But then Epico gave Kofi a Back stabber and Epico pinned Kofi for three but his foot was on the bottom rope. The crowd was shocked and I was personally shocked because right after the match Rosa Mendes shoved Kofi's foot off the bottom rope so there was no proof of it.

The referee was heading to the back, while Epico, Primo, and Rosa were celebrating to the shock of the crowd. Another referee came out and told the original referee what happened and the original referee restarted the match. Epico and Primo immediately double teamed Kofi, but Kofi made a comeback and gave Epico a Trouble in Paradise. Evan gave Epico a Air Bourne for the win. The crowd popped huge for their win and the match just goes to show the potential that the tag team division has.

8. Daniel Bryan defeated Big Show vs Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Steel Cage. The steel cage had to be set up so there was another short intermission which lasted about 10 minutes. Daniel Bryan made his way out first to an okay reaction (but I got a high five from him so I was happy). Big Show then came out to a huge reaction, and Mark Henry came out to lots of boos and even more boos when he high fived a kid (which shocked me but made more sense) and then took the kid's sign and tore it up. Then Mark Henry threw the pieces away before he entered the ring, which got a lot of heat.

I had a Daniel Bryan poster and I was holding it up and looking at Daniel Bryan as he was in the cage. And he saw it and pointed at it, gave me a thumbs, and a nod in other words...awesome!!! The match started with Daniel Bryan making numerous attempts to escape the cage only to be stopped by Big Show or Mark Henry. Daniel Bryan then got beat on by Mark Henry and Big Show. Then Big Show took down Mark Henry, and Mark Henry stayed down for most of the match after taking a couple shots because of his injury.

Big Show and Daniel Bryan had a lot of really good action, bt whenever one was about to win Mark Henry came in stopped them, then he got taken out and it was back to Daniel Bryan and Big Show. This is responsible because of Henry's injury. Through the match, Big Show was getting the most reaction, which WWE needs to fix if they want to keep Daniel Bryan the Champion. Either they need to turn Daniel Bryan or Big Show heel or they need to give Daniel Bryan a really over heel wrestler to face like Miz if they don't want Daniel Bryan to be a transitional champion. The finish came when Mark Henry had Daniel Bryan set up for the World's Strongest Slam, but Big Show gave Mark Henry a Knockout Punch and Daniel Bryan rolled away from Mark Henry. Big Show then pinned Mark Henry but at two, Daniel Bryan was at the top of the cage and Big Show got off of Mark Henry and went to the top rope and grabbed Bryan. This didn't make sense because if Big Show stayed on Mark Henry for one second he would have beaten Daniel Bryan and won the title.

Big Show tried to chokeslam Daniel Bryan off the top of the cage but Daniel Bryan kicked Big Show away and Daniel Bryan squirmed over the top of the cage and Daniel Bryan fell to the floor. As Daniel Bryan was going to the back, Wade Barrett and Drew McIntyre attacked him then sent him into the ring, then they attacked Big Show. As Mark Henry quietly left, then Sheamus ran out and made the save, leaving Big Show and Daniel Bryan in the ring. Big Show had the title. He handed Daniel Bryan the championship, which put him over in a pretty good way. Daniel Bryan celebrated to conclude the show. He went around and high fived all the people around the barricades as he left.

Notes: Pretty good show. It was better than expected and when they come back on April 23 for a Raw Supershow, I will for sure be there. They really need to make some changes to Smackdown now that Orton isn't there. They need to get a Raw guy because on paper this would have been a terrible show. However, because of the atmosphere and the matches that did look good were good or great, I can't complain.

Biggest Pops:
5. Sheamus
4. Daniel Bryan
3. Booker T
2. Air Boom
1. Big Show

Most Heat:
5. Drew McIntyre
4. Epico and Primo
3. Wade Barrett
2. Mark Henry
1. Cody Rhodes

Worst Match of the Night: Justin Gabriel vs Hunico

Best Match of the Night: Air Boom vs Epico and Primo

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