WWE Smackdown live event
Buffalo, N.Y.
Report by Dot Net reader Mike Roth

My wife and I arrived promptly at 730 and noticed the First Niagara Center was about three quarters full for the actual tickets sold. The upper bowl (300's) were not sold at all, so the floor seats were full as well as the 100 level. My wife and I sat in the 200's as they are the best hockey seats and the 200's have the better food and beer options. But they weren't sold out because we were able to move to better seats.

1. Justin Gabriel defeated Hunico. Typical opening high flying match to get the crowd hot. Lots of back and forth with many near falls. A few counters by both combatants, it ended when Gabriel rolled Hunico into a school boy for the win

Tony Chimel announced a refund for everyone before 8:45 because of an injured Randy Orton, but added that Sheamus would take his place in the next match. Barrett came out and cut a promo putting himself over for injuring Orton.

2. Sheamus defeated Wade Barrett in a street fight. The match started with Sheamus dominating the first part of the match. They brawled into the floor section then into the 100 level. They disappeared for a few seconds came back out and threw punches a la Rob Ray of the Sabres and Tie Domi from Toronto, of hockey lore, where the ice normally would be. They got back in the ring where Barrett took control and found a kendo stick under the ring. Sheamus sold a very good shot to the head at one point during Barrett's barrage.

After a four-minute headlock and some crowd encouragement, Sheamus took momentum back after some double axe handles and a flying shoulder block from the top rope. Sheamus found a kendo stick of his own under the ring after beating Wade for a few seconds. Sheamus went to throw the stick to the floor when it slipped I guess and it came close to or could've even hit a fan in the front row, for real. Out of nowhere, Drew McIntyre interfered and hit Sheamus with a chair in the back and then hit his Future Shock DDT. Sheamus kicked out but Barrett went for Wasteland on said chair, Sheamus countered it into a Brogue Kick for the pin.

Booker T was announced but quickly got jumped by Cody before he could get to the ring. Cody cut a promo after that saying these attacks were going to happen all night.

3. Jinder Mahal defeated Ted DiBiase. The match was not well received by the fans but it still a well wrestled one. DiBiase tried to get the crowd with him by getting a USA chant going, which can be tricky here, as a lot of Canadians come across for these events. After some more standard back and forth, Mahal won with a camel clutch.

4. Seth Rollins defeated Tyson Kidd. The crowd honestly had no idea who Rollins was. Very good match despite the flat crowd. Kidd applied the Sharp Shooter to actually a big pop. Rollins reached the ropes and then hit a power bomb that bounced Kidd off the top buckle into a head stomp for the victory.

After the match, Cody jumped both wrestlers. He cut another promo about how he revived the IC belt (where is this A+ promo for live TV?). A "Cody sucks" chant broke out and he asked if he's really gonna listen to Bills fans crying about who sucks (classic cheap hometown sports team heat). Then, of course, Booker T came out to segue into their match.

5. Booker T defeated Cody Rhodes in an Intercontinental Title match by DQ. Lots of back and forth with Cody doing most of the heavy lifting. In my eyes there was good chemistry between the two, live, believe it or not. Once again, some more back and forth which led to Cody "bullying" the ref, getting himself disqualified.

Hornswoggle was announced as the guest host and judged a dance contest (time for a Molson Canadian run!!). Chimel informed us of an intermission and plugged another "Live Event" this time for Raw on 3-11-12 during the road to WrestleMania.

6. AJ and Alicia Fox defeated Natalya and Tamina with Aksana as special ref. Absolutely no one was into this match including my wife and I. Sorry but its true. It extends the intermission I guess and adds for the beer and bathroom breaks. Natalya threw tissues during their intros and the match. It ended when Fox scored a roll up(school girl?) for the win. I really feel bad for Natalya in many ways because she really gives it her all and gets no attention by the crowd despite her heritage and in my eyes could be a huge star if they put her with some of the men like they did with Chyna in the past. But what do I know?

7. Air Boom defeated Primo and Epico (w/Rosa Mendes) to retain the WWE Tag Titles. UnfortunateIy, there wasn't any pyro for Air Boom but regardless I personally couldn't wait for this match. It was a spot fest with the cousins taking control in the beginning. Eventually, Air Boom hit a double cross body block to the floor from the top rope. Bourne was taking the obligatory beating while everyone couldn't wait for Kofi's hot tag, which eventually happened. Kofi missed Trouble in Paradise that Primo countered into the backstabber for a pin. But alas Kofi's foot was on the rope that another ref happened to see in the back to lead to a reversal. Evan hit the always amazing live Air Bourne for the clean pin and victory to retain the titles. This would be a great match for the Rumble. But again, who am I?

8. Daniel Bryan defeated Mark Henry and Big Show in a Triple Threat cage match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Daniel Bryan came out to very little reaction which to me was very surprising. The fans around us who liked Cody and Barrett didn't like Bryan and his believability. When the match started, of course Bryan tried for the quick escape. There really was a doubt in everyone's minds around us as to how a Daniel Bryan can "hang" with these absolute giants.

After 15 minutes of Show's chokeslams and MMA-esque kicks by Bryan to each other, Bryan scaled the cage for the win. Very little Henry offense and mostly a main event that had very little oomph to it. Again, it was a house show and I'm a Bryan supporter but the end left a lot to be desired for the people walking out around us.

Notes: Someone needs to take this ball in Smackdown and run with it if Orton is going to be out long term. If and when Bryan gets out of this big man program it might happen, but in the meantime it seems he might be stuck in limbo. Overall, a good holiday show with a good crowd interaction in the Sheamus vs. Barrett match and good wrestling for the "older fans" (I'm 32 and my wife's 31).

Most pops
1. Sheamus
2. Big Show
3. Booker T

Most heat
1. Cody Rhodes
2. Wade Barrett
3. Mark Henry

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