411’s WWE Smackdown Report 09.14.2012

Greetings pilgrims and welcome once again to 411mania’s Smackdown Recap. Again, Larry is off this week and I am your trusty fill-in.

Housekeeping – keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks for the Mat & Scott Classic Wrestling Podcast. Myself and Mathew Sforcina or taking a look back at WWE on PPV starting with the original WrestleMania and we’ll work our way chronologically through every PPV the WWE has put on. If anything it should be fun in a car crash sorta way.

I usually don’t respond to reader feedback on these recaps but I did want to highlight one thing from last week…

The Usos, dipshit.

Posted By: Bob (Guest) on September 07, 2012 at 11:09 PM

Well played, sir.

While I’m at it I want to address another comment….

Actually one word catch phrases are pretty easy to catch on, such as the “what?” chant which has lasted what a decade? I mean, I love DB to death but let’s not give him too much credit for the “yes” chant. it’s not that creative or hard to get it over.

Posted By: david (Guest) on September 08, 2012 at 02:09 Am

Really? Really?……Really?

What Daniel Bryan has done with the yes chant is nothing short of brilliant. Double that when you consider that he used something that was turning him face and manage to become a bigger heel. The reason this is genius is because it is a simple one-word chant and unlike “What?” where stupid idiot, trolls in the crowd ruin whole segments Bryan has turned it into a contained heat getter. It informs his character and he manages to build layers of characterizations off the crowd and their love of taunting him with it. Watching Bryan gets in a lather while screaming no right into the face of a member of the crowd is nothing short of awesome.

Anyway…with that all done lets get to this weeks Smackdown!

No intro as we start with a video recap of Booker T. banning the Brogue Kick and the Sheamus/David Otunga interaction from RAW which resulted in Otunga eating a brogue himself.

++++

The show opens with Alberto Del Rio and both Ricardo Rodrigez and David Otunga in the ring with neck braces on. ADR thanks Booker for banning the Brogue. Ricardo takes the mic and tearfully thanks all his well wishers and completely breaks down while thanking his mother as he descends into babbling Spanish. Otunga takes the mic and calls Sheamus a brute but even though he has suspected damage between the 3rd and 4th vertebrae he will recover handsomely. ADR once again speaks and he shows footage from last year of Christian eating a Brogue. In fact Christian joins us (reluctantly) via satellite and while he hates Alberto he admits that banning of the Brogue was the right decision.

Daniel Bryan interrupts and he wants to thank the three in the ring for doing the right thing. He points out that he doesn’t have a goat face but if he does it’s because of Sheamus kicking him in the face so many times. He then thanks Booker T for giving him a WrestleMania rematch tonight since he only lost that match in 18 seconds because Sheamus caught in by surprise.

This brings out the Irishman and he says it was a surprise when his family discovered his Aunty had an Adam’s apple and a set of onions and was actually his uncle, that caught everyone by surprise. Bryan lost not because of the Brogue Kick but because of Sheamus. He tries to get into the ring but is stopped by Otunga but Sheamus rips off the neck collar and walks back up the ramp.

Sin Cara is out back and walking to the ring.

++++

We get a Get Well Jerry mention coming back from break.

Match #1 – The Miz vs. Sin Cara
Miz starts quickly with a series of kicks and hits a suplex. He misses a clothesline and Sin Cara gets a headscissor take down and Miz heads to the floor. Sin Cara attempts a dive through the ropes but meets Miz’s fist for his trouble as we go to break…

…back from break and we see Miz getting a near fall and Sin Cara kicking out at 2. Rear chinlock by Miz but Sin Cara fights out but Miz cuts off the fight back with a knee to the midsection as Sin Cara comes off the ropes. Miz lays into him with some lefts and hits his arrogant running clothesline to the corner. Double axe handle off the top rope gets 2 as Miz re-apples the chin lock. Sin Cara fights he way back up but when Miz tries to cut him off with the knee again Sin Cara counters into a roll-up pin attempt that only gets 2. Miz is quickly back up and gets the back breaker/neck breaker combo which gets another 2 count. Miz tries another arrogant clothesline to the corner but Sin Cara moves and kicks Miz in the leg who manages to avoid the back spring elbow, Sin Cara avoid a bicycle kick but gets a headscissors take down, charges the corner nails a kick to the head. The both fight out of the corner Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Sin Cara counters into a roll-up for the pin.

Winner: Sin Cara via pinfall. Interesting match as this was a more deliberately paced than you would expect out of Sin Cara. This was VERY WWE-styled and it didn’t looked to be cleaned up for TV but I may be very wrong about that. While the work was solid it was nothing special and I’m all for Sin Cara learning the WWE style but he still needs to throw in the spectacular spots like Rey Mysterio to get the crowd going. I especially like the subtle psychology as the repeated the same series of moves and where Miz got the upper hand the first time but the second time Sin Cara learned and countered to take control. For now the progress of Sin Cara is visible and encouraging. Rating **

++++

We see Miz walking in the back and Matt Stryker asks him about losing to Sin Cara, Rey and getting kicked in the head by Cody last week and not having an opponent at Night of Champions. Miz, as you would think, is not exactly thrilled as Cody comes in and points out that he wants his title back. Rey appears and says since he got the pin on Miz last week so he should get a shot at the title then all three are distracted as Sin Cara is there and he just points at the title. Cody’s sudden “You don’t get anything by pointing” reaction is gold. Teddy Long comes in and announces that Booker T has set up a Fatal Four Way Match at Night Of Champions for the IC title this Sunday.

++++

We get a recap of the Daniel Bryan/Kane anger management courses from the last couple of weeks and their win to become #1 contenders and challengers for the tag team titles this weekend.

In the back Kane is working a red stress ball in his hand. Daniel Bryan comes in and admonishes him for doing it with the wrong hand. Dr. Shelby tells them to squeeze their balls and release the anger. It seems to work until Kane shakes off the stupidity and states his ball is bigger than Bryan’s.

++++

Match#2; Kofi Kingston vs. Kane
Kofi ducks the lock-up to start and quickly attacks Kane with some kicks to the leg. He nails a flying forearm off the ropes, hits a drop kick but runs straight into a big clothesline after running off the ropes. Kane with a seated drop kick gets 2. He continues to work on Kofi in the corner and hits a running clothesline. To the opposite corner and the same happens again but when Kane goes for a powerslam attempt, Kingston counters into a bulldog but the Trouble in Paradise is blocked. Kofi goes up top but is caught on the way down and Kane nails the chokeslam for the win.

Winner: Kane via pinfall. Short but energetic. *1/2

Dr Shelby is out and he looks annoyed with Kane. Reluctantly he goes back into the ring and looks to chokeslam Kofi again but suddenly draws him in for a hug. Kofi nearly shits himself in surprise. Shelby is happy.

++++

Matt Stryker is out back with Randy Orton. He asks Randy why he wants to wrestle Tensai tonight. Randy’s simple answer…why not? He also mentions something about a 360lb tuna that went over my head and I’m too lazy to rewind to listen to it again. He also says he’s looking forward to wrestling Ziggler on Sunday and lets slip that Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio will be on before them on Sunday and tips Dolph to cash in MiTB and turning their match into a title match. Beside all of that, he hates that punk Ziggler.

++++

Match#3 – Tensai w/- Sakamoto vs. Randy Orton
Lock-up to start and they jostle into the corner and Tensai nails Orton as the ref tries to separate them. Randy fights back but Tensai swats away a dropkick attempt but he misses an elbow drop and Orton drops a series of knees. Tensai hits an uppercut and gets in some elbows in the corner but Randy attempts to fight back however Tensai easily keeps control. Randy makes a come back with two clotheslines in the corner but when he runs the ropes he slams straight into a Tensai shoulder block and Orton rolls onto the floor. Tensai goes out to retrieve him and throws him back in but before he can step back in Randy is up and hits a couple of upper cuts to the back of Tensai’s head and then hits a drop kick for good measure as we head to commercial…

…we’re back as Tensai is in control and charges Orton in the corner, a slingshot splash and a couple of forearms to the back of the head keep Tensai in control. He clamps on a nerve hold and as Randy appears to fight back Tensai clamps another one on the other side of the neck. This still can’t keep Randy down and he fights back and they trade blows, powerslam on Tensai, IEDDT gets a 2 count. Sakamoto tries to distract Randy but eats a punch for his efforts. RKO attempt gets countered into the Fall Forward Chokebomb but Tensai misses the running senton and Orton nails the RKO for the win.

Winner: Randy Orton via pinfall. I liked this match. While I’m sure this will not be to everyone’s tastes I enjoyed the smash mouth aspect as these two big guys kicked the crap out of each other. Pity Matt Bloom was DOA because this version of Tensai with some big wins would be an effective heel. Rating ***

EXCUSE ME! Vicki is out. She gave Dolph the night off but let’s Randy know he will be beaten this Sunday and he will never be world champion again. Randy says he’s wise to her ruse and knows Dolph is coming from behind, Ziggler stops short of sliding in the ring and heads up the ramp.

++++

Antonia Cesaro is a proud US Champion and is appalled that a battle royal will decide his opponent at Night of Champions. He has one word for this…outrage. Which he says in five languages. Tyson Kidd comes out and he will speak Canadian – hey. Cesaro quickly throws him over the top rope as Brodus Clay make his way out. We have a stand off but Tyson kicks Cesaro from behind, Clay with the headbutt and a splash and Cesaro beat sfeet. Then we get the dancing.

Wade Barrett comes out. He reminds us that he’s open for business but he’s had no takers since last week. He promises next week he make everyone want to sample his product

++++

Match#4 – Beth Phoenix vs. Kaitlyn
Lock up to start. Side headlock by Beth which Kaitlyn fights out of but Beth quickly gets his back on….and I have cable issue. I miss maybe 90 seconds of action and when my picture returns Beth is going for a Glam Slam which Kaitlyn counters into a pinfall win.

Winner: Kaitlyn via pinfall. Since I missed 4/5 of the match I’m not gong to make comment. N/R

++++

We get more RAW highlights of the C.M Punk/John Cena/Bret Hart confrontation. Side note…how those guys held that segment together is a tribute to their professionalism. I’m sure Bret was very effected by what happened after his own brush with death.

++++

We’re with Booker T and Eve says she supports him in his making the hard decision to ban the Brogue Kick. Teddy them appears and echo’s Eve’s comments but when the brothers try to do the bro handshake they can’t get on the same page and Booker leaves Teddy hanging.

++++

Match#5 – Seamus vs. Daniel Bryan
Lock-up to start as Bryan gets an armbar, which is quickly reversed by Sheamus and he then gets a shoulderblock on Bryan off a rope run. Lock-up again and Sheamus gets the side headlock and another shoulderblock to keep control. Sheamus gets a clothesline and Bryan goes over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus tries a kick to Bryans head but Daniel catches the foot and take it from under Sheamus who lands on the ring apron shoulder first. Bryan than nails a seated dropkick on the floor. Back inside and Bryan charges the corner and hits a dropkick. He continues to work Sheamus over with kicks but another corner charging dropkick misses. Sheamus goes up top and nails a flying shoulder block and both men are down. Bryan attempts a charge but Sheamus avoid and gets couple of double axe handles to the head, knee lift and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets a 2 count. Sheamus goes for the cloverleaf but Bryan blocks however he gets caught in the ropes and Sheamus gives us the big ten clubbing forearms. Sheamus charges for another forearm but Daniel counters the charge into a roll-up pin attempt that only gets 2. Drop toehold by Bryan slams the Irishman’s face into the second turnbuckle and a kick to the head gets 2. Bryan has to start fighting his anger and the crowd riles him some more as they chant YES! More kicks to the chest of Sheamus. Bryan goes up top but Sheamus catches him coming off, Bryan manages to clamp on the front facelock submission however that gets him no where and he goes for the No Lock but Sheamus blocks it. Bryan comes off the ropes, Sheamus get the Irish Curse and the Texas Cloverleaf. Bryan fights but eventually taps out.

Winner: Sheamus via submission. Not a patch on their Extreme Rules match but they weren’t trying for that. This was a solid main event but truth be told I was hoping for more as these guys have great chemistry together. While I’m always happy there was no bullshit Alberto Del Rio interference there was nothing that made you feel Sheamus is in any danger. Nothing was mentioned about the Brogue Kick and he didn’t even try to use it in the match. Since it’s the main storyline around the World Title and the champion right now you would think some little thread about him trying to use it as instinct or reflex would be useful. Instead it all felt a little flat. Rating **1/2

Overall: I’m sure the specter of Jerry Lawler was hanging over this show as it was recorded Tuesday while he was still seriously ill. This would have effected the writing and general tone of the show since they faced the real prospect of either playing this after the man may have died or was still critical. In the end it came off as a show you could have missed. As usual there is nothing offensive about Smackdown but I really wish that Vince/HHH would let creative off their leash, reach down the front of their pants and have a good rummage.