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This week’s Smackdown came to us from Des Moines, Iowa. It opened with another a brief career recap for Christian and further built up his hunt for the title and his tantalizingly quick title reign. Tonight both the World Heavyweight Championship and the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship are both on the line, so hopes are high for a great episode. After the opening segment it is Christian coming to the ring to face Mark Henry.

Christian vs. Mark Henry

This is back and forth early as Christian attempts a suicide dive but is caught outside the ring by Henry, who then tries the World’s Strongest Slam on the outside but Christian catches the ropes at the apron and avoids the deep drop. Back in the ring, Henry launches Christian way high with an inverted body drop and then works away at his trap muscles with that big, strong paw of his. Christian fights out but any time he gets some mojo going the big man shuts him down. On the outside, Christian drop toe holds Henry into the announcer table to stun the big man. This gives him time to try for a high cross body but he’s caught again; however, he’s able to slip out of another Strongest Slam attempt and hit Kill Switch for the clean pinfall victory! Christian remains at the front of the hunt for the once dominant NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship.

Christian Promo

After the match and commercial break, Christian remains in the ring with microphone in hand. He puts himself over for beating the World’s Strongest Man, but even though it’s a great victory, ‘it’s not exactly the victory I wanted tonight’…referring to Sheamus vs. Orton. He proceeds to do some play-by-play of last week’s Triple Threat match and shows the audience how he had Sheamus pinned for 6 seconds after the spear he delivered. We then see the “injustice” again of Sheamus’ win after the pump kick. Not sure why we’re supposed to suddenly see this very common scenario as a big deal, but it fits the storyline in justifying Christian for another shot at the title. Jive Soul Bro Teddy Long comes out next and agrees that Christian was a victim of circumstance. The crowd naturally pops when Christian asks if they would like to see him vs. Orton for the title tonight. They give some cheap heat when he asks if they want to see Orton vs. Sheamus instead. I don’t like this whole ‘crowd-reaction-to-determine-title-matches’ thing going on in Smackdown lately. Long won’t give Christian a 1×1 match with Orton or a Triple Threat match. But, he appoints Christian as the special guest referee. I don’t get how that helps or is relevant to anything but that’s what we have.

AJ and Kaitlyn vs. Tamina and Alicia Fox

This divas match is a rematch from last week, where Fox pinned Kaitlyn. Natalya is back in the corner of AJ and Kaitlyn. I don’t care much for the Divas but it’s good to see two new ones getting worked in, especially since one of them is Kaitlyn! Alicia Fox is wearing a ridiculous pink ballet bikini that just makes me want to see her get hammered. Not exactly intimidating. Kaitlyn gets the better of Tamina but after a quick Somoan drop onto AJ, Tamina gets the pinfall after about two minutes. So much for better luck the second time…

Cody Rhodes Promo (Great Khali backstage with Stryker)

Cody and the Bagmen come down after the third break for a promo. He’s dressed in his suit and still wearing the mask. He cuts this promo on Daniel Bryan, and claims the humiliation he dished to Bryan last week (laying him out with a paper bag on his head) equates to Daniel being the loser. He rips Bryan’s boring personality and then proceeds to instruct his baggers to pass out paper bags to ringside fans. A group of fans in NOW shirts is eager to get their hands on some and seems to get the joke. In the back, Matt Stryker asks Great Khali for an explanation of what happened last week (heel turn and attacking his ‘brother’), but Khali stonewalls him and stares off into space silently. Eventually, Jinder Mahal appears and speaks for Khali. He talks to Khali in native language, but translates it to us as basically saying that Khali is taking his first steps to immortality.

Jinder Mahal vs. Yoshi Tatsu

Jinder makes his debut with Khali in his corner. He’s wearing what appears to be a white, prince-like athletic garb. Mahal is in white trunks and white boots. Tatsu comes out next with his corny jumping and smiling. Matthews calls Tatsu “one of the most exciting young superstars in WWE” and I’m scratching my head. Mahal is on the offense right away with punches and kicks as he backs Tatsu into the corner and then hits a textbook vertical suplex. He then applies a full nelson and lifts Tatus into a suplex slam all in one fluid motion. He pins Tatsu inside a minute, and the “most exciting superstar” is squashed in about 30 seconds. Khali comes in and is ordered to apply the vice grip to Yoshi’s skull. I’ll never be a Khali fan, but I don’t consider him totally irrelevant in this new heel role anymore. I like what I see so far from Mahal.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Ezekial Jackson (challenger) vs. Wade Barrett (champion)

We’ll see how this one goes, but I’m guessing we all expect about five minutes of wrestling and then a run-in by Slater and Gabriel. The bigger question is who will The Corre add to their mix in the future, if anyone? I am guessing that when/if Skip Sheffield returns he’ll align with this faction (or will he go to New Nexus??). As much as a dork-nob as Sheffield was in NXT, he evolved into a monster within Nexus and was their enforcer before going down prematurely (go watch the Summerslam DVD if you’ve forgotten). This match starts in the usual fashion until Barrett hits a very impressive spinning Rock Bottom on Jackson a minute in that scored a very close near fall. Barrett then goes to work on the neck and shoulders with a modified camel clutch into an atomic drop. Jackson is selling back pain before tossing Barrett out of the ring. Wade charges back in the ring and is hit with a clubbing clotheslines and some big shoulder blocks. He starts his series of body slams that precede the Torture Rack. After the third body slam he goes for the standing backbreaker but Barrett rakes the eyes and gets to the ropes to escape the hold. Jackson boots Barrett in the head sending him to the outside floor. Jackson gives chase as the ref admonishes him. He backs off when he sees Slater and Gabriel come down the rampway. They’re like jackals as they threaten to enter the ring from either side. Meanwhile, Barrett is counted out of the match. Ezekial Jackson wins by countout but Barrett retains the title. Barrett organizes a 3 on 1 attack and sends in Gabriel and Slater first, but Wade never attacks. He just turns his back and walks to the back while his two ‘teammates’ get their asses handed to them. I just don’t get what it is that The Corre wants to be. Pick a lane and stick in it guys. Backstage, there’s a little segment between Sheamus and Christian where they talk some smack about the main event later. Christian says he’ll call it down the middle but Sheamus should worry about his match, not how Christian’s gonna call it.

Daniel Bryan vs. Ted Dibiase

Big dropkick from Bryan flying off the ropes early in the match to trigger the action. Dibiase counters with a nice rollup but DB reverses it into his own small package. Very nice spot there. They exchange chops and kicks and Bryan holds the ropes to avoid a Dibiase dropkick. While Ted’s down, Bryan hits his running head kick for a nearfall. At this point, we hear a crowd rumble and see Cody Rhodes and his Bagmen coming down to the ringside area. After the break, Dibiase is working over Bryan’s back with a submission hold after a spinebuster. Bryan tries to get the upperhand with some martial arts kicks but Ted thwarts the attack and continues to work the back, this time by bending Bryan’s body around the ring post. It appears Ted may be coming out of his jobber shell a bit lately, with the help of exposure from his former Legacy partner. Dibiase still in control and working over the midsection in the corner. Bryan charges the corner and does a reverse flip off the middle turnbuckle and hits a hard flying elbow smash, following by his series of kicks. Bryan goes for a Frankensteiner off the corner turnbuckles but Dibiase rolls with it and gets his own sunset flip pinning predicament that’s good for a two count. He then levels Bryan with a big Steinerline that sends Daniel spinning in the air. He hooks the leg and gets another near fall. Meanwhile, Rhodes looks on seriously and intently as Dibiase is body dropped over the top rope. Bryan hits the suicide dive and sends Ted into the crowd barrier. He sends Ted back in the ring and gets in a stare down with Rhodes outside the ring. Bryan up to the top rope for his missile drop kick, but he just jumps in the air with no move planned as Dibiase counters with a nice dropkick. Dibiase goes for his Dream Street finisher but Bryan squirms out of it and manages to apply the Labelle Lock. Dibiase taps out and this match is over. Daniel Bryan wins by submission. After the tapout, the beatdown commences of Legacy on Bryan. However, the lights dim and Sin Cara comes flying (almost literally) into the ring and helps out Bryan by cleaning house. This was a great match for a tv taping and I expect more to come with Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, and Ted Dibiase involved—all good to great workers.

After the obligatory Raw recap, we get a promo from Johnny Curtis (former NXT winner and protégé of R Truth). He reminds us he is owed a tag title shot, and then mocks to be crying in his spilt milk by feigning tears and literally pouring milk over his own head. Interesting. At least WWE didn’t totally insult our intelligence by just ignoring this stipulation. Personally, I couldn’t even tell you what season this guy won. I know it wasn’t seasons 1 or 2 though.

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Sheamus vs. Randy Orton (Champion)

We get a championship ring introduction and are set to go with 18 minutes left in the episode. They lock up and jockey for position. Orton breaks clean in the near corner. Sheamus applies a side headlock and goes to a knee as he ranks the lock with hard squeezes. A shoulder block onto Orton and the Viper contemplates his next move. He is battered by Sheamus with a knee to the gut and shoulder smashes into his ribs. Orton turns the tables with a quick clothesline off the turnbuckles followed by some European uppercuts and right hands. Sheamus retreats outside and pulls Orton with him. The two trade blows on the outside of the ring as Christian counts slowly. Orton slams Sheamus into the barrier head-first and then tosses him back in the ring for a one-count. Orton hits the ropes hard and is hit with a back elbow. Orton to the outside and Sheamus follows. He picks him up and rams his back into the steel post and then levels Randy with a double ax handle. After the break, Sheamus continues to try and wear down Orton with a headlock and chin lock. Sheamus goes for a vertical suplex, but Orton blocks it and hits a snap suplex of his own. Sheamus charges the corner but Orton gets his foot up and hits the boot, followed by another clothesline, and then hits his quick powerslam. Orton then lands his kneeling backbreaker on Sheamus and Cole gives us the obligatory “vintage Orton” remark. The Apex Predator gets a near fall and Sheamus backs to the corner on his fanny and kicks away orton in desperation. The big Irishman then pulls off an impressive move as he grabs the top rope from a seated position, and like a gymnast (or cruiserweight), lifts himself up off the mat and over the turnbuckles and onto the top rope in a seated position. Pretty Cool. But Orton’s not impressed as he pounces on Sheamus and hits a super-plex. Orton goes for the middle rope DDT but Sheamus fights it off and hits his fairly new flying shoulder block move. Good match! Sheamus lifts up orton and drapes him over his right shoulder and hits a traditional British Bulldog/Dr Death Steve Williams power slam. He gets a near fall. Orton goes for the RKO after fighting off a possible pile driver, but Sheamus avoids it and counters with the Irish Curse backbreaker for another near fall. 12 minutes gone by now. Sheamus waits for Orton to rise and measures the pump kick but misses it and tumbles through the ropes. This enables Orton to hit the rope-assisted DDT. He’s not in full viper mode and goes for the RKO but is tossed off by Sheamus, and then hit with a clubbing ax handle. Sheamus lifts Orton like dead weight and signals for his High Cross finisher. He can’t hold on to Orton and Orton slips out the back door and once again tries for the RKO but Sheamus shoves Orton right at Christian. There’s no contact though and the two (Orton and Christian) hesitate momentarily and stare at each other. Sheamus charges hard but Orton moves and Sheamus decks Christian. Sheamus yesll at Christian and then hits the pump kick on Orton and flattens him. Christian holds his wrist in pain and goes to make the count. He counts one…two…and before counting to three he stops and holds his wrist in pain (that’s bush league!). Sheamus argues as Christian holds his arm in pain indicating he can’t count to three. Of course, Sheamus turns around and is hit with an RKO and summarily pinned with a fast count by Christian. Winner by pinfall victory is Christian. Ok, that was bullshit…even for someone who is a Christian fan. What happens next is somewhat redeeming though. Christian has the title and instead of handing it to Randy, he drills Orton in the head with it knocking him out. He holds it over Orton and says “I can beat you Randy!”, and then he holds up the title to the crowd. I don’t see this really as a heel turn, but more of a statement mono-to-mono with Orton. Although, Christian does have an arrogant smirk as he leaves the ring with title draped over his shoulder…we fade to black with Christian holding the title in the air.

Source: wrestlingtruth.com