By Chris Shore

Be sure to check out Jake Barnett’s Royal Rumble Preview and Predictions after Smackdown goes off the air, and join Jake and I for an All Access Smackdown Audio Review tomorrow as we not only discuss this show, but give a small preview to this weekend’s Royal Rumble.

World Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 1/24 in Tucson, Arizona

[Q1] A video recapped the Big Show (Paul Wight)/AJ incident from two weeks ago. The show opened cold and Big Show (Paul Wight)’s music hit. He came tot he ring as Michael Cole (Michael Coulthard), Josh Matthews, and Booker T (Booker Huffman) checked in on commentary. Big Show (Paul Wight) took the mic and said he was sorry for what happened. He said he apologized to AJ and she forgave him immediately. He said he was asking the fans to do the same.

He said he was having a hard time forgiving himself. He said when he was a kid, he always managed to hurt the kids he played with, and he had hoped those days were behind him when he found a home in World Wrestling Entertainment . Show said he loved what he did, but after what happened to AJ, he wasn’t sure he had the heart to continue with his career. He squeezed a tear out and said he was honored to be in the main event Sunday, but he may have to consider retiring after Sunday.

Daniel Bryan (Brian Danielson)’s music hit and he came to the ring. Bryan said Show apologized and everything was supposed to be OK. He said AJ was doped up when Show came by and she didn’t even remember it. Bryan said Show had everyone fooled. He said Show wasn’t going to reassess his career after Sunday, it was a lie. He said if Show was serious about doing the honorable thing, he would quit right now.

Bryan kept demanding Show quit and poked him in the chest. Show continued to whimper and backup from Bryan, so Bryan slapped him in the face. He did it again and Show snapped. Show drove Bryan back to the corner and said what happened to AJ was an accident, but what happened to Bryan on Sunday wouldn’t be.

Mark Henry’s music hit. He came to the ring and said after watching the lovefest, he wanted to remind them it was a triple threat on Sunday. He said he didn’t care about Show’s hurt feelings, Bryan’s Napoleon complex, or a 95 pound girl in a training bra. He demanded Bryan come over to him and said that Bryan slipped out on their match last week, so he was going to take his skin off for general principle. Bryan tried to beg off and Teddy Long’s music hit. Long announce Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett, and then booked Show vs. Henry for later…

A video recapped Barrett throwing Orton down the stairs…

Shore’s Slant: Great opening segment. Simply great. All three guys were stroking, but Mark Henry continues to be the best thing on television. His comment on AJ had me in tears, but I never doubted he could kill either man in the ring. Perfect hype for the Rumble.

[Q2][C] Cody Rhodes (Cody Runnels) made his ring entrance and a cut-in promo said he was granting Justin Gabriel (Paul Lloyd Jr.) a non-title rematch before going on to win the Rumble and headline WrestleMania…

1. Cody Rhodes (Cody Runnels) defeated Justin Gabriel (Paul Lloyd Jr.) at 2:11. Cody hit an Alabama Slam early for a two count. Gabriel came back and hit a corkscrew dive on the floor, followed by a springboard crossbody in the ring that Cody rolled through for two. Gabriel missed an off the top rope move and Cody followed with CrossRhodes for the win…

Backstage, Santino tried to convince Teddy to book a loser leaves town match where the loser has to live with monkeys…or something. Yoshi Tatsu walked in and Santino said they were the next tag team champs, Santoshi. Yoshi said it was Yoshitino. They argued back and forth and Drew McIntyre (Andrew Galloway) walked up. Drew begged and Teddy booked him against Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Ugh. A two minute match after a decent five minute match last week. Fail. I want to see more of Cody vs. Justin, not less. I know they are building for the Rumble, but you have to think Gabriel will be there. This could have been the setup for something cool. Yoshi and Santino could be funny, but I’m tired of Santino’s gimmick. Just like I’m done with McIntyre’s losing streak.

Drew McIntyre (Andrew Galloway) was already in the ring when Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) made his entrance to a huge pop…

[Q3] 2. Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) defeated Drew McIntyre (Andrew Galloway) at 2:49. Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) hit a slam quickly for two. He started to do his forearms in the ropes, but McIntyre hit a hangman and took control. McIntyre hit a nice Northern Lights’ suplex for two. He followed with a kick to the back that set Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) off, and Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) won with the Brogue Kick…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Not a lot to say here. I am weary of the McIntyre storyline already, and it just continues.

The Rumble by the Numbers video aired…Santino and Yoshi made their entrance…[C]

[Q4] The tag champs made their ring entrance while a cut-in promo from Rosa in Spanish put them over…

3. Epico and Primo (w/Rosa Mendes) defeated Santino Marella and Yoshi Tatsu at 2:17. The match descended into the required schmoz quickly. Santino hit the Cobra on Primo, but Epico hit a backstabber on Santino and Primo covered for the win…

Backstage, Daniel Bryan (Brian Danielson) walked up to Mark Henry. Henry said Bryan better have a good reason for being there. Bryan said last week wasn’t his fault, and he wanted to give Henry a rematch, but Teddy made it a triple threat at the Rumble. He said Big Show (Paul Wight) was a menace, and urged Henry to hurt Show so it could just be them in the title match on Sunday…[C]

Shore’s Slant: The tag match was what it was. Bryan continues to get more and more comfortable every week. This segment with Henry was well done, and really works well with his new character.

[Q5] Wade Barrett made his ring entrance and said that while Orton might be physically able to return, he wasn’t spiritually able to return because you don’t go through what Orton went through and ever be the same. He setup the video that showed them fighting in the elevator and then the stair spot. Barrett started to continue his promo, but Orton’s music hit and he was shown on the big screen walking through the back. Orton stepped through the curtain and ran to the ring.

Barrett went to the floor and they fought. They rolled in the ring and Orton pinned Barrett in the corner with punches. Refs ran out and tried to get Orton to stop. He wouldn’t, so Teddy came out with the Superstars roster. They pulled the two men apart, and then Orton hit RKOs on everyone after Barrett escaped…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I’m sure a lot of people liked that, but this viewer wanted to go to sleep. The action between Orton and Barrett was fine, but all those RKOs… And especially when you see how it played out. So dumb.

A video recapped Rey Mysterio’s win at the Rumble…Backstage, Bryan asked Kaitlyn to do AJ a favor and tell Show that Henry planned to injure him. Kaitlyn asked if she was doing the favor for AJ or him. Bryan said both, and pointed out that AJ loves him. Kaitlyn said she would do it, but asked Bryan to share how he really felt about AJ. Bryan said Kaitlyn knew he was a private man, and that the sooner she talked to Show, the better…

[Q6] 4. Hunico (w/Camacho) defeated Ted DiBiase at 1:31. Hunico went right after the arm. DiBiase hit a clothesline and tried for Dreamstreet, but sold the arm being too hurt. Hunico hit a twisting Samoan slam tyoe move for the win. Post-match, Camacho attacked DiBiase and dragged him to the floor. They put the hurt arm on the stairs and stomped on it…

Backstage, Teddy and Aksana were watching on the monitor. Teddy said he needed to check on Ted and Natalya ran in. She asked for a rematch with Tamina (Sarona Reiher) and Aksana said Tamina (Sarona Reiher) squashed Natty like a grape. Natty said she could beat that “whack job” and Aksana. Aksana repeated whack job and said, “What Teddy and I do in private.” Teddy cut her off by saying “kayfabe” (I think) and then booked Akasana vs. Natty. Somebody farted and everyone left. Santino walked in and gagged…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I hate pre-PPV Smackdowns because the matches are garbage. But NOTHING will beat that Teddy Long, Aksana, and Natty segment for stupid. Unreal. Farts? GTFO of here.

Alex Riley was in the ring. A video recapped the Dance Off last week with William Regal and Brodus Clay. The Funakasaurus made his ring entrance and even Riley danced…

5. Brodus Clay squashed Alex Riley at 0:33. Riley showed he could dance. Brodus did his jiggle move. Riley asked for a pound, but Brodus raised his hand for a high fvie. Riley reached up and Brodus hit his suplex throw, followed by the corner splash and What the Funk for the win…Backstage, Kaitlyn was shown talking to Big Show (Paul Wight)…[C]

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