Smackdown - October 26, 2012

Smackdown

Date: October 26, 2012

Location: Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island

Commentators: Josh Matthews, John Bradshaw Layfield

Reviewed by Tommy Hall

It's the final show before the PPV and I think everything major is set. We finally know the tag title match so you can probably expect to see some more about that. After the disaster of a Raw this week, maybe Smackdown can redeem things a bit. If nothing else, Sheamus vs. Big Show is probably the best feud going in the WWE right now. Let that sink in for a minute. Let's get to it.

Here's Orton to open the show. As he comes to the ring, we get a history of Orton vs. Del Rio, including the graphic for their match on Sunday. Does anyone else find it stupid looking when they have the video game graphics in the background? It takes away how serious the feud is supposed to be. Orton says he doesn't hate Del Rio for attacking him last week, but rather why the attack happened. If it was because Del Rio was embarrassed for losing to Sheamus over and over, that's one thing. But doing it and pretending to be a tough guy was a mistake.

Orton says he'll be honest with Del Rio: on Sunday, Alberto is getting the most brutal beating of his life. Alberto cuts Randy off and says they're doing this on Del Rio's terms. Randy isn't a viper but rather a garden snake. Orton says no one here knows what Del Rio just said. Apparently Del Rio is all talk and is a spineless bottom feeder with no cajones. Randy's words, not mine. Del Rio starts to come to the ring with Orton saying bring it on, but here's Barrett from behind to jump Orton.

Post break Del Rio is in the back when Teddy comes up. Before anything can be said, Barrett comes up and asks if that was what Del Rio was looking for. It's Barrett vs. Orton tonight.

Kane vs. Cody Rhodes

Bryan and Sandow are on commentary. Kane takes him into the corner to start as Bryan and Sandow argue back and forth. There's the top rope clothesline followed by an uppercut to put Cody down. Cody escapes a side slam and hits a running knee to the face of Kane. A Disaster Kick winds up being a dropkick for two and Cody goes for the knee. Sandow and Bryan argue over whose beard is better. Josh: “Damien what is your IQ approaching?” Sandow: “It's approaching infinity. I become smarter merely by sitting here.” Cody tries that uppercut from the mat of his but Kane grabs him for the chokeslam and pin at 3:15.

Rating: D+. This didn't have time to get anywhere but the champions dominated for the first time in this feud that I remember. This is an interesting feud as the champions completely dominate on an individual basis but when they combine it's not so one sided. That makes for an interesting match on Sunday if nothing else.

Booker comes in to see Show, who is face to face with Sheamus tonight. Booker requests professionalism tonight but Show cuts him off. Show won't cause any trouble because he's got nothing left to prove until Sunday. I keep forgetting how tall Booker is.

The Miz vs. Yoshi Tatsu

There's a name I haven't seen in awhile. Feeling out process to start with Miz taking him down via a shoulder. They head to the floor with Tatsu having his back rammed into the barricade. A boot to the side of Yoshi's head puts him down and Miz puts on a reverse chinlock with a hand full of face. Another running boot to the face takes Tatsu down. A belly to back suplex is countered into a cross body for two for Yoshi. Miz's short DDT puts Yoshi right back down and it's the Skull Crushing Finale for the pin at 4:02.

Rating: D+. Another squash here but even less competitive. Like I've said for a few weeks now though, WWE is finally starting to use its army of wrestlers in spots like this instead of someone that's currently being used in a story. Yoshi losing here doesn't mean anything and doesn't hurt him at all while giving Miz a boost before the PPV. It's not hard.

Video on the Egyptian tour.

Raw ReBound is Ryback destroying Punk on Monday.

We also get a video from Main Event with Heyman talking (on the monitor) about how Ryback isn't in Punk's league. Now when Miz (who is in the ring at this point. On Main Event that is) faced Ryback, he took his beating like a man. Ziggler losing to Ryback has no correlation with Punk because Punk is a much better strategist than Ryback.

It's ANOTHER recap about the Divas situation with Kaitlyn saying she has proof of Eve being behind the attack at Night of Champions.

In Booker's office, Aksana says it was a text from Eve and not an e-mail. Teddy tries to make sense of this whole story, which boils down to Eve is behind everything. Booker says if this is true, then Eve is off his staff. Eve says she's too trustworthy and leaves her iPad and iPhone out with no pass code on it. More yelling ensues between all four girls in the office until it's announced as Eve vs. Layla vs. Kaitlyn for the title. Tonight it's a tag match though.

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

Barrett is sent to the floor very quickly with Orton following and in full control. Back in and Orton does his circle stomp before hooking a chinlock. Barrett comes back and sends Randy into the buckle but Orton clotheslines him down and drops a knee. They head to the floor with Orton being rammed face first into the apron a few times. As they come back in, Orton's Elevated DDT is countered and Barrett sends him back to the floor.

Randy gets sent into the table and we take a break. Back with Barrett holding a chinlock, only for Orton to elbow out of it. Scratch that comeback as Orton gets taken right back down by Wade. Barrett puts Orton in the ropes and hits that running big boot to the face that looks awesome. A backbreaker gets two for Barrett and it's off to a reverse chinlock. Barrett fires off knees to the ribs of Orton followed by a clothesline for two.

Barrett tries going up top but gets crotched and eventually superplexed down for two. Randy starts his finishing sequence with the clotheslines and a powerslam. The place freaks out over the RKO coming up but Barrett comes back with the Winds of Change for two. Barrett misses the Souvenir and gets caught in Orton's over the back backbreaker. Now the Elevated DDT hits and Orton loads up the RKO, but here's Del Rio. The distraction lets Barrett hit the Souvenir for the pin at 9:12 shown of 12:42.

Rating: C+. The more I see of Barrett the more I like him. He's got a good physical style and looks like he could take down anyone in any given match. Orton losing here is fine as it advances his feud with Del Rio before the payoff on Sunday. I'm already digging this feud WAY more than the Sheamus one, mainly because there's a chance Alberto could win.

Post match Del Rio attacks but neither the cross armbreaker or the RKO can hit.

Aksana/Eve Torres vs. Kaitlyn/Layla

Layla and Aksana get things going but it's off to Kaitlyn. Aksana continues to be the current worst worker on the roster so thankfully it's off to Eve. She pounds on Kaitly a bit but a backsplash hits knees. Eve blocks the tag to Layla so we get more Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn runs over both heel girls and Layla kicks Aksana in the ribs. Layla misses a high kick and knocks Kaitlyn out, giving Eve the pin on Kaitlyn at 3:43.

Rating: D+. To be fair, the girls aren't as terrible as they used to be as Kaitlyn is at least passable in the ring. Layla and Kaitlyn....eh not so much. Aksana continues to be there for looks only but someone has to do that I suppose. Not horrible here, but the NXT Divas matches are much more entertaining lately.

Raw ReBound sums up the Vickie/AJ/Cena stuff.

Sheamus doesn't believe Show will be calm tonight.

Kane tells Bryan that he won his match so if Bryan loses, it's clear that Bryan is the weak link.

Daniel Bryan vs. Damien Sandow

Sandow offers the audience some better words than YES to use, such as undoubtedly his beard is better than Bryans and absolutely the Rhodes Scholars will win the titles on Sunday. Kane and Bryan are in on commentary now. They start on the floor before Bryan takes over with kicks in the corner back inside. Bryan works on the arm as we take a break. Back with Sandow on the floor and Bryan firing off kicks.

Back in and Sandow hits the Russian legsweep and the windup elbow for two. Off to a chinlock before Sandow fires away right hands to the head. Kane won't say a thing. Bryan starts firing off the YES Kicks and backdrops Damien to the floor. There's a suicide dive and Cody gets in Bryan's face. Kane goes after Sandow but no DQ has been called yet. Cody posts Bryan and Sandow slides in for the Terminus and the pin at 5:00 shown of 8:30.

Rating: C. Sandow getting a pin on Bryan is a big win for him and splitting up the wins tonight is a good move for the tag match. Nothing great here but seeing Damien hang in there with a guy like Bryan is a great sign. The guy could be a big deal for years to come, and having him get wins like this is a good idea.

Here are Sheamus and Big Show for their face to face time. There's a ton of security here just in case. Show lists off a lot of famous finishers that the KO Punch is stronger than, including the Brogue Kick which they've proven scientifically. Sheamus says the KO Punch has to connect to work, so Show gives us some footage from a few weeks ago where he blocked the Brogue Kick.

Show says the Kick can't get high enough and it's a matter of physics that says Sheamus can't beat him. If Sheamus thinks he can win, he's either stupid or delusional. Sheamus there there are two thinks he loves: cold ale on a hot day and a good fight. The idea of fighting Show has his mouth watering. Sheamus again says that the title he holds today is the same as the WCW Title.

The champ is looking forward to fighting Show because he's the ultimate fight. Show says Sheamus is scared but Sheamus says he doesn't care how many Brogue Kicks it takes. Sheamus shouts that the time for fighting is now and it's on. The security all gets tossed out but Show leaves before fighting Sheamus. Good hard sell for the title match here which you don't get enough of anymore.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a solid go home show as the main matches all got a focus. The show isn't going to be great but they've done enough here to make me interested in seeing it, which is exactly what they were shooting for here. I'm pleased by how Big Show vs. Sheamus is looking, as they've done a great job of building up the idea of can Sheamus beat him. I'm not at all saying it's a great feud or that the match is going to be awesome, but they've done well with what they've got. Good show tonight.

Results

Kane b. Cody Rhodes – Chokeslam

The Miz b. Yoshi Tatsu – Skull Crushing Finale

Wade Barrett b. Randy Orton – Souvenir

Eve Torres/Aksana b. Layla/Kaitlyn – Torres pinned Kaitlyn after a high kick from Layla

Damien Sandown b. Daniel Bryan – Terminus

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