WWE SmackDown
January 14, 2011 – Birmingham, Alabama
Announcers: Todd Grisham & Matt Striker
[ REVIEWED BY EVAN CHARLES SAWATSKY ]
DARK MATCH: “Showtime” Percy Watson defeated Tyler Reks..
IN RING SEGMENT
Alberto Del Rio + R-Truth + “Dashing” Cody Rhodes + Rey Mysterio + Teddy Long: Alberto Del Rio came out and said that after he wins the Royal Rumble, he’ll become known as the new Mr. WrestleMania. Truth came out and said Del Rio has lost his mind. He said that he can’t buy or inherit his way to the main event at WrestleMania. Truth said you have to earn it by stepping up to the plate like a man. Cody Rhodes came out and said if you don’t look like him, you’re not going to win the Rumble. Rhodes said he was 25 and has already been in three Rumble matches. Rhodes said he will be the face of WrestleMania. Rey Mysterio came out and said that you need heart to win the Rumble. Del Rio said no one wanted to hear Rey’s inspirational stories. Rey asked Del Rio how many Rumbles he has won, then brings up his victory from a few years ago. Rhodes said that was so 2006 and told Mysterio that he’s out of style, and that’s “What’s Up” (Truth’s catchphrase). This made Truth punch him in the face, starting a brawl. Theodore Long came out and made a tag team match with the four and said it will begin right now.
TAG TEAM MATCH
Rey Mysterio & R-Truth defeated “Dashing” Cody Rhodes & Alberto Del Rio: In a nice back and forth match up, Mysterio and Truth picked up the win when Mysterio hit a 619/Splash combo on Rhodes..
STR8 OUTTA BROOKLYN WITH JTG: JTG went over the major events from the last few shows (NXT on RAW and Dolph/Vickie on SD!), commenting on how it’s “killin him”.
BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW
Todd Grisham & Wade Barrett: Todd Grisham asked Wade Barrett about his attack on Big Show last week. Barrett said when he was on RAW he was a leader that everyone wanted to overthrow. Barrett said that he’s come to SmackDown! to take it over. He said that he respects the Big Show and only goes after the biggest and the baddest of the WWE. Wade said he’ll take down the beast and after the match is over, everyone will hail him.
COMING SOON PROMO: Ezekiel Jackson..
SINGLES MATCH
Trent Barreta defeated Drew McIntyre: They showed a clip from two weeks ago when Trent did a scary dive over the top rope and landed head first, then took a DDT on the floor from Drew McIntyre. For the rematch, McIntyre dominated for most of the time, but Barreta managed to roll him up for a surprise three count, leaving McIntyre in shock.
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Trent Barreta + Drew McIntyre + Kelly Kelly: Barreta was walking backstage after his match and then got jumped by McIntyre. Kelly saw this and said she didn’t want to be with someone who beat other people up (so, a wrestler?). She screamed “GROW UP!” and then stormed off.
SINGLES MATCH
The Big Show defeated Wade Barrett by DQ: After a few minutes, former Nexus members Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater came out and attacked Big Show, leading to a DQ for Barrett. Big Show mounted a comeback until Ezekiel Jackson mysteriously showed up and caught his attention. Barrett, Gabriel, and Slater attacked Big Show again from behind. Big Show started to make a comeback until Ezekiel stepped in and clotheslined him down! They assaulted him gang-style and then Zeke slammed him, which gave Gabriel the chance to hit his 450 Splash. The new group then posed over the beaten body of the Big Show. Is this “The Empire” ?
DIVAS MATCH
“The Glamazon” Beth Phoenix defeated Michelle McCool w/Layla El: Beth tweaked her knee injury and Michelle quickly targetted it. After a few attempts at a Glam Slam, Phoenix rolled up McCool for the pin fall.
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Theodore Long & Vickie Guerrero & Dolph Ziggler: Teddy Long & Vickie talked about what happened last week (Vickie’s decisions to favor Ziggler) when Long got a call about the Barrett/Show situation and walked away. Ziggler apologized for what he said last week and said that everything will go alright tonight. They then proceed to Eskimo kiss for the next thirteen minutes.
IN RING SEGMENT
WWE Intercontinental champion Kofi Kingston + Jack Swagger: Kofi Kingston came out and thanked all the fans for being behind him during his hunt for the title. Kofi said he learned a lot of things about himself last week, but before he could explain he was interrupted by Jack Swagger. Swagger said he was proud of Kofi for learning something, but vowed that 2011 would be the year of the All-American American! Swagger talked about his Ankle Lock, which is a dangerous position to be in, and this led to a match between them.
NON (WWE INTERCONTINENTAL) TITLE MATCH
WWE Intercontinental champion Kofi Kingston defeated Jack Swagger: Kingston got very little offense in this match. Swagger whipped Kingston into a corner and ate a foot to the face. Kingston then hit a SOS for the win.
IN THE RING (THE CUTTING EDGE)
World Heavyweight champion Edge + Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero: Edge came out and talked about being the Last Man Standing after his match with Kane last week. Edge now turned his attention to his new challenger, and then introduced the new #1 contender to the World Heavyweight title, Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler & Vickie came out to the ring. Edge made a few jokes about Vickie (his ex-wife, remember?). Ziggler defended her saying she went from no-class to first-class, and also mentioned all the things she’s done for Edge’s career. Dolph said Vickie kept Edge’s career alive, but at Royal Rumble he was going to pull the plug and watch it flatline. Vickie said she had a clip to show that proves that Ziggler was the better man. The clip was from July of 2008 when Edge cheated on Vickie with the wedding planner (they didn’t even mention that it was Alicia Fox). Edge said cheating was a serious thing and he also had a clip. His clip was of Ziggler making out with Kaitlin. Ziggler attacked Edge, but Edge knocked him out of the ring. Vickie screamed “it was our wedding day!” and slapped Edge four times and then jumped on his back screaming her head off. Edge went for a Spear but Ziggler pulled him out of the ring and hit a Zig Zag on the steel steps, ending the show.