WWE Smackdown! – January 13th, 2012 from Laredo, TX
[Reviewed by: Sean Sweeny]
IN RING SEGMENT
The show opened with Lillian Garcia welcoming the World Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan to the ring. Bryan came down to the ring with a microphone in hand. He said that he wanted to come out and set the record straight. He said that winning the championship and defending it is what he lives for. Bryan continued by saying that last week he was successful in retaining against the Big Show. He said that anyone else would have taken last week’s win and moved on but not him because he is a fighting champion and he doesn’t want to one day tell his future grandchildren that he beat the Big Show by disqualification not because he made him taped or that he pinned him. The fans began to boo Bryan, and he reacted by saying that the fans are buying into what is being said on the message boards about how he goateed Mark Henry into interfering which was not the case. He is thrilled that Teddy Long made the rematch for tonight and that it is a no disqualification, no count out match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Daniel Bryan then begins to go on a tirade about how it he thinks that it is overkill though because last week’s match ended because of one man, Mark Henry and he feels that because of his actions, Mark Henry should be suspended. This led to Mark Henry’s music hitting and out came the World’s Strongest Man. Henry entered the ring and asked if he heard Bryan correctly that he should be suspended, in which Bryan nodded. Henry then said that if he was going to get suspended he would have gotten his money worth. Mark then said that he had a meeting with Teddy Long and because of last week he will be banned from ringside. Bryan is happy with this news but Henry stops Bryan by saying that Long said if Henry stays out of the match, then next week he will get his shot at Daniel Bryan for the Championship. Daniel Bryan then looked Henry in the eyes and said that is fine with him.
SINGLES MATCH
Justin Gabriel defeated Heath Slater via pin fall: Gabriel won with the 450 Splash.
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Daniel Bryan was backstage stretching when AJ came up to him and gave him a hug and then wanted to say that she is proud of him and win lose or draw she loves him. She then blushed and said that she would let him finish getting ready, and then she walked off leaving Daniel Bryan smiling.
IN RING SEGEMENT
Cody Rhodes came out on to the stage with a microphone in hand and said Hola, and said that he understands that most people in Laredo only speak Spanish, but they all know what INS stands for. However for his fans here in attendance he would like to inform them that he has been Intercontinental Champion for five months, and in that time he has held his championship longer than any other current champion in the WWE and he has out shinned so many other former Intercontinental Champions, and now though he will pull an Ultimate Warrior in 2012 and become the World Heavyweight Champion along with being the Intercontinental Champion, and it all starts by winning the Royal Rumble match. He then dropped the microphone and out came his opponent Ezekiel Jackson.
SINGLES MATCH
Cody Rhodes defeated Ezekiel Jackson via pin fall: Rhodes won with the Cross Rhodes.
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Teddy Long was with his assistant Santino Marella, where Marella has a few different types of matches, which make no sense. Marella then said that he should reverse Jack Tunney’s decision about allowing reptiles to the ring, which Teddy said won’t happen as he doesn’t like them. Just then David Otunga entered the room and Long asked what he was doing here. Otunga said that he was here on behalf of Mr. Laurinaitis and he wanted to know Teddy’s suggestion for Smackdown superstars in the Royal Rumble match. Otunga said that he said that he has a list of all the pros and cons of each Smackdown star. Santino then said he had an idea for a match tonight between Otunga and himself, which Teddy liked and made official. After both men left there is a knock at the door and Teddy thinks it is Aksana so he checks his breath and turns around to see that it is Drew McIntyre. Teddy said he doesn’t want to hear a word from him and then began to rip into him and warned him how close he is to being fired. Drew tried to reply but Long cut him off saying his match was next.
SINGLES MATCH
Ted DiBiase defeated Drew McIntyre via pin fall: DiBiase won with Dream Street.
SINGLES MATCH
Sheamus defeated Jinder Mahal via pin fall: Sheamus won with the Brogue Kick.
Big Show is backstage with a referee who is trying to explain the rules with the Big Show. Show stopped him and said that he has been in plenty of these matches the ref just better be ready to count the three or if he knocks Bryan out be ready to call the match. The ref said okay and then AJ comes up to the two of them and asked if she could have a minute of Big Show’s time. Big Show asked what he could do for her, she said that she wanted to talk to him about Daniel as she knows he has to do what he has to do because it is a World Heavyweight Championship but he is a good man and she doesn’t want to see him get hurt. Big Show said that his goal isn’t hurt Bryan, just to get the championship back. At this point Bryan walks up to the two of them and said what is this, first you try to take my championship and now my girl? Before Show could reply Daniel said that Big Show won’t be winning the gold back and he sure as hell isn’t getting his girl, and he thinks the Big Show should just leave. Big Show looked at Bryan for a moment and then said that the Championship has changed him, and he doesn’t know if it is for the better, but after tonight it won’t be a problem anymore, and then walked off. Bryan then turned to AJ and asked if she was okay and then told her that he will make sure nothing harms her, as he is her knight in shinning armor and then asked her how much she loved him? And then said they should go talk somewhere.
SINGLES MATCH
David Otunga defeated Santino Marella via pin fall: Otunga won with the Kryptonite Krunch.
SINGLES MATCH
Brodus Clay defeated Tyson Kidd via pin fall: Clay won with Fall of Humanity
BACKSTAGE
Teddy Long was dancing in his office to Clay’s music when the lights changed and Aksana walked into the room. They exchanged pleasantries and then Aksana then said she hopes that Brodus Clay will be on Smackdown next week in Vegas. She then said that she likes playing blackjack because she loves hitting on black, which makes Teddy choke. He then said he was okay, and that he was glad to know that.
DIVAS SINGLE MATCH
Tamina defeated Natalya via pin fall: Tamina won with the Frog Splash.
IN RING SEGMENT
Wade Barrett then came out onto the stage with a microphone. He said that some of the people here in attendance were impressed by The Great White Sheamus earlier tonight but he was not. He then said that he is the man that will win the 2012 Royal Rumble, he is Wade Barrett. He then issued a challenge to Sheamus for next week’s Smackdown and then said may god save the queen.
NO DQ, NO COUNTOUT SINGLES MATCH – WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Daniel Bryan w/ AJ Lee and The Big Show go to a no contest after Big Show inadvertently leveled AJ at ringside knocking her out and needing medical attention.