Pulse Wrestling Report: WWE Smackdown! 06.10.2011 — Sheamus, Randy Orton, Christian

Reviews, Shows, Top Story, TV Shows

Alright, who’s ready for some Smackdown?

More Christian-y goodness, as we relive his brutal attack on the Champ. And all of this made sweeter by screen shots of sad little children jut in between. What a way to start.

Well, here he is. The man himself. Christian. Still getting cheered, but very mildly. He’s chuckling as he enters the ring. He claims to have been curious as to how the crowd would react, and says the fans who cheered him “understood” his actions. “I am through with all of you,” he barks. He shuns the fans, turning his back on them completely.

But he’s not done yet. He invites Michael Cole up to the ring. He claims he wants another chance at the title, and then puts his focus back on the fans. He says he doesn’t understand why the fans, who have cheered for him and supported him for so long, abandoned him after striking Orton in the face. From there, he moves on to Teddy Long. He is incensed by the way Teddy has ruined his title reign. Finally (I hope), he lands on Randy. So, he asks Cole to ask the audience (since he’s apparently not talking to them) if he deserves to be the champion. Before he’s finished, they’re already booing him, but Cole asks anyway.

Christian promises to be the champion again, and retreats, putting the final nail in the coffin of his popularity.

Corre walking backstage, looking all kinds of angry.

Commercial.

Barrett and the Corre-ettes are on their way out, for a 6-man tag. So it’s Zeke and…the Usos? Sorry big guy.

Bell rings. Slater getting manhandled by Zeke right off the bat, backing him into a corner and tagging in an Uso. I assume it’s Jimmy. Gabriel in, trying to steal the control back, but Jimmy is…dancing? Jey comes in next and they team up on J-Gabe. Finally Gabriel is in control. Jey is tossed from the ring after trying to fight off the other members, and is dropped hard on the announce table.

Commercial.

Oh yeah, this Monday is a three hour Raw. Huh.

Okay, we’re back with Barrett and Jey. Zeke tries to storm the ring, forcing the ref to turn his back and the Corre kids get some cheap shots in. Slater in, big neckbreaker from Slater. Gabriel tags in, stomps hard, and tags in Barrett. Jey sneaks in a kick that stuns Barrett long enough for Zeke to tag in. Barrett flees and tags in Gabriel, who feels the wrath of the big man. Barrett begins to leave, walking away from the match but Slater is on his tail, demanding that he remain. Barrett nonchalantly turns and walks away, leaving the boys to fend for themselves, which they do unsuccessfully.

Grade: D+
Meh. This bored me, which is sad because I really do love Barrett. The storylines were more prominent than the action, which makes sense. But, they could have done a little more. I’m still not on the Big Zeke Bandwagon. He’s a big, impressive dude, but there’s no flair for me.

Teddy is backstage, spouting nonsense, when a wild Sheamus appears! He’s demanding a match with Christian, which Teddy refuses. He’s clearly still raging from last week’s match. It looks like, instead, Sheamus will face Orton in a No Disqualification Match. But…didn’t the announcers just say that Orton isn’t here tonight? Jeez.

Commercial.

Drama a-brewin’. The Corre members are arguing. Barrett says they’re not the ones that have to defend the I-C title. He also claims that the two of them would be nothing without him, so Gabriel chokes back tears before saying that the Corre is over. Oh no!

Baretta is in the ring already, and it looks like he’ll face Jinder Mahal.

Jinder jumps, landing some simple punches before launching Baretta over his head at a ridiculous height! Baretta sneaks in a counter, knocking him onto his back. Trent scales to the top rope, where Khali stares him down, distracting him long enough for Jinder to take advantage and win.

Grade: D-
I still really want to see something big from Jinder. His matches are too quick to get a feel. He has a great presence, and an almost frightening personality, which I’m digging. But as far as in-ring…I want to see him take his time to put these men away.

Brain squished, and we’re moving on.

God damn it, AJ’s head is bopping around backstage as she talks to Korpela. Tamina and Rosa appear to give her…a block of cheese? I can’t even pretend to care.

Commercial (thankfully).

Oh, I guess AJ has her own song now, and Tamina doesn’t get an entrance. Hey look at that, it’s as obnoxious as she is. I miss Joan Cena…wait, what?

Elbow to AJ’s face, and she’s down. Big slam to AJ, and Tamina is about to rip her arm out of its socket. Tamina goes for a splash, but it misses. AJ builds up, to the top rope, goes for what I can only assume is supposed to be a crossbody, which lands awkwardly as Tamina catches her, but AJ rolls her up for a victory.

Grade: F
Time for a rant. I hate AJ. I’ve said that before, but I’ll say it again. She was so slow to sell everything, she looked utterly bewildered in the ring, and even her usually eccentric offense was dulled down. She looks spastic, like the move surprises her every time. And although I hate all of those things about her, her song and look is much, much worse. I’ve wanted to root for her since I first heard about her, but she’s making me wonder if she’s being sarcastic in the ring.

Regardless, this match was too short, exponentially basic, and I’m very sad to see it air on television.

Orton walking backstage, and the crowd goes wild.

Commercial.

Randy makes his big entrance, and wastes little time before demanding Christian to enter and talk to him face to face. But, instead, he’s on the Titantron. Again, angry with the fans, he plays on their adoration for the Viper. Then, for the millionth time, he asks for another match. He thinks that Randy should thank him for allowing him to keep his title the week before. Randy demands once more that he come down to the ring. But Christian says that he’s done doing things on anyone else’s terms. Then, the match is set for Capitol Punishment.

So, Randy is left in the ring. A perfect opportunity to…strike a pose.

Cody and Tedward are in the locker room, bickering. Cody wants to call the shots, but Teddy says nay. The two argue a bit more, as Cody spits out words that might be Charles Manson quotes, and we head to…

Commercial.

Sin Cara enters in his super elaborate way. Next up, Tedward, with Cody lurking in the shadows behind him. What a strange match up…but I like it!

Here we go. Big ‘ol crossbody from Sin Cara, getting fired up. Attempts his usual offense, but Teddy’s done his homework. He can only counter, never getting the offense in on Cara, who is still rolling. Cara tries to jump over the rope, but Cody interferes, pulling him down and ending the match.

Grade: N/A

A post-match attack takes place, and Teddy Long appears. So, it’ll be a tag team match now.

Commercial.

Daniel Bryan has Teddy’s face driven hard into the floor, but Ted wiggles out. Cody in, but Bryan’s deadly kicks make him falter. Cara tags in, with a missile dropkick to follow. Cody will have none of the nonsense from Cara, effortlessly tossing him away. Teddy in, beginning to work on the arm. He lifts him above his head, but Cara rolls him up awkwardly, landing Teddy right on the ropes. Cody in, locking in a submission hold on Cara, wearing him down. Teddy back in, very shortly, then Cody back in. Bryan tries to interfere in the brutal beating, but the ref turns his back on the action to keep him in his place, allowing Teddy and Cody to get some cheap shots. Once again, back down into the mat for Cara. But boom, sneaks a hard kick in, Teddy and Bryan tag in, Bryan the hot tag. He climbs to the top rope, fighting off Cody from the side (which Sin Cara takes care of after). Teddy stops him, they fumble around and the LaBell Lock is set, forcing Teddy to tap out.

Grade: B+
I thoroughly enjoyed this match! Very, very much so. You can’t go wrong, no matter who tags in. Cara, instead of his usual “look how awesome I am!” in-ring performance (not saying it’s a bad thing) slowed it down and sold like a champ. Teddy and Cody looked great, flowing as a tag team and outshining their previous performances in Legacy with ease. Despite the fact that there was a shockingly small amount of Bryan, he cleaned up nicely.

Commercial.

Johnny Curtis again. He has a chip on his shoulder. Like, an actual potato chip on his shoulder.

Now, a recap of Andy winning Tough Enough! So exciting (no sarcasm).

NOT ANOTHER VIDEO OF OBAMA. I’m done with this cheesy shit. And, now it has R-Truth.

Sheamus enters now.

Commercial.

And here’s Randy. The lighting for his entrance is going to give me a stroke.

Here we go! Lock up, Sheamus backs Randy into the corner, and goes ballistic. Throws him around a bit, but Randy pounces. He tosses Sheamus out of the ring, and the fight continues there. Up the ramp a ways, and Sheamus meets the barricade. Back in the ring, Randy catches a kick, and shoves him down. Randy attempts to drop a knee, but Sheamus rolls away. Randy gets tangled up in the ropes, draped over them as Sheamus drives his own knee into Randy’s skull. Sheamus tries to jump back in, but is met with a drop kick, and they’re back outside the ring. Sheamus kisses the steel steps, as Randy goes to stomp on his head, but he moves, pulling Randy’s legs out from under him, and dropping him hard.

Commercial.

Sheamus in control when we return, wearing the champ down. Few punches from Randy, building up, only to take a clothesline and return to square one. Sheamus on the outside of the ropes, goes over and uses his shoulder to take Randy down. Déjà vu, Randy with a few punches, but takes another clothesline. Slowed back down in the middle, builds, builds, for a belly to back suplex. Randy’s gritting his teeth now, and it’s become a brawl. Big scoop slam from Randy, he pulls Sheamus through the ropes, but Sheamus, fearing the impending DDT, tosses him away. Both are outside the ring, Randy into the steel steps again. Sheamus removes the top layer and uses it as a weapon. Randy can’t even stand as Sheamus pushes him into the ring. He grabs the bottom layer of the steel steps now, bringing it into the ring, but he took too much time, hitting a backbreaker on Sheamus. Randy drags the steps over, to the middle of the ring, but Sheamus strikes. He lifts Randy high, but he wiggles out, and scoop slam, onto the steel steps! He lands in an awkward spot, Randy goes for the cover, for two. Another backbreaker from Sheamus, he rolls out and grabs a kendo stick and attacks, the last blow striking Randy in the head. Randy is up against the ropes, Sheamus goes for the Brogue Kick which misses, and he’s hung up. His leg is wrapped in the rope, dangling upside down, and Randy is outside of the ring to retaliate. He, too, grabs the stick and unleashes the fury. Back in, DDT on the ropes, and he’s pounding the mat. Suddenly, Christian is in the ring, attempting the Killswitch. It’s countered, he tries for an RKO which is evaded, and Sheamus tries to capitalize, but can’t. High Cross time, fought out, Brogue Kick dodged, and Sheamus eats the RKO. But there’s Christian again, striking him once more with the belt. Sheamus crawls over, cover, for the win.

Grade: B
The start really, really lagged. Everything was slow and basic, and they almost seemed to just be copying each other. But it picked up at the end, and both men looked great. They accomplished the feat of making them both look strong, both powerful, without the usual ammo. Christian’s interaction at the end was fantastic, too. Overall, not a bad main event.

Credits roll.

Kelly has been with Inside Pulse since 6/2010, beginning with just her 10 Thoughts on WWE Superstars column. Now she brings you her 10 Thoughts on Smackdown weekly, and constructs the Rasslin' Roundtables for PPV's. In her spare time, she works with indy fed, Future Stars of Wrestling - AZ, wrangles children for her day job, and is generally and exceptionally awesome.