In a special Legends themed show Mean Gene Okerlund asked World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus out to the ring. 'The Great White' spoke about touching the referee in a match last week, and publicly apologised for his actions. John Laurinaitis soon joined him and asked Sheamus to apologise once again, which Sheamus obliged to. Unfortunately this wasn't good enough for Johnny who warned the champ that if he touched any official again then he would be fired and also put him in a tag team match with Mean Gene against Daniel Bryan and Alberto Del Rio.
Randy Orton versus Mark Henry ended as a no contest after Kane revealed on the big screen that he'd taken out Orton's father 'Cowboy' Bob Orton. The actual match had ranged from quite fair to average, although I'll give Orton credit for at least getting a bit of something out of the drab Henry.
Orton raced backstage to aid his father but was also taken out by 'The Big Red Monster' with a led pipe.
Ryback defeated Benny Camer in a squash match. Although it was brief Ryback looked solid here. Once again we were shown people backstage (this time legends the likes of Tony Atlas and Ted DiBiasse) watching Ryback's bout, although fortunately they had the sense this week to admire Ryback's strength instead of just laughing at his opponent.
The Usos defeated Heath Slater and Tyson Kidd in an okay tag team contest that was just too overcrowded. The match had become overtaken a bit by Jimmy Hart guest managing Kidd and Slater, along with Mick Foley on commentary. I would've also like to have seen more of the talented Kidd in the ring myself.
Afterwards Foley gave Hart the Mr. Socko treatment with a mandible claw, which played before an indifferent crowd who clearly weren't really bothered by the legends in the ring.
Roddy Piper brought out Daniel Bryan for a special Piper's Pit. Bryan announced that his rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship will be a Two Out Of Three Falls Match at Extreme Rules. Piper then also introduced Bryan's ex AJ. Rowdy tried persuading AJ that Bryan was not a "nice guy" but she wasn't having any of it as she stated that it was her fault that Bryan lost at WrestleMania. Bryan had enough of both of them and told AJ that she's leave the ring of she really loved him, so she left.
Piper roared at Bryan as he was about to leave that he wasn't finished with him. Roddy told Bryan the correct way to treat a lady, and also added that he was a coward. Bryan retaliated by slapping Piper in the face and rushed away. While it wasn't a bad segment, it certainly wasn't as good as last weeks between Bryan and AJ.
Alicia Fox, The Great Khali and Natalya defeated The Bella Twins and Drew McIntyre in a nothing match that was fortunately kept short. I struggle to see the point of this match even appearing on the show except to fill up a bit of time.
'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan got himself disqualified against Hunico when Sgt Slaughter came to his aid and gave him his signature two by four to strike him with. I know it's a 'Blast from the past' special but it just felt like another waste of time on the show to me and did nothing for Hunico. Yet again WWE failing to help promote their younger wrestlers correctly.
Cody Rhodes came out and called the show so far "a waste of our collective time, why not turn our attentions to the future?" I could not agree more with that sentence right there. Cody's father Dusty Rhodes soon interrupted him and questioned his taunting of Big Show in the last month. Cody amusingly warned his father "You're embarrassing me" like a young teen.
Big Show then joined them and presented another VT of a clip from Rhodes 'Dashing' days. Yet again this segment with Show did nothing for Rhodes.
Sheamus and Gene Okerlund defeated Alberto Del Rio and Daniel Bryan in a brief and mediocre bout. Shortly into it the legends, led by Roddy Piper, matched down and scared off Del Rio, leaving Sheamus able to Brogue Kick Bryan for the win. Afterwards the legends then took a turn each in attacking Ricardo Rodriguez and took out Michael Cole.
Overall it was a pretty forgettable SmackDown, with average action in the ring.
I pretty much hated this show! The Bryan, Piper, and AJ segment was the only one that held my attention all night. Everything else was either boring or lame. We discussed Cody yesterday in your comments section, so I won't beat a dead horse, but man are you right when you say that segment did nothing for him! WWE seems to be moving further away from the demented persona that got him over, and that is not a good thing, in my opinion. Also, I can't stand watching the legends dance. Ever!
ReplyDeleteYeah it just felt like a large waste of time when the legends appeared. Although Foley can be interesting now and then he unfortunately hasn't been during his last few appearances for WWE.
DeleteI can understand them moving away from the demented persona of Rhodes, there was only so far he could take the character and to move up into the main event scene I personally think he has to be normal again with a ruthless streak that he started to show before this Big Show feud.