Mike Tedesco’s Smackdown Thoughts
February 9, 2013
By: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
I liked the beginning of last night’s show with Big Show coming out and voicing his complaints. Big Show’s complaints have been pretty entertaining, but tonight he took the cake. I really got a kick out of how he was gesticulating and whining about every little thing. I particularly enjoyed when he called Alberto Del Rio the “Mexican Clint Eastwood.” Things picked up a bit when the blame shifted to Booker T. I wonder if this will become an annual tradition to complain about the General Manager of Smackdown being incompetent around WrestleMania season. Big Show wasn’t the only one to complain about him, but we’ll get to that in a bit. I wonder where they’ll go with this. This was better than the “blah” segments they have been opening the show with for the past few weeks.
That was a decent little match from Cody Rhodes and Kofi Kingston. There was nothing bad about it and nothing great about it. This was really just a match to reintroduce Cody Rhodes to the singles scene.
I don’t really have much to say about The Great Khali’s match. They use him as a time waster, and that’s how he should be booked. I’m hoping it’s his spot that will be lost in the Elimination Chamber. Mark Henry was really impressive in the post match beat down. He looks great in his return and just as strong as ever. Granted, Cesaro did lift Khali up a few weeks ago, but it’s still impressive to see a huge dude get dead lifted by someone else.
Mark Henry followed it up with a great promo to reintroduce himself and his Hall of Pain. I’ve really missed this guy. Henry made his case for being in the Elimination Chamber. I’m sorry, but if Jack Swagger can have an opportunity to be put in when he hasn’t had a World Title shot in years, then Mark Henry should be a lock. The guy has a point. Booker T was called out for the second time tonight, and he put Mark Henry in a match against Randy Orton.
Big Show and Kane had their usual match that we’ve seen them have for years. It always seems like they work that Kane DDT spot in every time they face. I’ve seen Kane DDT Big Show like a thousand times now. Alberto Del Rio, who was suspended for the evening, taunted Big Show into coming outside, beginning what was the most hilarious segment of the night for me. Something about Big Show’s screams and cries of “Why me?” had me rolling tonight. Finding the bus on cinder blocks was hilarious, as was his response. After being doused in orange paint and watching Alberto Del Rio drive off with his bus tires, Big Show cried, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It may seem like stupid humor to some, but being snowed in with not a lot to do, I guess anything could make me laugh.
Jack Swagger was back again with another squash match, this time against Justin Gabriel. I still think they need to bring a little more character out of him. This match didn’t go on as long as his match did against Kingston last week, which I think made it more effective. I think a quicker match makes the domination sink in more. We’ll see how he continues to go on. I do like that they at least gave the Ankle Lock a new name in the Patriot Act. That’s a start.
Tensai and Brodus Clay look like they’re going to form a tag team. Oh boy…
I enjoyed the Sin Cara vs. Antonio Cesaro match tonight even though it was a quick one. That modified sunset flip was sick. Cesaro is great. He can go with the big guys, the main eventers, and the little guys. He can do it all. I love it.
Mark Henry had his first match back in nine months against Randy Orton in the main event. Henry was pretty dominant in this. Orton hasn’t been overly exciting for a while, but he’s still considered a main guy, so it makes it that much more effective to watch him be dominated. Henry is in the Elimination Chamber. Which spot he takes isn’t clear yet, but then neither is the full list of competitors. When will Booker T announce which guys still fighting for a spot have impressed him enough?
Before I end this, I think it’s important to note that Dolph Ziggler didn’t appear on WWE TV at all this week. It’s only a week, but it certainly does raise some questions. Are they simply giving him a break? Are they trying to keep him out of the forefront of the fans’ minds so it’s a big surprise if he cashes in his Money in the Bank sometime soon? It could be much adieu about nothing, but it’s a fun talking point.
Bump of the Night: Sin Cara’s modified sunset flip
Match of the Night: Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry * 1/2
Final Rating: ** 1/4
Thanks for reading!
Mike Tedesco is the official recapper of WWE Smackdown for Wrestleview.com.