WWE Friday Night Smackdown Thoughts 1/13/2012

Tonight ended a boring show with a very interesting twist...find out what it was after the jump!


Here are my thoughts on the show as it happened:

• The show opens with Daniel Bryan, who cuts a snotty promo about his sneaky victory last week.  He has some pretty immense heat at this point and he even takes a few funny cheap shots at the IWC for bashing him on the message boards *GASP!*

We then have an interruption by Mark Henry, who informs Bryan that he will face the winner of tonight's title match next week using his long overdue rematch clause.  Great opening segment, even if it ran a little long.

• Justin Gabriel faces Heath Slater in a match that I have a near zero interest in.  It wasn't that the match was bad, but here's what I meant in my 'what it takes to make it in the WWE' article about performance ability.  No one really seems to care about the match and the moves feel rushed and uninspired.  Gabriel picks up the win in a solid if irrelevant match.
• AJ and Daniel Bryan have a quick segment and she finally reveals here true feelings for the Dragon...

HOORAY FOR LOVE!  I mean....he feels the same way.....RIGHT?

• Up next, we have Cody Rhodes, who delivers the promo of the night taking some clever cheap shots at the primarily Latino audience in Laredo, Texas.  Great mic work by Rhodes, who promises to "pull a warrior" (*Snarl!*) and win a world title in 2012 (something I also predicted in my year end awards).  Ezekiel Jackson, who is Rhode's opponent tonight, arrives and we now have our next match.  Zeke was his usual sloppy self here and thankfully, Cody won this match rather quickly.
• Santino is in the GM's office pitching some horrible ideas to Teddydore.  David Otunga interrupts and after a short back and forth, we have Santino vs. Otunga booked for later tonight.....*insert any form of sarcasm you wish here*......
• Drew Mcintyre is having his '3rd strike match' with Ted Dibiase tonight.  Hunico and Camacho arrive as guest commentators and provide some form of interest to another pointless match.  We all love Drew and the IWC may have shit themselves for the third week, but I don't mind him losing.  Let's face facts, Drew hasn't had any real solid momentum since early 2010.
• Sheamus faces Jinder Mahal for the 50th time and wins again....SHOCKER!
• David OIL-Tunga dominates Santino from the very beginning and easily picks up the victory in another boring contest.
• Finally we have some form of entertainment....I mean who doesn't love the FUNKASAURUS!?  I'll tell you who....ME!  Yes, I no longer hate the idea and I am far over my disappointment, but that doesn't mean I gotta like it.  He does however, get a sizable pop and even though he can't dance for shit and looks stupid half the time, at least the crowd is interested here.  Brodus gains a 10 second victory over Tyson Kidd via. cross body.  We then have the most entertaining moment of this match

• Tamina and Natalya go for round 2 tonight with Natalya getting squashed again by the Superfly Splash.  I like the new push for Tamina but why did they have to get rid of her awesome theme from last week just to give her the ol' "tribute to my father" gimmick that almost every 2nd or 3rd generation superstar seems to have at some point. Her victory celebration is also cut short by an appearance by Wade Barrett who again ensures victory at the Rumble and challenges Sheamus to a match next week.
• After what seemed like 7 hours of boredom, we move onto our Main Event:: A NO DQ, No Countout match for the World Heavyweight championship:

Daniel Bryan arrives with AJ by his side and I immediately sensed some manipulation on Bryan's part.  Great action again from two guys who have awesome chemistry.  Big Show dominates most of the match and nearly kills Bryan with this sick spear

After a quick commercial break, Show has now brought a chair into the match and Daniel uses his quickness to gain advantage of the chair and hits Show with at least 5 solid shots.  The big man punches the chair out of Bryan's hand and Daniel starts laying in his patented kicks to no avail.  Cool DDT spot by Bryan on a chair, but it wasn't enough to keep the giant down either.  It almost seems as if The Big Show has Bryan's number here until he accidentally collides with AJ at ringside.

Obviously, this match has now been ruled a no contest.  The episode ends with Big Show crying like a 500 lb baby as Bryan berates him for his recklessness.  It looks like we'll see Bryan vs. Show vs. Henry for the World title next week.

Match rating: 3/5








Final thoughts:  A pretty boring show overall with the exception of Daniel Bryan, who is now slowly becoming the MVP of the blue brand.


Overall episode rating: 6.0


What to watch if you DVR'd the episode: The Daniel Bryan segments.



Let me know your thoughts




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