This week’s Smackdown saw a new Intercontinental Champion crowned, a WrestleMania rematch, and some more drama mount in the Edge / Christian / Del Rio saga. It’s also the first SmackDown that is going to be recapped by Jason Davis, our newest contributor at ProRasslin.com. Get his “Smackdown! Breakdown!” after the jump!
The show opened with Edge speaking to Teddy Long about wanting to get his hands on Del Rio. Long told him he wasn’t having any of that. Long made a stipulation that if Edge touches Del Rio, or visa-versa, both men would be banned from Wrestlemania. Edge walked of angry. Davis Dish: Are we to believe Long would pull his show’s main event from Wrestlemania? Right….
Josh Matthews, Booker T check in, send it to Micheal Cole from his “Coal Mine”. Cole hypes the opening Wrestlemania Rematch of Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk.
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk: Rey Mysterio by DQ – Opening of match Punk takes Rey to corner. Punk really works over Rey. Rey counters Punk into the second rope and goes for and early 619. Punk counters and goes for the pin. Rey goes to top turnbuckle and gets huge air only to have Punk move out of the way. Back and forth action spills to the outside. Punk takes control. Punk tries for two close 2 counts. Loud 619 chant starts. Punk goes for a top rope maneuver only to have Rey counter while in mid-air. Rey goes up top. Great looking moonsault on Punk with a close 2 count, but then Cody Rhodes interfered. Rhodes works over Rey until Rey is in corner. Rhodes pulls back his pants leg revealing a cool looking knee brace. He yells at Rey as he smashes his knee into Mysterio. Medical teams attend to Rey. Davis Dish: Nice attack by Rhodes even though when Rey hit him with his brace, it was by accident. These two will have a good match at Mania.
Edge and Christian are shown backstage. Christian tells Edge not to wrestle tonight because we’re too close to Mania. Edge said he’s going to show Del Rio what he’s going to do with Drew McIntyre. Davis Dish: McIntyre? Really? Really? Anyone else smell a squash match brewing? That’s what I thought.
Edge vs. Drew McIntyre: Edge by submission – McIntyre went right to Edge’s arm. McIntyre went for early cover to have Edge kick out at one. Edge beat down Drew. Went for DDT but his arm couldn’t support it. Edge put his version of a sharp-shooter on and McIntyre tapped. Post match Edge went all crazy eyes and speared McIntyre. Davis Dish: Anyone see Drew on the chopping block after Mania? Nice to see Edge show he’s still got what it takes to win.
LayCool vs. Kelly Kelly & Rosa Mendes: LayCool won and cut a promo on their Wrestlemania opponents. Davis Dish: Is it worth covering? No. Ill spare you.
Kofi Kingston vs. Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship: Wade Barrett New Champion by pinfall – Great back and forth action. Corre members stayed clear and let them fight. Once Kofi got the upper hand Gabriel and Slater distracted the ref and Kofi. Kofi turned around to kick Barrett who in turn countered into Wasteland. Barrett got what I guess you could call a clean pin since no one actually touched anyone. Post match Barrett had Gabriel hit the 450 Splash. Davis Dish: Well, now the Corre is Bronze and Gold. Big Ezekiel is kind of the odd man out isn’t he? Nice to see Barrett finally get some type of Championship. I guess its OK to assume we see Kofi get a rematch at Mania?
RAW commercial says Taker is going to face HHH face to face, so why have Taker tonight if you’re giving it away in the commercial?! Back from commercial with Takers “GONG”- Taker cut a promo saying that HHH has been talking with confidence until last week. Taker says he’ll see HHH Monday. Taker says HHH chose his number on 2-21-11 and that number is 19. Davis Dish: I really like the build up to this match. I feel, however, as though Taker’s last two Mania matches with HBK are going to overshadow anything these two can do in a ring together.
Jack Swagger vs. R Truth: Swagger by submission – Cole over did it on commentary, praising Swagger. Early in match Truth botched a dive and they cut to commercial. Back from the break, Swagger stays on Truth. He gets him in the Ankle Lock and forces a submission. Swagger calls Cole into the ring. Cole puts the knee to Truth and cuts a Cracker Rap. Cole and Swagger take a victory lap. Ugh. Davis Dish: Ugh. King better not let me down. I want Cole’s jaw wired shut. Nailed, screwed, welded and super glued. April 3rd can’t come quick enough.
Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio: Christian by pinfall – Del Rio has Brodus Clay in his corner while Christian has Edge. Christian hits a high spot early on. Looks like arm is better. Del Rio goes on offense on Christian’s arm. Works the arm entire match. Christian gets upper hand and starts taking it to Del Rio. Ricardo Rodriquez interferes by putting Del Rios foot on rope as Christian goes for a cover. Edge sees and goes after Rodriquez only to be attacked from behind by Clay. Christian and Del Rio continue in ring as Clay gets Speared by Edge. Edge goes for a chair which causes Del Rio to lose concentration and Christian hits the Impaler for the 1-2-3 pin. Post match Edge goes after Del Rio with the chair but Christian stops him and takes chair telling him to wait till Mania. Christian realizes he has the chair and goes off on Del Rio sending him to the floor. Edge gets in Del Rio’s face but doesn’t touch him to close out the show. Davis Dish: Wow, great match with Del Rio losing for second week in a row. With Christian back, will he be involved at Mania?
Good show all in all. Nice to see wrestling matches. A new Intercontinental Champion. Thanks for reading “The BreakDown!”
