(SPOILERS) WWE Smackdown Taping Results for 2/22/13

[Heisenberg]

SmackDown is originating from Biloxi, Mississippi this week.

Lilian Garcia, JBL, and Josh Matthews made their entrances.

* The show opens with highlights from Elimination Chamber and RAW.

* Alberto Del Rio kicked off the show and said it's time for WrestleMania. He addressed Jack Swagger's new attitude and State of the Union address and said this county was built by hard working immigrants. He said America is great and Swagger is nothing but a Real Jackass.

Del Rio called Swagger out. Randy Orton's music hit and the place absolutely erupted. Orton went to talk in the ring and Randy chants start. Orton said Swagger robbed him of his shot and he wants to take out his anger on Swagger tonight. Orton asked Del Rio to step aside for tonight.

Booker T came out and said his plan tonight is champion vs champion - Del Rio vs. Wade Barrett. Booker granted Orton's wish by booking him in a match against Swagger.

Sheamus was shown backstage...

1. Sheamus defeated Damien Sandow. A pretty decent back and forth match. Sheamus won with the Brogue Kick after a lengthy match.


* The announcement for WrestleMania 30 being held in New Orleans was shown. The crowd was pretty pumped up since it's only an hour away.

2. Kaitlyn and Layla defeated Tamina and Aksana. Kaitlyn won with a hard spear on Tamina.

* Backstage segment with Zeb Colter, Jack Swagger and Wade Barrett. Zeb had some intense words with Barrett and says that Barrett is part of the problem. Zeb hopes Del Rio and Barrett kill each other.

3. Jack Swagger (w/Zeb Colter) defeated Randy Orton. Swagger has gotten rid of all the red white and blue in his entrance. It's kinda awkward because Zeb appealed to the rednecks here. I can see some real heat coming in places elsewhere. A good match with Orton. Swagger is bringing a new intensity to his matches and is finally looks like he belongs. In the end, Zeb distracted Orton, who was punched by Swagger. Swagger rolled up Orton with his feet on the ropes for the win.

* Promo for Dead Man Down. Backstage segment with Sheamus and Wade Barrett. Sheamus picks on Barrett’s acting and Barrett picks on Sheamus for losing to The Shield.

4. The Miz defeated Cody Rhodes. Miz won with a nice reversal into the figure four. I think he's finally getting the move down. Dusty should have taught Cody how to get out of it.

* After the match, we were shown another immigration promo from Swagger and Colter before a glimpse of Fandango.

5. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez) defeated Wade Barrett. Following the ring entrances, Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter came out and stood on the ramp to watch. It was the best match of the night. Del Rio won by making Barrett tap to the Cross Arm Breaker. The taping ended with Del Rio standing in the ring jawing to Swagger with the WrestleMania logo in the back.

Quite a skippable show imo. Some storylines advancing. Sheamus v Wade Barrett at WM29 perhaps?

 

[Chriss]

Avarage-looking show here. Swagger keeps his momentum going with a win over Orton. This cheap victory just builds up. A clean victory wouldn't be good, this makes things more interesting. I just hope Orton won't be added to the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania. Match would be great but storyline-wise the match doesn't need Orton.

I think we'll see Sheamus vs. Barrett at Mania. WWE wanted to go with this last year but then they didn't let Barrett take the World Heavyweight Championship so new they're going with the idea but with the Intercontinental Championship. Feud might be good. Since Barrett came back he wasn't relevant and a feud with Sheamus could take him a bit higher so I don't have a problem with it.

I'm kinda glad that WWE is letting Miz use the figure four. At first his figure four was horrible but if it actually gets better I don't have a problem with it as the Skull Crushing Finale wasn't good-looking at all. If I'd want Miz to use a submission as his finisher I'd pick the figure four as well.

It warms my heart to see how great Del Rio is doing. He's not one of those wrestlers whose wrestling skills disappear once they become faces and get to hold championships. I'm enjoying his work in the ring and he recently got better overall.

I'll give this a watch.

 

[Crippler]

I still don't like the number one contender winning with roll-ups.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Sheamus squashing all the new up and comers every week is getting old.

And I agree that Swagger winning via rollup is just cheap and silly. He's only just returned from a hiatus that he had to take because WWE had jobbed him into oblivion. Him losing 10 second matches to Brodus and Santino wasn't that long ago, if he's challenging for the World Title he needs to get some clean big wins. Similar situation to his WHC run where he went from jobber-Champ with no real build.

 

[The Showstopper]

I'm tired of Orton constantly losing. They need to repackage him; he desperately needs to turn heel.

 

[The Cork]

I still don't like the number one contender winning with roll-ups.

I still don't like the number one contender being Jack Swagger.

 

[Deezy]

Last show of a winning Swagger?

Can't see why WWE can't just throw Randy Orton into a quick feud with Del Rio, seeing as both were having a good feud last year. Reverse the roles and you have a fresh coat of paint and all the Ortonites can stop crying about his spot.

 

[Troy]

A few things bother me with this show. I am tired of seeing Sheamus beat Sandow again and again with no payoff. If they are going to feud Sandow has to be competitive and pick up a win or two. Also not a fan of the number one contender winning in such unconvincing fashion.

Also not the biggest fan of the IC champion losing cleanly in a non title match even if it is against the World champion. Yes it is good to have him in the mainevent but still is a bit of a downer for the champion heading towards WM.

 

[Chriss]

Also not the biggest fan of the IC champion losing cleanly in a non title match even if it is against the World champion. Yes it is good to have him in the mainevent but still is a bit of a downer for the champion heading towards WM.

Wade Barrett currently finds himself in the middle of pretty much nothing (yes, he might get into a feud with Sheamus but we are far from that) and Del Rio has/had this feud with Swagger going on so it only makes sense for him to take the victory and look strong. It was a nice scene when Swagger came to ringside after Del Rio won the match. It was just what a feud like this needs when it's at its beginning.

 

[Troy]

Wade Barrett currently finds himself in the middle of pretty much nothing (yes, he might get into a feud with Sheamus but we are far from that) and Del Rio has/had this feud with Swagger going on so it only makes sense for him to take the victory and look strong. It was a nice scene when Swagger came to ringside after Del Rio won the match. It was just what a feud like this needs when it's at its beginning.

I agree with Del Rio winning I just don't see why WWE would book that match. It wasn't a special show, it wasn't built up as a massive opportunity with the IC champion facing the World champion, it was just a bog standard Smackdown. They should only book a match like this when they actually build it up to be a big deal and have something planned to come out of it, I don't like it being booked as a throwaway match.