WWE Smackdown TV report = Show vs Del Rio for title plus Rock returns to Smackdown

By James Shannon: j_pats@hotmail.com

PSA: If you're a big Alberto Del Rio fan, extend your SmackDown recording as long as you can, and record the show afterward.

Booker T opened the show with rumours flying that he had a special announcement for the World Title. He said Raw this week was epic, but anything Raw can do, SmackDown can do better. He said Raw had Dolph Vs. Cena. He was booking Antonio Cesaro Vs. Orton. Raw had The Great One. Tonight was the Rock's return to the SmackDown ring. He then announced a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Show and Del Rio. They played music under that announcement which made it feel weirdly post-produced, like they were covering something.

Show made his way down to the ring and yelled at Booker without a mic saying that it was a horrible idea. Show grabbbed a mic from ringside and accused Booker of having an agenda against him. He accused Booker of having a problem with him as Champion, that he is still working while Booker's pushing papers. He then brought up the high density of Latinos in Miami, saying Booker was trying to get the crowd to see Del Rio as a hero, but there are no Latino heroes. There's no Irish, Latino or Viper hero who can stop him.

Show got in Booker's face and warned him to change his mind. He put his hands on Booker, pushing him into the corner and Del Rio ran down for the save. He sent Show out of the ring with his kicks. Booker held Alberto back as Show yelled from ringside and the crowd chanted for Del Rio.

Match Number One: Randy Orton Vs. Antonio Cesaro (c), Non-Title Match.

They had a good back and forth SmackDown opener. Cesaro held his own in every aspect of the match. The shtick of JBL trying to make his co-announcer look foolish is tiring quickly though.

Orton made his comeback but Cesaro cut it off and hit an amazing elbow after launching Orton. I did not expect Orton to go up for that but he did it perfectly. Orton quickly came back though. When he was setting up for the RKO after the draping DDT, The Shield ran out and attacked Orton.

Winner: Randy Orton, DQ.

Cesaro quickly rolled out of the ring and The Shield hit their triple team powerbomb on Orton.

3MB were with Striker in the back. They announced they'd be in Rumble on Raw and were talking about it here. Slater's mum told him they had a 10% chance of winning (3/30). They brought up Sheamus after he beat them up on Raw. Slater said they'd beat him like an Irish drum.

Punk cut a promo from a stadium in Miami. Punk said he was a huge fan of Rock's college career and put on his 94 jersey. He talked about how this wasn't where Rock played ball, because they tore down that stadium. He said it was a metaphor for the WWE. Where Rock wrestled was gone, it was now Punk's house. He told Rock he can never come home.

Striker approached Del Rio and Ricardo in the locker room. Del Rio called Show the most insecure person in the world. He bullied Ricardo then the Latinos. He said he would show Show what La Familia truly means.

Match Number Two: Dolph Ziggler & AJ Lee w/ Big E. Vs. The Great Khali & Natalya w/ Hornswoggle.

Khali was forced to tag Natalya when Dolph tagged out. As Khali was walking to his corner, AJ jumped on his back. He kept walking and tagged Natalya, who ripped AJ off his back and went to work. Natalya quickly looked for the Sharpshooter, but AJ bit Natalya's knee to break out of the attempt. Natalya told the ref in disbelief as AJ went to the corner. Natalya yelled at her and and threw a series of forearms in the corner, but AJ started biting Natalya's ear. The bite went for a bit too long, but AJ followed it with a sliced bread #2 for the pinfall. What a shitty ref.

Winners: AJ & Dolph Ziggler, Pinfall.

AJ licked the back of her hand after the pin. Big E. ran in and ran through Khali, before Dolph gave him the fame-asser. Big E. then sucked his fingers and gave Hornswoggle his big move.

They returned to Punk on the football field. He talked about Rock actually believing that he would beat Punk and save the people. Punk said they didn't deserve saving. He said he was better than Rock and better than the people. Heyman spoke this time saying Punk was better than everyone. He told a great story about how Rock envisions himself riding in his horse to Rumble and walking out having conquered the bad guy and holding the belt up high, but none of it mattered. Punk took off Rock's shirt to show his "Knees 2 Faces" shirt.

The Rock came out to his home town, Miami. He was disappointed that CM Punk decided not to show up, which brought a "Cookie Puss" chant. I hope it's the last time it's heard. He talked about growing up on the football field, learning hard work and discipline. He said even though he was in a SmackDown ring in Miami, he would really be home when he got to the Rumble and kicked Punk's Cookie Puss arse and became champion. And it's back.

Team Rhodes Scholars interrupted the Rock. They were there to correct Rock. He would not become champion, they would. Rhodes told Rock that he didn't deserve this time, they did. He told Rock to get out of the ring before he didn't have a choice. Rock said it took guts to come down here, dressed like they were with facial hair like theirs. Sandow offered Rock a challenge - basically go through the protegé challenge. If he answered all three questions, he can stay. If he can't, he leaves. Rock told him to just bring it.

Rock knew who the 19^th President of the United States was. From Cody, Rock knew which film won the academy award for best picture in 1993. Rock cut Sandow off before the third question and wanted to ask one of his own. He said Sandow would get an amazing prize if he got it right. The answer was Rock Bottom. Cody stood stunned and would step back when rock stepped forward. However when he got to the corner, he found some courage. He took of his shirt and charged right into a spine buster and People's Elbow. Rock finished the segment celebrating in the corner.

Match Number Three: 3MB Vs. Sheamus, 3-1 Handicap Match.

Before they even touched, 3MB dropped off the apron and walked away. When Sheamus turned his back they charged the ring, but only Slater got in before a Brogue Kick was thrown. Sheamus then pinned Slater while looking at the rest of 3MB.

Winner: Sheamus, Pinfall.

Match Number Four: Prime Time Players Vs. Team Hell No (C), Non-Title Match.

I get they want to bring Shelby back for Monday, but I would have preferred they let Team Hell No be a well functioning, united team against The Shield and others for a little longer. Miami were very hot for Bryan, but he was very quickly cut off.

It wasn't long before Bryan made the tag to Kane. He took out both Prime Time Players. He tried for a Chokeslam on Young, but Titus came in to break it up. Bryan came off the top rope and kneed both Prime Time Players, which let Kane Chokeslam Young for the pinfall. Fun little match.

Winners: Team Hell No, Pinfall.

Match Number Five: The Big Show (C) Vs. Alberto Del Rio, World Heavyweight Championship Last Man Standing Match.

Great intro by Ricardo for Del Rio. Del Rio was very animated before the match started, obviously an excited man. He immediately attacked Show's legs, but Show cut him off quickly with chops. Show set up a table ringside and promptly slammed Del Rio through it.

That wasn't enough, so Show found a chair. Del Rio gained control of the chair inside the ring before Show could use it. The first flurry wasn't enough to get Show down for a count. A second flurry got Show to his knees so Del Rio tried for the armbreaker. Show stood up and swung Del Rio over the ropes, but Alberto held on and locked the arm in while dangling over the ropes. Show powered up and basically powerbombed Del Rio on the apron to break it. The ref counted but Del Rio made it up before an adbreak.

Show brought another table into the ring, and it was set up leaning in the corner when Del Rio made a comeback and dropkicked Show through it. It was the first time the ref counted for Show. When Show got up, Del Rio locked on a sleeper. Show threw him off but Del Rio kept coming with a headbutt and three running clotheslines. Show caught Del Rio as he jumped off the middle rope and hit a chokeslam for a ref count. Del Rio got up in the ropes at 8.

Outside, Del Rio still couldn't stand completely. He was holding himself up on the barricade, so Show speared him through it. Alberto made it to his feet for a few seconds at nine. Back in the ring Show hit the WMD and started counting with the ref. Del Rio oh so slowly rolled to the edge of the mat. He got his legs under the bottom rope and flopped them to the floor, so he was "standing" though really leaning forward on the apron. The ref called it safe and Del Rio flopped to the floor. Big Show's expression was wonderful when the ref told him Del Rio was up.

Ricardo tried to tend on Alberto outside, giving him water. Alberto slowly got to his feet as Show took apart the ring steps. Show ran the steps at Del Rio who was leaning back on the corner pole. Del Rio dropkicked Show's legs and he went head first into the steps into the pole.

Here is where the DVR recording stopped.

From taping spoilers, Del Rio then used the steel steps to repeatedly hit Show. He buried Show in the match's rubble which stopped Show from answering the 10 count.

Winner and New World Heavyweight Champion: Alberto Del Rio.

I can't comment on the finish or the reaction. I can only hope it was stronger than what Del Rio was getting throughout the show. You cannot blame him for not having the crowd behind him, they have hardly been given a better reason than 3MB's harassment of the Spanish announce booth to care. But it was a shame, because Del Rio was giving his everything throughout the show to be a fiery babyface. Good luck to him.

On the other hand, it is sad to see Show's title reign end. It was the most entertaining reign on SmackDown in a while. To his credit, Show has become a really well rounded package inside and outside the ring.