Smackdown – April 5, 2013
By Scott Keith on April 6, 2013
Smackdown
Date:
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Location:
Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Commentators:
Josh Matthews, Jerry Lawler
Josh Matthews, Jerry Lawler
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
This
is the very final show before Wrestlemania and therefore there isn’t
likely to be much going on in the ring. Expect to see a lot of
buildup for Sunday which makes sense given that the whole show is
already set in stone unless they add in a battle royal or something.
This isn’t likely going to be much but it’s the price you pay to get
to Wrestlemania. Let’s get to it.
is the very final show before Wrestlemania and therefore there isn’t
likely to be much going on in the ring. Expect to see a lot of
buildup for Sunday which makes sense given that the whole show is
already set in stone unless they add in a battle royal or something.
This isn’t likely going to be much but it’s the price you pay to get
to Wrestlemania. Let’s get to it.
Ryback
vs. Primo/Epico
vs. Primo/Epico
The
cousins have new music. We cut to Cole and JBL at Axxess to talk
about how awesome things are there. Primo starts and is quickly
powerslammed. Ryback pulls Epico in and throws him into the corner
before hitting a gorilla press slam. Back to Primo for a nice
springboard dropkick. Epico comes in for a chinlock but gets caught
in the Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder (that’s the real name) and
it’s back to Primo. A double spear puts the cousins down and the
double Shell Shock gets the pin at 3:15.
cousins have new music. We cut to Cole and JBL at Axxess to talk
about how awesome things are there. Primo starts and is quickly
powerslammed. Ryback pulls Epico in and throws him into the corner
before hitting a gorilla press slam. Back to Primo for a nice
springboard dropkick. Epico comes in for a chinlock but gets caught
in the Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder (that’s the real name) and
it’s back to Primo. A double spear puts the cousins down and the
double Shell Shock gets the pin at 3:15.
Rating:
D+. What do you want here?
This was exactly what it was supposed to be: a quick squash to make
Ryback look strong going into the showdown on Sunday. Ryback needs
the win on Sunday a lot more than Henry does as he hasn’t won a big
match since before the Cell loss in the fall.
D+. What do you want here?
This was exactly what it was supposed to be: a quick squash to make
Ryback look strong going into the showdown on Sunday. Ryback needs
the win on Sunday a lot more than Henry does as he hasn’t won a big
match since before the Cell loss in the fall.
We
look at some more Axxess stuff like Mr. McMahon’s office before
looking at the Wrestlemania auction for Hurricane Sandy relief.
look at some more Axxess stuff like Mr. McMahon’s office before
looking at the Wrestlemania auction for Hurricane Sandy relief.
Video
on Lesnar vs. HHH.
on Lesnar vs. HHH.
We
get a video on Hall of Fame inductee Bruno Sammartino.
get a video on Hall of Fame inductee Bruno Sammartino.
Video
on Fandango and the pronunciation of his name. This transitions into
a recap of Fandango attacking Jericho on Raw.
on Fandango and the pronunciation of his name. This transitions into
a recap of Fandango attacking Jericho on Raw.
Video
on this history of the Shield. This transitions into the end of last
week’s show with Shield being beaten down.
on this history of the Shield. This transitions into the end of last
week’s show with Shield being beaten down.
Here
are Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls, tonight as played by the
Bellas (complete with some extra padding in the shorts and the Rhodes
Scholars dancing while eating some cookies. Daniem Sandow in a
Brodus hat and dancing is too much. Cody has a bald wig with the
Japanese characters thrown in. The dog and pony show ends on Sunday.
This brings out the real Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls for the
ring clearing brawl.
are Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls, tonight as played by the
Bellas (complete with some extra padding in the shorts and the Rhodes
Scholars dancing while eating some cookies. Daniem Sandow in a
Brodus hat and dancing is too much. Cody has a bald wig with the
Japanese characters thrown in. The dog and pony show ends on Sunday.
This brings out the real Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls for the
ring clearing brawl.
Video
on the Wrestlemania press conference.
on the Wrestlemania press conference.
Video
on Punk vs. Undertaker.
on Punk vs. Undertaker.
JBL
and Cole talk about the exhibit where you can climb a ladder to get
the MITB case. JBL to Cole: “You have the athletic ability of an
Oklahoma chimpanzee.”
and Cole talk about the exhibit where you can climb a ladder to get
the MITB case. JBL to Cole: “You have the athletic ability of an
Oklahoma chimpanzee.”
Donald
Trump Hall of Fame video.
Trump Hall of Fame video.
We
get a main event preview, which means we see both Rock and Cena’s
promos from Raw.
get a main event preview, which means we see both Rock and Cena’s
promos from Raw.
Del
Rio says it’s a good thing that he’s at Axxess and not at Smackdown
tonight, because Swagger would be suffering. He’ll be suffering on
Sunday as well and America is made up of a bunch of cultures coming
together.
Rio says it’s a good thing that he’s at Axxess and not at Smackdown
tonight, because Swagger would be suffering. He’ll be suffering on
Sunday as well and America is made up of a bunch of cultures coming
together.
Jack
Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston
Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston
Feeling
out process to start with Swagger grabbing a top wristlock and Kofi
unsuccessfully trying to flip out of it. Kofi comes back with his
double leapfrogs and a back elbow before knocking Swagger to the
floor. We take a break and come back with Swagger putting on a
double chickenwing. Kofi fights up but a sunset flip attempt is
blocked.
out process to start with Swagger grabbing a top wristlock and Kofi
unsuccessfully trying to flip out of it. Kofi comes back with his
double leapfrogs and a back elbow before knocking Swagger to the
floor. We take a break and come back with Swagger putting on a
double chickenwing. Kofi fights up but a sunset flip attempt is
blocked.
Instead
Kofi takes Jack down with a monkey flip, only to be awkwardly sent
into the corner for the Vader Bomb. Kofi gets the feet up though and
hits a top rope cross body for two. An attempt at a second is caught
in mid air but Kofi escapes the gutwrench powerbomb. Kofi’s SOS gets
two but a Colter distraction lets Swagger hook the Patriot Lock for
the submission at 9:40.
Kofi takes Jack down with a monkey flip, only to be awkwardly sent
into the corner for the Vader Bomb. Kofi gets the feet up though and
hits a top rope cross body for two. An attempt at a second is caught
in mid air but Kofi escapes the gutwrench powerbomb. Kofi’s SOS gets
two but a Colter distraction lets Swagger hook the Patriot Lock for
the submission at 9:40.
Rating:
C. This was fine but with less
than ten minutes and about three of those spent on a commercial,
there was only so much they were going to be able to do. That being
said, this is the highest profile exposure Swagger and the title
match have had since the title match was announced for Wrestlemania.
Not bad here but it was just there.
C. This was fine but with less
than ten minutes and about three of those spent on a commercial,
there was only so much they were going to be able to do. That being
said, this is the highest profile exposure Swagger and the title
match have had since the title match was announced for Wrestlemania.
Not bad here but it was just there.
Overall
Rating: D+. That rating could
be pretty much anything tonight because it’s basically just grading a
two hour infomercial. This is one of those shows you have to sit
through once a year and while it’s unpleasant, it’s just one time and
it means there’s nothing left to sit through before Wrestlemania.
The matches were just there to say we had wrestling tonight and
again, that’s what you have to expect.
Rating: D+. That rating could
be pretty much anything tonight because it’s basically just grading a
two hour infomercial. This is one of those shows you have to sit
through once a year and while it’s unpleasant, it’s just one time and
it means there’s nothing left to sit through before Wrestlemania.
The matches were just there to say we had wrestling tonight and
again, that’s what you have to expect.
Results
Ryback
b. Epico/Primo – Double Shell Shock
b. Epico/Primo – Double Shell Shock
Jack
Swagger b. Kofi Kingston – Patriot Lock
Swagger b. Kofi Kingston – Patriot Lock
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my ebook on the History of the WWE Championship from Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C3RZIR8
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