Table for two at WWE TLC.
Nine nights before WWE TLC, the 641st edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL. With their Chairs Match for the World Heavyweight Championship looming at WWE TLC, what will happen between World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry and “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show given their destructive histories with steel chairs? As announced on Thursday on WWE.com, “The Apex Predator” Randy Orton will go one-on-one with Wade Barrett at WWE TLC, but with an undetermined match type. Will the match type be announced on SmackDown? Also, after a two-year absence, one of the most legendary ring announcer in WWE history returns as Lilian Garcia returns to the WWE to be the full-time ring announcer for SmackDown.
Match Results
- Beat The Clock Challenge: Wade Barrett def. Ezekiel Jackson by pin following a spinning side slam with a time to beat of 7:53.
- Zack Ryder def. Heath Slater by pin following the Rough Ryder Leg Lariat.
- Ted DiBiase def. Jinder Mahal by roll-up.
- Sheamus def. David Otunga by pin following the Brogue Kick.
- Non-Title: Cody Rhodes def. Daniel Bryan by DQ after Booker T interferes.
- Beat The Clock Challenge: Time to Beat- 7:53: Randy Orton def. Dolph Ziggler (with Wade Barrett and Vickie Guerrero) by pin following the RKO with two seconds left on the clock. As a result, Randy Orton gets to choose the match type for WWE TLC.
Detailed Results
SmackDown kicks off in an unusual fashion as referees and EMT’s are shown surrounding SmackDown commentator Booker T. It was then explained that Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes had assaulted the six-time World Champion just before the show went on the air, sending Booker face-first into the steel railing near the stage and repeatedly stomping away at Booker before referees finally stop the attack. As Booker T is helped to the backstage area, Cody Rhodes loiters at ringside.
SmackDown then welcomes a familiar face back to the WWE as legendary ring announcer Lilian Garcia returns to be the new, full-time ring announcer for SmackDown. Lilian states that it feels good to be back in the WWE, but she is quickly cut off by Cody Rhodes, who tells Lilian that no one cares that she is back and no one noticed she was gone. Rhodes continues that he enjoys the “symmetry” of having one announcer return while another departs. The Intercontinental Champion proclaims that he made his statement clear tonight before saying that he will serve as the commentator for SmackDown in place of Booker T. Rhodes then tells Booker to watch closely because the legend may “learn something”.
With tables, ladders, and chairs set up in the ramp, Wade Barrett was in action in the opening match of the night as Barrett faces Ezekiel Jackson in a Beat The Clock Challenge where both Barrett and WWE TLC opponent Randy Orton will compete with the Superstar that wins with the lowest time will get to pick their match type at WWE TLC. In the end, it was Wade Barrett hitting a spinning side slam on Ezekiel Jackson en route to picking up the win with a time to beat of 7:53. After the match, Wade Barrett claims that he “embarrassed” Randy Orton, adding that Orton does not have a “psychological advantage” over him before saying that Orton is “out of time”. When Randy Orton goes one-on-one with Dolph Ziggler, can Orton win his match with a time less than 7:53?
Backstage, David Otunga is complaining to SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long that Mick Foley had no right to put him a match last week because he is a RAW Superstar. The GM responds by putting Otunga in match against “The Great White” Sheamus!
One week after a valiant effort against World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry in a Steel Cage Match that ended with him being on the receiving end of a World’s Strongest Slam from the top rope from Mark Henry, “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Daniel Bryan appears on SmackDown for an in-ring interview with Josh Mathews. Bryan states that what is more painful that being in a Steel Cage with Mark Henry was the “disappointment” of being so close to the World Heavyweight Title, but ultimately failing. Bryan continues that his dream is be the World Heavyweight Champion, but before Bryan can continue, commentator Michael Cole interrupts to call Bryan a “loser”. Cole shouts that Bryan “never earned” a title opportunity, but Bryan shouts back that he earned the opportunity by making Cole’s broadcast partner, Cody Rhodes, tap out two weeks ago. Cole argues that Bryan earned a one-way ticket out of the WWE, saying that Bryan should just “go away”. Fed up with the berating by Michael Cole, Daniel Bryan jumps out of the ring, confronting Cole and threatening to make Cole tap out, but Bryan is blindsided by Cody Rhodes before Rhodes delivers multiple kicks to the injured ribs of “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” before, for the second time that night, referees have to pull Rhodes off a Superstar! How will Daniel Bryan respond to this attack by Cody Rhodes?
Nine nights before he finally gets his shot at the United States Title at WWE TLC, “The Long Island Iced Z” was in action on SmackDown as Zack Ryder went one-on-one with Heath Slater. In the end, it was Zack Ryder hitting the Rough Ryder Leg Lariat on Heath Slater en route to picking up the win.
After costing Jinder Mahal his match against Justin Gabriel last week, Ted DiBiase went one-on-one with Jinder Mahal on SmackDown. In the end, it was Ted DiBiase catching Jinder Mahal with a roll-up en route to picking up the win.
Nine nights before he challenges Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Title in a Chairs Match at WWE TLC, “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show appears on SmackDown. Big Show states that it has been nine years since he held a World Title when he beat Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in 2002 to win the WWE Title. Show continues that, when he has a steel chair in his hand at WWE TLC, it will be a perfect time to be a World Champion again. Show then states that, at WWE TLC, it is going to get “mean” and get “nasty”, adding that the doors of Mark Henry’s Hall of Pain are going to be slammed shut.
World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry comes out, saying that he is not afraid Big Show, but he is “half injured” and is not looking for a fight. Henry continues that he has got something to say to Big Show and he want to say it “face-to-face”, but he needs Show to promise that he will not put his hands on him. Show says that he cannot make any promises, but Henry says that Show is going to have all of Mark Henry he can handle at WWE TLC and all he is asking for is a “courtesy”. Show mulls it over before reluctantly giving his word that he will not put his hands on Mark Henry. The World Heavyweight Champion then enters the ring, coming face-to-face with Big Show, saying that they have a lot in common as they are two of the greatest big men to enter the ring. Henry continues that Show was a champion and he is the current champion before saying that, at WWE TLC, he should be 100% and they will have a fight that people will talk about for decades. Henry then offers to let “bygones be bygones” and let the best man win before offering his hand to Big Show with Show shaking the hand of “The World’s Strongest Champion”. Henry then tells Show that Show “thinks” he is a monster, but Henry knows that he is. Henry then hits Show with a cheap shot and Show responds by taking the World Heavyweight Champion down, pummeling Mark Henry before dropping a big elbow on the injured ankle of Mark Henry. Big Show was not finished there, however, as Show follows Henry to the outside, grabbing a steel chair and waffling the chair on the back of Henry before waylaying the ankle with a chair shot, leaving Mark Henry on the ground writhing in pain as referees and EMT’s tend to the fallen champion! After this attack, what will be the condition of Mark Henry at WWE TLC?
After being granted the ability to speak by Santa Claus last week, Hornswoggle served as the special ring announcer as “The Great White” Sheamus went one-on-one with the Harvard Law graduate, David Otunga. In the end, it was Sheamus blasting David Otunga with the Brogue Kick en route to picking up the win.
After being attacked by Cody Rhodes earlier in the night, “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Daniel Bryan went one-on-one with Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes in a non-title match. During the match, Booker T rushes out, looking for revenge on Cody Rhodes as the two men brawl, but when Booker gets the better of Rhodes, the Intercontinental Champion decides to make a quick exit!
Backstage, Cody Rhodes barges into Theodore Long’s office, demanding a match with Booker T and the GM reveals that he was just thinking the same thing before informing Rhodes that Rhodes will go one-on-one with six-time World Champion Booker T with the Intercontinental Title on the line! Can Cody Rhodes defeat Booker T or will the legend hold his first championship since 2006?
Then it was time for the main event as, after Wade Barrett set the time to beat at 7:53 earlier in the night, “The Viper” Randy Orton went one-on-one with United States Champion Dolph Ziggler, with Vickie Guerrero in his corner, and if Orton wins the match in less than 7:53, then Orton will get to pick the match type for his match against Wade Barrett at WWE TLC. During the match, the action spills to the outside, but after Randy Orton throws Dolph Ziggler back into the ring, Wade Barrett comes out of nowhere, sending Orton face-first into the ring post. Miraculously, Randy Orton recovers in time to beat the referee’s ten-count back into the ring, striking quick with the RKO en route to picking up the win with only two seconds left on the clock! After the match, Wade Barrett re-emerges, hitting a spinning side slam on Orton before “congratulating” Orton on getting to pick their match stipulation. Barrett then offers his “suggestion” for which match type Orton should pick as Barrett tosses aside a ladder and a chair, leaving only a table. Barrett then looks ready to send Orton through the table with Wasteland, but Orton fights back, trying to powerbomb Barrett through the table, but Barrett escapes, making a hasty exit. However, Orton sets his sights on a vulnerable Dolph Ziggler as “The Viper” puts the United States Champion through the table in a clear-cut message to Barrett! What will happen in nine nights at WWE TLC, when Randy Orton goes one-on-one with Wade Barrett in a Tables Match, where the only way to win is to put your opponent through a table?
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