Report by Jared Hawkins and SmartMarkRadio.com and F4WOnline.com …
WWE SmackDown brand house show (Youngstown, OH 5/13/2012)
I’m shocked these haven’t been sent in yet. Anyway, results from Sunday’s house show at Youngstown’s Covelli Centre. Smallest crowd I’ve seen here in years. I’d put the estimate at about 3,000 and that might be generous.
Something they didn’t so at the last house show here in September (and an idea I’m not a hundred percent sold on). They had video screens up to show the Titantron videos. Where I’m not sold on them is they did not have a camera to put the action on the screen, so it seemed like an added expense that isn’t really needed.
1. The Usos (w/complete entrance) defeated Darren Young and Titus O’Neil in 9:51. I’m actually shocked that this got over since the Usos are rarely on TV and Young and O’Neil have only worked TV the last couple of weeks (NXT and Superstars don’t count). Young is pinned by one of the Usos (I think it was Jimmy) with a flying splash.
Jinder Mahal came out and cut a promo. In Indian. You can imagine how well that went over.
2. Jinder Mahal defeated Ezekiel Jackson by submission to a camel clutch in 7:30. Seriously, what the hell? Mahal couldn’t beat one of the Mulkey twins the way they’ve booked him the past few months but gets a win over a former Intercontinental Champion. The crowd chanted “USA” during this to get under Mahal’s skin despite there not actually being an American in the match.
AJ cuts a promo where she tries to explain why she’s still defending Daniel Bryan. I didn’t hear most of this.
3. Natalya defeated AJ by disqualification in 3:45 when AJ refuses to respond to the referee’s five count. Exactly what they did with the AJ-Kaitlyn match on SmackDown.
Daniel Bryan comes out and tries to be the voice of reason, telling AJ this isn’t really her. He asks her if she’ll be herself if he gets back with her, and she says “Yes”…to which Bryan says it’s never going to happen. He tells her to slap him, but he storms off instead.
Kane appears via pretaped promo saying he’s going to hurt Randy Orton later tonight.
4. Ryback pinned Heath Slater with the running fisherman buster in 2:58.
5. Randy Orton pinned Kane with an RKO in 12:45 of a no DQ match. Pretty tame based on being off TV as well as bring PG, although chairs and kendo sticks were used. Match was still better than anything that had taken place previously.
As we’re returning from intermission, Tony Chimmel begins pushing the souvenir collector’s cups when Daniel Bryan interrupts, telling him he needs to save his voice to announce him as the new World Heavyweight Champion.
6. Yoshi Tatsu pinned Drew McIntyre in 6:50. I would love to tell you the finish but I was honestly so shocked he won that I don’t remember it.
7. The Big Show and The Great Khali defeated Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes and Christian in 11:33 when Show pinned Rhodes with a choke slam. Whoever had the bright idea to have The Great Khali play face in peril for seven minutes might want to reconsider their job choice.
8. Sheamus pinned Daniel Bryan with a Brogue Kick in 17:38 to retain the World Heavyweight Title. Crowd was probably 85-15 in favor of Sheamus with the kids firmly behind him. Bryan was actually nearly dominant most of the way. Finish came when Bryan came off the top, got caught in a backbreaker, and Sheamus immediately went for the kick. Easily the best match of the night.
