Smackdown results
Inside the Target Center, Triple H was in the ring (ooh, red carpet!) with Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox. A wide camera shot showed The Shield standing at ringside and the roster on the stage. Hunter began by saying that as of this Monday, unfortunately, Cody Rhodes is no longer a WWE Superstar. Hunter claimed Rhodes was fired for just cause, that being insubordinate and disrespectful of the COO of WWE. Not only that, but since he represents WWE, he was disrespectful to the company, the fans, and the roster. He said he would not stand for it. He said Cody even had the opportunity to fight for his job. “Cody Rhodes fired Cody Rhodes,” said Hunter, very Vince McMahon-like. Triple H said it’s especially hard because he’s friends with Cody, his dad, and brother.
Triple H said he wanted to create an open forum tonight, because there may be misunderstandings about how business is being done. HE said he wanted to open the microphone up to WWE Superstars. He said he wanted them to be free to speak without and repercussions. No one was eager to step to the mic that was set up on the stage. Hunter said they have to open up and tell them how they feel. Damien Sandow finally took Triple H up on his offer, as the crowd chanted “yes!” Sandow fully supported the termination of Cody Rhodes, who exemplified everything that is bad for business. Hunter thanked Sandow but said this is not a forum for people to kiss his butt. He wanted them to speak their mind. He asked Alicia Fox if she had something, and she just put her head down and shook it.
Kofi Kingston stepped to the mic. He said ever since Hunter fired Cody, the locker room has been living and fear and he doesn’t see how that’s best for business. Surprisingly good pop for that. He said Kingston took Rhodes’s livelihood away. Hunter said he understands how Kingston can feel that way…but then Heath Slater interrupted, saying no one cares about the answer to that question. Slater said he has a problem with a giant (Big Show) who just stands around and does nothing. Then he kissed Hunter’s butt a little. “Thank you Heath Slater, for emptying what I’m sure was the entire content of your mind,” said Hunter. Rob Van Dam stepped forward next. RVD said Hunter brought him back a couple months ago, and he was under the impression that things were better now (intimating they weren’t when he left). He said the vibe he is feeling is “not cool, dude.”
Triple H said he’d been waiting since about 2000 for RVD to call him “dude.” Hunter said he still has the same faith in RVD that he had a couple months ago when he brought him in. “RVD” chants. Ryback followed RVD. He said he was sick and tired of people calling “The Big Guy” a bully. Hunter said it’s not Ryback’s fault that Dolph Ziggler was hurt when he faced him Monday night. Hunter said it wasn’t Ryback’s fault, but he’ll have a chance to redeem that tonight when Ziggler goes one-on-one with Ryback. Hunter thought it was great that they were opening up. But conspicuous by his absence on the stage is Daniel Bryan. He said Bryan not being up there is symptomatic of Bryan’s problem: His ego is out of control. He said Bryan can’t be bothered to stand on stage with the rest of “the little people.” He said it’s a shame because he wanted to look Bryan in the eye to tell him that he can pick any one member of The Shield to go one-on-one with tonight.
Hunter said this has been helpful and even cathartic. Hunter said he wanted to reward those who spoke up. Kofi, for example, will get a non-title match with Curtis Axel. As for Rob Van Dam, he’ll face the face of WWE, Randy Orton. Michael Cole and JBL spoke for the first time as Orton split the roster and came to the ring. The match is next.
- A.J. Lee was walking backstage. She came upon Layla, Alicia Fox and Aksana. Lee said she knows they don’t always get along, but said she’d rather defend her title against any of them than against the ladies of the Total Divas. She said they think just because they’re pretty they deserve a shot at the title. “They think they’re better than us,” said A.J. She continued to rile up the other Divas, and they were buying what A.J. was selling. A.J. was about to tell them a plan when the camera cut away and to the ring for Dolph Ziggler’s entrance.
4 - NAOMI (w/ Cameron) vs. BRIE BELLA (w/ Nikki Bella)
Both women were already in the ring. Nikki was at ringside, as was Cameron. Brie got the better of Naomi to start, and locked her in a rear choke, or at least, a move that appeared that way. Dropkick by Naomi, and another. Flipping clothesline followed that up. Not sure how that is more devastating than a regular clothesline. Kick to the head by Naomi, then both women tumbled to ringside. Before they could come to, A.J. Lee, Alicia Fox, Aksana, and Layla ran to ringside and attacked all four women.
WINNER: No contest, at 1:38. I wonder if they can extend this feud to Survivor Series, as this seems tailor-made for an elimination tag match.
Triple H said he wanted to create an open forum tonight, because there may be misunderstandings about how business is being done. HE said he wanted to open the microphone up to WWE Superstars. He said he wanted them to be free to speak without and repercussions. No one was eager to step to the mic that was set up on the stage. Hunter said they have to open up and tell them how they feel. Damien Sandow finally took Triple H up on his offer, as the crowd chanted “yes!” Sandow fully supported the termination of Cody Rhodes, who exemplified everything that is bad for business. Hunter thanked Sandow but said this is not a forum for people to kiss his butt. He wanted them to speak their mind. He asked Alicia Fox if she had something, and she just put her head down and shook it.
Kofi Kingston stepped to the mic. He said ever since Hunter fired Cody, the locker room has been living and fear and he doesn’t see how that’s best for business. Surprisingly good pop for that. He said Kingston took Rhodes’s livelihood away. Hunter said he understands how Kingston can feel that way…but then Heath Slater interrupted, saying no one cares about the answer to that question. Slater said he has a problem with a giant (Big Show) who just stands around and does nothing. Then he kissed Hunter’s butt a little. “Thank you Heath Slater, for emptying what I’m sure was the entire content of your mind,” said Hunter. Rob Van Dam stepped forward next. RVD said Hunter brought him back a couple months ago, and he was under the impression that things were better now (intimating they weren’t when he left). He said the vibe he is feeling is “not cool, dude.”
Triple H said he’d been waiting since about 2000 for RVD to call him “dude.” Hunter said he still has the same faith in RVD that he had a couple months ago when he brought him in. “RVD” chants. Ryback followed RVD. He said he was sick and tired of people calling “The Big Guy” a bully. Hunter said it’s not Ryback’s fault that Dolph Ziggler was hurt when he faced him Monday night. Hunter said it wasn’t Ryback’s fault, but he’ll have a chance to redeem that tonight when Ziggler goes one-on-one with Ryback. Hunter thought it was great that they were opening up. But conspicuous by his absence on the stage is Daniel Bryan. He said Bryan not being up there is symptomatic of Bryan’s problem: His ego is out of control. He said Bryan can’t be bothered to stand on stage with the rest of “the little people.” He said it’s a shame because he wanted to look Bryan in the eye to tell him that he can pick any one member of The Shield to go one-on-one with tonight.
Hunter said this has been helpful and even cathartic. Hunter said he wanted to reward those who spoke up. Kofi, for example, will get a non-title match with Curtis Axel. As for Rob Van Dam, he’ll face the face of WWE, Randy Orton. Michael Cole and JBL spoke for the first time as Orton split the roster and came to the ring. The match is next.
- A.J. Lee was walking backstage. She came upon Layla, Alicia Fox and Aksana. Lee said she knows they don’t always get along, but said she’d rather defend her title against any of them than against the ladies of the Total Divas. She said they think just because they’re pretty they deserve a shot at the title. “They think they’re better than us,” said A.J. She continued to rile up the other Divas, and they were buying what A.J. was selling. A.J. was about to tell them a plan when the camera cut away and to the ring for Dolph Ziggler’s entrance.
4 - NAOMI (w/ Cameron) vs. BRIE BELLA (w/ Nikki Bella)
Both women were already in the ring. Nikki was at ringside, as was Cameron. Brie got the better of Naomi to start, and locked her in a rear choke, or at least, a move that appeared that way. Dropkick by Naomi, and another. Flipping clothesline followed that up. Not sure how that is more devastating than a regular clothesline. Kick to the head by Naomi, then both women tumbled to ringside. Before they could come to, A.J. Lee, Alicia Fox, Aksana, and Layla ran to ringside and attacked all four women.
WINNER: No contest, at 1:38. I wonder if they can extend this feud to Survivor Series, as this seems tailor-made for an elimination tag match.