Smackdown TV report for 02/17/2012

Reported by Earnest Aguilar

The Smack is being laid Down for us tonight in Fresno California. The show begins with a recap of Daniel Bryan attacking the Big Show and Randy Orton with the title belt last week. 

After the introductory video, we are taken to Teddy Long's office. Teddy is explaining to Randy Orton that he has to take him out of his match with Daniel Bryan tonight because he has a concussion and is not medically cleared to wrestle. 

Teddy also tells Randy that he won't be able to compete in the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday. Randy says nothing, but looks angry. Teddy understands Orton's anger but for his own safety has to have him escorted out of the arena by security.

Match #1: Big Show and the Great Khali versus Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett. 

Khali and Wade start things off. Wade throws a couple lame looking kicks at Kali's legs and smirks. Khali catches one of Wade's kicks and pushes Wade to the mat. Khali hits Wade with an elbow in the corner and then follows up with a big chop. Wade tags in Cody and Cody slaps Khali in the face. 

Khali grabs Cody by the throat, pushes him to the corner and hits him with a punch and a big chop. Wade tags himself in and knocks Khali down with a big boot to the head. Wade knocks Khali down again with a running forearm and then stomps on him. Wade tags in Cody and Cody stands on Khali and then stomps him. Cody hits Khali with an elbow and then drags him to the corner. Cody climbs to the top rope and jumps, but Khali knocks him out of the air. 

Cody tags in Wade and Khali tags in the Big Show. Big Show hits Barrett with a corner splash, a clothesline, and then a spear. Cody tries to save Barrett but Big Show throws him out of the ring. Big Show choke slams Barrett for the win. Khali comes in to congratulate his partner, and the Big Show knocks him out. 

In the back, Teddy Long is on the phone and is interrupted by Mark Henry. Henry tells Teddy Long that he knows what he must do; he must put Mark Henry in the Elimination Chamber match. Big Show interrupts and angrily insists that he get another match tonight, against Daniel Bryan. Mark Henry tells the Big Show to wait his turn and the Big Show knocks him out. When Teddy doesn't give Big Show the match he wants, Big Show starts destroying Teddy's office. 

Commercial

When we return, Teddy Long is asking a team of security guards to remove the Big Show from his office. The guards seem scared so Teddy promises to get them some back up. 

Match #2: Ted DiBiase (wearing a black arm brace) versus Hunico with Camacho. 

The match starts off with both men landing a series of kicks and punches. Hunico takes DiBiase down with a hurricanrana, and DiBiase responds with a big boot to the head. Ted goes for a cover but Hunico kicks out. Hunico twists DiBiase's injured arm and then slams it to the mat. Hunico continues to work on the injured arm until Ted finally fights his way out. 

Hunico tries for another hurricanrana but DiBiase slams him to the mat. Hunico climbs to the top rope and flies off, but DiBiase hits him with a dropkick in mid air. Camacho hits Ted in the arm while the ref is distracted and Hunico is able to roll him up for the win. 

Commercial

Match #3: Usos versus Epico and Primo. 

The Usos get the early advantage and isolate Primo in their corner. Primo lands a dropkick and puts Jimmy Uso in a chin lock. Jimmy fights his way out only to get put back in the chin lock. Jimmy fights his way out again and tags in Jey; Primo tags in Epico. Jey lands a big series of strikes to Epico, finishing with a corkscrew elbow. 

Jey misses with a running ass to the face but then successfully delivers a Samoan drop. Epico tags in Primo and Jey hits him with a thrust kick. Jey tags in Jimmy and Jimmy climbs to the top turnbuckle. Jimmy flies but Primo gets his knees up and then follows up with a backstabber for the win. 

Commercial

When we return, Lillian Garcia introduces Daniel Bryan. Bryan tells us it was finally time for him to show his true self to everyone and replays the video clip of him knocking out the Big Show and Randy Orton last week. Bryan says that even though Orton and Big Show were escorted out by security, they are really afraid to face him tonight. 

Bryan tells us they're both afraid he'll make them tap and humiliate them, just like everyone is. He claims to be able to smell our fear. (is it possible the smell isn't fear, but is actually Natalya?) Bryan also tells us that even though the odds are stacked against him in the Elimination Chamber, he will beat the odds just like he always does. 

Bryan then orders Lillian Garcia to announce him as the winner by forfeit of his scheduled match with Randy Orton. Lillian compliantly announces Daniel Bryan as the winner over Randy Orton by forfeit. I think that was Match #4. 

Teddy Long interrupts Bryan to tell him he has a match with Sheamus after the break. That is so unfair; Daniel Bryan just beat Randy Orton by forfeit and now he has to compete AGAIN?!?! 

Commercial

Match #5: Daniel Bryan versus Sheamus. 

Daniel Bryan takes Sheamus to the mat with a headlock. Sheamus gets to his feet, whips Bryan to the ropes, and then knocks him down with a shoulder block. Sheamus takes Bryan down with a clothesline and then slams him face first into the corner. Sheamus lands a punch, whips Bryan to the corner and knocks him down again with a shoulder block. Sheamus grabs Bryan's arm, twists it, and then slams it repeatedly down on his shoulder. Bryan lands a series of stiff kicks, and then lands some more stiff kicks. 

Sheamus backdrops Daniel Bryan into the ropes. Sheamus kicks Bryan, ties him up in the ropes, and then pounds his chest hard 10 times as the crowd counts. Bryan retreats to the floor, angrily walks over to the ting keeper's table and retrieves his title. Bryan starts walking back to the locker room when Sheamus cuts him off. Sheamus knocks Bryan to the floor and then rolls him back into the ring. 

Bryan kicks Sheamus back to the floor before he can step back into the ring. Bryan follows up with a running high knee to the head from the edge of the ring apron. Sheamus makes it back into the ring at the count of 6 and Bryan hits him with another series of brutal kicks. Bryan hits Sheamus with a running dropkick to the face and gets a 2 count. 

Sheamus fights back with several punches, but Bryan takes him down with a low single leg and follows up with another dropkick to the face. Bryan lands a few more kicks to the chest, but Sheamus starts to fight back with punches. Sheamus hits Bryan with 3 clotheslines and then a front slam. Sheamus picks Bryan up, but Bryan slips out and tries to apply the Lebell lock. 

Sheamus fights his way out and knocks Bryan down with a kick and then hoists Bryan up for a Celtic Cross attempt. Bryan slips out and tries for a kick, but Sheamus catches it and pummels Bryan. Bryan slaps Sheamus in the face, apparently trying to anger him. Bryan then spits directly into Sheamus' face, and the ref has to hold Sheamus back. Bryan beckons Sheamus to attack, and Sheamus shoves the ref out of the way. The ref picks himself up off the mat and DQ's Sheamus, making Daniel Bryan the winner again.

In the back, Teddy Long is approached first by Wade Barrett and then Cody Rhodes. They both want to know who will be Randy Orton's replacement in the Elimination Chamber match. Teddy informs them that he will be announcing a battle royal for later tonight for the right to compete in the EC match, and everyone in the building is invited. He actually did say everyone in the building, but I think if the janitor or popcorn guy asked to be put in he'd tell them no. 

Commercial

Match #6: Jinder Mahal versus Ezekiel Jackson. 

Jinder lands the first punch and follows up with a knee to the gut. Ezekiel pushes Jinder of and then grabs him by the throat. Jackson whips Jinder to the ropes and then shoulder blocks him to the mat. Ezekiel clotheslines Jinder twice, whips him into the ropes, and then charges into him. Jackson hits Jinder with a side slam and then picks him up; Jinder grabs the ropes to free himself. 

Jinder lands a kick and then follows up with a DDT. Jinder puts Jackson in a camel clutch but Ezekiel powers out. Jinder applies a chin lock, until Jackson backs Jinder into the corner and free himself. Jinder slams Jackson into the corner and then takes him down with a side Russian leg sweep. Jinder reapplies the camel clutch, and this time Jackson taps. 

Match #7: Natalya and Beth Phoenix versus Alicia Fox and Tamina. 

Beth and Alicia lock up to start the match. Beth gets the early advantage and gets Alicia in a full nelson. As Alicia tries to kick herself free, Natalya tags herself in. Natalya applies a waist lock but Alicia breaks free. Natalya gets knocked to the mat but kips up quickly. Natalya seems to be trying to show off. Natalya tries for a clothesline but Alicia does a Matrix style duck and Natalya misses. 

Natalya runs out of the ring and then runs back in when Alicia pursues. Natalya lands a kick and goes for a cover, getting a 2 count. Natalya stays on offense and Beth Phoenix gets in a cheap shot as well. Natalya wraps Alicia's arms up in a submission hold but Alicia fights her way out. Alicia whips Natalya to the ropes and tries to leapfrog her. 

Natalya blocks the leapfrog attempts and locks on the sharp shooter. Natalya must have farted again because the ref is unable to call the match due to some foul smell. Alicia tags in Tamina and Tamina hits Natalya with a Samoan drop. Tamina climbs to the top rope and hits Natalya with a superfly splash for the win. 

After the match, Beth tries to attack Tamina but Tamina knocks her down with a kick. Tamina climbs to the top but Beth rolls out of the ring before Tamina can leap. 

In the back, Teddy Long is greeted by John Laurinaitis and David Otunga. John is concerned about the main event tonight; he fears some nobody without charisma could win the match and get a title shot in the Elimination Chamber. So Mr. Laryngitis puts Harvard educated lawyer David Otunga in the match. Teddy Long seems to think Otunga has a stink on him because he's a lawyer. Maybe Natalya is a lawyer. 

Commercial

Match #8: battle royal for the final spot in SmackDown's Elimination Chamber match. 

Every low level wrestler on the roster is apparently competing. Derek Bateman is the first superstar eliminated, Titus O'Neil is next. Drew McIntyre military presses Tyson Kidd and throws him over the top. The action is always hard to follow in a battle royal, that's why the Royal Rumble is so good; you don't have all 30 people in at once. A few interesting things happen: Primo and Epico start teaming up, until Primo eliminates his cousin. A little early for a betrayal; I would have expected Primo to use his cousin a little longer before eliminating him. 

Hunico eliminates Ted DiBiase and then goes for a cheap kick, but DiBiase grabs the leg and pulls Hunico to the floor, eliminating him. Ezekiel Jackson gets a little revenge for his defeat at the hands of Jinder Mahal earlier tonight by eliminating Jinder. 

Things start getting really serious; Santino Marella takes out the cobra and puts it on his hand. Drew McIntyre hits Ezekiel Jackson with a big boot and celebrates wildly, only to be eliminated by Santino. Ezekiel Jackson picks up Santino, but Santino escapes. Jackson charges Santino put Santino ducks and pulls down the top rope, causing Jackson to sail over it and get eliminated. 

David Otunga and Santino are the final 2 combatants and the crowd is going nuts for Santino. Otunga gets the advantage and pounds on Santino repeatedly. Santino is taking a beating but appears to be getting stronger; sort of like Hogan, but entertaining. Santino lands several punches and a forearm. Otunga tries to go back on the attack with a clothesline, but Santino uses a split to duck under it and then follows up with a high hip toss. 

Santino tries for a falling chop, but Otunga rolls out of the way. Otunga gets to his feet, drops Santino with a neckbreaker, and then flexes for the crowd. Sort of like Hogan, but with more muscle and less old man flab. Otunga picks Marella up and runs him into the ropes to throw him over, but Santino turns it around at the last second and Otunga goes flying over the top instead. Santino Marella wins the battle royal and will compete in the Elimination Chamber match! 

The crowd goes wild and Santino celebrates as SmackDown goes off the air.