WWE Smackdown! Results: WrestleMania Begins To Take Shape
The show begins with Daniel Bryan coming down to the ring to a negative response from the crowd in attendance. Bryan says that he's been telling everyone that he would main event WrestleMania 28 and that no one believed him. Daniel states that while Santino tries his best to be like Rocky Balboa, he is in fact the real role model because he was the last man standing on Sunday. Bryan then says that Sheamus ruined his moment on Sunday, but he'll ruin Sheamus' moment at WrestleMania when he wins their championship match. He then goes on to say that he will also beat C.M. Punk tonight in the main event. All of a sudden, The Miz' music hits and he comes down to the ring.
Bryan asks what The Miz wants and The Miz states that Bryan became champion because he trained him since the beginning and he wants to congratulate him. The Miz then says that he should take his skills and beat Sheamus and that he and Bryan should think about forming a tag team before Sheamus' music hits and he makes his way to the ring.
Sheamus says that he wants to congratulate Bryan for being a hypocrite and an ass, claiming that Bryan would rather hide behind AJ than fight like a man. Sheamus then says that no one will congratulate Bryan at WrestleMania because Sheamus will defeat him. Suddenly, The Miz begins to speak, but Sheamus says that he should let the people with WrestleMania matches talk just before Bryan sucker punches him. The Miz tries to take advantage, only to be over-powered by Sheamus, who nails him with a shot while Daniel heads to the back with AJ in toe.
The Miz vs. Sheamus
During the break, Teddy Long was said to have made Sheamus vs. The Miz the opening bout and we are already underway. We then view Sheamus putting The Miz in between the ropes and pounding him in the chest. After the onslaught, Miz falls to the floor but is immediately brought back in by "The Great White." Back in the ring, Sheamus blasts The Miz with a flying shoulder tackle before picking up the pace even further and delivering a clothesline.
Just then, Miz is sent into the corner and Sheamus is looking to land something in the corner. However, The Miz moves out of the way and Sheamus goes into the post. The Miz then begins to work on the injured arm, before kicking Sheamus in the face. The Miz then heads to the top and lands a double axe handle. However, The Miz begins to get out-fought with Sheamus landing some counter strikes then a clothesline. Sheamus then hits a backbreaker, only to receive a two count. The Miz, however, battles back and when he's able, seems prone to strike with the Skull Crushing Finale. However, Sheamus tosses The Miz over, avoids a pinfall attempt and manages to delivers his new finishing move for the victory.
Winner: Sheamus
In Teddy Long's office, Aksana and Teddy Long are seen flirting with one another. Teddy says that Aksana looks beautiful for Super Smackdown! Aksana says that she dressed up just for him and that she wants him to be the general manager of Smackdown! and Raw. Aksana then says that Teddy should remember that on top of every man is a good woman. Teddy then says he knows exactly what she means, only to be barged in on by John Laurinaitis and David Otunga.
John asks Teddy how unprofessional he can be and says that this is exactly why he should be the permanent general manager of Raw and Smackdown! Teddy says that he hopes John and Otunga find Smackdown! to be comfortable and that he has a special place for them tonight. He then tells them that they will have an office in the Men's room of the building. Otunga then says that Teddy's office should be in the dumpster, because Otunga says that after he beats Ezekiel Jackson tonight, Teddy will be down in the dumps again. Teddy says that they'll have to see about that, but for now, Otunga and John need to remember to flush. John and Otunga then leave.
Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger
Jack Swagger and Truth start off the match with Swagger throwing Truth into the ropes. However, Truth holds on and stops himself, before dancing in front of Swagger. Swagger then runs into a big shot and Truth then knocks Ziggler off the ring apron. However, when Truth turns around, Swagger catches him with a huge shoulder tackle. After hitting a splash off the middle turnbuckle on Truth, Swagger goes for the pin and only gets a two count.
After being tagged in by Swagger, Ziggler goes to work on Truth, hyper-extending his arm. However, after breaking out of the hold, Truth escapes into the corner and Ziggler attempts a splash, only for Truth to move out of the way. Truth then tags in Kofi who blasts Ziggler with a springboard clothesline before knocking Swagger off the apron. Kofi continues to work on Ziggler, nailing him with a dropkick. Kofi then goes for a splash with Ziggler in the corner, but Ziggler moves this time. Ziggler runs in, but Kofi slips between the ropes and nails Ziggler with a kick to the face.
Kingston heads up top and lands a beautiful high cross body block and gets a two count when Swagger breaks up the pinfall. Truth then comes back in and Swagger sends him to the outside. Swagger looks at Truth on the floor, only to be clotheslined by Kofi to the outside as well. When Kofi turns back around, Ziggler slips a thumb in his eye and nails the ZigZag for the win.
Winner(s): Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger
A video is shown, highlighting the career of the latest inductee into WWE's Hall of Fame: Ron Simmons.
Backstage, we are shown a table with upside Dixie cups all over it and Santino's underdog music playing. Then, from underneath the table, you see Santino's cobra come out and beginning to strike the cups. The cobra then turns to Santino and almost strikes him, only to have Santino tell him that this is supposed to be target practice. Heath Slator is then shown, saying that he has a better way to knock the cups off the table before slapping the cups away and laughing. Santino then says that Slator shouldn't have done that because this isn't an ordinary cobra. He then proceeds to have the cobra spit on Slator who seems blinded by the mist.
We are then made aware of the on-going Twitter war between C.M. Punk and Chris Brown.
The Great Khali vs. Drew McIntyre
To start the match, Drew is pleading with Khali, trying to stop the match from happening. However, before Khali can do much of anything, Drew pushes him, only to be punched and nailed with the Punjabi Plunge, gaining the victory.
Winner: The Great Khali
The Big Show is seen in the back being interviewed. Big Show says that Cody Rhodes is at the top of his "you know what" list. Show states that he's going to find Rhodes and break his neck.
Mark Henry vs. The Big Show
The Big Show starts out fast, landing clubbing blows to the body of Mark Henry in the corner. Show then measures Henry, running in and hitting a splash. Show then goes for the WMD but Henry ducks and lands a clothesline that knocks The Big Show down. Show tries getting up several times, but Henry continues to keep his opponent grounded. From his knees, The Big Show begins to to land his own shots, fighitng his way onto his feet. However, he is quickly knocked back down with a clothesline.
Henry hits a double axe handle and then gets a near fall for his efforts. With The Big Show on his back, Henry grabs the ropes and stands on The Big Show's torso before using his foot to choke Show while verbally taunting him. The Big Show is then sent into the corner, but comes out firing with a clothesline of his own then hitting a huge spear.
Just then, Cody Rhodes comes out and says that The Big Show is choke slamming someone, so it must not be WrestleMania. He then says that he's going to show a clip of The Big Show making an ass of himself, when he competed in a sumo match, taking on Akebono Taro. The Big Show then turns around and is scoop slammed by Henry who then hits a splash for the nearfall. Henry begins to complain to the referee, only to turn around into a WMD. Show then leaves the ring and begins to chase Cody Rhodes.
Winner: Mark Henry (via count out)
A video package is shown, highlighing Triple H and The Undertaker's encounter on Raw.
Ezekiel Jackson vs. David Otunga
Teddy Long comes out, leading Ezekiel Jackson while John Laurinaitis acompanies David Otunga. Soon into the match, Otunga gains the advantage and clubs away at Jackson before shoving him to the canvas. However, Big Zeke counters Otunga's attack and whips him into the ropes by the throat, only to knock him down with a shoulder tackle. Jackson then shoves Otunga into the corner and lands shot after shot, knocking him down to the mat. Jackson then whips Otunga into the opposite corners and follows him in for a big splash before hitting a sidewalk slam.
Jackson then gets Otunga up on his shoulders for the Torture Rack. However, Otunga grabs the ropes and lands on the ring apron. Otunga then grabs Jackson's neck and wanking his neck into the ropes. Otunga then sneaks into the ring and lands a spinebuster for the win.
Winner: David Otunga
C.M. Punk is in the backstage area, being interviewed by Matt Striker. Punk says that he's happy to be on Smackdown! where he actually respects the general manager. Punk states that he would vote for Long being the GM of both shows so that Laurinaitis can go work his second job at Men's Warehouse. Punk then says that he'll address Chris Jericho and his Light Bright jacket on next week's Raw. Finally, he thinks that Daniel Bryan's World championship has gone to his head. Punk says that he thought he was a radical when he came out on Smackdown! and promoted his straight edge lifestyle. However, Bryan has upped the ante by not owning a television set and saying he doesn't eat meat. Regardless, Bryan is champion because he knows how to win. Tonight, Punk says that he will teach Bryan how to lose.
Daniel Bryan vs. C.M. Punk
Bryan starts out the action by sweeping Punk's legs out from under him and slapping on a headlock. However, Punk reverses the hold and lands a shoulder block before they both go for several pinfall attempts. (Commercial break.)
As we come back, we see C.M. Punk landing a knee to the ribcage of Bryan. Soon after, Bryan whips Punk across the ring. Punk looks to land a springboard crossbody but Bryan avoids the impact, forcing to Punk to crash and burn. Punk seems to have injured his arm, leading Bryan to attack the injured limb. After Punk tries to break free of an armbar that Bryan applied, Daniel simply goes for a suplex, nailing it perfectly. After failing to get anything going for a while, Punk finally lands a move, sticking the backbreaker.
Bryan looks to land something in return, however, Punk avoids the strike and attempts the Go To Sleep. Bryan, however, counters and looks to sink in the LeBell Lock. Punk wiggles free and Bryan slides to the outside to avoid a counter attack. Bryan begins to head towards the back, but Sheamus makes his way to ringside and throws Bryan back into the ring, giving Punk the chance to strike with a spinning kick, getting the win. However, John Laurinaitis comes to the ring and says that the match will restart due to the interference of Sheamus as he sits at ringside. (Commercial break.)
Almost right after we are back from commercial break, Bryan rolls Punk up, holds the ropes and gets the win. Just then, Teddy Long comes down and restarts the match himself. Both John and Teddy begin to argue but Teddy says it's his show. The rematch begins once again and Punk and Bryan begin to attack one another. Punk tosses Bryan to the ringside area and lands a Suicide Dive. He tosses Bryan back into the ring and hits a top rope clothesline, only to receive a two count.
Bryan gets up in the corner and Punk runs into the corner and lands a flying knee. However, when he's going for the Bulldog, Punk is countered by Bryan forcing his arm into the canvas. Bryan then sets Punk up in the corner and goes for a Hurricanrana but Punk rolls though and nearly gets the win. Bryan goes for the LeBell Lock, but C.M. Punk shoots Bryan into the turnbuckles. Punk goes for the pin, but Bryan gets his foot on the bottom rope. Punk then sets Bryan up in the middle of the ring and goes up top. However, Bryan gets up in time and hits the ropes to send Punk down hard, crotching him in the process. Punk tries to fight off the Superplex attempt, but Bryan goes for his second attempt and nails it.
Both seem to have their shoulders down and both seem to be going for pins while the referee counts to three. John and Teddy get into the ring, with John believing that Bryan won and Teddy believing that Punk got the win. John and Teddy begin to shout at one another, then throw their jackets at one another. An angry Teddy then leaves the ring and Smackdown! goes off the air.
Winner: No contest