WWE has a little less than a quarter of the arena on the camera side tarped off. There were plenty of "Yes!" chants and "Woooooo's" before the dark match earlier.
Booker T came out to a big pop. Michael Cole was out next to insane heat. He had several police officers around him and appeared to be extremely nervous. Lilian Garcia came out to a respectable reaction.
John Laurinaitis came out to pretty massive heat. He said he disagrees with the decision of the board of directors. He said it will be like leading the lamb to the slaughter on Sunday. He asked the crowd to support him and then asked that they say a prayer for him.
C.M. Punk's music played and he received a massive pop. Punk headed to the ring as the fans chanted his name loudly. He said his prayers have been answered because after Over The Limit, Laurinaitis will be terminated. Punk said he would like to be the first to wish Johnny the best in his future endeavors.
Punk said he has no respect for Big Johnny and by this time next week, Punk will be WWE Champion and Big Johnny will be on the unemployment line. Laurinaitis blamed the fans and said they can go to hell. He booked Punk vs. Kane for later in the show.
1. R-Truth and Kofi Kingston defeated Titus O'Neil and Darren Young. Truth hit Paydirt on Young for the win. Lots of love for Kingston from the fans. After the match Heidenreich and Snitsky attack the tag champs and steal the belts. A gleeful Ezekiel Jackson watches from the ramp. Truth wants to give Chase but Kofi was too distraught.
Zack Ryder was filming his Youtube show when Damien Sandow walked past him. Sandow is up next.
Damien Sandow came out with Drew McIntyre and introduced himself as our intellectual savior. He said he would bestow upon us enlightenment that we so desperately craved. He said Yoshi Tatsu was not worthy of facing him. Yoshi called Sandow a chicken, and now it's on! Sandow hit Tatsu with a chickenwing neckbreaker and left. No match. Apparently, it's not on. Drew McIntyre awards Sandow a kiss on the ramp for his victory.
A Big Show vignette was shown with answers teased for tonight.
Backstage, Sheamus said he looks forward to the four-way match because it gives him a chance to show what kind of champion he is. Orton said that while there are three other guys in the match, he would love to pin Sheamus. They had a staredown.
2. Daniel Bryan beat Zack Ryder. Ryder came out to a decent pop, but his reactions have cooled considerably from where they once were. Bryan came out to a big reaction and got a mix of "Yes!" and "No!" chants, but the "Yes!" chants definitely won out. Bryan put him away quickly with the Yes! Lock.
3. Kane defeated WWE Champion C.M. Punk by DQ. Daniel Bryan was on commentary for the match. Bryan went to hit Punk with a chair, but turned around and hit Kane with it instead. Bryan then hightailed it up the ramp, and Kane, thinking that Punk had hit him with the chair, lit Punk up with some throat thrusts and a pair of chokeslams. Jeremy notes that perhaps should Kane just pretend that all his opponents hit him with steel chairs since it seemed to bring out the best in him.
4. Santino Marella beat Cody Rhodes in a champion vs. champion match. Santino caught Cody coming off the ropes with the Cobra and pin. The crowd was actually split for this match, but popped huge for the finish. Baggers attack Santino after the match and Rhodes chokes him with piano wire until he passes out. A white sheet is placed over Santino.
Ezekiel Jackson meets Daniel Bryan backstage and says that he's a huge fan and looks forward to his victory Sunday. He begins to weep a bit and says that there is still pain in his heart and he can't wait to make a trade for the title. Heidenreich pins Bryan against the wall seductively and whispers YES in his ear and leaves. Bryan is obviously shaken after this encounter.
Backstage Interview with Dolph Ziggler and Naomi. They explain their actions on last weeks Smackdown and say they were chained and tethered to mediocrity. Ziggler says Swagger looks deformed and most likely wears diapers. His IQ is on par with what he holds in those diapers. He says Vickie only has a job because Eddie died a broke drug addict and it's sad she's whored herself out so much. Naomi states that she's tired of being held down so a fat, corny white man and put himself over shucking and jiving. Says that this is par for the course in WWE and mentions R Truth as an example; saying after he mentioned a lily white John Cena he went from ruthless to too stupid to live. But she won't let it happen to her. Ziggler says that they, and not washed up UFC "star" Lesner, will bring real legitimacy to the WWE.
Randy Orton came out to a very big reaction. Sheamus followed to a mix of cheers and boos and some "Sheamus" chants. Fickle crowd.
7. World Hvt. Champion Sheamus defeated Randy Orton. Orton went for the RKO, but Sheamus schoolboyed him for the win. The crowd was about 70/30 in favor of Orton, but popped big for Sheamus's pin. After the match, they shook hands and then Orton hit the RKO to a big pop. The show should end with Orton standing over Sheamus in the ring.
Post Match Dolph Ziggler and Naomi ran into the ring and beat down Randy Orton. Ziggler used a chair and Naomi used a bullwhip to beat and choke Orton. Cody Rhodes appears on the ramp with mask and baggers and slowly walk to the ring. The baggers put a bag over the fallen Orton and Sheamus and cover them with a white sheet. This ends the Smackdown tapings.
