Random SmackDown Ramblings (Dec 13, 2012): We'll Fight on Sunday Night

IMAGE CREDIT: WWE.com

Remember last week I got all annoyed at WWE for making a pig's ear of the no contact clause by having Sheamus just find a way to attack Big Show without attacking him. Well, this week they worked it out for themselves and got it right, which I take credit for.

As the show opened, Big Show faced R-Truth in a match which is literally as good as it sounds. Halfway through, guest commentator Sheamus pushed guest commentator Antonio Cesaro for laughing at Truth. Cesaro got mad, so after Show punched Truth's face, Cesaro pushed Sheamus into Big Show.

Show used David Otunga to try and get the Chairs Match cancelled, but Booker T refused because apparently contracts don't have to be followed to the letter, just the spirit. Look, I'm fine with Sheamus not losing the title shot because he was pushed. But Booker didn't need the hokey explanation to get there. Just say Sheamus was pushed. That's good enough, we all agree with it and it's true. No need to complicate it for yourself in the future when you want a contract followed to the letter and no-one does because you've admitted that they don't really have to be. If contracts aren't made to be followed, why have them drawn up in the first place, and why make people sign them?

Moving on. By the end of the night, it was Sheamus vs. Antonio Cesaro and it was all going well until Big Show started beating up William Regal on the entrance stage. Sheamus got out of the ring to think about helping and got counted out. Regal literally falling into Sheamus's arms after Big Show smacked him with a chair was great.

Fantastic ending from a storytelling standpoint. Exactly how WWE should be using this device.

Other SmackDown Ramblings:
- Damien Sandow has stopped looking for an apprentice now because Cody Rhodes and his moustache are back, and they're both better than any audience member wearing a Santino shirt. The SmackDown crowd weren't as hot for Cody's moustache as the Raw crowd were, but maybe that's just because they realise that this isn't the show that most WWE fans watch. Or maybe SmackDown crowds just suck.

Rhodes and Sandow beat The Uso's when Sandow used the tights.

- They showed Matt Striker and Backstage Worker prepping for Randy Orton's interview, which means something terrible was supposed to happen. Before it could take place, The Shield attacked Randy Orton and wrote him off TV. So... where was the terrible? Okay, okay, I'm joking. Well, half joking. I don't hate Randy Orton, but he's not exactly the most exciting thing around WWE these days, is he? I can't see myself missing current Randy Orton much, because he's just there to punch the mat and RKO Brad Maddox. He's not lighting the world up like he was when he was using Vince McMahon's head as a football. So what I'm saying is I liked Orton better when he was punting pensioners, which probably makes me a terrible person. But I think you get the point.

- Team Hell No were on Miz TV. Thankfully, Miz kept his mouth shut for most of it. I hate to hate on Miz, but if Monday was the type of shtick we'll be getting out of Good Guy Miz, I want him to stay silent until he turns heel again. This was perfect. Team Hell No are now on the same page because of The Shield, which is also perfect. The Shield appeared from Tony Chimel's dressing room or wherever to threaten them. (I'm waiting for Miz or Cena or someone to make the “three guys locked in a room with a video camera? GAY!!!!1” joke.) Kane invited them to the ring, and they almost made it but Ryback came out and shouted Feed Me More at them until they went away.

- Dear Ryback.

I know you love leading your own chants and stuff. And I know the crowd loves it when you do. Personally, I think you look stupid and desperate for attention but hey, who am I to judge? But if you're going to cheerlead, please at least do it properly. Don't go so fast that the crowd can't keep up with you. There's supposed to be a rhythm to it, giving the crowd a chance to sing along. In fact, that's the whole point of you cheerleading, so the crowd can join in. So yeah, if you MUST do it, at least do it properly.

Cheers. 

- Kofi Kingston beat Alberto Del Rio in a match I enjoyed. Kingston won with a roll up, which is a pet peeve of mine. Not because I don't think roll-ups are effective, but because the WWE version sucks. Whenever WWE guys do these on TV, the guy underneath just lays there not looking like he's even remotely trying to get out, and then looks all shocked that he lost. I get that roll-ups are meant to be surprise pins, but it doesn't mean the guy underneath has to act like there's nothing he can do about it. At least look like you're TRYING to counter or something instead of just laying there. You probably think I'm trying to teach wrestlers how to suck eggs, and maybe I am, but if someone like me who doesn't pay a lot of attention notices that, it's a problem.

Overall, a much more energetic SmackDown than in recent weeks. There was a bit of storyline advancement, most notably for Sheamus vs. Big Show, and some good wrestling to be watched here also. Not the end of the world if you don't watch, but some good stuff to see if you do.