1/4/13 Friday Night Smackdown Coverage

Smackdown opens with a recap video highlighting The Shield and the feud between Alberto Del Rio and The Big Show. Josh Mathews welcomes us to the show from Richmond, Virginia, and Randy Orton’s music hits as he makes his way to the ring.

Orton grabs a mic and says since everybody is making New Year’s resolutions, he is making his. He wants to be the World Heavyweight Champion. He says Smackdown used to be his show, and he is going to make it his again. He announces he is entering the Royal Rumble Match. Sheamus’ music hits and he comes to the ring. Sheamus says he isn’t out here to steal Orton’s thunder, but he has the same ambitions. He says he wants to be the World Heavyweight Champion again, and says he is entering the Rumble as well. Sheamus thanks Orton for helping him against The Shield, but Orton says he did that for himself, not for Sheamus. Orton says it’s every man for himself at the Rumble, and he will be glad to eliminate Sheamus. Sheamus asks if he kicks Orton’s head out of the ring, but his body remains, will it count as an elimination. The Big Show’s music hits and he makes his way to the stage. Show says the only thing either of them would get a shot at would be his fist. He tells Sheamus that his 2013 will begin just how his 2012 ended, and then told Orton to get some if he wanted to. Antonio Cesaro’s music hits and he comes to the stage. Cesaro says in Switzerland, they don’t just talk, they have action. He goes on his anti-American rant again, and Orton threatens to RKO both Cesaro and Show. Booker T’s music hits and he comes to the stage. Booker says he knows none of the four like each other, but then makes a tag match between Cesaro and Show vs. Orton and Sheamus for later tonight.

We see that Kofi Kingston will challenge Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship later tonight as we head to a commercial break.

Match #1: The Miz vs. Heath Slater (w/Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal)
They tie up and The Miz takes Slater down with a dropkick and then applies a side-headlock. Slater shoots The Miz off the ropes, but Miz takes him down with a shoulder block and applies another side-headlock. Slater backs Miz into the corner, but Miz comes back and takes him down with a hip toss. Miz applies another side-headlock, but Slater reverses into one of his own. Miz escapes and slams Slater down to the mat and Mahal gets on the ring apron. Miz pokes Slater in the eye and slams him down to the mat again. Slater sends Miz off the ropes, but Miz takes him down with a shoulder block. Miz connects with a running knee lift and comes off the ropes again, but McIntyre trips him up. Miz dropkicks McIntyre and knocks Mahal to the floor, but Slater takes advantage of the distraction. The referee throws McIntyre and Mahal from ringside and Slater begs him not to as The Miz rolls him up for two. Slater rolls to the outside as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and Slater is pounding away on The Miz in the corner. Slater stomps Miz down to the mat, but Miz comes back and takes Slater down. Slater rolls out of the ring, but Miz goes out after him and drops him to the floor. Miz drapes Slater over the barricade and then tosses him back into the ring. Slater tries to escape, and he slams Miz shoulder-first into the ring post. Slater drives his knee into Miz’s shoulder, and then works over Miz’s arm for a bit. Miz elbows his way out before Slater wrenches Miz’s arm and slams him down to the mat for a two count. Slater works over Miz’s arm again, but Miz fights out and sunset flips Slater for a two count. Slater uses the ropes to work over Miz’s arm again and then takes him down with a hard clothesline for a two count. Slater wrenches Miz’s arm again, but Miz comes off the ropes and kicks Slater in the head. Slater sends Miz into the ring post again and chokes him in the corner. Slater stretches Miz’s arm and shoulder across the ring post and applies a submission back in the ring. Miz fights back and back drops Slater. Miz takes Slater down with a few clotheslines and then a back drop. Slater comes back and delivers a neck-breaker, but only gets a two count. Slater charges The Miz in the corner, but Miz moves and hits his clothesline in the corner. Miz goes up top and clubs Slater down to the mat. Miz sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale, and he hits it for the pin fall.
Winner: The Miz.

We are reminded that the main event tonight is Sheamus and Randy Orton vs. The Big Show and Antonio Cesaro and that Kofi Kingston will challenge Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship later tonight as we head to commercial break.

We take a look back to Monday Night Raw where Wade Barrett defeated Kofi Kingston to become the new Intercontinental Champion. We go backstage and Matt Striker tries to interview Barrett about his match on Main Event this past Wednesday, but Barrett cuts him off. He says he is the new Intercontinental Champion, but that’s not enough for the media type like Striker. Barrett says Kingston showed his true colors when he attacked him from behind. Barrett said he will beat Kingston tonight and keep the Intercontinental Championship.

Match #2: Six-Person Mixed Tag Team Match: Hornswoggle, The Great Khali, and Natalya vs. Epico, Primo, and Rosa Mendes
Natalya takes Rosa down to the mat and slams her head into the mat. Natalya tries to lock in the Sharpshooter, but Rosa gets away and Khali and Epico get tagged in. Epico immediately tags in Primo and Khali slams him into the corner and chops him across the chest. Khali tags in Hornswoggle, who chops Primo and delivers a Stunner to him and them one to Epico. Primo comes back and stomps away on Hornswoggle. Primo tags Epico in and they double-team Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle headbutts Epico and tags in Khali. Khali punches Epico in the head and then delivers a chop across his chest. Khali drives his elbow in Epico and Primo charges, but Khali moves and Primo hits Epico. Epico goes for the back stabber, but Khali is unaffected. Khali chops Epico down to the mat for the pin fall.
Winners: The Great Khali, Hornswoggle, and Natalya.

Matt Striker is interviewing Kofi Kingston backstage. Striker asks Kingston if his win over Barrett on Main Event will build his momentum to regain the Intercontinental Championship tonight. Kingston says he knew he would beat Barrett, because the sight of seeing Barrett with the Intercontinental Championship enraged him. Kingston says this may be his last shot, but Barrett will be running into Trouble in Paradise as we go to a commercial break.

Match #3: WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Wade Barrett (c) vs. Kofi Kingston
The match begins as a standoff between the two. Barrett backs Kingston into the corner and punches him in the midsection, but Kingston comes back and delivers a few kicks and gets a one count on a pin fall attempt. Kingston comes off the ropes, but Barrett takes him down with a shoulder block. Kingston comes back and delivers a dropkick and Barrett rolls to the outside. Kingston goes out after him and tosses him back into the ring. Kingston comes off the top rope and clotheslines Barrett down to the mat. Kingston locks in a chin lock and then works over Barrett’s arm, but Barrett fights out. Barrett slings Kingston into the corner and stomps on his back. Barrett punches Kingston in the ribs and drops him to the mat. Barrett picks Kingston up and drops him with a strong clothesline. Barrett applies a submission, but Kingston reverses with a backslide for a two count. Barrett charges at Kingston, but Kingston pulls the rope down and Barrett goes to the outside. Kingston slingshots himself over the top rope and onto Barrett on the outside. Barrett comes back and drives Kingston into the ring apron and tries to get counted out, but Kingston goes outside and tosses him back into the ring as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and Barrett continues to work over Kingston and kicks him through the ropes and down to the floor. Barrett and Kingston go up top and Barrett tries to suplex Kingston to the mat, but Kingston fights out and hits a cross body from the top. They exchange right hands, but Kingston catches Barrett with a kick to the head. Kingston connects with the S.O.S. for a two count. Kingston kicks Barrett in the head and hits the Boom Drop. Kingston sets up for Trouble in Paradise, but Barrett ducks under, but Kingston rolls him up for a two count. Barrett comes back and slams Kingston down for a two count. Kingston connects with Trouble in Paradise out of nowhere, but Barrett rolls to the outside. Kingston goes to the outside and tosses him back into the ring. Kingston goes for the cover, but Barrett grabs the bottom rope to stop the count. Kingston charges Barrett in the corner, but Barrett gets his boot up. Barrett sets up for the Bull Hammer Elbow, but Kingston ducks and comes off the top rope. Barrett connects with the Bull Hammer as Kingston comes off the top rope and gets the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Wade Barrett.

We see that we will take a look back at AJ Lee and Dolph Ziggler’s New Year’s toast from this past Monday Night and are reminded of the main event tag team match between the teams of Randy Orton and Sheamus and Antonio Cesaro and The Big Show as we go to a commercial break.

Match #4: Layla vs. Tamina Snuka
Tamina backs Layla into the ropes and then knocks her out of the ring to the floor. Tamina slams Layla into the barricade and tosses her back into the ring. Layla tries to fight back, but Tamina takes her down with a hard clothesline and then applies a headlock. Tamina goes for a cover, but Layla kicks out at two. Layla comes back and delivers a dropkick and tries to come off the ropes, but Tamina catches her and slams her down to the mat. Tamina goes up top and hits the Superfly Splash for the pin fall.
Winner: Tamina Snuka.

We take a look back at the Raw Rebound, which focuses on the New Year’s toast from Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee, which John Cena interrupted and announced his entrance into the Royal Rumble Match. We see the match preview for this upcoming Monday Night Raw, where CM Punk will defend the WWE Championship against Ryback in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match, and we are reminded that The Rock will return as well.

Match #5: Antonio Cesaro and The Big Show vs. Randy Orton and Sheamus
Cesaro and Sheamus start the match and Cesaro gets him in a headlock. Cesaro takes Sheamus down with a shoulder block and then Sheamus gets Cesaro in a headlock and takes him down with a shoulder block. Sheamus tags in Orton, who delivers an uppercut. Cesaro sends Orton into the corner, but Orton comes back with a big clothesline and tags in Sheamus. Sheamus charges Cesaro in the corner, but Cesaro delivers a back elbow and punches Sheamus in the ribs. Sheamus comes back and takes Cesaro down with a shoulder tackle. Sheamus slams Cesaro into the corner and tags in Orton, who pounds away on Cesaro in the corner. Orton drops Cesaro with another uppercut and tags in Sheamus. Cesaro drives his knee into Sheamus’ midsection and Show tags himself in. Show pounds away on Sheamus and delivers a headbutt. Shoe goes to swing at Orton, but Orton jumps down off the apron. Orton and Sheamus drop Show and Cesaro to the floor as we go to a commercial.
We’re back and Sheamus delivers his vintage ten clubbing blows to Cesaro and gets a two count on the pin attempt. Sheamus sends Cesaro into the ropes and Show tags himself in and spears Sheamus down to the mat. Show stands on top of Sheamus and then picks him up and slams him down to the mat. Show drops an elbow and gets a two count. Show punches Sheamus in the midsection a few times in the corner and then mocks the referee, which allows Sheamus to go on the offensive for a bit. The match breaks down and Orton goes for his middle rope DDT on Cesaro, but Sheamus tags back in and delivers White Noise as Orton stands on the floor and stares at Sheamus. Sheamus sets up for the Brogue Kick, but Orton gets into the ring and drops Cesaro with the RKO and stares at Sheamus again. Sheamus pins Cesaro.
Winners: Sheamus and Randy Orton.

Smackdown comes to a close with Randy Orton and Sheamus staring and smirking at each other.

Quick Results:
1. The Miz def. Heath Slater
2. The Great Khali, Hornswoggle, and Natalya def. Epico, Primo, and Rosa Mendes
3. Wade Barrett def. Kofi Kingston to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
4. Tamina Snuka def. Layla
5. Sheamus and Randy Orton def. Antonio Cesaro and The Big Show