WrestlingNerd Presents: WWE Smackdown Review 9/21/12 (Edge Control)

What up wrestling fans, I'm the WrestlingNerd bringing you another written review. Today, we take a look at WWE Smackdown 9/21/12. Is the blue brand even worth checking out this week? Let's find out and start the review. 

We open up the show with Edge. He talks about retirement and watching the show, but he seems to be confused about a certain duo. Daniel Bryan interrupts and has to remind us he is the tag team champions. Wait, that isn't right…..I'M THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!! Yeah, that's better. Bryan claims he can control his anger, but Edge doesn't buy it. The two continue to argue. YES! NO! YES! NO! YES! NO! PYRO! Kane arrives to make the scene more interesting. Edge gets angry when Kane and Bryan continue to argue, so Kane and Bryan actually offer advice for dealing with anger. The hilarity of this scene is ridiculous, but in a good way. BUT WAIT…..There's a hell of a lot more. Edge understands Bryan's actions, but can't understand Kane since Edge and Kane have a history that involves ex-girlfriends, killing off priest, and strolling men around a building. Kane says he has something for Edge……HUG!!! Come on, Edge. You know you want to. Everyone wants hugs from Kane. Edge is confused by this action, but he just can't resist. Bryan starts to freak out, but both guys allow Bryan to join along to make it a three-way….what? Unfortunately, the threesome will have to wait as Damien Sandow is appalled by this sudden burst of positive emotion. Because the concept of having a GM is overrated, Edge ask the audience which member of Team Friendship will fight Damien. Kane wins the poll. Yeah, what a strange opening. This was bizarre and weird……and yet it was awesome. 

Match #1: Kane vs Damien Sandow

This match was very short. The finish comes when Bryan distracts his partner, thus leading to Damien hitting the Straight Jacket Neckbreaker for the victory. After the match, Bryan gloats about screwing Kane over and takes both tag titles. In a backstage scene, we see Kane searching for Bryan. Dr. Shelby doesn't know where Bryan is. Once Kane starts insulting Bryan, we see Bryan come out of a dresser/garbage can to defend himself. Since when did Bryan become Oscar the Grouch? Well, he is angry……son of a bitch!!! Why didn't I figure this out sooner? Anyway, Shelby makes Kane apologize for calling Bryan names and Bryan agrees to give back the tag title. Both guys do it, but Kane is still upset that Bryan didn't take him out for dinner last night…..Or it had something to do with costing him a match. Shelby will talk to Booker T about giving Bryan a match for tonight. In other words, time for more shenanigans. This is gonna be a fun show. 

Match #2: Layla vs Natalya

Turn to your left. Turn to your right. What do you see? Hell if I know, but the match is already over. Diva division? What is that? What even is that? Eve was on commentary. I guess Layla/Eve will continue, but what about Kaitlyn? I hope they don't completely forget about her. She has a great look and is very underrated. I hope they eventually use her, but you know WWE's track record when they pick a personal favorite. 

Winner via pinfall: Layla

Match #3: Sheamus and Randy Orton vs Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler

Its been a while since Sheamus gave Dolph a kick to the face, so we gotta do that. The match was fair, but very forgettable. Sorry, but Kane and Bryan stole the show tonight, which is why the WHC is an afterthought. Then again, this is nothing new for the WHC. I like Sheamus, but he doesn't make for the most interesting champion. 

Winner via pinfall: Sheamus and Randy Orton

Match #4: Daniel Bryan vs Cody Rhodes

This was similar to the Kane/Sandow match. Daniel applies the No Lock, but Kane uses his pyro trick to bust out some flames. Cody uses this distraction to hit Cross Rhodes for the victory. Kane busted his flame pretty early. Hey, he needed to relieve stress. I think this page has reached a new low. In another backstage scene, Bryan and Kane continue to argue. From a distance, the Beautiful Intellects laugh at Team Friendship and how they can't get along. All of the sudden, Bryan and Kane get on the same page and claim they can work together to take out Sandow and Rhodes. What? They're working together? What's going on here? 

Winner via pinfall: Cody Rhodes

Match #5: Brodus Clay vs Heath Slater

This was basically a repeat of the match that happened on Raw, but with a different finish. The finish comes when Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre show up and attack Brodus. Slater joins along with the attack and the three guys take out Brodus. So, did we just see the birth of a new group? Well, I'm actually fine with this idea. All three guys are young and aren't doing much, so this can be a good thing for them. I'm gonna call them The Underachievers. Tonight, we dine on a dinosaur. 

Winner via DQ: Brodus Clay

Match #6: Antonio Cesaro vs Santino

Another short match. For the most part, the matches weren't that great. To be fair, most of these matches were used to tell stories or create new storylines. Santino's Cobra is still infatuated with Aksana. Remember Santino, no glove, no love. The finish comes when Aksana gets in the ring to steal the Cobra, but she ends up hurting herself. Antonio has the match won, but the ref was paying attention to Aksana's injury. With Antonio wondering what's going on, Santino uses this chance to get a rollup victory on Antonio. After the match, Antonio breaks up with Aksana. Wow, so he loses one match and breaks up with her? Antonio doesn't f*** around. If you screw up once around him, he will break open the shackles. I think WWE either wanted to get Aksana off of TV or have Antonio fly solo. I think Antonio on his own is a better idea. He really doesn't need Aksana since he's more than capable of generating heat on his own.

Winner via pinfall: Santino

Match #7: Team Friendship vs Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes

Remember when I said that having the GM is overrated? Well, Booker made one appearance out of the whole evening and it was in a pointless scene with Del Rio. I'm just gonna let you think about that one. You had the Prime Time Players, Usos, and Team International at ringside for this match. Bryan and Kane still have issues, but still find a way to work together. The finish comes when Kane hits the Chokeslam on Sandow, but Cody uses a chair on Kane for the DQ. After the match, Bryan saves Kane and is about to use the chair on Cody. That's when Bryan realizes his love for Kane and gives him the chair. I love Michael Cole's line during this spot. It's like Christmas for Kane. Kane takes the chair and uses it on Cody. Eventually, Bryan gets a chair of his own and both guys start to destroy them with the power of hugs. Just for the hell of it, Kane and Bryan take out the other tag teams that were at ringside. I know they have chairs, but I find it funny that 8 guys can't seem to defeat two guys. So, it seems like Kane and Bryan managed to figure out a way to get on the same page, but still bicker about being the tag champions, so they still have some work. I don't have a whole lot to say. I'm just really love the interaction between Bryan and Kane. They are putting together some of the funniest moments I've ever seen out of the WWE and are progressing their storyline. It's win freakin' win, baby!!!

Winner via DQ: Team Friendship

Overall Impression:

While the action portion of the show was lacking, this had to be one of the best episodes of SD that I've seen for 2012. I loved all the moments between Team Friendship. These two are hilarious and need more screen time. The development and progression of Team Friendship was brilliant. Not only that, but there was a couple of other interesting things to take out of SD. Antonio dumped Aksana, meaning that he could be flying solo from here on out. Plus, we might've seen the birth of a younger stable. Hard to say how that will go, but at least they are giving those guys something to do. I highly recommend watching this show since it really felt that WWE put a lot of time and energy into this week's episode. If WWE keeps doing that, it will add more importance to SD. Ever since Raw moved to three hours, SD has been nothing more than a filler/recap show. That definitely wasn't the case tonight, which is why I recommend it. I'M RECOMMENDING THIS SHOW….eh, it isn't the same. That's gonna do it for the review and I hope you enjoyed it. As always, tell me what you thought of my review or tonight's show. I will see you guys and girls on the next WrestlingNerd show. See you next time.