Smackdown 1-6-12

Matches:

1. Cody Rhodes v. Booker T - 4 out of 5

2. Hornswaggle v. Heath Slater - 2 out of 5

3. Hunico v. Ted DiBiase - 3 out of 5

4. Santino Marella v. Drew McIntyre - 4 out of 5

5. Primo & Epico v. Air Boom - 3 out of 5

6. Tamina v. Natalya - 3 out of 5

7. Daniel Bryan v. The Big Show - 4 out of 5

There were two performers this week that stood out as better than expected this week. Booker T showed us again why he trains. He didn't come out on top in his match with Cody Rhodes, but a second match certainly satisfies the result of the first two. Booker still has the goods, if he chose to go that route. Personally, I have enjoyed seeing him get into the action briefly, but I think the company is lucky to have a talented trainer. With so much fresh talent coming up the ranks, they need a guy like Booker to be showing them how it's done. Meanwhile, Santino Marella is showing distinct signs of having a shitload of talent hidden under that Cobra.

Tamina and Natalya were amazing this week... and why shouldn't they be? A big deal was made pre-match about the family legacies these two ladies were carrying. They weren't as amazing as they could have been, however. It stands to reason, however. The division is filled with half-talented models who want to be seen as wrestling superstars. If these two superwomen were to unleash the kind of match we all KNOW they are capable of, even the sheep would turn on the likes of Kelly Kelly and Eve. I have noticed lately, however, that the spotlight has been less on them in recent weeks and more on Nattie and Beth. Layla, as I understand it, is basically clear for a return soon, and my hopes are that she teams up with Tamina to take down the Sisters of Destruction. I MISS Layla. She took a while to develop fully, but that woman has become the example of what a Diva Search winner should be.

Finally, Daniel Bryan went full heel, literally willing to do anything to keep his title. His match with Big Show was mostly one-sided, though Bryan showed his moveset, even managing to get a LeBell Lock on Show before he escaped the ring and provoked Mark Henry into attacking him for a DQ. The real highlights of this match, however, didn't happen in the ring. They happened at the announce table. Mark Henry joined the commentators to watch, since he's also looking to regain the title. I was never a fan of Mark before this monster heel run. I was turned during his first pay-per-view match with Randy Orton. But Smackdown completely cemented him as an entertaining personality to look forward to. Michael Cole could barely get a word in edgewise with Henry cutting him off at every pass. At one point, Cole was in mid-sentence, and Henry just said, "If you say one more word, I swear I will slap the taste right outta your mouth." Cole's response? He simply said, "Yes, sir." Like a 12-year-old boy who's just been reprimanded by the teacher and sentenced to detention.

I think Cole's been so busy burying the talent, it was only a matter of time before he got a taste of his own medicine.