Rinse, Reuse, Reboot: Hollywood's Lack of Creativity

Total Recall, Spiderman, Rambo, Rock Balboa, Dredd 3D, RoboCop, Man of Steel, Fantastic Four, The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, Star Trek, Conan, TMNT, The Mummy, The Karate Kid, Clash of the Titans, Batman, James Bond, and even Twlight. All movies. All reboots or soon to be reboots.


Nowadays  as a filmgoer its been increasingly hard to find new and original material on the silver screen. More often than not I sit in the movie theater with my father and we see more than one trailer that he exclaims "Oh so they are remaking that?". I wonder if when I'm older and I take my kids out to the movies if I'l be exclaiming "Hey, they've made this movie about three times already. My dad saw the first version of this film 50 years ago!" I'm 26 years old and they have already done Superman, Batman and Spiderman over twice. Hulk has its third Bruce Banner in ten years. I was alive to see Judge Dredd and I'll be alive to see him again in Dredd 3D. Same goes for Godzilla, but that particular gem I'm not complaining about. I love that big green bastard.

Judgement already came...in 1995

Original screenplays aren't a commonplace anymore. Book to movie, and reboots are now king. And we pay to see it. Why? Because there isn't really anything else out there. I find myself gravitating towards television shows out there. The competition is fierce enough on TV that there isn't room for a reboot. Ergo why shows like Dallas failed, it's been done. When Bewitched became a movie it flopped. 

I yearn for original material. Something that will surprise me. Something that I can't predict. Can Hollywood truly be out of directors and writers that have vision?

"Will we ever see a film with as complex a script as Inception?"

Filmmakers like Christopher Nolan seem to come along once in a generation. James Cameron will be making Avatar films for the rest of his life. Will be being seeing the same recycled genius for the next ten years? Hopefully our dedication to the film making craft will be rewarded sooner rather than later.

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WWE Raw Wrapup - 8/27/12

CM Punk's hunt for respect continues tonight on another three hour edition of Raw.  We'll find out the backlash for CM Punk kicking Jerry Lawler in the back of the head, as well as hear from Triple H on the match with Brock Lesnar from Summerslam.

Lawler gets in the ring as the show opens and says he needs to say something.  Lawler admits that he may have misspoken when he said Punk turned his back on WWE at Raw 1000.  Last week, Lawler apologized then got kicked in the back of the head.  This week, Lawler wants an apology.  The WWE Champion slowly makes his way to the ring, with a newly shaved head.  Punk says it's ludicrous for Lawler to want an apology after he painted Punk as a "bad guy".  Punk says that Lawler is the one who turned on the WWE Universe by slandering its champion.  Punk admits that he's sorry - Sorry that Lawler managed to make it into the Hall of Fame, despite never being the WWE Champion, despite not even being able to beat Michael Cole.  Punk continues that he's sorry about the man that Jerry Lawler has become.  Punk asks Lawler if he wants to fight.  The Champ continues that Lawler is just a commentator, while Punk is the best in the world; he would just embarrass Lawler.  Lawler says he came out for an apology, not a fight.  Punk keeps pushing for a fight, asking Lawler who the best in the world is if it's not Punk.  Punk says that either way, Lawler ends the night in embarrassment.  Punk leaves and Lawler says "I'll think about it".  Ooh...tough.  Lawler walks back to the announce table to his music.

That was about 8 minutes longer than it needed to be and Punk was uncharacteristically all over himself on the mic.  For some reason, WWE thinks it's necessary for any cocky semi-heel champion to end up fighting with Lawler in one way or another.

Match 1:  Jack Swagger vs Ryback
Winner:  Ryback via pinfall

Cole reminds us that Swagger hasn't won a singles match on TV since winning the US Title months ago.  Swagger opens with knees to the midsection and Ryback answers in kind, then boots Swagger to the mat.  Ryback pounds Swagger on the mat then picks him up, just to drive him face first.  Swagger lands a drop toe hold and a scoop slam, then steps on Ryback to head in for a Swagger Bomb.  Ryback gets the feet up and gets away from the Ankle Lock, then delivers a brutal looking back body drop with Swagger landing on the top of his head.  Ryback lands his big lariat and calls for the end, leading to Shellshocked.

For all his power, if Ryback doesn't actually get under the body of his opponent, he can only elevate them so far.  Hopefully it looked worse than it was and Swagger didn't get hurt.  Swagger is on the floor after the match and says "that's it"; maybe a move toward a "getting fed up" angle for him, as he has done nothing but lose for months.

Lawler sells hesitation in agreeing to face CM Punk; he's still "thinking about it".

Match 2:  Natalya vs Layla (Divas Champion), non-title
Winner:  Layla via pinfall

Vickie Guerrero comes out and says the match needs to be over quickly, since she has an announcement.  Natalya takes Layla down and locks in a front facelock, which Layla counters into a hammerlock.  Natalya powers out and boots Layla in the face, then pins her with her ass for a near fall.  Layla rolls Natalya up for two.  Layla hits her double bounce crossbody for another near fall, then wrenches the arm of Natalya.  Layla grabs both legs of Nattie and tries to elevate her, but just doesn't have the power to do so.  Layla dances and hits Natalya in the face with her ass.  Natalya bails to the floor and says it wasn't funny, then traps Layla in the ring apron.  Natalya wants a Sharpshooter, but Layla kicks her away; Natalya recovers first and kicks the Divas Champion.  Layla rolls through on a suplex attempt and lands the Bombshell kick to the head of Natalya for the win. 

Vickie shoos Layla away and she actually obeys, so that Vickie can make her announcement.  Last week, AJ booked Chris Jericho vs Dolph Ziggler, contract against contract and Vickie is none too happy about it.  Vickie says she's the only one who has the guts to stand up to the apparently tyrannical AJ Lee.  Vickie says power shouldn't sit with a "mentally deranged child".  AJ's music hits and she skips her way down to the ring.  AJ takes the mic and slaps Vickie, then tackles her.  Vickie scrambles away from the ring and runs to the back.  AJ straightens herself up and bounces her face back and forth between crazed and sultry.

Sloppy match, tons of screaming from Vickie and an aggressive GM.  One of those things is good.  I used to enjoy a Layla match; she was booked as an athlete.  Now she bumps a woman twice her size with her ass to do some damage, so she's been relegated to Kelly Kelly-levels of being a joke Divas Champion.  What a shame.

Daniel Bryan attends anger management classes.  Bryan is in a group class and says that he doesn't have anger management issues; couldn't be calmer.  A child shows up with a goat mask and Bryan loses his mind; the doctor says it's his son and he's a goat in the school play.  Could have been worse, but I'm sure we'll be seeing many more of these.

Punk tweets that if Lawler fights him, he can have the first punch.  Lawler gets to his feet and hops on the announce table, mic in hand.  Lawler takes exception to being told he beat up "nobodies" in Memphis.  Nobodies like Jesse Ventura, Billy Graham, Dutch Mantell, etc.  Lawler also takes exception to being called a fun loving fourteen year old.  Lawler drops Andy Kaufman's name and says that when the time is right, someone worthy of the Hall of Fame will stand up to an opponent.  Lawler says he knows he's not the best in the world, but he doesn't think Punk is either.  Lawler isn't backing down tonight.  Tonight, they fight.  Lawler heads to the back to change into ring gear.

Match 3:  John Cena vs The Miz (Intercontinental Champion), non-title
Winner:  John Cena via pinfall

Cena in the first hour?  My word!  Miz opens with a headlock takeover and Cena stands up out of it and sends Miz off the ropes, then lands his own headlock takeover.  Miz does the same and wants a hip toss this time, but Cena powers away from it and puts Miz on the mat, heading into a commercial.

Miz has Cena in the corner, but gets tossed to the floor, avoiding an Attitude Adjustment attempt.  Cena dodges an incoming Miz and bounces him off the turnbuckle to hit a bulldog for two.  Into the ropes again and Miz kicks Cena to his back, then boots him in the head for two.  Cena pulls himself up in the corner slowly and Miz wants his corner clothesline, which connects.  Miz heads to the top rope and lands a double axe handle for two.  Miz keeps the pressure on with a chinlock, which Cena powers out of.  Miz wants a suplex, but Cena reverses it; then he runs into the backbreaker/neckbreaker combo from Miz for another nearfall.  Miz with another boot to the head and another two count.  Miz lands yet another boot to the face and two count.  Cena dodges the next attempt and locks in the STF, but Miz gets the bottom rope.  Off the break, Miz kicks the knee of Cena and hits the spike DDT, then calls for the Skull Crushing Finale.  Cena avoids it and Miz slides out of another Attitude Adjustment attempt and calls what appears to be an audible, hitting the Side Effect for two.  Miz wants another corner clothesline but misses and Cena hits shoulders and the spinout bomb.  Cena wants the Five Knuckle Shuffle and connects.  Third time is the charm for the Attitude Adjustment and Cena picks up the win. 

Cena and Miz have a great chemistry in the ring and Cena takes the kneeling spike DDT bump better than anyone else.  Solid match, but I can only assume we see Cena at least once more tonight.

AJ says it's time for Raw-Active:  The WWE Universe decides what kind of match Lawler/Punk have tonight.  Tables, Cage or a No DQ match.  At least the choices are actual variants, as opposed to last time when it was No DQ, Street Fight or Falls Count Anywhere.

Back to Bryan in anger management.  Bryan vents about AJ and the last patient shows up:  Kane.

Match 4:  Heath Slater vs Santino Marella
Winner:  Santino Marella via pinfall

Santino powerwalks right into the ring.  Santino tries a double leg takedown and slowly trips Slater.  Santino spins on Slater's back and gloats.  Slater and Marella have an air guitar-off and Slater tags him in the head to take control.  Slater grabs a headlock and punches Santino, then chokes him in the ropes.  The crowd starts up an audible "boring" chant as Slater maintains control.  Slater mounts the middle rope and Santino rolls away twice and eventually gets a small package for a two count.  Santino lands jabs, the split/hip toss/headbutt combo and pulls out the traitorous Cobra.  Aksana's music hits and she walks out on the stage.  Slater approaches Santino from behind and gets Cobra'd, netting Santino the win.

A bit of goofiness never hurt anyone; wrestling would be dull without it.  Fun match and at least we know that the Aksana angle doesn't mean a string of losses for Santino.

Match 5:  Brodus Clay and Sin Cara vs Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes
Winners:  Brodus Clay and Sin Cara via pinfall

The straight laced Cody Rhodes in a tag match with the masked luchador, the dancing fat guy and the humorously intelligent gentleman.  It seems like WWE can't quite handle Ziggler and Rhodes in an elevated position simultaneously.  Rhodes keeps on the "Sin Cara is ugly" shtick before the tag match begins.

Rhodes has Cara grounded and delivers a knee to the face, then tags Sandow in to deliver a russian leg sweep and elbow drop.  Sandow stomps away and tags Rhodes back in, keeping the pressure on Sin Cara.  Cara hits a hurricanrana, allowing Brodus to tag in and lay into Rhodes with a corner attack and a big running powerslam.  Sandow breaks up the pinfall and stomps at Clay, but gets low bridged by Sin Cara, then a cross body to the floor.  Rhodes wants the Beautiful Disaster but Clay headbutts him out of midair and hits the big splash for the win.  Sin Cara dances along with Clay and the Funkadactyls to celebrate.

Back to anger management with Kane and Daniel Bryan.  Kane takes the top mask off and says he's the devil's favorite demon.  The doc wants Kane to share his childhood and Bryan thinks it's a bad idea.  Kane gives his life story, including saying that Katie Vick was a less than stellar event.  The group has homework:  Make an "anger collage".  Bryan trash talks the doctor on the way out of the room and Harold thanks Kane for sharing, wanting to hug it out.  Kane grabs him by the neck and says no problem, then leaves.  Of the three segments, this was the highlight:  getting Kane's entire background in a calm, matter of fact manner.

A compilation of HHH's "greatest hits" plays.

Match 6:  R-Truth (Half of the Tag Team Champions) vs Daniel Bryan
Winner:  R-Truth via countout

Bryan fights the urge to shout No at the crowd with some deep breaths.  Bryan bumps fists with Truth as a show of sportsmanship.  Bryan takes Truth over early and they separate.  Truth wants another fistbump, but fistbumps Little Jimmy instead, leaving Bryan hanging.  Bryan bumps Jimmy's fist too, then lets loose on Truth with kicks.  Truth counters an incoming Bryan and hits a clothesline, leg lariat and a big right hand, then the Lie Detector forearm for two.  Truth elevates Bryan over the top rope to the floor and follows with a right hand.  Truth grabs a mic and tells Little Jimmy that this time around, he knows where they are (last time there was a "Green Bay" gaff).  Truth starts YESing into the mic and Bryan grabs the mic to start NOing in turn.  Bryan gets himself counted out in the interim. 

Bryan slowly comes to his senses, realizing he got himself counted out, which of course leads to him losing his mind and NOing at the crowd.  It moves things forward and still has that "protecting" Bryan sense.

Triple H makes his appearance for the night.  Note, he isn't closing the show.  He isn't after the WWE Champion.  He's right where he should be; the top of the last hour, a good way to transition to the end of the show.  Good, simple choices.  HHH says he's going to cut to the chase  Is he going to retire?  Trips says that everyone comes to a crossroad in their career and has to ask "is it time"?  You can't fight time.  HHH continues that he doesn't want to hang on, doesn't want to be around "too long".  HHH wants to come out and be the Game, say that he'll rise up and kick Lesnar's ass...but he can't.  Triple H is looking inside himself, asking if he's done.  If he can't say he'll come back better than before, maybe he is done.  HHH continues with a long winded "thank you" to the WWE Universe and tears up before he leaves.  Strong teasing of his considering retiring, which we know isn't coming quite yet.

Slam of the Week:  Jericho vs Ziggler one week ago and Ziggler sending Y2J packing.  I miss the days of the Slam of the Week just being the biggest spot or slam of the week.

Dolph Ziggler enters with the beginning of Jericho's entrance, quickly cutting to his own entrance theme.  Ziggler says that he got rid of Jericho, then uses his catchphrases, telling the WWE Universe that they'll never....ever see Chris Jericho again.

Match 7:  Dolph Ziggler and Alberto del Rio vs Sheamus (World Heavyweight Champion) and Randy Orton
Winners:  Sheamus and Randy Orton via pinfall

Orton with the early control and Sheamus shoulders del Rio from the apron.  Ziggler bails to the outside after a powerslam and we'll reset after a commercial break.  Ziggler is in charge with a chinlock as Orton rises to his feet and elbows out.  Ziggler hits a knee to the gut and tags in ADR who works the arm but takes shots from Orton.  Both men are grounded and Orton wants a tag, so we get them on both sides.  Sheamus takes over and lands the Irish Curse, but ADR stops the pinfall.  Ziggler ends up with the MITB briefcase in hand, but takes a backbreaker from Orton and Brogue Kick from Sheamus.

Standard tag, but at least everyone is interrelated - The Champ, the #1 contender, the man who lost the number one contendership and the guy with the free pass.

Lawler is in the back with Cena and says he needs to beat Punk on his own.  Tonight, Lawler fights for himself.

Kane makes his way to the ring and Josh Matthews, while at the announce table, sells fear, as he got tossed aside by Kane at Summerslam.  Matthews drops his headset and moves away from the table.  Kane takes a seat at the announce table and puts on a headset.

Match 8:  Zack Ryder vs David Otunga
Winner:  Zack Ryder via pinfall

Cole tries to talk to Kane, who doesn't answer at all.  Otunga kicks and clubs away at Ryder right away, then delivers a back elbow.  Otunga puts Ryder in the corner and stomps away, then clotheslines him in the opposite corner for two.  Ountga with a chinlock and then a suplex for two.  Ryder hits the ropes and a facebuster for Otunga.  Ryder hops to the middle rope but gets tossed off by Otunga.  Ryder ducks a short arm clothesline and hits the Rough Ryder for the win.

Kane immediately hits the ring and grabs Ryder by the neck, but casts him aside and grabs Otunga for a Chokeslam instead.

They never seem quite sure what to do with Kane; he let Ryder go, but Chokeslammed Otunga, who didn't do anything to him.  Kane's program with Bryan isn't quite finished either, so he's kind of at a crossroads as far as where he goes from here.

Match 9:  CM Punk vs Jerry "The King" Lawler, Cage Match
Winner:  CM Punk via submission

After the announcement of the cage match, AJ steps out on stage to let us know that at Night of Champions, Punk defends against Cena.  Inside the cage, Punk lays into Lawler with forearms and keeps him down with a chinlock.  Punk plays with Lawler, nudging his head with his boot and claiming to be thew new king of Memphis.  Punk wants a top rope axe handle, but Lawler goes across the cage, prompting Punk to rush him across the cage and strike.  Punk heads up again and Lawler crotches him.  Lawler heads for the cage door, but Punk grabs his foot and drags him back in, then delivers elbow drops.  Lawler counters a neckbreaker by shoving Punk into the cage, but he's unable to capitalize.  Lawler finally gets some offense going with punches and using the cage as a weapon.  Lawler continues with a clothesline and heads to the second rope, delivering the diving fist drop, but Punk kicks out at two.

Lawler wants the door again,  but Punk stops him, then sends him to a corner and delivers the high knee, leaving both men on the mat.  Punk is busted open and calls for the GTS, but delivers a Rockbottom and locks in the Anaconda Vise for the win.  Punk has transitioned to the Vise like this in the past, but he made it a point to stand in "Rockbottom" position before hand.  It's these little things that show which guys really care in the ring and which guys are just collecting a paycheck.  Punk grabs a mic and heads back into the cage with a chain and padlock, sealing the cage back up.  Punk wants to hear Lawler say he's the best in the world.  Lawler refuses and gets elbows to his collarbone for it.  Punk continues to demand Lawler say he's best in the world.  John Cena rushes to ringside and wants the cage up.  Cena says it's enough.  Punk drops knees on Lawler's face and says he's best in the world.  As the cage lifts, Punk slides out and heads for the back.

Punk just took a hard left at the corner of heel and face.  It's been a good build so far, but WWE just threw the switch to full speed ahead on the turn.  Punk brutalizes Lawler then runs away from Cena the first chance he gets.  It's a shame that WWE seems to be going with a black and white heel/face dynamic here, as Punk was tentative in the weeks leading to this.  He had a chance to whack Cena with the belt recently, but offered a handshake.  Now, he's going after the respect he wants by any means necessary.  To wager a guess, Punk finagles a win over Cena at Night of Champions, but there are shenanigans; Punk makes to Royal Rumble with the WWE Title in tow, but The Rock wins it there; Cena faces Rock at Wrestlemania next year for the belt and wins.  If WWE goes this way, then Punk should be chasing Cena for the belt immediately after. 

That's Raw for this week - For the first time since the transition to three hours, the show felt like it dragged on.  A three hour show really doesn't need a 10 minute overrun, but that's just kind of the standard at this point.

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Stop The Supernatural: Walking Dead Colt Python

Let's talk about creatures that might come slapping and drooling at your front door some day by discussing the Walking Dead television series.  Now I am well aware there is a graphic novel series that the show was based on but for today I’m looking to make broader strokes so that more people can grasp where I am going with this and let’s face it a LOT of people are familiar with the Walking Dead series on AMC. Since the series is long and there are plenty of weapons to review I’ll break it down to a couple weapons at a time.  The most important thing to address is what you’re dealing with. The Walking Dead centers on zombies. Where they come from, how they came to be and what are their motives short of eating living flesh? That’s yet to be discovered. What we do know however is how to kill them.  The simplest rules apply in the series. SHOOT EM’ IN THE HEAD.

They once and a while try to get more scientific and start bringing up severing brain stems and such but in the end mess up their head situation and pretty much you’re golden. One of the first seen weapons in the series is the Colt .357 magnum Python revolver used by the character Rick Grimes. Now at first you may look at this and think…”that’s practically bringing a knife to a gun fight!” but after researching the weapon a bit more its actually not a bad side arm.

This is a double action firing revolver. For those who don’t know this means that every trigger pull cocks the hammer and finally releases it returning it to the decocked position after every round is fired. This is good in that it only takes one hand to fire. The 6” barrel used for the series is revered for being very accurate without the added weight of the 8” barrel. The cartridge or ammunition used in this weapon as stated above is the .357 magnum. This bullet would probably have enough power to slam through the skull of a zombie rhino much less person with great ease. With all good things there must be some bad. The gun was one of the best revolvers ever to be made according to some hand gun forums however it isn’t intended for extended use. The gun has a known problem for falling out of time. This is when the double action trigger doesn’t turn the chamber over far enough and the bullet doesn’t align properly before firing. Limited amount of loaded ammunition count might have you worried about using this in a zombie apocalypse situation like the one found in the Walking Dead. An average magazine fed handgun will hold 15 9x19mm rounds out numbering the colt by 9 more dead zombies. However if you have ever loaded a magazine gun you know that the spring resistance can be a pain at times and slow you way down.

Let’s take another look at this. 7 zombies come charging at the colt. You put the first six down, open the chambers load in one last round, insert cool catch phrase and blow the head of the last zombie. Now in the case of the slide operated magazine fed handgun. You have 16 zombies, you put down the first 15 and the 16^th is still coming you have to drop the mag out, hope u don’t drop it, force the last round in, hope you don’t drop that, line up the slide with the grip, while of course hoping you don’t miss causing you to epic fail and DROP IT, chamber the round and turn and shoot… not so easy.

In conclusion I give the Colt Python .357 magnum a 6 out of 10 for this series zombie apocalypse. It is accurate and very powerful but the ammo would be harder to come by than a typical 9mm and the ammo count is low. However if that last zombie comes at you, you can always manually load that last round to put him down. Happy hunting next week I will go over one of my personal favorites the Beretta 92fs and how it was useful in AMC’s The Walking Dead. 

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WWE Smackdown Lowdown - 8/24/2012

 
The Booker T era carries on and we get an answer on Sheamus knocking Alberto del Rio's foot off the ropes on what was a clean rope break.  Sheamus is all smiles; Alberto is not.

To open the show, however, we have Randy Orton who faced del Rio on Monday.  Sheamus cost ADR that match by helping the referee avoid missing another foot on the rope, this time belonging to Orton.  Orton says he thrives on confrontation.  ADR says that the win on Monday was tainted - Too bad.  Orton lays claim to a World Heavyweight Championship shot, since he pinned the prior number one contender.  Orton says if anyone has a problem with that, they can come to the ring and air their grievance.  Instead of the expected ADR, Sheamus makes his way toward the ring to answer.  Sheamus says that "Berty" has squandered his chances at the World Heavyweight Championship and makes light of beating him "fair and square" at Summerslam.  Sheamus wants Orton at the front of the line for a title shot.  Booker T makes his entrance to continue the conversation.  Booker wants to talk about Monday and Alberto makes his appearance, sans music, to protest the ensuing result of the conversation.

Del Rio says that Sheamus is a cheater and Orton is a crazy animal.  ADR interrupts Booker's answer and says he should be champion by now.  Booker tries to continue and ADR interrupts again, repeating everything.  Orton says ADR is embarrassing himself and Alberto calls "conspiracy" then turns his attention to Booker T.  He thinks everyone is against him.  Booker finally continues and says that Orton is always in line for title shots, but Alberto was next.  "Was" being the key word; now that ADR came out running his mouth, Booker T has decided that ADR takes on Randy Orton for the number one contendership. 

Long intro - Orton has never been as interesting on the mic as he is in the ring and ADR ran laps on his verbiage.  It set the stage, but definitely took its time.

Michael Cole is alone on the announce table - Josh Matthews was injured by Kane at Summerslam and has the night off.

Match 1:  Ryback vs Jinder Mahal
Winner:  Ryback via pinfall

Teddy Long has joined Cole at commentary and Ryback has taken a microphone.  Jinder will realize his place in the food chain tonight.  Ryback gets a "Feed me more" chant going before Mahal enters.  Mahal is on the attack early but Ryback grounds him with rapid hammerfists to the head.  Mahal elbows out of the opposite corner and strikes away at Ryback, then escapes a powerslam attempt.  Mahal delivers knees while he locks in a cravat then drops a knee.  Mahal grounds Ryback with a jumping knee for a one count.  Mahal delivers more boots and knees to keep Ryback down, until Ryback catches his foot and bounces him off the rope for a high back drop and shoulders in the corner.  Ryback delivers a spin-out powerslam and a big lariat.  Ryback calls for Shellshocked and lands it.  

So Mahal has antagonized Ryback for weeks, just to be beaten in three minutes.  More interesting with actual back and forth and Mahal looked smoother than usual.  The crowd digs Ryback's shtick and this could mean a continued presence by Mahal on the main roster, as he was involved in the NXT Gold Rush tournament, ultimately losing to Seth Rollins.

Match 2:  Alicia Fox vs Layla (Divas Champion), non-title
Winner:  Layla via pinfall

Kaitlyn is the commentator for this match, as she is the new number one contender for the Divas title.  Fox opens with a schoolgirl attempt and a headlock takeover.  Layla rolls it through for a pinfall attempt, but Fox's shoulders won't stay down.  Layla hits her double bounce cross body and Fox again manages to not quite be pinned for an odd count.  Alicia answers with a dropkick for a nearfall.  Layla wants another middle rope move, but Fox kicks her leg out from under her then works it over.  Fox sets into a half crab, but Layla spins and kicks her way out.  Layla rolls Fox up for two then whiffs a clothesline, but KO's Fox with a kick to the head.  

Kaitlyn is supportive of Layla - It will be a face vs face confrontation for the title.  Kaitlyn hits the ring to congratulate Layla and Eve enters to interrupt.  Eve grabs the hands of both women and raises them.  The girls sell confusion, as they should be.  Eve is up to something, as usual.

Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero are in the back, reminiscing about sending Chris Jericho packing.  Sheamus shows up and says he's itching for a fight - Maybe Ziggler should cash in tonight.  Ziggler says he'll cash in on his own terms.  Teddy Long will make a Ziggler/Sheamus match tonight; Ziggler can cash in if he chooses.

Match 3:  Sin Cara vs Heath Slater
Winner:  Heath Slater via pinfall

Cody Rhodes is at ringside with the silly "unmasked Sin Cara" caricature...and for commentary.  Slater sneaks his way into a hammerlock, but Sin Cara escapes with a snapmare, then dropkicks Slater.  Slater is elevated to the apron and whiffs an enzuigiri, then gets sent to the floor and tossed back in by Slater for a one count.  Slater delivers elbows and settles into a chinlock that Cara fights out of, landing a springboard back elbow.  Cara runs the top rope for a lucha arm drag, then a spinning plancha to the floor.  Slater shoves Cara into the apron and the ref gets involved.  Cody Rhodes gets up and turns Cara's mask around, blinding him.  Slater capitalizes with his Reverse DDT (apparently now called E-Minor) for the win.

Rhodes hits the ring after Slater leaves and stomps away at Cara, then tries to remove the mask yet again.  Rhodes says it's only a matter of time, after the refs break it up.

Match 4:  Sheamus (World Heavyweight Champion) vs Dolph Ziggler, non-title
Winner:  Sheamus via disqualification

Sheamus makes the entrance-less jobber entrance for some ungodly reason (actually, it's likely because his entrance was already on TV tonight).  Ziggler gets introduced by Vickie and makes his way to the ring, briefcase in hand.  This match's guest commentator is Vickie.  Ziggler bails to the floor early then slides back in for a pair of big headlock takeovers.  Sheamus runs Ziggler over, but runs into a dropkick for one.  Ziggler locks in a chinlock as Vickie runs down AJ's job on Raw.  Ziggler boots Sheamus in the face, but gets elevated and pancaked for one.  Sheamus attacks in the corner and then counters White Noise with a sunset flip.  Sheamus avoids the Namedropper and puts Dolph on the apron and wants forearms to the chest, but Dolph avoids then sweeps the leg.  Ziggler hops up and DDTs the World Heavyweight Champion on the apron.  Ziggler gets a two count then locks in another chinlock.  Sheamus fights to his feet and delivers a belly to back suplex(side slam, as per Michael Cole) to break it up.

Ziggler wants a Sleeper, but Sheamus tosses him off and lands hammers, a shoulder and a knee lift.  Sheamus tosses him to the apron and sets up for chest forearms.  Back in the ring, Sheamus delivers White Noise and goes to the corner, calling for a Brough Kick.  Ziggler dodges and takes the briefcase from Vickie, then wallops Sheamus with it for the DQ.  Ziggler starts considering cashing in MITB and tells the ref.  Sheamus slowly gets to his feet and Ziggler grabs the briefcase and runs before the bell rings, saving his contract.  This gimmick of "almost cashing in" has been real interesting.  Not only is it a great bit by the determined heel, but it allows for a bit of psychological warfare.  Good stuff, but that's to be expected where Ziggler is involved.  As for the match itself, it's the same Ziggler/Sheamus match we've seen over and over.  Not necessarily a bad thing, just same old same old.

Santino Marella makes his way to the ring, after losing his US Title to Antonio Cesaro at Summerslam.  Marella tells us how long he was US Champ, down to the second.  Santino says that without the title, he feels less and less American.  He's forgotten how apple pie tastes, apparently.  Marella puts on the Cobra sock and wants to know if it is on the same page as him.  Marella says the Cobra cost "them" the US Title and the Cobra is sad.  Santino says what matters is how many times you get up after being knocked down.  Santino quotes "Rocky" and gets the Cobra fired up for change.  Santino says he and The Cobra will be US Champion again.  Antonio Cesaro enters, as he apparently thinks differently.  Cesaro finally has new music - It seems to match his old Kings of Wrestling music from his days as Claudio Castagnioli.  Cesaro says "Winner" in five languages.  Santino power walks at Cesaro and catches an attempted kick.  Santino with jabs and readying the Cobra, but the Cobra actually drags him away and toward Aksana.  This causes Marella to be kicked in the head by Cesaro.  So now the Cobra is fully sentient? 

Match 5:  Primo and Epico vs Kofi Kingston and R-truth (Tag Team Champions), non-title
Winners:  Kofi Kingston and R-Truth via pinfall

More non-title action on Smackdown, showing how shallow the tag division is.  It's a shame that Tyler Reks is gone, breaking up Reks/Hawkins and that WWE is too dense to realize that Kidd/Gabriel could be an amazing team on TV that isn't "WWE Superstars".  Young and O'Neal are at ringside for this one.  Epico and Kofi start out quick with pinfall exchanges and ending in a dropkick to dropkick exchange.  Primo tags in and boots away at Kofi, sweeps him and then tags Epico in to continue.  Kofi comes up out of the corner and hurricanranas Epico into the turnbuckle.  Tags on both sides and Truth comes in with a pair of clotheslines and a sitout gourdbuster.  Epico breaks up the pinfall attempt, then tosses Kofi out.  Truth tosses Primo out and then avoids the Backstabber.  Truth delivers Little Jimmy and wins. 

Standard issue short tag match.  Primetime Players and Cole were actually quite entertaining at ringside and I at least got a kick out of Cole trying O'Neal's dog bark.

Kofi and Truth are interviewed by Striker in the back.  Primetime Players show up to rain on the parade.  The Usos show up to lay their claim, followed by Primo and Epico and, oddly enough, Gabriel and Kidd.  This erupts into a big brawl between everyone.  Nice to see Gabriel and Kidd acknowledged here, but it probably doesn't make any sense to people who don't watch the internet shows WWE puts out.

Booker T is in the back on the phone and Long enters to update Booker on the brawl.  Booker asks who Long thinks deserves a title shot.  Eve shows up with a win-loss record for all of the tag teams and a schedule for Booker.  Eve is looking to outshine Teddy Long by sucking up to Booker.  Eve/Long might be the longest running feud in WWE right now.

Match 6:  Randy Orton vs Alberto del Rio, Winner is Number One Contender
Winner:   Alberto del Rio via submission

Sheamus, of course, is the guest commentator for this match.  ADR with a quick shoulder block for a one count, but Orton takes over with strikes and a schoolboy.  Orton with a suplex off the ropes for another quick pin attempt.  Next, Orton slingshots ADR across the bottom rope throat first for two.  Alberto answers with kicks to Orton's arm, wanting the Cross Armbreaker early, but Orton spins it out to a neckbreaker.  Del Rio slides to the floor as we roll to commercial.

Del Rio is back in charge on the return after slamming Orton's arm into the stairs.  Orton fights up and out with a headbutt, but takes a knee to the gut and a jumping stomp.  Del Rio kicks the back of Orton and gets a two count, then goes back to work on the arm.  ADR wants a corner step up enzuigiri, but Orton ducks and nails a pair of clotheslines, followed by the snap powerslam.  ADR avoids the usual follow up by running Orton's arm across the rope, but ends up running into the Orton backbreaker for two.  ADR lands double knees to the arm for a two count of his own.  Orton avoids another attempt at a Cross Armbreaker, but gets his arm kicked for his trouble.  ADR jumps off the middle rope, right into an Orton dropkick for two.  Orton counters a running ADR smoothly to the apron for the middle rope DDT and coils for the RKO.  Del Rio grabs the top rope to avoid the RKO and rolls into a Cross Armbreaker and Randy Orton taps out clean.

Sheamus immediately gets to his feet and ADR shoves Ricardo to the mat so that he can take his shoe and throw it at Sheamus.  Sheamus tackles ADR and Ricardo knocks him off, then gives ADR his other shoe to clobber Sheamus with.  Dolph Ziggler's music hits and he high tails it to the ring to cash in, demanding the ref come in.  Orton hits an RKO from behind, putting yet another stop to a Dolph Ziggler cash in attempt, one that had a damn good chance of being successful.

This match and aftermath - The heel who's a real threat, the face champion who has a score to settle, the tweener who only worries about himself and the up-and-comer with something to prove -  was WWE at its best.  Everything worked, everything was logical, everything advanced one or more feud points and there was no horsecrap turn around or decision reversal.  Alberto del Rio made Randy Orton tap out because he is a force to be reckoned with.  He didn't just "get" another World Title shot; he earned it.  And Ziggler continues to be thwarted when he tries to cash in, but retaining his contract.  This is one of the best show ending sequences WWE has given us in a long time and it's one of those shows that keeps that faint glimmer of hope alive that WWE is listening to the "hardcore" fan.

An average episode of Smackdown that picked up business and ended incredibly strong.  More episodes like this would keep we "vocal minority" fans a lot happier.  And it might actually net Vinny Mac some PPV buys, who knows. 

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