Top 10 Talking Points: WWE Smackdown 17/2/2012

The Elimination Chamber go-home episode of WWE Smackdown emanated from Fresno, California. Here are the top 10 talking points of the show:

1. Randy Orton‘s injury status was revealed right at the start of the show. Teddy Long informed him that he will be replaced by another wrestler in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match. It’s a pity that Randy get’s injured so often. The crowd was so hot for him and his injury details really pissed off the live crowd at the arena.

2. The opening tag-team match featured 4 out of 6 Samckdown elimination chamber match participants. The team of Big Show and Great Khali picked up the victory over Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes. Big Show reiterated the fact that it is every man for himself when it comes to the Elimination Chamber match by hitting the WMD on Great Khali, after the match. Nothing else to mention about this short and badly booked match.

3. Big Show went beserk backstage after being insulted by Mark Henry. His feud with Daniel Bryan is being kept intact as Big Show awaits a chance to get his hands on Bryan at the Elimination Chamber. His transformation into a angry giant has been sketched perfectly and it is time for Bryan to bear the brunt of the Weapon of Mass Destruction from the Big Show.

4. Yet another meaningless match between Ted Dibiase and Hunico. What is the payoff? Do we get a match at Elimination Chamber? I don’t think so. It has been months since these two started feuding and it has remained stagnant from then on. Time for Ted Dibiase to move on towards something better.

5. The Uso’s are slowly moving up the ladder towards the Tag-Team championship. However, they were defeated in a non-title match by the Tag-Team champions Epico and Primo. It would have been better if they had won it, leading to a feud between these two teams. Primo & Epico haven’t had a solid feud with any other team it. It’s time for them to step up to the challenge and increase their credibility as champions.

6. Daniel Bryan weaseled out yet again to gain a victory against Sheamus, due to disqualification, in a singles match. Did we get a preview of a possible Wrestlemania match here? I think so. Sheamus lost his temper and pummeled Daniel Bryan to get disqualified. They couldn’t have booked this match in any other fashion. And I have no hard feelings for it.

Sheamus and Daniel Bryan in action

7. Jinder Mahal got a surprise victory over Ezekiel Jackson courtesy of the Camel Clutch. Both these guys may be in line for a Intercontinental championship opportunity in the near future. But the sad fact is that they are not championship material.

8. Tamina exerted her dominance over Beth Phoenix yet again as she and Alicia Fox defeated the team of Beth Phoenix and Natalya. The ball is in the Divas Champions’ court as they gear up for the Divas Championship match at Elimination Chamber.

9. The wild card elimination chamber battle royal was lacking star attraction . It showed as the crowd was dead for most parts of the match. The six guys who really had an impact in this match were Drew McIntyre, David Otunga, Justin Gabriel, Primo, Ezekiel Jackson and Santino Marella.

Elimination Chamber Wild Card Battle Royal

10. ‘Milan Miracle’ Santino Marella provided a twist in the tale by winning the wild card battle royal to replace the injured Randy Orton in the elimination chamber match for the world heavyweight championship. As Michael Cole aptly put it, the Viper has been replaced by a Cobra. Santino’s wild celebration after his victory was fun to watch. Let’s wait and watch what impact he has in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber.