WWE Extreme Rules 2011: Smack Talk for 4/29/11 (Randy Orton Makes His Debut)

What's up, ladies and gentlemen?

My name is Eric Kanes and we are just three hours away from the annual Extreme Rules PPV where a new world heavyweight champion will be crowned. However, before the event begins, we still need to receive our weekly dose of Smack Talk.

So, taped from Greensboro, North Carolina, let's talk some smack.

- Randy Orton came out to start the show and he talked about how he has some unfinished business with CM Punk and how he is looking forward to his future on SmackDown. Cue Drew McIntyre, who is now part of the RAW roster, who came out to say hello and goodbye. He went for the Future Shock DDT but Orton reversed it into an RKO. That was pretty random.

"As I was saying—" Orton was interrupted by Alex Riley who came out without his briefcase. I don't get why he was drafted to SmackDown. The only thing he had going for him was his alliance with The Miz. Riley got a mic but Orton RKO'd him before he had a chance to say a word.

Then, Orton just stared at the stage as Del Rio came out with Brodus Clay even though they're on separate shows now. Hopefully, WWE splits them up. It's impossible to take Brodus Clay seriously and it makes Del Rio look like a goof. Del Rio said that while Orton knows how to make a good first impression, he knows how to make a lasting one. Del Rio, Brodus Clay and Ricardo Rodriguez surrounded Orton but Christian ran out to even the odds. Teddy Long came out and announced a Del Rio and Brodus Clay vs. "Kristin" and Randy Orton as the main event.

This was a fun way to start the show, although we never found out what Orton wanted to say. I'm liking Randy Orton on SmackDown already. I'm also really loving the beard. It makes him look similar to when Brock Lesnar had one a few months ago. He should keep it and grow it a bit longer. Hopefully, not as long as Mike Knox's, though. 

- A match between Kofi Kingston and Sheamus for the US title was scheduled but Sheamus attacked Kofi before it could get started. I assume this leads to a match at Extreme Rules and Kofi goes over. The title would only hold Sheamus down.

- Michael Cole was sporting some bruises from his match with JR on RAW. Good god, that was brutal. From Elimination Chamber to WrestleMania, this was probably the second best feud that WWE had going after Rock/Cena. Now, it's become completely unbearable. I'm just ready for it to end.

- The lighting during the Sin Cara/Jack Swagger match was just awkward. It's like when they had music playing during all of Kane's promos. It just came across as cheesy. Hopefully, this isn't done for all of Sin Cara's matches.

After the ending with Sin Cara winning and Michael Cole yelling at Jack Swagger, all the signs are pointing to Swagger turning face. It's a shame, though. He was really starting to get over with Michael Cole as his manager. He had potential to be the top heel on SmackDown. If he turns face, the only hope of getting over that he really has is feuding with Michael Cole.

- Kane and Big Show destroyed Slater and Gabriel for the hundredth time. We get it already. The Corre has so much potential. I don't get why it's wasted like this every single week.

- I actually really enjoyed the match between Rey Mysterio and Mark Henry. They told a great story with Mysterio trying to "topple the giant" by outsmarting him but with Mark Henry just being too strong for him. This is how Mark Henry needs to be booked. Hell, this is how every monster heel needs to be booked. If they can continue making him look this strong without putting him into a dance off next week, he can be great as a potential challenger for Christian.

- Layla vs. Michelle McCool ended in a double count-out after they brawled with each other on the outside. Then, Michelle challenged Layla to a match at Extreme Rules in a "Loser Leaves SmackDown" match. However, they later changed it to "Loser Leaves WWE" so "SmackDown" was edited out very awkwardly. It kind of sounded like those voice mail messages when the machine says "you have reached" and then the person says their name. By the way, Michelle's leaving for real so Layla's winning. Mark it down. Michelle must be burnt out from her 12 house show matches last year. That's sarcasm.

- Randy Orton and Christian against Alberto Del Rio and Brodus Clay was an enjoyable TV main event for the most part when Brodus Clay wasn't making his trademark "CHE" noises every five seconds. I don't know what they'll do with him now. On his own, he won't make it. If he gets paired up with someone like Tyson Kidd or Ted DiBiase, he'll make that person look like even more of a joke. The best bet would be sending him down to FCW for some more training. He's got potential but he needs a lot of work on his mannerisms.

Final Thoughts

This week's edition of SmackDown gets a 6.5 out of 10 from me. It wasn't perfect but it was definitely an improvement from last week's edition which got a 3.5 out of 10. We got some fresh stuff which is never a bad thing. SmackDown has been the same thing every week for quite some time now so seeing new match-ups was definitely a good thing.

The SmackDown roster also seems a lot stronger now with Randy Orton and Christian as the main event faces, (possibly) Mark Henry, Wade Barrett and Sheamus as the main event heels and a much more solid mid-card. Throw Chris Jericho or Booker T in there as well and SmackDown will be just fine.

One complaint that I have is the way that The Corre is booked every week. They started off strong but they've been booked like complete idiots over the past several months. It's appaling that they're still feuding with Big Show ,too. WWE is on the right track with Mark Henry. Let's see The Corre and Sheamus booked like that as well.

I will be covering Extreme Rules live tonight right here on Bleacher Report so make sure to join me in some Extreme Rules discussion. Until then, I'm out.

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