TULSA, Okla. - Nine days before WWE Elimination Chamber, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan escaped Randy Orton's wrath by poking the proverbial stick at Big Show. This sparked an explosive brawl that drove rising pay-per-view tensions sky-high.
World
Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan def. Randy Orton by Disqualification (WATCH |
PHOTOS)
With Big
Show joining the SmackDown announce team, Randy Orton battled Daniel Bryan for the first-time-ever in singles
competition.
Despite his attempts to wiggle out of the main event showdown on two separate
instances during SmackDown (WATCH), Bryan’s match with WWE’s Apex Predator quickly became an intense struggle for supremacy between two incredible competitors. And in the crucial final moments of their fierce battle, Orton prepared to hit the
RKO on his prey. But, the slippery champion managed to escape the ring at the last second.
Grabbing his
title, Bryan suddenly lunged at Big Show, inciting The World’s Largest Athlete to retaliate and hurl his adversary back into the ring. There, Orton did hit the RKO, but it
was too late. By putting his hands on the champion, Show had gotten him
disqualified. Frustrated over the loss, the serpentine Superstar began shoving the giant, igniting a vicious brawl that continued as SmackDown came to a close.
However, WWE.com
cameras continued recording after SmackDown’s main event went off the
air. To view exclusive footage of the chaotic aftermath that followed, check back with WWE.com tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET.
Days after
learning he would remain Raw’s Interim General Manager, John
Laurinaitis spoke to the SmackDown announce team live from Abu Dhabi (WATCH)
Ted DiBiase def.
Hunico
(WATCH | PHOTOS)
Medically cleared after his already broken wrist
was further injured by Hunico and Camacho's vicious attack two
weeks ago, Ted DiBiase returned to take on the former. Hunico wasted no time going
after his gutsy foe’s damaged appendage. However, as he continued to work the arm, the resourceful DiBiase rolled him
up for the quick pinfall. 
Michael
Cole's interview with AJ turns into a war of words (WATCH | PHOTOS)
Still wearing her neck brace from the accidental collision with Big Show last month, AJ came to the ring to be interviewed by Michael Cole. Stating that she has never blamed the giant for her injury, AJ tore into the outspoken ring announcer for never believing in her boyfriend Daniel Bryan, as well as for insulting both of them and the entire Divas
division. Accusing him of “stirring up trouble,” the courageous Diva
referred to her interviewer as a “bias, obnoxious jerk.”
A
furious Cole fired back, lashing back by repeating speculation he had supposedly heard from others:
that "Bryan had set her up to get injured," that the champion "had no guts" and
that AJ herself "had no self-respect."
Bryan came to the ring and a
tirade by the self-proclaimed “role model” ensued. The vegan Superstar claimed that, unlike the Super Bowl-watching WWE
Universe, he actually cared about rycycling, the environment and AJ. He then said he
was leaving to take his girlfriend home in a Prius. But, before he could, General Manager Theodore Long stopped him in his tracks, informing him
that if he did take-off – thereby not facing Randy Orton – he would lose his World Title.
Sheamus &
Big Show def. Wade Barrett & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes (WATCH |
PHOTOS)
In an epic tag team showdown, Big Show teamed with the 2012 Royal Rumble Match
winner Sheamus to battle his fellow SmackDown Elimination Chamber Match competitors Cody Rhodes & Wade Barrett. After The World's Largest Athlete leveled Rhodes with a gigantic spear, The Great White overcame Barrett with the Brogue Kick. Will this momentum increase the chances of Big Show walking out of the Chamber the World Heavyweight Champion?
While talking to Tyson Kidd, Natalya passed gas, then blamed it on the last graduate of the famed Hart family dungeon (WATCH)
SmackDown looked back at how Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s upbringing prepared him for the
upcoming WrestleMania main event against John Cena (WATCH)
Divas Champion
Beth Phoenix def. Alicia Fox (WATCH | PHOTOS)
In spite of tremendous agility by Alicia Fox, the dominant Glamazon reigned supreme yet again, soundly defeating A-Fox with the earth-shattering Glam Slam.
When The Fabulous Firebird opted to continue her assault on Fox after the bell, "The Warrior Princess" Tamina emerged. Without either Diva delivering a single blow, the intense stare down that ensured spoke volumes, until the smiling Divas Champion opted to take her leave.
The Great Khali
def. Jinder Mahal
(WATCH | PHOTOS)
Before taking on The Great Khali, Jinder Mahal proclaimed to the WWE Universe that when he beat his
gigantic brother-in-law, he would demand to replace him in the SmackDown Elimination
Chamber Match on Feb. 19. But, it was not to be. In his first match on SmackDown in four months, The
Punjabi Nightmare triumphed over Mahal with the Punjabi Plunge. 
SmackDown heats up as Sheamus shares the ring with three combatants of the SmackDown Elimination Chamber Match (PHOTOS)
Not
knowing who the respective World Champions will be after WWE Elimination Chamber,
Sheamus reiterated his point from one week ago that he would not reveal which title he will seek at WrestleMania until after the upcoming pay-per-view.
Wade Barrett interrupted, insisting that Sheamus challenge the WWE
Champion – claiming that The Barrett Barrage could and would beat him after he triumphed in the Chamber and became the new World Heavyweight Champion. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes also came forth, warning he will be walking
into WrestleMania the first-ever dual World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion.
Big
Show emerged, excited about the prospect of leaving the Chamber victorious and then facing The Great White on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
When Barrett and Rhodes attempted to mock the giant as a "WrestleMania punch line," Big Show and The Celtic Warrior knocked both of
them out of the ring. Later, a main event match between Big Show & Sheamus
vs. Barrett & Rhodes was set by SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long.
Before the contest
The Great Khali &
Sheamus def. David Otunga (
Triple H answered The
