RANDY ORTON vs. CHRIS JERICHO

Cole said Alberto Del Rio is not here on Raw, but he will have some comments on the four-way title match on Smackdown. So, apparently that’s the big hook for Friday’s Smackdown. Orton quickly took control of the match, then cleared Jericho to the outside and stood tall in the ring. Once again, WWE cut to break 1:00 into the match.

Back at 4:15, Jericho was working a headlock on Orton in the ring. They cut to a shot of Jericho cheating to take control of the match during the break. Meanwhile, Sheamus jabbed Cole on commentary and said he hopes WWE pays Lawler well to put up with Cole. Back in the ring, Jericho cut off Orton’s comeback, but Orton got his knees up on a Lionsault attempt. Orton then ran over Jericho with clotheslines before delivering a powerslam. Orton locked eyes with Sheamus, then wanted a second-rope DDT, but Jericho back-dropped him over the top rope to the floor right in front of the announcers.

Ringside, Jericho talked trash to Sheamus, who stood up before Lawler calmed him down. Jericho then whipped Orton hard into Sheamus. Jericho leaned on the ring apron to admire his work, but then Orton took control back in the ring. Orton was ready to deliver the RKO to Jericho, but Sheamus dragged Jericho to the outside and delivered a hard clothesline, his temper flaring up. The result was Orton was DQ’ed because of Sheamus’s outside interference.

Jericho ran away as Sheamus tried to chase him down. Orton then chased down Sheamus ringside and spun him around. Sheamus told him not to touch him, and Orton shouted back, “That was my W!” Sheamus said he doesn’t care about Orton winning a match. Orton then told Sheamus to come into the ring and settle it. “You feeling lucky?” Sheamus asked. In the ring, Orton and Sheamus circled each other before referees stormed the ring to keep them separated.

WINNER: Jericho via DQ at 8:42.

Booker T, Michael Cole, and Josh Mathews were shown at ringside during Jericho’s entrance. No car for Del Rio, but Cole covered for him saying he didn’t want to soil his beautiful car in such a dirty city. Orton began the match, but at :43, slapped Sheamus on the shoulder to tag him in. The partners shared a few choice words before Sheamus went after Jericho. Sheamus made a hard tag himself to Orton. Jericho got the upper hand long enough to tag Del Rio. Orton missed a running knee-drop, and ADR immediately began setting up for the cross arm-breaker. A conventional tag was made to Sheamus after Orton broke out of a rest-hold. Sheamus hit the ropes, but Jericho pulled down the ropes and Sheamus fell to ringside. He kicked the injured shoulder of Sheamus for good measure. Back in the ring, Del Rio kicked the arm of Sheamus, then tagged Jericho. Jericho continued to brutalize the arm and shoulder. Booker rightfully countered Cole’s “25 percent chance to retain” claim by saying Daniel Bryan beat the odds a few months ago when people said he had little chance to retain. Orton set up for an RKO, but Jericho countered. Standing dropkick for two, broken up by Del Rio. Sheamus went after Del Rio and Jericho attacked Sheamus. The referee called for the bell, apparently a double disqualification.

WINNERS: Double disqualification, at 5:17

Referees came out to try to break things up. Things cooled down before they went to break.

CHRIS JERICHO vs. SHEAMUS

I wonder when the last time was that Smackdown had ten matches on one show. They again showed the video from earlier of the opening tag match ending in a schmozz. Sheamus got the upper hand in the opening few seconds. Jericho got his boot up on a charge and hammered away on Sheamus. Jericho missed a dive in the corner and Sheamus proceeded to pound on his chest with forearms. Jericho was knocked off the apron and to ringside. They cut to break at 1:21 of the match.

Back at 4:16 and Sheamus still in control. On the apron, Sheamus tried to suplex Jericho out of the ring, to no avail. Jericho took a page out of his partner from earlier tonight’s book, bringing Sheamus’ arm down across the top rope. Jericho continued the beating outside the ring, pushing Sheamus shoulder-first into the steel post. In the ring, Jericho again focused on the taped-up arm and shoulder of the World Champion. Lionsault missed but he landed on his feet. That didn’t help as Sheamus got into an offensive groove. Jericho attempted the Walls of Jericho a few times, locking it in on the second try. He sat back and Sheamus reached desperately for the ropes. Sheamus reached the bottom rope to break. Jericho argued with the ref and was then back-dropped to ringside. Alberto Del Rio ran out and tossed Jericho into the steps for the DQ.

WINNER: Jericho, via DQ, at 8:40.

Del Rio then entered the ring and applied the cross arm-breaker to Sheamus. Orton ran out to make the save, unloading on Del Rio with rights. Sheamus shoved Orton off to punish Del Rio himself. Orton was offended by this and the two began arguing. As they were, Jericho ran in, hit the Codebreaker on Del Rio, then ran back out while Orton and Sheamus just stood there. RKO for Del Rio, then Orton went to glare at Sheamus again. Del Rio got up and was put down with a Brogue Kick. Orton and Sheamus went face-to-face again to end the show.

Anarchy emerged out of a Tag Team Match between World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus & Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio & Chris Jericho on the May 7 edition of Raw SuperShow – prompting the GM of both Raw and SmackDown, John Laurinaitis, to rule that the fierce competitors would settle things in a Fatal 4-Way showdown at WWE Over the Limit. Though it might not have occurred to the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations at the time, he was actually setting the fuse on an international incident of epic proportions.

Del Rio and Orton locked up. Orton shoulderblocked him down for a one count. Orton whipped Del Rio into the corner but Alberto went up and over. Orton still nailed him for another near fall. Del Rio kicked up and contolled Orton, then tagged out to Jericho. Jericho worked him over but Orton made a comeback.

Orton worked over Jericho’s arm and tagged in Sheamus. Sheamus hammered away with shots to different parts of the body. He shoulderblocked Jericho down. Jericho chopped him and whipped him into the corner. Jericho tried to kick him off but was sent up and over to the apron. Sheamus peppered his chest with hard shots. He went to nail Jericho, who ducked, but got Del Rio instead. Jericho attacked him from behind and sent Sheamus into the ringpost.

Sheamus went to the floor, where Del Rio sent him into the post as well. Sheamus was struggling to recover as they went to commercial.

When we returned to the ring, Jericho held Sheamus down, working over his shoulder to force a submission. Sheamus fought back and nailed a series of back elbows in the corner. He escaped Jericho but was hurt and unable to make the immediate tag. He finally made a hot tag. Orton cleaned house on Del Rio with a powerslam. He set up for the hanging DDT and nailed it.

Ricardo got up on the apron and distracted Orton, allowing Del Rio to nail a kick to the head for a two count. Jericho tagged in and continued working over Orton, scoring several two counts. Jericho cinched in a side chinlock on Orton, who struggled to find a way out. Orton fought his way out but was cut off. Jericho mocked him and Sheamus.

Alberto tagged in and continued working on Orton’s arm with a keylock. He drove Orton’s shoulder down into the mat to weaken it for the rolling cross armbreaker. He went for it but Orton slipped out and nailed the backbreaker. Sheamus tagged in and nailed Del Rio, then hit a running high knee on Jericho. He went for the the High Cross but Jericho slipped out. He nailed the Irish Curse but Del Rio nailed a dropkick to break it up. Orton nailed Del Rio with an RKO.

Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick on Jericho, who moved and Orton was nailed. A shocked Sheamus was hit with the Codebreaker and pin.

Winners: Chris Jericho & Alberto Del Rio!

Jericho made a big deal out of pinning the World champion. Sheamus helped up a woozy Orton, who told him he was OK, then nailed the champion with the RKO. The announcers noted that while Sheamus hit him by accident, Orton didn’t feel that way. Lawler said that its easy to forget that just because they team up, that doesn’t make them friends.

Backstage, John Laurinaitis told Eve Torres that he felt Big Show’s apology was insincere. She agreed and went to go speak to him. Jericho showed up and demanded the next World title shot since he defeated Sheamus. Alberto didn’t like that and got in Jericho’s face. Orton showed up and Jericho told him to get lost. He slugged Jericho. They double teamed him. Sheamus returned and all four brawled. In the end, Orton and Sheamus were left standing. Orton demanded to know what the hell happened. Sheamus told him he told Orton it was an accident. Orton said there were no accidents in the ring and challenged him for the belt. They were pulled apart. Sheamus was left with Ace who told Sheamus he was going to defend in a Four Way at the PPV.

SHEAMUS vs. DANIEL BRYAN

This is apparently a non-title match. Fans were hot early on, but from the way things looked, it was the audio sweetener rather than the actual crowd in the arena. Bryan quickly started working over the left arm of Sheamus, continuing the assault from Extreme Rules. After Sheamus broke out of a submission move, Bryan gave Sheamus a European uppercut. Sheamus came back with forearms to the back and neck area. Running shoulder to the gut, then a running knee-lift. Bryan was clotheslined over the top and to the floor. Sheamus went to go after him, but the referee stopped him. On the opposite side of the ring, a man in a suit climbed the top rope and came splashing down onto Sheamus. It was Ricardo Rodriguez, followed soon after by Alberto Del Rio.

WINNER: Sheamus, via disqualification

After Del Rio and Rodriguez’s attack, Bryan hooked in the Yes Lock. After referees helped Sheamus out of the ring, Bryan was shown to be in a heated discussion with Alberto Del Rio. Bryan was offended that Del Rio cost him the match. Sheamus was angrily holding his arm in the aisle as they went to break.

An upset Sheamus was making it difficult for doctors to do their jobs backstage. He should know to cooperate, since he was backstage with Triple H and the trainers on Monday night after Hunter was attacked by Brock Lesnar.

DANIEL BRYAN vs. SHEAMUS

Bryan was in the ring upon break. Sheamus had his shoulder bandaged for this match. Booker T. criticized the decision for Sheamus to take this match given his condition. Hard shot to the kisser by Sheamus put Bryan on his butt. Del Rio on commentary called Sheamus an “Irish peasant.” Sheamus backed Bryan into the corner and elbowed hi in the side of the head several times. Bryan took the advantage with kicks to the shoulder of Sheamus. Bryan used the middle rope and worked Sheamus’ shoulder with it. Sheamus caught a charging Bryan with a one-armed back-breaker. That looked impressive. He couldn’t continue the momentum though and found himself on the apron. Bryan dropkicked Sheamus in the shoulder, sending the World Champ into the barricade. They took the final break of the show at 2:45.

Back at 6:51 of the match. Bryan tossed Sheamus into the ring and continued focusing his offense on the shoulder of Sheamus. Bryan took the shoulder of Sheamus and, outside the ring again, rammed him into the ring post. Diving headbutt to the shoulder for a two-count. Bryan at least gets to show off his knowledge of holds and maneuvers in a match of this nature. Sheamus turned the tide by sending Bryan shoulder-first into the ring post. Del Rio didn’t speak much after the break, choosing to focus on the match instead. Sheamus brought blow after blow down across the chest of Bryan. Suplex from the apron to the ring by Sheamus, but his pin only got a two-count at 11:18. Irish Curse back-breaker for another two-count. Knees to the throat and chest of Bryan. Bryan snuck in a shot and climbed to the top rope. Missile dropkick for two at 12:17. Bryan ran right into a clothesline that turned him inside-out. Sheamus signaled for the end, so del Rio abandoned the announce desk and climbed on the apron. Sheamus dodged a Yes Lock by throwing Bryan into Del Rio. If they collided it was only lightly, and Del Rio fell into the ring, then scampered out before Sheamus could get him. With Sheamus’ attention on Del Rio, Bryan again went to the top. He came down and was greeted by a Brogue Kick for the pin.

WINNER: Sheamus

Daniel Bryan is the first man out to the ring, and despite insulting the crowd just a couple of minutes ago, the crowd seems to be behind him, chanting ‘Yes!’ for him. Although there are some boos sprinkled in there. Sheamus is out next, and the Irishman gets a fair amount of boos from the crowd. Sheamus is out wearing a t-shirt that says ’18 seconds’.

The bell rings, and the first fall begins. We get a lock up, and Sheamus locks in a head lock. Bryan fights it off, but falls to a shoulder block. Another lockup, and Sheamus takes Bryan down to the mat. Sheamus goes for a bicycle kick, but Bryan bails into the ropes, forcing Sheamus to back off. Bryan works over Sheamus’ arm, taking him down to his knees, but Sheamus fights back, taking him down and burying his knee in Bryan’s shoulder.

Bryan goes behind Sheamus, but Sheamus turns it around. Sheamus hits another shoulder block. Sheamus shoulders Bryan and connects with a rolling senton for a near fall. Bryan goes for something, but Sheamus rolls through and locks in a Texas cloverleaf. Bryan makes it into the ropes to force a break. Sheamus pulls Bryan back into the ring, but ends up in a small package for two. Sheamus connects with a clothesline before slamming Bryan head first into the corner. Sheamus chokes Bryan with his boot before whipping him across the ring. Bryan back flips over Sheamus and connects with a nice clothesline.

Sheamus bails to the apron and Bryan kicks him to the outside. Bryan heads to the apron and leaps off but he’s caught by Sheamus and slammed hard into the ringside barricade. Sheamus sends Bryan back into the ring and he goes to the top, but Bryan hits the ropes and crotches Sheamus. Bryan kicks away at Sheamus, stomping at his knee.

Bryan drops his knee into Sheamus’ face a couple of times before locking in a hammerlock. Sheamus holds on to the hammerlock with his knee, and grabs Sheamus’ other arm, stretching it back hard, and standing on it with his foot, pinning Sheamus for two. Bryan continues to work over the arm, but Sheamus fights up to his feet and out of the hold. Bryan catches Sheamus with a knee to the stomach, then a low dropkick for a one count.

Bryan stands on Sheamus’ head before kicking at him. Bryan hits Sheamus with a European uppercut. Sheamus tries to come back, but he’s rolled up by Bryan. Bryan hits another uppercut before choking Sheamus in the ropes. Bryan tells the ref he has until 5!

Bryan continues the arm work, grounding Sheamus and putting on another hammerlock. Sheamus fights back up to his feet and elbows his way out of the hold again, but Bryan kicks him and hits another uppercut. Bryan runs into a clothesline, then eats a spear in the corner, and a running knee lift. Bryan rolls out to the apron. Sheamus grabs his arms and hits a series of clubbing blows to Bryan’s chest. Sheamus pulls Bryan back into the ring and hits a fall away slam for a two count.

Bryan fights out of a hold from Sheamus and catches his with a kick to the face and a roll up for two. Sheamus looks to be worn out. Bryan stomps away at Sheamus repeatedly, picking him up and sitting him on the top. Bryan tries for a hurricanrana, but Sheamus holds on and leaps out of the corner with a battering ram. Sheamus goes for the pin, but he only gets two.

Bryan rolls to the apron. Sheamus tries to suplex him back into the ring, but Bryan lands on his feet. Sheamus charges and Bryan low bridges him, sending him to the outside. Bryan goes to leap through the ropes, but he’s caught with a big forearm. Sheamus goes for the razor’s edge, but Bryan counters with a roll up for two. Bryan tries for the Yes! lock, but Sheamus fights it off. Bryan shoves Sheamus shoulder first into the ring post, and Sheamus falls to the outside. Bryan follows and slams Sheamus into the ringpost twice.

Bryan sends Sheamus back into the ring and wraps his arm around the ring post a couple of times. Bryan heads in after Sheamus and kicks at his shoulder repeatedly, screaming yes the whole time. Bryan ends up being DQ’ed by the ref.

Winner of the 1st fall: Sheamus

Bryan charges in with a big dropkick. Sheamus falls in the middle of the ring and Bryan locks in the Yes! lock. Bryan cranks back. Sheamus tries to reach the ropes, but he fades. Bryan continues to pull back hard. The referee calls for the bell as Sheamus is out.

Winner of the 2nd fall: Daniel Bryan

The ringside doctor comes in to check on Sheamus. Sheamus is unresponsive. Bryan is leading the crowd in dueling ‘Yes!’/’No!’ chants. Sheamus gets up to his knees.

Sheamus says that he wants to continue. It seems as though the doctors will allow him to continue. Bryan charges in, and Sheamus connects with the bicycle kick. Sheamus crawls over into a covers, but Bryan is able to kick out at two.

Both men are slow to get to their feet. Bryan uses the ropes to get to his feet. Bryan hits a sick kick and Sheamus returns with a blow to the gut. Bryan comes back with another kick, and a kick to the side of the head, but Sheamus wont stay down for three. Bryan heads up to the top rope, but he’s stopped by Sheamus. Sheamus hits Bryan with a couple of forearms, then follows up after him. Sheamus tries for a superplex, but Bryan fights it off with head butts. Bryan goes for a flying head butt, but Sheamus moves.

Bryan goes for a corner dropkick, but Sheamus moves. Sheamus connects with a Polish hammer, then another. Sheamus hits a urunage backbreaker. Sheamus hypes himself up, pounding on his chest, before hitting Bryan with another bicycle kick. Sheamus pins Bryan and gets the three count.

Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus

They once again replayed Bryan’s fast count on Henry’s pin Monday night. Henry took Sheamus to the mat but missed a short clothesline. Sheamus took Henry out at the knee and got a two count. Sheamus found himself on the apron and propelled himself in with a shoulder knock-down. Cole acted like it was the first time he had seen that. Both men eyed each other as they went to break at 2:29.

Back at 6:07 of the match. Henry fought off a Sheamus attack and whipped Sheamus from inside to outside the ring. Back in the ring, Henry stayed in control. Sheamus made his comeback around 9:30 and landed a short DDT for a two-count. Sheamus lined up for the Brogue Kick but missed and Henry clotheslined him down. Sheamus got his boot up on a running splash attempt. Sheamus rolled through after missing a tope-rope move. Henry turned around into a Brogue Kick for the finish.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 11:04.

Daniel Bryan came out after the match and mockingly slow-clapped for Sheamus. Sheamus got a mic and invited Bryan to the ring. Sheamus asked if Bryan was afraid because he couldn’t hide behind a ref’s shirt…or was it because he was afraid Sheamus would beat him in 18 seconds? Sheamus desperately tried to get an 18 second chant started, and it only caught on mildly. He said Bryan won’t get off easy at Extreme Rules. He asked if he was going to kick Bryan’s arse to remain champion? The answer: Yes, yes, yes, yes.” Crowd caught on and chanted along with Sheamus as the show ended.

Sheamus to the ring with solid pop. Henry out to face him. Justin announces the Special Guest Ref – Daniel Bryan. Sheamus rolls his eyes as Bryan comes out in a zebra shirt yelling “YES!”

They lock up, Sheamus breaks free, but then a shoulder block to Sheamus. Sheamus on Henry, but then thrown in a corner. Sheamus in another corner, Henry reverses it. Bryan taunts Sheamus to hit him. Right in Sheamus’ face yelling at him to do it. Bryan backs off with a smile looking over Sheamus’ shoulder. Henry plows through Sheamus and gets the three.

Winner – Henry

Bryan throws his ref shirt at Sheamus as he leaves the ring. Sheamus out and grabs Bryan – he’s no longer the ref! Bryan tossed in the ring. Brogue kick to Henry, but then Bryan takes Sheamus to his knees and kicks him in the back of the head. Bryan then locks on the yes lock and yells “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” Bryan to his feet with another “YES!” Bryan backs up the ramp motioning for the belt, then more “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” “YES!” Video recap of Bryan’s uber fast count when Henry took Sheamus down.

Striker asks Sheamus about what happened with Bryan. Sheamus calls him a sniveling coward and a snake in the grass. You know what happened to all the snakes in Ireland? Sheamus is no saint, but Matt should start praying.

Back from break, Orton was trying to rip Orton’s head off in a neck vice. Orton tried fighting back, but Henry shoved him to the mat, trash-talked, and tagged in Bryan, who delivered strikes as the somewhat-muted crowd chanted, “Yes!” in the background. Bryan then clobbered Orton in the corner with a leg whip before climbing up top for a diving headbutt that did not connect. Both men sold on the mat before Orton made his way to the corner to tag in Big Show. Henry also tagged in and the two big men collided center-ring. Show got the better of Henry early on before butt-splashing Henry. Rhodes attacked Show from behind, though, allowing Henry to clothesline Show to the mat. Henry had enough and tagged in Rhodes, who went to work on Show.

The heels tried to pick up where Del Rio left off in the top-of-the-second-hour match by focusing on Show’s lower body, including Rhodes applying a figure-four leglock center-ring. Rhodes then reached up and tagged Henry, who entered the ring with a big splash on Show. But, it was only good for a two count. Henry had enough, so he tagged in D-Bryan, who tried a pin, but Show press-slammed D-Bryan clear out of the ring. Bryan was late re-entering, allowing Show to tag in Sheamus, who went to town on Bryan.

At 16:00, Rhodes found himself on the outside, where Show KO’ed him with the WMD. After that emphatic end to Rhodes’s night, Sheamus and Henry battled inside the ring. Sheamus then dropped Henry with the Brogue Kick, and reached over to Orton for a tag. Meanwhile, Show KO punched Henry, who fell backward into Orton, who dropped Henry with the RKO. Orton with the cover on Henry for the win.

Post-match: The faces celebrated in the ring before WWE replayed the final 60 seconds of the match with the faces hitting their finishers leading to Orton’s pin on Henry. Back in the ring, the face trio posed in the ring as Mathews plugged Extreme Rules coming up in nine days. Cole gave a final plug for the three-hour Raw on Monday for Cena and Lesnar in the same ring at the same time.

WINNERS: Team Orton at 16:56

Kofi out to the ring. Bryan out screaming “YES!” “YES!” “YES!”

They lock up and Kofi over his shoulder. Bryan yells “YES!”, then gets kicks from Kofi. Kofi whipped and eats a drop kick. Bryan works over Kofi’s arm as the fans chant for Bryan. A running knee to Kofi’s gut for two. An arm hold on Kofi, then Bryan stomps him. Blows to Bryan’s gut, but Bryan comes back slamming Kofi to the mat. Bryan back on that left arm, but Kofi reverses it and sends Bryan flying. Back elbow to Bryan’s face, but then Kofi sent outside. Bryan came off the apron, but Kofi moves. Kofi off the top rope onto Bryan outside.

Kofi ducks Bryan and hits a monkey flip. Kofi rushes Bryan, but eats corner. Kofi’s head on a buckle padding and Bryan kicks the rope into his face. AJ is watching backstage, looking all meek. Kicks to Kofi in a corner. A “YES!” for each kick. Bryan covers for two. Chinlock on the mat.

Cole is actually defending Bryan to King. Kofi fights back with two handed clotheslines, then a drop kick and a boom drop. Bryan ducks Kofi, but then Kofi reverses the “YES!” lock and hits the SOS, but only gets two. More kicks to Bryan in a corner. Bryan reverses a whip, but Kofi kicks him in the head. Kofi up but Bryan follows. Head butt sends Bryan flying, but Bryan ducks Kofi. Bryan locks on the “YES!” lock and Kofi taps out.

Winner – Bryan

Bryan locks on the “YES!” lock again. Sheamus rushes the ring, but Bryan ducks the brogue kick and flees the ring. Sheamus helps Kofi to his feet as Bryan, on the stage, yells “YES!”