mackdown opens with a video hyping the return of the WWE Champion, The Rock, to the blue brand. It transitions into highlights of the feuds between Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio, as well as The Shield and Randy Orton, Sheamus, and The Big Show.
We go into the arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania and The Rock’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. The Rock takes us back a month and helps us remember “Story Time with The Rock,” and then he continues on with the story and talks about how he was fifteen and living in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He does the “Finally” bit and mentions how he came up with the catchphrase “Kicking your candy ass.” He says he will beat John Cena at WrestleMania. He says he kicked Cena’s candy ass on Raw, and he will do it again in front of the millions (and millions) at WrestleMania, before John Laurinaitis’ music hits and he interrupts The Rock as we go to a commercial.
We’re back and The Rock asks Johnny who he is. Johnny says everyone knows who he is, and introduces himself to The Rock. The Rock says he doesn’t care, but Johnny says Teddy Long gave him permission to come speak to him. Johnny says The Rock is the People’s Champion, and he created People Power. Johnny says John Cena is the reason he got fired, and is now the reason he is back. Laurinaitis offers to be in The Rock’s corner at WrestleMania. Laurinaitis says there is no way Cena will beat The Rock if he is in his corner. The Rock asks the people if they want Laurinaitis in his corner, and they say no. The Rock says they can send Cena a message together, though. Laurinaitis says he likes that. They shake hands, but The Rock won’t let Laurinaitis go. The Rock drops him with a spinebuster and a People’s Elbow and ends with “If you smell what The Rock is cooking.”
We see that Sheamus, Randy Orton, and The Big Show will take on Antonio Cesaro and Team Rhodes Scholars later tonight, and are reminded that Ryback and Mark Henry will be in a Bench Press Challenge later tonight.
Chris Jericho vs. Wade Barrett
he Miz is on commentary for the match. They tie up and Barrett gets Jericho in a headlock. Jericho sends him off the ropes, but Barrett takes him down with a shoulder block. Jericho comes back and takes advantage and sends Barrett to the floor. Jericho connects with a baseball slide and tosses Barrett back into the ring. Jericho delivers a stiff kick, but Barrett comes back and pummels Jericho in the corner. Barrett elevates Jericho to the apron, but Jericho connects with a right hand. Jericho goes up top, but Barrett knocks him down to the floor as we go to a commercial.
We’re back and Barrett is in control. Jericho delivers some elbow shots and takes Barrett down with a couple of shoulder tackles. Jericho goes up top and sledges Barrett down to the mat. Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Barrett moves. Barrett takes Jericho down with the Winds of Change, but Jericho kicks out at two. Jericho comes back and hits a cross-body for a two count. Jericho catches Barrett and goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Barrett fights out. Barrett charges at Jericho, but Jericho tosses him over the top rope. Jericho goes up top again, but Barrett catches him and knocks him to the floor. Barrett and The Miz mouth each other, and Barrett gets back into the ring and gets caught with the Codebreaker. Jericho gets the pin fall.
Winner: Chris Jericho
After the match, Jericho says he would like to savor this victory with all of the fans, but he notices Fandango’s entrance is set up. Jericho butchers Fandango’s name a lot of times before Fandango finally comes to the stage. Fandango and his dancing partner walk towards the ring, but Jericho gets on the apron and invites him in. Fandango backs away and leaves with his dancing partner.
We see that will take a look at the No Holds Barred Match between Brock Lesnar and Triple H, as well as get an interview with Paul Heyman after the commercial break.
We’re back and we take a look at the happenings in the feud between Brock Lesnar and Triple H. We see and exclusive interview with Paul Heyman. Heyman says when Lesnar destroys him at WrestleMania, all Triple H will be able to do is watch the wrestlers from his office, because he will never be able to again. Heyman says people will hate Triple H when that happens. Heyman says Triple H is no match for he or Brock Lesnar.
We see that the Bench Press Challenge between Ryback and Mark Henry is up next.
We are back and Booker T and Teddy Long are on the stage for the Bench Press Challenge. Booker brings out Ryback, tries to introduce Mark Henry, but Teddy Long interrupts and introduces Henry himself. Henry and Ryback get in each others faces, but Booker stops them. Booker tells Ryback to go first, but Teddy interrupts and said they flipped a coin and Henry goes first. They play up that the record is 51 repetitions. Henry breaks the record with 53 reps. Ryback goes next, and gets to 53 before Henry shoves the bench press bar down onto Ryback’s throat. Ryback collapses on the stage and gets helped to his feet as we go to commercial.
Mixed Tag Team Match: Daniel Bryan and Kaitlyn vs. Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee
Bryan and Ziggler tie up, and Ziggler takes Bryan to the mat. Bryan comes back and works on Ziggler’s arm before Kaitlyn tags in. AJ takes Kaitlyn down with a neck-breaker and gets a two count. AJ kicks Kaitlyn away, but Kaitlyn takes her down with a shoulder block. Kaitlyn tags in Bryan. Ziggler and Bryan go up top, and Bryan takes Ziggler down with a hurricanrana, but Ziggler rolls through and gets a two count. Langston provides a distraction, and Ziggler gets a two count on Bryan. Kane takes Langston down, and Ziggler baseball slides Kane. Ziggler tags in AJ. AJ takes Kaitlyn down in the ring and goes to the outside. AJ gets back into the ring, only to get a Spear from Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn gets the pin fall.
Winners: Kaitlyn and Daniel Bryan.
We go backstage and we see The Shield. The members of The Shield says Randy Orton, Sheamus, and The Big Show will fail at WrestleMania. They say Orton’s team will implode. The Shield says the final chapter will be written by them at WrestleMania, and everyone will believe in The Shield.
Jack Swagger (w/Zeb Colter) vs. The Great Khali (w/Hornswoggle and Natalya)
Khali shoves Swagger into the corner. They tie up again and Khali takes Swagger to the corner. Khali tries to chop Swagger, but Swagger reverses. Swagger comes off the ropes, but Khali clubs him to the mat. Khali gets Swagger to the corner and finally chops Swagger. Khali delivers another chop, but Swagger kicks him in the knee and delivers high knees to the midsection. Swagger backs away and charges, but Khali delivers a big boot. Khali takes Swagger down with a series of clotheslines and goes for the Khali Chop, but Swagger rolls out of the ring. Khali tries to come out after him, but Swagger drapes Khali’s leg over the top rope. Swagger takes out Khali’s leg and Khali rolls to the outside. Swagger goes out after him and goes for the Patriot Lock, but Khali kicks him away before Swagger finally locks it in as the referee counts both men out.
Match Result: Double Count-out.
After the match, Swagger slams Hornswoggle into the barricade. Ricardo Rodriguez tells Swagger to attack him again, but Alberto Del Rio attacks Swagger from behind. Del Rio locks in the cross arm-breaker and Rodriguez nails Colter with one of his crutches. Rodriguez tosses the crutch to Del Rio, who swings it at Swagger. Swagger ducks and gets out of the ring. Swagger and Colter retreat up the ramp as Del Rio tells Swagger to come back and fight.
We take a look at the Raw Rebound, which focuses on the feud between CM Punk and The Undertaker.
We go backstage where a new interviewer is with Randy Orton, Sheamus, and The Big Show. We take a look back to Monday night when they finally joined together against The Shield. Orton says they have a common enemy and Sheamus says they all know they need to be on the same page. Sheamus and Show argue a little bit, but Orton calms them down again.
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Antonio Cesaro and Team Rhodes Scholars vs. Randy Orton, Sheamus, and The Big Show
Sheamus and Cesaro are in the ring and trade the offense back and forth. Sheamus tags in Show and Cesaro tags in Rhodes. Show tags Rhodes back into the corner and then slams him to the mat as we go to a commercial.
We’re back and Cesaro and Orton are battling it out. Cesaro is in control and takes Orton down to the mat. Cesaro tags in Sandow. Sandow comes into the ring and keeps control. Sandow hits the Cobito Acquiet on Orton and gets a two count. Orton comes back on the offensive and hits a clothesline. Orton delivers a back-breaker. Show runs over and knocks Cesaro off the apron as Orton tags Sheamus and Sandow tags Rhodes. Sheamus catches Rhodes on the apron and delivers the vintage ten clubbing shots. Sheamus then delivers the ten clubs to Sandow and Rhodes attacks him from behind. Sheamus grabs Rhodes and delivers White Noise. Sheamus goes for the Brogue Kick, but Sandow gets into the ring. Show KO Punches Rhodes and tosses Sandow into an RKO. Sheamus delivers the Brogue Kick to Rhodes and gets the pin fall.
Winners: Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Sheamus
After the match, The Shield’s music hits and they begin to descend from the crowd. Before they can, Sheamus, Orton, and Show go after them in the crowd. Sheamus, Orton, and Show dominate The Shield and sends them scrambling. Orton, Sheamus, and Show stand high over the WWE Universe as Smackdown comes to a close.