Spoilers: WWE SmackDown Tapings – 4/19/2013

- Thanks to Brianne and Lex for the following WWE SmackDown spoilers from tonight’s tapings in Knoxville, Tennessee:

* Michael Cole and JBL are out for commentary.

* Fandango’s set is lowered and out he comes to a big pop from the crowd, who tried to sing his theme song. Fandango danced and flirted with Lilian Garcia but she wasn’t having it.

* Santino Marella comes out and mocks Fandango. Fandango defeats Santino by pinfall.

* WWE United States Champion Kofi Kingston defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett.

* Sheamus attacks Mark Henry backstage and then walks off.

* Alberto Del Rio beat Jack Swagger by pinfall.

* The Shield appears on the big screen and cuts a promo on The Undertaker. They say he’s undefeated at WrestleMania but they have never been defeated at all.

* Hornswoggle, Natalya and The Great Khali defeated Primo, Epico and Rosa Mendes in mixed tag team action.

* Big Show and Mark Henry beat Randy Orton and Sheamus in the main event.

Cody Rhodes Talks About Working with Damien Sandow, Growing Up in Wrestling & More

Cody Rhodes joined Busted Open with Dave Lagreca and Doug Mortman. Here are some highlights from the interview.

Rhodes and Damien Sandow as a tag team and the tag division: “I think after Wrestlemania you’ll see us without much fanfare. Damien and I have never really looked at it as far as being a tag team, I guess technically we’re a tag team and we have a team name, but really its two different individual performers who get away with a lot of shenanigans and he’s helped my career a lot. He’s completely different from what I grew up a fan of, he’s just different, he’s a different aspect of this world and he’s helped me with that.

“Tag team wrestling is incredibly important to sports entertainment and Damien and I will be there as far as I really do think we make a good tag team and especially match wise I think we complement each other well so hopefully if we do part ways there are more tag teams coming up. I know it’s something that we’d like to have a bigger place on the show is the tag teams in general.”

Growing up in wrestling: “I was never motivated at all by my father and I grew up with such an age distance from Dustin that it didn’t come from him either. I never was motivated to get into this. I was actually, if anything, discouraged, but then again, he took me to shows when I was supposed to be going to school the next day and he exposed me to sports entertainment at the ripe age where you’re never going to want to do anything else. We watched Monday Night Raw and we watched Nitro; we watched this stuff on the couch together and I think without me knowing I was always naturally being groomed to do this.

“My brief acting stint, which was rather brief, really was based on the fact that I didn’t think I was big enough to be involved with sports entertainment. I didn’t think I was physically big enough. I had an amateur wrestling background but I know that this is a whole other world and that what I’d seen on TV I was a little concerned. I thought, ‘well I want to be a performer, I want to be in entertainment, maybe I’ll go to Hollywood,’ it was almost like a cop out. It’s like ‘I’m going to be an actor” when you have no acting credentials or formal training. That lasted about 9 months of me spending my parent’s money and really doing nothing and watching WWE and seeing guys like Randy Orton, seeing them move forward from being just somebody’s kid, somebody’s son. So it was extremely motivating for me. Actually, as soon as I came home I was on the track to getting to Louisville, Kentucky to being part of WWE in any capacity.

Working with Randy Orton in Legacy: “We forget that Randy was 21 when he debuted on television. He had a chance to grow up with the audience. Randy was an extreme influence, still is, and we’re both now able to do our own things and initially he took me and Ted Dibiase under his wing and it wasn’t like ‘Randy is a friend of ours, he’s going to be easy on us,’ I think Randy was harder on us than even Triple H was in that whole grooming process; Legacy versus DX, then him versus Triple H and them going into Wrestlemania 25; so I will always owe him a good chunk of my career.”

When is his time: “When Dolph is a world champ. This year after Money in the Bank, and Dolph is the guy who won MITB, there was this real drop off of all this momentum and moving forward and I don’t blame anyone but myself; not that something bad happened or anything like that. I hate when people say stuff like ‘the push’, it’s just a matter of sometimes, I’m never going to be patient and fans of mine I hope they know I’m not sitting there waiting, but as a company there are several superstars that whether you want them now, it’s a slow thing. It’s a slow building process and I think it’ll be all the more satisfying. I grew up a fan of Shawn Michaels. I watched the whole time. He makes it to the WM match and he doesn’t win the title. Then the next title match he goes an hour and he doesn’t win the title in the hour but they’re going to go sudden death and then he finally got the title and I was just fully satisfied as him being the greatest WM performer of all time. That’s the goal. That’s the guy I’d like to pattern myself as. I hate the fact the people said ‘you’re the future’ and we’re not there yet, but we’ll get there.”

How he got to be so versatile in the ring: “I watch everybody. Lately I’ve been watching a lot of Ray Stevens, a lot of Pat Patterson, a lot of Arn Anderson, but Joey Mercury is a trainer at NXT now and he told me once, and I love this advice, he said, ‘I don’t work my size, don’t work your size.’ This weird, eclectic style I’ve carved out is just a combination of different people. The moonsault is a very simple thing, but it’s a Shawn Michaels thing. The Alabama Slam, I feel like if anybody gets that I get it. I had to partner with the guy and we put him away. Out of respect for the team I had with him and the guy himself, I’m going to continue to do it. Then I have the great fortune of I can steal from my own family. I just take stuff I see and try to make it fit for me. I try to be somewhere in the middle because I’m not the biggest guy so I want to give the audience the fighting chance I give myself in the ring and that’s through some of the little eclectic things that are probably more suited for a smaller guy. That’s why I had to put knee pads on eventually, that was mandated I was told by the boss. Yeah, [I prefer to go without knee pads], I saw this picture of Buddy Rodgers and he had the WWWF championship on and he’s standing there and I just thought ‘that’s what a wrestler looks like.’ And that’s what he had, the boots, no knee pads, the trunks were like a quarter of an inch higher than everybody’s wearing today and I just thought ‘that’s what they’re supposed to look like.’ It never translated with me though. I have these tiny little legs so it didn’t translate.”

Damien Sandow: “Damien Sandow, his vernacular, how he competes, he has this style and it’s kind of rooted in the old south, Carney style, but what’s old is new. It’s not even a character, every day he’s more and more Damien Sandow than whatever the hell his real name is, I’ve called him everything. But to me, that commitment I really appreciate because I’m old school in how I approach sports entertainment; his commitment is wonderful. I did not want to do a tag team with anybody but I have enjoyed everything we’ve done together because that’s a completely different facet of the industry. I’m not funny, he does certain things that I can’t and makes things very fun.”

Orton Comments on RAW Crowd, WM 29 Opponents Teaming Up, More

- WWE will return to the XL Center in Hartford, CT on June 3rd for RAW. Tickets go on sale April 19th.

- Ryback and Mark Henry vs. John Cena and Sheamus is booked for RAW live events in May.

- Speaking of Ryback, here’s his latest tweet after attacking John Cena on Monday’s RAW:

“We all want more we need more. My actions will feed my needs. At our core we all crave more. Lost souls will fall to my power. #RybackRules”

- Randy Orton tweeted the following about the crowd on last Monday’s RAW:

“Just watched back some of Raw from last Monday night. That crowd was insane! Never experienced anything like it before. Glad I was there.”

Complaints from Axxess, Next Release for WWE Studios, Orton & Mysterio

- Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton participated in a Make-A-Wish signing at Maggiano’s restaurant in Little Italy on Friday:

- WWE Studios’ No One Lives featuring Brodus Clay will be released in select cities on May 10th.

- There have been a lot of complaints about the set up of this year’s WrestleMania Axxess events. Fan reports from Thursday and Friday show that many fans have waited in long lines without getting the autographs they wanted.

Randy Orton Comments on Heel Turn, What Happened After Monday's Raw, WM29 Weekend Event

- After Raw went off the air Monday night, The Shield came out through the crowd and attacked John Cena. Sheamus and Ryback came out to even the odds, which setup the dark match main event. 

John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus defeated The Shield by disqualification after Rollins used a chair on Sheamus. Following the match, Ryback and John Cena hit their finishers on Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose to end the event. 

- New York City DJ Peter Roseberg is hosting another WrestleMania weekend event - an "Inside The Squared Circle" discussion with former WWE Superstar MVP. The event will take place at Caroline's On Broadway in Manhattan following the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony at Madison Square Garden. 

- Randy Orton continues to express his desire to be a heel. When a fan on Twitter asked if they were the only one that missed him as a heel, he replied, "No, your not."

WWE SmackDown Results - March 22, 2013

Welcome to this week’s Smackdown! The show begins with a teaser of what is to come tonight. Jack Swagger is shown attacking Alberto Del Rio on Raw, following by locking in the Patriot Lock on Ricardo Rodriguez. Also, The Shield is shown retreating after Big Show stands ground with Randy Orton and Sheamus. 

Miz is in the ring, for Miz TV. Randy Orton and Sheamus are welcomed as his guests, already in the ring. Miz speaks of how Ryback is no longer their Wrestlemania partner, and Miz asks of their choice. Orton says it was the person that helped him and Sheamus on Raw, that being Big Show. Sheamus says if Big Show didn’t come to the ring, they would have had their arses kicked. Orton says he doesn’t trust him, but than again, he doesn’t trust anyone. Orton says it’s better to work with the devil you know than the one you don’t. Miz decides to calls out Show. Big Show makes his way to the ring. 

Miz speaks of mistrust being a problem, reminding of him of their team from a while back. Miz says he only trusts him as far as he can throw him. Show says it doesn’t matter what Miz says, following by saying he has dated women bigger than him. Show turns to Orton and Sheamus, saying he knocked out a member of the Shield. Show says if they worked together, they could be unstoppable. Sheamus says Show is one of the toughest opponents he has faced, but thinks he is devious. Show says if he would run, he wouldn’t have beaten Sheamus for the World Heavyweight Championship. Orton says they all need to get along. Miz finds it funny that Orton is the voice of reason. Sheamus says it won’t work, but Show says it will only if he pulls his head out of his — Booker T interrupts. 

Booker says they need to see if they can get along, as they are in a 6-Man Tag Team Match tonight. 

-Commercials 

Mark Henry makes his way to the ring. Zack Ryder is already in the ring. 

Mark Henry vs. Zack Ryder 

Zack is thrown into the corner, and is hit in the face with an elbow. Ryder is whipped into the opposite corner, twice. Henry picks up Ryder, but Zack gets out. Ryder runs the ropes, but Henry picks him up. Henry connects with the World’s Strongest Slam for the win. 

Winner: Mark Henry via pinfall 

Henry follows the match with two World’s Strongest Slams on Ryder. Ryback interrupts, making his way to the ring. Ryback and Ryder stand off, as Henry runs to Ryback. Mark is taken down with a Meathook Clothesline, but rolls to the floor. Henry looks shocked, as Ryback chants in the ring. 

Booker T is backstage, as Teddy Long comes up to talk to him. Long says he and Vickie Guerrero made the Ryback vs. Mark Henry match at Wrestlemania. Booker says he likes the match, but not how he handled business. Booker says he works for him. Long asks if he works with him, but Booker rolls his eyes and looks away. 

-Commercials 

A Booker T Hall of Fame video is shown. 

Dolph Ziggler makes his way to the ring, with Big E and AJ. AJ goes onto commentary. Kofi Kingston makes his way to the ring. 

Mr. Money in the Bank Dolph Ziggler w/ Big E Langston vs. Kofi Kingston 

Dolph is kicked into the corner, but Ziggler fights out. Ziggler connects with a Neckbreaker. Dolph picks up Kofi, but Kingston connects with a Dropkick. Kofi follows with a Jumping Clothesline and Boom Drop. Kofi calls for Trouble in Paradise, but Big E distracts. Dolph takes advantage with a Dropkick. Pin, but a kick out. 

-Commercials 

Kofi throws punches to Ziggler, but is whipped into the corner. Kofi connects with an Enziguri from the apron. Dolph pins Kingston, but a kick out. Dolph stomps on Kofi, following with a Dropkick. Pin, but a kick out. Dolph locks in a Headlock, as Kingston stands out. Kofi is taken into the corner, as Dolph runs to him. Kofi moves, as Dolph hits his shoulder on the corner post. Kofi connects with running Double Axe Handles, followed by a Dropkick. Kofi runs to the corner, connecting with a Springboard Crossbody. Pin, but a kick out. Kofi attempts a Springboard Corkscrew Splash, but Ziggler gets hisknees up. Ziggler is thrown to the ropes, as Kofi goes for Trouble in a Paradise. Ziggler holds onto the ropes, dodging the kick. Ziggler locks in with a Sleeper Hold. Kofi backs him into the corner, following with a Snapmare. Kofi connects with an SOS. Pin, but a kick out. Ziggler rolls to the floor, as Kofi runs the ropes. Kofi goes for a dive, but Big E stands in the way. Kofi goes top rope, as Ziggler is helped up. Kofi connects with a dive onto Big E. Ziggler connects with a Fameasser to Kofi on the floor. Kingston is rolled back into the ring, as Ziggler connects with a Zig Zag. 

Winner: Dolph Ziggler via pinfall 

After the match, Langston picks up Kingston, connecting with the Big End. 

In a highlight from Raw, Fandango is shown speaking to Chris Jericho. Jericho mocks his name, in Jericho fashion. Fandango says he will learn to pronounce his name properly and leave, as Jericho says he didn’t get his movie tickets yet. 

-Commercials 

Raw Rebound 

Undertaker calls out CM Punk, saying he made things personal. Undertaker says he wants the urn back. Punk appears on the Titantron, mocking Paul Bearer. Punk begins throwing up and catching the urn, speaking of Undertaker answering to a higher calling. Punk says he doesn’t answer to a high power, but is the power himself. Punk drops the urn, saying he didn’t intend any disrespect. 

Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show are speaking backstage. Show is told to stay on the apron, and follow Sheamus’ lead. Show and Sheamus begin arguing, but Orton yells at them to stop. Orton says if they don’t cooperate, they will be sitting ducks for the Shield. 

A highlight from Raw is shown, as Swagger locks in the Patriot Lock on Ricardo Rodriguez who suffered a broken ankle. 

Jack Swagger makes his way to the ring, with Zeb Colter. 

-Commercials 

Swagger has a mic, welcoming everyone to Jack Swagger’s America. Zeb is handed the mic, saying what happened on Raw was unfortunate, but necessary. Zeb says what happened to Ricardo is nothing compared to what will happen to Del Rio come Wrestlemania. Zeb says if bones need to be broken, they will. Zeb says this should be a wake up call to everyone who disagrees with what they say; including Chris Jericho. Swagger is handed the mic again, as he finishes with “We the People.” Chris Jericho interrupts, and makes his way to the ring. 

Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter vs. Chris Jericho 

Jericho throws elbows to Swaggers face, following with an Irish Whip. Jericho connects with a Spinning Back Elbow. Jericho chops Swagger in the ropes, whipping him again. Swagger catches the ropes, rolling to the floor. Swagger begins yelling, as Jericho connects with a Basball Slide Dropkick. Jericho throws Swagger into the barricade, chopping him. Swagger is rolled back into the ring, and Jericho follows. Jack connects with a Chop Block. Swagger stomps on Jericho, following with a couple Shoulder Tackles. Swagger runs the ropes, but is greeted with a Dropkick by Jericho. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger reverses a whip, catching Jericho out of the air. Jericho is thrown into the corner, as Swagger connects with fists. Swagger is chopped, but puts Jericho on the top rope. Jericho tries to kick Swagger away, but Swagger follows him up. Swagger goes for a Superplex, but Jericho headbutts Swagger of the top. Jericho connects with a Diving Crossbody. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger rolls to the floor, as Jericho connects with a Slingshot Plancha. 

-Commercials 

Jericho runs the ropes, but is hit with a Big Boot. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger locks in a Hammerlock and Headlock combination. Swagger throws some fist to the back, then choking Jericho in the ropes. Swagger puts Jericho’s arm in the ropes, throwing clubs to the back. Swagger whips Jericho into the corner, as he runs to Chris. Jericho moves, connecting with a few shoulders. Jericho is sent to the apron, but goes top rope. Jericho connects with a Double Axe Handle. Jericho hits Swagger in the head with fists in the corner. Swagger picks Jericho up, as he goes for a Hurricanrana. Swagger catches him in the Patriot Lock. Jericho reverses, as Swagger is sent to the floor. Jericho connects with a Triangle Springboard Dropkick. Fandango interrupts, dancing on the apron. Fandango makes his way to the ring, as Swagger connects with a Belly-to-belly Suplex. Pin, but a kick out. Jericho connects with a Crucifix Pin, but a kick out. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker, but Swagger picks him up. Jericho reverses into a Victory Roll. Pin, but a kick out. Jericho connects with a Catapult into the ropes, as he follows with a Bulldog. Jericho goes for a Lionsault, as Fandango kicks him in the head. Swagger capitalizes, with a Swagger Bomb for the win. 

Winner: Jack Swagger via pinfall 

Fandango jumps into the ring, assaulting Jericho. Fandango goes top rope, connecting with a Leg Drop. Fandango grabs a mic, yelling his name into Jericho’s face. 

Big Show is backstage, talking with Matt Striker. Show speaks of his partners, saying Orton is right. Show says he has been beaten up by the Shield, but so have his partners. Show says they will trust him about as much as they can trust each other. 

-Commercials 

A John Cena and Rock hype video is shown. 

Rhodes Scholars are int the ring, with the Bella Twins. Cody Rhodes says he will bring to everyone a special gift. Damien demands silence, saying his best friend and him are proud to present the class of the diva’s division: The Bella Twins. Brodus Clay and Tensai make their way to the ring. 

Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) w/ The Bella Twins vs. Brodus Clay and “Sweet T” w/ Cameron and Naomi 

Cody and Tensai start off, as Rhodes throws jabs. Tensai throws an uppercut, but Rhodes connects with one of his own. Tensai misses with a Splash, as he rolls to his corner. Clay is tagged, as he takes out Rhodes and Sandow. Nikki Bella gets on the apron, distracting Clay. Cameron and Naomi then fight with Nikki and Brie. Everyone gets involved in the brawl outside the ring. 

Winners: N/A 

Backstage, Sheamus and Orton are interviews about their trust. Sheamus delivers a similar promo to Show from earlier, telling Striker to trust him. 

-Commercials 

Antonio Cesaro is in the ring. Miz makes his way to the ring. 

United States Champion Antonio Cesaro vs. The Miz 

Miz and Cesaro lock up, as Cesaro locks in a Side Headlock. Miz backs him into the ropes, rolling him up. Pin, but a kick out. Cesaro knees Miz, and pins. Kick out, Cesaro connects with a Double Stomp to the chest, and pins. Kick out. Cesaro connects with a Gutwrench Suplex. Cesaro locks in a Cravate, throwing knees to the face. Miz whips Cesaro, but is reversed. Miz connects with a Big Boot. Cesaro is taken into the corner, and is hit with a Running Lariat. Miz follows with a Double Axe Handle. Miz goes for the Figure Four, but Cesaro pushes him away. Miz connects with a Low Dropkick to Cesaro’s knee. Miz locks in a Figure Four for the win. 

Winner: The Miz via submission 

After the match, Miz locks in the Figure Four Leglock on Cesaro, staring with Wade Barrett on commentary. Miz challenges Barrett to get in the ring, but he walks away. 

A video of the premier party of The Call is shown. 

-Commercials 

A video package from Raw is shown, where Triple H signed for a match against Brock Lesnar. After beating up Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar comes out with a chair. Triple H reveals a sledgehammer, keeping Lesnar on the ramp. Heyman says it will be a No Holds Barred Match, with Triple H’s career on the line. 

Randy Orton and Sheamus make their way to the ring, respectively. 

-Commercials 

Big Show is in the ring. 3MB make their way to the ring. 

Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show vs. 3MB (Drew McIntyre, Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal) 

Jinder and Randy start off, as Mahal throws fists. Jinder runs the ropes, but is taken out with Clotheslines. Orton punches Jinder in the corner, off the top rope. Orton tags Sheamus, as they both take down Mahal with a Back Elbow. Sheamus takes Mahal in the corner, as Jinder fights out. Sheamus connects with a boot to the gut. Mahal is tackled into the corner, followed by a hit with a Knee Lift. Sheamus connects with a Rolling Senton. Sheamus connects with Big Show style chops. Show is tagged, as is Drew. Drew throws kicks, but is taken down with headbutts. Show puts Drew on the apron, connecting with Sheamus style clubs to the chest of McIntyre. Jinder is tagged, as he is thrown into the ring. Heath is tagged, as he is also thrown into the ring. Orton is tagged, as he connects with a Knee Drop. Heath is hit with a Scoop Slam. Orton puts Slater on the apron, hitting Jinder. Heath rings Orton’s neck on the rope, connecting with a kick by Slater. Pin, but a kick out by Orton. Drew is tagged, as he stomps away at Orton. Jinder is tagged as he does the same. Heath is tagged, as he connects with a Neckbreaker. Heath goes top rope, but is hit with a Dropkick by Orton. Show is tagged, as he cleans house. Show connects with a Spear to Jinder, but is hit with a Big Boot by Drew. Show hits the KO Punch to Drew, as Sheamus tags Show. Sheamus connects with a Brouge Kick to Jinder for the win. 

Winners: Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show via pinfall 

Show begins arguing with Sheamus about stealing his victory, as Orton tries to stop it. The Shield makes their way to the ring. During this, Sheamus and Show begin pushing each other. Orton is pushed over in the quarrel, as all three begin pushing each other. The Shield comes to the apron, but backs away. Orton, Sheamus and Show stay in the ring.

ESPN Says Monday's Raw Episode Was Historically Bad

Triple H took the top spot in this week's ESPN WWE Power Rankings, followed by Brock Lesnar, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler & Big E. Langston, and the trio of Randy Orton, Sheamus and the Big Show. 

ESPN's article also took a shot at last night's Raw, stating that it "will go down as one of the historically bad nights in wrestling television (and a clear signal that they need to end the three-hour experiment)."

Storyline Injury, Big Show Replaces Ryback, More

- Big Show has now replaced Ryback in the six-man match at WrestleMania 29. It will now be Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. As noted, Ryback will be wrestling Mark Henry. 

- We noted before that Chris Jericho vs. Fandango was in the works for WrestleMania 29. WWE planted the seeds for that feud on tonight's RAW when Fandango interrupted a backstage interview with Jericho. 

- After Jack Swagger attacked Ricardo Rodriguez on tonight's RAW, WWE is reporting that Ricardo's ankle is broken.

Storyline Injury, Big Show Replaces Ryback, More

- Big Show has now replaced Ryback in the six-man match at WrestleMania 29. It will now be Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. As noted, Ryback will be wrestling Mark Henry. 

- We noted before that Chris Jericho vs. Fandango was in the works for WrestleMania 29. WWE planted the seeds for that feud on tonight's RAW when Fandango interrupted a backstage interview with Jericho. 

- After Jack Swagger attacked Ricardo Rodriguez on tonight's RAW, WWE is reporting that Ricardo's ankle is broken.

Storyline Injury, Big Show Replaces Ryback, More

- Big Show has now replaced Ryback in the six-man match at WrestleMania 29. It will now be Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. As noted, Ryback will be wrestling Mark Henry. 

- We noted before that Chris Jericho vs. Fandango was in the works for WrestleMania 29. WWE planted the seeds for that feud on tonight's RAW when Fandango interrupted a backstage interview with Jericho. 

- After Jack Swagger attacked Ricardo Rodriguez on tonight's RAW, WWE is reporting that Ricardo's ankle is broken.

Storyline Injury, Big Show Replaces Ryback, More

- Big Show has now replaced Ryback in the six-man match at WrestleMania 29. It will now be Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. As noted, Ryback will be wrestling Mark Henry. 

- We noted before that Chris Jericho vs. Fandango was in the works for WrestleMania 29. WWE planted the seeds for that feud on tonight's RAW when Fandango interrupted a backstage interview with Jericho. 

- After Jack Swagger attacked Ricardo Rodriguez on tonight's RAW, WWE is reporting that Ricardo's ankle is broken.

Storyline Injury, Big Show Replaces Ryback, More

- Big Show has now replaced Ryback in the six-man match at WrestleMania 29. It will now be Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. As noted, Ryback will be wrestling Mark Henry. 

- We noted before that Chris Jericho vs. Fandango was in the works for WrestleMania 29. WWE planted the seeds for that feud on tonight's RAW when Fandango interrupted a backstage interview with Jericho. 

- After Jack Swagger attacked Ricardo Rodriguez on tonight's RAW, WWE is reporting that Ricardo's ankle is broken.

Randy Orton, Sheamus & Ryback vs. The Shield

Although heated rivalries like The Rock vs. John Cena and The Undertaker vs. CM Punk are already setting The Road to WrestleMania 29 ablaze, a newly created and extremely volatile contest could very well steal The Show of Shows’ spotlight and prove to be the most intense and personal match of all: Randy Orton, Sheamus & Ryback vs. The Shield.
After weeks of vicious attacks and fierce reprisals, the infamous Shield threw down the gauntlet on the March 15 edition of SmackDown. Unhappy with not being part of The Showcase of The Immortals, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns interrupted the post-match celebration of two Superstars who have been locked in their crosshairs of late: Randy Orton and Sheamus. The treacherous trio told the two former World Champions to find a partner to face them in a Six-Man Tag Team Match on The Grandest Stage of Them All on April 7.
Never ones to back down from a fight, The Viper and the Irish brawler immediately declared the blockbuster match was on, and quickly set out to find a powerhouse third Superstar who is just as hungry to defeat the “Hounds of Justice” as they are. Although Big Show — evidently still steaming from two Triple Powerbombs at the hands of The Shield — offered his imposing services, Orton and Sheamus had already selected the “Human Wrecking Ball” Ryback for this WrestleMania demolition!
Not only is he one of the biggest and most destructive forces in WWE, but Ryback also has a huge score to settle with The Shield. He lost to the unpredictable trio at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs and Elimination Chamber, not to mention enduring multiple attacks from the black-clad Superstars, including their rib-rattling debut at Survivor Series, where he was their very first target in WWE. Pairing with two former World Heavyweight Champions in The Celtic Warrior and WWE’s Apex Predator, Ryback certainly has the ability and appetite to feed on Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns.
The Shield, however, are also predators and, if their recent actions are any indication, they should not be underestimated for a second. They made this abundantly clear on SmackDown mere moments after their challenge was accepted, demolishing Orton and Sheamus during a backstage interview with Matt Striker before savagely attacking Ryback during his match with Mark Henry.
Working as a seamless, vicious unit, they fight tooth-and-nail like a pack of wild dogs. Having defeated or devastated the likes of WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No, The Rock and John Cena, in addition to each of the three Superstars they will face on April 7, Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns could be the most cohesive and dangerous entity in WWE, as they continue their quest to eradicate injustice.
At WrestleMania 29, will Randy Orton, Sheamus and Ryback prove to be the Superstars to break The Shield? Or will The Showcase of the Immortals become, as Rollins put it, “the showcase of justice”? The stage is set and the answer will come April 7.

New WrestleMania 29 Match Officially Announced

A Six-Man Tag Team Match featuring Randy Orton, Sheamus and Ryback vs. The Shield is officially set for WrestleMania 29. The bout was made official by SmackDown General Manager Booker T on Friday's show following weeks of vicious attacks between both tag team parties. 

Following Sheamus and Orton's victory over Team Rhodes Scholars, The Shield told the two former World Champions to find a partner to face them in a Six-Man Tag Team Match at WrestleMania 29. Later, Big Show offered his services to be their tag team partner, but was informed that they had already selected Ryback. 

The following four matches have been announced for the pay-per-view event taking place April 7 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

* WWE Champion The Rock vs. John Cena 

* World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger 

* The Undertaker vs. CM Punk 

* Randy Orton, Sheamus and Ryback vs. The Shield

Spoiler: Match Revealed for WWE's WrestleMania 29

The Shield vs. Randy Orton, Sheamus and Ryback was announced at tonight's WWE SmackDown tapings for the WrestleMania 29 pay-per-view. Here's the updated card coming out of the tapings:

WWE Title Match
John Cena vs. The Rock

World Heavyweight Title Match
Jack Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio

Stipulations TBA
Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H

CM Punk vs. The Undertaker

Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus, Ryback and Randy Orton