December 14 , 2012 Smackdown results The December 14 , 2012 Edition of Smackdown is a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE ' s Smackdown brand , which took place on December 11 , 2012 at the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport , Connecticut . Summary . On the final SmackDown before WWE : Tables , Ladders & Chairs , World Heavyweight Champion Big Show nearly made Sheamus break their No Contact Contract , following a painful chair attack on William Regal . Also , The Shield attempted to unleash a little pre – pay - per - view “ justice ” on “ Miz TV ” and WWE Tag Team Champions Hell No . Big Show opened SmackDown in a match against R - Truth – with his No . 1 contender , Sheamus , joining the announce team . On the other side of the table would be United States Champion Antonio Cesaro , who will put his title on the line against Truth this Sunday . During the contest , when a war - torn R - Truth was down at ringside , Cesaro decided to approach him . This prompted Sheamus to shove the Swiss Superstar back into his seat and to the floor . Back in the ring , despite a few high - octane moments from Truth , Big Show finally left him lying with KO Punch for the win . The World ’ s Largest Athlete then confronted Sheamus . But as The Celtic Warrior rose to meet the giant and turned his back on Cesaro , the still - fuming U . S . Champion decided to get even and hit The Celtic Warrior from behind . As Sheamus flew forward , he made accidental contact with Big Show . Though not intentional , The World ’ s Largest Athlete realized it was a possible violation of the No Contact Clause both Superstars signed one week ago and sudden showed signs of a “ shoulder injury . ” Damien Sandow came before the WWE Universe , comparing his search for a single , worthy apprentice to finding a needle in a haystack . The self - professed “ Intellectual Savior of the Masses ” then welcomed his mustachioed tag team partner , Cody Rhodes , back to SmackDown — who was sidelined for several weeks following an injury at the hands of Kane . Rhodes made it clear the quest for an apprentice was over , as Sandow ’ s “ equal ” had returned . In the fast - paced match that followed against The Usos , Jimmy Uso flipped Rhodes into the ring , only to have his brother Jey take the second - generation Superstar out again with an explosive clothesline over the top rope . While impressive , the commotion allowed the legal Sandow to roll Jimmy from behind and pick up the quick three - count with a handful of tights . After SmackDown General Manager Booker T dismissed Big Show ’ s claim that Sheamus had violated their No Contact Clause , the giant enlisted the services of his legal counsel , David Otunga . Once in the squared circle , the Harvard - educated attorney threatened to go to the WWE Board of Directors , seeking not only a cancellation of the pay - per - view World Title Chairs Match , but also for the removal of Booker T from power . The GM soon looked to take charge . But when his opposition continued their threats , adding Sheamus ’ name to the list of those who had to go , The Celtic Warrior emerged with a chair in his hand . Sheamus proceeded to give “ one good reason ” why the match should not be called off , making it clear that if it was , there would be nothing stopping him from using the chair on Big Showright now . Hearing this , the giant opted to go through with the match this Sunday and made his exit . This left Otunga in the ring to become the recipient of a fierce Brogue Kick . Will the reunited Team Rhodes Scholars be able to use this momentum to overcome Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara in a No . 1 Contenders ’ Tag Team Tables Match at WWE TLC ? The rogue trio — made up of Dean Ambrose , Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns — delivered a vicious surprise assault on Randy Orton on SmackDown , leaving the nine - time World Champion lying on a broken table in the backstage area . After examination by WWE medical staff , Matt Striker reported Orton has separated his shoulder , it was literally hanging out of the socket and needed to be popped back in . There was also concern Orton may have suffered a concussion , which would require further evaluation . An additional update was provided during the SmackDown main event between Sheamus and Antonio Cesaro . Josh Mathews explained Orton had been taken to a local medical facility , he did not have a concussion and that he may be able to compete . In a fast - paced Divas matchup , Kaitlyn continued to get retribution on Aksana for attacking her from behind on two separate pay - per - views , hurling the Eastern European Diva to the canvas for an impressive victory . “ Miz TV ” welcomed WWE Tag Team Champions Hell No to discuss their upcoming pay - per - view showdown at WWE TLC , where they will team up with Ryback against The Shield . Kane and Bryan talked about how Bryan would release all of his so - called anger on the group without mercy and how the treacherous trio made a big mistake by attacking them because it only served to unify the usually dysfunctional tag team . Team Hell No were soon interrupted by another Shield video — from an undisclosed location somewhere within the arena — in which the rogue faction looked to get into the heads of their pay - per - view opponents . When Kane proposed they not wait until WWE TLC , Ambrose , Rollins and Reigns appeared in the crowd , seemingly ready to strike . But when the fierce Ryback stomped to the ring and joined his partners for the imminent battle , The Shield immediately rethought there strategy . The tag team division in WWE is the strongest it ’ s been in years . And the action - packed Eight - Man Tag Team Match on SmackDown once again proved just that , as The Prime Time Players and Primo & Epico took on Justin Gabriel , Tyson Kidd , The Great Khali & Hornswoggle . When Rosa decided to slap Kidd through the ropes , Natalya sent her crashing to the ringside floor for the second week in a row . Moments later , as Primo countered Kidd , the last graduate of the Hart Family Dungeon answered back with one of his own for the three - count . After the match , order gave way to a post - match dust - up , in which both The Prime Time Players and Primo & Epico were sent packing . Kofi Kingston battled Alberto Del Rio , just two days before he will attempt to defend his title against Wade Barrett and The Barrett Barrage at WWE TLC . Despite numerous near falls by The Mexican Aristocrat , “ The Wildcat ” refused to relent . And when Del Rio went for a suplex , Kofi countered in mid - air , rolling up his opponent for the quick win . While his triumph gave him major momentum heading into his title match on Sunday , he was about to pick up even more . As Kingston began to make his exit , Barrett charged down the ramp after him . But before he could deliver his assault , Kofi ducked , immediately regrouping to blast his No . 1 contender with Trouble in Paradise . Before Sheamus ’ match with United States Champion Antonio Cesaro , his mentor William Regal warned The Celtic Warrior not to let his temper get the best of him . In the fierce main event that followed , you wouldn ’ t have known both Sheamus and Cesaro had a title match in 48 hours . It was such a fierce battle that it seemed like a championship match in itself . Then , just as it looked as if Sheamus might be closing in on a victory over the freakishly strong Swiss Superstar , Big Show suddenly appeared at the top of the ramp , presenting a beaten Regal . When Sheamus ran up the ramp to interject — leading eventually to his count - out loss — Regal stepped in front of The Celtic Warrior to make sure his protégé didn ’ t break the No Contact Clause . As he did , The World ’ s Largest Athlete struck Regal with a steel chair . Show tempted Sheamus yet again to hit him and finally nullify their World Title Match at WWE TLC . But even as furious as Sheamus was , he would not take the bait .