World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus will have momentum on his side heading in to Over the Limit, thanks to a big win over Randy Orton in the main event of SmackDown.

The first turning point of the match came when both men found themselves on the outside of the ring. Sheamus whipped Randy Orton toward the ring steps, causing Orton to smash into the steel shoulder-first.

Orton was not the one at a disadvantage though, despite taking the hit with his surgically-repaired shoulder. Sheamus miscalculated a Brogue Kick and allowed Orton to trip the champ onto the steel steps, before going to work on the Great White’s arm.

Orton slammed Sheamus’ arm across the steel, and wrapped it around the middle rope back in the ring, beginning to exploit the injury Sheamus suffered weeks ago.

Sheamus was able to turn the tide when he caught Randy Orton on the apron of the ring. Sheamus hammered away at Orton’s chest with his Irish Hand Grenade strikes before knocking the Viper from the ring and sending him spilling toward the security barricade.

Back in the ring, Orton stopped Sheamus’ momentum dead with an inverted backbreaker, followed by a series of clothesline and a snap powerslam.

Sheamus saved himself from Orton’s elevated DDT when he guillotined the Viper over the top rope, and returned to the ring to drop Orton with the Irish Curse.

The Great White took to the top rope, but Orton cut him off to deliver a massive superplex for a near fall.

Sheamus missed with a Brogue Kick and spilled over the top rope, leaving him in prime position for an elevated DDT from Orton when he tried to get back in the ring.

Orton paused for a moment before pounding the mat to signal the RKO. Sheamus was able to shrug Orton off and try for the Brogue Kick, but Orton once again ducked under the shot and latched on to the Great White for another RKO.

Sheamus caught Orton off guard when he dropped to the mat, rolling Orton up for a three count to pick up a significant win just days before Over the Limit.

Orton extended his hand to Sheamus after the match, congratulating the World Heavyweight Champion on his victory.

After the shake, Orton dropped Sheamus with an RKO, illustrating that it will be every man for himself when the two meet Alberto Del Rio and Chris Jericho in a fatal four way at Over the Limit.

Damien Sandow once again refused to compete on SmackDown, but got physical when his scheduled opponent, Yoshi Tatsu, called Sandow a chicken. Sandow tore off his robe and charged to the ring, where he rocked Tatsu with a series of knees to the abdomen before slamming him to the mat with a straightjacket neckbreaker.

Daniel Bryan, the number one contender to the WWE Championship, will be heading in to Over the Limit with a win under his belt, after defeating Zack Ryder. Ryder managed to put Bryan in the corner, but Bryan tripped Ryder when he attempted to hit the Broski Boot, bouncing his head off the second turnbuckle. Bryan then nailed Ryder with a roundhouse kick to the head and made the Long Island Iced Z tap out to the Yes Lock.

Bryan’s opponent at Over the Limit, WWE Champion CM Punk, was not as fortunate when he took on Kane while Bryan watched on from the commentary table. Punk found himself booked in a match with the Big Red Monster after antagonising John Laurinaitis at the top of the night.

Despite the size mismatch, and his WWE Championship defence in mere days, Punk went toe-to-toe with Kane and the bell rang, and soon had the Big Red Monster on the back foot. Punk nailed Kane with a top rope elbow drop, and almost trapped him in the Anaconda Vice, but Kane was able to power free and soon move the action to the outside of the ring.

Daniel Bryan left the commentary table, armed with a steel chair, and threatened to strike CM Punk. Bryan changed his mind though, hitting Kane with the chair to hand the Big Red Monster a disqualification win.

Bryan quickly rushed up the entrance ramp while Kane, now sufficiently enraged, began to beat CM Punk with the steel chair. Kane then moved Punk back to the ring where he dropped him with two huge chokeslams, leaving the WWE Champion less than 100 per cent heading in to Over the Limit.

In a champion versus champion collision, United States Champion Santino Marella overcame Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Rhodes looked to steal the show with an impressive moonsault, but crashed and burned when Marella moved out of the way. When Cody got back to his feet, Santino struck with the Cobra to pick up the win in their battle of the belts.

SmackDown Results:

• Kofi Kingston & R-Truth def. Darren Young & Titus O’Neil
• Daniel Bryan def. Zack Ryder
• Kane def. CM Punk via disqualification
• Santino Marella def. Cody Rhodes
• Sheamus def. Randy Orton