WWE Smackdown
August 20, 2010
Bakersfield, CA
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
The Smackdown video plays and we’re brought into the arena to see some pyro. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcome us to the show. They quickly recap the World Heavyweight Title match at Summerslam and then the post match happenings. The Undertaker returned but in a weakened state. Kane wound up giving him a Tombstone Piledriver. Kane will give an explanation tonight.
Rey Mysterio’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Mysterio says he wants to take this time right now to thank the WWE Universe for helping him get through one of the most grueling matches of his life at Summerslam. Even though things didn’t go his way at least he didn’t wind up in a casket. Kane accused a lot of innocent people of attacking the Undertaker but in the end he was just looking for a way to mask his own guilt. Finally his name has been cleared. It was Kane who attacked the Undertaker.
Alberto Del Rio interrupts him and comes out to say that tonight is his big debut. The guy is quickly getting some good heat. Del Rio gets in the ring and says it’s an honor to be in the ring with the Mexican idol. Del Rio says his family is admired in Mexico and they’re two natural icons. Del Rio says he’s a man of honor and Mysterio knows his bloodline comes from kings. Del Rio then says Mysterio’s bloodline comes from the streets. Del Rio says he’s like the people: the little worm in the bottom of his Tequila. Del Rio touches him and Mysterio gets upset.
Del Rio says he’s handsome, rich, and powerful. He’s a man who wears the finest clothes. Mysterio says his suit is quite nice and the cufflinks are nice as well. Mysterio says he has a lot of guts coming out and talking about his bloodline. Mysterio says he’s a nobody. He’s seen his type a thousand times. Just because he’s rich doesn’t mean he or the fans have to respect him. Respect is earned in WWE. As far as he’s concerned Del Rio hasn’t gained any respect. Del Rio says he doesn’t need to earn anything from him or the peasants. He better respect him or he’ll make him.
Mysterio says they’re not friends. If he wants Mysterio’s respect then come get it: Del Rio and Mysterio one on one tonight. Del Rio says he’ll do it because he wants to destroy him like the little cockroach he is. Del Rio smiles and winks at Mysterio. Mysterio slaps him and hits the 619! Mysterio goes up the ramp and winks at him!
Dolph Ziggler will defend his Intercontinental Championship against Kofi Kingston in a Summerslam rematch next.
-Commercial Break-
“Dashing” Cody Rhodes is back with another one of his hilarious grooming videos. Rhodes talks about moisturizing your face.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler (c) w/ Vickie Guerrero
We’re reminded that this match ended abruptly on Sunday when the Nexus interfered and beat them both up, causing a disqualification.
The Goose is the official for this match. They lock up and jockey for position. Kingston gets him to the corner and breaks it. Ziggler tries to punch but Kingston blocks it and punches him out of the ring. Ziggler goes over to Vickie to recover. Ziggler gets back in walks into a waist lock. Ziggler elbows out and slams Kingston down for a one count. Ziggler hits a nice neckbreaker and gets a two count. Kingston fights back but Ziggler cuts him off and hits a stiff right hand. Ziggler hits a snapmare and applies a chin lock. Kingston fights up and punches out. Ziggler sends Kingston to the ropes but he holds on. Ziggler runs into his boots and Vickie grabs Kingston’s. That distracts him enough to be knocked out of the ring by Ziggler.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kingston trapped in a rear chin lock. Ziggler elbows him in the neck and continues to apply the hold. Kingston fights up and elbows out. Ziggler quickly knees him but Kingston reverses a neckbreaker into a jawbreaker. Ziggler recovers before Kingston and splashes him in the corner for a near fall. Ziggler stands on Kingston’s neck and drops a big elbow for a two count. Kingston pushes him but Ziggler stomps him in the corner. Kingston kicks him back but Ziggler still slams him out of the corner for a two count. Ziggler now applies an arm bar. Kingston eventually fights up but Ziggler sends him to the corner. Ziggler then charges but Kingston moves.
Kingston rolls him up for a two count. Kingston blocks a clothesline and hits some slaps to the chest. Kingston hits a nice dropkick and a Lou Thesz Press. Kingston goes for the Boom Drop but Ziggler rolls to the apron. Kingston goes to bring him in but Ziggler kicks him in the head. Ziggler charges into a pendulum kick and Kingston goes to the top rope. Vickie Guerrero then, in full view of the referee, pushes him off. The match ends in disqualification.
Winner by Disqualification: Kofi Kingston
Match Rating: * 3/4
Dolph Ziggler picks Kingston up and Kingston punches him right out of the ring. Kingston chases him but Ziggler runs away. Vickie stands in front of Kingston and for some reason he isn’t quick enough to get around her. She blocks his way and talks some trash. Ziggler then attacks him from behind. Ziggler puts him in the ring and hits the Zig-Zag. Ziggler then locks on the Sleeper Hold. Ziggler releases it and goes to leave the ring but slowly gets back in. He stands over Kingston and stomps him hard in the face! That looked nasty! They showed it in slow-mo and it was even nastier!
Rey Mysterio takes on Alberto Del Rio tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Lay-Cool are talking backstage about how good they look. Layla says Teddy Long wasn’t happy about what they did to Melina at Summerslam. McCool doesn’t care and says she’s tired of her crying all the time. Layla says they have something flawless planned but it’s secret. Hornswoggle is seen hiding in a bush listening.
Kane will give an explanation about his actions of the past few months tonight.
Luke Gallows is talking with Joey Mercury, who’s ribs are taped up, and says he’s upset that CM Punk walked out on them at Summerslam. Serena says he was trying to teach them a lesson because they need to prove they’re still strong. Tonight she and Gallows have an opportunity to prove themselves. She’s been training for months to prove they deserve Punk’s admiration. CM Punk walks in and says they don’t deserve anything. Tonight they’ll do something different. He watched Raw and he saw Nexus do something. If they don’t win tonight then they’re out of the S.E.S.
-Commercial Break-
If Gallows & Serena lose, they are out of S.E.S.
Luke Gallows & Serena vs. Kelly Kelly & Big Show
Big Show sends Gallows into the ropes but eats a kick. Big Show quickly slaps Gallows’ chest so he quickly tags in Serena, which brings Kelly into the ring. Serena kicks and elbows Kelly before talking some trash. Kelly kicks her and sends her to the corner. Kelly goes for a handspring back elbow but Serena elbows her in the head. Serena kicks her in the ribs and gets a one count. Serena knees her in the back a few times for a two count. Serena stands over Kelly and does the S.E.S. pledge sign. Serena applies a neck vice but Kelly fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Serena then charges but Kelly moves. Kelly hits a Thesz Press and a hurricanrana. Kelly hits the X-Factor but Gallows pulls her off. Big Show quickly comes in and clotheslines him out of the ring. In the ring Serena reverses the K2 into a nice gut buster for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Luke Gallows & Serena
Match Rating: 3/4 *
CM Punk stands at the top of the stage and claps for them. They both live to fight another day in the S.E.S.
Kane will give his explanation next.
-Commercial Break-
Kane is already in the ring when we come back and he’s laughing. They put some effects on the sound to make it deeper. Kane says when the Devil removed himself from Heaven he left behind seven deadly sins. His favorite is the sin of pride. Kane says it was Undertaker’s pride that weakened his decades of destruction. It was his pride that let him put him in a vegetative state. It’s because of his pride that he came back too early and it allowed him to drop him on his head at Summerslam.
Kane asks if Undertaker remembers when it all began, how the downward spiral that went from immortality to that mangled wreck he left in the ring on Sunday. Kane asks if he remembers how it started. For years he was nothing more than just some vague memory in the back of his mind. They show footage from Bad Blood in 1997 when Kane debuted. Kane says Undertaker wanted to keep him in his shadow forever. Everything that he did in those early years he was able to overcome. Instead of destroying his legend he made it greater. When he set Kane on fire he knew it was his influence that pushed the dark side to the limit. It took his little brother to separate him from his last vestiges. It was Undertaker’s most magnificent moment.
That’s when his master plan was set in motion. With every victory his collection of souls grew; so too did his weakness. Kane watched and waited. Even in victory it was clear he was losing his grip. Footage from Summerslam 2000 is shown. Undertaker took his mask off that day. Kane says that unleashed the monster finally capable of ending his reign of darkness. When they met for the second time at WrestleMania XX the time was not right but the plan continued to evolve. Kane knows him better than anyone. He positioned himself at his right hand to gain his confidence. Even they he watched and waited. Their reunion was nothing more than a vehicle for his vengeance. No matter how many times he was sent crashing down he’d always get back up. His pride would force him but that would be his undoing.
While he was allowing himself to be disgraced by those beneath him he was biding his time. He knew his time had come when he showed Shawn Michaels an instant of mercy. Footage is shown of HBK climbing up on him at WrestleMania 26. Kane knew at that moment the plan he came up with over a decade ago had come to fruition. He knew on Sunday when he saw the shadow of Undertaker come out from the casket that it was over. All the years of plotting and waiting, watching in the shadows, were finally at an end. Kane had his vengeance; the vengeance that alluded him for so long. Now the shadows in which he once labored are cast upon him. In what was once his holy grail is now his World Heavyweight Championship.
Kane says they used to be called the Brothers of Destruction. Now he is nothing more than the brother he destroyed. For fifteen years he dreamed of the day when the Phenom would be no more. For fifteen years he relished the thought of being the dominant brother. For fifteen years he knew that this day would come. Kane dedicated his life to making this moment a reality: the moment when his brother would be cast down with great vengeance and furious anger. Kane would then replace him as the Devil’s favorite demon. Kane laughs maniacally and sets his pyro off. That may be one of the best promos of the year.
-Commercial Break-
The Smack of the Night is Drew McIntyre injuring Christian’s shoulder three weeks ago.
Christian vs. Drew McIntyre
Before the match begins “Dashing” Cody Rhodes makes his way to ringside to observe the match. Rhodes joins the commentary.
They go to lock up but McIntyre gets away before Christian can do anything. Christian kicks McIntyre away and hits a nice hurricanrana. McIntyre angrily gets out of the ring to recover. McIntyre then knocks Christian off the apron and throws him to the timekeeper. Christian punches him away but McIntyre slams his injured shoulder on exposed metal! McIntyre had removed the barricade pads. McIntyre talks some trash and smashes Christian’s arm on the ring post.
McIntyre puts him in the ring for a near fall. McIntyre applies a hammerlock. Rhodes gives Todd Grisham some soap at commentary. Christian fights up and elbows out. McIntyre quickly slams Christian down on the arm. That was nice.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Christian still trapped in an arm bar. Christian fights up but McIntyre slams him down by the arm for a near fall. McIntyre chokes him on the bottom rope and stomps him. McIntyre stomps the arm a few times and pulls back on it using the ropes. Christian fights back and hits a NASTY diving DDT for a near fall!
Christian comes back with a running forearm. Christian gets out of a body slam and punches him wildly in the corner. Christian then hits a big dropkick to the face. Christian goes to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick for a near fall. McIntyre runs into a pendulum kick but avoids a diving back elbow. McIntyre hits an arm breaker for a near fall. McIntyre sets up for the Future Shock but Christian gets out. McIntyre gets out of the Kill Switch and sends Christian shoulder first into the corner. Christian then gets a crucifix pin out of nowhere for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Christian
Match Rating: * 1/2
“Dashing” Cody Rhodes distracts Christian and Drew McIntyre attacks him from behind. They double team Christian until Matt Hardy makes the save, wearing a protective boot. Hardy is soon overcome by a double team as well and McIntyre hits the Future Shock. Rhodes then gets Christian up and hits the Cross Rhodes.
-Commercial Break-
Jack Swagger is backstage talking to Rosa Mendes about how bad his summer has been. On top of everything he was robbed by MVP in a match. Rosa wasn’t even listening because of her headphones. MVP comes up and says he needs to accept the loss. MVP says he’s really good at crying. Swagger says he’s better than MVP in every way. They’ll go old school and in honor of his father he’ll call it the Jack Swagger, Sr. Invitational. If he wins next week he’ll host the VIP Lounge. If MVP wins he’ll throw a huge party at Swagger’s expense.
The Raw Rebound airs.
Teddy Longs is backstage with Kane. Long says he may not be happy to hear this but he has it on good authority that the Undertaker will be back next week. Kane says next week Smackdown will be hell on earth.
Alberto Del Rio debuts against Rey Mysterio next.
-Commercial Break-
Tony Chimel introduces Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez. Alberto Del Rio then drives a Rolls Royce into the arena. This entrance is something to behold. I love it.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio
The bell sounds and Del Rio simply smiles at Mysterio. Del Rio then kicks Mysterio and punches him in the corner. Del Rio punches and hits a snapmare followed by a kick to the back. Del Rio sends him into the corner sternum first and punches away. Mysterio ducks a clothesline and kicks away. Del Rio runs into the corner and takes a head-scissors takeover. Del Rio charges and sails over the top rope when Mysterio pulls it down.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Mysterio punching Del Rio. Mysterio has a whip to the corner reversed but Del Rio runs into the boots. Mysterio quickly gets sent to the apron and his arm banged against the top turnbuckle. Del Rio slams his arm on the steel steps and stomps on it. Del Rio puts him in the ring for a two count. Del Rio applies an arm bar but Mysterio kicks out of it. Mysterio slides through his legs and kicks. Del Rio quickly comes back with a step-up enzuigiri for a near fall. Del Rio hits a hammerlock back breaker and goes to the top rope. Mysterio avoids a senton splash.
Mysterio punches and knees him. Mysterio hits a running kick to the head for a near fall. Mysterio hits a springboard seated senton and a springboard cross-body for a near fall. Del Rio runs into the ropes but catches the 619. Del Rio catapults him to the corner but Mysterio lands on the ropes and kicks him down. Del Rio knocks his legs out on the top rope and Mysterio hits the mat with his injured arm. Del Rio gets up smiling and applies a BEAUTIFUL Cross Arm Breaker for the win!
Winner by Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Match Rating: **
Del Rio applies the arm breaker again and has to be counted off. Ricardo Rodriguez announces him the winner and Del Rio smiles and winks.
Quick Match Results
Kofi Kingston def. Dolph Ziggler via DQ; Ziggler retains IC Title
Luke Gallows & Serena* def. Kelly Kelly* & Big Show
Christian def. Drew McIntyre
Alberto Del Rio def. Rey Mysterio via Submission
Bump of the Night: Christian being slammed on the exposed barricade
Match of the Night: Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio **
Mike’s Thoughts
Holy good god: Kane was amazing tonight. That was one of the best promos I’ve heard this year. I’ve loved this storyline from the beginning. I was skeptical about seeing Undertaker vs. Kane again but tonight’s promo completely, 100% sold me on the match. I liked what I saw on Sunday because it wasn’t more of the same and tonight was a complete deviation from anything we’ve seen in a while. There was logic and sense built into it. They used archival footage of their stuff through the years to back it all up. It all made sense and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m so excited about this. That’s a tremendous job by Kane.
Well finally Alberto Del Rio has arrived and, I’ve got to say, it was worth the wait. Yes, it was only one match and one in ring promo but this guy is a star waiting to happen. This guy has got the stuff and he’s going to go places. The entrance was great but his poise and presence in the ring was phenomenal. It’s not every day you find someone that moves so comfortable in the ring like that. He’s a natural and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Outside of those two great things there really wasn’t much else to marvel. The Intercontinental Title match bored me a little bit. After a few cheap finishes these past few weeks I just want to see someone win clean and be done with it.
I am excited, though, about the teaming of “Dashing” Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. That should bring some great matches and, if they wanted to do it, some funny segments. I was also happy to see Serena have a match tonight. She looked absolutely nuts in that match. That little shaved head running around and hitting clotheslines and back elbows was great. She could be a breath of fresh air for the stagnant divas division on Smackdown if they ever wanted to go that route.
Final Rating: ** 3/4
E-Mail – MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out Tuesday’s NXT recap.
Thanks for reading!