Friday Night Smackdown
August 17, 2012
Austin, Texas
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
They show a video of Alberto Del Rio’s problems with Sheamus over the past few months. Two weeks ago, Sheamus stole Del Rio’s car and went for a joy ride around San Antonio before returning it all beat up. Del Rio then threatened to press charges, but Sheamus instead insisted that they have their Summerslam match that night. Before the main event began, police surrounded the ring. Del Rio yelled “Go!” and they all attacked Sheamus. Del Rio then applied the Cross Arm Breaker. Afterward, General Manager Booker T, in an interview with WWE.com, canceled the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match for Summerslam.
Alberto Del Rio’s music hits, and he walks out to the ring with his personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio says he wants his World Title match back right now. That peasant Sheamus went and stole his car, destroyed it, and he gets rewarded. Are you kidding? What kind of champion is Sheamus when he goes and complains to the General Manager to get the Summerslam match canceled? And what kind of General Manager is Booker T when he agrees with Sheamus’ demands? He’s the number one contender, and he’s not leaving this ring until his title match at Summerslam gets reinstated.
Booker T’s music hits, and the General Manager of Smackdown makes his way to the ring. Booker says of all people, he didn’t expect this from Del Rio. Booker asks what Del Rio’s problem is. Del Rio says Sheamus messed with his property so he made him pay. That’s what a real man does. Booker says he’s not a man. A man doesn’t hire five goons dressed like cops to beat up one guy. What Del Rio did was step across his boundaries. That’s not going down on Smackdown. He will not tolerate that. Del Rio asks who Booker T thinks he is taking away what is his. He earned the right to be the number one contender a long time ago. Del Rio says he spoke with his lawyers, but that’s all we hear because…
Chris Jericho’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a great reception. Jericho says, “Alberto Del Rio, would you please SHUT THE HELL UP?!” Jericho says nobody cares about Del Rio’s lawyers, money, cars, stupid scarves, goofy ring announcer, shiny shoes, big ears, tiny nose, greasy hair, or his incessant whining and complaining. Jericho says he sounds like a chihuahua. Del Rio asks who he thinks he is. Jericho speaks Spanish to Del Rio, and he asks the crowd if they want him to give Del Rio a lesson. Jericho speaks and then translates to say he said Del Rio’s breath smells like dog poop. Del Rio asks what he wants. Jericho says he has a proposition. Since Del Rio isn’t getting a title match, maybe after he beats Dolph Ziggler at Summerslam, and he will beat him, maybe he’ll take Del Rio’s spot in the match against Sheamus to win the ultimate big one and become the new World Heavyweight Champion. Del Rio says he’s crazy. Del Rio says he already stopped one gringo because he stole his car. He’s not going to let another gringo steal his match.
Booker T says his word was laid down. Sheamus will not be competing at Summerslam. Booker says it’s time to make a main event for tonight. That main event will be Chris Jericho versus Alberto Del Rio for the first time ever on Smackdown.
Later tonight we’ll see what Brock Lesnar did to Shawn Michaels in case you didn’t hear about it. Up next, we’ll see Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara team up to take on The Miz and Cody Rhodes.
-Commercial Break-
Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara vs. The Miz and Cody Rhodes
Before the match begins, Cody Rhodes cuts a promo. Rhodes talks about how he tried to pull Sin Cara’s mask off last week to expose the abomination that is his face. Tonight, he asks that all small children prone to nightmares and all elderly people with heart conditions turn away. Rhodes then shows an artist’s rendition of Sin Cara unmasked. It’s a cartoon with huge, nasty teeth. Rhodes says Sin Cara is “ugly as sin.”
Sin Cara will start out against Cody Rhodes. Rhodes kicks him and sends him into the ropes, but Cara takes him out with a handspring back elbow. Cara dropkicks him out of the ring. The Miz charges him, but Mysterio pulls the top rope down. Mysterio then takes Miz out with a seated senton off the apron, and Cara takes Rhodes out with a plancha. Mysterio throws Rhodes back in, and Cara covers for a one count. Cara kicks him, wrenches the arm, and hits a twisting arm drag off the top rope. Rhodes quickly gets up and takes him out with a clothesline after a Miz distraction. Miz is tagged in, and he punches away at Cara. Miz taunts Mysterio before tagging Rhodes back in. Rhodes kicks away at him for a one count. Rhodes hits a front suplex before taunting the crowd. Rhodes punches him before tagging Miz back in. Miz punches away at him, but Cara comes back with some kicks. Miz quickly kicks him down and applies a chin lock. Rhodes is tagged in, and he takes Cara down with a snapmare. Rhodes tries to rip the mask off, but he’s unsuccessful. Cara counters a back suplex with a snapmare.
Mysterio is tagged in, and he ducks a clothesline before hitting a head-scissor takeover. Rhodes goes for a sunset flip, but Mysterio rolls through to kick him in the head. Mysterio gets a jackknife pin for a two count. Mysterio kicks him in the face and hits a wheelbarrow bulldog, but Miz breaks up the pin. Sin Cara runs in, hits a hurricanrana, and clotheslines him over the top rope. Cara tries to skin the cat, but Rhodes grabs at the mask. Mysterio surprises Rhodes with a 619, and he follows up with a top rope splash for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara
Match Rating: * 1/2
Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara celebrate in the ring. The Miz tries to attack him from behind with the Intercontinental Championship, but Mysterio ducks it. Mysterio hits him with a 619, drops out of the ring, and picks up the Intercontinental Championship.
Later tonight, we’ll see Randy Orton take on Daniel Bryan.
-Commercial Break-
Lilian Garcia announces a tag team match. She first introduces Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins, who come out in suits. They get in the ring, take off their jackets, and, I’m not kidding, do a striptease. These are the times I wish Booker T was still on commentary.
Two local wrestlers vs. Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins
The announcers talk about how Booker T told them to step up their game last week. This was their best idea. Hawkins hits a snapmare on the one guy, kicks him in the back, and does a little dance. Hawkins takes him down, tags in Reks, and he kicks the guy in the ribs. Reks drops an elbow before throwing him. The other guy is tagged in, but Reks quickly takes him down. Hawkins is tagged in, and he clotheslines the mystery wrestler down. Hawkins body slams him, gyrates, and kicks him a few times. Reks is tagged in, and they hit a powerslam/neckbreaker combination for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins
Match Rating: N/A
Coming up next, we’ll see what happened with CM Punk and John Cena on Raw.
-Commercial Break-
They show a video of CM Punk’s quest to be respected and all the issues surrounding the triple threat match at Summerslam.
Eve Torres bumps into William Regal, who wishes her luck. Regal talks about when he was in charge of Monday Night Raw. He was the most powerful entity in WWE. He thought he was unstoppable. Regal wishes her luck, but tells her that the power is fleeting. Just then a woman comes up with two garbage bags. She asked him to take out the trash and wonders what she’s paying him for. Regal is embarrassed, but he says, “Work’s work.” Regal then walks off with the trash.
-Commercial Break-
The Wade Barrett video plays. He’s coming back soon.
Teddy Long, the Assistant to the General Manager of Smackdown, is at ringside to watch this match.
Winner becomes Booker T’s assistant
Kaitlyn vs. Eve Torres
They lock up, and Eve pushes her against the ropes before giving a break. Eve pushes her, ducks a clothesline, and hits a waistlock takedown. Eve lets her up, but quickly takes her down with an arm bar. Eve uses the ropes, and the referee catches her. Eve kicks at her before Kaitlyn comes back with some punches. Eve hits the ropes, and Kaitlyn catches her with a sloppy back body drop. Kaitlyn hits a shoulder block and a schoolgirl for a two count. Eve hot shots her into the ropes and goes for a suplex, but Kaitlyn counters into an inside cradle for a near fall. Eve quickly kicks her down. Kaitlyn attempts to slingshot over her, but Eve puts her on the apron. Kaitlyn goes to the top rope, but Eve rips her off the top. Eve follows up with a twisting neckbreaker for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Eve Torres
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Eve Torres flaunts her win in front of a disappointed Teddy Long. Eve blows him a kiss before walking to the back.
Randy Orton will take on Daniel Bryan, next.
-Commercial Break-
Eve walks into Booker T’s office, and he congratulates her. They shake hands. Eve says that she’s his assistant, but she has so many ideas to improve Smackdown. She learned a lot from John Laurinaitis. Booker asks how she’s going to get along with Teddy Long. She says the past is the past, and she’s all about the future. She says they’ll get along great. She says she’ll take a quick shower and then she’ll be at his disposal. She walks off, and Booker looks sad about not watching her shower.
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee of all-time, is the official for this match. The crowd chants “Yes” at Daniel Bryan. They lock up, and Orton applies a side headlock. Bryan whips him off, and Orton takes him down with a shoulder block. They lock up, again, and Orton applies another side headlock. Bryan whips him off, and Orton takes him down with another shoulder block. Bryan wants a test of strength, and he kicks Orton in the midsection. Orton reverses a whip to the corner, Bryan back flips over him, and Orton takes him down with a dropkick for a near fall. Bryan rolls out of the ring and screams “No” at a fan.
Bryan runs into the ring, and Orton gives him a back body drop. Orton stomps the face, arms, and asks the crowd “Yes?” before stomping the midsection. Bryan avoids a knee drop, and he dropkicks him in the knee. Bryan hooks the leg on the rope before kicking at it. Orton kicks back, but Bryan hits an uppercut before taking him down and applying a leg lock. Bryan works over the knee a bit before finishing it off with a stomp. Orton begins to punch back at him, but Bryan kicks him in the knee. Bryan hits a snap suplex before screaming “No” at the crowd. Bryan goes to the top rope, and Orton crotches him up there. Orton hits a head-butt, acknowledges an “RKO” chant, and hits a superplex. Both guys act injured before Orton pulls himself over to cover Bryan for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Orton and Bryan going back and forth with some punches. Bryan eventually takes him down by the injured leg. Bryan kicks away at him a bit before wrapping the leg around the rope and dropkicking it. Bryan backs up and charges him in the corner, but Orton avoids him, causing Bryan to hit the ring post shoulder first. Orton rolls him up for a near fall. Orton hits a pair of clotheslines, ducks one from Bryan, and hits a powerslam. Orton pulls himself up from the injured leg and goes for the hanging DDT, but Bryan drops to the floor. Bryan pulls him out of the ring, but Orton is able to reverse a whip into the barricade.
Orton throws him into the ring and goes for a pin, but Bryan rolls out of the ring again. Orton has trouble moving on the leg. Orton goes outside, and Bryan throws him into the steel steps knees first. Bryan throws him in the ring and picks up a near fall. Bryan is shaking his head “No” in disbelief. Bryan begins to viciously kicks him in the chest. Bryan goes for the spinning roundhouse to the head, but Orton ducks and hits his trademark spinebuster. Orton takes a moment to tend to his injured knee before picking up a near fall. Orton whips him in the corner, and Bryan kicks him in the knee. Bryan goes to the top rope, and Orton punches away at him. Orton then hits the hanging DDT off the second turnbuckle.
Orton looks to the crowd, and they know what is coming. Orton drops to the mat and goes for an RKO, but Bryan counters into a No! Lock attempt. Bryan eventually locks it in, but the ring posts explode! Bryan gets out of the ring and begins to look for Kane as his music plays. Bryan eventually gets in the ring, and Orton gives him an RKO for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Randy Orton
Match Rating: **
Kane comes out to the stage laughing at Daniel Bryan, who is crumpled in a heap at ringside.
Tonight’s main event will see Alberto Del Rio take on Chris Jericho for the first time ever on Smackdown.
-Commercial Break-
The WWE United States Champion, Santino Marella, is at ringside to do commentary on the next match. He’ll be watching Antonio Cesaro, his opponent for the WWE United States Championship, on the Summerslam YouTube preshow. Aksana takes the microphone from Lilian Garcia, and she has Cesaro say “loser” in five different languages. If we didn’t understand that, then that’s the point.
Antonio Cesaro w/ Aksana vs. Zack Ryder
Cesaro quickly takes him down before hitting a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro kicks him in the head, head-butts him in the chest, and head-butts him in the face. Cesaro applies a chin lock, but Ryder fights up and takes him down. Ryder hits a pair of clotheslines before hitting a forearm shiver in the corner. Ryder hits a Broski Boot for a near fall. Cesaro quickly hotshots him on the rope and hits the Neutralizer for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Antonio Cesaro
Match Rating: N/A
Cesaro quickly marches out of the ring and shoves Santino’s face. Cesaro backs away before pushing him over the commentary table. Cesaro backs away as Santino pops up screaming at him.
We’ll see what Brock Lesnar did to Shawn Michaels and get an update on HBK, next.
-Commercial Break-
They show a video highlighting how Brock Lesnar broke Shawn Michaels’ arm. The announcers talk about the injuries Shawn Michaels received at the hands of Brock Lesnar on Monday Night Raw. Shawn Michaels will not be at Summerslam this Sunday to be in Triple H’s corner.
Lilian Garcia introduces Ricardo Rodriguez. He introduces Alberto Del Rio, who drives into the arena in a beautiful Maserati. He’ll face Chris Jericho, next.
They show Chris Jericho walking backstage. Dolph Ziggler attacks him from behind with the briefcase. Ziggler then drives a metal cart into him. Ziggler screams that Jericho can’t win the big one because he’s too damn good. Booker T runs up and tells Ziggler to get out.
-Commercial Break-
They show a replay of Dolph Ziggler attacking Chris Jericho backstage.
Alberto Del Rio laughs and asks for some Spanish lessons now. It looks like Jericho can’t compete, so the winner by forfeit is Alberto Del Rio! Del Rio says he wants Booker T to come out and grant him with his Summerslam match. Chris Jericho’s music hits instead, and he comes out to the ring clutching his injured ribs. Jericho confirms he can go through with the match.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho
Del Rio talks some trash, so Jericho punches him to the corner. Del Rio reverses a whip, and he turns Jericho inside out with a knee to the midsection. Del Rio stomps the midsection for a near fall. Del Rio then sends him sternum first into the turnbuckle. Del Rio stomps the chest for a two count. Del Rio continues to talk trash as he chokes him with his boot. Jericho backhands him in the face and punches him back. Del Rio reverses another whip and hits him with a knee to the midsection. Del Rio dropkicks him in the side of the face before standing on his head. Del Rio goes for a suplex, but Jericho counters into a step-up enzuigiri.
Jericho kicks him in the ribs and knees him in the head. Jericho punches him back, sends him into the ropes, but Del Rio holds on. Jericho charges, and Del Rio drops him onto the apron. Del Rio knocks him into the commentary table as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Del Rio wrapped around Jericho, applying a chin lock. Jericho’s ribs are completely bruised up. Jericho fights up and punches out. Jericho hits the ropes, but Del Rio catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Del Rio stomps him in the head. Del Rio sends him to the corner and kicks him in the ribs for another near fall. Del Rio talks some more trash before going to the second rope. Jericho avoids a diving stomp, and he goes to work on Del Rio. Jericho hits a shoulder block and goes to the ropes, but Del Rio kicks him in the ribs. Del Rio then runs into a back elbow. Jericho hits a Lionsault, but his ribs are way too injured. Jericho eventually crawls over for a near fall.
Del Rio head-butts away at Jericho and sends him to the corner sternum first. Jericho counters a Cross Arm Breaker attempt into the Wall of Jericho! Del Rio eventually turns himself enough to punch him in the ribs. Del Rio kicks him into the ropes, and there’s Dolph Ziggler on the apron to pull the top rope down, causing Jericho to crash to the floor! Ziggler throws him in, and Del Rio hits an enzuigiri for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Alberto Del Rio
Match Rating: * 1/2
Alberto Del Rio celebrates big time as Jericho lies on the mat, bleeding from the mouth and in pain. Del Rio applies the Cross Arm Breaker, and Ziggler screams in his face. All of a sudden Sheamus’ music hits, and he takes Del Rio down. Sheamus’ arm is bandaged up. Sheamus viciously punches away at him, but Del Rio eventually punches him in the arm. Del Rio goes for the Cross Arm Breaker, but Sheamus uses his momentum to take them both out of the ring. Del Rio escapes through the crowd. Sheamus returns to the ring to check on Jericho.
Booker T’s music hits, and the General Manager makes his way to the ring. Booker asks what Sheamus is doing here. Sheamus says he wants him to reinstate his match with Del Rio at Summerslam. Booker says Sheamus is talking from his heart, and he appreciates that, but he’s injured. Sheamus says you can rip his arm off, but even that wouldn’t stop him from competing in the ring. Sheamus asks him again to reinstate the match. Booker says if he does that then it will be for the World Heavyweight Championship. Sheamus says the only person who wants this match more than Del Rio is him. Sheamus asks him to reinstate the match, again. Booker agrees to it, and Del Rio smiles from the crowd. Sunday night at Summerslam it will be Alberto Del Rio versus Sheamus for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship!
Quick Match Results
Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara def. The Miz and Cody Rhodes
Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins def. two local wrestlers
Eve Torres def. Kaitlyn to become Booker T’s assistant
Randy Orton def. Daniel Bryan
Antonio Cesaro def. Zack Ryder
Alberto Del Rio def. Chris Jericho
Bump of the Night: Ziggler’s assault on Jericho backstage
Match of the Night: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan **
Mike’s Thoughts
That was a very good segment that opened up tonight’s show. Alberto Del Rio kicked off the show with some good interaction with Booker T. Del Rio seemed to really click with his material tonight, and Booker T played off him well. The inclusion of Chris Jericho in this segment was interesting. The prospect of a Del Rio/Jericho feud interests me. If Jericho is sticking around after Summerslam then this is one feud they should pull the trigger on.
It was really neat to watch Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara team up. Sin Cara looked like he belonged, but that might just be the tag team element of this. It’s easier to cover up his faults within the match. The big thing I really noticed in this was Cody Rhodes. What is his character? This is a guy without an identity. A few years ago he was dashing, then he was dark and brooding, then he was just crazy, then he was the guy with the Intercontinental Title, then he was the future and face of Smackdown, and now he’s sort of, kind of dashing again? Who is he? What’s his deal? The guy has some talent, but he has no clearly defined character. He’s all over the place.
Male strippers in the PG era. In the PG era, there are male strippers. Strippers, that are male, exist in the PG era. No matter how many different ways I put it, it fails to make any sort of sense to me. Are you kidding?
I like Eve Torres as the assistant to Booker T. She could play a great comedic foil to Booker and Teddy’s antics. I think she had a good test run with that hilarious William Regal segment tonight. I also got a real kick out of the look on Booker T’s face once he started thinking about her at his disposal. There was something mischievous behind those buggy eyes. I think there could be some decent comedy from this trio in the weeks to come.
That was a nice little match between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan tonight. Orton, despite not being booked on Summerslam and not really having a direction right now, wins one on Bryan. It was a sort of cheap win with Kane coming out to distract Bryan, but Orton got it. Orton has nothing going on at Summerslam, which surprises me. He wasn’t left as a focal point at the end of that segment so I’m not sure we’ll see any big happenings with him at the PPV.
I don’t have much on the Antonio Cesaro match. I’m disappointed that my prediction of Ryback vs. Jinder Mahal for the YouTube preshow didn’t come to fruition.
That was a nice segment and match to close out the show. Chris Jericho and Alberto Del Rio had a decent match. It looks like they could mesh well in a possible rivalry in the future. They gave us a little teaser for that. Dolph Ziggler looked great in his interference and attacks on Jericho. Jericho was left looking like a guy that may be out of his league now compared to Ziggler so that should add some interest to the match at Summerslam. Sheamus’ comeback was well done. I would have liked a little more pop out of the crowd for him, but that’s ok. The talk with Booker T was little generic at the end, but it got the job done. I’m not the biggest fan of the cookie cutter face Sheamus. To be honest, it doesn’t even sound like Sheamus is behind “cookie cutter face Sheamus”. He doesn’t ever sound like he’s comfortable with the material he’s given. The best gimmicks are always an amped up extension of that person. I don’t think he’s this Brady Bunch type kind of guy in real life. The guy can be friendly with the fans and the kids, but I think he needs an edge that draws in the other demographics. He needs more of an edge, particularly in segments like that. It works for family friendly John Cena, but Sheamus is an Irish brawler. Act like it!
Final Rating: ** 1/2
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Thanks for reading! Enjoy Summerslam 2012!