Friday Night Smackdown
August 24, 2012
Bakersfield, California
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
They show some photos of Sheamus retaining his WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Summerslam despite the fact that Alberto Del Rio’s foot was on the bottom rope. Booker T announced on Tout that he would address the situation tonight.
Randy Orton’s music hits, and he gets a great reception from the crowd. Michael Cole is on commentary. They show footage of Randy Orton jaw jacking with Sheamus on Raw. Del Rio almost rolled him up, but Sheamus called the referee’s attention to Orton’s foot on the bottom rope. Orton won the match after that. His name is Randy Orton, and he’s not a “glass half full kind of guy”. He likes to take that glass, smash it, and beat up the person who made it up. There is something that he likes and thrives on: confrontation. Alberto Del Rio says he should just mind his own business. Del Rio says that his win over him on Raw was tainted, and he says, “Too bad.” He deserves to face Sheamus for the World Heavyweight Championship. Judging how the Internet and social media blew up with everyone’s personal opinions, he bets there are a handful of people backstage who have a problem with what he just said. Orton calls those people out to confront him.
Sheamus’ music hits, and the WWE World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring to a great applause. Sheamus says he’s not out here to disagree with him. Everyone knows Del Rio has had his chances, and he’s blown them all. On Raw, we saw Orton beat Del Rio fair and square. At Summerslam, everyone saw him beat Del Rio fair and square. Sheamus says not only does he think Orton should be in front of the line to face him, he WANTS Orton at the front of the line.
Booker T’s music hits, and the Smackdown General Manager makes his way to the ring. Booker says they’re talking about something that will be huge. Randy Orton versus Sheamus for the World Heavyweight Championship. Booker asks if the crowd wants to see it, and they do. Booker says Orton will always be in line for a title shot, but they have to talk about what happened on Raw.
Alberto Del Rio comes out yelling. Del Rio asks what is going on. Del Rio says that title is not for Orton because it’s his. Sheamus is a criminal and a cheater. Orton is nothing but a crazy animal. That’s the kind of people that are going for the World Heavyweight Title. Booker starts to talk, but Del Rio cuts him off. Del Rio says he should be the champion now because Sheamus cheated. The referee robbed him at Summerslam, and the night after on Raw, AJ put him in a match against a snake. The only reason Orton won the match was because Sheamus cheated again. Booker started to talk again, but Del Rio says Booker doesn’t know anything. Sheamus is a cheater and a criminal. He stole his car and his Summerslam victory. Del Rio says he was in control. Booker T knows he filed a protest, and he’s waiting for the answer.
Orton says Del Rio is embarrassing himself. Del Rio says this is a conspiracy. Booker is a criminal and a cheater. Del Rio says he knows that Booker is against him, Sheamus is against him, Orton is against him, and the people are against him. Booker tells him to calm down. Booker turns to Orton and says he will always be in line for a title shot, but the person that was in line next for a shot is Alberto Del Rio. Booker says that was until Del Rio came out and ran his mouth. Booker says he changed his mind. Tonight, we’ll have a rematch from Monday Night Raw. It’ll be Alberto Del Rio versus Randy Orton. Just to make it fair, the winner of the match is officially the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. NOW CAN YOU DIG THAT, SUCKA?
Michael Cole talks about being the only commentator, and he shows footage of Kane throwing Josh Mathews at Summerslam.
Ryback makes his way to the ring. He’ll face Jinder Mahal after the commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
Theodore Long is on commentary with Michael Cole. There will be a bunch of guest commentators on the show tonight. Ryback cuts a promo on Jinder Mahal. He says tonight Jinder Mahal will find his place in the food chain. “Feed me more! Feed me more!”
Ryback vs. Jinder Mahal
They circle the ring and lock up. Ryback pushes him, but Mahal comes back with a kick and a headlock. Ryback throws him off and backhands him. Ryback beats Mahal down in the corner, whips him to the opposite corner, and he runs into Mahal’s elbow. Mahal punches away, but Ryback attempts a powerslam. Mahal slides off, and he takes Ryback down with some knees to the head. Mahal drops a knee and attempts a pin, but he can’t pick it up. Mahal drops some more knees and goes for a kick, but Ryback blocks it. Ryback gives him a back body drop and shoulders him in the corner. Ryback picks him up and then spins him for a powerslam. Ryback does the “Feed me more” signal, and he clotheslines Mahal down. Ryback gives him the Shell Shock for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Ryback
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Tonight, we’ll see Randy Orton take on Alberto Del Rio to determine the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
-Commercial Break-
Kaitlyn, the number one contender for the Diva’s Championship, joins Michael Cole on commentary.
Alicia Fox vs. Layla
They lock up, and Fox rolls her up for a two count. Fox hits a headlock takeover, but Layla rolls her for a no count. Layla kicks her and hits a springboard cross-body block for a two count. Fox dropkicks her down for a two count. Layla comes back with a kick, but Fox kicks her off the second rope. Fox works on the knee before applying a single leg crab. Layla gets out of it and catches her with an inside cradle for a near fall. Fox ducks a clothesline, but Layla comes back with a roundhouse kick for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Layla
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Kaitlyn gets in the ring, and she shakes hands with Layla before hugging her. Eve Torres’ music hits, and she comes to the ring. Eve is the Assistant to the Smackdown General Manager. Eve stands between Layla and Kaitlyn before raising their arms. Her music hits, and the crowd doesn’t react at all.
We’ll take a look at what happened between John Cena and CM Punk on Raw, next.
-Commercial Break-
They show the Raw Rebound, which concluded with CM Punk attacking Jerry “The King” Lawler.
Dolph Ziggler is talking with Vickie Guerrero about how Chris Jericho can’t win the big one. Ziggler wonders how AJ could make him put his contract on the line. Vickie says she would handle her. Sheamus walks up and says there’s no time like the present to cash in. He hasn’t fought since Sunday, and he wants to fight tonight. Sheamus challenges to cash in his contract tonight. Ziggler says he won’t, but when he does cash it in, Sheamus will never see it coming. Teddy Long comes up, and he reminds Ziggler of his job title as Senior Advisor. He’s going to advise Booker T to book Dolph Ziggler versus Sheamus. It may not be for the contract, but if Ziggler is as good as he says, then he’ll have an opportunity to cash in. Sheamus says the first pint for Teddy is on him.
Sin Cara makes his way to the ring. He’ll be in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Cody Rhodes is on commentary for this match. He’s holding up the drawing of Sin Cara with his mask off.
Sin Cara vs. Heath Slater
They circle the ring and lock up. Slater wrenches the arm, but Cara quickly comes back with a high snapmare. Slater reverses a whip, but Cara counters a flapjack into a dropkick. Slater drops him to the apron, ducks a kick, and knocks him off the apron. Slater goes outside to throw him into the ring for a one count. Slater elbows away at Cara and applies a headlock. Cara fights up, but Slater knees him down. Cara ducks a clothesline and hits a springboard back elbow. Cara stomps the hand, wrenches it, and hits a flipping arm drag that sends Slater out of the ring. Cara hits a twisting plancha, and he kicks him in the ribs. Slater quickly comes back by sending him into the apron. The referee admonishes Slater as Rhodes turns the mask around on Cara. Slater quickly hits a reverse DDT for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Heath Slater
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Cody Rhodes kicks away at Sin Cara and tries to rip the mask off, but referees pull him off.
Booker T just booked Sheamus to take on Dolph Ziggler, next.
-Commercial Break-
Vickie Guerrero joins Michael Cole on commentary.
Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler gets a waistlock applied, but he quickly gets out of the ring as Sheamus goes for a back elbow. Ziggler gets in, and he runs into a headlock takeover. Ziggler fights up, but Sheamus takes him down again with a headlock takeover. Ziggler whips him off, but Sheamus hits a shoulder block. Sheamus hits the ropes, but Ziggler dropkicks him down for a two count. Ziggler applies a chin lock, but Sheamus gets out and whips him into the ropes. Ziggler kicks him in the face, hits the ropes, and Sheamus catches him with a flapjack for a two count. Sheamus puts him in the corner and punches him. Sheamus goes for White Noise, but Ziggler rolls him up for a one count. Sheamus avoids a leg drop bulldog and shoulder blocks him down. Sheamus goes for the clubs to the chest, but Ziggler gets out of the ring. Sheamus goes to follow, but Ziggler clips the knee. Ziggler follows up with a DDT on the apron.
Ziggler rolls him into the ring for a near fall. Ziggler applies a chin lock, but Sheamus fights up. Sheamus gets out of it with a back suplex. Ziggler goes for a sleeper hold, but Sheamus rips him off. Sheamus hits some hammer throws, knees him in the face, ties him up in the ropes, and clubs away at the chest. Sheamus goes for White Noise, and he hits it. Sheamus gets the crowd riled up, and he goes for the Brogue Kick, but Ziggler drops to the mat. Vickie slides him the Money in the Bank briefcase, and Ziggler hits him with it. The referee disqualifies him.
Winner by Disqualification: Sheamus
Match Rating: * 1/2
Ziggler clobbers Sheamus over the head with the briefcase, and he looks at the briefcase like he’s going to cash it in. Ziggler tells the referee that he’s going to do it, but Sheamus soon rises to his feet. Ziggler grabs the briefcase before the referee calls for the bell. Ziggler and Vickie back up the ramp laughing at him.
Randy Orton will take on Alberto Del Rio to determine the number one contender, tonight.
-Commercial Break-
A Wade Barrett video plays. His barrage cannot be stopped.
Former WWE United States Champion Santino Marella makes his way to the ring. They show footage of Antonio Cesaro beating him for the title on the Summerslam YouTube preshow. Santino says he was the US Champion for 160 days. Every moment this past week, he feels less American, and he doesn’t like that feeling. This morning, he woke up and couldn’t remember what an apple pie tasted like. Then he ate one. He lost the title to Antonio Cesaro. People ask if he and the Cobra could still be on the same page. Santino says it’s time to find out. Santino takes the Cobra out, and he tells the Cobra to look at him. Santino says he remembers when he was a baby Cobra. Santino says there’s not a lot of fish like Aksana, but the Cobra cost them the US Title. The Cobra puts its head down, and Santino tells it to keep its head up. Santino quotes Robert DeNiro from “Meet the Parents”, but then he quotes Rocky Balboa. The Cobra gets fired up, and Santino gets fired up.
US Champion Antonio Cesaro comes out with Aksana and a new theme song. Aksana says he will say a word that best describes him in five languages. Cesaro says “winner” in all the languages he knows. They make out. Cesaro says unlike Santino, he personifies being a winner. Cesaro holds up the title. Santino powerwalks to Cesaro, blocks a kick, and he jabs Cesaro down. The Cobra gets fired up, and it goes for Aksana. Santino turns, and Cesaro takes him out.
Alberto Del Rio is yelling at Ricardo Rodriguez backstage. He’ll face Randy Orton later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
The Prime Time Players join Michael Cole on commentary, and they compare his dancing to Rosa Mendes’, who is in the ring.
Primo and Epico w/ Rosa Mendes vs. Kofi Kingston and R-Truth
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is the official. Epico and Kofi Kingston go back and forth with pinfall attempts, but no one gets a count. They both attempt a dropkick, but miss. It’s a stalemate. Primo is tagged in, and he kicks away at Kingston. Primo sweeps the legs and gets a one count. Epico is tagged in, and he hits a senton for a one count. Kingston comes back with a hurricanrana into the corner. R-Truth and Primo are tagged in. R-Truth beats him down. R-Truth hits a sit-out front suplex, but Epico breaks it up. Kingston clears him out, R-Truth blocks a Backstabber, and he hits the Little Jimmy for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Kofi Kingston and R-Truth
Match Rating: 1/2 *
They air a trailer for a movie.
Matt Striker is backstage with Kofi Kingston and R-Truth. They talk about how they’re ready to take on all comers. Little Jimmy says competition worries about them. The Prime Time Players talk about how Little Jimmy isn’t real. They say they’re going to take the titles. The Uso brothers come up and so do Primo and Epico. Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd also come up, and a brawl breaks out.
We’ll see the aftermath of Triple H versus Brock Lesnar, next.
-Commercial Break-
Booker T is on the phone when Teddy Long walks in. Long says the fight has been broken up. Booker T asks him to advise him on who should be the number one contender for the Tag Team Titles. Eve compiled a win-loss record for all the tag teams, and she made notes on which team is more deserving. Eve says she also prepared his schedule for the next two weeks. Booker is impressed as he walks off. Eve says she didn’t even see Teddy there.
They show a video of Kane going nuts on Raw before Daniel Bryan came out and went even more nuts. AJ has ordered him to attend anger management. They then show Paul Heyman’s promo from Monday Night Raw. They then show Shawn Michaels’ promo from his house. They finish it with Brock Lesnar’s Tout. Triple H will be on Raw this Monday.
Randy Orton’s music hits, and he comes out to the ring. He’ll face Alberto Del Rio, next.
-Commercial Break-
Sheamus will be on commentary to scout his next opponent for his championship.
Winner becomes the #1 Contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio
They lock up, Del Rio gets a side headlock, Orton whips him off, and Del Rio shoulder blocks him for a one count. Orton comes back with some strikes, and he hits a rope-aided suplex for a two count. Orton stomps away at him, and he hits a guillotine catapult into the bottom rope for a near fall. Del Rio comes back with an arm breaker. Del Rio goes for the Cross Arm Breaker, but Orton counters into a swinging neckbreaker. Del Rio rolls out of the ring to recover. Sheamus smiles at him.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Orton trapped in a chin lock. During the commercial, Del Rio slammed Orton’s arm off the steel steps a few times. Orton fights up and punches out. Del Rio catches him with a knee to the midsection and a stomp. Del Rio picks up a two count for his effort. Del Rio stays on the offense before Orton comes back with a pair of clotheslines and a powerslam. Del Rio rolls to the apron, and Orton attempts a hanging DDT. Del Rio counts out by yanking the arm off the rope. Del Rio runs in, and Orton catches him with his patented backbreaker for a near fall. Del Rio hits a double knee arm breaker for a near fall.
Orton pushes him to the corner, but Del Rio kicks him. Del Rio jumps off the second rope, and Orton dropkicks him out of mid-air. Orton catches him with a back elbow, Del Rio charges, and Orton pulls him into a hanging DDT. Orton gets in position for an RKO, but Del Rio hangs on to the top rope. Del Rio goes for the Cross Arm Breaker, Orton attempts to block it, but it gets applied. Orton has no choice but to tap out.
Winner by Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Match Rating: **
Del Rio knocks down Ricardo Rodriguez, takes his shoe, and throws it at Sheamus. Sheamus runs into the ring, and Del Rio takes him out. Del Rio and Rodriguez leave. Dolph Ziggler runs down to cash in his Money in the Bank contract, but Randy Orton RKOs him down!
Quick Match Results
Ryback def. Jinder Mahal
Layla def. Alicia Fox (non-title)
Heath Slater def. Sin Cara
Sheamus def. Dolph Ziggler via DQ (non-title)
Kofi Kingston and R-Truth def. Primo and Epico (non-title)
#1 Contender: Alberto Del Rio def. Randy Orton via Submission
Bump of the Night: Ziggler giving Sheamus a DDT on the apron
Match of the Night: Alberto Del Rio vs. Randy Orton **
Mike’s Thoughts
Mike’s Thoughts will be posted tomorrow…