Friday Night Smackdown
July 20, 2012
San Diego, California
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays, and we’re brought into the arena with a big display of pyrotechnics. Josh Mathews, Booker T, and Michael Cole welcome us to the show.
The San Diego crowd is red hot as Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a tremendous reception. They show footage of Mysterio returning on Raw and attacking Alberto Del Rio. The crowd chants “619” as Mysterio says it’s been almost a year that in this very ring and arena, he was injured. Mysterio says he never lost hope, and now it feels good to be here with all his friends and family to say that he is back. He just couldn’t wait on Monday Night Raw. There was something that he had to do to someone, and the fact that Del Rio was in the ring made things even sweeter.
Alberto Del Rio’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage with Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio says the little chihuahua is back. Mysterio made a mistake because you should never pick a fight against him. Del Rio says he’s the one who took Mysterio out last year and nearly ended his career. Del Rio gets in the ring and in Mysterio’s face to say he can do the job right now, but instead he’ll give him an order. Del Rio tells him to leave his ring right now. Mysterio says he’s not going anywhere. Del Rio says while Mysterio was gone he won everything – money, titles, power. Now he doesn’t want to talk about Mysterio. Del Rio wants to talk about what Sheamus did to him this past Sunday. Mysterio says Sheamus beat Del Rio’s face in. Del Rio says Mysterio hasn’t learned anything in a year. The good thing is his return will be short, and he pokes fun at Mysterio’s height. Lucky for Mysterio, the one who will destroy his life, dreams, and career is none other than the next World Heavyweight Champion, Alberto Del Rio.
Dolph Ziggler’s music hits, and he comes out to the ring with Vickie Guerrero and his Money in the Bank contract. Ziggler says Mysterio can’t take any comfort in that because if his career is going to be ruined by the next World Heavyweight Champion, it’s going to be because he did it. Ziggler says this is Mysterio’s lucky day because he’s not out here for him. He’s here for Del Rio. Ziggler says he defeated seven other superstars to win his Money in the Bank contract and that earned him a title match whenever and wherever the hell he wanted it. He was going to do that this past Sunday to Sheamus, and he’d be the World Heavyweight Champion right now if not for Del Rio. Del Rio says he doesn’t work for Ziggler, and if Ziggler thinks he’s going to do the dirty work and take what’s his, that’s “loco.” Del Rio says Ziggler and his woman could be working for him if they want.
Mysterio tells them to shut up and get it on if they have a beef. Ziggler agrees, but not with each other. They go to corner Mysterio, but Sheamus’ music hits. Sheamus quickly gets to the ring to even the odds. Sheamus and Mysterio shake hands. Sheamus says it’s so good to see Mysterio back. As for Del Rio and Ziggler, if they take one more step then he’ll shove the briefcase up Ziggler’s butt, put them both in a trunk, and drive them into the Pacific Ocean. They square off, but Del Rio leaves. Ziggler can’t believe it, and he turns into a hammer throw from Sheamus. Ziggler is in position, but Vickie pulls him out of the way of the 619. Sheamus and Mysterio hug in the ring.
Tonight, Christian will host The Peep Show with Daniel Bryan and AJ as his guests.
-Commercial Break-
They announce that Sheamus and Rey Mysterio will take on Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio in tonight’s main event. This will be Mysterio’s first match since returning.
The Prime Time Players, Hunico and Camacho vs. Primo, Epico, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth
Epico will start the match out against Hunico. They do a few reversals before Epico catches him with an arm drag. Hunico backs him to the corner and punches him. Epico reverses a whip, but a shoulder block takes him down. Hunico hits the ropes, flips over a leapfrog attempt, and counters a monkey flip. Hunico hits the ropes, and Epico takes him down with a hurricanrana. Epico applies an arm bar before tagging in Primo, who hits Hunico with a dropkick for a two count. Camacho is tagged in, and Primo takes him down with a hip toss for a two count. Primo applies an arm bar, but Camacho backs him to the corner. Camacho shoulders him in the midsection a few times before delivering some straight right hands. Primo eventually sidesteps him and rolls him up for a two count.
Primo applies a side headlock, and R-Truth blind tags in. Camacho turns into a punch. R-Truth does a dance, hits the ropes, and hits a break dance leg drop. Camacho powers him to the corner, but R-Truth fights out of it. A brawl breaks out between all eight men, and the good guys clear the ring as the referee tries to get order back.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kingston get tagged in. R-Truth sends Camacho to the corner and whips Kingston into him hard. Kingston takes him down with a superman punch before hitting him with the Boom Drop. Kingston sets up for Trouble in Paradise, but Hunico grabs his foot. Camacho catches him with a spinebuster for a near fall. Hunico is tagged back in, and he hits Kingston with a springboard senton for a near fall. Hunico applies a chin lock, but Kingston fights out. Titus O’Neil is tagged in, and he hits a spinebuster. O’Neil throws him away before choking him with his boot. Kingston fights out of the corner, but O’Neil takes him down again. O’Neil hits a big body slam for a two count. O’Neil applies an abdominal stretch, and he viciously works at the ribs. Darren Young is tagged in, and Kingston kicks him in the face. O’Neil charges, but Kingston pulls the top rope down. Kingston makes a desperate tag to Primo.
Primo hits a springboard chop on Young, a flying back elbow, and a leg sweep. Primo drops an elbow and a leg before throwing him to the corner. Primo chops him and hits a springboard flipping senton for a near fall. The other partners rush in, but Epico and R-Truth clear the ring. Primo kicks Young in the face and goes to the top rope, but AW distracts him. O’Neil pushes him off the top rope into Young’s knees. Young picks up the pinfall.
Winners by Pinfall: The Prime Time Players, Hunico and Camacho
Match Rating: * 3/4
The Prime Time Players dance up the ramp until the Big Show’s music hits. Big Show makes his way to the ring and throws R-Truth down. Big Show grabs both Epico and R-Truth by the throats, but Kingston catches him with Trouble In Paradise. The Prime Time Players attack Kingston from behind. Big Show takes Camacho down, throws Epico out of the ring, and gives R-Truth the WMD. Big Show chokeslams both Hunico and Camacho before standing on Primo. Big Show takes Primo and kills him with a WMD. Big Show grabs a microphone and says, “And, what?” Big Show then simply leaves the ring.
We’ll take a look at John Cena’s historic week, next.
-Commercial Break-
They show John Cena winning Money in the Bank and challenging CM Punk for the WWE Title on Raw 1000.
Sheamus and Rey Mysterio will take on Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio. This will be Mysterio’s first match back.
-Commercial Break-
As Zack Ryder comes to the ring, Damien Sandow tells the crowd to stop cheering this “brainless broski.” Ryder attacks him, and the referee backs him off.
Damien Sandow vs. Zack Ryder
The bell rings, and Ryder takes him to the corner with a forearm. Sandow quickly takes him down with a boot and viciously stomps away at him. Sandow drops a knee and punches. Sandow pulls him to the apron and clubs the back. Sandow takes his elbow pad down and elbows him in the throat a few times. Sandow stomps him a bit before being backed off. Sandow knees him in the midsection a few times before the referee backs him off. Sandow finishes him off with a double arm neckbreaker for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Damien Sandow
Match Rating: N/A
Damien Sandow kicks him after the match is over, and he does a cartwheel for good measure.
-Commercial Break-
The Peep Show with Daniel Bryan and AJ as guests
Christian says he’s been in WWE for a long time, and he’s seen a lot of strange things happen. On this past Monday’s Raw, bizarre got taken to a new level when this happened. They then show a replay of Daniel Bryan proposing to AJ and her acceptance. His guests will be getting married on Raw 1000. Christian welcomes them to the ring.
Daniel Bryan and AJ come out holding hands. They’re both in “Yes! Yes! Yes!” shirts. The crowd boos this. Bryan holds the bottom rope open for her. Christian says he has so many questions for them. Christian asks how the wedding planning is going. Bryan says it’s going really well despite only having a week. AJ has a clip. They then show footage of them picking out flowers and a vegan wedding cake. Bryan even put a teddy bear in an ankle lock. It was over the top mushy. Christian says that was “special”.
Christian asks Bryan if he’s doing the right thing. Bryan simply says, “Yes.” Christian asks AJ if she’s completely forgiven Bryan for everything he’s done in the past. She says, “Yes.” Christian says this is true love, and they both chant, “Yes.” Christian stops them and mentions the WWE Universe is chanting “No.” Christian asks the crowd if Bryan and AJ should be married, and they respond negatively. Christian asks if Bryan loves AJ, and they don’t think he does. Christian asks if AJ has any idea what she’s really doing, and they don’t think she does. Bryan and AJ don’t look happy. Christian asks AJ if she has any idea of what she’s doing. She slaps him hard across the face.
They go to leave, but Christian stops them. Christian says he’s married, so he’ll let that bridezilla slap go. Christian says they’ve been so busy planning that Bryan forgot he was scheduled for a match. Christian says Bryan should check the baggage next time he gets engaged. Bryan needs to make sure she doesn’t have any psychotic ex-boyfriends. Actually, a psychotic ex-boyfriend he’ll be facing right now. Kane’s pyro explodes, and he makes his way to the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Daniel Bryan w/ AJ vs. Kane
The bell rings, and Bryan ducks a clothesline. Bryan kicks away at him, but Kane pushes him away. Bryan tries again, but Kane knees and punches him back. Kane sends him to the ropes, but Bryan slides through his legs. Bryan charges into a big boot for a near fall. Kane applies a body scissor. Bryan fights out of it and kicks Kane in the face. Bryan hits the ropes, and Kane catches him with a backbreaker. Kane stretches him across his knee, but Bryan knees out of it. Kane kicks away at him in the corner. Kane sends him to the corner, but he runs into a boot. Kane cuts him off and sends him to the corner, but Bryan backflips over him. Bryan hits the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and dropkicks Kane in the knee, taking him down.
Bryan kicks away at Kane’s chest. Kane ducks a big kick to the head and goes for a Chokeslam, but Bryan gets out of it. Bryan takes him down with a big kick and finishes him off with a kick to the back of the head. Bryan goes to the top rope and jumps into an uppercut for a near fall. Kane sends him to the corner and hits a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Kane goes to the top rope and Bryan counters the lariat into a Yes! Lock attempt. Kane struggles out of it. Kane charges, but Bryan pulls the top rope down, right in front of AJ, who falls down.
Bryan checks on AJ, and Kane kicks him in the head. Kane sends him into the steel steps and the barricade. Kane bounces him off the commentary table before throwing him into the ring. Kane signals for the Chokeslam, and AJ jumps on Kane’s back! The referee calls for the bell. She rips at his mask, and Bryan kicks Kane in the knee a few times. Kane Chokeslams Bryan with AJ still on his back. Kane turns her, and there’s some sexual tension in the air. AJ looks like she’s going to kiss him, but she backs off. Bryan hugs her and walks her up the ramp. They kiss at the top of the ramp as Kane watches on.
Winner by Disqualification: Kane
Match Rating: * 1/2
Tonight’s main event will see Rey Mysterio return to action to team with Sheamus to take on Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler.
-Commercial Break-
They show footage of Heath Slater’s favorite Raw moments, which include facing Vader, Sycho Sid, Doink The Clown, DDP, and Bob Backlund. He also confronted Cyndi Lauper over the weeks. Slater is in the ring, and he says all of that happened to him on Raw. Now, the one-man band is on Smackdown, and his luck is about to change.
OHHHHHHH WHAT A RUSH!!
Heath Slater vs. Road Warrior Animal
Animal immediately clotheslines him down and kicks away at him in the corner. Slater kicks and punches back before elbowing him in the chest. Slater taunts the crowd before running into a powerslam. Animal drops a devastating elbow for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Road Warrior Animal
Match Rating: N/A
Road Warrior Animal continues to get a tremendous “Warrior Pop.”
Vickie Guerrero is yelling at Ricardo Rodriguez that she is not a donkey. Rodriguez says that she’s just jealous that Del Rio is Mexican royalty. She says that she’s a better manager, and he says that he’s a ring announcer. She screams in his face, and he holds his ears shut. She keeps screaming, and he walks away.
-Commercial Break-
They go over the stacked lineup for Raw 1000 this Monday.
Ricardo Rodriguez does the introduction for Alberto Del Rio, but Vickie Guerrero interrupts him. She introduces Dolph Ziggler to the ring. They’ll face Sheamus and Rey Mysterio, next.
-Commercial Break-
Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus and Rey Mysterio
Sheamus will start the match out against Dolph Ziggler. They circle the ring, and Ziggler tries for a quick waistlock, but Sheamus rips him off. They lock up, and Sheamus hits a headlock takeover. Ziggler fights up and whips him off. Sheamus shoulder blocks him down, hits the ropes, and eats a dropkick. Ziggler punches away at Sheamus, but Sheamus attempts a fireman’s carry takeover. Ziggler fights out, but Sheamus eventually catches him with it for a two count. Rey Mysterio is tagged in, and he hits a springboard leg drop for a near fall. Mysterio kicks Ziggler in the ribs and punches at him. Ziggler sends him to the corner, but he runs into a boot. Mysterio hits the ropes, and Ziggler takes him down with a clothesline for a one count.
Alberto Del Rio is tagged in, and he kicks Mysterio in the ribs for a two count. Del Rio sends him to the ropes, but Mysterio kicks him in the face. Mysterio goes to tag Sheamus, but Del Rio stops him. Mysterio gets away and gets Sheamus in. Del Rio quickly tags Ziggler in. Sheamus clotheslines Ziggler down and throws him to the apron. Sheamus clubs away at the chest as Del Rio watches on. Ziggler falls to the outside. Sheamus throws him into the ring, and Del Rio distracts him a bit. Ziggler dropkicks Sheamus off the apron. Del Rio quickly kicks Sheamus in the head as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Sheamus fight up from Ziggler’s chin lock. Sheamus throws him off like a lawn dart and tags in Mysterio. Mysterio hits a seated senton, ducks a clothesline, and hits a head-scissor takeover. Mysterio runs into a boot, but he’s able to counters a sunset flip with a kick to the skull for a near fall. Ziggler knees him in the midsection, but Mysterio gets out of a body slam attempt. Mysterio gets him in position and goes for the 619, but Del Rio kicks him in the spine. Ziggler hits a leg drop bulldog for a near fall. Sheamus distracted the referee. Del Rio tags in, and he kicks at Mysterio’s knee for a two count. Del Rio applies a chin lock, but Mysterio gets out with knees to the skull. Mysterio runs into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall.
Ziggler is tagged in, and he kicks away at Mysterio. Ziggler stretches Mysterio on the ropes, and Del Rio kicks him for good measure. Ziggler stretches Mysterio out, and the crowd cheers Mysterio on. Mysterio fights out with kicks, but Ziggler quickly takes him down with a neckbreaker. Del Rio is tagged back in, and he punches away at Mysterio. Mysterio nearly gets to Sheamus, but Del Rio cuts him off. Del Rio throws him to the corner and kicks at him. Del Rio backs up and charges, but Mysterio back body drops him over the top rope. Mysterio nearly tags Sheamus, but Del Rio gets in the ring and tags in Ziggler, who cuts Mysterio off. Mysterio catches him with a crazy DDT, and they’re both down.
Sheamus and Del Rio are tagged in. Sheamus takes him down with some hammer throws, a shoulder thrust, and a knee lift. Del Rio gets out of a powerslam and kicks him in the shoulder. Del Rio goes for the Cross Arm Breaker, but Sheamus pushes him into Ziggler, who flies into the commentary table. Sheamus hits the White Noise, and the crowd gets pumped up. Rodriguez holds Sheamus’ leg before he can do the Brogue Kick. The referee calls for the bell.
Winners by Disqualification: Sheamus and Rey Mysterio
Match Rating: **
Del Rio quickly takes Sheamus down and applies the Cross Arm Breaker. Dolph Ziggler grabs his briefcase and motions to cash it in, but Mysterio attacks him from behind. Mysterio catches Ziggler with the 619, and Sheamus takes him down with the Brogue Kick. The announcers reiterate that the contract was not cashed in.
Quick Match Results
The Prime Time Players, Hunico and Camacho def. Primo, Epico, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth
Damien Sandow def. Zack Ryder
Kane def. Daniel Bryan via DQ
Road Warrior Animal def. Heath Slater
Sheamus and Rey Mysterio def. Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler via DQ
Bump of the Night: The Prime Time Players assaulting Kingston outside the ring!
Match of the Night: Sheamus and Mysterio vs. Del Rio and Ziggler **
Mike’s Thoughts
Man, it’s good to have Rey Mysterio healthy and back in the ring. It’s amazing how much he can bring to the table and how much his presence has been missed. Sure, his promos aren’t the greatest (though once Sheamus came out he was no longer the weakest promo in the ring), but his stuff in the tag match tonight was great. Those quick little hope spots where you want him to get a tag, the little flurries of offence, and the way he makes other guys look like a million bucks all make him a valuable and integral cog in the WWE machine. I’d love to see him do a program with Dolph Ziggler now that Ziggler’s stock is quickly rising. It looks like we’re heading toward another Alberto Del Rio showdown, but after that I’d love to see him mix it up with Ziggler.
The rest of the show was mostly just filler and hype for Raw 1000, which is well deserved. I’m really looking forward to that show. The Peep Show segment falls into that filler. It was just there to remind you that they’re getting married on Monday, and Kane will probably interrupt it. No WWE wedding in history has ever gone off without a hitch. I’m looking forward to seeing how it explodes in spectacular fashion. I’m hoping for another moment where the priest screams “Jesus Christ” at the sight of Kane’s head coming through the canvas.
I loved seeing Road Warrior Animal coming out to continue Heath Slater’s dismal record against wrestling legends. He looked like he was in great shape. What an awesome pop he got.
I know some people are going to be up in arms about the Big Show destroying the tag team division, but after the way the phantom tag team division has been handled through the years, why even waste the energy? This is exactly what you would expect to happen. I’m not sure what they accomplished since we already know how powerful Big Show is, but whatever. I guess they want you to know he’s unpredictable, too? I’m not sure.
Final Rating: ** 1/2
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