Mike Tedesco’s Smackdown Thoughts
July 13, 2013
By: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
Smackdown opened up with an awesome match between Daniel Bryan and Christian. I can’t really recall these two ever matching up in the past, though I’m sure it’s happened, but they match up really well together. They had a hell of a match. It was back and forth and hard hitting. It even elicited a “This is awesome” chant from the crowd. It was a great way to kick off the final show before WWE Money in the Bank, and it set the tone for what would be one of the best episodes of Smackdown this year.
Seth Rollins and Jey Uso represented their respective teams as they fought each other in a one-on-one match. It actually wasn’t bad. Rollins picked up the win, which is something I see The Shield doing on Sunday on the preshow. It should be a good match, though. The Usos have really upped their game big time in recent weeks. They’ve always been good, but they never got the recognition. Now they’re getting a little push, and they’re not disappointing.
Chris Jericho took on Curtis Axel in a rematch from RAW where Jericho pinned him for the first time since joining up with Paul Heyman. This was the third time they’ve faced one another, and it was their third good match. It’s hard to have a bad match with Jericho. You have to go out of your way to have a bad one I suppose. Jericho wound up beating Axel by count-out after knocking him out of the ring with a Codebreaker. Axel flipped out after the match was over, and he tore up the commentary table.
Ryback defeated The Miz in a quick little match. Ryback got even over The Miz for beating him by forfeit two weeks ago on RAW. Ryback looked like his leg was really injured, but he just suckered Miz into the finish. He was still hobbling, but he picked up an opportune win over him. My one qualm with this was the entrances. The Miz was the first one out before the commercial break. His opponent on Sunday just had a meltdown and tore up the ringside area. Wouldn’t it have been good to send The Miz out either before or after Axel left and chuckled at the meltdown and the destruction caused to the commentary table? They missed an opportunity to promote their match a little more.
What followed this was one of the top segments between two Divas maybe in the last ten years. If you don’t think so then I hate you. AJ Lee and Kaitlyn have made the Divas division must-watch television in the last few months. Sure, the segments got a little corny in recent weeks, but this one just kicked it right back into gear. When has there ever been a contract signing for the Divas Championship? These two are compelling characters to watch and great enemies. It’s probably because they’re both actually good friends and truly love wrestling. AJ was killer in her delivery before signing the contract and then reading the texts. She even got me to crack up when she imitated Kaitlyn’s “Hulk smash.” The fighting to end the segment was great as well. Kaitlyn pushing the conference table into AJ and trapping her in the corner was well done, and that slap Kaitlyn gave to Big E Langston was killer. You should go out of your way to see this.
Fandango beat Wade Barrett in a quick little match. There wasn’t much to it. Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger were at ringside with Zeb Colter. Team Rhodes Scholars came out and jaw jacked with them, which distracted Barrett. Nothing really happened. I guess that’s one way to get all the competitors in the Money in the Bank match out there. There weren’t any punches thrown, and it was very forgettable.
Alberto Del Rio was all set to face Sin Cara when Dolph Ziggler, disguised as Sin Cara, absolutely beat him down. Teddy Long ordered Ziggler to go home, so he never took the mask off, but he did all his trademark mannerisms. This wasn’t bad at all.
After this was a very good segment with Vickie Guerrero coming in through the crowd to complain about being fired and having to buy a ticket to the event. When she ripped up the ticket and threw it at the camera, I was seriously laughing out loud. Teddy Long then had her escorted out by security. This Smackdown literally had everything.
Sheamus and Randy Orton fought in a decent main event. None of these guys really want to take a loss, so it wound up being a no contest when Daniel Bryan ran out and took them out with a ladder. I remember this match up as the one the fans crapped on at the legendary Monday Night RAW from April 8, and that match didn’t have a real ending either. Then everyone who is in the Money in the Bank All-Stars match minus CM Punk and Rob Van Dam ran out to try and retrieve the briefcase. Randy Orton wound up being the one left standing tall with the briefcase at the end of the show. This was one of the better “go home” shows in recent memory. You should go out of your way to watch the whole show.
Bump of the Night: Bryan dropkicking Christian’s arm into the steel steps
Match of the Night: Daniel Bryan vs. Christian ** 3/4
Final Rating: ****
E-Mail – MikeyT817@gmail.com
For even more Smackdown coverage, please take a listen to my show, “Wrestleview Telemundo,” along with my co-host, Anthony “Mr. V” Valvo. Not a VIP member? Click here to become one!
If you’re attending Money in the Bank, I’ll be there. Come say hi. I’ll be in Section 105.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy Money in the Bank!
Mike Tedesco is the official recapper of WWE Smackdown for Wrestleview.com.