WWE Smackdown
June 17, 2011
Providence, RI
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video recaps the events of the past two weeks involving Randy Orton and Christian. Two weeks ago Christian officiated a World Heavyweight Championship match between Orton and Sheamus, which Orton won. Christian then proceeded to hit Orton in the face with his own championship belt. Then last week Christian came out and said that the people just don’t get why he’s so bitter. Christian says things will be done on his terms. Christian got Orton to accept a title challenge at Capitol Punishment.
World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. Josh Mathews, Michael Cole, and Booker T welcome us to the show. They talk about Randy Orton’s concussion as he makes his way to the ring. Orton is getting big cheers and is soaking it up. Orton says it’s true that last week he was diagnosed with a concussion but it’s also true that he doesn’t give a damn. Orton says he’s ready to fight tonight. Christian got what he wanted and that was a championship match this Sunday so he thinks it’s only fair that he gets what he wants: the chance to beat the living hell out of Christian right here and right now.
Teddy Long’s music hits and the Smackdown General Manager comes to the ring. Long says he can appreciate what Orton is feeling and he doesn’t blame him. While he’s unofficially ready to fight, Long has to officially receive his medical clearance yet. This may be a formality until Sunday but he can’t let him fight tonight.
Christian’s music hits and he makes his way to the stage looking as cocky as ever. Christian says he can’t believe how angry Orton is at him. Christian says he gave Orton something that he desperately needed: a concussion. That means he gave him one hell of an excuse. Christian says Orton can blame the concussion this Sunday when he beats him for the World Heavyweight Championship. He can use that excuse instead of the real reason that Christian is just plain better than Orton. Christian says he’s sure the people won’t think less of Orton when he beats him. He’s the great Randy Orton, the Legend Killer. Christian says he’ll do things “Teddy Long-style” and polls the audience on if they’ll feel less about him when he loses to Christian. They give a mixed response so I’m not sure how to interpret that response. Christian says that’s good news. The really, really good news is when he beats him at Capitol Punishment, if he’s really polite, five days after he beats him, he’ll give him a rematch.
Sheamus’s music hits and he comes out to the stage. Sheamus says between Orton’s concussion, Christian’s constant whining, and Teddy Long’s general incompetence, everyone has forgotten the big picture. Last week he beat Randy Orton, the World Heavyweight Champion. Sheamus asks who deserves it more: the man who’s lost fifty title matches in a row or the man who beat the World Champion. Christian interrupts and says his match is set so “strawberry shortcake” will have to wait his turn.
They argue on stage until Long stops them. Long says tonight’s main event will be Sheamus taking on Christian. If Sheamus wins then this Sunday the title match will become a triple threat match. If Christian wins then the match will stay as is. As for Randy Orton, for him to be best prepared for Capitol Punishment this Sunday, he’s giving him a ringside seat. Long leaves the ring and grabs a chair, putting it in front of the announcer’s table. Long says during the match Orton can look and watch but can’t touch. If he does there will be serious consequences. Orton says there’s no question: tonight there will be serious consequences.
We’ll see Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan, and Ezekiel Jackson take on Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase next. The announcers say there will be “Capitol Punishment ramifications”.
-Commercial Break-
Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan & Ezekiel Jackson vs. Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
Cody Rhodes has his bagmen hand out paper bag masks to the WWE fans before the match begins. Jackson starts the match off against DiBiase. DiBiase gets a side headlock applied but Jackson quickly whips him off and flattens him with a shoulder block. Jackson clotheslines him in the corner and throws him across the ring. Sin Cara is tagged in and he kicks away at DiBiase. DiBiase reverses a whip but Cara counters into a head-scissor takeover that takes DiBiase out of the ring. Cara fakes a splash over the top rope as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see DiBiase punch Cara down and tag in Rhodes. Rhodes punches away at Cara in the corner and applies a hammerlock. Cara gets out with a big snapmare. Rhodes attempts to counter a wheelbarrow bulldog but Cara counters the counter with a roll up for a two count. Rhodes quickly hits a forearm to the head and wrenches the arm. Cara comes back with some kicks, scales the ropes, and hits a corkscrew arm drag off the top rope. Rhodes quickly pops up and catches Cara with the Beautiful Disaster for a near fall.
Barrett is tagged in and he kicks away at Cara for a two count. Barrett hits a suplex and tags DiBiase in. DiBiase hits a kick to the ribs for a near fall. Cara counters a back suplex and goes into the ropes but he gets caught with a clothesline, giving DiBiase a near fall. Barrett is tagged in and he kicks Cara down before applying a surfboard stretch. Cara fights up and kicks out. Cara ducks a clothesline but can’t avoid a big kick. Barrett goes for a pump-handle slam but Cara slides off and kicks him. Barrett quickly stops him and goes for the pump-handle slam again but Cara counters into a tornado DDT.
Bryan and DiBiase are tagged in. Bryan hits some big kicks and goes for a whip but it’s reversed. Bryan back flips out of the corner and hits a running elbow to the throat. Bryan hits a big running dropkick and picks up the win. Um, ok. That was definitely messed up because DiBiase kicked out before the referee counted three. Everyone in the ring looks strange after that.
Winners by Pinfall: Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan & Ezekiel Jackson
Match Rating: *
Matt Striker asks Sheamus how he feels having to face Christian tonight for an opportunity to compete for the title at Capitol Punishment. Sheamus says he feels great but he bets Christian and Orton don’t feel so good. This isn’t about feelings – it’s about facts. Sheamus is the biggest star on Smackdown and Teddy Long has realized it. Tonight he’ll beat Christian, again, and on Sunday he’ll beat Randy Orton, again. Sheamus will finally take his spot as World Heavyweight Champion.
-Commercial Break-
The announcers show a replay of the end of the six-man tag team match and show the referee making the error. I’m surprised they didn’t just redo it.
JOBBER ALERT: Vladimir Kozlov is in the ring with no TV entrance.
Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Great Khali
They circle the ring and lock up. Kozlov executes a judo takedown and applies a side headlock. Mahal gets up, whips him off, and takes a shoulder block. Kozlov goes for a powerslam but Mahal slides off and drives him into the corner. Mahal clubs away at him and hits a suplex. Mahal drops a knee and covers for a near fall. Mahal sends him to the ropes and hits a high knee in the face. Mahal hits a Russian Leg Sweep for a near fall. Mahal applies a chin lock but Kozlov gets up and kicks him down. Kozlov hooks the arms and head-butts his chest. Kozlov kicks him to the corner but Mahal moves before he can splash him. Mahal sends him shoulder first into the ring post and clubs away. The referee backs Mahal up as Khali hits a Brain Chop on Kozlov. Mahal taunts the crowd and hits the Full Nelson Slam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Jinder Mahal
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Tonight we’ll see Sheamus take on Christian. If Sheamus wins then he’ll get into the title match this Sunday at Capitol Punishment.
-Commercial Break-
Big Show makes his way to the ring for an interview with Josh Mathews. Mathews asks him what he’s doing on Smackdown since he’s a Raw superstar. Big Show said he heard a rumor that Alberto Del Rio is here tonight. Mathews says Stone Cold Steve Austin made a match on Sunday for Big Show to take on Alberto Del Rio. They show the footage of Ricardo Rodriguez running Big Show over. Mathews asks Big Show how he’s feeling and he quietly says he feels fine. Big Show says hitting him with that car and then stops as he angrily thinks about it.
Teddy Long comes out and says he cannot lay a finger on Alberto Del Rio if he shows up tonight. Long says he was informed earlier today that criminal and civil charges are being contemplated against Big Show in the brutal attack on Ricardo Rodriguez. Long says he’s also been put on notice that if anything happens on his watch that he will lose his job. The crowd popped for that. Big Show will also lose his job and that got no reaction. Since Big Show is here to compete Long has selected an opponent for him – Mark Henry.
Mark Henry makes his way to the ring. He’ll square off against Big Show next.
-Commercial Break-
Big Show vs. Mark Henry
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, has this match. Big Show warns Henry not to get in the ring. Big Show quickly kicks Henry as he’s getting into the ring and brutally assaults him. Big Show knees him in the head a few times and delivers a massive right hand to his temple. Henry is unconscious on the mat. This match never even started and it’s over. Robinson calls for some help and some trainers come out to assist Mark Henry. Big Show slowly leaves the ring and walks up the ramp. They bring a stretcher out for Mark Henry as a bunch of medical personnel and referees help him out.
Christian is backstage with Matt Striker. Striker asks how he feels about the title match possibly becoming a triple threat match. Christian says he’s feeling nostalgic for the days in which Teddy Long knew how to run a show – which was never. Christian says it was a bad call. Christian says he doesn’t need to prove himself for an opportunity for something he never should have lost in the first place – the World Heavyweight Championship.
Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes & Tamina vs. Natalya, AJ & Kaitlyn
It’s interesting that there wasn’t a commercial break between these segments. Natalya has a pep talk with Kaitlyn as she kicks it off against Fox. Kaitlyn blocks a move and pushes Fox away. Kaitlyn takes her down with a clothesline and Fox quickly tags in Tamina. They lock up and Tamina pushes her away. Natalya tags in and she dropkicks Tamina. Rosa distracts Natalya and Tamina capitalizes with a big head-butt. Tamina talks trash to the rookies and applies a leg lock to Natalya. Natalya turns it into a Sharpshooter but Rosa takes her out. Kaitlyn quickly runs in and takes Rosa out.
AJ is tagged in and she hits some big forearms. They’re so big she falls every time she hits one. AJ goes for a crucifix pin but Tamina catches her, gets her on the shoulders, and hits a nasty Samoan Drop for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes & Tamina
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Christian will take on Sheamus. If Sheamus wins then the Capitol Punishment title match will become a triple threat.
-Commercial Break-
Johnny Curtis is backstage with a putting green. Curtis says he’ll make his Smackdown debut soon and he has what it takes to survive. Curtis putts and pulls out an Ace card from the golf hole. Curtis says he has one of those.
They have another one of those Capitol Punishment videos. I can’t wait for this Sunday just so these videos will stop. They then run down the card for the show, which looks pretty solid.
-Commercial Break-
The Usos vs. Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater
Slater starts out against Jimmy Uso. Slater gets a headlock and Jimmy takes him down. Jimmy does a dance, ducks a clothesline, and kicks him. Jimmy sends him to the corner and splashes him. Jimmy dances again and clotheslines Slater for a near fall. Jimmy puts him in the corner and begins the old 10 punches routine. Gabriel distracts which allows Slater to hand Jimmy up in the ropes. Gabriel tags in and he stomps Jimmy for a near fall broken up by Jey. Slater is tagged back in and he stomps away at Jimmy. Slater punches him down and applies a chin lock. Jimmy fights up and punches out but Slater takes him down by the hair. Slater charges him in the corner and gets dropped to the apron. Slater punches and goes to the top rope. Slater dives off but Jimmy counters into a mid-air powerslam!
Jey and Gabriel are tagged in. Jey takes him down, ducks a clothesline, and hits a spinning forearm smash. Jey hits a running butt bump to the face in the corner for a near fall. Jimmy is tagged in and they hit a double team Samoan Drop for a near fall broken up by Slater! Jey takes Slater out and Jimmy hits Gabriel with a DDT. Jey is tagged in and Jimmy takes Slater out with a superkick. Jey hits a top rope splash on Gabriel for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: The Usos
Match Rating: * 1/2
They show a video that hypes up John Cena vs. R-Truth, which happens this Sunday.
Sheamus will take on Christian in the main event. If Sheamus wins then he’ll be put into the title match on Sunday.
-Commercial Break-
Alberto Del Rio drives into the arena and goes to the ring. It’s weird not to hear him announced by Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio introduces himself but we, and Big Show, already know that. Del Rio says there’s some rumors floating around that he negotiated his return to Smackdown because he’s afraid of Big Show. Del Rio says it’s his destiny to be the next WWE Champion and no one can stop him, not even a giant. What happened with the Big Show, Ricardo Rodriguez, and his car was an accident. Accidents happen all the time and bad things happen to bad people. Speaking of Rodriguez, Del Rio shows the footage from this past Monday of Big Show assaulting Rodriguez.
Del Rio says that was not an accident. Del Rio says there will be criminal lawsuits against the Big Show. Ricardo Rodriguez was his best friend and was loyal to him. Rodriguez followed him everywhere just like a dog. What the Big Show did was wrong. Ricardo has a little girl named Consuela and his wife is a victim of all this. Rodriguez will get his revenge. This Sunday he’ll dedicate his victory to his best friend Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio knows the ring is to compete but what the Big Show did was wrong. This ring is not to slaughter a human being and his friend. That is the reason why if the Big Show were standing in front of him he’d spit in his face.
Big Show’s music hits so it looks like Del Rio will get a shot to do that. The announcers remind us that Big Show can’t touch Del Rio. Big Show charges the ring and Del Rio escapes through the crowd. Big Show loses it at ringside and tips over the announcer’s table. The bottom rope was broken as Del Rio got out of the ring apparently. Big Show throws one of the announcers’ chairs into the ring. Big Show destroys a barricade and throws the steel into the ring post. Big Show gets into the ring and stares at Del Rio who is watching from the back row.
Sheamus will take on Christian next.
-Commercial Break-
They replay the footage of Big Show destroying the ringside area. They show that Del Rio winked at him, which set him off.
Christian vs. Sheamus
If Sheamus wins this match then the World Heavyweight Championship Match at Capitol Punishment will become a triple threat match. If Christian win then the match will remain as is. Before the match begins, Randy Orton comes to ringside to observe.
They lock up and Sheamus knees and clubs Christian down. Sheamus hits a short-arm clothesline for a one count. Sheamus hits a running knee to the face for a two count. Sheamus punches him a few times and sends him to the ropes but Christian holds on and slides out. Christian turns around and he’s face to face with Randy Orton. Christian backs up and Sheamus kicks him in the head from the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Sheamus clubbing Christian on the chest a la Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Christian comes back with a shoulder thrust and chokes him on the ropes. Christian stands on Sheamus and chokes him some more on the ropes. Christian goes into the ropes and runs into an Irish Curse backbreaker for a near fall. Sheamus clubs the chest some more and applies a neck vice. Christian fights up but Sheamus knees him and goes for a running powerslam but Christian slides off. Christian kicks Sheamus down and snaps him off the top rope.
Christian goes to the top rope and goes for a splash but Sheamus moves. Sheamus slowly gets up and elbows Christian in the face. Sheamus now goes to the top rope and hits a diving shoulder block for a near fall. Christian fights up in the corner so Sheamus punches away at him. Christian all of a sudden sweeps the feet and uses the ropes to pin him but the referee catches him. Christian argues so Sheamus pulls him face first into the turnbuckle. Sheamus punches and puts him on the top rope. Christian punches and hits a tornado DDT for a near fall.
Christian points at Randy Orton and yells at him. Christian sets up in the corner for a Spear but charges into a clothesline from Sheamus for a near fall. Sheamus picks him up and Christian all of a sudden goes for the Kill Switch but Sheamus wiggles out. Christian lands on his feet during a back suplex attempt and ducks a Brogue Kick. Christian goes for the Kill Switch but Sheamus pushes him to the corner. Sheamus charges but Christian hits a pendulum kick. Christian goes to the top rope but Sheamus cuts him off. Sheamus goes to the second rope and stares right at Orton. Sheamus goes for a superplex but Christian jumps to the outside, which causes Sheamus to bounce his face off the ring post! Christian picks up the pin from there!
Winner by Pinfall: Christian
Match Rating: ** 1/4
Randy Orton immediately charges into the ring but Christian escapes. Orton slowly gets in the ring and sizes up Sheamus, who is lying on his stomach. Orton backs up and punts Sheamus in the head! Christian looks nervous as he watches on from the top of the stage. Orton raises the championship above his head.
Quick Match Results
Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan & Ezekiel Jackson def. Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
Jinder Mahal def. Vladimir Kozlov
Big Show vs. Mark Henry never started
Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes & Tamina def. Natalya, AJ & Kaitlyn
The Usos def. Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater
Christian def. Sheamus
Bump of the Night: The Usos double-team Samoan Drop
Match of the Night: Christian vs. Sheamus ** 1/4
Mike’s Thoughts
Special Message: This past Monday was my three-year anniversary here at Wrestleview.com. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long already. Since joining Wrestleview to recap Smackdown I’ve had many great opportunities to recap many different shows, appear on a couple of radio shows, have a section of the site where I keep the win-loss records of the WWE superstars, and now I get to report the news. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet a bunch of great people and make some great friends. Even though I haven’t met any of them in person they are still my friends and great guys to talk to. In closing I’d just like to thank Paul Nemer, Adam Martin, and the rest of the Wrestleview.com staff for making this such a great experience for me. I’d also like to thank you, the reader, for continuing to support the recaps. It’s been great recapping this show for you every Friday.
This was a pretty decent Smackdown to head into the Capitol Punishment PPV. There was some good hype for the show but not really any great matches.
We kicked the show off with Randy Orton calling Christian out only for Teddy Long to tell him he hasn’t been cleared to wrestle yet due to the concussion. Christian then came out to taunt Randy Orton some more and says he’ll beat him. I really liked Christian throughout the night and I love the new character. He’s playing it perfectly. Even the short backstage promo he did was tremendous. Sheamus was soon out there and brought up the fact that he beat Randy Orton last week so he should be in the match. Teddy Long made the main event from there with the stipulation that if Sheamus wins he’ll be in the match.
The first match was the six-man tag team rematch from Raw. The match was just starting to pick up when it ended so abruptly due to the referee’s error. They even showed a replay of the error. I’m surprised they didn’t just go back and redo the finish since they normally do that anyway. That was really weird and quite disappointing.
Jinder Mahal faced Vladimir Kozlov in another semi-squash match. Kozlov got his moves in but Mahal still won with an assist from Khali. I like where they’re going with this guy and I can’t wait until he becomes a bigger player on Smackdown. Mahal has a good look and moves around the ring well. I can see some good things coming from him.
Big Show was out afterwards and pretty much said he’d heard that Alberto Del Rio was going to be there. At least they went out of their way to mention he’s a Raw star and seemed surprised he was on Smackdown. Usually when someone from Smackdown shows up on Raw no one bats an eye or asks a question. It’s little things like that which make me happy. I’m a simple kind of guy. Teddy Long came out and made a match from Big Show against Mark Henry. The match never started and he basically mauled Mark Henry in under a minute. Just when I was beginning to think Mark Henry would have a bigger role on the show they keep him off TV and then have him destroyed by Big Show.
Even though it’s a Raw rivalry I’ll just talk about it since they brought it to Smackdown as well. The whole storyline with Del Rio and Big Show bugs me. Big Show got his leg run over only three weeks ago and all of a sudden he’s back without so much as a limp? The announcers talked about internal bleeding when he was run down and made it seem like he’d be gone forever. If anything Del Rio should have faced Kane at this PPV and they could have built up to Big Show returning. I guess that lame segment with Rodriguez dressed up as Big Show showed them that the feud was lame to begin with and they’re pulling the plug on it. Ignoring all the glaring plot holes and medical miracles, they still did a decent job of building heat with Big Show destroying the ringside area.
I really liked what I saw out of The Usos tonight. They looked good against Gabriel and Slater. I liked them from when I recapped them on Superstars and I always thought they could do some good things for the tag team division. The announcers kept talking about a Tag Title Match so perhaps that’s in their future.
The main event with Sheamus and Christian was pretty good but not what I was expecting. They had a good match a few weeks ago so I was expecting a little more tonight. Perhaps it was last week’s main event that spoiled me and made me think it would be along the lines of that. The finish was pretty creative though. I hate the Orton punted Sheamus to end the show because I’d like to think that he’d be next in line for a title program and that kind of makes him look weak.
All in all it was a fairly decent show. It seems like it was rushed together due to Orton’s legitimate concussion. On a side note I hope his impact test went ok and he’s cleared to wrestle tomorrow since I’m going to the East Rutherford supershow tomorrow!
Final Rating: ** 1/2
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Thanks for reading! Enjoy Capitol Punishment!