WWE “Super” Smackdown
August 30, 2011
Wichita, Kansas
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 plays hyping up tonight’s “Super” Smackdown. Superstars from Raw will be on along with the Smackdown roster. John Cena will take on Wade Barrett. We’ll also see Randy Orton defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Christian in a Steel Cage Match. Then we’ll see the contract signing for Triple H vs. CM Punk at Night of Champions.
The Smackdown video plays and we’re brought into the arena with some fireworks. We are LIVE for the first time since December 2010 as Josh Mathews, Michael Cole, and Booker T welcome us to the show. They show the cage hanging over the ring and talk about the World Heavyweight Championship match between Randy Orton and Christian.
John Cena’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring to his usual mixed reaction. Cena says it is Tuesday and this is “Super” Smackdown live. Cena mocks Tony Chimel’s way of saying “Super”. He had the overdrawn “Super” when Edge was around. Cena says we’re live on SyFy in Wichita. On top of that, every single superstar from Raw, Smackdown, NXT, Saturday Night’s Main Event, Shotgun Saturday Night, Nitro, Thunder, Velocity, Heat, and Smokey Mountain Wrestling is here. We even took the liberty of flying in our favorite XFL superstars like… no one. The XFL was worse than the Shockmaster. Cena wants to talk about who is going to get hurt. One name comes to mind and that is Alberto Del Rio. Cena calls Del Rio out to start off “Super” Smackdown with a super beat down.
Alberto Del Rio’s music hits and Ricardo Rodriguez makes his way to the ring alone. Rodriguez gets in the ring and says he has a message for Cena from Del Rio. Cena is the challenger and he’ll have to wait a little longer until Night of Champions. That’s nothing bad because it can’t come any sooner that he has the privilege and honor to be in the same ring as the WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio. Rodriguez did that in a mix of Spanish and English. Rodriguez then repeats Alberto Del Rio’s name a bunch of times. Cena tells him to shut up and says it sounds like two old cats trying to have sex and throw up at the same time. Cena says he got Del Rio a gift and Rodriguez needs to give it to him personally. Cena then punches Rodriguez in the face.
Wade Barrett’s music comes out and says he should beat up on the fat ring announcer some more. Cena says he’d beat up Tony Chimel in that case. Barrett says we’re two minutes in and already Cena is trying to hijack the show. Obviously Cena didn’t learn any lessons from him last year. Del Rio is on the run but he doesn’t buy this tough guy nonsense. That’s why he demanded this match tonight. This isn’t Cena’s personal playground. This is his territory – this is Smackdown. Barrett used to own Cena and when he finishes with him tonight, he’ll make him feel just as pathetic as he did when he was his own personal slave.
Cena says that was a fine speech, but it’s not his playground or Barrett’s show. It’s the fan’s show and they’re just out there having a good time. Barrett says Cena never changes. That’s pathetic. Cena says what’s pathetic is Barrett mistaking his kindness for weakness. Cena says Barrett is talented and he has a bright future, but he has made his life miserable and he owes Barrett some payback. If Barrett wants to get in the ring with him, then he’ll find out payback is a bitch. This match is next!
-Commercial Break-
John Cena vs. Wade Barrett
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, starts the match. Cena kicks away at Barrett immediately and stomps him down in the corner. Cena backs up and sends Barrett to the opposite corner. Cena follows up with a bulldog and they have a standoff. Cena hits a headlock takeover and Barrett puts him in the corner. Barrett punches, but has a whip reversed. Cena lowers his head and eats a kick. Cena immediately comes back with a right hand. Cena splashes him in the corner and hits a sit-out powerslam. Cena punches and has a whip reversed. Barrett hits a nice Boss Man Slam for a two count.
Barrett stomps on Cena in the corner. Barrett punches away at him and continues to stomp him. Barrett sends him to the corner, but Cena ducks a clothesline. Cena comes back with some shoulder blocks and the back suplex/powerbomb hybrid. Cena hits the 5 Knuckle Shuffle and a very delayed Attitude Adjustment for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: John Cena
Match Rating: 3/4 *
John Cena goes over to some members of the Army at ringside and gives one of them an armband.
Matt Striker is backstage with Mark Henry. Striker asks Henry if he has a preference for who he wants to face at Night of Champions. Henry says he doesn’t care who wins. Either way they’ll be a Hall of Pain candidate. Striker asks what it’s like to be in a cage match. Henry says that’s the dumbest question ever asked. When you stand across from the World’s Strongest Man, all the injuries that can happen in a cage match can happen with him. It’s like flipping a coin – whether it’s heads or tails, you lose.
They show a preview for the all-new season of Ghost Hunters.
Sin Cara’s music hits and he’ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Sin Cara vs. Daniel Bryan
They lock up and Cara quickly wrenches the arm. Bryan goes for a northern lights suplex, but Cara lands on his feet. Cara hits a wheelbarrow arm drag before hitting a traditional arm drag. Bryan wrenches the arm, but has a whip reversed on him. Bryan comes back with a running dropkick that takes Cara out of the ring. Bryan follows up with a nice suicide dive. Bryan throws him into the ring and covers for a no count. Bryan has Cara on his knees and kicks away at his chest. Bryan drops a knee for a one count. Bryan sends him to the corner and hits a running dropkick. Bryan sets up and applies a beautiful Mexican Surfboard. Bryan turns it into a guillotine choke and Cara is bent at a nasty angle.
Bryan uppercuts him and sends him to the ropes. Cara holds on to the ropes. Bryan charges and gets back body dropped over the top rope. Cara feigns a dive and catches Bryan on the rebound with a springboard twisting cross-body plancha! Cara kicks Bryan and sends him back into the ring. Cara hits a slingshot senton for a near fall. Cara punches and kicks away at Bryan. Cara chops the chest and sends him to the corner, but Bryan back flips over. Bryan goes into the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and they have the same idea as they hit a double cross-body block. Both men are down now and the referee is counting.
They both answer the count at six and Cara kicks away at Bryan’s knees. Bryan comes back with some vicious punches and strikes. Cara ducks a kick and hits an Angle Slam. Cara hits a springboard Swanton Bomb and immediately hits a springboard moonsault for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Sin Cara
Match Rating: * 3/4
Sin Cara shakes Daniel Bryan’s hand after the match… and then kicks him in the head! The crowd boos Sin Cara after that.
Matt Striker is backstage with Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne. Striker asks how it feels. Bourne says he feels like he’s on Cloud Nine and they’ll ride that feeling as long as it lasts. Kingston says being a tag champion is different from being a singles champion. Kingston says you have to trust your partner. Kingston mentions some classic tag teams like LOD and the Hart Foundation. Kingston says they have some big shoes to fill, but Air Boom will try. They then do the “Boom-Boom” taunt with Matt Striker.
Later tonight we’ll see the contract signing for Triple H vs. CM Punk at Night of Champions.
-Commercial Break-
They show a list of the longest running television shows in history. They also have a poll on WWE.com asking who will win the Cage Match tonight. They then show a video package that highlights the Randy Orton vs. Christian feud.
Christian is backstage with Matt Striker. Striker asks if he can beat Randy Orton in a Steel Cage. Christian says this is his night. Everybody has turned their backs on him, from Edge to Bret Hart. They’ve called him a whiner, a complainer, and a bitch. Christian says he’s resilient, a survivor, and a fighter. He always fights for what’s right, whether people like it or not. He doesn’t care. As of this moment, he doesn’t need to be the World Heavyweight Champion to validate his career. Everyone knows how great he is. Christian WANTS to be the World Heavyweight Champion. Steel Cage or not, Christian always gets what he wants.
-Commercial Break-
Aksana is the special guest ring announcer for this next match.
Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. Kelly Kelly & Alicia Fox
Natalya and Kelly start it out. They lock up and Natalya powers her to the corner. Kelly slaps her in the face, ducks a punch, and hits a Thesz Press. Kelly has a whip reversed and goes for a head-scissor, but Natalya drops her on her face. Beth is tagged in and they hit a double shoulder block. Beth covers for a two count. Beth chokes her on the ropes and Natalya kicks her in the face. Beth picks up a near fall. Beth goes for a back suplex, but Kelly flips through and tags in Alicia Fox. Fox comes wildly off the top with a cross-body block. Beth sends her to the corner and Fox hits a springboard back elbow. Fox knocks Natalya off the apron and kicks Beth in the head. Fox goes into the ropes and eats a clothesline. Beth hits the Glam Slam for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Beth Phoenix & Natalya
Match Rating: 1/2 *
WWE COO Triple H is walking backstage with Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long. The contract signing is next.
-Commercial Break-
They have the black carpet rolled out and a table set up in the middle of the ring. Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long is in the ring and he introduces the WWE COO Triple H to the ring. Triple H comes into the ring and says, after conferring with the WWE Board of Directors, he cancelled the scheduled CM Punk vs. Kevin Nash match. Instead, CM Punk will go one-on-one with him. The WWE Board was kind enough to allow him to take his suit off for one night to deal with CM Punk. Triple H invites CM Punk to the ring to make the match official.
CM Punk’s music hits and the “Voice of the Voiceless” makes his way to the ring. Punk sits down in the ring and says he finds this unnecessary. Triple H is the almighty WWE COO and his word is gospel. He’s already made the match for Night of Champions so he wants to know why they’re here. Punk asks if he added a stipulation to the match. Triple H apologizes for catching him off guard, but Punk quickly corrects him that he can never catch him off guard. Punk is just a little curious about the content of the contract.
Triple H says he thought Punk made up in intelligence what he lacked in hygiene. Punk disrespected him and his family. Punk says he knew it and Triple H tells him to shut up since he’s not done talking. Ever since he became COO, despite Punk disrespecting him, his family, WWE, his father-in-law, his wife, despite him holding the company hostage with the WWE Championship, he tried to work with him. He bent over backwards for Punk, but he still had to push. Triple H asks who Punk thinks paid to get Living Color to agree to allow him to have “Cult Of Personality”. He did. Triple H says he paid for Punk to have his own t-shirt. Triple H says he gave him Kevin Nash and he still pushed his buttons. Maybe he just needs to be the bigger man, and he’s trying his ass off, but he can only take so much. Punk disrespected him and insulted him as a man. Now, he’ll have to deal with him as a man.
Punk says he expects nothing less. Punk doesn’t want to face the WWE COO – he wants the Cerebral Assassin. He wants to old Triple H because the new Triple H sucks. Maybe Triple H isn’t the man for the job, and that’s his point all along. The last guy who was the COO, Vince McMahon, couldn’t separate personal issues from business. Triple H is doing the same thing. The biggest thing that Vince saw and Triple H doesn’t is that Punk doesn’t hate the WWE. Punk loves this company. If he hated it then he’d be at home a lot happier. What Punk wants is change. He recognizes with things suck and he speaks his mind. He wants things to be better – not just for him, but everybody. Punk is dying for a change and so are the fans. Punk wants to be the catalyst for the change.
Triple H says he wants to be a catalyst for the change as long as it benefits Punk. Triple H says he’s sick to death about Punk saying he’s doing this for the crowd. Maybe half the people agree with Punk and the other half doesn’t give a damn. Some of the people actually LIKE the WWE. Some of them dig it and tune in every week. They come to have a good time. They like it the way it is. Can it be better? Sure it can. His job is to do that. When Punk talks about being a catalyst for change, he’s talking about wanting to be on the top. Punk is no different from himself. The difference with them is Triple H looked everyone in the eye and told them he’d step on him. Punk doesn’t have the balls for that. Punk back-doored his way around and tried to be a martyr.
Punk says he’s not trying to step on anybody. Punk says he’s maybe saying the right things. Punk says half don’t like it and half do. Punk wants EVERY BODY to tune in and enjoy it. Punk wants it to be fun again. If Triple H thinks he’s selfish for wanting to be the man, then he’s right. Punk is doing this for him. Before he was a wrestler and a WWE Superstar, he was a fan. At his core, he is still a fan and will do everything he can to make this place better and fun again. Punk is pushing Triple H’s buttons on purpose by talking about his wife. Triple H failed and he’s just like Vince McMahon. Punk says maybe they were alike, but as it turns out, Triple H is egotistical and vindictive. Triple H hires his old buddies to do his work because he doesn’t want to get his hands dirty. Punk has seen it before. If that change comes by going through Triple H, then he’ll do it. Punk tells him not to fine or suspend him after he kicks his ass at Night of Champions.
Triple H says Punk compares him to Vince. The difference between him and Punk is respect. Triple H respects Vince McMahon for what he’s done for this industry. They wouldn’t be here if not for him. Triple H thanks him for the comparison. Punk says Triple H doesn’t see the future. Vince lost touch and Triple H is living in the past. Triple H still points to his crotch and tells people to “Suck It”. Punk wants change. Triple H says he’s not like Vince McMahon. Vince would have gotten in the ring and took a beating because it’s good for business. Triple H says this has nothing to do with business. It’s personal, and he’s going to kick his skinny, fat ass.
Kevin Nash’s music hits and he quickly makes his way to the ring. Triple H holds Punk back from attacking Nash as he gets in the ring and throws the table aside. Punk ducks a clothesline and punches Nash in the corner. Triple H throws Punk away and Nash drops him with a big boot! Nash then shoves Triple H down and looks wildly at him! Nash turns his back on Triple H and walks off!
Later tonight we’ll see Randy Orton defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Christian in a Steel Cage Match. Sheamus will take on The Great Khali next!
-Commercial Break-
The Great Khali w/ Jinder Mahal vs. Sheamus
Sheamus kicks Khali in the knee and gets a side headlock applied. Khali shoves him off and kicks him in the ribs in the corner. Khali rips the tape off Sheamus’s ribs and continues stomping him. Khali chops his chest hard and Jinder Mahal likes what he is seeing. Khali chops the chest again and clotheslines him down. Khali applies a nerve hold but Sheamus fights up through the pain. Sheamus punches away at Khali and hits some running hammers. Sheamus ducks a clothesline and dropkicks him in the knee. Sheamus talks trash to Mahal. Sheamus’s chest is beet red. Sheamus ties Khali up in the ropes and clubs away at the chest, a la Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. Sheamus hits a running knee and goes to the top rope. Sheamus grounds Khali with a diving shoulder tackle and pumps up. Mahal runs in and beats on Sheamus. This causes a disqualification.
Winner by Disqualification: Sheamus
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Sheamus clubs away at Mahal and turns into a Brain Chop from Khali. Khali picks Sheamus up and throws him out of the ring. Khali follows him and sends him into the ring post. Khali goes for another Brain Chop, but Sheamus ducks. Sheamus drops him with a Brogue Kick and Mahal quickly takes him back down. Mahal beats on Sheamus and puts him in the ring. Mahal gets in and eats a clothesline. Sheamus kicks and hits the Celtic Cross Powerbomb!
They plug the World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage Match for later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
They show the trailer for Triple H’s latest movie “Inside Out”.
85% of the WWE Universe thinks Randy Orton will come out on top in the Cage Match against Christian. They talk about the rules of the Steel Cage match and Booker T gets really hyped up talking about the ramifications of the match. The cage is being lowered and the match is next!
-Commercial Break-
Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Christian vs. Randy Orton (c)
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is officiating his second match of the night. They circle the ring and Christian quickly kicks Orton. Christian immediately tries to get out of the door, but Orton cuts him off. Orton punches away at him and whips him to the corner, but Christian quickly scales the cage. Orton pulls him down and Christian punches him away. Christian jumps off the second rope and gets dropkicked out of mid-air. Orton smiles and covers for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Christian punching Orton in the corner. Christian sends him to the opposite corner, but Orton explodes out with a clothesline. Christian tries to climb the cage so Orton press slams him off the top. Christian avoids an RKO and kicks him in the face. Christian goes into the ropes and takes a back body drop. Orton drops a pair of knees for a two count. Orton tells the referee to open the door so Christian grabs his ankle to prevent him from leaving. Orton punches and goes for his draping DDT, but Christian fights it. Orton bounces Christian’s head off the cage and goes for it again. Christian counters by giving him a back body drop into the cage.
Christian grinds Orton’s face into the cage and steps on him to begin climbing out. Orton grabs his foot so Christian punches. Orton counters a running Christian and rolls him up for a two count. Christian quickly catches Orton with a spinebuster for a near fall. Christian punches away at Orton and signals that he’s going to be the new champion. Christian hits a neckbreaker for a near fall. Christian tries to walk out and Orton cuts him off. Orton punches away at him but Christian quickly turns it and punches away. Christian gets on top of the cage and Orton holds him there. Orton head-butts him on the top rope and knees him in the midsection. Orton hits a picture-perfect superplex and they’re both down.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the final break of the night to see Christian nearly crawl out to become the World Heavyweight Champion. Orton drags Christian back in and stomps him. Christian punches back and Orton throws him headfirst into the cage. Orton hits a pair of clotheslines and goes for the powerslam but Christian has it scouted. Orton sends him into the cage and hits the powerslam for a near fall. Orton goes for the draping DDT, but Christian counters. Christian tries to throw him into the cage, but Orton blocks it. Orton goes to drive Christian into the cage, but Christian counters into a reverse DDT for a near fall.
Christian tries to climb out of the cage and Orton catches him. Orton punches away and head-butts him. Christian punches him off the ropes and hits a frog splash for a near fall! Christian goes to walk out the door, but he’s too slow. Orton again grabs his ankles. Christian kicks him off and sets up for a spear. Orton leapfrogs it, goes for an RKO but Christian pushes him off, and hits Orton with a spear for a near fall! Christian stands over Orton and sets up for a punt kick. Christian charges, but Orton avoids it. Christian fakes going for a sunset flip, which is how Orton won the title in the first place when he RKO’d him in mid-air, and instead tries to climb out. Orton brings him off the top rope and hits his patented over the shoulder neckbreaker for a near fall!
They both fight up to their feet. Christian goes for the Kill Switch, but Orton sends him into the cage. Orton hits him with the draping DDT and he gets the crowd fired up. Christian counters the RKO and goes to climb out of the cage! Christian gets over and Orton stops him from dropping to the floor. They sit on top of the cage and fight it out. We’re in overrun now! Orton stops Christian from sliding off and drags him to the top rope. Orton goes for an RKO off the top rope and Christian attempts a Kill Switch. Orton bounces Christian’s face off the steel beams and hits a top rope RKO! Orton slowly covers and retains his World Heavyweight Championship!
Winner & still World Heavyweight Champion: Randy Orton
Match Rating: ** 1/2
Mark Henry’s music hits and he quickly makes his way to the ring. Henry enters the cage and Orton quickly cuts him off with punches. Henry head-butts him down and stomps Orton. Henry picks Orton up and drives him headfirst into the cage. Henry picks him up and goes for it again, but Orton slides off. Orton punches, but Henry quickly clotheslines him down. Henry picks him up and head-butts him right back down. Henry hits a big splash and yells at Orton to get up. Henry picks him up and launches him into the cage. The crowd boos loudly for Henry. Henry drags him into the ring and picks up his limp body to finish him off with the World’s Strongest Slam! Henry stands over him and screams at him! Henry holds up the World Heavyweight Championship as Smackdown ends!
Quick Match Results
John Cena def. Wade Barrett
Sin Cara def. Daniel Bryan
Beth Phoenix & Natalya def. Kelly Kelly & Alicia Fox
Sheamus def. The Great Khali via DQ
Steel Cage Match: Randy Orton def. Christian to retain the World Heavyweight Title
Bump of the Night: Sin Cara’s springboard cross-body to the outside!
Match of the Night: Christian vs. Randy Orton ** 1/2
Mike’s Thoughts
John Cena was first out to kick off the show and got a mixed reaction. I’m not sure if the audio levels for the crowd was off or if they were just dead to begin with. Cena didn’t get a gigantic reaction like he normally does. He cut a cookie-cutter promo about Smackdown and then called out Alberto Del Rio. Of course, as reported earlier today, Del Rio is having visa problems so he’s in Mexico trying to get them straight. Ricardo Rodriguez came out, cut a promo, and then just started saying Del Rio’s name over and over. Cena punched him in the face and that was the end of that. It seemed like they just threw that together to get Del Rio’s name mentioned. That just didn’t have much heat to it.
Wade Barrett followed and that’s where the segment picked up some steam. They acknowledged their history from last year and Barrett sounded great on his promo. Cena got serious and says he has some payback for Barrett. I got excited about the match following that promo. I knew I shouldn’t have and, wouldn’t you know, I should have went with my gut. It was a glorified squash match. Cena dominated, pretty much allowed Barrett to hit one or two moves, and then finished him up. Last night, Randy Orton gave Dolph Ziggler a really nice match that made him look strong. Tonight, John Cena faces Wade Barrett, and murders him. I don’t want to be a Cena “boo bird”, but this is a microcosm of how WWE can either elevate a talent the right way, or make him look like a total ass. Cena’s spot is secured forever. What harm would it have done to let Barrett look strong in defeat?
Sin Cara and Daniel Bryan followed up with a nice match. Those submissions that Bryan pulled out tonight looked extra sick with the very flexible Sin Cara as his base. Bryan took the loss and I don’t have a problem with that. As I’ve said before, there is PLENTY of time between now and WrestleMania to build him up strong. Sin Cara turned heel on him after the match, and that didn’t get a really big reaction. It’s at this point that I turned my TV up to see if the crowd is dead or my ears are dead. I’m interested to see where they go with this Sin Cara heel turn. Could this be a set-up like Undertaker vs. Undertaker from Summerslam 1994? Could the original come back and bring back honor to his name? I wouldn’t mind seeing a big lucha libre style match like that. But, alas, I’m just fantasy booking in my head.
Somewhere in New Jersey, from my flooded in town, I heard Dave Stephens crying about Alicia Fox turning face. Then I heard him laughing because the Divas of Doom beat her up. I’m giving them a chance. I’d love to see the Divas of Doom go after the Tag Team Titles!
Triple H and CM Punk were out next for their contract signing. I’ve got to say it lacked some serious heat. Punk pretty much regurgitated the same promo he’s been cutting every week and Triple H just didn’t seem into it tonight. Maybe the soft-spoken voice is his idea of dead serious, but with the dead crowd and the length of the segment, it was putting me to sleep. What took them about fifteen minutes to do could have been done in five to eight minutes. Kevin Nash coming out was the highlight of the segment. He may not be cleared to wrestle, but he can still get physical. Nash is going to do well as the wild card at Night of Champions. I’m still excited to see what kind of match Punk gets out of him when the time comes. Back to this segment, I’m not judging the entire angle just off this; I’m just concerned because this is the second night in a row that it just didn’t click. The right word for it is forced. Perhaps the surprise injury to Nash left them scrambling. Given time, I’d love to see Triple H and CM Punk. It just doesn’t feel right at this moment. But, the show must go on and that’s what they’re doing, no matter how forced it feels.
Sheamus fought The Great Khali in a nothing match. They just hit each other hard and Mahal caused the DQ. Sheamus destroyed them both and came out looking strong.
The main event really saved this show. That was an excellent, well-wrestled cage match. I was a little concerned because the first two commercial breaks made the match seem fragmented and rushed, but that final sequence was tremendous. We all knew who was coming out on top, but they kept the drama high. That was a really nice way to end the feud between them once and for all. Finally – a cage match that serves its purpose! Cage matches used to end feuds back in the day so this gimmick was used properly. Mark Henry then came out and absolutely destroyed Randy Orton. Henry is such an awesome character. I’m really excited he’s getting a title opportunity against Orton at NOC.
If the main event didn’t happen, this would be a really bad show. For most of the night, it felt like how the show originally was from 1999 – early 2002 – Raw lite. With the brand split seemingly coming to a close, I wouldn’t mind it going back to that format. At least the show won’t struggle along with only two legitimate top guys.
Final Rating: ** 1/2
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E-Mail – MikeTedesco@wrestleview.com
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