Smackdown
Date:
August 17, 2012
August 17, 2012
Location:
Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas
Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas
Commentators:
Michael Cole, Josh Matthews
Michael Cole, Josh Matthews
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It’s
the final show before Summerslam and the main topic is Del Rio
wanting an explanation from Booker as to why he lost his title match
against Sheamus. My guess would be because no one wants to see that
match and Booker is trying to spare us from having to sit through it,
but I’d be stunned if the match didn’t wind up being back on by the
end of the show with no changes at all. Let’s get to it.
the final show before Summerslam and the main topic is Del Rio
wanting an explanation from Booker as to why he lost his title match
against Sheamus. My guess would be because no one wants to see that
match and Booker is trying to spare us from having to sit through it,
but I’d be stunned if the match didn’t wind up being back on by the
end of the show with no changes at all. Let’s get to it.
We
open with a recap of Del Rio talking about how he’s going to win the
title at Summerslam mixed with clips of the car saga with Sheamus.
open with a recap of Del Rio talking about how he’s going to win the
title at Summerslam mixed with clips of the car saga with Sheamus.
Here’s
Del Rio in the arena minus his car. He wants the title back now
because Sheamus needs to be punished for destroying Del Rio’s car.
That’s a good point. Del Rio says he’s not leaving until he gets his
title match back. That brings out Booker who wants to know why Del
Rio has been a thorn in his side since he became GM. Booker talks
about how what Del Rio did last week was crossing a line and that
won’t be tolerated. Del Rio mentions the scariest thing in WWE:
lawyers.
Del Rio in the arena minus his car. He wants the title back now
because Sheamus needs to be punished for destroying Del Rio’s car.
That’s a good point. Del Rio says he’s not leaving until he gets his
title match back. That brings out Booker who wants to know why Del
Rio has been a thorn in his side since he became GM. Booker talks
about how what Del Rio did last week was crossing a line and that
won’t be tolerated. Del Rio mentions the scariest thing in WWE:
lawyers.
Thank
goodness here’s Jericho of all people to interrupt by asking Del Rio
to shut up. Jericho rips him apart, saying no one cares about
anything Del Rio says. Del Rio yells in Spa
goodness here’s Jericho of all people to interrupt by asking Del Rio
to shut up. Jericho rips him apart, saying no one cares about
anything Del Rio says. Del Rio yells in Spa
nish but Jericho comes
back with Spanish of his own. Jericho says that after he beats
Ziggler on Sunday, maybe he’ll take Del Rio’s spot in the main event
and win the world title. Booker makes Jericho vs. Del Rio for the
main event tonight. This would be a perfect example of people with
charisma vs. a person with absolutely no charisma at all.
back with Spanish of his own. Jericho says that after he beats
Ziggler on Sunday, maybe he’ll take Del Rio’s spot in the main event
and win the world title. Booker makes Jericho vs. Del Rio for the
main event tonight. This would be a perfect example of people with
charisma vs. a person with absolutely no charisma at all.
Cody
Rhodes/The Miz vs. Sin Cara/Rey Mysterio
Rhodes/The Miz vs. Sin Cara/Rey Mysterio
Cody
says he wants to expose Sin Cara’s face and he has a picture of him
unmasked. It’s a drawing which looks like an alien. Cody and Cara
start us off but both heels are quickly sent to the floor. The
masked men take out their respective rivals with dives before we head
back inside. Cody kicks Cara in the head to take over and it’s off
to Miz. After the champ does nothing at all it’s back to Cody who
goes for the mask.
says he wants to expose Sin Cara’s face and he has a picture of him
unmasked. It’s a drawing which looks like an alien. Cody and Cara
start us off but both heels are quickly sent to the floor. The
masked men take out their respective rivals with dives before we head
back inside. Cody kicks Cara in the head to take over and it’s off
to Miz. After the champ does nothing at all it’s back to Cody who
goes for the mask.
Miz
comes back in but Cara kicks him in the leg a few times to get a
breather. Back to Cody who gets taken down as well. Hot tag brings
in Rey for some headscissors followed by a kick to the head of Cody
for two. The sitout bulldog gets two as Miz makes the save. Cara
clotheslines Miz to the floor but tries to skin the cat. Cody goes
for the mask but it puts him in 619 position. That and the top rope
splash from Rey get the pin at 4:22.
comes back in but Cara kicks him in the leg a few times to get a
breather. Back to Cody who gets taken down as well. Hot tag brings
in Rey for some headscissors followed by a kick to the head of Cody
for two. The sitout bulldog gets two as Miz makes the save. Cara
clotheslines Miz to the floor but tries to skin the cat. Cody goes
for the mask but it puts him in 619 position. That and the top rope
splash from Rey get the pin at 4:22.
Rating:
C+. Nothing great here but it
gave us some hype for both feuds, although I don’t think Cody vs.
Cara has been announced for Summerslam. Rey vs. Miz is as tacked on
as it gets, but just having the title defended at Summerslam is a
step up for the belt in recent months. Also it’s good to have Cody
lose here instead of Rey beating the champ again. Decent match here.
C+. Nothing great here but it
gave us some hype for both feuds, although I don’t think Cody vs.
Cara has been announced for Summerslam. Rey vs. Miz is as tacked on
as it gets, but just having the title defended at Summerslam is a
step up for the belt in recent months. Also it’s good to have Cody
lose here instead of Rey beating the champ again. Decent match here.
Rey
takes out Miz post match.
takes out Miz post match.
Curt
Hawkins/Tyler Reks vs. ???/???
Hawkins/Tyler Reks vs. ???/???
Reks
and Hawkins come to the ring in suits which they remove while
dancing. Just what we needed: male strippers. Hawkins starts with
Jobber A and it’s quickly off to Reks. Apparently Reks and Hawkins’
mission is to trend worldwide. Not to win matches or championships,
but to trend on Twitter. Jobber B comes in and gets his head kicked
in by Reks before a powerslam/sliding neckbreaker combo gets the pin
at 1:37. I don’t see this gimmick lasting long.
and Hawkins come to the ring in suits which they remove while
dancing. Just what we needed: male strippers. Hawkins starts with
Jobber A and it’s quickly off to Reks. Apparently Reks and Hawkins’
mission is to trend worldwide. Not to win matches or championships,
but to trend on Twitter. Jobber B comes in and gets his head kicked
in by Reks before a powerslam/sliding neckbreaker combo gets the pin
at 1:37. I don’t see this gimmick lasting long.
Long
recap of Punk’s title reign. By entire reign I mean we skip
everything from Survivor Series up to Raw 1000.
recap of Punk’s title reign. By entire reign I mean we skip
everything from Survivor Series up to Raw 1000.
Regal
wishes Eve luck in her match tonight but she says she doesn’t need
it. Regal reminisces about being in charge of Raw but now he’s in
charge of taking out the trash.
wishes Eve luck in her match tonight but she says she doesn’t need
it. Regal reminisces about being in charge of Raw but now he’s in
charge of taking out the trash.
Wade
Barrett is coming back.
Barrett is coming back.
Kaitlyn
vs. Eve Torres
vs. Eve Torres
The
winner is Booker’s assistant. Eve takes her to the mat immediately
and hooks an armbar. Kaitlyn backdrops her down and hits a shoulder
block for two. A small package gets one for Kaitlyn but Eve gets up
and hits a Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza for the pin and
the job at 2:15. It’s a swinging suplex but I don’t think it has an
official name other than that.
winner is Booker’s assistant. Eve takes her to the mat immediately
and hooks an armbar. Kaitlyn backdrops her down and hits a shoulder
block for two. A small package gets one for Kaitlyn but Eve gets up
and hits a Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza for the pin and
the job at 2:15. It’s a swinging suplex but I don’t think it has an
official name other than that.
Eve
comes in to see Booker and says she has a lot of ideas. Booker wants
to know if she and Teddy can get along. Eve says yes and that’s it.
I have no idea what the point in 45 seconds being spent on this was.
comes in to see Booker and says she has a lot of ideas. Booker wants
to know if she and Teddy can get along. Eve says yes and that’s it.
I have no idea what the point in 45 seconds being spent on this was.
Daniel
Bryan vs. Randy Orton
Bryan vs. Randy Orton
Feeling
out process to start with Orton taking Bryan down with a shoulder
block. A clothesline gets two on Daniel and he bails to the floor.
He argues with a fan using only two words over and over again before
walking back into another clothesline. Orton stomps away a bit but
misses a knee drop. Bryan kicks the knee out (not the one that
missed but whatever) and goes after it like a heel submission master
would.
out process to start with Orton taking Bryan down with a shoulder
block. A clothesline gets two on Daniel and he bails to the floor.
He argues with a fan using only two words over and over again before
walking back into another clothesline. Orton stomps away a bit but
misses a knee drop. Bryan kicks the knee out (not the one that
missed but whatever) and goes after it like a heel submission master
would.
Orton
pounds away to come back but Bryan kicks the knee out again. He
shouts NO a lot and goes up, only to get crotched and superplexed.
We take a break and come back with Orton pounding Bryan in the head
but Bryan takes the knee out again. That may sound familiar if
you’re paying attention. Bryan misses a charge into the corner and
gets rolled up for two. Orton fires up his finishing sequence but
the knee slows him down again.
pounds away to come back but Bryan kicks the knee out again. He
shouts NO a lot and goes up, only to get crotched and superplexed.
We take a break and come back with Orton pounding Bryan in the head
but Bryan takes the knee out again. That may sound familiar if
you’re paying attention. Bryan misses a charge into the corner and
gets rolled up for two. Orton fires up his finishing sequence but
the knee slows him down again.
The
Elevated DDT is escaped and they head to the floor with Bryan being
sent into the barricade. Back inside and Bryan bails immediately.
Orton can’t stand up because of the knee so he rolls to the floor
where Bryan whips him into the steps knee first. Back in and Bryan
fires off the NO Kicks but Orton ducks the big one and hits his
backbreaker for two.
Elevated DDT is escaped and they head to the floor with Bryan being
sent into the barricade. Back inside and Bryan bails immediately.
Orton can’t stand up because of the knee so he rolls to the floor
where Bryan whips him into the steps knee first. Back in and Bryan
fires off the NO Kicks but Orton ducks the big one and hits his
backbreaker for two.
The
knee keeps him from following up so Bryan climbs the corner, only to
get caught in the Elevated DDT. RKO is countered into the NO Lock,
which makes little sense given the amount of leg work done so far.
Here’s Kane….or at least his music for the most overdone way to end
a match in the WWE today. Bryan bails to the floor before coming
back in for an RKO and the pin at 10:48 shown of 14:18.
knee keeps him from following up so Bryan climbs the corner, only to
get caught in the Elevated DDT. RKO is countered into the NO Lock,
which makes little sense given the amount of leg work done so far.
Here’s Kane….or at least his music for the most overdone way to end
a match in the WWE today. Bryan bails to the floor before coming
back in for an RKO and the pin at 10:48 shown of 14:18.
Rating:
B-. I was digging this one
until the ending brought it down. Orton was selling the knee very
well here and it gave us a nice story for the match. One thing that
I touched on in the match though which drives me crazy: why would
Bryan go for the NO Lock? He’s a submission master and he knows a
few dozen submissions he could use on the leg, but instead he uses a
shoulder hold, simply because it’s his finisher. I can’t stand it
when people who are known to use multiple submissions use one that
makes no sense in the current match because it goes against Bryan’s
character in a lot of ways. Good match though.
B-. I was digging this one
until the ending brought it down. Orton was selling the knee very
well here and it gave us a nice story for the match. One thing that
I touched on in the match though which drives me crazy: why would
Bryan go for the NO Lock? He’s a submission master and he knows a
few dozen submissions he could use on the leg, but instead he uses a
shoulder hold, simply because it’s his finisher. I can’t stand it
when people who are known to use multiple submissions use one that
makes no sense in the current match because it goes against Bryan’s
character in a lot of ways. Good match though.
Kane
pops up on the stage post match and smiles.
pops up on the stage post match and smiles.
Santino
is out for commentary.
is out for commentary.
Antonio
Cesaro vs. Zach Ryder
Cesaro vs. Zach Ryder
Antonio
immediately throws Ryder down with the gutwrench suplex. Ryder is in
red/orange here instead of the usual purple. Santino talks about his
training for the match Sunday as Ryder makes a well received
comeback. Broski Boot gets two but Cesaro hot shots him and the
Neutralizer gets the pin at 1:30.
immediately throws Ryder down with the gutwrench suplex. Ryder is in
red/orange here instead of the usual purple. Santino talks about his
training for the match Sunday as Ryder makes a well received
comeback. Broski Boot gets two but Cesaro hot shots him and the
Neutralizer gets the pin at 1:30.
Santino
gets shoved post match.
gets shoved post match.
Long
recap of Lesnar vs. HHH. Shawn won’t be at Summerslam because of his
broken arm. We get some fans’ tweets on the match.
recap of Lesnar vs. HHH. Shawn won’t be at Summerslam because of his
broken arm. We get some fans’ tweets on the match.
Alberto
Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho
Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho
They
have a lot of time for this. After Del Rio’s entrance we cut to the
back where Ziggler is destroying Jericho. After a break Del Rio
wants Booker to come out here and say the title match is back on, but
here’s a hobbling Jericho instead, who says ring the bell. Del Rio
immediately kicks him in the ribs for two as Jericho is in trouble
early. Alberto chokes in the corner and kicks Jericho out to the
apron.
have a lot of time for this. After Del Rio’s entrance we cut to the
back where Ziggler is destroying Jericho. After a break Del Rio
wants Booker to come out here and say the title match is back on, but
here’s a hobbling Jericho instead, who says ring the bell. Del Rio
immediately kicks him in the ribs for two as Jericho is in trouble
early. Alberto chokes in the corner and kicks Jericho out to the
apron.
Del
Rio loads up the armbreaker (more acceptable here because that’s his
only submission hold) but Jericho escapes into an enziguri. They
head to the apron again and Jericho is knocked into the announce
table as we take a break. Back with Del Rio holding Jericho in a
body scissors followed by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. A
middle rope double stomp misses for Del Rio and Jericho makes a quick
comeback.
Rio loads up the armbreaker (more acceptable here because that’s his
only submission hold) but Jericho escapes into an enziguri. They
head to the apron again and Jericho is knocked into the announce
table as we take a break. Back with Del Rio holding Jericho in a
body scissors followed by a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. A
middle rope double stomp misses for Del Rio and Jericho makes a quick
comeback.
Chris
hits the bulldog and Lionsault but can’t cover immediately because of
the ribs. Del Rio tries the Codebreaker on the arm but Jericho
counters into the Walls. Del Rio kicks him off into the ropes which
are being pulled down by Ziggler. Dolph throws Jericho back in and a
big kick to the head from Alberto gets the pin at 6:13 shown of 9:43.
hits the bulldog and Lionsault but can’t cover immediately because of
the ribs. Del Rio tries the Codebreaker on the arm but Jericho
counters into the Walls. Del Rio kicks him off into the ropes which
are being pulled down by Ziggler. Dolph throws Jericho back in and a
big kick to the head from Alberto gets the pin at 6:13 shown of 9:43.
Rating:
C. This was fine. Jericho
being injured going into the PPV wasn’t really needed as you could
have just had the ending here to add more heat to Jericho vs. Ziggler
but it’s not that big of a deal. Del Rio looks a bit stronger, but he
doesn’t have a match on Sunday now. Oh who am I kidding. You know
what’s coming.
C. This was fine. Jericho
being injured going into the PPV wasn’t really needed as you could
have just had the ending here to add more heat to Jericho vs. Ziggler
but it’s not that big of a deal. Del Rio looks a bit stronger, but he
doesn’t have a match on Sunday now. Oh who am I kidding. You know
what’s coming.
Post
match Sheamus runs out and beats up Del Rio, chasing him off into the
crowd. Booker comes out and Sheamus begs him to put the match back
on the card for Sunday. He doesn’t care about the arm injury and
eventually Booker agrees, making the last week’s worth of
developments totally pointless.
match Sheamus runs out and beats up Del Rio, chasing him off into the
crowd. Booker comes out and Sheamus begs him to put the match back
on the card for Sunday. He doesn’t care about the arm injury and
eventually Booker agrees, making the last week’s worth of
developments totally pointless.
Overall
Rating: C+. This show did a
good job at building up a lot of the matches for Sunday, but the
problem is that most of them have barely gotten any build at all
leading up to tonight’s show. Look at Miz vs. Mysterio for example.
There was a match a week ago and now they have a rematch on Sunday.
That’s not exactly making me want to buy the show for it but it’s
certainly better than an unannounced match.
Rating: C+. This show did a
good job at building up a lot of the matches for Sunday, but the
problem is that most of them have barely gotten any build at all
leading up to tonight’s show. Look at Miz vs. Mysterio for example.
There was a match a week ago and now they have a rematch on Sunday.
That’s not exactly making me want to buy the show for it but it’s
certainly better than an unannounced match.
As
for the world title, at the end of the day Del Rio is not interesting
at all and he drags it way down. Sheamus showing emotion helps him a
lot, as does having him in street clothes for some reason. Anyway,
good show tonight and a good build for Summerslam, but what they’re
building to doesn’t look all that interesting.
for the world title, at the end of the day Del Rio is not interesting
at all and he drags it way down. Sheamus showing emotion helps him a
lot, as does having him in street clothes for some reason. Anyway,
good show tonight and a good build for Summerslam, but what they’re
building to doesn’t look all that interesting.
Results
Sin
Cara/Rey Mysterio b. Cody Rhodes/The Miz – Top rope splash to
Rhodes
Cara/Rey Mysterio b. Cody Rhodes/The Miz – Top rope splash to
Rhodes
Curt
Hawkins/Tyler Reks b. ???/??? – Poweslam/Neckbreaker combination
Hawkins/Tyler Reks b. ???/??? – Poweslam/Neckbreaker combination
Eve
Torres b. Kaitlyn – Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza
Torres b. Kaitlyn – Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza
Randy
Orton b. Daniel Bryan – RKO
Orton b. Daniel Bryan – RKO
Antonio
Cesaro b. Zach Ryder – Neutralizer
Cesaro b. Zach Ryder – Neutralizer
Alberto
Del Rio b. Chris Jericho – Kick to the head
Del Rio b. Chris Jericho – Kick to the head
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