Smackdown
Date:
May 10, 2013
May 10, 2013
Location:
PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Commentators:
Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Josh Mathews
Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Josh Mathews
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
With
only two Smackdowns left until Extreme Rules, the biggest question is
obvious: will more furniture be destroyed here tonight? Oh wait this
is Smackdown, meaning Lesnar and HHH will never appear here. Anyway
tonight we’re likely to get more build up towards the triple threat,
meaning some combination of the people are likely to fight each other
so that one can look weaker than another. Let’s get to it.
only two Smackdowns left until Extreme Rules, the biggest question is
obvious: will more furniture be destroyed here tonight? Oh wait this
is Smackdown, meaning Lesnar and HHH will never appear here. Anyway
tonight we’re likely to get more build up towards the triple threat,
meaning some combination of the people are likely to fight each other
so that one can look weaker than another. Let’s get to it.
We
open with the voiceover and a video on the triple threat stuff from
Raw, with Swagger destroying Ziggler and Del Rio with the ladder.
It’s Swagger vs. Langston tonight, as well as Ambrose vs. Bryan.
open with the voiceover and a video on the triple threat stuff from
Raw, with Swagger destroying Ziggler and Del Rio with the ladder.
It’s Swagger vs. Langston tonight, as well as Ambrose vs. Bryan.
Jericho
is in the ring for the Highlight Reel. His guest tonight is Ryback
so we see some clips from Raw with Ryback beating Cena down. Jericho
says he sees where Ryback is coming from but Ryback doesn’t really
care. It’s Jericho’s show though so he gets to talk about what he
wants to. Jericho knows about all the times Shield has beaten Ryback
down and all the times he’s lost the WWE Championship. He says he’s
been WWE Champion six times so he understands what Ryback is going
through. That’s a bit confusing as he only held that title once.
He’s held six world titles but only one WWE Title.
is in the ring for the Highlight Reel. His guest tonight is Ryback
so we see some clips from Raw with Ryback beating Cena down. Jericho
says he sees where Ryback is coming from but Ryback doesn’t really
care. It’s Jericho’s show though so he gets to talk about what he
wants to. Jericho knows about all the times Shield has beaten Ryback
down and all the times he’s lost the WWE Championship. He says he’s
been WWE Champion six times so he understands what Ryback is going
through. That’s a bit confusing as he only held that title once.
He’s held six world titles but only one WWE Title.
Anyway
Jericho wants to know what Ryback’s Rules are. Jericho has gone
through a period with people gunning for him because he had a chip on
his shoulder the size of the big show. Ryback doesn’t care so
Jericho talks about how the Jericholics are judging Ryback. The fans
understand the difference between beating Rock and Austin in one
night and beating a one legged Cena in one night.
Jericho wants to know what Ryback’s Rules are. Jericho has gone
through a period with people gunning for him because he had a chip on
his shoulder the size of the big show. Ryback doesn’t care so
Jericho talks about how the Jericholics are judging Ryback. The fans
understand the difference between beating Rock and Austin in one
night and beating a one legged Cena in one night.
Jericho
tells Ryback to be careful what he wishes for, because no one will
respect him if he wins the title. Ryback says Jericho talks to much
and threatens to drop him right now. Jericho says he doesn’t think
Ryback will do a thing, so here’s Teddy to make this the main event.
Does Booker do anything on Smackdown anymore? Ryback lays out
Jericho with a right hand.
tells Ryback to be careful what he wishes for, because no one will
respect him if he wins the title. Ryback says Jericho talks to much
and threatens to drop him right now. Jericho says he doesn’t think
Ryback will do a thing, so here’s Teddy to make this the main event.
Does Booker do anything on Smackdown anymore? Ryback lays out
Jericho with a right hand.
Mark
Henry is going to try to pull two tractor trailers tonight to break a
world record.
Henry is going to try to pull two tractor trailers tonight to break a
world record.
Kofi
Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes
Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes
Non-title
of course. Cody trips him down but gets caught in a flip over
armdrag as Kofi speeds things up. Rhodes gets in an elbow to the
face and hits a knee to Kofi’s thigh followed by the front suplex for
two. Off to an armbar on the champion but Kofi easily escapes and
chops Cody down. A rollup gets two on Rhodes but he rolls through
Kofi’s spinning crossbody for two. Both finishers miss but as Cody
loads up the Disaster Kick he jumps into Trouble in Paradise for the
pin at 3:28.
of course. Cody trips him down but gets caught in a flip over
armdrag as Kofi speeds things up. Rhodes gets in an elbow to the
face and hits a knee to Kofi’s thigh followed by the front suplex for
two. Off to an armbar on the champion but Kofi easily escapes and
chops Cody down. A rollup gets two on Rhodes but he rolls through
Kofi’s spinning crossbody for two. Both finishers miss but as Cody
loads up the Disaster Kick he jumps into Trouble in Paradise for the
pin at 3:28.
Rating:
C. This was fine given the time
constraints. I’m not wild on Cody losing again but he’s way past the
point of being a threat on Smackdown. Kofi is still his same old
self, having decent to good matches but never rising above the
midcard at all. In other words, this was exactly what you would
expect from these two.
C. This was fine given the time
constraints. I’m not wild on Cody losing again but he’s way past the
point of being a threat on Smackdown. Kofi is still his same old
self, having decent to good matches but never rising above the
midcard at all. In other words, this was exactly what you would
expect from these two.
We
look at Lesnar destroying HHH’s office on Raw. Calling it
frightening and a workplace invasion over and over again doesn’t make
it suck any less than it already did. I don’t know about you, but I
have a problem getting upset that Lesnar destroyed a bunch of
furniture and a TV that the company probably paid for. Oh wait he
also broke a replica belt and some photos. How ever will HHH replace
those things?
look at Lesnar destroying HHH’s office on Raw. Calling it
frightening and a workplace invasion over and over again doesn’t make
it suck any less than it already did. I don’t know about you, but I
have a problem getting upset that Lesnar destroyed a bunch of
furniture and a TV that the company probably paid for. Oh wait he
also broke a replica belt and some photos. How ever will HHH replace
those things?
Colter
talks about how Swagger is going to climb the ladder like an
AMERICAN, one step at a time.
talks about how Swagger is going to climb the ladder like an
AMERICAN, one step at a time.
Big
E. Langston vs. Jack Swagger
E. Langston vs. Jack Swagger
Del
Rio is on commentary. Before the match, he slides in a ladder but
Swagger kicks Dolph in the face before he can do anything with it.
Langston is knocked to the floor but Ziggler dropkicks the ladder
into Swagger’s face. Del Rio comes in and hits the low superkick to
Dolph’s face and rams the ladder into his head. Swagger has the
ladder thrown at him and Del Rio stands tall atop the ladder.
Somewhere in there Ziggler got a concussion and as of this writing,
his status is still in doubt for the PPV. No match of course.
Rio is on commentary. Before the match, he slides in a ladder but
Swagger kicks Dolph in the face before he can do anything with it.
Langston is knocked to the floor but Ziggler dropkicks the ladder
into Swagger’s face. Del Rio comes in and hits the low superkick to
Dolph’s face and rams the ladder into his head. Swagger has the
ladder thrown at him and Del Rio stands tall atop the ladder.
Somewhere in there Ziggler got a concussion and as of this writing,
his status is still in doubt for the PPV. No match of course.
Dean
Ambrose vs. Daniel Bryan
Ambrose vs. Daniel Bryan
They
slug it out in the corner to start until Bryan hits a running knee to
the ribs to take over. Some hard kicks to the back have Ambrose in
trouble but he comes back by sending Bryan face first into the
buckle. Bryan moonsaults out of the corner and hits a clothesline to
set up kicks to Ambrose’s chest. Dean rolls to the floor and there’s
the big suicide dive to take both guys out.
slug it out in the corner to start until Bryan hits a running knee to
the ribs to take over. Some hard kicks to the back have Ambrose in
trouble but he comes back by sending Bryan face first into the
buckle. Bryan moonsaults out of the corner and hits a clothesline to
set up kicks to Ambrose’s chest. Dean rolls to the floor and there’s
the big suicide dive to take both guys out.
We
take a break and come back with Ambrose dropping elbows on Bryan
before putting on a cross arm choke. Ambrose transitions into a
nerve hold and neck crank, giving him the rest hold trifecta. Bryan
fights up but gets kneed in the ribs to stop his comeback cold. A
running dropkick gets two for Dean and it’s back to the chinlock.
Back up and Ambrose misses a charge in the corner, slamming his
shoulder into the post.
take a break and come back with Ambrose dropping elbows on Bryan
before putting on a cross arm choke. Ambrose transitions into a
nerve hold and neck crank, giving him the rest hold trifecta. Bryan
fights up but gets kneed in the ribs to stop his comeback cold. A
running dropkick gets two for Dean and it’s back to the chinlock.
Back up and Ambrose misses a charge in the corner, slamming his
shoulder into the post.
Bryan
fires off the kicks in the corner before putting Dean in the Tree of
Woe for even more kicks. A running dropkick to Ambrose’s ribs gets
two but he comes back with a quick backslide for two. Bryan kicks
Dean down again and goes up top for the headbutt, only to be
distracted by Shield. The delay makes him switch over to a missile
dropkick for two instead.
fires off the kicks in the corner before putting Dean in the Tree of
Woe for even more kicks. A running dropkick to Ambrose’s ribs gets
two but he comes back with a quick backslide for two. Bryan kicks
Dean down again and goes up top for the headbutt, only to be
distracted by Shield. The delay makes him switch over to a missile
dropkick for two instead.
Dean
comes back with a forward belly to back suplex (he picked Bryan up
for a belly to back and snapped him forward onto the mat instead) for
two. Ambrose is starting to snap and fires off knees to Bryan’s
face. Bryan grabs the NO Lock out of nowhere but Reigns comes in for
the save while the referee is watching Kane and Rollins fight. Dean
loads up the bulldog driver but Kofi Kingston runs in for the DQ at
9:21 shown of 12:51.
comes back with a forward belly to back suplex (he picked Bryan up
for a belly to back and snapped him forward onto the mat instead) for
two. Ambrose is starting to snap and fires off knees to Bryan’s
face. Bryan grabs the NO Lock out of nowhere but Reigns comes in for
the save while the referee is watching Kane and Rollins fight. Dean
loads up the bulldog driver but Kofi Kingston runs in for the DQ at
9:21 shown of 12:51.
Rating:
B-. Good match here as Ambrose
continues to look good in the ring. I like the Kofi run in as it’s
pretty clearly setting up Ambrose challenging him for the US Title
either at Extreme Rules or soon thereafter. The match here worked
well as both guys got to look strong and the ending saves both guys
from losing while also setting up future stuff. That’s how I like my
run in finishes: efficient.
B-. Good match here as Ambrose
continues to look good in the ring. I like the Kofi run in as it’s
pretty clearly setting up Ambrose challenging him for the US Title
either at Extreme Rules or soon thereafter. The match here worked
well as both guys got to look strong and the ending saves both guys
from losing while also setting up future stuff. That’s how I like my
run in finishes: efficient.
Shield
is cleared out post match.
is cleared out post match.
We
recap the Highlight Reel, because we can’t remember something that
happened 50 minutes ago.
recap the Highlight Reel, because we can’t remember something that
happened 50 minutes ago.
We
see a clip from earlier today with Mark Henry attached to a semi
truck and pulling it down the road. Apparently that’s a warmup and
next he’ll pull TWO of them, which combine to weigh over 110,000lbs.
see a clip from earlier today with Mark Henry attached to a semi
truck and pulling it down the road. Apparently that’s a warmup and
next he’ll pull TWO of them, which combine to weigh over 110,000lbs.
Clip
from Raw of Sheamus getting taken down by Henry and whipped with a
belt. The photos of the welts on his body are rather disturbing.
The match at Extreme Rules is a strap match, where you have to touch
all four buckles.
from Raw of Sheamus getting taken down by Henry and whipped with a
belt. The photos of the welts on his body are rather disturbing.
The match at Extreme Rules is a strap match, where you have to touch
all four buckles.
We
go live to the parking lot where Henry is attached to two semi
trucks. Before he starts he promises to destroy Sheamus at the PPV.
Henry can’t pull it at first but after Striker asks him some annoying
questions, Henry gets all fired up and finally pulls them forward.
That’s rather impressive looking, whether it was rigged or not.
Henry is spent….and Sheamus doesn’t appear. That’s kind of
surprising.
go live to the parking lot where Henry is attached to two semi
trucks. Before he starts he promises to destroy Sheamus at the PPV.
Henry can’t pull it at first but after Striker asks him some annoying
questions, Henry gets all fired up and finally pulls them forward.
That’s rather impressive looking, whether it was rigged or not.
Henry is spent….and Sheamus doesn’t appear. That’s kind of
surprising.
The
Raw ReBound recounts all of the Ryback/Cena stuff from Raw.
Raw ReBound recounts all of the Ryback/Cena stuff from Raw.
Randy
Orton looks at a clip of Big Show knocking him out on Monday. He
says that vouching for Big Show got him knocked out twice, which has
only made him more venomous.
Orton looks at a clip of Big Show knocking him out on Monday. He
says that vouching for Big Show got him knocked out twice, which has
only made him more venomous.
Big
Show vs. Tensai
Show vs. Tensai
Tensai
pounds away at Big Show and knocks him into the corner with right
hands. Not that it matters as Show hits a single right hand and wins
in 50 seconds.
pounds away at Big Show and knocks him into the corner with right
hands. Not that it matters as Show hits a single right hand and wins
in 50 seconds.
Brodus
gets speared down by Big Show but before Show can load up the WMD,
Orton runs in with an RKO for the giant.
gets speared down by Big Show but before Show can load up the WMD,
Orton runs in with an RKO for the giant.
AJ
runs into Kaitlyn as she gets another text from her secret admirer.
Kaitlyn suggests that it’s Dolph and they get into a catty argument
until Natalya comes up to scare AJ off. Khali pops up in a Mysterio
mask which is his undercover attire. He takes off the mask to reveal
that it’s actually not Mysterio before leaving. Kaitlyn says the
mask isn’t really needed and he just needs to keep his ears open.
Natalya tells Khali he doesn’t have to dress like Rhodes, as he now
has a mustache on.
runs into Kaitlyn as she gets another text from her secret admirer.
Kaitlyn suggests that it’s Dolph and they get into a catty argument
until Natalya comes up to scare AJ off. Khali pops up in a Mysterio
mask which is his undercover attire. He takes off the mask to reveal
that it’s actually not Mysterio before leaving. Kaitlyn says the
mask isn’t really needed and he just needs to keep his ears open.
Natalya tells Khali he doesn’t have to dress like Rhodes, as he now
has a mustache on.
Chris
Jericho vs. Ryback
Jericho vs. Ryback
Ryback
shoves him into the corner to start but gets caught by a dropkick to
put him down. Jericho is thrown to the floor as Ryback shrugs off
whatever Chris throws at him. Back in and Ryback pounds Jericho down
as the fans chant for the Canadian. Off to a chinlock by Ryback but
Jericho fights up and elbows Ryback to the apron for the springboard
dropkick. Ryback starts getting fired up but that might be too
interesting for a heel so he stops to think instead as we take a
break.
shoves him into the corner to start but gets caught by a dropkick to
put him down. Jericho is thrown to the floor as Ryback shrugs off
whatever Chris throws at him. Back in and Ryback pounds Jericho down
as the fans chant for the Canadian. Off to a chinlock by Ryback but
Jericho fights up and elbows Ryback to the apron for the springboard
dropkick. Ryback starts getting fired up but that might be too
interesting for a heel so he stops to think instead as we take a
break.
Back
with Ryback stomping on Jericho in the corner before working over the
leg a little bit. Now it’s off to a body vice as Ryback can’t seem
to pick a body part. Jericho fights up but gets caught in a big
spinebuster for two as JBL gets annoyed with Josh being an idiot on
commentary. Josh: “Ryback will be in the ring with John Cena in
ten days.” JBL: “WELL DUH!” Off to a neck crank on Jericho as
Ryback mocks the fans chanting for him. Back up and Jericho is sent
over the top, only to hold on and go up top for an ax handle to the
head.
with Ryback stomping on Jericho in the corner before working over the
leg a little bit. Now it’s off to a body vice as Ryback can’t seem
to pick a body part. Jericho fights up but gets caught in a big
spinebuster for two as JBL gets annoyed with Josh being an idiot on
commentary. Josh: “Ryback will be in the ring with John Cena in
ten days.” JBL: “WELL DUH!” Off to a neck crank on Jericho as
Ryback mocks the fans chanting for him. Back up and Jericho is sent
over the top, only to hold on and go up top for an ax handle to the
head.
Ryback
slams him down again but misses a splash, allowing Jericho to hit a
Lionsault to Ryback’s back for two. As usual, the announcers are
surprised that the Lionsault only got two. The Codebreaker is
countered into another spinebuster and there’s a jackknife powerbomb
to keep the Canadian down. Someone needs to use the powerbomb as a
finisher again. It’s been far too long. Josh is totally behind
Ryback in this match and criticizes Cole for hanging on to Cena,
complete with comparing Cole’s love of Cena to JR’s love of Austin.
That’s very odd to hear coming from Matthews.
slams him down again but misses a splash, allowing Jericho to hit a
Lionsault to Ryback’s back for two. As usual, the announcers are
surprised that the Lionsault only got two. The Codebreaker is
countered into another spinebuster and there’s a jackknife powerbomb
to keep the Canadian down. Someone needs to use the powerbomb as a
finisher again. It’s been far too long. Josh is totally behind
Ryback in this match and criticizes Cole for hanging on to Cena,
complete with comparing Cole’s love of Cena to JR’s love of Austin.
That’s very odd to hear coming from Matthews.
Jericho
makes a quick comeback and tries the Walls but Ryback is just too
strong. He kicks Jericho away before catching a cross body in a
fallaway slam for no cover. The Meathook connects but Chris rolls
through Shell Shock into the Walls of Jericho but Ryback easily gets
the ropes. Now the Codebreaker hits but Ryback falls out to the
floor. Jericho follows him out but gets thrown into the barricade
and crotched against the post…..for a DQ at 11:00 shown of 14:30.
makes a quick comeback and tries the Walls but Ryback is just too
strong. He kicks Jericho away before catching a cross body in a
fallaway slam for no cover. The Meathook connects but Chris rolls
through Shell Shock into the Walls of Jericho but Ryback easily gets
the ropes. Now the Codebreaker hits but Ryback falls out to the
floor. Jericho follows him out but gets thrown into the barricade
and crotched against the post…..for a DQ at 11:00 shown of 14:30.
Rating:
C+. Not bad here but the ending
was kind of lame. I guess the idea was to show that Ryback will be
able to do whatever he wants to do at the PPV, but it really fell
flat here. Instead the ending could have been beating Jericho down
and counting to ten, but again that might make Ryback look too
intense and he might be effective as a heel. Also what was with Josh
being a Ryback fanboy here?
C+. Not bad here but the ending
was kind of lame. I guess the idea was to show that Ryback will be
able to do whatever he wants to do at the PPV, but it really fell
flat here. Instead the ending could have been beating Jericho down
and counting to ten, but again that might make Ryback look too
intense and he might be effective as a heel. Also what was with Josh
being a Ryback fanboy here?
Post
match Ryback knocks Jericho over the announce table to end the show.
match Ryback knocks Jericho over the announce table to end the show.
Overall
Rating: C-. This wasn’t a bad
show but it felt like nothing happened at all. There were four
matches and two of them didn’t even make it to three and a half
minutes. The Henry thing, which impressive, didn’t do much for
anyone, Ryback continues to flounder as a heel because everything
that got him over as a face has been taken away because it might make
him too interesting. The world title stuff is the same schtick we’ve
seen them do for months now. The show definitely isn’t bad but it
continues to have Smackdown’s main problem: there’s no need for it to
exist.
Rating: C-. This wasn’t a bad
show but it felt like nothing happened at all. There were four
matches and two of them didn’t even make it to three and a half
minutes. The Henry thing, which impressive, didn’t do much for
anyone, Ryback continues to flounder as a heel because everything
that got him over as a face has been taken away because it might make
him too interesting. The world title stuff is the same schtick we’ve
seen them do for months now. The show definitely isn’t bad but it
continues to have Smackdown’s main problem: there’s no need for it to
exist.
Results
Kofi
Kingston b. Cody Rhodes – Trouble in Paradise
Kingston b. Cody Rhodes – Trouble in Paradise
Dean
Ambrose b. Daniel Bryan via DQ when Kofi Kingston interfered
Ambrose b. Daniel Bryan via DQ when Kofi Kingston interfered
Big
Show b. Tensai – WMD
Show b. Tensai – WMD
Chris
Jericho b. Ryback via DQ when Ryback sent Jericho into the post
Jericho b. Ryback via DQ when Ryback sent Jericho into the post
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