Smackdown – July 19, 2013
By Scott Keith on July 20, 2013
Smackdown
Date:
July 19, 2013
July 19, 2013
Location:
Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators:
Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
With
Money in the Bank passed we’re now in the period of waiting for
Sandow to cash in. After Monday night we have some of the main
events set for Summerslam which means we need some blue matches to
balance it out. Also Ziggler is officially a face after breaking up
with AJ and being destroyed by Langston. Let’s get to it.
Money in the Bank passed we’re now in the period of waiting for
Sandow to cash in. After Monday night we have some of the main
events set for Summerslam which means we need some blue matches to
balance it out. Also Ziggler is officially a face after breaking up
with AJ and being destroyed by Langston. Let’s get to it.
Opening
sequence again, which I think is the norm now.
sequence again, which I think is the norm now.
Here’s
Teddy Long to get things going. Tonight there’s going to be a new
general manager named and Teddy wants to throw his name in the hat.
He doesn’t know how good he’d be but he’ll be better than Vickie
Guerrero. Vince will be here in person tonight to give Teddy a job
evaluation. Teddy polls the crowd who seems to like the idea of Long
being the boss long term.
Teddy Long to get things going. Tonight there’s going to be a new
general manager named and Teddy wants to throw his name in the hat.
He doesn’t know how good he’d be but he’ll be better than Vickie
Guerrero. Vince will be here in person tonight to give Teddy a job
evaluation. Teddy polls the crowd who seems to like the idea of Long
being the boss long term.
This
brings out the returning Booker T to thank Teddy for filling in while
Booker was out getting triceps surgery. Booker is back to be the GM
now but here’s Vince with something to say on the subject. Vince
asks Teddy what match he would make to impress the fans so Teddy
suggests Axel vs. Jericho for the Intercontinental Title. Booker’s
offer is Del Rio vs. Orton, which brings out Raw GM Brad Maddox. He
thinks he should be GM of both shows because he was going to suggest
both matches as well as the Smackdown return of RVD.
brings out the returning Booker T to thank Teddy for filling in while
Booker was out getting triceps surgery. Booker is back to be the GM
now but here’s Vince with something to say on the subject. Vince
asks Teddy what match he would make to impress the fans so Teddy
suggests Axel vs. Jericho for the Intercontinental Title. Booker’s
offer is Del Rio vs. Orton, which brings out Raw GM Brad Maddox. He
thinks he should be GM of both shows because he was going to suggest
both matches as well as the Smackdown return of RVD.
Vince’s
pick for the permanent Smackdown GM: Vickie freaking Guerrero. Well
of course she is, because if there’s one thing WWE needs it’s ANOTHER
heel boss character. She blames the fans for getting her fired from
Raw so she hates us all. Vickie goes into crazy mode, yelling about
how she runs this show and is going to take everything out on the
fans. You know, because we haven’t done this same idea for the last
year or so on Raw.
pick for the permanent Smackdown GM: Vickie freaking Guerrero. Well
of course she is, because if there’s one thing WWE needs it’s ANOTHER
heel boss character. She blames the fans for getting her fired from
Raw so she hates us all. Vickie goes into crazy mode, yelling about
how she runs this show and is going to take everything out on the
fans. You know, because we haven’t done this same idea for the last
year or so on Raw.
Jack
Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler
Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler
Before
the match we get a clip from Raw of Ziggler breaking up with AJ and
then having her cost him a match against Del Rio. A rollup sends
Swagger to the floor as AJ and Langston are watching in the back.
Back in and Dolph pounds away in the corner and takes Jack down with
a dropkick. Cesaro trips Dolph off the apron and hits an uppercut,
earning him an ejection along with Colter. Back in and a sunset flip
gets two for Dolph but he has to escape the Patriot Lock. The Zig
Zag is good for the pin at 3:13.
the match we get a clip from Raw of Ziggler breaking up with AJ and
then having her cost him a match against Del Rio. A rollup sends
Swagger to the floor as AJ and Langston are watching in the back.
Back in and Dolph pounds away in the corner and takes Jack down with
a dropkick. Cesaro trips Dolph off the apron and hits an uppercut,
earning him an ejection along with Colter. Back in and a sunset flip
gets two for Dolph but he has to escape the Patriot Lock. The Zig
Zag is good for the pin at 3:13.
Rating:
D+. Ziggler was fine here and
the fans loved him which is the right idea. It’s a lot easier to get
behind a feud with Langston instead of Del Rio as the matches and
promos will actually be entertaining. This is a big upgrade for
Dolph as he can go after the title later on and get some character
development against Big E.
D+. Ziggler was fine here and
the fans loved him which is the right idea. It’s a lot easier to get
behind a feud with Langston instead of Del Rio as the matches and
promos will actually be entertaining. This is a big upgrade for
Dolph as he can go after the title later on and get some character
development against Big E.
Post
match Ziggler says he’s sorry he dumped AJ on Monday because he
should have done it a lot sooner. That’s the kind of stuff he’s been
needing to say to help cement his face turn.
match Ziggler says he’s sorry he dumped AJ on Monday because he
should have done it a lot sooner. That’s the kind of stuff he’s been
needing to say to help cement his face turn.
AJ
freaks out in the back and throws a lot of chairs. Langston grabs
her to calm her down and they look at each other but he kisses her on
the forehead.
freaks out in the back and throws a lot of chairs. Langston grabs
her to calm her down and they look at each other but he kisses her on
the forehead.
Seth
Rollins/Roman Reigns vs. Usos
Rollins/Roman Reigns vs. Usos
Non-title.
The Usos charge the ring and the fight is on before the bell.
Ambrose comes in as well until Mark Henry comes out to clear the
ring. The good guys stand tall and Henry is a face.
The Usos charge the ring and the fight is on before the bell.
Ambrose comes in as well until Mark Henry comes out to clear the
ring. The good guys stand tall and Henry is a face.
Daniel
Bryan vs. Wade Barrett
Bryan vs. Wade Barrett
The
place goes NUTS for Bryan. Barrett catches a cross body and puts
Bryan stomach first on the top rope for some forearms to the back. A
slingshot into a backbreaker gets two and it’s off to a bow and arrow
submission. Bryan fires off kicks in the corner and backflips over
Barrett, only to be caught in the Winds of Change which are countered
into a crucifix into the YES Lock for the submission at 1:54.
place goes NUTS for Bryan. Barrett catches a cross body and puts
Bryan stomach first on the top rope for some forearms to the back. A
slingshot into a backbreaker gets two and it’s off to a bow and arrow
submission. Bryan fires off kicks in the corner and backflips over
Barrett, only to be caught in the Winds of Change which are countered
into a crucifix into the YES Lock for the submission at 1:54.
Maddox
runs into Vickie in the back and Vickie slaps him in the face for
taking her job.
runs into Vickie in the back and Vickie slaps him in the face for
taking her job.
Time
for MizTV with guest Paul Heyman. Heyman says he doesn’t want to
answer any of Miz’s questions but is cut off by a CM Punk chant. The
fans don’t realize how hard this is for Heyman because he still loves
Punk. He advises Punk to stay down and leave the WWE Universe behind
because if he comes back Brock Lesnar will take his head off. Miz
doesn’t believe a thing Heyman is saying because he swore on the life
of his children and still lied. He walks out but Heyman introduces
Axel as the man who beat Miz at MITB.
for MizTV with guest Paul Heyman. Heyman says he doesn’t want to
answer any of Miz’s questions but is cut off by a CM Punk chant. The
fans don’t realize how hard this is for Heyman because he still loves
Punk. He advises Punk to stay down and leave the WWE Universe behind
because if he comes back Brock Lesnar will take his head off. Miz
doesn’t believe a thing Heyman is saying because he swore on the life
of his children and still lied. He walks out but Heyman introduces
Axel as the man who beat Miz at MITB.
Intercontinental
Title: Curtis Axel vs. Chris Jericho
Title: Curtis Axel vs. Chris Jericho
Axel
takes over with a headlock to start but Jericho dropkicks him down.
A top rope elbow to the jaw gets two for Jericho but Axel punches him
back down. Axel cranks on an armbar but gets caught in a northern
lights suplex for two. Jericho tries to jump over the champion in
the corner but gets clotheslined in the back of the head for two
instead. The Codebreaker is countered into a spinebuster for two but
Jericho sends him into the corner as we take a break.
takes over with a headlock to start but Jericho dropkicks him down.
A top rope elbow to the jaw gets two for Jericho but Axel punches him
back down. Axel cranks on an armbar but gets caught in a northern
lights suplex for two. Jericho tries to jump over the champion in
the corner but gets clotheslined in the back of the head for two
instead. The Codebreaker is countered into a spinebuster for two but
Jericho sends him into the corner as we take a break.
Back
with Jericho fighting out of a chinlock but going shoulder first into
the post to stop his comeback. Axel misses a middle rope elbow and
Jericho gets two off a quick enziguri to make Heyman even more
nervous. Axel comes back with the McGillicutter for two but misses a
dropkick, allowing the Lionsault to get two. Axel blocks the top
rope ax handle into a PerfectPlex but Jericho counters into a Walls
attempt.
with Jericho fighting out of a chinlock but going shoulder first into
the post to stop his comeback. Axel misses a middle rope elbow and
Jericho gets two off a quick enziguri to make Heyman even more
nervous. Axel comes back with the McGillicutter for two but misses a
dropkick, allowing the Lionsault to get two. Axel blocks the top
rope ax handle into a PerfectPlex but Jericho counters into a Walls
attempt.
Heyman
distracts Jericho into dropping the hold but the second attempt has
Axel in a lot of trouble. Curtis hangs on for a very long time and
finally crawls over to the ropes. He goes to the floor but gets
caught by a suicide dive from the Canadian. As they head back in
though Heyman shouts at Jericho, allowing Axel to hit the
neckbreaker/cutter for the pin at 9:15 shown of 12:00.
distracts Jericho into dropping the hold but the second attempt has
Axel in a lot of trouble. Curtis hangs on for a very long time and
finally crawls over to the ropes. He goes to the floor but gets
caught by a suicide dive from the Canadian. As they head back in
though Heyman shouts at Jericho, allowing Axel to hit the
neckbreaker/cutter for the pin at 9:15 shown of 12:00.
Rating:
C. This was a decent back and
forth match but Jericho going after the Intercontinental Title is
hard to get into anymore. Axel still isn’t where they want him to be
but he’s not a total disaster either. This was a fine enough way to
kill fifteen minutes and the fans got into the Walls so there isn’t
much to complain about here.
C. This was a decent back and
forth match but Jericho going after the Intercontinental Title is
hard to get into anymore. Axel still isn’t where they want him to be
but he’s not a total disaster either. This was a fine enough way to
kill fifteen minutes and the fans got into the Walls so there isn’t
much to complain about here.
Post
match Ryback comes out and destroys Jericho with a Shell Shock. This
is Jericho’s last appearance for awhile as he’s going to be on tour
with Fozzy.
match Ryback comes out and destroys Jericho with a Shell Shock. This
is Jericho’s last appearance for awhile as he’s going to be on tour
with Fozzy.
Here’s
Damien Sandow to talk about forgiveness with quotes from Gandhi. He
did NOT screw Cody in the Money in the Bank match, which makes him
wonder why Cody attacked him on Raw. We get a clip from Raw but
Sandow says he isn’t going to hold this against Cody. That would
make him a mouth breathing knuckle dragging halfwit like the
audience. He invites Cody out here to talk through this because
they’re still best friends.
Damien Sandow to talk about forgiveness with quotes from Gandhi. He
did NOT screw Cody in the Money in the Bank match, which makes him
wonder why Cody attacked him on Raw. We get a clip from Raw but
Sandow says he isn’t going to hold this against Cody. That would
make him a mouth breathing knuckle dragging halfwit like the
audience. He invites Cody out here to talk through this because
they’re still best friends.
Cody
gets in the ring but Sandow says there’s no explanation required
because he’s forgiven. Damien did prevent Cody from being Mr. Money
in the Bank but Sandow has an olive branch for him: Cody can be the
keeper of the case until Sandow is ready to cash it in. Cody has
earned this but he hits Sandow in the head with the case, sending
Damien running off. Rhodes throws the case at him and the fans seem
quite pleased.
gets in the ring but Sandow says there’s no explanation required
because he’s forgiven. Damien did prevent Cody from being Mr. Money
in the Bank but Sandow has an olive branch for him: Cody can be the
keeper of the case until Sandow is ready to cash it in. Cody has
earned this but he hits Sandow in the head with the case, sending
Damien running off. Rhodes throws the case at him and the fans seem
quite pleased.
Rob
Van Dam vs. Darren Young
Van Dam vs. Darren Young
Darren
takes him down with an armdrag worth millions of dollars. Van Dam
hits his step over kick and a standing moonsault for two, sending
Young out to the floor. Back in and Titus distracts RVD’s Rolling
Thunder attempt, allowing Young to take over for a bit. Van Dam
comes back with a kick to the head and a springboard spinning cross
body for two. A springboard kick to the face puts Young down and
after kicking Titus to the floor, Van Dam hits the Five Star for the
pin at 3:16.
takes him down with an armdrag worth millions of dollars. Van Dam
hits his step over kick and a standing moonsault for two, sending
Young out to the floor. Back in and Titus distracts RVD’s Rolling
Thunder attempt, allowing Young to take over for a bit. Van Dam
comes back with a kick to the head and a springboard spinning cross
body for two. A springboard kick to the face puts Young down and
after kicking Titus to the floor, Van Dam hits the Five Star for the
pin at 3:16.
Rating:
D+. Not much to see here again
but Van Dam getting another win makes sense. Also it’s nice to see
people like the Players being used to put over bigger stars. A loss
to a former world champion doesn’t hurt their credibility at all so
why not do it more often? I still don’t see the appeal of Young but
Titus at least has charisma.
D+. Not much to see here again
but Van Dam getting another win makes sense. Also it’s nice to see
people like the Players being used to put over bigger stars. A loss
to a former world champion doesn’t hurt their credibility at all so
why not do it more often? I still don’t see the appeal of Young but
Titus at least has charisma.
The
Raw ReBound focuses about the Wyatt Family.
Raw ReBound focuses about the Wyatt Family.
Vickie
offers to bury the hatchet with Teddy but she’s just kidding and has
Teddy escorted out by security.
offers to bury the hatchet with Teddy but she’s just kidding and has
Teddy escorted out by security.
Big
Show returns on Raw.
Show returns on Raw.
Alberto
Del Rio vs. Randy Orton
Del Rio vs. Randy Orton
Non-title
again. Orton rains down punches in the corner to start but Del Rio
counters into the armbreaker over the ropes. He stomps away on Orton
and chokes on the ropes for a few seconds. Orton bails to the floor
to hold his arm but he drops Del Rio ribs first onto the barricade.
Alberto whips him into the steps but Orton dropkicks Del Rio out of
the air back inside. He loads up the powerslam but Del Rio holds the
ropes to send Orton to the mat.
again. Orton rains down punches in the corner to start but Del Rio
counters into the armbreaker over the ropes. He stomps away on Orton
and chokes on the ropes for a few seconds. Orton bails to the floor
to hold his arm but he drops Del Rio ribs first onto the barricade.
Alberto whips him into the steps but Orton dropkicks Del Rio out of
the air back inside. He loads up the powerslam but Del Rio holds the
ropes to send Orton to the mat.
The
armbreaker doesn’t go on full as Orton is in the ropes and Del Rio is
getting frustrated. A backbreaker gets two on the champion but the
Elevated DDT is countered by an enziguru for two. Del Rio kicks him
in the shoulder and loads up an RKO of his own, only to be countered
into the powerslam for two. The Elevated DDT connects but the RKO is
countered into a Backstabber for two. Not that it matters as Orton
rolls out of the armbreaker, ducks the superkick and hits the RKO for
the pin at 8:50.
armbreaker doesn’t go on full as Orton is in the ropes and Del Rio is
getting frustrated. A backbreaker gets two on the champion but the
Elevated DDT is countered by an enziguru for two. Del Rio kicks him
in the shoulder and loads up an RKO of his own, only to be countered
into the powerslam for two. The Elevated DDT connects but the RKO is
countered into a Backstabber for two. Not that it matters as Orton
rolls out of the armbreaker, ducks the superkick and hits the RKO for
the pin at 8:50.
Rating:
C. Del Rio is officially a
jobber to the stars. There was almost no chance he was going to beat
Orton here and he lost clean to the RKO after two straight wins where
he escaped through interference. The match was ok but nothing more
than that as the ending was barely in doubt at all. Both guys were
their usual selves here and didn’t seem all that interested in
trying.
C. Del Rio is officially a
jobber to the stars. There was almost no chance he was going to beat
Orton here and he lost clean to the RKO after two straight wins where
he escaped through interference. The match was ok but nothing more
than that as the ending was barely in doubt at all. Both guys were
their usual selves here and didn’t seem all that interested in
trying.
Overall
Rating: D+. The show was just
there this week with some ok matches but nothing we haven’t seen
before. This is the kind of show that made Smackdown very boring for
a long time and I really hope that doesn’t become the standard again.
Vickie being GM again made me roll my eyes as this is her fourth
stint as full time boss of a show. That sums up this episode: we’ve
seen all this before.
Rating: D+. The show was just
there this week with some ok matches but nothing we haven’t seen
before. This is the kind of show that made Smackdown very boring for
a long time and I really hope that doesn’t become the standard again.
Vickie being GM again made me roll my eyes as this is her fourth
stint as full time boss of a show. That sums up this episode: we’ve
seen all this before.
Results
Dolph
Ziggler b. Jack Swagger – Zig Zag
Ziggler b. Jack Swagger – Zig Zag
Daniel
Bryan b. Wade Barrett – YES Lock
Bryan b. Wade Barrett – YES Lock
Curtis
Axel b. Chris Jericho – Neckbreaker into a cutter
Axel b. Chris Jericho – Neckbreaker into a cutter
Rob
Van Dam b. Darren Young – Five Star Frog Splash
Van Dam b. Darren Young – Five Star Frog Splash
Randy
Orton b. Alberto Del Rio – RKO
Orton b. Alberto Del Rio – RKO
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