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411’s WWE Smackdown Report 08.17.12

August 17, 2012 | Posted by Scott Rutherford

Hello all.

Larry requested a fill-in for this week. You’re truly usually shows up Saturdays with The Wrestling Sandwich, which was missing due to foot surgery last week and only time to do this recap this week. Hopefully the planets align and the Sandwich is back next week.

The Show starts off with a recap of the Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio saga from the last couple of weeks leading to Sheamus getting injured and the title match being called off for SummerSlam.

We’re joined by Josh Matthews and Michael Cole and this is….

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ADR is out and he wants his title match back. He’s the #1 contender and he’s not leaving the ring until his title match is re-instated. Booker T. comes down and complains that ADR has been nothing a but a pain in his ass since he became G.M. ADR states he earned the right o be #1 contender. This brings out Chris Jericho…Albert Del Rio…Shut. The. Hell. Up. Jericho claims he sounds like a Chihuahua and both men insult each other in Spanish. Jericho suggests after he beats Dolph Ziggler this weekend he may take on Sheamus and win the World Title. Booker steps in and states there will be no Sheamus at S.S but he will make Jericho vs. Del Rio for the main event tonight.

++++

Match #1 – Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Cody Rhodes & The Miz
Cody gives a pre-match promo about how ugly Sin Cara is and offers up and artists rendition of just how ugly…not even the slightest bit funny.

Sin Cara starts out against Rhodes as the babyfaces quickly do some tandem outside dives onto the heels. Back in the ring and Sin Cara dominates early with his array of high spots before Rhodes manages to slip out and tag Miz. Miz gains control and the heels take turns beating on Sin Cara who tries to fight back but to no avail. Eventually Cara slips away and tags in Rey who dominates Cody with the usual, hits the bulldog but Miz breaks the count at 2. Sin Cara comes in to get rid of Miz and they both fall to the outside. Rhodes tries to take advantage of the distracted Sin Cara and tries to unmask him through the ropes but this is set-up bait for the 619 and Rey drops the dime for the win.
Winner: Rey & Sin Car via pinfall. Very short match that was noticeable at how much the fans respond to Rey but not to Sin Cara. Cody was made to look like a complete geek. Rating *1/2

++++

Match #2 – Tyler Reks & Curt Hawkins vs. Jobber 1 & Jobber 2 (never named)
Reks and Hawkins debut their new male stripper gimmick complete with wrestling trunks that look like y-fronts and terrible, crappy male strip dancing.

The match itself consists of Reks completely killing the jobbers tagging in Hawkins who manages to act like quite the dickhead and then they hit a powerslam/neckbreaker finisher for the win.
Winner: Reks & Hawkins via pinfall. Not sure about the gimmick but you could see they draw some reaction from the crowd. Rating DUD.

++++

Video highlights of C.M Punk/John Cena/The Big Show making this feud look a million times better than it has been.

++++

Eve is walking through the backstage area to the ring. She runs into William Regal who wishes her luck. He talks about running RAW and thinking he was unstoppable and states power can be fleeting. Out of no where a tattooed lady shows up and asks Regal to take out the trash.

++++

Match #3 – Eve Torres vs. Kaitlyn – Winner Joins Booker T To Help Run Smackdown
Teddy Long is an interested observer at ringside.

Eve starts off with a shitty armbar but Kaitlyn soon fires back with some shitty forearms and nearly kills Eve with a really, really shitty backdrop who nearly lands square on her head. Eve recovers and hits a shitty shoulderblock but Kaitlyn turns what may have been a shitty suplex attempt into a shitty small package, which only gets two. Eve gets up quickly and nails an awesome looking snap spinning neckbreaker for the win.
Winner: Eve via pinfall. I don’t know if you could tell from my play-by-play but this match was shitty. Rating DUD

Teddy’s reaction from ringside…he’s shitty.

++++

Backstage Booker congratulates Eve and she talks about all the big ideas she has. Booker is more concerned if Teddy and his new assistant will get along.

++++

Match #5 – Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton
*Authors note…I cannot believe, just like the John Cena match that the WWE has given away two perfectly viable PPV main events on free TV in the last couple of weeks

Lock-up to start and Randy gets a shoulderblock. They lock-up again for the same result. Bryan takes control with some kick fire punches and kicks but Orton cuts him off with a high drop kick which gets a short 2count. Bryan rolls out of the ring and starts jawing with the fans and nearly has a thrombo yelling now at one guy in particular. Back in and Randy hits a backdrop but misses with a the double knee drop and Bryan goes straight away to the knee and leg to take control. Orton tries to fight back but the Bryan leg strikes to the knees makes sure to keep Orton at bay. Bryan goes up top but Randy stops him with a right hand and then goes up himself and hits a superplex for a 2 count as we go to break…

…back from the ads and both guys are trading blows in the ring but just when Randy seems to get on top Bryan attacks the leg again. He works over the knee some more in the corner and nails a vicious drop kick to the bad leg. Daniel charges at Orton in the corner, Orton evades and Bryan eats the post, Orton covers for two. Two quick clothelines on Bryan, powerslam and Randy sets him up for the hanging DDT but Bryan slides out but gets caught and thrown into the barricade. Bryan evades Orton and manages to catch him off guard and throw him into the steps. He rolls Orton in and gets a 2 count. The crowd start up with some Yes! chants. Bryan goes to town on Orton and lays a series of big kicks to the chest but misses the last strike and Orton turns that into a pin attempt that only gets two. Orton grabs Bryan, hangs him from the 2nd turnbuckle to get the DDT and sets up for the RKO but Bryan counters and tries to put the No lock on. Randy resists but Bryan lays it in. RED LIGHTS. PYRO. Daniel Bryan rolls out of the ring waiting for Kane who never shows. He slides back in and that’s all Orton needs as he hits the RKO out of nowhere for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton via pinfall. This match was good but it was like the readers digest version of what could happen if given 20 minutes and a license to maim. Good match but not great. Rating ***

Kane shows up afterwards to gloat.

++++

Match #6 – Antonio Cesaro vs. Zack Ryder
Santino Marella is doing commentary at ringside.

Cesaro takes control early with a gutwrench suplex and a series of headbuts. Ryder manages to hit a face plant, two quick clotheslines and a kick to the face for a two count. Cesaro easily takes back control and hits his the Gotch Style Neutralizer for the win.
Winner: Antonia Cesaro via pinfall. Nothing match to hype the youtube SummerSlam match with Santino. Rating DUD

Antonio pie-faces Santino after the bell. He pretends to back off and then launch Marella over the announce table and leaves.

++++

Highlight of Brock Lesnar and HHH and them finally pulling the trigger on the Shawn Michaels beatdown. Maybe if they did that three weeks again it may have helped more buys. Just saying.

++++

Match #7 – Alberto Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho
We see Jericho making his way backstage to the ring and Dolph Ziggler attacks from out of nowhere. You don’t overlook me Dolph says and he rams a massive red metal trolley into Jericho and we go to break with Jericho laid out.

Back from ads and Del Rio proclaims himself the winner and calls out Booker T to reinstate his title match at Summer Slam. Instead Chris Jericho answers and we’re on.

The match goes as you would expect. ADR goes right for the injured side of Jericho and just murders him and Jericho the valiant babyface attempts to fight back. They play this around a few times until Jericho manages to get on top and hits the lionsault to get control but he can’t lock in the Walls of Jericho. Dolph Ziggler makes his presence known again and ADR takes advantage of the distraction, kicks Jericho to the head and picks up the win.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio via pinfall. Not a great match but it was nice to see something a little bit different once and a while as these two pro’s worked the formula well. Rating **

After the match ADR puts the armbar on Jericho while Ziggler taunts him. Sheamus hits the ring for the save and ADR bails. Sheamus calls out Booker T and demands to face Alberto at SummerSlam. Booker says no as Sheamus is too hurt but the Great White is having none of that and demands Booker make the match. Booker relents and the match is back on.

Overall: Another easy to watch episode of Smackdown. Nothing much usually happens on this show but you do get a refreshing lack of filler crap and compared to the 3 hour RAW’s this fairly flies by. On the flip side this was the last chance the WWE had to promote SummerSlam and while they did manage to highlight a few matches you just don’t feel like they’re building up to the 25th anniversary of one of their most enduring PPV’s.

What Did You Think About WWE Smackdown?

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Scott Rutherford

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