WWE Smackdown TV taping report
June 26, 2012
Evansville, Ind.
Report by David Barton, PWTorch reader

Booker T, with a huge pop, and Michael Cole, with big boos, joined Josh Mathews for commentary on Smackdown. WWE did not hold back on pyro tonight as everyone had their usual pyro and the show began with lots of fireworks.

Smackdown SPOILERS 6/29

(1) Divas champion Layla beat A.J. by pinfall. The crowd wasn't sure how to respond to the match because both are supposed to be faces. Layla rolled up A.J. after a distraction from Daniel Bryan. A.J. then attacked Layla.

Post-match: Bryan said that he has something to tell Vickie Guerrero and won't leave until he does. Lots of "Yes!" chants throughout. Vickie tells Bryan that she's tired of hearing him say the same catchphrase over and over, which draws boos and an "Excuse Me!" from Vickie. Bryan sucked up to Vickie by saying that she should be the permanent GM of both shows. He wanted A.J. to be banned from ringside at MITB, but Vickie announced the results of WWE.com poll naming A.J. as guest referee. Vickie also said that unlike Raw's MITB match made up of former champs, Smackdown would have qualifying matches featuring anyone...beginning now.

(2) Damien Sandow beat Zack Ryder by pinfall. Big pop for Ryder. The match ended the first time when Sandow rolled up Ryder in the corner and put his feet on the ropes. They then re-started the match, and possibly re-taped, where Sandow won with his finisher.

(3) Tyson Kidd beat Jack Swagger. Both participants got decent pops, especially considering how little Kidd is on television. During this match, security took a sign away from a guy that said "Lay off the juice." Kidd won with a second rope neckbreaker.

Post-match: Swagger stayed in the ring and complained, then Jerry Lawler came out for an unannounced appearance. The roof came off the building here in Lawler country where he hit a top-rope fistdrop.

(4) U.S. champion Santino & IC champion Christian beat David Otunga & Cody Rhodes in a MITB tag team qualifying match. Santino and Christian both got big pops and Otunga got some boos when he started showing off; Rhodes got a mixed reaction, but mostly boos. Great match with lots of action. Christian hit the spear for the pin and win.

Post-match: Otunga stayed in the ring to show off some more before Triple H's music hit to a huge reaction. Hunter joked with Otunga before Pedigreeing him, and then got slapped by Booker T. Booker then did a spinarooni for the crowd.

(5) Ryback def. Dan Beron & Brendan Burk. The usual Ryback squash of these Kentucky boys with the double Samoan drop.

(6) Tensai (w/Sakamoto) beat Justin Gabriel in a MITB Qualifying match. Tensai got almost no reaction from the crowd. The only time the crowd got into it was when Gabriel made a short comeback. Tensai won with the slam and splash.

(7) World Hvt. champion Sheamus beat Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler in a three-way match to retain the World Title. Alberto was out first for the main event announced by Rodriguez, followed by Dolph announced by Vickie to a mixed reaction; it seems like people really want to cheer for Ziggler. Sheamus then came out to a big reaction. A very back-and-forth match with lots of action. A "Let's Go Ziggler" chant actually broke out for a few minutes in the middle. The match ended when Ziggler was rolling ADR up for the pin and Sheamus delivered a Brogue Kick to pin Ziggler.

***

Dark Match Main Event: John Cena beat Big Show and Tensai in a handicap match. Cena came out to the biggest reaction of the night with a few scattered boos from males. The big men beat on Cena for a few minutes before Cena hit the AA on Tensai for the pin. John Laurinaitis then came out with a chair and took an AA for his trouble.

Biggest Pops:

(1) Triple H
(2) Jerry Lawler
(3) John Cena
(4) Sheamus

Biggest Boos:

(1) Vickie Guerrero
(2) Michael Cole
(3) Alberto Del Rio
(4) Big Show

Teddy Long was announced as the GM of Raw and Smackdown next week. Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience with a lot of action and fun. There was no return date announced.

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