WWE Smackdown TV taping report
June 11, 2013
Greensboro, N.C.
Report by PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell & PWTorch correspondent Jim H.

Headline News: The Shield's unpinned/unsubmitted streak in six-man tag matches ended when Daniel Bryan submitted Seth Rollins in the main event. Details below... World Hvt. champion Dolph Ziggler returned to in-ring action for the first time in over one month as part of a tag match leading into Payback.

Smackdown SPOILERS 6/14

Lillian Garcia came out to polite applause. Michael Cole came out to some boos, but not as many as in the past. Good pop for JBL.

The advertised main event is The Shield vs. Randy Orton & Kane & Daniel Bryan in a six-man tag match, continuing their recent series. Also advertised is Alberto Del Rio & Chris Jericho vs. Big E. Langston and Dolph Ziggler, making his in-ring return.

- Daniel Bryan came out for a promo. Bryan delivered a straight-forward babyface promo reviewing his career. Bryan then invited Kane out to tell him that Team Hell No was one of the best tag teams in history, but they won't be teaming again after Payback because he and Randy Orton will be tag champs.

Kane wondered if Bryan is breaking up with him, but said the same thing will happen when he wins the U.S. Title from Dean Ambrose. But, Bryan said they could still tag if Kane wins the U.S. Title, but not when he wins the Tag Team Titles as Team RKNo. Kane was mad that Bryan is making cute names for his team with Orton, then he seemed to forget his lines. After a brief discussion with Bryan, Kane said he doesn't think Bryan can win because he couldn't beat The Shield with Kane and he hates Orton. Bryan then said he thinks Kane he is the weak link. Kane disagreed. Bryan said he will show him by doing something he has never done - beat The Shield. And that will show that Kane is the weak link.

Kane grabbed Bryan to chokeslam him, but Randy Orton came out. Orton said that everything Kane does to Bryan affects him, so if he chokeslams Bryan, Orton will RKO him. Kane wanted to leave Orton and Bryan to work things out, but Bryan told Kane that he is running away like usual, and told Orton to butt out. The three argued among themselves, then The Shield appeared on the video screen laughing at them, enjoying the bickering from the shadows. They said they've beaten every super-team thrown at them, and they will win again tonight. Believe in The Shield. The faces reflected on these words going to break. End of first segment.

(1) Sheamus beat Antonio Cesaro in 11:00 flat. Before the match, Damien Sandow interrupted on the ramp. Sandow said Cesaro speaks five languages and Sheamus barely speaks one. He vowed to "play host to your Irish wake." Sheamus then won with the Brogue Kick in a good, solid match. Sheamus had some blood on his arm mid-way through the match after being thrown into ring steps. The ref brought out the white surgical gloves to tend to a pretty good-sized cut.

After the match, Sandow lariated Sheamus from behind on the ramp as Sheamus was celebrating. "Sheamus" chants as Sandow left him lying on the ramp.

- The second Wyatt Family vignette aired again.

- A video played hyping C.M. Punk's return and match vs. Jericho at Payback.

- Backstage, Teddy Long was excited to eat his Hardee's burger when Big E. and Ziggler interrupted. Ziggler was not happy about being in a tag match tonight before his return match and title defense on Sunday, but Teddy was more interested in the burger, so Ziggler walked off. Big E. then returned to took a bite. Groans and grunts.

(2) Drew McIntyre (w/3MB) beat Great Khali (w/Hornswoggle and Natalya). McIntyre pie-faced Hornswoggle, but got pinched by Natalya on the outside, distracting Khali. Heath Slater then took out Khali's knee and hit a DDT for the pin. Jim's Thought: If only this had been a hammer ladder match dance-off.

- Up next: Jericho & Del Rio vs. Ziggler & Langston.

(3) Alberto Del Rio & Chris Jericho beat World Hvt. champion Dolph Ziggler & Big E. Langston in about 12 minutes when Del Rio won with a quick roll-up. Ziggler did not do much in his return match, only taking a big back bump in the end and a couple of kicks to the head. For the finish, Del Rio was lying prone in the ring after some offense by Ziggler, but he was "playing possum" and pinned Ziggler with a small package out of nowhere. Del Rio & Jericho celebrated up the ramp while Team Ziggler sold frustration in the ring.

- Renee Young interviewed Chris Jericho backstage. Jericho talked about his WWE debut in Chicago and said he doesn't care whether the crowd is 50/50, 75/25, or whatever when he faces Punk, as he's going to have a great match that exceeds expectations. Paul Heyman interrupted Jericho. Good promo exchange until Jericho slapped the mic into Heyman's throat.

(4) Divas champion Kaitlyn vs. Aksana never started. After WWE replayed footage of A.J. Lee revealing her con on Kaitlyn on Raw, Kaitlyn brawled with Aksana, beating the crap out of her in and out of the ring. Then, she beat up the ref. More crying from Raw.

Kaitlyn then went outside the ring and caught Aksana trying to get away and beat the crap out of her some more. Then, she slapped the ref and tried to get at Aksana again, but Aksana headed for higher ground. Kaitlyn lay in the ring and cried while crowd started a "Kaitlyn" chant. The match never got started.

- They aired a video package on the John Cena-Ryback match at Payback.

Next up was supposed to be Curtis Axel vs. Wade Barrett. But, Barrett offered a business proposal to Paul Heyman to "leave all this until Sunday" when he and Axel clash with Miz over the IC Title. The Miz interrupted and said everyone wants to see them fight. After some unfunny repartee, he encouraged them to fight. The timekeeper decided to listen to Miz and rang the bell and the match started. Miz came down to watch.

(5) Curtis Axel beat IC champion Wade Barrett in a non-title match. Axel won clean in two minutes, with the finish coming out of nowhere. Not much from Axel here.

After the match, Miz laid out Axel from behind with the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz then celebrated in the ring. Jim's Thought: I think the Intercontinental champion is contractually obligated to lose all non-title matches.

Time for the main event of The Shield vs. Orton, Kane, and Bryan.

(6) Daniel Bryan & Kane & Randy Orton beat The Shield via submission in 14:00 in a six-man tag match. Yes, Shield's six-man tag unpinned/unsubmitted streak is over. The kids were into Bryan's "Yes!" offense early on. Orton took the brunt of the offense early on, then Bryan came in for his usual flurry of offense and the crowd went crazy. The action broke down, then Reigns went for a spear, but Kane dodged it. On the outside, chaos broke out ringside.

For the finish, Kane shoved Rollins off the top rope into an RKO from Orton. Then, Bryan came off the top rope with an elbow into the No! Lock submission. No one made the save after Shield members were taken out ringside and Rollins tapped out, giving Bryan the win. The crowd was on its feet for Bryan's win.

After the match, Lilian couldn't even be heard announcing the winner because the crowd was so loud. The faces celebrated in the ring, with Kane and Orton hugging Bryan and raising his hand in victory. Everyone seemed to be on the same page heading into the PPV, making it seem like Shield's titles are in jeopardy on Sunday. Bryan did a victory lap around the outside and Lilian thanked us for coming. There was no dark match main event.

Final Thoughts from Jim: I don't know how it will come across on TV, but I thought it was a decent show that gave some hype to just about every match on the card for Sunday's PPV. Obviously the big news is The Shield taking its first pinfall/submission loss in six-man action.

Biggest Pops:

- Daniel Bryan (for his offense in the main event and when he made Rollins tap; the pop was beyond even Cena levels).
- Randy Orton
- Sheamus
- Miz (lots of chants)

Most Heat:

- Damien Sandow
- The Shield

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