WWE Smackdown alt. perspective review
July 1, 2011
Taped 6/28/11 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Aired on Syfy
By Michael Cupach, PWTorch Contributor

[Q1]

-Smackdown opens with a scary close-up of Mark Henry followed by clips of him putting Big Show through the side of a steel cage from Raw last Monday. The video ends with the announcer saying that tonight Randy Orton gets the unenviable task of facing Mark Henry tonight!

-Josh Mathews welcomes everyone to Smackdown and confirms that Orton will face Henry tonight.

-In Teddy Long's office, Christian comes in with a contract to face Randy Orton for the World Title at Money in the Bank. Teddy basically says that since Christian didn’t score the pinfall last week, Mark Henry did, that he is favoring Mark Henry for the title shot. He also goes ahead and bans Christian from the match between Mark and Randy.

-Cole launches into a tirade about Teddy Long having it in for Christian and he calls Long completely incompetent as Booker and Josh give each other a “what is he talking about” look.

1 -- World Hvt. champion RANDY ORTON vs. MARK HENRY -- non-title match

Orton starts by pounding away at Henry in the corner, but not for long as Mark starts whipping Orton into the far corner then catching him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Henry is talking smack to Orton yelling at him to get up. Orton gets up and runs the ropes only to run into a huge boot from Henry. Booker does declare that if Henry wins tonight, he should be number one contender to the World Title. Henry headbutts Orton as his concussion from a few weeks ago is played up. World’s Strongest Slam is reversed into a DDT by Orton who tries putting Mark Henry away, but he kicks out at two.

Both men roll out of the ring and the ref threatens to count them out. Big Show’s music plays and he doesn’t make an appearance. Orton hits a RKO on Henry at the count of eight, then rolls into the ring for the count-out win! As a side note, Booker muses that Show’s music was hit as a miscue. Sure, let’s got with that.

WINNER: Randy Orton by count-out in less than 5:00.

-After the match, Henry goes to the production are and threatens the sound guy and grilling him on why the Big Shows music was played. Henry then bullies him and wrecks the area, destroying all the expensive equipment. Henry throws the guy off the sound stage and storms off. Lots of boos from the audience! Maybe I was wrong a few weeks ago when I said that Henry was being thrusted back into obscurity after flirting with the upper card.

(Commercial)
[Q2]

-This Monday Raw celebrates America’s independence and names a number one contender with a triple threat match featuring Rey vs. Del Rio vs. R-Truth

-Moments ago, Mark Henry lost by count-out to Randy Orton and then threw a temper tantrum in the production area.

2 -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. TED DIBIASE

No music for Ted DiBiase or Daniel Bryan since the sound station was destroyed. That’s bush league! Arm drag by Bryan to start followed up by a leg whip into a surfboard. Michael Cole says that Josh knows nothing about money and women like Ted. Bryan turns the surfboard into a pinning combo, but only gets a two count. Daniel goes up top but comes down with nothing as Ted moves out of the way and then he dropkicks Daniel out of the ring as Smackdown takes a break.

(Commercial)

Chinlock from DiBiase as Smackdown returns. Trick clothesline by Ted gets a two count as Michael Cole makes a horrible joke about how hot it is. Leave the car crashes to Booker! Another chinlock on Daniel Bryan. Bryan fights out but ends up getting stomped in the corner. DiBiase whips Bryan into the far corner and Daniel flips off the top rope and dropkicks the taste out of Ted’s mouth. Stiff kicks to DiBiase's chest and he rolls up Bryan on kick number three and Bryan reverses into the LeBell Lock but Ted is too close to the ropes and the ref calls for a break.

[Q3] Bryan sends DiBiase out of the ring then tries a dive off the apron but gets caught by DiBiase and he rams him shoulder first into the steel post. Ted rolls Bryan back into the ring and goes for a pin but comes up short. Bryan is really selling the shoulder as Booker thinks the match should be stopped. Stiff kicks to the cheek by Ted and the ref keeps warning him about five counts. DiBiase sets Daniel Bryan up on the top rope and tries superplexing him off but Bryan headbutts Ted off the ropes and missile dropkicks him for good measure. Bryan is now pissed off kicking the hell out of DiBiase. Somehow Ted DiBiase gets behind Bryan and tries Dream Street, he reverses it into a attempted LeBell Lock that Ted squirms out of, but Bryan puts him in a front facelock that chokes DiBiase out and Ted taps out!

WINNER: Daniel Bryan by submission in 13:00.

-Backstage, Christian is back in Teddy's office and he says that since Henry lost, he should have no problem naming him the number one contender. Teddy Long stops him and accuses him of being the one who played the Big Show's music during the Henry-Orton match. Christian denies it and Long buys it. Long says there will be a contract signing tonight with Orton and Christian, but first Christian will face Sin Cara in one-on-one action!

(Commercial)

-Backstage, Cody Rhodes confronts Ted DiBiase and quizzes him on what significance May 20 has. (No, not Randy Savage's death.) Ted DiBiase doesn't know, so Cody tells him that May 20 is the last time Ted won a match. Cody says that if Ted can’t stop being a failure, then he should wear a paper bag, just like the rest of the failures!

-At ringside Josh, Michael, and Booker go over what Jinder Mahal has done for The Great Khali’s career over the last five weeks. He got Khali to assault his brother and join him.

-Ranjin Singh makes a statement about how there has always been tension between Jinder’s family and the Singh family and that Jinder always wanted what Khali had. It is then revealed that Jinder is Ranjin and Khali’s brother-in-law. Ranjin says that Jinder is blackmailing Khali into subservience by saying that he will humiliate their sister if Khali doesn’t do what he says. Mike’s Reax: Lame.

[Q4]

-Josh Mathews throws to a highlight package of Sin Cara’s greatest moments in WWE so far.

(Commercial)

3 - CHRISTIAN vs. SIN CARA

Cool entrance for Sin Cara with blue smoke and pyro. A shot of the Money in the Bank briefcase is shown hanging above the ring before the match starts. Sin Cara or Christian botched an armdrag to start and Christian rolls out of the ring and ducks, dips, dives, and dodges out of the way of some high-risk offense from Sin Cara. Sin Cara then flips and rolls around the mat for the crowd amusement and Christian complains about the lights as Smackdown takes a break.

(Commercial)

Christian is pounding away on a hurt Sin Cara as Smackdown returns. Christian with knees to the face and he then hangs Sin Cara on the middle rope and leaps over the top rope to punch him in the face, but Cara blocks its and then corkscrew planchas over the top rope onto Christian. Christian gets rolled back into the ring and Sin Cara senton splashes him for a two count. Christian regains control with a shot or two to the stomach of Sin Cara. Cara then turns a body slam attempt by Christian into a top rope arm drag that gets a two count. Christian rolls to the apron and Sin Cara charges him only to be back body dropped to the outside. Christian rolls him back into the ring and puts the boots to him and locks on a chinlock.

Third chinlock of the night, less than 60 minutes into the show. Cara fights out but Christian body slams him down and plays to the crowd giving Sin Cara a chance to recover. Sin Cara leg scissors Christian into the corner and misses on the follow-up charge and Christian chokes Sin Cara on the middle rope. Headbutt from the top rope by Christian misses.

[Q5] Sin Cara with a huracanrana that gets a two count as the crowd ohh’s and ahh’s. Victory roll by Sin Cara gets a two count and Christian gives Sin Cara a stiff right hand and goes to the top rope. C-4 attempt by Sin Cara, but Christian swats him off and tries walking out, but Sin Cara cuts him off and puts him back in the ring. Cross body by Sin Cara gets two and Sin Cara can’t believe it. Hurricanrana attempt by Sin Cara is turned into an inverted DDT. Christian is calling for the Killswitch, but instead Sin Cara surprises him with a small package that gets two. Sin Cara gets caught trying a handspring elbow and then he gets speared by Christian for the win!

WINNER: Christian by pinfall in 12:00.

Mike’s Reax: Great back-and-forth match-up, one of the better TV matches recently offered, but I have to wonder if this is when Sin Cara should pick up his first loss. I guess it is the greater good that Christian is strong for his re-re-rematch with Orton at Money in the Bank.

-Still to come: The contract signing between Christian and Randy Orton.

-Two weeks ago at Capitol Punishment, Ezekiel Jackson realized his life’s dream and won the IC Title (aim high, Zeke, aim high). Tonight, Zeke faces Cody Rhodes!

(Commercial)

-A shot of University of Phoenix Stadium, home of WrestleMania 26, is shown.

-The Bombastic Bagmen pass out bags to the audience and Booker T as Michael Cole cackles about how funny it is that T got a bag.

4 -- IC champion EZEKIEL JACKSON vs. CODY RHODES (w/Ted DiBiase) -- non-title match

[Q6] Ezekiel overpowers Rhodes and shoulder blocks him to start. Jackson tries a backbody drop, but gets punched in the face when he put his head down, but he shrugs it off and clubs Rhodes to the mat. Gorilla Press Slam attempt by Jackson, but Rhodes wiggles out of it and rolls out of the ring. Cody hides under the ring and when Ezekiel comes looking for him, Cody comes out behind him and rams him head first into the steel post.

Back in the ring, Rhodes sticks and moves on Jackson to get him off his feet. Front facelock by Cody. Cody tries a suplex, but Zeke is too heavy and he ends up slamming Cody face first into the mat. Splash in the corner by Zeke and DiBiase tries interfering but pays for it. Cody regains his composure and hits Jackson with a Shining Wizard and Cross Rhodes for the pin.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes in 5:00 by pinfall. It was surprising that Jackson, who has been protected the last few months, did the honors for Cody Rhodes. A lot of odd choices this week.

(Commercial)

-Backstage, Johnny Curtis is painting. He apologizes for being a bitter wise guy. He shows his painting and it is him in a corner. Phoenix isn't alone booing this segment.

-Raw Rewind features Cena vs. R-Truth in their tables match and the finish with Punk interfering, costing Cena the match. Portions of Punk's worked shoot promo are shown.

-At ringside Michael Cole informs everyone that C.M. Punk was suspended moments after Raw went off the air. Cole said that Punk crossed the line and Booker lets the audience know that they can see Punk’s entire promo on YouTube. Cole also said that this Monday, Mr. McMahon is rumored to be at Raw.

(Commercial)

[Q7]

5 -- KANE vs. WADE BARRETT

Barrett punches Kane in the face a few times to start. Wade is a bare-knuckle champion, but Kane gets the better of this exchange. Both men put each other in armbars and both men fight out quickly. Snapmare by Kane and he tries a low dropkick, but Wade rolls out of the ring. Kane chases him out but Barrett rolls back in and kicks Kane in the face when he tries getting back in and Smackdown takes a commercial break.

(Commercial)

Chinlock from Wade as Smackdown returns. I’ve lost track on my chinlock count. Mule kick to the knee by Barrett followed up by a punt to the ribs of Kane. Pin attempt by Wade gets a zero count, which was kind of weird. Barrett then tries choking Kane in the bottom rope. He then tangles Kane in the ropes and knees him in the face as the ref breaks it up at four. Beat down of Kane in the corner into a DDT on the Big Red Machine! Booker is praising Barrett, saying he is in his top five favorites. Wade to the top rope and he misses a back elbow. Kane comes back with a out of character cross body and the announcers call him out on it. Snapmare into a low dropkick by Kane gets a two count and a big boot to the face of Barrett gets another two count.

Sidewalk slam by Kane gets yet another two count and Kane shows frustration at not being able to put Wade away. Clothesline from the top by Kane and he calls for the chokeslam but Barrett reverses out of it, Tombstone attempt gets reversed too and Barrett catches Kane with a Bossman Slam. Wade Barrett goes for Wasteland, but Kane grabs the ropes and fight out of. Big right hand from Kane and Barrett walks into a chokeslam. Good night Wade Barrett.

WINNER: Kane by pinfall in 11:30. I thought Barrett would pick up the win here, as he needs to be built back up after a less-than-stellar IC Title run and what seems like six months of jobbing to everyone.

-Earlier tonight, Mark Henry went crazy on a technician who we learn has finally regained consciousness.

[Q8] (Commercial)

-Teddy Long is in the ring and he introduces the former World Heavyweight champion, Christian, and the current World champion, Randy Orton. Orton’s new shirt looked flesh colored and I thought he was naked walking to the ring. Both men sit down at the table in the ring and it appears that Christian has a lawyer out with him. Christian says that there is a clause in the contract saying that if the ref makes a mistake like last time, he gets another rematch immediately, no questions asked. He says that he knows he can beat him and Randy tries cutting him off, but Christian tells him to shut his mouth while talking to him (not a typo). Christian then goes on his normal spiel about knowing he is better than Orton and if it wasn’t for crooked refs, he would be champion.

Orton says that once upon a time he liked facing Christian. They had a great match and Christian asked for a re-match and he lost again. Orton thought it was comical at first how Christian kept making excuses, but now he is getting angry and we all know what happens when he gets angry: people get punted back to FCW! Orton then looks Christian square in the eye and tells him that he will not beat him for the title and becoming World Champion for a second time will never, ever happen.

Randy Orton signs the contract.

Christian goes to sign the contract, but hands it to his lawyer instead, who approves for Christian to sign it. Christian’s pen doesn’t work and he starts yelling at Teddy Long. Just then Sheamus comes out of nowhere and lays out Orton and Sheamus with Brogue Kicks. Sheamus then picks up the contract, rips it up, and heads back to the locker room while both men are left laying in the ring.

Mike's Overall Reax: Three ten-minute-plus matches was good, but like I said in my report, there were some odd choices in who won those matches. Does WWE have intentions of giving Kane another run at the top? Does Cody Rhodes mean more to them than the current IC champion? Also, is it just me or is a secondary title a license to lose frequently? Also, Money in the Bank was hyped strongly, as the announcers talked up past winners and the importance of cashing in the briefcase. Overall, it was a good show wrestling-wise and a slightly newsworthy show with Sheamus preventing the contract from being signed for the World Title match and Mark Henry going ballistic.

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