WWE Smackdown review
July 8, 2011
Taped 6/29/11 in Tucson, Ariz.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- They showed a video of the World Title contract signing from last week.

- After fireworks shot off inside the arena, Michael Cole sent it to Josh Mathews in the ring, and he was joined by Smackdown’s Money-in-the-Bank match participants. I’m having NXT flashbacks here. Mathews went over the rules for MITB, and Sin Cara got some cheers by pointing to the briefcase as he sat on the top rope. Daniel Bryan spoke first and said winning the World Title will be worth every risk he’s going to take. Cody Rhodes grabbed the mic away and called Bryan “common” and said he’s not exceptional like Cody. Rhodes said once he becomes champion, the people will have to do what they most fear: look him in the eye. Mathews gave the mic to Wade Barrett, who said the achievements of those in the ring pale in comparison to what he has achieved. As he chronicled what he had done, Sheamus ran into the ring with a chair (he was the one MITB contestant not in the ring with the others). He chased everyone off and whacked Barrett a few times with it.

As the rest walked to the back, Sheamus decided to tell us what will REALLY happen at the show. Sheamus predicted a Randy Orton win over Christian, then he’d cash in on Orton. But he wanted him tonight, and predicted he’d hit Orton so hard, he’d knock the voices out of Orton’s head. Good line. They played Orton kicking Sheamus in the head from a month ago, with Sheamus indicating that’s his motivation. Sheamus said Orton’s biggest regret will be not kicking him in the head hard enough. Christian’s music played and he interrupted. Christian made sure the fans continued to boo him, calling them “clueless morons.” He had Sheamus repeat what he called him earlier in the promo: “a scrawny, malnourished, googley-eyed homely weasel.” Sheamus asked him what he was going to do about. Christian reminded Sheamus he beat him a few weeks ago and said he’d be champion after MITB. Christian thanked Sheamus for ripping up the contract next week and said his legal team drafted a new one that said if Orton gets DQ’ed or if there’s more ref incompetence, he gets the belt. Christian asked if Sheamus even knew how to read a contract. Sheamus got fired up and tossed the chair at Christian, who was still in the aisle. Teddy Long then walked out and reminded Sheamus that he isn’t number one contender, but if he wants to face Orton in a non-title match, he figured Orton would oblige; then Long made it official.

- Kane vs. Mark Henry is on tap for tonight.

- We’ll see the McMahon-Cena confrontation from Raw as well.

[Commercial Break]

1 – CODY RHODES & TED DIBIASE vs. DANIEL BRYAN & EZEKIEL JACKSON

The announcers were shown on camera during Cody’s entrance, and Booker was once again given a bag by his bag men. During the opening minute they gave the WWE’s Twitter handle and implored fans to use #Smackdown. Bryan tagged out to Jackson quickly, and he manhandled DiBiase. Teddy was thrown out of the ring and Zeke knocked Rhodes off the apron. Bryan dove through the ropes and took out both Rhodes and DiBiase. They went to break at 1:36 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:31 of the contest. Bryan was belting Rhodes with kicks in the corner, much to the delight of the Tucson crowd. Rhodes caught Bryan in the corner, however, and delivered an Alabama Slam for two. Booker still doesn’t know what a sidewalk slam is. DiBiase tagged in and worked Bryan over for a bit. For the record, Cole picked Barrett to win the MITB and Booker and Mathews chose Sin Cara. Eventually, Jackson got tired of seeing Bryan take the brunt of the punishment and interfered illegally. At 9:23, Jackson tagged in and cleaned house on DiBiase. The audio sweetener liked him a lot more than the live crowd did. Bodyslams for DiBiase and Rhodes. As the ref tried to get Bryan out of the ring, Rhodes gave Jackson a springboard kick and DiBiase followed up with Dream Street for the pinfall.

WINNERS: Rhodes and DiBiase, at 10:11. Good enough tag match. Surprised Jackson took the fall, but Bryan is in the MITB match and Zeke isn’t (even though he’s IC Champion).

- The announcers spoke on camera about Mark Henry’s actions lately. Then a Henry hype video aired.

- Matt Striker was backstage with Henry, who was pacing. Striker said Henry is facing fines, suspensions, lawsuits and a potential criminal investigation over his actions last week. I like them invoking those issues when someone brutally attacks a non-wrestler, but they have to address it in the future and discuss what the consequences ended up being. Striker asked Henry about facing Kane tonight. Henry just stared him down and Striker fled. Close-up on Henry’s face, where he was blinking hard and seemed ready to explode.

[Commercial Break]

2 – JINDER MAHAL vs. TRENT BARRETA

Believe it or not, Great Khali joined the commentators. When he spoke, Cole said his commentary sounds like Book’s. Early take-down for Barreta and a one-count. Barreta was catapulted into the corner by Mahal, who then landed a clothesline. Khali seemed to struggle with the headset. Jumping knee to the face by Mahal. Full-nelson slam finished it.

WINNER: Mahal, at 1:08. Not sure what the point of Khali on commentary was – he shouldn’t be played for comedy at this point with Mahal.

Another full-nelson slam on Barreta after the match by Mahal.

- Todd Grisham was backstage with Sheamus. Sheamus put his arm around Grisham by saying his latest rampage has been “an Irish thing” and that Grisham wouldn’t understand.

[Commercial Break]

3 – TAMINA vs. AJ

AJ, accompanied by Natalya, came out to Natalya’s music. I wonder if that means they’re already ditching AJ’s theme, or if they thought Nattie’s theme would get her a better reaction. Tamina picked up AJ and put her in the corner. Alicia Fox seconded Tamina, by the way. Back elbow by Tamina put AJ down. Hard whip into the buckle by Tamina, then a running butt splash. Tamina worked the neck of AJ as Nattie got the crowd to start chanting “AJ” to get her back into it. Tamina missed a splash and AJ used the ropes to aid her in getting to her feet. Running knee to the face by AJ for two. Missed splash in the corner by Tamina, and AJ rolled her up for the win.

WINNER: AJ, at 2:28. This is such a bare-bones feud with both teams (Nattie/Kaitlyn/AJ and Tamina/Fox) trading wins back and forth. It seems to be treading water, though it’s also clear this feud is not a priority.

Alicia Fox was not happy with Tamina’s loss after the match, and the two argued. If we had any idea of their relationship (or thoughts or anything), this might be interested. But they’ve had, like, no mic time and little TV time.

- Mark Henry vs. Kane is next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – KANE vs. MARK HENRY

Cole said the ringside WWE employees considered walking off the job tonight in fear of Mark Henry after what happened last week. That’s a nice little touch of realism that adds to Henry’s aura and takes little time and effort to get across to the fans. Henry knocked Kane down with a clothesline, but Kane went after Henry’s knee with a low dropkick. To the top went Kane, but he came down and landed in Henry’s arms. Slam by Henry for two. The two ended up trading blows in the middle of the ring two minutes into the match. Kane crushed Henry in the corner, then landed a big boot for two. Clothesline off the top by Kane, and he signaled it was time for the chokeslam. He applied the choke, but Henry broke free and headbutted Kane. World’s Strongest Slam countered and Kane chokeslammed Henry. He made the cover at 3:45, but Henry put his big leg on the bottom rope to break it up. That upset Kane, and he decided to rearrange some furniture at ringside. He set Henry up to chokeslam him through the table, but Henry broke free and drove Kane back-first into the ring post. Back in the ring, he splashed Kane for a two-count. Henry started to get angry and I’m sure Kane wouldn’t like Henry when he’s angry. Henry lifted Kane for the World’s Strongest Slam and planted him. Ref Charles Robinson registered the three-count.

WINNER: Henry, at 5:54. It was a Henry vs. Kane match, that’s for sure, but they had a good story with Henry’s rage that made up for the in-ring action.

Henry yelled at Booker T. at ringside. “I ain’t got no problem with you, man,” Booker told him. Henry dumped out Booker’s water as Booker tried to blame Cole for saying bad things about Henry.

- Grisham was backstage with Randy Orton. He asked Orton why he’d agree to the stipulations Christian put in the contract. Orton said he was sick of Christian’s complaints and would do whatever it took to shut Christian up. As for Sheamus tonight, he said he knows he’ll have to face Sheamus eventually for the title, but as for the match ahead, he just told Grisham to tell Sheamus “good luck.”

- Still to come, the Cena vs. Vince confrontation from Raw.

[Commercial Break]

5 – TYSON KIDD vs. SIN CARA

No manager with Kidd on this evening. Kidd took Cara down with a hammerlock early on, but Cara fought out of it. Tilt-a-whirl arm-drag by Cara, but Kidd brought Cara down head-first onto the apron to shake him up a bit. Cara got on the apron and nailed Kidd with a kick anyway, then flipped into a splash on Kidd back in the ring. Running dropkick to the head by Kidd for two. Springboard elbow-drop, but Cara got his knees up. Cara just tackled Kidd at one point and laid in the punches. That was different. Cara began his finishing sequence at about 3:10. Cara jumped off Kidd’s shoulders and rolled Kidd up for two. Cara tripped up Kidd as Tyson wanted to go to the top. Cara then went to the top and did the Spanish Fly for the win.

WINNER: Cara, at 4:15. Yes, you read that right: Henry vs. Kane went nearly two minutes longer than Kidd vs. Cara. There’s no justice.

- General Manger Long was walking backstage. Striker walked up to him and asked him what he intends to do with Henry. Long said investigations are ongoing and he’d take the results under advisement. Striker called him out for the PC answer and asked Long if he was intimidated by Henry. Long just walked off without answering.

- Still to come, Sheamus vs. Mark Henry.

[Commercial Break]

6 – HEATH SLATER & JUSTIN GABRIEL vs. THE USOS

The Usos did their new tribal dance (and yelling from Jey) before the match. Quick suplex with a bridge by Jey. Slater made a blind tag and that allowed the former Corre members to take over. Gabriel came in and worked a cravat. Jimmy made a hot tag at about 2:00, and went to work on Slater. Booker said because they’re Samoans, Jimmy and Jey will end up putting on another 50 or 100 pounds. I can’t make this stuff up. Neck-breaker by Slater and Gabriel tagged in. Gabriel wanted Slater to put Jimmy in position for the 450, but Jimmy kicked Slater into the ropes, crotching Gabriel. Jey tagged in and did a splash off the top on Gabriel after Jimmy suplexed him off the top. Another win for the Usos.

WINNERS: The Usos, at 3:32. Predictably building to tension between Slater and Gabriel before MITB.

Much like Fox and Tamina, Gabriel and Slater argued after the loss.

- Next, it’s the epic confrontation between Cena and McMahon from Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- Johnny Curtis was backstage, reminding us who he is and saying he has a perfect attitude to become a WWE Superstar. Curtis said when he makes his Smackdown debut, he’s going to take the cake. They had a table set up and a bigger, toothless gentleman sitting there with a birthday hat on. Curtis literally took the cake and blew out the candles, then did one of the worst fake laughs I’ve ever seen.

- The Raw Rebound aired. A snippet of Grisham and William Regal discussing the situation on NXT even made the cut.

- The announcers previewed the MITB card.

- Randy Orton made his way to the ring for his match with Sheamus. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

7 – RANDY ORTON vs. SHEAMUS

Before the match could begin, Christian made his way to the ring. He joined the commentary team once the match began. Orton got the crowd behind him by dropkicking Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus went to ringside before Orton could take advantage. Back in the ring, Orton pounded him with rights and gave Sheamus a Thesz Press. They brawled to ringside and Sheamus tossed Orton into the barricade. Then, on the apron, Sheamus pushed Orton shoulder-first into the ring post. Orton crumpled to ringside and Christian went to check on him. Sheamus came down and got in the middle of them to stop Christian. Sheamus picked Orton up and sent him into the post again. They went to break about 3:10 into the main event.

[Commercial Break]

Sheamus got a near-fall back from break at 5:59. Christian was back at the announce table, but without a headset on. Mathews brought up a good point: Who decides what constitutes “bad officiating” as far as Christian’s contract for his title match with Orton? Sheamus tried to land a single-arm DDT, but Orton grabbed the rope to block it. Sheamus brought the arm over the top rope and dove over the top, missing a shoulder tackle. Orton took Sheamus down and got a two-count at 8:09. Sheamus recovered and went to the top rope. He landed a shoulder tackle for two. Irish Curse back-breaker for two by Sheamus. The Irishman dropped knees down across the throat of Orton. Both the Brogue Kick and RKO missed, but Orton landed a back-breaker. He set up for the RKO, but Christian ran in and booted Orton in the head for the DQ.

WINNER: Orton, via disqualification, at 10:42.

Christian pounded away on Orton, but was then greeted by Sheamus with a Brogue Kick. Orton struck with an RKO on Sheamus. They played his music as he surveyed the landscape. They replayed the finish, then Orton posed with the belt to end things.


What do you think? If you saw this show, we invite you to send your thoughts. Send your name, hometown, a 0-10 score rating the quality of the show, your picks for best and worst segments, and then a brief paragraph of thoughts on the show that we can publish in the Reader Reax segment later tonight or tomorrow. Send to pwtorch@gmail.com.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. His audio show, “Gonzo and The Greg,” is available for download on the Torch VIP page. Give it a listen! Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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