WWE Smackdown review
July 22, 2011
Taped 7/19/11 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- The show opened right in the arena, where Randy Orton was sitting in the middle of a ring, in a steel chair. “My name…is Randy Orton,” Orton began. Why would anyone start a promo that way? That sounds so scripted. Orton talked about the changes that were happening in WWE, but he said one thing that isn’t going anywhere is this show, until he addresses business he has with Christian. Josh Mathews broke in, talking about the stipulation for the title match at MITB, and they showed stills of the finish and Orton’s attack. Then, in the arena, Christian’s music hit.

He walked out, World title in one hand, microphone in the other. Orton said as long as Christian is breathing, they still have unfinished business. Christian chided Orton for his lack of professionalism. Shouldn’t Christian be selling the beat-down in some way? He said Orton’s inability to control his anger is the reason he doesn’t have the title. Orton countered by saying Christian has hidden behind his lawyers like a coward. Christian said he’s just using what’s available to him, and everyone knew the rules of the match, including Orton. Christian said he didn’t mean to spit in Orton face, that it was just the heat of the battle. He said he’s had to fight Teddy Long’s incompetence, and now, he’s a two-time World Champion. Christian made sure to call the fans “losers” and said they turned their back on him. Orton demanded his re-match tonight. Christian replied that re-matches don’t grow on trees. He told Orton to get to the back of the line like everyone else, and now, he’s going to go talk to his lawyers. Orton insisted they could handle this on their own.

As Orton stomped up the ramp, Long’s music played, and a cadre of referees came out to keep Orton back. Wow, they have more refs than I thought they did. Long reminded Orton that he is signed to fight Kane in a Street Fight tonight. I guess it’s a Street Fight so Orton can take all of his anger out. As Orton began to walk to the back, he deked the refs and attacked Christian. Referees and security (including producer Mike Rotundo) pulled him off. Christian’s yelled at Long as Orton was ushered backstage. Long said Christian better head to the ring, as he’s got a match with Ezekiel Jackson…and, you guessed it, it’s next! Michael Cole called Long’s ruling “ridiculous,” and they showed the announcers on camera, talking about the disarray that has gone on in the company the past few weeks.

- Tonight, we’ll see how Vince McMahon was “relieved of his duties” on Monday night.

- Christian entered the ring for his match with Jackson, and it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

1 – CHRISTIAN vs. EZEKIEL JACKSON

Booker said Christian deserved what he got after the match on Sunday, despite him doing nothing against the rules. He said Christian was hiding behind his legal team. Just over a minute in, Jackson pressed Christian over his head, pumped him up and down, then slammed him for a two-count. Jackson back-dropped Christian to the floor and Mathews asked whether or not Jackson could beat the World Champion as they went to break at 2:01 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:02 of the match. Jackson was dominating Christian, no doubt with a combination of skill and concentration, but Christian got a drop-toe hold that sent Jackson into the steps. European uppercut off the middle rope by Christian for two. Let’s see if anyone mentions that this was the last match in ECW history. Jackson with a knee to the mid-section of Christian as some fans chanted “let’s go Christian.” Christian fired back and applied a rear chin-lock. Now “Zeke” chants. Jackson picked Christian up and gave him a Samoan drop. Clotheslines and knock-downs by Jackson, followed by a lateral press for two at 9:20. Another clothesline. Two bodyslams, then some flexing. Christian countered a third one and went after the knee. Killswitch blocked, so Christian applied a sleeper hold. Jackson put him on his shoulders and rammed Christian back-first into the buckle. Christian shoved Jackson shoulder-first into the ring post. Killswitch by Christian for the win.

WINNER: Christian, at 10:50. Christian did what he could to keep this together, but it really exposed how limited Jackson is. A champion lost again in a non-title situation, but Jackson didn’t come out look bad. He held his own.

- Still to come, the video of Vince McMahon being relieved of his duties on Raw this past week.

- Plus, Kane takes on Randy Orton in a Street Fight.

[Commercial Break]

- A hype video aired, chronicling Cody Rhodes’ downfall from “Dashing” to “Disgusting.”

- Mathews plugged WWE.com for photos of the MITB PPV.

- Michael Cole was in the ring, and he asked for the attention of the fans. Then he introduced his guest, the winner of the Smackdown MITB Ladder Match, Daniel Bryan. He did so less than enthusiastically. Bryan seemed to have a new, white and red ring jacket too. Once Bryan was in the ring, Cole called his win a “fluke.” Bryan said Cole has buried Bryan since the moment he stepped in the company, and that his opinion means nothing to him. Cole said Bryan pretends to be so honorable, but when the Champ is vulnerable, he’s going to do what everyone else has done, and cash in that contract. But in Cole’s mind, Bryan will never deserve to be champion. Bryan smiled again and said, “deserve?” He said Cole didn’t deserve to be in one of the marquee matches at Wrestlemania – but he did deserve to get booed out of the building by 70,000 fans. Bryan said no one “deserves” anything in WWE, you have to earn it. He talked about the injuries he has suffered while trying to earn his way into WWE. Bryan said he has never once complained about in, because he’s dreamed of being WWE Champion since he was a boy.

Bryan said that on Sunday, he scratched and clawed his way to the briefcase, and no matter how many times Cole calls him a nerd, he earned it. He did say he didn’t want his win over the champion to be a fluke. Bryan said he’s going to be the first MITB winner to tell us the time and place it’ll happen. Didn’t Rob Van Dam announce he’s cashing in on John Cena at One Night Stand? Bryan announced he’d cash it in at Wrestlemania 2012. Bryan told Cole he’d live his dream by cashing it in during the main event of Wrestlemania 28. I thought Rock vs. Cena was the main event? Anyway, Heath Slater’s non-descript music interrupted and he said Bryan would be the first man to lose trying to cash in the contract. Slater called him a loser, saying he was the first one eliminated from NXT and it’s also why they kicked him out of Nexus. Nice callback! Slater said Bryan would lose to the One Man Rock Band tonight. Hey, it’s a match!

2 – DANIEL BRYAN vs. HEATH SLATER

Cole continued to bash Bryan on commentary. Dropkick by Bryan, who went for the LeBell Lock early on. Slater got to the ropes to break. He went to ringside to regroup as they went to break 45 seconds into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:47, and Bryan took Slater down with an arm-drag. Bryan continued on the offense until Slater dodged a corner charge and landed a neck-breaker for two. Back elbow by Slater as Bryan came off the ropes. Hard whip into the buckle by Slater. Booker said Slater has the charisma of “a bowl of turnips.” Pin by Slater for two. Bryan flipped out of the corner and hit his running elbow at 8:22. Slater was back-dropped to ringside and Bryan got a running start, then jumped off the apron and kneed Slater in the face. The announcers were too busy arguing about Heath Slater’s nickname to actually portray that as a unique and cool move. Back in the ring, Slater came back with a spinebuster. The men traded inside cradles, and another pin attempt by Slater. Bryan applied a submission move, using a front face-lock. Slater tapped out.

WINNER: Bryan, at 10:52. Not a good start for Bryan as MITB winner if it takes him almost 11 minutes to finish off someone like Heath Slater, who has done nothing of note as of late.

- Cole promised to vomit on the announce table at ringside if Bryan wins the World Title at Wrestlemania.

- The announcers talked about Big Show vs. Mark Henry, and they showed clips of their match from the PPV.

- Backstage, Matt Striker asked Henry when the destruction would end. Henry said it would never end, and said he felt a perverted pleasure in taking out Show. He said he felt invincible.

- Next, we’ll see how Triple H relieved Vince McMahon of his duties on Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed the exterior of the Hard Rock Café in Minneapolis.

- A video package aired of the final segment on Raw. It was positioned at the top of the second hour here. They showed quite a bit of the segment.

- The announcers discussed the ramifications of that announcement.

- Still to come, Orton vs. Kane in a Street Fight.

- But next, Sheamus goes on-on-one with Wade Barrett.

[Commercial Break]

3 – WADE BARRETT vs. SHEAMUS

Mathews announced that Sin Cara suffered fractured ribs and will be out at least four weeks. Barrett booted Sheamus down and got a two-count. Barrett used the ropes to take the punishment to Sheamus. He pulled Sheamus in from the apron and registered a two-count. Cole said that with D. Bryan in Booker’s Fave Five, he’s surprised Harvey Wippleman isn’t in there either. Irish Curse back-breaker by Sheamus for two. Big forearm to the chest of Barrett, then another. Sheamus ran the apron and kicked Barrett in the head for a two-count. The men brawled on the outside, each trading the upper hand. Sheamus was thrown into the barricade. Barrett lifted him and they went to the announce table as Charles Robinson’s count reached ten.

WINNER: Double count-out, at 4:29. Fine big man match, especially given their experience.

Barrett rolled Sheamus back into the ring, but Sheamus caught Barrett with a Brogue Kick. Testing the waters for a Sheamus face turn? They replayed some of the hard-hitting moments from ringside.

- Kane was backstage and he addressed the camera, saying he’s unleashed pain and suffering on the WWE Universe for 14 years. He said men have trembled at the sound of his name. This had some weird mood music going on in the background. Kane said lately, he’s been haunted by his own humanity. He said he feels less like a monster and more like a human. Tonight, he plans on purging his compassion and exorcise his humanity forever. He said Orton would be the vehicle for him awakening the monster with in. He called himself the Devil’s Favorite Demon. This is better than fun-loving babyface Kane, and good job giving fans a reason to care about Kane in this match.

- Randy Orton came out for his match with Kane. Wow, it’s next?

[Commercial Break]

4 – RANDY ORTON vs. KANE – STREET FIGHT

Kane went on offense to start, but Orton got a boot up on a corner charge. Thesz Press, but Kane grabbed Orton by the throat. Orton fought out, and Kane dodged an RKO, clotheslining him over the top and to ringside. Kane and Orton fought up the ramp (no count-outs in a Street Fight). A Kendo stick came into play, with Orton walloping Kane with it. That appeared to please Orton. Cole said Orton “shows no absence of malice.” That sounds really scripted, too. Back in the ring, this time Kane dumped Orton out. Orton was thrown into the barricade at 3:10. They cut to break at 3:19.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:05 with Kane hammering away on Orton with rights inside the squared circle. Orton got to a vertical base and started in on Kane with rights. He low-bridged Kane, who was sent to ringside in front of the announcers. Orton attempted an axe-handle off the apron, but Kane met him with an uppercut. Kane began to disassemble the announce desk. Kane wanted a chokeslam, but Orotn landed on his feet atop the table. He kicked Kane, but slid off the table and the table went on its side. Orton immediately grabbed his knee, then got to his feet and gave the Dikembe Mutombo finger shake. After sending Kane into the steps, the camera showed Orton on his knees in pain. He kept holding that right leg as he set Kane’s leg up on the bottom half of the steel steps. He then stomped he ankle and brought the top of the stairs down on Kane’s lower leg. Orton convalesced on the steps as they took another break at 11:14.

[Commercial Break]

Show returned at 14:26 of the match. Kane was on offense inside the ring, limping around on the leg that Orton injured before break. Orton avoided a top rope attack from Kane, and then shoved him shoulder-first into the ring post. Mathews said during the break, doctors attempted to talk to Orton about his injury, but he shoved them off and wanted to continue. Rope-assisted DDT by Orton. He started getting the crazy eyes, then went down to ready for the RKO. Kane got to his feet, but Kane shoved off another RKO attempt. Sidewalk slam by Kane for two at 16:13. Kane went to the top again, and this time, the clothesline connected. Kane was about to go for the chokeslam, but instead, Orton RKO’d him out of nowhere. Kane kicked out. That’s surprising – kicking out of the RKO is usually reserved for PPVs. Orton lined up for the punt, but Kane got to his feet and chokeslammed Orton. Right into the cover, but Orton kicked out at 18:20. They went to yet another break at 18:45.

[Commercial Break]

At 22:08, the show returned and Kane grabbed a chair from ringside. The chair was used on Orton’s abdominals and his back. Kane crouched and readied for the chokeslam…but instead, picked Orotn up for a Tombstone on the chair. Orton floated out the back and ran into a choke. Instead, RKO on the chair for the win.

WINNER: Orton, at 23:33. Pretty ambitious match for a guy Kane’s size and age, but give him credit for pulling it off.

Orton posed on the turnbuckle, then notice Kane getting back to his feet. Kane offered a hand and Orton shook it. That seemed to be the exact opposite feeling that Kane was going for in his pre-match promo. After replaying some key moments of the match, the camera stayed on Kane, who was on his feet in the ring. Orton had already headed backstage, and at this point, Mark Henry walked to the ring. Kane made the first move once Henry got into the ring, but Henry, with one kick to the leg, ended Kane’s brief offense. Henry brought Kane’s knee down onto the mat. World’s Strongest Slam followed. Big splash, then a “you suck” chant from the fans. Henry went over by the announcers, and they all fled in terror. Henry picked out a chair and put Kane’s leg in it. Referee Jack Doan pleaded with Henry to stop, but it was to no avail. Henry went to the second rope and gave Kane’s leg the Big Show treatment. Nice that they had set that up during the match with Orton, too. “I run the show!” shouted Henry to no one in particular. Referees tended to an injured Kane as we got a close-up of Henry, at ringside, yelling for Kane to “stay down” to close things out.

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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Kevin Owens vs. Ryback in an Intercontinental Title Match

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/24: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Kevin Owens & Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler & Ryback

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/17: Ongoing coverage of the Thursday night show, including Seth Rollins & Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns