WWE Smackdown review
July 29, 2011
Taped 7/16/11 in Philadelphia, Penn.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- Smackdown Open.

- Fireworks shot off inside the arena as Josh Mathews said the WWE Universe is preparing for Summerslam, and WWE is preparing for new beginnings under Triple H.

- Ring announcer Tony Chimel introduced the new COO, Triple H. He got a full intro as he walked to the ring in a suit and tie. Mathews, Booker T and Michael Cole were shown at ringside. Hunter waited in the ring as the crowd lightly chanted his name. He talked about his new role and how the more you try to fix things in WWE, the more screwed up it gets. First, he wanted to address the World Championship on Smackdown and the WWE Championship on Raw. He said currently, there are two champions on Raw and named them, with CM Punk getting a big pop and John Cena getting a mixed one. Triple H said both men have claims to the WWE Title and that he re-signed Punk late Monday night. Cena would’ve had a better “claim” if they held off Punk’s return ‘til later. With Punk missing only a week, the “new” WWE Champion doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on since the “real” champion returned so soon. Before Trips could address the World Title, Christian’s music interrupted and he walked out.

The World Champ got a full entrance as well and met Hunter in the ring. He said that, as the face of Smackdown, he wanted to congratulate Hunter on his new position. He talked about how excited he was that Triple H was in charge, saying he’s had to go through a lot of turmoil with Teddy Long lately. He said Long has sucked up to Randy Orton and the “loser, ingrate fans” who filled the arena tonight. Christian said he was forced to seek legal counsel because of said issues. Christian suggested Hunter would like to have a close working relationship with him, but Hunter said he actually wouldn’t. Triple H said Vince McMahon liked to foster an environment where people were free to interrupt him, but while Vince had the patience of a saint, he does not. He said he takes interruptions as a slap in the face. Hunter said he’s already learned that he doesn’t like negotiations, meetings, or lawyers. Hunter said there is no need for lawyers, that he’s very direct: At Summerslam, Randy Orton will be getting his re-match. And it’s no-DQ, No Holds Barred match. Christians aid he deserved respect, but R-Truth of all people interrupted him.

Truth came out through the side entrance, by the side of the ramp. He talked about being back on Smackdown and wanted to pick back up with Hunter where they left off. Truth accused everyone of being in on the conspiracy, and continued to encourage the “what” chant. Truth said he’s a man of action and hopes the conspiracies are straightened out. “What?” asked Trips, to further irritate Truth. Hunter said he was glad to see Truth tonight, and put him in a match, one-on-one, with Randy Orton. Hunter told Christian that he brought a guy over from Raw and he’ll be fighting Christian: John Morrison. And it’s next. No real explanation for either Truth or Morrison being on Smackdown, or why Hunter brought Morrison over. This is also very nearly how Smackdown began last week, as far as Christian being in the opening segment and being surprised with a match after the first break.

[Commercial Break]

- Triple H and Teddy Long were walking backstage. Hunter said he had Long’s back. They came upon Zack Ryder, who had another idea for them. Trips said Ryder has come at him with 15 ideas per day since he has taken over. Hunter got a call and said he had to go, but before he did, made Ryder Long’s new assistant. Long looked less than thrilled. “That guy is an absolute idiot,” said Cole of Ryder.

1 – CHRISTIAN vs. JOHN MORRISON

Truth was shown watching the match on a monitor backstage. Christian was taken to the outside early on, and had to get Morrison to back up to get in the ring. I’m surprised they gave away Morrisons’ return match with such little fanfare, but then again, they probably don’t think Morrison will move the needle anyway. Still, it makes the guy seem like a big deal when you advertise his return ahead of time. Flying Chuck kick by Morrison for two at 1:22. Morrison dove onto Christian on the outside of the ring. He went back in as the ref admonished him and they went to break at 1:58 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:20 with Christian in control. They showed Christian shoving Morrison back (and neck) first into the barricade. Morrison avoided a Tornado DDT and came back with clotheslines and a jumping leg kick. Flap jack by Morrison after Christian dodged Moonlight Drive. Spinebuster by Christian for two. C4 by Morrison for two, but he clutched his neck after the pin attempt. Out of nowhere, Spear by Christian for a near-fall. At 10:00, the two men fought on the top rope. Morrison landed a back body-drop. He tried a moonsault and landed on his feet when Christian moved (well, he didn’t exactly stick the landing). Christian brought Morrison neck first over the top rope, then hit the Killswitch for the win.

WINNER: Christian, at 10:35. Had to think Christian would win here, but not sure why they had him go over Morrison, who looked a bit rusty.

- The camera panned the crowd and found Jinder Mahal and Great Khali watching the show from a skybox inside the arena.

- Still to come tonight, Randy Orton vs. R-Truth in the main event.

[Commercial Break]

- Wade Barrett was in the ring with a microphone out of break. He wanted to talk about why he left England to come to WWE. He said he didn’t do it to entertain the fans, but because he wanted to make a lot of money. Not win titles? He said he’s lost track of that in the last 12 months, then brought up Daniel Bryan, and how Bryan has his MITB briefcase. A “Daniel Bryan” chant broke out. He also talked about the paycheck that would come with main-eventing Wrestlemania. He said greed is underrated, and he’s going to kick things into gear tonight. He said Bryan is in over his head, but Bryan’s music interrupted. Bryan did the walk-and-talk as he came to the ring and said originality isn’t his strong suit, since Heath Slater made the same speech last week. Barrett was offended that Bryan would compare him to Slater. He talked about the Nexus angle and how he was the leader. Bryan said Barrett never molded him into anything. Michael Cole is absolutely ruining Bryan’s interview, mocking everything he’s saying. Bryan said he won MITB and will main event Wrestlemania. Barrett bopped him in the mouth with a right hand, then took the briefcase. As Bryan taunted Barrett, Bryan grabbed his arm and hooked him in the LeBell lock. Barrett tapped repeatedly. Bryan left the ring with the briefcase.

- Ryder was giving some ideas to Long backstage when Mark Henry came in. Long said that after what Henry did to Big Show and Kane (plus the lawsuit pending with the audio technician), people don’t want to deal with him. Ryder assured Henry he could find him an opponent. Henry told Long he better thank his assistant.

- Tonight, the Usos face the New Nexus in a Tag Team Championship match.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews threw it to a video package of Justin Gabriel returning to his home country of South Africa. Nice piece that gave a lot of background on Gabriel and his upbringing.

2 – NATALYA & KAITLYN & AJ vs. ALICIA FOX & ROSA MENDES & TAMINA

Natalya tried a crucifix roll-up, but Tamina held on. Tamina kicked her off on a Sharpshooter attempt, then gave her a Samoan drop. Fox, with a new hairdo this week, put Nattie in a head-scissors. Natalya, still in the move, got to her feet, then dropkicked Fox when she was stuck in the Tree of Woe. AJ made the hot tag and took Fox down with a headscissors. Running knee to the face, but a pin attempt was broken up by the heels. They were taken out by the other faces. Fox walked into an elbow in the corner, but AJ missed a cross-body block. Scissors kick by Fox (quite ugly) picked up the win. Cole said AJ was wearing argyle out of the Kerwin Silfies collection. Silfies is a director on WWE TV programming.

WINNERS: Fox, Rosa, and Tamina, at 2:12. Hard for Kaitlyn and Rosa to improve when they don’t get to see action, short as the matches are.

- A hype video on Mark Henry aired.

- Henry was shown walking backstage. He faces an opponent of Zack Ryder’s choosing, next.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged WWE.com’s Summerslam website.

- Mark Henry came out for his match. Chimel announced “and his opponent…” twice, but no one came out. Finally, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bobby Howard. He was listed as 185 pounds and even that seemed generous. Howard came down the ramp…but then headed back up. Ryder met him atop the ramp and came to the ring with him, giving him a pep talk the entire way. “Bobby” chant from the fans.

3 – MARK HENRY vs. BOBBY HOWARD

Howard looked the part of a nervous jobber in the ring. Henry grabbed Howard by the throat, lifted him up, and dropped him down. World’s Strongest Slam by Henry. Then another. Then a back-breaker for the win.

WINNER: Henry, at 1:06. See, squash matches CAN be effective.

Henry went to ringside after the match and grabbed a chair from ringside. He set up Howard to destroy his ankle, as he had done to Show and Kane. Long’s music played and Teddy ran to the ring to stop Henry. He said they go way back, but Henry can’t compete anymore. Henry yelled that he wants competition and said, “this is the trash you bring me?” Long said there’s already a lawsuit pending and he can’t let him do this. Then Sheamus’ music hit and he walked to the ring. Now this is how you can turn a guy babyface.

Sheamus took the mic from Long and volunteered to fight Henry. Sheamus said Henry is just big, and after all, Henry even said bigger isn’t better. Sheamus told the story about a high King of Ireland who had an illegitimate son. He said a fairy once came and tapped the bastard on the shoulder, turning him into a 420 pound bag of crap, that being Henry. Crowd chanted for Sheamus. Henry said Sheamus talks to much so Sheamus decked Henry. Henry paused, then charged at Sheamus, who low-bridged Henry out of the ring. Sheamus held Henry at bay with a chair, so a frustrated Henry threw the top of the ring steps at the ropes. Henry decided to survive and fight another day, so he headed to the back as Sheamus’ music played. Nicely done here.

- Orton vs. Truth is still to come tonight.

- The tag champions, New Nexus, were walking backstage. They face the Usos next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – THE USOS vs. THE NEW NEXUS – WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Double elbow-drop by the Usos early on. Michael McGillicutty took over, then tagged David Otunga. A roll up by Jimmy Uso for two. Otunga settled into a rear chin-lock at 1:15 of the match. Jimmy tossed him into the ropes and connected on a heel kick. Both men made tags and Jey took it to McGillicutty. Booker complained of the lack of quick tags, 1:46 into the match. Otunga broke up a pin, then hurled Jimmy off the apron and to the floor. Jey went to the top for a splash, but Otunga, with the ref’s attention diverted, knocked Jey off the top rope. McGillicutty with a neck-breaker for the win.

WINNERS: New Nexus, at 2:31. That’s almost insulting that a tag title match would go that short, especially since it seems like they’ve been building up the Usos lately.

- Ryder proposed a two-on-one handicap match to Long, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase against Ezekiel Jackson, tonight. Long told Ryder that he makes the matches around here, but Ryder said he cleared it with the participants, so Long gave it the okay.

- Orton vs. Truth is the main event, still to come.

[Commercial Break]

- After showing the Philly skyline, Mathews sent it to the Raw Rebound.

- Cole updated the CM Punk situation based on what Triple H said earlier tonight. He said Hunter will “get to the bottom of the situation” with two WWE Champions, on this coming week’s Raw.

- R-Truth as backstage with Matt Striker. Truth said he feels good, and a good R-Truth is a bad R-Truth. He said he’s going to be like an eagle swooping down on a snake and tearing it apart. Truth said you have to tear the skin off a snake and tonight, the Viper Randy Orton, is going to get got.

[Commercial Break]

5 – EZEKIEL JACKSON vs. CODY RHODES & TED DIBIASE – HANDICAP MATCH

Cody’s baggers were ever-present before the match. DiBiase and Rhodes did some double-teaming at the start, but Jackson knocked’em both down. DiBiase got Jackson down and choked him in the bottom rope. Neck-breaker by DiBiase. Teddy Jr. got shaken up and tagged Rhodes in. Multiple bodyslams by Zeke, then he put Cody in the Torture Rack. DiBiase broke it up and was thrown over the top rope for his troubles. Rhodes tried his finisher but Jackson shrugged it off. DiBiase distracted Jackson, who ended up missing a corner charge. Cross Rhodes on Jackson for the win.

WINNERS: Rhodes and DiBiase, at 2:25. Again, seemed a little short for where these three are in the feud.

- Jinder Mahal had a mic from in the Skybox. He spoke in a foreign language but threw in some English, talking about them being exports from India. Khali took the mic and seemed to repeat the same phrase over and over again. “USA” chant from the fans. Mathews asked for a translation.

[Commercial Break]

6 – R-TRUTH vs. RANDY ORTON

A few shoulderblocks too Truth down as Booker touted Orton’s “professionalism” inside the ring. Is this the same Orton whose character is that he can’t control himself and often goes too far? Jumping heel kick got two for Truth at 1:35 of the match. The fight went to the outside, and Truth got the best of that exchange. “R-Truth sucks” chant from the Philly crowd. On the apron, Truth poked Orton in the eyes, then brought him down over the top rope with a stunner. Jaw-breaker by Truth inside the ring for a two-count. Christian came out to get a closer look at the match at 3:26, and they went to break at 3:37.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:15 of the match, with Orton beginning a comeback. However, it was brief, as Truth connected on his Lie Detector for two. Truth came off the top and was nailed in the mid-section by Orton. He got a boot up on a Truth charge and Orton steamrolled him with clotheslines. Rope-assisted DDT at 9:48 of the match. He set up for an RKO. Truth and Orton instead went to ringside. Christian got on the apron on the other end of the ring so the ref couldn’t see Truth hit Orton in the head with a water bottle. Truth went into the ring as Orton stayed on the outside, water bottle in hand. He took a sip, then entered the ring and tackled Truth. Orton rolled to ringside and grabbed a chair. Christian was already headed up the ramp when Orton connected on a chair-shot to the mid-section of Truth, drawing a DQ.

WINNER: Truth, via disqualification, at 11:30.

After the match, Orton began to take apart the announce table. He knocked Truth in the head with one of the monitors, and you could see he was bleeding a bit from the lip. Christian was shown watching atop the ramp, covering his mouth in shock. Orton RKO’d Truth on the announce table – it didn’t break. Orton got to the bottom of the ramp as Christian uneasily held the title. Orton put his hand on his head (Cole assumed he was hearing voices). Well, he was…the crowd chanted “one more time.” Orton adhered to the crowd’s demands and RKO’d Truth a second time on the table. Again, it did not break. His music then played as he alternated between smiling and frowning, while Christian clutched his title close to his chest on top of the ramp as the show closed.

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. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw and Impact, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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