WWE Smackdown review
June 22, 2012
Taped 6/19/12 in Baltimore, MD.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Smackdown Open.

- After fireworks and opening comments from Josh Mathews to set things up, they plugged Daniel Bryan vs. Kane tonight.

- Booker T. plugged the No Way Out rematch, Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus, that will take place tonight.

- Teddy Long was introduced to the live crowd. He stood atop the ramp and informed the fans that John Laurinaitis has been fired. He announced Mick Foley as the General Manager for the evening, but before he could get any further, Big Show’s music interrupted. Show walked right to the ring as a somewhat confused Long just headed to the back. Show grabbed a mic and said he didn’t care that Laurinaitis got fired. He doesn’t care about anyone except himself. He congratulated Cena on his No Way Out win, but noted that it took five Cena “cronies” to help him, and that in a fair one-on-one match, he’d crush Cena.

Show wanted to throw his hat (or, more appropriately, his beanie) in the Money in the Bank match coming up at the next pay per-view. He said no champion can stop him, and when he becomes champion, he’ll be one as long as he wants to be. He said he was going to win the championship for himself and no one else. As Show finished up, Brodus Clay’s music hit and he walked to the ring with his Funkadactyls at his side. He was all business this evening. Clay rolled into the ring and Show immediately met him with a series of knee strikes. Show was whipped into the ropes and Clay downed Show with a headbutt to the chest. Clay hammered away on Show in the corner, but David Otunga ran in and clipped Clay’s knee, which was heavily wrapped following Otunga’s assault last week. Show slowly worked Clay over, with neither referees nor babyfaces coming to Clay’s aide. Show knocked Clay out with the WMD. A fired-up Clay yelled at no-one in particular, then left the ring.

They replayed key moments of the segment, after which Otunga grabbed a mic and told Brodus that somebody better call his momma. Otunga said he’d call her himself and tell her that Brodus had fallen and he can’t get up. Otunga told Clay to get up so he could “show how this is done.” They played Clay’s music and Otunga did the Carlton dance from Fresh-Prince and some posing.

- Up next, the undefeated Ryback is in action.

[Commercial Break]

1 – FRANK VENEZIA & JARED WACHTLER vs. RYBACK – 2-ON-1 HANDICAP MATCH

The two jobbers said they were on the rise this Summer, and their opponent is beginning to sweat. Wachtler was thrown into Venezia, then powerbombed into the buckle. Michael Cole made a Brickhouse Brown reference (since Wacthler looks similar to him), then Ryback powerbombed Wachtler into Venezia. The usual finish ended it.

WINNER: Ryback, at 1:43. So what happens first: Ryback faces three jobbers, or he starts to move up the ranks to lower card wrestlers?

- Yoshi Tatsu was talking to Mick Foley backstage. Foley was trying to impress Tatsu with his Japanese, and Tatsu complimented Mr. Socko. Vickie Guerrero walked up and asked Tatsu, “don’t you have some Sushi to go eat?” Tatsu called Vickie an old witch and walked off. Foley assured Vickie that in Japanese culture, “old witches” are held in high esteem. Vickie told Foley that she was informed by the Board of Directors that she’ll be in charge last week and threatened to make Foley her assistant. Foley suggested Great Khali as her assistant, and he just happened to be nearby. Khali and Foley started dancing as Khali’s music mysteriously played in the background. Vickie walked off, and rightly so.

- Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Daniel Bryan’s memorable Raw moment was Marty Jannetty defeating Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Title. Finally, someone with some good taste. It was from May 17, 1993.

2 – ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. CHRISTIAN

Ricardo Rodriguez introduced Del Rio. Del Rio strangely went for a headbutt early on, which I think is the second time in two matches since returning from a concussion that he’s done a headbutt. Doesn’t really make sense on any level, especially considering I don’t remember it being part of his arsenal (or at least a key part) prior to the concussion. Christian back-flipped Del Rio to ringside, then Christian climbed to the top rope and landed a cross-body onto Del Rio. Rodriguez sold concern at ringside as they went to break 1:47 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:18 with Del Rio having clamped on an arm-bar. He continued working the arm as Cole discussed Del Rio’s Lucha Libre roots. Christian stopped Del Rio on the top rope and gave him a hurricanrana for a two-count at 7:35. Christian landed a Tornado DDT for a near-fall. Out of nowhere, Del Rio recovered to bring Christian’s arm down across his knees. Then Christian hit a missile dropkick off the second rope. Cole was really putting over Del Rio’s toughness at this point. Back-splash from Del Rio missed, allowing Christian to set up for the Spear. Instead, he ran into a great superkick. They countered each other’s signature moves and Christian went to the top for the frogsplash, but a distraction by Rodriguez led to Del Rio hitting an enziguiri on Christian. The cross arm-breaker was locked in for the submission win.

WINNER: Del Rio, via submission, at 10:58. Solid enough match, and I think Del Rio needs to be rebuilt, so I liked him going over here.

After the match, Cody Rhodes ran to the ring and picked the bones of Christian. He went on the attack and continued working the shoulder that Del Rio had softened up. Christian made his way to his feet somehow, but Rhodes tossed him shoulder-first into the ring-post. Rhodes did some crazy ranting and then his music played.

- Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler, still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed the Chesapeake Bay (I believe) in Baltimore.

- Cody’s attack was replayed.

- The announcers discussed what just went down, then they talked about A.J. and whose side she is really on. A video package on the whole storyline involving A.J. and the three men aired.

- Kane came out for his match with Bryan. It’ll take place after the break.

[Commercial Break]

- As Kane awaited Daniel Bryan, A.J. entered the arena instead. She took a seat at ringside as the special guest timekeeper.

3 – KANE vs. DANIEL BRYAN

A cross-body block was unsuccessful and Kane slammed Bryan instead. Bryan low-bridged Kane on a charge, but Bryan missed a baseball slide and Kane clotheslined him to the mat. Bryan dropkicked Kane into the ringpost on the outside. Both men reentered the ring and Bryan hit a running dropkick in the corner on Kane. Kane regained control with a low dropkick for a two-count. Top rope clothesline attempt by Kane did not find the mark. Bryan kicked away at Kane’s chest and sent Kane face-first into the middle buckle with a drop toe-hold. Bryan went to the top and appeared to slip coming off the top rope. At first, I thought it looked like Kane was supposed to get a boot up and Bryan was to fall short, but Kane didn’t get it up in time.

After a brief back-and-forth, Bryan went to the opposite buckle and was successful with the dropkick. Big boot by Kane on Bryan, but the advantage didn’t last long. Bryan to the top again, and he went for the headbut…but Kane grabbed him by the throat. That was well-done, and not easy to pull off in a way that looks good. Kane tried to break from a submission hold held by Bryan and finally did. Instead, Bryan rolled him up for two. Bryan locked in the Yes Lock. As Kane was reaching for the bottom rope to break, A.J. rang the bell. The ref had to tell Bryan that Kane didn’t tap and that it was a rogue bell. That little pause was enough for Kane, who dodged a corner attack and hit the chokeslam.

WINNER: Kane, at 7:18. Give Kane credit, he’s keeping up with the younger and quicker Bryan and C.M. Punk.

- Sheamus vs. Ziggler is still to come.

- Mick Foley was walking backstage. He’ll address the WWE Universe next.

[Commercial Break]

- Mick Foley came to the ring. Foley got a cheap pop for mentioning the firing of Laurinaitis, then got another cheap pop for mentioning the city they were in. Heath Slater’s music interrupted and he came out. Slater protested what happened on Raw and how Roddy Piper, Cyndi Lauper and Wendi Richter embarrassed him. Foley said Slater would get a real challenge tonight – then Zack Ryder’s music hit.

4 – HEATH SLATER vs. ZACK RYDER

Shoulder tackle by Ryder, then a running forearm to the face. Face-plant followed for a one-count. Slater created some separation and fed Ryder a right hand to the mush. Neck-breaker by Slater for two. Ryder got his knees up on a charge and followed it with a Rough Ryder leg-drop for the win.

WINNER: Ryder, at 1:15. Ryder seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle with so many other newcomers getting TV time.

- Vince McMahon’s firing of John Laurinaitis was shown, or more accurately, heard.

- Sheamus vs. Ziggler, a No Way Out rematch, occurs tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Foley and Ryder were walking backstage when they came upon Damien Sandow. Sandow, in a suit, was disgusted by Foley, and Foley thought he was talking about his suit jacket and t-shirt. Ryder took offense to Sandow ripping Foley, then Sandow blamed Ryder for bringing down the intelligence of the fans. “You’re welcome,” he said. “Have a nice day,” Foley responded.

- The Sonic Smack of the Night was the four-way tag team #1 contender battle at No Way Out.

5 – THE USOS vs. THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS

A.W. did some mic work to introduce his new charges, Darren Young & Titus O’Neil. Very Don King-ish intro from A.W. The Usos took the advantage and used a double-team successfully. Quick tags by the babyfaces and a Jimmy Uso cover only got one at 1:03. A jaw-breaker by Young allowed him to get Jimmy in the corner and tag Titus. Back heel trip by O’Neil to fell Jimmy. Booker T. imitated O’Neil’s bark, which was pretty funny. Jimmy broke free of a chin-lock and gave O’Neil a back body-drop. Running butt splash in the corner found the mark. Young broke up a pin and Jey clotheslined Young over the top. Samoan drop by Jimmy, who then scaled the top turnbuckle. A.W. got on the apron to distract the ref. Young tripped Jey up and Titus hit the Sky High for the finish.

WINNERS: Prime Time Players, at 3:14. A better match than Young and O’Neil were having when they first came on the Smackdown scene.

- On camera, the announcers talked about the DVD release of No Holds Barred. Cole was absolutely giddy about the movie. The trailer for the DVD then aired.

- Sheamus vs. Ziggler will be tonight’s main event.

[Commercial Break]

- The PTP’ers and A.W. were celebrating backstage when they ran into Primo and Epico. Primo popped A.W. with a right hand and a brawl ensued. It was broken up by officials.

- Santino Marella came to the ring. He hosted a Sign of the Night segment, and security brought over a middle-aged lady in a Santino t-shirt and Cobra. They allowed her over the barricade and into the ring. Santino called it “very unusual.” Santino allowed their Cobras to kiss, then the lady planted a big one on Santino. Her lipstick was all over Santino’s face when she was done. And he fainted. And they replayed it.

- Next, Ziggler vs. Sheamus.

[Commercial Break]

- More exterior shots of Baltimore were shown.

- Clips of C.M. Punk on Jimmy Fallon aired.

6 – DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. SHEAMUS

Strange that we got no comments from either one of these men heading into this match. Forward roll by Sheamus for a near-fall early on. Low-bridge by Ziggler, then he dropkicked Sheamus off the apron. Sheamus caught Ziggler’s cross-body attempt off the apron, then hit a fall-away slam sending Ziggler into the barricade. Sheamus celebrated as they went to break at 2:50.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned 5:45 into the match with Ziggler in control. Ziggler was again thrown to ringside and then into the steel steps. Vickie distracted Sheamus, allowing Ziggler to launch himself off the steps and hit the fameasser. Ziggler owned the middle portion of the match, but Sheamus made his comeback at the 9:15 mark. DDT by Ziggler for only two. Both men were down and Sheamus went to the top. Ziggler tried to go after him, but was put down with a right hand. Diving shoulder tackle for two at 10:59. Forearms across the chest by Sheamus. Back elbow allowed Ziggler to get some room, but Sheamus just pulled Ziggler over the top rope. Back-breaker was avoided, and Ziggler kicked away at the knee of Sheamus. That is, until he ran into a Brogue Kick. That may have been Ziggler’s best sell-job of the move yet, and that’s saying something.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 12:25.

They replayed the finish a few times, then Sheamus was shown celebrating with the fans to end the show.


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, Impact, and PPVs, 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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