WWE Smackdown review
August 10, 2012
Taped 8/7/12 in Houston, TX.
Aired on SYFY
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- Smackdown Open.

- All kinds of fireworks opened Smackdown from Houston this week. Josh Mathews touted (not Touted, but that may have happened, too) the sold-out crowd at the Toyota Center.

- Tonight, Chris Jericho hosts Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero on his Highlight Reel segment.

- Lilian Garcia introduced Booker T, who came out to greet his hometown crowd wearing a tuxedo. Booker did a spinaroonie before grabbing the microphone. Booker pandered to the audience a bit, but said they have a problem. He rolled footage from Raw this past week where Sheamus pilfered Alberto Del Rio’s automobile. Booker said it was funny, but Sheamus needs to apologize to Alberto Del Rio. He called Sheamus out to do just that. Wasn’t forcing Sheamus to apologize one of John Laurinaitis’s first actions as GM on Smackdown, too?

Sheamus came out to the ring. Mathews played the role that Jerry Lawler did on Raw, trying to convince fans that Sheamus just “borrowed” ADR’s car. Sheamus said Del Rio tried to take away his dignity…so he took Del Rio’s car. He said he needs to face reality, however, and if he did the crime, he’ll do the time. He apologized to Booker, the WWE Universe, and Alberto Del Rio. Booker accepted the apology and was about to move on when Del Rio’s music interrupted him.

Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez walked to the ring, Del Rio with a mic in hand. He was understandably upset at the goings-on Monday night. Del Rio again called Sheamus a “peasant” and added “criminal” this time. He said he filed a report with the San Antonio police department. Booker reminded Del Rio that if Sheamus is incarcerated, Del Rio can’t challenge for it at Summerslam. Del Rio didn’t care and said when the World Champion acts like a hooligan, it reflects on the GM. Sheamus offered a solution, that being a World Title match taking place tonight. Booker was all for it and made the offer to Del Rio, who said his head was telling him to wait, but instead will take the match. “Can you dig that sucka!?!” asked Booker. Surprising start to the show, with no expectation that the match will actually occur.

- Up next, Sin Cara squares off with Cody Rhodes.

[Commercial Break]

1 – SIN CARA vs. CODY RHODES

Rhodes cut a promo on the way to the ring, saying he knows what it’s like to wear a mask, then accused Cara of being ugly. Michael Cole said there are similar rumors in the WWE locker room. Rhodes had to regroup outside the ring early on, but got the better of Cara and attempted to de-mask the Mexican superstar. Springboard by Cara, but Rhodes dropkicked him down. The crowd got on Rhodes as he continued to work over Cara. He put Cara on his back and tried again to remove the mask. Instead, Cara arm-dragged his way out of the maneuver. Handspring back-elbow by Cara, then another take-down. Springboard cross-body for two on Rhodes at 3:05. On a roll-up attempt by Cara, Rhodes was more worried about grabbing the mask. Cara then surprised Rhodes with an inside cradle for the win.

WINNER: Cara, at 3:46. Didn’t Rhodes have a similar mask-related feud with Rey Mysterio? And please don’t tell me part of Cara’s character is now going to be that he’s ugly under the mask.

- Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus for the World Title is on the schedule for tonight.

- Daniel Bryan was walking backstage yelling “no!” to random production assistants and loiterers. He’s out next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Wade Barrett vignette from Raw aired. I always thought they should focus more on his bare-knuckle fighting background. Hopefully, this is a sign that they’re headed in that direction.

- Daniel Bryan came to the ring. He shouted “no!” at the fans for no particular reason, and they were more than willing to play along. Cole observed that Bryan was on the verge of a meltdown. He asked the fans if they thought he’s just a catchphrase. Bryan said he deserves to be in a WWE Championship match at Summerslam, but instead, A.J. put him in a match with Kane. “Do I deserve that?” he asked. He said he deserves more than to be insulted by the fans and continued on a rant until Kane’s pyro went off and he came out.

Kane circled Bryan in the ring and as Bryan was about to leave, A.J. walked out. Does she have jurisdiction here? She said Bryan may be surprised to see her on Smackdown, but it’s where the two of them first met. Booker invited her to the show and neither he nor she liked what they were seeing in the ring. A.J. said she put Bryan and Kane in a match because they’re both world-class athletes. She said she can’t have them attacking each other each week. The fans disagreed. A.J. talked sweetly to Kane, who stayed as stoic as ever. Then she addressed Bryan, who she said has always been jealous of the friendship between her and Kane. Wait, wasn’t she calling Kane her former boyfriend a few weeks ago? A.J. told Bryan to prove he doesn’t have an anger problem by shaking Kane’s hand tonight. Bryan refused. A.J. ordered the handshake, so Bryan extended his hand. A.J. left the ring and appeared to wink at Kane, who unloaded on Bryan. The two exchanged advantages, but Kane booted Bryan right out of the ring. Bryan escaped through the crowd. WWE is so intent on even-steven booking that they can’t book a beat-down without both guys getting an advantage at some point. I feel like that would’ve been much better had Kane gotten all the offense. A.J. knelt on the stage after the segment and laughed, saying “that was great!”

- Teddy Long complimented Booker on standing his ground against Alberto Del Rio earlier. Curt Hawkins (and his cane) and Tyler Reks walked into Booker’s office. Booker talked them up a bit but said they need to step it up. Booker turned away as Reks told Hawkins he doesn’t want to go back to his other job. Booker told them to make an impact and scoot.

[Commercial Break]

2 – JINDER MAHAL vs. TWO JOBBERS

Mahal did an inset interview, advising Ryback to watch HIS handicap match, saying Ryback’s eyes are bigger than his stomach. Mathews almost called the jobbers “Superstars” but stopped himself and referred to them as “individuals” instead. Mahal almost instantly put the first jobber in a camel clutch, and he submitted.

WINNER: Mahal, at :40. Unique way to continue the Ryback vs. Mahal build.

Mahal brought the other guy into the ring (it was tag rules for the two), stacking them on top of each other and applying the camel clutch. Ryback’s music hit and he came to the ring. As he did, Mahal left the ring to avoid Ryback’s wrath. Ryback then decided to send Mahal a message by giving his finisher to both jobbers at the same time. Normally that would be a heelish thing to do, but it’s okay because jobbers don’t have feelings.

- Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Chris Jericho was in the ring for the Highlight Reel. He said it was the first time the Highlight Reel has been on Smackdown in almost two years. Before he could give a proper introduction, Vickie Guerrero interrupted and claimed to be speaking on Ziggler’s behalf when she said Ziggler wasn’t coming out. In the ring, Vickie said Ziggler is a future World Heavyweight Champion. Jericho said he can be flexible and would be willing to talk to Ziggler’s mother, Vickie. They exchanged shouts of “excuse me!” until Jericho put a stop to it. Vickie threatened to walk off his show, leaving him with no guest. Jericho feigned sadness, but then told her to “get the hell out of here.”

As Vickie was about to exit, Jericho convinced her he was just kidding. Jericho (now with 300 percent more smiling) directed the fans’s attentions to the JeriTron 6000, where he showed clips of Alex Riley beating Ziggler on Raw, and the Tout Jericho sent out. Jericho said Riley could be a future star, but until Monday, he had only one win in all of 2012. Vickie tried to stay calm when playing the Paul Heyman role of Ziggler’s representative, talking up Ziggler. Jericho got serious and said Ziggler is right: His record isn’t good in the big matches lately. Jericho then said perhaps it was time for a change of heart, and a return to Y2J. He proclaimed himself back bay-bay. He did a few of his catchphrases and dodged a surprise Ziggler attack. Vickie slapped Jericho, allowing Ziggler to hit his finisher on Jericho. Ziggler threatened Jericho with the briefcase, then when Jericho got to his feet, Ziggler clobbered him with it. “Who’s your mother now?” asked Vickie. They showed a replay of a few of the physical aspects of that segment.

- The announcers talked on camera about that segment, as well as the one that opened the show. They replayed the offer Sheamus made for the World Title match tonight.

- A graphic was shown for the aforementioned World Title match.

- Kofi Kingston and R-Truth came out, but not dressed to compete – they’ll be on commentary next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS vs. PRIMO & EPICO - #1 CONTENDERS MATCH FOR THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Still no Rosa Mendes with Primo and Epico. A.W. was at ringside for his final WWE appearance. Primo and Epico started off hot, with Primo nailing Young with a DDT for two. A.W. threw a drink at Kingston, and the tag champs chased him into the ring. Kofi kicked at O’Neil while Truth took out A.W. That led to a DQ.

WINNERS: The Prime Time Players, via DQ, at 1:41. Did the PTP’ers ever get their tag title shot they earned at No Way Out?

- Tonight, we’ll see how the Big Show stood tall at the end of Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- The skyline of Houston was shown.

- Antonio Cesaro and Aksana came out. Cesaro again requested time to speak to the crowd in five different languages, with Aksana assisting. This week’s word was “victory.” Then the two of them made out. Christian was Cesaro’s opposition, and the match is next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – ANTONIO CESARO vs. CHRISTIAN

Christian side-stepped a Cesaro charge and ushered him out of the ring. Baseball slide missed and Cesaro shoved Christian into the ring steps. It’s funny that Mathews talked about WWE Backstage Fallout and Cesaro being asked on that show whether he’ll seek out Booker to ask for a U.S. Title shot – if he was a good GM, Booker would see that Cesaro has won two non-title matches and give Cesaro a title match instead of Cesaro having to ask. Springboard sunset flip by Christian for two. Fallaway slam with a bridge from Cesaro for two. Impressive. A couple of headbutts by Cesaro, but Christian countered a suplex. He set up for the Spear, but Cesaro tossed him into the air and gave him an uppercut for two. Cesaro was incensed over the two-count. He went for his finisher, but Christian squirmed out and Speared Cesaro for three.

WINNER: Christian, at 4:09. I thought this would be Cesaro’s first real long-form match. Curious to have Christian win, with him doing a number of jobs on TV lately and Cesaro needing a win to continue gaining momentum as a heel.

After the match, Cesaro knocked Christian, who was celebrating his win and arguing with Aksana, off the middle rope and to the floor. Cesaro picked Christian up and slammed him hard into the barricade. They replayed the post-match attack.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews thanked Kevin Rudolf for “Don’t Give Up,” the official Summerslam theme.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- This Monday, C.M. Punk vs. The Big Show kicks off Raw.

- Eve Torres was waiting for Booker in his office asking if he has found a position for her. He told her there’s still nothing available. Teddy Long walked in with Kaitlyn, who asked to be his assistant. Booker gave her the job, so Eve cried discrimination. Booker said he wanted to keep it as fair as possible, so next week, it’s Kaitlyn vs. Eve for the job of his assistant. That’s how all the good administrators decide their assistants.

- Rey Mysterio came to the ring. He takes on The Miz next.

[Commercial Break]

- More exterior shots of Houston.

5 – REY MYSTERIO vs. THE MIZ

Headscissors take-down by Mysterio. He also got his boots up on a Miz charge. Miz hit Rey with a neck-breaker then tossed him out of the ring under the bottom rope. Rey worked out of a rear chinlock and kicked Miz down to both knees. However, Miz clotheslined Rey from his knees. Miz gave Rey his corner clothesline, but Rey dropkicked Miz as he came off the top rope with an axe-handle attempt. Hard kick to the seated Miz for a two-count. Rey climbed to the top, but Miz stopped him. Miz with a big boot for two. Miz stopped Rey on a 619 attempt but Rey rolled through a Skull Crushing Finale attempt for the pin.

WINNER: Mysterio, at 4:43.

- In a split-screen, Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio were walking backstage. The World Title match is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Formal ring introductions took place for the main event. As the match was about to begin, police officers headed to the ring. Del Rio frantically told them he had never filed the report and that he wants his World title match. But once they got to the ring, Del Rio smiled and yelled “go!” Cole somehow was able to tell that they weren’t real cops but men hired by Del Rio to taken out Sheamus. Sheamus worked them over, but the numbers game caught up with him. Del Rio pulled them off Sheamus, who lay injured in the corner. They hoisted the champion up and Del Rio slapped him. He then gave Sheamus an enziguiri. “You suck” chants from the crowd. After some trash talk, Del Rio applied the cross arm-breaker. Sheamus was left injured on the mat as Del Rio stood tall 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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