WWE Smackdown review
May 17, 2013
Taped 5/14/13 in Wichita, Kan.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Tonight, with Dolph Ziggler out of the World Title match at Extreme Rules, will Jack Swagger or Alberto Del Rio get the upper hand going into the PPV? And, Big Show and Randy Orton go face-to-face on Miz TV.

- Inside the arena in an unnamed city, The Miz was in the ring for Miz TV. Miz vowed Extreme Rules would be memorable, then he offered to help make tonight memorable. Randy Orton was introduced first as JBL, Michael Cole, and Josh Mathews were shown on-camera. Big Show came out next. Miz reminded them that anything goes in their match on Sunday, a match that is one of the most anticipated on the entire card. That’s some mighty fine shilling there, Miz. A video showed Show knocking out Sweet T/Tensai last week on Smackdown, and Orton following it up with an RKO on Show. Miz asked Show if that was a preview of what would happen at Extreme Rules. Show called Miz a weasel and reminded everyone that Orton hit him from behind. He also said he didn’t need any weapons, and that his fist is the only weapon he needs: Instead of an RKO, there’ll be a TKO.

Orton said he wouldn’t let such a thing happen in his hometown of St. Louis. He said he once made the mistake of trusting Big Show. He said the only thing people will remember is how the viper struck down the giant. Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger’s music interrupted and they came down. Colter said Extreme Rules will be memorable, but it’ll be because Jack Swagger will make Alberto Del Rio say, “I quit.” Colter’s rhetoric continued as he and Swagger reached the ring. Then, Alberto Del Rio’s music interrupted and he and Ricardo Rodriguez came to the ring. I think we can all see where this is headed. Del Rio said he would make Swagger say, “no mas.” He also said he’ll make sure Colter goes back to where he came from so he never sneaks into his business again. Then, Mark Henry’s theme interrupted.

Henry said he heard everyone talking about what will be remembered Sunday, but they left him out. He said he’ll beat Sheamus like no one has beaten him in his life. He said he’s the strongest man in the world because that’s what he does. Then Sheamus came out. Everyone else was in the ring at this point. Sheamus said their match will be the most memorable and offered to not wait until Sunday. He had a strap with him, which sent everyone in the ring for cover as Sheamus whipped Henry in the back as well as the other heels (and he even got Orton too, I think). The faces stood tall as the heels retreated separately.

[Commercial Break]

- Moments ago, Sheamus attacked anything that moved in the ring.

- In the arena, Teddy Long’s music played. He walked onto the ramp and said after what just happened, he’s ready for Extreme Rules. So, in tonight’s main event, it’ll be a six-man tag match featuring Big Show, Mark Henry and Jack Swagger taking on Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Alberto Del Rio.

- The announcers were shown on-camera reacting to the latest news. For some reason, Mathews acted as if Long had overstepped his bounds.

1 – SETH ROLLINS & ROMAN REIGNS vs. THE USOS

The Usos actually got a full entrance. Jimmy powered Rollins into the corner and made a quick tag to Jey. Headbutt to the chest, but Rollins soon took over. Regins blocked a hip-toss and clothesline Jey. Reigns ran into a corner boot and Jimmy cut off a Rollins interference attempt. Jey missed a heel kick and Reigns speared him for the win.

WINNERS: Reigns and Rollins, at 1:43. Not exactly the dominating performance I was expecting.

The Shield attacked the Usos after the match. Kofi Kingston tried to make the save but was knocked to ringside for his troubles. Kofi came back in with a chair and ran off The Shield.

- Up next, we’ll see the latest assault by Ryback on John Cena that occurred on Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- Teddy Long and Miz were conversing backstage. Long welcomed Miz back to Smackdown and said he’s been missed. Damien Sandow walked in and said they’d all be better off if Miz hadn’t returned. He called Miz a “card-carrying ignoramus.” Sandow proposed “The Damien Sandow Show” to Long. He even offered to give Long the first opportunity to help him produce it. Long said he’d take it under consideration. Meanwhile, he’ll be fighting against The Miz tonight.

- The announcers talked about the match that was just made, then Cole discussed the six-man tag that took place on Monday. After The Shield was disqualified, Ryback came out to prey on Cena. A graphic aired for Cena vs. Ryback at Extreme Rules.

- Brodus Clay and Tensai (along with the Funkadactyls) came to the ring for a tag match. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – TONS OF FUNK vs. THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS

The bell rang to start the match as soon as the show returned from break. Double-team move by Tons of Funk sent Darren Young scampering to the outside. After Tensai tossed Young back in, Titus O’Neil whacked Tensai with a forearm from the apron. Big clothesline took Tensai off his feet. Titus missed a corner charge and he sold it very well. Clay made the hot tag and ran over Young. Clay gained a head of steam and splashed Young in the corner. Slam was broken up by O’Neil late enough to where JBL questioned Mike Chioda’s decision not to count the three. It didn’t matter though, as O’Neil was dispatched and stereo splashes on Young led to the win.

WINNERS: Tons of Funk, at 2:44. If The Shield win the tag titles on Sunday, strange as it is to say, Tons of Funk may be in line for a title shot sooner rather than later.

- Chris Jericho vs. Antonio Cesaro is next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. ANTONIO CESARO

Shoulder knock-down gave Cesaro the first advantage of the match. Jericho hit Cesaro with a dropkick coming off the ropes. On the WWE App, you can see Fandango and Summer Rae dancing! Sign me up! Jericho put Cesaro down with a dropkick and then a seated version to the back of Cesaro’s head. Cesaro, from the apron, hit Jericho with a forearm, but Jericho knocked him to the floor with a springboard dropkick. They cut to break at 3:18 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

A couple quick covers by Cesaro greeted viewers out of break. Jericho tried to get the crowd into it while in a rear chin-lock, but they didn’t seem to be obliging. Jericho did break free and hit a double axe-handle from the top rope. Sleeper was applied by Cesaro, but Jericho countered. He got his feet up on a Lionsault attempt and landed a double-stomp to the gut for two. JBL characterized Cesaro’s offense as “ugly, but effective.” Enziguiri by Jericho, and a cover for two at 8:59. Cesaro prepared for the Neutralizer, but couldn’t connect. Cesaro powered out of the Walls of Jericho attempt. Jericho ascended the ropes and from the top, came down into a European uppercut. That got two at 10:49. Gutwrench suplex was countered into the Walls. Cesaro tapped out.

WINNER: Jericho, via submission, at 11:33. Good TV match. Jericho of course was going over given his PPV spot on Sunday.

Fandango’s music hit to interrupt Jericho’s celebration. Fandango tried to attack from behind through the crowd, but Jericho saw him. Cesaro went after Jericho, allowing Fandango to retreat. Jericho fended off Cesaro too and gave him a Codebreaker.

- The announcers talked about this past Monday’s vote of Jack Swagger to face Big E. Langston. The announcers talked over clips of the finish and the post-match dealings.

- A Zeb Colter/Jack Swagger video aired on “Extremism.” Colter said they’ve been labeled “extreme,” but being “extreme” is the only sane reaction to living in an “extreme” world. Colter went after the government for its recent foibles, then went after Alberto Del Rio, who he said was not “one of us.” Swagger continued to stand there like a gawky statue. Colter vowed that Del Rio would quit on Sunday, then takes his sombrero and go home. “We the people,” closed Swagger.

- A six-man tag main event is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

- Cody Rhodes had joined the announce team during the break. They plugged his Extreme Rules pre-show match with The Miz on Sunday.

4 – DAMIEN SANDOW vs. THE MIZ

Sandow kicked away at Miz in the corner, but Miz came back with a running clothesline. Sandow dodged a Miz left hand and exited the ring. Miz caught him with a double axe-handle off the apron, however. Miz made the mistake of taking his time coming back into the ring, so Sandow kicked him in the chest/shoulder. Suddenly, Rhodes grabbed a mic and implored the crowd to get on their feet and stand up for Sandow. I wonder if that was an impromptu directive from Vince McMahon to wake up a dead crowd. Jawbreaker by Miz, but Sandow sat on Miz with Miz’s throat across the middle-rope. Side Russian leg-sweep followed by the Elbow of Disdain. Miz fired back with lefts and booted Sandow right in the face. Corner clothesline, then a top rope axe-handle. Miz set up for the Figure Four, which led to Rhodes jumping on the apron. Miz knocked him off, then countered a Sandow attack and locked in the Figure Four for the finish.

WINNER: Miz, via submission, at 4:52. Miz and Sandow are two guys you might think wouldn’t mesh well in the ring, but they had a fine outing here.

- Still to come, Del Rio, Orton and Sheamus vs. Henry, Show and Swagger in a six-man tag match.

[Commercial Break]

5 – AKSANA vs. KAITLYN

Aksana was already in the ring. As Kaitlyn came to the ring, they showed Kaitlyn and Natalya backstage. Kaitlyn received a bouquet of flowers. And apparently, her secret admirer is on Twitter now. Suplex by Kaitlyn and a cover for one. Jumping shoulder tackle by Kaitlyn. Mathews predicted that Kaitlyn’s secret admirer was Sin Cara. Aksana slingshotted Kaitlyn into the ropes, then back down across her knees. Aksana pulled Kaitlyn’s hair to keep her down. Kick to the face by Askana, and a series of covers, none of which registered a three-count. The announcers spent most of the time speculating on who the secret admirer is. Aksana got Kaitlyn on her shoulders, but Kaitlyn worked out of it and speared Aksana, picking up the pinfall after.

WINNER: Kaitlyn, at 3:33. I’m surprised Kaitlyn vs. A.J. Lee isn’t on the Extreme Rules card.

- Triple H and Brock Lesnar’s caged confrontation from Raw will be shown next.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews thanked Airbourne for “Live it Up,” the official theme to Extreme Rules.

- A graphic aired for Lesnar vs. Triple H at Extreme Rules. A video package was shown chronicling their match at Wrestlemania as well as the aftermath.

- In the arena, Lilian Garcia introduced Ricardo Rodriguez in Spanish, and Rodriguez did his introduction of Del Rio in English. Sheamus came out next, followed by Randy Orton. As Orton finished his entrance, the announcers were shown and they sent it to a trailer for the WWE Films movie starring Orton, “12 Rounds 2.”

[Commercial Break]

6 – ALBERTO DEL RIO & SHEAMUS & RANDY ORTON vs. MARK HENRY & JACK SWAGGER & THE BIG SHOW

Swagger and Del Rio started off the match and Swagger found himself on the receiving end of a hip-toss. JBL suggested the I Quit format favors Del Rio at Extreme Rules. Orton tagged himself in and stomped on Swagger’s hand. Desperation dive by Swagger took out Orton’s leg. Standing dropkick by Orton caught Swagger coming off the ropes. Backstabber by Del Rio on Swagger. He followed that up with a suicide dive. Swagger climbed the top rope and suplexed Del Rio down. He tagged in Show. Swagger cheap-shotted Del Rio while the ref’s back was turned. Before Del Rio could make a tag, Show dropped a big elbow. They cut to break at 5:30 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 9:35 of the match. Swagger charged at Del Rio, but missed, and went shoulder-first into the ring-post. That’s one of those moves that is used 1,000% more than it used to be and thus has lost a lot of its impact. Show again prevented Del Rio from tagging the fresher man. Del Rio managed to take Show down with a headscissors. Tag to Sheamus at 10:45. He took the fight to Show until he ran into a choke. The slam was countered and Show was lifted for the White Noise. It connected. Show chokeslammed Sheamus, but it only got a two-count. Swagger tagged in for the heels. Legdrop found the mark for only a one-count at 12:26. Henry finally came in and worked over Sheamus. The heels took turns on offense against the Celtic Warrior. Sheamus finally hooked Swagger in the electric chair and then dropped him. Sheamus made the tag to Orton, who went to work on Swagger. That lasted until Henry got involved, then the match broke down completely. In the end, Swagger put Del Rio in the ankle-lock, but Orton RKO’d him for the finish.

WINNERS: Orton, Sheamus, and Del Rio, at 16:08.

A replay of a Sheamus Brogue Kick to Big Show and an Orton RKO were shown. The babyfaces celebrated in the ring as the show closed.


Did you watch Friday's Smackdown episode? Send your 0-10 score & Reax to pwtorch@gmail.com for our TV Reax feature.

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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