WWE Smackdown review
June 7, 2013
Taped 6/4/13 in Long Island, N.Y.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Tonight, Chris Jericho takes on Curtis Axel following a particularly contentious contract signing for Payback between Jericho and Paul Heyman on Raw. Also, Daniel Bryan has something to prove after another miscommunication on Raw. So tonight, Bryan, Randy Orton, and Kane will be on Miz TV.

- The show began with the aforementioned Miz TV segment. Hey, Miz is getting a full entrance here. That must mean he won’t be wrestling later in the show. JBL and Michael Cole were shown ringside during Miz’s entrance. Miz did his usual intro and talked about his guests being a fraction of a second away from snapping The Shield’s undefeated streak (except for that one time). He brought out his guests, Orton first. Bryan and Kane came out together next. Bryan had his left arm taped around the elbow.

Miz began by addressing the “weak link” rumors surrounding Bryan. Bryan interrupted him to say something. Well, first the crowd said something with a “Daniel Bryan” chant. Bryan said he’s had a lot of time to think since Monday and he knows Orton didn’t try to hit him. And Kane is the best partner a guy can ask for. Bryan said he pushed Kane away when he only tried to help him against “the Ryback.” Miz reminded Bryan that he single-handedly took out all three members of The Shield a week ago. He asked Bryan if he thought he was getting the respect he deserved. “Sometimes,” said Bryan quietly. When Miz got under Bryan’s skin, Orton told Miz to be careful. Kane told Bryan everyone respects him and Orton said he respects him less when he calls himself the weak link. Bryan blamed Orton for getting in his way Monday, and Orton said they’re right back where they started: Crazytown. Kane and Bryan began to argue and Kane assured Bryan he has always had his back. He said he’s tired of Bryan not trusting him.

Bryan asked Kane how many times he’s left him in the ring alone with The Shield. Bryan said the “dirty little fact” is that Kane was forced to team with him. Bryan yelled that if Kane had anyone but him, he’d be out of there in two seconds. I don’t know what he means by that, exactly. Kane left in anger, saying Orton is on his own. Miz asked if we just witnessed the break-up of Team Hell No on Miz TV. That would be the most newsworthy thing that ever happened on this interview segment. Bryan yelled “no!” when asking if this break-up would be blamed on him. Teddy Long came out and said Bryan sounds like a man with a lot to prove. He wanted to give Bryan a chance to prove it: He’ll be facing Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. And he paired him up with Randy Orton for the tag-team match. Lots of amateur psychology going on in this segment, but it’s okay because it gives depth to the charcters.

- Curtis Axel and Chris Jericho were walking in a split-screen. The match is next.

[Commercial Break]

1 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. CURTIS AXEL

Paul Heyman seconded Axel to the ring. In fact, Heyman cut a promo on the way to the ring, talking up Axel’s accomplishments since “debuting.” Axel said another former World champion will learn what it is to be “perfect.” Heyman joined the announcers at the desk. Jericho knocked Axel to the mat a couple times early on, then delivered a few chops. Clothesline over the top rope by Jericho. He dropkicked Axel through the ropes and smashed his head against the announce table at ringside. “Y2J” chants from the crowd. As Jericho tried to re-enter the ring, Axel caught him with a boot and a neck-breaker. Cover got two. They cut to break after a near-fall by Axel at 2:26.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:23 of the match, a match which had gone back outside the ring. Axel was in control and soon sent Jericho back inside the squared circle. Neck snap by Axel, shades of his father, for a two-count. Heyman referred to himself as “the voice of the voice of the voiceless” when asked if C.M. Punk had okayed Heyman putting him in a match at Payback. Jericho came back and tried the Walls of Jericho, but Axel kicked out of it. Lionsault missed and Axel planted him with his unique neck-breaker finish, which I guess is no longer his finish, as Jericho kicked out. Big splash in the corner missed and Jericho climbed to the top rope. Flying cross-body got him a two-count at 9:10. The men fought over a backslide and Axel got the better of it. He set up for the Perfect Plex, but it was countered and Jericho tried to roll Axel over again for the Walls. He did so and sat down. “First loss coming!” shouted Cole. Of course, Axel got to the ropes. Springboard dropkick knocked Axel off the apron. Heyman climbed onto the announce desk and Cole remarked, “I hope they reinforced the table.” Heyman pointed to the entranceway and Punk’s music began to play. That distracted Jericho and Axel rolled him up for the win.

WINNER: Axel, at 10:59. That finish has been way overdone lately, mostly with Fandango. Axel gets another cheap win. I wonder if this match means they won’t do the bait-and-switch at Payback and have Axel take Punk’s place to face Jericho, as has been speculated.

From the aisle, an angry Jericho watched Axel’s celebration in the ring. Then, he finally had enough and charged the ring. He attacked Axel and the two men brawled. Axel was given a Codebreaker. And Axel has become just another guy to help build a PPV match he’s not involved in. The finish of the match was replayed.

- Kane was walking backstage when he came upon Ryback. Ryback said Kane probably wants to put “that little puke” Bryan through a table, too. Kane said Bryan is his partner, through thick and thin. Kane said he wants to see if Ryback can do that stuff to him. Ryback reminded Kane, “Ryback Rules.” Kane listed all the crazy stuff he’s done in WWE and said whatever those rules are, they don’t apply to him.

- Next, we’ll see the McMahon family giving some tough love to Triple H on Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole thanked Hollywood Undead for “Another Way Out,” the official theme of Payback.

- The latest Wyatt Family promo was shown. Actually, I think it was the first one.

- The announcers reacted on-camera to the promo. Cole said we’ll learn more about The Wyatt Family later tonight.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- This Monday on Raw, Triple H vs. Curtis Axel. JBL questioned whether or not the match would actually take place.

- Lilian Garcia introduced Ricardo Rodriguez. He brought out Alberto Del Rio. During his entrance, they showed highlights of Del Rio vs. Big E. Langston from Raw Monday night. Del Rio takes on an unnamed opponent next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. HEATH SLATER

The rest of the Band came out with Slater. All three men attacked Del Rio before the bell. Slater kept Rodriguez at bay. Del Rio fought back when Drew McIntyre accidentally kicked Jinder Mahal. Del Rio then grabbed Slater and applied the cross arm-breaker. Slater tapped furiously, but the match never began. Mahal and McIntyre came back in the ring, but Rodriguez an Del Rio fought them off. Del Rio was about to jump onto them at ringside, but Ricardo climbed the top rope and flew onto the two men. Del Rio loved it.

WINNER: No Match.

As the faces celebrated, Dolph Ziggler appeared on the Titan-Tron via satellite. He gave Del Rio mock applause. Ziggler’s present for Del Rio: himself. He said he’s been medically cleared to compete and will return this Monday on Raw. Rodriguez’s flying splash was replayed.

- Coming up next, Kane vs. Ryback.

[Commercial Break]

2 – KANE vs. RYBACK

For Ryback’s entrance, an ambulance was shown driving from backstage into the arena. Ryback came out from the back of it. Ryback press slammed Kane in an impressive show of strength. He even kept Kane up there for a few seconds. The crowd chanted, “we want tables.” Kane came back with a sidewalk slam for two at 2:29 of the match. DDT by Kane. He clotheslined Ryback over the top rope and to ringside. Kane went out after him, but Ryback pulled him into the barricade. Ryback took a table out from under the ring and put it in the ring. The time it took allowed Kane to recover. He tossed Ryback into the ring and went to the top rope. Clothesline off the top missed and Ryback planted Kane with a spinebuster. Ryback tried a spear but Kane caught him with a chokeslam. On the pin, Ryback grabbed the bottom rope at two, frustrating the Big Red Monster. Kane set up the table and readied for another chokeslam. Ryback raked the eyes to break it, then powerbombed Kane through the table.

WINNER: Kane, via disqualification, at 5:42. Not what I would call a “good” match by any means, but then again, expectations were low going in.

- Tonight, we’ll see more of Ryback’s recent rampage.

- Also tonight, Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan team up to face Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns of The Shield.

[Commercial Break]

- Damien Sandow was in the ring. He talked about engaging Sheamus in a series of intellectual challenges the past few weeks. He proclaimed that Sheamus will never be his intellectual equal. In fact, no one is intellectually equal to Sandow, according to the man himself. Sandow got some local heat by picking on Nassau Community College, saying he has seen pre-schools with higher standards. Sandow revealed that Deep Blue was in the ring to challenge him. He said Deep Blue (in the form of an Acer computer monitor) is well-known for beating Kasparov in a world-famous chess match. He said the computer knows no equal. “You are too kind, Damien” said the computer, but Sandow yelled “silence!” at it. Sandow was to attempt to beat Deep Blue at Chess.

Sandow made the first move, then yelled at the computer for complimenting his move. Before Deep Blue could move, Sheamus came out. “I’m a little preoccupied!” said Sandow. Sheamus said this is the most impressive challenge yet. Sheamus had a challenge of his own and said he could beat that “toaster” of Sandow’s in one move. Sandow reminded Sheamus he was on television and not to embarrass himself. Sheamus said it would only take him one move. Sandow allowed him to do so, thinking Sheamus would once again look a fool.

Sheamus took his time picking a move. Sandow tried to hurry him along. Sheamus defeated the computer with one move: that move being a Brogue Kick. He kicked the monitor right off the table it was set on. He tipped over the table and invited Sandow to fight. Sandow landed the first blow, a shot to the chin of Sheamus. Cole called it a cheap shot, but it seemed to be anything but. Sandow then rammed Sheamus into the table a number of times. “You’re welcome!” shouted Sandow at the prone Sheamus. This really should be a match at Payback; they’ve been setting things up nicely for a few weeks now.

- Daniel Bryan was in the locker room getting ready for his match. Randy Orton walked in and said Kane is getting treatment in the training room after the match with Ryback, hinting that Bryan may want to go check up on him. Bryan said he didn’t ask for Kane to defend him. He warned Orton to stay out of his way tonight. Orton said he doesn’t like partners and he doesn’t like Bryan. Then he left and Bryan continued prepping for the match.

[Commercial Break]

- Another Wyatt Family promo aired. This was the newer one.

- The Miz joined the announcers back from break. Miz gave his take on The Wyatt Family.

3 – FANDANGO vs. ZACK RYDER

During Fandango’s entrance, it was announced that at Payback, Wade Barrett will defend his Intercontinental Title in a Triple Threat Match against Miz and Fandango. Nice of WWE to allow Ryder to compete in his hometown. Fandango took Ryder down with a kick early on. Ryder fired back with right hands and a face-buster. Second-rope dropkick by Ryder, who now has more generic tights. Broski Boot for two. Ryder set up for the finish, but Fandango caught him and powerbombed him. Fandango went to the top and came down with a leg-drop. That was enough to get the pin.

WINNER: Fandango, at 2:18. More offense than I expected from Ryder, and it helped Fandango get more heel heat.

Fandango correctly pronounced his name post-match and they showed the finish again.

- Up next, we’ll see Ryback’s rampage from the last week.

[Commercial Break]

- JBL plugged his wife’s new book and they even showed some press clippings as it relates to the release of the book.

- The exterior of the arena in Long Island was shown.

- A compilation of Ryback’s recent rampage was shown. It was actually a much shorter video package than I expected.

- Cole said Kofi Kingston would be out a few months due to Ryback’s attack. A graphic aired for Ryback vs. John Cena at Payback.

- A smiling Natalya was walking backstage. Who walks that far with a random smile on their face? She ran into Kaitlyn, who said she’s meeting her secret admirer Monday night on Raw. She was disappointed in the lack of excitement shown by Natalya. Natalya just worried about the reveal taking place on a live show. She said the guy could be a total creep. Kaitlyn got mad and said if he was a creep, he’d be texting Nattie, not her. Ouch.

- Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns made their way to the ring through the crowd. No Dean Ambrose accompanying them. The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Randy Orton was finishing up his entrance out of break. Daniel Bryan was out next.

4 – SETH ROLLINS & ROMAN REIGNS vs. RANDY ORTON & DANIEL BRYAN

Dropkick by Bryan to Rollins. He went to a surfboard early on in which he pulled on the nose of Rollins, then stomped on the back of his knees. Bryan then began to work the arms and shoulders of Rollins. Another dropkick from Bryan got a one-count at 1:46. Reigns tagged in and hammered away on Bryan in the heel corner. Rollins whipped Bryan into Reigns who landed a jumping clothesline. Bryan gave Reigns a drop toe-hold into the middle turnbuckle. Both men made tags and Orton was in for the first time just shy of 4:00 into the match. He went to work on both men and gave Rollins the draping DDT. He kicked the crowd into high gear and set up for the RKO. However, Reigns pulled Rollins out of the ring. They went to break at 4:47 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

They returned at 7:59 of the match. The Shield had taken control, specifically, Reigns. Separation was created and Reigns tagged Rollins. He prevented Orton from tagging Bryan. Orton fended off a double-team and clotheslined Rollins down. He finally made the tag to Bryan at 10:08. Dropkick off the top and a kip up in which he almost stepped on the hand of Reigns. Bryan kicked at both Rollins and Reigns and he got a near-fall on the legal man, Rollins. Released German suplex by Bryan in which Rollins landed on his stomach. Bryan dove through the ropes and onto both foes. Back to the top he went where he landed a flying headbutt. The pin was broken up by Reigns. Orton re-entered the ring and RKO’d Reigns. Rollins went after Orton and Bryan went for a dropkick, but Rollins missed and Bryan hit Orton. Rollins tried a roll-up but Bryan turned it into a No Lock. Before Rollins could tap out, Dean Ambrose ran in for the DQ.

WINNERS: Orton and Bryan, via disqualification, at 12:11.

Bryan beat up all Shield members and was ready to stand tall, but Orton turned him around and gave him an RKO. The show ended right after, with little clarification from the announcers about whether or not this was a full heel turn from Orton.


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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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