WWE Smackdown review
June 14, 2013
Taped 6/11/13 in Greensboro, N.C.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Tonight, after Chris Jericho got the best of Big E. Langston on Raw, Jericho teams with Alberto Del Rio to take on Langston and Dolph Ziggler. Plus, the tag team battle involving The Shield, Kane, Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan continues with a six-man tag match.

- Daniel Bryan came to the ring first. He got a mic and talked about the difference between what he believed when he started in WWE as compared to what actually happened. He said Team Hell No is one of the best tag-teams in WWE history. Bryan then called out Kane. He plugged his ears for the inevitable explosion of fire for Kane’s entrance. Kane made his way to the ring and said he knows why Bryan called him out, but it’s not the time or the place. He said he’s only interested in the six-man tag against The Shield tonight. Bryan said he’s proud of what they’ve done inside the ring and out. But at Payback, Kane won’t be his partner, and when he wins, he’ll be tag team champions with someone else. Bryan paused and said he wouldn’t be teaming with Kane anymore after Sunday. Kane couldn’t understand…was Bryan breaking up with him? In fact, he said the same thing will happen when he beats Dean Ambrose for the United States title.

Bryan spelled it out for Kane and said he and Randy Orton will be Team RK-No. Kane said it’s not a given that Bryan and Orton will win the titles. Kane reminded Bryan that Daniel despises Orton. Bryan took that as Kane doubting him. He accused Kane of calling him the weak link. He intended to prove that he is not the weak link. Bryan said Kane will have to sit back and realize that he and Orton did something that he and Kane never did – and that can only mean one thing. Kane asked if Bryan was insinuating that he’s the weak link. Bryan confirmed and Kane grabbed him by the throat. Orton‘s music hit and he came out with a mic. He said he can’t let Kane do that to Bryan. He said he needs Bryan at 100% at Payback. Orton got in the ring and said if Kane chokeslams Bryan, it may cause him to hit an RKO. Bryan said he didn’t ask Orton to come to the ring. Orton was incredulous. He and Bryan began to argue and Kane said he’d had enough and tried to leave, but Bryan accused him of walking away, just like he always does.

The Shield interrupted on the video screen and were quite amused by the goings-on. Dean Ambrose said The Shield is unbeatable and untouchable. He asked if they finally believe in the Shield. He said tonight is going to be like every other night against The Shield. Roman Reigns said the Hounds of Justice “run this yard.” That was it for The Shield, but the arguing continued off-mic in the ring amongst the babyfaces.

- Sheamus was walking backstage. He’s in action next.

[Commercial Break]

1 – SHEAMUS vs. ANTONIO CESARO

No entrance for Cesaro. Before the match, they showed Sheamus giving the Brogue Kick to the super computer last Friday on Smackdown. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d type. Just before the ref rang the bell, Damien Sandow’s music hit. He said the man standing across from him speaks five languages and Sheamus can barely speak one. He vowed to play host to the Irish wake of Sheamus on Sunday.

Cesaro slapped Sheamus in the face in the corner and Sheamus went after him. Michael Cole noted that Cesaro found a fan in Zeb Colter this past Monday. Short-arm clothesline by Sheamus. Body shots and European uppercuts by Cesaro landed. Powerslam though by Sheamus for only a one-count. Cesaro came back again and clothesline Sheamus over the top rope and to the arena floor. From the apron, he tries a cross-body block, but Sheamus caught him and gave him a fall away slam into the barricade. They cut to break at the three-minute mark of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:57, both men still slugging it out. Back-breaker by Sheamus for two. Outside the ring, Cesaro countered Sheamus and drove him into the steel steps. The back of Sheamus’s shoulder was bleeding after the shot to the stairs. The ref put on latex gloves and continued to check the cut throughout the rest of the match. Sheamus clobbered Cesaro’s chest with forearm shots, then brought him back in with a back-breaker. Cesaro slammed Sheamus down and only got two. Out of nowhere, the Brogue Kick connected for the win.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 11:20. This promised to be a hard-hitting affair, and it absolutely delivered.

The finish of the match was replayed. As Sheamus celebrated atop the ramp, Sandow attacked Sheamus from behind and knocked him down.

- Up next, they’ll take a look at the impending return of C.M. Punk.

[Commercial Break]

- A Wyatt Family vignette aired.

- The announcers discussed the Wyatt Family, then transitioned to the return of C.M. Punk. A video package then aired on Punk.

- Backstage, Teddy Long was on the phone with someone, talking about Payback. Long also said he’s going to have a Hardee’s burger, as they’re sponsoring Smackdown tonight. The Hardee’s logo was on the screen behind him and Long was about to take a bite out of his sandwich when A.J, Ziggler and Langston walked in. Ziggler was not happy with Long forcing him into a tag match tonight. Long said he didn’t have time for this. Ziggler said tonight will be just a taste of what happens to Del Rio on Sunday. Just as Long was about to take a bit of the sandwich after the heels left, Langston came back and stole the sandwich, taking a few big bites and pronouncing it “very good.” Long was nearly in tears.

- The Great Khali, Natalya, and Hornswoggle came to the ring. Khali is in action next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – THE GREAT KHALI vs. HEATH SLATER

Khali shrugged Slater off on a tie-up attempt. Chop to the chest of Slater in the corner. Slater cornered Khali and aggressively went after the big man. He ran into a back elbow, then a big boot. On the outside, Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal were pushing Hornswoggle around. Khali gave Mahal a brain chop from inside the ring. Slater took out Khali’s knee and gave him a short DDT for the pin.

WINNER: Slater, at 2:22. Slater exemplified the phrase “creating movement” in this one.

- Jericho and Del Rio vs. Langston and Ziggler is next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – ALBERTO DEL RIO & CHRIS JERICHO vs. BIG E. LANGSTON & DOLPH ZIGGLER

Ziggler started things off with Del Rio, but before touching, tagged out to Langston. Del Rio peppered Langston with rights, then hit him with an enziguiri. Tag to Jericho, who continued the offense. Another enziguiri, this time by Jericho. Once Langston took over, Ziggler tagged in. Del Rio and Ziggler finally squared off, but Ziggler wanted none of it. The heels regrouped as they cut to break at 4:30 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:01 of the match. Langston and Jericho were the legal men, and Langston was tossed over the top rope by Jericho. As Jericho tried to get back into the ring, A.J. stopped Jericho on the apron and slapped him. Langston then ran into him, sending him back to the floor. Ziggler tagged in and performed his gyrating neck-breaker, in the direction of Del Rio. He couldn’t capitalize on it though and Jericho gave Ziggler the running bulldog and tagged out to Del Rio. He was a house afire against Ziggler until Langston got involved. Jericho took out Langston and Ziggler dropkicked Jericho out of the ring. Inside cradle by Del Rio allowed the faces to pick up the surprise victory.

WINNERS: Del Rio and Jericho, at 11:37. A fine TV tag match, and it gives Del Rio some momentum heading into the PPV.

- After a replay of the finish, the announcers talked about Payback and then showed clips of tonight’s opening segment.

- A graphic aired for the six-man tag main event.

- A broken-hearted Kaitlyn was walking backstage. She’ll be out next.

[Commercial Break]

- Renee Young was backstage with Chris Jericho. She asked him about his upcoming match with C.M. Punk. Jericho said the match has taken on a life of its own, thanks to it being in Punk’s hometown of Chicago. Jericho said he has had his share of big moments in Chicago, including his WWE debut in 1999. Jericho really hyped up the match, that is, until Paul Heyman walked in. He took a long pause and then wished Jericho luck, extending his hand. Jericho didn’t shake. Heyman said Jericho is going to need the luck he is offering. As Heyman ranted, Jericho knocked the mic into his mouth. “Pipe bomb,” said Jericho.

4 – AKSANA vs. KAITLYN

No entrance for Aksana. During Kaitlyn’s entrance, they showed what happened to her on Raw. Aksana was laughing, so Kaitlyn attacked her before the bell. The fight went outside the ring where Kaitlyn continued to clobber Aksana. The ref tried to separate them, to no avail. Kaitlyn even punched away at the referee. She went back to Aksana and the women brawled ever more outside the ring. Kaitlyn gave the ref and open-hand slap when he tried to intervene again. Eventually, Aksana ran away and Kaitlyn laid in the ring almost in tears.

WINNER: No match.

- A video package aired previewing Cena vs. Ryback.

- Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman came to the ring for a match. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – CURTIS AXEL vs. WADE BARRETT

No entrance for Barrett, but they did have time to show the announcers with their Hardee’s burgers. Before the match started, Barrett wanted to chat with Heyman. He asked why on earth they should have this match right now. He said he could “very easily” hurt Axel tonight, which could put him in jeopardy for Sunday. Barrett said it would make business sense to leave all of this until Sunday. Heyman conferred with his client when The Miz’s music hit and he walked out. He had a mic. Miz listed a few more coupley things Barrett and Axel could do tonight rather than fight, but Miz said the people want to see them fight. So the bell rang to start the match.

Barrett got the better of Axel to start. Leap-frog by Axel, then a dropkick. Mule kick by Barrett sent Axel to ringside. Miz was still there, just looking on. Axel went to hit Barrett but missed and blasted Miz. Barrett kept an eye on Miz but walked into the ring where Axel caught him with his spinning neck-breaker for the pinfall.

WINNER: Axel, at 2:04. Kind of a bizarre set-up to this one.

Miz ran in and gave Axel the Skull Crushing Finale after the match.

- Another Wyatt Family vignette aired.

- The Shield came to the ring. The six-man tag main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – THE SHIELD vs. RANDY ORTON & KANE & DANIEL BRYAN

No entrances for Bryan, Orton and Kane, since they already got theirs earlier in the show. Bryan and Kane traded off beating down Seth Rollins. Rollins got a kick in and tagged Ambrose. He was put down with a boot. Reigns and Bryan then squared off, and Reigns took the fight to Bryan. They kept him in the heel corner. Ambrose and Bryan had a nice exchange that led to Orton tagging in and taking out all members of The Shield. Rope-assisted DDT attempt, but Rollins broke it up. Ambrose went for the pin and got two. They went to break, 4:25 in.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:08 of the match. Orton was attempting to fight back, and he finally connected on his back-breaker to Reigns. Kane made the hot tag and went to work on Ambrose. Bryan tagged in soon after and did his “go 100 mph” thing that he does so well. Bryan went to the top, and Ambrose unsuccessfully tried to knock him down. Bryan missed his flying headbutt and Rolling got a cover for two. Kane cut off Ambrsoe from interfering again. Reigns got rid of him and then speared Orton. Kane avoided a Reigns spear outside the ring, and Kane chokeslammed Ambrose into Reigns. Rollins went to the top, but Kane pushed him down into an Orton RKO. No Lock by Bryan, and Rollins tapped. Lilian Garcia announced that it was the first time The Shield had been defeated in six-man action. That was strange.

WINNERS: Orton, Bryan, and Kane, at 13:49.

A few key moments near the end of the match were replayed. The babyfaces celebrated in the ring as the show went off the air.


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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