WWE Smackdown review
November 1, 2013
Taped 10/29/13 in Tampa, Fla.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Stills were shown of the John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio World Title match from Hell in a Cell.

- Inside the arena, John Cena’s music hit to bring out the World Champion. During his entrance, they showed Damien Sandow cashing in his MITB briefcase, unsuccessfully, on Raw. Cena announced to the crowd that “the World Champ is here!” Cena made it known that he’d be on Smackdown as World Champ for the foreseeable future. He was still somewhat in his “Chain Gang” promo mode from Raw. Cena basically announced it was open season on him for anyone who was interested. So that brought out the Real Americans and Zeb Colter.

Colter cut a promo as he and his tag team walked to the ring. He insulted the moral compass of Cena and the fans. He said Cena has a lot in common with the Real Americans. Cena too is a real American hero, patriot and legend. Colter invited Cena to join the Real Americans. That would be a hoot. They did the “We the People” chant, then Cena proceeded to appeal to the single-digit-aged demographic with his insults on Jack Swagger, Antonio Cesaro, and Colter (including, again, making fun of Cesaro’s nipples). Cena then got serious and said Freedom of Speech is their right, but it’s also his right to tell them they’re full of B.S. Cena said the real American way is for the three of them to march themselves out of Tampa or face the repercussions. Damien Sandow’s music interrupted and he marched to the ring.

Sandow accused Cena of being a hypocrite, saying Cena doesn’t know the first thing about American values. He said Cena has been handed everything since he’s been in WWE. Sandow told Cena that Cena is a false champion. He felt that he was still the uncrowned World Champion. Sandow said his sole purpose in life is to end the Cena era in WWE. Perhaps he can team up with the Real Americans and others to create the Alliance to End Cena-Mania. The heels were ready to fight, but Cody Rhodes and Goldust rushed the ring to even the odds. The heels immediately exited the ring. Almost on cue, Vickie Guerrero came out to make a six-man tag match for tonight. Cena’s promo was tolerable if you take out the awful riffing on The Real Americans. That stuff is just cringeworthy.

- Backstage, The Shield addressed the camera. Dean Ambrose said they were getting sick of The Usos sticking their noses in The Shield’s business. He said The Usos are just speed-bumps. Ambrose said they’ll make sure justice gets served tonight.

[Commercial Break]

1 – DEAN AMBROSE & SETH ROLLINS vs. THE USOS

Note The Shield tag team participants tonight. During The Shield’s entrance, their latest dust-up with The Usos, from Raw, was shown. The Usos had the early advantage in the match. A missed corner splash led to Seth Rollins taking over on offense. Running knee by Ambrose caught Jey by surprise. As Roman Reigns appeared ready to pounce on Jey with the ref’s back turned, Big E. Langston came to the ring to keep Reigns at bay. They cut to break as the match had pretty much grinded to a halt at 2:56.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:51 of the match. Ambrose was still in charge of the match, going for frequent covers. JBL compared Ambrose’s elbow-drops to those from the Great Muta. Within ten seconds, the announcers also mentioned The New Blackjacks, Vamprio Americano, and The Mexicools. I believe it was in a conversation about who made the biggest impact in their first year in WWE. Obviously, those above would’ve been listed facetiously. The Usos took over control. A kick to the face and a pin was broken up by Rollins. All four men were in the ring at this point. Reigns was kicked off the apron. Jey flew over the top and onto Reigns. Jimmy went to the top to finish off Ambrose. It didn’t work and instead, he managed to roll Ambrose up for the win.

WINNERS: The Usos, at 10:39. Good match, as the Usos have really become a success story in WWE as far as them taking advantage of the push they’ve received.

Langston cut off Ambrose’s post-match attack, and had him up for the Big Ending. Reigns made the save. The Usos and Langston had a stand-off with Reigns. The other Shield members held Reigns back, which he didn’t seem to appreciate.

- Tonight’s main event: John Cena & The Rhodes Brothers vs. The Real Americans & Damien Sandow.

- Miz TV will have Shawn Michaels as a guest tonight. That’s somewhat of a surprise.

[Commercial Break]

- The exterior of the Tampa Bay Times Forum was shown.

- The announcers were shown discussing Shawn Michaels being on Miz TV tonight. They kicked it to footage of Michaels demanding an apology from Daniel Bryan on Raw. They also showed the attack on Bryan backstage by the Wyatt Family. Plus, clips of the Wyatts attacking C.M. Punk later in the night.

- The Prime Time Players came to the ring for their match with the Wyatt Family. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- Before the Wyatts came to the ring, Bray cut a backstage promo denouncing false heroism. He said he holds the cure in the palm of his hand. He blew out the lantern. Very nice, short promo done in a quiet voice. It was different from his usual, but effective.

2 – THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS vs. THE WYATT FAMILY

The lights came back on with the tag team already in the ring and Bray sitting at ringside. Erick Rowan threw Darren Young into a big boot from Luke Harper. The Family continued their unorthodox offense, with Young on the receiving end. Young finally created some separation, but couldn’t make the tag. Enziguiri by Young on Harper. Tag was made three minutes in. He was able to work over Harper with some power moves. Bodyslam for two. Young took out Rowan, but O’Neil walked into a clothesline from Harper for the win.

WINNERS: The Wyatts, at 3:47. I think one of the problems is that the Family is having trouble connecting with the audience, as heels, during their matches. That and they’re still rough around the edge in the ring.

After the match, Bray gave his Sister Abigail finish to Young. He bellowed, “Follow the Buzzards!” over the fallen tag team.

- The announcers discussed Kane’s return and the bizarre situation that happened after his match with Miz on Monday night. Clips of Monday’s match and post-match were shown. It’s almost as if the writers forgot that the Wyatts are the ones who wrote Kane off TV in the first place.

- The Miz was walking backstage. He hosts Miz TV, next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Miz was in the ring for Miz TV. He said his guest was supposed to be Shawn Michaels, but as the saying once went, Shawn Michaels has left the building. I didn’t think he’d end up showing. Miz said it’s because of HBK that Randy Orton is WWE Champion. Orton walked out clutching his title, which was draped over his shoulder. Orton had a mic and spoke from the ramp. Orton claimed Miz was wrong – he would’ve won with or without Michaels. Orton said HBK didn’t show because Miz is no longer relevant. Orton had made his way to the ring by this point. Orton reminded Miz of the beating he gave him in Miz’s hometown a month ago. Orton said if it were up to him, he’d have Miz join Big Show on the unemployment line. Orton talked about Show violating the restraining order on Raw. He said Show has now been banned from WWE for life. Orton asked Miz how it makes him feel. Before Miz could answer, Orton delivered an RKO. Orton held the belt high as his music played. They replayed his RKO on Miz.

- Tonight’s six-man tag main event is still to come.

- Dolph Ziggler was relegated to slumming at the WWE merchandise stand this week. Tonight only: Up to 25% off with the promo code “Showoff” on WWE.com.

- The Bella Twins and Natalya were walking backstage. They take on A.J. Lee, Alicia Fox and Tamina next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – THE BELLA TWINS & NATALYA vs. A.J. LEE & TAMINA & ALICIA FOX

Fox, who is rivaling Big Show for most turns in a career (of course, “turns” implies there was an action involved, when in reality, she just appears randomly as a face or heel), began the match with Nikki. Brie tagged in and leapt off the back of her sister, who was kneeling, to land a clothesline on Fox. A.J. locked in a front chancery on Brie. Natalya made the hot tag and suplexed A.J. Natalya continued her onslaught on A.J., but Nattie hit her signature clothesline (which did not look good). The match broke down from there. A roll-up by Lee garnered her a near-fall. The Bellas took out Tamina outside the ring. That distracted A.J. and allowed Nattie to lock in the Sharpshooter for the submission win.

WINNERS: The Bellas and Natalya, at 3:32. Will this lead to dissension among the Total Divas if Natalya can beat A.J. when the Bellas couldn’t?

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- The six-man tag main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Michael Cole thanked Flo Rida for “How I Feel,” the official Survivor Series theme.

- The announcers plugged the JBL & Cole show, as well as WWE 2K14. I’m a little surprised they keep mentioning Razor Ramon in the same breath as guys like Goldberg, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin.

- Footage aired from Cole’s WWE.com interview with Triple H. Cole asked Triple H about David Otunga’s opinion on the Big Show’s lawsuit against WWE. Hunter got steamed and banned Big Show from WWE for life. It feels like this should’ve aired before Orton’s comment earlier about Show being banned.

- John Cena came to the ring for the six-man tag match. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- Entrances continued for the main event, with Goldust and Cody Rhodes followed by the heel team.

4 – JOHN CENA & GOLDUST & CODY RHODES vs. THE REAL AMERICANS & DAMIEN SANDOW

Cody took Cesaro down to start. It didn’t take long for the match to break down. The faces stood tall in the ring as the heels retreated. They went to break at 1:38 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:22 of the match. Cena and Sandow were the legal men. Single-arm DDT, continuing to work over Cena’s previously injured arm, got a two-count. Cena and Cesaro traded rights, and Cena pulled out a hurricanrana. Goldust tagged in and went to work on Swagger. He was showing a lot of fire. Goldust back-dropped Swagger to ringside where he fought off Sandow. Sending Swagger back into the ring gave Swagger the opportunity to recover and take out Goldust’s knee. The crowd chanted for Goldust as Swagger cornered Goldy in the heel section of the ring. Swagger tried to keep Goldust from making the tag, and did so. Cesaro dead-lifted Goldust for a gutwrench suplex and a two-count at 11:11 of the match. They went to break after a tag to Swagger at 11:20.

[Commercial Break]

Cesaro suplexed Goldust down upon return at 15:04 of the match. The heat segment on Goldust continued, and they even did the false tag to Cena in which the referee did not see it. A DDT by Goldust on Cesaro allowed him some time to breathe. It was short-lived, as the fresh man in Sandow tagged in. The tag was finally made to Cody at about 19:30 of the match. Blind tag was made to Cesaro as Rhodes hit the Cross Rhodes on Sandow. A Cesaro Swing ensued on Rhodes. As this happened, Cena speared Swagger at ringside. Goldust broke up a pin off the swing. Sandow tried to get involved and Goldust clotheslined him over the top rope. Cesaro tried to make a tag, but both of his partners were taken out. Cody crawled and made the tag to Cena. Five-Knuckle Shuffle to Cesaro. The Attitude Adjustment was countered into a gutwrench. Cesaro readied for the swing on Cena, but Cena countered. He was on the receiving end of an uppercut, but Rhodes gave Cesaro the Disaster Kick. Everybody came in and hit their finish. Swagger was the only one who tagged in to do it. Patriot Lock on Cena. Cena reversed and hit the AA for the win.

WINNERS: Cena, Goldust, and Rhodes, at 24:23.

Some of the moments from the last few minutes of the match were shown. All three champions raised their titles in the air as the show drew to a close.


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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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