WWE Smackdown review
November 8, 2013
Taped 11/5/13 in Charlotte, N.C.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- A Wyatt Family video package opened things, focusing on their latest targets: Daniel Bryan and C.M. Punk.

- C.M. Punk came to the ring. As he did, Michael Cole and JBL spoke on camera. Punk cut a promo on the Wyatt Family, saying to them, he’s a target. He said he didn’t know why they did what they did, but he doesn’t care – he came to fight. Punk reminded fans he “squashed the biggest rat WWE had ever seen” in Paul Heyman. Punk proposed a fight right there. He wanted to kick them in their face. But instead, Curtis Axel’s theme played and out came the Intercontinental Champion. He had a mic.

Axel told Punk he needed to shut his mouth. He said they have some unfinished business. He said because of Punk, Heyman is laid up in a hospital bed in Europe. Vickie Guerrero apparently granted Axerl a match against Punk right now. Charles Robinson appeared out of nowhere in the ring to start the match.

1 – C.M. PUNK vs. CURTIS AXEL

This is, presumably, a non-title match. It wouldn’t kill WWE to go out of their way to announce it as such, otherwise, it renders the title as somewhat meaningless if they just ignore it. Punk slowly worked over Axel once the match began. Axel took over on offense and tossed Punk out of the ring. They noted Axel has held the IC Title since June. In those five months, he’s done nothing of note with the championship. Punk dropped Axel over the barricade as they cut to break at 2:52 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:41 of the match with Punk fighting out of a rest-hold. Punk got Axel up for the GTS, but Axel snuck out of the ring. Back in the ring, Axel hit Punk with a back-breaker and an elbow off the middle rope. Cover got two at 7:20. Axel continued working over Punk until Punk hit a back suplex. Punk made his comeback at this point, and as he was about to hit his elbowdrop off the top rope, the Wyatts opening video began and the lights went out. Nothing came of it though and Axel surprised Punk with a Perfect-Plex for two. After fighting over a backslide, Punk hit the Go To Sleep for the win.

WINNER: Punk, at 11:08. Without Heyman, it’s sink-or-swim for Axel. Like the majority of his run, he was just okay here.

The arena darkened after the match and Bray Wyatt came on the Titan-Tron. He laughed and blew out his lantern. Then they went to break as Punk watched from the ring.

[Commercial Break]

2 – 3MB vs. THE USOS & R-TRUTH

No entrance for 3MB, as per their usual. 3MB got a lot of offense early on, thanks in part to a running knee by Jinder Mahal to one of the Usos. Heath Slater was on the receiving end of a kick to the face by Jey. Truth tagged in at 3:05 and wiped the floor with Mahal. The announcers put Truth over as the hometown hero in Charlotte. He ended up hitting his finisher on Mahal for the win.

WINNERS: Usos and Truth, at 3:57. A f eel-good moment for Truth to get the win near his hometown.

The finish was replayed.

- Tonight, it’s Luke Harper vs. Daniel Bryan.

[Commercial Break]

3 – THE FUNKADACTYLS vs. A.J. LEE & TAMINA

A.J. cut an inset promo on her way to the ring, plugging the return of Total Divas by trashing it. Cameron had difficulty fighting out of the corner against Tamina. Blind tag by Naomi allowed for a double dropkick. They danced, which caused Tamina to charge them. The Funkadactyls low-bridged Tamina out of the ring. Tamina pulled Naomi to ringside and clotheslined her to the floor. A.J. tagged in and locked a guillotine on Naomi. A.J. was caught with a kick and Cameron made the hot tag. Ugly dropkick, and another of equal hideousness. A.J. turned things in the favor of the heels then tagged Tamina. Nice bulldog from Cameron, but she tried a hurricanrana and Tamina caught her for a powerbomb. The pin was broken up by Naomi. Naomi punched A.J., and Tamina kicked Naomi in the face. Headbutt by Tamina put Cameron down. A.J. tagged in for the submission finish.

WINNERS: A.J. and Tamina, via submission, at 4:30. The powerbomb by Tamina really should’ve been the finish, but of course, WWE tag team rules dictate that no match can end until a pin is broken up and all four competitors get involved.

The finish was replayed. Naomi helped Cameron to her feet after the match as the heels walked to the back.

- Alberto Del Rio was walking backstage. He’s coming to the ring to address John Cena, next.

[Commercial Break]

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

- Alberto Del Rio came to the ring. He bragged about being a Mexican world class athlete, which makes him better than the rest of the world (his words, not mine). Del Rio claimed that John Cena stole his title, calling him a thief. He came up with all these excuses about how hurt he was when he lost to Cena, saying he had to beg the doctors to allow him to compete. He said when he beats Cena, he’ll tell every gringo that “the champ is here.” That brought out Cena, of course.

Cena joked about how we haven’t done anything for Del Rio’s illness, and suggested Cole take down notes on what to get Del Rio (hilariously, he seemed to be taking this quite seriously): edible arrangements, a musical card, etc. Del Rio told Cena he was acting like a “stupid little kid.” Finally, someone says what we’re all thinking. Cena wanted Del Rio to have his rematch tonight. Del Rio demanded a referee and a doctor, because he said Cena would be heading back to the hospital. Both appeared ready to fight until Vickie Guerrero came onto the stage.

Vickie said the World Title rematch would not take place tonight. But, Del Rio will face Cena for the World Title at the Survivor Series. She claimed it was best for business. Cena said Vickie is ill as well, with a chronic case of diarrhea of the mouth. Cena said she needed to shut the hell up. Del Rio agreed with Cena. She said she has already taken the initiative to pick their opponents tonight. Some “initiative,” announcing it in the middle of the show. Cena will face Ryback, and Del Rio takes on The Great Khali. Khali came to the ring for the match, as it takes place next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. THE GREAT KHALI

Back elbows in the corner by Khali on Del Rio, followed by a chop to the chest. Del Rio was set on the top rope and Khali chopped him so hard, Del Rio fell to ringside. Del Rio took over on offense once both men came back into the ring. He attempted to weaken the arm of Khali by getting it tangled in the ropes. Del Rio came off the middle rope and Khali got a boot up and caught Del Rio in the face. Cole referred to Khali as being “surprisingly flexible” after that move. The man can barely walk. “Flexible” he ain’t. Besides, I don’t think it takes a great deal of flexibility to lift a leg. Del Rio got Khali hooked in the ropes with an arm-bar. Khali just slammed Del Rio’s back into the apron in a nice move. Enziguiri by Del Rio into Khali’s ribs. Cross arm-breaker locked in and Khali tapped.

WINNER: Del Rio, at 5:06. Vickie giving Del Rio a “challenge” in Khali shouldn’t fool anyone with half a brain who knows that Khali hasn’t won anything of significance in years. But hey, he’s big.

- A graphic aired for Cena vs. Ryback later tonight.

- Daniel Bryan was walking backstage. He faces Luke Harper next.

[Commercial Break]

- Some clips of WWE2K14 were shown.

- The announcers talked about The Rock’s Tweet about being on the cover of the game.

5 – DANIEL BRYAN vs. LUKE HARPER

During the Wyatt Family entranced, they showed the Wyatts attacking Punk and Bryan on Raw. Harper got the better of Bryan to start and flipped him throat-first into the middle rope. Bryan was finally able to muster some offense, back-dropping Harper to ringside. His shoulder taped, Bryan still connected on a suicide dive on Harper. Harper shook it off and whipped Bryan into the ringside barricade. They cut to break at 2:33 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned at the 5:35 mark. Harper continued his assault on Bryan with hard uppercuts in the corner. The camera focused on Wyatt, in his rocking chair, and Erick Rowan, in his mask, at ringside. Bryan fired back with kicks and a dragon-screw leg-whip on Harper. Kicks to the chest of Harper, but Harper caught one and landed a sit-out powerbomb for two at the nine-minute mark. Bryan suckered him into the Yes Lock and before Harper could submit, Rowan ran in to interfere for the disqualification.

WINNER: Bryan, via DQ, at 9:29. Good showing by Harper in somewhat of a test against the talented Bryan.

As the heels held Bryan for Wyatt, who slowly made his way to the apron, C.M. Punk ran down to make the save. Rowan and Harper bumped while Wyatt stood on the apron, looking into the ring at Bryan and Punk. Wyatt jumped down from the apron, collected his men, and headed out. Punk’s music played to end the segment.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

[Commercial Break]

- This week, The Bella Twins were hawking merchandise backstage. Promo Code Bella to get a buy one, get one 50% off for any t-shirt at WWEShop.com.

- The exterior of the Time Warner Cable Arena was shown.

- A graphic aired for Big Show vs. Randy Orton at Survivor Series for the WWE Championship.

- In Michael Cole’s WWE.com interview with Triple H, Triple H addressed Kane’s role within The Authority – he’s their Director of Operations.

- John Cena came to the ring for his match with Ryback. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- Back from break, they showed a Cena Tweet to Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, then they showed Ortiz wearing the WWE Championship sent by Cena.

6 – JOHN CENA vs. RYBACK

Ryback held Cena in an extended side headlock. Ryback worked Cena to the mat with strikes and power moves. Press slam by Ryback. Ryback missed a shoulder charge in the corner. Cena tried to get his bearings as they went to break 3:47 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 7:25 of the match. Cena attempted to counter into the STF, but Ryback pushed him off with his legs. Ryback toyed with Cena, kicking him in the mid-section and stepping on the back of his head. Ryback continued to slow the pace with chin-locks and bear-hugs. Cena made his vintage comeback, but Ryback countered the Five Knuckle Shuffle into a spinebuster. He got Cena up for Shellshock, but Cena countered into a DDT. Ryback dodged the AA and connected on a Jackhammer for two. Ryback charged at Cena for a clothesline, but Cena grabbed him and put him in the STF. Ryback got to the ropes and speared Cena for two at 12:40. Full-nelson into a neck-breaker for two by Cena. That was unique. Cross-body off the top by Cena, then an AA attempt, but Ryback grabbed the rope. Powerslam by Ryback for two. Cena and Ryback slugged it out in the middle of the ring. Meat-hook clothesline, but the Shellshock was countered into an Attitude Adjustment for the win.

WINNER: Cena, at 15:34.

After the match, Alberto Del Rio ran in and attacked Cena’s injured arm. Cena managed to fight back and knock Del Rio out of the ring. The show signed off with Cena standing tall.


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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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