Friday Night Smackdown!
Providence, Rhode Island
June 17, 2011
results thanks to wrestleview.com
A video recaps the events of the
past two weeks involving Randy Orton and Christian. Two weeks ago Christian
officiated a World Heavyweight Championship match between Orton and Sheamus,
which Orton won. Christian then proceeded to hit Orton in the face with his own
championship belt. Then last week Christian came out and said that the people
just don't get why he's so bitter. Christian says things will be done on his
terms. Christian got Orton to accept a title challenge at Capitol Punishment.
World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. Josh Mathews,
Michael Cole, and Booker T welcome us to the show. They talk about Randy Orton's
concussion as he makes his way to the ring. Orton is getting big cheers and is
soaking it up. Orton says it's true that last week he was diagnosed with a
concussion but it's also true that he doesn't give a damn. Orton says he's ready
to fight tonight. Christian got what he wanted and that was a championship match
this Sunday so he thinks it's only fair that he gets what he wants: the chance
to beat the living hell out of Christian right here and right now.
Teddy Long's music hits and the Smackdown General Manager comes to the ring.
Long says he can appreciate what Orton is feeling and he doesn't blame him.
While he's unofficially ready to fight, Long has to officially receive his
medical clearance yet. This may be a formality until Sunday but he can't let him
fight tonight.
Christian's music hits and he makes his way to the stage looking as cocky as
ever. Christian says he can't believe how angry Orton is at him. Christian says
he gave Orton something that he desperately needed: a concussion. That means he
gave him one hell of an excuse. Christian says Orton can blame the concussion
this Sunday when he beats him for the World Heavyweight Championship. He can use
that excuse instead of the real reason that Christian is just plain better than
Orton. Christian says he's sure the people won't think less of Orton when he
beats him. He's the great Randy Orton, the Legend Killer. Christian says he'll
do things "Teddy Long-style" and polls the audience on if they'll feel less
about him when he loses to Christian. They give a mixed response so I'm not sure
how to interpret that response. Christian says that's good news. The really,
really good news is when he beats him at Capitol Punishment, if he's really
polite, five days after he beats him, he'll give him a rematch.
Sheamus's music hits and he comes out to the stage. Sheamus says between Orton's
concussion, Christian's constant whining, and Teddy Long's general incompetence,
everyone has forgotten the big picture. Last week he beat Randy Orton, the World
Heavyweight Champion. Sheamus asks who deserves it more: the man who's lost
fifty title matches in a row or the man who beat the World Champion. Christian
interrupts and says his match is set so "strawberry shortcake" will have to wait
his turn.
They argue on stage until Long stops them. Long says tonight's main event will
be Sheamus taking on Christian. If Sheamus wins then this Sunday the title match
will become a triple threat match. If Christian wins then the match will stay as
is. As for Randy Orton, for him to be best prepared for Capitol Punishment this
Sunday, he's giving him a ringside seat. Long leaves the ring and grabs a chair,
putting it in front of the announcer's table. Long says during the match Orton
can look and watch but can't touch. If he does there will be serious
consequences. Orton says there's no question: tonight there will be serious
consequences.
We'll see Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan, and Ezekiel Jackson take on Wade Barrett, Cody
Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase next. The announcers say there will be "Capitol
Punishment ramifications".
-Commercial Break-
Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan & Ezekiel Jackson vs. Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes & Ted
DiBiase
Cody Rhodes has his bagmen hand out paper bag masks to the WWE fans before the
match begins. Jackson starts the match off against DiBiase. DiBiase gets a side
headlock applied but Jackson quickly whips him off and flattens him with a
shoulder block. Jackson clotheslines him in the corner and throws him across the
ring. Sin Cara is tagged in and he kicks away at DiBiase. DiBiase reverses a
whip but Cara counters into a head-scissor takeover that takes DiBiase out of
the ring. Cara fakes a splash over the top rope as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see DiBiase punch Cara down and tag in Rhodes.
Rhodes punches away at Cara in the corner and applies a hammerlock. Cara gets
out with a big snapmare. Rhodes attempts to counter a wheelbarrow bulldog but
Cara counters the counter with a roll up for a two count. Rhodes quickly hits a
forearm to the head and wrenches the arm. Cara comes back with some kicks,
scales the ropes, and hits a corkscrew arm drag off the top rope. Rhodes quickly
pops up and catches Cara with the Beautiful Disaster for a near fall.
Barrett is tagged in and he kicks away at Cara for a two count. Barrett hits a
suplex and tags DiBiase in. DiBiase hits a kick to the ribs for a near fall.
Cara counters a back suplex and goes into the ropes but he gets caught with a
clothesline, giving DiBiase a near fall. Barrett is tagged in and he kicks Cara
down before applying a surfboard stretch. Cara fights up and kicks out. Cara
ducks a clothesline but can't avoid a big kick. Barrett goes for a pump-handle
slam but Cara slides off and kicks him. Barrett quickly stops him and goes for
the pump-handle slam again but Cara counters into a tornado DDT.
Bryan and DiBiase are tagged in. Bryan hits some big kicks and goes for a whip
but it's reversed. Bryan back flips out of the corner and hits a running elbow
to the throat. Bryan hits a big running dropkick and picks up the win. Um, ok.
That was definitely messed up because DiBiase kicked out before the referee
counted three. Everyone in the ring looks strange after that.
Winners by Pinfall: Sin Cara, Daniel Bryan & Ezekiel Jackson
Match Rating: * 1/2
Matt Striker asks Sheamus how he feels having to face Christian tonight for an
opportunity to compete for the title at Capitol Punishment. Sheamus says he
feels great but he bets Christian and Orton don't feel so good. This isn't about
feelings – it's about facts. Sheamus is the biggest star on Smackdown and Teddy
Long has realized it. Tonight he'll beat Christian, again, and on Sunday he'll
beat Randy Orton, again. Sheamus will finally take his spot as World Heavyweight
Champion.
-Commercial Break-
The announcers show a replay of the end of the six-man tag team match and show
the referee making the error. I'm surprised they didn't just redo it.
JOBBER ALERT: Vladimir Kozlov is in the ring with no TV entrance.
Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Great Khali
They circle the ring and lock up. Kozlov executes a judo takedown and applies a
side headlock. Mahal gets up, whips him off, and takes a shoulder block. Kozlov
goes for a powerslam but Mahal slides off and drives him into the corner. Mahal
clubs away at him and hits a suplex. Mahal drops a knee and covers for a near
fall. Mahal sends him to the ropes and hits a high knee in the face. Mahal hits
a Russian Leg Sweep for a near fall. Mahal applies a chin lock but Kozlov gets
up and kicks him down. Kozlov hooks the arms and head-butts his chest. Kozlov
kicks him to the corner but Mahal moves before he can splash him. Mahal sends
him shoulder first into the ring post and clubs away. The referee backs Mahal up
as Khali hits a Brain Chop on Kozlov. Mahal taunts the crowd and hits the Full
Nelson Slam for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Jinder Mahal
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Tonight we'll see Sheamus take on Christian. If Sheamus wins then he'll get into
the title match this Sunday at Capitol Punishment.
-Commercial Break-
Big Show makes his way to the ring for an interview with Josh Mathews. Mathews
asks him what he's doing on Smackdown since he's a Raw superstar. Big Show said
he heard a rumor that Alberto Del Rio is here tonight. Mathews says Stone Cold
Steve Austin made a match on Sunday for Big Show to take on Alberto Del Rio.
They show the footage of Ricardo Rodriguez running Big Show over. Mathews asks
Big Show how he's feeling and he quietly says he feels fine. Big Show says
hitting him with that car and then stops as he angrily thinks about it.
Teddy Long comes out and says he cannot lay a finger on Alberto Del Rio if he
shows up tonight. Long says he was informed earlier today that criminal and
civil charges are being contemplated against Big Show in the brutal attack on
Ricardo Rodriguez. Long says he's also been put on notice that if anything
happens on his watch that he will lose his job. The crowd popped for that. Big
Show will also lose his job and that got no reaction. Since Big Show is here to
compete Long has selected an opponent for him – Mark Henry.
Mark Henry makes his way to the ring. He'll square off against Big Show next.
-Commercial Break-
Big Show vs. Mark Henry
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, has this match. Big Show warns Henry
not to get in the ring. Big Show quickly kicks Henry as he's getting into the
ring and brutally assaults him. Big Show knees him in the head a few times and
delivers a massive right hand to his temple. Henry is unconscious on the mat.
This match never even started and it's over. Robinson calls for some help and
some trainers come out to assist Mark Henry. Big Show slowly leaves the ring and
walks up the ramp. They bring a stretcher out for Mark Henry as a bunch of
medical personnel and referees help him out.
Christian is backstage with Matt Striker. Striker asks how he feels about the
title match possibly becoming a triple threat match. Christian says he's feeling
nostalgic for the days in which Teddy Long knew how to run a show – which was
never. Christian says it was a bad call. Christian says he doesn't need to prove
himself for an opportunity for something he never should have lost in the first
place – the World Heavyweight Championship.
Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes & Tamina vs. Natalya, AJ & Kaitlyn
It's interesting that there wasn't a commercial break between these segments.
Natalya has a pep talk with Kaitlyn as she kicks it off against Fox. Kaitlyn
blocks a move and pushes Fox away. Kaitlyn takes her down with a clothesline and
Fox quickly tags in Tamina. They lock up and Tamina pushes her away. Natalya
tags in and she dropkicks Tamina. Rosa distracts Natalya and Tamina capitalizes
with a big head-butt. Tamina talks trash to the rookies and applies a leg lock
to Natalya. Natalya turns it into a Sharpshooter but Rosa takes her out. Kaitlyn
quickly runs in and takes Rosa out.
AJ is tagged in and she hits some big forearms. They're so big she falls every
time she hits one. AJ goes for a crucifix pin but Tamina catches her, gets her
on the shoulders, and hits a nasty Samoan Drop for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes & Tamina
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Christian will take on Sheamus. If Sheamus wins then the Capitol Punishment
title match will become a triple threat.
-Commercial Break-
Johnny Curtis is backstage with a putting green. Curtis says he'll make his
Smackdown debut soon and he has what it takes to survive. Curtis putts and pulls
out an Ace card from the golf hole. Curtis says he has one of those.
They have another one of those Capitol Punishment videos. I can't wait for this
Sunday just so these videos will stop. They then run down the card for the show,
which looks pretty solid.
-Commercial Break-
The Usos vs. Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater
Slater starts out against Jimmy Uso. Slater gets a headlock and Jimmy takes him
down. Jimmy does a dance, ducks a clothesline, and kicks him. Jimmy sends him to
the corner and splashes him. Jimmy dances again and clotheslines Slater for a
near fall. Jimmy puts him in the corner and begins the old 10 punches routine.
Gabriel distracts which allows Slater to hand Jimmy up in the ropes. Gabriel
tags in and he stomps Jimmy for a near fall broken up by Jey. Slater is tagged
back in and he stomps away at Jimmy. Slater punches him down and applies a chin
lock. Jimmy fights up and punches out but Slater takes him down by the hair.
Slater charges him in the corner and gets dropped to the apron. Slater punches
and goes to the top rope. Slater dives off but Jimmy counters into a mid-air
powerslam!
Jey and Gabriel are tagged in. Jey takes him down, ducks a clothesline, and hits
a spinning forearm smash. Jey hits a running butt bump to the face in the corner
for a near fall. Jimmy is tagged in and they hit a double team Samoan Drop for a
near fall broken up by Slater! Jey takes Slater out and Jimmy hits Gabriel with
a DDT. Jey is tagged in and Jimmy takes Slater out with a superkick. Jey hits a
top rope splash on Gabriel for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: The Usos
Match Rating: * 1/2
They show a video that hypes up John Cena vs. R-Truth, which happens this
Sunday.
Sheamus will take on Christian in the main event. If Sheamus wins then he'll be
put into the title match on Sunday.
-Commercial Break-
Alberto Del Rio drives into the arena and goes to the ring. It's weird not to
hear him announced by Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio introduces himself but we, and
Big Show, already know that. Del Rio says there's some rumors floating around
that he negotiated his return to Smackdown because he's afraid of Big Show. Del
Rio says it's his destiny to be the next WWE Champion and no one can stop him,
not even a giant. What happened with the Big Show, Ricardo Rodriguez, and his
car was an accident. Accidents happen all the time and bad things happen to bad
people. Speaking of Rodriguez, Del Rio shows the footage from this past Monday
of Big Show assaulting Rodriguez.
Del Rio says that was not an accident. Del Rio says there will be criminal
lawsuits against the Big Show. Ricardo Rodriguez was his best friend and was
loyal to him. Rodriguez followed him everywhere just like a dog. What the Big
Show did was wrong. Ricardo has a little girl named Consuela and his wife is a
victim of all this. Rodriguez will get his revenge. This Sunday he'll dedicate
his victory to his best friend Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio knows the ring is to
compete but what the Big Show did was wrong. This ring is not to slaughter a
human being and his friend. That is the reason why if the Big Show were standing
in front of him he'd spit in his face.
Big Show's music hits so it looks like Del Rio will get a shot to do that. The
announcers remind us that Big Show can't touch Del Rio. Big Show charges the
ring and Del Rio escapes through the crowd. Big Show loses it at ringside and
tips over the announcer's table. The bottom rope was broken as Del Rio got out
of the ring apparently. Big Show throws one of the announcers' chairs into the
ring. Big Show destroys a barricade and throws the steel into the ring post. Big
Show gets into the ring and stares at Del Rio who is watching from the back row.
Sheamus will take on Christian next.
-Commercial Break-
They replay the footage of Big Show destroying the ringside area. They show that
Del Rio winked at him, which set him off.
Christian vs. Sheamus
If Sheamus wins this match then the World Heavyweight Championship Match at
Capitol Punishment will become a triple threat match. If Christian win then the
match will remain as is. Before the match begins, Randy Orton comes to ringside
to observe.
They lock up and Sheamus knees and clubs Christian down. Sheamus hits a
short-arm clothesline for a one count. Sheamus hits a running knee to the face
for a two count. Sheamus punches him a few times and sends him to the ropes but
Christian holds on and slides out. Christian turns around and he's face to face
with Randy Orton. Christian backs up and Sheamus kicks him in the head from the
ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Sheamus clubbing Christian on the chest a la
Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. Christian comes back with a shoulder thrust and
chokes him on the ropes. Christian stands on Sheamus and chokes him some more on
the ropes. Christian goes into the ropes and runs into an Irish Curse
backbreaker for a near fall. Sheamus clubs the chest some more and applies a
neck vice. Christian fights up but Sheamus knees him and goes for a running
powerslam but Christian slides off. Christian kicks Sheamus down and snaps him
off the top rope.
Christian goes to the top rope and goes for a splash but Sheamus moves. Sheamus
slowly gets up and elbows Christian in the face. Sheamus now goes to the top
rope and hits a diving shoulder block for a near fall. Christian fights up in
the corner so Sheamus punches away at him. Christian all of a sudden sweeps the
feet and uses the ropes to pin him but the referee catches him. Christian argues
so Sheamus pulls him face first into the turnbuckle. Sheamus punches and puts
him on the top rope. Christian punches and hits a tornado DDT for a near fall.
Christian points at Randy Orton and yells at him. Christian sets up in the
corner for a Spear but charges into a clothesline from Sheamus for a near fall.
Sheamus picks him up and Christian all of a sudden goes for the Kill Switch but
Sheamus wiggles out. Christian lands on his feet during a back suplex attempt
and ducks a Brogue Kick. Christian goes for the Kill Switch but Sheamus pushes
him to the corner. Sheamus charges but Christian hits a pendulum kick. Christian
goes to the top rope but Sheamus cuts him off. Sheamus goes to the second rope
and stares right at Orton. Sheamus goes for a superplex but Christian jumps to
the outside, which causes Sheamus to bounce his face off the ring post!
Christian picks up the pin from there!
Winner by Pinfall: Christian
Match Rating: ** 1/4
Randy Orton immediately charges into the ring but Christian escapes. Orton
slowly gets in the ring and sizes up Sheamus, who is lying on his stomach. Orton
backs up and punts Sheamus in the head! Christian looks nervous as he watches on
from the top of the stage. Orton raises the championship above his head.