Friday Night Smackdown!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 29, 2011
results thanks to wrestleview.com
The Smackdown video plays and we're
brought into the arena with a big fireworks display. Josh Mathews, Booker T, and
Michael Cole welcome us to the show. All fans of Michael Cole will be happy to
know that since he's shown up to Smackdown his job is safe.
Tony Chimel asks the crowd to welcome the WWE Chief Operating Officer, Triple H,
to the ring. Triple H comes out to a nice reception. Triple H says he's been the
COO for about ten or eleven days and the one thing he's figured out is the more
things you try to fix, the more things get screwed up. It's like dominos – you
touch one and they all fall over. A wise man once told him that you start at the
top and work your way down. He'll start with the most important things: the
World Heavyweight Championship on Smackdown and the WWE Championship on Raw.
The WWE Championship is a little bit more complex as we've actually got two
champions. He thought he was doing the right thing at the start of the show on
Monday. He hoped he'd have one champion and he wound up with two: CM Punk and
John Cena. Both men have legitimate claims to the WWE Championship. One was
cheated out of his deserved rematch and the other is a current titleholder that
he resigned late Monday night. He doesn't know what he'll exactly do with the
situation but he'll have it figured out by Monday.
Christian's music hits and the World Heavyweight Champion interrupts the WWE's
COO. Christian makes his way to the ring and says, as the face and leader of
this brand, congratulations to Triple H on his new position. Christian says he's
so excited that he's in charge. It's no secret the turmoil he's experienced over
the last few months with Teddy Long. Long has tried to ruin the show over the
past few months with his blatant sucking up to Randy Orton and the fans, just
like the losers he sees in Philadelphia. These are the same fans that turned
their back on him and take Orton's side. That forced him to seek legal council.
Christian says he knows Triple H was going to address the World Heavyweight
Championship situation. As the World Heavyweight Champion he's sure Triple H
wants to have a close, working relationship with him.
Triple H says that's not actually what he wants. Triple H says Vince McMahon
liked to foster an environment around here where people were actually encouraged
to interrupt him. McMahon liked to think you couldn't get ahead without stepping
on some toes. That worked for a while and he himself stepped on a lot of toes to
get to the top. Vince had the patience of a saint but he doesn't. If you
interrupt Triple H then he'll take that as a slap in the face. Christian knows
that if you slap Triple H in the face he'll slap him right back, and he can slap
harder than Christian. Triple H doesn't like negotiations, meetings, and
lawyers. They don't need to have a meeting to discuss anything. At Summerslam,
Randy Orton will get his rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship. Just so
Christian doesn't have any complaints about the officiating or the rules, that
match will have no disqualifications. Christian will defend the title at
Summerslam against Randy Orton in a No Holds Barred Match.
Christian screams that he deserves some respect when R-Truth makes his way to
the ring from the side of the stage. R-Truth says he's back home on Smackdown
and he comes out talking to the crowd and his imaginary friends. R-Truth says
they'll pick up where they left off with on Monday. R-Truth doesn't see any
spiders in the ring and he doesn't see Triple H talking to himself. R-Truth says
everyone knows there's a conspiracy against him. R-Truth just wants a question
answered. R-Truth gets in the ring and says he's not asking anything now – he's
telling him. This Monday, those conspiracies better be straightened out because
he's a man of action. Triple H says he knows that R-Truth is a man of action and
he'll be in action tonight on Smackdown when he faces Randy Orton.
Christian says he'll give R-Truth some tips on beating Orton since he's never
actually beat him in a fair fight. Triple H says before Christian starts giving
out advice he has some news for him as well. Triple H brought someone with him
and it's John Morrison. Before Christian starts complaining he should save his
energy since the match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Teddy Long is backstage with Triple H. Zack Ryder walks up to them and says he
has an idea for Triple H. Triple H says he's had the job for ten days and Ryder
has come at him fifteen times a day with ideas. Ryder says it's not his fault
they don't realize he's the Internet Champion. Triple H has to take a call, but
says he has an idea. Triple H asks if he still wants to be on this show and
Ryder says yes. Triple H introduces Teddy Long to his new assistant, Zack Ryder.
Ryder celebrates and fist pumps an unhappy Teddy Long.
Christian vs. John Morrison
R-Truth is seen watching this match backstage. Charles Robinson, my favorite
referee ever, is the official for this match. This is Morrison's first televised
match since April. They lock up and Morrison quickly rolls Christian up for a no
count. Christian avoids a kick and charges but Morrison throws him out of the
ring. Morrison fakes a pescado and Christian runs away. Christian gets into the
ring and kicks Morrison down. Christian sends him to the ropes and hits a back
elbow. Christian picks him up and punches him right down. Christian sends him
into the ropes but lowers his head and eats a kick. Morrison hits the Chuck Kick
for a near fall. Morrison tries to pick him up but Christian pulls him out of
the ring. Christian goes for a plancha but Morrison moves. Christian hits the
floor hard. Morrison then takes him out with a running corkscrew plancha.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Christian hit Morrison with a neckbreaker for
a near fall. Christian is working over the recently healed neck of Morrison.
During the commercial, Christian threw him into the barricade. Christian chokes
him on the ropes before whiplashing him down. Christian applies a neck vice but
Morrison is able to punch out of it. Christian puts him into the corner and goes
for a tornado DDT but Morrison throws him off.
Morrison hits a pair of clotheslines and a jumping calf kick. Morrison taunts
and goes for a body slam but Christian slides out. Christian goes for a reverse
DDT but Morrison ducks down and kicks him in the head. Morrison kicks and goes
for the Moonlight Drive but Christian pushes him off. Christian charges into a
flapjack. Morrison goes to the ropes but Christian catches him with a
spinebuster for a near fall. Christian taunts the crowd and goes for his over
the top rope uppercut but Morrison moves. Christian gets into the ring and gets
caught with a flipping sambo suplex for a near fall. Morrison is clutching his
neck.
Morrison spears him to the corner and punches him down wildly. The referee backs
Morrison up and Christian hits him with a spear for a near fall. Christian goes
to the top rope and Morrison cuts him off. Christian punches but Morrison
punches right back. Morrison back body drops him off the top rope and goes for
Starship Pain but Christian moves. Morrison (almost) lands on his feet and
Christian snaps him off the top rope. Christian hits him with a Kill Switch for
the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Christian
Match Rating: **
Jinder Mahal is seen in a luxury box with The Great Khali watching Smackdown.
Later tonight we'll see Randy Orton take on R-Truth.
-Commercial Break-
Wade Barrett is in the ring with a microphone. Barrett says he just wanted to
come out and talk about why he left England to come to the States and become a
WWE Superstar. He certainly didn't do it because he wanted to entertain people
like them. He did it because he wanted to make a lot of money. Unfortunately, he
lost track of that over the past twelve months. That ended last week thanks to
Daniel Bryan. We all saw Bryan strutting around with what should have been his
Money in the Bank briefcase and gloating about cashing it in at WrestleMania
XXVIII. The paycheck that this brings should also have been his. A match at
WrestleMania is huge and the paycheck reflects that.
Today we're going to see a return to basics for Wade Barrett because greed is
terribly underrated. The only thing Daniel Bryan has ever proved in WWE is that
it doesn't matter how overrated, overhyped, and how in over your head you might
be –
Daniel Bryan's music hits and the Money in the Bank winner comes out to the
stage. Bryan says originality sure isn't Barrett's strong suit. His buddy Heath
Slater came out last week and said nearly the exact same thing before he made
him tap out. Barrett asks if he's seriously trying to compare him to Heath
Slater. Barrett reminds him that he's the man that took Heath Slater, Daniel
Bryan, and the rest of the NXT Season One misfits, and led them to revolutionize
Monday Night Raw by molding them to his likeness.
Bryan gets in the ring and says Barrett didn't mold him into anything. Bryan
says he came out in Nexus to make a statement. As soon as Barrett sensed a
threat he was gone. All that is water under the bridge. In the last year they've
done a lot more than that. Barrett has even main evented PPVs. Bryan won Money
in the Bank and this year he's main eventing WrestleMania.
Barrett punches him down and kicks him. Barrett grabs the briefcase and stands
over Bryan. Bryan quickly comes catches him and applies the LeBell Lock. Barrett
quickly taps out and Bryan leaves the ring with his briefcase.
Backstage, Teddy Long is shaking his head listening to Zack Ryder's ideas for
the show. Mark Henry walks up and asks if Long took care of "that thing". Long
says after what he did to Big Show and Kane, not to mention the lawsuits that
are pending due to what he did to the audio technician, people just don't want
to deal with Henry. Ryder interrupts and says he has Henry's back. He'll find
him an opponent. Long says Henry has an opponent. Henry says Long should thank
his assistant. Ryder is happy and wants to celebrate but Long isn't in the mood.
The Usos will face Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga with the WWE Tag Team
Titles on the line.
-Commercial Break-
They play a really nice video highlighting Justin Gabriel's return to his
hometown in South Africa.
Natalya, Kaitlyn & AJ vs. Alicia Fox, Tamina & Rosa Mendes
Natalya starts off against Tamina. They talk some trash and get into a
slap-fest. Natalya goes for a crucifix pin but Tamina doesn't budge. Natalya is
able to roll her up for a near fall. Natalya nearly catches her with a
Sharpshooter attempt, but Tamina kicks her off and hits a Samoan Drop. Fox is
tagged in and she gets a two count on Natalya. Fox grapevines the neck and
Natalya fights up with Fox still wrapped around her. Natalya backs her to the
corner, hanging her in the tree of woe. Natalya kicks her and tags in AJ.
AJ hits a neckbreaker and a head-scissor takeover. AJ kicks and hits a shining
wizard for a near fall, broken up by the heel divas. The face divas clear them
from the ring. Fox ducks a cross-body block from AJ and hits the ugliest looking
Scissors Kick I've ever seen. God – Alicia Fox sucks.
Winners by Pinfall: Alicia Fox, Tamina & Rosa Mendes
Match Rating: *
They play another great highlight video for Mark Henry, this time showcasing him
destroying Kane last week. They show him walking backstage. Henry will be in
action next.
-Commercial Break-
Mark Henry vs. Bobby Howard
Bobby Howard is reluctant to come out to the ring. Howard tries to leave but
Zack Ryder comes out to stop him. Howard gets into the ring and the bell rings.
Howard reluctantly goes face to face with Henry. Henry picks him up by the neck
and slams him down. Henry kicks him and hits the World's Strongest Slam. Henry
stands over him and hits a second World's Strongest Slam. Henry viciously stares
at him before hitting a nice looking backbreaker for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Mark Henry
Match Rating: N/A
Henry drags him to the corner and grabs a steel chair. The announcers scramble
to get away. Henry gets back into the ring with the chair and puts it around
Howard's ankle. Henry scares the referee out of the ring. Teddy Long's music
hits and he sprints down to the ring. Long says they go way back but he just
can't let Henry compete anymore. Nobody wants to face him and this isn't
helping. Henry screams that he wants some competition. Long says he has one
lawsuit pending and if he lets this happen then it'll be worse. Long says he'll
find someone for him.
Sheamus's music hits and he makes his way to the ring with a confident look on
his face. Sheamus takes the microphone from Teddy Long. Sheamus says if Long is
looking for someone to fight Henry then he'll fight him. After all, he's just
big. As Henry says, "Bigger isn't better". This reminds him of an old Irish
story. It's a story of fairies and how one was turned into a 420-pound bag of
crap. Henry screams to Long that he asked for someone he can compete with. They
go face to face and Sheamus slaps him hard! Henry becomes enraged and charges
but Sheamus pulls the top rope down. Henry goes to get back into the ring but
Sheamus scares him away with the chair. Henry picks up the steel steps and just
throws them like they're nothing. This was awesome.
Our main event will be Randy Orton taking on R-Truth. The WWE Tag Team Champions
are walking backstage. They'll defend them against The Usos next.
-Commercial Break-
They show a clip of The Usos beating the WWE Tag Team Champions in a non-title
match on WWE Superstars two weeks ago.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
The Usos vs. The New Nexus (c)
Jey starts out against McGillicutty and rolls him up for a two count. Jimmy is
tagged in and they hit a double back elbow/elbow drop combo for a two count.
McGillicutty takes Jimmy down and tags in Otunga. Otunga sends him to the ropes
and Jimmy gets a sunset flip for a two count. Otunga boots him down and chokes
him on the ropes. McGillicutty gets a cheap punch in that gives Otunga a near
fall. Otunga applies a chin lock but Jimmy fights out. Jimmy hits a dropkick and
both men make tags.
Jey hits McGillicutty with a pair of clotheslines and a flying forearm. Jey
crushes McGillicutty with a running butt bump to the face. Otunga breaks up the
pin. Jimmy makes the save. Otunga rips Jimmy off the apron (nice bump) and he's
out. Otunga puts him back in the ring and yells at the referee to get Jimmy out.
Otunga uses the distraction to push Jey off the top rope. McGillicutty hits some
form of a neckbreaker for the win.
Winners & still WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Nexus
Match Rating: * 1/2
Zack Ryder is texting when Teddy Long walks up. Ryder asks what he thinks of
Ezekiel Jackson taking on Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase in a handicap match. Long
says he makes the matches around here, but Ryder assures him that he's talked to
everyone and they're ok with the match. Long says ok.
Later tonight, Randy Orton will take on R-Truth.
-Commercial Break-
The Raw Rebound airs. The show featured two WWE Championship changes and the
returns of Jim Ross and CM Punk. One of the best episodes of the year.
Matt Striker is backstage with R-Truth. Striker asks how he feels about WWE's
new COO, Triple H, putting him in a match with Randy Orton. R-Truth says he
feels good and a good R-Truth is a bad R-Truth. He's going to cut some of the
bad loose tonight. He's going to be like an eagle tearing apart a snake. You
can't let a snake bite you. You have to step on it's head and peel off it's
skin. Tonight the viper is gonna get got!
-Commercial Break-
Ezekiel Jackson vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
Cody Rhodes's baggers give Booker T another bag and he looks flipped out.
DiBiase starts out against Jackson. DiBiase gets a side headlock applied but
Jackson whips him off. DiBiase kicks him in the face and tags in Rhodes. They
punch Jackson and he takes them out with a double clothesline. DiBiase distracts
Jackson and Rhodes chop blocks him. Rhodes kicks away and DiBiase chokes
Jackson. DiBiase was tagged and he applies a chin lock. Jackson elbows out and
goes for a clothesline but DiBiase counters with a backbreaker. DiBiase stomps
him down in the corner. DiBiase walks into a snake eyes and Rhodes is tagged in.
Jackson punches and starts his body-slamming clinic on Rhodes. Jackson hits him
with a trio of slams and the crowd is silent. Jackson goes for his Torture Rack
but DiBiase kicks him. Jackson throws him over the top rope. Rhodes goes for the
Cross Rhodes but Jackson pushes him off. DiBiase distracts Jackson. Jackson
charges Rhodes in the corner but Rhodes moves. Jackson hits the ring post with
his shoulder. Rhodes follows up with the Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
Match Rating: 1/4 *
Jinder Mahal cuts a promo from the luxury box in his native tongue. Mahal talks
for a bit before giving the microphone to Great Khali. Khali also talks in his
native tongue and this entire segment was a waste of time.
-Commercial Break-
R-Truth vs. Randy Orton
They circle the ring and lock up. Orton gets a side headlock applied and R-Truth
whips him off. They crisscross a few times and Orton hits him with a shoulder
block. Orton hits a second one and R-Truth scurries to the corner. R-Truth kicks
and punches Orton. Orton sends him to the corner and R-Truth slingshots over.
Orton comes back with a clothesline for a one count. Orton kicks and stomps
R-Truth's face. Orton soaks in the cheers from the crowd before going for a knee
drop that R-Truth avoids. R-Truth hits a spinning heel kick for a near fall.
Orton gets out of the ring to recover.
R-Truth goes outside and Orton attempts to put him into the barricade but
R-Truth blocks it. R-Truth bounces him off the barricade and the apron before
rolling him into the ring. R-Truth gets enraged when the crowd chants that he
sucks. Orton throws him to the apron and goes for a draping DDT but R-Truth gets
out. R-Truth snaps him off the top rope and hits a modified stunner for a near
fall. Christian, the World Heavyweight Champion, makes his way to the stage to
observe the match.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Orton punching away at R-Truth. Orton sends
him to the ropes but R-Truth hits the Lie Detector for a near fall. R-Truth
stretches him on the ropes. R-Truth hits a snapmare and applies a chin lock.
Orton quickly fights up and punches out. Orton head-butts and punches him. Orton
goes into the ropes and eats a back elbow for a near fall. R-Truth goes to the
top rope and jumps into a punch.
Orton gets a crazy look on his face and the crowd is really into it. R-Truth
charges into a boot and Orton clotheslines him down a few times. Orton hits a
powerslam and he gets the crowd into it. Orton hits a draping DDT on him and
stares at Christian before dropping down for an RKO. R-Truth slowly gets up and
Orton is bleeding from the mouth. R-Truth turns and quickly bails from the ring.
Orton follows him out and R-Truth drives him into the apron. Christian gets on
the apron to distract the referee as R-Truth hits Orton with a water bottle.
R-Truth wants a count-out but Orton gets up. Orton takes a sip of water and gets
in the ring. Orton spears R-Truth down and punches him wildly. Orton then goes
outside and grabs a chair. Christian runs up the ramp as Orton hits R-Truth with
a chair.
Winner by Disqualification: R-Truth
Match Rating: * 1/4
Orton hits him a second time with a chair and punches away at him. Orton then
stares at Christian. Orton gets a crazy look on his face and gets out of the
ring. Orton rips the top off the announcer's table and takes the monitors out.
Orton cracks R-Truth with a monitor and drags him on top of the table. Orton
picks him up and hits him with a big RKO! Orton still has a wild look on his
face and the crowd is chanting for him.
Orton circles the ring and stares at Christian from the end of the ramp.
Christian holds the title up and Orton rubs his head. Orton then smiles as he
looks at R-Truth. Orton goes back and the crowd is going wild. Orton picks
R-Truth up and RKOs him on the table a second time! Orton smiles as the crowd
cheers him on. Christian stands at the top of the ramp hugging his World Title.