Friday Night Smackdown!

Albany, New York
March 8, 2013
results thanks to wrestleview.com

In memory of William "Paul Bearer" Moody. 1954-2013.

"Then. Now. Forever." The WWE video leads us into the show.

They show footage of The Shield's confrontation with Randy Orton and Big Show last week on Smackdown. The Shield was getting the upper hand on them until Big Show knocked out Roman Reigns to scare them off. Big Show didn't ally himself with Orton and Sheamus, though. Also, Alberto Del Rio will take on Dolph Ziggler in a match that was voted on by the WWE Universe last night.

Jack Swagger makes his way to the ring with Zeb Colter. Josh Mathews and Michael Cole are on commentary. Cole is filling in for JBL as he climbs a mountain. Swagger welcomes the crowd to "Jack Swagger's America." He is the future World Heavyweight Champion. Swagger wants them to show some respect for his friend and mentor, a real American and a Founding Father, Zeb Colter.

Colter wants to get right to it. He wants everyone in the building to admit something to themselves. He wants them to admit that they share the same values as Swagger and himself. That same sense of patriotism and they all think alike. The reality is they can all see what is wrong with their country, but the people are too scared to say or do anything about it. Colter says they all think alike. Colter wonders if they know someone that has lost a job because someone else snuck over the porous borders to take a job for a few pesos and a pat on the head. That's why Swagger and himself have become the spokesmen for the people. They'll represent the people in rewriting a new Bill of Rights for LEGAL citizens. We the people! That's why they've had enough. Swagger says he's drawing a line in the sand, and he is taking America back. Colter says if you don't agree with them then you are the problem because they are the solution.

Alberto Del Rio's music hits, and he comes out to the stage with Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio says they've got it all wrong. Del Rio has the solution. He's going to show what Jack Swagger's real America is all about. They show a video of Del Rio and Rodriguez dressed as Swagger and Colter. Rodriguez, dressed as Colter, says there is a problem in America pertaining to Mexican food. It's a threat to America. When you walk into a Mexican restaurant, their American bellies can't handle it. Del Rio, as Swagger, rattles off some Mexican food. Rodriguez says those aren't American treats like pizza and French fries are. We the people!

Colter and Swagger don't look too impressed watching that in the ring. Del Rio's music hits, and that's the end of the segment.

Alberto Del Rio will take on Dolph Ziggler later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

They show footage of the Honky Tonk Man laying Heath Slater out with his guitar.

Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre w/ Jinder Mahal vs. Team Hell No

Kane will start the match out against Drew McIntyre. McIntyre starts punching away at him, but Kane simply sends him to the corner. McIntyre clubs him, but Kane is able to back elbow him down for a one count. Kane sends him to the ropes, but McIntyre is able to kick him in the face. Heath Slater is tagged in, and Kane immediately takes him down. Daniel Bryan is tagged in, and Kane whips Bryan into Slater. Bryan kicks away at him. Slater ducks one and attempts a back suplex, but Bryan flips through it. Slater gets him in powerbomb position, but Bryan is able to take him over the top rope. Bryan attempts a flying knee off the apron, but Slater avoids it. McIntyre distracts him, and Slater clotheslines him down. Slater puts him back in the ring, and he tags in McIntyre.

McIntyre kicks and punches him in the corner, and he tags Slater back in. Slater hits some straight right hands before tagging McIntyre back in. McIntyre goes for a short-arm clothesline, but Bryan counters into a back suplex.

Kane and Slater are tagged in. Kane punches him down before turning him inside out with a knee to the midsection. Kane quickly follows up with a low dropkick to the face. Kane sends him to the corner and clotheslines him. Kane sends him to the opposite corner, but Slater is able to catch him with a back elbow. Slater jumps off the second rope into an uppercut by Kane for a near fall. Kane hits a sidewalk slam and signals for the Chokeslam. Jinder Mahal distracts him, and Slater punches away at him. Kane reverses a whip and goes for a powerslam, but Slater fights off. Bryan blind tags in, and Kane wants to know what he is doing. Slater tries to schoolboy Bryan, but he counters into the No! Lock. Kane sends McIntyre over the top rope by the throat, and Slater taps out.

Winners by Submission: Team Hell No
Match Rating: *

They show photos of Natalya and Alicia Fox in Rwanda to prevent the spread of malaria in that country.

Matt Striker is backstage with Dolph Ziggler, AJ, and Big E. Langston. Striker wants his thoughts on being picked by the WWE Universe to face Alberto Del Rio. Ziggler says the WWE Universe voted him to face Del Rio because they want to see the biggest show-stealing match in the history of Smackdown. Swagger and Colter also told him earlier today that it doesn't look like he swam through sewage to get to this country. It's also about the Money in the Bank briefcase and making history. Ziggler and AJ then make out after she says she wants them to make history.

We'll look at Triple H's challenge to Brock Lesnar on Raw.

Ryback is walking backstage when he bumps into Mark Henry. They stare at each other before going their separate ways.

-Commercial Break-

Brad Maddox is on commentary for this match. He's here to shake things up. They then show footage of Triple H challenging Brock Lesnar to a match at WrestleMania. Triple H wonders if he'll come and fight or sit there and bleed. Brock Lesnar will provide an answer for him this Monday on Raw.

Damien Sandow is in the ring. He says he's here tonight to face a barbaric brute. This man is the one that Darwin's Theory of Evolution forgot. This is a man who does not feed his soul with literature and the arts.

Damien Sandow vs. Ryback

They lock up, and Ryback powers him to the corner. Ryback shoulders him in the corner and chops the chest. Ryback throws him across the ring before hitting a powerslam. Sandow rolls out of the ring to recover, but Ryback follows. Ryback clubs him and throws him back in the ring, but Sandow rolls to the opposite apron. Sandow snaps him off the top rope and clubs him, but Ryback just stares at him. Ryback chases him, but Sandow hits him with an elbow. Sandow clotheslines him down and follows up with an elbow before kicking away at him. Sandow clubs away at his face before kneeing him in the midsection. Sandow hits a running boot to the head before dropping a knee. Sandow applies a chin lock, but Ryback fights up and rips him off. Sandow punches, but Ryback hits a pair of back elbows. Ryback then takes him down with a back body drop. Ryback hits a spinebuster and gets the crowd into it. Ryback hits a meat hook clothesline. Ryback then "finishes it" with Shell Shocked for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Ryback
Match Rating: 1/2 *

We'll look at Undertaker's return on Raw, and CM Punk being names his challenger at WrestleMania later tonight. They'll show footage of The Shield attacking Big Show after Raw ended, next.

-Commercial Break-

They show footage, which aired on the WWE App, of The Shield attacking Big Show after Raw ended. Big Show couldn't fight them off, and they hit him with a Triple Powerbomb.

Matt Striker is backstage with Big Show. He asks for a comment on his pummeling. Big Show says he doesn't know what The Shield's beef is. One of their guys got in his way, and he knocked him out. He doesn't pick and choose sides. He'll knock anyone out. He blames Randy Orton and Sheamus for what happened. Big Show holds up his fist, and he says that's his answer for all of them.

Ricardo Rodriguez introduces Alberto Del Rio to the ring. He'll face Dolph Ziggler, next.

-Commercial Break-

A Fandango vignette airs. He'll debut tonight, hopefully.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ AJ and Big E. Langston

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is the official for this match. They circle the ring and lock up. Ziggler punches at him, but Del Rio answers back with some kicks. Ziggler gets him in the corner and punches him in the ribs a few times. Ziggler elbows him in the head before sending him to the other corner. He hits a splash and taunts the crowd. Ziggler chokes him on the bottom rope until the referee backs him off. Langston catches him with a sucker punch while the referee is distracted. Ricardo Rodriguez hits him from behind, but that just angers him. Langston stalks him until AJ steps in to stop him. Rodriguez tries to sneak up on Langston with the bucket of water, but he moves and AJ gets drenched. AJ then goes to attack, but Langston stops her. AJ pretends like she's ok, but then goes through the ring to try to get Rodriguez. She chases him, but Langston catches her to try to stop her. Charles Robinson has seen enough, and he ejects them from ringside! This match will continue after the break.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Ziggler dropping an elbow. Ziggler then shows off a bit before hitting a big elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler applies a chin lock, but Del Rio fights up and out of it. Del Rio hits a sunset flip, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Ziggler immediately follows up with a dropkick for a near fall. Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter are seen watching backstage. Ziggler catches Del Rio with another chin lock, but Del Rio fights out again. Del Rio sends him to the corner, but he runs into a back elbow. Ziggler then charges into a flapjack. Del Rio quickly follows up with a kick to the face.

Del Rio avoids a splash, and Ziggler is on the top rope. Del Rio clubs away at him before hitting a reverse superplex! They trade punches and kicks with Del Rio coming out on top. Del Rio hits a pair of clotheslines before hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio hits a sidekick to the jaw for a near fall. Del Rio signals for the end as the crowd chants "Si." Ziggler quickly kicks him, but he has a whip reversed to a corner. Del Rio turns him onto the ropes and clubs away at him before hitting a backstabber for a near fall. Del Rio goes to the top rope, and he jumps into a dropkick for a near fall. Ziggler can't believe it!

Del Rio counters a leg drop bulldog into a German Suplex for a near fall. Del Rio signals for the finish again. Del Rio charges, but Ziggler pops out of the corner with a tornado DDT for a near fall! Del Rio counters a Zig-Zag into a Cross Arm Breaker attempt. Ziggler counters that into a schoolboy for a near fall. Ziggler counters a tilt-a-whirl, but Del Rio immediately catches him with a Cross Arm Breaker for the submission victory!

Winner by Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Match Rating: **

AJ is drying her hair off backstage when Daniel Bryan approaches her. Bryan says she looks like a Shetland pony. AJ asks if he gets a kick out of seeing her humiliated. Bryan says he didn't see what happened, but she did leave him at the altar, so yes, he does. AJ says her boyfriend still has the Money in the Bank contract. Soon enough, she'll be with the World Heavyweight Champion. He'll be a champion that can handle a woman like her. The only reason she isn't with him right now is because she was attacked at ringside. Unlike Bryan, she knows how to get along with her partner. Kane and himself handle their issues in their own way. Bryan says he didn't just carry around a briefcase while he was with her. He was the World Heavyweight Champion. She says he lost it in 18 seconds. Bryan says since she's with Dolph Ziggler, she should be used to things lasting 18 seconds.

Sheamus will take on Big Show later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

Yoshi Tatsu vs. Mark Henry

Tatsu charges him, but Henry just pushes him down. Henry clubs him before sending him into the ropes for a flapjack. Henry screams at him to get up before picking him up for the World's Strongest Slam for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Mark Henry
Match Rating: 1/4 *

They show Donald Trump's Hall of Fame video.

Matt Striker is backstage with Sheamus. Striker tells him that Big Show blames him for the attack after Raw. Sheamus says he's not surprised. Big Show never takes responsibility for anything. Sheamus says when Big Show goes to Universal Studios and kids call him Shrek, that's not his fault. When he Brogue Kicks him later tonight, that won't be his fault either. It'll be his.

We'll look at The Rock and John Cena's verbal confrontation on Raw, next.

-Commercial Break-

Brad Maddox is still on commentary with Michael Cole and Josh Mathews.

They show the "point/counterpoint" segment with The Rock and John Cena from Raw.

Tamina Snuka vs. Kaitlyn w/ Layla

They lock up, and Tamina knees her in the midsection. Tamina throws her down. Kaitlyn catches her with a back elbow and a clothesline. Kaitlyn hits a back body drop before diving for her, but Tamina moves and she hits the ropes hard! She's ok, but that could have been bad. Cody Rhodes is seen watching backstage. Tamina pushes Layla, and Kaitlyn throws her into the ring. Layla tries to get into attack, but Kaitlyn stops her. Tamina then catches her with a Samoan Drop for the upset win.

Winner by Pinfall: Tamina Snuka
Match Rating: 1/2 *

Damien Sandow walks up to Cody Rhodes, and he says they should leave this godforsaken city since there isn't a restaurant around worthy of their patronage. Plus, they can discuss strategy against the New Age Outlaws. Rhodes asks what Sandow thinks of Kaitlyn. He says she's a commendable in-ring performer. Rhodes wants to know what he thinks of her as a woman. Sandow says she's made the most of what she can considering she comes from a clearly deficient genetic pool.

We'll see footage of the Undertaker's return as well as CM Punk being names his WrestleMania opponent later tonight.

Fandango will debut, next.

-Commercial Break-

Justin Gabriel is in the ring.

A dancer comes out as Fandango is set to debut. Lilian Garcia says his name plainly. That insults him. Fandango says he'll make his debut when she says his name right. Garcia tries a few times. The crowd likes it, but Fandango doesn't. Fandango asks if everyone in the arena is incompetent. He will not compete tonight, and they can thank "Jillian" for missing out on the debut of Fandango.

Booker T is watching what just happened with Teddy Long. Booker wants Long to tell Fandango the next time he's put in a match, he's going to compete in it. Long wonders how to say his name correctly, but Booker stops him and tells him to do his job.

They show footage of Undertaker returning on Raw. They then show highlights from the fatal four way to determine his WrestleMania opponent. CM Punk beat Sheamus, Randy Orton, and the Big Show to win the right to face him. Punk vows to make Undertaker 20-1.

Sheamus makes his way to ringside. He'll face the Big Show, next.

-Commercial Break-

Sheamus vs. Big Show

Big Show quickly clubs away at Sheamus. Big Show goes for the big chop in the corner, but Sheamus moves. Sheamus punches away at him, but Big Show stops him with a body shot and a club. Big Show head-butts him to the corner before hitting another body shot. Sheamus punches back at him before hitting the ropes and getting leveled by a spear! Sheamus rolls out of the ring to recover.

Big Show puts him against the apron and chops the chest. Big Show puts him in the ring and gets on the apron, but Sheamus shoulders him. Sheamus then clubs away at the chest. Big Show angrily pulls him off the apron and throws him into the timekeeper's area.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Sheamus trapped in an overhead wristlock. During the commercial, Big Show flattened him with a big elbow drop. Sheamus punches out of the hold, but Big Show catches him with a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Big Show goes for a slingshot body splash, but Sheamus clubs him. Sheamus goes for an electric chair drop, but Big Show slides off. Big Show then drops him with the alley-oop for a near fall.

Big Show viciously chops away at his chest a bunch of times, and Sheamus drops in the corner. Big Show grabs him by the throat, but Sheamus head-butts out. Big Show pushes him into the ropes, but Sheamus kicks him in the face. Sheamus ducks a clothesline and takes him down with a clothesline. Sheamus shoulders him in the corner, hits a knee lift, and takes him down with another clothesline. Sheamus jumps off the top rope into a Chokeslam attempt, but Sheamus counters into a DDT for a near fall.

Sheamus goes for White Noise, but Big Show clubs out. Sheamus ducks the Knockout Punch and hits White Noise. Sheamus signals for the finish, and he waits for Big Show to get up. Big Show rolls out of the ring before he can hit the Brogue Kick. Sheamus then floors him with a shoulder block off the apron. Big Show punches him and puts him in the ring. Big Show goes to get in, but Sheamus hits him with the Brogue Kick, sending him to the floor!

Winner: No Contest
Match Rating: * 3/4

The Shield's music hits, and they come to the ring through the crowd. They surround Sheamus, but Randy Orton runs down to the ring. A big brawl breaks out, but The Shield quickly gets the upper hand. Big Show gets in the ring and evens things up. The three men clear the ring of The Shield! Big Show then hits the Knockout Punch on Sheamus! Orton then takes him out with an RKO! Randy Orton stands tall in the ring as the show ends.