Friday Night Smackdown!

Cincinnati, Ohio
March 22, 2013
results thanks to wrestleview.com

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

Footage is aired of Jack Swagger attacking Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez on RAW. Swagger knocked Del Rio out before turning his sights on Rodriguez. Swagger proceeded to break Rodriguez's ankle at Zeb Colter's request. Also, they show Big Show joining forces with Randy Orton and Sheamus against The Shield.

It's time for Miz TV. The Miz is in the ring alongside Randy Orton and Sheamus. Miz welcomes the crowd to the most must-see WWE talk show in history. Miz introduces his guests, and they get a nice reception from the crowd. Miz mentions that Vickie Guerrero and Teddy Long removed Ryback from the six-man tag team match at WrestleMania against The Shield. Miz asks who their partner will be. Orton says his choice is the same man that came down to the ring on RAW and helped them scare off The Shield. That man's name is the Big Show. Miz asks if that is Sheamus' choice as well. Sheamus says if Big Show didn't come down on Monday night, they would have had their arses handed to them. Still, he doesn't trust Big Show. Orton says he doesn't trust anybody, but sometimes you have to do what it takes to survive. The Shield has beaten every opponent they have faced. The Big Show needs them just as much as they need him. Sometimes it's the devil you know versus the one that you don't. Orton says come WrestleMania, he wants that big, bad, angry giant on his side.

Miz says instead of talking about him, it's time to bring him out. Miz introduced the Big Show to the ring. Big Show makes his way to the ring to a mixed reception from the crowd. Miz says Big Show can agree with Sheamus' issues with mistrust. Miz was his former tag team partner, and he ended the partnership by knocking him out. Miz can't speak for them, but he trusts Big Show for about as far as he can throw him. Big Show says Miz' opinion doesn't matter. Big Show says he did something Sheamus and Orton couldn't do - he knocked out a member of The Shield. They don't have to like each other. He personally can't stand them. If they work together, no one, not even The Shield, can stop them.

Sheamus says they've been to war against each other. They've beaten the life out of each other in the ring. Big Show is one of his toughest opponents, but he's also one of the most devious. Sheamus asks how he can assure them that if the going gets tough, he's not going to just tuck his tail and run. Big Show says if he did that, then he wouldn't have beaten him for the World Heavyweight Championship. Sheamus and Big Show start getting close. Orton tries to break it up, and Miz can't believe that he is being the voice of reason. Sheamus says this is never going to work. Big Show says this will work is Sheamus can pull his head out of his ass.

Booker T's music hits, and the Smackdown General Manager (and newest WWE Hall of Fame inductee) comes out to the stage. Booker says he needs to know if this can work. He needs to know if they can find a way to get along. Booker says we'll find out as the three of them will team up in a six-man tag team main event tonight. Now can you dig that, SUCKA?

Chris Jericho will take on Jack Swagger in a rematch from last week's Smackdown later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

Zack Ryder vs. Mark Henry

Michael Cole, Josh Mathews, and the returning John "Bradshaw" Layfield talk about Mark Henry taking on Ryback in about two weeks at WrestleMania XXIX.

Henry shoves Ryder to the corner and elbows him in the face. Henry whips him hard into the opposite turnbuckle, and Ryder collapses from the force. Henry whips him across the ring to the other turnbuckle for the same result. Henry goes for a powerslam, but Ryder slips off. Ryder hits the ropes and runs into the World's Strongest Slam for the loss.

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

Henry picks Ryder up and gives him another World's Strongest Slam. The crowd is chanting, "Feed me more" as Henry picks him up and hits another World's Strongest Slam. All of a sudden, Ryback's music does hit, and he comes out to the ring to confront Henry. They stand across the ring from one another. Henry talks a little trash to Ryback. Henry then charges him, and Ryback clotheslines him down. Henry rolls out of the ring as Ryback keeps chanting, "Feed me more!"

Booker T is seen watching what just happened in his office. Teddy Long comes in, and he asks if Booker is proud of him. Long says he took it upon himself after consulting with Vickie Guerrero, and he made the Ryback versus Mark Henry match for WrestleMania. Booker says he likes the match, but he doesn't like how Long handled his business. Long works for him. Long cuts him off, and he says he thought he worked WITH Booker T.

-Commercial Break-

They show the Booker T Hall of Fame induction video.

Dolph Ziggler w/ Big E. Langston and AJ vs. Kofi Kingston

AJ joins the commentary table for this match.

Kingston quickly gets on the offensive by kicking Ziggler down in the corner. Ziggler quickly comes back with a kick to the midsection and a neckbreaker. Ziggler talks a little trash while pushing his head. Kingston hits a double chop and a dropkick before hitting a leaping clothesline. Kingston hits the Boom Drop and sets up in the corner for his finisher. Big E. Langston distracts him, and Kingston turns into a dropkick.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Kingston having a whip to the corner reversed on him. Kingston quickly counters with a pendulum kick, and he goes to the top rope. Ziggler quickly knocks him off the top and picks up a two count. Kingston punches back at him and hits the ropes, but Ziggler takes him out with another dropkick for a near fall. Ziggler applies a chin lock. JBL is teasing AJ about dating 75% of the men in the WrestleMania match. Kingston fights out of it, but Ziggler gets him in the corner and punches at him. Ziggler backs up and charges, but Kingston moves, causing Ziggler to hit the ring post shoulder first.

Kingston hits a pair of chops, a dropkick, and a springboard cross-body for a near fall. Kingston goes for a springboard body splash, but Ziggler gets his knees up for a near fall. Ziggler stalks Kingston as he gets up. Ziggler charges, but Kingston sidesteps him. Kingston goes for Trouble in Paradise, but Ziggler hangs on to the ropes. Ziggler immediately goes to the sleeper hold, but Kingston is able to back him to the corner and whip him off. Kingston quickly follows up with the SOS, but Ziggler grabs the bottom rope at two. Ziggler rolls out of the ring to recover.

Kingston goes for a suicide dive, but Langston stands in the way, stopping Kingston in his tracks. Langston checks on Ziggler, and then he turns into a huge top rope plancha from Kingston! Ziggler quickly follows up on Kingston with a famouser on the floor! Ziggler deadlifts Kingston into the ring and waits for him to get up. Ziggler then hits the Zig-Zag for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Match Rating: * 3/4

Big E. Langston gets in the ring following the match, and he drops Kingston with the Big Ending. Langston stands over Kingston before leaving with Ziggler and AJ.

They show a replay of Chris Jericho making fun of Fandango to his face on RAW. Jericho then asked for his movie tickets.

Chris Jericho will take on Jack Swagger later tonight in a rematch from last week's Smackdown. Up next, they'll show a replay of CM Punk's continued disrespect toward Undertaker and Paul Bearer.

-Commercial Break-

The RAW Rebound shows footage of the Undertaker demanding that CM Punk return the urn of Paul Bearer. Punk then mocked Paul Bearer's voice and said that he is the one in 20-1. Punk then "accidentally" dropped the urn before saying, "No disrespect intended."

Big Show and Sheamus are going back and forth with who should take the lead in the match. Randy Orton is standing in the middle of them, and he yells to quiet them. He says if they don't get along, they'll be sitting ducks for The Shield. Orton then walks off.

A replay is shown of Jack Swagger breaking the ankle of Ricardo Rodriguez with the Patriot Lock. The announcers confirm that his ankle is indeed broken. Alberto Del Rio is not at the show tonight as he is attending to his friend.

Jack Swagger makes his way to the ring with Zeb Colter. He'll face Chris Jericho in a rematch from last week, next.

-Commercial Break-

Jack Swagger welcomes his fellow American's to "Jack Swagger's America." Swagger gives the microphone to Zeb Colter, and he says it is a beautiful day in their America. What happened on Monday Night RAW to Ricardo Rodriguez was unfortunate, but necessary. That is nothing compared to what will happen to Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania. In "Jack Swagger's America," if bones need to be broken, bones will be broken. After what Swagger did to Ricardo, it should serve as a wakeup call to not only Del Rio, but to everyone who disagrees with what they say, including Swagger's opponent tonight, Chris Jericho. Swagger takes the microphone and says, "We the people!"

Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho punches away at Swagger to start the match. Jericho sends him to the ropes and hits a back elbow. Jericho clotheslines him in the corner and chops the chest. Jericho knees and chops away at him. Jericho sends him into the ropes, but Swagger hangs on and gets out of the ring to recover. Swagger flips out, and Colter comes up to him to calm him down. Jericho hits Swagger with a baseball slide before sending him into the barricade. Jericho throws him back into the ring, scares Colter off, and gets in the ring to take a chop block from Swagger.

Swagger kicks away at Jericho before flooring him with a shoulder block. Swagger waits for him to get up before hitting the ropes and running him over with another shoulder block. Swagger talks a little trash before hitting the ropes again, but Jericho catches him with a dropkick for a two count. Jericho kicks him in the ribs. Swagger reverses a whip, but Jericho is able to duck the clothesline. Jericho dives, but Swagger catches him and drives him into the corner. Swagger punches him down in the corner. Jericho punches back, but Swagger is able to stop the momentum. Swagger sets him up on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Jericho fights him off. Jericho executes a cross-body block for a near fall. Swagger rolls out of the ring to recover, but Jericho quickly takes him out with a plancha followed by a number of punches. Jericho gets pumped up at ringside as a commercial hits.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Swagger take Jericho down with a big boot for a near fall. Swagger applies a hammerlock before stretching the injured arm over the ropes. Jericho elbows him in the face, but Swagger clubs him down. Swagger whips him hard into the corner and charges, but Jericho sidesteps him. Jericho hits a pair of shoulder blocks. Swagger sends him over the top rope, but Jericho lands on the apron, climbs to the top, and hits a double axe handle. Jericho pushes him to the corner and begins the classic ten punches. Swagger goes for a powerbomb at nine. Jericho counters into a hurricanrana attempt, but Swagger stops the momentum and applies the Patriot Lock. Jericho twists out of it, sending Swagger out of the ring. Jericho then catches him with a springboard dropkick to knock him off the apron.

All of a sudden, Fandango's music hits, and he comes out to the stage dancing. Fandango and his dancer walk down to the ring as Swagger sneaks up and slams Jericho down for a near fall. Swagger knees Jericho in the midsection. Jericho counters a short-arm clothesline and catches him with a crucifix pin for a near fall. Swagger counters a Codebreaker, but Jericho comes right back with a Walls of Jericho attempt. Jericho can't turn him, so he goes for a catapult, but Swagger awkwardly falls sideways into the ropes. Jericho hits a face-buster and goes for the Lionsault, but Fandango kicks him in the face as he's on the ropes! Swagger quickly follows up with a Swagger Bomb for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Jack Swagger
Match Rating: * 3/4

Fandango gets in the ring after Swagger and Colter leave and kicks Jericho in the face. Fandango punches away at Jericho before screaming, "What's my name?" Fandango takes off his silver vest and goes to the top rope. Fandango rubs himself before jumping off with a diving leg drop. Fandango grabs the microphone and says his name over Jericho. Fandango dances to the back.

Big Show is backstage with Matt Striker. Striker says it looks like it'll be a challenge for him and his partners to get along. Big Show says that Randy Orton is right. They have to get on the same page. He's had the crap kicked out of him by The Shield, as have Orton and Sheamus. He's going to put his heart into this. Orton and Sheamus are going to be able to trust him as much as they can trust each other. Big Show finishes by saying, "Trust me."

We'll take a special look at the main event of WrestleMania with The Rock and John Cena, next.

-Commercial Break-

They play the video package highlighting the entire history of The Rock versus John Cena. They'll fight with the WWE Championship on the line in the main event of WrestleMania XXIX.

The Rock will be live on RAW next week.

Team Rhodes Scholars is in the ring with the Bella Twins. Cody Rhodes says tonight, even though the people don't deserve it, the Intellectual Savior of the Masses, and the Essence of Mustachioed Magnificence, bring a special gift. Sandow asks for silence. He says they are more than proud to present to everyone the class of the Diva's division, the only two women with enough beauty and intelligence to accompany Team Rhodes Scholars, Brie and Nicki Bella.

Team Rhodes Scholars w/ The Bella Twins vs. Brodus Clay and Tensai w/ The Funkadactyls

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is the official for this match. Cody Rhodes will start against Tensai. Rhodes ducks his lock-up attempts, but Tensai simply punches him down. Tensai sends him into the ropes, but Rhodes drops to his back and uppercuts him. Tensai clotheslines him, but Rhodes avoids a body splash. Tensai kicks him away and tags in Brodus Clay. Clay clotheslines Rhodes a few times before taking out the interfering Sandow. Clay splashes Rhodes in the corner, and one of the Bella Twins gets on the apron to distract.

The Funkadactyls then get into a fight with the Bella Twins. Clay and Tensai try to break it up, and they begin to fight with Team Rhodes Scholars on the outside. The referee throws the match out.

No Contest
Match Rating: 1/4 *

Matt Striker is backstage with Randy Orton and Sheamus. Striker asks if they're on the same page as the Big Show. Sheamus says they are united. He trusts Orton, Orton trusts him, and they both trust Big Show just as much. Sheamus says, "Trust me" and walks off. Sheamus then comes back and says, "No, seriously, trust me."

-Commercial Break-

Wade Barrett is on commentary for the next match.

Antonio Cesaro vs. The Miz

They circle the ring before locking up. Cesaro gets a front face lock applied before transitioning to a side headlock. Miz whips him off and gets a rollup for a near fall. Cesaro quickly knees him in the face for a near fall. Cesaro hits a huge double stomp to the chest for another near fall. Cesaro dead lifts him for a gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Cesaro grabs him by the ear and applies a neck vice. Miz comes back with some punches. Cesaro reverses a whip, but Miz hangs on to the ropes. Miz elbows him in the face, hits a high knee, and finishes him off with a big boot. Miz hits his patented corner clothesline before hitting a top rope axe handle. Cesaro kicks him off before he can apply the Figure Four Leglock. Miz sidesteps him as he tries for a running knee. Miz then dropkicks him in the knee. He then applies the Figure Four Leglock for the submission victory!

Winner by Submission: The Miz
Match Rating: *

The Miz stares at Wade Barrett before applying the Figure Four Leglock for a second time on Antonio Cesaro. Barrett gets to his feet and holds the WWE Intercontinental Championship in the air. Miz stares at him as Barrett walks off.

We'll take a look at the contract singing between Triple H and Brock Lesnar, as well as the stipulation, next.

-Commercial Break-

They show the vicious contract signing between Triple H and Brock Lesnar. Paul Heyman did the majority of the talking, and he wound up taking quite a beating. Triple H eventually signed the contract. Heyman then revealed the stipulation to be a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania with Triple H's career on the line.

Randy Orton and Sheamus make their entrances. They'll fight alongside the Big Show in the main event, next.

-Commercial Break-

Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Big Show vs. 3MB

Randy Orton will start the match for his team against Jinder Mahal. They circle the ring, and Mahal kicks and punches away at Orton. Mahal hits the ropes, and Orton drops him with a pair of clotheslines. Orton puts him in the corner for the classic ten punches. Orton gets them all in before tagging in Sheamus. They send Mahal into the ropes and hit a double-team back elbow. Sheamus punches Mahal to the corner and beats him down. The referee backs Sheamus up, and Mahal comes back with some kicks and punches. The referee backs Mahal up, and Sheamus beats him up in the corner. Sheamus sends him to the corner and shoulders him. Sheamus hits a high knee before hitting his rolling fireman's carry slam. Sheamus shushes the crowd and chops Mahal's chest. Big Show smiles on the apron. He likes that Sheamus just took a page from his book. Sheamus tags in Big Show, and Mahal tags in Drew McIntyre.

McIntyre quickly attacks, but Big Show just swats him down. Big Show puts him on the apron and executes Sheamus' Beats of the Bodhrán (the clubs to the chest) on McIntyre. Sheamus appreciates that. Jinder Mahal is tagged in, so Big Show brings him in the ring the hard way. Mahal quickly tags Heath Slater, and he gets out of the ring. Big Show brings Slater in the hard way, and he tags Orton in. Orton gets the crowd into it before dropping a knee. Slater reverses a whip and kicks him. Slater hits the ropes, and Orton catches him with a powerslam. Orton goes for a hanging DDT, but Mahal tries to attack. Orton punches Mahal down, and Slater comes back with a roundhouse kick for a near fall.

3MB begins to beat Orton down in their corner. Mahal hits a neckbreaker, and Slater picks up a two count. Slater drops a knee and taunts the crowd. Slater goes to the top rope, and Orton dropkicks him out of mid-air. Big Show and Mahal are tagged in. Big Show clotheslines him down a few times before hitting a butt bump in the corner and a big spear. McIntyre hits a big boot on Big Show, and Sheamus blind tags in. Big Show drops McIntyre with the Knockout Punch. Sheamus then drops Mahal with the Brogue Kick for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Big Show
Match Rating: *

Big Show turns Sheamus around, and they start arguing. Randy Orton tries to get in the middle of them to break it up when The Shield's music hits. They make their way through the crowd. As they do, Big Show shoves Sheamus out of the way. Sheamus shoves him back, and they tussle to the corner. Big Show swats Randy Orton away when he tries to intervene. They argue as The Shield begins to circle the ring. They then stop arguing and focus their attention on The Shield. This intimidates the Shield, so they leave through the crowd.