Friday Night Smackdown!

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
May 31, 2013
resul
ts thanks to wrestleview.com

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

A video plays showing The Shield taking out Randy Orton, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, and Team Hell No all in the past week. Tonight, all three members of The Shield will be in action in singles competition. Seth Rollins will take on Kane, Roman Reigns will take on Daniel Bryan, and Dean Ambrose will face Randy Orton.

Seth Rollins w/ Roman Reigns vs. Kane w/ Daniel Bryan

They circle the ring, and Rollins punches him before applying a side headlock. Kane goes for a back suplex counter, but Rollins flips through it. Rollins hits the ropes, slides between his legs, ducks a clothesline, and takes a shoulder block from Kane. Kane head-butts him into the corner before whipping him to the opposite corner. Rollins slingshots over him and hits the ropes only to run into a big boot. Kane picks up a two count. Kane hits a delayed vertical suplex for another two count. Kane applies a chin lock. Rollins fights up and punches out. Rollins hits the ropes, and Kane catches him with a back body drop for a one count. Kane hits a snapmare and goes for his low dropkick, but Rollins counters with a dropkick to the knee.

Rollins begins stretching Kane's leg out. Rollins drags him away from the ropes and drops some elbows on it. Rollins kicks him in the leg, but Kane comes back with an uppercut and some right hands. Rollins stops his momentum by kicking him in the leg a few times, knocking him down. Kane punches and kicks him into the turnbuckle. Rollins goes to the second rope, and Kane cuts him off with an uppercut. Kane grabs him by the throat, but Rollins kicks him away. Rollins then dives onto him and executes a tornado DDT for a near fall.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Kane trapped in a single leg crab. Kane kicks him off, and Rollins runs into a powerslam.

Kane takes a moment to recover before getting to his feet. Kane punches away at him before hitting a corner clothesline. Kane sends him to the opposite corner, and he runs into Rollins' boot. Rollins hits the ropes, and Kane catches him with a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Kane goes to the top rope, but Rollins cuts him off. Rollins punches away at him and goes for a superplex, but Kane punches him off. Kane then connects with his flying lariat. Kane signals for the Chokeslam, but Roman Reigns gets on the apron. Kane grabs Reigns by the throat, but he escapes. Kane then turns into a step-up enzuigiri. Rollins goes to the top rope, and Daniel Bryan pushes him off while the referee was still concentrating on Reigns. Kane then connects with a Chokeslam for the win!

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

The Shield argues with the referee about the assist that Daniel Bryan gave to Kane. The referee isn't listening to any of it. Roman Reigns versus Daniel Bryan is going to start right now.

Roman Reigns w/ Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan w/ Kane

Reigns quickly unloads on Bryan with some forearms and kicks at the sound of the bell. The referee backs him up, and he runs into a drop-toe-hold into the turnbuckle. Bryan kicks away at him in the corner before hitting a knee breaker. Bryan gets him tied up in a modified Indian deathlock, and he punches away at Reigns for a one count. Bryan kicks away at him before hitting a dragon screw takedown. Bryan elbows him in the shoulder and kicks him in the back a few times. Reigns reverses a whip and hits a back elbow before taking him down with a high knee for a two count.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Reigns send Bryan into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Bryan hits the ropes, and Reigns takes him down with an explosive clothesline for a two count. Reigns talks a little trash before slamming him down on his face. Reigns runs him over with a shoulder block for a near fall. Reigns sends him into the corner and charges, but Bryan sidesteps him.

Bryan begins to shake before charging into Reigns with a running dropkick. Bryan kicks away at him in the corner before backing up for another running dropkick for a near fall. Bryan kicks away at his chest, but Reigns ducks the big kick to the head. Reigns head-butts him in the midsection before sending him to the corner. Bryan climbs the ropes and backflips over him. Bryan hits the ropes and connects with a crucifix pin before transitioning to the No! Lock! Reigns screams in pain before clawing to the bottom rope, but he still can't reach it. Rollins comes over and pushes the rope into his hand. The referee awards a rope break. Kane quickly comes over and takes Rollins down with a big boot at ringside. Kane then uppercuts Reigns inadvertently in front of the referee. The referee calls for the bell.

Winner by Disqualification: Roman Reigns
Match Rating: * 1/2

Kane and Daniel Bryan argue in the ring. Bryan thinks that Kane did it on purpose. Bryan accuses Kane of thinking he can't handle his matches on his own. Bryan pushes him, and Kane tries to simply walk away. Bryan follows him, and they argue all the way up the ramp.

Later tonight, Dean Ambrose will take on Randy Orton.

-Commercial Break-

Damien Sandow is in the ring for another episode of his "Damien Sandow Show." Sandow says he attempted to teach Sheamus as well as the unwashed masses of the WWE Universe a lesson. That lesson was, and he'll say it slowly so the crowd can understand, physical strength is not now nor ever will be superior to mental strength. This left the Irish brute dumbfounded, much like Edmonton twenty-five years ago when they gave away Wayne Gretzky for nothing. When it comes to intelligence, he is the Great One.

Sandow demands silence before continuing. To further illustrate his point, he has devised a simple challenge. The camera shows three silver canisters on a table. Sandow says this is what the ancient Greeks refereed to as Thimblerig, but the vulgarians may know it simply as "the Shell Game." There are three cups, and he has a red ball. He'll put the ball under one of the cups and rearrange them. Anyone with common sense will locate the ball. Here in the WWE, he is surrounded by simple minds.

Sheamus' music hits, and he comes out to a nice reception. Sheamus says Sandow couldn't leave well enough alone. Last week on Smackdown, Sandow tricked him with that little knot puzzle of his. Sandow should have just walked away. Now he's out here playing with his cups and his tiny balls. Sandow looks incredulous. Sheamus says Sandow is just annoying everyone here, including himself. Sheamus is prepared to end this once and for all and beat him at his own game. Sandow asks if he would like to take part in the challenge. Sheamus agrees. Sandow begins to rearrange the cups and talk a little trash while doing it. Sandow finally stops and tells him to choose wisely. Sheamus takes his time before grabbing a cup with nothing in it. Sandow congratulates him on having his idiot license for another year.

Sandow says because he likes Sheamus, he's going to "dimwitify" this game. There will now be two cups in play. Sheamus turns over another cup, and there is nothing under it. Sandow says Sheamus has proven himself incompetent. Sheamus stops him, and he admits to being defeated. Sheamus says he won't be happy until Sandow shows him the red ball under the cup. Sandow says he's a very simple man. Sheamus then tells him to lift his hand off the cup. Sandow asks if he realizes that he's just furthering the embarrassment. Sheamus says he, along with everyone else, won't be satisfied until he sees it. Sandow says they don't count, and Sheamus silences him. The crowd chants, "Show your balls!" Sheamus grabs the cup as Sandow wonders if there is one adult in the crowd.

Sheamus turns over the cup, and there is nothing there. Sandow says he is also a magician. Sheamus says if he's truly the intellectual savior of the unwashed masses, how did he get caught cheating. Sheamus says, "Look here at Damien Sandow, so fast and so quick, a perfect target for a Brogue Kick." Sheamus throws the cup at him, tosses away the table, and takes him down with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus kneels down and says, "You're welcome."

Paul Heyman is walking backstage with his client, Curtis Axel. Axel will be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Sin Cara vs. Curtis Axel w/ Paul Heyman

Before the match begins, Paul Heyman cuts a promo. Heyman says there are some in WWE that will dare to insinuate that the way to see if he's lying is to check to see if his lips are moving. There is a bunch of comedic geniuses in WWE. When he speaks of his clients, he always tells the truth. For example, the fact that what his client, Curtis Axel, has accomplishes in his first two weeks as a Paul Heyman guy is unprecedented in WWE history. Since this Smackdown audience has no appreciation for his integrity, he is going to allow his client to pontificate about his accomplishments himself.

Axel grabs the microphone, and he mentions that Triple H and John Cena have combined for twenty-six championships. However, against him they are 0-2. He beat Triple H up so bad that he refused to continue, which is tantamount to a submission. John Cena was so afraid to fight him that he ran out of the ring rather than continue. Nobody in the history of the WWE has made the type of impact that he has. When you're a Paul Heyman guy, life is perfect.

The bell rings, and Axel kicks him down. They aren't using the Sin Cara lighting this week. Axel hits a backbreaker before pushing him into the ropes for a nice dropkick. Axel digs his knee into Cara's back before ripping at his mask. Axel applies a chin lock, but Cara fights up. Axel takes him down with a forearm before lifting him up. Cara counters with an arm drag before hitting a hurricanrana. Cara grabs the arm and climbs the ropes for a twisting arm drag. Cara charges him, and Axel drops him onto the apron. Cara kicks him back and hits a springboard cross-body block. Cara ducks a clothesline and goes for a handspring back elbow, but Axel takes him down with a forearm. Axel then executes the Perfect-Plex for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Curtis Axel
Match Rating: 1/2 *

We'll take a look at Paul Heyman's appearance on Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

Lilian Garcia introduces Ricardo Rodriguez in Spanish. Rodriguez then introduces the next World Heavyweight Champion, Alberto Del Rio. They show Del Rio defeating Big E Langston on RAW after a botched assist from AJ Lee.

Alberto Del Rio w/ Ricardo Rodriguez vs. Big E Langston w/ AJ Lee

They lock up, and Langston powers him to the corner before hitting some shoulder blocks. Langston backs up, and he runs into Del Rio's boots. Del Rio punches away at him before hitting an enzuigiri. Del Rio kicks him, but Langston comes back with a front suplex on the top rope for a two count. Langston applies a bear hug. Del Rio fights up, but Langston takes him down with a kick and a gut-buster for a near fall. Langston props him up on the top turnbuckle, but Del Rio kicks him away. Del Rio then hits a missile dropkick that sends him to his knees. Del Rio hits him a few times before dropping him with a clothesline. Langston then counters a backstabber into a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall.

Langston pulls the straps down on his singlet before going for the Big Ending. Del Rio slides off and hits the backstabber. Del Rio sizes him up in the corner and charges, but Langston ducks the enzuigiri. Langston gets a waistlock applied, but Del Rio counters into one of his own, and he hits a nice German suplex. Del Rio kicks him in the jaw for a near fall. Del Rio sets up and hits the Cross Arm Breaker. Langston powers up from it, and he runs Del Rio over with an avalanche for a near fall. Langston grabs him while he's on the apron, and Del Rio applies a Cross Arm Breaker on the ropes. Del Rio lets go, and AJ rips at his face while the referee's back is turned. Langston goes outside, throws Del Rio into the ring post, and puts him back in the ring. Langston hits the Big Ending for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Big E Langston
Match Rating: * 1/4

They will show John Cena challenging Ryback to a Three Stages of Hell match, next.

-Commercial Break-

The RAW Rebound airs, and it shows John Cena challenging Ryback to a Three Stages of Hell match. The first fall will be a Lumberjack match, the second a Tables match, and the third will be an Ambulance match.

An ambulance rides into the arena, and Ryback comes out of the back of it. He's ready for some in-ring action.

Ryback vs. Kofi Kingston

Kingston quickly starts it off with a running dropkick that stumbles Ryback. Kingston kicks him to the corner before leaping up to his head with some punches. Kingston hits an uppercut and some kicks. Ryback counters and takes him down. Kingston kicks him in the head before charging him. Ryback drops him to the apron, but Kingston hits a springboard dropkick for a two count. Kingston hits the Boom Drop, and he tries to get the crowd into it. Kingston goes for Trouble in Paradise, but Ryback catches him. Kingston slides off and hits a springboard cross-body for a two count. Kingston goes for a pendulum kick, but Ryback counters it and stomps him off the ropes.

Ryback stands in the corner while Kingston gets to his feet. Ryback hits his big meat hook clothesline before signaling to the crowd that it is over. Ryback hits Shell Shocked for the win.

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

Ryback goes under the ring, and he pulls out of a table. Ryback sets it up in the ring before grabbing Kingston. Ryback then powerbombs Kingston through the table! Ryback leaves the ring, and he grabs a second table. Ryback sets that up, and he powerbombs Kingston through that one as well! Ryback looks into the camera intensely before leaving the ring to grab a third table! Ryback sets that one up in the ring, and he grabs the lifeless Kingston out of the wreckage of the second table. Ryback then powerbombs him through the third table before leaving the ring!

Kingston lays in the wreckage of three tables as referees come to check on him. Kingston has not moved since being Shell Shocked.

-Commercial Break-

They show a video from RAW, which features Chris Jericho getting Paul Heyman to accept a challenge on CM Punk's behalf. Chris Jericho will face CM Punk at WWE Payback in Chicago.

Renee Young is backstage with Chris Jericho for an interview. Young asks for his thoughts on Paul Heyman accepting a match for CM Punk. Jericho says when you sleep with dogs, you get fleas. However, when you sleep with a dog like Heyman, you get ticks, mites, bites, tapeworm, ringworm, bloodworm, blastomycosis disease, cranial menopause, and mange. To paraphrase his evil nemesis Bob Barker, he's going to make sure CM Punk gets spade and neutered.

Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring. He'll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Chris Jericho vs. Cody Rhodes

They circle the ring before locking up. Jericho applies a side headlock before turning to a waistlock. Rhodes takes him down, hits the ropes, and eats a dropkick. Jericho then clotheslines him over the top rope. Jericho hits a baseball slide before bouncing him off the barricade. Jericho puts him in the ring, and Rhodes kicks him before hitting a front suplex onto the top rope for a two count. Rhodes kicks away at him before kneeing him in the midsection. Rhodes knees away at him, but Jericho comes back with some chops. Jericho sends him to the corner, but Rhodes sidesteps him. Rhodes lifts him up while against the ropes and kicks him in the midsection for a near fall.

Rhodes applies a chin lock, but Jericho fights up to his feet. Rhodes whips him off, but Jericho hits a pair of shoulder blocks. Jericho then hits a face-buster. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Rhodes twists him off. Rhodes sends him to the corner and counters him as he attempts to slingshot over him. Rhodes hits the Alabama Slam for a near fall. Somewhere in hell, Hardcore Holly is pleased. Rhodes punches away at him before going to the top rope. Rhodes jumps into a punch to the midsection. Jericho punches him down before hitting a body slam. Rhodes tries to surprise him with Cross Rhodes, but Jericho counters into a Wall of Jericho attempt. Rhodes counters into a small package for a near fall. Jericho then counters a Disaster Kick into the Walls of Jericho for the win!

Winner by Submission: Chris Jericho
Match Rating: * 1/4

A video package airs for the incoming Wyatt Family.

Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. He'll be in action against Dean Ambrose in a non-title match, next.

-Commercial Break-

Randy Orton vs. Dean Ambrose

The bell rings, and they stand across the ring from one another. They slowly circle the ring before Ambrose talks a little trash. They lock up, and Orton applies a side headlock. Ambrose backs him to the corner, and he punches Orton down. Orton kicks back at him, but Ambrose head-butts him down. Ambrose chokes him with his boot before raking his face on the top rope. The feed cuts out for a few seconds, and when it comes back, Orton is punching Ambrose in the corner. Orton uppercuts him down for a one count. Ambrose shoulders him to the corner and chops him down. Orton reverses a whip, but he misses a clothesline, and he comes back with a Thesz Press and punches. Ambrose rolls out of the ring to recover, but Orton follows and clotheslines him down at ringside. Orton then gives him a back suplex on the barricade!

Orton puts him back in the ring, and Ambrose elbows him in the head. Ambrose rolls out of the ring, but Orton follows. Ambrose punches him and throws him shoulder first into the ring steps. Ambrose hits a short-arm clothesline on the outside as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Orton trapped in a chin lock. Orton punches out of it before hitting the ropes. Ambrose quickly knees him in the midsection for a two count. Ambrose stomps away at him before hitting some head-butts. Ambrose stomps Orton's hand before talking a little trash to him. Ambrose stomps away at him before the referee backs him up. Orton tries for a comeback, but Ambrose catches him with a sleeper hold. Orton punches out, but Ambrose applies another sleeper. Orton counters out with a back suplex, and they're both down now.

They trade head-butts and punches with Orton coming out on top. Ambrose reverses a whip, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Orton hits a pair of clotheslines before hitting a powerslam. Orton goes for a hanging DDT, but Ambrose counters by snapping him off the top rope. Ambrose goes to the top rope, and Orton stops him. Orton goes for a superplex, but Ambrose punches him off. Ambrose then jumps into a dropkick for a near fall. Orton sends him to the corner, but he runs into a boot. Ambrose charges him, but Orton catches him with the hanging DDT. Orton sets up for an RKO, but Ambrose slides out of the ring. Orton turns, and he catches Seth Rollins attempting to interfere with a punch. The referee immediately calls for the bell.

Winner by Disqualification: Randy Orton
Match Rating: **

Orton also catches Roman Reigns attempting to interfere with a Thesz Press. Rollins quickly punches him from behind, and the numbers game has caught up with Orton. Team Hell No runs down for the save. Bryan single-handedly takes out Rollins and Ambrose. Bryan hits a snap German Suplex on Rollins! Bryan hits a running dropkick on both Ambrose and Rollins before taking out Reigns with a baseball slide. Bryan takes Reigns down with a running knee off the apron. Bryan goes to the top rope, and he hits Ambrose with a missile dropkick. Bryan then charges and takes out both Ambrose and Rollins with a suicide dive! The arena is unglued with "Yes" chants! Randy Orton and Kane can't believe what they've just seen as they raise Bryan's arms.