Friday Night Smackdown!

Greensboro, North Carolina
June 14, 2013
results thanks to wrestleview.com

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

A video opens the show that shows Dolph Ziggler's return to Monday Night RAW from his concussion. Chris Jericho, with some help from Alberto Del Rio, defeated Big E Langston. Tonight, Alberto Del Rio will team with Chris Jericho to take on Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston. With Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton not getting along well, Vickie Guerrero has them teaming up this Sunday to take on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns at WWE Payback with the WWE Tag Team Championships on the line. Kane will also face Dean Ambrose for the WWE United States Championship. Tonight, Team Hell No will take on The Shield in the main event.

Michael Cole and John "Bradshaw" Layfield welcome us to the show as Daniel Bryan's music hits. Bryan makes his way to the ring to a massive reception with tons of "Yes" chants. Bryan, despite receiving such a loving reception, does not look happy.

Bryan grabs a microphone, and he says if you had asked him when he first debuted in the WWE if he would become a World Champion, he would have said, "Yes." If you asked him if he'd lose that World Championship in an 18-second match, he would have said, "No." If you had asked him if he could win the Tag Team Championships with anyone on the roster, he would have said, "Yes." However, he didn't think he'd spend nine months with the Devil's Favorite Demon. That doesn't change the fact that Team Hell No is one of the best tag teams in WWE history. With that said, he calls Kane out to the ring. Bryan then plugs his ears for Kane's pyro.

Kane's pyro explodes, and he makes his way to the ring. Kane gets in the ring, and he says he knows why Daniel called him out. This isn't the time or the place. The only thing he's interested in is their six-man tag team match against The Shield tonight. Bryan says they need to get things out in the open. The last nine months have been an incredible ride. They've been in battles together. They've been an awesome team in the ring, and he's proud of what they've done outside the ring to become better partners. But at Payback, Kane won't be his partner. When he wins, he's going to be the Tag Team Champion with someone else. Bryan puts his hand on Kane's shoulder, and he says he won't be teaming with Kane anymore.

Kane says, "Let me get this straight - are you like breaking up with me?" Kane says the same thing will happen when he wins the US Title from Dean Ambrose on Sunday. Bryan says he supposes Kane could be right, but they could still team if Kane wins that title. He and Orton are going to be the Tag Team Champions. Vickie was wrong. It's not going to be Team R-K-Never. It's going to be Team R-K-NO! Kane can't believe that Bryan is making up cute little names. Bryan is acting like it's a given that he's going to win. Kane doesn't see how he could because together they couldn't beat The Shield. The other thing is that Bryan despises Randy Orton. Bryan asks if Kane thinks he can do it, and Kane doesn't think he can.

Bryan says Kane thinks that way because he thinks he is the weak link. Kane says he didn't say that. Bryan says he had The Shield beat with Orton last Friday. At Payback, they will win. He'll prove to everybody, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is not the weak link. Kane will have to sit back and know that he and Randy did something that Kane could never do. That can only mean one thing. Kane asks if he's saying that he's the weak link. Bryan says this isn't the right time, and Kane demands that he answer the question. Bryan screams that Kane is the weak link. Kane grabs Bryan by the throat.

Randy Orton's music hits, and he quickly comes out to defuse the situation. Orton says he can't let Kane Chokeslam Bryan. He understands why Kane wants to Chokeslam Daniel Bryan, and he understands. He would mind watching, either. However, Orton needs Bryan at 100% on Sunday. Whatever Kane does to Bryan directly affects him. Orton gets in the ring, and he says if Kane Chokeslams him then he'll start a chain reaction that ends with him giving Kane an RKO. Kane tells him to stay out of this. Bryan says he didn't ask Orton to come out. Orton can't believe it. He says he just saved Bryan from having his ass Chokeslammed through the mat. Bryan says he didn't ask him to save him. Orton asks about the partnership.

Kane says he's had enough. He tells them to work it out, and he'll see them in the ring later. Kane goes to leave, and Bryan tells him to walk off like he always does. Kane turns around and asks him what he means. Bryan also turns to Orton, and he tells him that he didn't need to be saved.

The Shield appears on the big screen, and they're smiling at what they're seeing. Seth Rollins tells them to do what they've got to do. It's kind of funny watching them out there. Dean Ambrose says after six-months of not being able to beat The Shield, he'd be mad as well. They're not mad at them, though. They're mad at each other. After all these months of trying to put super-teams together to beat them, they've found out every time that The Shield is unstoppable and unbeatable. The real question is if they believe in The Shield now. It looks like they do. There's no reason for them to argue. Tonight will be like every other night they've faced The Shield. Roman Reigns says they'll lose tonight, and they'll lose at Payback. That's why the Hounds of Justice run this yard. They put the camera down as Bryan, Kane, and Orton continue to argue in the ring.

Sheamus is smiling as he walks backstage. He'll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

They show a video of Damien Sandow attacking Sheamus on Smackdown last week after he Brogue Kicked the supercomputer. Sheamus will face Damien Sandow on the YouTube Payback Kickoff show this Sunday.

Antonio Cesaro vs. Sheamus

Before the match begins, Damien Sandow's music hits. Sandow says the man standing across from Sheamus speaks five different languages. He would argue that, like the unwashed masses, Sheamus could barely speak one. He's humiliated Sheamus intellectually and physically. This Sunday, at Payback Kickoff, he will play host to his Irish wake.

The bell rings, and they lock up. Sheamus powers Cesaro against the ropes. Cesaro uppercuts him, and they lock up again. Cesaro powers him to the corner, and he slaps away at Sheamus. Sheamus fires back with some wild forearms. Cesaro quickly gets out of the ring for protection. Sheamus tries to kick him from inside the ring, but he misses. Cesaro gets in the ring, and Sheamus punches away at him in the corner. Sheamus hits a short-arm clothesline. Cesaro comes back with a couple of uppercuts. Cesaro goes for a move, but Sheamus elbows out. Sheamus misses a clothesline, but he's able to come back with a powerslam for a one count. Zeb Colter is seen being interviewed on the WWE App.

Sheamus punches away at Cesaro's ribs before going for a suplex. Cesaro blocks it and executes a waistlock takeover. Cesaro rolls around on Sheamus before deadlifting him up for a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro then clotheslines him over the top rope. Cesaro gets on the apron and dives off, but Sheamus catches him. Sheamus then executes a fall away slam into the barricade!

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Sheamus punching away at Cesaro. Sheamus sends him to the corner, but he runs into Cesaro's elbow. Sheamus quickly comes back with a standard backbreaker which Michael Cole called an Irish Curse backbreaker. In any event, Sheamus got a near fall. Cesaro gets out of the ring. Sheamus follows, and Cesaro slams him into the steel ring steps. Cesaro bounces him off the apron before putting him in the ring for a one count. Cesaro applies a chin lock, but Sheamus fights up. Cesaro quickly stops the momentum before reapplying the chin lock. Cesaro holds him up and spins him around before covering for a near fall. Cesaro goes back to the chin lock, but Sheamus fights out with a back body drop.

Sheamus appears to have a cut on his right shoulder. Sheamus comes back with some Irish hammers before powering him to the corner. Sheamus hits the ropes, and Cesaro clotheslines him down for a two count. Cesaro does a double stomp on the chest for another near fall. Sheamus reverses a whip, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Sheamus puts him on the apron, and he clubs away at Cesaro's chest. Sheamus then brings him back into the ring with the Irish Curse backbreaker for a near fall. Sheamus can't believe it.

Sheamus goes for White Noise, but Cesaro elbows out. Cesaro uppercuts him in the back of the head before hitting a fireman's carry slam for a near fall. Cesaro pushes him to the corner, and Sheamus pops out with a Brogue Kick for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Sheamus
Match Rating: **

Sheamus leaves the ring and poses on the ramp. All of a sudden, Damien Sandow attacks him from behind. Sandow looks satisfied before leaving the stage.

We'll take a look at the return of CM Punk, next.

-Commercial Break-

A video hyping up the debut of the Wyatt Family airs.

The commentators talk about the return of CM Punk against Chris Jericho at WWE Payback. They then air a highlight package of CM Punk.

Teddy Long is talking to someone on the phone in his office. Long is shilling Smackdown's sponsor for the evening, Hardee's. Dolph Ziggler walks in with Big E Langston and AJ Lee. Langston it looks like Long is so busy. Long asks what they want. Ziggler says it's only his triumphant return to Smackdown. Ziggler says he's two days away from the biggest title defense of his career at Payback. He must be hearing wrong because he's being forced into a tag team match against Chris Jericho and Alberto Del Rio. Long says he doesn't have time for this. Ziggler says he's the face of Smackdown, and tonight will be a taste of what he does to Del Rio at Payback this Sunday. They walk off, and Long goes to dig in. Langston then grabs it away, and he eats the burger himself. Long sadly watches on.

The Great Khali makes his way to the ring with Natalya and Hornswoggle. He'll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Michael Cole has an update on Booker T's condition. Booker underwent successful surgery, and he'll be back soon, SUCKA!

The Great Khali w/ Hornswoggle and Natalya vs. Heath Slater w/ 3MB

They lock up, and Khali powers him down. Slater gets up, ducks a clothesline, and slaps Khali. Khali responds by punching him down. Khali chops him in the corner a couple of times. Khali goes for a third, but 3MB distracts him. Slater punches away at him until the referee backs him up. Slater runs into a back elbow. Slater tries again, and he eats a boot. Khali hits a pair of clotheslines before hitting a Brain Chop. The rest of 3MB confront Natalya and Hornswoggle at ringside. They throw Hornswoggle down. Khali chops Jinder Mahal from inside the ring. Slater quickly gives Khali a chop block before hitting a DDT for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Heath Slater
Match Rating: 1/4 *

Chris Jericho and Alberto Del Rio will take on Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston, next.

-Commercial Break-

Alberto Del Rio and Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee of all time, is the official for this match. Alberto Del Rio will start out against Dolph Ziggler. They circle the ring, and Ziggler tags in Big E Langston. They lock up, and Langston powers him into the ropes. Del Rio bounces right back, and they lock up again. Langston punches him to the corner and shoulders him there. Del Rio quickly turns him and punches away at him. Del Rio backs up and hits a step-up enzuigiri. Chris Jericho is tagged in, and he punches and chops away at Langston. Langston reverses a whip, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Jericho chops away, ducks a clothesline, and hits a step-up enzuigiri of his own. Langston goes down to his knees, and Jericho dropkicks him down for a two count.

Langston pushes him to the corner and punches him. Langston shoulders him in the corner before tagging Ziggler in. Ziggler kicks away at Jericho before hitting a snapmare. Ziggler shows off before dropping an elbow for a near fall. Langston is tagged back in, and Jericho sidesteps his avalanche attempt. Jericho rolls him up for a near fall. Jericho quickly dropkicks him down before tagging Del Rio back in. Del Rio kicks him in the back before punching away at him. Langston quickly comes back with a shoulder block. Langston goes for a powerslam, but Del Rio counters into a backstabber. Del Rio scares off Ziggler as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Langston send Jericho into the ropes. Jericho hangs on, and he throws Langston over the top rope. Jericho hits a baseball slide before posing for the fans. Jericho bounces him off the apron before putting him back in the ring. AJ Lee comes up from behind while the referee's back is turned. She slaps Jericho, and Langston knees him in the face, knocking him off the apron. Langston slams Jericho into the barricade before putting him in the ring for a two count. Langston punches him before running him over with an avalanche for a two count. Ziggler tags back in, and he punches away at Jericho. Ziggler shows off before hitting a neckbreaker for a near fall. Ziggler goes for an avalanche, but Jericho moves. Jericho then takes him down with a face-buster.

Del Rio is tagged in, and he clotheslines Ziggler a few times before hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio kicks him in the head before Langston runs him over. Jericho gets Langston out of the ring, and Ziggler dropkicks him down. Ziggler shows off for a few moments. Ziggler then approaches Del Rio, and he gets trapped in an inside cradle! Del Rio wins it for his team!

Winners by Pinfall: Alberto Del Rio and Chris Jericho
Match Rating: * 1/2

A replay of the opening segment with Daniel Bryan, Kane, and Randy Orton is shown.

Team Hell No and Kane will take on The Shield in tonight's main event.

Kaitlyn is seen sadly walking backstage. She'll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Renee Young is backstage with Chris Jericho. She asks for his final thoughts on facing CM Punk this Sunday. Jericho says this is one of those rare matches that have taken on a life of its own. Punk is from Chicago, so the Chicago brethren will be cheering their hometown hero. He's not a stranger to Chicago either. He's had a lot of classic Y2J moments in Chicago, including his debut against The Rock. Whether the crowd is 100% for Punk, 100% for him, 50-50, 53-47, it doesn't matter. This match will exceed the expectations of the first two matches they've had on PPV. Punk-Jericho III. You're not going to want to miss Payback.

Paul Heyman walks up, and he extends his hand. Heyman wishes him the best of luck. Jericho doesn't shake his hand. Heyman says that Punk believes luck is for losers. Heyman says the odds are against him. Jericho does need the luck that he's offering. Chicago is CM Punk's hometown, and he has him in his corner. Heyman will have the best seat in the house this Sunday when the referee counts the pinfall or accepts the tap out. The ring announcer will say that CM Punk is the winner. Jericho knocks the microphone into Heyman's teeth. Heyman holds his mouth, and Jericho says, "Pipebomb."

Aksana vs. Kaitlyn

They show a replay of the revealing of Kaitlyn's secret admirer. It was a plan orchestrated by AJ Lee to attack her and challenge for the Diva's Championship.

Kaitlyn takes Aksana down and punches away at her. The referee has not called for the bell yet. Aksana rolls out of the ring, and Kaitlyn keeps punching away at her. They get back in the ring, and the referee tries to get her away from Aksana. Kaitlyn punches him in the head before going back for Aksana, who rolled to the outside of the ring. The referee tries again, and Kaitlyn slaps him in the face. Kaitlyn goes for Aksana again, but she runs off. Kaitlyn lies in the ring crying. The match never got started.

The commentators talk about the Three Stages of Hell Match for the WWE Championship featuring John Cena against Ryback. They then show a highlight package.

Curtis Axel makes his way to the ring alongside his manager, Paul Heyman. Axel will be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Curtis Axel w/ Paul Heyman vs. Wade Barrett

Before the match begins, Barrett grabs a microphone. Barrett says he wants to chat businessman to businessman with Paul Heyman. He wonders why Heyman would let this match happen. He could very easily injure Axel tonight, and then he wouldn't be able to compete for the Intercontinental Championship at Payback. There's even a small chance of Axel injuring him. Barrett asks if they should just call this match off. Axel and Heyman discuss it, and The Miz' music hits.

The Miz comes out to the stage doing his "really" thing. Miz asks what they would rather do. Go to Starbucks and share a latté? Maybe they could compete on Dancing with the Stars as a couple. They could be the Brit and the Twit. Miz says everyone wants to see them fight, and he gets the crowd going.

The bell rings, and they lock up. They jockey for position, and Axel kicks him down in the corner. Axel punches away at him, but Barrett comes back with some punches of his own. Barrett hits a short-arm clothesline for a one count. Barrett sends him into the ropes, and Axel comes back with a nice dropkick for a two count. Axel punches away at him, but he misses a clothesline and takes a kick to the midsection. Axel falls out of the ring in front of The Miz. Barrett goes outside and Axel bounces him off the steel steps. Axel goes to hit Barrett, but he moves and Miz is hit.

Barrett puts Axel in the ring, and he intimidates Heyman. Axel hits a swinging neckbreaker on Barrett as he gets back in the ring. Axel then picks up the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Curtis Axel
Match Rating: 3/4 *

The Miz quickly gets in the ring and hits Axel with the Skull Crushing Finale.

Another video for the Wyatt Family airs.

The Shield makes their way to the ring through the crowd. They'll face Team Hell No and Randy Orton in the main event, next.

-Commercial Break-

The Shield vs. Team Hell No and Randy Orton

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee ever, is back for another match. Daniel Bryan will start out against Seth Rollins. The bell rings, and they immediately begin punching away at one another. Rollins punches him to the corner. Rollins sends him to the corner, but Bryan backflips over him. Bryan hits the ropes and hits a flying elbow. Bryan kicks away at him before tagging in Kane. Bryan hits a snapmare, and Kane hits his low dropkick to the face for a one count. Kane hits a suplex on Rollins for another one count. Kane sends him to the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick.

Dean Ambrose is tagged in, and he punches away at Kane. Ambrose hits the ropes, and Kane hits a big boot. Randy Orton is tagged in, and he kicks Ambrose in the ribs a few times. Orton punches away at him in the corner before hitting some head-butts. Orton clotheslines him in the corner before hitting a suplex. Bryan is tagged in, and he kicks away at Ambrose's chest. Roman Reigns is tagged in, and Reigns punches away at him before hitting a big body slam for a two count. Rollins is tagged back in, and he punches away at Bryan. Rollins punches him down before tagging in Ambrose. Ambrose punches away at him before dropping an elbow for a two count. Ambrose stomps the midsection before applying a bow stretch. Ambrose turns it into a dragon sleeper, but Bryan knees out. Bryan hits the ropes, but Ambrose knees him. Ambrose hits the ropes, and he's turned inside out with a knee to the midsection.

Randy Orton is tagged in, and he hits a pair of clotheslines on Ambrose before knocking the rest of The Shield off the apron. Orton ducks a clothesline from Ambrose and hits a powerslam. Orton catches Rollins trying to interfere with a powerslam as well. Orton goes to give him a hanging DDT, and he catches Rollins in it as well. They quickly recover before its executed and snap Orton off the top rope. Rollins kicks him in the head, and Ambrose covers for a near fall. Ambrose talks some trash as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Orton fighting up from a chin lock applied by Ambrose. Ambrose quickly hits a short-arm clothesline for a two count. Ambrose stretches Orton's fingers and rips at his face. Reigns is tagged in, and he head-butts Orton a few times before punching and kicking him for a two count. Reigns chokes him on the second rope before the referee backs him up. Orton punches back, but Reigns comes back with a fireman's carry. Orton slides off and hits his trademark backbreaker. Orton sidesteps Reigns, and he hits the ring post shoulder first.

Kane and Ambrose are tagged in. Kane clotheslines him down a pair of times before uppercutting Rollins off the apron. Kane puts Ambrose in the corner before hitting a powerslam for a near fall. Kane sends him to the corner and clotheslines him. Kane repeats the move before hitting a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Kane goes to the top rope, but Ambrose moves out of the way of the flying lariat.

Bryan tags in, and he hits Ambrose with a missile dropkick. Bryan kips up as Rollins is tagged in. Bryan dropkicks him out of mid-air as he tries to springboard into him. Bryan dropkicks Reigns off the apron, and he takes both Rollins and Reigns out with a suicide dive! The crowd is going absolutely crazy! Bryan puts Rollins in the ring and dropkicks him in the corner twice for a near fall. Bryan kicks away at him before kicking Reigns in the head. Bryan then kicks Rollins in the head for another near fall. Bryan goes to the top rope for his Flying Goat. Ambrose tries to push him off, but Bryan knocks him off instead. Rollins avoids the Flying Goat and covers for a near fall!

Ambrose gets in the ring, and Kane throws him over the top rope by the throat. Reigns then clotheslines him over the top rope. Orton goes to RKO Reigns, but Reigns pushes him off. Reigns then spear him down! Outside the ring, Kane sidesteps Reigns trying to spear him, and he's sent into the timekeeper's area. Kane then Chokeslams Ambrose on top of Reigns! Inside the ring, Rollins powerbombs Bryan into the corner. Rollins goes to the top rope, but Kane pushes him off into an RKO! Bryan then applies the No! Lock to Rollins, and he taps out! The Shield has been defeated for the first time in a six-man tag team match!

Winners by Submission: Team Hell No and Randy Orton
Match Rating: ****

Team Hell No and Randy Orton celebrate like crazy in the ring as the crowd in Greensboro is going absolutely insane! They stand united in the ring as Smackdown comes to an end!