Friday Night Smackdown!
Bakersfield, California
August 23, 2013
results thanks to wrestleview.com
"Then. Now. Forever." The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays, and we're brought into the arena as Lilian Garcia
asks the crowd to welcome Vickie Guerrero, the General Manager of Smackdown.
Vickie is standing in the center of the ring. She welcomes the crowd to
Smackdown. On behalf of the entire McMahon Family, as she has cleared the air
with Triple H since she has left Monday Night RAW, it is with great excitement
that she introduces the new WWE Champion, Randy Orton.
WWE Champion Randy Orton comes out to the ring to some boos from the crowd.
Vickie Guerrero meets him on the ramp and goes for a hug, but he just stares at
her. They then shake hands, and he enters the ring. Orton poses on the
turnbuckle with the WWE Championship as the crowd gives him the old Bronx cheer.
Orton says as the new WWE Champion, he promises to give the crowd what they want
and what they deserve as champion. He promises that they will aspire to be him,
and he will be a role model. What does a role model do? A role model tells the
truth, and that's exactly what he did. He told the truth to everyone, especially
to Daniel Bryan, when he successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract
as he said they would never see it coming.
None of them, including Daniel Bryan, should be surprised at what happened. He
should be surprised. Sunday night at Summerslam, he didn't know that Triple H
was going to Pedigree Bryan. What would the people in the crowd have done? He's
not one to pass up an opportunity literally lying right in front of him. Orton
says he did not need Triple H's help, just like he didn't need The Shield's help
on RAW. Although he greatly appreciates the support from the entire McMahon
Family, he wants to ask the crowd for their support as well. The crowd boos him
and chants "NO!" Orton says he's not only the WWE Champion; he's also the face
of the WWE.
Daniel Bryan's music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a great
reception. The crowd chants "YES" as he gets in the ring. Bryan says before he
addresses the "face of the WWE," he wants to finish saying what he was going to
say on RAW before Stephanie McMahon rudely interrupted him. It's a short message
to John Cena. Bryan says, "John, thank you. Thank you for giving me the
opportunity to wrestle you at Summerslam. Thank you for being bold enough and
courageous enough to wrestle with a torn triceps. Because even if I was only
better than you for just one day, that opportunity allowed me to feel what it
feels like to be the WWE Champion." Bryan says as far as Orton is concerned,
it's time for that face to change. The crowd chants "YES!"
Bryan says the crowd has to understand. He doesn't look like Randy Orton. Orton
is chiseled, tall, and he's pretty. The crowd laughs at Orton. Bryan says he can
see why Triple H likes him so much. Orton is just so pretty and arrogant. Why
shouldn't he be? He's been handed every opportunity here in WWE. He's created
his own success. However, Orton's opportunities have come because his father was
here, his grandfather was here, and he was given the genetic golden ticket to be
here in the WWE. Bryan then sarcastically goes back to how he can't get over how
pretty Orton is. Bryan asks the crowd to give it up for how pretty Randy Orton
is. Bryan says he's so pretty, it makes him want to kick Orton in the face.
Orton starts laughing as the crowd chants "YES!"
Bryan says he had to scratch and claw for every opportunity. He had to wrestle
in every dirty high school gymnasium all over the country and world. He had to
wrestle on staph infested mats all over the place and sleep in his car just to
get an ounce of respect. He had to climb the ladder of success step-by-step.
Bryan says he's not tall, and he certainly isn't pretty, but he can wrestle, and
he can beat Orton. Bryan says he can beat him for the title. Bryan says he is
entitled a rematch for the WWE Championship, and he wants the rematch to happen
tonight. Bryan leads the crowd in a great "YES" chant.
Orton calls Bryan "short stuff" as he says he'll have to wait for Night of
Champions. Orton stands close to Bryan as he raises the WWE Championship above
his head. Orton turns to leave, but then he goes for an RKO. Bryan pushes him
off, but Orton hangs onto the ropes. Bryan then dropkicks him over the top rope!
Bryan yells for Orton to get back in the ring, but he just backs off. Bryan gets
the crowd going with a "YES" chant as his music plays.
Christian will take on Alberto Del Rio in a non-title Summerslam rematch.
Curtis Axel is seen walking with Paul Heyman backstage. He'll be in action,
next.
-Commercial Break-
Vickie Guerrero is on the phone talking about how Daniel Bryan wasn't supposed
to be out there. It was supposed to be Randy Orton's moment. She says someone
needs to teach that little troll a lesson before hanging up. Wade Barrett comes
up to her. Barrett says it seems like him, the McMahon Family, and her have
something in common. They have a mutual dislike of Daniel Bryan. As a former
champion, Bryan gets a rematch against Orton for the WWE Championship, but he
wants to make sure that never happens. Barrett asks her to put him in a match
with Bryan, and he guarantees that will be the last she will see of Bryan.
Vickie says she could make it a No Holds Barred or Extreme Rules match, but
she's going to have it be in a Steel Cage match. They both smile.
Cody Rhodes vs. Curtis Axel w/ Paul Heyman
A replay is shown of CM Punk viciously beating Curtis Axel down on this past
Monday's RAW. Heyman was forced to watch his young client go down from afar.
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Axel kicks him down in the corner
before the referee backs him up. Rhodes catches him with a back elbow before
applying a waistlock. Axel applies one of his own, but Rhodes pulls his leg out.
Rhodes hits the ropes, and Axel takes him down with a nice dropkick. Rhodes
pushes him away and charges, but Axel gives him a back body drop to the apron.
Rhodes shoulders him before hitting a springboard dropkick for a two count.
Axel rolls out of the ring to recover, so Rhodes goes to the top rope. Axel sees
this, and he moves. Rhodes gets on the apron to chase him, but Axel sweeps the
feet. Rhodes hits the apron hard. Rhodes falls to the outside, and Axel drives
him spine-first into the edge of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Axel dropping some forearms on Rhodes for a
two count. Axel hits a snapmare before hitting a rolling neck snapper for a two
count. Axel applies a chin lock, but Rhodes quickly fights up. Rhodes elbows out
and whips him to the corner, but Axel slides on his feet and connects with a
clothesline. Axel goes to the second rope, but Rhodes avoids the diving elbow.
Rhodes punches him before having a whip reversed. Rhodes drops down and
uppercuts him. Rhodes hangs him up on the top rope and kicks him in the
midsection, a la Hardcore Holly. Axel then ducks a Disaster Kick. Axel kicks him
down and sends him to the corner, but Rhodes catches him with a rollup for a
near fall. Rhodes quickly takes him down with a clothesline.
Rhodes goes to the top rope, but Heyman distracts him by stomping up the ring
steps. Axel shakes the ropes, and Rhodes is crotched on the top rope. Axel
follows up with the hangman's face-buster for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Curtis Axel
Match Rating: * 1/2
Paul Heyman stands in the ring with his client. Heyman says he stands before the
crowd a man who is not just in pain, but agony. That agony is a direct result of
the actions by CM Punk. The crowd chants Punk's name. Heyman says they will
choke on their cheers. He's not talking about the obvious physical pain he's in.
He's in emotional distress because a man whom he once considered to be his best
friend and an athlete he guided to being the "Best in the World" has been
reduced to being a sad, pathetic loser. Heyman says CM Punk was pinned by Brock
Lesnar at Summerslam. Instead of accepting defeat like a man and acknowledging
his loss, Punk went off the rails.
Punk is on a downward spiral. His actions on RAW were befitting a madman.
Without Paul Heyman in his corner, Punk never stood a chance against Brock
Lesnar. Without Paul Heyman, CM Punk is lost, while with Paul Heyman, Curtis
Axel has found himself. His client is filled with confidence. His client has
notched many victories, which is why no one can defeat Curtis Axel for the
Intercontinental Championship.
Curtis Axel takes the microphone, and he says the problem is Punk doesn't
deserve an Intercontinental Championship match. The man is so jealous that
Heyman has been paying more attention to him that he assaulted him with a chair
on Monday night. Axel says he wants to finish the job that Brock Lesnar started
at Summerslam. Axel challenges Punk to a match live on Monday Night RAW. Axel
says his future is better than Punk's. He's more athletic than him, and he has
someone in his corner named Paul Heyman.
Daniel Bryan will take on Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage match later tonight.
Dolph Ziggler is seen on split screen with AJ Lee and Big E Langston occupying
the other side. Ziggler and Langston will fight, next.
-Commercial Break-
Big E Langston w/ AJ Lee vs. Dolph Ziggler
Before the match begins, Langston attacks Ziggler as he enters the ring.
Langston unloads on him with punches in the corner before bouncing him chest
first off the turnbuckle. The referee admonishes Langston and orders him to back
up. Langston charges Ziggler again, and the referee yells at him. The referee
checks on Ziggler, and he says he's OK.
The bell rings, and Ziggler sidesteps Langston. Ziggler punches him before
Langston pushes him into the ropes and hits a big flapjack for a two count.
Langston punches away at him before hitting a big splash for another two count.
Langston applies a chin lock, but Ziggler fights up and hits a jawbreaker.
Ziggler sidesteps him in the corner, and Langston hits the ring post shoulder
first. Ziggler hits an avalanche in the corner before hitting a neckbreaker.
Ziggler hits a dropkick before going for a famouser. Langston counters by
getting him in position for a powerbomb, but Ziggler counters into a sit-out
face-buster for a two count.
AJ punches Ziggler in the face as the referee's back was turned. Langston
viciously clotheslines Ziggler for a near fall. Langston goes for the Big
Ending, but Ziggler slides off and connects with a Zig-Zag for the win. AJ Lee
screams at ringside.
Winner by Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Match Rating: *
Christian will take on Alberto Del Rio in a non-title Summerslam rematch, next.
-Commercial Break-
Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio
They circle the ring and lock up. Del Rio powers Christian to the corner, and
the referee tries to back him up. Del Rio sucker punches him in the gut before
kicking him down. Del Rio kicks and punches him before the referee backs him up.
Del Rio charges, but Christian gives him a back body drop over the top rope.
Christian then takes him out with a baseball slide that sends Del Rio ribs first
into the barricade. Christian punches and puts him in the ring, but Del Rio
slides out. Christian goes to the top rope to splash him, but Del Rio goes up
the ramp to avoid him. Christian stares at him from the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Del Rio kicking away at Christian's leg. Del
Rio backs up, and Christian uppercuts him a few times. During the commercial
break, Del Rio slammed Christian's arm off the commentary table a few times.
Christian goes to the second rope for a tornado DDT, but Del Rio gets out of the
headlock and pushes him over the top rope to the outside!
Del Rio goes outside, and he kicks away at him. Del Rio throws him into the ring
and covers for a near fall. Del Rio applies an overhead wristlock, but Christian
fights up and punches out. Christian hits the ropes and kicks him in the face.
Christian hits the ropes again, but this time Del Rio catches him with a
tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Del Rio quickly gets him on the ropes
and twists his arm around one. Del Rio taunts the crowd before going for a
splash, but Christian avoids it.
Christian snaps Del Rio off the top rope, and he gets the crowd clapping with
him. Del Rio gets back in the ring and tries for a clothesline, but Christian
ducks. Christian has a whip reversed, but he takes him down with a running
forearm. Christian punches him in the corner before catching him with a back
body drop. Christian goes to the top rope, but Del Rio avoids the cross-body
block. Del Rio quickly connects with a low dropkick to the face for a near fall.
Del Rio head-butts away at him before missing an enzuigiri. Christian executes a
nice springboard sunset flip for a near fall.
Christian stuns him with a punch before going to the second rope. Del Rio avoids
a missile dropkick and goes for a Cross Arm Breaker, but Christian rolls
through. Christian boots him in the face before connecting with a tornado DDT
for a near fall. Christian gets the crowd ready for a spear, but Del Rio gets
out of the ring to avoid it. Christian follows him outside, and Del Rio goes
back in. Del Rio tries to attack as Christian reenters the ring, but he avoids
it. Christian uppercuts him and goes to the top rope. Del Rio then catches him
with an enzuigiri off the top rope for a near fall. Del Rio cannot believe it.
Del Rio pulls his kneepad down as he waits for Christian to get up. Christian
blocks a kick and goes for the Killswitch, but Del Rio pushes him off. Del Rio
sidesteps Christian as he charges him, and he sends him into the ring post
shoulder first. Del Rio goes to the second rope, grabs the arm, and executes a
Cross Arm Breaker. Christian tries to hold his hands to relieve the pressure,
but Del Rio soon gets it fully applied. Christian has no choice but to tap out.
Winner by Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Match Rating: ** 1/4
Alberto Del Rio thanks all the Latinos. Del Rio says he knows how the Mexicans
and Latinos look up to him. Del Rio says he knows how they all want to be the
next Alberto Del Rio, but there is only one. You cannot be like him because
they're peasants. Del Rio tells them to relax. That doesn't mean that just
because they are the son or daughter of a peasant that they have to be a
peasant. They can be something better. Just follow the leader to greatness - the
great Alberto Del Rio.
Ricardo Rodriguez comes out to the stage sarcastically saying Del Rio's last
name. Rodriguez tells Del Rio to stop. He says he has a little bit of a problem.
Del Rio said the crowd can follow him to greatness, but Rodriguez doesn't agree.
Rodriguez says the man who is with him exemplifies greatness every single night
every opportunity he gets. He doesn't look down on people - he stands up for
them: Rob Van Dam!
RVD makes his way to the ring to a great reception. Christian takes Del Rio out
with a missile dropkick, and RVD connects with the Rolling Thunder. Del Rio
quickly gets out of the ring holding his ribs. Rodriguez holds the World
Heavyweight Championship as RVD does his taunt. They then hold the championship
together.
A replay is aired of what happened earlier in the night between Daniel Bryan and
Randy Orton. Bryan will face Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage match in the main
event.
-Commercial Break-
3MB vs. Big Show and Mark Henry
Big Show will start out against Heath Slater. Big Show pushes Slater against the
ropes and chops the chest before bouncing him head first off the turnbuckle.
Mark Henry is tagged in, and he grabs Slater by the neck. Slater fights him off
and hits the ropes, but Henry mauls him with a clothesline. Henry throws him to
the corner before hitting a big boot. Henry stands over him and goes for a
seated senton, but Slater moves. Drew McIntyre is tagged in, and he punches away
at Henry. Jinder Mahal is then tagged in, and he kicks away at Henry. Mahal
punches and talks trash before tagging Slater back in. Slater kicks him in the
head a few times before taunting the crowd. Slater hits some jabs before hitting
the ropes. Henry then turns him inside out with a shoulder tackle.
Big Show and McIntyre are tagged in. Big Show hits a pair of clotheslines before
sending him to the corner for a back body drop. Big Show then kicks Mahal off
the apron. Big Show hits a running butt bump on McIntyre before hitting a
shoulder tackle. Big Show signals for his finisher, and he Chokeslams McIntyre.
Slater breaks it up. Big Show grabs him by the throat and pushes him into Henry,
who gives him the World's Strongest Slam. Big Show then shoves Mahal over the
top rope by the throat. Big Show balls his fist up, and he drops McIntyre with
the Knockout Punch for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Big Show and Mark Henry
Match Rating: 3/4 *
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins appear on the screen. Reigns says they told Big
Show and Mark Henry to step up, and they go and beat up 3MB. Maybe they didn't
understand them. Rollins says Big Show didn't get the message on Monday night.
He's shocked he got back up after they dropped him from the sky. Rollins says he
glad he did because they'll have a lot of fun knocking him back down again. The
clock is ticking on Big Show's time here. Reigns tells Henry to wake up because
he's been floating around for a decade and a half. Reigns says Henry expects
them to respect him, but they never will. Rollins says that two former champions
have come together to form one of the most imposing teams in WWE history. The
problem with the two of them wanting a shot at the Tag Team Titles is that
they're just better than them. Rollins says a new era has dawned, and the two of
them have got to go. Rollins tells them to believe that, and Reigns screams to
believe in The Shield.
The Prime Time Players are seen doing their "Millions of Dollars" dance
backstage. Darren Young will face Antonio Cesaro, next.
-Commercial Break-
Zeb Colter is in the ring with Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro. Colter asks the
crowd to put their hands over their hearts and say, "We the people."
Antonio Cesaro w/ Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter vs. Darren Young w/ Titus O'Neil
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee of all time, is the official for this
match. Cesaro immediately takes him down with a dropkick. Cesaro punches away at
him and says, "We the people!" Cesaro head-butts him in the corner before
talking some trash. Cesaro deadlifts him for a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro talks
more trash, and Young hits him with a head-butt to the midsection. Cesaro knees
him in the midsection and sends him to the corner hard. Cesaro runs into Young's
boot, but he soon comes back with a chin lock. Young fights up, but Cesaro takes
him down with a short-arm clothesline. Cesaro talks some trash and slaps him in
the face. Cesaro hits the ropes, and Young floors him with a clothesline.
Young punches away at him a few times before sending him to the corner. Young
then takes him down with a belly-to-belly suplex. Young tries to fire up the
crowd before hitting a corner clothesline. Young follows up with a northern
lights suplex for a two count. Young gets Cesaro on his shoulders, and Jack
Swagger distracts him by getting on the apron. Titus O'Neil pulls him off as
Cesaro rolls Young up for a near fall. Young hot shots him on the top rope
before hitting the Gut Check for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Darren Young
Match Rating: *
Daniel Bryan will take on Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage match in tonight's main
event.
-Commercial Break-
Ryback is seen drinking water backstage when a man stops him and asks him for an
autograph for his son. Ryback asks what the kid's name is, and the father tells
him it is Billy. Ryback says that's a stupid name before saying he was kidding.
Ryback signs a poster and gives it to him. The man asks which one Ryback is as
he doesn't watch wrestling. Only his son does. The man asks what his name is
despite it being on Ryback's jacket. Ryback is mad that the man doesn't know who
he is so he tears up the poster and tells him to tell his kid that his dad is a
scrawny, pencil-neck fool. The man walks away in fear.
CM Punk tweeted out that he accepts Curtis Axel's challenge for a match on
Monday Night RAW.
The steel cage is lowering over the ring. The main event is next.
-Commercial Break-
Steel Cage Match
Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett
The crowd chants for Bryan as the bell rings. They lock up, and Barrett powers
him to the corner before hitting some punches. Bryan turns him in the corner
before kicking and punching away at him. Bryan sends him into the ropes, but he
lowers his head and eats a kick. Barrett tries to send him into the cage, but
Bryan blocks it. Bryan punches him and puts him in the corner before hitting
some stiff kicks to the chest. Bryan goes to the second rope and hits some
punches. Barrett pushes him off and catches him charging with a boot. Barrett
kicks him in the head before punching away at him. Barrett puts him on his
shoulder and sends him like a lawn dart into the side of the cage for a near
fall.
Barrett goes for a back suplex, but Bryan flips through. Barrett charges, but
Bryan pulls the top rope down. Barrett flies into the cage and falls to the
apron. Bryan viciously kicks and punches away at him in the corner. Barrett
reverses a whip to the corner, but Bryan backflips over him and hits the ropes.
Barrett quickly takes him down with the Winds of Change for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Barrett kneeing Bryan in the head before big
booting him into the cage. Bryan collapses on the apron. Barrett drags him away
from the ropes and covers him for a near fall. Barrett drags him to the ropes,
but Bryan bounces his face off the steel cage a few times. Bryan hits the ropes
and dropkicks him into the cage. Bryan hits the ropes again and dropkicks him
again in to the cage. Barrett collapses to the apron, and Bryan dropkicks him a
third time into the cage. The crowd is chanting, "YES!" Bryan goes to climb out
of the cage, but Barrett cuts him off. Bryan kicks him away and hits a missile
dropkick off the top rope for a near fall.
The crowd continues to chant "YES" as Bryan kicks Barrett in the chest a bunch
of times. Barrett ducks a big kick to the head and sends him face first into the
cage. Barrett then turns Bryan inside out with a clothesline for a near fall.
Barrett goes for The Wasteland, but Bryan grabs onto the cage. Bryan gets on the
top rope and kicks Barrett hard in the face. Barrett quickly comes back and puts
Bryan on his shoulders for the electric chair drop. Barrett covers for a near
fall.
Both men are down. Barrett is first to his feet, and he begins to scale the
cage. Bryan soon gets up and stops him before he can go over the top. They stand
on the top rope, and Bryan tries for a super German suplex. Barrett hangs on and
elbows Bryan off. Barrett gets a leg over the top of the cage when Bryan cuts
him off. Bryan clubs away at him before pulling him back down. Bryan kicks away
at him on the top rope before smashing his face off the top of the cage. Bryan
then grabs him and powerbombs him off the top rope! Bryan leads the crowd in a
"YES" chant before hitting a big running knee to the face for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Daniel Bryan
Match Rating: ** 1/2
Daniel Bryan jumps all around ringside doing the "YES" taunt. All of a sudden,
Randy Orton comes out from under the ring, and he hits Bryan with an RKO outside
the ring! Orton raises his WWE Championship up as he stands over Bryan to end
the show.