Friday Night Smackdown!

Birmingham, Alabama
October 25, 2013
results thanks to wrestleview.com

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

The show kicks off with a video from the opening segment of WWE RAW. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were talking about the Hell in a Cell PPV and how they respect Shawn Michaels when the Big Show interrupted them on the titantron. Big Show said the Authority does not respect the WWE Superstars. They instead treat them with disdain. Stephanie had him taken off the screen. Later in the night, Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan were having a contract signing for their match. Orton was threatening Bryan when Big Show drove into the arena in a big rig. Bryan then took Orton out with his flying knee to the face. Bryan and Big Show ended RAW with a big “YES!” chant.

John “Bradshaw” Layfield welcomes us to the show. Tonight’s main event will see Daniel Bryan team with The Miz and the WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust to take on Randy Orton and The Shield.

Michael Cole interviews the WWE COO Triple H

Michael Cole is in the ring. It is decorated with a black rug and two chairs are set up in the center of the ring. Cole introduces the man known as “The Game” and “The King of Kings.” He is the WWE COO, Triple H. Triple H comes out to a mixed reaction. Triple H gets in the ring and shakes hands with Michael Cole before welcoming the crowd to Smackdown. They take their seats. Cole thanks him for joining him. He knows this is an extremely busy week for him with the PPV this Sunday, so suggests they get to it. Cole asks him for his thoughts on Big Show, who is fired by his wife, wreaking havoc on Monday Night RAW. Triple H says he hopes that Big Show is proud of himself. Big Show’s actions on Monday night resulted in six people being fired: two in IT, three in production, and the woman who set up the satellite feed. Stephanie has fired them all so Big Show could put himself out to the world as a “hero.” While speaking of heroes, Big Show has done what all heroes do when their backs are against the wall: he filed a lawsuit. Triple H says that he and his wife have been advised by their lawyers to give no further comments on the Big Show. Triple H just reassures everyone that Big Show is fired and remains fired. Since he is no longer a part of the WWE Universe, Big Show is irrelevant, which he’s been for the last few years of his career anyway.

Triple H says he’s focused on Hell in a Cell, so Cole can continue to ask his questions. Cole asks if Triple H is concerned that Big Show will show up in Miami and throw the entire show into disarray. What if he shows up tonight? Triple H asks what part of him not being able to comment on Big Show did Michael Cole not understand. Cole wants to play Barbara Walters and ask hard-hitting questions, and that’s fine, but don’t ask him questions that Cole knows he is not at liberty to discuss.

Cole asks if Triple H is at liberty to discuss the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match this Sunday with the champion, Alberto Del Rio, and the man returning from injury, John Cena. Triple H says he, like everyone else in the WWE Universe, cannot wait for the return of John Cena. He knows what it’s like to come back from a devastating injury, and he knows what Cena has gone through to come back early. It’s amazing, and he cannot wait to see Alberto Del Rio defend his championship against Cena. It’s going to be epic.

Cole shifts focus to the WWE Championship. The coveted title has been held in abeyance for six weeks. A big “YES!” chant breaks out in the crowd. Sunday, inside Hell in a Cell, Daniel Bryan is going to take on Randy Orton for the vacated WWE Title. The WWE fans chose Triple H’s best friend, Shawn Michaels, to be the guest referee by a record setting number of votes. HBK has guaranteed a WWE Champion will be crowned on Sunday. Triple H says he’s thrilled with that guarantee, and he’s thrilled that the WWE Universe chose Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. He wants nothing more than for there to be a definitive WWE Champion coming out of Hell in a Cell. HBK has guaranteed that, and he’s the right man for the job. HBK knows what it’s like to see that Cell lower around you. It’s like 5,000 pounds of steel crushing down on top of you. It can destroy a man’s confidence.

Cole says at least Triple H and HBK can agree on those points. However, they have been some disagreements in recent weeks. The biggest one is the man that HBK trained, Daniel Bryan. Another “YES!” chant breaks out. Triple H says he’s been a friend of HBK’s for twenty years. In those twenty years, they’ve been the best of friends and also the fiercest competitors against each other. The one thing they’ve always come back to is a common ground. They share a similar belief in a lot of things, and one of those similar beliefs is how the WWE should operate. It’s about what’s best for business. Triple H knows that HBK will do the right thing when it’s all said and done. Cole asks what “the right thing” is.

Triple H goes to answer, but he’s cut off by Daniel Bryan’s music. A huge “YES!” chant breaks out. Triple H looks thoroughly irritated and won’t even turn to look at Bryan. Bryan waves at him, but Triple H ignores him. The “YES!” chant continues as Bryan says the right thing is to let himself and Randy Orton settle this once and for all. Regardless of what anyone does, including Triple H, the Big Show, The Shield, inside Hell in a Cell no one gets in or out until there is a definitive winner. Bryan knows that HBK is Triple H’s best friend, but he’s also his own man. HBK isn’t going to favor him or Orton. HBK is going to do what’s best for business. When he does, after everything Triple H has said to him, he is going to prove him Triple H wrong. Bryan is in Triple H’s face. Bryan says when he does, he is going to be the new WWE Champion and, as much as Triple H may hate it, the new face of the WWE! Bryan starts a “YES!” chant as Triple H looks at him angrily. Triple H gets to his feet, and Bryan continues the “YES!” chant until he leaves the ring.

Daniel Bryan will team with The Miz, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust to take on Randy Orton and The Shield in tonight’s main event. Coming up next, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper will face The Usos.

-Commercial Break-

The Miz will be on commentary for the next match.

Jimmy and Jey Uso vs. Erick Rowan and Luke Harper w/ Bray Wyatt

Erick Rowan will start the match against Jey Uso. The bell rings, and Jey ducks a clothesline to club Luke Harper in the face. Rowan then quickly takes Jey down with a clothesline. Rowan punches him down in the corner before tagging Harper in. Harper whips Rowan into Jey before Rowan whips Jey into a big boot from Harper. Harper rolls him around the ring before Jey fights up. Harper quickly stops the momentum before sending him to the corner for the Truck Stop. Jimmy Uso runs in to break up the pinfall. Jey quickly tags in Jimmy, who comes off the top rope to take Harper down with a diving shoulder block. Jimmy punches Rowan down on the apron, ducks a clothesline from Harper, kicks him in the midsection, and hits him with a Samoan Drop. Jimmy celebrates a bit with the crowd before hitting Harper with a running butt bump to the face. Rowan breaks up the pinfall. Jey runs in to kick Rowan out of the ring. They then hit a double back body drop over the top rope on Harper. Jimmy takes Rowan out with an over the top rope running plancha. Jey goes for a suicide dive, but Harper forearms him in the face before taking Jimmy down with a big boot on the outside.

Bray Wyatt rises from his seat, and The Miz runs over to top whatever he’s going to attempt. Miz big boots Wyatt down, and his hat goes flying. Miz antagonizes Rowan, and Rowan chases him to the back. In the ring, the Usos drop Harper with a double superkick for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Jimmy and Jey Uso
Match Rating: *

AJ Lee skipping alongside the stoic Tamina Snuka. She’ll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Nikki Bella w/ Brie Bella vs. AJ Lee w/ Tamina Snuka

This is Nikki Bella’s first match back since the shin injury. AJ skips around the ring until they lockup. AJ pushes Nikki off and quickly runs to the ropes. The referee tries to back Nikki off, and AJ elbows her in the jaw. Nikki takes her down with a drop-toe-hold before hitting a Thesz Press. Nikki bounces AJ’s head off the canvas before AJ escapes the ring and hides behind Tamina. Tamina challenges Nikki to get out of the ring, but she doesn’t go for it. AJ snaps Nikki off the top rope and covers for a two count. AJ chokes her on the ropes before hitting a neckbreaker for a one count. AJ applies a chin lock, and Brie gets the crowd to clap. Nikki fights up, gets AJ on her back, and backs her to the corner. Nikki slings AJ off and hits a pair of clotheslines. Nikki elbows her in the face before hitting a dropkick. Nikki tosses her to the corner before going for another dropkick, but AJ moves. Nikki seems to hit her recently healed shin hard, and she grabs it.

Tamina seems like she’s going to grab Nikki, so Brie runs over to stop her. Tamina woman-handles her before sending her headfirst into the steel steps! In the ring, AJ applies the Black Widow to Nikki for the submission victory.

Winner by Submission: AJ Lee
Match Rating: 3/4 *

Daniel Bryan, The Miz, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust will take on Randy Orton and The Shield in tonight’s main event. Coming up next, we’ll see a video highlighting John Cena’s return.

-Commercial Break-

A video showcasing John Cena’s career highlights airs. He returns to face Alberto Del Rio for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship this Sunday at Hell in a Cell.

A shot of Bray Wyatt backstage interrupts Michael Cole as he talks further about John Cena. Wyatt says he has something to show us. He then leads the camera to a spot in a caged room where Luke Harper and Erick Rowan are standing. Sitting on the floor with his arms tied above his head is The Miz, and he’s unconscious while wearing the lamb mask of Rowan. On his bare chest is written the word, “Liar.” Wyatt says he tried to warn The Miz, but he fears now he will truly understand what it means to follow the buzzards. Wyatt laughs, and the light starts to flicker in the room. The Wyatt Family leaves Miz in the back.

-Commercial Break-

Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre w/ Jinder Mahal vs. Los Matadores w/ El Torito

Before the match begins, The Real Americans come out to the stage to watch the proceedings. Fernando will start the match out against Drew McIntyre. McIntyre kicks and clubs him down before sending him to the ropes. Fernando slides between the legs and takes him down with a hurricanrana. Fernando wrenches the arm, but McIntyre takes him down with a jawbreaker before tagging in Heath Slater. Slater sends him into the ropes and knees him in the midsection. McIntyre then takes Fernando down with a high knee lift. Slater follows up with a knee drop for a two count. McIntyre is tagged back in, and they hit a double-team springboard suplex. McIntyre picks up a two count. McIntyre applies an arm bar, but Fernando soon fights up. McIntyre knees him, but Fernando soon sidesteps him and tags in Diego.

Diego snaps McIntyre off the top rope before hitting a pair of flying forearms. Diego then takes him down with a springboard cross-body. Diego then goes to the second rope and hits Slater with the picador. McIntyre then attempts a back suplex, but Diego flips through. Fernando tags in as Diego elbows McIntyre. Fernando jumps over McIntyre and grabs him. They then drop McIntyre with a double-team reverse STO for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Los Matadores
Match Rating: *

Los Matadores celebrate in the ring with El Torito before taunting the Real Americans with an “Olé!” Jinder Mahal gets in the ring, and El Torito mocks his dance. Los Matadores lift El Torito up as Mahal tries to attack. They then hold El Torito and use his horns to gore Mahal out of the ring. El Torito then takes Mahal out with a huge springboard moonsault plancha to the outside!

Zeb Colter gets on the microphone. Colter says he wants to tell these three “border hopping banditos” something. He didn’t lie facedown in Cambodia and risk his life so some illegal immigrant could attack or assault him from the rear. Colter asks what types of men kidnap another man and put him in a bull outfit. The types of men who do that partake in deviant behavior. At Hell in a Cell, America will take a step in the right direction when the Real Americans prevail, and that’s no bull. Colter asks everyone to stand and put their hands over their hearts as they say, “We the people!”

Paul Heyman is talking with Ryback backstage. They’ll both be in action in a handicap match, next.

-Commercial Break-

A replay airs which shows CM Punk saving Big E Langston from an attack at the hands of Ryback and Curtis Axel. They would then face them in a tag team match with Punk and Langston being victorious.

Paul Heyman says everyone is about to bear witness to a demonstration of the teamwork that will occur this Sunday in the first ever two-on-one handicap match inside Hell in a Cell. By the good graces of Vickie Guerrero, he hereby introduces their opponent, CM Skunk. CM Skunk comes out to Punk’s music and does his mannerisms. His hairstyle has a big white section going down the middle like a skunk’s tail.

Ryback and Paul Heyman vs. CM Skunk

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee of all time, is the official for this match. This is a no disqualification match. Ryback will start the match off for his team. Ryback sizes Skunk up. Skunk kicks and punches him, but Ryback soon takes him down and powers him to the corner. Ryback repeats that and slaps him in the head before viciously powerbombing him down twice. Paul Heyman yells for Ryback to tag him in, and he does. Heyman goes under the ring and grabs a kendo stick. Heyman stares at Skunk before sadistically caning him a bunch of times. Heyman then calls for Ryback to finish him off. Ryback takes Skunk down with a big meat hook clothesline before crushing him with the Shell Shock. Ryback says, “The kill is yours, Paul.” Heyman then puts his foot on Skunk’s face for the pinfall.

Winners by Pinfall: Ryback and Paul Heyman
Match Rating: 1/4 *

Heyman gets on the microphone after the match. Heyman says for those that want to sit there and boo that this is a parody of CM Punk, he assures them of how deadly serious they are for this Sunday. On Sunday, his monster Ryback is going to take every inch of that Cell and use it to his advantage. He’ll grab Punk by the back of the head and scrap his face against every inch of the Cell. Then, Heyman is going to step inside the ring, and he is once again, thanks to his monster Ryback, going to pin CM Punk 1-2-3 and prove to everyone, most importantly Punk, that his name is Paul Heyman, and he is the Best in the World.

Vickie Guerrero is backstage laughing about how the names CM Punk and CM Skunk rhyme. Big E Langston walks in, and he says everyone saw The Miz go down. That means there is an open slot in the main event, and he wants in. Vickie asks why he thinks he should be in her main event. Langston says a lot of people say he’s a young, inexperienced rookie, but he’s also hungry and wants a shot. Vickie says she respects that, and she will run it by Triple H. Langston asks if she’s the General Manager of Smackdown. Langston wonders if he walked into Brad Maddox’s office. Vickie says she’ll let him in the main event, but warns him to never compare her to Maddox again. Langston smiles and walks off.

-Commercial Break-

Alberto Del Rio addresses his match at Hell in a Cell

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio comes out to the stage with a Mexican Flag. He sets it up in the middle of the stage and takes a microphone out from his back pocket. Del Rio smiles at the crowd before saying that this Sunday he will prove to everybody that John Cena is fooling himself. Cena is not ready to face the World Heavyweight Champion. A “USA” chant starts. Del Rio says he knows Cena thinks he’s Superman, but he thinks Cena is losing his mind. He is a real life Mexican Superman. He stands for loyalty, justice, and the Mexican way. At this moment, they’re throwing parades and building monuments in his honor. They’re even naming “childs” after him. Latin people just love Alberto Del Rio.

Del Rio says he doesn’t speak for all of them. He only speaks for those sharing his classic sophistication. That’s why he doesn’t speak for any of the people in the arena. They have their own hero. They have John Cena. Cena with his blue eyes and pale skin is a perfect representation of a gringo. That’s why this Sunday at Hell in a Cell, he’s going to put him in the Cross Arm Breaker and never let go. Del Rio says the gringos and the peasants in his country have one thing in common: they all can go and kiss his… Del Rio winks before slapping his backside. Del Rio then waves the Mexican flag around.

R-Truth is backstage and is about to attempt to sell some WWE merchandise like he did on RAW, but Santino Marella interrupts him and does his own sales pitch.

Fandango is backstage with Summer Rae. He’ll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

The Great Khali w/ Hornswoggle and Natalya vs. Fandango w/ Summer Rae

Fandango ducks a clothesline and chops the chest a few times. Khali then pushes him into the ropes and clotheslines him down. Khali puts him in the corner and chops the chest. Khali puts him in another corner and chops the chest again. Fandango quickly kicks him in the head and punches away at him. Khali hits him with a back elbow and a big boot. Khali clotheslines him down a pair of times before Summer Rae gets on the apron to distract him. Fandango then chop blocks Khali. Natalya pulls Summer Rae off the apron. Summer then slaps her in the face and runs away. Natalya chases her into the ring and tackles her. The referee then calls the match off.

No Contest
Match Rating: 1/4 *

Fandango pulls Summer Rae off Natalya and puts her on the apron. Fandango turns his attention back to Khali, and Khali floors him with a Brain Chop. Summer Rae tends to Fandango as Natalya jaw jacks with her from inside the ring.

Daniel Bryan will team with Big E Langston, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust to take on Randy Orton and The Shield, next.

-Commercial Break-

Daniel Bryan, Big E Langston, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust vs. The Shield and Randy Orton

Cody Rhodes will start the match out against Dean Ambrose. They lock up, and Ambrose powers him to the corner. Rhodes blocks and punch, and he punches away at Ambrose. Rhodes kicks away at him in the corner before whipping him to the opposite corner and catching him with a back body drop. Rhodes kicks him and wrenches the arm before tagging in Goldust. They both punch Ambrose in the midsection before Goldust hits him with a snapmare. Goldust drops a knee for a one count. Goldust punches him a few times before sending him to the ropes for a clothesline. Rhodes tags back in, and he punches Ambrose in the kidneys before throwing him out of the ring. The rest of The Shield and Randy Orton check on Ambrose.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Seth Rollins chopping Big E Langston, but he doesn’t feel them. Rollins hits the ropes, and Langston takes him down with a belly-to-belly suplex. Rhodes tags in, and he has a whip to the corner reversed on him. Rhodes counters Rollins with a springboard rollup for a two count. Rollins then blocks a punch and hits an STO into the turnbuckle. Rollins kicks away at him in the corner before tagging in Roman Reigns. Reigns head-butts him in the ribs before punching him. Reigns whips him to the corner and charges into a boot. Daniel Bryan is tagged in, and he kicks away at Reigns’ ribs. Bryan blocks a kick and hits a dragon screw. Bryan then stands on the back of the knees, stares at Orton, and rips at Reigns’ face. Bryan then stomps the knees into the mat. Langston is tagged back in, and he shoulders Reigns in the corner. Langston backs up and hits a running shoulder thrust. Goldust is tagged in, and he covers for a two count.

Goldust puts him in the corner and punches away at him. Reigns turns him around and whips him to the opposite corner. Goldust sidesteps him as he attempts a splash. Goldust then climbs to the top rope and hits a twisting cross-body block for a two count! Rhodes is tagged in, and he punches Reigns. Reigns reverses a whip, but Rhodes drops down and uppercuts him for a one count. Reigns powers him to the corner, and Ambrose tags in. Ambrose jabs him a few times in the jaw before hitting a shoulder thrust to the corner. Ambrose rakes his face against the top rope before tagging in Orton. Orton climbs to the second rope and punches him a few times. Orton brings him to the center of the ring, and Rhodes tries to come back with some punches. Orton cuts him off before having a whip reversed on him. Rhodes takes him down with a high knee to the face for a near fall. Rhodes hits a front suplex for another near fall. Rhodes stomps the midsection a few times before tagging Goldust in. Goldust punches him down for a one count. Rhodes tags back in, and he punches Orton down for a one count. Rhodes goes for the ten punches, but Orton rakes the eyes before giving him a front suplex onto the top rope. Orton then punches him off the apron to the floor.

Ambrose is tagged in, and he gives Rhodes a Russian leg sweep into the barricade. Ambrose throws him into the ring and stomps the midsection a few times. Ambrose covers for a two count. Orton is tagged back in, and he circles Rhodes a few times before going for a knee drop. Rhodes rolls out of the way, and he executes the ten punches in the corner. Orton gets out before the ten are finished, and he gives Rhodes his patented backbreaker off the second rope! Rhodes rolls out of the ring to recover.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Reigns suplex Rhodes for a near fall. Ambrose is tagged in, and he kicks Rhodes in the midsection. Ambrose punches him before tagging in Rollins. Rollins clubs the chest before throwing him down. Rollins stomps him on the back before Rhodes catches him with a jawbreaker. Rhodes punches him and tries to go between his legs to make a tag, but Rollins falls on top of him to stop him. Rollins then drags him to the corner and tags in Ambrose. Ambrose mocks Goldust before punching away at Rhodes. Rhodes boots Ambrose, and he tags in Reigns. Rhodes dropkicks Reigns as he gets in the ring, and Reigns tags in Rollins. Rollins goes to the top rope and jumps into a punch from Rhodes.

Goldust is tagged in, and he clotheslines Rollins down a few times. Rollins reverses a whip, but Goldust drops down and uppercuts him. Reigns blind tags in as Rollins takes a back body drop. Reigns then clotheslines Goldust down for a near fall. Reigns clubs away at him before Ambrose tags in. Ambrose shoulders him in the corner before tagging Rollins back in. Rollins clubs away at him before tagging Orton in. Orton punches and kicks away at Goldust before Reigns is tagged in. Rollins is tagged before Reigns even does anything. They whip him to the corner, but Goldust springboards off the second rope with a double back elbow!

Bryan and Ambrose are tagged in. Bryan ducks a clothesline and dropkicks Orton off the apron. Bryan then blocks a punch from Ambrose before sending him in the ropes to give him a knee in the midsection. Bryan then dropkicks both Rollins and Reigns off the apron. Bryan has a whip to the corner reversed, but he backflips over Ambrose, ducks a clothesline, and takes Orton out with a suicide dive! Ambrose goes to attack Bryan on the outside, but Bryan sends him into the barricade. Bryan puts him in the ring and hits a missile dropkick. Bryan kips up and gets the crowd going. Bryan kicks Ambrose in the chest a few times before hitting a kick to the back of the head. Bryan applies a Yes! Lock, but Reigns breaks it up. Langston runs in to avalanche Reigns down. Rollins dives off the top rope, but Langston catches him. Goldust clotheslines Reigns out of the ring before Langston goes for the Big Ending. Rollins slides off and dropkicks him out of the ring. Rhodes then takes Rollins out with the Disaster Kick. Rhodes then goes to the top rope and takes both Rollins and Reigns out with a cross-body to the floor!

Bryan dropkicks Ambrose in the corner, whips him to the opposite side, and misses a second corner dropkick. Orton is tagged in, and he connects with a hanging DDT. Orton stares at the crowd before signaling for the RKO. Langston comes in from behind, so Orton attempts to RKO him. Langston pushes him off into a running knee from Bryan for the win!

Winners by Pinfall: Daniel Bryan, Big E Langston, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust
Match Rating: ** 1/2

Daniel Bryan leads the WWE Universe in a “YES!” chant as Randy Orton readjusts his jaw at ringside.