Friday Night Smackdown!

Corpus Christi, Texas
December 27, 2013
results thanks to wrestleview.com

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

Michael Cole and JBL welcome us to the final Smackdown of 2013. John Cena’s music hits, and he comes out to the ring to a tremendous reception from the Corpus Christi crowd. A replay is shown from the main event of RAW of John Cena, Big E Langston, and CM Punk taking out The Shield after they caused a disqualification. Cena says we just saw Big E Langston, himself, and CM Punk lay waste to The Shield, but we also saw a bunch of people in Santa hats. Tonight is even more important than that because it is the last Smackdown of 2013. That means this audience is going to help the WWE Universe around the world bring in the New Year. Cena asks for excitement and noise, and they give it to him.

Cena says he can tell they’re ready to have fun. They have to have fun while they can because once the New Year comes in, all the fun ends. Everyone is worried about New Year’s Resolutions. Cena says he wants to give a bear hug to a real bear. He also wants to star in a 1-800-FELLA commercial and land a lead role in a musical version of “No Holds Barred.” Cena says he wants to get an early start on drafting his XFL fantasy team. Cena says he also wants to gain forty pounds, and he can do that tonight. Doing basic math, the weight of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is about forty pounds. Divide that by the square root of the fact that he has a rematch for that very championship, and factoring in that the earth’s gravitational pull is -9.8 meters per second squared, that means that Randy Orton may be back there listening to everyone. Just maybe right now, he will walk down that aisle and bring in the New Year with Randy Orton versus John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The crowd cheers loudly for that.

Randy Orton’s music does not hit. Instead, The Shield’s music hits, and they make their way to the ring through the crowd. They surround John Cena on the ring apron, and Cena tries to fight them off. The Shield quickly beats Cena down until Mark Henry’s music hits. Henry charges down to the ring, and he takes The Shield down with some right hands. Eventually, The Shield overtakes Henry. Big E Langston’s music hits, and he runs down to the ring to take The Shield out. Cena and Henry get to their feet, and they throw The Shield out of the ring.

Kane comes out to the stage. Kane says as Director of Operations, it’s obvious to him that everyone has a lot of issues to work out before the New Year. That’s why later tonight, The Shield will be competing in three separate singles matches. Dean Ambrose will go one-on-one with Big E Langston. Roman Reigns will take on the “World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry. Seth Rollins will also face John Cena. Kane makes the ring posts explode with fire, and his music hits.

A vignette airs that highlights the return of “The Animal” Batista. He’ll be back on Monday Night RAW on January 20.

-Commercial Break-

A video airs for the New Year’s RAW with Big Show dancing around as the New Year’s Baby.

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

Before the match begins, a replay is shown of the vicious assault the Wyatt Family unleashed on Daniel Bryan last week on Smackdown. They threw Bryan off a loading bay onto the concrete floor.

Charles Robinson, my favorite referee of all time, is the official for this match. Luke Harper will start the match against Jimmy Uso. The bell rings, and Jimmy ducks a clothesline to punch Erick Rowan off the apron. Harper charges at him, but Jimmy gives him a back body drop over the top rope to the floor. Jey Uso then runs in and takes Rowan out with a running plancha. Harper gets in the ring, and Jimmy kicks him in the midsection before rolling him up for a two count. Harper then takes him down with a right hand, and he big boots Jey off the apron. Harper runs into a right hand from Jimmy in the corner. Jimmy quickly follows up with a corkscrew senton for a near fall. Harper quickly pops up, and he runs into a superkick. Jimmy goes for a roll-up, but Harper hangs on to the ropes. Harper blind tags in. Jimmy ducks a big boot from Harper, and Rowan forearms him. Jimmy stumbles into a spinning clothesline from Harper, and Rowan follows up with a big splash for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
Match Rating: 1/2 *

Bray Wyatt gets up from his rocking chair, and he throws Jey Uso into the ring. Harper and Rowan hold Jey up as Wyatt looks at him upside down from the corner. Wyatt then grabs Jey, kisses him on the head, and drops him with Sister Abigail. Wyatt kneels in front of the Usos and says, “Follow the buzzards!”

Renee Young is backstage with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton. Renee says he’s had a fantastic 2013, and she asks if he has a New Year’s Resolution for 2014. Orton says he’s surpassed every superstar in WWE so he really doesn’t have anything to prove. Orton says maybe he’ll enter himself into the 2014 Royal Rumble, win it, and watch WrestleMania 30 from a luxury skybox all while writing his Hall of Fame induction speech because he’ll retire as champion the next night. Then he’ll induct himself into the Hall of Fame. Dolph Ziggler walks up, and he says he didn’t know that they have Halls of Fame for spineless, undeserving WWE World Heavyweight Champions. Ziggler has a resolution of his own. Ziggler is going to be the guy to finally shut Orton up. Orton says it sounds like somebody wants an RKO. Kane walks up, and he separates them. Kane says as Director of Operations, it is his responsibility to ensure a safe, calm working environment. He will not tolerate these displays of aggression. Tonight, they will settle this in the ring. Ziggler walks off. Kane says to Orton that the backstage must be a safe zone. However, out in the ring… Kane begins to laugh, and he walks off.

Mark Henry will take on Roman Reigns later tonight. Dean Ambrose will also face Big E Langton, and Seth Rollins will face John Cena.

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring with his brother, Goldust. Rhodes will be in singles action against Antonio Cesaro, next.

-Commercial Break-

Cody Rhodes w/ Goldust vs. Antonio Cesaro w/ Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter

A replay is shown of Cody Rhodes attacking Antonio Cesaro last week on WWE Main Event. Cesaro was attempting to interfere in a match between Goldust and Jack Swagger. Goldust picked up the win that night.

They lock up, and Rhodes goes for a side headlock, but Cesaro escapes. They circle the ring and lock up. Rhodes applies a side headlock and takes him over. Cesaro quickly gets to his feet and tries to whip him off, but Rhodes hangs on. Cesaro breaks out and applies a hammerlock. Rhodes takes him down with a drop-toe-hold, and he applies a front face lock. Cesaro escapes and applies another hammerlock. Rhodes then runs towards the ropes, and Cesaro flies out of the ring. Cesaro gets to his feet, and Goldust does his deep breathing taunt. Rhodes and Goldust stand together as Swagger stands next to Cesaro. They get back in the ring, and Cesaro kicks him in the midsection. Cesaro punches him to the corner and whips him to the opposite side, but Rhodes comes back with a roll-up for a near fall. Cesaro punches Rhodes in the face, and Rhodes answers back with some punches of his own. Rhodes charges Cesaro, but Cesaro pulls the top rope down, which sends Rhodes out of the ring. Goldust runs over to make sure his brother is protected from a cheap shot by Swagger.

Cesaro throws Rhodes back into the ring for a one count. Cesaro puts Rhodes in the corner, and he hits some body shots. Cesaro backs up before hitting Rhodes with a European Uppercut. Cesaro hits a suplex for a two count. Cesaro quickly applies a chin lock, and the crowd begins to clap for Rhodes. Rhodes fights up and punches out. Rhodes ducks a clothesline and takes him down with a high knee. Rhodes follows up with a clothesline and an uppercut. Rhodes hits a front suplex for a near fall. Rhodes clubs the back and goes for a whip, but Cesaro reverses it. Rhodes ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Swagger gets on the apron, and Rhodes knocks him off the apron. Cesaro uppercuts him in the back of the head, and he rolls Rhodes up for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Antonio Cesaro
Match Rating: *

Later tonight, we’ll see John Cena take on Seth Rollins of The Shield.

-Commercial Break-

Ryback and Curtis Axel vs. The Prime Time Players

Ryback will start the match against Darren Young. They lock up, and Ryback powers him down. Young charges him, and Ryback clubs him down. Ryback whips him into the ropes and goes for a military press, but Young slides off, ducks a clothesline, and hits a right hand. Young dropkicks him in the knee, and he knees Ryback in the skull. Titus O’Neil is tagged in, and he front suplexes Young onto Ryback. O’Neil uppercuts Ryback to the corner, and he punches him. Ryback comes back with some punches and kicks. Ryback goes for a clothesline, but O’Neil ducks it and takes him down with a shoulder block. O’Neil pushes him into the ropes, but Ryback hangs on. O’Neil punches him and charges, but Ryback hits him with a back elbow. Curtis Axel blind tags in during this. Ryback then pushes O’Neil into the ropes, and Axel knees him in the back. Axel kicks and clubs away at him. Axel punches him in the midsection before chopping the chest in the corner. O’Neil comes back with some chops of his own before Axel kicks him in the midsection. O’Neil pushes him off and runs into a dropkick. Axel chokes him with his boot before tagging in Ryback. Axel goes over the top rope to club O’Neil before Ryback elbows him in the throat. Ryback applies a front face lock, but O’Neil fights up. Ryback powers him to the corner and shoulders him there. Axel is tagged in, and he punches O’Neil in the midsection. Axel talks a little trash before hitting the ropes and eating a big boot.

Young is tagged in, and he ducks a clothesline from Axel. Young kicks him a few times before sending him into the ropes for a clothesline. Young then takes him down with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Young knocks Ryback off the apron with a club. Young clotheslines Axel in the corner before hitting a northern lights suplex. Ryback breaks up the pinfall. O’Neil runs in to help, but Ryback kicks him. Ryback picks him up, but O’Neil slides off. The Prime Time Players then clothesline Ryback out of the ring. Axel tries to roll Young up, but Young rolls through and picks up the win.

Winners by Pinfall: The Prime Time Players
Match Rating: * 1/4

A clip is shown from the DVD “The History of WWE.”

Randy Orton, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, makes his way to the ring to a chorus of jeers from the crowd. Orton will face Dolph Ziggler in a non-title match, next.

-Commercial Break-

Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler

The bell rings, and they circle the ring before locking up. Orton powers him to the corner, but Ziggler quickly turns him around. They eventually give a clean break, and Orton gets out of the ring to rethink things. Orton eventually reenters the ring, and they lock up. Orton applies a side headlock, but Ziggler whips him off. Orton quickly comes back with a clothesline before taunting the crowd. They circle the ring, and Orton kicks him in the midsection before putting him in the corner. Ziggler blocks a right hand, and he punches away at Orton in the corner. Orton comes back with a kick and an uppercut. Orton hits a suplex for a one count. Orton whips him to the corner, and he runs into a back elbow. Ziggler punches him a few times in the corner before climbing to the second rope to punch him a bunch of times. Ziggler taunts Orton before hitting a snapmare. Ziggler then drops an elbow for a two count. Ziggler stands over Orton until he pulls him face first into the turnbuckle. Orton gets to his feet and stares at the crowd. Orton and Ziggler trade punches until Orton kicks him in the midsection. Orton then runs into a dropkick from Ziggler. Orton rolls out of the ring to recover.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Ziggler pulling himself into the ring at the count of nine. During the commercial, Orton sidestepped Ziggler in the corner before sending him into the ring post shoulder first. Back to live action, Orton begins to slowly stomp away at Ziggler. Orton stomps the midsection before dropping a knee on the head for a two count. Orton pulls at Ziggler’s hair a couple of times before applying a chin lock. Ziggler fights up and punches out. Ziggler hits the ropes, and Orton turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. Orton goes back to the chin lock, but Ziggler fights up and gets out with a jawbreaker.

Orton sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Ziggler then hits the ropes and takes him down with a running cross-body block before punching away at him. Orton stumbles to the corner, and Ziggler splashes him there before wildly punching away at him. Ziggler then drops him with a neckbreaker before dropping an elbow for a two count. Ziggler goes for a famouser, but Orton avoids it. Orton goes for a powerslam, but Ziggler hangs on to the ropes. Ziggler then takes him out with a big DDT for a near fall. Ziggler goes to the top rope, but Orton sweeps the legs. Orton begins to punch and head-butt him before trying for a superplex. Ziggler fights him off and hits a missile dropkick for a near fall. Ziggler sends him into the ring post shoulder first, and he hits the famouser for another near fall. Ziggler cannot believe it. Ziggler punches away at him in the corner until the referee backs him away. Orton then thumbs Ziggler in the eye, and he drops him with an RKO for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Randy Orton
Match Rating: **

While the replays are being shown, Orton throws Ziggler out of the ring. Orton bounces him off the commentary table before sending him into the steel ring steps. Orton bounces him off the ring apron before taking him down with an uppercut. Orton sends him into the ring post before throwing him into the timekeeper’s area. Orton sets Ziggler up on the barricade. Orton then applies the front face lock, and he drops Ziggler with a hanging DDT on the floor!

The Shield is somewhere backstage. Dean Ambrose says 2014 will be the same as 2013. This evolutionary machine will continue to wreak havoc on WWE. Ambrose says Big E Langston got a little taste of The Shield. Tonight, he’s bitten off more than he can chew. Roman Reigns says Mark Henry is the World’s Strongest Man and the owner of the Hall of Pain. However, Henry is stepping into his ring tonight, and he gives pain a whole new meaning. Seth Rollins says that brings us to John Cena. Cena believes in “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect.” Rollins believes there is nothing more important in his life than him putting his boot in the back of Cena’s head and driving his face into the mat. Rollins tells him to believe that. Reigns then says, “Believe in The Shield!”

Daniel Bryan’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a tremendous reception. He’ll be in action, next.

-Commercial Break-

Highlights are shown of the “Battle for Christmas” from this past Monday’s RAW. The Good Santa (Mark Henry) defeated the Bad Santa (Damien Sandow).

Daniel Bryan vs. Damien Sandow

They lock up, and Sandow powers him to the corner. Bryan quickly ducks a punch, and he kicks away at Sandow. Sandow quickly comes back with some kicks and a head-butt. Sandow applies a side headlock, but Bryan whips him off. Sandow quickly hits a shoulder block. Sandow hits the ropes, and Bryan turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. Sandow hangs on the bottom rope to keep Bryan away. Sandow kicks him in the knee, and he punches away at Bryan. Sandow then throws him out of the ring. Sandow sends him into the barricade before throwing him back into the ring for a near fall. Sandow applies a front face lock, and he knees away at him. Sandow body slams him down before hitting the Cubito Aequet for another near fall. Sandow quickly applies a chin lock, but Bryan fights up and punches out. Bryan hits the ropes, and Sandow catches him with a back elbow. Sandow puts him in the corner, and he shoulders him. Sandow whips him to the opposite corner, but Bryan backflips over him. Bryan then ducks a clothesline and takes him out with a flying elbow.

Bryan gets the crowd going before hitting Sandow with a running dropkick in the corner. Bryan puts him on the top rope before hitting a super hurricanrana. Bryan shakes his head in approval before kicking Sandow in the chest a bunch of times. Sandow ducks a big kick to the skull before rolling him up for a two count. Bryan quickly pops up, and he kicks Sandow in the back of the skull. Bryan gets a big “YES!” chant going before connecting with his Running Knee for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Daniel Bryan
Match Rating: * 1/4

The Wyatt Family flashes on to the screen, and the lights go out. Bray Wyatt appears at the top of the stage alongside Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Wyatt says even though they have stuck Bryan with many daggers, he is still walking upright. Wyatt admires his courage, and the people have chosen him. They chose Bryan, the same way he chose them like a moth gathered to a flame. Wyatt says Bryan has forgotten who is controlling this inferno. Wyatt is more than just a man – he is a god.

-Commercial Break-

WWE United States Champion vs. WWE Intercontinental Champion
Dean Ambrose w/ Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins vs. Big E Langston w/ Mark Henry and John Cena

The bell rings, and Langston quickly powers Ambrose to the corner before hitting some shoulder thrusts. Langston sends him to the opposite corner, and he hits a running shoulder to the midsection. Langston sends him to the opposite corner once again, and he runs into a boot from Ambrose. Ambrose then clotheslines him down before punching away at him. Ambrose drops an elbow for a one count. Ambrose gets him to his feet, and he punches him a few times before hitting a dropkick for a two count. Ambrose applies a chin lock, but Langston fights up and punches out. Langston hits the ropes, but Ambrose follows him and hits a knee to the midsection. Ambrose goes to the top rope, but Langston tosses him off. Langston hits a pair of clotheslines before ducking a clothesline and hitting a belly-to-belly side suplex. Langston follows up with a big splash. Langston approaches Ambrose near the ropes, and Ambrose pulls Langston out of the ring.

Reigns and Rollins approach Langston, so Henry and Cena come up from behind to stop them. Ambrose pushes past Reigns, and he doesn’t look happy about that. Ambrose throws Langston into the ring. Langston then ducks a clothesline and floors him with one of his own. Langston pulls the straps down and hits the Big Ending for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Big E Langston
Match Rating: *

Roman Reigns quickly gets into the ring, and he has a stare down with Mark Henry. That match will begin, next.

-Commercial Break-

Roman Reigns w/ Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins vs. Mark Henry w/ Big E Langston and John Cena

They slowly walk around the ring before locking up. Henry pushes Reigns off, but he doesn’t go down. Reigns signals for a test of strength, but he instead kicks Henry in the midsection. Reigns punches and head-butts Henry a few times before Henry pushes him over the top rope with one arm. Henry head-butts him down at ringside before sending him into the ring apron. Henry puts him in the ring and covers for a no count. Henry clubs him before head-butting him down. Henry sends him into the ropes for a big boot. Henry gets the crowd fired up before kicking him in the head. Henry grabs him on the apron, but Reigns snaps him off the top rope. Reigns hits a Superman punch for a near fall. Reigns kicks away at him before punching him a few times. Reigns then applies a chin lock. Henry soon fights up, and he pushes Reigns off.

Henry hits a pair of shoulder blocks before hitting a clothesline. Henry hits a JYD head-butt before splashing him in the corner. Henry goes for a powerslam, but Reigns slides off and hits an impressive Samoan Drop. Reigns hits another Superman punch before hitting the Spear for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Roman Reigns
Match Rating: *

John Cena and Seth Rollins get in the ring. They will fight each other, next.

-Commercial Break-

John Cena w/ Big E Langston and Mark Henry vs. Seth Rollins w/ Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns

They circle the ring slowly before locking up. Rollins applies a side headlock, but Cena slides out and hits a snapmare. Cena applies a chin lock, but Rollins soon turns it into a front face lock. Cena quickly twists out and applies a hammerlock. Rollins fights up, and he applies a side headlock. Cena whips him off and leapfrogs him before hitting a hip toss. Rollins rolls out of the ring to regroup.

Rollins gets back in the ring, and he kicks Cena in the midsection. Cena comes back with some right hands before sending him to the corner. Rollins then avoids a splash from Cena. Rollins kicks him a few times before punching him down. Rollins kicks away at him before hitting a running boot to the ribs. Rollins taunts the crowd before punching him. Cena comes back with some right hands. Cena sends him to the corner and goes for a bulldog, but Rollins pushes him off. Rollins then takes him down with a clothesline for a two count. Rollins applies a chin lock, and he jumps on Cena’s back, taking him down to the mat. Cena soon begins to power up, and he lifts Rollins off the ground. Cena then slams him into the corner. Cena runs into a big boot, and Rollins knees him in the face for another near fall. Rollins waits for him to get up before slowly hitting a neckbreaker for a near fall.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Rollins punch Cena down with a straight right hand. Cena slowly gets to his feet, and Rollins punches him down again. Rollins talks trash to Langston and Henry before wrenching Cena’s arm and sending him to the corner hard. Cena pulls himself up in the corner, and Rollins forearms him in the lower back. Rollins wrenches the arm, but he has a whip to the corner reversed on him. Rollins rolls up the corner and hits the mat with a thud.

Cena ducks a clothesline and hits a pair of shoulder blocks. Cena goes for a back suplex, but Rollins flips through and connects with an STO into the corner for a near fall. Rollins mocks Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” taunt. Rollins punches Cena down to his knees, and he goes for a neckbreaker, but Cena counters into a back suplex powerbomb. Cena then connects with the Five Knuckle Shuffle and goes for the AA, but Rollins lands on his feet. Cena charges into a back elbow, and Rollins takes Cena down with a blockbuster for a near fall. Rollins backs up to the corner and charges into Cena with a forearm shiver. Cena is down on the mat. Rollins backs up to the corner, and he waits for Cena to pull himself up. Cena slowly does. Rollins then charges, but Cena sidesteps him. Cena ducks a clothesline and hits a half nelson neckbreaker for a near fall. Cena cannot believe that Rollins kicked out.

Cena goes to the top rope, and Rollins hits the ropes. Cena then falls to the mat. Rollins connects with a Skywalker for a near fall. Rollins punches away at Cena before hitting the ropes. Cena catches him with a powerbomb attempt. Rollins tries to counter into a hurricanrana, but Cena pulls him back up and hits a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall! Rollins gets to his feet, and Cena goes for the AA. Rollins grabs the top rope and gets off. Cena tries to pull him up, but Rollins counters with a step-up enzuigiri for a near fall. Rollins stumbles to the corner before climbing to the top rope. Rollins connects with a diving knee to the face, and he picks up a near fall. Rollins punches the mat a few times in frustration at his inability to put Cena away. Rollins gets to his feet and goes for a running kick to the face, but Cena counters into the STF! Rollins immediately claws over to the bottom rope and gets out of the hold!

Ambrose runs in to the ring to try to cause a disqualification, but Langston cuts him off with a clothesline. Langston then punches him at ringside over the commentary table. Langston then turns into a Superman punch from Reigns! Henry then grabs Reigns, and he throws him over the commentary table into Ambrose. Reigns’ boot caught a lot of Ambrose’s face. Rollins springboards off the top rope with a cross-body attempt, but Cena rolls through, puts him on his shoulders, and hits the AA for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: John Cena
Match Rating ** 1/2

John Cena, Mark Henry, and Big E Langston stand tall in the ring while The Shield slowly makes their way out of the arena through the crowd.