Smackdown Results 6/8/2012
This week’s WWE Smackdown comes to us from Columbia, SC.
Alberto Del Rio Calls Out “Sheamus”
We start off differently from RAW last Monday night in that we’re focusing on a storyline. Del Rio comes out and we get a replay of that sick arm bar he did to Sheamus on RAW. ADR says he’s going to finish the job at No Way Out and then Sheamus’ music hits. Only we don’t get Sheams, we instead get Richardo Rodriguez dressed as Sheamus.
What follows is classic heel tactics as Richardo plays Sheamus up to be a bumbling buffoon. Funny stuff. However, the real Sheamus didn’t find this funny and runs out to get some revenge. They brawl up the stage and it looks like we’re getting a High Cross from the stage to the floor, but Richardo stops it and they start to take out Sheamus.
That is until Teddy Long comes out. John Laurinitis is apparently busy focusing on his evaluation this Monday. So he’ll be acting on Johnny’s behalf for the rest of the night. He announces that the main event for tonight will be Sheamus vs. Kane, and Del Rio will take on the Great Khali.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Great Khali
For those who may not know, Khali is a terrible wrestler. The reason he has a job is that he’s a freakishly big guy, and WWE loves those kinds of guys. However, in the six years he’s been a WWE performer, he still doesn’t know a wristlock from a wristwatch.
So this match is as good as it can get. It’s nothing to re-watch, as hard as Del Rio did to make it look good. The point of this one is to make Del Rio look like a threat as he makes Khali tap to the cross arm breaker.
Brodus Clay Now Exclusive to Smackdown
We then get to the back with Teddy Long, who welcomes Brodus and his “Funkadactyls”. Teddy tells him that to protect him from Big Show, Brodus is now banned from RAW. However the “good news” is that he is now on the Smackdown Roster. This really doesn’t sit well with Brodus.
I didn’t like this move. One, is WWE really trying to still insist there is separate rosters after all these cross brand matches? Second, this makes Brodus look like a chump, which isn’t good for a guy just starting out.
In any event, he promises to treat his next opponent like Big Show.
Brodus Clay vs. Derrick Bateman
I was very happy to see my favorite up and comer Bateman, but this match went as you expect from a standard Brodus match. Dance, squash, dance, and leave.
Booker T’s WWE 1000th RAW Moment
Booker T’s favorite RAW moment turns out to be his match with Buff Bagwell. I can guarantee you he is the only person on earth who liked that match.
Sin Cara vs. Drew McIntrye
Surprisingly competitive match between these two. I’m really happy to see that Sin Cara is finally bringing his A game, and not botching in the ring any more. Sin Cara goes over after he counters into a tornado DDT.
Ryback vs. Tony Andriodes & Kevin Mahoney
Mega squash match here as Ryback continues to destroy all in his path. So can you give him an actual match now, WWE?
The Peep Show with Cody Rhodes
At least it was supposed to be, but Cody out and destroys the set. He says that he isn’t going to let Christian make a fool out of him. Instead, Christian should be answering to him. Which brings out Christian.
What follows is a nice back and forth between the two. They even finally reveal why Christian turned face all of a sudden, saying the sight of Edge’s hall of fame ceremony reminded him of why he loved wrestling- his peeps. Cody continues to impress as he grows and grows as an amazing overall talent. They even announce their match for No Way Out for the Intercontinental Championship title.
They’re about to fight till Ziggler comes out to remind Christian he has a match with him tonight.
Christian vs. Dolph Ziggler
So when Dolph came out and said he’s better than this, he meant he should be jobbing as a singles wrestler?
Don’t get me wrong, this was the match of the night. These two are both solid workers, and they brought a really good three star match here. However, wasn’t RAW from two weeks ago supposed to be the moment Ziggler stopped being a jobber? Frog Splash gets the win for Christian.
RAW Rebound of Cena vs. Cole, and Damien Sandow Saves Us
We get a replay of Cena vs. Cole. Once again it was funny and the crowd ate it up, but it did nothing to push a storyline or the PPV coming up. In the end, it was a giant filler episode.
Cut back to Michael Cole- wait a minute. So Brock Lesnar shoves Josh Matthews and he’s gone for a week? Cole wrestles an entire match with Cena and he’s okay? Cole begs us to just move on and let it go when JR’s music hits. The people erupt (because they love JR), but then boo as they see its just Hornswoggle dressed as JR. Smart move, WWE.
Jim Swoggle then picks on Cole until Damien Sandown comes out who is gold. He says, “For far too long, miscreants such as Hornswoggle have been raised to cult status and that has led the lambs of the WWE Universe to slaughter. He says that he cannot and will not let this ridiculous content to assimilate itself into our society. This diminutive ignoramus will be taught a lesson this evening.” He then proceeds to corner Hornswoggle and is about to jump him when Tyson Kidd makes the save.
Kidd wants to go but Sandow says no and walks away- until Kidd turns his back and Sandow runs in and destroys Kidd. Awesome stuff, keep an eye on this guy.
Matt Striker interviews Kane
Matt asks Kane how he feels to have the chance to beat both the WWE and World Champion in the same week. Kane says he doesn’t do feelings and that the only thing he cares about is winning the title at No Way Out. When asked about what happened with AJ, Kane just stares at Striker tell he leaves. However, as Kane walks away, AJ appears from behind some crates and stares at Kane. INTRIGUE!
Antonio Cesaro with Aksana vs. Jimmy Uso
Antonio will be a big deal one day. I watched him back when he was Claudio in RoH, and I hope he achieves a lot of success. That being said, this is another squash match to make him look tough. Can we please have an actual match with him?
Sheamus’ WWE 1000th Raw moment
His favorite was the Breakthrough Battle Royal, a battle royal that consisted of nothing but WWE stars who never held the WWE Title. More importantly, it was the match that reunited Jesse Ventura and Vince McMahon in the announce booth. Fine pick, Sheamus!
Sheamus vs. Kane
This match was also okay. Both guys are great big man wrestlers, but it kind of felt like they were just going through the motions. End comes when Richardo and Del Rio run in. Sheamus takes out Ricardo, which stops Del Rio from going in. Which causes Sheamus to Brogue Kick Richardo’s head off. In all of this, Sheamus forgets about Kane, who is up and jumps him. He’s about to choke slam him, when a very happy AJ appears. Kane looks like he doesn’t know what to do, which gives Sheamus enough time to Brogue Kick his head off too.
This Smackdown did more than RAW did this week to push storylines, which is good. Ziggler vs. Christian was great, Sandow and Cody continue to be awesome, and action was overall good. Just wish we could cut down on the squash matches somehow.
