WWE SmackDown
Location: Houston, TX
Date: August 2, 2013
Commentators: Michael Cole and Alex Riley
The SmackDown video plays, and we go into the arena to see a rare pyrotechnics display. Michael Cole, on commentary alongside Alex Riley, who is filling in for JBL, welcomes us to the show. Tonight, CM Punk will take on Fandango. We’ll also see AJ Lee defend her WWE Divas Championship against Kaitlyn.
Lilian Garcia welcomes the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio to the ring. Del Rio makes his way to the ring to an agglomeration of jeers from the crowd. Del Rio says he wants to start by telling the crowd “thank you for nothing.” Del Rio says when he was champion before, they didn’t support him or want him to be champion. Now he’s the World Heavyweight Champion, and there is nothing they can do about it. Del Rio does want to thank someone with vision and leadership. He’s talking about the General Manager of SmackDown, Vickie Guerrero. John Cena was allowed to choose his opponent at SummerSlam, and Vickie allowed him to do the same thing. Del Rio wants the crowd to chant her name, but they boo instead.
Del Rio says John Cena wasted his pick by picking the little troll Daniel Bryan. A “YES” chant breaks out. Del Rio says Cena only did that because he’s afraid of him. Del Rio then began thinking about choosing “The Beast” Brock Lesnar. It turns out that Lesnar has different plans for SummerSlam, so that would be his “lost.” Del Rio then began thinking about giving an opportunity to Houston’s own Booker T. Del Rio then realized that Booker T, much like everything that comes out of Houston, is a disappointment. The person he decided to choose deserved this opportunity more than anyone. This person is a great performer and one of the great athletes of all time. He’s big, fast, strong, and vicious. He’s the perfect opponent for him. That is why he’s giving this person his first opportunity to become the World Heavyweight Champion. Del Rio then announces the person he’ll face at SummerSlam with the title on the line is Ricardo Rodriguez! The crowd boos this announcement.
EXCUSE ME! Vickie Guerrero makes her way to the ring to some heat in a miniskirt. Del Rio goes for a hug, but she excuses herself angrily. Vickie says she feels like Del Rio is trying to disrespect her. When John Cena named his opponent, he named Daniel Bryan, who is a worthy competitor. Del Rio named some “payaso.” Rodriguez is like a giggly little man-child. She expected more. Del Rio asks her to not be mad. He wasn’t trying to disrespect her. If she doesn’t like Rodriguez as his opponent, he can pick someone else right now. How about the Brooklyn Brawler?
Vickie says the man who appointed her General Manager, Vince McMahon, would not have liked his decision either. She anticipated that he would make a very immature decision. She’s here to announce that Del Rio will face the winner of tonight’s triple threat match at SummerSlam. The three superstars she has chosen are Rob Van Dam, Christian, and Randy Orton. All three men come out to the stage to good receptions. Del Rio shouts at them all from the ring as they stare back at him.
They show a replay of Kaitlyn defeating AJ Lee on Monday Night RAW in a non-title match. Kaitlyn will face AJ Lee with the WWE Divas Championship on the line. CM Punk will also face Fandango.
-Commercial Break-
A replay airs which recaps Cody Rhodes stealing Damien Sandow’s Money in the Bank contract. Sandow looked for Rhodes all night before it was revealed that Rhodes was standing on the bank of the Gulf of Mexico. Sandow begged him to not do anything stupid, and Rhodes threw the briefcase into the Gulf, where it sank to the bottom. Sandow, who cannot swim, jumped in after it and nearly drowned.
Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter vs. Cody Rhodes
Zeb Colter grabs a microphone before the match begins. Colter says Houston, Texas should be shamed for calling themselves Americans. Rhodes knocks the microphone out of Colter’s hand and punches Jack Swagger down.
Swagger gets to his feet, and the referee calls for the bell to begin the match. Rhodes punches away at Swagger before having a whip to the ropes reversed on him. Rhodes drops down and uppercuts him. Rhodes brings him to his knees and knees him in the face for a one count. Rhodes has a whip reversed into a waistlock takedown. Swagger shoves him to the corner and knees away at him. Swagger talks a little trash before sending him to the opposite corner and kneeing him. Swagger hits a short-arm clothesline for a two count. Swagger applies a double chicken wing, but Rhodes fights up and elbows out. Rhodes goes for the Disaster Kick, but Swagger swats him down. Swagger hits the Swagger Bomb for a near fall.
Swagger says Rhodes will regret kicking out of that before clubbing away at him. Rhodes counters a Gutwrench Powerbomb into a rollup for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Cody Rhodes
Match Rating: *
Randy Orton, Christian, and Rob Van Dam will fight in a triple threat match later tonight to determine Alberto Del Rio’s opponent at SummerSlam with the title on the line.
-Commercial Break-
Josh Mathews is backstage with Cody Rhodes. Mathews asks Rhodes why he threw Damien Sandow’s Money in the Bank briefcase into the Gulf of Mexico. Rhodes says you have to think about it. At Money in the Bank, six superstars were competing in a match where it was every man for himself. He doesn’t blame Sandow for preventing him from getting the briefcase. He might have done the same thing. That doesn’t mean that he wasn’t fed up with Sandow. He doesn’t like someone who thinks he’s better than him or talks down to him. He doesn’t like people to talk down to anyone. He had seen enough of the intellectual aristocrat. Apologies are in order. Him throwing the briefcase into the Gulf of Mexico is the pollution equivalent to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Rhodes says that was a joke. He was part of Team Rhodes Scholars, but the best part of that team was him.
Mathews goes to ask a follow-up question, but Damien Sandow attacks him from behind. Sandow smashes Rhodes’ head against a crate a few times before referees break it up.
Sin Cara vs. Big E Langston
A replay is shown of AJ Lee attacking Dolph Ziggler during his match against Big E Langston on Monday Night RAW. Langston wasn’t thrilled with losing by disqualification. Ziggler then hit him with a Zig-Zag.
The bell rings, and Cara starts it off with kicks and punches. Cara hits the ropes, and Langston floors him with a shoulder block. Langston sends him into the ropes, but misses a clothesline. Cara catches him with an enziguri for a two count. Dolph Ziggler is seen watching backstage. Langston catches Cara charging with a back body drop. Langston applies a side headlock, but Cara gets out of it. Cara then runs into a clothesline. Langston hangs him out over the apron before hitting him with a running knee to the skull. Langston clubs the back before tying Cara’s arms into the ropes and pulling back. Langston releases the hold before he is disqualified.
Langston pulls him to the center of the ring before applying an abdominal stretch. Langston holds the ropes to give a little more leverage. Langston knees him down, but Cara comes back with some kicks to the head. Cara goes for a springboard, but Langston catches him. Langston goes for the Big Ending, but Cara slides off. Cara kicks him before going for a springboard moonsault. Langston catches him and hits the Big Ending for the win. Dolph Ziggler isn’t pleased backstage with the result.
Winner by Pinfall: Big E Langston
Match Rating: *
AJ Lee will defend her WWE Divas Championship against Kaitlyn later tonight. CM Punk will also face Fandango.
-Commercial Break-
A video recaps all the destruction the Wyatt Family has caused since their debut as well as their affinity for Kane.
Renee Young is backstage with Kaitlyn and Layla. Young asks what Kaitlyn’s strategy is against AJ Lee tonight. Kaitlyn says she let AJ mess with her head. The saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you’re going to get speared.” Kaitlyn says she was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She also won the Divas Championship in this arena. Tonight, history will repeat itself. Layla says she’s been in the division a very long time, but she’s never seen anyone with the drive and determination that Kaitlyn has. She’s the real deal. Kaitlyn thanks her, and they hug.
Alberto Del Rio is pacing back and forth in Vickie Guerrero’s office. Vickie says she’s been General Manager for two weeks, and she wasn’t born yesterday. Del Rio says she went back on her word. She said he could pick anyone. Vickie says his picks were Ricardo Rodriguez and The Brooklyn Brawler before calling those picks immature. Vickie asks if he’s afraid of competition. Del Rio says he’s not afraid of any man. This isn’t the way you’re supposed to treat your champion. Brad Maddox walks up, and Vickie is mad at him for interrupting. Maddox says he supports her decision. Del Rio asks who he thinks he is, and Maddox says he’s the General Manager of RAW. Del Rio will be under his authority this Monday. Del Rio walks off.
Fandango makes his way to the ring with Summer Rae. They show footage of Fandango interrupting CM Punk on SmackDown last week. Punk then viciously attacked him before finishing him off with a GTS. Fandango will face CM Punk, next.
-Commercial Break-
Fandango w/ Summer Rae vs. CM Punk
They circle the ring before Fandango ducks a lockup. Fandango dances before Punk kicks him in the knees a few times. Punk body slams him before dropping an elbow. Punk chops the chest and punches him a few times before hitting a snapmare. Punk applies a chin lock, but Fandango twists out and applies a side headlock. Punk whips him off, but Fandango drops him with a shoulder block. They both hit the ropes, and Fandango cartwheels around a monkey flip attempt. Punk kicks him in the midsection before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. Punk picks up a two count.
The crowd chants Punk’s name as Fandango pulls him into the turnbuckle. Fandango goes for a suplex, but Punk lands on his feet. Punk hits a calf kick to the face before going for the GTS. Fandango quickly bails out of the ring to regroup.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Summer Rae distract Punk at ringside. Fandango blindsides him and sends him into the steel ring steps. Fandango gets in the ring to pick up a count-out victory. Punk gets in at the nine count, and Fandango quickly punches away at him. Fandango hits a hard Irish whip to the corner, and Punk collapses down to the mat. Fandango whips him into the opposite turnbuckle for good measure. Fandango slowly punches away at him before elbowing him in the face. Fandango takes him down with a straight right hand before posing for the crowd. Fandango then applies a chin lock. Punk fights up and knees out. Punk goes for a sunset flip, but Fandango stomps the face for a near fall. Fandango goes back to the chin lock. Fandango rubs his forearm against the bridge of Punk’s nose for good measure. Punk fights up and elbows out. Punk chops and punches him in the corner until the referee backs him up. Punk sends him to the opposite corner and runs into a boot. Fandango picks up a near fall. Fandango goes to the second rope, but Punk avoids a diving knee drop.
Punk avoids a corner splash and hits a running forearm. Punk follows up with a back elbow and a rolling neckbreaker for a near fall. Punk hits a high running knee in the corner and follows up with a short-arm clothesline. Punk goes to the top rope, but Fandango rolls to the apron. Fandango catches Punk with a kick to the temple. Fandango hits a sit-out suplex for a near fall. Fandango goes to the top rope, but Punk hits the ropes to drop him. Punk smiles at Fandango before climbing the ropes. Punk blows a kiss before hitting a superplex. Punk immediately applies the Anaconda Vice, and Fandango immediately submits!
Winner by Submission: CM Punk
Match Rating: **
Rob Van Dam, Christian, and Randy Orton will meet in a triple threat match later tonight to determine Alberto Del Rio’s SummerSlam opponent.
Renee Young is backstage with Rob Van Dam. Young asks RVD about having an opportunity for the title. RVD says he feels fantastic. He’s stayed on top of his game has kept him ready for anything. Christian and Randy Orton aren’t pushovers, but they’re not RVD. Christian walks up and says it’s good to see RVD again. Since RVD has been gone, some things have changed. Everyone knows that he deserves “one more match.” Orton comes up and says, “Loss.” Orton says he’s not going to be complacent just because he has the briefcase. Maybe he’ll be the WWE and World Heavyweight Champion at the same time. He has a welcome back gift for RVD in the form of an RKO. RVD says this is his interview. He didn’t come back to WWE for a stroll down memory lane. He came back for gold. There can be only one winner, and it will be RVD.
-Commercial Break-
Michael Cole announces that both Brad Maddox and Vickie Guerrero have agreed to not allow Big E Langston to accompany AJ Lee during her matches anymore.
WWE Divas Championship
Kaitlyn w/ Layla vs. AJ Lee (c)
The bell rings, and AJ immediately wraps herself around Kaitlyn. AJ punches away at her and pulls the hair. AJ charges, but Kaitlyn powers her to the corner. Kaitlyn shoulders her in the midsection a few times before hitting a short-arm clothesline. Kaitlyn goes for a suplex, but AJ twists out and sends her throat first into the bottom rope. AJ jumps on her back and applies a sleeper hold. Kaitlyn slowly falls to the mat, but she soon fights up and backs her to the corner. Kaitlyn then turns into a roundhouse kick. AJ skips around the ring before kicking her in the face. AJ hits the ropes, and Kaitlyn takes her down with a dropkick.
Kaitlyn picks her up and hits a gutbuster. AJ rolls out of the ring, and Kaitlyn follows her. Kaitlyn sends her into the barricade and sets up for a spear. Layla quickly runs in front of Kaitlyn to stop her. AJ then attacks Kaitlyn and sends her into the barricade. AJ throws her into the ring and applies the Black Widow. Kaitlyn has no choice but to submit.
Winner and still WWE Divas Champion: AJ Lee
Match Rating: * 1/2
Layla seems very satisfied with what she has done. She then skips away from ringside with AJ Lee. Kaitlyn can’t believe what just happened. AJ and Layla hug at the top of the ramp.
A triple threat match will determine Alberto Del Rio’s SummerSlam opponent. Randy Orton, Christian, and Rob Van Dam will fight in that match. The RAW Rebound is next.
-Commercial Break-
The RAW Rebound airs, and it highlights the main event between John Cena and Ryback. Daniel Bryan then came out, and he held the WWE Championship in front of Cena. Cena ripped it out of his hands and told him that he has a long way to go.
The triple threat match to determine Alberto Del Rio’s SummerSlam opponent is next.
-Commercial Break-
Footage is shown of both Randy Orton and Christian defeating Alberto Del Rio in non-title matches in recent weeks.
Alberto Del Rio comes out before the match begins, and he calls them the “Three Stooges.” He wants them to know that he’ll be backstage watching and enjoying them beating the guacamole out of each other. Vickie Guerrero rejected his SummerSlam opponent, but even Ricardo Rodriguez could beat them. At SummerSlam, one of them will tap out to the World Heavyweight Champion.
#1 Contenders Match
Randy Orton vs. Christian vs. Rob Van Dam
The referee calls for the bell, and Orton starts off on Christian with punches and kicks. RVD grabs Orton, and he punches away at him. Christian punches RVD, and Orton comes back and punches away at him. Christian throws Orton out of the ring, and he concentrates on RVD. Christian sends him to the corner and runs into a back elbow. RVD hits a diving kick to the jaw before hitting the ropes. Orton grabs RVD’s legs and pulls him out of the ring. RVD blocks a shot into the steel steps and slams Orton’s face into them instead. RVD gives him a front suplex on the barricade before getting on the apron. Christian goes to attack RVD, but RVD shoulders him in the midsection. RVD then hits a diving spin kick off the apron to Orton’s back. RVD raises his arms in victory, and he turns into a nasty spear from Christian! All three men are down at ringside.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Christian punch RVD in the face. Christian sends him to the corner and charges, but RVD flips over him. RVD charges to the opposite corner, scales the ropes, and goes for a diving kick, but Christian ducks. RVD runs into Christian’s boots. Christian quickly follows up with a tornado DDT for a near fall.
Orton comes back into the ring, and he punches away at Christian as RVD rolls out. Christian pulls him into the ropes, slingshots over, and goes for an uppercut, but Orton moves. Christian gets in the ring, and Orton catches him with a Thesz Press. Orton punches away at him. Orton gets to his feet, and Christian gives him a back elbow. Christian goes to the top rope, and Orton cuts him off. Orton hits a second rope superplex, and he quickly grabs the back of his neck. Orton covers Christian for a near fall.
RVD takes them both out with a pair of clotheslines. RVD then blocks a kick from Christian and drops him with a step-over spinning heel kick. RVD hits Orton with the same move. RVD quickly catches Christian with a monkey flip before hitting Orton with a stiff roundhouse kick in the corner. RVD takes Orton down with a falling slam before hitting a split-legged moonsault for a near fall. RVD shoulders Orton in the corner before doing a backflip. Orton quickly knees him in the face before he can hit that final shoulder block.
Orton then catches Christian coming back into the ring with a hanging DDT attempt. Christian counters into a back body drop over the top rope. RVD charges, but Christian back body drops him over the top rope as well. Christian takes Orton down with a baseball slide before body slamming him at ringside. Christian goes to body slam RVD, but he slides through. RVD then body slams him down on the floor. RVD gets in the ring, does his taunt, and takes both Orton and Christian out with a running summersault plancha!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Orton and Christian trading punches. Christian hits the ropes, and Orton catches him with a back body drop. Christian boots Orton in the face and goes for a missile dropkick, but Orton slams him down. Orton executes a jackknife pin, but Christian counters into his own rollup. Orton kicks out at two. Christian takes him down with a reverse DDT, and he knocks RVD off the apron as he tries to get back in the ring. Christian sets up for a spear. Orton slowly gets to his feet, and he leapfrogs Christian’s spear. Christian quickly comes back with a right hand and a diving back elbow. Christian goes for the Killswitch, but he lets go when he sees RVD on the top rope. RVD takes Orton out with a diving kick, and Christian rolls RVD up for a near fall. Christian uppercuts him and goes to bounce his head off the corner, but RVD hits a straight shin kick to the jaw! Christian goes down hard, and RVD hits him with the Five Star Frog Splash! Orton breaks up the pinfall before the count of three!
Orton puts RVD in the corner, and he viciously punches away at him. RVD reverses a whip to the opposite corner, but Orton explodes out with a clothesline. Orton hits a second one and goes for a powerslam, but RVD hangs on to the ropes. RVD dropkicks him and goes for the Rolling Thunder, but Orton counters into an RKO as he was doing the flip! Orton goes for a hanging DDT, but RVD counters with a shoulder thrust. RVD goes for a springboard, but Orton dropkicks him out of the ring.
Christian tries to surprise Orton with the Killswitch, but Orton counters into a hanging DDT. Orton gets the Houston, Texas crowd rocking before dropping down to stalk Christian. RVD tries to sneak up on him with a kick, but Orton blocks that and hits an RKO! Christian then surprises Orton with a backslide pin for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Christian
Match Rating: ****
Christian will face Alberto Del Rio for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. Christian celebrates before turning to see Orton staring at him. They get to their feet, and Orton extends his hand. They shake hands, and Christian pats him on the shoulder. Christian continues the celebration when Rob Van Dam gets to his feet. RVD shakes Christian’s hand before leaving him to stand alone in the ring.
Josh Mathews joins Christian in the ring. Mathews asks him how he feels to be the new number one contender heading into SummerSlam. Christian says he’s a little hurt, and that’s all he says as Alberto Del Rio attacks him from behind. Del Rio kicks him in the head and stands over him as the show ends.
Source: www.wrestleview.com