7-29-11 Smackdown results and thoughts

 Coverage and thoughts on the July 28, 2011 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Triple H in the ring talking about the issue with the WWE Title. He mentions that late Monday night he resigned CM Punk. Christian comes out and welcomes Triple H (back) to Smackdown. Triple tells him that it’s a slap in the face to cut him off and tells him that he will defend the World Title against Randy Orton at SummerSlam against Randy Orton in a Noh Holds Barred Match. R-Truth then comes out and says that he followed Triple H to Smackdown and talks more about the conspiracy against him. Triple H then books Randy Orton vs. R-Truth for tonight. Then he tells Christian that he a booked a match for him with John Morrison. This was a good opening segment. I thought that all 3 guys cut good promos.

Backstage they show Teddy Long with Triple H and Zack Ryder comes in. H says that he has to take a call and makes Ryder assistant GM for tonight. Good back and forth promo with Triple H and Ryder. I hope this is the continuation of the Zack Ryder push.

John Morrison vs. Christian. Christian gets the pin. This was a real good back and forth match and I also liked how Morrison was selling the neck and the announcers mentioning that he might not be 100% from his neck injury.

The show Jinder Mahal and Great Khali watching from a sky box.

Wade Barrett is in the ring talking about how he should have won the Money in the bank match and gotten a WrestleMania paycheck and not Daniel Bryan. Daniel then comes and tells Barrett that he will main event WrestleMania. Barrett then attacks him, but Bryan gets the LaBell Lock on Barrett and he taps. This was a good segment. Both guys were good on the mic. Hopefully they’ll actually have Daniel cash it in a WrestleMania. I also wish they’d have Cole stop ragging on Daniel. I’m really getting tired of that.

Mark Henry walks into Teddy Long’s office and says that he wants a match. Long tells him that no one to get in the ring with him after he took out Kane and Big Show. Ryder says that he will find Henry an opponent.

They show a video package on Justin Gabriel using clips from the South Africa tour. This was really well done. They did a good job in getting Gabriel over.

Kaitlyn, AJ & Natalya vs. Rosa Mendez, Alicia Fox & Tamina. Rosa, Alicia & Tamina win when Alicia pins AJ. This was a typical short Divas match.

Bobby Howard (a local guy) vs. Mark Henry. The local is afraid to get in the ring and was about to head for the back when Zack Ryder came out and cheered him on, telling him he’s got this. Henry gets the pin. After the match he goes to attack the guy with a chair but Long comes out and tells him that there is already a lawsuit happening and that he will find him suitable competition. Sheamus then comes out and tells Henry that if he wants competition he will fight him and he slaps Henry. Henry then goes after Sheamus but Sheamus yanks down the top rope. Sheamus goes to hit Henry with a chair but Henry bails. This was a really fun segment and they did a good job with the Sheamus face turn.

The Usos vs. WWE Tag Team Champions David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty. Otunga & McGuillicutty win to retain the Titles when McGuillcutty gets the pin after Otunga pushes the Uso off the top rope. This was a decent but short match.

Backstage Ryder tells Long that he booked Ezekiel Jackson vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, Jr. for tonight.

Matt Striker interviews R-Truth and Truth says that he is ready for his match with Orton and says that he will go after like a crew of eagles attacking a snake. Another good promo from Truth.

Intercontinental Champion Ezekiel Jackson vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, Jr. Cody & Ted win when Cody gets the pin. This match was short but ok.

Jinder Mahal & Khali then decide speak Indian to the fans from the sky box and the fans booed. I’m not sure what that was about.

Randy Orton vs. R-Truth. Truth wins by DQ after hitting him with a chair. Christian came out to ringside and distracted the ref for a bit. This was a good match too. After the match Orton attacked Truth more and bashed him with a monitor then gives him an RKO on the announcer’s table. Orton then had a stare down with Christian and was going to go after him, but decided to give R-Truth a second RKO on the table. Christian looked on all worried. They did a really good job of continuing to have Orton be the pissed off crazy guy who wants revenge.

I thought that this was fun show on the whole. The opening segment with Triple H, R-Truth and Christian was good, I liked the Morrison-Christian match, Ryder as the assistant GM was pretty funny and the Orton-Truth match and post match attack by Orton were real good too.