8-17-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the August 17, 2012 episode of Smackdown

They started the show with a video package recapping the Sheamus-Alberto Del Rio feud.

The actual show starts with Del Rio & Ricardo coming out. Del Rio says that he wants his World Title match back now. Del Rio says that peasant Sheamus took his car and it can’t be fixed. Del Rio says that Sheamus gets rewarded. He asks what kind of Champion Sheamus is because he complains and cries to Booker T so he can get out of the World Title match. Then he asks what kind of GM Booker T is for agreeing to Sheamus’ demands. Del Rio then says that he is the number 1 contender. He says he’s not leaving the till he gets his World Title match at SummerSlam reinstated. Then Booker T comes out. He says that ever since he became GM Alberto has been a thorn in his side. He asks Del Rio what his problem is. Del Rio says he doesn’t care. Sheamus messed with his property and he made Sheamus pay. Del Rio that’s what a real man does. Booker tells Del Rio that he’s not a man. He tells Del Rio that a man doesn’t hire 5 henchmen and dress them up like cops to beat down 1 guy. Booker says that Del Rio stepped across his boundaries. Booker says that’s not going down here on Smackdown. Del Rio then asks Booker who he thinks he is to take what is his. Del Rio says that he earned the right to be the number 1 contender a long time ago. Then Del Rio says that he spoke to his lawyers. Then out comes Chris Jericho. He tells Del Rio to shut up. He says that no one cares about Del Rio’s lawyers, his fancy cars, his shiny shoes, or his whining and complaining. Del Rio says something in Spanish. Then he asks Jericho who he thinks he is. Jericho responds by saying something to Del Rio in Spanish. Del Rio says that’s not funny and tells Jericho not to cross the line. Then Jericho translates what he said and that was that Del Rio’s breath smells like dog crap (Common, does every baby face have to talk like Cena?) Del Rio asks Jericho what he wants. Jericho says that he has a proposition of his own. He says that since Del Rio isn’t getting a title match at SummerSlam then maybe after Jericho beats Dolph at SummerSlam he will take Del Rio’s spot and challenge Sheamus and win the ultimate big one and become the next World Champion. Del Rio says that already saw 1 “gringo peasant” steel his car and that he won’t let another “gringo” steel his World Title match. Then Booker says that Sheamus will not be competing at SummerSlam. Then Booker says that Jericho & Del Rio will face each other tonight. This segment was decent.

Before the next match starts Cody Rhodes comes out with a mic and says that last week he attempted the unthinkable. He tried to unmask Sin Cara and expose the abomination that is his actual face. (Who hasn’t attempted to pull a guy’s mask off?). Cody says that tonight he needs to ask that all small children who are prone to nightmares and elderly people with heart conditions to avert their eyes. He says that this week he has that he has pulled through various eye witness actions actual accounts and he is now able to provide the fans with the help of professional artist this rendition of Sin Cara unmasked. They show some weird painting on the Tron. Then Cody says, “Ugly as sin.” This was a complete waste! Why do they feel the need to have a heel say that a face wrestler wears a mask because he’s ugly? That is really idiotic!

Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Cody Rhodes & Intercontinental Champion The Miz. Rey & Cara win when Rey pins Cody. This was a solid match. Cody once again tried to unmask Sin Cara and then Rey got Cody with a 619. Afterwards Miz took a swing at Rey with the Intercontinental Title. Rey got out of the way and Miz fell into the ropes. Then Rey gave Miz a 619 too. Then Rey posed with the Intercontinental Title.

Tyler Reks & Curt Hawkins come to the ring for their match They come out in suits. Then they do some kind of stupid dancing and rip their suits off. This was idiotic!  

2 unnamed guys vs. Tyler Reks & Curt Hawkins. Reks & Hawkins win when Reks pins one of the guys. This was a meaningless match. It felt like something from the old Superstars or Wrestling Challenge shows.

They show a video package recapping the WWE Title picture.

Eve is walking backstage and William Regal wishes her luck in her match with Kaitlyn. She says she doesn’t need luck. Regal there was time when he was in charge of Raw. He says he was the most powerful entity in WWE. He thought he was unstoppable. Then he wishes her luck again but to also remember that power can be very fleeting. Then some woman comes by and gives Regal trash bags to take out. Then Regal says to Eve that work’s work. This was ok. Regal’s promo was good but I wasn’t into the stagehand coming in and giving him the trash.

They show a Wade Barrett video package. These are really good.

Teddy Long is at ringside for the next match.

Kaitlyn vs. Eve Torres, the winner becomes Booker T’s assistant. Eve gets the pin. So a heel will be the assistant to a face GM. Afterwards Eve taunts Teddy Long. This was decent but short.

Booker T is in his office texting. Then Eve comes in. He congratulates her and shakes her hand. Then Eve says that she knows she’s Booker’s assistant but she has so many ideas that she wants to bring to the table and improve Smackdown. She says that she learned so much by being with Johnny Ace. Then Booker mentions that Teddy Long & Eve have some history. He asks if they’ll manage to get along. She says absolutely. The past is the past and she’s all about the future. She says that she & Long will be great together. Booker welcomes her aboard. This was ok. 

Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan. Orton gets the pin. Daniel had Orton in the No Lock, then Kane’s pyro went off and Daniel jumped out of the ring. Kane never came out. Then Daniel got back in the ring and Orton gave him an RKO for the 3 count. Afterwards Kane shows up on the stage. The match was good but the jobbed out Daniel again! First he loses cleanly to Cena to weeks in a row and now he gets pinned by Orton!

Santino Marella is on commentary.

Antonio Cesaro & Aksana come to the ring. Cesaro does his usual speaking in the same 5 languages bit. This week’s word was loser.

Zack Ryder vs. Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro gets the pin. This was a squash. Afterwards Cesaro smacks Santino. Santino goes after him and then Cesaro pushes Santino over the announce table.

They show a video package recapping the Triple H-Brock Lesnar feud.

Michael Cole mentions that Michaels has a broken arm and will not be at SummerSlam.

Ricardo does the introduction for Alberto Del Rio.

Chris Jericho is on his way to the ring and Dolph attacks him. Dolph screams that Jericho can’t win the big one and shouldn’t overlook him. Then Booker T comes in and tells Dolph to split. Booker & referees check on Jericho and then Booker calls for medics.

Back in the ring Del Rio says it looks like Jericho can’t compete tonight so the winner is and he has Ricardo announce him the winner by forfeit. Then Del Rio calls out Booker T so he can reinstate the World Title match for SummerSlam. Then Jericho comes out for the match.

Chris Jericho vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio gets the pin with assistance from Dolph. Jericho had Del Rio in the walls, but Del Rio shoved him into the ropes and Dolph yanked down the top rope. Then he threw Jericho back in the ring. Then Del Rio kicked Jericho in the head for the win. This was a good match.

Afterwards Del Rio locks Jericho in the cross arm breaker and Dolph trash talks Jericho. Then Sheamus come to the ring and Dolph bails. Then Sheamus pounds on Del Rio. Del Rio fights back a bit and kicks Sheamus in the arm. Then Del Rio picks Sheamus up but Sheamus fights back and they both fall to the floor. Then before Sheamus could get to Del Rio, Del Rio hopped over the ring barrier into the crowd.

Then Booker T comes out on the stage and asks Sheamus why he is out there. Sheamus tells Booker to reinstate the World Title match with Del Rio. Booker says that Sheamus is talking with his heart. Then he says that Sheamus’ arm is injured. Sheamus says his arm will have to have his arm ripped off his body and even that won’t stop him from competing. Sheamus again asks Booker to reinstate the match. Booker tells Sheamus that if he does the match will be for the World Title. Sheamus says that the only person who wants this match more than Del Rio is him. Then ha asks Booker one more time to reinstate the match. Booker reluctantly agrees. Then Del Rio comes back out and brawls with Sheamus some more. Del Rio & Ricardo watch from the crowd. Del Rio applauds while Sheamus stands in the ring to end the show. This was a solid build to the match.

I thought this was a solid show overall. SummerSlam is clearly going to be all about Triple H & Brock Lesnar but I thought they did a decent job building to the World Title & Jericho-Dolph matches. The opening segment was decent and I though the Jericho-Del Rio match was good too. Orton-Bryan was good too but I wasn’t into Daniel losing cleanly again. Rey & Cara vs. Cody & Miz was solid too. I’m not into the whole “Cody the heel is obsessed with unmasking Sin Cara” bit. Kaitlyn-Eve wasn’t much. Neither was Ryder-Cesaro. The new gimmick for Reks & Hawkins was idiotic. Regal’s promo backstage with Eve about how he used to be “the guy” in WWE was good but the part with the woman coming in with the trash was just that. On the whole a thought this was a decent show.