8-31-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the August 31, 2012 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Sheamus coming to the ring. Before he gets down to business he’d like to take the time to acknowledge when the greatest guy’s he’s had the honor of fighting. Triple H. He mentions that he had his very first WrestleMania match with Triple H and not surprisingly Triple H also gave him his first WrestleMania loss. He says that he doesn’t know what Triple H’s future holds be can say this. Triple H has Sheamus’ respect and the respect of the fans. Sheamus says that Triple H is an embodiment of a champion and that is kind of ironic because the guy he will defend the World Title against at Night of Champions, Alberto Del Rio isn’t. Then Damien Sandow’s music hits and he comes out. He says he’s here to help the masses. Specifically Sheamus. Sheamus says that’s great because he can use all the help he can get. Sandow says that seems to be as ignorant as he is enormous. Sandow says that Sheamus comes out and puts over Triple H and talks about him with such reverence. Then Sandow reminds everyone that it was Triple H who led his band of degenerates, DX in an assault against him at Raw 1000. Sheamus says, “How could I forget it.” Sheamus says it was great. Sandow says that’s a typical response from a hooligan. Sandow then says that each week Sheamus comes out and drags the unwashed masses further into their own ignorance. Sheamus says he wants to make sure Sandow’s talking about him. Sandow then says that Sheamus calls himself a proud Irishman. He that Sheamus does nothing more than bring disgrace, dishonor and promotes a stereotype. Then Sheamus cuts him off and says that Sandow thinks everyone wants to here him talk for 20 minutes but the reality is Sheamus and everyone in the building have a life. Sandow says that he is here to enrich it. Then Sheamus tells Sandow will do everyone a favor and shut up. Sheamus then says that if Sandow wants to continue enriching everyone’s lives with all this garbage then he can come into the ring and say it to his face. Sandow says there’s nothing more he would love to do then to walk in there and thrash Sheamus in a debate of philosophies he has deemed Sheamus unworthy of his time. Sandow says he can’t help that. That’s just the way it is. Therefore he has now saved Sheamus from the intellectual thrashing that he was about to receive. Sandow says that he will now take his leave. “You’re welcome.” Then Booker T comes out. He says that he came out because he actually agrees with Sandow. No one wants to see an intellectual thrashing but they do want to see a physical thrashing. Then Booker says that they might not be in Ireland but they are in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Then he books Sheamus vs. Sandow for tonight. “Now can you dig that sucka?” I thought this was a good opening promo to kick off the show.

Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes. Rey gets the pin. This was a solid match. Afterwards Cody beats down Rey and goes to pull his mask off but then Sin Cara comes in to make the save. Then Rey gives Cody the 619. Then Sin Cara takes another one of his masks and puts it on Cody.

They reshow the first segment of Daniel Bryan attending anger management class. Do they have to remind us of this crap!?

Eve Torres comes out for commentary.

Kaitlyn vs. Natalya. Kaitlyn gets the pin. This was a decent match.

Matt Striker interviews Booker T. Striker mentions that the GM position has come under some scrutiny lately. Especially considering what happened on Raw. Then the reshow AJ-Vickie Guerrero segment from Monday. Then Booker says that he had high hopes for AJ but he thinks the pressure is getting to her. He says that she went a bit overboard when she booked the Jericho-Ziggler contract vs. contract match. Booker says that should never have been made. Then he says AJ attacking Vickie was uncalled for. Then he says that AJ is off her rocker. Then Vickie Guerrero comes by and says “That little psychotic AJ, all her friends have turned their backs on her.” Then Vickie says that she has gotten e-mail, tweets & TOUTS all week encouraging her to take action against that horrible assault that happened on Monday. She says that even the Smackdown GM agrees that AJ is crazy. Then she says that mentally deranged child’s reign of terror will come to an end. Vickie mentions that she spoke with the Board of Directors and they saw what happened and they assured Vickie that they will take action because if they don’t she will. This was a mixed bag segment. Vickie’s promo was good but this whole story with AJ being the crazy GM is too much. Now they have Booker saying that AJ booking the Jericho-Dolph match shouldn’t have happened was weird since the GM makes matches with similar stips almost all the time! Also AJ going after Vickie was uncalled for? That kinda stuff happens all the time too!

Time for the Raw rebound. They recap the Lawler-Punk match.

Then they reshow the second segment of the Daniel Bryan anger management.

World Champion Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow. Sheamus wins by count out when Sandow walks out. This was ok. Most of the match was Sandow rolling out of the ring trying to escape and Sheamus going after him and throwing him back in the ring. Then Sandow ran up the ramp and got counted out.

During the next match they show a TOUT from The Usos. They say that they should be tag team champions because they’re the only true team in WWE.

Justin Gabriel & Tyson Kidd vs. The Primetime Players. The Primetime Players win when Darren pins Gabriel. This was a solid match.

They reshow the third and final Kane-Daniel Bryan anger management segment.

Josh Mathews is in the ring to interview Alberto Del Rio. Ricardo comes out and introduces Del Rio. Josh mentions that Del Rio beat Orton last week to become the number one contender for the World Title. Del Rio says that he didn’t just defeat Orton. He made 1 of the toughest men in WWE history tap out. Then they reshow the end of the match. Del Rio then says that he is planning to the same with Sheamus at Night of Champions to become the new World Champion. Josh asks how does Del Rio account for the fact that Sheamus has beaten Del Rio every time they’ve been in a title match. Del Rio calls Josh a little weasel and reminds him that Kane through him at SummerSlam like a piece of trash. Then Del Rio says that’s nothing compared to what he will do to Josh right now. Then Kane’s pyro goes off and he come out. Josh gets out of the ring. So do Del Rio & Ricardo. Then Kane gets the mic and says that his anger management therapist has asked him to come to the ring and to apologize to Josh Mathews. Kane tells Josh that he is sorry for throwing him over a barrier at SummerSlam. Then he thanks Josh for playing a role in his recovery program. Then Teddy Long comes out. He tells Del Rio that he’d better hope that Kane is getting good praise in his anger management class. Then he tells Del Rio that he will face Kane right now. This segment was kinda week. This whole bit with Kane also having anger management issues is just as dumb as it is with Daniel Bryan.

Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio gets the pin. This was a decent match too. Ricardo sort of ripped Kane. Then Kane pulled Ricardo by his hair onto the ring apron. Then he was going to choke slam him but Del Rio hit Kane with the back stabber for the 3 count. This was a solid match. Afterwards Kane goes after Josh Mathews. He screams to Josh that he’s sorry that he loses his temper. Then he throws Josh in the ring and choke slams him.

Back to the show. Michael Cole is on commentary by himself. They show Josh being helped to the back by a referee and a trainer.

Then they replay the Triple H promo from Raw.

Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler. Orton gets the pin. This was a good match but they had Dolph lose again! I don’t get it. They have the guy with the Money in the Bank case job cleanly to a guy who’s going to be taking some ring time off to film a movie? This company can be mind boggling to say the least. Afterwards Vickie snatches the mic from Lillian and says, “And still your Money in the Bank winner Dolph Ziggler.” Dolph & Vickie then head up the ramp while Orton poses on the turnbuckle to end the show.

I thought this a decent show overall this week. I liked the Sheamus-Sandow promo at the start of the show and their match was decent too. Orton-Dolph was also good but they had Dolph do the clean job again! Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel vs. The Primetime Players was also solid. I wasn’t really into the Booker T promo when he called AJ crazy. The AJ character is being overplayed (and she wasn’t even on the show). Kaitlyn-Natalya was decent too. Too bad Natalya is booked on the level she is. Josh Mathews interviewing Del Rio was ok. I thought Del Rio’s promo was decent. Kane coming out and apologizing to Josh and talking about his anger management was idiotic. This storyline with him and Daniel Bryan having issues with their tempers is dumb. Rey-Cody was solid too. Having Sin Cara come out with a mask and putting over Cody’s head was kinda odd but not too bad. So on the whole I thought this week’s show was alright.