11-8-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the November 8, 2013 episode of Smackdown

They kick off the show with a video package on The Wyatt family attacking CM Punk & Daniel Bryan.

The actual show starts with CM Punk coming to the ring. He says that the phrase best in the world seems to mean a lot of different things to different people. To The Wyatt family best in the world means a 3 on 1 beat down. The Wyatts have a problem & that problem is the best in the world. Punk doesn’t know why they decided to attack him & no one is brave to get that close to them to ask. Punk doesn’t care what the reason is, he’s here to fight. Punk’s used to being outnumbered, but when he is he is never out gunned. He squashed the biggest rat the WWE has ever seen & that was Paul Heyman. If it’s a fight The Wyatts want Punk says why not right here right now ON SMACKDOWN. Face to face, no back jumping. Punk is here & is here all night long. He isn’t going anywhere till they show & he can kick them in their faces. Then out comes Curtis Axel. He says that Punk needs to shut his mouth. Axel doesn’t care about The Wyatts. They can wait in line. Punk & Axel have some unfinished business. Because of Punk, Axel’s mentor/father figure Paul Heyman is in a hospital bed in Europe. But Axel will make Heyman proud. Axel talked to Vickie & she granted him a match with Punk & that match is right now. This was a good opening promo. Punk & Axel were both good on the mic here & it led right to their match.

CM Punk vs. Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel. Punk gets the pin. During this Punk was on the top rope going for an elbow. Then out go the lights & The Wyatt Family Tron shows up. The lights come back on & no one’s there. Axel then gets Punk in the Perfectplex but Punk kicks out at 2. Then a bit later Punk hits Axel with the GTS for the pin. WINNER – CM PUNK. This was a good match. The only downer here was that Axel got Punk in the Perfectplex & Punk kicked out. When Curt Hennig used that move you knew the match was over. Now Axel uses the same maneuver & everybody kicks out of it.

Then we hear Bray Wyatt’s laugh over the sound system. Then the lights go out again & Bray shows up on the Tron. He stares into the camera & then blows out his lantern. This was good too. I like that they’re having Bray play mind games with Punk & hinting that the might attack. Good stuff.

The Usos & R-Truth vs. 3MB. The Usos & R-Truth win when Truth pins Jinder. This was a solid match.

In the Goldman Box AJ plugs the return of Total Divas. Then she says let’s focus on who really matters. That being the Divas Champion. This was a decent promo.

Naomi & Cameron vs. Tamina Snuka & Divas Champion AJ Lee. Tamina & AJ win when AJ makes Cameron tap. This was a decent match.

Alberto Del Rio comes to the ring. He says that he is more than just a world class athlete. He is a Mexican world class athlete. That makes him better than the rest of the world. It also makes him better than any of the gringo fans. Del Rio should still be World Champion but the title was stolen from him by John Cena. The fans cheer for Cena because they don’t know what’s good for them. If the fans were smart they’d see Cena for what he really is, a thief. Cena is walking around with something that he doesn’t deserve. The gringo/American fans don’t know this, but at the cell PPV Del Rio was sick. He had a fever, his knee, elbow & neck were all hurting & he had to be the doctors to let him compete that night. Any of the lazy American fans would’ve called in sick but not Del Rio because he is Mexican & he has pride. After his rematch with Cena he will tell every gringo the champ is here. Then out comes Cena. Normally Cena gets excited when he’s lout here (Just like he is right now) but today’s a little different. We just heard that Del Rio is “sick” & we’ve done nothing for him. Cena feels bad & will fix this. He tells Michael Cole to write down what he’s gonna say. Then he pretty much says that he will send Del Rio a get well fruit basket & a get well card that plays music when you open it (Man this is terrible. Why does Cena always have to cut these kinds of promos?) Then he will write him a message. “Dear Alberto, sorry you weren’t feeling well, sorry you’re not the world champ. Get well soon bro. Your friend John Cena. P.S. watch the JBL & Cole show.” Del Rio says that everything is a joke to Cena (That is pretty much true. His character does make jokes of everything!). Del Rio then says that this is not funny & that Cena is acting like a stupid little kid (That says it all right there). Del Rio wants Cena to leave his show right now. Then Cena says this is where it gets good (It is?). If Del Rio wants Cena to leave how about Del Rio makes him? The World Champion is 2 feet away from Del Rio. Cena isn’t calling in sick & he’s not taking the night off. Cena says that Del Rio has his rematch & says this week’s Smackdown should be a championship addition (That really doesn’t make sense since the champions are on the shows all the time) & Del Rio has his World Title rematch tonight. Del Rio says that’s exactly why he is here. Del Rio wants a referee out here right now. He wants a doctor too because Cena is going back to the hospital. Del Rio is going to take back his title & he will break Cena’s arm tonight. Then out comes Vickie Guerrero. She is in charge & the World Title rematch will not happen tonight. That will take place at Survivor Series because that is what’s “best for business.” (I’m tired of that phrase too)! Then Cena says that Vickie is “sick too.” She has diarrhea of the mouth (Man can someone tell Cena that these promos are why a lot of fans boo him?) Then Cena says that Vickie has done 2 things since she came to WWE that have been “best for business.” Those were when she got canned as GM & whenever she shuts up or some idiotic crap like that. Del Rio never thought that he would say this but “Little Juanito” is right. Cena agrees. Then Vickie says that she has already picked opponents for Cena & Del Rio to face tonight. Later tonight Cena will face Ryback & since Del Rio is just as disrespectful as Cena he will face this monster right now. Out comes Khali. This was terrible. Del Rio cut a decent promo but then when Cena came out it went south. The only part that was true was when Del Rio said that Cena makes everything a joke & acts like a stupid kid. That was it. The rest of this was a waste. I’m also beyond tired of Vickie too!

Great Khali vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was your typical Khali match.

Daniel Bryan vs. Luke Harper. Daniel wins by DQ when Rowan comes in. This was a solid to good match. Daniel gets the yes lock on Harper & Rowan comes in to break it up, leading to the DQ.

Then Harper & Rowan pound on Daniel & then hold him as Bray gets on the ring apron & taunts Daniel. Then CM Punk storms the ring & goes after Harper. Punk kicks Harper out of the ring was Daniel does the same to Rowan. Then Punk & Daniel stare down Bray. Bray has this sadistic smile & does the maniacal laugh as the family heads up the ramp. This was good. I’m liking this angle. It’s a shame Daniel is out of the WWE Title picture but having him be in a program with The Wyatt family has been good. Daniel & Punk are a good team & this angle has been good so far.  

Time for a look back at the Big Show-WWE law suit & the retched ending to Raw.

Then they show more Michael Cole’s interview with HHH from wwe.com. This time Cole brings up Kane being in a suit. HHH says that some people thought that was odd, but Kane asked for a chance. Kane is now the “director of operations.” What will Kane’s responsibilities be as director of operations? HHH says, “You will see.” Cole asks if HHH trusts Kane. HHH says absolutely. Cole asks how HHH can say that after what Kane’s done to his family (What I’d like to know is how can Kane trust HHH after that dreaded storyline from the fall of 02?). HHH says that all we need to know is that he trusts Kane & that is all that should matter. Then Michael mentions that fans were interested in seeing Kane dressed up (I wasn’t) & that cooperate Kane was trending on Twitter. Then Cole reads a Tweet from Kane that says he’s always watching. HHH tells Cole not to judge a book by its cover. Kane is a complex guy. HHH has known him for 17 years (The Kane character has been around for 16 years but WWE was never the greatest with numbers). If Cole was any kind of a journalist he would know that Kane is not just a 1 dimensional monster & the world will see that in time. Then Cole mentions that 2 weeks ago Kane was in the ring addressing Stephanie & he said that HHH & Stephanie are on a power trip, they’ve abused authority & ruined lives but it was “best for business.” Then Kane said that the monster is there’s to unleash (Like it wasn’t unleashed before. This doesn’t make sense but nothing in WWE does). Then HHH says, “Yes he is.” I’ve had enough of these interviews. This whole angle with HHH & Stephanie being the heels running the shows is stale & I’m really hoping that someone realizes that this angle isn’t what’s “best for business.”

World Champion John Cena vs. Ryback. Cena gets the pin. This was a good match.

Then Del Rio comes in & goes after Cena. He rams Cena’s injured arm into the post & then kicks it. Then Del Rio gets in the ring & Cena gets a few punches in, eventually sending Del Rio out of the ring. Del Rio looks to get back in but Cena holds him off. Del Rio retreats as Cena stands in the ring to end the show. They had Cena get the upper hand once again! Why would anyone wanna see this match at Survivor Series when Cena managed to run Del Rio off here!? They should’ve had Del Rio lock Cena in the arm breaker & then standing tall holding the title, but no. Cena always has to come out on top! This is why fans aren’t into him. Because they know he will never lose!

I thought this was a mixed bag show overall. The Punk promo at the start was good & I liked Curtis Axel’s promo too. The Punk-Axel match was also good. Cena-Ryback was good too but having Del Rio come out only for Cena to run him off made Del Rio look weak. The Cena-Del Rio promo was terrible. Del Rio cut a good promo but then when Cena came out it went south. Del Rio saying that Cena makes everything a joke & always acts like a dumb kid was the truth about Cena’s character. Daniel-Harper was good too & I liked the post-match stuff with Rowan & Punk coming in. I’m tired of the HHH interview. I can care less about what Kane’s new role is. The 6 man tag was solid & the Divas tag match was decent too. I liked AJ’s Goldman box promo about she matters more than Total Divas too. So on the whole I thought this week’s show had its good & bad spots.