9-14-12 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the September 14, 2012 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Alberto Del Rio, Ricardo Rodriguez & David Otunga (Who also has a neck brace) in the ring. Del Rio says that he wants to give Booker T credit for banning the Brogue Kick before, during and after a match. Then he says that he will let Ricardo tell the fans how he feels. Ricardo thanks everyone around the world for their support. His fans and especially his mom. Then he gets all choked up and says something I couldn’t make out. Then Otunga gets the mic. He’d like to take a moment to talk about the irresponsible actions of AJ Lee. He doesn’t think Miss Lee realizes that he is an officer of the court. He then says that Sheamus is a brute & a reckless hooligan. Otunga says that AJ having Otunga face Sheamus was clearing the poor decision making of an unbalanced individual. Then he says because of that his vertebrae might be ruptured. Then he says that just like Ricardo he will recover handsomely. Then Del Rio says that Ricardo & Otunga aren’t the only ones that are suffering from this so called Brogue Kick. Then they show a segment from last year’s Night of Champions where Sheamus gave Christian the Brogue Kick. Del Rio than introduces via satellite a former World Champion and victim of the Brogue Kick, Christian. Christian shows up on the Tron with his arm in a sling. Christian says to get this over with. Otunga thanks him for “joining” them. Otunga mentions that Christian just had shoulder surgery but he hasn’t been competing at 100% for awhile. Otunga says that after that unwarranted Brogue Kick from Sheamus…Then Christian cuts Otunga off. Christian that Otunga and everyone knows that he is 1 of the toughest guys there is. Then he tells Del Rio that he doesn’t like him. He says that he hopes Sheamus beats Del Rio this Sunday. Christian then says that he isn’t doing this for Del Rio or even for himself. He’s doing this for the other wrestlers in the back. The ones who are afraid to stand up and do what’s right. Christian then says that last year he was a 2 time World Champion and on his way to becoming champion for a third time when he was hit with the Brogue Kick. Christian admits that he hasn’t been the same performer since then. He says that damage the kick caused finally got to the point that he needed surgery. Then he says that compounding that with the other injuries that the Brogue Kick caused and he has lost about a year of his career. Christian then says that he doesn’t like to say this because he respects everything that Sheamus has accomplished. He says that if Del Rio is asking him to be 100% truthful about the Brogue Kick being banned. Christian’s answer is yes. Then Otunga thanks Christian and they cut him off the Tron as Christian continued talking. Otunga says they appreciate Christian’s time. Then Del Rio says that the Brogue Kick is dangerous and with serious ramifications. Then he says that Booker T made the right decision. Then Del Rio says that at Night of Champions he will take the World Title from that peasant. Then Daniel Bryan comes out. The fans chant yes and he screams no. He says he came out to thank Del Rio and tells the fans not to chant yes. He says that he wanted to come out to thank Del Rio & Otunga for bringing this case to light. He says that just like Ricardo & Otunga he has also been a victim. He mentions that Otunga said that he himself will recover handsomely. Then Daniel mentions being referred to as a goat face. He says that he doesn’t have a goat face but if he did it’s because Sheamus kicked him in the face so many times. Then he thanks Booker T . He says that Booker T has granted him a WrestleMania rematch tonight. A rematch of the most embarrassing moment of his entire life when Sheamus used that illegal maneuver (It wasn’t then) to beat him in 18 seconds. Daniel then says that he didn’t ask for a rematch because the Brogue Kick had been banned. Then he says that he asked for this rematch…He tells the fans to shut up. Then he says that he asked for this rematch because he wanted to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that when Sheamus beat him  in 18 seconds it was only because he caught Daniel by surprise. He then says that will not happen tonight. Then Sheamus comes out. He asks Daniel that if the Brogue Kick had been banned at WrestleMania then Daniel wouldn’t have been caught by surprise. He tells Daniel that he didn’t lose because of the Brogue Kick. Daniel lost because of Sheamus Then he says that after he beats Danny Boy tonight and after he beats “Bertie” Sunday the whole world will know that those who don’t learn from history, they’re doomed to repeat it. Then Otunga gets in Sheamus’ face and Sheamus yanks Otunga’s neck brace off and Otunga goes neck first into the ropes. This was a weird opening segment. I’m not sure why they had Christian on here but this whole “Everyone is saying that the Brogue Kick should be banned because it’s too deadly” bit is ridiculous.

Sin Cara vs. Intercontinental Champion The Miz. Cara gets the pin. This was a solid match. They need to do away with the Sin Cara lighting though.

The Miz is walking backstage and Matt Striker mentions that Miz has lost Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara. Then he says that many people feel that Cody Rhodes embarrassed Miz on Raw. Then Striker mentions that at Night of Champions Miz will defend the Intercontinental Title against an unknown opponent. Miz does his “Really” bit and asks if that’s Striker’s big question. Then Cody comes by and Miz tells Striker to ask a certain somebody why last Monday on Raw he attacked Miz from behind. Cody says why doesn’t Striker tell Miz that with all that chaos stood an opportunity to let Miz know that Cody wanted “His” Intercontinental Title back. Cody asks Miz what person out there doesn’t associate that title with him. Miz says the guy who actually has it now. Then Rey Mysterio shows up. Cody asks him what he wants. Rey says he hopes that Miz hasn’t forgotten that last week Rey pinned him in the tag match. Rey feels that he deserves a chance at the title too. Then Miz asks, “What do you want?” and Sin Cara shows up. Sin Cara points to the IC Title. Cody tells him you don’t get anything by pointing. Then Miz says he gets they all want a shot the title but the fact is that if the title was on the line in those other matches he would’ve won. Then he turns to Cody and says that he got a shot at the title Miz would beat him too. Cody says that Miz is overrated. Then Teddy Long comes by. He tells Miz that he might be able to beat all 3 guys. But the question is if Miz can beat all 3 at once. Long then says that on behalf of Booker T Miz will defend the Intercontinental Title at Night of Champions against all 3 guys in a Fatal 4 Way. This was a solid backstage segment. I thought they did more to put over the Intercontinental Title here than they have in a while.

They show a video package recapping the Kane-Daniel Bryan anger management storyline.

Then they show Kane backstage with Dr. Shelby. Kane’s holding a stress ball or something in his right hand. Daniel Bryan then comes in and tells Kane that he should be holding in his left hand. Then Daniel says, “And speaking of doing things wrong why don’t we talk about what happened on Monday night?” Then Kane says that he did what he had to do to be victorious. Kane says that he wants to be the next tag team champion. Daniel says he wants to be the next tag champion too. Then Shelby he sees that both guys have balls (that was corny). He says the reason he gave them both a ball is because when they squeeze them it helps them feel better. It helps relieve stress. Then Kane & Daniel both squeeze the balls (that felt really weird writing that) they’re holding. Shelby tells them to squeeze the balls and feel the anger wash away. They both continue squeezing and Daniel smiles a bit and Kane kind of smirks. Then Kane shows his ball to Daniel and says, “Mine’s bigger than yours.” Then Kane walks off. Daniel looks at his ball and says, “Is it? I don’t think so.”) This bit was idiotic but it was also kind of funny too.

WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Kane. Kane gets the pin. This was decent. Afterwards Dr. Shelby come out and looks at Kane with a “Does Kane have everything under control” kind of look. Then Kane gets back in the ring and pick up Kofi by the throat. Shelby watches from the stage. Then Kane hugs Kofi. This was kind of funny too.

Matt Striker is backstage to interview Randy Orton. Striker mentions that Orton’s scheduled match at Night of Champions is against Dolph Ziggler. Then Striker asks Orton why he would ask Booker T for a match tonight with Tensai. Orton says that he wasn’t doing anything and neither was Tensai, so he figured they’d a good old fashioned brawl. Or maybe he wanted a 360 pound tune up. Then Striker asks Orton how much is he looking forward to his match against Dolph on Sunday. Orton says that he’s looking forward to it. Then Orton tells Striker that he probably thinks that he’s looking forward to it because Sheamus’ Brogue Kick is banned, which means Alberto Del Rio has chance, a small chance, but still a chance to become World Champion. Then Dolph Ziggler would run down to the ring and cash in his Money in the Bank contract. Becoming World Champion himself. Orton then says that he faces Dolph at Night of Champions and everyone knows what will happen. Orton will leave the arena as World Champion. Then Orton says that maybe he doesn’t like that self righteous punk and he want to tear him a new Sunday. This promo didn’t really work for me. 

Randy Orton vs. Tensai. Orton gets the pin. I found this match to be kind of dull and on the slow side.

Afterwards Vickie Guerrero comes out. She tells Orton that Dolph heard his comments from before and he didn’t appreciate it. She then says that Dolph had no problem being there tonight but she advised him to take the night off. The she says that at Night of Champions Dolph will beat Orton. Then she tells Orton that he will never be World Champion again. Orton says he hears Vickie loud and clear but she’s wrong. He says that he’s standing in the ring with his back turned and Vickie’s talking to him. That can only mean 1 thing. Then he turns around and sees Dolph trying to sneak up behind him. Then Dolph runs up the ramp. This was kind of weak too. They did the usual “The guy’s not here tonight bit” which almost always means that the guy is there. I did like that they had Orton not fall for that bit but it was still weak.

Antonio Cesaro & Aksana are in the ring. He says that as the proud United States Champion he is appalled that a battle royal will decide who he defends his prestigious title (That is anything but prestigious) against at Night of Champions. He takes this as a personal insult and there is only 1 word that can describe how he feels right now. The word of the week is outraged. Then he yells in different languages and then Tyson Kidd’s music hits and he comes out. He tells Cesaro that he can come out and run his mouth in as many languages as he wants. Then Tyson says he will put what has to say to him in Canadian (I wasn’t a where Canada had it’s own language). Tyson then gets in the ring and tells Cesaro that after Sunday he will be a former United States Champion. Then Cesaro gives Tyson a European uppercut. Then he throws over the top rope to the floor. Then Cesaro rips his jacket off and pick up the mic. He asks if there’s anybody else. No one comes out and then he says, “Alright. That’s what I thought.” Then Brodus Clay’s music plays and he comes out without his Flash Funk gear and no Naomi (Obviously no Cameron either since she was suspended). Brodus stands in front of Cesaro. Cesaro tries to get out of the ring but Brodus blocks him. Then Tyson gives Cesaro a roundhouse kick from behind. Then Brodus gives him a runnin head butt followed by a big splash. Then Brodus & Tyson dance. This was weak too. I’m tired of Cesaro saying a word in the same 5 languages every week. The bit is old. Tyson’s promo was ok but I don’t know why they felt the need to have him speak in “Canadian” by saying “A”. That was corny. Brodus coming out was ok but not great. It looks like Brodus & Tyson will be in the battle royal. Will they tell us what other guys will be in there?

Wade Barrett come out. He says that last week he said that he was open for business but apparently everyone was too scared or too stupid to understand what he meant. Then he says that next week 1 lucky person will get to sample the product. And after that business will be booming. Good promo from Barrett.   

Kaitlyn vs. Beth Phoenix. Kaitlyn gets the pin. This wasn’t much. They showed Layla watching on a monitor backstage. I have no idea why Beth is a jobber. She deserves better.

They reshow the Bret-Cena-Punk promo from the end of Raw.

Eve & Booker T are in the GM office. Eve says that she knows Booker has been taking on a lot recently. She says that he made a difficult but excellent decision by banning the Brogue Kick. Then Eve says that Booker has her 100% support. If he needs anything, she’s there. Booker thanks Eve and tells she’s been doing a good job as his assistant. Then Teddy Long comes in. He says that as the former Smackdown GM he wants Booker to know that banning the Brogue Kick was really a tough decision. Long then tells Booker than from 1GM to another Booker made the right call. Booker puts out his fist for a pump but Long offers his hand. Then they flip flop. Then Eve tells Booker that they need to look over some things before Sunday. Booker & Eve walk off and Long looks all confused about the hand shake/fist pumping bit. This wasn’t much either. Thankfully it was short. I’m just hoping they don’t turn Long heel.   

World Champion Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan. Sheamus wins by submission.  This was a really good match and easily the highlight of this week’s show. They show Del Rio, Ricardo & Otunga watching backstage. Sheamus poses with the belt to end the show.

I thought this a weak show overall. The opening segment with Del Rio, Ricardo, Otunga, Christian, Daniel Bryan & Sheamus was idiotic in my view. The Sheamus-Daniel Bryan match however was the best part of the whole 2 hours. The rest of the show was hit and miss. The segment with Kane, Daniel & Dr. Shelby with the stress ball bit was dumb but it was also comical. I wasn’t really into Orton’s promo backstage. His match with Tensai was also kind of boring and the back and forth with Vickie didn’t work for me either. I liked how they had Orton not fall for the “This guy’s not here tonight” bit though. Sin Cara-Miz was solid and I liked the backstage segment with Miz, Cody, Mysterio & Cara. I thought they gave the Intercontinental more meaning here than they usually do. Kofi-Kane was decent. Having Kane grab Kofi’s throat and then hug him was fine for what it was. The Booker T-Teddy Long-Eve Torres segment was a bit weak too. Kaitlyn-Beth wasn’t much either. Beth deserves better than the way she is currently being booked. The Cesaro-Tyson-Brodus segment was ok but not great. So on the whole I this episode was kind of weak and they didn’t really do that much for the final build to Night of Champions.