6-14-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the June 14, 2013 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Daniel Bryan coming to the ring. He says that if you would have asked him when he first debuted in WWE if he would be the World Champion he would have responded with yes. If you would have asked him if he would lose the world title in an 18 second match he would have responded with no. If you would have asked him if he could win the tag titles with anyone on the roster he would have said yes. Did he think that he would spend 9 months with Kane? No, but that doesn’t change the fact that team hell no is 1 of the best tag teams in WWE history. He asks Kane to come to the ring. Out comes Kane. He knows why Daniel called him out here, but this isn’t the time or the place. The only thing that Kane is interested in is their 6 man tag match with The Shield tonight. Daniel says they need to get everything out in the open. The last 9 months have been an incredible ride. They’ve been in battles together. They’ve been an awesome team in the ring & Daniel is proud of what they have done outside of the ring to become better partners. But at Payback Kane won’t be Daniel’s partner. Daniel then says when he wins he is going to be the tag team champions with someone else. He puts his hand on Kane’s shoulder & the fans chant hug it out (I think). Then Daniel says that he won’t be teaming with Kane anymore. Kane asks if Daniel is “breaking up” with him. Kane then says that Daniel should know that the same thing will happen when he beats Dean Ambrose for the U.S. Title this Sunday. Daniel supposed Kane could be right but they can still team if Kane wins the U.S. Title. The part that he doesn’t think Kane gets is that Daniel & Randy are going to be the tag champions. Vickie was wrong, it won’t be Team RK Never, it will be Team RK NO! Kane says Daniel is making up cute little names & is acting like it’s a given that he & Orton will win. Kane doesn’t see how Daniel could since they (Kane & Daniel) couldn’t beat The Shield. Then Kane mentions that Daniel despises Orton. Daniel then says that Kane is saying that he doesn’t think Daniel can do it. Kane says that personally he doesn’t think so. Daniel says it’s because he is the weak link. That’s not what Kane said. Daniel says that he & Randy had The Shield beat last Friday & at Payback he & Randy will win & Daniel will prove to everybody beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is not the weak link. Kane will have to sit back & know that Daniel & Randy did something that Kane & Daniel could never do. Daniel says that can only mean 1 thing. Then Kane asks if Daniel is saying that he is the weak link. Daniel says Kane might be right. This might not be the time. Kane tells him to answer him. Daniel shouts yes. He says that Kane is the weak link. Then Kane grabs Daniel’s throat and then cue Randy Orton’s music & out comes the “Viper.” He tells Kane that he can’t let him do that. Orton gets why Kane wants to choke slam Daniel & Orton wouldn’t mind watching but Orton needs Daniel at 100 % this Sunday. Whatever Kane does to Daniel directly affects Orton. If Kane choke slams Daniel then Kane just might start a chain reaction that will cause Orton to hit Kane with an RKO. Kane tells Orton to stay out of this. Orton says that if Kane wants to do this he is ready. Daniel tells Orton that he never asks for him to come out. Orton tells Daniel that he came out to help him because Kane was going to choke slam him through the mat. Daniel says that he never asked for Orton to save him. Orton asks what about the whole partner thing. Kane’s had enough. Daniel & Orton can work this out. He will see them in the ring later. Daniel says that Kane is running away like he always does & always has. Then Daniel tells Orton that he doesn’t need him out there to save him. Then The Shield shows up on the Tron. Rollins tells them to do what they gotta do & not to mind them being on the Tron. The Shield wants to watch because it’s kinda funny watching them out there. Ambrose says that it’s like a car wreck. Then he says that after 6 months of getting beaten & embarrassed by The Shield he would be mad too. The thing is Kane, Daniel & Orton aren’t mad at The Shield, they’re mad at each other. Is that because after all these months of trying to put together every super team imaginable to try & beat them & have found out every time that The Shield is unstoppable, unbeatable & untouchable? The real question is if they now believe in The Shield. Ambrose it looks like they do. Ambrose than says that there’s no reason for Kane, Daniel & Orton to be arguing right now because tonight is just gonna be like every other night when they face The Shield. Reigns says that Kane, Daniel & Orton will lose and they will lose again at Payback. This is why the hounds of justice run this yard. Then The Shield’s music plays as Kane, Daniel & Orton continue to argue. This was a really well done opening promo segment. Daniel was awesome as usual here & Kane was good too. I also liked Orton’s mic work here. The Shield showing up on the Tron was a fitting touch also. I like that they’re having The Shield be this dominant force and the dissention between Kane, Daniel & Orton has been good too.

Before the next match starts Damien Sandow come out. He tells Sheamus that they man standing across from him speaks 5 different languages. Sandow would argue just like unwashed masses Sheamus can barely speak 1. Then Sandow says that he has humiliated Sheamus intellectually & physically. This Sunday at the Payback Kickoff  Sandow will play host to Sheamus’ Irish wake.

Sheamus vs. Antonio Cesaro. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a good back & forth match. I like that they had Cesaro get a good amount of offense in here.

Then as Sheamus poses on the stage Sandow comes out & hits Sheamus from behind.

Time for a Wyatt family vignette.

Now time for a CM Punk video package. This was good.

Backstage Teddy Long is on his cell phone in the GM office. He’s anxious for Punk’s return Sunday. Also the rest of Smackdown will be jamming. He’s going to enjoy himself by having a Hardee’s burger because they’re sponsoring Smackdown tonight. Before he can dig in to his burger in come Dolph, Big E & AJ. Long says he’s about to eat & asks what they want. Big E says they’re sorry to bother him since he looks so busy. Dolph mentions that this is his triumphant return to Smackdown (Returning to a show in segment that’s plugging burgers isn’t triumphant). It’s been a month since the world champ has graced this show by being on it. Long is glad to have Dolph back. Dolph then says that he is 2 days away from the biggest world title defense in his career at Payback. Then he says that he must be hearing wrong because Long is forcing Dolph to compete in tag team match tonight against Del Rio & Jericho. Long hasn’t got time for this, he has a show to run (And a burger to eat). Dolph says that Smackdown is nothing without the face of Smackdown, that of course being him. Dolph says that maybe Long should rearrange his thoughts because tonight will just be a taste of what he will do to Del Rio Sunday. Dolph, Big E & AJ leave. Long is about to bight into the burger but Big E comes back in, takes it out of Long’s hands & eats some of it. This was pointless. Why did they waste Dolph’s Smackdown return on a burger plug segment? I really hope they start pushing him better.

Great Khali vs. Heath Slater. Slater gets the pin. This wasn’t much.

Chris Jericho & Alberto Del Rio vs. Big E Langston & World Champion Dolph Ziggler. Del Rio & Jericho win when Del Rio pins Ziggler. This was a good match but I don’t get why they had Dolph get pinned cleanly in his first match back.

Backstage Renee Young interviews Chris Jericho. She congratulates him on winning the tag match. Then she mentions that this Sunday Jericho will face Punk. She asks for some of his final thoughts. Jericho says this Sunday at Payback the match between him & Punk is 1 of those rare matches. This is a match that has taken on a life of its own almost because as much of the people watching as the 2 guys involved. Punk is from Chicago and the fans will be cheering for Punk in his home town, but Jericho isn’t exactly a stranger to Chicago either. Jericho has had a lot of great, memorable, classic Y2J moments in Chicago including his debut against The Rock back in 1999. Whether the crowed is 100 % for Punk or 100 % for Y2J, or if they’re 50-50, 70-30 or 47-53 it doesn’t matter because this match will exceed the expectations of their first 2 matches that he & Punk had on PPV. You’re not going to wanna miss Jericho-Punk 3. In comes Paul Heyman. He offers Jericho his hand & wishes him the best of luck on Sunday. Jericho doesn’t fall for it. Then Heyman says that Punk says luck is for losers, which is fitting because the odds are against Jericho. Jericho needs the luck Heyman is offering him. Chicago is CM Punk’s home town & Punk also has Heyman in his corner & Heyman will have the best seat in the house this Sunday when the referee counts 1-2-3 or accepts Jericho’s tap out; & the ring announcer says the winner of the match & the best in the world…Then Jericho slaps the mic into Heyman’s mouth. Then Jericho says pipe bomb & says he will see Heyman Sunday. This was a good backstage interview bit. Both Jericho & Heyman were great on the mic as usual.

They reshow the Kaitlyn-AJ-Big E bit from Raw.

Kaitlyn was supposed to face Aksana next but Kaitlyn was so pissed about what happened Monday that she went after Aksana before the bell rang. This goes in & out of the ring, the referee attempts to pull Kaitlyn off but she hits him too. Aksana manages to bail up the ramp as Kaitlyn cries in the ring. This was decent.

Time for a Cena-Ryback video package.

Wade Barrett & Curtis Axel are in the ring for a match, but before that we get a few words from Barrett. Before they start this match up Barrett wants to chat business man to businessman with Heyman. Barrett asks Heyman why they’re about to have this match right now. Barrett could easily injure axel tonight & then Curtis wouldn’t be capable of competing for the IC Title at Payback. There’s even a very small chance that Curtis Axel could injure him. Should they fight now or would it make business sense to just leave all this till Sunday. Out comes The Miz. He’s surprised that Curtis & Barrett don’t wanna fight tonight. Would they rather go to Starbucks, sit in the same booth & share a latté? Or maybe they’d like to go on dancing with the stars & compete as a couple. They could be called The Brit & The Twit (The Twit is Vince for thinking this is good story telling). But no 1 wants to see them dance (or hear Miz talk). What the fans do want is to see Curtis & Barrett go at it. Miz asks the fans if they wanna see them fight & of course the fans cheer (or maybe it was pumped in crowed noise since this is a taped show). Then Miz leads the fans in a fight chant. Then the bell rings. This was idiotic. I’m (as Miz would say) really tired of Miz & his shtick. I “really” am!

Curtis Axel vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Curtis gets the pin. This was a decent but short & kinda pointless match. Then Miz gets in the ring & gives Curtis the skull crushing finale. That was dumb. They give Joe Hennig this new gimmick & they continue to make him look weak (and that’s a mild way of saying it).

Time for another Wyatt family vignette.

Kane, Daniel Bryan & Randy Orton vs. U.S. Champion Dean Ambrose and WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns. Kane, Daniel & Orton win when Daniel makes Rollins submit. This was a really good match. Afterwards they even had Lillian say that The Shield lost their first 6 man tag. Kane, Daniel & Orton celebrated in the ring in a really neat visual to end the show.

I thought this was a solid show for the most part. The opening segment was a good start to the show & I liked the main event 6 man tag. All 6 guys have been really entertaining to watch! I also liked the Jericho-Heyman backstage bit. They were both great on the mic as always. Del Rio & Jericho vs. Dolph & Big E was solid but I hated that they had Dolph get pinned in his first match back. Wade Barrett’s promo was decent before his match with Curtis Axel, but I wasn’t a fan of The Miz promo. The Barrett-Axel match was decent but it was way too short & pointless. Then Miz giving Curtis his finisher afterwards was dumb too. I was ok with Kaitlyn beating the crap out of Aksana. The Wyatt family vignettes have been good too. The Teddy Long-Dolph-Big E-AJ backstage segment was awful & a waste of a Smackdown return for Dolph. Khali-Slater wasn’t much but it was surprising that Slater won. Sheamus-Cesaro was also good. I liked that they had Cesaro get a lot of offense in. So overall I thought this was a good show.   

6-13-13 Impact results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the June 13, 2013 episode of Impact

The show starts with Hulk Hogan coming to the ring. He says when he saw Ray last week it was hard not to hit him in the head with the hammer. After all the family damage Ray has done he had to tell Brooke to stay home this week. This week we’re here for the BFG selection show. Hulk then says that by the end of the night we will know who all 12 guys in the series will be. He mentions that 3 guys have already qualified for the BFG Series. Jay Bradley, Hernandez & Samoa Joe. Then he mentions that Jeff Hardy & Bobby Roode are already in the BFG Series since they won the first 2. Then Hulk brings out Jeff. Jeff says he is so tired of hammers & is sick of Aces & 8s. He will win the BFG Series again this year & win the world title in San Diego. Then out comes Roode. He says the it factor doesn’t need an intro from Hulk. Everyone knows Roode was the longest reigning & most dominant champion in Impact history. He is also the first ever winner of the BFG Series. This year Roode is winning the second time. Hulk says next week is open fight night & the fans can vote for which 1 of the 2 calls out the other. Roode says that next week he will call out Jeff & kick his ass next week. Jeff tells him to kick his ass now. Then out come Bully Ray, Wes Briscoe & Garrett Bischoff. Ray asks why everyone’s so mad at each other. Does it matter whichever TNA guy wins the series? Because at the end of the day the winner will have to face the champ & everyone knows who the champ will be. Then Ray asks why there aren’t any Aces & 8 guys in the series. Then Hulk says that all the Aces & 8s guys will be in a battle royal for a spot in the BFG Series. Ray says that no matter who is in the BFG series they’re a target of Aces & 8s & Jeff & Ray are both targets right now. Then he has Wes & Garrett go after Jeff & Roode but Jeff & Roode make quick work of them. Then as Aces & 8s head for the hills, Roode attacks Jeff & then he bails. This was a solid opening segment.

Backstage we see Kaz & Daniels. Kaz says James Storm is a tag champion again. Gunner is the reel deal & a big dude who frightens everyone but he doesn’t frighten them. Daniels mentions that the winners of their match with Gunner & Storm will be in the BFG Series & 1 of them will be world champion. This was good. Daniels was playing the piano, which was comical. I enjoy these two.

TNA World Tag Team Champions Gunner & James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian in a BFG Series qualifying match. Daniels & Kazarian win when Kazarian pins Storm after Daniels hits Storm with the title belt. This was a solid match.

Backstage we see Crimson. Camera guy asks what he’s doing there. Crimson says he hasn’t been on Impact for a year & camera guy wants to know what he’s doing there.   

Backstage we see Velvet. She has an envelope & she will show Mickie James what’s inside it.

Crimson comes to the ring. He mentions the numbers 470 & 12. Those are the 2 numbers fans might not know about but to him those numbers have been consuming him. He mentions his 470 day undefeated streak & mentions that it came to a screeching halt almost a year ago to the day & he got sent home for a year. Tonight he is going to qualify for the BFG Series. He tells Joseph Park to come on out for their match.

Joseph Park vs. Crimson in a BFG Series qualifying match. Park gets the pin. This was a decent but short match.

Backstage Mickie says as a former champ it’s so sweet that Velvet has something for her. Is Velvet ready? Cause Mickie is.

Velvet Sky comes to the ring. She needs to clear the air about something that’s been on her mind. Ever since she lost the knockouts title to Mickie, their friendship has been up in the air. Then she tells Mickie to come out because she has a present for her. Out comes Mickie. Mickie is overwhelmed with emotion. Sure she is the knockouts champion but Velvet is the knockout of the month. She should be giving Velvet something. Then Velvet shows her that she has a doctor’s note saying that she’s been cleared to wrestle & she wants her rematch for the Knockouts Title. Mickie says that Velvet could have gotten this off the Internet. Mickie then says that the letter was dated “yesterday” but Velvet’s knee is hurt “today.” Then Mickie turns full fledged heel when she kicks Velvet in the knee and then locks her in a reverse STF. Then referees come out to break it up. This was well done. Mickie is really good as a heel and she & Velvet are good together. This should be a good feud. 

Backstage Matt Morgan says he is the guy that Sting couldn’t make tap out or pin, yet he has to qualify for the BFG Series. These are the hopes he has to jump through. The other 3 guys have no shot at beating him. He will go on to win the BFG Series and then become TNA World Champion. This was a good promo.

Magnus vs. Kenny King vs. Matt Morgan vs. Rob Terry in a BFG Series qualifying match. Magnus wins when he pins Kenny. This was a solid match too.  

Backstage Eric Young plugs his outdoors show. Then he says that he’s gonna try to beat Austin Aries to get into the BFG Series & he tells the camera guy not to tell anybody. Then he locks himself in a closet. This was typical EY comedy.

Then backstage we see Rampage Jackson with his chain.

Time for a look back at the Sting-Bully Ray match from Slammiversary.

Sting comes to the ring. He says it’s really good to be back in Atlanta, GA. A year ago at Slammiversary he was the first guy to be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame & that’s a night he will always remember. Then he talks about losing to Ray at this year’s Slammiversary and that he can’t challenge for the TNA World Title again. Sting then says that he had to fend for himself. There were no other TNA wrestlers to help him out. The TNA guys let him get beat down but that’s ok. He says that Aces & 8s always have each other’s backs no matter what because they are a family. Now he realizes that he has to a go to a place where he never thought he would go to again. A place where he has to create his own family that he can trust & that can trust him. He’s recruiting his own new mafia. He says that there be a new Main Event Mafia that will rise and Aces & 8s will fall. This was a decent promo but I’m not sure about the idea of bringing back the Main Event Mafia.

Eric Young vs. Austin Aries in a BFG Series qualifying match. Aries gets the pin. This was also a solid match & there were some good comedy bits here too. At 1 point Aries did the spin around the guy’s back & slap his head bit. Then EY does that bit with ODB.  

Backstage we see Aces & 8s. Ray asks Doc what’s wrong. Hulk thinks he’s got this club where he wants them by making them face each other but they have a plan. He asks if everyone agrees & they all do except for Doc. He waits a bit before he reluctantly agrees. This was ok.

Backstage Chris Sabin talks about being out for 2 years. Then he says when he came back a year ago 1 of his matches was against Aries. He could’ve won the X Title & cashed it in for a world title shot then. Does he cash it in this year? He’s not sure. This was a good promo too.

Aces & 8s (Ken Anderson, Devon, Doc, Knox, Wes Briscoe & Garrett Bischoff) in a BFG Series qualifying battle royal. Anderson wins. Everyone threw themselves over the top except for Doc. So this was basically a finger poke of doom battle royal. * Anderson makes a gun shot bit with his hand at Wes. Then he yells bang. Wes acts like he was “shot” & fell over the top rope. * Anderson throws Garrett over the top rope after walking around the ring after doing a Hulk Hogan impersonation & then dragging Garret around a bit. * Anderson then makes like he’s gonna eliminate Knox but then Anderson pokes him in the chest & Knox does the “Taker going over the top & landing on his feet” bit. * Anderson tells Devon to get the tables and then Devon jumps over the top. Then Devon jokes that Anderson got him. * Finally Anderson eliminates Doc to win. Doc wasn’t going along with the “finger poke of doom” game plan. He beats down Anderson for a bit. Then Anderson manages to chuck Doc over the top. After the “battle royal” the Aces & 8s guys chew out Doc & ask what he was doing. Then Doc leaves through the Aces & 8s entrance, the other guys follow him & asks what’s wrong with him.

Backstage Rampage Jackson comes into Kurt Angle’s dressing room. Rampage asks Angle what he meant when he said when Rampage is ready. Angle says Rampage won’t dominate in the ring right away & they’re apparently all buddy-buddy. Angle tells Rampage not to worry because they’re both world class athletes. Rampage wishing Angle luck in his match with AJ. This was lame.

Backstage Aces & 8s ask Doc what’s going on. Doc & Anderson are pissed at each other. Ray gets stepping up, but they had a plan that they should’ve stuck too. Doc says it was his mistake. Then he says that AJ Styles turned his back on the club & hit him with their hammer. Tonight he’s looking to take AJ out. Ray tells Doc to get the job done. I wasn’t really into this, but it looks like Doc will be out of Aces & 8s soon. Maybe Sting will have him be 1 of the new Main Event Mafia guys.

Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles in a BFG Series qualifying match. AJ gets the pin. Anderson, Doc & Knox came out during the match. Anderson distracts the referee as Doc & Knox go to double clothesline AJ but AJ ducked & they wound up hitting Angle. Then AJ fought off both Doc & Knox, then Angle helps AJ fight them off and then AJ rolls up Angle for the pin. Afterwards Anderson, Doc & Knox get back in the ring but AJ bails & they beat down Angle. Then out comes Rampage Jackson with a chain & he runs off Aces & 8s. Aces & 8s circle the ring but Rampage & Angle hold them off. Then Rampage & Angle stand tall to end the show. The match was enjoyable but the end was a bit flat.

So here are the 12 guys that are in the Bound for Glory Series:

1. Jay Bradley
2. Hernandez
3. Samoa Joe
4. Joseph Park
5. Magnus
6. Frankie Kazarian
7. Christopher Daniels
8. Austin Aries
9. Jeff Hardy
10. Bobby Roode
11. Ken Anderson
12. AJ Styles

I thought this week’s show was enjoyable for the most part. The opening segment was solid & the main event was good but I’m not into having Rampage & Angle teaming up. The rest of the show was good too. Gunner & Storm vs. Daniels & Kazarian was solid, so was EY-Aries. I wasn’t really into the backstage bits with Aces & 8s or the backstage bit with Rampage & Angle. I thought the 4 way was solid too, Crimson cut a decent promo & his match with Joseph Park was decent but a bit short. I also liked the Chris Sabin promo. The Aces & 8s battle royal was a joke, except for Doc actually wanting to win. Besides that this was pointless. Sting cut a solid promo too but I’m not thrilled with the Main Event Mafia returning. I’m guessing Rampage & Angle will be part of this new 1 & maybe Doc too. The Velvet-Mickie segment was really well done. They were both good here & this should be a good feud. Overall I enjoyed this week’s show.

6-10-13 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the June 10, 2013 episode of Raw

The show starts with Triple H coming to the ring. Then out come Curtis Axel & Paul Heyman. Will the HHH-Curtis Axel match take place? I highly doubt it. The bell rings.

Triple H vs. Curtis Axel. Just seconds into the match Vince’s music plays and out he comes. The match actually continues. Or does it? Vince has the bell rung & the ring announcer says Curtis Axel wins by DQ. WTF!? Then Vince power walks up the ramp with a heel grin. Then HHH tells the time keeper to ring the bell. Then Justin Roberts says the match is being restarted.

Triple H vs. Curtis Axel take 2. Out comes Vince again. He has the time keeper ring the bell & Justin Roberts says Axel wins by forfeit. HHH is pissed & asks Vince what he thinks he’s doing. Vince walks back up the ramp. Then HHH has Justin Roberts say that the match will restart as a 60 minute iron man match.

Triple H vs. Curtis Axel take 3. Vince gets the mic & tells Axel that he’s won the match twice. He tells Axel to scram. Then he tells the time keeper that he needs to get another bell and then he takes the bell & walks up the ramp.

This whole opening segment was absolutely & totally STUPID! NO BEYOND STUPID!! WHO THE F CARES ABOUT THE MCMAHON FAMILY SAGA!? I sure don’t! This whole bit with Vince being a heel & not letting HHH wrestle & all the crap that’s going on here is really idiotic! Vince taking the bell was stupid too. Also I’m REALLY TIRED of JBL saying that Curtis Axel is undefeated! He lost almost every match when he was Michael McGuillicutty! But in McMahon land we’re supposed to forget that he ever used that name!! That or Vince thinks the fans are dumb enough to think it’s a different guy. If that’s the case then Vince REALLY has no respect for his fans & their intelligence!

We’re only 15 minutes into the show & I’m already flipping out! This story makes no sense. IT MAKES NO SENSE! I’m really close to cracking!

Backstage HHH yells at Stephanie & says Vince crossed the line. Stephanie agrees, but she asks Paul not to hurt him. Vince isn’t getting any younger. She pleads with HHH to think about their kids & not to hurt Vince. HHH says if he talks to Vince now it won’t end well. Vince won’t like what he has to say (And I won’t like what either one of them have to say)! More of the McMahon family drama! How long are they gonna have this painful dreck go on for!?

There’s no bell at ringside so it looks like the matches will be happening without the bell ringing. Nope wait during the next match a referee comes out & brings the bell back.

Kane vs. U.S. Champion Dean Ambrose. Kane wins by DQ when Rollins & Reigns come in. Then Daniel & Orton hit the ring & a brawl starts. Of course Kane, Daniel & Orton clean house on The Shield & The Shield retreats. This was a solid match & I liked the post match brawl.

They announce that Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow will be the Payback pre show match (Yay)!

Then they mention that Daniel & Orton will each face Rollins & Reigns & the fans can decide which 1 Daniel face. And guess where you can vote for that? Why on the OVERHYPED APP of course! The Shield guy who wins the voting will face Daniel & The Shield guy who doesn’t will face Orton.

Jerry Lawler is in the ring. Time to find out who Daniel will face tonight. The fans picked Rollins. So we got Daniel vs. Rollins & Orton vs. Reigns for tonight. I really hope to God they give these matches some time.

Backstage we see Kane, Daniel & Orton. Daniel says Orton’s RKO was on purpose. Orton says it was & he didn’t like that Daniel dropkicked him. Kane screams at them both, telling them they each have matches with The Shield and the last thing they need to do is fight with each other. In comes Vickie & she says they will face Rollins & Reigns for the tag title at Payback. It won’t be Kane & Daniel though; it will be Daniel & Orton. Daniel & Orton Daniel & Orton walk off & Kane says this doesn’t make any sense. Then Vickie tells Kane that he will face Ambrose for the U.S. Title at the PPV. Kane says he always liked Vickie and then bear hugs her. This was a decent backstage bit. I was surprised to see Vickie though since she hadn’t been on TV in a while. So far this storyline is decent but they keep having Daniel & Orton team up & not get along it will get stale real fast.

Michael Cole mentions that Fandango got a (legit) concussion & will not be at Payback. Now at the PPV it will be Miz vs. Barrett. That sucks Fandango got a concussion.

Wade Barrett is on commentary.  

The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes. Miz wins by submission. This wasn’t much & I knew Miz would win. Then Barrett goes to get in the ring but then out comes Paul Heyman. He says Vickie has authorized him to inform them that even though Fandango can’t compete Sunday there will be a triple threat match for the IC Title. The third guy of course is Curtis Axel. Axel says the perfect ending to the match this Sunday will be him Curtis Axel the new Intercontinental Champion. This was decent & I have a feeling they’ll be giving Axel the IC Title.

Time for a video package on Mark Henry returning next week. This was good.

Backstage we see Vince & Stephanie in the GM office. Stephanie knows Vince is upset & just trying to protect HHH, but what he did was embarrassing. Vince should be able to relate how proud HHH is & Vince walked all over him. Vince heard what HHH said about him before & he made Stephanie cry. Stephanie says that Vince made her cry because he destroyed Triple H’s pride. Vince doesn’t care about Hunter’s pride, business comes first. They both want what’s best for WWE. Stephanie asks Vince to talk to HHH. Vince says that HHH wouldn’t like what he has to say or how he says it. Vince has a show to run. Wow is this painfully terrible!! So Vince is a heel now & is screwing around with HHH or whatever. I could care less. Also Vince saying that he does what’s right for business was idiotic too. If he did what was right for business he wouldn’t be subjecting the fans to this sports entertainment family soap opera crap!

Chris Jericho comes to the ring. He welcomes everyone to Raw is Jericho. He’s said that many times & has also faced some of the greatest performers in WWE, but the guy to makes him more of a better performer & takes him to his limit is CM Punk. Say what you want about Punk’s attitude, but Punk is good because he believes that he is the best in the world. Jericho says that he believes that he himself is the best in the world at what he does. He & Punk accept no more than the best. This Sunday Jericho-Punk 3 continues the classic trilogy of matches that started at Mania 28, continued at Extreme Rules last year & will end Sunday. Punk will get Jericho’s best because Jericho has to beat him. After the match neither 1 of them will ever be the same. Cue Dolph’s music & he makes his return with Big E & AJ. Dolph says this would be a good time to make his return. When the world title was almost taken from him it wasn’t fair to him. He says no one wanted him to be champion so every night he stole the show & earned the title. Sunday he will show Del Rio that he is outclassed in every possible way. Dolph’s just getting started. Jericho says Dolph is stepping ahead of himself. Sunday’s a long way away. This is Monday Night Raw. Jericho says Dolph should have a tune up match to shake off some ring rust against Y2J. Dolph says he’s got it, against Big E Langston. This was a solid segment. Both Jericho & Dolph were good on the mic here. The only thing that really didn’t make sense is why have Dolph talk about Del Rio when Jericho is the guy in the ring? I get that they wanted to set up Del Rio vs. Dolph for Sunday but how come Del Rio wasn’t out there?

Chris Jericho vs. Big E Langston. Jericho gets the pin. Del Rio came out & hit Dolph from behind. That distracted Big E and then Jericho gave Big E a code breaker for the pin. This was a decent match.

Zeb Coulter is on commentary.

Sin Cara vs. Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro gets the pin. This was a solid back & forth match. It’s too bad both these guys are booked as jobbers.

Time for a Wyatt Family Vignette. This video package is really well done & I’m hoping that they’re booked well on the main roster.

Backstage we see Brad & Vickie. Vickie is eating burgers. Brad asks if he can 1. In comes Vince. He rags on Vickie & says that the main event for Payback is in Jeopardy by having a Cena-Ryback face off. That can somehow ruin the PPV match. Vickie says this isn’t how she would run the show even if it is great TV. Vickie says she’ll cancel the match. Vince says that can’t happen. Brad suggest that the lumberjacks should be out there to prevent Cena & Ryback from creaming each other. Vince likes the idea & he tells Vickie to share her burgers with Brad. This was idiotic! Having Vince all over the shows really makes for lousy TV. Plus this whole “The Cena-Ryback face off could jeopardize their PPV match” & Vickie saying that isn’t how she would run the show even if it is great TV MADE NO SENSE!! Isn’t Vickie the Raw GM or whatever they’re calling it now? So she “booked the face off” and then tells Vince that if she was running the show (which I thought in the storylines she is) she wouldn’t have booked it? My brain is spinning!!

Randy Orton comes out for his match with Roman Reigns. Then out comes Daniel Bryan. He gets in the ring & he & Orton have a stare down. Break time.

Back from break & Orton & Daniel are still staring down each other and then out come The Shield. Reigns & Rollins head to the ring & Ambrose walks back up the stairs.

Randy Orton vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Roman Reigns. The match ends in a no contest. Rollins attacked Daniel from behind & then Rollins got in the ring but Orton got him & was going to give him a second rope DDT but Reigns pulled Rollins away. Then Daniel got in the ring & dove onto to Rollins & Reigns on the outside. Then he & the fans chant yes. This was good. I like what they’re doing with Daniel & I liked that they went right into the next match.

Daniel Bryan vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Seth Rollins. Daniel gets the pin. This was AWESOME!! Easily the best part of the show! Then Daniel gives Rollins a round house kick and then Orton gives Rollins an RKO.

They have a video package showing some of the WWE talent at the Special Olympics. This was nice.

Kaitlyn is in the ring. She feels really silly & tells the admirer to show himself. Out comes Big E Langston with flowers. Kaitlyn is surprised that it’s Big E. He gives her the flowers. Then he says this hard for him. People only see him as a big bad tough guy and that all he cares about is beating people up. He cares about more than that. He cares about Kaitlyn. Big E says Kaitlyn should be skeptical but ever since he first laid eyes on her she was & he didn’t know how to tell her till now. Then they hold each other, Big E dips her like he’s gonna plant a big 1 on her and then he throws her down. Cue AJ’s music & out she comes. She asks if Kaitlyn feels worthless, alone & broken. That’s how AJ felt when Kaitlyn abandoned here. For the past year guys like Cena, Daniel & Punk used her while Kaitlyn was chasing the Divas Title. If you handle shattered glass wrong it can cut you deep. Kaitlyn calls AJ crazy. AJ says that she is smart. AJ used to put her on a pedestal & now she can push her off. AJ calls Kaitlyn trash. She says none of the fans care about Kaitlyn. The only thing that Kaitlyn has that’s worth anything is the Divas Title & after Sunday she won’t even have that. AJ will get everything she ever wanted & Kaitlyn will crawl back to whatever trailer she came out of. She calls Kaitlyn a useless unlovable cow and then Kaitlyn goes after AJ. We get a quick cat fight before AJ bails & skips up the ramp. This was corny but not as bad a lot of the other crap we’ve seen on this show.

Time for another Wyatt family vignette.

Damien Sandow comes to the ring. He says for the last fortnight he has been engaged in a battle of wits with the not so great white Sheamus. A battle that was clearly won by the intellectual savior of the masses. This Sunday at Payback kickoff Sandow will show that he is Sheamus’ physical as well as mental superior as he annihilates his opponent this evening. You’re Welcome.

R-Truth vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. This was a squash. Then Sheamus comes out. He says he came out to congratulate Sandow on his win. He also came out because Sandow got his attention on Smackdown & because of this they have a match at Payback kickoff & what better way to begin the kickoff then with Sheamus kicking off Sandow’s head.

Backstage Stephanie tells some guy to find Vince. It’s about urgent business & she wants to talk in her office. Then she tells some other guy to find HHH. It’s personal & urgent & she wants to talk in her office. This was lame.

Michael Cole says that Kofi Kingston had successful surgery & will be out for 8 weeks.

Time for a “Ryback Rampage” video package.

Out come Vickie & Brad along with the lumberjacks. Break time.

Back from break. Vince & Stephanie are in the office. Then HHH comes in. HHH & Vince argue & then Stephanie screams at them to work this out. Vince says he did the right thing because HHH is better than a match with Curtis Axel. HHH is an icon but Vince wants him to be the man. He wants him to sit behind that desk and tell people to go to hell. This is bigger than a match with Curtis Axel. HHH gets it. Vince says to show that he’s the bigger man HHH can have his match with Curtis Axel next week. HHH says Vince is right. HHH doesn’t want the match. Vince says he’d like to see the match. HHH doesn’t want it, Vince wants to see it. Then Stephanie comes back in & suggests a family hug because that’s bonding. Vince won’t hug HHH. HHH asks why Vince won’t hug him. Then they have the family hug. Then Vince & HHH leave. This was stupid.

Back to the ring & out comes John Cena. Then cue the ambulance sirens & out comes Ryback. Ryback stands on the stage. Cena says sometimes in WWE we use big words. He tells Ryback that face to face means Ryback gets in the ring & face him. Vickie set this up tonight & lined up the ring with super stars so they don’t tare each other apart. Then Cena talks about the first fall of their match, saying the lumber jacks prevent Ryback from escaping. Ryback can tare through the lumber jacks & every person in the arena if he wanted to. Ryback is standing on the stage for Cena’s benefit. Cena says if Ryback’s message has been that Ryback does damage he get6 it. If he thinks his message is to be WWE Champion…Ryback says he should have been champion 3 times over. He talks about his title matches at TL & Survivor Series. Then he brings up the cell. Cena says he gave Ryback that spot. Ryback says that’s where the problem started. Ryback says that he became a threat to Cena because he was too popular. When it was convenient Cena had his back but the going got thought Cena left him high & dry. Cena says he’s been here along time but has never had a Guardian Angel to watch his back. Ryback is gifted but he’s always complaining about conspiracies when Ryback himself is to blame. Cena says that he will walk out of Chicago WWE Champion. Ryback’s eyes are wide open, he can see Cena. Cena’s full of crap. He knows every move that Cena is making. If Cena thinks Ryback will back down from him then Cena’s lost his mind. The Cena legend ends when he beats him in the lumber jack match, puts him through a table, puts him in an ambulance & finally becomes WWE Champion. 8 months ago Cena gave Ryback his spot. This Sunday Ryback takes his spot. Cena says this Sunday Payback’s a b**ch. Cena goes to head up the ramp but the lumber jacks stop him. Then Ryback gets in the ring & the pull apart brawl happens. The lumber jacks holed them back to end the show. This was a mediocre segment. They really haven’t done much to hype this match & this segment didn’t really work for the “final” hype.

This week’s show was awful & I mean awful!! All the McMahon family bits were beyond stupid, the Cena-Ryback face off was weak, The bit with Vince, Vickie & Brad was terrible, Big E being the “admirer” only for it to be a set up by AJ was corny, R-Truth-Sandow was a squash, Sheamus’ promo after that match wasn’t great & Miz-Cody wasn’t much either. Having Heyman & Curtis Axel come out & announce that he will be replacing Fandango in the IC Title 3 way match was decent, the Sin Cara-Cesaro match was also solid & it’s too bad that these guys are on jobber island. I also wasn’t a fan of having Zeb Coulter be on commentary for this match & of course the commentators BARELY even acknowledged it! The backstage bit with Kane, Daniel & Orton was decent, but I’m hoping they don’t take the titles off Reigns & Rollins just so they can have Daniel be tag champions with another that he doesn’t get along with. That said, the Orton-Reigns match was solid & I liked that Daniel showed more aggression here. Easily the best part of this week’s show was the Daniel-Rollins match. That was really awesome!! Daniel Bryan & The Shield are easily the best booked guys right now. I thought the Jericho-Ziggler segment was solid too. Both guys were good on the mic. The Jericho-Langston match was solid too & I was expecting Del Rio to show up. Overall though they did a crappy job building to this Sunday’s PPV & most of the show was really painful! If you missed this show you didn’t miss much.

6-7-13 Smackdown results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the June 7, 2013 episode of Smackdown

The show starts with Miz TV (This kicks off Smackdown way too often). His guests tonight came within a fraction of a second to being the first team to beat The Shield in a 6 man tag. However, after that match they had some issues. Let’s get right down to it. Miz brings out Kane, Daniel Bryan & Randy Orton. Miz says to Daniel that on Raw he was pinned by The Shield & for weeks Daniels has been harping on the idea that people consider him the weak link. Daniel says before Miz starts stirring the pot he has something he’d like to say. Miz tells Daniel the floor is his. Daniel says that he’s had a lot of time to think since Monday & he knows that Orton never intended to hit him. Orton says Daniel finally figured that out for himself. Then Daniel tells Kane that he is the best tag team partner a guy has ever asked for & Daniel pushed him away when all Kane was trying to do was help him against The Ryback (Not sure if he meant Ryback or The Shield). Kane asks if this means that Daniel is letting go of the weak link garbage. Daniel wouldn’t call it that but…Then Miz chimes in & says this is something personal to Daniel. Last week on Smackdown Daniel single handedly took out all 3 Shield guys. Miz asks Daniel if he feels that he is getting the respect that he deserves. Daniel says sometimes Then Kane come on Daniel. Then Miz asks Daniel if feels that people still look at him like a goat faced, vegan troll. Orton tells Miz to watch what he says to Daniel because Daniel is all messed up. Daniel tells Orton that his head is not messed up. Kane tells Daniel that his head is pretty messed up. Daniel asks if his head is messed up because he wants people to respect him. Because he wants his tag team partner to respect him? Kane says that he keeps telling Daniel that he does respect him & Orton does too & everybody respects Daniel. Then Orton says that he tends to respect Daniel less & lee the more he whines about being the weak link. Daniel gets in Orton’s face & asks if he is calling him a whiner. Kane tells Daniel to let it go. They all wanna beat The Shield & they had them beat Monday. Daniel then says they had them beat till he got caught. Kane didn’t say that. Daniel says that he didn’t have to . Daniel then says that the only reason he got caught is because Orton got in his way. Orton says they’re right back where they started, crazy town. Then Miz asks Orton how he feels that Daniel blames him for the loss. Kane tells Orton not to answer that. Then Kane says for him & Daniel to get out of there. Daniel tells Kane to get his hands off him. Kane is his partner. He is supposed to have Daniel’s back. Kane screams to Daniel that he does have his back, he’s always had his back, but Kane is getting tired of Daniel not trusting him. Daniel says what a joke that is. Why should Daniel trust Kane? How many times has Kane left Daniel in the ring with The Shield alone? Daniel then says that when people call him the weak link Kane doesn’t come to his defense. Kane says that he does. Daniel says that it’s half heartedly. The dirty little fact is that Kane was forced to team with Daniel. If Kane had Orton, Cena or anybody but him Kane would be outta here in 2 seconds. Kane has had enough. Kane says that Daniel has lost his mind & then he tells Orton that he is on his own. Kane walks out. Then Miz says really a few times & then asked if we just the break up of team hell no right here on Miz TV. Daniel says that everyone will blame this on him. Then he shouts no a few times. Then out comes Teddy Long. He says that Daniel sounds like a man with whole lot to prove. Long says that he is out there to give Daniel another chance to prove it. Tonight Daniel will face Rollins & Reigns. But Since Kane doesn’t wanna have anything to do with Daniel right now, Long has no choice but to team him up with Orton. This was the usual “Miz TV starts Smackdown & then Teddy Long comes out & sets up a main event match” bit. I thought Kane & Daniel were very good here though. Daniel is great a playing the insecure, paranoid guy who thinks that no one respects him.

Paul Heyman & Curtis Axel come to the ring. Heyman says who he is & in the 3 weeks since he debuted his newest client has scored victories over not only HHH, but 2 consecutive victories over Cena. Then Axel says that tonight another former world champion learns what it means to be…perfect. Paul Heyman goes to the announce table for commentary.

Chris Jericho vs. Curtis Axel. Axel gets the pin.  This was a good match. Heyman gets on the announce table, looks at his watch and then shouts at Jericho it’s clobbering time. Then CM Punk’s music played & that distracted Jericho (This whole “someone’s music hits & the guy gets distracted” bit is not only dumb but it’s also being overused). Then Curtis rolls up Jericho for the pin. Afterwards Jericho heads up the ramp as Axel poses on the turnbuckle. Then Jericho storm back into the ring, beats on Curtis & gives him a code breaker. So Curtis Axel wins but gets flattened by Jericho afterwards. This is why the new talent doesn’t get over, because even when they win they’re booked to look inferior to the top guys!

Backstage we see Kane & he comes across Ryback. Ryback asks Kane if he saw what he did to Daniel Monday. Ryback bets that Kane would like to put “that little puke” through a table too (Now he’s using Sgt. Slaughter’s line)? Kane says that Daniel is his partner no matter how annoying he maybe sometimes. Kane then mentions that Ryback put Kofi out & slammed Daniel through a table. Let’s see if Ryback can to that to Kane. Ryback says Kane knows that Ryback rules. Kane says that he has Tombstoned a priest, set a man on fire & buried his brother alive. Whatever Ryback’s rules may be they don’t apply to him. This was decent & short backstage bit. They both showed some intensity.

Time for a Wyatt family vignette.

Now time for a look back at the McMahon family soap opera.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Heath Slater doesn’t happen because 3MB attack Del Rio. Slater keeps  Ricardo in the corner as McIntyre & Jinder beat down Del Rio. Then Jinder holds Del Rio but he gets free & Drew kicks Jinder. Then he kicks McIntyre & then tosses him out of the ring. The Slater charges at Del Rio but Del Rio gives him a tilt a whirl back breaker. Then he gets Slater in the cross arm breaker. After Slater rolls out of the ring, Drew & Jinder come back in. Jinder goes after Del Rio but Del Rio gets the upper hand. Then Ricardo jumps on Drew’s back. Del Rio clotheslines Jinder over the tope rope to the outside. Drew throws Ricardo off his back. Then he goes for Del Rio but Del Rio back drops him over the top to the floor. Then Ricardo gives Drew & Jinder a cross body off the top rope. Then Dolph Ziggler shows up on the Tron. He sarcastically congratulates Del Rio. Dolph says that Del Rio did a great job for someone who isn’t him. Dolph knows it feels like he is steeling Del Rio’s spotlight but to be fair steeling the spotlight is kinda his thing. Dolph has a present for Del Rio & that present is Dolph himself. He says that he has just been medically cleared to compete & will be showing off right in front of Del Rio’s face this Monday on Raw. Del Rio & Ricardo cleaning house on 3MB was ok but predictable & I thought Dolph’s promo was solid.

Kane vs. Ryback. Kane wins by DQ when Ryback puts him through a table. Ryback got the table out from under the ring. Then Kane wound up setting it up. He was going to choke slam Ryback through it but the referee was pleading for Kane not to. That allowed Ryback to rake Kane’s eyes & then power bomb him through the table. This match was decent, but it was more about “Ryback rules.”

Damien Sandow is in the ring. He says that over the last several weeks he has attempted to engage Sheamus in a series of intellectual challenges & Sheamus has flopped every time. This of course is because Sheamus will not now or ever be Sandow’s intellectual equal. Then he asks what man is his intellectual equal. The answer is no one. He talks about Nassau Community College & says that preschools have better standards than Nassau does. The fans are all a bunch of checker minds living in a chess world. He demand silence. This leads him to the only thing on this planet capable of matching him intellectually. A super computer. He introduces “Deep Blue.” The camera then shows that there is a computer in the ring & on the screen is a chess game. He tells Deep Blue to say hello & it says good evening (Yes the GM computer voice has returned). Deep blue is the super computer best known for beating some world chess grandmaster. This computer knows no equal. Deep Blue says that Sandow is too kind. Sandow wants silence from Deep Blue. Sandow will now attempt to recreate some “famous” chess match by challenging & beating Deep Blue (This is idiotic)! This may take quite some time but seeing how the fans are intellectually starved they will sit back in silence. The fans boo. Sandow says that the fans will all sit back in silence & watch & hopefully learn (Or fall asleep). Then he mentions that Bobby Fisher was a chess champion at age 15, Sandow became a chess champion when he was 8. Then he plays the chess game. He makes his first move & Deep Blue tells how excellent that was. Then out comes Sheamus. He asks Sandow how he is doing. Sandow says that he is a little preoccupied. Sheamus can see that but it seems to Sheamus that every week there’s a new challenge & this 1 right here Fella is the most impressive challenge yet. Sandow is just a couple of moves away from beating a super computer at chess. Sandow mentions how observant Sheamus is Then Sheamus says that week after week he’s been doing these challenges& tonight Sheamus felt it only just to bring a small challenge of his own to Sandow. Sheamus bets Sandow that he can this little toaster of his in 1 move. Sandow reminds Sheamus that he is once again on TV & (No duh! Why remind him? The cameras are right there filming) & he tells Sheamus not to embarrass himself. Sandow then says that for the last 2 weeks Sheamus has come out here & embarrassed himself in front of everyone. Sheamus says that the only one who’s embarrassed themselves is Sandow. If Sandow is too scared to let Sheamus try his little game here than just say so. Sheamus says 1 move. Sandow says it’s Sheamus’ reputation & to have at it. Sheamus looks at the screen & Sandow says he knows how tough this is (if he means how tough to watch he is so right)! Sandow says this is like watching an orangutan trying to solve a cross word puzzle. Sheamus says that Sandow is so quick with the wit. Sandow tells Sheamus to give up. Sheamus thinks his move through & Sandow says that Sheamus is apparently the Irish Einstein. Then Sheamus says that Sandow just reminded him how to beat this super computer with 1 move. Then he gives the computer the Brogue Kick. Then Sandow flips & Sheamus challenges him. Then Sandow punches Sheamus & beats him down. Then he rams Sheamus face first into the table the computer was on. Then he rams the back of Sheamus’ head into the table, kicks him a bit & then shouts you’re welcome. Wow was this segment incredibly & unnecessarily long. This was the worst of the Sandow challenges! Vince might find this to be entertaining but I don’t & I doubt any other fan does either! 

Backstage we see Daniel Bryan getting set for his match. Then Orton comes in. He says that Kane had to go to the trainer’s room after his match with Ryback. Daniel never asked Kane to defend him. Orton asks Daniel to put his personal problems with who ever he has problems with aside for tonight. Orton says let’s get through the night & beat The Shield. Daniel says that he doesn’t have problems. He has a mission. Tonight is the night that Daniel takes out The Shield. He warns Orton to stay out of his way. Orton says Daniel is giving him warnings now. Orton wants to get 1 thing straight. Orton says that he is not Kane. He & Daniel may be partners tonight but they’re not partners. Orton doesn’t like partners & he doesn’t like Daniel. This was a good backstage segment.

Time for another Wyatt family vignette.

Miz is on commentary for the next match.

Then Michael Cole mentions that Wade Barrett will face Fandango & The Miz in a 3 way for the IC Title at Payback. I knew that match was coming.

Zack Ryder vs. Fandango. Fandango gets the pin. This was ok but it was no surprise who won this. Then Fandango gets the mic & says his name.

Time for a look back at the really awesome Daniel Bryan-Ryback match from Monday followed by what Michael Cole referred to as, “Ryback’s Rampage.” 

Natalya is backstage & she walks up to Kaitlyn. Natalya says that on Raw…Kaitlyn then mentions that she will find out who her unknown admirer is. Natalya says that Raw is huge & live & it might be a little too big to meet him (If it’s a guy). Kaitlyn feels like Natalya is not excited for her. Natalya says that she is. Then Kaitlyn says that Natalya & Khali have been trying to find out who the mystery person is & now Natalya’s not excited for her (I’m not excited about any of this). Natalya says that she is extremely excited for her. She just thinks that Raw is a big show & she thinks that Kaitlyn needs to meet the mystery guy privately. These days you don’t know what people are like. This guy could be a total creep. Kaitlyn says that if he was a creep he wouldn’t be texting her, he would be texting Natalya. This was the same old crap we’ve been getting out of this story but it does look like we’ll be getting a Kaitlyn-Natalya angle.  

Randy Orton & Daniel Bryan vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns. Orton & Daniel win by DQ when Dean Ambrose comes in. During the match Orton was punching Rollins in the corner & Daniel goes to kick Rollins but he wound up hitting Orton. Then Rollins rolled up Daniel but Daniel turned it into the No Lock. Then Dean Ambrose came in, causing the DQ. Ambrose kicks Daniel and then lifts him up & hold him for Rollins. Rollins charges but Daniel gets the boot up & chucks Ambrose & Rollins out of the ring. Then Orton gives Daniel an RKO to end the show.

This week’s show had its ups & downs. The Miz TV segment wasn’t bad this week. Daniel Bryan was awesome here. The main event tag match was good too & the DQ finish was solid. I was sort of ok with Orton giving Daniel the RKO. This might lead to a Daniel-Orton match, which would be cool. The Sheamus-Sandow segment was easily the worst part of the show. Can they end these mental challenges? The Kaitlyn-Natalya backstage bit was lame too. I’m hoping this leads to a Kaitlyn-Natalya match at least. Del Rio & Ricardo cleaning house on 3MB was ok but predictable & Dolph’s promo on the Tron was solid. Ryder-Fandango was ok but I knew Fandango was winning. Jericho-Axel was good too but I don’t get why they had Jericho flatten Curtis after the match. Curtis is the new young talent that should be getting over, not flattened by the established guys! I was ok with the Kane-Ryback backstage bit & their match was decent. I also liked the  Daniel-Orton backstage bit. I also liked the Wyatt family vignettes & I hope they book them well. Overall I thought this was a mediocre show.

6-6-13 Impact results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the June 6, 2013 episode of Impact

The show starts with Bully Ray coming to the ring. He hugs Taz & gets in Tenay’s face. Then he gets in the ring & says obviously the fans are all very happy to see him. He says he is the TNA World Champion. He says he comes from NYC. He is the guy who beat Sting at Slammiversary. He is Bully Ray. Slammiversary hasn’t been to kind to Sting. Last year it was the first time Sting got jumped by Aces & 8s & everyone knows what happened Sunday. He single handedly beat Sting. Rumor has it that Sting might even retire. TNA has no more heroes. He has destroyed everybody. No one can do any thing about it. There’s only 1 thing left to do. Ray says that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. He tells Dixie to come down to his ring. Cue Hulk’s music & out he comes. He says it sounds like this is Hulkamania country. On Sunday Ray was at the top of his game & he couldn’t believe how Sting slipped on a banana peel when Aces & 8s helped Ray win again. Hulk asks if he just heard Ray say there’s no one left for him to face. Ray tells “dad” that he heard him well. Hulk begs to differ. All summer long TNA will be packed with competition because the BFG series is starting. Next week Ray will get to see the 12 guys who will be in the series. Tonight in Atlanta, GA…Ray tells Hogan not to go for the cheep pop. Hulk says Ray will face the guy that he screwed over twice. Ray will face Jeff Hardy. Out comes Jeff. Ray leaves the ring & says Hulk can’t to this. The fans chant Hardy. Ray says Hulk just can’t put him in as match with Jeff tonight. Hulk says as the GM he can do what he wants. He figured he would make Jeff feel at home in this match. The title is not on the line but so Jeff can feel like he’s back home this will be a ladder match. Tonight what will be hanging above the ring is what Aces & 8s have used many times. Jeff takes out a bull hammer. Hulk says tonight will a ladder match with the bull hammer hanging above the ring. “May the best man win brother.”  This was a typical Hulk opening segment. I don’t know why he has to start every show. I liked Ray’s promo. He was awesome as usual & Hulk was his usual self here. I have this very predictable feeling that in the main event Aces & 8s will come out & the match will end in a no finish.

Backstage Chavo tells Hernandez he’s frustrated, they should’ve come out of BFG tag champions. But they got added to the BFG series. Hernandez thanks Chavo. Chavo says he taught him a lot but not everything. It looks like they’re hinting at a Chavo heel turn.

Hernandez vs. Chavo Guerrero in a BFG series Qualifying match. Hernandez gets the pin. This was a solid back & forth match. Then Hernandez offers Chavo his hand, then after a bit they fist pump & then Chavo raises Hernandez’s arm. The seed for a Chavo heel turn have been planted.

Backstage we see Rampage Jackson. Gunner & James Storm welcome him to TNA.

 Devon comes to the ring. He says the jackasses in GA know that when he gets in the ring they should sit & shut up. He says Abyss has something that he stole from him Sunday. That wasn’t a sanctioned match. He will give Abyss the chance to hand over the TV Title to him. Out comes Joseph Park. He & the fans would be happy if Devon shut up. Sunday Devon robbed him of a title match. Park’s done being bullied. He will do what he should’ve done a while ago. He gets Devon with a double leg take down & then throws Devon around. Then Devon with a clothesline & then he hits Park with the mic. Devon takes it outside the ring, gets a chair & goes to hit Park in the back but then Abyss’ music plays. Devon screams for Abyss to get out there now. Devon says if Abyss doesn’t wanna come out then he will find him. Then Joseph looks at his own blood & huffs. This was a decent segment.

 Backstage Devon & Knox are looking for Abyss.

Robbie E comes to the ring. He says it’s no secret that in the 2012 BFG series Robbie E was the MVP bro. He beat Jeff Hardy & Jeff won the thing. E got 5 points bro. Tonight after he wins his 2013 BFG qualifying match the sky’s the limit. Whoever his opponent is, that guy’s going down bro. Out comes Samoa Joe.

Samoa Joe vs. Robbie E in a BFG series qualifying match. Joe wins by submission. This was a squash.

Backstage we see Velvet. Mickie James comes in & has a lottery ticket for her. Mickie says last week she felt like everything was in slow motion & before she can do anything Taryn came out & stole the show & her moment just like she stole their moment Sunday. Velvet & Mickie bury the hatchet. Velvet says how about Mickie gives her a rematch tonight. Mickie says that Brooke booked Mickie in a match tonight. Mickie walks out & Velvet kicks the wall. This was solid. Mickie is good in this role.    

Time for a Kurt Angle video package.

JB is in the ring. 2 days ago it made headline news across the world. He brings out the newest member of the Impact Roster Rampage Jackson. JB welcomes him to Impact. Rampage says it’s a big honor. He started out as a wrestling fan. He wants to be the best in TNA & to do that he has to beat the best. Out comes Kurt Angle. He says Rampage is looking at the best. Rampage might be the best in the cage but this is Angle’s ring. Someday when Jackson thinks he is ready he will have to go through Angle & that is real. They shake hands & have a stare down. This was a decent & short segment but I’m not sure about having a Rampage-Angle match.    

Backstage Jeff Hardy says Hulk made the match. He returned Sunday & he has his first match back on Impact tonight. It’s not for the title but he gets his chance at revenge.

Backstage we Bully Ray & Ken Anderson. Ray asks if Anderson heard from D’Lo. Anderson says D’Lo has a headache. They say it’s good they got rid of him & Anderson says that the VP slot is now open. Ray asks why he should have to face Jeff tonight in a ladder match. Why should he have to climb a ladder to grab a hammer to beat Jeff with. Hasn’t he done that already? Why would Hulk risk Jeff being injured again. Then he asks how come Aces & 8s don’t have a player in the BFG series? He will take care of that. Anderson asks if Ray needs any politicking done. Ray says this is Anderson’s call & that a good VP would know what to do.

X Division Champion Chris Sabin and TNA World Tag Team Champions Gunner & James Storm vs. Kenny King, Austin Aries & Bobby Roode. Sabin, Gunner & Storm win when Sabin pins Kenny. This was a good back & forth match.

Back to Devon & Knox looking for Abyss. They open some door & head outside the building.

Backstage Brooke Hogan tells Taryn that people are still talking about the last knockouts standing match from Sunday. Brooke never expected to see Taryn do what she did at the PPV. Taryn says Gail had it coming. Now she wants to be Knockouts Champion. Taryn then if Brooke still loves Ray. Brooke frantically waves it off, says they should keep this about wrestling & she wishes Taryn luck. This was a mixed bag segment. Taryn was good here but Brooke is awful.  

Taeler Hendrix vs. Knockouts Champion Mickie James. Mickie gets the pin. This was solid. Mickie faked a knee injury.

Back to Devon & Knox looking for Abyss. Then they show Knox’s shadow & Knox gets laid out. Then Abyss lays out Devon too. Abyss says he’s taking this belt into the Abyss. This was decent.

Jeff Hardy vs. TNA World Champion Bully Ray in a ladder match. Ray climbs the ladder & gets the bull hammer. Then he goes to hit Jeff but Jeff hits the Twist of Fate. Then Jeff gets the hammer. He goes to swing but Ray ducks. Ray bails to the back & as Jeff is going after him he falls on the ramp. Then backstage Ray asks where his belt is. Then Hulk shows up & was about to hit Ray with a hammer but then Brooke ran in & stopped her dad. Hulk stares at Brook as Ray bails. That ends the show. This was a good match but I wasn’t into the non finish. The backstage bit with Brooke stopping her dad from hitting Ray with the hammer was a weak ending too. It is kinda obvious that Brooke will turn heel & side with Ray.

This was a solid to good show for the most part. The opening bit was decent but it was your typical “Hulk Hogan starts the show” promo. The main event was good but the no finish was weak. I wasn’t really into Brooke stopping Hulk from hitting Ray with the hammer either. The Joseph Park-Devon in ring bit was decent, I was ok with Devon & Knox looking for Abyss & Abyss lying both guys out was decent. The Rampage-Angle bit was decent & thankfully short, but I’m not sure about a Rampage-Angle feud. The Velvet-Mickie backstage bit was ok too. Mickie is good at this new role. The Taeler-Mickie match was solid too. The Taryn-Brooke Hogan backstage bit was a mixed bag. Taryn was good here & Brooke was her usual terrible self. Hernandez-Chavo was solid too & it looks like Chavo will be turning heel. Samoa Joe-Robbie E was a squash but I thought Robbie E’s pre match promo was kinda comical. I liked the 6 man tag too. There was a lot of good back & forth action there. Overall I thought this was a solid to good show this week.

6-3-13 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the June 3, 2013 episode of Raw

The show starts with Stephanie McMahon coming to the ring. She says it feels great to be back on Raw. She wishes it was under better circumstances. 2 weeks ago HHH was in a cage match with Brock and then the next fought Curtis Axel. HHH wasn’t able to finish that match. Even though HHH is medically cleared, she’s made an executive decision to not allow him to compete. She made this decision as and executive, wife & mother. She will not let him wrestle someone who is beneath him (They give Joe Hennig a new gimmick & they have Stephanie says he’s beneath HHH? This is why no one gets over!). This decision isn’t about the fans & she tells them not be so selfish. Out comes Vince. Vince has a personal request & that’s for the fans not to boo his daughter. HHH has given everything…the fan chant HHH. Stephanie & Vince say they care about HHH more than the fans do. Vince says HHH will not compete tonight. The fans chant HHH & Vince says they want his Triple H’s heart, liver, soul, spleen. What to the fans want from him? WWE is family entertainment, not a blood sport. Kofi Kingston last week was put through table after table & the fans chanted 1 more time. It won’t be 1 more time for HHH tonight or any night. Vince says that Axel is beneath HHH & so are the fans. Cue The Shield’s theme music & out they come. Break time. This was really idiotic! I absolutely HATED that they had BOTH Vince & Stephanie say that Curtis Axel is beneath HHH!! Come on Vince you’re supposed to put the new talent over as the next generation of guys, not bury to them & say your f’n son in law is better than the new talent! Grow a brain!

Back from break & The Shield are in the ring & Vince & Stephanie aren’t there. The Shield will be in a 6 man tag next. I don’t get why they had The Shield come out while Vince & Stephanie were in the ring & not have The Shield do or say anything.

Randy Orton, Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. U.S. Champion Dean Ambrose and WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns. The Shield wins when Ambrose pins Daniel. This was a good match. Orton was going for an RKO on Reigns but Reigns shoved Orton off & into Daniel Bryan. Then Ambrose hit his finisher on Daniel for the pin.

They announce that there will be a contract signing for the Chris Jericho-CM Punk match that will happen at Payback. Are they kidding!? Why does this match even need a contract signing!?

Backstage Daniel Bryan is pissed at Orton. Orton apologizes & says he wants to beat The Shield as much as Kane & Daniel do. Daniel says that wasn’t an apology. Then Daniel says that both Kane & Orton think that he is the weak link & his fault they lost. They can’t apologize to him because they don’t respect him. Kane says they do but Daniel has lost touch with reality. Daniel rants & says that since they don’t respect him he will have another & beat the respect out of someone. Maybe then Kane & Orton will finally respect him. This was a solid bit. I like having Daniel be a bit unsure of himself & because of that he is showing more intensity.

HHH shows up & asks some guy where Vince’s office is? He walks in & tells Stephanie is wrestling Axel. Stephanie says 2 weeks ago she saw him collapse at ringside. HHH says he is wrestling. Stephanie says Axel isn’t worth it. HHH says he is wrestling. Vince says the cerebral assassin is not being too cerebral. Vince tells HHH to get his ego out of the way. HHH says Vince is 1 to talk about having an ego. HHH says he will face Curtis & asks who will stop him. Vince tells him not to do something that he will regret. This was terrible!! Having the McMahons on TV makes of painful watching & this whole damn bit with HHH wanting to compete but Vince & Stephanie not letting him is stupid!! I’m not watching this to see the McMahon family soap opera!!

The Usos vs. The Primetime Players. The Usos win when Jay pins Darren. This was a decent match.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Big E Langston. Del Rio gets the pin. This was a solid match.

Damien Sandow is on commentary with a copy of a book written by Mrs. JBL.

Sheamus vs. Cody Rhodes. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a decent match. Then Sheamus goes over to Sandow. Sandow says no one wants to see Sheamus. Sheamus offers his hand but Sandow slaps it away. Then Sheamus slaps Sandow in the head, knocking the headset off. This Sheamus-Sandow program hasn’t really made any sense & is totally pointless.

Backstage we see HHH & Stephanie. HHH is says he’s leaving. He tells Stephanie to tell Vince that next week he will be wrestling Curtis Axel. He rides off & Stephanie calls him Paul. Why are they doing the whole “This is real because she used his real name” crap that Russo is infamous for?    

They reshow Ryback power bombing Kofi Kingston through 3 tables from Smackdown. Then Michael Cole mentions that Kofi got an elbow injury.

Backstage Daniel Bryan is pissed still & then he sees Ryback. Ryback tells him to watch what he’s doing. Ryback says he’s why Kofi had surgery. Ryback says that last year he had the flu & a stomach virus & that his throw up is bigger than Daniel. Daniel’s not afraid of Ryback. Ryback says that Daniel has lost his mind & tells Daniel to get in the ring with him tonight. Then he says that Daniel is the weak link & after tonight he will be the missing link. This was a decent backstage bit, but Ryback saying that his barf is bigger than Daniel was lame.

Then we see Paul Heyman & Curtis Axel in the GM office & Vince walks in. Vince says Curtis has a lot of potential. Then he says that Curtis Axel will face Cena tonight in a No DQ match. Vince asks if Heyman wants him to say it in Yiddish. This was weak. They set up Cena vs. Axel in a No DQ match. I have a scary feeling that they’re gonna make Curtis look like a jabrone against Super Cena.

Great Khali vs. Fandango. Khali wins by count out when Fandango had enough. Fandango was gonna walk out but The Miz showed up on the stage. Then Wade Barrett came out from the back & hit Miz in the back of the head with the bull hammer. This was weak too.

The Miz vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Miz wins by submission. Fandango’s music hits and he & Summer Rae come back out. They pose on the stage, Barrett was distracted by this & then Miz got Barrett in the figure 4 for the submission win. This match was ok but I’m sick of the Fandango gimmick. Also why does someone who is in a match have to get completely distracted every time someone’s theme music plays? I have a feeling that they’ll have Miz vs. Fandango vs. Barrett for the IC Title at Payback.

Jerry Lawler is in the ring. He mentions that last week Jericho issued a challenge to Punk for a match at Payback. Heyman accepted the challenge & now we will have the contract signing to make it official. Out comes Chris Jericho. Then out comes Paul Heyman. King says they’ve both looked over the contract. Now we need their signatures. Heyman says before he signs this, which they could’ve signed in the back, but since he’s out here to feed Jericho’s ego, he will have to say this to his face. When Jericho shows up to face Punk…Jericho cuts him off & talks about Punk’s long title reign, Punk losing to Taker & Punk’s tattoos. Jericho doesn’t care about any of those. All he cares about is Heyman delivering Punk at Payback in Chicago June 16. Heyman signs and then tells Jericho before he signs Heyman asks if Jericho is truly prepared to face Punk in Chicago. Tonight we have an arena filled with Jerichoholics, but that won’t be the case in Chicago. In Chicago Jericho will be booed by the fans in Punk’s home town. Jericho might be the best in the world he does but Punk is the best in the world at what he does and that’s make lairs out of people who say they’re the best in the world. Jericho says Heyman might be right. Maybe this match should be at SummerSlam in LA. Heyman says no. Jericho says how about at MSG in NYC. Heyman says tempting but no. Then Jericho says how about right here in Hartford. Heyman says no to that too. Jericho says it doesn’t matter where you’re from, when you act like a jackass like Punk acts you get treated like a jackass. Then Jericho signs. Now that this contract is signed, where do they file it? Jericho has a good idea where this contract belongs. Jericho stands up & he tells Heyman to do the same. Jericho tells Heyman to unbutton his jacket before he rips it off. Jericho knows where this contract needs to be filed. He shoves it in Heyman’s pants and says, “See ya in Chicago.” This was a mixed bag segment. Heyman was good on the mic as usual but the rest of this segment was pointless. Having Jericho shove the contract in Heyman’s pants was lame. Also why promote that Punk was going to be returning and then not have him be there?

Divas Champion Kaitlyn, Naomi & Cameron vs. AJ Lee & The Bellas. Kaitlyn, Naomi & Cameron win when Kaitlyn pins Brie. This wasn’t much. Brie went to tag AJ but AJ jumped off the apron & Brie. Then Kaitlyn hit a spear on Brie for the pin.

Backstage Daniel Bryan is getting pumped. Kane comes in & Daniel says his match is next. Kane says Daniel is making a mistake. We saw what Ryback did to Kofi. Kane says he’s never seen anyone with as much heart as Daniel. He proves it night after night & he doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody. Daniel says Kane is wrong, he does have something to prove & he will by beating Ryback tonight. He also wants Kane to not be at ringside. Kane tells Daniel to call him when he finds his mind because he has obviously lost it. This was solid. I like that they have Daniel show intensity.

Time for a Wyatt family vignette.

Ryback comes out in the ambulance again.

Daniel Bryan vs. Ryback. Daniel wins by DQ. This was really good back & forth match. Ryback got a table from under the ring. He set it up & power bombed Daniel through it causing the DQ.

Then Ryback gets another table, but Cena comes out & hold Ryback at bay. Ryback gets on the apron as Cena shows off the belt. Then out come Curtis Axel & Paul Heyman. Cena vs. Curtis is next.

WWE Champion John Cena vs. Curtis Axel in a No DQ match. Curtis wins by count out. Ryback came out & put Cena through a table & did Cena’s you can’t see me gesture. That lead to the count out finish. Then Ryback tells Cena that at Payback Ryback rules to end the show. This was a good plunder match & I knew that Ryback would come out & cost Cena the match.  

This week’s show had solid to good matches but some of the story telling was questionable to say the least. Vince & Stephanie starting the show totally blew & I hated that they said Curtis Axel is beneath HHH. The other 2 backstage McMahon family soap opera backstage bits were awful too. Cena-Curtis was a good plunder match but I knew that Ryback would come out & cost Cena the match. I liked the backstage bits with Kane & Daniel Bryan. They both let Daniel show a lot of intensity. I like that have him second guessing himself & having that bring a more aggressive side out of him. The 6 man tag & The Daniel-Ryback match were both really good too. Khali-Fandango wasn’t much & Miz-Barrett was decent but I hated that they Barrett get distracted by Fandango’s music. The Wyatt family vignette was good & I’m hoping they book these guys well on the main roster. The contract signing was pointless. Heyman was good with his promo as usual but I don’t get why they needed a contract signing for Jericho-Punk. The Vince-Heyman-Curtis segment was also a waste I thought, the Daniel-Ryback bit was decent but I hated the “Ryback’s barf is bigger than Daniel” line. The 6 Divas tag was your typical Divas match. There wasn’t much to it. I’m curious if they even remember that AJ is the number 1 contender for the Divas Title. The Usos vs. The Primetime Players and Sheamus-Cody were both decent matches. I was surprised to see the Usos back on Raw. The Sheamus-Sandow rivalry has been really weak & I have no idea what they’re doing here. Del Rio-Langston was solid too. Overall I thought there solid to good matches this week but some of the booking was odd.