Detailed 8/19/11 Smackdown Recap

Aug 20, 2011 - by staff

Opening Segment

Long is already in the ring to start the show. He introduces our new World Champion, Randy Orton. He claims to have beaten up Christian so bad that he will not show up here tonight. He says his feud with Christian is over and wants to know who his next opponent will be. Long announces a 20 man, over-the-top battle royal, to determine a new no. 1 contender. He is interrupted by Rhodes and Dibiase. Rhodes says that being the IC champion is not enough and he is going to participate in the battle royal tonight. Rhodes start speaking and Orton hits an RKO on Ted Dibiase out of nowhere. Orton’s music hits and he goes to the back. Rhodes demands an apology from Long but instead, Long makes Ezekiel Jackson vs. Cody Rhodes and the match starts…NEXT

 

Match One: Cody Rhodes vs. Ezekiel Jackson

Jackson dominates early on. Rhodes eventually gets back in the match and hits a bulldog for a two count. Rhodes kicks the steel steps into the legs of Jackson. The action rolls back in the ring and Rhodes hits the Beautiful Disaster kick and the Cross Rhodes for the win.

Winner: Cody Rhodes; Match Rating: 3/10

 

Backstage Segment: Ryder, Long and Aksana

Ryder and Long talk about Del Rio showing up tonight, before Aksana comes in. Long talks with her for a bit as the romantic music is played in the background.

 

Match Two: Tyson Kidd vs. Justin Gabriel

The two go back and forth early on, but soon Kidd gains the control of the match. The crowd is dead for this one. Kidd is working on his back but Gabriel is able to hit an enzuigiri. We’re seeing a lot of kicks from Gabriel. He blocks a superplex attempt by Kidd and hits the 450 splash for the win.

Winner: Justin Gabriel; Match Rating: 4/10

 

Backstage Interview: Striker interviews Mahal and Khali

Khali says in Urdu that he will win the Battle Royal. Mahal translates that and tells him that he serves him, and Mahal will be the new no. 1 contender.

 

In ring segment: Alberto Del Rio, Ricardo Rodriguez and Daniel Bryan

Del Rio rambles on about his destiny etc. He issues an open challenge for tonight. His challenge is answered by Daniel Bryan. He criticizes Del Rio’s decision to cash in the briefcase on an injured champion.

 

Match Three: Alberto Del Rio vs. Daniel Bryan

The action goes back and forth early on before Del Rio hits an armbreaker DDT on Bryan from the top rope. This is the part of the match when Del Rio works on Bryan’s arm. Bryan eventually comes back in the match and manages to hit a running knee off the ring apron. They’re back in the ring and Del Rio hits a very weak German Suplex. Del Rio attempts a back drop on Bryan off the top rope but Bryan counters and hits a weak cross body or something as we go to a commercial. We’re back and Bryan manages to gain control of the match. He hits his usual missile dropkick but it isn’t enough to keep Del Rio down for the win. Bryan is able to lock in the Gullotine but Del Rio powers out of it and hits a suplex, followed by a cross arm breaker which makes Bryan tap out.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio; Match Rating: 5/10

After the match, Del Rio applies the arm breaker again but Sin Cara makes the save. He manages to hit his signature cross body on Del Rio on the outside. Sin Cara checks on Bryan as Del Rio makes his way to the back.

 

Backstage Interview: Mark Henry

He basically says he’s going over tonight.

 

Match Four: Natalya and Alicia Fox vs. Kelly Kelly and AJ

Natalya powers AJ early on. Fox and Natalya work on AJ as Kelly tries to cheer for her partner. Natalya gets the tag again and AJ gets a double suplex from her opponents. Kelly finally gets the hot tag and she hits her usual offense on Alicia (I.e. the bull dog, the head scissors, the stink face, the Lou Thesz press etc.) Kelly hits her finisher for the three count.

Winner: Kelly Kelly and AJ; Match Rating: 4/10

After the match, Natalya and Fox argue about the loss. Natalya knocks Fox out of the ring and applies the Sharp Shooter on Fox on the outside.

 

Match Five: 20 Man Battle Royal to determine the no.1 contender for Orton’s title.

Orton is at ringside for the match.

Everyone goes after Henry and he just pushes everyone away and eliminates Trent Barretta and Yoshi Tatsu for good measure. Barrett eliminates Johnny Curtis. Mahal is in the corner and Khali is protecting him. Sin Cara sends Ryder over the top as well. Khali easily sends Jackson over the top. We get the Henry-Khali confrontation. Khali hits the chop but Henry is able to lift Khali and toss him over the top rope. Sheamus bicycle kicks Heath Slater out of the ring and meets the ring steps, courtesy of Henry who was sent outside through the bottom rope (meaning he wasn’t eliminated) as we go to a commercial. We’re back and Henry is still waiting on the outside. Sin Cara eliminates Gabriel and Henry over powers Gabriel over the guard railing. Sheamus eliminates both Usos and both get mishandled by Henry as well. Henry re-enters the match and he quickly eliminates Mahal and Dibiase. Also, Sin Cara hurricanranas Kidd out of the match. The last four are Sheamus, Henry, Barrett and Sin Cara. Henry is targeted by all of his opponents. Barrett clotheslines Sheamus. Both Barrett and Sheamus are fighting on the outside of the ring apron. Eventually, Sheamus eliminates Barrett and the goes to battle with Sin Cara. Henry tosses Sheamus out of the ring. Sin Cara manages to hit a cross-body on Henry. But Henry hits the World’s Strongest Slam on Sin Cara and then press slams Sin Cara out of the ring.

Winner: Mark Henry; Match Rating: 5/10

Henry and Orton face off on the outside to end the show.

 

Overall Show Rating: 5/10 | Last Week’s Rating: 4/10

 

Closing Thoughts:

The booking made no sense tonight. You make Cody Rhodes appear as a viable threat at the start of the show and then you have him eliminated during the starting moments of the Battle Royal??? Mark Henry is the new no.1 contender..which is absurd. His feud with Sheamus could have lasted another month. Wade Barrett or Cody Rhodes needed to go over tonight so we can have some fresh main events. Smackdown is very stale nowadays. A big reason for that is the random matches we get to see every week. Get Kidd or Gabriel in a feud or something. Del Rio on Smackdown was also stupid. There was no reason for him to be there at all. And then Sin Cara makes the save???? All of this will eventually lead to nothing because Del Rio is on Raw. I’m not sure if Natalya losing was a good move. His actions after the match didn’t let her heel turn go to waste but if the post match stuff hadn’t happened, then all the good work would have been lost. Plus, Mahal and Khali are extremely boring. Mahal doesn’t have the mic skills or the in-ring talent to match Muhammad Hassan (wikipedia it newbies…) and Khali is well…Khali. Before I end this, I have to say that Aksana looks hotter now in black hair than how she looked back in NXT.

 

Till Next Week, its Zain “The Eccentric” signing off…

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