Detailed 8/31/12 WWE Smackdown Recap

by Brian Leeman

The show starts off with our World Heavyweight Champion, Sheamus. Sheamus cuts the usual promo about Alberto Del Rio until he’s interrupted by Damien Sandow. Sandow brings up the DX segment from Raw 1000 and says he can help Sheamus. Sheamus says he’s got a life and doesn’t care what Sandow says. Sheamus tells Sandow to come into the ring and Sandow decides to take his leave. Booker T comes out and books a singles match between them for later in the show.

Match #1
Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes
Rhodes is still obsessed with the masks and uses much of this match to attempt to take Mysterio’s mask off. Mysterio looks very good in this one as he manages to counter Cody’s attempts. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Rhodes catches him. Rey manages to roll up Cody for the victory!
Winner: Rey Mysterio

After the match Rhodes starts beating down Mysterio and attempts to rip off the mask. Sin Cara runs out and makes the save and Rey hits the 619. Sin Cara pulls out another one of his masks and puts it on Rhodes.
They showed the anger management segments from Monday.

*Commercial*

Match #2
Kaitlyn vs Natalya
Eve is at ringside for this one on commentary. Quite a bit of power in this match. Natalya with loads of trash talking and Kaitlyn taking a mean bump on the outside, being slammed right off the mat. Natalya keeps screaming at Kaitlyn about respect. Octopus Stretch by Natalya. Some awkward looking armdrags by Kaitlyn. Big clothesline from Natalya. Roll up from Kaitlyn for the win.
Winner: Kaitlyn

Recap of Punk/Lawler from Raw after hyping Kaitlyn/Layla for Night of Champions.

Match #3
Sheamus vs Damien Sandow
Sandow stalls to start the match, getting big heat from the crowd. Sandow starts off slowing down the match but on the outside, Sandow throws Sheamus into the steel steps and goes for a count out. Sheamus gets back into the ring where Sandow gets him in a headlock and works over the back before hitting a Russian leg sweep. Sandow goes for the elbow of disdain but misses. Sandow with a neckbreaker for a near fall before digging a knee into the back and locking in a rear naked choke. Sheamus with a catapult flip and now a big set of moves culminating with the clubs to the chest. Sandow keeps trying to get away and eventually manages to.
Winner via countout: Sheamus

Donald Driver in the house tonight.

Match #4
Justin Gabriel & Tyson Kidd vs Titus O’Neil & Darren Young
Gabriel and Kidd start off using some tag team moves and they work over Young with their quick offense. Young tags in Titus but Kidd continues fighting them until he takes a big boot. Big foreward fall away slam followed by Titus tagging in Young. Kidd starts fighting back and tags in Gabriel. Big kicks by Gabriel and a flip over the back followed by a huge forearm smash. Gabriel with an STO before getting ready for the 450 splash but Titus distracts him. Kidd dives over the ropes onto Titus but Young shakes the rope and hits his finisher on Gabriel for the win:
Winner: Prime Time Players

More recaps of the Daniel Bryan anger management. Del Rio now in the ring but is quickly interrupted by Kane. Josh Matthews runs away. Kane cuts a promo saying his therapist told him to apologize to Josh. Kane apologies to Josh and goes to leave the ring but Teddy Long cuts him off. Long says that Del Rio is going to face Kane right now.

*Commercial*

Match #4
Kane vs Alberto Del Rio
We return to Kane hitting throat thrusts on Del Rio. Del Rio with a big kick but Kane responds with a knee and dropkick to the back. Josh on commentary is selling that he doesn’t buy the apology. Kane with a big throat thrust to Del Rio, who was on the top rope. Del Rio slams the arm into the ring post. And a kick to the arm. Del Rio goes for the armbar but Kane pulls his arm out and hits a big boot. Sidewalk slam from Kane for a near fall. Kane goes to the top and hits the flying clothesline. Ricardo gets up on the apron and distracts Kane. Backstabber from Del Rio for the victory.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio

Kane gets angry and grabs Josh Matthews. He brutalizes him outside the ring while yelling “I’m Sorry Josh!”. A “beat up Cole” chant emerges. Chokeslam from Kane to Matthews in the ring.

We now get Triple H promo #54.

Time for our main event. Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton!

Main event
Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton
Match starts off with a crisp dropkick from Dolph and some shoulder blocks from Orton, followed by a dropkick of his own. VINTAGE ORTON with the stomps to the limbs. This match seems very rushed. Orton with a slingshot suplex. Neckbreaker from Ziggler followed by some stomps and elbow drops. Control varies until Ziggler hits a huge clothesline. Dolph tries another elbow drop but Orton gets out of the way. Ziggler follows tries a splash in the corner and also misses. Orton with the barrage now, clothesline and a powerslam. Dolph avoids the snap DDT but Orton counters him and puts him up on the top rope. Superplex from Orton! Near fall on the cover. Ziggler with a huge DDT out of nowhere but Orton kicks out at 2. Ziggler goes for the Zig Zag but Orton counters and puts Dolph between the ropes. Snap DDT. Ziggler kicks out at two! Dolph rolls out of the ring and Orton tosses him across the announce table. RKO from Orton back in the ring for the victory.
Winner: Randy Orton

After the match, Vickie yells “And still your Money In The Bank winner: Dolph Ziggler!” as the show ends.