8/23 Shore's WWE Smackdown live coverage: Big E Langston vs. Dolph Ziggler, Antonio Cesaro vs. Darren Young, and Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett in a cage match

By Chris Shore

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped on 8/20 in Bakersfield, California.

Vickie Guerrero opened the show in the ring and introduced Randy Orton. He walked to the ring and she climbed out to hug him. He gave her a look and she just shook his hand and stepped aside. Orton played to the heel heat as Michael Cole and JBL checked in on commentary and filled in anyone who didn't see SummerSlam.

Orton took the mic and said now that he was champion he wanted to be a good role model, and good role models tell the truth and that's what he did. He said he told everyone when he cdashed in, no one would see it coming. He said he didn't know Triple H was going to Pedigree Daniel Bryan, but no one could expect him to leave an opportunity like that lying in the ring. He said he appreciated the support of the McMahon family, but now he wanted to ask for everyone's support. He said he wasn't just WWE Champion; he was the face of the company.

Bryan's music hit and he came out to a big pop. Bryan said before he addressed the face of the company, he said he wanted to finish what he wanted to say before Stephanie McMahon cut him off. He thanked John Cena for allowing him to wrestle him. He said it allowed him to feel what it was like to be WWE Champion. He said as far as the current face of the company, it was time for that to change.

Bryan put over Orton as tall, chiseled, and "pretty." He said he understood why Triple H likes him son much, it's because Orton is very pretty. He said Orton was given opportunities because his family was there and gave him the genetic golden ticket. He paused to mo0ck Orton for being pretty again. He said he had to earn his way to the top because he wasn't tall and he wasn't pretty. He said he could wrestle, and he could beat Orton, and he could beat him for the title.

Bryan said he is entitled to a rematch and the crowd popped. He said he wanted his rematch to happen tonight. The crowd popped big and started a "Yes" chant. Orton said, "Sorry short stuff, you're going to have to wait for Night of Champions." He stepped into Bryan's face and raised the belt. He started to walk away and then reached back for an RKO. Bryan shoved him off into the ropes and hit a dropkick that spilled Orton to the floor. Bryan dared Orton to "come on" but Orton backed away…

[Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman were shown walking backstage…[C]

Shore's Slant: Fun opening, but I can't believe they are going with the simple rematch clause as how they get these two back in the ring. Can't the McMahon's just over rule that? I guess they can always go to that on Monday, but that was weak logic.

Backstage, Vickie Guerrero was on the phone and said somebody needed to teach Bryan a lesson. Wade Barrett walked up and offered his services. Vickie agreed and booked a cage match between Barrett and Bryan…

1. Cody Rhodes vs. Curtis Axel (w/Paul Heyman). The fight spilled to the floor and Axel dropped Rhodes on the apron to take control…[C] Axel continued to beat down Cody, who had a missed Disaster Kick for a hope spot. Cody finally hit a clothesline and climbed to the top rope. Heyman distracted him and Axel hit the ropes to knock him down. Axel followed with his finisher for the win…

Curtis Axel defeated Cody Rhodes at 8:21.

Post-match, Heyman cut a promo saying he was in agony because of the actions of CM Punk. He said his agony came from lifting a great athlete to the best in the world only to see him fall to become a complete loser. He said Punk was embarrassed by Brock Lesnar and now Punk has gone off the rails. He said Punk never stood a chance against Lesnar because Punk without Heyman was lost.

He transitioned to Axel and said Axel had found success with him and that was why no one could defeat Axel for the Intercontinental Championship. Axel took the mic and said Punk was so jealous of the attention Heyman has paid him that Punk attacked him with a chair. He said he was going to finish what Lesnar started. He challenged Punk to a match on Monday night. He said he was younger and more athletic than Punk, and he had Paul Heyman in his corner…Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston were shown walking split screen backstage…[C]

Shore's Slant: Most of that match was in the commercial break and what wasn't was pretty basic stuff. I don't understand having Cody beat Sandow just to job here to Axel. What's the message there? Why would you have a guy beat your Money in the Bank holder just to lose in a meaningless non-title match to the mid-card champion? I don't get it.

AJ Lee finished her entrance, followed by Big E Langston and Ziggler. A video recapped the beating Ziggler took on Monday. Langston attacked Ziggler as he climbed in the ring an the ref screamed at him to back-up. Ziggler finally made his feet and the ref called for the bell…

2. Big E Langston (w/AJ Lee) vs. Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler tried to punch away, but Langston continued his assault. He lifted Ziggler for a powerbomb, but Ziggler reversed into a face buster for two. AJ poked Dolph in the eyes and Langston hit a clothesline. Big E setup for the Big Ending, but Ziggler escaped and hit the Zig Zag for the win…[C]

Dolph Ziggler defeated Big E Langston at 2:00.

Shore's Slant: Remember when we thought the Big E vs. Dolph feud could be a lot of fun? Good times, man, good times. Now we have Ziggler beating Langston in two minutes. Ah well, at least we have the memories.

3. Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio. Christian dumped Del Rio to the floor and he headed up the ramp to regroup…[C] Back from commercial, Del Rio shoved Christian to the floor from the top rope as a video showed Del Rio slamming Christian's arms against the stairs during the break.

Del Rio hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and played to the crowd. He did his missed dropkick through the rope but hung on to the ropes. Christian hit a backbreaker through the ropes and started his comeback when Del Rio climbed back in the ring. He went for a high cross body, but Del Rio stepped aside and hit a quick dropkick for a cool near fall.

Christian countered with his corner sunset flip for two. Del Rio went for the arm breaker, but Christian slipped out and ended up hitting a tornado DDT for two. Christian charged for the spear, but Del Rio ran from the ring. Christian punched him through the ropes and went to the top rope, but Del Rio hit a kick for two.

Del Rio took his knee pad down and went for a superkick. I'm not sure what he removed the pad for. Christian caught the leg, but Del Rio shoved him away and drove Christian into the ring post. He hooked the arm from the top rope and rolled down into the cross armbreaker. Christian fought it for a moment and then gave up…

Alberto Del Rio defeated Christian in 13:05.

Post-match, Del Rio cut a promo and said he knew all the Latinos wanted to be him, but there could only be one. He said he knew why they wanted to be him, it was because they were all peasants. He said they didn't have to be peasants if they didn't want to. He said all they had to do was follow him to greatness.

Ricardo Rodriguez walked out on stage and shut Del Rio down. He said he couldn't follow Del Rio because he looked down on people. He said the guy he was hanging with now didn't look down on people. He introduced RVD, who got a good pop. Before RVD could get to the ring, Christian hit a missile dropkick. RVD rolled in the ring, did the thumb thing, and then hit rolling thunder. He and Ricardo posed with the belt as Del Rio retreated…

A video recapped the opening segment…[C]

Shore's Slant: Another very good match from these two. I was really down going into this match but these two pulled me back in with a different match than the one they had Sunday. Nice work. I'm indifferent about Ricardo and RVD right now. They don't really impress me, and I don't think the casual fan cares about Ricardo getting revenge, but RVD is over enough for this to possibly have some legs.

Big Show made his ring entrance to a good pop. Mark Henry's pop sounded bigger. 3MB…yeah, not so much…

4. Mark Henry and Big Show vs. 3MB in a handicap match. Show started and 3MB played rock-paper-scissor to see who would start. They all showed rock so Slater started. Henry tagged in and missed a butt splash, allowing 3MB to have a moment of offense, but Henry got a hot tag to Show. From there it was just murder on all three men. Show knocked out McIntyre for the win…

Mark Henry and Big Show squashed 3MB at 3:07.

Post-match, Rollins and Reigns appeared on the screen. Reigns mocked them for beating 3MB. Rollins said their time was short together, but justice was forever. Reigns said they didn't deserve respect. Rollins said they were just better than the two of them and that Show and Henry needed to be replaced. They did the "Believe" gimmick, and then Show and Henry basically laughed them off in the ring…[C]

Shore's Slant: What the hell? I mean, they showed a little anger while the promo was going on, but otherwise they seemed unimpressed. The Shield has wreaked havoc ever since they first appeared, even for big guys. At least act like they have a chance. That was just bad.

Back from commercial, Zeb Coulter and his crew did their "We the people" gimmick. The Primetime Players were out next…

5. Darren Young (w/Titus O'Neal) vs. Antonio Cesaro (w/Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger). Cesaro popped Young in the mouth and went to work fast, but Young came right back and hit a northern lights suplex. Swagger distracted Young, but Titus pulled him off the apron. Young hit the gut buster for the win…[C]

Darren Young defeated Antonio Cesaro at 2:31.

Shore's Slant: Young seemed to have a busted lip at the end of the match. I thought there was some controversy over what Zeb said, but whatever it was didn't make its way to TV.

Backstage, a fan asked Ryback for an autograph. Ryback did it, but then they guy asked him what his name was. Ryback got pissed and the guy tried to explain he didn't watch but his kid was going to love it. Ryback mocked him and tore up the paper he had autographed…Cole announced CM Punk had accepted Axel's challenge for Monday…The cage lowered and the announce team setup the main event…[C]

Bryan made his entrance, followed by Barrett…

6. Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett in a cage match. Barrett took early control and worked ground and pound on Bryan. He picked Bryan up and slammed him into the cage face first. Bryan reversed a whip and back dropped Barrett into the cage. Bryan tried for his diving lariat, but Barrett caught him and hit a side slam for two…[C]

Back from commercial, Bryan hit two dropkicks that drove Barrett into the cage. He tried to escape, but Barrett stopped him. Bryan knocked Barrett to the mat and hit a missile dropkick for two. Barrett came right back with a clothesline that turned Bryan inside out for two. Barrett hit an electric chair for two and tried to climb the cage.

Bryan recovered and pulled Barrett back in. He tried for a German suplex from the top rope, but Barrett held on. Barrett elbowed him away and got one leg over the top of the cage, but Bryan caught him and pulled him back in the ring. Bryan kicked Barrett back to the mat. He climbed down and did a "Yes" chant with the fans before hitting his running knee for the win…

Daniel Bryan defeated Wade Barrett in a cage in 13:30.

Post-match, Bryan left the cage and celebrated outside the ring. As he was going around, Orton popped out from nowhere and hit an RKO on the floor to close the show…

Shore's Slant: A nice ending to the show. The cage match was well done, and Orton popped out of nowhere. Was he under the ring? All in all it was a mediocre Smackdown that opened and closed well, but otherwise failed to produce memorable moments. Jake Barnett will have more tomorrow with the Hitlist and I will have more with the All Access audio review. Thanks for watching along tonight.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

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