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9/21 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live Review: Edge returns, also Kane and Daniel Bryan, plus Divas action!

Posted in: WWE TV Reports, MUST-READ LISTING
By
Sep 21, 2012 - 07:00 PM

By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on SyFy
Taped 9/18 in Philadelphia, PA


[Q1] Cole and Mathews welcomed us to the show, and then advertised Sheamus and Orton vs. Del Rio and Ziggler for later in the show. Lilian Garcia then introduced Edge, who came out to a thunderous ovation. Mathews then advertised Edge for the episode of Haven that goes on immediately after Smackdown. Edge had a microphone and looked excited. A big “Thank you Edge” chant broke out before he spoke. Edge opened and said that it never gets old. He then said Philly is the home of the broad street bullies. Edge recollected being forced into retirement, and gave another cheap plug for his appearance on Haven.

Edge then said he's been able to watch WWE as a fan since he left, and has been enjoying the show. He said he's seen a lot as a performer and a fan, but never anything like this. He then aired a video of Daniel Bryan and Kane as they hugged out their conflict. Yes chants began after the video. Edge then asked how Kane and Goat Boy became BFF's and Tag Team Champions. Daniel Bryan's music then hit and he headed toward the ring with a microphone. The crowd erupted into Yes chants. Bryan stuggled to maintain his composure due to the chants.

Bryan said he wanted to correct Edge on his use of pronouns. He then insisted that he alone is the Tag Team Champions. Edge then begged him to calm down, and asked him how he kept it under control with the crowd egging him on. Bryan said he was one with his emotions, and recited his mantra. Edge asked if he was kidding, and Bryan said he could see how someone like him could be suspicious. Edge said “Excuse Me”, and Bryan pointed out it was an interesting choice of words. Bryan said subconscious thoughts come out in the heat of his moment, and asked if he often thought of his ex-wife.

He asked if he thought about the pain they caused each other. Bryan asked if his music described him. He continued and asked if anyone truly “knew him” deep down. Bryan offered some unsolicited advice, and told Edge to go back to retirement and acting. Bryan then said he was a redwood, and there was nothing he or any of the people in the crowd could do to get him to snap. Edge said well played, but his intention wasn't to make his snap. Edge said it sounded like a challenge. They did a “yes” and “no” battle. Edge told the crowd they were right, and that it was fun to egg on Bryan.

Kane's music then hit and he headed to the ring. He said they were both wrong, and said he was the tag team champions. Then that bit started, and Edge split them up. Kane said “Edge, you seem angry” and Kane told him about therapy. Edge asked if Kane was serious, and said he got why Bryan was a cream puff and mentioned him being Vegan. But he didn't understand why Kane was so happy, when he should be the Big Red Machine. Edge ran down how they tortured each other over the years, and asked Kane if he remembered. Kane said he did, and he needed to rectify the situation right now. Edge got into a fighting stance, just in time for Kane to offer him a hug.

[Q2] Bryan stood by with a dumbfounded look until Kane accepted the hug. He then screamed no, and was then invited in for a group hug. He accepted, but Damien Sandow's music hit before he could take part. Sandow said he was there to help everyone, and basically said in larger words that all this hugging is ruining the show and the crowd were idiots for enjoying it. Edge finally stopped his rant and told him to shut up. Edge recommended if Sandow wanted to fix the issue, he should face one of the Tag Champs. Edge took a crowd poll and had the crowd screaming yes and no about whether Sandow should face Kane or Bryan. Sandow screamed that Edge's opinion doesn't count...[c]

Barnett's Brief: If Edge has Tuesday's off, he would make a great Smackdown GM. Booker has been ok, but Edge genuinely looked like he was having fun and the segment benefitted because of it. Bryan and Kane had good humor as always, and Sandow played his role well. The segment was a lot of fun, but it didn't really accomplish much to set up the rest of the show....yet.

1. Kane vs. Damien Sandow joined in Progress: Kane dragged Sandow to the outside and hit a nice uppercut. Back in the ring, Sandow hit a back elbow, but hit the ropes and ate a big boot. Sandow rolled outside and backed into Bryan, who yelled that he was the Tag Team Champions. Sandow wrenched Kane's arm using the ropes. Sandow tried a headlock, but Kane hit a back suplex. He followed up with a clothesline and a sidewalk slam for a two count. Kane went up top and hit a diving clothesline. He signaled for a chokeslam, but Bryan jumped on the apron and argued with Kane about who the Tag Team Champions were. This allowed a cheap shot and a neck breaker for Sandow and he picked up the win.

Damien Sandow defeated Kane at 3:12.

Barnett's Brief: Slow match that mercifully ended quickly. Nice win for Sandow, but there wasn't much for chemistry there.

Cole and Mathews put over WWE's partnership with Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. A commercial then aired for the foundation...[c]

[Q3] Backstage Kane was threw stuff around as he looked for Daniel Bryan. He ran into Dr. Shelby, and said that if he didn't get an apology and his title back he would rip the beard off of his goat face. Bryan appeared out of nowhere out of a case and said he did not have goat face. They argued back and forth until Shelby broke them up. They traded apologies and Bryan gave back the title. Kane then brought up Bryan intentionally costing him the match, and Shelby offered to talk to Booker about giving Bryan a match. Kane said that would make him feel better, and he taunted Bryan and said he was the Tag Team Champions and walked away.

The announce team introduced a video about the Brogue Kick controversy. Del Rio was then shown backstage in Booker's office and looked as his book. Del Rio called Booker a coward, and asked him what he was thinking when he reinstated the Brogue Kick. Del Rio said it wasn't fair that he did it right before his match, and it was unfair. Booker said he could earn another title shot by winning his match against Sheamus and Ziggler later in the show.

Eve made her way down the ramp, and joined the commentary team for the next match...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Great stuff from Bryan and Kane. They continue to be a highlight of every show they're on. Del Rio and Sheamus have lost all entertainment value for me. I couldn't care less about that feud.

Layla and Natalya were already in the ring.

2. Layla vs. Natalya: Layla hit a kick to the gut and a face buster, followed by another kick. Natalya hit a roaring clothesline, followed by stomps. She made a cover for a two count. Natalya locked in a abdominal stretch, and then went for a pump handle slam, but Layla flipped out. Natalya went for a sharpshooter, but Layla avoided. Layla hit a neck breaker a few seconds later for the win...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Eve was alright on commentary, but that was a throwaway match that was only there to let Eve dodge questions about where she was when Kaitlyn was attacked on Sunday.

[Q4] Lilian introduced Ricardo Rodriguez, who the introduced Del Rio for his ring entrance. Ziggler followed, and then the Orton and Sheamus....[c]

3. Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio vs. Sheamus and Randy Orton: Sheamus hit a neck breaker early and tagged in Orton, who hit a nice drop kick. Orton covered for a two count. Orton stomped on Del Rio's hand and arms and then tagged Sheamus back in. Sheamus charged at Del Rio in the corner and Del Rio moved. Del Rio then followed up with a enziguri. Sheamus caught Del Rio coming off the ropes and hit a forward roll slam. Ziggler and Vickie distracted Sheamus, which allowed Del Rio to hit a drop kick.

Ziggler tagged in and locked a head lock on Sheamus. Sheamus then picked him up on his back to make a tag, but collapsed mid ring. Dolph dragged Sheamus over to his corner and made a tag to Del Rio, who hit the ropes and hit a kick to Sheamus's back. Del Rio went into a chin lock, which Sheamus powered out of and hit a body slam.

[Q5] Both men were down, when Sheamus made a tag and Orton came in to kick ass. He hit a clothesline and a power slam, followed by a DDT from the second rope. Orton set up for the RKO when Ziggler snuck up on him. Orton reacted and hit a power slam, but it allowed Del Rio to hit a back stabber for a two count. Zigger tagged in and went to work on Orton with kicks and punches. He hit a nice looking jumping clothesline for another two count. He then went back to a chin lock on Orton, but Randy suplexed his way out of it. Ziggler made a tag before Orton could and hit an enziguri.

Del Rio climed the top rope, but Orton drop kicked him off to the floor. Orton struggled to make a tag, and both guys ended up with tags simultaneously. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Ziggler avoided it. He hit a Irish Curse back breaker, but Del Rio saved him for the cover. Del Rio went for the Cross Arm Breaker on Sheamus, but he avoided and pushed him into Orton and an RKO. Sheamus then hit Ziggler with the Brogue Kick for the win.

Sheamus and Orton defeated Ziggler and Del Rio at 8:09.

Barnett's Brief: Meh. The match was good, don't get me wrong, but I just don't care about Del Rio or Sheamus at this point. Everybody looked sharp in the ring, but it didn't feel like a big deal due to both heels continually being undermined.

Daniel Bryan entered and was at ringside after the break. Cody Rhodes then made his entrance.

4. Cody Rhodes vs. Daniel Bryan: Bryan hit several European Uppercuts to begin, but Rhodes came back with a flapjack and a front suplex. Bryan hit some kicks and a clothesline, followed by a running drop kick in the corner. Kane's music hit as Bryan locked in the No Lock, which cause Bryan to break the hold. Bryan asked Kane what he was doing, which allowed Cody to hit Cross Rhodes fro the win. Kane laughed his ass off as Bryan grabbed his neck and shouted no.

Cody Rhodes defeated Kane at 2:11.

Barnett's Brief: Well, I don't think anyone was surprised by that.

The announce crew put over a Raw Rebound for C.M. Punk and John Cena...[c]

Backstage, Bryan asked Kane what just happened, and Kane said he had no idea what he was talking about. Kane said they were even after what happened earlier. Bryan said he couldn't compete his way out of an arena basement, where he belongs. Kane said he belongs in a petting zoo, because he has a goat face. Rhodes and Sandow were behind them, and Bryan asked them what they were looking at. Rhodes and Sandow said they were a joke as a team, and then Kane and Bryan challenged them to a match later in the show. Rhodes and Sandow walked off.

Mathews and Cole then introduced a video package for the Cena and Punk saga. After the video, they spoke about Cena's injury and read a few of his tweets. Brodus Clay's music hit, and he headed to the ring...[c]

Barnett's Brief: More great stuff from Bryan and Kane. Both are great, but it's hard to underplay Kane's work in this. He's been fantastic with his dry humor.

[Q7] Heath Slater made his ring entrance after the break.

5. Heath Slater vs. Brodus Clay: Brodus hit a body slam and taunted Slater. Brodus hit a punch to the gut and a running knee lift. Slater hit some strikes, but jumped into Brodus's arms and he hit a fallaway slam. Clay was lining up for another attack, when Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal entered and attacked Clay. They hit a suplex, followed by McIntyre with his future shock DDT. Mahal applied the Camel Clutch, and they all mocked Clay and held up their arms in unity...[c]

Brodus Clay defeated Heath Slater by DQ at 1:34.

Barnett's Brief: New job squad? I have no idea what to think of this at this point, as they didn't say anything.

Cole spoke about his Jerry Lawler interview that will happen Monday on Raw, and then Santino made his ring entrance. Antonio Cesaro then made his entrance along with Aksana, with another music change.

6. Antonio Cesaro vs. Santino: Cesaro hit a mean European Uppercut, followed by a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro then locked in a head lock, which Santino fought out of. He hit some strikes and a hip toss, followed by a fist drop. Santino went for the Cobra, but was distracted by Aksana. Cesaro took off the Cobra and threw it towards the corner, where Aksana tried to reach to grab it but fell in the ring. Cesaro hit his press into a European Uppercut, but the ref couldn't count because he tended to Aksana. Cesaro got up and told her to get out of the ring, but Santino rolled him up for the win.

[Q8] After the match, Cesaro told Aksana they were finished in five different languages...[c]

Santino defeated Antonio Cesaro at 1:45.

Barnett's Brief: Uh, ok. I don't know why they split up Cesaro and Aksana with no warning, but I'm not opposed to it. Cesaro didn't need a manager/girlfriend. If this means more Santino Cobra nonsense around the US Title, I'll be bummed out.

All of the Tag Title Contenders (Usos, Prime Time Players, Kidd and Gabriel) surrounded the ring for the Main Event. Sandow and Rhodes were already in the ring. Daniel Bryan made his entrance, followed by Kane.

7. Kane and Bryan vs. Rhodes and Sandow: Kane pummeled Rhodes in the corner to start the match, followed by stomps. Rhodes made a tag and Kane dumped Sandow into the ring. He hit a side slam for a two count, followed by a seated drop kick. Bryan then tagged himself in, and then he and Kane argued. Sandow tagged during the argument. Rhodes charged Bryan, but he hit a drop toe hold. Bryan hit some kicks for a two count of his own. Kane asked for a tag, but Bryan argued and then Rhodes pushed Bryan into Kane and sent him to the outside.

Sandow attacked Kane on the outside and then helped Rhodes hit a double team suplex on Bryan. Bryan and Rhodes collided in the middle of the ring, and Bryan and Rhodes both made tags. Kane pummeled Sandow and knocked Rhodes off the apron. Kane then hit a DDT on Sandow and called for a choke slam. Sandow elbowed out, and then hit the ropes and got caught with a choke slam anyway. Rhodes then got in the ring and hit Kane with a chair to cause the DQ.

Bryan grabbed the chair for Rhodes, and then Kane hit him with a big boot. Bryan made to hit Rhodes with a chair, but ended up handing the chair to Kane with a big smile on his face. Kane hit Cody and sent him out of the ring. Bryan then left the ring and grabbed a chair of his own. They hit Sandow about 100 times with the chair in the back, and then Kane went outside and rounded up the rest of the tag teams into the ring and they destroyed them with the chairs too. They both held up a chair and a title, and then argued about who was the “tag team champions”.

Barnett's Brief: Utterly ridiculous, but it worked well here due to how charismatic both Kane and Bryan were. They were tasked with carrying the show tonight and it worked extremely well. The crowd was into them despite how often they appeared, and their friendship saga has been one of the most entertaining things in WWE for a solid month now.

Questions, comments or concerns? Contact me at barnett.jake@gmail.com or on twitter @barnettjake.

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