WWE Smackdown Storyline Tracker
By Robin Scannell, PWTorch specialist

(1) World Title Picture / Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler

The July 20 edition of Smackdown opened with Rey Mysterio heading to the ring and saying that it’s been almost a year since he was injured. Mysterio said that did never lost hope and now it’s feeling good that he’s back with all his family and friends in his hometown. He said that he couldn’t wait on Monday, and that he had to do what he did to Alberto Del Rio.

Del Rio then interrupted and said that Mysterio made a mistake coming back and picking a fight with him. Del Rio told Mysterio to leave the ring, but Mysterio refused, saying he’s not going anywhere. Del Rio said he wants to talk about Sheamus and what he did at the pay-per-view. Del Rio said he’d end Mysterio’s career and be the next World Champion

Dolph Ziggler ended up interrupting, saying that if a World Champion will end Mysterio’s career, it’ll be him. Ziggler and Del Rio bickered about Ziggler not being able to cash in his title at the pay-per-view. Eventually, Del Rio and Ziggler turned on Mysterio, but Sheamus ran in to even the numbers if a fight did break out. A tag team match between them was arranged. Mysterio nearly hit the 619 on Ziggler, but he managed to escape in time.

Backstage, Ricardo Rodrigeuz and Vickie Guerrero argued. Then, during the ring announcements for the main event, Vickie Guerrero interrupted Ricardo Rodrigeuz to introduce the “star of the team," Dolph Ziggler. In the match that followed, Rey Mysterio and Sheamus defeated Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler by disqualification after Ricardo grabbed Sheamus’s leg top stop him hitting the Brogue Kick. Then, Del Rio kicked Sheamus in the head and locked in the Cross Arm-Breaker, which was broken up by numerous referees, who then escorted Del Rio to the back. Then, Dolph Ziggler looked to cash in his briefcase. However, Rey Mysterio attacked him, hitting the 619, followed by Sheamus’s Brogue Kick to end the show.

The following week, during Sheamus’s match against Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero) came to ringside with the MITB briefcase. Sheamus ended up winning the match with a Brogue Kick. After the match, Ziggler decided not to cash in his briefcase. Chris Jericho, wearing Ziggler’s t-shirt, then ran out and threw Ziggler in the ring into a Brogue Kick from Sheamus. Jericho hit a Codebreaker on Ziggler soon after.

The main event was a Fatal Four-Way number one contender match for the World Title featuring Rey Mysterio, Kane, Daniel Bryan, and Alberto Del Rio. Alberto Del Rio defeated Daniel Bryan to win the match after Del Rio and Bryan were hit with 619s and Ricardo Rodrigeuz pulled Mysterio out of the ring, allowing Del Rio to get the cover.

***

(2) Smackdown General Manager / World Title Picture Continued

The August 3 edition of Smackdown opened with Mr. McMahon being introduced. McMahon talked about wanting a General Manager that was respected, that had integrity, character, charisma, and experience. McMahon then introduced Booker T.

After Booker T thanked Vince and the WWE Board of Directors, he was about to announce something when he was interrupted by Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio unsuccessfully tried to suck up to Booker. Del Rio spoke about being better than Sheamus, who then came to the ring. Sheamus sincerely offered his congrauations to Booker. Then, he talked about being proud of where he comes from.

Then, Sheamus asked if Del Rio was really not going to compete until Summerslam. Del Rio said yes to that, but Booker then said that both men would compete in singles matches tonight. Del Rio was announced against Randy Orton. Sheamus was announced against Tensai, who came to the ring.

Reax: Tensai had an inset promo in Japanese. I’m guessing he said something mean, but not racist! He’s probably learned from that.

In the match that followed, Sheamus defeated Tensai.

Backstage, Eve congratulated Booker T and said she is looking for a position in his administration. Then, Teddy Long walked up and did the same thing. Booker offered him the job of “Senior Advisor to the General Manager."

Reax: Teddy Long said he has confidence in Booker, and didn’t immediately accept the job. Teddy Long hasn’t had a job in a while, and he was presumably still getting paid, so I can see why he wasn’t looking for extra responsibilities.

As for the choice of Booker as GM, only last week he still talked about "if no one sees it, it didn't happen." Logically, it's another poor choice for a GM. Smackdown seemed to be fine without a GM anyway.

Booker told Eve that all the positions on his staff have been filled, and asked Teddy to show her out, but Eve just stormed out.

Later, backstage, Layla congratulated Booker and they joked around about Eve. Then, Cody Rhodes walked up and took some digs at Booker, and hoped the fact that he ended his career doesn’t affect their working relationship. Booker then announced him against Sin Cara the following week.

Backstage, Randy Orton was interviewed, and he said he’s happy to be back. Orton said that Del Rio is only the number one contender because he hasn’t faced him. Orton then said he’d hit Del Rio with an RKO, to celebrate his return to Smackdown.

Randy Orton defeated Alberto Del Rio by disqualification in the main event after interference from Ricardo. Del Rio took advantage after the match, but Orton managed to dropkick Del Rio out of the ring. As Del Rio was leaving ringside, Sheamus ran out, throwing Del Rio back in the ring into an RKO.

Reax: That is not a good way to promote the idea that Del Rio is a threat to the World Title. On a related note, there’s no reason to be excited over Orton right now until he finds himself in an actual feud.

***

(3) Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler

On the August 3 edition of Smackdown, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and Daniel Bryan defeated Chris Jericho, Christian, and Kane in a six-man tag match. The finish came after Vickie Guerrero distracted the referee, then Ziggler tried to attacking Jericho with the MITB briefcase, but Jericho hit the Codebreaker on Ziggler, which allowed Bryan scored a roll-up pinfall on Jericho.

***

(4) Tag Team Title Picture

On the July 20 edition of Smackdown, The Prime Time Players and Hunico & Camacho defeated Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Primo, and Epico. After the match, Big Show walked to the ring and attacked everyone.

Then, on the August 3 edition of Smackdown, the Prime Time Players goofed around and harassed a merchandise guy for not having PTP t-shirts. In the singles match that followed, Darren Young (with Titus O’Neil and A.W.) defeated R-Truth (with Kofi Kingston) in a short match after R-Truth directed his attention to O’Neil outside of the ring.

***

(5) Daniel Bryan vs. Kane

On the July 20 edition of Smackdown, Christian introduced the newly set-to-wed couple of Daniel Bryan and A.J. They showed footage of Bryan and A.J. wedding planning. Christian ended up asking if it was true love, to which Bryan and A.J. repeated “Yes!” over and over. Christian then asked the peeps whether or not Bryan and A.J. should get married, whether Bryan loves A.J., and whether A.J. has any idea what she’s really doing, to which they answered "No!" to each.

Christian asked A.J. if she knew what she was doing, to which she slapped him in reply. Christian then reminded Bryan that he has a match, against a psychotic ex-boyfriend of A.J., Kane.

Kane defeated Bryan by disqualification after A.J. interfered, jumping on Kane’s back from the turnbuckle. Bryan attacked Kane, but Kane managed to hit a chokeslam. A.J. then managed to swing around, so she was facing Kane, and looked at him longingly. A.J. and Bryan then walked to the back, but not before kissing on the stage.

The following week, backstage, Sheamus reminded Daniel Bryan of being left at the altar, being dropped by The Rock, and being called out by Charlie Sheen. Sheamus then gave Bryan a wedding present, and it was a book called “How to last more than 18 seconds,” with a photo of Sheamus hitting the Brogue Kick on Bryan at WrestleMania.

Then, on the August 3 edition of Smackdown, “Sheepish” Matt Striker asked Bryan if he had any comments on the video from Raw 1,001 of him having a psychological evaluation. Bryan said “no” and talked about saying “no” a lot more often. Bryan then said he didn’t want anyone else to say “yes” anymore. The interview ended with Bryan shouting, “No!” over and over.

***

(6) United States Title Picture

On the July 27 edition of Smackdown, Antonia Cesaro (with Aksana) defeated Santino Marella in a non-title match. The following week, Cesaro said “Hello” to the WWE Universe in five languages. In the match that followed, Cesaro defeated Santino Marella in another non-title match because Santino requested a return match.

***

(7) Damien Sandow

On the July 20 edition of Smackdown, Damien Sandow put down Zack Ryder before their match. Damien Sandow then quickly defeated Zack Ryder.

After Damien Sandow was beaten up by DX on Raw 1,000, on the July 27 edition of Smackdown, Sandow defeated Yoshi Tatsu in a short match. Sandow insulted the crowd, referencing what happened on Raw 1,000. Sandow then declared himself their martyr and said, “You’re welcome."

***

(8) Heath Slater vs. Legends

On the July 20 edition of Smackdown, Heath Slater said that now he’s on Smackdown his luck will change. Then, "Road Warrior" Animal came out as his opponent. Animal defeated Slater in under a minute.

***

(9) Intercontinental Title Picture

The July 27 edition of Smackdown opened with The Miz being introduced and coming to the ring. The Miz thanked Christian’s peeps for voting for the match. Christian interrupted and said that he was going to invoke his re-match clause for a match right then and there.

The Miz defeated Christian in a good match after Miz hit a thumb to the eye and then rolled Christian up while grabbing Christian's tights.

***

(10) Ryback vs. Jinder Mahal

On the July 27 edition of Smackdown, Ryback defeated Jinder Mahal by count-out when Mahal left the ring as Ryback was about to hit a clothesline.

The following week, Ryback had an inset promo where he talked about the food chain, and seeing food in the WWE. Ryback defeated Jinder Mahal again, this time by disqualification, after Mahal hit Ryback with a microphone. Mahal then ran from Ryback.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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