WWE Smackdown TV taping report
June 19, 2012
Taped in Baltimore, Md.
Report by Liam Renner, PWTorch reader

After the Superstars taping, Matt Striker left and Booker T's music hit to a huge reaction. Michael Cole came out to the expected boos. Before Smackdown, they showed the new "WWE '13" video game trailer. Then, Lilian Garcia came down and officially started the night.

Smackdown SPOILERS 6/22

- After the theme song and pyro, Teddy Long started off by announcing that Mick Foley is the guest GM for the evening, before being quickly brushed aside by Big Show. Show grabbed a mic and said he didn't care about John Laurinaitis being fired. He also said he no longer cares about John Cena and he'll be moving on to the Money in the Bank ladder match. He said no man, or champion, can stop him in a "fair fight."

Suddenly, Brodus Clay's music hit and he took down Big Show with his headbutt. Suddenly, David Otunga ran down to the ring and chopblocked Brodus, who is still selling his knee injury. Otunga then rolled out to the floor and Show beat on Brodus, before hitting the WMD punch. Afterward, Otunga got back in the ring and mocked Brodus, before dancing to his music.

- Next, rather skinny men came out for the next round of the Ryback challenge! Yay?

(1) Ryback beat 2 jobbers. The two were billed from Pittsburgh, which got a good amount of heat since this is Ravens's country! Other than that, it was every other Ryback match we've seen.

- We're positioned slightly behind the Titantron, so we can't totally see, but there was a backstage segment with Foley and Vickie Guerrero, where she announced she'll be running both Raw & Smackdown next week. Foley suggested Vickie use Great Khali as her personal assistant next week.

- Next, Ricardo Rodriguez came out to introduce Alberto Del Rio. Then, Christian came out and we've got an early 2011 rivalry re-ignited!

(2) Alberto Del Rio beat IC champion Christian clean with the Cross Arm-breaker in a non-title match. Very good match, with some great nearfalls. After the match, Cody Rhodes ran down and worked Christian's arm some more. Apparently, they're not done with that feud just yet.

Out next was Kane for a match. Randomly, A.J. was announced as the guest time-keeper. Out next was Daniel Bryan!

(3) Kane beat Bryan via chokeslam. About as good a Kane match as I can remember seeing. Bryan put on the Yes! Lock and A.J. rang the bell, making him think he won. About 20 seconds later, Kane hit the chokeslam for the three count.

- Next, guest GM Mick Foley came to the ring and (after they had to stop and switch his mic) said how great is to be RIGHT HERE, in Baltimore. He was quickly interrupted by Heath Slater. He complained about Cyndi Lauper and Roddy Piper on Raw. Foley said there's no shame in losing to a crafty veteran like Cyndi Lauper. He then brought out Heath's opponent, Zack Ryder!

(4) Zack Ryder beat Heath Slater with the Rough Ryder. Very quick match. Afterwards, Foley got back in the ring and he and Ryder fist-pumped together.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

(5) Prime Time Players (w/AW) beat The Usos. If you've seen this match any other time they've done it, you'll know what to expect.

- Santino came out for "sign of the night" and to do schtick for the live crowd.

- Next out, Jack Swagger cut a "not for TV" promo bragging about how great he was before Triple H came out and Pedigreed him. The crowd was mega-hot for Hunter.

- Of note, Foley came out to say David Otunga would be replacing Laurinaitis in the dark main event.

- Out next, Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus came out for a very sudden No Way Out re-match. It's the TV main event!

(6) World Hvt. champion Sheamus beat Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) in a non-title match. Solid match. Sheamus won with the Brogue Kick.

***

Dark Main Event: John Cena beat Big Show & David Otunga in a handicap match. Cena AA'd Show, then pinned Otunga. Afterwards while Cena was still selling, Big Johnny came out with a chair. He hit Cena once, celebrated, then went for a second, and he got the AA to send the crowd home happy.

Overall, not the best show, but some good wrestling made it worth while. Bryan-Kane is the match to watch this week as far as I'm concerned. The crowd ended up being about the same size as the last TV taping I went to here. The arena was maybe half-full.

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