Home / Results / Smackdown / August 12, 2011

1. Non-title: Sheamus def. Christian-countout.

2. Natalya & Beth Phoenix def. AJ Lee & Kaitlyn when Phoenix pinned Lee.

3. Sin Cara (2.0) def. Tyson Kidd.

4. Alberto Del Rio def. Daniel Bryan--submission.

5. Intercontinental title: Cody Rhodes def. Ezekiel Jackson to win the title.

6. Mark Henry def. Johnny Curtis.

7. Randy Orton def. Great Khali.

We begin tonight with Triple H. The COO is happy with his new job, loving it, in fact. He talks up the CM Punk-John Cena match at Summerslam, and sets up most of the card for tonight. Christian is out. His big announcement? Some announcement. He threatens a lawsuit as a means of dodging a No Holds Barred title defense vs. Randy Orton at Summerslam on Sunday. I don't get the champion's logic, or lack thereof. No Holds Barred benefits the champion as much as it does the challenger, because there are no rules. Under threat of termination and forfeiture of the championship, Christian rescinds his threat, and has the first match.....

1. Non-title: Christian vs. Sheamus.

It was not so long ago that the roles were reversed, and Christian was the crowd favorite. Not now, though. It's pretty even early on, but Christian just cannot put away the Celtic Warrior. Sheamus hit the Irish Curse for 2. Misses the Brogue Kick, and Christian tries to leave. Sheamus throws him back in, and sets up the High Cross, but Christian slides out, bounces Sheamus' neck off the rope, then leaves, belt in hand, opting to save his energy for Sunday. Winner: Sheamus via countout.

2. Natalya & Beth Phoenix vs. AJ Lee & Kaitlyn.

Last week, Natalya defeated AJ, then turned on her pupil, in much the same way Beth had turned on Diva champ Kelly Kelly four nights earlier on Raw. Tonight, it's a squash, as neither rookie really gets a chance. AJ is tagged in, only to be promptly destroyed with the Glam Slam. Winners: Natalya & Beth Phoenix.

Post-match, AJ gets tossed, and Natalya applies the Sharpshooter while Beth simply glares at Kaitlyn. I think we'll see Kaitlyn try her luck with Natalya next week.

In the GM's office, Teddy Long & Zack Ryder are joined by Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase. Rhodes faces Ezekiel Jackson for the IC title later, and thanks Zack, but it's Long he should be thanking. The three guys leave, and Aksana, recalled from FCW last week, tries seducing Teddy. Aksana has dyed her hair black since we saw her last on NXT. Back then, she had a brief storyline marriage to Cody's big brother, Goldust. Now, she's got her sights on something bigger.......

3. Sin Cara vs. Tyson Kidd.

Mind you, this is not the real Sin Cara, who is still serving a suspension, but they don't want you to know that, so we'll call him Sin Cara 2.0. Slightly bigger than the real thing, but still announced as weighing 197. Kidd has let his hair grow out since his last appearance on Smackdown. One wonders if his real-life squeeze, Natalya, can solve his managerial problems that he's experienced over on Superstars. Sloppy, unlike the real Cara's debut match vs. Kidd a few months back. Kidd did get some offense in to avoid making this another squash. The end comes with Cara II hitting a springboard somersault senton, followed by a springboard moonsault off the bottom rope. Winner: Sin Cara 2.0.

Mark Henry meets Johnny Curtis backstage, and informs him that the rookie is his opponent tonight. He's actually impressed with the visual puns Curtis has used in recent weeks, but his message tonight is simple and sinister. Break a leg........

4. Alberto Del Rio vs. Daniel Bryan.

The two Money in the Bank winners meet, with Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez making a triumphant return to Smackdown, one year after their debut. Way, way, way too short, given the talent involved. Del Rio hit a standing enziguri for 2. Bryan hit a suicide dive, but it looked like Del Rio may have deflected him to the barrier, setting up the obvious finish. Bryan missed a missile dropkick off the top, and Del Rio immediately went to the cross-armbreaker. Winner: Alberto Del Rio.

5. Intercontinental title: Ezekiel Jackson vs. Cody Rhodes (w/Ted DiBiase).

Booker T questioned why DiBiase was at ringside. I don't blame him there. Being a former IC champ himself, Booker knows how much prestige goes with that title. Late in the match, Rhodes starts using the mask as a weapon, hitting a pair of headbutts to weaken Jackson. DiBiase tries to get involved, but gets knocked off the apron. Rhodes hit the Beautiful Disaster, then Cross Rhodes to end it. Winner & new champion: Cody Rhodes.

Michael Cole, heel shill, raved on and on about Rhodes being a role model, but there was nothing noble, as Booker's suspicions about DiBiase were proven correct. Post-match, Jackson got the brown paper bag treatment, and DiBiase paid the price, as Jackson throttled him, hitting the Book of Ezekiel, then pressing DiBiase over the top. If there's any logic, a rematch takes place at Summerslam, preferably with DiBiase banned from ringside under penalty of suspension.

6. Mark Henry vs. Johnny Curtis.

Josh Mathews summed it up succinctly. The good news for Curtis is that this is his debut. The bad news is that it's against the World's Strongest Man. Squash #2. Not much more need be said. Winner: Mark Henry.

Post-match, Henry went out to get a chair to break Curtis' ankle, but Sheamus came back out to stop that. Henry opted to leave, but Sheamus cut a promo. Henry teased going back in, then pulled Curtis out and gave him a World's Strongest Slam on the floor.

7. Randy Orton vs. Great Khali (w/Jinder Mahal).

Rather than dust off Khali's original theme, they had him come out to Mahal's entrance. Lame. Earlier, Orton said he felt the No Holds Barred match would be an appropriate avenue to channel his anger vs. Christian and that Mahal wouldn't need to translate the meaning of RKO to Khali. Khali hit the brain chop, but only got 2. Mahal was freaking out. Boot to the gut, DDT. Khali blocked the RKO with a vise grip, but sent Orton to the corner. Big mistake. Orton with a running RKO to end it. Winner: Randy Orton.

Post-match, Christian returned, now more confident about the match, as if he'd gotten together with someone backstage. Hmmmmmm.........