WWE SmackDown Report – 29th June 2012

The triple threat World Heavyweight Championship match is scheduled for reigning champ Sheamus to face Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio, but first is a Divas bout between AJ and current Divas champion Layla.

A reasonable start considering the events of Monday night’s Raw, where AJ first played a part in the triple threat between CM Punk, Kane and Daniel Bryan by distracting Kane, and later on was victorious in a “beach battle royal”. Seeing this take place, you’d think there is a chance of a Divas title match at Money In The Bank between these two, but it fizzles out into Bryan coming out to give AJ a taste of her own medicine; putting her off and Layla pinning her for the win.Bryan says he isn’t out for attention, but to discuss some serious matters (like they couldn’t have discussed it before?). He demands guest GM of SmackDown this week, Vickie Guerrero to come to the ring as well, but after a no-show Bryan starts a “Yes!” chant, strangely followed by one from AJ as the break arrives.

After it, we see it still goes on like petty children, but Guerrero finally steps out and enters the ring where Bryan makes some gushy comments and backs her to become permanent General Manager of Raw and SmackDown. Then he drops in that he wants Vickie to recommend that AJ be banned from ringside for his WWE Championship match against CM Punk at Money In The Bank. Vickie has a hissy fit over the past coming togethers of her and AJ (also a slip up letting people know SmackDown is filmed the next night after Raw – oops).

Bryan gets it back and track – and we find out that he hasn’t been all that much up to date with the WWE Universe; there’s been a poll online to decide what role AJ should play in his match with CM Punk. In other words, it won’t be down to wrestling but the winner will be as a result of any action made by AJ, who was voted to be guest referee. She loved it in the ring, and it will result more than likely where her heart lies.That all done, Vickie announces the SmackDown MITB Ladder match will feature qualifiers over the next two weeks

First spot is between Zack Ryder and Damien Sandow.Seemed to build nicely for Ryder, hits the Broski Boot, but missed the Rough Ryder (his jumping leg lariat) and Sandow stole the win with a straight jacket neckbeaker. You can see this guy has some serious work to do to win over any support, and he’s going to have to get the rub of the green as well you’d think.

Pointless backstage moment with Daniel Bryan trying to find AJ in the Divas locker room to no avail; how many male WWE fans probably wish they were that close to the Divas locker room door.

Next qualifying match saw Tyson Kidd take on Jack Swagger, 2010 winner of Money In The Bank – how the mighty fall.Impressive athleticism from Kidd, who maybe just needs a boost like this one, and when you consider not many high flyers about in the WWE right now, just what is needed in a ladder match, it was booked right. Swagger needs to maybe turn face, crazy as it sounds, just to get out of this lull of being a jobber yet again.

Anyway, Kidd rolled out of the ankle lock, gets to the top rope eventually, and leaps and rolls Swagger into the pin.A recap of Monday’s set up for the World Heavyweight Championship, leads to Ziggler trying to get finishing moves banned from the match by Vickie, and in turn the self proclaimed cougar slaps him good and proper as he says it’s not all about her but about him? There’s a lot of this “All About Me” attitude going on at the moment you feel, more than usual.

A Tag Team qualifying match, which sees the winners both go through was between United States and Intercontinental Champions, Santino Marella and Christian respectively, against David Otunga and Cody Rhodes. Otunga’s ring entrance was horrible, and quite laughable. Not too sure if he realises he’s in wrestling, not bodybuilding?

Strange pairings really, especially with how it ended up; a win for the champions. That now means those titles won’t change, unless after the ladder matches something is set up for these guys to put them on the line at the pay-per-view. Things were looking up for Cody Rhodes not so long ago, and to book him to win Money In The Bank really could have sent him skywards, there was also room for improvement with Otunga to step into the ladder match. Alas, it is not to be, but so far a strange line up of qualifiers. I’m looking at that from a development level, but the fans in the arena loved the outcome, so in one sense for the WWE, you please your customers, you make your money.

Sheamus first off followed AJ and D-Bryan in backstage sections. Sheamus makes it clear he’s not pulling any punches tonight in his triple threat title match, whilst Bryan offers AJ a number of a doctor he knows, sucking up to her for the PPV no doubt.

Then another pointless section of the show, Ryback. Now if you follow the WWE already, and in particular, Ryback’s match ups, then you don’t need to read the next part. If you’re new to it, Ryback takes two “local wrestlers” and squishes them in a minute. He destroys anything in his way. However, on a serious note, there are rumblings that the WWE are concerned he might pose a serious injury threat to the rest of the talent on the roster. Would they really put some of their main talent against him to then rule them out of PPVs? What this guy can do when he’s really wrestling is yet to be tested, but they have to change this weekly format of squish jobs.

Teddy Long back on screen, and he fronts up his “ex” Aksana and her new guy Antonio Cesaro, to let them know they will be in a mixed tag team match on Tuesday’s live Great American Bash SuperSmackDown against Layla and The Great Khali. Won’t lie, I’m not truly excited by this, but a live SmackDown brings the best out of the brand usually so let’s wait and see.

Last qualifier of the night saw Justin Gabriel face Lord Tensai. For all the work he can do on the mat, which he honed whilst being out in Japan, he won’t work for a ladder match, and the WWE are going to find out for sure when it comes round to Money In The Bank. It’s a crying shame again really, when as you have a flyer like Gabriel missing out; it further lacks interest in the match as the guy has just jobbed pretty much against Cena since he arrived.

Finally was the World Heavyweight Championship triple threat match. As it hasn’t changed hands on SmackDown since May 2011, I wasn’t expecting it to here, and despite some good in-ring work, it was again to be the case.

For what reason you ask? Alberto Del Rio will win it at Money In The Bank from Sheamus that’s why. Del Rio had his solo title shot ruined just before No Way Out on the back of a well paced run. Perhaps his minor injury has helped further, bouncing back and remaining in the picture. If the title had switched hands, there would have been too much arguing in such a short period of time as to who gets the title shot at the pay-per-view.

I think Del Rio will get his deserved one on one with Sheamus, and as I see win. But there’s more I can see developing.

What I’ve gleaned possibly from this SmackDown:

– Unless Creative can really up their game for the live SmackDown on Tuesday night and put some decent players into the Ladder match then they have a problem (Raw match is exactly the same – all big guys and no real aerial technicians you can’t just have former champions surely?). Sin Cara I would hope is slotted in, with possibly Kofi Kingston making a return in one of them as well.

– That said, it seems as though *currently* whoever wins the SmackDown ladder match won’t cash it in for a while. There’s nothing to go off for any of the participants right now, so a feud needs to start from somewhere and I think that will happen the next episode after the PPV

– Del Rio/Ziggler feud really gets going. And I mean REALLY. Dolph almost lost touch at the beginning of this year of being anywhere near the top of the card, however that’s all changed and  if Alberto does win the title there’s a good chance that could brew, and now is a better time than any to get involved because…

– Daniel Bryan could work well together with Vickie Guerrero. Her slapping Dolph could spell the beginning of the end, and the Yes!-Man seemed to have a connection I felt in ring with Vickie. Hunch, yes, but who knows. I don’t think Bryan can win the title. People would like to see Punk face Cena or Jericho at SummerSlam, Bryan had his chance for now and done a damn good job too, but storylines move on, and a switch to SmackDown again may work for him.

– We all love Teddy, but don’t bring this Aksana rubbish back. It was cringeworthy at the best of times. Either get in the ring and fight for your woman, or leave it be and move on. Don’t put another guy to fight your battles just to get vengeance. Do the Stride of Pride and walk away Teddy, walk away.