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LOOKING AT THE GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS WEEK'S SUMMERSLAM GO HOME SHOWS

SMACKDOWN - 17/08/2012                E: revinsamuel@rogers.com
Note: Summerslam predictions are at the end of the column
What this show needs to accomplish?
•The final chance to sell Summerslam as the biggest party of the summer. WWE has done anywhere from a subpar to an adequate job to promote this pay per view so tonight is the last chance to salvage anybody who is on the fence. The final Brock-Hunter angle was good and tonight is a chance to emphasize that dream match, while pushing all the other matches specifically ones that are Smackdown centered
•Sheamus-Del Rio. It’s interesting that they choose to run the match is cancelled storyline on the go home week of the pay per view. I think that was a mistake, but hopefully tonight they address it and reinstate the match
•Daniel Bryan-Kane. While Daniel Bryan is getting tons of TV time, his match didn’t get any hype on raw so hopefully they add some juice behind it tonight. The same applies to Rey Mysterio and The Miz
•Randy Orton. Is this man going to have a role at Summerslam?
Show Breakdown

1. I loved the opening video package of Smackdown. It made what happened between Del Rio and Sheamus last week seem like it was really a significant event.

2. Jericho out to interrupt the opening faceoff between Book and Del Rio. Jericho is dressed in a jeans and t-shirt, which I like. Jericho begins speaking Spanish and tells us that Del Rio’s breathe smells like dog poop. Now if he was John Cena he’d have to mention that it was a PG show right now.

3. Josh lets us know following the opening segment that Rey and Sin Cara will be teaming up for the first time, I guess he forgot about Raw 1000.

4. Rey/Sin Cara-Cody and Miz. It’s unfortunate that WWE can’t build more top guys, because Cody Rhodes has been floundering in mid card for a while and deserves much better.

5. Fun match, but no reason for Cody to keep on losing. I feel like what’s hindering Cody is he’s been around so long and WWE Creative is more focused on fresher talents they can write for such as Damien Sandow, Antonio Cesaro, Daniel Bryan and more.

6. We get a little angle at the end of the match to build Rey and Miz. It wasn’t enough, but it was something.

7. Unadvertised Randy Orton-Daniel Bryan match tonight and once again another failure of WWE not promoting matches in advance is showcased.

8. Reks and Hawkins taking on a couple jobbers and seeing Curt Hawkins, I’m reminded of the fact that we haven’t seen Zack Ryder in weeks. The bastard child of WWE Creative will go down as Ryder’s legacy in WWE.

9. I’ve noticed tonight that Michael Cole is definitely playing his heel character. Bipolar Vince needs to make up his mind on what he wants Cole to be.

10. Pretty solid video package telling us the evolution of CM Punk and the story of Punk-Show-Cena. I hope Kevin Dunn and company remember that we saw this on Smackdown and don’t feel the need to give us this same package or something similar at Summerslam...since we just ordered the show!

11. There’s something about Katelyn’s attire that doesn’t work for me. Eve on the other hand looking tremendous as always.

12. Michael Cole briefly mentions Eve’s reality show in passing.

13. Michael Cole really playing his heel character during the Eve-Kaitlyn match. I question whether Cole playing heel is based on Vince’s boredom with watching this show as it seems very out of the ordinary for him to be playing it this strong.

14. Eve wins the match and this was the right outcome.

15. Eve backstage with Booker and I wonder how long it will be till Queen Sharmell makes a cameo?

16. Kane’s music hits and of course the reaction of anyone who is on offense in the ring is to immediately stop what they are doing and get distracted. Modify WWE. Just like Rey-Miz, it wasn’t much to hype their match at Summerslam, but I guess it was something.

17. Well I mentioned earlier that we hadn’t seen the bastard child of WWE creative, Zack Ryder in a few weeks and of course right on cue he’s out to what I assume is to be squashed.

18. And indeed the bastard child gets beaten at ease.

19. Cesaro pushes Santino after the match and I became totally distracted by the baby in the audience behind Santino that seemed totally disgusted.

20. Cesaro then pushes Santino over the announce table and Santino actually shows some intensity as we build towards their free match.

21. We get another look at the Brock-Hunter story with the addition of what happened Monday with Shawn Michaels. The package is a strong one. Josh lets us know that Shawn tweeted that Summerslam is highly unlikely and Cole lets us know that Shawn won’t be at Summerslam...so I expect him at Summerslam.

22. Nice backstage surprise attack by Ziggler on Jericho. Very effective to build their match.

23. I’d prefer if Jericho didn’t come out as the babyface hero to compete hurt as that would make what Ziggler did all that more effective.

24. Quality match between Del Rio and Jericho

25. Sheamus makes the save for Jericho and asks Booker to reinstate the match. Booker does so. Predictable, but sometimes predictable makes for a good story.