Quick Results
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* Non-title match
Curtis Axel def. Cody Rhodes via hangman's face-buster
* Dolph Ziggler def. Big E Langston via zig zag
* Non-title match
Alberto Del Rio def. Christian via cross arm breaker Submission
* Big Show and Mark Henry def. 3MB
* Darren Young def. Antonio Cesaro
* Steel Cage match
Daniel Bryan def. Wade Barrett via big running knee to the face
Detailed Results
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"Then. Now. Forever." The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays, and we're brought into the arena as Lilian Garcia asks the crowd to welcome Vickie Guerrero, the General Manager of Smackdown. Vickie is standing in the center of the ring. She welcomes the crowd to Smackdown. On behalf of the entire McMahon Family, as she has cleared the air with Triple H since she has left Monday Night RAW, it is with great excitement that she introduces the new WWE Champion, Randy Orton.
WWE Champion Randy Orton comes out to the ring to some boos from the crowd. Vickie Guerrero meets him on the ramp and goes for a hug, but he just stares at her. They then shake hands, and he enters the ring. Orton poses on the turnbuckle with the WWE Championship as the crowd gives him the old Bronx cheer. Orton says as the new WWE Champion, he promises to give the crowd what they want and what they deserve as champion. He promises that they will aspire to be him, and he will be a role model. What does a role model do? A role model tells the truth, and that's exactly what he did. He told the truth to everyone, especially to Daniel Bryan, when he successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract as he said they would never see it coming.
None of them, including Daniel Bryan, should be surprised at what happened. He should be surprised. Sunday night at Summerslam, he didn't know that Triple H was going to Pedigree Bryan. What would the people in the crowd have done? He's not one to pass up an opportunity literally lying right in front of him. Orton says he did not need Triple H's help, just like he didn't need The Shield's help on RAW. Although he greatly appreciates the support from the entire McMahon Family, he wants to ask the crowd for their support as well. The crowd boos him and chants "NO!" Orton says he's not only the WWE Champion; he's also the face of the WWE.
Daniel Bryan's music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to a great reception. The crowd chants "YES" as he gets in the ring. Bryan says before he addresses the "face of the WWE," he wants to finish saying what he was going to say on RAW before Stephanie McMahon rudely interrupted him. It's a short message to John Cena. Bryan says, "John, thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to wrestle you at Summerslam. Thank you for being bold enough and courageous enough to wrestle with a torn triceps. Because even if I was only better than you for just one day, that opportunity allowed me to feel what it feels like to be the WWE Champion." Bryan says as far as Orton is concerned, it's time for that face to change. The crowd chants "YES!"
Bryan says the crowd has to understand. He doesn't look like Randy Orton. Orton is chiseled, tall, and he's pretty. The crowd laughs at Orton. Bryan says he can see why Triple H likes him so much. Orton is just so pretty and arrogant. Why shouldn't he be? He's been handed every opportunity here in WWE. He's created his own success. However, Orton's opportunities have come because his father was here, his grandfather was here, and he was given the genetic golden ticket to be here in the WWE. Bryan then sarcastically goes back to how he can't get over how pretty Orton is. Bryan asks the crowd to give it up for how pretty Randy Orton is. Bryan says he's so pretty, it makes him want to kick Orton in the face. Orton starts laughing as the crowd chants "YES!"
Bryan says he had to scratch and claw for every opportunity. He had to wrestle in every dirty high school gymnasium all over the country and world. He had to wrestle on staph infested mats all over the place and sleep in his car just to get an ounce of respect. He had to climb the ladder of success step-by-step. Bryan says he's not tall, and he certainly isn't pretty, but he can wrestle, and he can beat Orton. Bryan says he can beat him for the title. Bryan says he is entitled a rematch for the WWE Championship, and he wants the rematch to happen tonight. Bryan leads the crowd in a great "YES" chant.
Orton calls Bryan "short stuff" as he says he'll have to wait for Night of Champions. Orton stands close to Bryan as he raises the WWE Championship above his head. Orton turns to leave, but then he goes for an RKO. Bryan pushes him off, but Orton hangs onto the ropes. Bryan then dropkicks him over the top rope! Bryan yells for Orton to get back in the ring, but he just backs off. Bryan gets the crowd going with a "YES" chant as his music plays.
Christian will take on Alberto Del Rio in a non-title Summerslam rematch.
Curtis Axel is seen walking with Paul Heyman backstage. He'll be in action, next.
**Commercial**
Vickie Guerrero is on the phone talking about how Daniel Bryan wasn't supposed to be out there. It was supposed to be Randy Orton's moment. She says someone needs to teach that little troll a lesson before hanging up. Wade Barrett comes up to her. Barrett says it seems like him, the McMahon Family, and her have something in common. They have a mutual dislike of Daniel Bryan. As a former champion, Bryan gets a rematch against Orton for the WWE Championship, but he wants to make sure that never happens. Barrett asks her to put him in a match with Bryan, and he guarantees that will be the last she will see of Bryan. Vickie says she could make it a No Holds Barred or Extreme Rules match, but she's going to have it be in a Steel Cage match. They both smile.
Cody Rhodes vs. Curtis Axel w/ Paul Heyman
A replay is shown of CM Punk viciously beating Curtis Axel down on this past Monday's RAW. Heyman was forced to watch his young client go down from afar.
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Axel kicks him down in the corner before the referee backs him up. Rhodes catches him with a back elbow before applying a waistlock. Axel applies one of his own, but Rhodes pulls his leg out. Rhodes hits the ropes, and Axel takes him down with a nice dropkick. Rhodes pushes him away and charges, but Axel gives him a back body drop to the apron. Rhodes shoulders him before hitting a springboard dropkick for a two count.
Axel rolls out of the ring to recover, so Rhodes goes to the top rope. Axel sees this, and he moves. Rhodes gets on the apron to chase him, but Axel sweeps the feet. Rhodes hits the apron hard. Rhodes falls to the outside, and Axel drives him spine-first into the edge of the ring.
**Commercial**
We come back from the break to see Axel dropping some forearms on Rhodes for a two count. Axel hits a snapmare before hitting a rolling neck snapper for a two count. Axel applies a chin lock, but Rhodes quickly fights up. Rhodes elbows out and whips him to the corner, but Axel slides on his feet and connects with a clothesline. Axel goes to the second rope, but Rhodes avoids the diving elbow. Rhodes punches him before having a whip reversed. Rhodes drops down and uppercuts him. Rhodes hangs him up on the top rope and kicks him in the midsection, a la Hardcore Holly. Axel then ducks a Disaster Kick. Axel kicks him down and sends him to the corner, but Rhodes catches him with a rollup for a near fall. Rhodes quickly takes him down with a clothesline.
Rhodes goes to the top rope, but Heyman distracts him by stomping up the ring steps. Axel shakes the ropes, and Rhodes is crotched on the top rope. Axel follows up with the hangman's face-buster for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Curtis Axel
Paul Heyman stands in the ring with his client. Heyman says he stands before the crowd a man who is not just in pain, but agony. That agony is a direct result of the actions by CM Punk. The crowd chants Punk's name. Heyman says they will choke on their cheers. He's not talking about the obvious physical pain he's in. He's in emotional distress because a man whom he once considered to be his best friend and an athlete he guided to being the "Best in the World" has been reduced to being a sad, pathetic loser. Heyman says CM Punk was pinned by Brock Lesnar at Summerslam. Instead of accepting defeat like a man and acknowledging his loss, Punk went off the rails.
Punk is on a downward spiral. His actions on RAW were befitting a madman. Without Paul Heyman in his corner, Punk never stood a chance against Brock Lesnar. Without Paul Heyman, CM Punk is lost, while with Paul Heyman, Curtis Axel has found himself. His client is filled with confidence. His client has notched many victories, which is why no one can defeat Curtis Axel for the Intercontinental Championship.
Curtis Axel takes the microphone, and he says the problem is Punk doesn't deserve an Intercontinental Championship match. The man is so jealous that Heyman has been paying more attention to him that he assaulted him with a chair on Monday night. Axel says he wants to finish the job that Brock Lesnar started at Summerslam. Axel challenges Punk to a match live on Monday Night RAW. Axel says his future is better than Punk's. He's more athletic than him, and he has someone in his corner named Paul Heyman.
Daniel Bryan will take on Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage match later tonight.
Dolph Ziggler is seen on split screen with AJ Lee and Big E Langston occupying the other side. Ziggler and Langston will fight, next.
**Commercial**
Big E Langston w/ AJ Lee vs. Dolph Ziggler
Before the match begins, Langston attacks Ziggler as he enters the ring. Langston unloads on him with punches in the corner before bouncing him chest first off the turnbuckle. The referee admonishes Langston and orders him to back up. Langston charges Ziggler again, and the referee yells at him. The referee checks on Ziggler, and he says he's OK.
The bell rings, and Ziggler sidesteps Langston. Ziggler punches him before Langston pushes him into the ropes and hits a big flapjack for a two count. Langston punches away at him before hitting a big splash for another two count. Langston applies a chin lock, but Ziggler fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Ziggler sidesteps him in the corner, and Langston hits the ring post shoulder first. Ziggler hits an avalanche in the corner before hitting a neckbreaker. Ziggler hits a dropkick before going for a famouser. Langston counters by getting him in position for a powerbomb, but Ziggler counters into a sit-out face-buster for a two count.
AJ punches Ziggler in the face as the referee's back was turned. Langston viciously clotheslines Ziggler for a near fall. Langston goes for the Big Ending, but Ziggler slides off and connects with a Zig-Zag for the win. AJ Lee screams at ringside.
Winner by Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Christian will take on Alberto Del Rio in a non-title Summerslam rematch, next.
**Commercial**
Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio
They circle the ring and lock up. Del Rio powers Christian to the corner, and the referee tries to back him up. Del Rio sucker punches him in the gut before kicking him down. Del Rio kicks and punches him before the referee backs him up. Del Rio charges, but Christian gives him a back body drop over the top rope. Christian then takes him out with a baseball slide that sends Del Rio ribs first into the barricade. Christian punches and puts him in the ring, but Del Rio slides out. Christian goes to the top rope to splash him, but Del Rio goes up the ramp to avoid him. Christian stares at him from the ring.
**Commercial**
We come back from the break to see Del Rio kicking away at Christian's leg. Del Rio backs up, and Christian uppercuts him a few times. During the commercial break, Del Rio slammed Christian's arm off the commentary table a few times. Christian goes to the second rope for a tornado DDT, but Del Rio gets out of the headlock and pushes him over the top rope to the outside!
Del Rio goes outside, and he kicks away at him. Del Rio throws him into the ring and covers for a near fall. Del Rio applies an overhead wristlock, but Christian fights up and punches out. Christian hits the ropes and kicks him in the face. Christian hits the ropes again, but this time Del Rio catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Del Rio quickly gets him on the ropes and twists his arm around one. Del Rio taunts the crowd before going for a splash, but Christian avoids it.
Christian snaps Del Rio off the top rope, and he gets the crowd clapping with him. Del Rio gets back in the ring and tries for a clothesline, but Christian ducks. Christian has a whip reversed, but he takes him down with a running forearm. Christian punches him in the corner before catching him with a back body drop. Christian goes to the top rope, but Del Rio avoids the cross-body block. Del Rio quickly connects with a low dropkick to the face for a near fall. Del Rio head-butts away at him before missing an enzuigiri. Christian executes a nice springboard sunset flip for a near fall.
Christian stuns him with a punch before going to the second rope. Del Rio avoids a missile dropkick and goes for a Cross Arm Breaker, but Christian rolls through. Christian boots him in the face before connecting with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Christian gets the crowd ready for a spear, but Del Rio gets out of the ring to avoid it. Christian follows him outside, and Del Rio goes back in. Del Rio tries to attack as Christian reenters the ring, but he avoids it. Christian uppercuts him and goes to the top rope. Del Rio then catches him with an enzuigiri off the top rope for a near fall. Del Rio cannot believe it.
Del Rio pulls his kneepad down as he waits for Christian to get up. Christian blocks a kick and goes for the Killswitch, but Del Rio pushes him off. Del Rio sidesteps Christian as he charges him, and he sends him into the ring post shoulder first. Del Rio goes to the second rope, grabs the arm, and executes a Cross Arm Breaker. Christian tries to hold his hands to relieve the pressure, but Del Rio soon gets it fully applied. Christian has no choice but to tap out.
Winner by Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio thanks all the Latinos. Del Rio says he knows how the Mexicans and Latinos look up to him. Del Rio says he knows how they all want to be the next Alberto Del Rio, but there is only one. You cannot be like him because they're peasants. Del Rio tells them to relax. That doesn't mean that just because they are the son or daughter of a peasant that they have to be a peasant. They can be something better. Just follow the leader to greatness - the great Alberto Del Rio.
Ricardo Rodriguez comes out to the stage sarcastically saying Del Rio's last name. Rodriguez tells Del Rio to stop. He says he has a little bit of a problem. Del Rio said the crowd can follow him to greatness, but Rodriguez doesn't agree. Rodriguez says the man who is with him exemplifies greatness every single night every opportunity he gets. He doesn't look down on people - he stands up for them: Rob Van Dam!
RVD makes his way to the ring to a great reception. Christian takes Del Rio out with a missile dropkick, and RVD connects with the Rolling Thunder. Del Rio quickly gets out of the ring holding his ribs. Rodriguez holds the World Heavyweight Championship as RVD does his taunt. They then hold the championship together.
A replay is aired of what happened earlier in the night between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton. Bryan will face Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage match in the main event.
**Commercial**
3MB vs. Big Show and Mark Henry
Big Show will start out against Heath Slater. Big Show pushes Slater against the ropes and chops the chest before bouncing him head first off the turnbuckle. Mark Henry is tagged in, and he grabs Slater by the neck. Slater fights him off and hits the ropes, but Henry mauls him with a clothesline. Henry throws him to the corner before hitting a big boot. Henry stands over him and goes for a seated senton, but Slater moves. Drew McIntyre is tagged in, and he punches away at Henry. Jinder Mahal is then tagged in, and he kicks away at Henry. Mahal punches and talks trash before tagging Slater back in. Slater kicks him in the head a few times before taunting the crowd. Slater hits some jabs before hitting the ropes. Henry then turns him inside out with a shoulder tackle.
Big Show and McIntyre are tagged in. Big Show hits a pair of clotheslines before sending him to the corner for a back body drop. Big Show then kicks Mahal off the apron. Big Show hits a running butt bump on McIntyre before hitting a shoulder tackle. Big Show signals for his finisher, and he Chokeslams McIntyre. Slater breaks it up. Big Show grabs him by the throat and pushes him into Henry, who gives him the World's Strongest Slam. Big Show then shoves Mahal over the top rope by the throat. Big Show balls his fist up, and he drops McIntyre with the Knockout Punch for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Big Show and Mark Henry
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins appear on the screen. Reigns says they told Big Show and Mark Henry to step up, and they go and beat up 3MB. Maybe they didn't understand them. Rollins says Big Show didn't get the message on Monday night. He's shocked he got back up after they dropped him from the sky. Rollins says he glad he did because they'll have a lot of fun knocking him back down again. The clock is ticking on Big Show's time here. Reigns tells Henry to wake up because he's been floating around for a decade and a half. Reigns says Henry expects them to respect him, but they never will. Rollins says that two former champions have come together to form one of the most imposing teams in WWE history. The problem with the two of them wanting a shot at the Tag Team Titles is that they're just better than them. Rollins says a new era has dawned, and the two of them have got to go. Rollins tells them to believe that, and Reigns screams to believe in The Shield.
The Prime Time Players are seen doing their "Millions of Dollars" dance backstage. Darren Young will face Antonio Cesaro, next.
**Commercial**
Zeb Colter is in the ring with Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro. Colter asks the crowd to put their hands over their hearts and say, "We the people."
Antonio Cesaro w/ Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter vs. Darren Young w/ Titus O'Neil
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee of all time, is the official for this match. Cesaro immediately takes him down with a dropkick. Cesaro punches away at him and says, "We the people!" Cesaro head-butts him in the corner before talking some trash. Cesaro deadlifts him for a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro talks more trash, and Young hits him with a head-butt to the midsection. Cesaro knees him in the midsection and sends him to the corner hard. Cesaro runs into Young's boot, but he soon comes back with a chin lock. Young fights up, but Cesaro takes him down with a short-arm clothesline. Cesaro talks some trash and slaps him in the face. Cesaro hits the ropes, and Young floors him with a clothesline.
Young punches away at him a few times before sending him to the corner. Young then takes him down with a belly-to-belly suplex. Young tries to fire up the crowd before hitting a corner clothesline. Young follows up with a northern lights suplex for a two count. Young gets Cesaro on his shoulders, and Jack Swagger distracts him by getting on the apron. Titus O'Neil pulls him off as Cesaro rolls Young up for a near fall. Young hot shots him on the top rope before hitting the Gut Check for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Darren Young
Daniel Bryan will take on Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage match in tonight's main event.
**Commercial**
Ryback is seen drinking water backstage when a man stops him and asks him for an autograph for his son. Ryback asks what the kid's name is, and the father tells him it is Billy. Ryback says that's a stupid name before saying he was kidding. Ryback signs a poster and gives it to him. The man asks which one Ryback is as he doesn't watch wrestling. Only his son does. The man asks what his name is despite it being on Ryback's jacket. Ryback is mad that the man doesn't know who he is so he tears up the poster and tells him to tell his kid that his dad is a scrawny, pencil-neck fool. The man walks away in fear.
CM Punk tweeted out that he accepts Curtis Axel's challenge for a match on Monday Night RAW.
The steel cage is lowering over the ring. The main event is next.
**Commercial**
Steel Cage Match
Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett
The crowd chants for Bryan as the bell rings. They lock up, and Barrett powers him to the corner before hitting some punches. Bryan turns him in the corner before kicking and punching away at him. Bryan sends him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Barrett tries to send him into the cage, but Bryan blocks it. Bryan punches him and puts him in the corner before hitting some stiff kicks to the chest. Bryan goes to the second rope and hits some punches. Barrett pushes him off and catches him charging with a boot. Barrett kicks him in the head before punching away at him. Barrett puts him on his shoulder and sends him like a lawn dart into the side of the cage for a near fall.
Barrett goes for a back suplex, but Bryan flips through. Barrett charges, but Bryan pulls the top rope down. Barrett flies into the cage and falls to the apron. Bryan viciously kicks and punches away at him in the corner. Barrett reverses a whip to the corner, but Bryan backflips over him and hits the ropes. Barrett quickly takes him down with the Winds of Change for a near fall.
**Commercial**
We come back from the break to see Barrett kneeing Bryan in the head before big booting him into the cage. Bryan collapses on the apron. Barrett drags him away from the ropes and covers him for a near fall. Barrett drags him to the ropes, but Bryan bounces his face off the steel cage a few times. Bryan hits the ropes and dropkicks him into the cage. Bryan hits the ropes again and dropkicks him again in to the cage. Barrett collapses to the apron, and Bryan dropkicks him a third time into the cage. The crowd is chanting, "YES!" Bryan goes to climb out of the cage, but Barrett cuts him off. Bryan kicks him away and hits a missile dropkick off the top rope for a near fall.
The crowd continues to chant "YES" as Bryan kicks Barrett in the chest a bunch of times. Barrett ducks a big kick to the head and sends him face first into the cage. Barrett then turns Bryan inside out with a clothesline for a near fall. Barrett goes for The Wasteland, but Bryan grabs onto the cage. Bryan gets on the top rope and kicks Barrett hard in the face. Barrett quickly comes back and puts Bryan on his shoulders for the electric chair drop. Barrett covers for a near fall.
Both men are down. Barrett is first to his feet, and he begins to scale the cage. Bryan soon gets up and stops him before he can go over the top. They stand on the top rope, and Bryan tries for a super German suplex. Barrett hangs on and elbows Bryan off. Barrett gets a leg over the top of the cage when Bryan cuts him off. Bryan clubs away at him before pulling him back down. Bryan kicks away at him on the top rope before smashing his face off the top of the cage. Bryan then grabs him and powerbombs him off the top rope! Bryan leads the crowd in a "YES" chant before hitting a big running knee to the face for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan jumps all around ringside doing the "YES" taunt. All of a sudden, Randy Orton comes out from under the ring, and he hits Bryan with an RKO outside the ring! Orton raises his WWE Championship up as he stands over Bryan to end the show.
