SmackDown: May 24, 2013

“Miz TV” spun out of control with Fandango and Wade Barrett

OMAHA, Neb. — “The Hounds of Justice” continued their reign of all-out dominance over WWE, as SmackDown featured two championship showdowns, a submission specialist on the edge, challenges that left the competition in knots and a gutsy message from the newest “Paul Heyman Guy.”

Before challenging Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship, The Miz once again brought the “most must-see talk show in WWE History” to Friday night, with special guest Fandango and his dance partner, Summer Rae.

View the "most must-see" photos now | Photos: Summer Rae heats things up

However, when a verbal exchange began between the two competitors – centered around the dancing Superstar’s unorthodox actions during a  Tag Team Match on Raw Monday night – the Barrett Barrage interrupted. The British brawler immediately showed disdain for both his outspoken No. 1 contender and Fandango – for leaving Barrett to fend for himself four days earlier. And within moments, Miz and Barrett lunged at each other, lighting the fuse on their imminent title contest.

The Miz def. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett

The Miz gets an opportunity to win back the Intercontinental Title from Wade Barrett.

With Fandango joining the SmackDown announce team, The Miz attempted to separate The Barrett Barrage from his coveted Intercontinental Title. But, when Fandango and Summer Rae broke into a dance in the middle of the heated showdown, Miz dropped  Fandango to the ringside floor. The dancing Superstar returned the favor moments later, though, smacking Miz and bringing an end to the match by disqualification.

Photos: Barrett takes down Miz and Fandango |  10 Top Championship Titles 

While Fandango and Barrett worked together to deliver a post-match beat down on The Awesome One, the bare-knuckled brawler broke that would-be alliance in painful fashion with the help of a crushing Bull Hammer Elbow on the “prancing” grappler.

Daniel Bryan def. Jack Swagger

Daniel Bryan looks to prove a point against Jack Swagger on SmackDown.

Prior to his match against Jack Swagger,  Daniel Bryan was still struggling with Team Hell No’s loss of the WWE Tag Team Titles to The Shield at Extreme Rules and whether or not he was the “weak link.” 

Photos of Bryan losing control

This would carry into his  match against the “Real American.” For, after making Swagger tap out to the “No!” Lock in an explosive back-and-forth contest, the erratic submission specialist reapplied the maneuver after the bell and had to be dragged off his prey by Kane.

Damien Sandow’s “Gordian Knot Challenge”

Damien Sandow tries to outsmart Sheamus, but "The Intellectual Savior" ends up paying for his actions in the end.

After weeks of watching Sheamus and Mark Henry engage in various tests of strength, Damien Sandow aimed to present a more intellectual exercise to the WWE Universe, namely the puzzle of “Gordian’s Knot.” He gave WWE mic-extraordinaire and former teacher Matt Striker the challenge of trying to untie that which most likely couldn’t be untied.

When Striker proved unable to complete the task, The Celtic Warrior emerged to attempt to overcome the quandary himself. After Sheamus also failed,  Sandow presented his own solution – smugly producing a pair of clippers and cutting the rope apart. 

Here's how Sandow did it

Sheamus answered back with a congratulatory Brogue Kick attempt on The Intellectual Savior of the Masses. When Sandow ducked out of the ring, the Irish Superstar decided to demonstrate “Newton’s Law” to the WWE Universe, showing that whatever comes up must come down by launching Striker through the ropes and onto Sandow. 

Chris Jericho def. Big Show by Count-Out

Chris Jericho and Big Show square off on SmackDown.

In a  fierce match between former Unified Tag Team Champions “Jeri-Show,” the out-of-control action eventually spilled through the ropes to the ringside floor.

Check out Jericho's huge Codebreaker |  Watch "Jeri-Show" battle Mysterio & Batista

However, when The World’s Largest Athlete tried to ram Jericho into the ring post, Y2J countered and sent the giant slamming into the unforgiving steel. Then, before the WWE Universe could catch its breath, the six-time World Champion followed up with one of his most powerful Codebreakers ever, sending his towering opponent crashing over the ring barricade.

While Big Show couldn’t answer the count in time to stop his defeat, he tried to use a steel chair to deliver a post-match assault. But The Ayatolla of Rock n’ Rolla turned the tables – or, rather, the chair – using the weapon to send Big Show packing in painful fashion. 

Curtis Axel def. Sin Cara

Curtis Axel has a strong opinion about his match against Triple H, as well as his future in WWE.

After debuting Curtis Axel on Raw, Paul Heyman and his newest client journeyed to the blue brand to address the WWE Universe. Making reference to Triple H collapsing during their main event match on Monday night, Axel claimed that, “in one day, [he] did more than his legendary father and grandfather ever did” and that it was only “day 1 in building the brand of Curtis Axel.”

Photos: Newest "Heyman Guy" comes to SmackDown

In the matchup that followed against Sin Cara, Axel backed up those strong words, ducking out of the way when the high-flyer soared at him from the top rope and hitting his masked opponent with a swinging neckbreaker for the three-count.

Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion Dean Ambrose

Kofi Kingston goes one-on-one with Dean Ambrose until the other members of The Shield get involved.

In his first United States Championship defense against former titleholder Kofi Kingston, Dean Ambrose chose to come to the ring without his fellow Shield members, WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.

Still, when The Wildcat gained the advantage and attempted to drop in on his black-clad opponent from the top rope, Rollins and Reigns did attack after all, prompting the disqualification and a three-on-one post-match onslaught.

That disadvantage would not last long, though, as Randy Orton and Sheamus quickly joined the fray, causing Senior Advisor to the SmackDown General Manager, Theodore Long, to transform the one-on-one contest into a Six-Man Tag Team Match.

The Shield def. Sheamus, Randy Orton & Kofi Kingston

Sheamus, Randy Orton, & Kofi Kingston clash with The Shield in the main event of SmackDown.

Witness photos of the Six-Man mayhem

Reigns ultimately paid for his interference with an RKO outside the ring, courtesy of The Viper. In spite of this, however, Kofi Kingston became yet another victim of The Shield’s masterful use of the number’s game. Amidst the chaos, a distraction from Seth Rollins allowed Ambrose to slam The Wildcat’s head into the canvas and pick up another huge win for the undefeated “Hounds of Justice.”