SmackDown: September 21, 2012

The Rated-R Superstar got swept up in a therapeutic moment between WWE Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan & Kane

PHILADELPHIA – While SmackDown braced itself for the return of a true WWE Hall of Famer and World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus joined forces with Randy Orton against the formidable combination of Alberto Del Rio & Dolph Ziggler, it was the anger management issues of the WWE Tag Team Champions that led to an onslaught of absolute, chair-fused anarchy.

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Edge, walked into a SmackDown ring for the first time in more than a year, recalling the moment when he was forced to retire 18 months ago due to injury, before mentioning his appearance on the new season of “Haven,” airing tonight on Syfy immediately following the blue brand.

But, when the 11-time World Champion brought up Daniel Bryan & Kane becoming “BFFs” and winning the WWE Tag Team Championships at Night of Champions, the former decided to interrupt him. Bryan declared that “he,” rather than “they,” was the champion. He was confident enough in Dr. Shelby’s anger management techniques to describe himself as an “anchor, rock, one with my emotions.” However, when he tried to analyze The Ultimate Opportunist, the always crafty Edge turned it around and nearly made the submission specialist snap.

WWE Hall of Famer Edge returns to SmackDown only to get mixed up between the anger issues of WWE Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan & Kane.

The Big Red Monster soon joined as well, engaging in a screaming match with his co-champion about which one of them was, in fact, the WWE Tag Team Champions. When things inevitably got tense between Kane and Edge over their past issues, The Devil’s Favorite Demon “rectified” the situation with a surprise hug on his longtime adversary. As they invited Bryan into an emotional group hug, the trio was interrupted by Damien Sandow.  

After about 30 seconds of listening to the self-professed “Intellectual Savior of the Masses,” Edge looked to shut him down, proposing that Sandow take on either Bryan or his monstrous cohort in the ring. Though the WWE Tag Team Champions argued over which one of them would have the pleasure of facing him — and Sandow didn’t seem enthused by the prospect at all — SmackDown General Manager Booker T made the definitive call during the break that Sandow, who calls himself “The Martyr,” would battle Kane.

Damien Sandow def. WWE Tag Team Champion Kane

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In the key moment of a brutal impromptu match between Kane and Damien Sandow, Daniel Bryan climbed up on the apron, thrusting both WWE Tag Team Titles in the air and screaming that he was the Tag Team Champions. The distraction paved the way for the self-professed “Intellectual Savior of the Masses,” to hit Terminus on his masked opponent to pick up the huge upset victory!

Later, when an irate Kane confronted his partner over costing him his match and walking off with his WWE Tag Team Title, Dr. Shelby defused the situation by proposing that Bryan compete as well. ( WATCH)

WWE Tag Team Champion Kane goes one-on-one with Damien Sandow while Daniel Bryan watches from ringside.

Layla def. Natalya

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The new Divas Champion, Eve, joined the SmackDown announce team, as Layla took on third-generation Diva, Natalya. When Michael Cole and Josh Mathews questioned the titleholder about accusations that she was somehow involved in the attack on Kaitlyn that led to Eve slipping into the vacant title match, the assistant to the SmackDown GM denied that she had anything to do with it.

Meanwhile, inside the ring, the first English-born Divas Champion overcame Natalya with the devastating Lay-out neckbreaker, sending a strong signal to Eve that she will be a force to reckon with, whenever she gets her championship rematch.

Layla goes one-on-one with Natalya while Divas Champion Eve helps to provide commentary.

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus & Randy Orton def. Alberto Del Rio & Dolph Ziggler

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Prior to his huge SmackDown tag team match, Alberto Del Rio was informed by SmackDown GM Booker T that — in light of the controversy surrounding the reinstatement of the Brogue Kick, just moments before Sunday’s World Title Match — if he scored a victory, he may get another opportunity at World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus.

In an absolutely chaotic moment in the action that followed, The Mexican Aristocrat attempted to lock The Great White in the Cross Armbreaker, However, the resilient Celtic Warrior had enough presence of mind to counter and push his adversary into The Viper’s waiting RKO. Moments later, Ziggler — the legal Superstar for his team — attempted to use the Money in the Bank briefcase as a weapon, only to meet with the Brogue Kick and ultimately the defeat at the hand of the first Irish-born World Heavyweight Champion. 

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus & Randy Orton join forces against the team of Alberto Del Rio & Dolph Ziggler.

Cody Rhodes def. WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan

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As a direct result of Daniel Bryan costing Kane his match earlier in the night and the implementation of the subsequent peace-keeping techniques of Dr. Shelby, the submission specialist would take on Cody Rhodes.

In the midst of the hard-fought battle, just when Bryan looked ready to cinch in the “No!” Lock for a possible submission win, Kane’s pyro suddenly filled the arena. The distraction allowed Rhodes to regroup and hit the Cross Rhodes for the victory.

While Bryan confronted Kane in the back about costing him the match, their altercation was interrupted by the looks of Damien Sandow and Rhodes, still glowing over their respective singles triumphs over the WWE Tag Team Champions. In response to being called a “joke” that was about to “combust,” Kane & Bryan decided they wanted one more crack at their smug adversaries, this time together in a tag team main event. ( WATCH)   

Kane makes his presence felt on SmackDown when Daniel Bryan faces Cody Rhodes.

Brodus Clay def. Heath Slater by Disqualification

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Entering SmackDown in typical rhythmic fashion — accompanied by the smoking Funkadactyls — Brodus Clay quickly took control in his match against Heath Slater.

However, before The Funkasaurus could finish him off, Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre suddenly launched a sneak attack from out of nowhere. The recovering One-Man Band joined in, making it a three-on-one assault that culminated in McIntyre’s Future Shock DDT and Mahal’s Camel Clutch. Leaving Brodus reeling on the canvas, the trio sent a strong message to the dancing Superstar and the WWE Universe.

During the match between Brodus Clay and Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre & Jinder Mahal help The One Man Band lead a vicious assault on The Funkasaurus.

Santino Marella def. United States Champion Antonio Cesaro in a Non-Title Match

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In the height of his showdown against U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro, Santino Marella looked ready to utilize the Cobra. But before he could, Aksana climbed up on the apron and caused the Italian Stallion’s serpentine sock-puppet to become distracted.

When Cesaro regained the advantage and ripped the Cobra from Santino’s arm, his girlfriend attempted take it out of the ring — only to fall through the ropes and injure her ankle. This took the referee away from the action and ultimately cost the champion the pin. While the Swiss Superstar screamed at Aksana to get out of the ring, Santino grabbed his opportunity to roll up the distracted titleholder for the victory.

As the smoke cleared, the outraged Cesaro proceeded to break up with Aksana in five languages, leaving her completely devastated!

Santino Marella faces Antonio Cesaro in a non-title match which leads to the United States Champion dumping Aksana and leaving her at ringside.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan def. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow by Disqualification

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After they each caused one another a loss earlier in the show, Daniel Bryan and Kane came together to challenge both earlier victors — Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow — in the SmackDown main event. ( WATCH)

With many of WWE’s top tag team contenders watching carefully at ringside, the intense Kane hit Sandow with the Chokeslam in the contest’s final moments. But before Kane could get the three-count, Rhodes suddenly wacked The Big Red Monster with a chair, forcing the referee to call for the bell and award the disqualification. 

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan face the duo of Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow while The Prime Time Players, The Usos, and Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel watch from ringside.

However, when Rhodes tried to continue the assault afterward, Bryan grabbed Rhodes’ weapon from behind, stunning all by protecting his partner from the attack. After Bryan handed Kane the implement of destruction, The Devil’s Favorite Demon used the chair to take out the grandson of a plumber — while the submission specialist grabbed a second chair for himself. Then, acting as one in a chaotic display of cooperation, the volatile duo began unloading on Sandow with nearly 20 chair blows.

This therapeutic exercise must have felt good because, moments later, Kane began throwing the other tag teams into the ring, setting up himself and Bryan to decimate everybody in sight and leaving a ring full of carnage as they raised their titles high in the air.