SmackDown: May 31, 2013

Kane def. WWE Tag Team Champion Seth Rollins

EDMONTON, Alberta – Though the “Hounds of Justice” journeyed to SmackDown to expand their dominance in an impressive trifecta of individual showdowns, it would ultimately be WWE’s submission specialist – desperate to prove to himself that he was not the “weak link” of Team Hell No – who would dispense final justice.

Kane and Seth Rollins square off inside the SmackDown ring.

SmackDown opened with a fevered clash pitting Kane against Seth Rollins, the first of two scheduled singles matches between WWE Tag Team Champions, The Shield, and their title-holding predecessors, Team Hell No.

Photos of Seth Rollins' huge fall

In the final moments of battle, a distraction by Roman Reigns paved the way for Rollins to hit The Big Red Monster with a fierce kick to the head. However, when Rollins attempted to follow up his attack from the top rope, Daniel Bryan took advantage of the distracted referee to throw his partner’s unsuspecting opponent to the canvas. The Devil’s Favorite Demon then hit the chokeslam for the victory.

WWE Tag Team Champion Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan strives to prove that he is not the weak link against Roman Reigns.

Moments after Kane’s huge win, Daniel Bryan took on Roman Reigns. In the height of the action, the former World Champion trapped his opponent in the “No!” Lock and appeared as if he might score the second triumph of the night over the “Hounds of Justice.” 

Photos of the monster hit that got Bryan disqualified

However, with Seth Rollins’ help, Bryan’s black-clad adversary grabbed the ropes. While The Big Red Monster instantly took down the interfering Rollins, Reigns delivered a cheap shot to The Devil’s Favorite Demon from inside the ring – just as the occupied referee was getting Bryan to break his finishing maneuver. When Kane punched back, though, the official saw it and was left with no choice but to promptly disqualify Bryan!

When the dust settled, an outraged Bryan and Kane argued once again, as Bryan continued to fight his fear that he was the “weak link” of the tremendous tag team.

Damien Sandow’s Thimblerig Challenge

Damien Sandow attempts to trick Sheamus, but instead The Celtic Warrior gets the last laugh.

After relentlessly belittling the Edmonton crowd, Damien Sandow introduced his  latest game of wits to the WWE Universe – a contest that the ancient Greeks may have called “Thimblerig,” but pretty much everyone else would call the Shell Game. And as Sandow explained how it worked, Sheamus decided to join him in the ring.

Brain teasing photos of Sheamus outsmarting Sandow

While The Celtic Warrior appeared to fall short in the unique challenge, he soon discovered that Sandow had, in fact, cheated. This inspired the fighting Irishman to “educate” The Intellectual Savior of the Masses by “braining him” with the Brogue Kick.

Curtis Axel def. Sin Cara

Sin Cara tries to prevent Curtis Axel from having a "perfect" performance on SmackDown.

With the help of Paul Heyman, Curtis Axel pontificated on his huge victories over Triple H and WWE Champion John Cena in recent weeks – summing it all up by saying that “for a ‘Paul Heyman Guy,’ life is perfect.”

Photos of Curtis Axel executing his first SmackDown Perfect Plex

In the match that followed against Sin Cara, the impressive up-and-coming Superstar played on those very words, overcoming his opponent’s high-octane offense with a devastating combination of his grandfather’s Axe maneuver and the Perfect Plex, courtesy of his WWE Hall of Fame father, Mr. Perfect.

Big E Langston def. Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio and Big E Langston continue their competitive rivalry on SmackDown.

After AJ Lee accidently cost Big E Langston his match against Alberto Del Rio on Raw, the powerful competitor returned to SmackDown to go head-to-head with World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler’s No. 1 contender for the fourth time.

Eager to make up for her Monday mistake,  AJ engaged Del Rio outside the ring while the referee was distracted, shaking things up enough for Langston to hurl the Mexican Superstar into the unforgiving steel post. Moments later, Big E executed the “Big Ending” on Del Rio for the three-count, evening the recent matches between them at two wins apiece.

Ryback def. Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston feels the wrath of the destructive Ryback.

Perhaps in anticipation of the possible third stage of his upcoming  Three Stages of Hell Match against WWE Champion John Cena at the Payback pay-per-view, Ryback rolled into SmackDown in an ambulance to face off against Kofi Kingston.

Photos of Ryback's latest Feeding Frenzy

From the opening bell, Kofi set out to show the “Human Wrecking Ball” that looking past him was a big mistake. Still, despite The Wildcat’s explosive offense, the No. 1 contender to the WWE Title roared back, taking out the high-flier with Shell Shocked for the victory.

The carnage didn’t stop with the bell, though. In an apparent effort to send a message to The Champ, Ryback proceeded to put Kingston through three separate tables –  leaving him injured amidst a wasteland of broken wood!

Chris Jericho def. Cody Rhodes

Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes square off on SmackDown.

Photos: Countdown the moments to Y2J's SmackDown victory

Will the six-time World Champion have the same luck when he takes on  CM Punk at WWE Payback on June 16?

Randy Orton def. United States Champion Dean Ambrose by Disqualification

Randy Orton goes one-on-one with United States Champion Dean Ambrose in the main event of SmackDown.

In an electrifying SmackDown main event, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns brought the furious action to a screeching halt, attacking Randy Orton to bring about a disqualification in The Viper’s favor.

Photos: Bryan's unleashed an absolute Shield onslaught

But an even more electrifying moment trumped their efforts just seconds later. While both members of Team Hell No rushed to the ring to help even the odds for WWE’s Apex Predator, it was Daniel Bryan who – furious and desperate to prove to himself that he is not the “weak link” of Team Hell No – sent all three Shield members packing!

Refresh for the latest SmackDown outcomes, videos and photos.

Randy Orton def. Dean Ambrose ( WATCH | PHOTOS)

Chris Jericho def. Cody Rhodes ( WATCH | PHOTOS)

Ryback def. Kofi Kingston (WATCH | PHOTOS)

Big E Langston def. Alberto Del Rio ( WATCH | PHOTOS)

Curtis Axel def. Sin Cara ( WATCH | PHOTOS)

Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan ( WATCH | PHOTOS)

Kane def. Seth Rollins ( WATCH | PHOTOS)