WWE Smackdown Recap: Orton Apologizes, Real Americans Vs. Rhodes And Goldust, More

This week's episode of Smackdown opens up with JBL and Michael Cole on commentary.

Daniel Bryan comes down to the ring.

Daniel Bryan vs. Erick Rowan (with Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt)

Rowan kicks Bryan in the gut and clubs him in the back. He hits Bryan in the chest against the ropes. Bryan comes back with multiple kicks to the legs, but Rowan hits a shoulder knockdown. Rowan lands a body slam. He hits Bryan in the back. Rowan locks in a bear hug. Bryan fights out via elbows to the head. He leaps at Rowan. Rowan catches him and hits a fall away slam. He sets Bryan up top and clubs his chest. Rowan charges, but Bryan puts a boot up. Bryan hits a missile dropkick. He kicks Rowan in the chest several times, and then once in the head. Harper gets up on the apron, and Bryan kicks him off. He takes Harper out with a dive. Rowan charges, and Bryan pulls the ropes down, sending Rowan outside. Bryan goes to hit Rowan with a dive, but Bray Wyatt trips him.

Winner via DQ: Daniel Bryan

Harper and Rowan try to attack Bryan, but Bryan dodges, slides out of the ring and hits Bray with the flying knee to the face while he's still in his rocking chair. Bryan escapes up the ramp.

The Real Americans vs. Cody Rhodes and Goldust

Goldust and Cesaro start off. Goldust locks in a side headlock. He hits Cesaro with a shoulder tackle and an arm drag. Cody comes in with an elbow to Cesaro's bicep. Cesaro counters and tags in Swagger. Swagger and Cesaro exchange several quick tags. Swagger drives his shoulder into Cody's stomach, and then power whips him. Swagger goes for the Swagger Bomb, but Cody moves. Goldust tags in. He takes it to Swagger. Goldust hits an atomic drop and Cesaro tags in, unbeknownst to Goldust. Goldust hits Swagger with a spine buster. Cesaro attacks Goldust from behind and sends him outside. Cesaro hits a clothesline.

Back from commercial and Swagger is in control of Goldust. He drives his shoulder into Goldust's stomach in the corner. Cesaro tags in. He drives his boot into Goldust's throat. Swagger tags in. He hits Goldust with a belly to belly. Swagger locks in Goldust's head from behind. Goldust gets to his feet and fights out. He hits Cesaro off the apron. Goldust leaps off the second rope and collides with Swagger. Cody and Cesaro tag in. Cody has the hot tag. He hits Cesaro with a pair of clotheslines and a pin attempt. Cody lands an Alabama slam and Cesaro grabs the bottom rope off the pin attempt.

Cesaro ducks a disaster kick. He tries to do the Cesaro Swing, but Goldust breaks it up. Goldust gets sent outside, and Cody hits Cesaro with a disaster kick. Swagger breaks up the pin attempt, and Cody sends him outside. Cody backdrops Cesaro into Swagger, and then takes out Cesaro with a dive. Cesaro gets sent back inside. Cody goes up top, and Cesaro pulls him off and hits a big uppercut for the win.

Winners: The Real Americans

Then, a hype video for the TLC main event is shown that shows footage from earlier portions of both Cena and Orton's careers.

Back from commercial and a Wade Barrett cuts a Bad News Barrett promo about the Slammy Awards.

Mark Henry vs. Damien Sandow

Big E. Langston is at commentary for this match. Henry shoves Sandow to the mat. Sandow locks in a side headlock, but Henry shoves him off and hits a shoulder tackle. Henry charges Sandow in the corner, but Sandow puts a boot up. Henry hits a big boot and Sandow rolls out of the ring. Sandow lets the ref count to ten.

Winner via count out: Mark Henry

Langston sends Sandow into the ring. Henry takes Sandow out. Langston climbs up on the apron, and Henry accidentally tosses Sandow into Langston, knocking him down. Sandow takes off up the ramp and Langston chases him.

Back from commercial and Booker T does a WWE Shop segment.

AJ Lee and Tamina Snuka vs. The Bellas

Natalya is on commentary for this match. Snuka and Nikki start off. Snuka shoves her to the mat and hits Brie off the apron. Nikki hits a hurricanrana. She hits Nikki with a vertical Suplex. Snuka lands a Samoan drop and tags in AJ. AJ locks in Nikki's head from behind. Nikki backs AJ into the corner to break the hold. Brie tags in and hits several dropkicks. She kicks Snuka off the apron. Brie hits AJ with a missile dropkick, and Snuka breaks the pin attempt. The Bellas send Snuka from the ring. AJ shoves Nikki out of the ring and locks Brie in the Black Widow. Brie taps.

Winners: AJ Lee and Tamina Snuka

AJ Lee and Natalya stare each other down after the match.

Then, Michael Cole talks about a poll on WWE.com about who has the most devastating finishing maneuver, and Cena won.

Back from commercial and John Cena comes down to the ring. He picks up the mic and talks about the championship ascension ceremony from RAW. He then talks about how important the main event on Sunday is and that Randy Orton doesn't know what it takes to win it. He knows what Orton's capable of, but says that when things get hard Orton likes to run and hide. He says that he will overcome Orton on Sunday and win and that Orton doesn't have the nuts to win.

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns (with Dean Ambrose) vs. The Usos

Ambrose sits down for commentary. Rollins and Jimmy start off. Jimmy locks in a side headlock and hits a shoulder tackle. Jimmy strikes Rollins. Jimmy and Jey exchange quick tags. Jey locks in Rollins's arm. Rollins backs him to the corner and Reigns tags in. He punches Jey repeatedly on the mat and stomps him. Rollins tags back in and kicks Jey in the mid section. He chops Jey in the chest twice. Jey fights back with a head strike. Jimmy tags in and the Usos double kick Reigns out of the ring. They send Rollins to the outside as well as things go to commercial.

Back from commercial and Jimmy gets a backslide pin attempt on Rollins. Rollins tags in Reigns. Reigns hits a flying clothesline. Reigns locks in Jimmy's head from behind. Jimmy gets to his feet and bounds off the ropes, but Reigns hits a clothesline. Rollins tags in and Jimmy sends him outside. Reigns tries to interfere, but gets hit with a DDT. Jey gets tagged in and hits Rollins with multiple clotheslines. He hits Rollins with a flying shoulder tackle. He knocks Reigns off the apron and hits Rollins with a Samoan drop for a near pin fall.

Reigns tries to attack Jey, and Jey clotheslines him out of the ring. Jey Superkicks Rollins and goes up top. Rollins rolls out of the ring, and Jey takes him out with a dive. Reigns tries to spear Jey, but Jimmy shoves him out of the way and takes it. The Shield attack Jey and Rollins rolls in the ring. Jey gets back in the ring at the nine count, and Rollins stomps his head to the mat. Rollins mocks CM Punk and picks Rollins up on his shoulders. Reigns tags in, Rollins tosses Jey off, and Reigns hits Jey with the spear for the win.

Winners: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns

CM Punk appears on the TitanTron as the Shield is celebrating. He cuts a promo about how he is walking into slaughter on Sunday. He knows he is going down, but questions how many of the Shield he can take with him. He talks about how he's exposed their weaknesses, and says believe in the best in the world.

Ryback (with Curtis Axel) vs. Big Show (with Rey Mysterio)

Before the match starts, Cole announces that there will be a fatal 4 way for the tag titles on Sunday between Cody Rhodes and Goldust, Ryback and Axel, the Real Americans, and Big Show and Mysterio.

Show takes Ryback to the corner and hits a chop. He punches Ryback in the gut. Ryback fights back with strikes, but Show takes him to another corner and hits a chop again. Ryback lands head and body shots, but Show lands a pair of clotheslines. Ryback comes back with a spine buster. Ryback goes for the meat hook clothesline, but Show catches him with a choke slam for the win.

Winner: Big Show

Axel tries to attack Show, and Mysterio hits him with the 619. Show hits Axel with his knockout punch.

Bray Wyatt is then shown. He cuts a promo where he questions why he was such a fool to see something in Bryan. He sings a lullaby and says he sings it to all his pets before he puts them down.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Kofi Kingston

Miz attacks Kofi as he is making his entrance and hits the Skull Crushing Finale.

Next, a portion of Michael Cole's WWE.com exclusive interview with Triple H is shown where Cole asks Triple H if he will accept Orton's public apology, and Triple H says it will depend on the way Orton apologizes.

Back from commercial and Randy Orton comes out for his public apology. He takes up a mic and says he's glad Stephanie is okay, and calls her and Triple H out so he can apologize face to face. Triple H comes out. Orton says that Triple H knows him better than anyone else, and that what happened to Stephanie was an accident. Orton says if there's any doubt, then look at the footage. The footage of the brawl from RAW is shown. Orton says that if Hunter still doubts him, he has more footage. Orton shows the same footage from a different angle and in slow motion.

Orton says a lot of things went wrong that night, but he doesn't care about that. He just cares that they accept his humble apology. Triple H says he didn't need to see the footage, he's already watched it over and over. He says he is the authority and he apologizes for nothing ever. Triple H says that they both know he could fire him for what happened. He's not going to do it though, because it's not what's best for business. He accepts Orton's apology, but says that it will never happen again.

Orton thanks him, and then point out footage of Cena helping Stephanie up and standing with the authority. Orton wants an explanation as to why they were standing with John Cena. He says that he is Triple H's man, and after he beats Cena everyone will know he's the greatest of the great. Orton asks if the authority has the same amount of faith in him. Triple H tells him not to worry about it. He shakes Orton's hand and says that they know exactly where their faith lies.

Triple H leaves the ring and Orton stares after him as the show ends.