August 23 , 2013 Smackdown results The August 23 , 2013 Edition of Smackdown is a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE ' s Smackdown brand , which took place on August 20 , 2013 at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield , California . Summary . Just five days after The Biggest Party of the Summer , Daniel Bryan set his sights on WWE Champion Randy Orton before stepping into a steel cage against The Barrett Barrage ; Big Show & Mark Henry rocked 3MB and World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio battled Christian in a rematch of their SummerSlam classic . The new WWE Champion , Randy Orton , opened SmackDown by justifying cashing in his Money in the Bank contract at SummerSlam . The Viper claimied he didn ’ t know Triple H was going to Pedigree Bryan – but that he just couldn ’ t pass up an opportunity literally lying in front of him . While Bryan emerged to praise the efforts of John Cena in Sunday ’ s WWE Title showdown , he quickly refuted Orton ’ s claim that he was " the face " of WWE , insisting that it was time for that face to change . The Bearded Superstar mocked how " pretty " and arrogant Orton is , reducing The Viper ’ s success to established in - ring lineage and the " genetic golden ticket " he was bestowed upon birth . Bryan then invoked his rematch clause , challenging Orton that very night on SmackDown ! While the WWE Universe agreed , Orton said the former titleholder would have to wait until Night of Champions . When he tried to RKO Bryan , however , the journeyman grappler delivered a thundering dropkick that sent The Viper flying out of the ring ! Stewing over Daniel Bryan ’ s interruption of the WWE Champion moments earlier , SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero looked to " teach that little troll a lesson . " When Wade Barrett emerged offering just the thing , Vickie one - upped The Barrett Barrage ’ s offer , making Bryan vs . the British brawler in a Steel Cage Match for later in the night ! Following up his huge victory in a highly personal match against former buddy ( and current Mr . Money in the Bank ) Damien Sandow at SummerSlam , Cody Rhodes looked to insert himself into the Intercontinental Title hunt as he battled current champion Curtis Axel . A " perfect " victory ? But after Paul Heyman distracted Rhodes , Axel hit the neckbreaker to score a huge win over the " son of a son of a plumber . " After , Heyman described himself as being " in agony " over the actions of CM Punk on Raw , calling The Second City Saint a " sad , pathetic loser " for going " off the rails . " The mad scientist went on to say The Straight Edge Superstar was " lost , " while Curtis Axel had " found himself , " making the bold statement that no Superstar can defeat the reigning Intercontinental Champion . Axel then challenged Punk to a match on next week ’ s Raw ! Later , Punk would Tweet his response , setting the stage for their Monday night clash . After being decimated by The Shield on Raw , Dolph Ziggler looked to take out some frustrations against his former heavy and Divas Champion AJ Lee ’ s “ best friend , ” Big E Langston , on SmackDown . Langston assaulted The Showoff before the bell even rang , clocking Ziggler from behind . When Dolph assured the referee he was okay , the match officially started and Big E once again put his scary strength — and temper — on display . Just when it looked like Ziggler was getting back on track , AJ inserted herself into the mix , delivering a fierce shot to her ex - boyfriend with the referee distracted . But when Big E went for the Big Ending , The Showoff countered with the Zig Zag out of nowhere , and picked up the big Friday night win without even taking off his T - shirt . After their instant - classic confrontation at SummerSlam , Christian engaged in a rematch against World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio on SmackDown . Again placing Mexican flags in each corner , the titleholder looked to take down his Canadian counterpart , dominating the bout early on . Despite Del Rio ’ s best efforts to soften up Christian ’ s shoulder , Captain Charisma would not give in . Despite his heroic efforts after being flung , shoulder - first , into the steel ring post , the champion ultimately proved to be too much for the challenger , locking Christian into the Cross Armbreaker off the ropes to make his adversary tap out . As Del Rio then told the WWE Universe to follow him as their “ leader , ” he was interrupted by his former personal ring announcer , Ricardo Rodriguez , who ushered Rob Van Dam into the arena . When RVD made his way down the ramp , Christian blasted Del Rio with a missile dropkick , which RVD promptly followed up with Rolling Thunder on the Mexican champion . In a Handicap Match in name only , Big Show & Mark Henry decimated 3MB on SmackDown . After an angry Big Show flattened Drew McIntyre with a resounding chokeslam , Heath Slater broke up the pin attempt – receiving a World ’ s Strongest Slam for his troubles . While he allowed McIntyre just enough time to get back to his feet , the only reward for Drew was a KO Punch ! After pinning McIntyre , Big Show & Henry were “ greeted ” by WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns , who promised to once again knock the colossal connection down . One - half of The Prime Time Players battled one - half of The Real Americans as Darren Young went one - on - one against the scary strong Antonio Cesaro . When Mr . No Days Off nailed Cesaro with The Gut - Check , The Prime Time Players kept rolling along with another victory . Showing that his mean streak knows no bounds , Ryback ripped up an autograph meant for a young fan , calling the well - meaning dad who approached the Superstar a “ scrawny , pencil - necked fool . ” “ Brutal ” is a good descriptor for the main event battle that raged inside the steel cage , as Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett beat each other like two caged animals . Still holding a grudge for Bryan shaving his beard , The Barrett Barrage looked to punish his foe . But , as he ’ s done his entire career , Bryan found a way to turn the tables on his larger , stronger opponent . And in the final moments , with both Superstars perched on the top rope , Bryan sent Barrett crashing to the canvas with a crazy powerbomb . This set up an explosive knee to Barrett ’ s ( clean - shaven ) face . A three - count later and Bryan earned himself an impressive Friday night win . Just like at SummerSlam , however , Bryan ’ s post - match celebration was cut short by The Viper , as Randy Orton slithered out from beneath the ring and leveled Bryan with an RKO on the outside ! WWE Title raised over his head and with Bryan at his feet , the image of a triumphant Orton sent SmackDown off the air . Image Gallery . Darren Young v Antonio Cesaro . < / gallery > Daniel Bryan v Wade Barrett . < / gallery >