With his strongest opportunity yet to overcome World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus at Night of Champions, Alberto Del Rio came before the WWE Universe, giving Booker T a nod for banning the Brogue Kick one week ago. The injured Ricardo Rodriguez then thanked his mother and all his “fans” for their support, while the now-injured David Otunga criticized Raw General Manager AJ Lee for putting him in a dangerous match against World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus on Monday.

The Mexican Aristocrat then surprised all by presenting Christian via satellite — still recovering from a shoulder injury of his own. While Captain Charisma made no bones of the fact that he didn’t like Del Rio and that he hoped The Great White defeated him at Night of Champions, his feelings on the Brogue Kick were just as clear. Citing the maneuver as one of the primary reasons he lost a year of his career, the former World Heavyweight Champion stated that Sheamus’ finisher should remain banned.

Before a tough matchup against Christian, Antonio Cesaro shared the word “victory” to the WWEUniverse in five different languages. He then effortlessly rattled off something else in foreign speak, to put himself above the people that didn’t understand him.

The Swiss Warrior continued to show an incredible amount of versatility once the bell rang, including throwing Christian into the void long enough to hit him with a furious uppercut in midair. Still, after Captain Charisma countered his opponent’s Neutralizer for the second time of the night, he would ultimately reign supreme with an earth shattering Spear out of nowhere.

As the dust settled, though, Aksana distracted the former World Heavyweight Champion, allowing an incensed Cesaro to knock the victor from the ring — hurling him into the ringside barrier at full force.

The self-professed “new face of the Intercontinental Championship,” The Miz, started off the best show on Friday night by addressing the WWE Universe. Following his title victory over Christian Monday at Raw 1,000, the smug Awesome One taunted Christian’s peeps for voting for the illustrious championship gold to be contested through Twitter, Tout and Facebook — since that was what made his triumph over their champion possible.

Christian’s music hit the speakers and Captain Charisma interrupted, immediately invoking his rematch clause, right then and there.

An intense, high-flying battle unfolded in the ring, on the apron and all around ringside, as the evenly matched competitors exchanged the advantage and near pinfalls, laying it all on the line for the prestigious title.

In the crucial final moments, Miz took advantage of the referee being momentarily out of position and gouged Christian’s eye with his thumb. With the wily veteran’s guard down, Miz grabbed Christian’s tights and rolled him up for the quick pin and his first successful Intercontinental Title defense.

Peep Show” host Christian declared that bizarre reached a whole new level after Daniel Bryan proposed to AJ for the second time on last Monday’s Raw SuperShow and she accepted. And three days before they are to be married on the 1,000th episode of Raw, the happy couple would be Captain Charisma’s special guests.

After the betrothed presented a video of their wedding planning fun during the week, they confirmed to Christian that what they had was, in fact, true love. The outspoken host then turned his questions to the WWE Universe, who helped him determine in one collective voice that Bryan and AJ shouldn’t get married, that Bryan didn’t love AJ and that AJ had no idea what she was really doing.

When Christian questioned AJ directly on whether she knew what she was doing, the off-the-wall side of the Diva re-emerged and she slapped him. Though the Intercontinental Champion opted to let it go, he took pleasure in informing Bryan that he was scheduled for a match against Kane — the monstrous Superstar who has a very volatile recent history with both the submission specialist and AJ!

Looking to beat Intercontinental Champion Christian to the verbal punch, Cody Rhodes crashed “The Peep Show” set before its host even arrived to start the festivities. A clearly irate Rhodes made it clear that he would be the one seeking answers on this night.

As Rhodes accused his rival of experiencing a “mid-life crisis,” an emerging Christian reminded “The Peep Show” crasher who won the Intercontinental Title at WWE Over the Limit. Captain Charisma then clarified that he had shed his selfish ways after experiencing “a moment of clarity” while inducting his best friend, Edge, into the WWE Hall of Fame. That moment inspired the Canadian competitor to strive for more than just one more title opportunity.

Their conversation grew heated and nearly turned to blows until Dolph Ziggler interrupted, ready to prove his elite status in his scheduled match against Christian.

With Cody Rhodes joining the announcer’s table as a guest commentator, Christian and Ziggler promptly squared off.

In the intense match that followed, Captain Charisma called upon his years of experience and tenacity to keep pace with the determined Showoff, withstanding a flurry of attacks that would easily have defeated a less prepared Superstar. In the height of the competition, he even outlasted Ziggler’s signature sleeper hold as well as the Zig Zag to regain the advantage.

The Intercontinental Champion’s patience and ability to absorb damage finally paid off as a top rope reversal allowed Christian to take to the skies and come crashing down with a frog splash that lead to victory for the charismatic competitor.

After losing his prized Intercontinental Championship to the returning Christian at WWE Over the Limit, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious over Tyson Kidd, making a strong statement that he is coming after “his” cherished title with a vengeance. As Captain Charisma joined the SmackDown announce team, the grandson of a plumber overcame the last graduate of the legendary Hart Dungeon with the Cross Rhodes.

Looking on after the bell, Christian made it clear that the former champion can have his rematch any time he wants it.

Five days after coming back from an eight-month injury and rehabilitation – winning an impromptu “People Power” Battle Royal at WWE Over the Limit and then defeating Cody Rhodes to become the new Intercontinental Champion in the same night – Captain Charisma returned to SmackDown. The resilient competitor celebrated his monumental comeback with a victory over Hunico. Disposing of an interfering Camacho, the titleholder countered his crafty opponent to hit the Killswitch – before leaping off the top rope with an explosive splash for the victory.

After the match, former champion Rhodes emerged. Describing how he had “restored” the Intercontinental Title’s greatness over the course of his eight-month plus reign, the outspoken Superstar stated that it now doesn’t matter because Christian “doesn’t matter.” Still entitled to a rematch, Rhodes promised he will rectify what happened with a simple three-count.

Christian joined the SmackDown announce team, as his fellow Team Johnny cohort Dolph Ziggler battled newly recruited Team Teddy member The Great Khali.

With the action in full swing, Ziggler put his gigantic adversary in the sleeper hold. Before Khali had a chance to escape, Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis personally rang the bell, informing the WWE Universe that The Show-Off Superstar had won the match by submission.

However, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long quickly overturned that ruling, declaring that the match would continue. He told Dolph to return to the ring or he would be counted-out. He refused and as a result – once the referee reached the 10-count – Khali was awarded the victory.

Captures from the November 18th edition of Smackdown are now up in the gallery! This was Christian’s first appearance on the show after his injury.