WWE Smackdown
July 17, 2009
Miami, FL
Report by: Mike Tedesco of WrestleView.com
?Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event?? The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays and we?re brought into the arena with a great pyro display. Jim Ross and Todd Grisham welcome us to the show and announce our Main Event will be Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio taking on Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler. Also we?ll have an exclusive interview with Edge.
Jeff Hardy’s music hits and the crowd come to their feet cheering. It’s a shame he’s leaving soon because he is super over. Hardy gets in the ring and grabs a microphone. Hardy says last week CM Punk came on this show and made a shocking revelation. We now see footage of CM Punk from last week telling Hardy that he’s had zero strikes, zero suspensions, and zero trips to rehab. Punk then tells Hardy his chances of beating him at Night of Champions is also zero.
Hardy says CM Punk doesn?t get it. Hardy says Punk brings up Hardy’s mistakes like he’s trying to hide behind something. Hardy says he wants to straighten something out ? everyone makes mistakes. He’s made mistakes and has been suspended twice. Hardy says he hasn?t failed a test in over a year and he has never been to rehab ? he’s always healed himself. At Night of Champions he will beat CM Punk.
CM Punk’s music hits and the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring. It looks like his eye has finally healed. Punk gets in the ring and apologizes, saying he’s a little taken back right now. Punk asks if this is what it has come to ? people cheering because he hasn?t failed a drug test in a year. Punk says this is not an accomplishment and the fans are chanting to him that he sucks. Punk says maybe it’s an accomplishment to him that he hasn?t failed a drug test in 365 days. Punk says he should start writing his Hall of Fame speech now.
Hardy says he hopes Punk came out for something else because he’s tired of hearing the same thing week after week. Punk says it’s the same thing week after week because Hardy doesn?t listen and never has. Punk reminds Hardy that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Punk asks if Hardy remembers that from school and then says probably not because he was a screw-up then, too. Punk asks how many tests he failed and classes he skipped. Punk asks how many times he was expelled. Hardy asks if Punk is trying to be his guidance councilor. Punk says maybe Hardy should wish he was because he would have set him straight. Hardy would never have drank, smoked, or been on the path he is on now. Punk tells Hardy to look at himself and realize he’s a joke. Hardy comes out and brags that he’s been suspended twice before bragging that he’s never been to rehab. Punk asks Hardy who he thinks he is.
Hardy says he’s the next World Heavyweight Champion. Punk says Hardy is a dreamer and that a guy like him could never beat him. Punk says he’s straight-edge. Alcohol has never touched his lips. Punk has never smoked and he doesn?t do drugs. Punk says a year from now he?ll still be champion while Hardy will fall back into the same vicious cycle. Hardy will lose to him and he?ll fall back into his vices. Punk repeats that over and over. Hardy says he guesses he’s not as perfect as Punk. Punk says maybe he should be perfect because there’s a sea of kids wearing Jeff Hardy t-shirts and that scares him because Hardy is his hero. That means there are millions of kids out there that are just going to see their hero become just a statistic.
Hardy has had enough and pushes Punk right out of the ring by the face. Punk gets up angrily and says he’s going to be the bigger man because he has a match next. However nothing is going to stop him from tearing Hardy apart at Night of Champions. Punk then goes to sit by Justin Roberts as the crowd chants for Hardy. This was a great segment.
-Commercial Break-
The Smack of the Night is John Morrison beating CM Punk in a non-title match about a month ago. Punk hit the GTS after the match.
CM Punk vs. John Morrison
This will be another non-title match.
The match begins and Punk talks a little bit before circling the ring. They lock up and Punk wrenches the arm. Morrison quickly twists Punk’s arm and Punk twists out of that with a hammerlock. Morrison twists into a hammerlock and Punk pushes him to the corner and gives the break. Morrison shoves Punk and Punk shoves back. They lock up and Punk gets a headlock takeover. Morrison grapevines the head and Punk gets out. Morrison now hits a headlock takeover and Punk grapevines his head to get out of it. They get up and lock up again. Punk pushes Morrison to the corner and they forcibly break it. Punk controls Morrison with a front face lock and Morrison counters out with a hammerlock. Punk powers up and back elbows him in the face.
Punk has a whip to the corner reversed on him and catches Morrison following with Punk’s inverted tarantula on the ropes. Punk comes off the top rope with a cross-body block but Morrison rolls through and gets a two count. Morrison ducks a roundhouse and hits a dropsault for another count of two. Morrison hits a European Uppercut and has a whip reversed on him. Punk lowers his head and eats a kick but is able to catch Morrison in position for the GTS. Morrison wriggles out and counters into a monkey flip. Morrison then clotheslines Punk over the top rope. Morrison goes for a slingshot baseball slide but Punk catches his legs and drags him out to the outside, with Morrison landing hard on his back! That looked like it hurt! We?ll take a commercial here.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Morrison locked in a body scissors. Morrison is trapped for a few but is able to elbow and punch out. Morrison goes into the ropes holding his ribs and gets a back body drop from the champion, giving Punk a near fall. Punk looks a little frustrated as he picks Morrison up, forearms him, and hits a belly to belly suplex for another near fall. That’s the first time I?ve seen Punk do that. Punk quickly locks him back in the body scissors. Punk has it locked on tight and Morrison leaves his shoulders on the mat for a two count. Punk elbows Morrison on the head and powers him onto his shoulders for a one count. Punk holds it on for a bit until Morrison musters all his strength to break Punk’s grip. Morrison elbows him in the face for good measure.
Morrison gets up and blocks a punch. Morrison answers with a pair of his own before hitting a pair of clotheslines. Morrison sends Punk into the ropes and hits a jumping back heel kick. Morrison goes into the ropes and hits a running knee to Punk’s face for a near fall on the champion. Morrison picks Punk up and puts him on the top rope, elbowing him to knock him loopy. Morrison hits a hurricanrana off the top rope but Punk hangs on and rolls through to a pin for a two count! Impressive counter! Morrison quickly hits a jackknife pin and gets a two before Punk powers up with Morrison on top of him and twists through to a double under-hook backbreaker! Punk covers for a very close near fall!
Punk looks beyond frustrated now. Punk lays in some forearms and kicks. Bothe men trade a few kicks and punches with Morrison coming out on top. Morrison goes into the ropes and Punk locks Morrison into the ancient sleeper hold. Morrison doesn?t sleep though and instead sends Punk into the ropes, catching him in a sleeper. Punk attempts to counter with a back suplex but Morrison back flips to his feet and goes into the ropes. Both men have the same idea and take one another out with a double clothesline.
Both men are down but answer the referee’s count of six. Punk goes for a high knee in the corner but Morrison sidesteps him and hits the Flying Chuck for a near fall! Morrison drags Punk’s body to the corner and goes for Starship Pain but Punk catches him on his shoulders for the GTS. Morrison attempts to counter with a roll-up but Punk simply sits on his shoulders Bret vs. Owen style from WM 10 but Morrison kicks out! Punk goes for another high knee but runs right into Morrison’s boot. Morrison attempts to get onto Punk’s shoulders but Punk ducks and lays him out. Punk goes for the magisterial cradle but Morrison holds him and gets the pin on the World Heavyweight Champion for the second time! Excellent match!
Winner by Pinfall: John Morrison
Match Rating: ***
Morrison has his arm raised as Punk looks in disbelief. Morrison puts his hand out in sportsmanship and Punk simply walks away to the back, frustrated.
-Commercial Break-
We get a nice shot of Miami as Todd Grisham sings Will Smith’s ancient song ?Miami.? Tonight we?ll see Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio take on Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler. Also we?ll hear from Edge as well.
Layla’s music hits and she makes her way to the ring wearing a Miami Heat jersey. I guess she’s a face again this week. They have no clue what they?re doing with the Diva’s division apparently. Layla gets in the ring and says she’s so happy to be back where she once cheered for the Miami Heat. Since she’s back in the M-I-A, she figured she?d heat things up like old times. She now does a dance. What an incredible waste of time. I?d take Pretty Ricky over this. Well? maybe not.
Her dance is now interrupted by Ricky Ortiz, who comes out with a bag of rally towels and throws them out to the audience. Ortiz gets in the ring and asks Layla if she thinks the people really want to see her dance. Ortiz says what they need is inspiration and motivation because, seriously, when’s the last time the Miami Heat’s been any good. Ortiz says the dancing won?t help but he will. Ricky Ortiz is in Miami to rally us up. Ortiz tells everyone to rally up but this is going over like a lead balloon. Layla grabs a towel and rallies up before simply dropping it at Ortiz? feet and leaving. Ortiz looks on the verge of tears as Layla walks away. This was absolutely horrible.
Now it’s time for Cryme Tyme’s Word Up. The hits just keep coming for this segment. Today’s word is ?Championized,? which means to engross oneself entirely at a champion level, whereas a person becomes a champion in all respects. They talk about Antrel Rolle and he then makes an appearance. He’s a free safety with the Arizona Cardinals, who are the NFC Champions. I guess he’s championized. Rolle puts over WrestleMania 26, which is in his team’s stadium. They?re interrupted by Jesse, who wants to hang out with Rolle. Rolle says he?d rather stay with Cryme Tyme and they throw Jesse in a laundry cart. That does it for this lame edition of Word Up.
Coming up next we?ll see R-Truth versus Kane for the first time ever.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know that more people under 18 watched Smackdown last Friday than any show on ABC, Fox, NBC, CW or CBS?
Kane vs. R-Truth
Justin King has this one. The match begins and they circle before approaching. R-Truth quickly hits some right hands before going into the ropes and being shoulder blocked down. R-Truth gets up and nearly gets caught in the corner but ducks the right hand and kicks and punches Kane to the corner. Kane grabs him by the throat and sends R-Truth into the corner. R-Truth quickly hits a back elbow and runs right into an uppercut. Kane kicks R-Truth in the head and picks him up, only to drop him with an uppercut. Kane clubs him down and puts him in the corner, where he punches and elbows him. R-Truth is down in the corner so Kane gets him up and sends him to the opposite corner.
Kane charges and R-Truth sidesteps him. R-Truth goes into the ropes for a cross-body block but Kane catches him and puts him on his shoulder. R-Truth slides off and sends Kane to the ropes. Kane holds on and there looks to be miscommunication from both men. R-Truth then charges and Kane back body drops him. R-Truth looks like he’s supposed to land on the apron but loses his footing and falls to the outside. R-Truth has to pick himself up after the blown spot and get back in the ring. For some reason, even though R-Truth is sliding in, Kane goes for a big boot and R-Truth slides under him, hooking Kane up on the top rope. This is bad.
R-Truth then hits a jumping kick to the temple which sends Kane over the top rope. Kane quickly gets back on the apron and R-Truth dropkicks him off. We?ll take a commercial here.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kane in a headlock. He quickly counters out with a back suplex. Kane gets up and picks R-Truth up. Kane sends him to the corner and R-Truth slingshots over him. R-Truth does his cartwheel, splits under a clothesline, and hits his jumping back kick to the jaw. R-Truth goes into the ropes and Kane takes him down with a sidewalk slam for a two count. Kane stomps away at R-Truth before picking him up and whipping him to the corner hard. Kane covers for a near fall.
Kane locks on a grounded bear hug. R-Truth powers up and elbows out. Kane simply throws him out of the ring. Kane follows him out and puts R-Truth on his shoulder. Kane rushes to the corner but R-Truth is able to slide off and push Kane toward the ring post. Kane blocks it so R-truth shoves him into the post. R-Truth gets back in the ring and almost gets a count-out victory but Kane gets in at eight. They soon find themselves outside the ring again and Kane uppercuts him down.
Kane puts him back in and punches him in the back of the head. Kane picks him up and sends him to the corner. R-Truth stumbles out into a standing bear hug. R-Truth responds to the crowd barely cheering him and elbows Kane. R-Truth slides down to a roll-up but Kane doesn?t budge and instead picks him up by the throat but R-Truth counters in mid-air with a dropkick. Kane is quickly back up and charges into a back elbow from R-Truth. R-Truth kicks him and Kane pushes him back to the corner. Kane charges into a drop toe hold, sending him face first into the top turnbuckle. R-Truth clotheslines Kane in the corner but has a whip into the ropes reversed on him. Kane picks R-Truth up but R-Truth counters with a headlock for a two count.
R-Truth attempts a whip but Kane doesn?t budge and sends R-Truth to the corner. Kane charges into a boot and R-truth comes off the top rope into a nasty big boot! This gets Kane the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Kane
Match Rating: * ?
Kane stands over R-Truth smiling until Great Khali’s music hits. Khali comes out with Ranjin Singh and he looks intense. Khali slowly lumbers down to the ring and Kane waits for him. Little does Kane know that R-Truth is on the top rope and he missile dropkicks Kane down. Khali gets in the ring and Kane quickly slides out before Khali gets his hands on him. Kane then escapes through the crowd walking.
Still to come tonight is Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio taking on Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler. Also we?ll hear from Edge, fresh off his Achilles tendon reconstruction surgery.
-Commercial Break-
Jim Ross and Todd Grisham waste more time by talking about Seth Green on Raw before putting over ZZ Top hosting Raw this coming Monday. I?d like to see them in the ring.
Oh god ? Pretty Ricky is back. He’s at Miami Beach doing his Martin Lawrence impression from Blue Streak again. This is just a tremendous waste of time. First he gets buried by Kane and now he gets buried in this skit. This just isn?t funny. I?m sorry ? I?m sure R-Truth is trying hard but this just isn?t working. Back to the drawing board!
The Hart Dynasty’s music hits and they make their way to the ring. We?ll see Natalya in action with them tonight. This match was made as a result of what happened last night on Superstars where everyone got involved. Check out my Superstars recap for more. They?ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
The Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Tyme & Eve
Charles Robinson, my favorite referee, has this one. Natalya and Eve will start it out and Natalya quickly captures Eve in a waist lock. Natalya takes her down and rubs her face in the mat. Natalya slaps her and Eve forearms her. Natalya goes through the ropes and Eve takes some time to notice before charging her. That looked silly. Natalya makes the tag to Tyson Kidd as the referee admonishes Eve. Eve now has to tag out and Shad comes in.
Shad and Kidd face off before Kidd kicks him in the midsection. Kidd forearms him before attempting a whip but he can?t budge big Shad. Shad sends Kidd into the ropes and goes into the ropes himself for what looks like the Pounce! Shad tags in JTG and he lifts JTG into Kidd. JTG covers for a one count. JTG sends Kidd into the ropes but Kidd holds and ducks under JTG, who ties himself up in the ropes. Kidd stomps him before tagging in David Hart Smith. They double whip him chest first into the corner.
Smith opens JTG’s legs and kicks him in the midsection. Smith pushes JTG into the ropes and hits a forearm to the midsection. Smith puts JTG on his shoulders and tags in Kidd. Smith shoots JTG onto Kidd’s knee in a gut buster. This gets Kidd a two count. Kidd tries again but gets a one count. Kidd now locks on a grounded abdominal stretch and screams like a woman. JTG stays in it but eventually powers up and hits a hip toss on Kidd. Kidd quickly gets in Smith and he forearms Shad off the apron before JTG makes the tag. Smith then turns into a back body drop from JTG. JTG makes the tag to Eve.
Natalya has to come in as well and she quickly body slams Eve down. Natalya misses an elbow drop and Eve hits a pair of dropkicks. Eve forearms her but has a whip to the corner reversed on her. Natalya charges but Eve sidesteps her. Eve then takes her down with a roundhouse kick. Eve hits her running handspring standing moonsault but the referee is distracted by Smith. Shad throws Smith out and Kidd pulls Eve off Natalya. JTG comes over and lays Kidd out. Inside the ring Natalya hot shots Eve on the top rope and hits her with a spinning clothesline that nearly rips Eve’s head off and you can give this one to the Hart Dynasty!
Winners by Pinfall: The Hart Dynasty
Match Rating: * ?
The Hart Dynasty walks up the ramp raising their arms and this rivalry is tied at 2-2. I really like the rivalry. I just wish the matches would get more time on TV!
Backstage Dolph Ziggler is doing push-ups. Maria walks up and they flirt before Maria kisses his bicep. Maria giggles as Ziggler walks off.
We?ll see Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio take on Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler. Up next we?ll hear from Edge!
-Commercial Break-
Did you know WWE offers all U.S. military personnel free tickets to all its live events in the U.S.?
Todd Grisham and Jim Ross welcome us back to Smackdown. They now welcome Edge, who is joining us via satellite while recovering from career threatening Achilles tendon surgery. JR thanks Edge for talking to us and JR asks what Edge’s physical and mental frame of mind after surgery last week.
Edge is shown with his left leg taped up. Edge thanks JR and says he’s been in this business a long time. July 1st was seventeen years, and he?d be lying if he said he thought he would accomplish everything that he has in this industry. He’s a nine time World Heavyweight Champion, he feels like he’s been a leader in the industry and locker room, and he’s conquered everyone that has been put in front of him at the end of the day. Edge says he’s had a few set backs and injuries along the way, but he’s always taken the mentality to rise above and get back into competition because that’s how he’s wired. With that being said, and he hates to say this, but this injury could be the end of his career. Edge says a torn Achilles tendon is the hardest injury to come back from into any realm of competition, let alone the physical world of WWE. Edge says he will do everything in his power to get back and once again become World Heavyweight Champion.
Todd Grisham wishes Edge well and a speedy recovery but has to ask if he has anything to say about Chris Jericho, who has been vocal about Edge. Edge begins by saying there’s never a good time to get injured ? but he can?t continue as Chris Jericho’s music hits and Jericho makes his way to the ring.
Jericho says he came out here because Edge is making him sick. Jericho says he’s a pathetic excuse for a human being and he’s not going to listen to this hypocritical diatribe any longer. Jericho says he sits there on his cozy couch in his little home, a hang dog look on his face, looking for sympathy, but he won?t get it from him. Jericho says Edge doesn?t care about the Unified Tag Team Championships, WWE, and most importantly him. Edge doesn?t care about Chris Jericho and he’s not going to let himself get punished for Edge’s selfish actions.
Jericho says at Night of Champions he’s going to find a partner that’s better than Edge in every way and continue his domination and reign as the ruler of the WWE Universe. Jericho says Edge brags about his career and championships he’s won due to politicking and being in the right place at the right time. Jericho says he’s won all his titles by skill and courage. Jericho says he earned every championship he ever won. Jericho earned his title as the best in the world at what he does and Edge’s injury proves that. Edge’s most impressive list of accomplishments is his injury list. Jericho goes through them ? broken neck, torn pectoral muscle, and now a ruptured Achilles tendon. Edge is injury prone and weak. Jericho has never been injured a day in his career because he’s too strong and tough. Jericho says Edge is weak, frail, and pathetic. Jericho says Edge was never in his league in the first place, and the fact that he’s pandering to all us worms proves his point. Edge was the weak link in their team, and now he’s gone, possibly forever. That proves Jericho’s point that he is the true face of Smackdown and the true face of WWE.
Edge says it’s bad enough that he’s sustained this injury and all the ramifications that go along with it. Edge will be the first to admit that he hasn?t been an angel here but he doesn?t need anyone, let alone Chris Jericho, to come out and make a personal attack on his character, durability, or accomplishments in WWE. What Jericho said a lot of people might agree but he will use that as his motivation in his recovery. Edge says if he comes back ? no, WHEN he comes back ? he will prove Chris Jericho and everyone else wrong. Edge’s music hits as Jericho looks on shaking his head.
-Commercial Break-
As Dolph Ziggler comes out we see his attack on Rey Mysterio from last week. We?re then reminded that he?ll face Rey Mysterio at Night of Champions with the Intercontinental Championship on the line.
CM Punk comes out to the announcer’s table to do commentary for this match.
Chris Jericho & Dolph Ziggler vs. Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio
The match begins and it?ll be Hardy taking on Jericho. They circle the ring before locking up. Jericho quickly gets a headlock and Hardy just as quickly whips him off. Jericho shoulder blocks him down and talks trash. Jericho goes into the ropes, over and under Hardy, and is taken down by a dropkick. Hardy gets Jericho in the corner and stomps him there for a bit. Hardy whips Jericho into the corner and hits his slingshot corner dropkick. Hardy gets a two count for that. Hardy punches Jericho the corner and has a whip to the opposite reversed on him. Hardy attempts to slingshot over Jericho but Jericho catches him and puts him on the apron. Jericho then hits a springboard dropkick, sending Hardy to the outside, as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Ziggler kicking Hardy in the ribs while Jericho holds him. This gets Ziggler a near fall. Ziggler stands over Hardy and punches him a few times. Ziggler then hits a big elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler locks a headlock on now and really wrenches it on, using all his body weight. Hardy fights up but Ziggler controls him. Ziggler keeps him down until Hardy fights up but Ziggler quickly slams him down. Ziggler makes the tag to Jericho.
Jericho punches Hardy a few times before picking him up and slapping him. Hardy pushes and kicks Jericho but Jericho quickly fights back with a kick and punch. Jericho sends Hardy into the ropes and clotheslines him down. Jericho hits a fist drop for a near fall. Jericho goes for a body slam but Hardy slides off, goes into the ropes, and hits a twisting clothesline. Hardy then makes the desperation tag to Rey Mysterio.
Mysterio springboards off the top rope with a seated senton to Jericho. Mysterio goes into the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and hits a springboard cross-body block for a near fall. Mysterio kicks Jericho in the corner but has a whip to the opposite corner reversed on him. Jericho charges into Mysterio’s boot and Mysterio comes off the second rope with a flying hurricanrana! Mysterio then forearms Ziggler off the apron. Mysterio turns into a kick from Jericho and Jericho goes for a sunset flip but Mysterio rolls through and kicks Jericho in the head for a near fall. Mysterio punches Jericho and Jericho punches back, stunning Mysterio. Jericho sends Mysterio into the ropes and Mysterio counters with a hurricanrana, putting Jericho in position for the 619! Ziggler makes a blind tag to Jericho and gets off the apron while Mysterio hits the move! Mysterio goes to springboard to the top rope but Ziggler, the legal man, pulls him off the apron and into the barricade!
Ziggler bounces Mysterio’s head off the apron and puts him back in the ring. Ziggler covers for a near fall. Ziggler locks a headlock on and uses all his body weight for support. Ziggler is looking really good. Mysterio powers up at the will of the fans and elbows out. Ziggler cuts him off with a knee and sends him into the corner hard sternum first. Ziggler gets a near fall for that. Ziggler sends him to the corner again sternum first and charges into a back elbow. Mysterio then springboards off the first rope and hits a head-scissors, driving Ziggler shoulder first into the ring post. The crowd is molten, shaking the cameras as they stomp! Both men make the tags!
Hardy clotheslines Jericho down twice, hits an inverted atomic drop, and leg drops his midsection. Hardy kicks him in the face and covers for a near fall. Jericho counters a whip to the corner and goes for a face buster but Hardy ducks that and hits Whisper in the Wind for a near fall! This crowd is on fire. Hardy goes for a hurricanrana but Jericho counters into a Wall of Jericho attempt. Hardy powers him off and hits the Twist of Fate! Hardy goes to the top rope and hits the Swanton Bomb! This crowd is going nuts as he covers and it’s broken up by Dolph Ziggler!
Mysterio runs in and dropkicks Ziggler down. Hardy follows Jericho to the outside and Hardy throws Jericho into CM Punk! CM Punk is angry and he throws Chris Jericho into Jeff Hardy, sending Jeff Hardy face first into the ring steps! Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio are disqualified!
Winners by Disqualification: Chris Jericho & Dolph Ziggler
Match Rating: ** ?
Rey Mysterio gets in CM Punk’s face and Dolph Ziggler blindsides him with a baseball slide. Ziggler then hits his finisher, a Jumping Russian Leg Sweep, on the outside! That’s a nasty bump! CM Punk looks on as Chris Jericho throws Jeff Hardy in the ring and hits the Codebreaker! CM Punk looks on and does nothing as Jericho locks Hardy in the Walls of Jericho! CM Punk simply walks away as Hardy is tapping in the ring. Hardy lays broken in the ring as the show ends.
Quick Match Results
John Morrison def. CM Punk (non-title)
Kane def. R-Truth
The Hart Dynasty def. Cryme Tyme & Eve (Natalya p. Eve)
Chris Jericho & Dolph Ziggler def. Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio via DQ
Bump of the Night: Ziggler hitting his finisher on Mysterio on the outside!
Match of the Night: CM Punk vs. John Morrison ***
Mike’s Thoughts
Tremendous show tonight! Night of Champions is looking terrific on the Smackdown side of things. Almost every thing clicked on this show tonight, save for a few things.
We opened the show up with a tremendous segment involving Jeff Hardy and CM Punk. CM Punk gets more and more heelish as the weeks go on. He’s not full out yet but he is definitely picking up some heat. Punk took some good jabs at Hardy and I liked Hardy getting the upper hand with the push. Punk then took the heel route by saying he has better things to do than fight Hardy at the moment. That was a great opening segment.
CM Punk then went on to have another tremendous match against John Morrison. Those two were gold in their matches in 2007 and 2009 is no exception. I believe we?ll see these guys go at it at Summerslam and that’s going to be a hell of a match. Both men’s characters have matured so much and they?re both the future of the WWE.
I was really happy to see Edge on the show tonight. Edge and Jericho had a really terrific segment that definitely looks like it’s heading for WrestleMania 26 and what a match that will be if and when that happens. Chris Jericho is such a tremendous heel and this face turn is just what Edge needs. I can?t wait to have him back. Too bad we have a while to go before he returns.
Our Main Event was tremendous tonight. The crowd was red hot for that match. I can?t remember the last time I saw the hard camera shake as the crowd stomped their feet. You could feel the intensity sitting at home and it was a great moment and match. Dolph Ziggler looks tremendous and his match against Rey Mysterio at Night of Champions should be terrific. Mysterio, himself, has been in top form as of late. Mysterio looks like the same man he was when he debuted in 2002. Forget all those knee surgeries. The man is king.
Now let’s get on to some lame things.
You?d think with all the years in wrestling that Kane has notched under his belt he?d have the ability to think on his feet and make something up after a blown spot. Instead, after R-Truth blew the first portion of it, Kane goes on like nothing happened and goes for a big boot when R-Truth is laying on the apron. It looked bad and it especially makes a veteran like Kane look bad. I was disappointed with his outing with R-Truth. Kane should know better. Perhaps he’s just past his prime.
Speaking of R-Truth, that Pretty Ricky thing needs to die and it needed to die yesterday. Ripping off Blue Streak is not cool. The whole gimmick isn?t funny and if they really want to keep it then send it to WWE.com. Same thing goes with Cryme Tyme’s Word Up. That’s not funny either.
That Layla segment was a colossal waste of time as was Ricky Ortiz’s near meltdown in the ring. Ortiz looked like he was going to cry. Is Layla a heel or not? Where was our Women’s Champion tonight?
Speaking of people missing in action, where is Mike Knox? What’s happened to that guy? And what about Charlie Haas and Teddy Long tonight?
The Hart Dynasty and Cryme Tyme had another great match tonight. I wish their match was given a commercial break and not the Kane vs. R-Truth match. They had a better match in four minutes than Kane and R-Truth had in the twelve or fifteen minutes it was given. Oh well.
Final Rating: ***
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out yesterday’s Superstars recap.
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