WWE Smackdown
July 3, 2009
Fresno, CA
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 pyrotechnics display. Todd Grisham and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross welcome us to the show. Justin Roberts is in the ring and he asks us to welcome the World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk.
CM Punk makes his way to the ring to a not so friendly reaction. Punk gets in the ring with a microphone. Punk says everyone is talking about the big controversy stemming from the Bash and, to be honest, he’s getting a little sick and tired of that. Punk says he’s sick and tired of people saying he purposely struck an official to take a cheap way out and retain his title by disqualification. Punk says he’s come out here to show us step by step what really happened. First, the allegation that Jeff Hardy won the World Heavyweight Championship but was somehow robbed.
We see the part of the match where Jeff Hardy hit the Swanton Bomb and gets the cover but Punk clearly had his foot under the rope, out of bounds. Punk says the referee is only human and saw he made a mistake. Punk says where he comes from, the rules still mean something. The funny thing in all of this is that he was the one who was almost robbed. If the referee didn?t see his foot then he wouldn?t be champion. Things would get worse as he suffered an eye injury.
We now see the part of the match where Jeff Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate but Punk twists out of it and gets him in position for the GTS. Hardy elbows out and in the process somehow injures CM Punk’s eye. Punk holds his eye and then kicks the referee in the back, causing the disqualification. Punk says clear as day it’s pretty obvious he couldn?t see. His vision was obstructed as his eye was damaged. Punk says he thought he was swinging at Jeff but hit the referee instead accidentally. Punk says he prides himself on being a competitor and is a man of honor. Punk says he’s never taken the cheap way out nor has he ever taken a shortcut inside or outside the ring. Hardy had every reason for being frustrated; they were having a classic championship match, he thought he was on his way to becoming champion, but nothing, and he means nothing, excuses what he did to him next.
They now show the end of the match where Hardy confronted Punk about kicking the referee on purpose before snapping and destroying CM Punk with punches. Punk just rolls around and holds his eye while Hardy is pulled away. Back in live action Punk is shaking his head. Punk says Jeff Hardy has no idea who he is as a person. If he did he would know that he has principles and integrity ? he never has and never will take a shortcut. What Hardy did to him was obviously deliberate. Now, as Punk understands, Hardy is going around telling anyone who will listen that he wants a rematch from Punk. Punk says that’s fine by him but he wants something from Jeff Hardy ? an apology. The crowd boos.
General Manager Theodore R. Long’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring smiling. He’s happy for a guy who is on probation. Long says he’s going to get right to the point. Long says he doesn?t know if he took the cheap way out, and Punk goes to interrupt him, and says not to cut him off. Long says Punk was right ? he and Jeff were having a classic match so he won?t let it end like that. At Night of Champions he will face Jeff Hardy once again for the World Heavyweight Championship!
Punk says that’s ‘super? but what he needs Long to do is get Hardy out here and apologize. Long says he doesn?t have to do anything. Mr. McMahon was happy with the way he shook things up at the Bash and he made it clear to him to keep it going. Mr. McMahon wants controversy to shake things up so tonight the new Unified Tag Team Champions will take on the team of Jeff Hardy and CM Punk!
Jeff Hardy’s music hits and he comes out to a great reception. Hardy gets in the ring and gets in Punk’s face. Hardy says he doesn?t want to hear Punk’s excuses anymore. Punk knew Hardy had him beat at the Bash and he knew exactly what he was doing when he kicked the referee. Hardy asks if being straight edge means being a liar. Whether Punk knows it or not he can see right through him. Punk says unless the next words out of his mouth are ?I am sorry? he can shut up because he doesn?t care about what he has to say. Hardy says he?ll apologize for beating the holy hell out of him at Night of Champions and he pushes Punk! Punk pushes back and Teddy Long separates the two!
Punk says it’s cool but tonight they need to be on the same page or Jericho and Edge will tear them apart. They?re already at a disadvantage due to his eye injury and the crowd boos. Punk says he had to forfeit a match on Superstars, something he didn?t want to do. Punk says he’s not forfeiting anything tonight but if he can give Hardy a piece of advice, because he knows that Hardy wants to punch him in the face, his piece of advice is something Hardy should have done a long time ago ? ?Just say no!? Punk leaves the ring as we ponder what he really meant by ?Just say no.?
-Commercial Break-
Ricky Ortiz is in the ring as we come back from the break. His opponent will be one of Smackdown’s newest stars, Finlay!
Ortiz has a microphone and asks what Finlay is so sad about. Ortiz asks if he’s upset he lost his little buddy. This is a negative attitude that doesn?t belong on Friday Night Smackdown. Ortiz says it’s time to drop the shillelagh, lose that frown, and rally up. He puts the rally towel on Finlay’s shoulder and Finlay slaps him before throwing the towel out of the ring.
Ricky Ortiz vs. Finlay
The referee starts the match and Ortiz charges but Finlay just sidesteps him. Finlay kicks him in the midsection and sends Ortiz into the ropes but lowers his head and gets kicked in the face. Finlay quickly gets back on the offensive and shoulders Ortiz in the midsection before clotheslining him over the top rope. Finlay gets on the apron and kicks Ortiz in the face a few times. Finlay goes to get back in the ring and Ortiz chop blocks his knee. Ortiz goes to hit Finlay but Finlay pushes him away. Finlay then approaches Ortiz and Ortiz powerslams him on the ground! That’s most likely going to be the Bump of the Night!
Ortiz throws Finlay in the ring and kicks him in the back. Ortiz then hits a nice back suplex for a two count. Ortiz goes for the Big O but Finlay gets his knees up. Ortiz charges Finlay in the corner but gets sidestepped and he hits the ring post shoulder first. Finlay rolls him up for a two count. Finlay clotheslines Ortiz down three times before hitting his fireman’s carry roll over, which is called ?Rolling Hills.? Finlay then hits his jumping senton to the chest for a near fall. Ortiz is up in the corner so Finlay drives a shoulder into his midsection. Finlay goes for the Celtic Cross but his back hurts too much and he drops Ortiz. Ortiz clubs his back a few times before attempting a gutwrench suplex but Finlay is able to block it. Finlay now is able to muster enough strength to hit the Celtic Cross and get the victory!
Winner by Pinfall: Finlay
Match Rating: * ?
Backstage Dolph Ziggler is warming up with some strange looking push ups. Maria comes up and he leans against the wall pretending he’s cool. Maria introduces herself and he does as well. She says she had fun last night and they should do it again. She says they both have a match tonight and wishes Ziggler luck. Ziggler says he just may get lucky before leaving.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know that Smackdown was watched by more adults 18-34 than any program on ABC, Fox, CW, or CBS? Smackdown didn?t beat NBC?!
Our semi-Main Event tonight will be Rey Mysterio taking on the returning Kane in a non-title match.
As Dolph Ziggler makes his way to the ring we see highlights, if you can call them that, from his match against the Great Khali at the Bash. We see Kane return and beat Khali down with a chair before Ziggler gets the win.
Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth
My favorite referee Charles Robinson is refereeing this match. Of course you?d only know that if you read my columns since they?re not allowed to say the referee’s names on TV. The match begins and they take a moment before going to lock up but Ziggler digs a knee into the midsection and asks, ?What’s up now?!? Ziggler punches R-Truth back and whips him into the corner but R-Truth slingshots over him and does a cartwheel. R-Truth splits under a clothesline and hits a nice back heel kick. R-Truth hits a hip toss and covers for a one count.
Ziggler puts himself through the ropes so Charles Robinson backs R-Truth up. This gives Ziggler the opportunity to blindside him with a big forearm to the face. Ziggler hits a nice German into a front suplex and covers for a two count. Ziggler hits some crossfaces before locking on a headlock. R-Truth fights up and elbows out but Ziggler slams him down. Ziggler grounds and pounds him before dropping some elbows. Ziggler then stalls and hits a really big one for a near fall. Ziggler now locks on a seated Full Nelson. R-Truth fights up and rolls Ziggler off.
R-Truth ducks a clothesline and punches and kicks Ziggler. R-Truth sends him into the ropes and hits a back elbow. R-Truth hits a clothesline and whips him again but lowers his head and eats a kick. Ziggler charges into a powerslam for a two count. R-Truth then drops Ziggler with a beautiful bicycle kick and goes to bring him to the center of the ring but Ziggler holds on to the ropes. Ziggler snaps R-Truth’s neck off the top rope and hits his Jumping Russian Leg Sweep and Ziggler picks up the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Match Rating: * ?
Still to come tonight is Edge and Chris Jericho taking on Jeff Hardy and CM Punk in a non-title match.
-Commercial Break-
Great, it’s time for another edition of Cryme Tyme’s Word Up. They do their ?Yo, yo, yo,? thing before calling themselves Lamborghini Boys, Brooklyn’s Finest, and Flintstone G’s, because they make the bed rock. Hardy har har. Shad says today’s word is, and Eve comes in to say it: Wanksta. The definition is a person who acts and looks like a gangster, but has never done anything gangster or thug-like besides acting or looking like one. So Cryme Tyme are wankstas? Shad says instead of telling us what a wanksta is, they?ll just show us. They now grab some fake plants and says it’s time for ?Street Safari.? Eve then brings out binoculars and they do the Elmer Fudd impression of ?Be vewwy, vewwy quiet ? we?re hunting wankstas.? They spy on Layla before Eve takes the binoculars and sees Jimmy Wang Yang eating bar-b-q. They then take the binoculars and spot Jesse, a wanksta. Jesse then comes over and does some lame raps about his name. Cryme Tyme does not take to him and walk away from him. Jesse ends the segment by calling them a bunch of wankstas.
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio’s music hits and he makes his way out to the ring holding his newly won title to a nice reception. He?ll be facing Kane in a match that reminds me a feud from late last year that I?d just as soon forget. They?ll face each other next.
-Commercial Break-
Rey Mysterio vs. Kane
This is a non-title match in case you were wondering. It’s also Kane’s first match back since returning at the Bash.
The match begins and they circle the ring. Mysterio hits a couple of quick kicks and punches before going into the ropes and under Kane’s legs. Mysterio holds on to the ropes and boots Kane in the face when he charges. Mysterio then runs and gets clotheslined down by him. Kane stomps Mysterio before putting him in the corner and hitting a nice right hand. Kane hits a back elbow and another punch before walking away. Kane hits a short arm clothesline for a two count. Kane now locks on a chin lock but Mysterio quickly gets out of it with kicks. Mysterio recovers in the corner before getting punched and kicked by Kane.
Kane sends Mysterio into the corner so Mysterio attempts to slingshot over him but Kane catches him on his shoulder. Mysterio slithers off and dropkicks Kane in the knee, setting him up in position for the 619. Mysterio goes for it but Kane quickly turns and catches him by the throat. Kane goes for a Chokeslam but Mysterio gets out of it but can?t get out of Kane throwing him by his neck into the corner. Kane then punches and kicks him down there until the referee makes him back up. We?ll pick this up after the break.
-Commercial Break-
As we come back from the break we see Mysterio go into the ropes and right into a big boot from Kane. This gets Kane a near fall. Kane gets Mysterio up and whips him hard into the corner and Mysterio hits the turnbuckle sternum first before rolling out of the ring. Kane follows him outside and picks him up before driving his spine into the ring post. Kane gets back in the ring and the referee begins counting Mysterio out. Mysterio fights back into the ring at the count of nine but he gets right in to the boots of Kane.
Kane picks Mysterio up and clubs him down. Kane stomps him a few times before picking him up and body slamming him. Kane approaches Mysterio in the corner and Mysterio fights back with boots to the face and some punches. Mysterio goes into the ropes and right into a back elbow from Kane. Kane covers and Mysterio kicks out at two and a half. Kane picks him up and hits a nasty back suplex for a near fall. Kane hits a backbreaker and stretches Mysterio on his knee. Mysterio doesn?t quit and instead knees Kane in the face a few times, breaking the hold. Kane charges Mysterio in the corner and Mysterio drop toe holds him into the turnbuckle.
Mysterio springboards off the top rope with a seated senton and hits a tilt-a-whirl reverse DDT for a near fall. Mysterio hits a low dropkick to the face for another near fall. Mysterio goes to the top rope and jumps right into an uppercut from Kane. Kane covers for another near fall. Kane now signals for the Chokeslam and goes for it but Mysterio rolls under and hits an enzuigiri. Mysterio dropkicks him into position and hits the 619! Mysterio goes for the West Coast Pop but Kane holds on and throws him off! Mysterio then walks right into a nasty Chokeslam and just like that, Kane pins the Intercontinental Champion!
Winner by Pinfall: Kane
Match Rating: ** ?
Kane approaches a broken Mysterio and grabs him by the head and then the neck. Kane’s going for another Chokeslam until the Great Khali’s music hits and Khali makes his way to the ring with Ranjin Singh and a steel chair! Kane cowardly gets out of the ring and escapes through the crowd!
Backstage Chris Jericho is with Josh Mathews. Mathews asks him what’s on his mind. Jericho says it brings a smile to his face to see the ultimate hypocrite Rey Mysterio get exactly what he deserves tonight. Next week he?ll get more of the same as he invokes his rematch clause and regains his Intercontinental Championship for the unprecedented tenth time. Edge walks up and says tonight isn?t about Rey Mysterio. Tonight is about proving that they are the dominant force here in the WWE. At the Bash they defeated the Colons and Legacy to become the Unified Tag Team Champions. Tonight they have a team that isn?t even cohesive or on the same page ? not unified, like them. Besides, Punk is walking around with an injured eye and tonight they prove it. Jericho simply says they are the best in the world at what they do. As far as Punk’s injured eye goes, he thinks Punk is as much of a liar as the obsequious, gelatinous, parasitic drones that make up the audience tonight. They?re going to beat CM Punk and his injured eye as well as Jeff Hardy and his pathetic painted face. Jericho says they?ll prove that they are the dominant force in this company, and that’s a guarantee, partner. Edge says those are his thoughts exactly and walks off.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know WWE will create more original TV hours this year than Showtime and HBO combined? I was just wondering about that.
We?ll get a look at three of Smackdown’s newest acquisitions: The Hart Dynasty, which consists of David Hart Smith, British Bulldog’s son, Tyson Kidd, a Hart family friend, and Natalya, Jim Neidhart’s daughter.
The Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Tyme
The match begins and it?ll be Tyson Kidd taking on JTG. They take a moment before approaching and Kidd quickly gets a waist lock on JTG. JTG rolls him off and hits a drop toe hold before getting Kidd in a front face lock. Kidd gets up and pushes JTG to the corner. Kidd hits a shoulder thrust and an elbow before having a whip to the corner reversed on him. JTG then hits a nice face buster and Kidd rolls out of the ring. JTG follows him out and Kidd runs in and quickly tags in Smith, which JTG doesn?t see, and Smith blindsides JTG.
Smith hits some elbows and some punches in the corner. Smith hits a straight punch to the head before hitting a nice belly to belly overhead suplex for a two count. Smith locks on a chin lock. JTG fights up and elbows out. Smith powers JTG into the corner and Kidd tags in. They double whip JTG to the corner. Kidd hits a snapmare and kicks him in the back for a two count. Kidd locks on a surfboard stretch and screams like a banshee. It sounds? bizarre. Kidd drives a knee into JTG’s back and whips him into the corner. Kidd charges but JTG moves and rolls him up for a two count. Kidd quickly stomps JTG down and snapmares him before locking the surfboard back on. Kidd holds it on for a bit but JTG is able to fight up. Even though he’s close to the ropes, he doesn?t use a rope break. Kidd knees him in the midsection and forearms him. Kidd sends JTG into the ropes but JTG is able to hit an uppercut and then hits a float over reverse clothesline. Nice move! Both men tag in their partners.
Shad runs in, ducks a clothesline from Smith, and gets Kidd off the apron. Shad then turns and clotheslines Smith down twice. Shad sends Smith to the corner and hits a splash. Shad hits a nice inverted face buster before hitting the ?Money, Money? Elbow Drop. This gets Shad a near fall as Kidd breaks up pin. JTG knees Kidd in the face when he goes to attack and the referee kicks Kidd out of the ring. Smith kicks Shad but Shad reverses a whip and JTG uses the referee’s distraction to snap the back of Smith’s neck off the top rope. Shad then hits the STO, which he calls ?Thugnificent,? and gets the win!
Winners by Pinfall: Cryme Tyme
Match Rating: * ?
Cryme Tyme celebrates stealing the victory from the Hart Dynasty by laughing at them. The Hart Dynasty angrily yells at them in the ring.
It’s time for the Raw Rebound. You all saw it, and if you didn?t, you?ve already seen the Raw Rebound a thousand times. I have nothing to say except Mark Henry is getting a push for top face. I don?t think any more has to be said.
-Commercial Break-
Still to come tonight is Edge and Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy and CM Punk.
Michelle McCool & Layla vs. Melina & Maria
The bell rings and Melina is quickly distracted by Michelle McCool, holding up the Women’s Championship she won from Melina at the Bash. This allows Layla to blindside her. Layla lays in some forearms to the still injured jaw of Melina before attempting to bounce her head off the turnbuckle but Melina blocks it and kicks Layla in the face. Melina bounces her head off the turnbuckle twice before getting a front face lock on and tagging in Maria. Maria knees Layla in the ribs a few times and hits a snapmare followed up by a low clothesline for a one count. Maria hits some forearms before hitting a nice arm wrench takeover. Layla blocks a kick and kicks Maria’s other leg, sending her down in a painful looking split. Layla then quickly tags in McCool.
McCool runs in and drops a few elbows and knees on the injured leg of Maria. McCool wrenches it before dropping another knee and hitting some stomps. McCool then tags Layla back in, who drops an elbow and wrenches the knee. Layla then tags McCool back in, who wrenches the knee some more, and gets a one count. McCool hammers the joint and locks on a heel lock. Maria winds up twisting her off and completely missing a kick that our Women’s Champion sells, before making the tag to Melina.
Melina comes in with some forearms before sending McCool into the ropes. Melina lowers her head and gets kicked in the face. Layla gets tagged in and Melina does the Matrix under a clothesline and kicks Layla in the face. Melina clotheslines her down and forearms McCool off the apron. Layla kicks Melina away and goes for her neckbreaker but Melina counters into the Primal Scream for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Melina & Maria
Match Rating: *
-Commercial Break-
The Smack of the Night is John Morrison defeating CM Punk in a great non-title match last week on Smackdown. Wouldn?t that make him the Number One Contender now? CM Punk then hits the Go To Sleep after the match.
John Morrison is backstage with Teddy Long, who is thuggin? and buggin?. Morrison says since he beat CM Punk he should face the winner of the match between CM Punk and Jeff Hardy at Night of Champions. Long isn?t listening and Morrison gets his attention. Long says he was thinking about the BET Awards with the Michael Jackson tribute. They then do a medley of songs like, ?Thriller,? ?Smooth Criminal,? and ?Bad.? This plays into Morrison’s ego and they laugh and shake hands. Long says now it’s time for John Morrison to, ?Beat it!? Some pretty funny stuff here.
As Edge comes out we see footage of how he and Jericho won the Unified Tag Team Titles. Chris Jericho makes his way out and we?ll see them in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Edge & Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy & CM Punk
It?ll be CM Punk starting out against Edge. They circle the ring before locking up. Edge wrenches the arm and drops CM Punk to a knee. Edge wrenches it again before CM Punk rolls out, slaps the hand, and dropkicks Edge. CM Punk wrenches the arm and tags in Jeff Hardy. Hardy comes off the second rope with a forearm to the shoulder. Hardy punches and kicks Edge in the corner before sending him sternum first into the opposite corner. Hardy covers but Edge quickly gets a foot on the rope. Hardy bounces Edge’s head off the turnbuckle, wrenches his arm, and tags in CM Punk.
Punk comes off the top rope with a club to the arm. Punk wrenches the arm before kicking Edge in the chest twice. Punk then takes Edge down with an arm bar. Edge fights up and forearms Punk before making the tag to Jericho. Jericho runs into an arm drag takedown. Punk wrenches the arm and body slams Jericho down. It looks like Jericho jammed his knee a bit on that. Punk makes the tag to Jeff Hardy, who hits a leg drop on Jericho off the second rope, for a two count. Jericho hits Hardy with some punches and kicks while talking trash, of course. Jericho has a whip reversed on him but Hardy lowers his head and Jericho kicks him in the face. Jericho goes back into the ropes and Hardy hits him with an inverted atomic drop followed by a double leg drop to the midsection. Hardy wrenches the arm and tags in CM Punk.
Punk kicks Jericho’s arm before wrenching and hitting a snapmare for a one count. Punk gets an arm bar on before Jericho pushes him to the ropes. Jericho gets a headlock on and tags in Edge. Edge kicks Punk in the ribs and Jericho punches Punk before leaving the ring. Edge head-butts Punk but has a whip reversed on him and Punk hits a back heel kick. Punk tags in Hardy and sends Edge to the corner. They then hit Poetry in Motion, which also catches Jericho, who came over to help. Hardy and Punk look at each other as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jeff Hardy and Edge squaring off. Hardy walks right into a kick in the midsection and Edge punches him a few times. Edge punches Hardy before whipping him into the corner but Hardy slingshots over him and hits an arm drag followed by an arm bar. On the apron CM Punk is holding his eye. Hardy wrenches Edge’s arm and goes for a tag but Punk refuses, claiming his eye is hurting. Hardy hits Edge down for a one count. Hardy hits a nice suplex before getting a nice jackknife pin for a two count. Hardy punches Edge to the corner and whips him to the opposite. Hardy backs up and charges but Edge moves and tags in Chris Jericho.
Jericho comes in and hits a low dropkick before talking some trash. Jericho drops a pair of elbows before punching him. Jericho yells at Punk and causes a referee distraction. Jericho throws Hardy out of the ring and distracts the referee while Edge punches him into the barricade on the outside. Jericho goes outside and retrieves Hardy, throwing him back in the ring. Jericho cuts Hardy off before he makes the tag but he wouldn?t have made it as Punk is concentrating on his eye. Jericho taunts the crowd before locking on a chicken wing submission. Hardy fights up and punches out. Jericho reverses a whip to the corner so Hardy attempts to slingshot over but Jericho catches him and throws him over the top rope. Jericho taunts the crowd again as the referee begins counting Hardy out. Punk is attentive now and willing Hardy on. Jericho goes outside to get Hardy but Hardy runs in and attempts to tag in CM Punk but Punk’s eye is hurting again!
Hardy punches away at Jericho and has a whip reversed on him to the corner but Hardy counters with Whisper in the Wind! Both men are down and Jericho makes the tag first. Edge cuts Hardy off and goes for the Edgecution but Hardy counters into the Twist of Fate and forcibly tags in CM Punk! Punk comes in and hits a high knee into a bulldog for a two count. Punk goes for the GTS but Edge counters into the Edge-O-Matic and appears to have raked the eye on the way down. This gets Edge a two count. Edge taunts the crowd and drops a knee into Punk’s ribs. Edge forearms Punk and kicks him down in the corner before being admonished by the referee. Jericho chokes Punk as the referee is distracted. Edge now tags in Jericho.
Jericho comes in and hits a kick to the ribs. Jericho then pokes CM Punk in his good eye before being admonished. Jericho talks some trash before getting punched by Punk. Punk and Jericho have a bit of a misstep as they whip into the corner but the pros make the save with a double clothesline. Both men are down and crawling to make the tag. Just as Punk goes to tag in Hardy, Hardy feigns an eye injury! Jericho rolls Punk up for a near fall. Jericho then attempts to lock on the Wall of Jericho but Punk kicks him away. Punk gets Jericho on his shoulders but loses his footing and Edge tags in. Punk hits the GTS on Jericho but turns right into a Spear from Edge! The Unified Tag Team Champions get the win!
Winners by Pinfall: Edge & Chris Jericho
Match Rating: ** ?
Jeff Hardy quickly runs in and hits a Twist of Fate on Edge! Hardy attempts to go for the Swanton Bomb but Jericho pulls Edge out of the ring and they retreat! Hardy and Punk now look at each other, holding their eyes. Hardy then leaves the ring and reveals that he was faking the eye injury! Punk angrily looks on (with one eye) as Smackdown ends.
Quick Match Results
Finlay def. Ricky Ortiz
Dolph Ziggler def. R-Truth
Kane def. Rey Mysterio (non-title)
Cryme Tyme def. The Hart Dynasty
Melina* & Maria def. Michelle McCool & Layla*
Edge* & Chris Jericho def. Jeff Hardy & CM Punk* (non-title)
Bump of the Night: Finlay getting powerslammed on the outside!
Match of the Night: Edge & Jericho vs. Hardy & Punk ** ?
Mike’s Thoughts
We had a tremendous Main Event we had tonight. I liked the pairing of CM Punk and Jeff Hardy as a tag unit and their interaction. It really adds to their feud and I liked Hardy faking the eye injury to get back at Punk. The action was good in this one and the finish should keep things interesting for next week. Edge and Jericho looked great in this as well.
I really liked the opening segment tonight. I really liked CM Punk stating his case and defending his actions. It’s almost like the fans are being the heels right now and he’s the one in the right. Everything he said you kind of have to agree with. I love the position they?re putting the fans in. It’s such a fun way to be part of the show as it may be the fans that push him over the edge when he does make the inevitable turn. The fans are actually a major factor in this feud. This is some really great stuff.
I wasn?t happy seeing Rey Mysterio being dominated and defeated by Kane, just five days after having a Match of the Year Contender and regaining the Intercontinental Championship. They couldn?t have thrown R-Truth to him instead? It was just a strange match-up and one that probably didn?t need to happen. The match itself was fine but the outcome wasn?t what I hoped.
I?m happy Finlay is back on Smackdown. Finlay was good on ECW and I really think they dropped the ball by not letting him have an ECW Championship reign. Hopefully he can work his way back up the ranks and maybe feud with Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Title. I really liked their feud in late 2007. I still think that beat down at No Mercy 2007 was one of the best. Finlay is a tough old bastard.
I wasn?t a fan of Cryme Tyme’s Word Up for the second week in a row. It’s just not funny. I?d much rather see these guys wrestle than appear in shows that should stay on WWE.com. Also, if that’s the best they can do for Jesse than I just don?t see him lasting that much longer. Sorry to say but it’s probably true.
In any event, Cryme Tyme at least looked good in their match against the Hart Dynasty. The Hart Dynasty looked good as well. The only thing is Tyson Kidd’s hair and screaming can get on my nerves but I guess that’s why he’s a heel. I really like the tag combination. Both these teams are contenders for the Unified Titles and could very well be champs at the end of the year.
All in all not a bad edition of Smackdown. The matches were good and the storylines are looking good, save for the Kane/Khali feud. Things are going good for Smackdown.
Final Rating: ** ?
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out yesterday’s Superstars recap.
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