WWE Smackdown
July 16, 2010
Louisville, KY
Report by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video recaps the happenings of last week’s main event. The Big Show and Jack Swagger fought to a Double Count-Out. Big Show wanted to make Swagger suffer but a well placed kick to the already injured ankle stopped him. Then Kane grabbed him by the throat and accused him of taking the Undertaker out because he likes to make people suffer. Swagger vehemently denied it and said he had an alibi. Kane said he would be condemned to hell if there was any doubt about the alibi.
The Smackdown video plays and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcome us to the show. We’re two days away from Money in the Bank. Jack Swagger will present his alibi to Kane tonight.
Kofi Kingston vs. “Dashing” Cody Rhodes
As Kofi Kingston comes to the ring the announcers question what condition he is in to compete tonight after the brutal attack by the Nexus on NXT. They say he’s bruised and beaten but determined to go to Money in the Bank. Cody Rhodes’s entrance is simply awesome, by the way.
They go around the ring before locking up. Rhodes quickly gets a hammerlock and Kingston just as quickly turns it. Kingston takes him down with a headlock and Rhodes quickly gets a head-scissors. Kingston kips up out of it and we’re at a stalemate. They lock up again and Kingston puts him in the corner. Rhodes comes back with a headlock and Kingston elbows him off. Kingston sends him to the ropes but gets shoulder blocked down. Rhodes goes into the ropes, over and under Kingston, and catches him leap frogging and rolls him up for a one count.
Rhodes punches and bangs his head off the corner. They’ve got a great camera angle going, bringing them right into your living room. Rhodes has a whip to the opposite corner reversed. Kingston leaps up to the shoulders and punches away. Kingston hits an uppercut and Rhodes quickly pulls him into the turnbuckle face first. Rhodes front suplexes him onto the top rope and kicks him off, sending him to the floor!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kingston trapped in an abdominal stretch. Rhodes releases it and hits a Russian Leg Sweep. Rhodes drops a Ric Flair knee for a near fall. Rhodes stops a brief comeback with an abdominal stretch. Kingston tries to counter out with a hip toss but Rhodes counters with one of his own. Kingston then hits a head-scissors hurricanrana from the ground!
Rhodes runs into a back elbow and takes some punches. Kingston chops him down and hits a nice dropkick. Kingston misses a clothesline and hits a nice double leg takedown. Kingston grounds and pounds before being admonished by Jack Doane. Kingston runs into a back elbow and Rhodes hits a second rope bulldog for a near fall. Rhodes puts him in the corner and runs into the pendulum kick. Rhodes cuts him off on the top rope but Kingston knocks him off. Kingston hits a nice cross-body block but he’s too injured to capitalize.
All of a sudden Kane’s pyro hits and the Big Red Machine makes his way to the ring! Kingston tries to fight him off but is quickly Chokeslammed! Cody Rhodes dashes toward him (har har) and gets Chokeslammed as well.
No Contest
Match Rating: **
Kane grabs a microphone and says he has breaking news. There will be a bludgeoning tonight. He knows Jack Swagger and he is a liar. Swagger will pay for his sins and he will enjoy extracting his vengeance when he pronounces judgment on the condemned. Kane makes the corners explode and leaves the ring.
Tonight we’ll see Christian take on Drew McIntyre. We’ll also see Matt Hardy take on Dolph Ziggler.
-Commercial Break-
The announcers discuss the condition of Rey Mysterio’s ankle. Matt Striker says he suffered torn ligaments in his ankle but Jack Swagger didn’t stop there. We see a video of all the times Swagger has put Mysterio in the ankle lock over the past two weeks, including dragging him around the backstage area last week.
World Champion Rey Mysterio is backstage with the trainer. Mysterio is in pain as he puts an ankle brace on him. Mysterio grabs his title and looks at it. Josh Mathews walks up like a creeper and asks how he’s feeling. Mysterio says the swelling is coming down but he still feels pain when he stands. Mathews asks how he’ll defend the title Sunday at Money in the Bank. Mysterio says he isn’t. He’s made his decision and he’s going to forfeit the title to Jack Swagger. Mathews asks if he’s serious and Mysterio says of course not. He’ll be there Sunday thanks to the support of the doctors and the ankle brace. This gives him the confidence to keep living his dream as World Champion. Swagger showed him that by jumping him was a moment of desperation. However, attacking the Undertaker, well, karma works in a mysterious way.
Jack Swagger is backstage talking to someone on the phone and says he’s as delusional as Kane. Swagger asks when the person will be here and says there shouldn’t be traffic since no one in Kentucky has anywhere to go. He wants to put this behind him so he can go to Sunday and win the title.
-Commercial Break-
A highlight package of the first Money in the Bank Ladder Match from WrestleMania 21 airs. Edge won and cashed in on John Cena ten months later.
Drew McIntyre vs. Christian
McIntyre starts off with some kicks and punches. McIntyre whips him but Christian slides out of the ring. McIntyre follows and Christian gets on the apron. McIntyre follows and blocks a kick. Christian back elbows him and McIntyre comes back. Christian gets him with a pendulum kick that knocks him to the floor. Christina then dives off the top rope to the outside with a cross-body! Christian throws him in the ring and hits another cross-body for a near fall! McIntyre recovers on the ropes so Christian stands on him and chokes. Christian goes for a neck snapper off the rope but McIntyre reverses it onto Christian for a near fall.
McIntyre throws him to the corner and stomps him down. McIntyre yells at the referee before applying an arm bar to Christian. Christian fights up and punches out. Christian hits a back elbow and goes for a Tornado DDT but McIntyre pushes him off the top rope and to the outside, bottom over tea cup! That was a nasty looking bump as we go to commercial!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see McIntyre drag Christian to the center of the ring for a near fall. Christina had almost gotten counted out during the break. McIntyre applies an arm bar to the former ECW Champion. Christian fights up and punches out. Christian goes for a reverse DDT but McIntyre powers him to the corner. McIntyre goes to push him off the top rope to the outside again but Christian gets out and hits a nice Tornado DDT for a near fall!
Christian punches away but McIntyre catches a cross-body block attempt. Christian counters through with a reverse DDT for a near fall. Christian hits a missile dropkick for a very close near fall. Christian hits a drop-toe-hold and goes for a second rope back elbow but McIntyre kicks him out of the air for a near fall. McIntyre is really frustrated as he goes for a catapult. Christian fights it but takes it into the corner anyway. McIntyre runs into a kick but cuts him off before he hits a springboard sunset flip. McIntyre goes for a second rope German Suplex but Christian holds on for dear life. Christian hits his second rope sunset flip for a near fall and McIntyre quickly hits a neckbreaker for a near fall of his own.
McIntyre goes for the Future Shock but Christian back body drops him. Christian hits a second rope back elbow and claps for the Kill Switch. McIntyre goes for a Future Shock but Christian counters into a Kill Switch attempt. McIntyre gets a foot on the ropes and thumbs him in the eye as the official’s back is turned. McIntyre hangs him up on the middle rope and hits a Future Shock DDT for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre
Match Rating: ** 1/4
An Alberto del Rio video plays. He says something about higher education and a lactating mother. From there I zoned out. I’m not kidding: he really said something about that and being a hungry baby.
-Commercial Break-
A highlight package airs for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 25. CM Punk won for a second time and cashed in at Extreme Rules against Jeff Hardy, who had just won the World Heavyweight Championship in a brutal ladder match.
CM Punk and the rest of the S.E.S. are in the ring. Punk says he’s a superior athlete who built a reputation by winning back-to-back Money in the Bank Ladder Matches at WrestleMania. He also built the foundation for a superior society. While we live in a society with cracks in the foundations, there are no cracks in his. They are united and stronger than ever.
Big Show’s music hits and he comes to the ring with two ladders, big and small. Punk hilariously asks what he did to deserve this. Big Show sets them up in the ring and grabs a microphone. Big Show says he thought Punk was out here just trying to put people to sleep. His finisher is the Go To Sleep and that’s what he was doing. Big Show wonders is S.E.S. means Snoozing Every Second.
Big Show says he’s here because of Money in the Bank and maybe entertain everyone. We can listen to Punk talk about S.E.S. or we can hear something exciting, like a huge 500 pound monster in a ladder match. Punk says he loves a car crash so he wants to see Big Show do a 450… as in he falls off the ladder and goes through the ring. The S.E.S. goes at ringside and wants to be entertained.
Big Show says the Money in the Bank is the most dangerous match in WWE. If you put him on a ladder and he falls on someone then that person is done. The big ladder is one he’s not confident in. Big Show tries to step on it but the first rung snaps immediately. He’s seven foot tall so he doesn’t need a big ladder. Big Show pulls a Hornswoggle sized ladder and looks at it before deciding that won’t work either. He breaks everything so it’s tough being a giant. However, he searched around and calls out the crew to bring out an industrial strength, 350 pound ladder. That thing is a monster. It’s got a 2,000 pound weight limit.
CM Punk says he’s reminded of King Kong on the Empire State Building but he reminds everyone that Kong fell. Had Kane not wrongly accused him and injured his arm then he wouldn’t be in a sling climbing the ladder and winning the title. The S.E.S. attacks Big Show and Luke Gallows clobbers him in the face with the small ladder. Punk climbs up the huge ladder and yells that Straight Edge means he’s better. Big Show angrily gets up and takes out the S.E.S. The Masked Member is gorilla pressed out of the ring!
Big Show climbs up the ladder with CM Punk and grabs him. Big Show holds him and grabs his mask! Punk screams and screams but the mask is removed! CM Punk’s bald head is exposed! This is hilarious! Big Show poses with him smiling as Punk screams like a banshee! I love this! You have to see these pictures on WWE.com!
-Commercial Break-
Jack Swagger is on the phone backstage and is angry the person isn’t there. The driver apparently got lost. Swagger says he’s worried because he can’t have that lunatic Kane ruining his title match. He needs the evidence and needs it now. This person has never let Swagger down.
Trent Baretta & Layla vs. Chris Masters & Kelly Kelly
Honestly, I could care less about this match. You have the Dude Busters and Chris Masters involved and they are wastes of space. Masters was good four years ago and that was it. The women… well, we know WWE doesn’t care. Layla was angry the Dude Busters were helping Rosa Mendes jump rope and took the K2 for the loss. Matt Striker was just as brutal as this entire segment was.
Winners by Pinfall: Chris Masters & Kelly Kelly
Match Rating: Brutal
-Commercial Break-
The announcers run down the Money in the Bank card. I’m looking forward to this event even though I have a sinking feeling it’ll disappoint.
Matt Hardy comes to the ring with a microphone. Grab a pillow… Hardy says the truth about him is that he feels just as comfortable on top of a ladder as he does with his feet on the ground. When he grabs the briefcase on Sunday, regardless of who the champion is, he’s cashing in that very night, leaving as the World Heavyweight Champion.
-Commercial Break-
Matt Hardy vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler quickly gets a waist lock and takes Hardy down. Ziggler tries to ground him with some amateur wrestling but Hardy hits a short-arm clothesline. Hardy takes him down with a headlock. Ziggler whips him off but gets shoulder blocked down for a two count. Hardy gets another headlock on and Ziggler pushes him onto the ropes. Ziggler punches away at him but Hardy comes back with kicks. Hardy runs into a kick. Ziggler comes off the top rope and gets punched in the midsection. Hardy then clotheslines him over the top rope. Hardy bounces him off the apron but Ziggler kicks him away, sending him into the barricade head first.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Hardy fight up from a headlock but quickly be taken down. Ziggler drops some elbows before dropping his big one for a near fall. Ziggler sends him into the ropes. Hardy tries for a sunset flip but Ziggler gets the ropes. Ziggler quickly kicks him back down. Ziggler hits a rolling neck snapper for a near fall. Ziggler chokes him on the rope and Vickie Guerrero is loving it at ringside. Hardy fights up. Ziggler sends him to the ropes and they botch something. Ziggler quickly knocks him down.
Hardy comes back with some clotheslines and a flapjack for a near fall. Hardy hits his lame second rope elbow for another near fall. Ziggler elbows out of a Side Effect and goes for a leg drop bulldog but Hardy powerbombs him for a near fall! Hardy goes up and misses a moonsault. Ziggler gets a quick pin for a near fall. Hardy counters a punch and hits the Side Effect but Ziggler gets a fingertip on the rope!
Ziggler counters a body slam into a sleeper hold but Hardy drives him into the turnbuckle. Vickie Guerrero gets on the apron. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate but Ziggler pushes him toward her. Hardy backs up and takes a surprise Zig-Zag for the loss.
Winner by Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler
Match Rating: * 1/2
Dolph Ziggler has his arm raised by Vickie Guerrero, wearing her nasty Cougar necklace.
Jack Swagger is in the parking lot as a limousine pulls up. A guy gets out and they hug. Swagger gives an envelope to a stage hand and tells him to bring it to the production truck.
-Commercial Break-
Jack Swagger comes to the ring with the man from the limo. Swagger says it’s an understatement to say he’s lived a fortunate life. When you have his genetics it’s easy to get lost in the limelight. It’s easy to lose sight of friends and family when you’re constantly on a pedestal. When you’re being attacked by a monster like Kane it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important: winning back his championship. He’ll clear his good name and prove he had nothing to do with what happened to the Undertaker.
Swagger says he found time to spend Memorial Day with father, the man in the ring. They hug. That Memorial Day they won and looked good. Swagger shows the first picture which is them working out. The next picture is them with a gigantic fish. They won first place at the “Fishing Classic”. Swagger’s dad says it was a proud day. They then show another picture, which was them winning a chicken wing eating contest. These pictures are hilarious.
Kane’s pyro hits and he comes to the ring looking none too convinced. Kane says he doesn’t know if it’s the smug look or his inner loathing but he doesn’t believe a word of what he just said. Swagger says he has more evidence and shows a picture of him running a 5K. Swagger says he had nothing to do with what happened and Kane grabs him by the throat. Swagger’s dad begs him off and little Swagger hits him with the microphone. Swagger applies an ankle lock. Kane is in trouble as Rey Mysterio runs into the ring and hits a 619 on Swagger! Mysterio quickly limps away from the ring.
Kane grabs Swagger’s dad and Swagger by the throat. Swagger escapes but Kane doesn’t let go of the dad. Swagger begs him not to do anything but then realizes it’s inevitable and looks away. Kane Chokeslams Jack Swagger’s father and then hits a Tombstone Piledriver! Kane makes the posts explode as Swagger looks on helplessly. We still don’t know who took out the Undertaker.
Quick Match Results
Kofi Kingston NC “Dashing” Cody Rhodes (non-title)
Drew McIntyre def. Christian
Chris Masters & Kelly Kelly* def. Trent Baretta & Layla*
Dolph Ziggler def. Matt Hardy
Bump of the Night: Christian being pushed off the top rope to the outside!
Match of the Night: McIntyre vs. Christian ** 1/4
Mike’s Thoughts
I hope Jack Swagger’s dad becomes a regular character in WWE. I don’t know what it is but I just like that guy. He didn’t do anything but I found him hilarious. Jack Swagger, despite being saddled with another wrestler’s gimmick, is doing really well with the material given to him. His character is pretty funny. They just need to change his submission. On the flipside they need to stop whatever they’re doing with Rey Mysterio. They’ve ruined another run of the title with him. He acts like such a baby, is cutting promos with crappy material, and is barely involved in the show. They need to do a lot to make him a believable champion again. They had the opportunity again and they blew it. Hopefully he’ll retain on Sunday and they can start anew next week.
Finally we get to see CM Punk bald. It was completely random tonight and happened for no reason but I’m glad it did. It should have happened a month ago, though. I like that he’s still a big focus on the show despite being injured. Big Show was great in his roll tonight as well. It was just so damn random!
The rest of the matches for Money in the Bank were good. The Smackdown match is missing a lot of the main eventers unlike Raw’s stacked offering but I still feel like this could be the surprise hit of the PPV. There are a lot of guys looking to make a name for themselves as well as some veterans who want to have the notice put back on them. I’m interested to see what they will all bring to the match and also to see how Big Show will perform.
Final Rating: ** 3/4
E-Mail – Mike Tedesco
Be sure to check out Tuesday’s NXT recap.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy Money in the Bank 2010!