WWE Smackdown taping
Hamilton, Ont.
Report by Dot Net reader Kale Sherar

Dark Match

1. Slam Master J and Kung Fu Naki (yes, Kung Fu Naki) beat a couple local jobbers. Fans were really into both faces, and the jobbers actually got some good heat. At one point, one of the jobbers tried to slingshot himself in to break the pin attempt, and ended up slipping coming down. The finish saw J hit the Ghannarea (Jimmy Rave's finisher). Post match, Naki and J celebrated for a bit.

WWE Smackdown Taping

Before the show, Teddy arrived in a limo, and got out surrounded by rent-a-cops. Batista out to a massive pop, just insane. He talked about how great it was to be back, etc, etc... Then Jericho came out to a mixed reaction (adult men cheering him, women and kids booing him). He said he was an honest man, even if us parasites and hypocrites didn't realize it. He then proceeded to insult Edge, which got a lot of heat. Batista closed the segment by saying the it'll be Jericho vs Batista in the main event, then he hit a Spinebuster and celebrated for a bit. Backstage, Jericho bitched at Show for being on his phone during the attack. Big Show offered to come out tonight, but Jericho said he'd do it on his own.

1. John Morrison beat Mike Knox. Ziggler on commentary. Good match from two very different workers. Morrison hit his standing Shooting Star at one point, but on a bit of an angle, which got some 'oooo's' from the crowd. Knox hit a vicious Running Crossbody at one point which really looked like it hurt Morrison. The finish saw Morrison hit the Flying Chuck, the Starship Pain. He jawed a bit with Ziggler before taking the mic and saying, "The whole world will be calling you Mr Ziggles (which the crowd proceeded to chant)." He closed it by saying, "See you at the PPV Mr Ziggles."

Up next, Scott Armstrong appeared on the Titantron for his interview. He said he didn't want to screw the Taker over, but said that he had a wife and kids, so therefore valued his job. After this, Vince was talking with Teddy saying that Undertaker would come after him, but he should at least apologize and explain himself to the fans.

Teddy came out and said the same thing as Armstrong. He apologized to the fans, and to the Undertaker. He was getting massive heat at this point, think Vickie Guerrero. By the way, Teddy's rent-a-cops were surrounding the ring, and looking like complete idiots cause one side wasn't covered. The segment ended with everyone leaving, then reappearing on the Tron at Teddy's limo. Teddy hopped in (sans security) and said, "Get me out of here driver." The driver hesitated, then revealed himself to be the Undertaker (the crowd went insane). Taker locked the doors, and smoke filled the car as he drove away with Teddy Long.

Next was CM Punk coming out to taunt the Taker and the fans. He received MASSIVE heat. He was saying, "I told you so" a lot, and called us all out on drinking, smoking, and popping prescription pills. A few guys in the section I was in started chanting, "We Love Beer!" Punk then mentioned he got Jeff Hardy removed from WWE, and the he made the Taker sumbit. Some fans started chanting 'Bullshit' when he said this. He ended the segment by saying Taker wasn't going to be here, and 'I told you so'. Alot of heat throughout this whole segment.

2. Melina beat Michelle McCool. I definitely now know that Melina's pops are edited so that they appear louder on TV. Michelle really received no reaction (as expected), and limped her way to the ring. This was a standard women's match which saw the typical spots. Finish saw Melina reverse a Gory Special into The Last Call (Sunset Flip Powerbomb). I have to say, JoMo is one lucky MoFo. In the Diva's locker room were dozens of pictures of Michelle and Dolph. Melina tried taking them down, but Maria walked in and accused Melina of putting them up. I guess Maria is going back to playing the ditzy redhead dating a heel.

3. The Hart Dynasty beat Cryme Tyme. Cryme Tyme out first to a little pop. Harts out next to a big one (still some heat from the kids though). It was awesome to see these guys live in person and in Canada. This was a good match, which saw the crowd get more and more behind the Harts throughout the match, as JTG was acting cocky, and doing the Bret strut. Of all the live wrestling matches I have seen, I have never seen anybody as intense as Tyson Kidd. This kid (no pun intended) has a bright future, cause he can really bring it in the ring. His intensity even seems to be rubbing off on Smith, as he was into it too. The finish saw Nattie try to interfere, but Eve pulled her away, distracting JTG. Tyson then hit JTG with a Smapmare floated into a Neckbreaker Slam, which got a huge reaction from the crowd. Canada loves their countrymen (and women) and these three are no exception.

4. Kane vs. Khali ended in a no contest. Khali came out to a decent pop (why? really, why?), and I must say he is a giant in person, just humongous. Kane came out to a smattering of boos with a bit of cheers, personally, I was expecting more of a reaction. Not much happened until Kane plunked Khali with a chair, getting DQ'd in the process. He then hit a couple more shots before smashing the steel steps on Khali's ankle. They did the stretcher bit (believe it or not), and Kane left to a 'Kane sucks' chant. A bunch of guys in the floor seats seemed to be getting under Kane's skin in the match by yelling at him and holding up a sign reading 'Glen Jacobs'. I believe this feud is finally over.

Charlie Haas vs. R-Truth didn't happen. I was not actually expecting Truth to be there, and I know he is barred from entering Canada due to past criminal convictions. Once his music hit, the place went nuts, but then fell dead silent once McIntyre came out (he seriously looks like Dr. Stevie). Drew said that R-Truth had an 'accident', and was unable to fight, and that Haas won by forefit. He shook Charlie's hand, the hit him with the Double-Arm DDT.

5. Batista beat Chris Jericho. Another big pop for Dave, but not as big. Mixed reaction for Y2J again. There were some loud 'Steroids' chants directed at Batista by the Jericho fans (aka, all us men). This was actually a passable match, thanks to Jericho, who really sold for Batista well. A lot more fans were pro-Y2J in this match than the opening segment, and at one point, he pounded his chest twice and looked around at the fans. The finish saw Batista catch Jericho as he went for the Codebreaker, then hit the Batista Bomb for the pin (which got a loud pop). Post-show, Batista celebrated for a while, clapping hands, posing, etc.

Dark Main Event

1. Undertaker beat CM Punk by DQ. Only a couple hundred people had left the arena, so many were moving to better seats. Punk out first to lots of heat again. Taker out next to the biggest pop I have ever heard. The whole crowd was on it's feet for his entire entrance, which in itself was truly mesmerizing. I could actually feel the heat of his pyro flames, and I had to be at least 20 metres away. The crowd was hotter for this match than anything else on TV. It was quick, about 3 minutes before Punk got DQ'd for bringing in the steel chair. During the match, Undertaker ran Mike Chioda off a couple of times, which got some laughs. After the DQ, Taker hit a Chokeslam then a Tombstone to two massive pops. The crowd chanted 'One More Time', so he gave us one more Tombstone to close the night. He then posed in the ring with the World Title before Jutin Roberts thanked us for coming.

Quick little note; after the refs changed the ring ropes, Chioda got into a verbal fight with some of the guys at ringside, as they took way too long to do their job. Same thing happened before the dark main event.

This was a very enjoyable 4 hours, and I recommend you see a Smackdown taping if it is in or near your town.

Biggest Pops:
Undertaker (by a kilometre)
Batista/Christian
Hart Dynasty/Jericho
Morrison/Goldust

Most Heat:
CM Punk
Regal
Jericho (women and kids)
Teddy Long

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