7/31 Hermanstyne's WWE Smackdown Coverage: Diva tag action, number one contender’s match for a Unified Tag Title shot at SummerSlam, Jeff Hardy vs. John Morrison for the World Hvt. Championship

WWE Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in Baltimore, Md.

[Q1] The show began with a recap of the world title match at Night of Champions. Justin Roberts introduced Jeff as the new world champ with a big standing ovation. Jeff said it was a dream and the crowd shouldn’t wake him because he was proud to be the champ. He thanked all the rejects and people who stuck with him and believed in what he stands for. He said that Punk said some rotten things last week and if everyone was like Punk they would be boring. He said that his life was cool and the only thing he is high on is being world champ. He said he was born a free spirit and he is human and he can live how he wants to live.

He mentioned that Teddy Long gave Punk his rematch and he put over John Morrison on how great he is. He said that his title reign was too short and he wants Baltimore to be ready for a fight. He mentioned that Morrison that beaten Punk twice and we will see one of the best fights in Smackdown history. Cryme Tyme makes their appearance and does their posing in the ring. [C]

Mind of Marv: Decent opening segment but what kills me is how can you be boring if you wanted to be a “straightedge” person like Punk? In other words, you are encouraging people to drink or smoke because your boring if you don’t. But anyway, Jeff had really improved on the stick and I commend him for that.

The Smack of the Night was shown with the main event from Raw and Cryme Tyme’s involvement on the show. The Hart Dynasty make their way to the ring and JR put over Kidd in the match from Superstars last night.

[Q2] 1. Cryme Tyme defeated The Hart Dynasty to become Number One contenders for the WWE Unified Tag Team titles at SummerSlam in approximately 12:00. Shad and DH began the matchup. Shad got the advantage with a shoulder block. Shad controlled the match until 1:18 when Kidd got a blind tag in and hit a low dropkick to Shad’s leg. Kidd began to work on Shad’s leg and DH threw Shad into the ring steps. [C]

The show returned with DH still attacking Shad’s leg. DH put Shad in a modified Boston Crab and Shad kicked out of the submission. DH tagged back Kidd in and JTG got back in the match with dropkicks. JTG hit a legdrop for a nearfall. Kidd went for a pin for a nearfall. JTG got two rollups for a nearfall. JTG hit an armbar backbreaker for a nearfall but it was broken up by DH. JTG hit the Shout Out for the win.

The wack ass remix of JeriShow was played with both guys coming out in suits. They got bonkers heel heat from the Baltimore crowd. Jericho said congrats to Cryme Tyme and things will go downhill from here. He said they are this close to witnessing their dream and the will fall short of in winning the tag titles. He said that they have combined 40 titles between both of them. He put himself and Show over. Shad interrupts them and called them Hans Solo and Chewbacca. He said he speaks Wookie and he starts doing the stupid shit. Jericho said he’s sorry and do you think it’s a joke. JTG said when Shaq was around he didn’t have much to say and he blew him a kiss. He called Show fat boy and tubby and they will leave Summerslam with the tag team titles.

Show said they are used to being champions and he put over Jericho. He said that he is only person to hold every championship (WWE, WCW and ECW). He said that he is a giant and he is better than the entire crowd. Jericho called them failures and criminals. He said that party is over at Summerslam. Rey Mysterio and Finlay vs. Mike Knox and Dolph Ziggler is next…[C]

Mind of Marv: First of all, the JeriShow remix is terrible. I loved the Rated RKO one because that made more sense. Secondly, this was a very good tag match. Next, this Summerslam match has epic fail all over it because it looks like this JeriShow team will be together and it wouldn’t hurt them to take the time to work on this remix…

[Q3] JR hyped the world title match tonight. The Divas make their entrance to the ring. Damn Layla and Eve are hot.

2. Eve and Melina defeated Women’s Champion Michelle McCool and Layla in 3:14. Melina and Layla began the matchup. Melina hit a hip toss to Layla and tagged Eve in the match. Eve hit a nice dropkick on Layla. Grisham said a lame ass line about California Girls which JR had to apologize for. McCool got in the match and hit a legdrop for a nearfall. Eve hit a jawbreaker to McCool and tagged back in Melina. Melina hit a flapjack to Layla. Melina went for her finisher but McCool kicked her in grill. Melina hit her finisher on McCool for the victory.

Mind of Marv: Standard Divas match, nothing really to discuss. The McCool/Melina feud continues.

Josh Matthews interviewed C.M. Punk in the backstage area. He asked Punk if Jeff’s victory over him was an upset. He said he can’t respect anyone who lives a wild lifestyle. He said that he wished everyone can be straightedge. He wished both guys in the main event good luck because he wants the winner. Dolph Ziggler with Maria is walking to the ring for his match, next. [C]

Mind of Marv: If there is a triple threat with Morrison, Punk and Hardy, it would be worth paying for because any main event with young guys is better than what Raw is producing at Summerslam.

[Q4] All four competitors made their entrance…[C]


3. Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio and Finlay defeated Mike Knox and Dolph Ziggler in 9:45. Rey and Ziggler started the matchup. Rey hit a head scissors takedown and Ziggler tagged in Knox. Next thing you know, Knox went like a bull and splashed on the 175 lbs Rey. Knox began to work on Rey with an Irish Whip. Rey attempted the 619 but Knox moved and Rey hit an insurghi. Finlay got in the match and worked on Knox. Knox hit the big boot on Finlay in the corner. Knox applied a modified ankle lock and used the ropes to work on Finlay. Ziggler got back in the match went for a pin and it was a two count.

[Q5] Finlay tried to crawl to the ropes but the heels prevented him from doing so. Finlay tried to crawl from Knox, but Knox placed him in an armbar. Knox knocked out Rey and the heels continued to work on Finlay. Ziggler splashed and hit an elbow on Finlay for nearfalls. Knox missed a knee to Finlay and Finlay tried to go to Rey but Ziggler pulled him away. Finally, Rey got tagged in and hit a sick kick to Ziggler for a nearfall. Rey hit a springboard crossbody for a nearfall. Rey hit the 619 for the nearfall because Knox interfered. Finlay clotheslined Knox and Rey cradled Ziggler for the win.

Mind of Marv: This was an OK match, but this does nothing for anyone. Knox should get a push but they refuse to do so. Ziggler doing the job to Rey twice in the same week loses some stock in him. I don’t know about this match because just didn’t click for me.

Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed John Morrison. Morrison congratulated Hardy on his title win. He said the energy will spark and he said he has nothing to lose and nothing to gain. He said that the title is coming back to the Place of Wisdom. Khali is coming to the ring for his match next…[C]

Mind of Marv: I like John Morrison but I’m sorry…that promo was generic as hell. It seem like he just practiced that minutes ago. This main event should be classic because I am really pushing for Morrison to be world champ before the end of 2009.

Charlie Haas was already in the ring. Khali and the tool named Singh came to the ring.



[Q6] 4. The Great Khali (with Ranjin Singh) and Charlie Haas fought to an apparent to a no-contest in 2:15. Haas tried some punches but Khali threw him in the corner. Khali hit to same old kicks and elbows to Haas. JR was being very sarcastic tonight towards Grisham. Khali went for the Punjabi Plunge but Kane interfered and held Singh hostage. Khali went for Kane and Kane threw Singh.

Mind of Marv: If anyone name any feuds that were worst that Khali & Kane? If you do, email them to mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com because if they make this a SummerSlam match, WWE is on their way to low buy rates.

The Raw Rebound was shown and John Morrison got a huge pop.

Mind of Marv: DAMN….a 30 minute main event? Hell yea we got 80s style, Saturday Night Main Event matchup and I am looking forward to it. No complaining here because we may have a match of the year candidate here!

[Q7] Jeff Hardy came out to another standing ovation. The announcers talked about past matches in Baltimore.

5. Jeff Hardy defeated John Morrison to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in 22:15. The competitors exchanged blows and clotheslines. Morrison hit a Pele kick to Jeff for a nearfall. Morrison hit an Irish Whip for a nearfall. Jeff hit two takedowns and an atomic drop. Morrison flung Jeff outside of the ring. Morrison hit a springboard moonsault on Jeff outside of the ring. [C]

Morrison had Jeff in a headlock and both guys exchanged blows. Jeff went for the Twist of Fate, but Morrison countered. Morrison went for Starship Pain but Jeff moved and hit the Whisper in the Wind for a nearfall. Jeff worked on Morrison’s neck and hit a scoop slam. Jeff hit a legdrop for a nearfall. Jeff went back to the headlock on Morrison. Morrison hit an inverted backbreaker, side Russian leg sweep and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Both guys knocked each other off the rope into a commercial. [C]

[Q8] The show returned with both men exchanging strikes and Morrison got the advantage with a dropkick. Jeff hit the legdrop and a low dropkick for a nearfall. Jeff tried to power bomb Morrison on the floor but Morrison grabbed the rope. Jeff threw Morrison to the security railing and grabbed the stairs and splashed on Morrison. They both got in the ring and Jeff went for the cover for a nearfall. Jeff went for Twist of Fate but Morrison countered and Jeff went for the Whisper in the Wind and missed. Morrison hit the knee strike for a nearfall. Morrison went for the Chuck Kick but he missed.

Morrison hit the Chuck Kick for the 2.99999 count. Morrison went for the Moonlight Drive but Jeff countered. Jeff hit the flying bulldog and hit the Swanton Bomb for a nearfall. Jeff went for the Poetry in Motion but Morrison blocked it. Morrison went for Starship Pain, but Jeff blocked it and hit the second Swanton Bomb for the win.

Punk came out and tapped Morrison on the back. Then he came to the ring to face off against Jeff. Punk raised Jeff’s hand twice and asked for a microphone. Punk said “You know the last few weeks…” and he smashed the microphone on Jeff’s head and he beat the holy shit out of him. Jeff was busted open the hardway and Punk got the heat he needed. Punk walked away but he came back and whipped some Jeff Hardy’s ass, Chicago style. And they showed the crowd (some kids and a woman) looking concerned about Jeff’s condition.

Punk went on to say to tune in next week because that when he will take his world heavyweight title back and he got booed to close the show…

Mind of Marv: Like I mentioned earlier, this is a match of the year candidate (along with Jericho and Mysterio). I’m pissed it didn’t go the full 30 minutes but this was still indeed a classic match. But otherwise, THIS IS THE C.M. PUNK that I wanted to see since his ROH days as a bad ass heel. Punk is the top heel on this show and his future looks bright on Smackdown. This has to be one of the biggest moves by putting him on this show because RAW would have been a burying experience for him. Punk and Hardy next week should be another 20 minute affair so prepare for another quality TV match.

Overall, Smackdown gets an “A-“from Marv this week and if you have this match on your DVR, I would watch it again.

I got a red eye flight to the East Coast tomorrow morning and will back in the middle of the week. But I will be back for Smackdown next Friday. I will have my laptop so shoot me some emails at mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com