8/1 Powell's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: Edge's mystery guest on "The Cutting Edge," Shelton Benjamin vs. Mr. Kennedy, Jeff Hardy vs. Great Khali

WWE Smackdown on The CW
Taped July 29 in Hershey, Pa.

[Q1] The show opened with a recap of the Edge and Vickie Guerrero storyline. I laugh every time I see the clip of Edge claiming that the video didn't show Alicia Fox "not taking no for an answer"... Jim Ross and Mick Foley introduced the show. Ross hyped that Edge would have a special guest on the Cutting Edge...

Jeff Hardy made his entrance. He grabbed a chair and took a seat in front of the announcers...

1. MVP beat Jimmy Wang Yang in 2:30. Before the match, MVP cut a promo on Hardy. He said Jeff will never be WWE Champion because of his "reckless behavior." MVP vowed to show Jeff how a champion operates. Yang didn't even get entrance music. MVP caught him with a big kick to the head for a squash win.

After the match, Hardy got in the ring and said he took MVP's comments last week like a man, but he took offense to MVP running his mouth again this week. "If you ever mention my home, the fire, or my dog again I'll prove to you what kind of man I am," Hardy yelled. MVP tried to punch Jeff, but ended up taking the Twist of Fate...

The announcers hyped the Jeff Hardy vs. Great Khali match for later in the show... [C]

Powell's POV: Good intensity from Jeff on the mic. He's far from polished in the promo department, but his words sounded genuine. Short and effective.

[Q2] Backstage, Chavo Guerrero wheeled Vickie Guerrero through the backstage area. She scowled as the camera pulled back and reveled that Alicia Fox was nearby. Alicia turned around and made eye contact with Vickie, looked nervous, and walked away. Bam Neely showed up and Chavo wheeled Vickie into their dressing room...

Powell's POV: Vickie still needs to work on the facial expressions. She looked like she was forcing that look she flashed Alicia, and it wasn't as nasty and you'd expect under the circumstances.

2. Mr. Kennedy defeated Shelton Benjamin in a non-title match in 14:00. Cool spot at the 4:30 mark. Kennedy was hunched over in the corner. Shelton, who was standing on the ring apron, grabbed Kennedy by the left arm, then pulled him through the ropes and drove him shoulder-first into the ring post. [C]

[Q3] Shelton worked on Kennedy's shoulder for a few minutes after the break. He controlled the bulk of the offense until Kennedy came back late with a kick to the chops and the Mic Check for the win.

After the match, Eve interviewed Shelton at ringside. "I'm not going to sit here and make a bunch of excuses... but I probably shouldn't have been out here tonight because I'm suffering from an acute case of bronchitis"...

Powell's POV: Nice match. Shelton seems more motivated than usual and it was really nice to see Kennedy get a clean win. This could be a fun feud. Funny excuse by Shelton after the match.

Backstage, Chavo Guerrero asked Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins if they knew who would be Edge's special guest. They said he didn't tell them those things anymore, then went back to discussing their plans for action figures and merchandise... [C]

Powell's POV: I get a kick out of Ryder and Hawkins getting big egos now that they're tag champs. It's a fun bit and I think there's room for them to be a lot more obnoxious about it than they have been so far.

Highlights aired of Brian Kendrick's performance from last week...

3. The Brian Kendrick (w/Ezekiel) defeated Stevie Richards in 3:45. Before the match, Kendrick said he hasn't changed his name, he's always been "The Brian Kendrick." He said he put on a phony smile when he teamed with Paul London and it got his foot in the door. Kendrick said he's never cared about the fans and never will. He said anyone who has a problem with that can take it up "with my man Zeke." Kendrick dominated first few minutes of the match.

[Q4] Kendrick missed a move in the corner and Richards got in a nice flurry of offense that got the crowd going. Richards delivered a great kick to the head of Kendrick, who fell off the ring apron and into the arms of Ezekiel. Kendrick came back and hit The Kendrick (a/k/a Sliced Bread No. 2) for the win. Afterward, Zeke hit the backbreaker on Richards... [C]

Powell's POV: Nice match and a good crowd reaction to Kendrick. You never know what is sweetened on a taped show, but Kendrick got a good heel reaction the moment he walked through the curtain. The announcers continue to do some of their best work while putting over Kendrick on commentary.

4. The Great Khali (w/Runjin Singh) defeated Jeff Hardy in 11:30. Ross said Khali is in India what Yao Ming is in China. Nice analogy and true given all the media coverage he received when he went home earlier this year. Khali overpowered Jeff early on. Jeff started to make a comeback and was standing on the second rope when Khali slapped his chest and knocked him to ringside.

[Q5] [C] Hardy hit the Whisper in the Wind and followed up with a Swanton. MVP came to ringside. Hardy kicked him through the ropes and then dove onto him at ringside. Khali recovered while Jeff and MVP brawled at ringside. Khali reached over the ropes, pulled Jeff up, and then slammed him to the mat. Khali applied the vice grip until the referee called for the bell.

After the match, the announcers complained about MVP's classless interference and post-match taunting of Hardy. Foley said he'd never seen Hardy manhandled like he was by Khali...

Powell's POV: Nothing wrong with that outcome. Khali is challenging for the title at Summer Slam, so it would not have made any sense to have him lose to Jeff. It was made clear that MVP showing up at ringside was the difference in the match.

An R-Truth video aired. He was shown behind bars, and he talked about losing his freedom and looking over his shoulder at all times. He said he nothing but time to figure out how he got himself into the mess and how he was going to get himself out. "And that's the truth," he concluded... [C]

Powell's POV: The first two R-Truth vignettes are among the best vignettes WWE has done for a debuting character in some time. Very impressive.

[Q6] 5. Maria pinned Victoria in 3:15. Big pop for Maria when her music started. The match was nothing special. Maria won with a clothesline off the second rope...

Backstage, Edge told Alicia Fox that he bought her a ticket to watch the Cutting Edge up close and personal. In other words, he wasn't happy she was backstage. She seemed rather oblivious to this... [C] A Triple H video aired...

Powell's POV: You didn't think we were going to go a full week without seeing Hunter on television? Honestly, though, the video makes sense since he is the big name on Smackdown.

At ringside, Foley told Ross that he's taking a wait and see attitude regarding Mike Adamle as the new general manager. He credited him with making a great matchup between John Cena and Batista. The announcers ran through the pay-per-view lineup... Big Show made his ring entrance...

Powell's POV: You know how you're not supposed to mention when a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter?

[Q7] [C] Toby Keith plugged Generation Rescue...

6. Big Show squashed Domino in 1:15. Show tossed Domino under the bottom rope to ringside. "Oh, you wanna play," Domino yelled. Domino took his shirt off and threw it in Show's face. He landed a punch or two and that was the end of his offense. Show chokeslammed him and pinned him.

After the match, Umaga walked to ringside. Ross pointed out that Show eliminated Umaga from the battle royal last week, only to have Umaga return and eliminate him. Umaga entered the ring and shared a lengthy stare with Show. They circled around one another and the cameras just cut to the back...

Backstage, Chavo told Vickie that he and Bam couldn't find out who Edge's mystery guest would be. On commentary, Ross said they wouldn't have to wait long because The Cutting Edge was coming up next... [C]

Powell's POV: It worked. The Indians pitcher threw five no-hit innings. I mentioned it and the Twins responded with two hits and a run shortly thereafter. Nice work, boys.

Edge walked to the ring for The Cutting Edge segment. He sat down in a chair in the middle of the ring, which also contained a ladder and a table. Edge looked stressed and said he's been thinking about his upcoming Hell in a Cell match. He said there was one man who could help him beat Undertaker in that match. Edge rolled to ringside, pointed, and said that man's name is Mick Foley.

[Q8] Foley was reluctant to enter the ring, but he eventually gave in. Edge said they have bad history together, but he assured Foley that he's a changed man. Edge aired a video of Foley's legendary Hell in a Cell match against Undertaker. Back live, the crowd chanted Foley's name.

Edge said that match was 10 years ago and the fans still haven't forgotten. Edge said he watched Foley walk before that match, and try to walk the same way since and he still can't do it. Edge said maybe the pain would wash away if Foley helped him in his match against Taker.

Foley spoke for the first time. He admitted that he's never been the same since that match. He said part of him would like to help Edge, but he hurt his credibility. He said the one thing he has is his credibility with the fans. Foley explained said he's stated many times that Edge is the greatest superstar in WWE even when it wasn't popular to say it.

Foley said the fans think Edge sucks because they see a guy who takes shortcuts week in and week out. "So not only will I not help you, I can't help you, but I know the one person who can—Edge." Foley said Edge needs to look inside himself and find the Edge who made him say that he is the best superstar in WWE.

Foley said if Edge can find that Edge and bring him to Summer Slam, he and Ross will call the most violent and greatest Hell in a Cell match in history. Foley said that if the current Edge (as he relived some of Edge and Vickie's corniest moments) shows up at Summer Slam, the Undertaker will tear him apart. "Am I understood?" Foley asked.

"I understand," Edge responded. Edge sucker punched Foley with the microphone and knocked him to ringside. Foley fought back at ringside and knocked down Edge with a punch. He looked under the ring and found a chair, but Edge kicked it back in his face and then speared Foley.

The fans chanted for Undertaker as Edge set up a chair inside the ring. Foley crawled back into the ring and applied the Mandible Claw, but Edge kicked him below the belt and placed him on the table. Edge climbed the ladder that was set up in the ring and jumped off and drove the chair onto Foley, which put him through the table. Edge limped as he stood up. He looked down at Foley with a crazed look in his eyes.

Powell's POV: Great angle to close the show. Both guys were tremendous on the mic. The angle helped Edge get his edge back after all those months of clowning around with Vickie and playing the chickenshit heel. I'll have a lot more to say about this show in the Smackdown Hitlist. Dot Net Members are already getting the "First Look" at the Hitlist, which won't appear on the ad-based version of the site until Saturday.

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