8/22 Shore's Smackdown Live Coverage: WWE Title Match Announced, Jeff Hardy vs Khali, Will Edge Make an Appearance

Smackdown on The CW Network
Taped on 8/19/08 in Moline, IL.

[Q1] A video package aired recapping the Smackdown SummerSlam matches, including the “fire in the hole” part at the end…The opening video aired followed by Vickie Guerrero being introduced with a video message. She blamed Edge for all the bad things she had done over the months. She said she was in hell, but now she was free and Edge was there. She laughed manically.

She said she was happy about a lot of things she was doing now. She asked the fans to give him a standing ovation when he arrived. She also announced the Smackdown version of the championship scramble at Unforgiven. She better explained the rules. She said five men would be in the match. Two would start and the others would be added one at a time. She said once all five men were in the ring, anyone may pin anyone to become the interim champion. Who ever was champion at the end of twenty minutes would be the champion…

Jim Ross and Tazz welcomed us to Smackdown and recapped all that Vickie had said. Maria’s music hit and she came to the ring for her match next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: The video covered the audience audio so I think it was re-recorded and added in later. They probably made that decision to better explain the rules for the scramble. Apparently, no one actually becomes champion till the end, that’s how they are getting around “short title reigns.”

1. Maria defeated Natalya by DQ at 3:25. An OK Divas’ match. Maryse came down and kicked Maria. The heels beat her down until Michelle McCool chased them off…

Backstage, Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely pushed Vickie around. They ran into Big Show who asked who his qualifying match opponent was. Vickie said she messed up and forgot about him and he’s not in a match to qualify for the scramble. Show stood there for a minute and then walked away looking dejected…

Shore’s Slant: Oh yeah. The scramble participants have to qualify to be in it. My bad.

JR plugged a 10 man battle royale after the commercial for the first spot in the scramble. Big Show’s music hit and he came down sit ringside for the battle royale…[C]

[Q2] 2. The Brian Kendrick qualified for the Championship Scramble in 3:00. I was trying to get all ten names when all hell broke lose. Vladimir Kozlov was eliminated at 0:57. Then, Scotty Goldman at 1:20. Then Big Show climbed in the ring and cleaned house. Ezekiel caught TBK and his feet never touched. After Show left, Zeke pushed him back in the ring and he was declared the winner…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Looks like they are serious about pushing Kendrick. I don’t expect him to win, but if he gets a pinfall at all he instantly becomes a serious mid-carder.

[Q3] Back from commercial and the announce team recapped the short battle royale…The new R-Truth vignette played. He said you can’t hide from the truth. He said it’s knowing your best and worse parts and still liking yourself. Nice video again…

The next qualifying match was introduced and MVP made his way to the ring. A video was shown of MVP after SummerSlam. He said he was going straight to the top, unlike Jeff Hardy who went down. He said his was set on the WWE title. Jesse and Festus came out next…

3. MVP defeated Festus w/Jesse in a Championship Scramble Qualifying Match at 8:07. MVP got a couple of shots in early but Festus quickly took control. Festus put on his repertoire until MVP took over at 2:40. MVP locked in a couple of rest holds on Festus’ arm. Festus broke out each time only to have MVP regain control almost immediately. On the last break, Festus hit a Samoan Drop and took control. At 7:00 MVP rolled out of the ring and Festus followed. Festus beat him down outside. MVP stood up and realized the ref was at nine. He kicked Jesse and dove in the ring. The ref counted 10 and called for the bell but it didn’t ring until Festus had made it back into the ring. He stopped and went catatonic and MVP knocked him out of the ring…

[Q4] Post match, JR plugged the next qualifying match: Shelton Benjamin vs Finlay…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Kendrick and now MVP. Looks like we have a small youth movement. Shhhhh. Don’t tell anybody.

Back from commercial and a WWE 24/7 commercial aired showing T&A from Trish Stratus. I liked it, but c’mon…Shelton Benjamin made his way to the ring and cut a heel promo on Michael Phelps being called the new gold standard. He said, “Let me assure you, there is only one gold standard.” Oh please don’t let Phelps be wrestling…

4. Shelton Benjamin defeated Finlay w/Hornswoggle in a Championship Scramble Match at 16:18. The match started with some good mat-counter wrestling. At 2:00 Benjamin got pissed and started brawling with Finlay. They rolled out of the ring and then stopped and stared each other down. They watched each other crawl in the ring at the same time. Fun spot. Finlay hit a single leg take down and took control.

[Q5] Finlay had Benjamin in the corner and went in for a spear but missed and hit the post on his shoulder at 4:45. Benjamin then locked in a leg scissors rest hold. Finlay escaped and rolled out of the ring. Benjamin went for a baseball slide but Finlay caught him in the apron and beat on him. They went back in the ring and fought in the corner. Finlay was sitting on the top turnbuckle and push Benjamin off. Benjamin rolled through and knocked Finlay off who took a sick bump on his back on the ring apron…[C]

Back from commercial and Benjamin had a headlock rest hold on Finlay at 11:20. Finlay fought out and hit a chin breaker. Benjamin hit a clothesline to retake control and locked in a nerve pinch. Finlay fought out again and both men traded shots and near falls. Finlay set up for the Celtic Cross but dropped Benjamin because Mike Knox had come to the ring and had Horny. Horny escaped but when Finlay turned around, Benjamin hit the Pay Dirt for the win…

Post match, Knox climbed in the ring and beat down Finlay. A video recapped all that had happened in the match…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I swear, Finlay is the only person I know who can make chicken salad out of chicken shit. Not that Benjamin is bad. But I have never seen Finlay in a bad singles match. They were not all great, but I don’t recall a bad one. He can carry anyone. Benjamin joins the fold for the scramble now. So it’s Hunter, Kendrick, MVP, and Benjamin. I’m picking Hardy in the main event. I’ll explain why if I’m right.

[Q6] Back from commercial, the announce team plugged the main event of Hardy vs Khali and then transitioned into SummerSlam. They showed the video of the Shawn Michaels/Chris Jericho events at the PPV. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend the PPV for that and Hell in a Cell. I hate to admit it, but the chances of me completely marking out when Shawn hit Sweet Chin Music at Unforgiven is very, very high. Powell said it best, best angle in years…

Backstage, Vickie, Chavo, and Bam were talking. Chavo said it would have been cool if he had been in a qualifying match. Chavo wondered aloud why Taker hadn’t showed yet. He started to wonder something else and then hemmed and hawed before asking if Taker might hold a grudge. He said he might be vindictful. That is not a typo. He and Vickie can murder the language like no other…

Back to the ring and Triple H did his full intro in street clothes. I spit along with him and now I have a pissed off wife and daughters. Funny. Hey, put that cup down…[C]

[Q7] Back from commercial and a still photo slide show showed highlights from Triple H vs Khali…Triple H joined the announce team. He said he had heard if a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound. He said when Khali falls at SummerSlam, 15,000 people go crazy. This should be a fun match to listen to…

5. Jeff Hardy defeated The Great Khali w/Ranjin Singh in a Championship Scramble Qualifying Match at 5:17. Hunter started out by saying Jeff Hardy was no Triple H. That’s twice he’s said that on TV. Hardy tried to stand toe to toe but got beat down for his troubles. While Khali beat down Hardy, JR said that Vickie Guerrero had just announced she was preparing a written apology for the Undertaker. Khali locked on the nerve pinch and the crowd once again was awed into silence.

Jeff fought out and jumped onto the second turnbuckle but Khali bitch slapped him off the turnbuckles. Hardy caught Khali when coming back into the ring and hit the Twist of Fate. He climbed the rope, but Mini-me distracted him, allowing Khali to knock Hardy off and lock in the head vice. Hunter got up and knocked out Mini-me. He got a chair and went to hit Mini-me, but Khali tried to grab him and Hunter hit him instead. Jeff then hit the worst looking Whisper in the Wind, ever. He nailed the Swanton for the win….[C]

Shore’s Slant: Looks like the MVP and Hardy feud continues and Benjamin gets his next feud in Kendrick. Hunter retains. That’s why I picked Hardy, to give us those pairings. Also, nobody has won clean at all tonight. MVP won by countout, Kendrick by Zeke catching him, Benjamin after Knox interfered, and now Hardy after Hunter interfered. Nobody looks strong going into this match except Hunter.

Back from commercial and Hunter cut a promo about how he should lose based on the odds, but he’s the best and the man, and the Game. Suddenly, Kenny Dykstra’s music hit and he made his way to the ring. He started complaining how nobody takes him serious. He said, “My name is Kenny—“and then Hunter hit the Pedigree. He grabbed the mic and said, “Nice seeing you Kenny,” and left…

[Q8] Backstage, Hawkins and Ryder came into Vickie’s office and said Taker was there. She finished writing and said that they should go apologize as a family…[C]

Shore’s Slant: So Hunter is the unstoppable force and the Fam Damly is going to get killed. Alright.

Back from commercial and Vickie started off her apology by calling herself a great woman. She apologized and asked the fans to join her in a standing ovation for the Undertaker. She stood and Taker made his entrance. Vickie said she gave him Edge in Hell in a Cell. She gave him the means to get his revenge. She said she wanted him to give her the means for forgiveness. She asked him several times to accept her apology. She got on her knees and continued to beg. Taker took the mic and said, “Look at me woman.” He said he didn’t come out for apologies, he came for her soul. The Fam Damily attacked and Vickie ran pretty well for someone who’s confined to a wheel chair.

Undertaker started out in control but got beat down. Neely, Hawkins, and Ryder held him while Chavo got a chair. Taker kicked Chavo and fought free. He tossed Chavo and Neely and then choked slammed Hawkins and Ryder. He looked at Vickie and made the cut throat gesture as his music played and the black lights came on to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: Well that was a total surprise. Who thought Taker would be pissy after getting beat up, lost his title, and fired. Color me surprised. The show as a whole was fine, but is Dusty Rhodes booking again? Nobody, in any match, won clean. That’s not good. Overall though, I enjoyed the show and look forward, a little, to the scramble to see how it goes. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.