8/27 Shore's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: The Undertaker returns to Smackdown and his brother Kane, Jack Swagger vs. MVP in a shoot-out challenge, and Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Title…again

By Chris Shore

Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 8/18/10 in Fresno, Calif.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown…They hyped Kane vs. Rey Mysterio in a no DQ match and Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler in another Intercontinental Championship match where the title will change hands on a DQ. They also hyped the return of Undertaker…

1. Kane defeated Rey Mysterio in a non-title, no disqualification match at 9:29. Rey went right at Kane’s legs to start, but Kane tossed Mysterio to the floor and worked him on the floor. Rey snatched a kendo stick from under the ring, but Kane kicked him in the face and continued his assault in the ring.

Rey tried a springboard move, but Kane again kicked him out of the air and to the floor. Kane followed and Rey hit a drop toe hold to the stairs, and followed with a seated senton from the announce table…[C]

Back at 6:47, Rey jumped off the top into an uppercut from Kane. Kane locked in a rest hold after the near fall. Rey escaped, but Kane hit a sidewalk slam and got a chair. Mysterio hit some kicks and got the chair himself. He whacked Kane in the back that setup 619. He hit it, but Kane grabbed him out of the air for the West Coast Pop and hit a chokeslam on the chair for the win…

[Q2] Rey’s arm was so bad after the match, the trainers came out. Alberto del Rio came out and asked Rey if he was OK. He asked the trainer if Rey would be OK. He said Rey looked like a dying dog, and somebody should put him down. He attacked Rey and locked in his submission hold until the refs and trainers talked him out of it.

He gave his big smile to the fans who booed him loudly. He started to leave, but he got back in the ring and got the chair. He put Rey’s arm in the chair and slammed it against the ring post. He finally left to crazy heat…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Boring opening match between Kane and Rey. We’ve seen it too many times in general, and way to many times recently. Alberto del Rio is going to be a star if they don’t screw up his push. No doubt about it. And RIP Luna Vachon. You were a great character back in the day, and I know you will be missed.

A video recapped del Rio beating on Mysterio…CM Punk made his entrance with the entire SES. JTG was out to a big pop. I hate you people…

2. CM Punk (w/The Straight Edge Society) destroyed JTG at 1:58. JTG hit a quick school boy for one, and then Punk lit into him. JTG oversold the high knee and bulldog. He hit the GTS, which JTG oversold as well, and then slapped on the Anaconda Vice for the win.

Post-match, Punk made the SES get in the ring on their knees. He said that was the example they should all follow. He told them this was the last time he would say it, get better or get out…

[Q3] Backstage, Rosa was showing Teddy Long her new Shake Weight. Wow. Hornswoggle was hiding in the plant again, and he and Teddy agreed that he would spy for Teddy Long…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Can we just pretend that the last commercial was really, really long and none of that happened? Please? A squash match that was oversold and Hornswoggle. Gonna be a long night.

The Raw Rebound video recapped the WWE Title angle…The announce team hyped the return of the Undertaker…A video recapped the Kingston vs. Ziggler match, and beatdown, from last week. The announce team hyped their match for next…[C]

[Q4] “Dashing” Cody Rhodes gave us a grooming tip on shaving your legs and body…

3. Kofi Kingston defeated Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) by countout in an Intercontinental Championship match at 14:19. Kofi went on the attack immediately and drove Ziggler to the floor. He worked Ziggler on the rail, and rolled him back in the ring. Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise. Ziggler ducked, but Kofi landed on his feet and hit the SOS for two…[C]

Back at 5:09, Kofi missed a missile drop kick. The two men traded strikes until Ziggler hit a big boot for two. Kofi fought back and hit the SOS again. The ref counted three, but Ziggler grabbed the rope just before three so the ref waived it off. Kofi charged at Dolph in the corner, but he hit the ring post with his shoulder. Ziggler hit several high impact moves on the neck and head for near falls, and then locked in a rest hold.

Kofi tried to escape, but Ziggler locked on the sleeper. Kofi made the ropes and Ziggler broke. Vickie slapped Kofi, and Ziggler ran over and yelled at her not to screw it up for him.

[Q5] Ziggler tried for a slingshot in the corner, but Kofi landed on his feet and hit a Superman punch for two. Ziggler reversed a whip to the corner and charged. Kofi hit a pendulum kick and a huge high cross body for two. He setup for the SOS, but Ziggler reversed into a fireman’s carry hook for two.

Ziggler tried for a Zig Zag, but Kofi held the ropes. Kofi hit a dropkick that spilled Ziggler to the floor. He started to hit a plancha, but Vickie stood in the way. Kofi jumoed over her and hit a high cross body. The two men clotheslined each other and the ref started to count. Both men made it to the apron at eight. Kofi climbed in the ring, but Vickie pulled Dolph away. The ref counted him out, meaning Ziggler keeps the title. Post-match, Kofi chased Ziggler into the crowd…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Let me start by giving credit here. You would think we would have seen it all from these two, but this match didn’t feel like it was a repeat of their previous matches. I do think we will get a wow match when they blow this off at Night of Champions, but I’m ready to move on.

A video recapped Kane’s awesome ass promo last week…The announce team hyped Taker’s return again…Jack Swagger made his ring entrance…[C]

[Q6] 4. Jack Swagger defeated MVP by disqualification in a shoot-out at 2:12. The rules of the Jack Swagger Sr. Invitational are that the first person to score five take downs wins. Swagger put on head gear, but MVP tossed his away. Swagger taunted MVP, and MVP slapped him. Swagger earned the first takedown quickly. He gave MVP his leg, and reversed into the second takedown at 0:43.

Swagger scored the third with a belly to belly at 1:30. They rolled to the floor without another takedown, and Swagger rubbed MVP’s face into the mat. MVP stood up and punched Swagger in the face, causing the DQ. MVP started to leave, but Swagger attacked him from behind and slapped on the Ankle Lock. MVP tapped and Swagger finally let go…

Backstage, LayCool looked at new pictures of them on WWE.com. They said something, chased off Kaval, and the McCool whispered in Layla’s ear…[C]

Shore’s Slant: That shoot-out challenge was awful. I don’t get it. And I’m sorry I didn’t listen to LayCool. Wait, that’s a lie. I couldn’t care less.

A video recapped the Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre beat down on Christian and Matt Hardy…Alberto del Rio’s personal ring announcer introduced him as he made his entrance in a classic Jaguar. Local jobber Carlos Sanchez actually got a ring entrance to some cheap heat…

[Q7] 5. Alberto del Rio squashed Carlos Sanchez at 2:30. The crowd forgot the jobber’s name, so they chanted Fresno. Del Rio hit a sick belly to back and locked in a rest hold. The crowd chanted, “Let’s go Fresno.” Sanchez hulked up and hit some elbows. Del Rio scooped him up and set him on the ropes. He started to back away and then winked at Sanchez. He shoved Sanchez to the floor, rolled him back in, and hooked the armbar breaker for the win…Kelly Kelly and Big Show were shown backstage, heading towards the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I hate squash matches, but I love Alberto del Rio. I want to see him really wrestle before I crown him, but I got the polish out just in case.

6. Big Show (w/Kelly Kelly) squashed Luke Gallows (w/The Straight Edge Society) at 2:22. Punk was shown watching on a monitor backstage. Bug Show literally tossed Gallows everywhere. Gallows managed to get a couple of shots in that dropped Show to his knees, but Show just swatted him away. Show hit the knockout blow for the win…

[Q8] The announce team hyped the return of the Undertaker for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: “Squashed Luke Gallows” are words I never wanted to type. Ever.

Hell’s Bells rang and the crowd went nuts. They got louder when Taker walked out on the stage. Taker made his long ass entrance. Taker looked rode hard and put up wet. He said he may look dead, but he wasn’t dead yet. He said he was still the dead man, and this was still his yard. He said he would never pardon the guilty. He said Kane is guilty of a treacherous betrayal.

Shore’s Slant: As opposed to a non-treacherous betrayal?

He said Kane was guilty of thinking he could fill Undertaker’s shoes. He said Kane was a fool to believe he could keep Taker’s Holy Grail, the World Title. Kane’s pyro popped and he came to the ramp. He said he could hear the Taker’s weakness in his voice. He said Taker was no longer the Phenom, he wasn’t even a shadow of his former self.

Kane said Taker was living in a fantasy, and he would easily squash him under his boot. He said he was now the dominant brother and he had nothing left to prove. Taker said there was a reason why Kane always walked in his shadow. He asked Kane what he called himself last week, and then he remembered: the devil’s favorite demon. Taker said the Devil calls him sir.

He said Kane wasn’t worthy. He said he was unworthy of being champion, and certainly unworthy of being his brother. He said he taught Kane everything Kane knew about evil, but he didn’t teach Kane everything he knew. He said whenever Kane felt ready, he would be waiting, and it would end the way it always did.

Kane screamed, “Not this time.” He said this time it would be different. He swore on their mother’s grave that Taker would never, “Rest…In…Peace…”

Shore’s Slant: Strong close to the show. The weak Undertake is a little strange, and I don’t understand why Kane didn’t end it right there. But still, Kane continues to give the promos of his career, and Taker is playing his part well. I’ll have more to say tomorrow on the hitlist. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.