Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 2/2/10 in Memphis, Tenn.

[Q1] A video package hyped the return of Edge and Taker’s appearance on The Cutting Edge…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches and exclusive footage of what happened after Raw went off the air Monday…

Chris Jericho made his ring entrance in his suit. Jericho said tonight was supposed to be his night. He said he should be celebrating his Royal Rumble win, but he’s not. He said that glory and his Wrestlemania moment were taken away from him by Edge. He put over Edge’s win as a fluke and undeserving. Jericho said since Edge has been on the shelf he has carried the WWE on his back.

Shore’s Slant: And that’s the truth.

Jericho said Edge was a con artist. He said the fans were cheering Edge, but he was the same man who left him stranded after they won the tag title. He screamed he had nothing now and he was too good for nothing. Jericho said he didn’t need to qualify for the EC, and he called Teddy Long out to make it right. Teddy didn’t come out, so Jericho said he would go get him. He said Long would not ignore him, he was too valuable to do this too.

The camera followed him back stage and he screamed in the mic, wanting to know where Long’s office was. He yelled at the Hart Dynasty and some producer. He finally found the office and stormed into the office. Somebody was at the desk reading the paper. Jericho snatched the paper away and it was Edge. Edge said he had seen the same look on Jericho’s face when he eliminated him from the Royal Rumble.

Edge said he wanted to thank Jericho. He said he was the one who lit a fire under him to come back. He said Jericho had created a monster. Jericho said if he created it, he could slay it and Edge would be sorry he came back. Edge snapped and yelled the Jericho would be sorry Edge came back. Edge put over the Cutting Edge and his guest the Undertaker. Jericho said he would be watching, and then stormed off…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wow. This is going to be the best feud since Jericho and Michaels raised the bar. These two just showed why they demand the top spot, at least on Smackdown. Morrison will have to settle for the number two face until this is finished and Edge goes back to his natural heel. Great segment.

Back from commercial, the announce team setup the Elimination Chamber hype video…

[Q2] Drew McIntyre made his ring entrance. Morrison was out next. Kane finished up…

1. John Morrison defeated Drew McIntyre and Kane to qualify for the Elimination Chamber at 8:52. McIntyre and Morrison hit a double DDT on Kane when he tried to chokeslam both. Morrison hit a crossbody on McIntyre that spilled them both to the floor. Everybody recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 3:46, McIntyre punched Kane in the corner as Morison recovered o n the floor. Kane punched back and hit a sitdown dropkick. He covered, but Morrison broke the count. Morrison tried for a flying head scissors, but McIntyre reversed into a backbreaker. He covered and Kane broke the count. Kane went to the top, and Morrison hit a bicycle kick to make Kane sit down.

McIntyre clotheslined Morrison over the top and climbed the turnbuckle. He tried for a superplex, but Kane fought out. They both climbed down and Kane grabbed the throat. Morrison ran in and hit a flying Chuck on Kane and McIntyre. He worked both men and then hit a spinning DDT on McIntyre. Kane broke the count and clotheslined McIntyre over the top rope. He hit a sidewalk slam for two and went to the top. He connected on the clothesline and called for the chokeslam.

McIntyre ran in and hit Kane with the title belt. He followed up with the Future Shock DDT. McIntyre covered, but Morrison hit a sick running knee to break the count. He followed with Starship Pain on Kane for the win. Post match Morrison celebrated with the fans…The announce team hyped the Cutting Edge…

Shore’s Slant: Wow, a great match after a great promo segment. This was a really good triple threat match. It had the hot spots, and yet wasn’t a spot fest. And Kane took the pin. Granted he took two finishers, but still, good for him. And Morrison in the EC? Can’t be a bad thing.

[Q3][C] Back from commercial, the announce team hyped the Raw footage for after the next match…R-Truth made his lame ass entrance to a huge pop. Knox was out next…

2. R-Truth defeated Mike Knox to qualify for the Elimination Chamber at 1:35. Knox hit the flying beard…uh…crossbody almost immediately for two. Knox worked power on Truth and then whipped him. Truth grabbed the rope and Knox charged. He pulled the rope down and Knox spilled to the floor. Truth hit a flip plancha and rolled Knox back in the ring. He followed with a missile drop kick and the Lie Detector for the win…

The Raw Rebound video played. After that, the announce team set up a video that showed Cena saving Bret. It also showed Batista running back down to the ring and destroying Cena with everything at ringside before putting the stairs in the ring and powerbombing Cena on them…

Punk was shown backstage with the SES. He said he hoped they knew that without him, there was no them. He put over Batista as an animal, and asked what they were willing to do for their savior. Serena said she would do anything for Punk. Yeah, she said it like that. Gallows said he would willingly stick his head in the fire for the SES. Punk said good, because they might both have too. They left him to prepare…[C]

Shore’s Slant: WTF? Did R-Truth just squash Mike Knox? Seriously? Ugh. Cena is either the bravest or dumbest guy ever to let Botchtista bomb him on the stairs. And how good is CM Punk and company? Just wow.

[Q4][C] Back from commercial, Batista made his ring entrance. Punk and his crew were out next. Striker said it “Took a quality of star like Triple H to eliminate Punk,” at the Rumble. Oh Striker, you were doing so well…

3. CM Punk (w/The Straight Edge Society) defeated Batista by countout to qualify for the Elimination Chamber at 1:48. Batista just relaxed in the corner for the first minute of the match while the crowd booed. Then he climbed out of the ring and left the ringside area. He stopped halfway up the ramp and watched the ref count him out. He left after the bell rang and the SES celebrated in the ring…

Backstage, Matt Hardy walked up and congratulated Maria on the Celebrity Apprentice. She said thanks, and he made his ring entrance…[C]

Shore’s Slant: This ought to be good. Batista gave up a shot at the title, the one thing that possessed him to burn his bridge with Rey, for…what? Nice baiting there WWE, but it better be a big payoff, because otherwise Batista looks like an idiot down the road.

Back from commercial, Jericho was finishing his ring entrance…

[Q5] 4. Chris Jericho defeated Matt Hardy to qualify for the Elimination Chamber at 7:00. Jericho hid in the ropes and on the floor to start, but Hardy hit an ugly clothesline to take control. He spilled Jericho to the floor and hit a clubbing blow from the apron. He grabbed Jericho’s foot. Jericho kicked him away into the stairs. Jericho slipped back in the ring. Matt made it back just before the ten count.

Jericho worked a rest hold around the shoulders. Matt reversed into an inside cradle for two. Jericho hit a running insaguri and worked Matt on the ropes. He whipped Matt to the corner and ran in. Matt moved and Jericho hit the turnbuckle. Hardy hit a neckbreaker for two, and then a clothesline into a bulldog for two. He tried for a Twist of Fate, but Jericho reversed and hit a Lionsault for two. Jericho stood Hardy, who hit a Side Effect for two. Matt tried for a Twist of Fate, but Jericho held the ropes and Hardy hit hard. Jericho followed with a Codebreaker for the win…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Typical Matt Hardy match. Jericho did the best he could with what he was given. I would like to congratulate Matt for not running like a little bitch from this match. I’ll be here all week, try the veal.

Back from commercial, a still picture package recapped Mickie James winning the Women’s title at the Rumble…Ringside, Mickie James was introduced as the new champion. She pointed at Striker when she got in the ring and he said it might be his new bacon cologne. Wow. Still? Mickie cut a promo about being a real woman and champion. She started to say something else and Beth Phoenix’s music cut her off.

Beth cut a promo on being in the Rumble. She said she was happy for Mickie, but she would take that title anytime she wanted. Mickie said if Beth wanted a match, all she had to do was ask. Vickie Guerrero came out and did her “Excuse Me” bit. Dear God can that woman draw heat.

[Q6] Vickie said she would decide what the matches were, and booked them in a tag match against LayCool. LayCool made their entrance, thanked Vickie, and showed off new threads that said “Simply Flawless.” Which is an old Native American word for The Beautiful People…

5. Mickie James and Beth Phoenix defeated Michelle McCool and Layla at 2:36. Beth and Michelle started. Beth squashed McCool and then took out Layla when McCool went for the tag. She tagged in Mickie, and then knocked her out with a straight right. She did the same to Michelle and left the ring. Michelle tagged in Layla who ran over to Mickie. Mickie hooked a small package for the win. Post match, Layla went crazy as Mickie and Beth stared at each other…[C]

Shore’s Slant: And a new storyline? Could it be? Could we get two quality programs in a row? I’ll believe it when I see it. Throwaway match that setup something, now let’s see if they deliver.

Back from commercial, WWE celebrated Black History Month by having another edition of Word Up. The word was King. They said they were in Memphis, the home of many kings. They mentioned BB King and Elvis. Shad even sang “In the Ghetto.” They then mentioned Lawler who came out. They said he should be Jerry “The King” Baller. Then it ended…Rey Mysterio made his ring entrance. Ziggler was out next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Sooooooooo they got the black guys to dust off the ole racist bit to give an old white guy a rub in the South? Alright. And after Shatner Monday, I’ll never hear Rey’s opening the same.

[Q7][C] Rey Mysterio defeated Dolph Ziggler to qualify for the Elimination Chamber at 11:12. Ziggler started with a head lock that turned into a test of strength that turned into Rey flying around. He hit a flying head scissor that spilled Ziggler to the floor, and he followed up with a plancha. He rolled Ziggler back in the ring and went to the top. He jumped off, but Ziggler drop kicked him out of the air for two. Ziggler tried for a back suplex, but Rey escaped and hit a drop toe hold for a 619 setup. Ziggler rolled to the floor and recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 6:55, Rey and Ziggler battled on the top rope, and Ziggler hit the superplex from the top rope for two. He hooked on a sideways surfboard, and then tried to toss Rey in the corner. Rey landed on his feet and hit an elbow and a drop toe hold. Ziggler tried for a sunset flip, but Rey rolled through and hit a kick. He followed with a bulldog for two.

Rey tried for a springboard crossbody, but Ziggler reversed into a powerslam for two. Ziggler whipped Rey to the corner, and hit a back breaker on the bounce out. He immediately went for another move, and Rey reversed into a jackknife roll up for the win. Post match, Ziggler tried to attack and ate a 619 for his troubles…

[Q8] The announce team hyped the Cutting Edge for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Pretty good match that reminded me of the feud they had over the IC a few months back. Rey wins like this more than anybody so it’s not really a surprise when it happens anymore. Not the best match of the night, but certainly not the worst.

Back from commercial, Edge was introduced and he made his ring entrance. Edge said it felt good to be back on Smackdown, and good to be back home. He said he defied all the doctor’s orders and came back months early. He said he was rewarded by headlining Wrestlemania, and he could choose who he wanted to face. He setup a video that showed his confrontation with Sheamus by making a Lucky Charms joke.

He said it had been fun and Jericho’s music cut him off. Jericho got in the ring, grabbed the other mic, and tossed the stool away. Jericho said he wasn’t going to let Edge celebrate his tainted victory. He said Edge didn’t deserve the victory, he did. Edge said he deserved it because he tossed Jericho over the top rope. Jericho said it was rightfully his because he was the face of Smackdown. Edge said he wasn’t anymore, and it was his own fault. He said he was sick of Jericho’s suit. He said he was sick of his face. He said he was just sick of Jericho period.

CM Punk’s music hit, and he and the SES came down the ramp. Punk said they looked so cute in the ring with their tragedy. He said they were like junkies fighting over the last high. He said it wasn’t about them, it was about the Elimination Chamber and the Undertaker. He said he was the first person to ever make Taker tap. He said he was also the first person to challenge the WWE Universe to live under him. He said he would win the EC.

Hell’s Bells tolled and the lights went out. They came up and Taker was in the ring. He attacked Punk, and Edge speared Jericho. Punk escaped and Jericho took a chokeslam. Taker and Edge stared down to end the show…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Hot close that setup all kinds of big and little storylines for the Road to Wrestlemania. Everybody was great on the mic, and the Smackdown EC looks much better than Raw’s. 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.

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