Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 2/23/10 in Milwaukee, Wisc.

[Q1] A short video package recapped Jericho’s title win…Ringside, Jericho made his ring entrance. A video recapped Edge spearing him and challenging him on Raw. Jericho started the same way he did on Raw, by saying, “I am the World Champion!” He showed off the belt with his name on it. Jericho said that Raw was supposed to be his gala, but it was ruined by Edge. He whined that he didn’t deserve it.

Edge’s music hit and he came to the ring to a serious pop. Edge put over Jericho’s win. Jericho said he was the best at what he does. Edge said Jericho is the best at getting speared. He listed all of Jericho’s accomplishments and kept throwing in the word “spear.” Edge said the spears are starting to get to Jericho mentally. He said Jericho couldn’t beat him.

Jericho said he could, but Edge said Jericho had doubts. He said he had a feeling he was what Jericho saw in his head all the time. Edge said he wanted Jericho healthy and in control at Mania. He said otherwise he would spear Jericho again. Jericho said Edge would never spear him again and punched Edge. He tried for a Codebreaker, but Edge grabbed the ropes. Edge followed with a spear and left the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Hot opening segment. It’s hard to believe this will be the second best match on the card, but nobody will top Career vs. Streak. This built the intensity without blowing it all at once. Nice work.

[Q2]Back from commercial, the MITB briefcase was shown hanging above the ring. John Morrison made his ring entrance. A video recapped some of his spots in the EC. Ziggler was out next. R-Truth made his lame ass entrance. David Otunga was shown sitting in a chair at ringside. A video showed his action from NXT…

1. Dolph Ziggler defeated John Morrison and R-Truth in a triple threat MITB qualifying match at 12:19. Ziggler slipped out to the floor and shrugged. Truth and Morrison decided to go get him. They rolled him back in the ring and hit a double elbow. Ziggler rolled back to the floor and Truth and Morrison locked up. Truth hit his flying heel kick and covered. Ziggler broke it up and went back to the floor. Morrison hit a kick and covered, and Ziggler broke it up and went to the floor.

Morrison chased Ziggler. Ziggler slid in the ring and got clotheslined by Truth. Truth clotheslined Morrison over the top rope when he climbed in the ring. Truth tossed Ziggler over the top and hit a plancha. He rolled Ziggler back in the ring, but Morrison took him out when he tried to get back in. Morrison covered Ziggler for two, and stalked him into the break…[C]

Back at 6:08, Ziggler had a rest hold on Truth. A video showed Morrison hitting the post shoulder first during the break. Ziggler slapped the sleeper on Truth, but Morrison broke it up before it was too late. Morrison tried for the Chuck kick, but Ziggler swept the legs. He hit a running Fameassor for two, and then an inverted bodyslam for two. Ziggler reached for Morrison, but Morrison hooked an inside cradle. Truth broke it up, and Ziggler hit Truth into Morrison, sending Morrison to the floor.

Ziggler tried for a Zig Zag, but Truth held the ropes. Truth charged, but Ziggler reversed into a powerslam for two. Truth hooked an inside cradle on Ziggler, and Morrison broke it up. All three men battled, and Truth hit the Lie Detector on Morrison when Ziggler ducked. Truth covered, but Ziggler broke it up and dumped Truth to the floor. Ziggler put Morrison on the top turnbuckle, and climbed up. They battled, and Truth ran in and climbed up. All three battled and Ziggler was pushed off. He landed face first on the apron in a crazy spot.

[Q3] Morrison hit a sunset flip/powerbomb combination, and followed with Starship Pain. He covered, and Ziggler pulled him out of the ring. Ziggler jumped in quickly, and covered Truth for the win. Post match, Ziggler escaped up the ramp while the faces looked dejected…The announce team hyped Ziggler and Christian in the MITB match…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Now that’s how you have a triple threat. Great action from start to finish, and a surprise win for Ziggler. I don’t like the idea of Morrison not being in MITB…unless he gets a different Wrestlemania moment.

Back from commercial, the announce team setup the awesome Taker/HBK video and then hyped the match at Mania…Vickie Guerrero was shown backstage in a ref’s shirt heading towards the ring…[C]

[Q4] Back from commercial, Vickie Guerrero was introduced as the special guest referee. The Beautiful….uhh…LayCool made their entrance, followed by Mickie…

2. Michelle McCool (w/Layla) defeated Mickie James with Vickie Guerrero as special guest referee for the WWE Women’s Championship at 4:28. Mickie hit a neckbreaker early and covered. Layla jumped up on the apron and Vickie dealt with her instead of counting the fall. Mickie tossed McCool to the floor and beat up McCool. Layla distracted her when she tried to get back in the ring, and McCool swept the feet to take control.

Beth Phoenix was shown backstage watching on a monitor. McCool tried for a Styles Clash, but Mickie reversed into a head scissors. McCool came back with a belly to belly suplex and covered. Vickie tried to get down for the count, but fell from the ring. Layla massaged Vickie’s ass and Mickie hooked a roll up on McCool. Vickie climbed back in the ring and slapped Mickie. Mickie confronted Vickie, and McCool hit a kick for the win…The announce team hyped Kane vs. McIntyre for a MITB qualifier…[C]

Shore’s Slant: So why exactly do you put the belt on Mickie to begin with. Epic fail after so much good from the Divas on Smackdown.

[Q5] Back from commercial, Kane made his ring entrance, followed by McIntyre. McIntyre cut a promo on being undefeated. He said he had already “dropped” Kane at the last PPV. He said he would win MITB and the prophecy would come true. He said he would be the Intercontinental Champion, and the World Champion, and still undefeated…

3. Kane defeated Drew McIntyre in a MITB qualifying match at 5:14. Drew tried a sneak attack, but Kane hit strikes and kicks. He stomped Drew in the corner, and hit a suplex for two. McIntyre rolled to the apron and stood. He hit a neckbreaker on the top rope and worked strikes on Kane. He followed with a clothesline for two and slapped on a rest hold.

Kane lifted Drew and tossed him away. He went to work, hitting two clotheslines in the corner, and a sidewalk slam for two. He went to the top, and McIntyre ducked. Kane landed on his feet and McIntyre hit a Zig-Zag type move for two. McIntyre tried for the DDT, but Kane fought out and hit a sick big boot for two. Kane tried for a chokeslam, but McIntyre hit an elbow. McIntyre tried for a DDT again. Kane almost back dropped him twice, and then McIntyre reversed into a sunset flip attempt. Kane slapped the hands away and kicked McIntyre in the face for the win. Wait, that was the finish?

Post match, the announce team put over the match as McIntyre’s first loss. McIntyre went nuts and kicked the announce table and screamed something at Striker. Striker said, “They hear you,” but I didn’t make it out. McIntyre grabbed his belt and headed to the back still flipping out…The Miz was shown backstage, heading towards the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: That was the most anti-climatic end to an undefeated streak I have ever seen. Drew went nuts like it was a big deal, but how big could it have been to have happened on free TV? A slow match. They have had better.

[Q6] Back from commercial, The Miz made his ring entrance. He said that as the tag champion, he was on every show. He said they don’t have a match for Mania, so he asked Teddy Long to make a title match. He said he didn’t care how they got the match, he just wanted his Mania moment. He did his catch phrase and Teddy Long’s music hit. Long said if Show had come, they might have had a tag title match. He said Miz was there and asked Miz if he wanted a singles match. Miz said he wasn’t scared. Long booked him in a match with Edge. Miz looked concerned…Benjamin vs. Punk was hyped for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: First, let me tell you how happy I am that the Miz is now on Smackdown regularly. For as long as it lasts, I will be a happy man. Now, I hate that he was booked to face Edge here. Edge has to go over to keep his heat for Mania, so this isn’t about refusing to put some young guy over. It’s just the nature of the beast by making this match. Now, if Daniel Bryan uses this supposed loss against Miz on NXT, well that could get interesting.

Back from commercial, a video recapped CM Punk’s last MITB win…Ringside, Punk and the SES made their entrance. Benjamin was out next…

4. Shelton Benjamin defeated CM Punk (w/The Straight Edge Society) in a MITB qualifying match at 4:56. Punk started with aggressive strikes, but Benjamin fought back. Punk went to the floor to recover, and hit a hangman on Benjamin, followed by a springboard clothesline for two. Punk hit a neckbreaker for two and slapped on a figure four headlock. Benjamin stood with Punk on his shoulders. Punk slipped down, but Benjamin hit a belly to back for two.

[Q7] Benjamin worked his offense and tried for a Stinger Splash. Punk moved and Benjamin hit his head. Punk hit a roundhouse kick for two. He hit the knee in the corner, but Benjamin pushed away on the bulldog. Gallows climbed on the apron, and Benjamin was distracted. Punk kicked him and lifted for GTS, but Rey Mysterio ran down and pulled Gallows down. Punk dropped Benjamin and looked at Rey. He turned around and they botched Pay Dirt for the Benjamin win. Post match, Rey looked on from the ramp as Punk flipped out…The announce team hyped the Miz vs. Edge main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Pretty good match here. Shelton Benjamin will be the death taker at MITB like always, and Punk moves into a mask vs. hair feud with Mysterio. Nice setup for all that.

Back from commercial, the long Raw Rebound video played…The announce team ran down the Mania card…Edge made his ring entrance. A video recapped his altercation with Jericho earlier. Miz was out next…[C]

[Q8]5. Edge defeated The Miz at 11:34. They started out mat wrestling—which may be the oddest sentence I have ever written. Edge slid out if the ring and they played cat and mouse until Edge drove Miz into the railing. Edge worked a face style, but with a heel pace. Miz caught him with a knee, and then drove him to the ring post. Edge recovered on the floor, and Miz recovered in the ring into the break…

Back at 6:54, Miz worked a rest hold on Edge. Edge escaped, but Miz hit a running kick for two. Miz hit his clothesline in the corner, and went to the top. Edge grabbed him out of the air and hit a flapjack type move for two. Edge took control and worked his move set. Edge tried for an Impaler, but Miz reversed into his backbreaker/reverse DDT combo for two. Bryan Daniel was shown watching on a monitor backstage. Miz tried for his finisher, but Edge reversed into the Impaler. He followed with the spear for the win. A video recapped the win to end the show…[C]

Shore’s Slant: A fair match. This really called for a Jericho run in to keep him looking strong until Mania. Miz looked good, but this really played out like the veteran punking the new guy, so I’m hoping this sets up something with Daniel on NXT. A better show than the spoilers made it seem, which is usually the case for Smackdown. Raw was better this week, but the blue brand has the bigger body of work leading into Mania. I’ll have more tomorrow on the hitlist, and a second Dot Net Water Cooler with Marvin Hermanstyne. 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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