WWE Smackdown on the CW Network
Taped on April 22 in Greensboro, N.C.

[Q1] An opening video aired showcasing the events of the previous few weeks involving The Undertaker, Edge, Batista, and Vickie Guerrero. The opening video aired. Michael Cole introduced the show as the final stop to Backlash on Sunday.

Edge and La Familia were standing in the middle of the ring. Edge asked, “can you smell it?” Can you smell what Barrack is cookin’? No, seriously, there is a title match tonight and it is all because of the love of Edge’s life, Vickie. Vickie announced tonight’s championship match as a no disqualification match.

Edge said he would win the championship back at the PPV. He said Chavo would do the same and pronounced “Guerrero” very ethnically. C.M. Punk came out. Edge called him the “Queen of the Ring.” Punk said they should call him “Money in the Bank.”

Punk said having the briefcase is a better way of getting to the top than sleeping with the boss. Punk said Edge and Vickie’s love was gross. I’m sure a lot of people agree. Punk speculated as to when he could cash in the briefcase.

Edge sort of challenged Punk to a match. Punk agreed and Vickie announced the match for later in the show. Edge said Punk would be “bankrupt” by the end of the night. Punk looked at him as if to say, “That line sucked.”… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Decent segment. They finally “promoted” Punk to a better show and planted the seeds for future feuds with Punk vs. Edge, Punk vs. Batista, or even Punk vs. The Undertaker.

[Q2] 1. The Miz defeated Shannon Moore (with Jimmy Wang Yang) in 4:33. Cole and Coach talked about the new magazine for kids. Coach said he liked the puzzles. Cute. Morrison was on commentary and used “Earth Day” as his excuse for losing to Yang on ECW this past Tuesday.

Morrison dropped the line of the night early by congratulating Coach for “not being the least informed commentator in WWE anymore. That honor goes to Mike Adamle.” Ouch.

Miz was on the offensive early and often during the match. Morrison praised Miz’s in-ring work. Moore rolled up Miz for a nearfall at 2:45. Miz took over with a Russian Leg Sweep and slowed down the action with a resthold.

Miz hit a potentially dangerous loose powerslam for a nearfall at 4:15. Miz went for the Reality Check but Moore reversed it into a backslide for the pinfall victory. After the match, Cole and Coach speculated as to whether Yang and Moore deserved a tag title shot. They plugged the main event for later tonight… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Decent match. With Yang winning on Tuesday, it was pretty predictable that Moore would win tonight. We have a legitimate tag team title feud here.

Back from commercial, Cole reminded us that the Presidential candidates spoke on Raw this week. They aired snippets from each pre-taped interview.

2. Natalya (with Victoria) defeated Cherry (with Michelle McCool) in 4:23. Cherry came out looking reluctant. Michelle wore the shirt of the night.

[Q3] Natalya immediately overpowered Cherry. She showed us a tough, physical style. Cole said Natalya reminded us of her father. He said they share the same laughing trait. Natalya has a deeper laugh.

Cherry finally turned over a mean streak, knocking Natalya down with a big shot. Natalya regained the advantage and worked on Cherry’s leg. Natalya locked in a modified laying sharpshooter. I guess that is what I’ll call it.

Cherry rolled up Natalya and hit a bulldog. She went for a Monkey Flip and Natalya threw her off. She applied an actual Sharpshooter and Cherry tapped out.

Twill’s Two Cents: Does Michelle wrestle anymore? Natalya was relatively impressive. All of a sudden, we have Natalya, Michelle, and Mickie James that could all conceivably match up with Beth Phoenix (assuming she wins the belt back soon).

They ran an overly long video package of The Great Khali vs. The Big Show feud… [C]

Back from commercial, they ran a video package showcasing the Shawn Michaels vs. Batista with Chris Jericho as a special guest referee match at Backlash.

Michael Cole stood in the middle of the ring and introduced Matt Hardy. Cole reminded us of Hardy’s absence due to his injury, in the storyline caused by MVP. Coach did his best to man the booth.

Cole asked Hardy if he knee “was ready to go.” I would hope so since he has been back in the ring for awhile now. Hardy said MVP did everything he could to avoid defending the United States Championship against him.

[Q4] MVP’s music hit and he came out, wearing a suit and wearing the belt. I have mentioned it before, but I love it when champions wear their belts. MVP told Cole to beat it.

MVP said Hardy was telling half truths and he wanted to be Hardy’s friend. Hardy said they became tag team champions so MVP would have a smoke screen to not defend the U.S. Title against him.

MVP said he did not screw Matt. Bret Hart did not screw Matt either. Matt screwed Matt. Matt has been jealous of MVP’s accomplishments; more in a year and a half than Hardy’s entire career.

Matt said it was confidence, not jealously in his eyes. He said MVP had uncertainty in his eyes. Hardy will prove at Backlash that he is better than MVP. MVP took off the belt, kicked Hardy in the knee, and nailed him across the head with his championship.

MVP walked off as Hardy struggled to his feet. C.M. Punk headed to the ring for his upcoming match with Edge… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: This would have made more sense in the MVP VIP Lounge, but nonetheless, it was a very good segment. It reminded us of their past and it did a good job of selling their match on Sunday. Oftentimes, fans complain of the lack of storyline progression in midcard feuds, but in this case, they have done a great job.

Back from commercial, they aired the reading program plug.

3. Edge defeated C.M. Punk in 16:32. Edge came out by himself. They plugged WWE Magazine and Edge’s ten year anniversary with the company. Wow, talk about someone who has paid his dues.

Cole and Coach did a nice job going over the importance of having the MITB briefcase. They said everyone who has cashed it in won a world championship and that Edge has done it twice.

Early on, they felt each other out. Edge applied a lying front face lock that Punk reversed into a modified Rings of Saturn. Punk held onto the armbar and drove knees into Edge’s lower back.

Cole said the fans have been waiting all week for Coach’s analysis. I wonder if they give each other wet willies too. Edge turned the tables and began working Punk’s lower back. Cole called him a predator.

[Q5] The first nearfall came at 4:00 by Punk with a surprise rollup. Punk hit a nasty kick to the back of Edge’s head. Punk held onto an armbar, even after an Edge bodyslam. Punk went to the top but was caught by Edge.

Edge climbed the rope and the two exchanged blows. Edge fell back into the ring as Punk fell to the outside… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Good match so far. It should be as it will probably be a future PPV main event.

Back from commercial, Edge had a leg scissors locked in on Punk. Punk reversed the hold and hit slingshot. He tried to climb the ropes but Edge caught him and hit the Electric Chair.

Both men went down after a double high cross body at 11:52. That, to me, was always a nasty spot. They both rose to their feet and Punk got the most of the exchange, hitting three huge kicks for a nearfall.

The pace quickened as Punk hit a high cross body, an ensuguiri, went for the GTS and could not hit it. He hit the knee in the corner followed by the bulldog for a very nearfall.

Edge went for the spear and missed. Punk hit the top rope springboard closeline. Great nearfalls here. Punk went for the GTS and Edge reversed it into a Impaler DDT for another nearfall.

Edge set up Punk for the spear, but Punk hit a GTS on Edge, who fell out of the ring. Punk went after him to try to slide him back into the ring. As Edge slid into the ring, Zach Ryder (are you sure?) distracted Punk. Punk reentered the ring and Edge speared him for the pinfall victory.

[Q6] After the match, Edge and Ryder retreated to the back as Edge sold the brutality of the match. Cole pimped Punk as a serious threat to anyone’s title. They plugged the main event tonight…[C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Great match. They gave them lots of time, which I was hoping for since they started slowly. Punk raised himself a notch in the eyes of the fans tonight, I’m sure. Edge looks strong as well. Taker and Batista will have to work hard to top that. This was a PPV quality match.

In Sacramento, they air this ridiculous commercial with Don King trying to say “Sacramentans.” Don’t know why I mentioned that, but I cannot stand that guy.

Back from commercial, they aired a King of the Ring video. I noticed JR kept saying, “Regal is the new king of the WWE.” I wonder if they are going to do a full blown king gimmick, like they did with Harley Race or even Booker T. Regal looked like he stole gum from the local market with that look on his face.

4. Vladimir Kozlov defeated Marty Garner in 1:34. Kozlov used the front underhook headbutt, ala Al Snow, followed by a headlock takeover. Garner landed two punches before Kozlov hit the “Zidane” headbutt.

Kozlov hit a nice, albeit slow, overhead belly to belly suplex, before hitting the front DDT for the pinfall victory.

Twill’s Two Cents: Further progression; nothing new. After the PPV, they need to move him into something of substance.

After the match, the announcers praised The Undertaker’s adaptation to his various opponents over the years. They showed a video completely dedicated to the gogoplata choke, which Cole still calls, “that chokehold maneuver.” I do not care what they call it, but they need to give it a name… [C]

[Q7] Back from commercial, they ran down the entire Backlash card. I remember when Sean Mooney used to do this from the “Event Center.” They showed a “tale of the tape” of Show vs. Khali and Show wears an 18EEEEE shoe…

Backstage, Batista stared down Vickie Guerrero, who at the angle she was sitting, looked like she had a black eye. Batista said he was going to go to war tonight and regain the championship, followed by beating the living hell out of Edge at Backlash on Sunday… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: 18EEEEE? Can’t they just move down the alphabet? Batista’s promo was solid. He still wants the championship, so he isn’t completely forgotten in the title picture, although there is no way he will win tonight.

Back from commercial, Coach congratulated Hillary Clinton for winning the primary on Tuesday. They showed highlights of Monday’s “match” between the fake candidates.

Twill’s Two Cents: Are you f’n serious? Do we need to see this crap all week? Too bad Umaga couldn’t have beaten up the guys in the production truck before this aired.

5. The Undertaker defeated Batista in 13:13 in a World Heavyweight Championship Match. 11:40 my time and Batista is coming out; it looks like they are going to get some decent ring time. Batista got down pretty low on his machine gun entrance, so maybe he came to work.

Coach called this the biggest match of Batista’s career. Coach, you’re fired. Are you serious? Batista main-evented Wrestlemania 21. He had the match of the year vs. The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 23. No one will remember this match in two weeks.

Taker’s entrance is still sweet. It rarely changes, but it is still a sight to see. Cole sold the importance and magnitude of the year plus long feud between these two men. Justin Roberts did the announcements main event style. Batista received a nice pop. Taker received a huge one.

[Q8] Early on, they tried to gain a power advantage over the other. Both men were in “MMA” fight stances. Batista powered Taker into the corner and laid into him. Taker took over and worked the arm and shoulder of his challenger.

Batista hit a spear but Taker almost locked in the gogoplata chokehold. Batista struggled to fight out of the hold and retreated to the outside… [C]

Back from commercial, Taker threw Batista into the steel steps. Taker kicked Batista in the head before hitting the apron legdrop. Back in the ring, Taker scored a nearfall.

Taker went for Old School. Batista stopped him and tried a superplex. Taker threw off before Batista charged into a big boot. He then hit Old School. Batista surprised Taker with a spinebuster for a nearfall at 8:00.

Batista went for a Batista Bomb but Taker backdropped him. Taker attempted a chokeslam but Batista powered out. Batista hit a powerslam for a very nearfall. Taker then hit a chokeslam but a delayed cover allowed Batista to kick out.

Both men stumbled around before Batista hit a spear for a very nearfall. Batista mounted Taker in the corner and hit 11 shots to the head. Taker hit the Last Ride and Batista kicked out again.

Taker brought the steps into the ring. Cole reminded us it was a no disqualification match. Taker went for a Tombstone on the steps, but Batista hit a spinebuster onto the steps instead. Batista fell the other way and could not cover.

Batista went for the Batista Bomb and Shawn Michaels entered the ring and hit Sweet Chin Music on Batista. Taker hit the Tombstone for the pinfall victory. After the match, Taker struggled to his feet, Cole reminded us about Backlash, and the show went off the air…

Twill’s Two Cents: Great match. Both men came to work and they worked very hard. Unfortunately, the nearfalls were not as dramatic because you knew they were not changing the title, but nonetheless, it was a fantastic match. Michaels’ involvement paints a new picture as to who will turn on Sunday. Great show tonight.

Feedback is welcome and appreciated. Rich Twilling can be reached at dotnetrich@gmail.com.

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