By Marvin Hermanstyne

WWE Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in North Charleston, SC

[Q1] The show kicked off with footage from last week when Swagger told all these war stories about himself, Teddy Long making Show the number one contender and how he knocked the champ out. The opening montage aired and Kane vs. Swagger is the main event tonight. Matt hardy came to the ring for a promo. Matt said he is here tonight because he should be and footage was shown of Drew McIntyre beating Matt to a plump for the past two weeks.

Matt asked Drew if he ever wants to see him again and Drew came out and said that nine months ago, Vince looked him in the eye and said he was the future of his company and he is the chosen one. He said he is untouchable and Matt replied with a weak comeback. Drew said he was going to beat some sense into Matt and they both brawled in the ring. The referees broke it up and Drew basically beat the hell out of Matt and pushed the referees off.

Teddy Long warned Drew to stop beating on Matt but he continued to beat on him. Long said Drew was suspended, stripped of the IC title and he fired him after the last kick to the head. Drew stared at Long and threatened him. Long wanted Drew escorted of the show while Matt looked so weak. Drew continued to yell at the refs and he said Vince will hear about it.

Mind of Marv: The segment was weak and all over the place. Matt Hardy continues to look so damn weak by the week. I don't know what the angle is with Drew getting the title stripped from him but if its wellness issue, my theory stands correct. If he's moving to Raw (storyline wise), it is even better because the crickets aren't giving him attention on this show.

[Q2] Backstage, Mathews asked Long about Matt's condition and said the doctors will are looking at him. Long said that he doesn't know what to do with the IC title and he cannot explain the actions of Drew. Video was shown of MVP and Rey defeating the SES. MVP got moderate heat while Gallows got some pumped out heat.

1. MVP defeated Luke Gallows in 3:50. Gallows slapped MVP and MVP countered with punches and a clothesline for a nearfall. MVP missed the Drive By and Gallows knocked him out of the ring. Gallows took advantage with knees to the mid section and a belly to back suplex for a nearfall. Gallows clotheslined, hit an uppercut and splash for a nearfall. MVP tried some strikes but Gallows countered. MVP hit a high knee to Gallows and hit the Ballin' Elbow. Serena was trying to be a distraction while MVP was setting up the Playmaker and Gallows countered. Rey ran from the crowd and distracted Gallows and attacked Punk. MVP hit the 305 on Gallows for the win. [C]

Mind of Marv: Nice opening match to kick off the show. Gallows is not bad in the ring but he is reminding of Kane with some of his moves. His uppercut is just as sick as Kane's. I'm not feeling that fact that MVP is involved in the storyline, but the rubber match between Rey and Punk should be at Over the Limit, so I don't mind for a few more weeks.

[Q3] In the ring, Punk was pissed off while holding his neck. He called Rey a coward and said he cost Luke Gallows a match. He demanded Rey to come out and Rey came out with a mic. Rey asked Punk what was wrong and asked him about the mystery man that comes out every week. Rey asked where is he and Punk called him a coward multiple times. Punk said he has no idea because Rey covers his masks with drugs. He said he is blaming other people about his problems and said everyone comes to see Punk because they want to be saved. Rey said the only person that is hallucinating is Punk and said that Rey is out here to shave his head. They both talked about beating each other and Rey challenged Punk to a match at Over the Limit. Rey said if he wins, Punk shaves his head and he's the barber. Rey said if he loses he will join the SES. Punk accepted the challenge and Rey said a better idea is to fight him now.

Rey said he'll join the SES if Punk shaves his head now. Punk said it is not going to happen and Rey said one thing he doesn't understand about the SES but understands the philosophy. He the philosophy is good but the messenger is bad and Punk has to realize that everyone wearing a Mysterio masks is doing the right thing. Rey said lead by example and told Punk to shave his head. Punk said Rey and everyone need to understand that his hair is a symbol of purity and he doesn't care about anyone. Rey asked Punk why is he special and why are they bald and he's not. Rey called him selfish and the SES stared him down. Rey said it's nothing that could save Punk from the 619. [C]

Mind of Marv: Very strong segment. I never give Mysterio props for his promos but this one was GOOD. I am definitely looking forward to the rubber match between these two. Putting some tension amongst the SES has really made the feud more entertaining. This should be a top match at this B-Level PPV…

Video was shown of LayCool picking on Kelly Kelly last night on Superstars. LayCool came out with the immature shirts with NO heat whatsoever.

2. LayCool defeated Tiffany and Kelly Kelly in 2:52. Tiffany and McCool started the match, Tiffany hit a drop toe hold and a atomic drop to McCool. Tiffany hit a modified Codebreaker to McCool. Tiffany got distracted by Vickie and Layla and McCool hit a dropkick to Tiffany. Layla missed a splash to Tiffany and Tiffany tagged Kelly in the match. Kelly hit a neckbreaker and Tiffany tagged in and hit a crossbody for a nearfall. McCool kicked both babyfaces and Layla hit her finisher to Tiffany for the win.

Mind of Marv: Sloppy and forgettable match. Enough said.

[Q4] Backstage, Teddy Long said it will be a tournament for the IC title and the matches are Christian vs. Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston. [C]

Video was shown of Dolph choking out Hornswoggle….EPIC WIN!

3. Kofi Kingston defeated Dolph Ziggler in an Intercontinental Title tournament semi-final match in 12:00. Both men lock up and Dolph hit a shouldeblock to start. Kofi hopped three times and hit a dropkick. Kofi hit a clothesline and a suicide dive to Dolph outside of the ring. Dolph hit a low drop kick to Kofi. [C]

The show returned with Dolph grasping on Kofi's neck and hit a belly-to-back suplex for a nearfall. Dolph stomped on Kofi and worked on his neck in the corner. Dolph continued with the attack in the corner while Cody Rhodes was observing in the back. Dolph hit a dropkick and applied a Cobra Clutch to Kofi. Dolph hit a hopping elbow to Kofi for a nearfall. Kofi came back with punches but Dolph kicked Kofi and applied an modified chin lock. Kofi hit a nice leg sweep to Dolph for a nearfall.

[Q5] Dolph hit a facebuster to Kofi for a nearfall. Dolph applied another chinlock to Kofi. Kofi hit a jawbreaker to Dolph and punches to the midsection. Kofi hit his instant offense and hit the Boom Drop. Kofi setup for the TIP but he hit a flying crossbody instead for a nearfall. Dolph applied the sleeper but Kofi countered and hit the TIP for the win.

Mind of Marv: Excellent match and both guys work well together. Dolph looked strong in defeat, but it would be nice to push the guy that never won the belt. But I understand that Kingston needs to look strong on the new brand. Imagine if this was a 16 man IC title tournament and I would enjoy the hell out of getting 10-12 minute matches every week.

The Swagger War stories and knockout was shown again. Kane vs. Swagger is the main event which is still to come. [C]

The Over the Limit Card was ran down by the announcers and Christian made his entrance with Heath Slater and he will face Cody Rhodes in a IC title semi-final, next…[C][Q6]

4. Christian defeated Cody Rhodes in an Intercontinental Title tournament semi-final match in 13:45. Cody hit a shoulderblock for a one count. Cody attacked Christian but Christian countered by pressing his weight on Cody's neck and went for his slap outside of the ring but Cody moved. Christian hit a baseball slide to Cody and went for flying moonsault, but Cody grabbed Christian and threw him into the ring steps. Cody worked on Christian in the corner and Christian countered into a rollup for a nearfall. Cody Irish Whipped Christian and hit a dropkick to Christian. [C]

The show returned with Cody dropping Christian and went for a cover for a nearfall. Cody stretched out Christian and clotheslined him for a nearfall. Christian went to the top rope but Cody caught Christian and hit a nasty Superplex for a nearfall. Christian went for a Oklahoma Roll for a nearfall. Christian hit a uppercut and clotheslined Cody. Both guys were in danger of getting counted out and they got in at 7 and Cody went for the cover for a nearfall. Cody missed an elbow off the top rope and Christian hit his instant offense and a missile dropkick for a nearfall.

[Q7] Christian hit a drop toe hold and pressed his weight again on Cody. Christian missed a crossbody and Cody went for the cover for a nearfall. Christian went for the Killswitch but Cody countered out and Christian hit a inverted DDT. Cody swept Christian off the turnbuckle and went to the top rope and hit a nice moonsault for a nearfall. Christian threw Cody into the ring post and hit the Killswitch for the win.

Mind of Marv: Another good ass match. Christian can be a bit stiff and repetitive, but Cody Rhodes has really starting to shine. Like Ziggler, Cody looked very good in defeat. No doubt that the IC title match next week will be good, but one of these heels could of won their match to make it a fresh match. Should be a five star match in the making next week.

Kingston vs. Christian will face each other for the IC title next week. All of the Big Show's knockouts were shown and Swagger is trying to look tough by walking to the ring for his match against Kane, next. [C]

Video was shown of Drew attacking Matt Hardy and getting fired. The IC title match was announced for next week and Savannah introduced Jack Swagger.

[Q8] Swagger said that he will remind everyone how good he is and he started to brag about being nominated for an ESPY, a Heisman winner and he said someone show his good side. Swagger continued to put himself over and they went to commercial, hilarious…[C]

Swagger talked about being a part of the National Honor Society and he asked where Big Show was when he was winning championships. Swagger said Show rode the short bus and took a special education class and at Over the Limit he will take Show to school. Kane ended out misery from Swagger …

5. Kane beat World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger by disqualification in 5:10. Swagger and Kane made it a technical match for the first thirty seconds. Big Show with the big Kool-Aid smile and sharp suit came to the ring for the commentary. Swagger couldn't keep his eyes on him and started to attack Kane. Kane hit a sick uppercut to Swagger and beat on him in the corner. Kane hit a low dropkick for a nearfall. Swagger botched a chop block and reversed into the chin lock. Kane hit another uppercut to Swagger and Swagger countered by jumping off the rope but got a third uppercut from Kane. Kane hit multiple clotheslines and sidewalk slam for a nearfall.

Kane went to the top rope and hit a flying clothesline and went for a choke slam but Swagger countered by ramming Kane into the exposed turnbuckle. Swagger continued to beat on Kane with a Big Boot and he held the belt. Show said Swagger wanted to party and Kane clotheslined Swagger. Kane took the announcer's table cover off and Swagger threw Kane into the turnbuckle. Show choke slammed Swagger throught the table and held the belt to close the show…

Mind of Marv: Nothing much to say about this match, but the ending became predictable by the second. Overall, this was a solid show with the IC title tournament, no more Drew McIntyre for a while and a decent world title matchup ahead of us. B+ show and I'll have the Hit List fresh for you guys in the morning…

Send all questions, comments and feedback to mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com and enjoy the weekend!

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