By Chris Shore

Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 6/1/10 in Dallas, Tex.

[Q1] The show started with Teddy Long backstage looking somber. He said over the Memorial Day weekend, the Undertaker was found in a vegetative state by Kane. He said an investigation was ongoing...The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped the IC match for later.

The lights went out and Gregorian chants started. The druids came out with a casket and walked it to ringside, where they set it on a table as if there was a casket match next. Five of the druids went to the hard camera side while two remained with the casket. Kane's music and pyro hit and he made a very somber ring entrance. In the ring was a podium with a mic, and a black wreath on a stand. The crazy red lights stayed on Kane who seemed unable to speak at first.

He had the druids open the coffin as lightning flashed. Kane stared at the empty casket for a moment and finally started his promo. He said it may be that the Undertaker no longer walked amongst us. He said gone were the nights when the Undertaker struck fear in the hearts of his opponents. He continued to eulogize Taker by putting him over while saying it was gone. He said gone forever where the bonds of brotherhood.

He paced around the ring and said his brother would rise from the dead no more. He said the Undertaker was gone. He snapped and said that those responsible for this atrocity would be gone. He said they would be committed to the depths of hell. He said he would personally prosecute and persecute anyone involved. He screamed, “There will be vengeance!” He said there will be cold, hard, calculated vengeance. He continued to rise in volume and intensity before scream again that there would be vengeance. He trashed the set and then dropped to one knee a la Taker. He collapsed to the mat crying and crawled toward the casket and said, “I should have been there.” He cried for a moment longer before calming himself and looking sullen into the break...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Holy cow. I'm staggered right now. How f-ing good was Kane? I mean, seriously, was that not the most compelling thing you have seen in WWE since Jericho and Michaels wowed us? Go Kane! That was great. But please WWE, please don't screw this up like you always do. DO NOT make it be that Kane is the one that did him in. That would totally destroy this. Make it anybody but Kane and this is a win.

[Q2] Jack Swagger made his ring entrance wearing his Oklahoma jersey which brought cheap heat from the UT crowd. MVP was out next to a good pop...

Jack Swagger defeated MVP at 14:51. Swagger started out with amateur moves until MVP hit an elbow. Swagger mouthed off and MVP slapped him. Swagger went to the floor for a moment, then crawled back in. MVP hit a shoulder block for one. Swagger charged at MVP and tackled him and started punching, but MVP rolled him over and punched Swagger. The ref broke it up, and MVP kicked Swagger in the head to spill him to the floor...[C]

Back at 6:01, MVP covered for a two count. MVP worked an armbar as a video recapped MVP hitting a plancha during the break. MVP beat Swagger down in the corner until the ref broke it. Swagger kicked the leg and then drove MVP into the post twice. MVP rolled to the floor and barely made it back before the count. Swagger worked the arm and hit a big boot for two. Swagger went back to the arm. MVP whipped out of the armbar and hit several strikes. Swagger caught MVP jumping in the corner and hit a powerslam for two. Swagger hit the corner springboard splash for two, and went back to the arm.

[Q3] MVP made his feet and got the break in the corner. He hit a big kick on Swagger and went on offense. He tried for his Ballin elbow, but Swagger jumped up. MVP ducked the clothesline, hit one of his own, and hit the elbow for two. MVP went for Pay Dirt, but Swagger pushed away, so MVP hit a fisherman suplex for two. Swagger hit a chin buster and a belly to belly for two. Swagger tried for the corner splash again, but MVP swept the legs out. He stood in the corner, and MVP tried for the drive-by, but Swagger ducked and Swagger scored the roll up win.

Post match, Curt Hawkins ran in, but MVP beat him down. He turned around and ate a boot from Vance Archer. Archer and Hawkins beat MVP down and left him laying in the ring...

Backstage, Vickie Guerrero walked up to a shaken Teddy Long. She asked Teddy who was going to replace Taker and tried to push Ziggler as the right guy. Teddy said every man on the roster would compete in a battle royale to determine who would replace Taker. Vickie walked away unhappy...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Solid opening match for the show, and I'm glad Swagger got the win. He didn't look crazy strong, but he looks better than if they had jobbed him out. I guess MVP will end up in a tag angle with Hawkins and Archer, but I can't for the life of me figure out why. Odd matchus going on in WWE again.

The announce team setup the NXT finale video...

[Q4] Backstage, CM Punk was shown putting his match on. There was a thud, and Kane came barging in and grabbed Punk. Punk stammered and hemmed and hawed. Kane asked him if he did it. CM Punk said no they didn't do it and he offered the SES's help for a “fallen brother.” Kane yelled, “Brother?” and pushed Punk away...[C]

Shore’s Slant: If the rest of the show is Kane terrorizing the locker room, this is going to be a hell of a show.

A video recapped Drew McIntyre having Matt Hardy suspended...Drew made his ring entrance. Kofi Kingston was out next...

2. Kofi Kingston defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the Intercontinental Championship at 13:26. Drew drove Kofi to the mat by the hair and worked heel strikes and kicks. McIntyre tried to toss Kofi over the top, but he hit the ropes with his shoulders and followed with a drop kick. He put McIntyre in the corner and jumped up for his ten punches. He rolled down and beat on Drew until the ref broke him. McIntyre hit a big boot and then drove Kofi to the floor as the crowd erupted. Matt hardy had made his way to ringside holding up a ticket. He crowd chanted his name into the break...

Back at 6:22, McIntyre hit a slam for two. He choked Kofi on the ropes and then worked him with strikes on the apron. Kofi kicked away and tried to follow up, but Drew drove Kofi into the steps and then hit a snap suplex on the floor. He rolled Kofi back in the ring for two and worked rest holds on the back. Kofi tried to escape, but McIntyre hit a knee to the stomach for two.

[Q5] Drew worked Kofi in the corner as Hardy watched from ringside. He went to stand him, and Kofi hit a hurricanranna and went on offense. He tried for a crucifix rollup, but slid down and settled for a school boy for two. He went to the top and hit a huge cross body for two. McIntyre snuck in a neckbreaker for another near fall. Kofi slid out of a suplex attempt and hit a clothesline to the back of the head and the boom drop. He setup for Trouble in Paradise, but McIntyre went to the floor.

Kofi followed and McIntyre clotheslined him. Drew bitch slapped Hardy and rolled Kingston in the ring. Matt tried to get in the ring, but security stopped him as Drew jawed at him. McIntyre turned around, and Kingston hit the SOS for the win. Post match, Hardy escaped security and hit a Twist of Fate on McIntyre before fleeing through the crowd with security in tow...

Backstage, Kane was shown and Rey Mysterio walked up. Rey said a little prayer and told Kane he was sorry for his loss. Kane said he didn't need Rey's platitudes and wondered if maybe Rey was covering his tracks. Rey argued for his innocence and Kane said nobody was innocent. Rey walked away...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good match from Kofi anf Drew. I guess Matt gets reinstated now so Drew can get his pound of flesh, which is a shame because I'm digging he and Kofi together. Matt played his part well, and him running through the crowd with security in tow was pretty funny.

A video recapped MVP's loss and subsequent beat down from earlier. Swagger was shown backstage. He put over himself and OU. He started to sing the fight song, but Kane walked up. Swagger stopped singing and Kane asked if it was him. Swagger shook his head as Kane stared...

[Q6] Rosa Mendes made her ring entrance, followed by Kelly Kelly...

3. Kelly Kelly defeated Rosa Mendes at 2:56. Kelly hit an early neckbreaker, but LayCool came to the ramp and distracted Kelly. Rosa used a Figure Four head lock, but Kelly escaped and hit her finisher for the win as LayCool looked upset...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Dear God that was awful. If Kelly moved any slower in the ring she would stop, and Rosa is rusty. Terrible. We needed Kane to save that segment of TV.

The This Week in WWE History video celebrated the Junkyard Dog...Backstage, Big Show and Hornswoggle were playing cards. There was a slam and Kane stormed in. Horny beat it and Show stood up to Kane. Kane said Taker had always had Show's number and Show could never do anything about it. Show said he didn't have anything to do with Taker, and Kane accusing him was a “giant mistake.” He clapped his hand on Kane's shoulder. Kane shrugged him off and destroyed the card table before storming off...A video recapped Kane's promo from the start of the show...

[Q7] Rey Mysterio made his ring entrance to a crazy pop. Dolph Ziggler was out next...[C]

Shore’s Slant: I swear to God, if it's Kane we riot. This is the best work of his life. He's so believable my daughter came in and got upset because she thought Taker had really died. It BETTER not be him.

Back from commercial, Christian finished his ring entrance as many others were already in the ring. Drew McIntyre was out next, followed by Kofi as a video recapped his win over McIntyre from earlier. Kane was the final entrant...

Rey Mysterio won a Smackdown Battle Royale for Undertaker's spot at Fatal Fourway at 19:39. Typical chaotic start to the battle royale. Both Rey and Christian were almost eliminated, but they rolled back under. Mysterio slipped under the ropes and tried to snatch the mask off of Punk. Gallows saved Punk, but Rey kicked him in the legs and slid back in the ring. Punk and Serena backed up the ramp...[C]

[Q8] Back at 5:42, nobody had been eliminated. A bunch of guys tried to eliminate Kane, but Gallows pulled them off. Kane started tossing people out of the ring.

Cayln Croft, Chris Masters, Trent Baretta, and JTG were eliminated around 7:30 Kane and Gallows squared off with Kane beating Gallows to the mat.

Kofi Kingston and Drew McIntyre eliminated each other at 8:01. Ziggler put a sleeper on Finlay. Christian pulled him off and tossed him over the top.

Dolph Ziggler was eliminated at 9:01. Christian stared at Ziggler while Finlay recovered. Finlay ran over and tossed Christian.

Christian was eliminated at 9:18. Archer attacked Finlay from behind, while Christian and Ziggler stared off...[C]

Back at 13:18, eight men remained. Rey tried for a 619 on Chavo, but he moved. Chavo tried to toss Rey over, but Rey reversed into a hurricanranna to eliminate Chavo.

Chavo Guerrero was eliminated at 14:04 Finlay tried to toss Rey, but Rey hit a DDT instead. MVP and Archer battled. Finlay ran up, and he and MVP tossed Archer. Finlay immediately tossed MVP, and Kane clotheslined Finlay over the top.

Vance Archer, MVP, and Finlay were eliminated around 15:50. Hawkins and Rey battled while Kane and Gallows faced off. Hawkins charged at Rey, and Rey used a hurricanranna to eliminate him.

Curt Hawkins was eliminated at 16:02. Luke Gallows, Kane, and Rey Mysterio remained. Kane hit a big boot on Rey and Gallows attacked Kane. Kane got the better and signaled for the chokeslam. The masked man ran up and kicked Kane. Kane turned to him and Gallows tossed him over the top. Kane landed on the apron and stood up. Gallows charged and Kane grabbed him by the throat. The masked man tried to interfere, but Kane tossed him to the floor. He climbed back in the ring and drove Gallows over the top rope.

Luke Gallows was eliminated at 17:05 Rey and Kane stared at each other and then squared off. Rey hit kicks to the legs. He setup for 619, but Kane hit a brutal clothesline. Kane worked Rey in the corner with big blows. Rey tried for a wheelbarrow DDT, but Kane dropped him on the top rope. He pushed him off, but Rey landed on the apron. Rey hit a West Coast Pop and then setup for a 619. He hit it this time, but Kane caught him on the next move by the throat. Kane lifted Rey, but Rey hooked his legs on Kane's head for the elimination and win. Post match, Rey celebrated wildly as the crowd cheered...

Shore’s Slant: Fantastic battle royale to close the show. No, not the best worked match I have ever seen, but the emotion attached was spectacular, and I actually found myself pulling for Kane. He was so unbelievably awesome tonight, and I can't wait for him to find out who got to Taker. The crowd will lose their minds when he does. 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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