By Chris Shore

Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 6/8/10 in Tampa, Fla.

[Q1] A video recapped Kane from last week...The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped Big Show vs. CM Punk for the first time ever, and Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger also for the first time...Rey Mysterio made his ring entrance. He cut a promo on winning the battle royale and winning the world title. He said when he did, it wouldn't be his title, it would be our title. He started to talk in Spanish, and Swagger's music cut him off.

Swagger made his ring entrance and said Rey didn't earn anything. He said he capitalized on the misfortune of the Undertaker. Swagger said while Mysterio was partying in Tijuana, he was perfecting his craft because he knew one day he would be champion. A “Swagger sucks” chant broke out. Rey said all the higher education went to waste because everything he said was stupid. He mocked his lisp and said he was proud of his heritage and the 619. He said all it would take to win the world title was one 619.

CM Punks music hit and he and the SES came to the stage. Punk said “Malcolm X, they got JFK in 63, so it was only a matter of time before they came after him.” He put over Monday's attack as an assassination attempt. He said a normal man wouldn't be there tonight, but he wasn't normal, he was better than everyone. He mocked Rey and Swagger's lisp and said he would become the four time Straight Edge champion. He said then the WWE Universe would have a champion they could look up to.

Rey said he was sure Punk's ears wanted to crawl out of his head. What? Rey said he and the Universe were tired of hearing him talk. He said why didn't Punk take the mask off and show everyone what he looks like bald. Punk said he wasn't bald, but Rey and Big Show are.

[Q2] Show's music hit and he made his ring entrance. He said that he was going to win Fatal Fourway. He said he respected Rey because he did the impossible. He said we all knew about Swagger's problems. He said Punk should pull the mask off, and maybe later he would do him a favor and pull it off for him. Punk said Show wasn't going to pull of anything, not a win at Fatal Fourway, and not his mask.

The lights turned red and Kane appeared on the screen. He said one or more of them had to be the ones who attacked Taker. He said whoever it was would end up, “in this.” The camera pulled back to reveal a casket. Kane said no matter who it was, “There will be vengeance!” The camera stayed on a hyperventilating Kane into the break...[C]

Shore’s Slant: That's great they are hyping this match, but will there be anything else on the card? Jeez. I hope it is one of the four men in the ring that attacked Taker because that makes sense. There is no reason for it to have been anyone else. Except Kane. Which I think I mentioned is the worst idea ever. Nice open to the show.

1. Rey Mysterio defeated Jack Swagger at 15:15. Swagger scored a quick waist lock, but Mysterio made his feet and hit a hip toss and drop toe hold into the corner. Swagger charged and Rey pulled the rope down, spilling Swagger to the floor. Swagger climbed back in and hit several strikes. He hit the wheelbarrow bulldog, and then dropkicked Swagger into the ropes. He hit the 619 and splash, but Swagger put his foot on the rope at two. Mysterio argued with the ref into the break...[C]

Back at 5:58, Swagger drove Rey to the floor. A video recapped Rey hitting a West Coast Pop on the floor during the break. Swagger went to the floor and worked Rey on the post and railing. He rolled Rey back in and choked him with his foot. He strong whipped Rey to the corner and locked in a rest hold.

[Q3] Swagger rolled the rest hold into a body scissor that he broke on his own. Rey started to fight back, but Swagger hit a clothesline for two. He set Rey on top and tried for a superplex, but Rey punched his way out. Swagger fell down, but ran right back up and hit a belly to belly throw for two...[C]

Back at 12:09, Swagger worked Rey's back on the post. He rolled Rey back in the ring for two and locked in a body scissor. Rey punched out, but Swagger pushed him back into the corner. Swagger charged three times, and Mysterio got the feet up, the third time he moved and Swagger hit the turnbuckle. Rey went to the top, but Swagger swept the legs and tied Rey to the Tree of Woe. Swagger backed up and charged. Rey sat up and Swagger hit the post. Rey hit a West Coast Pop, and then a dropkick into the ropes. Swagger stood and Rey hit a 619 to the gut. He hit a springboard missile dropkick that setup Swagger again, and this time Rey hot the 619. He followed with a springboard leg drop—and an unfortunate cover—for the win.

Post match Rey celebrated for a moment before Swagger attacked him from behind. He beat on Rey as Kane's music and pyro hit and he came to the ring. Swagger drove Rey into the post and turned around into a choke slam. Kane grabbed a recovering Rey and choke slammed him. He popped his pyro and left the ring...The announce team hyped the Raw video for later...[C]

Shore’s Slant: This was a pretty good match. First time matchups like this should normally be saved for PPV, but they gave this one away. The two breaks hurt the match, especially when you consider we had just over three minutes between them. That made the match very disjointed. But that's a production problem, not a wrestling problem.

[Q4] Back from commercial, team LayCool and Kavel made their ring entrance. The women made Kaval carry their shirts and then the belts. They cut a promo on how ugly the crowd was and I quit listening. Tiffany's music hit and that will be the only time I ever pop for her...

2. Layla (w/Michelle McCool and Kaval) defeated Tiffany (w/Kelly Kelly) at 1:32. McCool climbed on the ring to complain about something and Tiffany knocked her to the floor. Layla hit her finisher, a Rude Awakening neckbreaker called the Lay Out, for the win...The announce team hyped the Raw video for next...[C]

Shore’s Slant: A 90 second non-squash match? Piss off will ya?

Back from commercial, the announce team setup the video that showed the final 15 minutes of Raw...

[Q5] The video ended at eight minutes after the top of the hour. Grisham asked Striker what the locker room felt about the attack. He said they were all on guard, but would be ready next time. He dared anyone who wanted to challenge the locker room to “come on,” as he clled with his hand...[C]

Shore’s Slant: I know the follow up is on Raw, but the angle as a whole better span all the shows.

A video package recapped Hornswoggle on the Peep Show three weeks ago...Christian made his entrance to a huge pop. A video recapped the handicap match from Superstars last week.

[Q6] Vickie Guerrero came out to the stage and introduced “The future of the WWE, Dolph Ziggler.” Ziggler made his entrance with Vickie. Vickie sat near the announce table and she and Striker cougar growled at each other. I shit you not...

3. Christian defeated Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) at 7:45. Christian and Ziggler battled tot he mat and Christian grabbed Ziggler's feet. He hit a slingshot that tossed Ziggler over the top, and followed with a springboard plancha. He rolled Ziggler back into the ring and went to the top. Ziggler pushed Christian off and crashing to the floor...[C]

Back at 4:50, Ziggler choked Christian on the top rope and then hit a hangman for two. Ziggler went to the second rope and jumped off, but Christian got the feet up and went on the attack. He hit a stiff missile drop kick for two. He hit a flying crossbody from the top, but Ziggler rolled through for two. Christian setup for the Kill Switch, but Ziggler slipped out and hooked on the sleeper. Christian drove him into the corner and hit the springboard sunset flip for the win.

Post match, the tag team with the worst name ever, The Gate Crashers (Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer), attacked Christian from behind, hitting their reverse DDT, big elbow drop combo. Ziggler slapped on a weak looking sleeper for good measure before leaving with Vickie...Backstage, Kane placed black flowers on the casket and said he would never let the fire go out. He said he would find out who it was, and they would be damned to hell....[C]

Shore’s Slant: A fun match that really gives me hope for their eventual PPV match. Christian getting the win was the right call, especially with the beat down from The Gate Crashers. Looks like Vickie is getting a group of beefcake together for her personal buffet. OK, I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

[Q7] The announce team hyped CM Punk vs. Big Show...Drew McIntyre made his long ass entrance in street clothes. He called Teddy Long out. Teddy came to the ring and McIntyre told him to watch the Titantron. A video recapped McIntyre's loss to Kofi Kingston last week. He played another video that showed his loss to Matt Hardy.

Teddy asked if he could talk now. McIntyre said no. He repeated that he was the chosen one and Teddy couldn't get it through his head, so he had to do Teddy's job for him. He said per Mr. McMahon, Matt Hardy was suspended from all WWE programming. Teddy tried to talk again and McIntyre grabbed his mic and threw it out of the ring. He said he told Teddy that there would be problems if Teddy turned a blind eye to him again. He backed Teddy into a corner and said to look at him because he wanted to see Teddy's face when he gave him an announcement.

Kofi Kingston's music hit and he came out with a mic. He said everybody was tired of McIntyre whining and crying. He got in the ring, and in McIntyre's face, and said he was telling him to shut up. McIntyre tried to talk and Kingston cut him off. He said when he got knocked down, he pulled himself up. He said when he didn't like somebody, he did something, “Like this.” He punched McIntyre with the mic and then beat on him. He tossed McIntyre to the apron and then hit Trouble in Paradise to send him to the floor. Kofi struggled to yank his shirt off while McIntyre recovered on the floor...Backstage, Big Show was shown walking towards the ring...

Shore’s Slant: Yeah, I am getting tired of the McIntyre gimmick too. There needs to be a pay off on this, and soon. I'm not even sure exactly who he is feuding with. Whoever it is, I want to see Vince come out and say Drew has been forging all the letters. That would be a sweet pay off. Which means it won't happen. Oh, and the old guy doing the Call of Duty commercial where he talks about everybody “doing it” might be my favorite old person ever.

[Q8] Backstage, Teddy Long was on the phone trying to reach Mr. McMahon. McIntyre stormed in and snatched the phone out of his hands. He said he had a match with Teddy next week, and if Teddy no showed, he would be fired...Big Show made his ring entrance, followed by Punk and company.

4. The Big Show defeated CM Punk (w/The Straight Edge Society) by disqualification at 7:12. Punk tried some kicks and punches, but Show just shoved hm away. Punk hid in the ropes and conferred with the SES. He kicked Show several times and went to the top. Show recovered and teased the knockout punch. He dared Punk to jump off and Punk went to the floor to check with his comrades again...[C]

Back at 5:26, Show dragged Punk in the ring by the head and hit a clubbing blow. Show worked his chops in the corner, followed by body blows. The fans chanted “Take it off.” Punk turned his back and held onto the mask, so Show chopped his back. Show grabbed the throat and then tried to take off the mask. Punk held on, and the SES, including the masked man, attacked Show causing the DQ. They held Show, and Punk kicked him in the head. They stomped on Show until Kane's music popped.

They readied themselves for Kane. Kane stopped half way down, and then charged the ring. He took out Gallows and grabbed the masked man and choke slammed him. Punk and Serena beat it and Kane hit a choke slam on Gallows. He waited for Show to stand, and then choke slammed him to close the show...

Shore’s Slant: Kane's bit gets better and better every week. The match filled a few minutes and put Punk and Show together, which is all it was supposed to do. Kane choke slamming everybody does a great job of getting him over, but it's kind of shitting all over the Fatal Fourway match. And that doesn't help buys for a PPV that is a week out. Speaking of the PPV, looks like we will book upwards of six matches in one week. Can we say throwaway PPV? I'll have more to say tomorrow in 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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