By Marv Hermanstyne

WWE Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

[Q1] The show kicks off with footage of Kane destroying the SES and chasing Punk outside of the arena. The opening montage aired and Kane vs. Luke Gallows was featured. Jack Swagger came out and felt empty without the world title because he grasped his waist. Jack said last week, he told people that they will suffer and he wanted all the agony to be taken out on others. He said it's time for other people to feel the pain after being cheated out of the world title. He said if he can do it to the world's strongest athlete, he can do it to anyone. Video was shown of Swagger being Kurt Angle-esque by applying the Ankle Lock to Show.

Swagger got some good heat after the footage and he that’s what they should be talking about, not the SD MITB match. He started talking about becoming the biggest star at WM26 and how it changed his life. He said he cashed in days later and asked everyone if they remembered. He said two weeks ago, it all came crashing down and he was cheated out of the world title and there wasn’t anything to protect him. He said his father was devastated and no one cared. Show came out limping with a microphone.

Show started to mock Swagger and said no one cares about his crying. He said being stuck in a elevator with him while having gas is something to worry about it. He said Swagger hurt him but he didn’t finish the job because he's still standing and breathing. He said he won't stop and challenged Swagger to apply the ankle lock on him again. Swagger said at MITB, Rey will feel the same wrath and he will win back the world title. Show called him delusional because the WWE Universe doesn't want to see him as the world champion and in his fantasy he thinks that he can break his ankle. Show said in reality, he knows he can break his jaw and he limped to the ring.

Cody Rhodes chopblocked Show and Swagger attacked Show. Both heels continued to beat on Show until Rey came out and eliminated both heels.

Mind of Marv: This was a decent opening segment, but it went about five minutes too long. Rey getting rid of both heels made them look weak, but Rey needs to look strong this second time around as world champion.

Kane, Matt Hardy, Cody Rhodes, Christian, Kofi Kingston and Big Show were announced as the MITB participants and two more people will be announced later. Kofi vs. Dolph is next…[C] [Q2]

The show returned with footage of Show getting attacked moments ago and Rey making the save. Show and Rey will face Swagger and Cody in the main event. Kofi came out to a nice pop and backstage, Vickie said if Dolph wins he gets an IC title shot. Dolph said he got this and the camera showed Rosa Mendes doing more countless jumping jokes, okay…

1. Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston beat Dolph Ziggler in 6:50. The match started with both competitors showing their grappling skills and Kofi went for the TIP early but Dolph went outside of the ring. [C]

The show returned at the 3:40 mark when Dolph was working on Kofi's neck and arm. Dolph went for the pin and got a one count. Kofi threw a couple of elbows but Dolph neck tossed Kofi and hit an hopping elbow for a nearfall.

[Q3] Kofi used the ropes and hit a flying crossbody for a nearfall. Kofi hit his instant offense and he hit the Boom Drop. Kofi went for the TIP but Dolph hit a bulldog for a nearfall. Dolph got distracted by Vickie and Kofi hit the TIP for the win. Post match, Vickie looked at Dolph in disgust and Dolph blamed her for his loss.

Mind of Marv: Its like Dolph comes so close to challenging for some gold and he continues to come out short. Nice opening match and hopefully Dolph can get a push without the assistance of Vickie.

Post match, The SES was arguing over Kane attacking them. Serena said that they were not in control of the situation and Luke told her to calm down, and Serena said she felt helpless and the situation broke her heart. Punk asked her if she trust him and she said yes. Punk said that they will take care of it and SES depends on what happens tonight. [C]

Mind of Marv: Nice to see some dissension between the SES, because with Punk being legitimately injured, they have to do something with Gallows and Serena or this stable will start to fold within weeks…

An unannounced edition of the Peep Show was advertised and Matt Hardy was host for tonight. Christian said that Matt finally got reinstated and since he lost his visa he asked him he felt. Matt said it couldn't happen to a nicer guy (nice Ken Anderson reference). Christian ragged on Matt about being dropped on his head and Matt took offense to the comment and talked about his history. Christian showed some heel tendencies by saying Matt will not win the SD MITB match. They talked about putting the match on the map and he said no one deserves to win but him and Matt. Christian said that he will win the MITB match and Matt said both of their careers paralleled similarly but there was thing that they never won is the world title.

[Q4] Matt said whoever wins the briefcase, their careers will change. Matt said that he will win the MITB. Christian cut a damn good promo about WWE treating them like scapegoats and said that they never had the opportunity because people got shots that they didn't deserve. Matt said that they last two guys who deserve it the most should be them and they both said at the same time that they will win the MITB match. Christian tried to leave the ring but he came back in and Matt punched and threw him into the ladder.

The main event was hyped for later tonight…[C]

Mind of Marv: I want to see a Christian heel turn because his babyface character is stale. I like this tension between these guys and promo work was excellent by two guys who SHOULD HAVE tasted a world title already instead of being buried in the midcard. Good segment, overall.

The Alberto Del Rio vignette was shown…

Backstage, the Dashing One admired himself by interviewing himself in the mirror. He said that he made Show look like a blob of mediocrity and said that the WWE Universe will see how he will become the first Dashing world champion.

Mind of Marv: Dashing, Straightedge, Underdog, Giant…how many different types of world champions is it going to be on Smackdown? I'm just saying…

Kane faces Luke Gallows, next…[C]

Luke Gallows has the most generic entrance music next to Alicia Fox. Footage was shown again of Kane taking out the SES last week.

[Q5] 2. Kane beat Luke Gallows (w/C.M. Punk) by DQ in 1:25. Kane got the early advantage of Gallows by choking him out and hitting uppercuts. Kane clotheslined Gallows and hit a hip toss. Gallows got back on offense with a clothesline. Gallows went for a splash but missed. The mask man jumped in the match and caused the DQ finish.

Kane took out the masked man and Gallows with chokeslams. Kane tried to attack Punk but Serena came out and said that Punk was with her. Serena begged Kane to watch the Titantron and Serena was at a bar and she ordered an alcoholic drink. She kept drinking with another guy until the SES approached her because she was drinking and they walked away from her in disgust. Kane let go of Punk and Serena told Punk that she was sorry and Punk asked her if she had any idea on what she just did…[C]

Mind of Marv: Even more dissention amongst the SES, nice work WWE. The DQ finish was lame, but the story with the SES crumbling is even more intriguing to watch. If this is the end of the SES, it had a great run while it lasted…

Video was shown of Kofi and MVP signing autographs in NYC at the Toys 'R' Us store. Chavo said that Dolph couldn't get the job done and said that after he beats MVP, he should get an IC title shot.

3. MVP defeated Chavo Guerrero in 2:00. Chavo surprisingly got the best of MVP in the beginning of the match. Chavo hit the 3 Amigos and went for the Frog Splash but he missed and MVP hit a nice throw on Chavo. MVP hit his instant offense and hit the Ballin' Elbow and the 305 for the win…

Mind of Marv: Throwaway two minute match which was pathetic to watch. Feel free to palm your face…

[Q6] Classics on Demand featured Lex Luger bodyslamming Yokozuna on Independence Day 17 years ago…

Kelly and Tiffany came out and footage was shown of Kelly defeating Layla two weeks ago. Layla and the NEWLY married Michelle McTaker (yeah, it's legal now) came out and attacked Tiffany with hairspray and threw her into the security railing.

4. Kelly Kelly pinned Michelle McCool in 1:45.Kelly stomped on McCool but McCool attacked Kelly while Layla was a cheerleader outside of the ring. Layla sprayed hairspray at Kelly but Tiffany clotheslined Layla. Kelly hit an schoolgirl on McCool for the win.

Mind of Marv: Chris Shore loves to shit on the Diva's division, but I'll do myself a favor and have a silent prayer and a shrug for the atrocious booking of the Divas…

[Q7] The Raw Rebound was shown with the Nexus attacking Ricky Steamboat and the Legends that were in the ring and Rey is coming out for a promo before his match, next…[C]

More Alberto Del Rio for your viewing pleasure and Rey Mysterio was introduced as the NEW world champion.

Mind of Marv: So is he now the world champion and not the world "heavyweight" champion because he is technically an cruiserweight?

Rey said it feels great to relieve his dream of being world champion and it's taken his entire career to fight to the top. He said he will show Swagger and Cody that while he is champion, that they just facing him, but the entire 619.

Mind of Marv: Thanks for keeping the promo short, Rey. He stuttered and looked nervous out there…

5. World Champion Rey Mysterio and Big Show beat Jack Swagger and "Dashing" Cody Rhodes by an apparent disqualification in 10:33. Rey and Cody started the matchup. Rey kicked Cody and locked him up while Show got in the matchup and chopped Cody up like salad. Show knocked Swagger off the ropes and picked up Cody and threw him on Swagger outside of the ring. [C]

Back from commercial, Cody tripped Rey and went for a belly to back suplex off the top ropes but Rey countered into a canton for a nearfall on Cody. Rey set Cody up for the 619, but Swagger got a blind tag in and hit Rey with a big boot. The heels started to attack Rey and Cody got the advantage by stretching Rey out. Cody hit a sick springboard kick on Rey for a nearfall. Swagger tagged in and splashed on Rey Swagger applied a body scissors to a chin lock to Rey.

Rey hit a DDT to Swagger and he crawled to Show to tag him in. Show hit offense on Swagger and tried to choke slam him but switched up the move. Swagger applied the ankle lock on Rey while he was on the ropes and because he didn't let go, he got disqualified. Show crawled in the ring to save Rey, but Swagger kept the submission on Rey and eventually let go.

Mind of Marv: Decent main event to close the show but what's disappointing is how they want to make Swagger look bad ass with the Ankle Lock but when he was champion, he was booked to look so damn weak. But overall, this was a slightly above average show which was OK to an sense that will be explained more in the Hitlist.

I will provide the Smackdown Hitlist in the morning and as always, send all feedback to mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com and keep an eye out for my MITB confidence columns for both brands in the next couple of weeks. Have a great Independence Day weekend!

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: