By Chris Shore

Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 7/22/10 in Little Rock, Ark.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped Kane as the new champ. Kane’s pyro popped and he made his ring entrance. Kane put over his MITB win, and his World Heavyweight Championship win. He said it was the most satisfying moment of his career. He put over the Ankle Lock that Swagger put on Rey. He said Rey appreciated him chasing Swagger off, but that appreciation turned to horror when he challenged Rey for the title. He said he did what anybody would have done, only he did it better. He screamed, “I did it,” three times.

He said he didn’t do it for himself, he did it for his brother. He said he had brought the title back to the dark side. He said he went to Taker’s bedside to celebrate his victory, but there was no joy, only sorrow for the state Taker was in. He swore he would never let the championship be ripped from his hands, and he would still find the man who had attacked Taker. He said, “Hell will reign until I have my VENGANCE!” His pyro popped and he left the ring…The announce team hyped Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger in a two out of three falls match for the number one contendership…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Solid promo from Kane. Is this the best mic work of his career? You would be hard pressed to find much better from him. And I’m really OK with him being champ. He has paid his dues, and made a lot of guys look great throughout the years. He deserves this run.

A video recapped the Matt Hardy and Christian confrontation on the Peep Show. Matt Hardy made his entrance, followed by Christian.

[Q2] Drew McIntyre made his long ass entrance, followed by Cody Rhodes…

1. Drew McIntyre and “Dashing” Cody Rhodes defeated Matt Hardy and Christian at 13:23. Hardy and McIntyre started. Hardy worked an arm bar and tagged in Christian. Christian punched McIntyre and worked a headlock. Christian and Hardy worked tag team moves. McIntyre tried to hook the Future Shock on Hardy, but Hardy tossed him over the ropes, and then tossed Rhodes who ran in. The faces hit flying moves on the heels, and the heels recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 6:55, Rhodes worked strikes on Hardy. He hit a side Russian leg sweep, but missed a knee drop. Christian got the hot tag and hit a knee to the gut. He set Cody on the rope and did his standing choke. McIntyre distracted Christian, and Cody hit the Alabama Jam for two. McIntyre tagged in and worked Christian in the corner. He drove Christian to the floor, and stomped on him. He rolled Christian back in and covered for two.

Cody tagged in and hit a drop kick on the back that sent Christian to the bottom rope for two. McIntyre tagged in and worked an arm bar in his corner. Cody tagged in and stomped Christian. He tried for another Alabama Jam, but Christian rolled down and hooked a Sunset Flip for two. Both men got hot tags and Hardy worked his offense. He hit a tornado DDT and covered, but Cody distracted the ref. Hardy tried to take Cody out, but he dropped to the floor. Hardy turned around, and McIntyre hooked for a suplex. Hardy rolled it down into a small package, but Cody broke the count.

Christian ran in and all four men battled. Rhodes ducked a punch from Hardy, and Hardy connected with Christian. Hardy took out Rhodes, and then tried to check on Christian, but McIntyre hit a big boot to the side of the head and covered for the win. Post-match, Christian helped Hardy to his feet and offered his hand. After like 20 minutes, Hardy finally shook his hand, and they left the ring together…

[Q3] Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed Jack Swagger. He asked him if he was happy about his match with Rey tonight, and Swagger went off and said Rey had cheated like Eddie Guerrero. He whined about it being fair, and Matthews said some people were calling it clever. He said clever was hurting Rey so bad that it cost him the title to Kane. He promised to win the match, and win the title at SummerSlam…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Solid opening match. All four guys worked hard, and it was a lot of fun as a fan to watch. My only complaint, they are still teasing Christian vs. Hardy, and I do not want to see that. It does neither man any good, and they would be better served by feuding with others. Swagger’s mention of Eddie untying his boot just draws the comparison to Angle that much closer. Terrible.

A new Alberto del Rio vignette aired about bravery…Backstage, LayCool sipped champagne and gave each other a split best friend necklace. Teddy long walked in and congratulated Layla on her win. He announced, next week Layla would defend the title against Tiffany. They said something else after that but I was busy fighting with my wife over the ice pick so I could jab it in my brain to notice what it was…Kofi Kingston and Mike McGillicutty were backstage with the trainer. The trainer finished with Kofi, and they headed towards the
ring…[C]

[Q4] Kingston and McGillicutty made their ring entrance. Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero made their ring entrance…

2. Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) defeated Kofi Kingston (w/Mike McGillicutty) at 14:57. Kofi hit a flying elbow, and then jumped up for his punches in the corner. He rolled down and hit a big uppercut. He whipped Ziggler and went for a back drop. Ziggler stopped and kicked Kofi, and then hit a neckbreaker. Kofi sold a neck injury from the PPV. Ziggler tossed Kofi to the floor, and McGillicutty checked on him. Vickie ran over and yelled at him. She told him this was Smackdown not NXT, and ordered him to leave. The ref said he had to go, and McGillicutty left the ring area…[C]

Back at 7:17, Ziggler worked a rest hold. He broke it and hit a Fameassor for two. Ziggler continued to work the neck with elbow drops to the back of the head, and a chin lock with a knee in the back of the head. Kofi escaped, but Ziggler hit another neckbreaker. Ziggler continued to work the neck with strikes and rest holds.

[Q5] Ziggler tried for his jumping elbow, but Kofi moved. Ziggler tried for yet another neckbreaker, but Kofi reversed into a back slide for two. Kofi went on the attack and hit several flying kicks. He setup for Trouble in Paradise, but Ziggler moved. He tossed Kofi over the top, but Kofi skinned the cat. Vickie grabbed Kofi’s leg while the ref yelled at Ziggler. Ziggler ran over an hit a Zig Zag. He waited for Kofi to stand, and hooked in the sleeper for the win. Postmatch, Ziggler took the Intercontinental Championship belt and posed in the ring with it and Vickie. He started to leave with it, but the ref ripped it away, and he and Vickie left without it…Big Show was shown heading towards the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wanna see my psychic powers? I predict Dolph Ziggler will get an Intercontinental Title match at SummeSlam. Let’s see if I’m right. If I am right, it’s going to be a heck of a match, because this one was fantastic. They told a great story with the neck injury, and Ziggler looks strong while giving Kofi cover for the loss. Nice work.

A video recapped Big Show’s unmasking of CM Punk…Big Show made his ring entrance. Luke Gallows and the SES were out next. Gallows got in the ring, but Punk stopped him and whispered in his ear. Gallows left the ring, and Punk pointed to the masked man. He got in the ring instead…

3. Big Show defeated (and unmasked) Joey Mercury (w/The Straight Edge Society) at 1:33. Typical Big Show squash. He grabbed Mercury by the throat and pulled him close (ew). He pulled the mask off, and Gallows jumped on the ring. Show pushed Mercury into Gallows, put on the mask, and knocked Mercury out…

[Q6] A “Dashing” Cody Rhodes grooming tips video aired. Cody taught us how to trim our nose hairs. I shit you not…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Rey better stay away from Show, he’s on a mask hunt it seems. And if you didn’t see the Rhodes video, I can’t describe it. Not without chucking all over my keyboard.

The Raw Rebound video aired…Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed Rey Mysterio. Mysterio whined about being hurt and losing the title. He said he would beat Swagger, and go on to beat Kane at SummerSlam…[C]

[Q7] Another Alberto del Rio vignette aired. This one was about pride, and they showed cuts of the audience watching the vignette in the arena…Rey Mysterio made his ring entrance. Swagger was out next…

4. Rey Mysterio defeated Jack Swagger in a best two out of three falls match to become the number one contender for the Wolrd Heavyweight Championship at 19:36. Rey scored a quick roll up for one. He drop kicked Swagger to the floor and both men recovered…[C] Back at 5:33, Swagger stood on Rey in the corner. Rey hit a drop toe hold and went to the top, but Swagger swept the legs and hit a big slam. Swagger locked in a single leg crab/leg scissor combo until Rey reached the ropes. Swagger slammed the bad ankle against the post and covered for two.

[Q8] Rey ran the ropes off of a whip and hit a springboard crossbody for two. He tried for the body scissor into a wheelbarrow DDT, but Swagger reversed and hooked the ankle lock. Rey made the ropes, but Swagger held on until the ref counted five. Rey Mysterio won the first fall by disqualification at 11:15. Swagger protest and Rey rolled to the floor…[C]

Back at 15:09, the second fall started by stomping Rey in the corner. He backed up and charged, but Rey got the feet up. Rey went to the top and hit a flying head scissor that setup 619. Swagger caught Rey as he went for the move, and hooked in the ankle lock. Rey tapped immediately and rolled to the floor. Jack Swagger won the second fall at 16:06

Rey climbed back in the ring and Swagger attacked. He dragged Rey back to the floor, and hit a powerbomb on the floor. He rolled Rey back in the ring and hit two of his corner splashes for two. He went for a third, but Rey got the feet up. Rey hit a seated senton from the top and hit the ropes. Swagger stood and caught Rey. He tried for the gut wrench powerbomb, but Rey slid out, hit the ropes, and hit a very ugly crucifix roll up for the win.

Postmatch, Swagger attacked the ankle again. Kane ran out and hit a chokeslam on Swagger and then turned to Rey. He picked Rey up and raised his hand in victory. Kane left the ring, and then charged back and grabbed Rey. He lifted him for a chokeslam, but Rey reversed into a head scissor, followed by 619. He gimped back up the ramp while Kane was pissed in the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wow, what a great wrestling show. Only four matches, but a ton of action, and the one throwaway match was still fun in a different way. Swagger and Rey did a great job, but as I said in Dot Net Weekly, the wrong guy won. Hopefully Swagger is back in the hunt soon. 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.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: