By Marv Hermanstyne

WWE Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in Bakersfield, CA

The opening montage graced our presence and got the usual fireworks show to open the show. Highlights were shown of Kane defeating Rey and Taker coming back for the 50,000 time to confront Kane. Kane will explain his actions later tonight…

Meanwhile, Rey Mysterio came out for a promo and got a huge pop from the Cali crowd. He said good evening to everyone in Spanish and thanked everyone in the audience. He said the match at Summerslam was grueling and he was glad that he wasn't in a casket. He talked about Kane accusing everyone and how he failed in masking his own guilt.

Del Rio came out and introduced himself and said that it was his big debut on Smackdown. Someone had a "Who Are You" sign…funny. Del Rio said that Rey was the Mexican idol and said that they were both icons. He put himself over and talked about Rey's bloodline. Del Rio said that Rey is the worm in the bottle of his tequila. Rio continued to put himself over and getting some legit heat from the crowd.

Rey talked about Del Rio's clothes and how he saw his grandfather wearing them and he got it from a swap meet. Rey cut some weak ass promo about how Del Rio needs to earn respect from him and the crowd. Del Rio said that he doesn't need respect from them and he threatened Rey. Both guys went back and forth speaking Spanish. Rey challenged him to a match and Rio accepted the challenge a called him a cock roach.

Mind of Marv: Dreadful opening segment. Rey is weak on the mic and Del Rio is getting some legit heat…if he puts on a great match tonight, I'll take back all my words about hism boring me to death every week.

Rey slapped him and hit a 619 to Del Rio. Kofi vs. Dolph for the IC title for 75,000 time is next…[C]

[Q2] The "Dashing" Cody Rhodes had a commercial about keeping your skin healthy and gave himself an facial…

Mind of Marv: These commercials are stupid as hell but his damn song is in my head…damn. Smoke and Mirrors…

1. Kofi Kingston defeated Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler by DQ in 8:45. Both men lock up and Kofi punch Dolph outside of the ring. Dolph got back in the ring and shoved and hit a neck breaker to Kofi for a nearfall. Both men exchanged kicks and Dolph neck dragged and turned it into wrist lock. Vickie distracted Kofi by grabbing his leg and Dolph took advantage by knocking him out of the ring…[C]

The show returned with Dolph choking Kofi with a chin lock in the middle of the ring. Kofi hit an chinbuster to Kofi and Dolph came back to run into Kofi for an nearfall. Striker said that Vickie Guerrero puts Megan Fox to shame…REALLY? Sigh.

Kofi kicked Dolph in the corner and Dolph pulled Kofi and hit a light power bomb for a nearfall. Kofi came back with a rollup for a nearfall. Kofi hit his standard offense to Dolph and went for the Boom Drop but Dolph moved out fo the way. Kofi hit a Pele kick and went to the top rope but Vickie pushed him and got Dolph DQ'ed…

[Q3] Kofi tried to beat Dolph up but Vickie and her bad ass acting, distracted him and Dolph got his revenge by beating the shit out of Kofi. Dolph hit the Zig Zag and applied the sleeper to Kofi. Afterwards, Vickie told Dolph to stomp Kofi…

Mind of Marv: This crowd was dead as all hell for this match and I don't want to see this match anymore. Cheap finish that does nothing for me because this feud has lost all its steam.It was great the first 3-4 times, but it's time to move on for Christ sake. 32 minutes in, I'm bored to tears…

Del Rio vs. Mysterio is the main event tonight…[C]

Highlights of the "Cena Approved" Summerslam Axxcess events were shown…

LayCool was backstage and they were ripping Melina. Layla mentioned that teddy Long was not happy about what they did to Melina. Meanwhile, Hornswoggle was impersonating that tree in LayCool's dressing room…

Mind of Marv: I give up, they have been rubbed so much in our face, I'm starting to like Michelle McTaker…I do have an thing for tall blondes, I really do….

Kane's explanation is later tonight and the SES was bitching about Punk leaving them high and dry at Summerslam. Serena talked about her and Gallows facing Big Show and Kelly Kelly tonight. Punk came in and started to rip apart the SES and said if they lose, they will be out of the SES. [C]

[Q4] 2. Luke Gallows and Serena defeated Big Show and Kelly Kelly in 3:00. As usual, Show got his quick offense on Gallows and he quickly tagged in Serena. Kelly tried her flip offense but Serena countered with a kick. Serena worked on Kelly's neck and Kelly countered into a chinbuster and her helicopter takedown. Kelly hit a bulldog and went for a cover but Gallows pulled her off. Show attacked Gallows outside of the ring and Serena hit a botched gutbuster to win the match.

Mind of Marv: Ladies and Gentleman, that's what you call an forgettable match! Ugh…

Del Rio vs. Rey is later tonight and Kane's explanation is next…[C]

The show returned with Kane talking about the 7 deadly sins and his favor is the sin of pride. He said that his pride is what weakened his powers and what allowed him to put him in a vegetative state. He said because of Taker's pride, he dropped him on his head at Summerslam. He asked if taker remember how it began when his journey when he left him in the state that he was in. He said for years, he was nothing but a vague memory.

He said when he saw him back in the day, his pride ensured him that he was looking out for himself and Kane should be in his shadow. Kane said that his influence is what brought Taker to the dark side and it was his most magnificent moment. Kane said that his master plan was in motion and every victory his souls glowed and he said that Taker was losing his grip.

[Q5] Highlights of when they met at WM20 were shown and he said that their reunion was nothing but put his plan together for vengeance. He continued to talk about Taker's pride and Kane said that his time had come when he showed HBK some kind of vulnerability at Mania. He said that his plan that he had a plan for over a decade and said when he saw that shadow of his former self and he knew it was over. Kane said he had his vengeance which eluded him for so long.

He said the shadows once he once labored are casted upon him, he is proud to be the world heavyweight champion. He said they used to be called the Brothers of Destruction and now he dreams of the day that he will be nothing more. He talked about 15 years of dedication of making this moment of reality and he replaced him as the devil's demon. Del Rio and Rey is still to come…[C]

Mind of Marv: Kane continues to be money on the mic every week since winning the gold. The crowd sounded like they didn't care, but I enjoyed this promo because the first hour was an crock of shit…

The Smack of the Night was the Christian and Drew McIntyre match from three weeks ago and footage was shown of Drew beating the hell out of Matt Hardy for the 84,000th time. Before the match started, Cody Rhodes came out with a suit to came out for commentary.

3. Christian beat Drew McIntyre in 12:25. Christian hit an hurracarana and Drew got back on offense out of frustration and beat on Christian. Drew pulled the security railing off and drops Christian on his arm. Then he slammed Christian's arm into the ring post for a nearfall. Cody was being an distraction by give Grisham some q-tips for his ears…funny.

[Q6] Drew continued to work on Christian's arm…[C]

Drew applied an armbar submission to Christian when the show returned. Drew hit an bulldog on the arm to place more pressure to Christian. Drew stomped Christian while the commentators and the "Dashing" one was having a man love session during the match. Christian hit an DDT for a nearfall.

Christian hit instant offense and stomped on Drew in the corner. Christian hit a missile dropkick and a low dropkick to Drew for a nearfall. Christian missed an elbow and Drew DDTed Christian arm for a nearfall.

Both men went for their finishers but they both countered out and Christian got another win via rollup. Post match, Rhodes and Drew beat the hell out of Christian. Matt Hardy ran out for the save, but the heels beat the hell out of him and they hit both of their finishers on Hardy and Christian. [C] [Q7]

Mind of Marv: OK match with another cheap finish. I can easily see these guys becoming random tag teams and chasing the Harts for the WWE Michigan State Spartan Bronze Tag Team titles at Night of Champions…

The show returned with Jack Swagger bitching about going from champion to being robbed by MVP. Rosa Mendes was jogging and not listening to him. MVP popped out of nowhere and both of them exchanged words and challenged each other. If Jack Swagger wins, he hosts MVP's VIP lounge and if MVP wins, he throws a party and Swagger has to pay the tab.

The "Cena Approved" Monday Night Raw rebound was shown…

Backstage, Teddy Long was approached by Kane and Long said that Taker will be coming back to Smackdown next week. Kane said next week will be hell on earth…

Del Rio vs. Rey is next…[C]

[Q8] Alberto Del Rio had his own ring announcer, and he did his own JBL entrance with an jet black Rolls Royce and Rey made his entrance…

4. Alberto Del Rio defeated Rey Mysterio by submission in 10:30. Del Rio started with an smile but turned it into fury by attacking Rey with some nice offense. Del Rio hit an Irish Whip to Rey and attacked him until Rey came back with kicks. Rey hit his offense and tossed Rio outside of the ring to a commercial break. [C]

The show returned with Rey attacking Del Rio in the corner. Del Rio snapped Rey's arm on the ring postand smashed his hand on the ring steps. Rio smiled and pressed his weight on Rey's hand. Del Rio went for the cover for a nearfall. Rey kicked off Del Rio but Del Rio countered with a jumping inziguri.

Del Rio went to the top rope and missed a senton. Rey hit a nasty kick to Del Rio's head for a nearfall. Rey hit a senton and a moonsault for a nearfall. Rey went for the 619 but Rio caught him and tried to slingshot Rey but Rey countered out.

Del Rio hit his sick finisher (leaping spinning armbar submission) and made Rey tap the f--- out!

Mind of Marv: Man, the man who bored me to tears for weeks can actually freaking wrestle and Rey Mysterio did an job to him by submission? Impressive and I'm doing an 180 on this guy's talent. Anyone who can put Rey Mysterio out of commission scores points with me any day.

Overall, this was an average show, especially the first hour and with 4 matches, we got a ton of promos and filler. Del Rio and the Rolls Royce is the shit and he saved this show. But my question is, why did Rey do a job to Del Rio and not Dolph Ziggler? Enough of the conspiracy theories from me…

Chris Shore will fry up the Smackdown Hitlist in the morning and any feedback should be forwarded to dotnetmarv@gmail.com and I'll see you next week.

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