By Chris Shore

Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 9/7/10 in Baltimore, Md.

[Q1] A video recapped Kane’s promo from last week…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped Undertaker vs. CM Punk for later…Hell’s Bells tolled and the lights went out. They came on, and Undertaker was in the ring while fire erupted on the stage. Taker said Kane had always been a freak of nature. He said he had always protected him, and that’s why he had no problem doing what had to be done at Night of Champions.

He said Kane had a false sense of security because he thought he controlled the dark powers. Taker assured everyone he was still in control. He said he would give Kane unpleasant memories at NOC. He said Kane would always remember when his older, wiser, more dominant brother took back his world title. He said when they finally faced they would unleash hell on each other and he couldn’t wait. He said no rules could contain them, so at NOC it would be no holds barred. He looked in the camera and asked Kane if he was in.

CM Punk’s music hit and he came to the ramp alone doing the slow clap. He told everyone to stand up and give the dead man a standing ovation. He told them they could do better so they did. He said he knew what everybody else knew, that after NOC, they would never see Taker again. Punk said nothing thrilled him more that seeing Taker on his own personal downward spiral.

He said he saw a broken down old man who had picked too many fights. He said he saw no signs of the phenom. Taker said when he looked at Punk he saw his next victim. Punk said that wasn’t going to happen. He said he was going to deliver a message to Big Show. He said the power of a giant and the power of the darkside were no comparison to the power of straight edge. Taker said all Punk would do is rest in peace…

Shore’s Slant: Solid opening segment. Taker still looks like crap, but you can tell it’s on purpose now. Punk is a good foil for Taker at this point, and it will be nice to see what Taker has left in the tank. By the way, the Lay to my Cool, Marv Hermanstyne, is a little under the weather so keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

[Q2] Jack Swagger made his entrance while a video recapped his altercation with MVP last week. MVP was out next…

1. Jack Swagger defeated MVP at 8:18. MVP started out in control. He hit two belly to back suplexes in a row, followed by a drop toe hold and knee to the back of the head for two. Swagger retook control with a clothesline. Swagger locked in a rest hold. The crowd chanted MVP into the break…[C]

Back at 5:43, MVP punched Swagger, only to get hit with a big boot. MVP got the knees up on the corner splash and took control. He hit the drive by in the corner for a great near fall. Swagger rolled to the floor and MVP followed. Swagger kicked the stairs into MVP’s leg. He rolled him in the ring and slammed the leg against the ring post. Swagger locked in the ankle lock for the submission win.

[Q3] Backstage, Team LayCool were talking about how either of them could face Melina, and then they argued about who would get to. Kaval was behind them and asked them to stop the clucking so he could prepare for his first night. They said he owed them because they made him the NXT winner. He said they would talk about it later and walked off. LayCool started fighting again…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Pretty good match between Swagger and MVP, though I hate to see MVP job again. Especially to a submission, which is so much more in wrestling than MMA. Swagger needs to get back to the main event soon. It misses him for sure.

A video recapped the history of the Undertaker and Kane…The announce team hyped Taker vs Punk…Matt Hardy was shown heading towards the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Whooooooohooooooooo! I love the WWE production team.

[Q4] Tony Chimel introduced Alberto del Rio’s personal announcer who introduced del Rio. He was driving a white Bentley tonight. A video recapped his celebration last week, and his face off with Christian. Matt limped out to Jeff’s heat…

2. Alberto del Rio defeated Matt Hardy at 11:12. Hardy started out in charge. Del Rio reversed a whip, but Hardy grabbed the ropes. Del Rio tried for a drop kick, but Hardy moved and del Rio flew through the ropes in a sick spot. Hardy hit a plancha and rolled del Rio in the ring. He climbed up on the apron, and del Rio hit a great enziguri kick…[C]

Back at 5:03, del Rio had a chin lock on Hardy. Hardy finally woke up and hit a side effect for two. Hardy barely hit a moonsault from the top for two. Hardy tried for Twist of Fate, but del Rio shoved him into the corner. Del Rio went to the top, and he and Hardy battled. He dropped off the side and rapped Hardy’s arm on the top rope. He drove Hardy into the ring post and then hooked his cross arm breaker for the submission win. Post-match, del Rio started to attack Hardy again, but Christian made the save. Del Rio said that Christian would pay…

[Q5] A video package previewed Legendary…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good match here. Hardy was slow as always, but del Rio carried him well. That guy is a star. I’m tired of pussy-footing about it. He has the look, the charisma, the skills, and the always elusive “it” factor. His feud with Christian should be hot, But how much you want to bet Christian makes a Golden Shower joke now that del Rio uses Orton’s curtain of sparks?

3. Drew McIntyre defeated Kaval at 3:57. Drew started out with power moves. Kaval came back and hit a spinning kick for two. He tried for a springboard move, but McIntyre swept the legs. Drew went to the floor and hit a suplex from the floor onto the ring apron. Awesome. He rolled Kaval in the ring for two and worked a rest hold.

Kaval kneed McIntyre in the head out of a suplex lift. He charged at McIntyre in the corner and jumped up. Drew tossed him over his head. Kaval landed on his feet and hit a flying Chuck kick from the top. Wow. He went to the top and Drew rolled to the floor. Kaval hit a knee to the face and jumped off the apron. Drew caught him and slammed him into the wall. He rolled Kaval back in the ring and hit the Future Shock for the win. Post-match, Team LayCool came out and helped Kaval to the back…

Shore’s Slant: Excellent first “real” match for Kaval. McIntyre made him look good in defeat, and he got to show off some fancy moves. That was the first time I have seen him outside of NXT (yea, I know I suck) and I think his winning was the right call.

[Q6][C] “Dashing” Cody Rhodes’s grooming tip was for acne. He was sporting a cucumber melon mask. Or at least that’s what my wife assures me it was. God I hate these bits…

Vickie Guerrero and her NXT Rookie came to the ramp. Vickie gave the mic to Kaitlyn and told her to “do it.” She started to speak, and then Vickie pulled the mic away. She chastised Kaitlyn and introduced Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler came out with Chavo Guerrero. A video recapped the current Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston feud, and the announce team hyped the Intercontinental title would change hands on a countout or disqualification at NOC. Kingston made his entrance with Chris Masters…

4. Kofi Kingston and Chris Masters defeated Chavo Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero and Kaitlyn) at 2:47. Late in the match, Ziggler and Kingston were laid out in the ring. Masters distracted the ref and Chavo got the legal tag. The ref tossed him out and said he didn’t see the tag. Kingston hit Trouble in Paradise for the win…

Shore’s Slant: Glad these guys made it on TV…….I guess.

[Q7] The announce team ran down the NOC card…Backstage, Bug Show pretended to be Josh Matthews. He then had a schizophrenic conversation with himself. Kelly Kelly walked up and called him a nerd. He said he wasn’t a nerd, he was a giant. He said he had taken apart the SES, beating Joey Mercury, Luke Gallows, and “that other bald headed guy.” Josh Matthews walked up and Show hid the mic under his arm. Kelly told him to give it to Matthews. Show smelled it and handed it to Matthews who took it and left. He waived his arm stench at Kelly…[C]

Shore’s Slant: What the hell was that?

Punk made his ring entrance with the SES. He screamed at them on the ramp and sent them backstage. Undertaker made his long ass entrance…

[Q8] 5. The Undertaker defeated CM Punk at 14:10. The first minute of this match happened in the last quarter. Taker started in control and went for Old School. He fell and straddled the ropes. Punk hit a dropkick that spilled Taker to the floor…[C]

Back at 5:22, Punk worked on Taker’s shoulder. A video showed Punk slam Taker face first into the stairs during the break. Punk hooked a figure four head lock, but Taker made the ropes and rolled to the floor. Punk followed and worked Taker there. Taker came back and hit the leg drop on the apron, but it took a lot out of him.

Taker tried for the boot in the corner but Punk moved and hit a big kick on Taker. Taker fought back and hit Snake Eyes. He slowly hit the ropes for a big boot, but Punk hit a heel kick instead. Out of nowhere, Taker hit a choke slam for a great near fall. He lifted Punk for the Tombstone. Punk escaped and hit GTS. Punk crawled over for the cover, but Taker locked in Hell’s Gate for the submission win.

Post-match, Taker dropped to his knee for his normal victory pose. Instead of his music and lights, fire popped from the ring posts and Kane’s music played. Kane’s maniacal laughter filled the arena…

Shore’s Slant: Good ending to a good show. Taker played the weakened version very well. Of course I’m sure it helps that he is a weakened version of himself. Still, he looked like he has some gas left, and Punk helped him look as good as he was supposed to. The ending was very nice as well. 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.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: