By Marv Hermanstyne

WWE Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in Bloomington, IL

[Q1] The opening montage aired and announcers said that Kane had a challenge for the Undertaker later tonight.

1. World Heavyweight Champion Kane defeated Chris Masters in 6:00. Kane hit a shoulder block for a quick one count to Masters. Kane hit a uppercut and Masters hit some instant offense and tried to apply the Master Lock, but Kane powered out by ramming Masters into the ring ropes. Kane kicked Masters in his knee and hit another uppercut. Kane pressed his weight on Masters' knee and choked him out on the ropes.

Kane took over the match by attacking Masters in the corner with clotheslines. Kane dissected Masters knee and midsection with blows. Kane hit a low dropkick to Masters for a near fall. Kane continued the attack with a uppercut from the top rope. Kane chokeslammed Masters and mocked Taker with the throat slash motion. Kane hit the Tombstone on Masters to win the match…

Mind of Marv: 95% of this match was Kane squashing Masters. This was a good opening match for Kane because his dominance is just incredible at this peak of his career. Why didn't he get this push 5 years ago?

Kane said this past Sunday, whatever remains of Taker didn't stop him. He said he tok everything Taker have to offer and he was nothing but a pile of ruins. He ripped the fans in attendance and everyone at home by calling them weak and pathetic. He said Taker's fear make him weak and pathetic. Kane went in the audience and scared this shit out of this kid in attendance. He said no one can stop him and this monster isn’t going anywhere.

He says tonight, he has a challenge for Taker that he can't deny. He said he destroyed his body and he is coming back for his legend and soul…[C] [Q2]

Mind of Marv: Kane continues to be money on the mic and I'm so glad that he is writing most of his promos because they have been remarkable.

2. WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre defeated The Hart Dynasty to retain in 7:30. Drew and DH started the matchup and DH hit a belly to belly suplex on Drew for a near fall. The Harts worked on Drew with some nice offense. [C]

The show returned with Drew clotheslining DH and DH countered with a jawbreaker to Drew. Cody got tagged in and worked on DH. The heels worked on DH until DH hit a scoop slam to Drew. DH hit an electric chair on Cody and struggled to make the tag to Kidd. Kidd and Drew tagged in and Kidd hit instant offense on Drew for a near fall. Kidd hit a neckbreaker from the top rope and Drew hit a big boot to DH. Drew hit the Future Shock DDT on Kidd after he threw him into the exposed ring post.

Mind of Marv: Forgettable tag team match because The Harts in my opinion has gotten buried in this depleted tag team division. They had to be the weakest tag champions in recent history…

[Q3] Backstage, Taker was looking so sorry for himself. Elsewhere, Alberto Del Rio taunted Christian and Christian was grasping his arm. [C]

Mind of Marv: For those who didn't get the news, Christian has an injury that will sideline him for six months and it’s a big blow to the Smackdown roster…particularly the babyfaces because this brand is heel heavy.

The Raw Rebound was shown and the HIAC card was run down. The Dudebusters was teaching Teddy Long how to say Dudebusters and Teddy Long asked them what they were doing. The DBs was moving things and Hornswoggle was continuing with is bullshit…

Meanwhile, Punk was in the locker room with Luke Gallows. Punk told Gallows to get out and told him that he wasn't worthy of straightedge. Gallows choked him out and said that Punk was not better than anyone else. Gallows says that he knows that he is better than him and when he beats Punk, he will go get a beer. [C]

Mind of Marv: The Long, DBs and Hornswoggle segment…I just shooked my damn head. Gallows roughing up Punk…now this is going somewhere. Looking forward to their match, later…

[Q4] 3. Chavo Guerrero beat Kaval in 4:30. Chavo got the early advantage but Kaval hit a inverted missile dropkick to Chavo and a spinning heel kick for a nearfall. Kaval used to the ropes to choke Chavo and Chavo took advantage by working on Kaval outside of the rope. Chavo hit some nice offense and Kaval countered with some clotheslines and a springboard kick to Chavo. Chavo hit the three Amigos and missed the Frog Splash. Kaval hit a dropkick for a nearfall.

Kaval fell off the ring and Chavo hit the Frog Splash for the win. An update on Rey Mysterio is next…[C]

Mind of Marv: OK match, but this Illinois State crowd is dead as hell. If WWE took cruiserweight wrestling seriously, this match would mean so much more…

The Smack of the Night was Del Rio putting Rey out of commission last month and Del Rio made his entrance. Del Rio introduced himself and said that Christian has begged him for a match for weeks and he said tonight was ready. He asked where Christian is and said that he's crying like a baby in the parking lot. He said all his opponents end up in the hospital and he showed the video of him putting out Rey.

[Q5] Del Rio had a priceless smile on his face and said he has something for the crowd. He said that Rey is coming back to Smackdown next week and he challenged Del Rio to a match. Del Rio said that he doesn't want to fight him and he will give him a kiss on the cheek. Christian interrupted Del Rio and he beat on Del Rio until the ring announcer held Christian's leg. Del Rio applied his finisher on Christian and Christian screamed in agony. Del Rio grabbed a chair and slammed Christian's arm into the ring post.

Mind of Marv: Del Rio is being a badass and I can't wait for him to face Rey again. The first match was good and we should get a classic next week on a Live Smackdown. The injury angle was perfect for Christian and he will be missed on this brand.

Backstage, Taker was still looking sorry for himself and mentally beatdown…[C]

The Gatecrashers were in the ring for their match and Show got a big pop from the crowd.

4. Big Show squashed Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer in a two-on-one handicap match in 1:10. Hawkins and Show started the match and Show got the slap fest and his offense going. Archer got in and Show hit a belly to back suplex and applied the Cobra Clutch for the quick win.

Mind of Marv: The Tag Team division is just as shitty as the Diva division. The Harts get buried, The Dudebusters are movers for the night, Archer and Hawkins get squashed and you have two singles guys as champions, can someone please explain this to me?

Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed Swagger and Swagger put himself over. In the meantime, the Dudebusters took all his stuff and put it in the SyFy moving box. [C] [Q6]

5. C.M. Punk defeated Luke Gallows in 3:30. Gallows dominated with a big boot and a flapjack to Punk. Gallows threw Punk across the ring and choked him around the ropes. Punk hit a crossbody to Gallows and applied an submission to Gallows. Gallows powered out and Punk hit a dropkick for a nearfall. Gallows got back on the offense and went for a cover for a nearfall. Gallows missed a splash in the corner and Punk hit the GTS for the win.

Mind of Marv: Another OK match which made Gallows look strong in defeat. Where does Punk go from here? That's the question...

Taker still looking sorry in the back…[C]

[Q7] 6. MVP beat Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler by countout in 11:30. MVP hit a nice throw to Dolph to start the match and Dolph got thrown outside of the ring towards Kaitlyn and Vickie got jealous. Dolph got back in the ring an MVP hit Drive By Kick to Dolph towards Kaitlyn again. Vickie got mad and Kaitlin shoved Vickie and left. Dolph attended to Vickie and she told him to get away from her. [C]

The match returned with MVP missing the Drive By and Dolph went for a quick cover for a nearfall. Dolph hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall and went on a elbow rage for another nearfall. Dolph applied a body scissors and missed a crossbody. MVP threw Dolph and hit some offense before setting up the Play of Day, but Dolph countered into schoolboy rollup for another nearfall.

MVP hit the Drive By Kick for a nearfall. Dolph hit a hangman on MVP and went for the Zig Zag but MVP knocked him off and Dolph took his belt and got counted out.

Mind of Marv: Let me reiterate, I like Dolph as a wrestler, but he is not over. If you going to get the belt off him, MVP would be perfect to do so. But otherwise, this match was sour at best and did nothing for me.

Backstage, Rosa was skipping rope and the Dudebusters was moving stuff and Hornswoggle directed Vickie into the truck because he told her that Katelyn was inside. The truck moved off and meanwhile, Taker was still mopping around and he told someone to get out and then he had this revelation look in his face…[C]

Mind of Marv: The big surprise is next, if you haven't read the spoilers. Don't read them if you haven’t!

Kane talked about breaking Taker down at Night of Champions and how it's his yard. He said he knows that Taker is wondering why he didn't end things at NOC and Kane said it's all in good time and the fun just started. He said he will raise the stakes and the end of the Undertaker is coming.

He said things will occur in HIAC and he is not welcomed in hell. He said all the lost souls all answer to him and Taker needs to understand that he no choice and he will face him at HIAC. He said his tombstone will say: Here lies the Undertaker, he will never R.I.P. and he will forever burn. The bell toll rang and druid brought out a casket.

Kane said that things are over and Kane opened the casket and Paul Bearer popped up with the urn. The lights went out and Taker beat on Kane while Bearer observed with the urn. Taker went for a chokeslam, but Kane ran off. Kane looked like he saw a ghost and Taker got down on one knee and grabbed the urn. Taker regained his power and Kane screamed NO to end the show…

Mind of Marv: Very good ending that was needed for this show because this show was very lackluster at best. It was like watching TNA Impact on a bad night. The return of Paul Bearer should be good for old school viewers like me, but to the casual viewer….I suggest you get some DVDs or VHS and watch some old footage and you will come to like this angle even more.
A video was shown with a preview of next week's show which will feature John Cena and the Nexus appearing on the show.

Mind of Marv: Please let this be a one-time deal because if all these guys become permanent on Smackdown, I will cry…not really.

Chris Shore will provide 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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