WWE Smackdown on The CW
Taped in San Jose, Calif.

[Q1] Michael Cole and Mick Foley introduced the show from ringside and noted that the draft is on Monday and therefore it could be the last time they see several wrestlers on the brand. Cole also noted that it could be the last time he and Foley broadcast together...

In the ring, MVP hosted a Player's Lounge segment. He put over the draft and noted that everyone, including the referees, are eligible for the draft. MVP said he's willing to go to whatever franchise is willing to utilize his talent. "A change of environment would probably be good for everyone involved because I don't feel like my talents are being properly utilized by the management of this show."

MVP speculated that Vickie Guerrero was too busy with her wedding to feature him properly. He also said he could be bigger than La Familia. Vickie was wheeled onto the stage by Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins. She accused him of campaigning to go to Raw or ECW. He said he wasn't trying to insult her or her family and apologized. He pointed out that she wanted him to beat C.M. Punk and that's what he did.

Vickie interrupted him. The crowd booed. She said he barely won the match. Cole pointed out that he won by disqualification. "I'm not trying to leave this franchise," MVP said. "I'm the face of this franchise. Hell, I don't want to go anywhere." He said he feels like he's not wanted by Vickie and therefore he doesn't want to be there.

Vickie accused him of trying to negotiate his contract in public. She booked MVP in a singles match against Kane for later in the show. MVP wasn't pleased. He threw the mic down and glared at Vickie... A shot aired of Matt Hardy walking backstage with the U.S. Title draped over his shoulder, as Cole said Hardy would face Bam Neely after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: Nice segment. I can't tell whether MVP is headed to Raw or sticking around and turning babyface. I think he could get over as a babyface and eventually will be big in that role, but I'd rather see him stay heel for a while longer.

[Q2] 1. Matt Hardy pinned Bam Neely (w/Chavo Guerrero) in a non-title match in 6:30. Cole pointed out that this was Neely's first singles match on Smackdown. Neely overpowered Hardy with punches, kicks, and a chinlock. Later, Chavo grabbed Hardy's leg while he climbed to the top rope. The referee saw him and ejected Chavo. He didn't even make it backstage before Hardy hit the Twist of Fate and scored the pin... [C]

Powell's POV: Neely's offense was unimpressive. He didn't do anything that really stood out. Disappointing.

A "Did You Know" graphic sang WWE's DVD success over the years... Backstage, Chavo complained that Charles Robinson has it out for La Familia. Edge promised that Vickie would take care of Robinson. Edge asked Chavo to face Batista in the main event. Chavo wasn't pleased. Edge asked Chavo to trust him and then walked away...

[Q3] 2. Michelle McCool beat Layla via submission in 4:05. Foley read a poem about Michelle that was actually the lyrics to Guns-n-Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine." Not very funny, but at least he has good taste. Natalya came out and watched the match from the stage. McCool won with the heel hook. Natalya nodded her head on the stage as if to say she was impressed by McCool's performance...

Powell's POV: Layla has a great scowl that just screams "Bitch!" Michelle is definitely the better of the two in the ring, but Layla carries herself well. Michelle pre-match routine looks really forced, especially the part where she shakes her ass as she's getting into the ring. She strikes me as a naturally athletic girl. That's appealing enough and she shouldn't force the ass shaking.

Backstage, Edge stood by while Vickie scolded referee Charles Robinson. She accused him of trying to help Undertaker at WrestleMania and then trying to give him the World Hvt. Title even though he won by countout at Judgment Day. She said he ejected Chavo for no good reason. Vickie also pointed out that he's a single father who needs his job and then booked him in a match against an unnamed opponent for later in the show... [C]

Powell's POV: Maybe this explains why referees are eligible to be drafted.

[Q4] 3. Vladimir Kozlov beat Jamie Noble in 3:45. Noble got more offense than most wrestlers do against Kozlov. Noble hit a missile dropkick and Foley pointed out that it was only the second time that anyone had knocked Kozlov off his feet. Noble locked in a choke and the announcers did a good job of pointing out that Kozlov was in trouble. Kozlov came back and scored the clean pin... [C]

Powell's POV: The announcers did a good job during this match. They put over the Noble's submission attempt and then Foley made it feel very sport-like by stressing that Noble may have exposed a chink in Kozlov's armor that other wrestlers could expose.

The announcers reminded viewers that they have to reregister in order to win Vince McMahon's money on Raw...

4. Kane beat MVP via countout in a non-title match in 7:00. The announcers said Noble may have suffered a cracked rib when he jumped off the ropes and Kozlov rammed his head into his ribs during the previous match. Foley taunted Cole by pondering about how much he would learn if he worked with Jim Ross every week.

[Q5] MVP used submission holds and Kane used crowd-pleasing power moves. Late in the match, MVP was selling a shoulder injury at ringside. The ref started counting him out and MVP told him to slow down and that he was going to get back inside the ring. He knelt on the ring apron at eight and then headed back to the floor at nine for the intentional countout. Afterward, Mark Henry came out and attacked Kane...

Backstage, Chavo entered Charles Robinson's dressing room and wished him good luck in his match. Cole said Robinson's match was coming up after the break... [C]

5. The Great Khali defeated Charles Robinson in 1:30. Robinson tried to run away once Khali entered the ring. However, embers of La Familia ran out and prevented him from leaving. They threw him back in the ring. Khali teased pinning him, but picked him up twice before finishing him off with the big chop of death and the head vice. Afterward, the trainers placed Robinson in a neck brace and stretchered him out...

Powell's POV: Quick and painless. Robinson did a great job of selling the chop and then stuck his tongue out while locked in the head vice. Nice work, Lil' Naitch.

[Q6] [C] 6. Jesse and Festus beat Deuce and Domino in 1:45. Festus flipped to start the match. Moments later, Deuce and Domino were fighting one another at ringside. Domino got the better of the exchange initially, but Deuce came back and threw his partner back inside the ring. Festus finished him off a few moments later. Afterward, Deuce kicked Domino's head and then threw his jacket over his face...

Powell's POV: There was no need for anyone to sell for Jesse and Festus, so Jesse never even checked into the match.

Highlights aired from ECW of Finlay smacking The Miz with his shillelagh... A shot aired of Miz and John Morrison walking together backstage... [C]

[Q7] 6. Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) beat The Miz in 4:45. John Morrison joined Cole and Foley on commentary. Morrison left commentary and grabbed Horny's legs underneath the ring. Finlay was distracted temporarily. Horny struck Morrison's knee with a shillelagh. Back inside the ring, Finlay hit the Celtic Cross and pinned Miz... [C]

Powell's POV: Yawn. The Hornswoggle act is really tired right now and it's managed to draw Finlay down with him.

Highlights aired from Raw of Vince McMahon giving away his million dollars... The announcers ran through the NIght of Champions pay-per-view lineup...

[Q8] Batista made his entrance for the main event. Vickie rolled onto the stage and was joined by Chavo and Bam Neely. She said Charles Robinson was supposed to referee the main event, but since he was incapacitated she called in a special referee. She said Batista would lose his title match if he laid a hand on the referee. She introduced Edge as the special guest referee... [C]

Powell's POV: Nice. I like the way they set that up. Vickie is getting mega-heat just by saying, "Excuse me" to the crowd during her promos.

7. Chavo Guerrero (w/Bam Neely) defeated Batista via countout in 5:45 with Edge as special guest referee. The announcers reiterated that Batista would lose his title shot at the pay-per-view if he laid a hand on Edge. Batista held Chavo up in the vertical suplex position and then slammed him to the mat. He made the cover, but Edge pretended his shoe was untied. Edge made a ridiculously fast count when Chavo made a cover. Funny.

Later, Neely reached in and pulled down Batista, who followed him to ringside. Edge made the world's fastest 10 count for the countout. Vickie smiled and clapped from the stage. Afterward, La Familia beat down Batista while Edge called the shots. The other members held up Batista for Edge, who speared him to close the show...

Powell's POV: That wasn't a particularly memorable main event, but it served its purpose in putting heat on the heels. Edge was hilarious and the live crowd hated his guts for screwing Batista. Very funny. The overall show was decent, although hardly newsworthy. I'll have more to say about the show in the Smackdown Hitlist on Saturday.

Check out Chris Shore's review, which will be posted shortly. Plus, Rich Twilling will be providing live coverage as the show airs on the West Coast.

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