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

[Q1] The opening video aired followed by the pyro. Michael Cole and Mick Foley welcomed us to Smackdown…

MVP’s music hit and he was in the ring for MVP’s Lounge. He said he was there to talk about the draft. He said everybody was available to be moved. He said he liked that because the fans tune in no matter where he is. He said a change of scenery might be good for everyone involved since he feels that he is being under used.

He said it could be for any number of reasons. Management could have no eye for talent, or they could be incompetent, or management could be distracted by a wedding, or it could be because management knows he is better than all of the Fam Damly.

Vickie was rolled out by Hawkins and Ryder and said MVP was insulting her family. She didn’t get the heat like usual. She said MVP was campaigning to be drafted by Raw or ECW. MVP said he didn’t mean to campaign, and he didn’t want to go anywhere, but he didn’t feel appreciated or wanted and if that was true, then he wanted to leave. Vickie tried to speak and the “You Suck” chants and monster heat started finally. Vickie said we’ll see how he feels after going one on one with the ECW Champion Kane…

Backstage, Matt Hardy was shown heading to the ring for his match which Cole said was against Bam Neely…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Somebody get Powell a tissue, the face turn has begun. Its only a matter of time before MVP saves Batista’s or somebody else’s ass and bingo, “I’m a good guy.” I still wonder if he is moving though. I think he should, to Raw.

Back from commercial and Matt Hardy made his way to the ring. Cole plugged the Hardy vs. Chavo match for the U.S. Title at night of Champions. Bam Neely came to the ring for his first one on one match. Really?...

1. Matt Hardy defeated Bam Neely at 6:31. Neely took control early and hit several power moves on Hardy. At 2:45, Hardy teased the Side Effect but Neely countered and hit a big boot. At 5:00, Hardy hit a chin breaker out of a reverse chin lock.

[Q2] Hardy went on the offense and went to climb the rope. Chavo grabbed his leg and Neely slammed Hardy from the second rope. Little Naitch Charles Robinson saw it but instead of DQing Neely, he threw Chavo from ringside. They argued for a minute before Hardy hit the Twist of Fate off of the distraction for the win…

Cole plugged the MVP vs. Kane match for later…[C]

Shore’s Slant: This math felt forced to me. I mean, the work was good, but the matchup seems like it had to be done after the announcement last week of the Hardy vs. Chavo match. And Hardy has been on the shelf for so long after winning the belt that I could really care less. I hope the next feud for that belt is good.

Back from commercial and a Did You Know aired but I wont write it down here because I hate this new trivia blurb crap…

Backstage Chavo was shown bitching at Bam Neely about losing. Edge walked up and Chavo complained about Charles Robinson. Edge said Vickie was going to take care of Robinson and he was going to take car of Matt Hardy for Chavo next week. He said he needed a favor. He said he needed Chavo to take care of Batista tonight. Chavo started to freak but Edge kept repeating “Chavo, trust me.”…

Shore’s Slant: Well, for booking on the fly they are giving us good reasons for the matches we are getting.

Back ringside, Michelle McCool made her way to the ring.

Shore’s Slant: Dear God.

Layla came out next. Cole said Layla said that her recent in ring action had made her more aggressive in bed but also gentler. Layla then did a split through the second rope into the ring.

Shore’s Slant: Dear, Dear God.

2. Michelle McCool defeated Layla at 3:53. Layla took control early throwing McCool out of the ring. She continued to beat on McCool for the first two minutes. Natalya walked out to the ramp to scout the match.

[Q3] McCool regained control by hitting a drop kick. Foley’s new poem for her was Sweet Child of Mine by Guns and Roses. Where’s Palumbo when you need him? McCool locked on the heel lock for the submission win…

Backstage, Vickie was shown talking to her wedding planner. Edge came in and sent the planner out and started telling Vickie about Chavo’s complaint about Charles Robinson. Robinson walked in and Vickie told him she expected impartiality from her officials but Robinson was showing bias against the Fam Damly so tonight he would compete as a wrestler. She sent him to get ready…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Women’s match – is anybody else thinking it’s McCool against Natalya? Vickie Segment – Aww God Da--it. Do we really have to do this? I hate when referees become wrestlers. It’s stupid and weak. It serves no purpose.

3. Vladimir Kozlov defeated Jamie Noble at 3:40. Cole and Foley did a good job as selling this as Kozlov’s most difficult match to date. This match seemed to last a long time, not because it was bad per se but because I’m used to Kozlov 1:20 squashes. Noble did hit a missile dropkick for a two count and locked in a sit down front chin lock for some offense. Other than that, all Kozlov. He hit the body headbutt for the win…

Post match, the announcers plugged Chavo/Batista and MVP/Kane… [C]

Shore’s Slant: I like how WWE has eased Kozlov into better competition instead of how WCW handled Goldberg. He did a fair job selling tonight and is very close to facing a real star.

[Q4] Back from commercial, MVP came to the ring to a quiet crowd. He’s in the tweener stage and they don’t know whether to cheer or boo. Kane came out to his usual pop.

4. MVP Defeated Kane in 6:30 by countout. MVP walked up to Kane talking smack. Kane uppercut him and went on the offense. He hit a powerslam for a two count and then missed an elbow drop. MVP retook control and locked on an armbar. Kane fought out and MVP slapped on a side headlock but Kane hit a belly to back. Kane threw MVP in the corner and went in to an elbow. MVP charged Kane but Kane hit a sidewalk slam.

[Q5] Kane went for the chokelslam but MVP grabbed the rope. Kane clotheslined MVP over the rope. MVP sold an arm injury and walked around the ring yelling at the referee to “Hold on, I’m coming back.” At nine, he teased getting back in the ring but blew off the referee and took the countout.

Post match, Kane attacked MVP outside but Mark Henry came to the ring and attacked Kane. He rolled Kane into the ring and hit the World’s Strongest Slam and left Kane lying in the ring…

Backstage, Charles Robinson was shown pacing around. Chavo came up and shook his hand and wished him luck in his match tonight… [C]

Shore’s Slant: WTF are they doing with MVP? He didn’t look weak last week in the finish but he does now in light of this week. Is he a face or a heel? This is a poor use of him, storylines aside.

A video package of several wrestlers working with the Make a Wish Foundation…

Back from commercial Charles Robinson was introduced and made his way to the ring. Foley speculated that Vickie wouldn’t use Hawkins or Ryder to face him as that would be excessive. Any guesses who came out?

5. Great Khali defeated Charles Robinson at 1:27. Robinson tried to run but was grabbed and hit by Hawkins and Ryder who threw him back in the ring. Referee Mickey Hinson checked on Robinson and called for the bell. Khali hit a shortarm clothesline, knocking Robinson out. He used the foot cover for a one count and picked up Robinson and hit a headbut. He then picked him up and hit the Khali Chop. He sat him up and used the skull crush and Hinson called for the bell.

Post match, the paramedics came out and attended to Robinson while the announce team went silent. They showed a slow motion replay of Robinson getting his head crushed, complete with Khali using his pinkies to smush Robinson’s face into a fish face as they faded to commercial…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Are you f-ing kidding me? What did that serve? What? Khali beat a guy who weighs a buck thirty soaking wet. So Robinson learned his lesson? That was stupid beyond stupid, and the slow-mo replay was way over the top.

[Q6] Back from commercial and Festus and Jesse made their way to the ring. Cole announced that Robinson had been taken to the local medical center. Foley said they should just move on and have some fun.

Shore’s Slant: Huh? You sell the injury as serious and then try to move on and have some fun.

Deuce and Domino cam out next and they were still arguing from last week. This ought to be good…

6. Jesse and Festus defeated Deuce and Domino at 1:38. The bell rang, Festus went nuts, but D&D kept arguing. Festus knocked both of them out of the ring. They beat the crap out of each other with Domino ripping Deuce’s shirt. Deuce fought back and bounced Domino off the announcers table. He threw Domino in the ring who was picked apart by Festus who got the win without Jesse ever seeing the inside of the ring.

Post-match, Jesse and Festus left the ring and Deuce stalked Domino who was down. When Domino sat up, Deuce hit the kick off the rope. Foley said the tag team of Deuce and Domino had officially jumped the shark. Funny…

A video aired recapping ECW GM Teddy Long giving a tag title match to Finlay and Hornswoggle with Miz complaining about it and Finlay slugging him with the shillelagh. They showed Miz and Morrison heading towards the ring as the Miz vs Finlay is next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I agree with Powell on this one, I finally care about Deuce and Domino.

7. Finlay w/Hornswoggle defeated The Miz w/John Morrison at 4:39. Morrison hung out on commentary and he and Foley went back and forth about the Miz. It was funny but it distracted me from the match.

[Q7] At 4:00, Morrison drug Hornswoggle out from under the ring. Finlay went for the save and the Miz was able to take control. Morrison drug Horny out again but this time he had the shillelagh and hit Morrison in the knee. The Miz was distracted by that, allowing Finlay to hit the Celtic Cross for the win…

Post match, Cole plugged Chavo vs Batista next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: You know, Finlay and the Miz looked somewhat good in the ring. This match at NOC might be pretty good. Oh wait, Hornswoggle is a participant, never mind.

Back from commercial, a video recapped the McMahon Million Dollar Mania from this Monday…

The announce team recapped the Night of Champions PPV matches…

[Q8] Batista came to the ring next. Once he was in the ring, Vickie came out to make an announcement and got booed. She yelled “excuse me” several times inciting the crowd. She said that Charles Robinson was the referee assigned to this match, but he obviously was unable to appear for the match. She said she had therefore assigned a special guest referee who if Batista laid a hand on him, he would lose his title shot. The special guest referee is Edge…[C]

Shore’s Slant: SURPRISE!!!

8. Batista defeated Chavo Guerrero at 5:36 by countout.. Pre match, Edge tried to sell like he was a real referee. Batista hit a big suplex and went for a cover. Edge was distracted by his shoes and took a moment to start the count. He counted to one in the slowest count ever. Batista came off the ropes but was tripped by Edge allowing Chavo to take control.

Batista fought back, putting Chavo on his shoulder. Edge grabbed Chavo’s foot, causing Batista to fall and counted two in 0.0000001 seconds before Batista kicked out. Chavo stayed in control and got a couple more quick two counts. Batista regained control and was Hulking up when Bam Neely pulled him out of the ring. Edge quickly counted to 10 for the countout victory for Chavo.

Post match, the Fam Damly beat down Batista after he went after Edge. Since the match was over, Edge was no longer a referee. The show went off with the Fam Damly standing over Batista…

Shore’s Slant: The main event was what it was. I hope that wasn’t the only reason they put Robinson on that match, I hope that at least pays off down the road. Overall, not a bad show. There was fair energy even if the crowd seemed a little out of it. I’m still not happy about the whole MVP thing and if I know Jason Powell—not to name drop or anything—neither will he in his Smackdown Hitlist. The draft is Monday. You can expect a water cooler meeting between Rich Twilling and I later in the week. Look for us then!

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at cshore10@triad.rr.com with whatever is on your mind and check out my blog The Triangle Theory. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

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