WWE TV Reports 6/27 Powell's WWE Smackdown Live Coverage: Triple H and Jim Ross debut, Rey Mysterio says goodbye By Jason Powell Jun 27, 2008 - 09:00 PM Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing WWE Smackdown on The CW Taped June 24 in Houston, Tex. [Q1] A video recapped the WWE Draft... Backstage, Vickie Guerrero sat in her wheelchair and addressed the Vince McMahon accident. She acted like she was fighting back tears and then footage aired of the set collapse. Vickie said she hopes that Vince isn't confined to a wheelchair like she is. She said everyone on Smackdown wishes him a speedy recovery. Vickie said Vince wouldn't want Vince to focus on the negative. She perked up and said he would want everyone to focus on the positive, such as her wedding. She also hyped the new Smackdown arrivals and introduced Jim Ross... In the arena, Jim Ross's music played and he walked to the ring. He waved to the fans and slapped hands at ringside on his way to the announcers' desk. Mick Foley was waiting for Ross and welcomed him. Mick said he knew Ross had some mixed feelings. Ross clapped and said they would take Smackdown where's it's never been before. "I guarantee you that Friday nights will never be the same... Powell's POV: Good introduction. There was so much fan interest in Ross's move to Smackdown that it was a great idea to air his introduction and let him speak positively about the move to start the show. Triple H's music played and he walked to the ring with the WWE Title belt draped over his shoulder. "What a difference a day can make," Hunter said. He pointed out that Vince McMahon was just a crazy guy giving away a million dollars on Raw, while he was the top dog on the Raw brand. "Well, he's still crazy," Hunter said before noting that he didn't think Vince would be giving away a million dollars anytime soon. Hunter said he was comforted by seeing some familiar faces. "I mean it when I say it, Jim, if I had to pick one guy to bring over here with me it would have been you," Hunter said. He also put him over as the greatest announcer in the history of the business. Hunter said as long as the greatest fans in the world are with him, he's home. "Enough with the blatant sucking up, let's get to the blatant shilling," Hunter said. He hyped the Night of Champions pay-per-view and his match against John Cena. Edge walked to the ring with the World Hvt. Title draped over his shoulder and stood there for a few moments to let viewers soak up the image of seeing the two champions in the same ring together. Edge said it was a special moment. "We are the cream of the crop, we are the best of the best," Edge said. He said some people felt that he and Hunter couldn't coexist, but he knows that he and Hunter can get along. Hunter didn't see it that way. "You and I have much bigger egos," Hunter said. "And I can see by looking at you right now that might mine is bigger than yours." Hunter tried to say that he was going to keep his title and that Edge would not. [Q2] Edge cut off Hunter and pointed out that Batista has never beaten him for the title. He added that Hunter tapped out the last time he faced John Cena. Edge said Smackdown is "my house." Edge continued his rant until Batista's music played. Hunter threw Edge over the top rope as Batista was walking to the ring. Batista speared Edge when he stood up. Batista grabbed Edge's belt and then he and Hunter posed in the ring with the title belts together as Ross hyped the Night of Champions pay-per-view... Ross hyped Batista vs. Umaga, and Edge vs. Matt Hardy for later in the show... [C] Powell's POV: Good segment. Edge's smarmy character is supposed to get shown up like that, so I have no problem with Hunter (and Batista) getting the better of him in the initial confrontation. One can only hope that Batista and Umaga can deliver a better match than they had at WrestleMania 24. 1. Big Show and Kane beat MVP and Mark Henry in 5:25. Ross noted that MVP is having contract issues with Vickie Guerrero. Kane slapped Show's hand hard while making a tag. Show pressed MVP over his head and then slammed to the mat early. Impressive. Late in the match, Henry and MVP bickered. MVP started to leave the ring, but Henry grabbed him and threw him back inside. Kane chokeslammed MVP and pinned him. Powell's POV: Does MVP having "contract issues" with Vickie mean could still move to Raw once his storyline contract expires? By the way, the live crowd was very quiet during MVP's ring entrance. [Q3] Backstage, Vickie spoke to her wedding attendant when Edge barged into the room and complained about what Triple H and Batista did to him. She told him to focus on Matt Hardy and promised that he would get his belt back... [C] The announcers introduced an Umaga video. Good intro video that showed him working over several top names with his signature moves... 2. Finlay and Hornswoggle beat Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins at 2:30. Finlay did the grunt work and hit one of the Edgheads with a Celtic Cross. Hornswoggle followed up with a Tadpole Splash for the win. Ross questioned whether a father and son could become the WWE Tag Team Champions. Miz and John Morrison walked onto the stage and pointed at their pay-per-view opponents... Ross hyped Edge vs. Matt Hardy in a champion vs. champion match for after the break. "It's personal and professional and it's next"... [C] Powell's POV: Ross hasn't given any impression that he's bothered by the move to Smackdown. He's called the matches with as much enthusiasm as ever and hasn't snuck in any comments that make it seem like he's unhappy. [Q4] Ross hyped Rey Mysterio's final appearance for later in the show and said he's done as much as anyone to establish Smackdown's identity... 3. Edge pinned Matt Hardy in 13:00. It's billed as a champion vs. champion match, meaning no titles are on the line. Edge was still missing his title belt when he made his entrance. Foley said Edge looked naked without the title belt. Ross said he'd rather not think of Edge naked. After some good opening action, Hardy went for the Twist of Fate, but Edge slipped out and back into the corner. Matt made a hand sign and mouthed the words "this close" as the show went to break. [C] After the break, Ross said Edge seemed evasive and questioned whether he suffered an injury during the altercation with Batista earlier in the show. Good call. [Q5] They really picked it up after the break and Matt scored a series of nearfalls that popped the live crowd. They were working at a really fast pace when Edge hit the spear out of nowhere for the win... Powell's POV: That was one hell of a match. It's a shame these two didn't work together more often while Matt was on Smackdown. This was the best television match I've seen in a while. Ross hyped Batista vs. Umaga for later in the show... [C] The announcers hyped Rey's farewell address and then introduced a Jeff Hardy video to hype his arrival for next week... At ringside, the announcers ran through the pay-per-view lineup. Ross mentioned that the show is sold out and told his buddies over the air that he doesn't have any tickets... Kelly Kelly and Michelle McCool were introduced for a six-Diva tag match. Ross said he was curious to see how Foley would conduct himself compared to his former broadcast partner. Funny... [C] [Q6] 4. Victoria and Natalya and Maryse beat Michelle McCool and Kelly Kelly and Cherry. Foley gave a shout out to his old friend Melina and noted that she suffered a fractured heel on Monday's Raw. A shot aired of Vickie watching the match backstage, as the storyline is that she still hasn't decided which wrestler will face Natalya for the new Diva Title. In the end, Maryse rolled up Cherry for the win amidst some commotion with the other Divas... [C] Powell's POV: There was some good action during this match, including Victoria's standing moonsault. I love that move. Natalya and McCool also had a good exchange. Things weren't so good when Cherry and Maryse were in. Mr. Kennedy's music played and a graphic noted that he would return to Smackdown next week... [Q7] 5. Vladimir Kozlov beat Domino in 2;50. Domino lost Deuce and Maryse, but he gained a beard. He still has the same look and the same music other than the facial hair. Domino knocked Kozlov off his feet once, but it was a squash otherwise. Kozlov used his head as a battering ram when Domino jumped toward him off the ropes and then scored the pin... Backstage, Hornswoggle approached Rey Mysterio and laughed a lot. He handed Rey his hat then jumped into the air and kicked his heels together. Mysterio did the same and then gave the hat back. Horny waved as Mysterio walked away... [C] Powell's POV: Apparently Hornswoggle has lost the ability to speak since he returned to Smackdown. Maybe he'll rediscover that ability on ECW. Rey Mysterio walked to the ring dressed in street clothes. He greeted a few younger fans at ringside and went out of his way to find kids who were wearing his mask. He said he came to Smackdown with dreams six years ago. He pointed out that he became cruiserweight champion, tag team champion, and then stressed World Hvt. Champion. "Is this where my journey ends?" he asked. "Smackdown will always have a place in my heart along with all of you guys." He spoke in Spanish to close out the promo. Batista's music played and he walked to the ring dressed in his ring gear. He carried Edge's title belt with him while Ross stressed that they are as close as brothers. Batista hugged Rey and they smiled as the show cut to commercial... Powell's POV: Good promo. The live crowd was very responsive to Rey. He's still very over despite all the time he's missed due to injuries. They're either passing out his masks to kids near the guardrail or he's doing some monster merchandise business. [Q8] [C] The Raw rewind showed footage of Edge and Batista bumping heads while simultaneously going for spears... Powell's POV: Am I the only person who is surprised to see Batista wrestling again so quickly? He was clearly knocked silly at Raw on Monday. I'm surprised they didn't hold him out until Sunday as a precaution. 6. Batista beat Umaga by DQ in 7:00. Foley said Batista had four stitches in the side of his head after bumping heads with Edge. Umaga targeted Batista's head right from the start. He dominated Batista for most of the match, as Batista sold the head injury. Batista came back late in the match and then motioned for his finisher, but La Familia hit the ring for the DQ. Edge grabbed his title belt back and then joined the rest of the group in beating down Batista. Umaga hit his corner ass splash and set up for a top rope splash, but Triple H came out and knocked him off the top rope. Hunter entered the ring and beat the hell out of everyone. He hit the Pedigree on one of the Edgeheads while Batista hit the Batista Bomb on the other. Edge backed up the ramp with his title belt draped over his shoulder... Powell's POV: Good show. If Umaga was the only person switching brands then I'm sure he would have hit the top rope splash. However, they had to find a way for Hunter to make an impact in his Smackdown debut (or return). Logical. It's worth noting that Bam Neely was missing. Are his La Familia days over? I'll have more to say about the show in Saturday's WWE Smackdown Hitlist. 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