Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 6/30/09 in Fresno, Calif.

[Q1]The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Jim Ross welcomed us to Smackdown. CM Punk was introduced and he made his ring entrance to a mostly silent audience. He is still making a face entrance, calling for cheers. When his music stopped, it was mostly boos. Punk said he was sick and tired of being accused of taking the ref out to escape from Jeff Hardy.

He showed video that showed his foot under the rope, disputing the notion Hardy was robbed. He said where he came from, the rules still mattered. Great line. He showed video of his eye “injury” and the kick on the ref. Punk said it was obvious he couldn’t see and that’s why he kicked the ref. He said he had always been a competitor and had never taken the cheap way out. He said he understood why Jeff was upset, but it did not excuse Hardy’s actions.

Video played that showed Jeff’s post match attack at The Bash. Punk continued to put over his integrity and tried to paint Jeff as the bad guy. Punk said he heard Jeff wanted a rematch. He said that was fine, but he wanted an apology from Jeff, and he wanted it immediately. Teddy Long’s music hit and he came to the ring. Teddy said he was going to get to the point. He said at the Night of Champions, he would face Jeff Hardy once again. He said Mr. McMahon liked the way he handled The Bash and wanted to continue to see controversy. Teddy announced the Edge/Jericho vs. Hardy/Punk main event.

Jeff Hardy’s music hit and he came to the ring. He got right in Punk’s face. He asked him if straight edge meant he was a liar. Punk said if the next words out of Jeff’s mouth weren’t “I am sorry,” he could just shut up. Hardy said he was sorry for the way he was going to beat the hell out of Punk at NOC. He pushed Punk and Punk pushed him back. Long broke them up. Punk said it was OK, but Hardy needed to be on the same page with him or the tag champs would tear them up. He said he could see Hardy’s temper about to boil over and attack Punk. Punk said Hardy should do something Punk had done long ago. He got right in his face and said, “Just say no.” Punk walked off looking smug…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Solid opening segment that keeps the heel turn just over the horizon. Jeff Hardy learns to cut a promo 10 weeks before he leaves WWE? Nice timing Jeff. I hope to God he re-ups. The main event should be great.

[Q2]A video hyped the Hunter/Cena match on Raw…Back ringside, Ricky Ortiz was in the ring. Finlay made his ring entrance. Ortiz got a mic and asked Finlay if he was upset that he lost his little friend. Ortiz told Finlay to rally up and put the towel on Finlay’s shoulder. Finlay slapped him…

1. Finlay defeated Ricky Ortiz at 2:26. Finlay beat on Ortiz until he went to the floor. Ortiz hit a powerslam when Finlay charged him on the floor. Back in the ring, Ortiz hit a belly to back for two. Ortiz charged at Finlay. He moved and Ortiz hit the pole. Finlay worked his offense, hitting Rolling Hills for two. Ortiz tried a gut wrench lift, but Finlay reversed into the Celtic Cross for the win…

Backstage, Dolph Ziggler was doing pushups. Maria walked up and introduced herself. Ziggler did the same. They talked for a second and Maria said she had a good time last night. After some Twillight-esque flirting, they agreed to see each other again. Maria wished him luck in his match and he said he just might get lucky tonight…[C]

Shore’s Slant: What are they doing with Ziggler and Maria. He’s a heel, she’s not. Odd. I’ve decided I’m going to have my slants the same length as the matches are. So, good to see Finlay back on Smackd.

Back from commercial, the announce team hyped Rey Mysterio vs. Kane…Ziggler made his ring entrance. A video recapped the return of Kane. R-Truth made his lame ass entrance. If he faced Undertaker, the whole show would be their entrances and match…

2. Dolph Ziggler defeated R-Truth at 3:03. Ziggler hit a couple of strikes and yelled, “What’s up now?” Truth went on the offense and did his split duck and a hip toss for one. Truth went back at Ziggler and the ref forced the break. Ziggler attacked and worked heel moves on Truth. He locked in a full nelson, but Truth fought out.

[Q3]Truth worked quick offense and then a powerslam for two. Truth hit a jumping front kick. Ziggler was on the apron, and Truth tried to pull him up. Ziggler dropped down and hit a hangman on Truth. Ziggler slid back in the ring and hit The Finishing Maneuver Most in Need of a Name for the win…The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good match for both guys. Truth looked like he would win it and Ziggler came back. That could be heel or face, though his offense was definitely heelish. I still don’t know what the angle with Maria is for. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Back from commercial, oh God, Cryme Tyme’s Word Up played. Eve and her tits told us the word of the day was wanksta, a fake gangster. They hid behind some fake plants and looked for one. Jesse was there to oblige. He called them wankstas when they walked off…Rey Mysterio made his ring entrance…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Hayes gets suspended for what he said at Mania but this crap is allowed to go on every week? I asked my one black friend (who was raised by WASPs) and he assures me that being called the “n” word is much worse than continuing to create characters and market them to an impressionable PG audience, thereby reinforcing stereotypes to the next generation. And since we all know one black man speaks for the whole race, looks like I was wrong.

[Q4]3. Kane defeated Rey Mysterio at 11:11. Rey got in a couple of quick strikes, but Kane floored him. Kane worked his ground and pound offense. Rey fought back and dropped Kane for 619. Kane caught him and tried for a chokeslam. Rey slipped out, but Kane dropped him in the corner and stomped on him. The ref broke them and checked on Rey into the break…[C]

Back from commercial at the 5:50 mark and Kane hit a big boot. He tossed Rey to the floor and followed. He picked him up and drove his back across the post. Kane went back in the ring and waited. Rey made it in at nine. Kane continued to work on the back. Rey tried to fight out, but Kane hit a clothesline for two. He hit a belly to back for two. He dropped Mysterio across his leg and stretched him out.

Rey kneed out and hit a drop toe hold and a West Coast pop. He followed up with an around the world reverse DDT for two. He went to the top, but Kane punched him out of the air for two. Mysterio ducked a chokeslam attempt and hit a drop kick and a 619. He went to the top, but Kane caught him when he came off and turned it into a chokeslam for the win. Post match, Kane went to beat on Mysterio some more, but Khali’s music hit and he and Mini Me came out with a chair. Kane left through the crowd…

Jericho was backstage. Josh Matthews said Jericho asked for this time. Jericho said it was great to see Mysterio get what he deserved. He said it would be even worse when he used his rematch clause next week. Edge walked up and said tonight it was about them beating a team that isn’t unified.

[Q5]Jericho said they were the best in the business and tonight, they would prove it…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I don’t know if I am happy or upset about this. Rey has never done it for me, and neither has Kane. If they both went away, I wouldn’t lose any sleep. It was a good match, technically, but I just don’t care about them much. My love of the Rey/Jericho feud is mostly Jeircho. Speaking of, how good were he and Edge on the mic? They alone can spice Raw up as the tag champs.

Back from commercial, The Hart Dynasty made their entrance. Cryme Tyme were out next. JR and Grisham talked ghetto to each other. I shit you not…

4. Cryme Tyme defeated The Hart Dynasty w/Natalya at 4:48. JTG and Tyson Kidd started out. JTG worked on Kidd. Kidd slid to the floor and JTG gave chase. Kidd tagged in David Hart Smith and he attacked JTG. He drove JTG back to the corner and tagged in Kidd. They worked JTG in the corner. Kidd covered for two and locked in a rest hold. JTG fought out and hit a unique flying lariat. Double hot tag led to Shad dumping Kidd to the floor and then squashing Smith. Kidd made the save, but JTG took him out. Shad whipped Smith, JTG hit a reverse hangman on him, and Shad hit his finisher (Did Grisham call it the Thugnipens?)for the win…The Raw Rebound video was Batsita’s screwing of Orton...

Shore’s Slant: Welcome to the big show Harts. I hope this is the last time you are buried, but I won’t hold my breath. I do like that we now have two legitimate tag teams and the tag champs on Smackdown, but I don’t see a revival of the tag division.

[Q6][C]Back from commercial, the announce team hyped the main event…Michelle McCool and Layla made their entrance. They were followed by Maria and Melina…

5. Maria and Melina defeated Michelle McCool and Layla at 3:13. Layla and Melina started out. Layla took the beat down and Maria tagged in. Maria went to kick Layla, but she kicked her other leg and Maria did a split and sold a leg injury. McCool tagged in and worked the leg. She and Layla tagged in and out and continued to focus on the leg. Maria got the hot tag and Melina worked on McCool who quickly tagged out. Melina hit her standing legdrop finisher for the win…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I hate the women’s division now. I just want them to go away. I was hoping they would do something with it, but I’m a fool. Let them be eye candy and give more ring time to the Harts or Morrison and Ziggler if this is all you are going to do with them.

[Q7]A video recapped the Morrison/Punk match from last week…Teddy Long and John Morrison were in his office. Morrison said he wanted the winner of the NOC match between Punk and Hardy. They sang Michaels Jackson songs to each other in context. Morrison left during Beat It. I want to kill myself now…Edge made his ring entrance. A video recapped the tag title match at The Bash. Jericho was out next. The announce team hyped the Jericho/Mysterio rematch for next week…[C]

Back from commercial, Jeff Hardy made his entrance, followed by Punk…

6. Edge and Chris Jericho defeated Jeff Hardy and CM Punk 16:16. Punk and Edge started out. Punk locked in an arm bar and tagged in Hardy like a real teammate. Hardy returned the favor as the two started off working together. Edge got a tag to Jericho and Punk hit a hip toss into an arm bar. He slammed Jericho and tagged in Hardy. Hardy hit a leg drop from the second turnbuckle. Hardy hit his leg drop on the “midsection.” JR called it, “vintage Hardy” and then punked Michael Cole. Punk tagged in and lost control to Jericho who tagged in Edge.

[Q9]Edge lost control to Punk who tagged in Hardy. Punk whipped Edge to the corner and then dropped to all fours for Hardy. Hardy used him as a springboard and hit Edge and Jericho who had walked over the corner. Punk clotheslined Edge over the top and he and Hardy stared at each other into the break…[C]

Back at 7:49, Edge took control from Hardy with strikes. Hardy hooked an arm bar take over and reached for Punk. Punk said his eye was hurting and wouldn’t tag in. Hardy hit a suplex for two. He tried a stinger splash, but Edge moved. Jericho tagged in and worked very aggressive on Hardy. He made Punk come in and tossed Hardy to the floor. Jericho kept the ref busy while Edge hit Hardy on the floor.

Back in the ring, Jericho played to the crowd. He locked in a sleeper type hold, but Jeff fought out. He tried to jump over Jericho in the corner, but Jericho caught his feet and spilled Hardy to the floor. Punk got the crowd going and Hardy made it back as Jericho came out. Hardy tried for the tag, but Punk walked away holding his eye. Hardy hit a surprise Whisper in the Wind. Jericho made the tag and Edge ran in. Hardy hit a Twist of Fate and slapped Punk’s chest.

Punk came in and hit the high knee and bulldog for two. He lifted Edge for GTS, but Edge slipped out and hit his reverse DDT move. Jericho tagged in and worked on Punk’s eye. Puk fought back and they clotheslined each other at 15:19.

Punk made it to the corner and reached for the tag. Hardy screamed and grabbed his eye and fell to the floor. Jericho attacked a stunned Punk and tried for Walls of Jericho. Punk fought out and lifted Jericho for GTS. Edge got a blind tag. Punk hit GTS on Jericho, and Edge hit the spear on him for the win.

Post match, Edge attacked Punk. Jeff hit a Twist of Fate on him and went to the top. Jericho grabbed Edge and they high tailed it away from the ring. Hardy went over to Punk and they held their eyes and looked at each other. Hardy left and went up the ramp. On the stage, he removed his hand and revealed that his eye was fine. JR was stunned…

Shore’s Slant: This match saved Smackdown. Good action and the Hardy acting was priceless. This was certainly the worst Smackdown in a long time and I hope it’s because they had to come up with two shows in the same week and not because Vince F McMahon has set up shop. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.

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