WWE Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in Long Island, NY

[Q1] The show began with a recap of the world title match from last week. Punk came out to a chorus of boos and he encouraged everyone to say no, but they still love Jeff Hardy anyway. There were Hardy chants and he mentions that the challenge will be met tonight. Video footage was shown of the Punk/Hardy feud.

The heel heat continues and Punk says that the crowd is like Jeff Hardy and they don’t have the strength to be straightedge. They gravitate like Jeff because they aren’t strong like him. He says he tells the truth and the truth sometimes hurts.

Punk said it was drug abuse because of all the drugs people take at time. Punk ripped the smokers and called them fools for smoking. He says that it is sad about “funny cigarettes” people smoke and it’s a shame that people smoke the stuff. Then he went on to talk about alcohol and he talked about how taking one drink you are basically an alcoholic. He said that the people need a strong leader and encouraged people to say no. He says the world title is for honor, respect and dignity. He said the people need a straightedge world champion and they need C. M. Punk.

Justin Roberts made the announcement of the world title match and introduced Punk. When Jeff’s music hit, there was a round of applause. Jeff ran to the ring and started to brawl with Punk. Theodore Long came to the ring and suddenly Vince McMahon came out to the ring to a huge pop. Vince started to chastise Long and Vince ordered to have a special guest enforcer for the match. Vince teased the enforcer and said he will make everyone wait. [C]

Mind of Marv: Very good opening segment which boils over this white hot feud and the Vince return was somewhat random if you ask me. The less Vince on this show, the better or its going to get annoying quickly.

[Q2] 1. John Morrison defeated Tyson Kidd (w/ The Hart Dynasty) in 11:33. The match started slow with both men exchanging blows. Kidd took over the matchup with shot s to Morrison’s ribs. Morrison hit a nice dropkick and uppercut. Kidd tossed Morrison out of the ring and the Hart Dynasty started to attack Morrison. Kidd went for a pin but if was for a two count. [C]

The show returned with Kidd working on Morrison’s neck. Morrison started to fight back by hitting a clothesline and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Kidd applied a submission hold to Morrison and hit a leg drop over the ropes to Morrison. Kidd hit blockbuster to Morrison for a nearfall. Morrison hit a sit-down power bomb to Kidd for a nearfall. Morrison hit the flying Chuck and the Starship Pain for the victory.

Mind of Marv: Slow, but good match. This match was a little too long but Morrison should be facing main eventers every week. But due to the lack of main eventers on the brand, this worked out fine because I like Kidd.

[Q3] The Cryme Tyme Word Up segment began and the word of the day is “pretenda”. Eve named some pretenda champions and they talked about Jericho and Show. Jesse came out and gave them some props. He said that he will do his thing and prove he isn’t any pretenda. JR hyped the world title match for later tonight. [C]

2. Slam Master J beat Charlie Haas in 2:36. The match started with Haas controlling the matchup. Haas hit a belly to belly overthrow for a nearfall. Haas hit a full nelson backbreaker to a cobra clutch. SMJ hit a Cena shoulder block, an atomic drop and some clotheslines. SMJ got the quick win for a frog splash. The fatal four way match for a IC title match is next…[C]

Mind of Marv: The slang by Grisham, the braids SMJ is wearing and this match equals = EPIC FAIL. The match in essence was a waste of time and I presuming he will be aligning with Cryme Tyme, ugh…

3. Dolph Ziggler defeated Finlay, Mike Knox, and R-Truth to become Number One Contender for the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam in 7:55. Knox hit a cross body on Dolph for a one count. Knox took out all the competitors…[C]

The match returned with Knox dominating Truth. Truth hit a flying cross body on Knox and Finlay and Dolph fought in the ring. Finlay hit an inverted DDT on Dolph for a nearfall. Knox hit a clothesline. Dolph hit a double DDT to Finlay and Truth. There was a ton of nearfalls around the 7:00 minute mark. Knox hit the big boot but Truth hit the spinning axe kick to Knox. Finlay used the shillelagh on Knox. Dolph hit the Zig Zag on Finlay for the win. Mysterio hit a canton on Dolph after the distraction from Finlay.

Highlights of the Punk and Hardy feud was shown and the match was hyped again.

Mind of Marv: This is why Smackdown is the better show because the IC title picture even looks good on paper. All the guys worked hard but this could have been better if they hyped this match along with the world title. Advertising quality matches like this makes the brand better and brings more prestige to the IC title.

Backstage, Maria and Melina were discussing Maria’s relationship. Melina tried to tell Maria that Dolph is using her but she is so bubbly, she doesn’t realize it. Maria said away from the ring, Dolph is a sweet guy. Melina said she was happy for her but somewhat looked concerned.

4. JTG upset Chris Jericho in 6:30. The match started slow but JTG got the first nearfall. Jericho got the advantage with punches. Jericho tossed JTG and Show got a cheap shot in Jericho applied a abdominal stretch to JTG. JTG hit a hip toss and tried to splash but missed. Jericho took control of the match by choking JTG on the ropes. The crowd chanted Y2J and Jericho hit applied the abdominal stretch again to JTG. JTG hit a facebuster for a nearfall and ducked a clothesline from Jericho.

[Q6] Jericho attempted the Walls of Jericho but he slung JTG to the corner. JTG landed on the turnbuckle and hit a flying leg drop for a nearfall. Jericho hit a Codebreaker but JTG was in the ropes. Shad was telling the referee about JTG’s leg under the ropes. JTG got the upset with the inside cradle.

Mind of Marv: Jericho jobbing to JTG is a head scratcher, but Cryme Tyme will need this rub going into the Summerslam match. Jericho is a champion and this loss does not make him lose any credibility.

The world title match was hyped again. [C]

The Slam of the Week was shown with Kane holding Ranjin Singh hostage from Khali. Khali comes out to a decent pop from the hot crowd. Ricky Ortiz came out with some sunglasses looking like a complete idiot.

5. The Great Khali (w/ Ranjin Singh) squashed Ricky Ortiz in :30. Ortiz hit some weak ass blows but Khali swatted him away. Khali hit the Punjabi plunge for the eye winking victory.
Kane’s music played and Kane came from behind and knocked Khali out. Ranjin Singh tried to run but Kane caught him and stomped the shit out of him. Kane went on to drag Singh out of the arena…[C]

Mind of Marv: This feud is worthless, but I like this sadistic Kane from the old days. Its PG, but it’s still effective.

[Q7] The announcers recap the Kane abduction of Ranjin Singh. The guest enforcer was none other than Matt Hardy! [C]

Mind of Marv: What a coincidence, my newest Facebook buddy is the special enforcer, haha…

6. Jeff Hardy defeated C.M. Punk to retain the World Heavyweight Championship with Matt Hardy as the special enforcer in 11:10. The match began with some shoving. Punk got the advantage with kicks. Jeff hit a low dropkick for a nearfall. He went for a Twist of Fate but missed and clotheslines Punk. Punk hit a flying crossbody to Jeff. [C]

[Q8] The show returned with Punk beating on Jeff with kicks and an abdominal stretch. Punk got a combo pin for a nearfall. Punk hit an Irish Whip to Jeff for a nearfall. Jeff hit the Whisper in the Wind around the 7:20 mark for a nearfall. Both men exchanged blows and Jeff got the advantage with a spinning heel kick and Poetry in Motion for a nearfall. Jeff went for the Swanton but Punk got up and hit Jeff with blows to the head. Punk hit a superplex to Jeff for a nearfall.

Punk was setting up for the GTS but Jeff countered with a Twist of Fate attempt but Punk countered with a rollup. Jeff hit a flying crossbody to Punk outside of the ring. Matt looked on and would not look Jeff in the face. Punk dropkicked Matt by mistake. Jeff went for the Swanton but Punk countered with knees to Jeff. Punk went for the cover, but Matt pulled the referee out. Jeff got the win a rollup.

Punk went on a rampage on Jeff like he did last week by banging Jeff head on the announce table. Punk wacked the hell out of Jeff with the chair shot. There was C.M. Punk chants and Punk put a chair around Jeff’s neck and pushed him into the ring post. Punk said makes sure he is OK so he can break him again. The stretcher came out to aid Jeff and Punk walked out to a ton of heat. A replay of the beating was shown.

Teddy Long asked Punk if he was proud of what he done and Punk said he wanted a rematch. Long then went on the say if Jeff can defend the belt at Summerslam; it will be contested Jeff Hardy style…Tables, Ladders and Chairs. TLC! Long went to see if Jeff was OK and the show ends here.

Mind of Marv: If the WWE wants some buyrates, put that crappy Orton and Cena WWE title match in the middle of the card because we have our main event. Punk and Hardy in a TLC match is the perfect way for Jeff to go out (if he plans to leave after Summerslam). But this match was fine; with Punk looking more dominate since becoming a fully fledged heel. I don’t know if they are planning to make Matt a babyface, but it would make sense due to the lack of faces on the brand and Jeff’s possible departure.

But overall, very good show and it gets a B+ from me…

Rich Twilling will have the Smackdown Hitlist available in the morning & Dot Net is on Facebook! Shoot some emails at mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com and I will check in next week.

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