Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 9/8/09 in Rockford, Ill.

Shore’s Slant: To my buddy Darryl, and all those who have kept us safe for the last seven years, thank you.

[Q1]The show started with a shot of the arena. The lights went off and Hells Bells tolled. Undertaker dressed as Pinhead came to the ring. Taker said the sands of time had fallen slowly through the hourglass, but in two days he would reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship and cast his dark shadow on Smackdown. He said Punk was tired because he would wake nightly in a puddle of sweat knowing he would feel Hell’s Gate. He said when Punk submitted, he would not only surrender the title, but his soul as well, and the symphony of lies would end.

Punk’s music hit and he came to the ramp laughing. He said Taker’s symphony of lies was the pot calling the kettle black. He said he saw Undertaker for what he was. He said he was worse than Jeff Hardy. He said Taker was this generation’s Alice in Wonderland. He said the people believe the Undertaker. He said they believed Taker was magic. He said they believed he had a chance to win Sunday. He said they believe this because of his list of victims. He said he was better than all the Flairs and Michaels in the business. He said he wasn’t out for his soul, just for him to tap.

He asked what the fans would do when their hero tapped so soon after losing their other hero Jeff Hardy. He said they would retreat to their devices. He said we would get a preview tonight when he made Matt Hardy tap to the Anaconda Vice. He begged the Undertaker not to interfere so that the fans could get use to the world they will live in, a world ruled by the only straight edge world champion. He said they would join him in just saying no. Taker said they would say no, but they would say, “Rest in peace.” Taker’s music hit and he rolled his eyes back as Punk held up the title belt…The announce team hyped Finlay vs. Knox for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Solid opening segment. Punk is a star folks. After this feud he’ll be like Jericho, able to get anyone over just by being near them. I am interested to see how this plays out. Taker always seems willing to help the new guys, but I can’t see him tapping. It will be interesting to see how they figure this out. I would use the unconscious angle, but I think they use that for Cena. Guess we’ll have to see.

Back from commercial, a video recapped the Finlay/Khali win from last week…Back to the ring, Finlay made his entrance. Knox was out next. Another Knox video aired. He said a lizard sheds his tail when faced with danger to feed the predator. He said tonight, the hunger would not be filled by the tail, he wanted it all…

1. Finlay defeated Mike Knox in a Belfast Brawl at 9:39. Finlay started out with strikes. He charged at Knox who hit a power slam. Knox hit three straight elbow drops and went to the floor.

[Q2]Knox leaned down to get something under the ring but Finlay hit a baseball slide. Finlay tried to attack but Knox drove him into the announcers table. Knox got a chair, but Finlay hit him low and got the chair. He hit Knox with it and rolled him in the ring. Finlay climbed in the ring with the chair. As he stepped through the ropes, Knox kicked the chair into Finlay’s face. Both men recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 4:27, Knox hit a sidewalk slam on the open chair for two. He tossed Finlay to the floor and followed. Knox pulled out three trashcans and threw them at Finlay so hard they almost bounced off him into the crowd. Knox set trash cans on Finlay and then stomped him. He stood Finlay up and kicked him over the rail. He went over to get him, but Finlay clotheslined Knox back over the rail.

Finlay jumped at Knox. Knox caught him and drove his back to the rail. Knox got the trashcans and lids and tossed them into the ring. He took one lid and hit Finlay in the head. He rolled Finlay into the ring and beat him with the trashcans. Knox went back out and got a table. Finlay got the shillelagh, but Knox swatted it away. Knox set the table in the corner. Finlay recovered and hit Knox with a trashcan. Knox got in a punch and then whipped Finlay into the table. It didn’t break. Ow. Knox covered for two. He hit Finlay with a trashcan lid a few more times and then hit the far rope. Finlay stood up with the shillelagh and hit Knox as Knox tried to hit his cross body. Finlay pushed Knox off of him and covered for the win…

Ziggler was shown backstage about to knock on the Diva’s dressing room door. Michelle McCool walked up and asked Dolph if he was there for Maria. Ziggler said yes and McCool knocked on the door. Layla came out and said Maria wasn’t there. She walked off and McCool asked Ziggler what he saw in Maria. McCool cut him off and then acted like she fell into Ziggler’s arms. She grabbed his ass and he fought to get her upright. She apologized and he walked off. Layla walked up and had a video camera and had taped the whole thing…The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Not a bad gimmick match. The trashcan thing annoys me personally because me and my buddies used to hit each other with them as kids and they really don’t hurt that much. Knox is a certified beast. He and Kane should work a program right now while Kane is still fresh from his lay off. That would be hot. Isn’t Ziggler a heel? Doesn’t this thing with McCool make him a sympathetic figure? WTF?

[Q3]Back from commercial, the Raw Rebound video aired…

Shore’s Slant: I hate all the camp on Raw. It’s so stupid. That being said, how GD good was Bob F. Barker? That was the best thing I have seen in years.

Back ringside, the Harts made their entrance. Khali and Mini-Me were out next. The announce team hyped his match at Breaking Point. Kane attacked Khali before the match could start. He beat Khali down into the corner and went to the floor. He got a cane from under the ring. Kane went for Khali, but he hit a chop on Kane and then the Punjabi Plunge. He posed over Kane and left the ring. A video recapped what had happened…Backstage, Jericho and Big Shown were shown heading towards the ring…[C]

[Q4]Back from commercial, JeriShow made their entrance. A video recapped the Jericho/MVP match from Raw. Cryme Tyme was next…

2. Chris Jericho and Big Show defeated Cryme Tyme at 12:00. Jericho and JTG started. Jericho pounded JTG into the corner. The ref admonished him and Jericho argued. JTG rolled him up for two and then hit an inside cradle for two. Jericho kicked JTG and slapped his head. JTG reversed a whip and got kicked. He hit the ropes but JTG hit a dropkick. He clotheslined Jericho to the floor. Jericho got all pissy and destroyed the set into the break…[C]

Back at 4:50, JTG had an armbar on Jericho. Jericho escaped but JTG hit a jumping leg drop for two. Shad tagged in and worked power and strikes on Jericho. He hit a big clothesline for two. He whipped Jericho and then gorilla pres slammed him. He tagged in JTG who jumped of Shad’s shoulders for two. JTG locked in a rest hold but Jericho made the rope. He didn’t realize it and the ref made him break. Jericho used the opening to punch him in the face. He tagged in Show who went to work.

Out of nowhere (after like two strikes), JTG got the hot tag. Shad came in and cleaned house. He knocked Jericho to the floor and went to the second rope. He jumped off, but Show chopped him out of the air. Jericho tagged in and choked Shad in the ropes. Shad reversed a whip and hit a big boot, but Jericho made it to Show first. Show locked in a chin lock and clubbed Shad when he made his feet.

Jericho tagged back in and he traded blows with Jericho. Jericho charged at him and Shad hit a powerslam. JTG tagged in and he went to work on Jericho. He hit a scary backbreaker on Jericho and covered for two. Show ran in but JTG pulled the ropes down. Shad took out Show with a shoulder tackle. Jericho tossed JTG over the top rope, but he skinned the cat and kicked Jericho on the way back in. He skinned the cat again, but Show showed up from nowhere and knocked him out. Jericho covered for the win. Post match a video recapped the ending…

[Q5]Backstage, Vince walked in on Long. He said Smackdown was good, but he had built his empire on superlative. He said he wanted Teddy to be better than good. Teddy said he had a big surprise next week. Vince said it was always next week. Teddy assured him it was worth it. Vince asked what he had for Breaking Point and Teddy said he would have something that day. Vince asked where his picture was and Teddy said he didn’t know but he would find it. Vince power walked off leaving Teddy standing there dumbfounded…The announce team hyped the main…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Yeah, I paid for this match already so I’m a little pissed I just got it for free. If Smackdown is just “good,” what the hell is Raw? It sure isn’t superlative.

Back from commercial, Charlie Haas was already in the ring. My baby daddy was out next…

3. John Morrison defeated Charlie Haas at 3:22. Todd Grisham informed us the Morrison can also be known as the Ambassador of Abdominals. Who comes up with this stuff? Morrison hit a side Russian leg sweep to start, but Haas punched back into control and worked his aggressive offense. He locked in an armbar. Morrison made his feet, but Haas drug him back by his hair and returned to the armbar. Morrison fought out and went to work. He hit a dropkick, a corkscrew heel kick, and the standing shooting star press for two. Haas reversed a move into an armbar takedown for two. He walked Morrison to the corner and tried for something, but Morrison drug him to the canvas and hit Starship Pain for the win. Post match, a video recapped the match.

Morrison got a mic and put over his match last week and then put over Mysterio. A video showed his post match celebration. He thanked Rey personally and continued to put him over. He said he would give Rey a rematch anytime he wanted. Ziggler’s music hit and he came to the ramp. He cut a promo about earning his title match and then Morrison got a match and won the title and not him. Morrison asked him if he was going to lose to Rey for a third time.

[Q6]Ziggler said he earned his title match and he wanted it. Morrison said he was right and they would have it right here, right now. Ziggler said he would have his match on his terms. Morrison asked him if he was scared. He called him the Zigmyster and Mr. Ziggles. Dolph said, “My name is,” and Morrison jumped in with Mr. Ziggles. Ziggler got all pissy and Morrison got the crowd to chant Mr. Ziggles. Ziggler said to stop or he would leave the stage. Morrison told him to take off and got the crowd chanting Mr. Ziggles again. Ziggler left the stage and Morrison said the WWE Universe would chant Mr. Ziggles for as long as he was champion. Morrison’s music hit and he posed for the crowd…

Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed Matt Hardy and asked him about his match with CM Punk. Hardy said Punk would tap tonight and Sunday with Undertaker. He said Punk would be lucky to even make it to Breaking Point because once he got a hold locked in, he would never let go…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wow, way to start this feud. This could be the feud of the year if done right and I can’t wait. Everytime the drug stuff comes up all I can think of is Jeff’s arrest. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Read the main page.

Back from commercial, Melina made her ring entrance. JR said he wished he was that flexible. There is not enough alcohol to remove that mental image from my mind. Layla was out next with Michelle McCool…

4. Layla (w/Michelle McCool) defeated Melina at 3:01. Layla got in a couple of moves and twisted Melina up a few times. Melina started her comeback and dropped Layla in a 619 setup. She tried to jump on Layla, but she moved and Melina spilled to the floor. Layla distracted the ref and McCool hit Melina with her crutch as she got back in the ring. Layla covered for the win…

[Q7]Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed R-Truth. He asked him about Drew McIntyre. Truth talked “street” and asked Teddy Long to put them in a match. He said he would whip McIntyre and that’s the truth. McIntyre attacked him from behind, taking out Matthews as well. He screamed, “Every week,” in Truth’s ear and wore him out until refs broke it up. He kicked Truth’s head into a box as a parting shot…[C]

Shore’s Slant: So is McCool feuding with everyone? She’s got her hands full with Melina, why mess with Maria as well? So strange. I have to be honest, I don’t ever remember seeing McIntyre. Ever. But I like him now. Good for him and good for Truth to be in a real feud with someone.

Back from commercial, a video recapped the McIntyre/Truth altercation…A Did You Know graphic aired…The announce team was in the ring and ran down the Breaking Point card…CM Punk made his ring entrance. A video recapped Undertaker’s return last week…[C]

Back from commercial, Matt Hardy made his ring entrance…

[Q8]5. CM Punk defeated Matt Hardy at 13:43. Ugly brawling to start. Matt hit a big roundhouse and then three neckbreakers in a row. He hooked the arms in a double underhook and then wrapped his legs around Punk’s waist. Punk drove him into the corner and worked the abdomen. He kicked Matt and went to the top rope. Matt swept the legs and Punk crashed to the mat. Matt worked the legs. He tried for a figure four, but Punk kicked him away. Hardy charged at Punk, but Punk grabbed him and drove him to the post. Punk did it a second time and Matt slithered to the floor. He recovered there into the break…[C]

Back at 7:21, Punk continued to work on Hardy. He sat on the top rope and rode Hardy’s face to the mat with his knee. He hit a snapmare and then a dropkick to the back of the head. He mounted Hardy’s back and pounded on his head and then locked in a chinlock. Hardy stood and fell backwards to break the hold. Hardy went for a figure four again and Hardy kicked him off, again. Punk hit a suplex and then a leg drop. He slapped on a figure four headlock.

Hardy escaped by punching Punk in the leg. Punk hit a roundhouse kick. Matt stood and Punk hit the high knee in the corner. He went for the bulldog, but Matt clipped the leg and locked in the figure four. Hardy held it forever. Punk reversed it and Matt let go. Matt hit a side effect. He tried for Twist of Fate, but Punk reversed and lifted for Go to Sleep. Matt escaped and locked in a single leg crab. Punk made the ropes and Matt broke at four. Punk hit a roundhouse kick out of nowhere and locked in the Anaconda Vice for the win.

Post match, Punk celebrated in the ring. The lights went off and Hell’s Bells rang. The lights came on and Undertaker stood on the ramp in his Pinhead suit, holding the world title. Punk got all pissy and Taker gloated to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: A fair match that had a predictable result. Like I said, I can’t see them taking the belt off Punk yet, he’s too good with it right now. He could elevate Charlie Haas right now with his persona and that title. But like I also said, I will choke to death if Taker taps out so this match has the most intriguing subset going in. Kudos to WWE for making us guess at the ending of this and the Cena/Orton match. I’m taking next week off but I’ll be back for the 10th Anniversary Smackdown. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you then.

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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