Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 10/13/09 in Lexington, Ky.

[Q1]A graphic dedicated Smackdown to the late Captain Lou Albano who passed away this week…

The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Michael “2 Hot 2 Handle, 2 Cole 2 Hold” welcomed us to Smackdown…

Shore’s Slant: JR asked for the night off so I’m stuck with Mr. Vintage Smart, Sexy, and Powerful himself.

They hyped Mysterio vs. Batista and the Dirt Sheet for later…Teddy Long made his ramp entrance. He hyped the PPV and the tag match. He ran down Team Raw and introduced Team Smackdown captain Chris Jericho. Jericho took the mic from Long and made his ring entrance. He put himself over as the obvious choice as captain. He said he first had to address the return of John Cena to Smackdown. He said Orton would beat Cena and force Cena off Raw. He said this was his show now and if Cena wanted to return, he had to go through Jericho.

Jericho said that was why he was the captain. He said Team Smackdown would beat Team Raw, but with a lot of big words like “flectum.” He cut a promo on DX and tore up a copy of their book. He was getting real riled up when Kane’s music and pyro hit. Kane came to the ring and said, “You’re team? Chris, we have to talk.” He said he was now the co-captain of the Smackdown Seven. Chris said he was just about to announce that. Kane said he didn’t care if DX or all of Team Raw went up in flames. He called out his pyro and he and Jericho left the ring…The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: How GD good is Chris Jericho on the mic? Flair might have been able to get a broomstick over in the ring, but Jericho could get someone over while getting a mani/pedi and drinking high priced water. He almost made me care about a match that sounds like a booking disaster waiting to happen. I really like the “of course” moment with Kane. Perfectly done.

[Q2]A commercial played for Raw. If I have to hear, “John Cena’s last Raw” one more time…Back ringside, Finlay made his ring entrance, followed by Mike Knox and Dolph Ziggler. The announce team informed us that Jericho made all the qualifying matches for tonight…

1. Dolph Ziggler defeated Finlay and Mike Knox at 5:59. Ziggler tried to make a deal with Knox. Knox shook his hand and then clubbed Ziggler to the floor. He charged Finlay and Finlay tossed him to the floor. Finlay worked on Ziggler with strikes, but Ziggler clotheslined him to the floor. He stood on the apron and Knox hit him from behind. Knox went to hit Finlay from the apron and Finlay pulled the apron curtain out. Knox fell awkwardly.

Ziggler hit a drop kick on Finlay and rolled Knox in the ring. He worked on Knox and Finlay clubbed him from behind. Finlay set Ziggler on the top and climbed up. They battled and Knox hit an electric chair on Finlay. Ziggler followed with a big splash for two. Knox hit a suplex on Ziggler and Finlay took out Knox and covered for two. All three men battled in the ring. Knox hit a big boot on Ziggler and turned into a shillelagh shot from Finlay. Finlay covered, but Ziggler broke it up and rolled Finlay to the floor. He covered for the win. Post match, Ziggler celebrated up the ramp…The announce team hyped the Dirt Sheet again…[C]

Shore’s Slant: This was so bad until the end. The ending played out nicely, and I’m happy to see Ziggler get the rub. But the match itself was a snoozer. Onsite reports say that Knox had to be helped backstage from an apparent leg injury. I’ll bet money it was from the botched spot with the apron curtain.

Back from commercial, Cryme Tyme made their ring entrance. Bet you can’t guess who they are facing! The Harts made their ring entrance. How did you know…

[Q3]2. Cryme Tyme defeated The Hart Dynasty at 3:28. Smith and Shad started out. Smith took out JTG and Kidd and Natalya teased coming in. That distracted Shad and Smith attacked from behind. He and Kidd worked in and out on Shad’s leg. Smith locked in an ankle lock, but broke it and tried for an elbow. He missed and both men got hot tags. JTG cleaned house. Shad took out Smith and JTG hit Roll the Dice for the win. Post match, a video recapped the match…The announce team ran down the teams again. They hyped the main event again…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Three minutes. Even the bookers are tired of this match up. How do the Harts get squashed basically? I don’t mind Cryme Tyme getting the rub, but at least let the Harts put a sliver of an offense.

Back from commercial, Jericho was backstage talking to Michelle McCool. He asked her if she could win the Smackdown vs. Raw Divas match. She assured him she could. Mickie James walked in and said if Chris wanted someone to beat a Raw Diva, maybe he should pick a Diva who had beat all the Divas on the Raw roster. McCool rolled her eyes and walked off. She walked into Beth Phoenix. Beth said she was there to be the next Women’s champion…

Vince McMahon was shown on the phone. CM Punk interrupted him and told Vince he wanted him to call off the Fatal Fourway and give him the match Teddy Long refused to, a repeat of the Screwjob take two. Vince said he wouldn’t call off the Fatal Fourway, but he would give Punk his match next week on Smackdown…[C]

Shore’s Slant: A real Diva’s division? Oh please, oh please, oh please!

[Q4]Back from commercial, Vickie Guerrero was introduced. She came out and introduced Eric Escobar. He came out they were all over each other on their way to the ring. He got her a chair and set her there to watch. Matt Hardy came out to Jeff’s heat…

3. Eric Escobar (w/Vickie Guerrero) defeated Matt Hardy at 2:40. Hardy, the mat veteran that he is, started out with a ton of reversals. Escobar finally reversed a whip and destroyed Hardy with an elbow. He pounded on Hardy and hit a slam, but he missed an elbow drop. Hardy hit the side effect for two. Hardy called for Twist of Fate. Vickie climbed on the apron and distracted the ref. That distracted Matt and Escobar tossed him to the post and rolled him up for the win. Post match, he and Vickie celebrated and the announce team ran down the team again…The Dirt Sheet was hyped for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I really can’t say much. Escobar hit like three moves and sold the rest of the match. I hope this guy can actually work and they’re not using as a shield.

[Q5]Back from commercial, The Miz and John Morrison made their ring entrances for the Dirt Sheet. Both men came out to decent heat. You need to see this, I can’t give it justice. They put themselves over and compared their team breaking up to the Rockers. Miz said Morrison would be Marty Janettey to his HBK. Morrison said he couldn’t be Janettey because Janettey never had a shirt and he did. He asked Miz where his shirt was. Ouch. Morrison called Miz husky and that got the crowd going.

Miz said he was going to prove at Bragging Rights he was the best. Morrison challenged him to do it now. Miz called Smackdown, and Lexington, KY second rate. Morrison called Raw an overblown SNL. Wow. It got real heated and Morrison dumped Miz out of the chair and they stared off with Morrison daring Miz to do something. Miz finally backed away and Morrison said, “See you at Bragging Rights, Janettey.”…A video recapped the McIntyre/Truth feud. Truth was shown backstage, heading towards the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: I knew the dirt sheet would be good, but wow. Make this the world title feud right now and it sells out all over the US. They played off each other beautifully. It was nice to see the intensity from Morrison, and Miz is the perfect cocky heel. Just fantastic stuff.

[Q6]Back from commercial, Grisham hyped an Undertaker promo for later…R-Truth made his lame ass entrance. You know, if I was finally able to get my hands on the guy who had punked me for weeks, I wouldn’t be “Skippin’ and Jumpin’.” I’m just saying. McIntyre was out next…

4. Drew McIntyre defeated R-Truth at 8:39. Truth hit two quick hip tosses and McIntyre rolled to the floor. Truth hit a plancha…[C] Back at 4:54, McIntyre had a chin lock on. A video showed McIntyre whipping Truth to the steps during the break. Truth fought out and they battled over the ropes. McIntyre drove Truth back into the post and drug him to the center of the ring and covered for two. He slammed Truth and went to the second rope. Truth got the legs up on the move and took control. He split ducked the clothesline and hit a heel kick for two.

Truth spilled McIntyre to the floor and followed. McIntyre swept Truth’s feet and he landed on the steps. McIntyre rolled in and the ref counted Truth out. Post match, a video recapped the match and the announce team ran down both teams again…Backstage, Batista and Rey made out before their match. They each said they would win the Fatal Fourway…Taker’s promo is next…

Shore’s Slant: That match had 12 moves, not counting rest holds and strikes. An eight minute match with three of it in commercial, with 12 moves. I was accused this week of being bitchy. I would say that this shows why. If Drew McIntyre is a current world champion right now, the bar has been lowered by a lot.

[Q7][C]Back from commercial, a video recapped the Cena/Orton feud…The announce team ran down the Bragging Rights card…A video recapped the Undertaker/Punk Screwjob. Another video was the Taker promo. There was no crowd noise so I guess this wasn’t played to the live audience. Taker said he would take Punk’s soul at Bragging Rights and would deliver his last rights next week. The announce team hyped the match…[C]

Back from commercial, Mysterio made his ring entrance. Michael Cole actually just said he was happy Vince had taken an interest in Smackdown and stayed away from Raw in the past few months. I hope he gets hit by a bus.

[Q8]Batista made his ring entrance…

5. Rey Mysterio defeated Batista at 9:00. Rey tried for a waist lock and Batista pushed it off. Rey tried for a cross body and Batista caught him and let him go. Rey twisted the arm and Batista whipped him. Rey slid under his feet. Batista whipped Rey again, this time sending him to the floor. Rey rolled through and jumped right back in the ring. Batista shook his head and Rey laughed as they faced off into the break…[C]

Back at 4:39, Batista shoved Rey to the floor. Batista did it again and Rey hit a drop kick and a drop toe hold. Batista slipped out of the 619 and looked at Rey. He said, “Are you kidding me?” and kicked Rey. He tried for a belly to back and Rey escaped. He hit the far ropes and Batista hit a spear. Rey rolled to the floor and barely made it back in time. Batista covered twice for two.

Batista manhandled Rey with streaks and power moves. He acted hurt each time he did it. He locked in a waist lock and told Rey to just give up. Rey elbowed out and ran the ropes. He escaped two successive lifts to setup for 619 again. He hit 619 and went for the West Coast Pop. Batista caught him and lifted for the Batista Bomb, Rey reversed it into a nasty hurricanranna for the win. Batista said he had his shoulder up, but the ref disagreed. A video replay showed that the “blind” shoulder was in fact up before the three count. He and Rey kissed and made up and Batista left the ring. CM Punk ran in through the crowd and hit GTS on Rey. Batista ran back to the ring, but Punk escaped through the crowd. Batista checked on Rey to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: I’m going to catch hell for saying this, but that match really entertained me. I don’t know if it was Rey carrying Batista or Batista bringing the best he has for his buddy, but I thought it played out well. Until the end of course. Batista nearly killed himself by landing on his head for the hurricanranna, and he can always say that his shoulder was up. That being said, if it leads to a Batista turn and feud with Rey, I’ll take that as again, this match was very entertaining.

A lackluster show tonight that saw the two best segments be promos. Not a good thing for the show that has been known for its in ring concentration. I smell a McMahon. A special shoutout to DotNet Member Jase who correctly guessed five of the six Team Smackdown winners on Monday night. Creepy, but cool. 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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