WWE Friday Night Smackdown on MyNetworkTV
Taped in Rochester, NY

Mind of Marv: Since its Halloween Eve, here is some Halloween humor: Rich Twilling is benched 49ers QB Shaun Hill (don’t they look alike), Jason Powell as Brad Childress (this is Powell 20 years later), and Chris Shore is out trick or treating as Marty Jannetty…

[Q1] Video was shown of the Batista and Mysterio friendship breaking up and the opening montage was shown…

Mind of Marv: Worst heel turn, EVER…

Teddy Long came to the ring and Mysterio wants an explanation for getting his ass kicked. Matt Striker and Todd Grisham are the new SD commentators. Long congratulated SD for beating Raw at Bragging Rights and he said that SD is the A show and it was a historic night but it was disturbing. He said they want to know an explanation for his actions and Rey and Batista will have a conversation about what happened.

Long talked about a #1 contender for the world title and Jericho came out with the Bragging Rights trophy and video was shown of Big Show screwing Team Raw. Jericho talked but Long interrupted and said the trophy is property of SD. Jericho stared at him and said make no mistake about it, the trophy is his because he won the match for SD. He ripped the fans and said he did it for him because he the best in the world for what he does…

He bitched about not being in the world title match and he is the crown jewel of the show and he is the face of SD. He said he should be the world champion of SD and Kane interrupted. Kane grabbed a mic and said single handed? He said incase he forgot, he is co-captain and the trophy and bragging rights that comes with it. He says he deserves a title show and Jericho said that he must be suffering a case of bad memory. Jericho said Kane’s track record against Taker is spotty and he ripped him. Kane was getting ready to choke Jericho and Long’s begged him not to choke slam Jericho.

Long said that Taker will defend the world title and if Raw has a triple threat, SD will have a triple threat. He said that Jericho and Kane will face each other for the final spot in the world title match at Survivor Series against Taker and Big Show. [C]

Mind of Marv: Decent segment for the most part. But Long killed it when he had to basically beg Kane not to choke slam Jericho. This should be a good old school match for the main event. Good start to this show…

[Q2] Kane and Jericho is for later tonight. Morrison and Dolph bickered about not making that much of an impact at Bragging Rights.

1. Dolph Ziggler defeated Intercontinental Champion John Morrison by countout in 10:12. The match started slow with Dolph applying a hammerlock. Morrison came back with some offense and hit a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. Dolph got back on the advantage with blows and a stomp to Morrison’s head. Dolph hit a jumping elbow for a nearfall. Dolph applied a chin lock and hit a belly-to-back suplex on Morrison. [C]

The show returned with Dolph still having the advantage. Dolph applied a modified Cobra Clutch and switched to a body scissors. Morrison tossed Dolph and Dolph countered with a punch. Both men countered blows and Morrison hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Morrison hit an backslide for a nearfall. Dolph hit a scoop slam for a near fall. Dolph went for the Zig Zag, but Morrison slanged him and hit the Chuck Kick for a nearfall because Dolph placed a foot on the leg. Morrison went for Starship Pain, but Dolph crawled out of the ring. Dolph tripped Morrison outside of the ring and slammed him on the announce table to get the countout win.

Mind of Marv: OK match, they had enough time but the crowd could care less about the match or the cheap win. But to be honest, I don’t wanna see another IC title match which Dolph jobs again because he will be 0-7 and people will really stop caring about him…

The Batista heel turn was shown again…[C]

[Q3] Striker sounds like a dork talking about Halloween junk on wwe.com. Vince thanked Long and said keep it up, he will be off probation. Punk bitched about Big Show getting a title shot and Jericho facing Kane tonight. Punk said it should be his title shot and Vince said that Punk will face Scott Armstrong tonight…
Mind of Marv: Yeah! Referee abuse….seriously, Vince is killing the show will segments like this. We all know what will happen…

2. Beth Phoenix squashed Jenny Brooks in 2:10. Beth shoved, punched and kicked Brooks out of the ring. Beth hits a backbreaker, throws Brooks in the ring post and clotheslines her. Beth hits the Glam Slam to destroy and win the match.

Mind of Marv: Squash matches are supposed to be funny…this was plain boring.

Cryme Tyme is having a Diva Halloween Costume contest. More Batista heel turn coverage is shown…[C]

[Q4] Vickie Guerrero came out in a Princess costume and she introduced Eric Escobar.

Mind of Marv: Vickie = heat, Escobar = hairball, this man gets no heat and this is sad. Move him to ECW for Christ sakes…

3. Matt Hardy defeated Eric Escobar (w/Vickie Guerrero) in 3:30. Matt started with some blows and Escobar missed an elbow. Matt worked on Escobar in the corner and Escobar countered with a weak ass clothesline. Matt hit a bulldog on Escobar and Matt countered with moonsault for a nearfall. Vickie yelled in Spanish to work on Matt’s knee after Matt landed funny on his knee. Escobar continued to work on Matt’s leg and Matt countered out with a dropkick. Escobar threw Matt into the ropes and Matt countered with a Side Effect for the win.

Mind of Marv: This was slightly better (I’m being nice here) than the first match they had two weeks ago, but Escobar is still green in the ring. He make’s Ricky Ortiz look like a star. In other words, Escobar is garbage and its mind boggling to see him get ZERO heat and you have the biggest heat magnet in the WWE, Vickie Guerrero.

Kane and Jericho is still to come. More Batista heel turn coverage and Mysterio is coming to the ring, next...[C]

Mysterio came out with a nice Ed Hardy leather jacket.

Mind of Marv: This maybe a nice Christmas gift for myself…

Rey said that everyone witnessed what happened and afterwards Batista beat him down real bad. He said that he was physically beaten, but mentally is been killing him. He said that when he played the tape all over again, he was angry inside but importantly, he considered Batista family. He said as disappointed he is, he is not leaving the ring until they straighten things out. Batista came out to some good heat…

[Q5] Batista said why he is disappointed because he hurt him. He said he doesn’t understand why Rey is calling him out. Batista said he will be the bigger man and told him to walk out of his ring. Rey said no and he isn’t leaving. He said he came out to straighten things out and he told him to let it go. He said that he will let bygones be bygones and he will let it go. He said he is a brother to him and what we have here after wrestling is a family bond.

Rey asked what is he thinking about? Batista said that Rey is thinking what little effort it took him to beat him. He said what it takes to not stab him in the back. He said he is thinks what Dave will do to him if he doesn’t get out of this ring now. Rey said “You’re not serious” right? Batista said he was wasn’t lying and Rey said he would of not been part of the match if it hurt him. Batista threaten Rey to walk out one last time and Rey looked like he was going to cry.

Rey refused to leave the ring and he is standing his ground and he basically repeated himself. He said look at all the times they were together and he brought Eddie Guerrero. Batista got very heelish and said Eddie is dead and he isn’t thinking about no one but himself. Batista dropped the mic and walked out. Rey looked stupefied in the ring. [C]

Mind of Marv: Excellent segment between two guys who aren’t usually the best on the mic. I’m obsessed with heels and Batista is doing a damn good job. The Eddie reference was a low-blow, but the rest of the segment was good. Rey looks so damn weak out there but I like this role because it keeps him out of the title picture and in a meaningful program.

Backstage, Batista and Matt Hardy were talking. Matt talked about his history of bad blood with Jeff and applied it to Batista and Rey. Dave smiled and walked off. Dave came back and beat the shit out of Matt. Video was show of the Bragging Rights Team SD match from last week.

McIntyre said congrats to Team SD and said let him make one thing clear. He said he never wanted to be on the team and he wanted to make his own impact. He said the party was over for his opponent.

[Q6] 4. Drew McIntyre and Finlay never got started. Drew kicked and beat the shit out Finlay outside of the ring. Drew finally got the heat that Eric Escobar needs…

Mind of Marv: Damn, is the SD roster so bad that Finlay has to be the enhancement worker for everyone? The program with Dolph Ziggler was dreadful now he has to wrestle McIntyre? If they want to push him, have him feud with Morrison…

Cryme Tyme Halloween costume contest in next…[C]

Cryme Tyme did their usual bullshit bid and welcome the crowd to the costume contest. Mickie James (Ms. Electra), Michelle McCool (Devil), Natalya (Bull Fighter) and Layla (Michael Jackson) came out. Nattie did a bull fighting bid with Shad. Layla did a MJ Dance routine. Michelle McCool came out as a Devil and did some of the stiffest dancing I seen in my life which go ZERO HEAT. Mickie did some more bullshit but only kept my attention because she is so damn thick…

Mickie won the contest and all the Divas attacked each other and McCool totally botched a clothesline.

Mind of Marv: Dreadful segment. Layla always comes in 2nd place and I feel bad because she is so beautiful. They rigged these contests so the babyface always win which sucks. But McCool botching a clothesline should be on SportsCenter’s Not Top 10.

[Q7]5. C.M. Punk squashed Scott Armstrong. Punk smiled, choked and bitched at Armstrong. He shoved Punk and Armstrong hit Punk with some blows and Punk got pissed and basically kicked Armstrong’s ass. He put his foot on Armstrong after hitting the GTS for the win.

Punk said whenever he wakes up, don’t forget he did this to him. Jericho and Kane are next..[C]

Mind of Marv: Eh, Armstrong didn’t even have a roaches chance of winning this match. This was just the weekly filler segment and I’m mad I didn’t have a beer…

Matt Hardy and Batista was announced for next week…

6. Unified Tag Champion Chris Jericho defeated Kane to become the third entrant in the World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat match at Survivor Series in 14:33. Jericho ran outside of the ring and jabbed at Kane. Jericho slapped and attacked Kane. Kane grabbed Jericho and hit a power slam for and nearfall. Kane hit a low dropkick for a nearfall. Jericho worked on Kane in the ring with kicks to the gut. Jericho hit some dropkicks for a nearfall. Kane tried to chokeslam Jericho but Jericho countered with the Walls of Jericho. Kane slammed Jericho’s head. Jericho hit a shoulderblock to Kane and he landed on the security railing. [C]

[Q8] The show returns with Jericho having a stomp fest on Kane and he choked him in the corner. Jericho slanged Kane’s neck in the ropes for a nearfall. Kane got some power and rammed Jericho in the corner. Jericho countered with a boot. Kane hit a side slam on Jericho. Kane hit a clothesline, some instant offense and a sidewalk slam for a nearfall. Jericho hit an inzurughi to knock Kane out of the ring. Jericho went for a springboard, but Kane caught him with a Big Boot for a nearfall.

Jericho hit a Codebreaker to Kane for a nearfall. Jericho kicked and hit a bulldog to Kane. Jericho hit a Lionsault, but Kane countered with a chokeslam attempt but Jericho rolled out of the ring. Kane grabbed Jericho and put Jericho back in the ring. Kane covered for a nearfall. Jericho hit a chop block and applied the Walls of Jericho to Kane. Kane grabbed the bottom of the ropes. Jericho went for another Codebreaker, but Kane countered with an uppercut. Kane went to the top rope but Jericho knocked him off. Jericho tried a Superplex, but Kane knocked him off. Kane jumped off and Jericho hit a botched a Codebreaker to win the match.

Mind of Marv: Good TV match because Jericho can work with anyone. Jericho, Big Show and Taker should be a decent matchup at the Survivor Series. It will be in DC and I am still debating about going because I have to see how this card shapes up. Overall, a little more than average show, B- is the grade.

The Smackdown Hitlist available tomorrow and Swami Marv is 8-10 for the season. Week 8’s picks:

Bears over Browns: The Bears embarrassed the hell out me last week and the Browns will look like Jobbers this week, I GUARANTEE IT.

Colts over 49ers – The Alex Smith dream is over, he will still is a #1 bust and Peyton Manning will put up 35 or more points is this squash…

Packers over Vikings: The return of Favre, Minnesota has some injuries, and I expect Aaron Rodgers to put up 300+ yards to bury Favre…

Falcons over Saints: All the MNF games have been classics except this past week (Redskins and Eagles) which was a clunker. I know, I worked the game. But at least I met Drew Rosenhaus, Michael Wilbon and others. But anyway, I like Mattie Ice in this matchup and it will be a shootout with ATL nipping the NO 38-36…

Send comments, suggestions or concerns at mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com and I will debate anything, WWE or NFL related. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

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