Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 11/10/09 in Sheffield, England.

[Q1]The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped the main event, making a big deal about it being the first time, the Batista/Mysterio contract signing, and Morrison vs. Ziggler…

CM Punk made his ring entrance. A video recapped his loss to Truth last week. Punk cut his typical promo. He killed the UK saying they were just like the Americans. He ran down the traditional vices in the UK and said they needed someone as righteous as him to lead them. He put himself over as perfect and said he filed a formal complaint against Scott Armstrong. He said he was going to beat up Truth, everyone at Survivor Series, and could beat up everyone in the crowd.

Truth made his lame ass entrance. The announce team hyped the Team Orton vs. Team Kingston match at Survivor Series. Truth said he wanted to file a complaint against Punk for impersonating a man. He said he didn‘t come out there to embarrass Punk, Punk was doing a good enough job himself. He said he was there to hurt Punk. He called Punk a punk and did the “What‘s up?” line.…

1. C.M. Punk defeated R-Truth at 9:16. They started out quickly. Punk caught Truth in a fireman’s carry, but Truth slipped out and hit a leg lariat for two. He clotheslined Punk to the floor…[C]

[Q2]Back at 4:30, Truth had an arm bar on. Punk pushed him back to the corner and broke dirty. Truth fought back and went to the top, but Punk kicked the leg out and took control. Punk worked the leg with kicks and submission holds. Punk tried for a springboard move, but Truth hit a dropkick in the air and took control. He hit a belly to back for two. He missed the scissor kick and Punk called for GTS. He lifted Truth who slid down for a sunset flip attempt. Punk dropped his knees and grabbed the ropes to get the win..

The announce team hyped the Mysterio/Batista contract signing and Rey’s new book…Backstage, Mickie James came out of her dressing room. She headed towards the ring and Layla showed up. She warned Mickie to leave again and Mickie called her Scary Spice again. Mickie left for her match and Layla called after her, “OK, we warned you.”…[C]

Shore’s Slant: It’s always nice to open the show with guys who can work. A decent match that had a shitty ending. The most recent WHC has to cheat to beat R-Truth? That’s awful. I just want this whole ref thing to end ASAP. And I cannot say it enough, thank you for giving the Divas a storyline.

Back from commercial, Mickie James made her entrance after a shot of Parliament. Natalya was already in the ring. Ouch…

2. Natalya defeated Mickie James at 3:51. Natalya punked Mickie to start. Mickie ducked a clothesline and hit a snap mare, followed by a drop kick. Natalya rolled to the floor. Mickie followed and Natty drover her into the steps. She rolled Mickie back in and covered for two. Natalya locked in a surfboard and broke when the ref counted her down. She worked Mickie down in the corner, but Mickie fought back and hit a twisting head scissors.

[Q3]McCool and Layla came to the ring with Mickie’s clothes. They pulled out scissors and cut her clothes up. Mickie was distracted and Natalya clotheslined her from behind and locked on the Sharpshooter for the win. McCool and Layla finished destroying Mickie’s clothes as Mickie looked like she might cry…A video showed fans lined up for Wrestlemania tickets…The announce team hyped the IC match…The first commercial was for a Hogan DVD. Funny…[C]

Shore’s Slant: The match was pretty good. Both ladies can work and that made it great. I did not like Natalya getting the jobber intro treatment, but I did like the end. Like I said, it’s been a long time since we cared about the women so anything is good right now. I just want to see a three-way with McCool, Mickie, and Beth. And a Triple Threat wouldn’t be bad either. Zinger!

Back from commercial, Josh Matthews interviewed John Morrison. He asked him how he felt. Morrison asked Josh how he felt. Morrison put over Ziggler as a good challenge, but said that Ziggler couldn’t handle the challenge himself. He said Ziggler would fall apart where he thrives on those feelings. He said he would retain the Intercontinental Championship…

Drew McIntyre made his ring entrance. A video recapped his beat down on Finlay from two weeks ago. He cut a promo and said he was going to make a statement and fight Finlay tonight…[C]

Back from commercial, the announce team hyped SurvivorSeries.com…Finlay made his entrance. Our correspondents said the crowd was hot for these guys, but it‘s not coming across well on TV…

[Q4]3. Drew McIntyre fought Finlay to an apparent no contest at 2:14. Finlay started with a big clothesline and worked McIntyre with strikes. McIntyre hit a kick that spilled Finlay to the floor. He followed and worked Finlay on the apron before rolling him into the ring. Finlay fought back and he spilled McIntyre to the floor and went out to work him. Back in the ring, both men traded blows and the bell rang. Finlay grabbed the shillelagh, but McIntyre hit a big boot. He grabbed the shillelagh and blasted Finlay. He left the ring, but came back and hit Finlay with the shillelagh again. He finally left the ring looking crazed…

The announce team hyped the contract signing for next…Instead of cutting to commercial, they returned to the ring and showed the trainers and refs checking on Finlay. A video replayed the assault and the refs helped Finlay to the back…[C]

Shore’s Slant: See, this is how you can make someone look like a badass without killing their opponent or having them face a jobber. Finlay loses zero credibility here because of the shillelagh. McIntyre looks like a beast for beating up someone we have heard from. I am stunned by how far they took it on TV, but still a good advancement of the storyline. Maybe ECW can do the same with Vance Archer.

Back from commercial, Matt Striker was in the ring with a table and chairs set up. He introduced Rey first, and then Batista, who came out to decent heat. A video recapped the Fatal Fourway Fallout. That’s alliteration!

[Q5]Batista had something in his hand and set it on the table when they sat down. He asked Rey how he was. Rey said, “Let’s get this over with,” and Batista signed the contract and then slid it over to Rey for him to sign. After Rey signed it, Batista said he wanted Rey to sign one more thing. He handed him the folder that he brought to the ring and said it was a Hold Harmless agreement that prevented anyone from suing him for what he was going to do to Rey at Survivor Series.

Rey said he wouldn’t sign it. Batista said he knew Rey was nothing but a coward hiding behind a mask. Be said Rey would sign it, or he would embarrass him and reach across the table and snap his little neck. Rey signed it and said Batista would be the one embarrassed. Rey popped up and dumped the table on Batista who flipped backwards out of his chair. Rey took off and Batista destroyed the set. Rey stopped on the stage and they stared at each other…The announce team hyped the main event and the IC match for next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wow. That was a ton of fun. Rey still sounds like Bella from Twilight, but they did this well. Batista’s attitude is perfect and I really want to see this match. It could be one of the best of the night.

Back from commercial, both men made extended entrances…

4. John Morrison fought Dolph Ziggler to a double countout to retain the Intercontinental Title at 11:39. Ziggler ran to the floor, but then hit a sneaky strike to take control. Morrison fought back and hit a one man flap jack followed by the pommel leg drop for two. Morrison went to the top rope and Ziggler swept the legs. Morrison landed on his stomach on the rope. Ziggler hit a gut buster for two…

[Q6][C]Back at 5:50, Ziggler was doing his athletic rest holds. Morrison fought back and whipped Ziggler to the ropes. He ran in and Ziggler moved. Morrison hit the top turnbuckle feet first and took a nasty spill. Ziggler covered for two. He locked in a body scissors that Morrison elbowed out of. Ziggler hit a quick slam for two and taunted Morrison. Morrison slapped him and went on the offense. He hit several clotheslines and a leg lariat for two.

Ziggler hit a surprise facebuster from nowhere and covered for two. He stood Morrison and Morrison went for a kick. Ziggler caught the leg and Morrison hit the Pele kick for two. He dragged Ziggler to the corner and setup for Starship Pain. Ziggler moved but Morrison landed on his feet…kind of. Ziggler hooked the legs and put his feet on the ropes. The ref saw it and Ziggler broke. HE argued with the ref and Morrison hit the Chuck kick Ziggler stood on the apron and went to the corner with Morrison. They climbed the turnbuckle and fought. Ziggler fell and pulled Morrison off with him for a sick spot. Both men were counted out…The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Dear Christ is this the best feud in the ring right now. These guys are OK on the mic, Ziggler more so than Morrison. But if they were half as good on the mic as they are in the ring, this would be the best feud ever. Great action start to finish and the ending was sick.

Back from commercial, Beth Phoenix made her ring entrance. Her victim was already in the ring…

[Q7]5. Beth Phoenix squashed Lisa Taylor at 1:25. Same match third week in a row. Beth is awesome in the ring…Matthews interviewed Jericho in the locker room. He asked him about his match with the “dead man.” Jericho cut his promo on Taker and repeated his message from last week: Taker is just a man and he can be beat. Jericho said he tonight, he would prove it. Matthews looked sad into the break…

Shore’s Slant: Matthews must be a Taker fan. Seriously, why di they cut to him at the end of each interview? He looks like a moron just standing there looking…stupid I guess. Anyway, I’m done with the Beth run. It has been awesome, but next week needs to be against somebody who did last wrestle in the Bumpkin County Civic Center.

Back from commercial, it was announced that Ziggler and Morrison would meet next week for the Intercontinental Championship in a two-out-of-three match…

Shore’s Slant: Oh my, I’m flushed.

Jericho made his ring entrance. Taker made his. Reason number 38271 why Jericho is better than Taker…

6. Undertaker defeated Chris Jericho at 14:00. Jericho ducked a punch and worked strikes in the corner. The ref broke it and Taker choke tossed Jericho to the corner and worked strikes. Jericho hit a kick that Taker no sold and got clotheslined over the top. Taker went and got Jericho and did his leg drop on the apron spot. They rolled back in the ring and Taker worked the arm. He went for Old Scool, but Jericho ran up to the second rope and hip tossed Taker off the top…

[Q8][C]Back at 6:55. Jericho was punching Taker in the face. He hit a missile driopkick from the second rope for two and locked in a chin lock. Taker fought out, but Jericho hit him until Taker fell out of the ring. Jericho went to the floor and whipped Taker to the rail. He hit a sitting knee and rolled Taker back in the ring. Taker crawled to the far rope and Jericho choked him on the second. Taker laid back on the bottom rope and Jericho choked him again.

Jericho stood Taker and they traded blows. Taker whipped Jericho to the corner. He hot Snake Eyes, but Jericho hit a dropkick when he went for the big boot for two. Jericho went to stand Taker and got choked. He escaped, but Taker hit a big boot. He whipped Jericho to the corner and ran in. Jericho moved and Taker got tied up on the rope. He climbed up for ten punches, but Taker walked out and tried for a Last Ride.

Jericho slid off the back and hit a Codebreaker for two. Jericho did the throat slash and lifted Taker for a Tombstone. Taker reversed but Jericho escaped and clipped the leg. He hit the Lionsault, but Taker sat up and grabbed Jericho by the throat. He lifted for a choke slam, but Jericho reversed it into a roll down and locked in Walls of Jericho. Taker got Jericho to step back over and when Jericho tried to reset, Taker reversed into Hell’s Gate for the win.

Post match, Show’s music hit and he came to the ring. He distracted Taker and Jericho attacked from behind. Taker got the better at first, but Show grabbed the feet and Taker fell. Show choke slammed Taker and Kane came out to make the save. Instant face turn. He beat up Jericho and Show bounced. Backstage, Vince McMahon was on the phone with Tedy dy Long. He announced the Brothers of Destruction vs. JeriShow for next week. He said something about Teddy having swine flu. Back in the ring, Kane popped his pyro to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: Outstanding match. Better than I thought we would get for free. That match alone could have sold the PPV for the Triple Threat match. The Raw triple is boring, this one has drama. Jericho jobs again, but yet doesn’t lose much here in the way of heat. I hope to God he leaves with the belt. I like the addition of Kane. He and Jericho had a great match and now Jericho did with Taker as well. Could be a another great match next week. Morrison and Ziggler two-out-of-three? Be still my beating heart. Smackdown returns dramatically from its roughly eight week stink fest. 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.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: