WWE Smackdown house show
Sydney, Australia at Acer Arena
By Brian Slattery Country Manager, AMD Australia/New Zealand

This report is proudly brought to you by AMD and Acer. Acer was kind enough to comp me a ticket in their luxury box at the arena named after their fine computer brand. Yes, there are true pro wrestling fans at all levels of all companies, so express your fandom with pride! If you find your computer needs replacement, let me highly recommend an Acer computer with AMD Vision technology.

As a special bonus for my fellow wrestling fans in Australia, let me take this opportunity to make this report the official launch of the AMD Vision Polar Lights campaign. Between now and Sept. 30th, purchase any AMD Vision branded PC, such as the Acer Aspire 5553G, and head to http://www.amd.com/au/promotions to enter a promotion to win a chance at a trip for two to see the Polar Lights in Alaska. Don't miss out!

Tony Chimel out to announce there is a NEW Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler, who will defend against Kofi Kingston later in the show. WWE brings the pyro, and we're off!

1. The Hart Dynasty (w/Natalya) defeated Joseph Mercury and Luke Gallows (w/Serena). Sadly, CM Punk is not out with SES. Kidd and Mercury start. Big "You suck" chant for Mercury after he takes down Kidd and taunts the crowd. Kidd reverses some arm work with Owen Hart's backflip off the rope and brings in Smith, Mercury quickly tags in Gallows. Delayed vertical suplex by Smith.

Kidd back in and SES takes control. Mercury hits a nice Northern Lights suplex with a leg cradle. Hot tag to Smith, who hits three shoulder blocks and a pair of suplexes. Things break down as Kidd cannonballs onto Gallows on the floor. Smith goes for the Sharpshooter, but Serena distracts him and Mercury slips out. Natalya pulls him out of the ring, slams him on the floor, and rolls him back in. Smith gets the Sharpshooter this time and Mercury taps. Good finish with all six involved in the pandemonium.

Kane shows up after the match, dumps Smith and chokeslams Mercury and Kidd. He grabs a mic and tells the crowd that Rey Mysterio put his brother in a vegetative state and tells Rey he will atone for his sins in a triple threat championship match - Kane vs Mysterio vs Swagger. Warns Swagger if he gets in Kane's way, Father Swagger won't be the only one in the hospital.

2. MVP defeated Cody Rhodes. MVP gets flames for his pyro. Sadly, no mirror treatment for Cody. Lots of matwork to start. Cody takes a powder when MVP punches him in the face. MVP grabs a mic and says, "Hey Cody, while you're at the dentist, I'll be down at the pub drinking a VB (Victoria Bitter - Australia's #1 beer) - anybody want to join me?"

MVP gives chase around the ring, but Cody slips in first and takes control. MVP makes his comeback with some clotheslines, a facecrusher, and the Ballin' elbowdrop. Cody reverses the Playmaker, but soon after MVP sends him shoulder-first into the post, hits the 305 and has an appointment with the ladies at the pay-window tonight. Charles Robinson helps Cody to the back.

3. Alberto Del Rio defeated Chavo Guerrero. Alberto's Titantron video is pretty pathetic at this point since it's just his logo zooming in and out. Del Rio with a mic to remind us something in Spanish, then mocks the crowd for not understanding him, but says we're even since he can't understand the Aussies either. All he hears is "blah, blah, blah, blah, mate."

Out comes Chavo as his opponent, apparently a face for the evening. Chavo makes a poor joke asking for some gold spray paint so del Rio can shine up his gold colored boots a bit. "Eddy" chant since Chavo still can't get his own heat. Basic punch-kick to start, until del Rio throws Chavo into some chairs for Chimel and the timekeeper at ringside. He works Chavo's arm. Chavo gets the crowd to chant his name as del Rio continues to build towards the eventual armbreaker submission.

Chavo briefly escapes and hits a flying cross body and two of the Three Amigos before del Rio shoves off and hits a nice enzuigiri. Del Rio has had nice loud kicks all night. Superplex countered by Chavo, but he misses the Frog Splash. Del Rio capitalizes with the crossarm breaker for the submission.

4. Layla beat Kelly Kelly to retain the WWE Women's Championship. Layla out by herself tonight. Kelly Kelly gets a nice pop as the Aussie males in the crowd bring out the wolf whistles. "Kelly Be Scared" T-shirt for Layla. Layla starts to take off her T-shirt, then pulls it back on for some heat. Funny.

Kelly with some sloppy flippy counters to Layla, then pulls off Layla's shirt to a pop, followed by a stinkface to a louder pop. Kelly's getting close to PG-13 territory here, but I doubt we'll see her get the Daniel Bryan treatment. Cheap shot by Layla to take over. Kelly with a rocker dropper for a near far. Layla counters a handspring elbow with two boots to the back, hits a good Lay Out neckbreaker, and gets the win.

5. Big Show defeated Drew McIntyre. Drew tells us get on our hands and knees to thank our lucky stars that the Chosen One has arrived Down Under. He says he has a giant task tonight fighting the Big Show. Drew says even if Big Show wasn't injured coming into this match, he'd still go out in a full body cast. Then he goes for the local heat saying if it wasn't for him and Britian, there would be no Australians.

Then he takes the usual shot at Australia being full of deported prisoners until Big Show interrupts to the biggest pop yet tonight. Show's hand is taped up. Big Show says he can't call Drew a chicken since he's a Scottish hen, then mocks his accent and says "Now get your arse in the ring so I can kick it!"

Drew goes for some power take downs to no avail. Show sits on Drew's face, then backs towards Robinson and Chimel, who run from the apparent smell. Big Show hushes the crowd for the big chest slap, but hurts his hand. Drew comes back and beats him to ringside. Show goes for the chokeslam, Drew counters for a Future Shock attempt, but Show chucks him over his head then hits the KO punch. That gets three and Show sells the hand all the way to the back.

6. Matt Hardy defeated Christian. First match back from intermission. Face vs face matchup, but Christian swings the crowd his way by starting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" to which the crowd finishes "Oi! Oi! Oi!" Both milk the crowd for cheers. Both trading offense in the opening until Christian misses a Tornado DDT. Hardy hits his corner bulldog, but Christian counters the yodelling elbow with a punch to the gut.

Christian gets a cross body off the top and then works a chinlock. Crowd still split 50/50. Christian takes too long going up top and Hardy catches him with a superplex off the top. Slow 10 count, Hardy up at seven, but Christian's playing possum and gets a small package for a convincing two. Lots of hot near falls on Side Effects, reverse DDT's, sunset flips. They trade two counts after a double clothesline in a fun spot. Christian with the fulcrum kick and a flying back elbow. They counter each other's finishers until Christian tweaks his knee flipping out of a back suplex, allowing Hardy to hit the Twist of Fate for three. Slow start, but picked up nicely at the mid-point. Best match so far.

7. Dolph Ziggler defeated Kofi Kingston to retain the Intercontinental Title. No Vickie tonight, but Dolph has the belt. Everyone getting mic time tonight as Dolph's about to speak: "Show the proper respect for the new Intercontinental Champion! More importantly, I won this fair and square unlike that cheater Kofi Kingston. I am already the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time and I haven't even defended this yet!"

Dolph says Kofi will get himself DQ'd tonight and Dolph will leave tonight as IC champion. Kofi out to a good pop. Kofi kicks Dolph out of the ring quickly. Kofi gets Dolph in the corner with nine mounted punches then rolls down to a European uppercut for the tenth. Dolph dodges a second corner attack and takes over, eventually settling into a reverse chinlock. Kofi breaks out, hits his flying clotheslines and the Boom Drop. He whiffs on TIP and Dolph cinches in the sleeper. Kofi backs him into the corner to break.

Kofi hits the SOS for a close two count. Kofi hits his high crossbody for two. Beautiful counter into a sunset flip for two by Kofi as he does a standing leap over a charging Dolph, but Dolph rolls him over, hooks the ropes, and gets the win. Kofi goes berserk again after the match, but Dolph rolls out of the ring and up the ramp to safety. Good match with Kofi being my favorite wrestler on the card, but Hardy vs Christian was a bit better.

Chimel thanks the crowd and promises WWE will be back soon, and we're on to the main event.

8. Kane defeated Jack Swagger and Rey Mysterio to retain the World Hvt. Championship. Now that Kane's champion, it's the World Heavyweight Championship again. Big pop from the kids for Rey, the adults like Kane. Swagger takes a powder and allows Kane to work over Rey. Rey gets both of them sitting in the corners and hits baseball slides to the nether regions of each guy. Swagger rolls to the outside and it's Kane and Mysterio again.

Rey tricks Kane to chase him to the floor, then hits a seated senton to Kane on the floor. Swagger hits Rey from behind, throws Kane into the steps, and goes after Rey in the ring. Swinging splash from the corner for two. Kane gets on the apron long enough for Swagger to run his head into the turnbuckle. Rey sets up Swagger for the 619, but Kane pulls Rey to the floor and enters the ring. Kane misses his top rope clothesline, but then counters another Swagger splash into a chokeslam attempt.

Swagger escapes, double clothesline, both men down. Rey re-enters and hits some springboard splashes on both men, but eventually Kane takes down Rey, Swagger hits Kane with a clotheline before collapsing for a three-way referee ten count. Phew. All get back up, Rey gets one man on each side for the 619. Swagger counters into the anklelock, but Kane grabs Swagger for a chokeslam. Swagger escapes again, but Rey catches him with a 619 and springboard splash.

Kane tosses Rey out of the ring and pins Swagger. Rey gets back in the ring to send the crowd home happy with a 619 on Kane. The music guy hits his cue too early before Rey can hit another seated senton. The music turns off, Rey hits the move, and the music is back on for Rey's exit. Kane picks up the belt, the arena goes red, and it's so long Sydney!

Thanks again to Acer, and a reminder for Aussie wrestling fans - pick
up a PC with AMD Vision technology, head to http://www.amd.com/au/promotions for your chance to win! Sorry, but Australian residents only!

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