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By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
AUGUST 3, 2008
HERSHEY, PA.
AIRED ON THE CW

[Q1]

-A recap aired of last week's drama with Edge and Vickie Guerrero including the announcement of the return of Undertaker at Summerslam. The Smackdown opening then aired.

-Jim Ross and Mick Foley introduced the show. Ross said Edge would have a surprise guest on a special edition of "The Cutting Edge."

-Jeff Hardy made his full ring intro. His neck was elaborated painted. He sat at ringside with his arms crossed. MVP then came out to his full ring intro. He entered the ring and then looked down at Hardy. He said he was glad Hardy was out there. He said last week he tried to point out that his risky behavior hurts him, but not just him - also his possessions and loved ones. He said that happened last week when he blew his chance to get a title shot against Triple H at Summerslam. He said he won't be champion because that's hot how a champion operates, but he'll show him.

1 -- MVP vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Yang didn't get a ring intro. MVP dominated early, but Yang made a comeback at 2:00 with a nice jump hook kick to the back of MVP's head. When he leaped of the top rope, MVP caught him and dropped him on his knee. He followed with a running boot to the face for the win.

WINNER: MVP in 3:00.

-Afterward, Hardy entered the ring and told MVP that last week he got really personal with him again and he took it like a man, but now he's bringing it up again, so he wanted him to know that if he ever mentions it again, he'll prove to him what kind of man he is. MVP stared him down, turned to walk away, then quickly turned back and made a move toward Jeff. Jeff blocked his punch and gave him a Twist of Fate. He yelled, "You make me sick!" Ross said Hardy showed "overt aggression." Ross plugged that Hardy would be back on the show later to face The Great Khali. "Will Air Hardy crash into the mountain known as Great Khali tonight?"

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

-Chavo Guerrero wheeled Vickie Guerrero backstage. He told her he doesn't know who Edge's surprise guest is. He promised her he'd find out. She saw the wedding planner several feet ahead and snarled. Bam Neely stepped out of a locker room to open the door for Vickie, who was pushed in.

2 -- MR. KENNEDY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Foley said Shelton looks good with the U.S. Title belt around his waist. Ross and Foley talked about how this non-title match is key for Kennedy, who hasn't exactly en-massed a winning streak since coming back to Smackdown. Foley said Kennedy considers Smackdown his home, but maybe he's gotten a little too comfortable. Foley said Shelton may have relied too much on his athleticism in the past and not enough on his tenacity, which he has shown more of in recent weeks. Ross said Kennedy has been impressive in his outings; Foley said he's trying to get back to the level he was at when he won the Money in the Bank match at least year's WrestleMania. Foley said, "Similar hair styles being sported by Mr. Kennedy and the Gold Standard." Ross said it was an "interesting analogy." It wasn't really an analogy, and Ross caught himself and added, "...observation." After four minutes of back and forth action, they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

After the break, Shelton had an armbar on Kennedy. Shelton tried a couple premature pinfall attempts for two counts, then went back to working on Kennedy's left arm. Kennedy came back and applied a half Boston crab. Shelton reached the bottom rope to force a break. Shelton blocked a backslide attempt. Kennedy came right back with a Mic Check for the win.

WINNER: Kennedy in 14:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Good TV match. Ross and Foley's call of the match really complimented and enhanced what Shelton and Kennedy did.

-As a dejected Shelton walked out of the ring, A woman interviewed him at ringside and asked him what went wrong. Shelton said he wasn't going to make excuses, but he said he probably shouldn't have been out there because he's suffering from an acute case of bronchitis and isn't feeling well. The crowd booed.

-Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins were chatting backstage about cool ring tones available at WWE.com. Chavo walked in and asked them who Edge's special guest is scheduled to be. They said they didn't know. Chavo said if they find out, let him know. They went back to their ring tones discussion.

-Ross plugged the Hardy-Khali match again.

[Commercial Break]

-Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel walked to the ring. Ross again compared Kendrick to Brian Pillman in terms of self-confidence and intellect. Kendrick grabbed the mic and said he hasn't changed, he's always been "thee" Brian Kendrick. He said he found himself a partner and put on a phony smile, and it got his foot in the door. He said he never has cared about the people and never will care. He said if anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with his man Zeke.

[Q4]

3 -- BRIAN KENDRICK (w/Ezekiel) vs. STEVIE RICHARDS

Ross said Richards will give 100 percent of his heart to the match. Ross told Foley was on the money a couple weeks ago when he said he always thought he was a jerk. When Kendrick stood on the ring apron at 3:00, Richards gave him a big boot, knocking him off the apron and into the arms of Zeke. Back in the ring, Richards turned to Zeke, so Kendrick jumped him from behind and yanked his throat over the top rope, then executed his finisher, "The Kendrick" (sliced bread), for the win. Afterward, Zeke gave Richards a torture rack drop.

WINNER: Kendrick in 4:00.

-They showed Edge arriving backstage.

[Commercial Break]

-A vague commercial aired hyping Saturday Night's Main Event. The voiceover said, "Coming this week. Check local listings." Gee, I wonder what night it's scheduled for?

4 -- THE GREAT KHALI (w/Runjin Singh) vs. JEFF HARDY

They faced off at the start. Khali shoved Hardy backwards. Hardy came back with kiks and punches and a dive into Khali's chest. Khali barely budged. Foley sarcastically said it's great to see Ringh back at ringside. "Absence really does make the heart grow fonder," he said. Khali took early control. Ross wondered what would happen if Khali went back to India with the WWE Championship. Khali methodically tossed Hardy around. They cut to a commercial at the odd time of precisely the top of the hour, so 9 p.m. ET channel shopping viewers were greeted by a commercial while all other shows on cable were revving up and hooking them.

[Q5]

[Commercial Break]

Khali held Hardy down with a nerve hold after the break. Hardy showed signed of life at 8:00 and hit a sudden Whisper in the Wind followed by a Swanton Bomb. The crowd popped. MVP came to ringside (predictably, since there was no clean finish for this match plausible given the positioning of each wrestler), prompting Hardy to attacked him. Khali reached over the top rope and yanked Hardy into the ring, bashing him in the chest with his forearm to flip him over the top rope into the ring. Khali then squeezed Hardy's head with the Khali Vice Grip. Hardy struggled to escape. The ref called off the match as Hardy's body went limp. Afterward, MVP stood over Hardy's body and extended his arms.

WINNER: Khali in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Solid match. Obviously one dimensional early with the methodical Khali offense, but it ultimately accomplished it's task of getting Khali a decisive, yet tainted, win over Hardy with his vice grip finisher, while also giving Hardy a chance to show that his high-risk moves could take Khali down and perhaps beat him if not for MVP coming to ringside.

-Ross and Foley were shown on camera as they talked about how classless MVP's actions were. Ross threw to a video package on R. Truth (Ron "The Truth" Killings). Truth talked about how poor decision-making in his life put him in prison. He said he had no idea how being locked up would affect him. He said all of his freedom was taken away. He was told when to eat and sleep wile looking over his shoulders. He said he knew this wasn't the place for him. He said he made it through and survived to become a free man again. "And that's the truth," he declared. A graffiti wall displayed "R-Truth."

[Commercial Break]

-Did You Know? Last Friday night, Smackdown was the most watched television program by male viewers.

[Q6]

4 -- MARIA vs. VICTORIA

Ross talked about Maria making everyone wait for weeks. "It reminds me of my junior high dating experience," said Ross. Ross said Maria started from scratch in WWE, while Victoria is a seasoned veteran. He added that he meant no offense by calling her a seasoned vet, as if that's an insult because all women want to be considered to be in their early 20s forever. Maria threw a clothesline. Ross said it's not exactly a Stan Hansen lariat, but it was effective. She followed with a flying clothesline off the second rope for the pin.

WINNER: Maria in 3:00.

-Backstage Edge talked to the wedding planner right in front of a camera. He told her she shouldn't be backstage. He said he got her a ticket so she could be up close and personal watching his guest tonight "because it's going to be huge." She got excited about anticipating the big surprise.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired on Triple H reminding everyone he is the "King of Kings" and that "there is only one." Ross and Foley were shown on camera again. They talked about Mike Adamle being named G.M. of Raw. Foley said he wasn't exactly J.R. when it came to calling matches, but he did book a good match in Cena vs. Batista. I love how they make it seem like some sort of strategic and intellectual feat to book the two top babyfaces of a brand against one another. Then they ran down the announced matches for SummerSlam.

[Commercial Break]

[Q7]

5 -- THE BIG SHOW vs. DOMINO

Big Show threw Domino out of the ring in the opening seconds. Domino said, "Oh, you wanna play?" Show appears to be gaining about 20 pounds a week these days. How much crappy food do you have to eat to gain weight at the pace Show seems to be? Show finished Domino with a quick chokeslam. Show just smiled and shrugged.

WINNER: Show in 1:00.

-After the match, Umaga walked out to the ring as his music played. They squared off and circled each other slowly, cautiously. They cut to the back after about 20 seconds.

-Chavo, Vickie, and Neely chatted backstage. Chavo said he's asked around and he hasn't gotten any answers, so they'll have to find out along with everyone else next.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge came out to a full ring intro wearing a t-shirt and jeans for his "Cutting Edge" special interview. Ross wondered if the guest might be Undertaker. Foley suggested maybe President Bush. Edge sat mid-ring and said all week he's been searching for some inner peace. He said his marriage "is going through a rough patch" (that was laugh-out-loud funny) and in just a couple of weeks he'll be going through Hell in a Cell against Undertaker. (If this were Impact, Mike Tenay would have ruined the subtle hilarity of Edge's gross understatement by saying, "Rough patch? Rough patch?! Now that's an understatement. The marriage barely began before it died!") Edge said tonight's finding some inner peace because he's surrounded himself with his instruments of destruction - tables, ladders, and chairs. He said those are the things that helped him send Undertaker away in the first place. He said he has found the person who can most help him survive a Hell in a Cell against Undertaker because he's had the most experience against him. He rolled to ringside and said that man is Mick Foley. Foley had no idea. He said, "You've got to be kidding." Edge said, "Please." Foley said, "Well, he did say please." Ross said it's unusual and "almost improper."

[Q8]

Foley entered the ring. Edge said he knows they have a checkered past and a lot of history. Edge said he knows there is something that eats away inside of him more than their past. He said he prepared a video package to remind him. The video aired of the beginning of the 1998 Attitude Era. It showed footage of The Rock, Steve Austin, and other "degenerates," but the narrator said there was one moment that stood above all others - Foley's bump off the top of the cage through a table at ringside and then through the roof onto the mat. Back in the ring, as the fans chanted "Foley," Edge said that was ten years ago, but his body has felt those bumps every day since. Foley nodded. Edge praised Foley for walking away on his own despite all Undertaker did to him. (Technically, the video showed Terry Funk helping Foley walk to the back after that match.) Edge said he's watched Foley try to walk properly, but he can't, and he knows it eats away at his heart. He said he sees in his eyes that it eats away at him. Edge said if he helps him, maybe he can exorcize the pain.

After a dramatic pause, Foley finally spoke. He said Edge brought up a lot of good points. He said he never was the same after that match. He said there is a part of him that would really like to help him, but in the past several months, he's hurt his credibility. "Because the one thing I have going for me more than anything else is my word and my bond with these fans," said Foley. "For weeks, for months, for years, in both words I've spoken and the written word, I've said Edge is the greatest superstar in WWE." The crowd booed. Foley added, "...even when it isn't popular to say." Foley said the fans think he sucks because they see an Edge week in and week out who takes shortcuts. Foley said not only won't he help him, he can't help him, but he knows the one person who can.

"Edge," said Foley. "Edge. You need to look inside your heart, your soul, and inside your mind and find the Edge who made me say you were the greatest superstar in WWE." He said he needs to find the Edge who made the letters TLC mean something. He said he needs to channel the same Edge who had the greatest hardcore match in WrestleMania history just two years ago. He said if he does, he and J.R. will call that match and fans around the world will witness the most exciting, violent, innovative match-up in WWE history. "You need to find that Edge and bring him to SummerSlam, because if that cell door slams shut and the Undertaker stares face-to-face at this Edge, the white tuxedo wearing Edge, the loofa spongebathing Edge, the down on his knees saying 'forgive me baby I can't live with you' Edge... the Undertaker will tear you apart." Foley's intensity increased. He asked, "Am I understood?"

Edge paused and looked up at Foley and said, "I understand." He then nailed Foley in the head with the mic to prove it and battered him at ringside. Foley fought back quickly and pulled out a chair. He held it up and charged at Edge. Edge kicked the chair into his face, but Edge returned fire with a spear into the ringside steps. Edge reentered the ring and set up a ladder. Foley reached for the steps at ringside to help himself up. The crowd chanted, "Un-der-taker." Foley entered the ring and surprised Edge with a Mandible Claw. Edge gave Foley a low blow and then set him on a table. Edge climbed a ladder with a chair in hand and leaped off, crushing Foley and the table. Edge yanked at his hair. Ross said he has snapped and is at his psychological boiling point.

Stellar segment in many ways. Foley and Edge were great with their delivery and reactions with both body language and facial expressions. Edge snapping and hitting Foley was the appropriate response to Foley's speech. It's one of those segments that plays successfully on several levels with several types and ages of fans. Ross closed by saying, as Edge stood over Foley's KO'd body, that that is the Edge that Foley was referencing.

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