By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
August 8, 2008
Taped 8/5/08 in Atlanta, Ga.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-The show started off by airing clips of last week’s final segment, the confrontation between Edge and Mick Foley. I really can’t believe Foley and WWE can’t come to terms to continue their working agreement (which, by the sounds of it, will end when Foley’s contract expires on September 1st).

-Smackdown Open.

-Jim Ross introduced his broadcast partner this week, Tazz, who was filling in for the injured Mick Foley.

-Tonight, Shelton Benjamin, who is “on a roll” according to JR (aside from last week, I guess), faces Jeff Hardy.

-Also, Triple H takes on Great Khali in an Indian Broken Glass Arm Wrestling Match. I couldn’t make this up if I tried.

1- MARYSE & VICTORIA & NATALYA vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL & CHERRY & MARIA-SIX-DIVA OLYMPIC TAG-TEAM MATCH

Basically, the match is a six-diva tag match with each girl dressing up like an Olympic athlete. Victoria was dressed like a gymnast, Natalya like an equestrian, Maryse like a tennis player, Michelle like a volleyball player, Cherry like a boxer and Maria like a skier. Victoria has that chalk you put on your hands with her, so you can see the finish coming a mile away.

Michelle flipped out of a Natalya wrist-lock, but couldn’t sustain offense. She and Maria hit a double shoulder-block on Natalya. When Maria was thrown out of the ring, referee Mickie Henson lost control, as all the women started coming in and out of the ring. Maria got tripped up by Natalya, who locked in the Figure-Four, and Maria immediately tapped.

WINNERS: Maryse & Victoria & Natalya, at 2:38. Well, I was wrong about the finish. Just an excuse to get the divas to play dress up.

-Ryder & Hawkins came upon the body of Bam Neely, who was knocked unconscious backstage. Chavo and Vickie came upon the scene and they found a black rose near Neely’s body.

[Commercial Break]

2- CURT HAWKINS & ZACK RYDER vs. SHANNON MOORE & JIMMY WANG YANG

This was Moore’s swan-song with the company, as he was released earlier today, according to his Myspace page. Hawkins ate the mat when Yang tripped him up in a unique maneuver. It was all offense for the faces early on. Hawkins took over when Yang went for the ten-punch count on the middle rope. Ryder made a tag on a sunset flip that Yang didn’t see, allowing the champs to take over. Yang made the hot tag to Moore, who hit a high cross-body for a two-count. All four men were in the ring, and as the ref was admonishing Yang, the heels hit a double-DDT on Moore for the win.

WINNERS: Hawkins & Ryder, at 4:12. Not a bad match. The Edgeheads still don’t have much of a personality, but at least they’re becoming more credible in the ring.

-MVP was backstage with Eve Torres. He plugged his Summerslam match with Jeff Hardy, and we saw MVP costing Jeff his match with Edge on Saturday Night’s Main Event. He cut a promo, talking about what needs to happen at Summerslam.

-Jeff Hardy faces Shelton Benjamin next.

[Commercial Break]

-Indian Broken Glass Arm-Wrestling Contest between Khali and HHH is still to come.

3- JEFF HARDY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Shelton got a headlock over Jeff’s forehead, making it look incredibly easy for Jeff to slip out. They worked a slow pace in the first few minutes. Referee Charles Robinson had to pull Shelton off of Jeff in the corner, almost earning Shelton a DQ for not breaking at the five-count. Jeff mule kicked Benjamin to the outside, then hit a slingshot cross-body. Back in the ring, Shelton jumped to the top to meet Jeff, but Jeff pushed him off and missed a Swanton. A pin attempt, but it only got two. Break time.

[Commercial Break]

Shelton was in control out of break, having grounded Jeff with some knees to the head. Upon getting to his feet, Jeff traded rights with Shelton. Jeff went up for the Whisper in the Wind, but Shelton chop-blocked him off the top rope. Shelton went to work on the leg, which was injured at SNME. Jeff went to the outside for a breather, and Shelton made the mistake of taking a high-risk move, which didn’t pay off. Hardy got some offense in inside the ring, and also registered a few near-falls. He hit Whisper in the Wind for two. Jeff tried his seated dropkick in the corner, but Shelton popped up, grabbed him out of the air and powerslammed him for two. Hardy shoved Shelton off on his finisher attempt, and Jeff hit the Twist of Fate. Swanton hit and before he could go for the cover, MVP came out and kicked Hardy in the head.

WINNER: Hardy, at 17:59. I thought for sure Shelton’s excuse-giving after losing would continue this week.

-Backstage, Chavo told Vickie he thought the flower was from Taker. Ryder barged in and said Hawkins had gone missing.

[Commercial Break]

-The arm-wrestling contest was up next, and we got a close-up view of the shards of glass awaiting the contestants. Triple H came out first, then Khali with Ranjin Singh. Before they could start, Singh said Khali had something to say to HHH. Singh translated, saying Trips should get out while he’s still champion. HHH got to make fun of Khali’s native tongue and other things. He said that while he’s never been in the ring with Khali, Khali has never been in the ring with him either. Triple H said he’d break Khali’s legs, then beat him.

They started to get locked up, but HHH backed away a couple times. Triple H got the advantage at the start, but Khali started pulling Trips his way. Triple H’s hand came near the shards of glass, but he came back. As Khali was about to lose, he headbutted Triple H. The table went flying and the two were still attached at the wrist by the rope Mickie Henson used to secure them. Khali was going to Khali-Bomb Trips, but HHH got a thumb to the eye, but couldn’t quite hook Khali for the Pedigree. Khali ended up hitting him with the chop to the head and locking in the vice grip. Trips tried to fight back, but succumbed to the power of the grip. Khali finally released it and said Khali has two words for Trips at Summerslam: Game over.

[Commercial Break]

-Ryder was found by the cameraman, knocked silly in the locker room with a black rose on his person.

-Another R-Truth vignette aired.

-Chavo and Vickie discussed the three members of La Familia that have gone missing. Chavo said they need to seek out Edge, because one of them is next. Chavo said he’d go talk to him. Did I miss them finding the other Edgehead?

[Commercial Break]

4- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. JESSE

Kozlov got the mic and demanded better competition. Jesse and Festus came out, and apparently it’s Jesse, as he tried to coax Festus out of the ring. Kozlov got Jesse from behind and hit some headbutts and a belly-to-belly throw. Jesse fought back enough to get a one-count on the Russian. Jesse came off the top but was headbutted down by Kozlov for the win.

WINNER: Kozlov, at 1:40.

Kozlov went out to get a good look at Festus, in his vegetative state, after the match.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-JR and Tazz previewed the Summerslam card.

-Chavo told Vickie he talked to Edge and noted that he needed Vickie to be civil to him. She pulled apart one of the roses just thinking about it, then nodded in agreement.

[Commercial Break]

-JR plugged that Smackdown had more males watching last week than any other program on TV.

5- THE BRIAN KENDRICK vs. SUPER CRAZY

Kendrick said knowledge is power, so he must be the most powerful man in WWE. Kendrick introduced Ezekiel as his advisor, Ezekiel Jackson. Apparently, the big man acquired a last name between last week’s show and tonight’s. Jumping heel kick by Kendrick put Crazy down. Kendrick continued his kicking onslaught, including one flush to the face. Hard dropkick by Kendrick got two. Running knee by Kendrick. Tilt-a-whirl back-breaker by Crazy, then a face-buster. Crowd started to get behind him here. Crazy went to the top but Ezekiel distracted him and Kendrick hit The Kendrick for the win.

WINNER: Kendrick, at 4:38.

Much like last week, Ezekiel picked up Crazy after the match and put him in a Torture Rack.

-Edge came into Vickie’s office and hugged Chavo. He sat down on the couch next to Vickie. Edge tried to calm Vickie down as she tried to remain calm. Edge said they couldn’t let the Undertaker get to them. He said they had to do it his way, and Vickie reluctantly agreed.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge, Chavo and Vickie came out for the final segment of the show. Edge grabbed a few chairs from ringside and got on the mic. He angrily demanded Undertaker come out to the ring. He didn’t come out, and Edge said it was because they were ready for him. Edge ordered Chavo to move Vickie to the corner of the ring. As he and Chavo were walking around the ring with chairs, Edge hit Chavo in the back with one, then hit him with a Conchairto, all the while Vickie was screaming. Edge went over to Vickie and rolled her to the middle of the ring. He grabbed the legs of her chair and began shaking them, terrifying Vickie. He turned his back, then turned around again and dumped her out of the chair. Edge asked Vickie if it’s finally dawning on her that the person she needs to worry about is not Undertaker, but him. He ranted about her putting him in the Cell, then said Foley was right last week and he’s got his edge back (so to speak). Edge said he’d pull Taker down to hell with him, and the entire family as well, including Vickie. Edge stared closely at a whimpering Vickie as the show ended. Good final segment, and it make sense that Edge would turn on Chavo and Vickie, considering what Mick said last week.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since February of 2007. You can also hear him every-other-week in the post-Raw audio show Monday nights in the Torch VIP audio section and read his blog, updated weekly on the site. Check out his new column in a PDF-exclusive version of this week’s Torch Newsletter. Comments, questions and feedback is welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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