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By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
October 10 2008
Taped 10/7/08 in Spokane, Wash.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-They showed clips of the Big Show vs. Undertaker match from No Mercy on Sunday, accompanied by some foreboding music.

-Smackdown Open.

-Jim Ross opened the show and immediately plugged the WWE Championship match of Triple H vs. Big Show in the main event for later.

-In the ring were Chavo and Vickie Guerrero. Vickie did her “excuse me!” routine. She was not in a good mood. She was in a neckbrace and a wheelchair. She talked about getting attacked two weeks ago at the hands of The Undertaker. Vickie talked about still being able to feel getting Tombstoned. “You suck” chants from the crowd. Vickie said that Taker “got his” at No Mercy- he was dominated and humiliated by The Big Show. She said he would be rewarded for taking out Taker with a match for the WWE Title tonight. Then Show came out. Still smiling and waving, BTW.

Show said he told everyone what was going to happen, but we didn’t believe him. He said Taker would never be the same, then showed Show KO’ing Taker on Sunday. Show put over his powerful right hand, then turned his attention to HHH. He talked about the phrase “not knowing what hit you,” but he said HHH would know exactly what hit him. Show also said he’d scramble the brain of the Cerebral Assassin. As Show raised his arms in presumed victory, Vladimir Kozlov came out to interrupt.

Kozlov spoke in Russian, challenging the winner of tonight’s main event. Show said he’d give him two reasons to reconsider: He’s a giant, and he’s American. What does that have to do with anything? The two stared each other down as the first segment ended.

[Commercial Break]

1- BRIE BELLA vs. NATALYA

Victoria came out with Natalya. Brie got a take-down immediately, and referee Charles Robinson had to break them up. Springboard cross-body by Brie. Natlaya bridged out of a pin but Brie got a back-slide for one. Spinning clothesline by Natalya that almost took Brie out of her boots. She settled into a chin-lock. Roll-up by Bella for two, but Natalya got a clothesline in. Brie went under the ring, and Victoria took hold of her heels, which pulled Victoria half-way under the ring. When she came out, Hornswoggle peeked out from underneath, then chased Victoria to the back. On the other side, Brie (or the other one) peeked out from underneath and smiled at Natalya. Less than two seconds later, Brie came out from the OTHER side of the ring. Natalya had a “how’d she do that so quickly?” look on her face. Crucifix roll-up by Brie got the win.

WINNER: Bella, at 3:03. Not all terrible, and it appears they’re getting closer to revealing the secret.

-The video from Raw about the John Cena-Batista match where Cena allegedly suffered his injury aired.

[Commercial Break]

-Funaki was backstage, practicing his interviewing skills when R-Truth came up to him. Truth gave him a mic, saying he might need that to do interviews. Funaki also tried to rap like Truth. Truth wanted to get to know Funaki better and asked him his “government” name. Funaki said his middle name is “Fu” and his last name is “Naki.” He also said his first name is “Kung.” Kung Funaki. Truth then made a song in the beat of “Kung Fu Fighting” instead to “Kung Fu Naki.” THAT’S what’s up.

-Triple H was in his locker room, voting for the special referee at Cyber Sunday. Jeff Hardy walked in and said it was unfair HHH had to defend his title five days after their match, against Big Show. Hardy said he doubted Triple H would win, but said he would challenge the winner.

-R-Truth came out for his match through the crowd. The interrupted his singing with a commercial break. I wish they’d do that more often.

[Commercial Break]

-They plugged the title match tonight and showed a clip of Show knocking out Khali.

-R-Truth was still in the ring rapping, but then Shelton Benjamin cut a short promo on the Titan-Tron about the economic turmoil and said something about being the Gold Standard. His typical promo.

2- R-TRUTH vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

This match is non-title. Shelton was very aggressive at the bell, with the referee having to physically restrain him at times. He threw Truth out of the ring, and when he got in, Truth took Shelton to the mat. Shelton slid to avoid going into the ropes, then exploded with a clothesline. Shelton got Truth in a chin-lock, but Truth suplexed out of it. Corkscrew forearm by Truth, but Shelton came back with a back-breaker. Truth used a unique roll-up to pin Shelton out of nowhere.

WINNER: Truth, at 5:01. Not a bad match, and a decent backstory as well.

-Jeff Hardy takes on MVP next.

[Commercial Break]

-JR and Tazz plugged Smackdown’s ratings success last week.

-They plugged the voting for the I.C. Title match at Cyber Sunday.

3- JEFF HARDY vs. MVP

Hurricane Helms did an inset during MVP’s entrance. MVP got a couple pin attempts in. Hardy went to the top, but MVP took a break on the outside.

[Commercial Break]

Hardy was on the attack, but MVP turned it around after the show returned from break. MVP got a near-fall, and argued with referee Scott Armstrong about it. After a few rest-holds, MVP whipped Hardy into the buckle, but Hardy climbed to the top and hit Whisper in the Wind. Both men were down. Hardy with a dropkick, then a corner dropkick, a move that was countered earlier in the match. He took it to the top and hit the Swanton for the pin.

WINNER: Hardy, at 10:49. Fine TV match. MVP’s punishment is apparently not over. Gives Hardy a win back after HHH beat him at No Mercy.

After the match, Vladimir Kozlov walked to the ring with a purpose as Hardy was celebrating. Kozlov put his fists up for a fight, but Hardy kicked him in the gut. It was no-sold by Kozlov, so Hardy went to the middle rope. Kozlov headbutted him out of the air.

-A HHH “King of Kings” video aired.

[Commercial Break]

-A vignette, taking place at a carnival, for a character called Kizarny aired.

-Maria came out to be special guest ring announcer for the next match.

4- JESSE & FESTUS & PRIMO & CARLITO vs. CURT HAWKINS & ZACK RYDER & KENNY DYKSTRA & RYAN BRADDOCK

A Helms inset noted that the heel four strikes fear in no one. Hawkins and Ryder worked over Carlito. Eventually all four heels got to get some offense in on him. Festus tagged in and got his usual offense in against everyone. Braddock broke up a pin by Festus, so Carlito took him out. Jesse and Carlito dove onto Ryder & Hawkins on the outside, so Festus finished off Dykstra in the ring.

WINNERS: Jesse, Festus, Primo and Carlito at 3:19. Kind of an odd couple pairings, but give Dykstra a partner and you’ve got four decent teams on this show.

-HHH takes on Big Show in the main event tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Another Cena surgery-recovery video.

-Great Khali and Rajin Singh were in the ring and they played the Johnny Knoxville video interview with Khali. Singh then cued up the Khali Kiss Cam from Raw, to show Khali could be a fun guy. He plugged Knoxville facing off with Khali on Raw on Monday night.

5- GREAT KHALI vs. THREE JOBBERS

The Jobbers all ran at Khali but stopped in their tracks when he raised his arms. All but one left the ring, leaving the one left to get a chop over the head and a foot in the chest to get pinned.

WINNER: Khali, in :12.

Another Khali Kiss Cam aired. Singh picked a rather....rotund lady out of the crowd to come in and kiss Khali. Jennifer Swanson from, of course, Spokane Washington. Singh asked her what she weighed, but she didn’t answer. She seemed mesmerized by Khali, but Khali wasn’t really as into it as Singh was hoping. Khali kept shaking his head no as Singh kept trying to convince him to do it. She finally took his hand and he kissed her. He raised his arms in victory.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-They then showed the options for guest refs for the Jericho vs. Batista match at Cyber Sunday.

-The finish of MVP vs. Hardy from earlier tonight aired, as well as the interference by Kozlov. Kozlov will face Jeff Hardy next week on Smackdown.

-Kozlov cut a promo backstage and said he’d break Hardy next week.

-Triple H came out for his main event title match.

[Commercial Break]

6- TRIPLE H vs. THE BIG SHOW- WWE TITLE MATCH

Show used his mass and strength to keep HHH down, including a headbutt while Trips was on the apron. HHH was able to come back in, only to be greeted with a sidewalk slam. Time for the last break.

[Commercial Break]


Show had Trips in a neck vice. HHH was feeling the power, but Show headbutted him to put him back down. Show missed a big splash in the corner, allowing HHH to recover some more. He got the boots up on another charge, then jumped on Show’s back and applied a sleeper. Triple H got a lot of offense in, but couldn’t take Show off his feet. Show blocked a Pedigree, picked Trips up and just landed on him. Show missed a right hand, but Trips walked into a chokeslam. Show couldn’t capitalize. As he was about to pick Trips up, the lights went out and the bell tolled. When they came back on, Taker was staring at Show in the ring. He started the beat-down, but Show got out of the ring and headed up the ramp. The lights went out again and when they came on, Taker was behind him and beat him up some more, just punching him and punching him as they fought to the back.

WINNER: Show by DQ, at 9:49. Decent enough; Show has been away from the title picture long enough for it to seem fresh.

Vladmiri Kozlov then rand out and did some damage to Triple H. After a headbutt put Trips down, Jeff Hardy ran out. Kozlov put him down until HHH and Hardy decided to work together and then threw Kozlov out of the ring. The faces stared the heel down, then out of nowhere, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on HHH. The two that have a match next week, Hardy and Kozlov, stared each other down as the show ended.

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. Check out his new column in a PDF-exclusive version of the Torch Newsletter. Comments, questions and feedback is welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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