By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 10, 2008
AIRED ON MY NETWORK

[Q1]

-After a video package on Undertaker-Big Show at No Mercy, the Smackdown opening aired. Then Jim Ross introduced the show, hyping it as featuring one of the "biggest, most epic" main events in Smackdown history - Triple H vs. Big Show.

-Vickie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero stood mid-ring. She said, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" Then she talked about how two weeks ago she was not wearing her neckbrace and was brutally and savagely attacked by the Undertaker. She talked about the pain going up and down her spine when she was chokeslammed, and is thus confined once again to the wheelchair and neckbrace. The crowd cheered and chanted, "You suck! You suck!" She then laughed as she reminisced about what Big Show did to Undertaker at No Mercy. She said she was rewarding Big Show with a title match tonight as a result. Big Show walked out as Ross confirmed that Big Show "did the unthinkable" by knocking Undertaker out cold. Tazz said he's never seen anyone do that to Undertaker before.

Big Show entered the ring and said, "I told you so." He said the fans didn't believe him and instead sided with Undertaker. He said their cheers meant nothing compared to his fist. They went to heavily produced video clips of Show KO'ing Taker. Show said no man can stand up to his equalizer, his fist. He said no man has gotten up after being punched and no man ever will. He said by the end of the show he'll be known not just as the man who knocked out Undertaker twice, but also the new World Heavyweight Champion. Vladimir Kozlov then walked out to the ring.

Kozlov spoke in Russian and then transitioned into broken English and challenged the winner of tonight's match. Big Show told him he has two reasons he should reconsider that. "One, I'm a giant. Two, although a few people here might not like me, as least I am an American," he said.

-A commercial aired promoting the replay of No Mercy.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

-Did You Know? Smakdown on MyNetworkTV last week was the no. 1 show on TV last week among young viewers 2-17, beating out every show on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox?

1 -- BRIE BELLA vs. NATALYA

At 2:00, Brie went to ringside and tried to crawl under the ring. Victoria tried to stop her and got dragged uner the ring, too. She popped out of the ring when Hornswoggle appeared. He tackled her and rolled on the floor with her briefly. He chased her to the back. Brie popped her head out from under the ring, then appeared on the other side really quickly and schoolgirled Natalya for a sudden win. Ross said Natalya was as confused as he was, and referenced "double-vision."

WINNER: Brie Bella in 3:00.

-Ross and Tazz were shown on camera. They plugged Triple H vs. Big Show, then threw to a video package on John Cena, the same that aired on Raw.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Funaki warming up backstage for his interview. R-Truth walked up to him with a big smile. Truth said Funaki needs a mic to do interviews, but he can't give up his mic. Funaki then tried to sing the "What's up?" song. Funaki said his first name is Kung. Truth then sang: "Everybody loves Kung Fu Naki... Even when he drinks his sake... And he rides a Kawasaki... And he likes watching hockey... And he's short and stocky, because his name is Kung Fu Naki." Truth said, "That's what's up." His chances of ever getting over just went down.

[Q3]

-They showed Triple H sitting backstage thumbing a text message into his phone. He said he was voting for Cyber Sunday and he couldn't decide between Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin as special referee. Jeff Hardy sat next to him and said it's unfair he should have to defend his title against Big Show just five days after No Mercy. "That's insane!" he said. Hardy said he's going to challenge the winner, and he said he doesn't expect it to be Triple H. Hardy wished him luck.

-R-Truth rapped his way through the crowd.

-A commercial aired for the WWE Kids website.

[Commercial Break]

-A short video clip aired on Big Show knocking out The Great Khali a while back.

2 -- R-TRUTH vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

A soundbite aired before the match of Shelton saying there is one investment that is safe - the Gold Standard, Shelton Benjamin. The chains that clang throughout Truth's match really has to go. It's totally distracting like fingernails on a chalk board during his matches. It reminds me too much of the WCW Ding Dongs, too. (Google it if you don't know the reference.) Ross's commentary focused on how Benjamin seemingly looks down at R-Truth as a man. Pretty basic stuff here. They brawled at ringside briefly, then Shelton settled into a chinlock mid-ring after a flying clothesline. He held it for a couple of minutes. Killings came back with a corkscrew forarm off the ropes. Truth eventually won with a leverage pin. Shelton looked shocked afterward as Truth celebrated at ringside.

WINNER: Truth in 6:00.

-Ross hyped Hardy vs. MVP was up next.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

-Ross and Lawler plugged the voting for Santino Marella's match at Cyber Sunday.

3 -- MVP vs. JEFF HARDY

As MVP walked to the ring, an inset interview aired with Hurricane Helms who said the P in MVP stands for "Please win a match." Ross said he heard MVP was one victory away from receiving a substantial incentive bonus on his lucrative Smackdown contract. He said this could be a very financially rewarding match. A mjnute into the match, MVP bailed out and called for a timeout. Ross said he's thinking about that "incentive bonus." They cut to an early break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q5]

MVP controlled offense after the break. MVP settled into a bearhug on the mat and then from a standing position. At 9:00 Hardy broke free and fired back with a Whisper in the Wind suddenly. He followed with a Swanton a minute later for the clean win. Ross said Hardy's stock is soaring.

WINNER: Hardy in 10:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Blah match. MVP remains in the dog house.

-Afterward, Vladimir Kozlov gave Hardy a headbutt to the chest, then stood over him and yelled.

[Commercial Break]

-A vignette taped at a amusement park aired with Kizarny. He speaks in carny (carnival code language).

-Justin Roberts introduced guest ring announcer Maria. She made a full ring intro to her music. She then did the ring intro for the eight-man tag team match. The excuses they come up with to get hot women on this show.

4 -- JESSE & FESTUS & CARLITO & PRIMO COLON vs. CURT HAWKINS & ZACH RYDER & BRIAN BRADOCK & KENNY DYKSTRA

Ross said there's nothing fancy about Braddock. That's true. When Festus tagged in at 2:00, he cleaned house. He flattened Dykstra with his sit-splash and big boot for a two count, then chaos broke out with everyone. When the dust settled, Festus was left with Dykstra, whom he gave his finisher to for the win.

WINNER: Festus in 4:00.

[Q6]

-Did You Know? Smackdown was the most watched show in the history of MyNetworkTV last week.

-They threw to the second part of the video package on Cena's rehab.

-They replayed the Great Khali and Runjin Singh on Johnny Knoxville's website show. Then in the ring, Khali was shown smiling in reaction to the video. Singh asked Khali, "What's a tally-wacker anyway?" Then Singh threw to the Khali Kiss Cam. Bak in the ring, Singh said, "Now that's entertainment." He said Khali will prove he's a better entertainer than Johnny Knoxville after his match.

5 -- THE GREAT KHALI vs. THREE OPPONENTS

Two of Khali's opponents left the third alone in the ring. He chopped that wrestler in the head for the quick win. Ross said Khali doesn't work by the hour.

WINNER: Khali in 0:08.

-Singh asked who in the crowd wants a passionate kiss from Khali. They showed women in the crowd mostly shaking their heads no. Singh picked one of the reluctant women and called her into the ring, calling her "sweetheart." He said it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. He said she has a smile and a personality, getting across that she wouldn't be a candidate to be a WWE Diva based on her looks. Singh asked her how much she weighs. She said, "A lot." The sexy music played and then Khali moved in for a kiss. The crowd cheered and the woman laughed. At least she, unlike Lilian Garcia, was a willing participant. They're obviously using this to turn Khali into a jolly giant babyface. He is pretty much played out as a heel at this point, so it's a smart move. He's followed the same path as George "The Animal" Steele.

[Q7]

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired. It seemed a lot longer than usual. Then Ross plugged the text message poll for who the special ref will be for the Chris Jericho vs. Batista match.

-They showed a clip of Hardy beating MVP earlier and the post-match attack by Kozlov. Ross then announced that next week Hardy vs. Kozlov has been signed for Smackdown. A backstage promo aired with Kozlov looking menacing and then vowing to break Hardy in half next week.

-Triple H's ring intro took place.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

-Triple H's music was still playing after the break.

6 -- TRIPLE H vs. THE BIG SHOW

Big Show overpowered Triple H early, tossing him over the top rope to the floor in the opening seconds with one arm. When he went after Hunter at ringside, Hunter avoided his charged. Show ran into the ringpost. Show headbutted Triple H back in the ring, knocking him to the floor again. Show then lifted Triple H by his hair back to the ring apron. Triple H dropped Show throat-first over the top rope. Once Triple H entered the ring, Show surprised him with a side slam. Show smiled as they cut to a break at 2:00.

[Commercial Break]

They showed that during the break, Show press slammed Triple H. Show twisted Hunter's head in mid-ring. There was a bit of a meandering pace to the match dictated by Show. Hunter caught a charging Show with a boot at 7:00, then leaped onto Show's back and applied a sleeper. Show eventually flipped Hunter off of him, but missed with an elbow drop. Hunter set Show up for a Pedigree at 7:00. Show powered out of it and flipped Hunter backward, landing on him. Both were slow to get up. Show signaled for a big fist as he waited for Hunter to stand. Hunter ducked, but Show chokeslammed him. Ross said Hunter was barely moving. The lights went out at 10:00, then they came back on and Undertaker was standing center-ring punching Show out of the ring. The lights went out again and Undertaker was standing behind Show in the aisle. He continued to beat on him. As they fought to the back, Kozlov charged to the ring and went after Triple H.

WINNER: No contest in 10:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- Nothing special. The non-finish wasn't great, but it was appropriate and expected given the circumstances. The odds of a clean win in this was near zero.

-Kozlov gave Triple H a headbutt to the chest, then fended off a save by Hardy. However, Triple H and Hardy eventually worked together to knock Kozlov to the floor. Kozlov stood and stared at them as the fans chanted, "USA, USA." After a few seconds, Hardy gave Triple H a Twist of Fate, then leaned over the top rope and shouted at Kozlov, his opponent next week.

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