By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
October 31, 2008
Taped 10/28/08 in San Diego, Calif.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-On a special Halloween episode of Smackdown: The return of the Casket Match.

-Big Show was backstage, massaging his neck and speaking into the camera to The Undertaker. He said Taker tried to crush his larynx. If their paths cross again, Show said he wouldn’t knock Taker out; he’d bury him. The camera panned back to show Vickie in a wheelchair and Chavo, both standing next to Show and in front of a casket. Vickie announced many tricks and treats for tonight. She said Taker would be competing in what she knows will be his final Casket Match. She said Taker would know what it’s like to be buried alive tonight. Vickie then announced the man that will face Taker: Chavo Guerrero. Chavo seemed taken aback by that announcement, then just kind of backed out of the picture with this weird look on his face. Vickie wished us Happy Halloween, then cackled.

-Smackdown Open.

-The camera crew managed to find some people in the crowd dressed up for Halloween. Then we saw Captain Jim Ross and Sgt. Tazz at the broadcast table. They plugged a six-man tag match for later in the show.

1- JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. CARLITO & PRIMO COLON

Morrison grabbed a hammerlock on Primo, but Colon countered that. Deep arm-drag, then a tag to Carlito, who hit a dropkick on Morrison as he went under a Primo leap-frog. Carlito go tthe tables turned on him after a near-fall. More double-teaming from the Colons, sending Miz to the outside, then hip-tossing Morrison out to him. Break time.

[Commercial Break]

For those scoring at home, out of seven WWE TV matches this week thus far, SIX have been interrupted by a commercial break. Morrison fought Carlito in the corner but the eldest Colon fought back and Carlito powerbombed his brother onto a prone Morrison. A distraction by Miz allowed Morrison to hit his springboard kick to the face for two on Primo. A note on the bottom of the screen told viewers “stay tuned for the Masked Magician” from MyNetwork’s “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Revealed.” I can’t WAIT. Miz had Primo in a full-nelson to keep him from making the tag. Primo countered and tagged Carlito, who almost fell on his head coming in on a springboard flip. It started breaking down with all four men in the ring. Carlito rolled up Miz for two. Carlito tried a springboard, but Morrison tripped him, allowing Miz to hit the Reality Check for the win.

WINNERS: Miz & Morrison, at 11:03. Well, you knew they weren’t jobbing Miz and Morrison heading into their match with DX this Monday. Still, it was a competitive bout, but the Colons are still prone to sloppiness.

-A casket sat backstage amid smoke and haunting music. Undertaker faces Chavo in a Casket Match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Jesse, Festus, Maria and The Masked Magician were backstage somewhere. Where’s Mitch Pileggi for a voice-over when you need it? The magic trick the Magician did involved Maria being put in a box. Maria’s head was in a separate box, and the Magician moved it 360 degrees without moving her body. The Magician opened the body part of the box, and she looked all twisted up. Festus had a tear rolling down his cheek and Jesse told the Magician to undo what he did or he’d have Festus all over him. The Magician obliged, did some more twists and turns with the box, and let Maria out. Then we got a blatant plug for the show on the bottom of the screen. And that was the whole segment.

-Jimmy Wang Yang came out for his match as John Wayne Yang. He got the mic before the match and said he was John Wayne Yang tonight and said he was our boy. I just noticed ring announcer Justin Roberts dressed as a vampire. Yang faces The Brian Kendrick next.

[Commercial Break]

2- JOHN WAYNE YANG vs. THE BRIAN KENDRICK

Yang got a hip-toss, so Kendrick walked sternly up to Yang and shoved him a couple times. Hurricanrana from Yang, then a dropkick sent Kendrick outside. Yang brought him back in, but Ezekiel distracted Yang, allowing Kendrick to get the advantage. I hope we get a Yang vs. Evan Bourne match sometime in the future. Yang came back with a kick to the back of the head, then a spinning heel kick in the corner. High crossbody (and I mean HIGH) by Yang onto Kendrick for two. Kendrick got flipped out of The Kendrick and Yang hit a moonsault. Zeke pulled Kendrick out of the ring as Yang was pinning him, drawing a DQ.

WINNER: Yang by DQ, at 2:49.

After the match, Zeke decimated Yang, then Kendrick hit his finisher on him.

-Great Khali and Ranjin Singh were walking backstage when Kung Fu Naki interrupted. He said he wanted Khali to teach him the art of seduction. Khali replied that “size matters.” Khali’s Halloween Kiss Cam is next.

[Commercial Break]

-Tonight, Chavo Guerrero takes on Undertaker in a Casket Match.

-Great Khali was in the ring with Ranjin Singh for his Kiss Cam. Singh said the girl Khali kissed last week has been sending e-mails non-stop to “The Punjabi Playboy.” Singh said he’d choose the woman with the best costume. So this isn’t really a traditional Kiss Cam, as they’re only looking for someone to kiss Khali. Singh picked a lady dressed as a witch, warts and all. The woman said she loved Khali. Khali hesitated, then kissed her. She wanted another one, this time, a French kiss. Singh said if that was going to happen, she’d have to take off the mask. She replied that she wasn’t wearing one. Awk-ward. Singh said every treat has a trick. He asked the fans who wants Khali to French Kiss the wicked witch of San Diego. Singh led the crowd in a “Khali, Khali” chant. Khali lifted up the fake nose, then did it. He raised his arms in success, then held his stomach and started coughing. The witch fell to the mat in excitement. Vickie Guerrero was shown backstage, tenting her fingers and laughing quietly while watching.

-Up next, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy against Kane, MVP and Mark Henry.

[Commercial Break]

3- KANE & MARK HENRY & MVP vs. JEFF HARDY & MATT HARDY & REY MYSTERIO

Another shot at MVP taken by Hurricane Helms in the latest “HurraPop.” Matt and Henry traded fisticuffs in the middle of the ring, like proper gentelmen. Matt and Jeff used some teamwork to take Henry down, but not for long. Rey came in for a quick couple of moves on MVP, then the faces triple-teamed MVP. They took out the heels, then Rey went for a pin and only got two. Rey set MVP up for a 619, but Kane tripped him and pulled him out of the ring, landing Rey face-first on the outside. Match continues....

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Rey kicked out of an MVP pin attempt. The heels worked over Rey for the next few minutes. Rey tried to come back but MVP hit a back suplex then tagged out to Kane. Rey and Kane both went down and they were able to make tags; Jeff and MVP came in and MVP got to bump around for Jeff. He hit Whisper in the Wind for two. Kane grabbed Matt by the throat, but Rey kicked in him in the leg then hit a crossbody onto him on the outside. Jeff springobarded off Matt onto Henry in the corner. MVP fought out of a Twist of Fate from Jeff only to walk into one by Matt. Jeff hit the Swanton onto MVP (surprise surprise) for the pin.

WINNERS: Matt, Jeff and Mysterio at 11:04. Solid match. They haven’t said yet if MVP gets the incentive clause if he makes a pin in a tag match, or even if he’s on the winning side in a tag match. They implied he’d get it tonight if he won, but did HE have to get the pin?

-Chavo vs. Undertaker in a Casket Match is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

-A Kizarny promo aired, where he was joined by sword swallowers. Ick.

-JR and Tazz talked on-screen and plugged Smackdown’s success on MyNetwork TV (and I noticed JR’s hat has the Oklahoma Sooners logo on it).

-Vladimir Kozlov came out and got on the mic. He called the people soft and lazy like Triple H, apparently for not voting for him. He demanded the next shot at HHH’s title. Triple H then came out. Trips called Kozlov “Boris,” and said he’s done a nice job of jumping people from behind and attacking them when they’re not looking, but right now he’s telling Kozlov that if he wants a fight to do it now. Kozlov said he doesn’t want to fight him now, he’s already proven he can beat Triple H up. He said he wants to fight for the title. HHH made fun of how “slow” Russia is and said they’re probably just seeing “Rocky” in theaters right now. Then Triple H told Kozlov the plot of Rocky when the American kicks the crap out of the Russian. HHH then said if Kozlov wants a shot at the title to take it up with Vickie Guerrero. HHH said until then to shut his mouth and “let’s do it.” They went face to face but Kozlov backed down and headed to the back.

[Commercial Break]

-A John Cena video aired, the one that talked about his childhood.

5- MICHELLE MCCOOL & MARIA & BRIE BELLA vs. NATALYA & MARYSE & VICTORIA

The ladies were still dressed in the Halloween costumes from Cyber Sunday. Victoria and Maria both tried throws, but each one somersaulted out of it. Natalya missed a charge and Maria hit her in the gut with a knee. Flying mare by Brie, but Natalya caught her in mid-air and landed a Samoan drop. Unique back-breaker by Maryse on Brie. Swinging side-slam by Victoria only registered a two-count. Victoria threw Brie to the outside and once again she went under the ring. Half of Brie was under the ring while Victoria had hold of her legs. All of a sudden, another leg kicked Victoria away from under the ring, then Brie came out fresh as a daisy. She went in the ring and made a tag to Michelle, who got two after a neck-breaker. Michelle hit the ropes and Maria made a blind tag and hit a flying bodypress from the top on Victoria for the win. Michelle looked slightly perturbed.

WINNERS: McCool, Maria and Brie at 3:58.

-Next week, in a United States Title Match, R-Truth challenges Shelton Benjamin.

-The Casket Match is up next.

[Commercial Break]

Chavo Guerrero came out for the Casket Match then the Druids walked the casket out. Chavo looked a bit freaked out. Undertaker came out and before the match started, Big Show did the same. He was walking to the ring when the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

6- CHAVO GUERRERO vs. THE UNDERTAKER- CASKET MATCH

Taker booted Chavo in the face. Show was just watching from the stage. Taker threw Chavo to ringside. He whipped Guerrero into the ringside barricades. Taker tried to put Chavo into the casket, and apparently, we’ve got a camera INSIDE the casket. I always thought that’s what was lacking in these matches: Shots from the casket’s point of view. Taker started walking up the aisle at Show, but then turned his attention back to Chavo. Unfortunately, that attention included a missed running boot where he caught the casket. Chavo worked over Taker in a hurry. Chavo jumped into Taker’s arms and Taker drove him into the barricade. Chavo caught Taker with an ugly DDT as Undertaker was entering the ring. Chavo then waved Show down to the ring. Chavo got a chair from ringside, but Taker just back-dropped him, then splashed him in the corner. Snake Eyes, followed by a running kick. The casket was opened and Taker was going to put Chavo into it, but Show closed it. Chavo then got out of Taker’s hold and hit him in the knee with a chair. Taker recovered (no-sold?) to hit a chokeslam. Show then came in and headbutted Taker. Taker fought back with right hands, but Show continued with the body shots. Big headbutt put Taker back down. Show missed a clothesline and went over the top rope and onto the casket. Show quickly got away from the casket like a scaredy-cat. Taker then Tombstoned Chavo and rolled him into the casket for the victory.

WINNER: Undertaker, at 7:00. Eh, quite an average match. Not thrilled by the extracurricular stuff.

Taker posed in the ring, as the camera went backstage to Vickie Guerrero who appeared to be talking to herself while watching the TV. She said if you want a title shot, first you have to beat Undertaker next week, then she’d give him HHH at Survivor Series. The camera panned back to show Kozlov standing near her.

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 column each week in the 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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