By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
November 14, 2008
Taped 11/10/08 in The U.K
Aired on MyNetwork TV
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-Clips aired of Jeff Hardy trying to impress Vickie Guerrero last week.

-In the arena, the lights were down and a casket was in the ring. Chanting was over the PA, then we heard Undertaker’s voice. He said he was the punisher born of darkness. Taker’s promos are sometimes right out of a bad Sci-Fi movie. This is one of those. The camera focused on the casket during Undertaker’s soliloquy. He said he’d drag Show’s soul down to the depths of hell. Then the casket opened and Taker sat up out of it. Jeff Hardy then started talking on the TitanTron. He said while Taker was spooky, he should be concerned about him tonight. Hardy showed his face to the camera, and it was something out of a horror movie, all painted up in the darkness (possibly black lighting). Hardy said he has lived his life off pure emotion and that he has nothing to lose tonight. He said tonight, he gets extreme. Taker had a mic in the ring and said tonight, Hardy will rest in peace. Jim Ross reminded us of their extreme rules match in tonight’s main event. Interesting segment.

-Matt Hardy takes on Shelton Benjamin in an ECW Champion vs. US Champion match, and it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

-JR and Tazz plugged the Survivor Series contract signing between Triple H and Vladimir Kozlov, as well as the Divas Title match between Maria and Michelle McCool.

1- MATT HARDY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Benjamin got a quick take-down, and kept Hardy grounded for a while. Hardy applied a loose head-scissors, but Shelton got out of it. An elbow put Hardy down, and he then worked the arm and had a hammer-lock. Benjamin bodyslammed Hardy, but Matt kept hold of the arm in a unique move. Benjamin used the ropes for leverage and that was a bit ugly, but he was finally able to break free and he and Hardy were at a stalemate as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Hardy caught Benjamin with a boot, then hit his patented elbow off the middle rope. Benjamin didn’t stay down long as he came back to work the leg. Despite the slow pace, the crowd was still in it, chanting vociferously for Hardy. Or it was the audio sweetener. Short-arm clothesline by Benjamin was turned into a Side Effect by Hardy for a near-fall. Benjamin missed a side-kick, but he hit a nice crescent kick for two. Blinger Splash in the corner, and another one. Hardy and Benjamin though appeared to clothesline each other and it was Hardy that made the pin attempt for two. Apparently, it was a Side Effect says Tazz. Inverted back-breaker by Benjamin. Shelton set Matt on the top rope, but Matt elbowed him down. He hit a moonsault off the top for a near-fall. Hardy actually landed on Shelton’s legs on that one. The two traded counters, including a sunset flip by Matt. It ended up with Benjamin putting Hardy in a half-crab. Benjamin worked over the leg with a chop block, but Hardy came out of nowhere with a Twist of Fate for the win.

WINNER: Hardy, at 14:07. Very solid match. May have lost some viewers with the slow pace before the commercial break, but it really picked up in the second part. And the right man went over, with Hardy being the ECW Champ and all.

[Commercial Break]

-JR and Tazz plugged the Smackdown vs. Raw video game by showing Taker vs. Hardy in an extreme rules match.

2- THE BRIAN KENDRICK vs. CARLITO

JR suggested that Ezekiel and Kendrick could make a run at the tag titles held by the Colons. Some chain wrestling by the two to start. Kendrick kicked at the legs of Carlito, then blew kisses to the fans. Carlito though exploded out of the corner with a clothesline. Carlito is wearing some funky, shiny orange pants for this match. Arm-drag into a pin by Carlito got two. Kendrick came back and worked the arm. Roll-of-the-Dice by Carlito, which sent Kendrick rolling and hanging out of the ring on the apron. Kendrick missed a running knee in the corner, and Carlito hit some hard left hands followed by a knee-lift. High springboard back-elbow for a near fall. Ezekiel knocked Primo out of his shoes outside the ring, which distracted Carlito and allowed Kendrick to finish Carlito off with The Kendrick.

WINNER: Kendrick, at 5:48. Got more time than I expected and was quite entertaining.

-The WWE Championship contract signing is next.

[Commercial Break]

-A Kizarny promo aired. He introduced us to a guy who hammered a nail into his nose. Ah, I missed this last week.

-The John Cena rah-rah video from this past week’s Raw and ECW aired.

-Chavo and Vickie Guerrero were in the ring for the contract signing. She said Triple H and Kozlov would be brought down to the ring, provided they didn’t get into a fight.

[Commercial Break]

Vickie talked up how colossal (her word, not mine) this Triple H vs. Kozlov match would be. She wanted to introduce the challenger, but had one more “excuse me!” to get out. She then brought out Kozlov. Kozlov was Batista-like in his dress, with jeans, and a black t-shirt underneath a black dress jacket. Then Triple H came out. HHH spoke first, saying it was like the United Nations in here. Trips said there’s a representative from Russia (Kozlov), Mexico (Chavo), and then he made several references to Vickie’s weight (“Chunk-uslovakia” and “Bulge-garia” to name two). Pathetic. Both entertainers took seats at the table and Vickie ordered Kozlov to sign first. He even got booed for that. Kozlov either spoke Russian or broken English, which HHH of course made fun of. Triple H tried to speak but Kozlov told him to shut up. HHH said this isn’t his first go-round facing someone like Kozlov, and said this is Kozlov’s first PPV main event. HHH spoke about Kozlov’s nerves, and as he did, Jeff Hardy came out of the crowd and clotheslined Kozlov through the table. With silver face-paint, he got up and tore up the contract, then left the ring. How can we take Kozlov seriously as a title challenger when Triple H doesn’t?

-Hardy faces Undertaker tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed what happened moments ago, when Hardy interrupted the contract signing.

3- MVP vs. KUNG FU NAKI

MVP started off aggressively, going right after Fu Naki. Face-buster by MVP. Great Khali’s music played and Khali and Ranjin Singh came down. MVP was distracted at first, but went back to beating on Fu Naki. He got distracted again though and Fu Naki hit him with a Crane Kick for the win.

WINNER: Fu Naki, at 1:20.

Khali hit a brain chop on MVP, knocking him out. Singh then got the mic and introduced the U.K. Khali Kiss Cam. As Singh picked a woman out from the crowd, MVP got up and received another chop. She got in the ring and was the usual woman that Singh picks out of the crowd. Her name, apparently was Talula. Khali, again, was shaking his head no. MVP got up again, and was tree-slammed. Khali was about to go in for the kiss, but then started talking to Singh. Singh said he’d try to get them to exchange numbers after, but Khali wanted to make her an offer of a kiss with MVP. They put MVP’s picture of him laying on the mat nearly unconscious, inside the Kiss Cam heart. That was pretty funny. Talula went in for the kiss and they rolled around a bit until MVP retreated to ringside. I don’t know what to say about that segment.

[Commercial Break]

4- MARIA vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL- DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

The ladies shook hands before the match. As soon as the match started, Jesse and Festus came out, with Festus was holding a teddy bear. Maria arm-dragged Michelle. Maria missed a charge, and Michelle directed her face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Enziguiri by Maria. That only got a one-count. Sunset flip by Michelle into a Heel Hook, then the ankle-lock for the tap-out win.

WINNER: McCool, at 1:41. I hope that’s not the final payoff for this feud.

As soon as the bell rang to end the match, Festus charged into the ring and McCool was able to leave without getting attacked. He then stood over Maria as if protecting her, and gave her the teddy bear.

-Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy in an Extreme Rules match is next.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-JR & Tazz previewed the Survivor Series card.

-Jeff Hardy made his entrance for the main event match.

[Commercial Break]

5- JEFF HARDY vs. THE UNDERTAKER- EXTREME RULES MATCH

Hardy hit Taker with a couple flying forearms, but The Dead Man came back with a big boot on a third try. They took the match to the outside, where Jeff ran the rails and hit Taker with a forearm. He tried it again from the other side, but Taker caught him and slammed him back-first into the steel steps.

[Commercial Break]

Taker was in control in the ring out of break. Taker dumped Hardy to ringside again. Taker threw Hardy into the barricade. Taker used his striking skills to continue to pound down Hardy. He got a chair from ringside, set it on Hardy’s chest as he was draped over the apron, and Taker hit his legdrop on it. Hardy replied with a kendo stick, taking his shots at the Dead Man. Back in the ring, he struck Taker over the back again, but Taker came back with a big boot. Undertaker then hit Hardy across the back and to the outside.

Taker went for a running boot but Hardy dodged it and Taker crotched himself on the barricade. Jeff hit a flurry of right hands and the crowd was booing. Taker put Hardy down with one soup-bone. Hardy countered and slammed Taker’s head into the steps. He went flying off the steps and onto Taker, who was leaning on the barricade. Hardy hit Taker withe Poetry in Motion, but was propelled over the barricade. Taker was able to drag Hardy into the ring for a two-count. He then went Old-School and the fans booed that. Hardy crotched Taker. Hardy immediately went to the outside and pulled a ladder from under the ring. Hardy brought the ladder into the ring but got it booted right into him. Undertaker then threw the ladder into Hardy. JR even brought up the ladder match these two fought on Raw years ago. Whisper in the Wind by Hardy. Big Show then ran to the ring and threw Hardy out of the ring. He chokeslammed Taker. He set up for the big punch, but Hardy came off the ropes. Show caught him and Hardy held on as Show tried to throw him out of the ring. Taker then hit Show with a chair across the back. Hardy grabbed the chair and hit Taker with it, right in the head. To the top, Hardy jumped over the ladder to hit a legdrop on Taker for the three-count.

WINNER: Hardy, at 15:56. Solid extreme match, but you knew it wouldn’t end cleanly. I was expecting some Kozlov interference.

Hardy sought out Vickie backstage. Vickie clapped, but she said she didn’t give him the same deal she gave Kozlov last week. She did give him an opportunity though, putting him in a match with Triple H (again!?) and if Hardy wins, he will fight for the title at Survivor Series. Hardy said if she doesn’t give him his shot, he might go extreme on her.

What was your opinion of tonight’s show? Share your thoughts below in our new instant reader comment section!

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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