By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor




Jeff & Matt Hardy [photo by Wade Keller (c) PWTorch]

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JANUARY 30, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with a vignette on Jeff Hardy, with Hardy narrating, speaking about his belief that Edge was behind the out of ring incidents trying to derail his dreams. Then they went to a clip of Matt Hardy hitting Jeff with a chair at the Royal Rumble. Great production of the dramatic moment followed by footage of the brothers as teenagers, as rookies, as veteran partners, and then footage of Jeff lying KO'd on the mat with Matt walking back emotionless.

-They went right to the arena at that point without the Smackdown opening montage or any pyro or even Jim Ross or Tazz introducing the show. Instead Matt walked slowly to the ring, sans music, but with a chair and mic. He sat down mid-ring and absorbed some boos but mostly silent anticipation from the fans. Last time this happened, it's considered a low point in his career as he didn't quite hit the promo about Edge out of the park, which derailed Vince McMahon's enthusiasm for pushing him after re-signing him. Matt opened by saying that finally he's out from under the shadow of his younger brother. He said he's at home now and he's staying home. He said he's had to take care of him his whole career. He said people have had the audacity to blame him for the stairwell incident or the hit and run accident or the pyro blast that went wrong, but no one can prove he was behind it. He said there is one thing he was responsible for - and that was hitting Jeff with the chair at the Royal Rumble.

"With one shot from this exact steel chair I'm sitting on right now, all the pain and suffering that Jeff put me through for so many years was transferred right back to him. And it felt good. It felt good. You have no idea how much of a burden and a responsibility it was to take care of Jeff who was nothing more than a constant mistake." They continued to go from Matt in the ring to clips of them together. He said so many nights he had to worry about Jeff, field phone calls about Jeff's problems. "No more," he said. He said Jeff is a psychological wreck, whereas he's never been healthier or happier. "If my survival means Jeff's total destruction, then so be it." He said Jeff's not the only one to blame for the decision he's been forced to break. He also blamed the fans. They played solemn music as background to Hardy. It's not often a promo has musical support start to finish. He said he's done everything in his power to make the fans happy, but it was never good enough. He said he's been a role model for fans, but all they cared about was the irresponsible, self-destructive screw-up Jeff Hardy. So from now on, he said the only person he cares about is himself.

He looked at the camera and addressed Jeff. He said he knows he's at home watching. He said there is no such thing anymore as the Hardy Boyz. The crowd gasped and booed. "I no longer consider you my partner and I no longer consider you my brother," he said. The crowd chanted, "We Want Jeff." Matt looked around, void of any sense of regret. Good promo by Matt. It was based in a reality, but exaggerated (how much, who knows, but I know Matt has felt all of those emotions at times in his career legitimately, so it's easy to cut a believable promo expressing those toughts). The setting was good. It could have been too much to have him walk out without music and then speak with solemn music in the background for seven minutes, but it worked.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

1 -- R-TRUTH vs. THE BRIAN KENDRICK (w/Ezekiel Jackson)

R-Truth sang his song as he walked through the crowd to the ring. Ross said after hearing from Matt Hardy, how refreshing to hear from R-Truth. I'm wondering what Matt said isn't true, though? It's not like what Matt said was totally outlandish. It's not his feelings that were baseless, but it's his way of dealing with them that was shameful. Ross said it's despicable of Matt to blame the fans. He said the only person Matt cares about his Matt. The referee kicked Ezekiel back to the locker room before the bell. It appeared all he did was staredown R-Truth before the match and not get out of the ring as soon as the ref ordered him. Kendrick jump-started the match and dominated early. R-Truth came back with a corkscrew forearm and his scissors kick for the clean win.

WINNER: R-Truth in 2:00.

-Ross promoted that Edge would speak later about winning the WWE Title at the Rumble.

-A video aired on next year's "25th Anniversary of WrestleMania." It's not like WWE to promote an event more than a year ahead of time, and it's even more odd that they put the WrestleMania 25 logo up after promoting next year's 25th Anniversary at WrestleMania 26 (because, of course, they celebrated their first anniversary at WrestleMania II, not WrestleMania, so the anniversary is always a year behind the number of the event).

[Commercial Break]

2 -- MVP vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

Ross noted that it's been a rough week for weather in the U.S. and thanked fans for tuning in. He plugged other matches on the show including Mark Henry vs. Undertaker. Wen Ross pushed Vladimir Kozlov vs. Great Khali vs. Triple H, Tazz said, "That's a train wreck waiting to happen." Is he allowed to say that! He did did.

[Q3]

MVP avoided a frog splash at 4:00 and then hit the Drive By for the win.

WINNER: MVP in 4:00. Could they have had a more flat way to end MVP's winning streak then how they have with it at first being overshadowed by Triple H's situation and now beating Chavo in a throwaway match with nothing at stake?

-Tazz interviewed MVP about his 20 week losing streak being over and now having two wins in a row. MVP said it looks like big things are poppin' for him again. He threw out some of his catchphrases to moderate scattered cheers. He said he wants his U.S. Title back so he can once again be ballin'. Ross said it sounds like the fans are excited about him going after his U.S. Title. Not really, but whatever. Even that interview didn't really add anything to this winning streak, such as it is. There's been no major angle or change in his personality or anything. No lessons learned. No epiphanies. A real letdown of follow up on his first win.

-A vignette aired on Umaga.

[Commercial Break]

-WWE Fact: Almost three times as many people watched Smackdown last week on MyNetwork as watched the World X Games on ESPN. That does not surprise me at all.

-A vignette aired on the Elimination Chamber, with grainy footage of past big bumps and spots.

-Ross promoted the two TV main events.

-Umaga made his ring entrance.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

3 -- UMAGA vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Umaga won quickly and decisively with the Samoan Spike.

WINNER: Umaga in 2:00. We still know nothing about Umaga. He's a super heavyweight. He's agile. He rambles in some sort of gibberish tongue. He braids his hair intricately. He has tattoos. He's supposedly mean. I suppose that's enough, but barely, and the lack of any depth beyond that really holds him back from being anything but a mid-card novelty who occasionally visits the main events rather ineffectively. It's too bad the McMahon's have an irrational aversion to managers because if he had one to explain his motivations and more about his background, he has the rest of the package to make money. The one "manager" exception is Atlas, who adds very little to Henry's marketability.

[Commercial Break]

-Another vignette aired of Vladimir Kozlov working out. Man, I hate that guy! He got work ethic, he's all substance and no flash, he wants to fight tougher competition. What as ass. Man, I can't wait to see Triple H and The Great Khali kick his ass!

[Q5]

4 -- UNDERTAKER vs. MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas)

Henry is still "The World's Strongest Man" (in the same way that Jimmy Wang Yang is a "Superstar"). Ross said Taker is custom-made for the Elimination Chamber. Tazz said he's never competed in an Elimination Chamber and he's happy about that. Taker walked the top rope, but it backfired as Henry caught him and slammed him into the corner. Atlas got in a cheapshot. After a Henry chinlock, Taker fought back. He ducked a Henry clothesline and came back with a flying shoulder tackle. He set up a chokeslam, but Atlas distracted him. Henry hit Taker from behind and knocked him to the floor. Taker knocked Atlas down, reentered the ring, hit a chokeslam, and then finished him with the finisher that Ross didn't call by name, so neither will I. Henry tapped out even before Taker had it locked on, and Taker seemed to lose his grip once or twice in the elaborate process of applying it.

WINNER: Undertaker in 6:00.

STAR RATING: * -- The formula match you'd expect from these two. Basic and watchable.

[Commercial Break]

-A commercial aired hyping the WWE "Voices" music CD.

-Ross threw to Mickey Rourke calling out Chris Jericho for no apparent reason to an "Access Hollywood" reporter, then footage of Jericho responding on Raw, and then highlights of the debacle of a segment on Larry King Live with both Rourke and Jericho on Wednesday night. It made Jericho seem like a crossover celebrity to be on the show, so that had value, and the editing of the clips made it seem a little less of a mess than it was, but it still didn't have that hook where a viewer would have any idea why Rourke pulled Jericho's name out of a hat to call out.

-Vickie Guerrero introduced her husband and soul mate and new WWE Champion, Edge. Edge walked out to his full ring intro as the first pyro of the night blasted. Edge said he normally doesn't pay much attention to the fans: "I don't usually acknowledge you people at all," to use his exact language. He said tonight he wants to open up a public discourse with the fans because they accused him of attacking Hardy at the Survivor Series, running Jeff and his girlfriend off of the road, and injuring him with his own pyro. He said week after week he plead his innocence and the fans said he was a liar, "oftentimes in front of my darling wife." Vickie giggled like a schoolgirl being asked to prom.

[Q6]

He said each of the fans were "dead wrong... wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, you were all wrong." That was the highlight of the show far, he pointed at one after another and got wide-eyed and called each of them out for being wrong. The crowd responded with "You suck." He said he wants to now open the line of communication between them. He said he wants to give everyone a chance to stand up and say, "Edge, I'm sorry." He held the mic out. The crowd booed. Then he said, "Thank you, and I accept your apologies." He said he celebrated his seventh title win this week by watching his new DVD, "A Decade of Decadence," which he said has been number one three weeks in a row. He said watching his past accomplishments, he realized he hadn't done this in a while, but he's feeling frisky. He said he'd like to break out a brand new pose for the benefit of those with flash photography. He then leaned in and made out with Vickie while holding his title belt in the air.

Big Show walked out to his music, interrupting the make-out session. He lifted Vickie and spun her around with a big hug. She enjoyed it. Edge looked upset. Show then touched the belt. Edge pulled back. Vickie bailed out of the ring as Big Show stood with a wide-smile. Edge escorted her out of the ring. Not sure what we're supposed to make of all that. Ross didn't speculate.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- BIG SHOW vs. FESTUS (w/Jesse)

This match deserved more build-up. They're really dropped the ball on making something more out of Festus than a mid-card comedy act. Festus went for an early bear hug, but Show dropped him with a DDT. Festus's bump was nasty looking. He sold that well. Tazz called the chest the "pectorial" region, then told Ross that's the chest area, oblivious to the fact that he made up the word "pectorial." Festus came back at 1:00 briefly, but Show chopped him in the chest to stop him second later. Then he lifted him into a powerbomb position and then fell back and sent Festus face-first into the canvas. Then he finished him with a punch to the face. As Jesse ran in to check on Festus, Show chokeslammed him, too.

WINNER: The Big Show in 2:00. Man, WWE is just killing off the mid-card guys with upward mobility again. Festus vs. Show could have been intriguing and a selling point to build a TV show around or a solid supporting match on a PPV, but now Festus has been defined down as a two minute jobber to Show.

[Q7]

[Commercial Break]

-Did You Know? Last Friday, more men watched Smackdown than any other show on television. That's pretty impressive, actually.

-They showed the exterior of the Conseco Fieldhouse arena.

-The trailer for "12 Rounds" starring John Cena aired.

-Eve Torres interviewed Michelle McCool backstage. McCool said she's surprised she's showing her face around here after she had her begging for mercy in her feet and bawling her pretty little green eyes out. She said she got exactly what she deserved for provoking her. Eve slapped McCool. McCool smiled and walked away.

-Ross hyped the Triple Threat main event was up next.

[Commercial Break]

-Tazz plugged the Kevin Rudolf song "Let It Rock," the official Royal Rumble theme song.

-The Raw Rebound aired, focused on Randy Orton announcement of his IED condition followed by Super Shane-O-Mac's ridiculous beatdown of three heels. This version was highly edited down and with almost none of Shane's bad punches or the overall impression of Shane destroying all the heels single-handedly coming across.

[Q8]

-Triple H's ring intro took place, followed by Great Khali's, and then Kozlov's. Come on, you know you want to get up and dance when you hear Khali's new intro song.

6 -- TRIPLE H vs. VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. THE GREAT KHALI (w/Ranjin Singh) - A "Trainwreck Waiting to Happen" match

They triangled off at the start. Kozlov shoulder jabbed Triple H in the corner. Khali yanked him away and then beat on Triple H himself. Kozlov gave Khali a running knee from behind, then trash talked him. Khali chopped him down and gave him a boot to send him to the floor with a thud. Triple H stared at Khali as they cut to an early break at 1:00.

[Commercial Break]

Triple H and Khali fought at ringside. Kozlov took over on Triple H inside the ring, scoring a two count after a powerslam. Triple H came back with a DDT at 7:00. Khali was nowhere to be seen for several minutes, knocked out at ringside. Kozlov scored another near fall after another slam. He took Triple H to the corner again, but when he charged, Triple H caught him with a boot to the face. Triple H came back with a knee to the face and a spinebuster. Khali re-entered the picture with a big chop to Triple H's head, then the head vice. . Kozlov broke it up with a headbutt to Khali's chest. Triple H ducked a Kozlov charge, so Kozlov flew over the top rope to the floor. Triple H gave Khali a sloppy looking Pedigree which Khali didn't know how to take very well for the win.

WINNER: Triple H in 11:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- I've seen much worse. It was what it was and what you'd expect from these three. It probably qualified as a train wreck, but not an especially bad one as train wrecks go.

FINAL THOUGHTS (6.0): The Edge promo and the Matt Hardy promo were the highpoints of the show. The matches weren't anything special, but at least each had some meaning as qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber matches. I still argue that WWE is giving away too many intriguing matches that don't last very long between marquee wrestlers - usually one established as a main eventer and another built up with main event potential - and the established main eventer beats them quickly and decisively, thus defining down these emerging wrestlers before they've had a chance to make money on the intrigue of how good they really are. In other words, I think they could have gotten a lot more out of Festus's first match against Big Show, but they treated him no differently than Jimmy Wang Yang's loss to Umaga. It's just needlessly inefficient to throw away these potentially intriguing matches by destroying the equity of months of building up someone new. The MVP streak ending has been handled about as flat as a pancake so far. Even he indicated in interviews that something more was going to be made of the transition from loser to winner that make it all worthwhile, but a brief promo with Tazz after beating Kendrick doesn't qualify.

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