by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
February 20, 2009
Taped 2/17/09 in Portland, OR.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


(Sorry for the lack of intro coverage....my MyNetwork Affiliate is showing a movie instead of Smackdown for some reason, so I’m watching this episode of Smackdown by alternative means).

-The new World Heavyweight Champion Edge came out and took in the jeers he received from the fans. He said unlike the fans, he’s a winner, not a loser. He told the story of how he got into the Chamber, saying he offered his services and became the first superstar to compete in two Elimination Chamber matches in one night.

Jeff Hardy came out after it seemed Edge was finished with his promo. The crowd chanted Hardy’s name after he only got a few words out. He congratulated Edge for walking in AND out of No Way Out as champion. Jeff said Edge gets to be the Ultimate Opportunist because he’s married to Smackdown’s pitiful general manager. Edge accused him of taking the same tact as John Cena this past week on Raw. Hardy laid out a challenge for the title for later on tonight. Edge wondered aloud if Jeff was taking illegal substances again and reminded Hardy that he lost on Sunday. Hardy reminded Edge that he pinned him, which is why he’s not still WWE Champion. Edge played with the fans, and finally said Jeff wasn’t getting a shot tonight. Jeff said he’d try to persuade Vickie, since she wears the pants in the family. Hardy took a page out of Chris Jericho’s book, saying Edge is just a puppet who dances for Vickie. Edge heard enough and tried to attack, but Jeff hit him with a Twist of Fate. From what I saw, it was a solid segment that had the crowd behind it the entire time.

-JR and Tazz talked on camera about the sit-down interview with Triple H, then we saw what happened on Monday night that led to the interview that will air later in the show.

[Commercial Break]

-In Vickie Guerrero’s office, Kizarny came in. He apparently wanted to play a knock-knock joke, but before he could finish, Edge barged him and tossed him out. Edge said he’s so mad at Hardy, he will fight him tonight. But Vickie and Edge agreed it shouldn’t be for the title. Edge paced back and forth to end the segment.

1- MICHELLE MCCOOL & MARYSE vs. EVE TORRES & MARIA

McCool took Maria down quite violently. Maria came back, but Maryse interfered to cut off her momentum. Michelle threw Maria to the outside and Maryse applied some boots to Maria. Back in the ring, Michelle hung Maria gut-first on the top rope, then dropkicked her. Maryse tagged in and face-planted Maria. I like how they’re still playing up animosity between the two heel divas. Maria got a kick to the face and Eve made the hot tag. Dropkicks and a suplex were included in Eve’s offense. Michelle snuck in a kick to Eve’s face as the ref was distracted. Maryse sucker-punched Maria, then made the pin.

WINNERS: McCool & Maryse, at 4:11.

-We’ll see clips from The Bella Twins and Miz & John Morrison’s Valentine’s Day Date next.

-A video package on No Way Out aired, plugging the replay.

[Commercial Break]

-We saw clips of the Bellas’ date with Miz & Morrison. Miz opened champagne and Morrison said he was hot so he took off his jacket, showing off his abs. One of the Bella’s asked what he was doing, saying they’re in a restaurant. The guys demanded service quite angrily. Later, during dinner, the guys complained about their meal to the waiter. Even later in the back, it was revealed that the Colon’s were trying to sabotage their date. They were in costume as a waiter and server. Then, as 10:00 approached, the Colons, still dressed up, came out to offer complimentary desserts. Miz & Morrison recognized the Colons and the Colons tried to throw the dessert in Miz & Morrison’s faces, but each missed and hit the Bellas. The Colons argued as the daters left. I kinda got a kick out of this.

-Next week, The Colons put their tag titles on the line against Miz & Morrison.

-Shelton Benjamin came out for a tag team match, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

-JR plugged AC/DC’s CD and them supplying Wrestlemania’s theme.

-Edge vs. Jeff Hardy is still to come later tonight, as well as JR’s sit-down interview with Triple H.

-Chavo had made his entrance as Shelton’s tag partner. Before R-Truth could finish his rapping as one of the opponents, Shelton and Chavo attacked Truth at ringside. MVP ran out as Truth’s partner and evened the odds. A few referees were out, admonishing Shelton and Chavo. No word on whether the match will actually take place after break.

[Commercial Break]

2- SHELTON BENJAMIN & CHAVO GUERRERO vs. MVP- HANDICAP MATCH

Back from break, the match was joined in progress, but without R-Truth, who injured his leg in the beat-down. MVP got a high back body-drop on Chavo. “Ballin’” elbowdrop landed. Chavo took out MVP’s knee and Chavo tagged Shelton. T-bone suplex by Benjamin for two. Shelton stalked MVP but Chavo tagged himself in, much to Shelton’s chagrin. Three Amigos by Chavo and as he celebrated, Shelton tagged himself back in. Chavo attacked him from behind and proceeded to hit his partner with the frog-splash. Shelton got to one knee and was arguing with Chavo, who started to make his way up the ramp. This gave MVP an opportunity to hit his Drive-By and pick up the win.

WINNER: MVP, 4:37 show. Well, that certainly wasn’t the “standard” tag match I talked about last week. Good for them. Also, I like the involvement of these guys in the U.S. Title picture.

-Coming up next is Triple H’s interview with Jim Ross.

[Commercial Break]

-They went to an interview with JR and Triple H. JR was alone at first, and said he’d be joined by HHH momentarily. While we waited, we got a video package that traced Orton’s actions as far back as his attack on Vince McMahon. After the lengthy video, they returned with Triple H sitting next to JR. Trips said Randy Orton has been walking a fine line for a while now. He struggled to get through the interview for the first part. Triple H referred to Vince as his father-in-law and Shane as his brother-in-law. He got really emotional when talking about what Orton did to Stephanie, whom he acknowledged as his wife. Triple H looked into the camera and told Orton that he crossed the line. He told Orton that Steph is the mother of his children, then sat back and took the mic off and tossed it down. Good, emotional follow-up by Triple H that wasn’t too over-the-top.

[Commercial Break]

-Jeff Hardy faces Edge in a non-title match later in the show.

3- SCOTTY GOLDMAN vs. UMAGA

Umaga hit his swinging side slam early on. Goldman avoided a charge, but went to the second rope and got hit in the jaw with a superkick as he came off. Umaga dragged Scotty to the corner and butt-splashed him. Thumb to the throat, end.

WINNER: Umaga, at 1:22. At least Goldman got on TV one more time before he was released.

-A video aired on Wrestlemania XIV, the beginning of the Austin Era.

-Vickie Guerrero has a major announcement next.

[Commercial Break]

-Vickie was in the ring to make her announcement. A few “excuse me”’s later, she said she doesn’t know who JBL and Shawn Michaels think they are, as neither of them are worthy of taking on Undertaker’s streak. She said if anyone takes the challenge, it’s the man who is undefeated in singles competition: Vladimir Kozlov. Kozlov then came out and Vickie said that to prove he’s worthy of the challenge, he will beat Taker in a match next week on Smackdown. Kozlov had a message in Russian for JBL and Shawn Michaels. He said they are not undefeated but he is. He said he will destroy one of them on Raw, then break Undertaker on Smackdown and at Wrestlemania.

-Jeff Hardy vs. Edge is still to come tonight.

-A video package aired hyping the return of Gail Kim. Seemed more like a political ad to me.

[Commercial Break]

-JR said that this Monday night, Triple H will confront Randy Orton on Raw.

-The announcers sent it to a video package of The Funks, plugging their Hall-of-Fame induction.

-Edge came out for the main event. Wow, only four matches tonight?

[Commercial Break]

4- EDGE vs. JEFF HARDY

Hardy started with a few arm-drags and kept the pace slow to start. At 3:00, Hardy baseball slid Edge off the apron. As Hardy threw Edge into the ring, Edge caught him coming back in, including hitting a neck-breaker off the second rope.

[Commercial Break]

Edge was still in control out of break. He worked over Jeff’s neck on the mat. Edge used a hair-pull to keep the momentum on his side. Neck-breaker and Edge was clearly frustrated by not being able to pin Jeff. Jeff dove at Edge and missed, falling out of the ring in the process. Hardy got back in at nine. Edge went to the top but Jeff knocked him off and to the outside. Double clothesline back in, then Jeff hit Whisper in the Wind. Jeff hit more of his signature moves for a near-fall. He got put down with a big boot. Jeff choked Edge on the top rope and almost got a pin but Edge got his foot on the rope. Edge-O-Matic got two. Jeff rolled Edge up on a Spear attempt, then hit the Swan-Ton. Matt Hardy came out before Jeff could make the pin though and landed the Twist-of-Fate for the DQ.

WINNER: Jeff Hardy, via DQ, at 19:03. Very good match, exciting with some great near-falls.

After the match, Matt got the mic and challenged Jeff to a match next week, one-on-one. Matt went back up the ramp as Jeff slowly made his way to his feet. As he did, Edge speared him.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January 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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