WWE Smackdown review
May 1, 2009
Taped 4/28/09 in New York City at MSG
Aired on MyNetwork TV


-WWE Open.

-Tonight, at Madison Square Garden, Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, Kane and Chris Jericho face-off in a fatal four-way match. No mention of the Scramble rules as talked about in the commercial during Raw.

-Smackdown Open.

-JR opened the show and plugged the Fatal Four-Way #1 Contender’s Match. Todd Grisham previewed MVP vs. Dolph Ziggler for the US Title, with The View’s Sherri Shepherd in MVP’s corner.

-Chris Jericho came out. He’s in suit-and-tie, so it’s not time for the match yet. Jericho made sure to insult the fans in his opening remarks, just in case anyone was wondering if he’d consider the Smackdown fans different from the Raw ones. Jericho called himself the biggest superstar to be drafted to Smackdown in the history of WWE. Jericho said he’s taking over Smackdown and called it his show. He said it was a travesty that he has to participate in a “fatal four match” because he already considers himself number one contender. He said he’ll go to Judgment Day and walk out as champion. Speaking of champion, Edge came out, probably to dispute Jericho’s claim.

Edge said it was rude for Jericho not to introduce himself to the fans, so he did that honor for him. Edge called Jericho a tormenter of senior citizens the world over. Edge steered the discussion toward John Cena, saying Cena beat Jericho for the World Title and that Jericho has never beaten Cena. Then Edge noted how HE has beaten Cena, and that’s how he got the title he’s holding now. Edge said Jericho’s “angry man in a suit routine” may have worked on Raw, but it won’t on Smackdown. He told Jericho it was “his” show and that his name is on the marquee. Edge talked about the world’s most famous arena......then said it was the Air Canada Centre. Loud “Cena” chants from the young fans. Edge told Jericho that Smackdown isn’t his to take, because it belongs to him. Yikes, so much for those thinking these two would get along as heels. Jericho said he disagrees and that it’s going to be his show. But then CM Punk’s music interrupted, and Mr. Money-in-the-Bank came to the ring to have his say.

Punk decided that he too needed to introduce himself. Punk showed the footage of him cashing in his first MITB on June 30, 2008 against Edge. Punk began speaking again, but Y2J interrupted, saying no one cares what he thinks. Jericho said he’s the best in the world at what he does and Punk has no right to come out and interrupt him. He suggested Punk turn around and leave the ring immediately. Punk tried to talk again, but Jericho interrupted and said he was done with this and left the ring. Punk said, “that was awkward.” He couldn’t finish his point again though, as Edge butted in and said no one cares what Punk has to say, and began walking out. Punk stopped him with his briefcase and said that Edge probably wants to hear what he has to say. He said Edge’s wife Vickie Guerrero is no longer Smackdown GM. Punk said no one is protecting Edge or his championship anymore. Punk said new Smackdown GM Teddy Long wanted him to tell Edge that the champ will be in action against him tonight. Edge called it a warm-up match. He said after he beats Punk in a non-title match tonight, he’ll have his way at Judgment Day. Punk took issue with the “non-title” part of Edge’s claim. Punk said he can cash the briefcase in for a title match any time he wants. His point: he’s going to face Edge in a “non-title warm-up match.” After he hits the GTS and pins Edge, he’s going to cash in the briefcase, cover him again, and become the new World Heavyweight Champion. Good plan. Long segment, but certainly newsworthy to lay the groundwork for later tonight as well as future confrontations on the show.

[Commercial Break]

-JR plugged WWE.com and Grisham thanked The Veer Union for supplying the theme song to Backlash.

-The announcers were shown on camera and talked about some draft picks they got a few weeks ago, including Rey Mysterio, Candice Michelle and John Morrison.

1- JOHN MORRISON vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Shelton quickly threw Morrison out of the ring, but Morrison tackled him back in the ring. Drop-sault by Morrison for two. After a missed kick, Shelton hit a straight boot to the face. Spinning heel kick by Morrsion, then a running knee to the face. Springboard kick by Morrison that showed some light, and he hit the Moonlight Drive to end it.

WINNER: Morrison, at 2:43. Criminally short. I’m surprised they jobbed Shelton like that after having him go toe-to-toe with Undertaker a few weeks back.

-The Fatal Four-Way was plugged here, as well as the Punk vs. Edge match.

[Commercial Break]

-The showed the ladies on The View talking about MVP.

-More draft talk, centered around Kane, Alicia Fox and Mike Knox.

-Chris Jericho was in Teddy Long’s office complaining about having his moment ruined by Edge in CM Punk earlier tonight. The Great Khali and Ranjin Singh interrupted Jericho’s pow-wow. Jericho said Khali appears to respect him by the look on his face. Singh translated and said Khali told Jericho he should quit complaining.

-Rey Mysterio came out for the Fatal Four-Way match, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

2- REY MYSTERIO vs. KANE vs. JEFF HARDY vs. CHRIS JERICHO- FATAL FOUR-WAY ELIMINATION MATCH TO DETERMINE #1 CONTENDER FOR THE WORLD TITLE

Kane cleaned house on all three men as soon as the bell rang. Jeff was thrown out of the ring while Kane worked over Jericho and Rey. The fans were chanting for Hardy even though he wasn’t active in the match at that point. Kane threw Rey onto Jeff and Jericho, who were both at ringside. Pure domination by Kane as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the show, Kane appeared to still be in control, but as he jumped off the top rope, Hardy dropkicked him in mid-air. Jericho hit a back-breaker on Rey for two. Jericho caught Jeff and locked in the Walls of Jericho. Kane grabbed Y2J by the throat, but Jericho ended up trying to get the Walls on Kane. He was unsuccessful. Kane caught Rey by the throat coming off the top and Rey set up for the 619, but Jericho pulled him out of the ring. Whisper in the Wind on Kane, then the Swanton. Kane was about to be pinned, but Jericho pulled Hardy out and Jericho pinned him. Uh....why? The person who gets the pinfall doesn’t matter. Anyway, Kane was eliminated at 7:00. Kane’s rampage wasn’t over, as he destroyed Jericho, Rey and Jeff on his way out. Kane threw a chair into the ring on his way out. Rey hit the 619 on Jericho, but when Rey came off the top, Y2J used the chair on Rey, causing referee Charles Robinson to disqualify the 2008 Superstar of the Year at 8:21. They went to break as Jericho was being ushered out of the ring as we’re left with Hardy vs. Rey.

[Commercial Break]

Rey and Jeff were at opposite sides of the ring as the show returned from break. The two went back-and-forth and Mysterio got a two following a kick to Jeff’s face after Rey rolled through a sunset flip attempt. The two men both went for a cross-body and they collided in mid-air. They countered and countered each other as JR talked up the “wrestling match” we were seeing right now. Uh-oh. Jeff missed a corner dropkick and both men were down once again. Mysterio hit the 619, then the seated senton, but Jeff rolled through and rolled up Rey for the victory.

WINNER: Hardy, at 17:33. Really good, especially when it got to Jeff vs. Rey. Cool to see the counters of roll-ups earlier in the match pay off for the finish.

-CM Punk vs. Edge is still to come. Will he cash in his Money-in-the-Bank afterward?

[Commercial Break]

-They showed what happened moments ago in the Fatal Four-Way match.

-Jericho barged into Teddy Long’s office, furious about what happened. All he found was Maria, who was there to talk to Long about her clothing line. Jericho talked said Long is a bad GM who hires incompetent referees and inept, useless Divas. He turned around....into Edge. Jericho walked by him without saying a word. Edge went off on Maria about how he shouldn’t be fighting only days removed from a Last Man Standing Match. His solution? He was going to call his wife.

-More draft talk, as the announcers discussed CM Punk, Layla, and Cryme Tyme.

-Speaking of, Cryme Tyme came out. Shad said it was their first “official” night on Smackdown and it was in their hometown. JTG asked who wanted to see two of the finest Divas dance in the Big Apple. Shad said the fans were going to get a Brooklyn Breakdown tonight. Layla was the first introduced. That looks like an outfit from her Extreme Expose days. Eve came out next. She had a Yankees hat on in case we were wondering who the face was. Layla demanded that she dance first. They danced to a Black Eyed Peas song. Layla first, then Eve, then Layla went again, as well as Eve. Then they danced together. Hmmm....close, but I’d give the nod to Layla. The crowd disagreed. Eve danced a bit with Cryme Tyme, then they brought Layla in to join them. Predictably, Layla attacked Eve, then the two had a cat-fight of sorts. A feud between two of the greenest Divas in the ring?

-MVP was backstage getting ready for his match when Sherri Shepherd walked in. She asked what he was doing Monday morning and asked him to be on The View. MVP told her to be serious but Sherri was getting hyper. He said he’d see her on The View as U.S. Champion. She said that was straight-up “Ballin!”

[Commercial Break]

-Grish and JR talked about Melina, Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler being drafted to Smackdown.

3- DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. MVP- UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

MVP and Sherri came out arm-in-arm. High hip-toss by MVP, then a few deep arm-drags. Ziggler begged off, but ended up throwing MVP through the middle rope and to the outside. Sherri checked on him but Dolph threw some right hands. Ziggler offered his right hand to Sherri to shake, but she wasn’t having it. Dolph ducked an MVP attempt from behind and he and Sherri almost ran into each other. Ziggler applied a reverse chin-lock back in the ring. MVP fired back with an overhead throw. Before he could capitalize, Ziggler went low with a dropkick to the knee. Grisham said Ziggler won more matches than anyone in Kent State University history. Sherri got on the apron and Dolph asked for a kiss. She slapped him and MVP started his comeback. Montel swatted away a dropkick, and hit the Playmaker to retain.

WINNER: MVP, at 3:56. OK match, but The View crowd isn’t exactly the demographic I thought WWE would be interested in. Sherri got to carry the belt to the back with MVP.

-They showed Punk cashing in his MITB opportunity last summer again. The Edge vs. Punk match is yet to come tonight.

-Grisham threw it to the World Premiere trailer for the X-Men Origins: Wolverine video game.

[Commercial Break]

-JR and Grisham talked about Randy Orton vs. Batista at Judgment Day.

-Backstage, Jericho finally caught up to Long and was yelling at him. Apparently, Jericho doesn’t know that Long just recently regained the Smackdown GM job. John Morrison left a room that was near where this was taking place and Jericho asked him what he was looking at. Morrison said “a quitter.” The two then brawled in the hallway, and were broken up by Shad, Charles Robinson, Tony Garea and Charlie Haas. CM Punk pass them as he was walking to the entranceway for his match.

[Commercial Break]

4- EDGE vs. CM PUNK

Punk and Edge traded shoves and Punk went for a GTS immediately. Edge was able to grab the ropes however. Knee-lift by Punk, then a kick to the back of Edge’s head. Edge tried to meet Punk on the top rope, but Punk brought Edge down throat-first across the top rope. Punk got crotched on the top rope trying to come back into the ring. Edge booted Punk off the apron and to the floor. About three minutes in, they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the action as Edge returned the favor from earlier in the match with a knee-lift of his own. Punk made a comeback with kicks and fists, but Edge slid out of a GTS. Edge tried a spear, but he ran into a knee. Knee in the corner then a bulldog for two. JR and Grisham kept calling this the first of two matches and “two matches in one,” but Punk has to win the first match for the second one to take place (I would presume). Powerslam by Punk countered a spear. He put Edge on his shoulders, but Edge blocked the knee and locked in the Sharpshooter. Punk got to the ropes to break the move. Edge tried to suplex Punk into the ring from the apron, but Punk reversed it and hit the GTS for the pinfall win.

WINNER: Punk, at 11:35. Good match made even better by the intriguing stipulation brought forth by Punk.

Punk told the ref that he was cashing in his briefcase and the ref told ring announcer Justin Roberts, who made the announcement. Before the bell rang though, Umaga came out of the crowd and superkicked Punk in the face. Then he gave Punk the swinging tree slam. Grisham made sure to note that the bell never rang, so Punk still has his MITB opportunity. Edge took the briefcase and looked like he had evil intentions, but Jeff Hardy came out and gave Edge a Twist of Fate, then a Swanton. They showed a replay of Umaga’s attack, as well as Hardy’s. Jeff celebrated on the top of the ramp as the show closed.

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 in the Torch VIP audio section and read his all-new blog in the VIP forum. Check out his column each week in the PDF-exclusive version of the Torch Newsletter. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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