by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
July 3, 2009
Taped 6/30/09 in Fresno, Calif.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


-WWE Open.

-Smackdown Open. The opening has been adjusted to include Smackdown’s newest Superstars courtesy of the 15-person deal announced on Monday night.

-Ring announcer Justin Roberts introduced C.M. Punk to the live crowd. He certainly wasn’t as chipper as usual, but still played to the crowd. Punk first addressed the controversy at The Bash, and said he’s getting sick and tired of people talking about how he purposely struck an official in order to retain his title. He said he came out to show footage to try to clear his name. First, he showed video of Hardy pinning him with his leg under the rope to assure people Hardy wasn’t “robbed.” Punk said where he comes from, the rules still mean something. He said it was him who was almost robbed of the title. He said he suffered a severe eye injury, and showed where that happened in the match, as well as him kicking the referee. Punk said it was obvious that he thought he was swinging at Jeff because his eye was severely damaged. He called himself a man of honor and he doesn’t take short-cuts inside the ring or outside. He said Jeff had reason to be frustrated as they were having a “classic” match, but nothing excuses the behavior that followed. Then they aired clips of Hardy attacking Punk after the match. Punk said Hardy has no idea who he is as a person, because if he did, he’d know he’s a man of integrity. While his mistake was an accident, what Jeff did was deliberate. Punk said Hardy is telling everyone that he wants a re-match from Punk. Punk said he wants something from Jeff too, and that’s an apology. And he wants it now. Instead, Teddy Long’s music hit.

Long came to the ring and told Punk that he doesn’t know whether Punk took the cheap way out or not- Punk tried to interrupt and Long told him not to do that. Long said Punk would face Jeff Hardy at Night of Champions for the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk said that was fine with him, but he needs to send Hardy out to apologize to him. Long said that’s not his responsibility. He said McMahon was happy with how he shook things up at The Bash, and he’s going to continue to do so. He made the Edge & Jericho vs. Hardy & Punk match for tonight. Then Jeff’s music played as Punk looked a bit frustrated. Hardy came out to the ring. He said he didn’t want to hear Punk’s excuses anymore, and he accused Punk of knowing exactly what he was doing when he kicked the ref. Hardy said he could see right through Punk. Punk told him unless he was about to say, “I’m sorry,” he better shut up, because he doesn’t care what he has to say. Hardy said he’ll apologize.....for beating the hell out of him at Night of Champions. He then shoved Punk and Punk shoved back. Long got in between them and Punk said they need to be on the same page for their tag match later tonight. Punk gave some advice to Jeff Hardy, something he should’ve said a long time ago: Just say no. Interesting to see Punk getting more and more frustrated with every promo and in this one, he was clearly playing a little more of a heel than he has in the past, coming out with excuses and demanding an apology.

[Commercial Break]

1- RICKY ORTIZ vs. FINLAY

Ortiz got the dreaded “currently in the ring” treatment. He also had the mic after Finlay made his entrance. He asked if Finlay was upset about losing his little buddy (a few months late there, Rick). He asked why Finlay was so negative, and told him to drop the shillaleigh, lose the frown and rally up. Finlay responded by slapping Ortiz.

The bell rang and Finlay got a headbutt to the gut and was then clotheslined over the top rope. Ortiz tripped him up though as he was heading back into the ring. The men continued to fight on the outside and Ortiz powerslammed him out there. Belly-to-back suplex by Ortiz once they were back in the ring and that got two. He missed a running shoulder to the gut in the corner though and Finlay snuck up with a roll-up for two. Couple clotheslines, then a rolling Samoan drop. Finlay got the momentum, but his lower back wouldn’t allow him to pick Ortiz back up. Ortiz tried to back-drop him, but Finlay hooked him in the Celtic Cross, then dropped him and got the pin.

WINNER: Finlay, at 2:26. Just a showcase match for Finlay, but if they really see something in Ortiz, they should continue to put him with guys like Finlay.

-Dolph Ziggler was getting warmed up for his match backstage when Maria came up to him and introduced herself. They both said they had matches for later tonight and Maria said she had fun with him last night. Ziggler told her “you’re welcome.” They sounded like they were a couple high-schoolers. They seemed to agree to go out again later tonight, and Ziggler said “maybe I’ll get lucky.”

[Commercial Break]

-JR plugged Rey Mysterio vs. the returning Kane later tonight.

2- DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. R-TRUTH

When Ziggler made his entrance, they showed clips of his match with Khali at The Bash. When Truth rapped to the ring, they showed two girls in the crowd with a Punk t-shirt and Jeff Hardy arm-bands and face-paint. They must feel quite conflicted. Truth was quick to get on the offensive until Ziggler got into the ropes, causing a break. He then took advantage of it by attacking Truth when the ref was backing him away. He suplexed Truth over his head, then applied a rear chin-lock. He took Truth down by the hair when the former K-Kwik was trying to make his comeback. Ziggler hit a number of elbowdrops on Truth. He then put Truth in a full-nelson. Truth began to come back, utilizing right hands and a back elbow to do the job. Powerslam got him a two-count. Kick to the jaw by Truth, but Ziggler held onto the bottom rope, then managed to choke Truth on the top. Ziggler hit his finisher and got the win.

WINNER: Ziggler, at 3:06. This win means a bit more for Ziggler since Truth has been picking up some victories on the show.

-They plugged the main-event tag match that will take place tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-It’s time for Cryme Tyme’s Word Up. Today’s word, supplied by Eve Torres: Wanksta. A fake gangster, pretty much. Hey, I’ve heard of that one! Shad said they decided to show us a Wanksta this week. They brought out the binoculars and pretended to be hunting, trying to disguise themselves behind fake foliage. They saw Layla through the binoculars, arguing with some guy; then Jimmy Wang Yang eating barbecue; then, finally, their wanksta: Jesse. AKA: J-easy, among others. Cryme Tyme was exasperated by Jesse’s act, and they told him not to follow them.

-Rey Mysterio came out for his match with Kane. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

3- REY MYSTERIO vs. KANE

JR noted the past run-ins these two have had. A few kicks early on didn’t faze the big man and he pounded away on Rey with kicks and punches. Rey kicked out of a chin-lock, but couldn’t capitalize. Rey took out Kane’s knee, but couldn’t hit the 619. Kane tried a chokeslam, but Rey got out. Kane threw him into the corner and did some damage there as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Kane was still in control out of break. Hard whip into the buckle by Kane and Rey took a powder to the outside. He slammed Rey’s back against the ring post. Mysterio barely made it in before the ten count. The match began to drag a bit with Kane’s methodical offense being used. Another comeback attempt by Rey fell short when Kane elbowed him down. After escaping a back-breaker, Rey hit a springboard seated senton. After a near-fall, he landed a seated dropkick for two. Rey went to the top, but Kane met him with an uppercut on the way down. Rey avoided a chokeslam and after an enziguiri, hit the 619. He tried a springboard hurricanrana, but couldn’t hit it. Kane chokeslammed Rey, then pinned him.

WINNER: Kane, at 11:13. JR made some excuses for Rey after the match, but I don’t think this loss to Kane hurt Rey much.

Kane grabbed Rey for another chokeslam after the match, but Great Khali’s music hit before he could squash Rey. Man, he had time to chokeslam him and still got out of the ring before Khali and his chair could make it to the ring. Kane fled through the crowd before Khali could use the chair.

-Backstage, Chris Jericho was with Josh Mathews. Apparently, he asked for the time. Jericho said it brings a smile to his face to see Rey get what he deserves tonight. He said next week, he’d invoke his re-match clause and win the I.C. Title for the 10th time. The camera panned over and Edge said it wasn’t about Jericho and Rey, it’s about the two of them being the dominant force that they are. Jericho called them the best in the world at what they do. Jericho said Punk is as much as a liar as the fans. What happened to these guys not getting along when Jericho came to Smackdown just a short while ago?

[Commercial Break]

4- THE HART DYNASTY vs. CRYME TYME

JTG took Tyson Kidd down and did some mat work. He took Kidd down face-first to the mat, and Kidd went to the outside. He came back in and made the tag, a tag that JTG did not see. David Hart Smith used his strength to keep JTG grounded. Some double-teaming by the heels kept JTG in their corner. After missing a splash in the corner, Kidd got rolled up for two. But he was soon right back on offense. What’s with Kidd and the “yip’s” every time he does a move? Both men were down, and both were able to make tags. Shad took out Kidd on the apron, then went to work on Smith. He planted Smith with a forward suplex, but Kidd broke up a pin. Cryme Tyme double-teamed Smith, then Shad hit his finisher on Smith to get the win.

WINNERS: Cryme Tyme, at 4:52. Surprising result. I’m guess we’ll see some six-person tags with Cryme Tyme and Eve against all three members of the Hart Dynasty.

-The Raw Rebound aired.

[Commercial Break]

-Another plug for the Jericho & Edge vs. Hardy & Punk aired.

5- LAYLA & MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. MELINA & MARIA

Layla tried to take it to Melina, but Melina got a kick in to the face. Layla looked rough taking shots to the head off the turnbuckle. Maria came in and nailed Layla with a few knees to the gut. Layla kicked Maria into a split position and tagged McCool in. She went right to work on the left leg of Maria. They should pull a “50 First Dates” with Maria, where she suffers a concussion and can’t remember Ziggler, so he has to keep introducing himself to her everytime they meet. Maria finally made the tag to Melina, but McCool got out of there after taking a minimal amount of Melina’s offense. Melina turned a neckbreaker attempt by Layla into her finisher (complete with primal scream) and registered the pin.

WINNERS: Melina & Maria, at 3:16. Pretty ugly at times, but it wasn’t a complete disaster.

[Commercial Break]

-John Morrison was backstage in Teddy Long’s office. Long was jiven’ while Morrison was talking about beating Punk and wanting to have a match with him for the belt. Long brought up Michael Jackson and the two started singing MJ tunes in between Morrison talking smack about Punk. That’s WWE’s “hey, we’re relevant!” segment of the week.

-As Edge and Jericho made their separate entrances, the announcers plugged Jericho vs. Rey for the I.C. Title as part of next week’s broadcast. The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

6- EDGE & CHRIS JERICHO vs. JEFF HARDY & C.M. PUNK

Punk and Edge began things slowly, with Edge working the arm of the World Champion. No problems on the first tag from Punk to Hardy, nor on the second. Even some teamwork shown by the two. Jericho finally tagged and was arm-dragged down. Punk slammed Jericho right in position for Hardy to land his legdrop off the second rope. Jericho took advantage of Punk with a pull of the hair and tagged in Edge. Punk set Hardy up to leap off of him into the corner, taking out Jericho and Edge. After Edge was clotheslined over the top by Punk, the two faces had a stare-down in the ring, clearly still uneasy with each other.

[Commercial Break]

Edge was going toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring with Jeff Hardy, and Hardy ended up getting the better of Edge for the moment at least, with an arm-drag. In the corner, Punk began holding his eye in pain, and the crowd jeered. Jericho tagged in and aggressively went after Hardy and Punk. As he was jawing with Punk in the corner, outside the ring, Edge punched Hardy, sending him into the barricade. Hardy started to come back on Jericho at the 11:00 mark. But Jericho again tossed him to ringside. Punk got the crowd into it to help out their man Jeff Hardy. As Hardy came back in the ring, he crawled to his corner, where Punk was out of position, again dealing with his eye. Hardy hit Whisper in the Wind even without tagging Punk. Edge made the tag first, but he was hit with the Twist of Fate. Hardy quickly went over and slapped Punk in the match. Knee in the corner, then a running bulldog from Punk. He got Edge up for the GTS, but Edge got out and drove Punk to the canvas on the back of his head. Jericho choked Punk in the corner when the ref’s back was turned, dealing with Edge. Jericho came in and kicked Punk right in the ribs. Jericho dug into Punk’s eye with his fist. Punk tried to fight back but they ended up double-clotheslining each other. Hardy got the crowd into the match for Punk. As Punk went for the tag, Hardy comically oversold a fictitious eye injury, falling to ringside and everything. Jericho tried to lock in the Walls as Hardy kept squirming on the ground. Punk got Jericho up for the GTS, but Jericho made a blind tag, and Edge came in with a spear to pin the World Champion.

WINNERS: Edge & Jericho, at 16:15.

After the match, Hardy took out Edge, leaving the unified tag champs to quickly cede the ring to Hardy. JR kept talking up Hardy’s eye injury as if it were serious, even though he was clearly doing it because of what he perceived that Punk did to him. As Hardy went to the back, he continued to hold his eye, while looking back at the ring at Punk. Then, when he got to the top of the ramp, he revealed it was a ruse all along.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. You can also 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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax