by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
July 17, 2009
Taped 7/14/09 in Miami, Fla.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


-WWE Open.

-Smackdown Open.

-Jim Ross opened the show by welcoming the fans and plugging the main event tag match. Todd Grisham said they’d have an exclusive interview with Edge on the show as well.

-Jeff Hardy came out. Hardy said C.M. Punk made a shocking revelation last week, then they showed video of Punk giving his “your chances of winning the title: zero” speech to Hardy last week. Hardy said he’s not hiding behind his mistakes, mistakes everyone makes. He said he hasn’t failed a test in over a year and has never been to rehab. Hardy said he’d also win the championship at Night of Champions. That brought C.M. Punk out.

Punk seemed disgusted that people were cheering because he hasn’t failed a drug test in over a year. “That is not an accomplishment,” he said. “You suck” chants for Punk. Punk said he has to say the same things over and over again because Hardy doesn’t listen. He called Hardy a screw-up even when he was a kid. Hardy called Punk his guidance counselor. Punk said maybe Hardy should wish he was, because Punk would’ve set him straight. He called Jeff a joke and said while Jeff says he was suspended twice, he brags about never having gone to rehab. “Who do you think you are?” Punk asked. Jeff said he thinks he’s the next World Heavyweight Champion. Punk said Hardy will never be able to beat him because he’s Straight Edge. He said he’d be champion a year from now and Hardy will lose to him and fall back into his vices. Sarcastically, Hardy replied that he isn’t as perfect as Punk. Punk said maybe he should be, because there’s a sea of kids wearing Jeff Hardy t-shirts, and that scares him because Jeff is their hero. He said it’d be another set of kids who will see their hero become a statistic- then Jeff hit him in the face and Punk bailed. Punk said he’d be the bigger man because he has a match next. But that won’t stop him from tearing Jeff apart at Night of Champions. Well, they’re going all the way with the references to Hardy’s past.

[Commercial Break]

1- C.M. PUNK vs. JOHN MORRISON

This is a re-match from three weeks ago. Morrison and Punk exchanged hammerlocks and Punk backed Morrison into the corner. During the breaks in the corner, neither man was pleased with the other. Punk locked in the tarantula hold in the ropes; haven’t seen that in a while. Cross-body off the top by the champion, but Morrison rolled through for two. Morrison got out of a Got To Sleep and monkey-flipped Punk. He sent Punk to the outside, but Punk grabbed his legs through the ropes and pulled him out, with Morrison landing on the mat with a “thud.” About 3:20 in, they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Punk had Morrison in a waist-scissors out of break, though Morrison was attempting to elbow out. He landed a nice bell-to-belly on the former MNM member, and back to the body-scissors. Morrison got out and punched away at Punk. Running knee to the face for a two-count. He does that move so well, and I don’t imagine it’s an easy move. The men traded covers, then Punk hit Morrison with a double-underhook back-breaker. Another one we haven’t seen in some time. That got a two-count. Morrison ran the ropes and was caught in a sleeper. At the 10:30 mark, they both went down following a double clothesline. Flying Chuck kick for a near-fall by Morrison. There’s a fan in the crowd with a sign that says “Jeff Hardy: Marry Me....in 10 years.” I hope she wasn’t traumatized by the opening promo. After the two went back-and-forth with some of their finishing sequences, Punk went for a Magistra Cradle, but Morrison didn’t allow Punk to turn it, just laying down on him for three.

WINNER: John Morrison, at 11:53. Another great match between these two. It’s amazing the in-ring workers this show has.

Morrison extended his hand to the bemused C.M. Punk after the match, but Punk just slid out of the ring, took his title and went home.

[Commercial Break]

-Another plug for the main event tag aired, as well as the hype for the upcoming Edge interview.

-Layla came out wearing a Miami Heat top and throwing a hat into the crowd. Is she a face now? She tried to pump the crowd up and said she was happy to be back where she was a cheerleader for some time. Then she danced. After she got a good minute or so to display her skills, Ricky Ortiz’s music interrupted and he came out. Ortiz apparently didn’t think the people wanted to see her dance: They needed inspiration and motivation. Then he took a shot at the Heat. He said her dancing isn’t going to help them, but he was here to rally them up. He started throwing rally towels to the crowd and even gave one to Layla. She swung it over her head, then dropped it to the mat and walked out. Ortiz seemed hurt by that gesture.

-Time for another enlightening segment of “Word Up.” Eve was getting ready for her match so they had to remind her to give us the word. It was “championized,” being at the level of a champion. As they walked backstage, Shad said he hangs out with champions and introduced Arizona Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle. After a brief discussion about Wrestlemania 26 in Arizona, Jesse interrupted. Cryme Tyme was sickened by Rolle shaking hands with Jesse. Rolle said he, Cryme Tyme and Eve were going to hang out and Jesse took offense, saying Eve was his “boo.” The men threw Jesse, in a Larry Fitzgerald uniform, into a laundry basket, then pushed it into a wall.

-R-Truth was set to do battle next, against Kane.

[Commercial Break]

2- KANE vs. R-TRUTH

They showed clips of Kane and Great Khali exchanging chairshots last week on the show. A shoulderblock put Truth on the mat hard. Big uppercut caught Truth walking out of the corner. Kane pounded away at Truth in the corner. He finally missed a charge, but caught Truth on a cross-body attempt. Back-drop by Kane sent Truth to the outside. He missed a big boot though and Truth side-kicked Kane out of the ring and dropkicked him off the apron. Kane tried to re-group on the outside as they went to break just over 2:00 in.

[Commercial Break]

Kane suplexed Truth down as the show returned. Another side-kick by Truth, but he fell victim to a sidewalk slam for a near-fall. Kane tried to squeeze the life out of Truth on the mat, grabbing him in a rear waist-lock. Truth tried to come back with fists, but Kane propelled him back out of the ring. Kane made the mistake of coming out to greet him, and Kane was clotheslined into the ring post. He took over once again while still at ringside, then tossed Truth back inside the squared circle. Bearhug applied by Kane. Kane picked Truth up by the throat at 10:00, but Truth dropkicked him in mid-air. Drop toe-hold into the corner by Truth, then he followed it up with a corner clothesline. DDT and both men were down. When Truth finally made the cover, it was only for two. Truth to the top, but Kane got his big boot up, destroying Truth and picking up the win.

WINNER: Kane, at 11:00. Good finish to the match and it wasn’t as bad as I expected.

The Great Khali and Ranjin Singh made their way out after the match to stare Kane down. And more I guess, because he started advancing toward the ring. Truth out of nowhere hit a missile dropkick on Kane, and Khali got into the ring. However, due to Khali’s slowness, Kane was able to leave before Khali could get his hands on him. He fled through the crowd again.

-Still to come, Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio face Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler.

-Also, the first time we’ll hear from Edge since his injury.

[Commercial Break]

-Grisham and JR talked on camera about ZZ Top hosting Raw this week. Ross said he’d watch with his “cheap sunglasses.”

-A video of R-Truth playing Pretty Ricky in South Beach aired. One woman said she wouldn’t kiss him for $1,000 with those teeth he had. Still not sure what purpose this serves.

-The Hart Dynasty came out for their six-person mixed-tag match. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

3- THE HART DYNASTY vs. CRYME TYME & EVE TORRES

Natalya and Eve were in there first, but they didn’t do much. Tyson and Shad then came in and Shad Pounced on Kidd once again, just like last night. Then some double-teaming from Cryme Tyme in the corner. JTG missed a cross-body and ended up getting crotched on the top rope. David Hart Smith was next in as Natalya picked right up where she left off last night in terms of trash talking. The Hart Dynasty did some double-teaming of their own. Abdominal stretch of sorts from Kidd on JTG. Desperation hip-lock take-over from JTG. D.H. Smith tagged in and took Shad out. JTG was in his corner but Shad wasn’t, so Eve tagged in. Couple of dropkicks hit by Eve. Natalya missed a charge, and Eve landed a roundhouse kick. Moonsault landed, but there was a distraction as the four men were going at it. Natalya hot-shotted Eve off the top rope, then hit spinning clothesline and a good one (Natalya spun around once or twice before using the momentum to take Eve out). That was enough for the win.

WINNERS: The Hart Dynasty, at 4:12. Match was OK, with the trademark tag team finish, but the crowd didn’t seem interested.

-Dolph Ziggler was backstage getting ready for his match. Maria walked up and Dolph tried to brush her off by saying he had to get ready for his match. But Maria wanted a look at his biceps first.

-Jericho & Ziggler vs. Hardy & Mysterio is the main event tonight. But next, we’ll hear from Edge.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge joined the show via satellite. Even though he looked like he was in one of the backstage sets. Edge said that he’s been in the business a long time (July 1st marked 17 years). He said he’s been a long-time champion and leader in the industry. He said he’s had a couple injuries along the way, but he’s always tried to rise above and get back to wrestling. Edge said the injury could be the end of his career (a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd). He talked about the injury and said it’s the hardest injury to come back from. He did say he’d do everything in his power to get back and become champion again. Edge seemed to be down in the dumps while talking. Grisham asked if Edge had anything to say to former partner Chris Jericho. Edge said there’s never a good time to get injured....then Jericho’s music came on and he came out. He walked right to the ring, without looking up at Edge on the video wall. Cool.

Jericho got in the ring and got the mic, saying Edge was making his sick. He called Edge a pathetic human being. He said if he’s looking for sympathy, he’s not going to get it from him. Jericho said Edge doesn’t care about the titles, WWE or himself. He said he wouldn’t allow himself to be punished for Edge’s selfish actions. Jericho said he’d continue his reign as ruler of the WWE Universe at Night of Champions with a new partner. He said Edge’s championships have been due to politicking and being in the right place at the right time, whereas Jericho earned every title he has won. Jericho said Edge’s most impressive list of accomplishments is his list of injuries. He called Edge frail and weak and said he’s never been injured a day in his career. He told Edge to be honest, that he’s not even in Jericho’s league. He also didn’t like Edge pandering to the worms (aka fans). He said Edge was the weak link in the team and now he’s gone, possibly forever. Jericho said it proves he’s the true face of Smackdown and WWE. Edge responded that he doesn’t need anyone making a personal attack on his career and accomplishments. Edge said he’ll use Jericho’s words as motivation in his recovery. He said if he does come back....rather, when he comes back, he’ll prove to Jericho that he’s wrong about him. Looked like they didn’t time everything right, as Edge started talking again slightly before Jericho was done talking.

-The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

4- CHRIS JERICHO & DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. JEFF HARDY & REY MYSTERIO

Before the bell rang, C.M. Punk came down. He joined the commentary team. Hardy dropkicked Jericho down to the mat shortly after the bell rang. Punk said his eye is healing nicely, but he still experiences some side-effects. Jericho retaliated with a springboard dropkick, knocking Hardy off the apron and to ringside. They took the final break of the show at this point.

[Commercial Break]

Ziggler had just tagged in upon return and it looks like the heels were having their way with Hardy. They continued pounding away at Hardy, with clotheslines and slams and basically keeping him grounded. Hardy came back with a clothesline of his own, and he was able to tag Rey Mysterio. He proceeded to clean house on Jericho and Ziggler. After a kick to the head, Mysterio made a pin attempt for just two. Mysterio got taken out outside the ring and Ziggler shoved him back in. Ziggler applied a unique chin-lock, then whipped Rey hard into the turnbuckle. Both men were down and both made tags at 11:00. It was Hardy who was all offense this time. Whisper in the Wind connected for two. Jericho tried a Walls of Jericho to no avail. It didn’t work, and Hardy ended up hitting the Swanton (“and the people are all on their feet” said Punk dryly). Ziggler interrupted the three-count. Hardy tried to throw Jericho into Punk at ringside, but Punk avoided it. He had some choice words for Hardy, then when Jeff turned his back, he threw Jericho into Hardy, sending Hardy into the steel steps.

WINNERS: No Contest, at 12:41. “No contest” is my best guess.

Ziggler continued beating on Mysterio outside the ring after the match, giving him his finisher. Jericho tossed Hardy into the ring and gave him the Codebreaker. He then locked in the Walls, all while Punk looked on from ringside. Punk walked away as Jericho had the Walls locked in. Grisham wondered what condition Hardy would be in for Night of Champions. A replay of the finish of the match aired. Hardy laid on the mat in pain as the show ended.

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.

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