by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
September 25, 2009
Taped 9/22/09 in Tulsa, Okla.
Aired on MyNetwork TV


-WWE Open.

-The show started off by backtracking to last week, where Teddy Long apologized for what he had to do. And they also showed the screwjob from Breaking Point. Of course, we also got the B-movie effects that took place in Teddy’s limo as he tried to leave the arena.

-To the arena we went, where ring announcer Justin Roberts introduced C.M. Punk. Punk went right into preacher mode, telling the fans that they kill numerous brain cells on a daily basis. He said he brought it up because many seem to have forgotten his accomplishments. Then he jogged the fans’ memory for them. He talked about being the only straight-edge champion, winning back-to-back Money-In-The-Bank matches and did the fans a favor by getting rid of Jeff Hardy. But he called his crowning achievement making the Undertaker tap out at Breaking Point. He said he did it all without any chemically-induced help, or help from any fans. So he called out someone who could treat him with the respect he deserves and tell him who his next opponent is. After a pause for the wait, Punk said there was no one left. But the druids disagreed, as the lights went out and some chanting began, symbolic of the Undertaker.

Druids walked a casket down to the ring. Punk left the ring and grabbed a chair when the druids dropped the casket off at ringside. Punk kicked the casket a few times, expecting Taker to pop out. He bashed the side of the coffin, imploring Taker to emerge. He thought about whether to open it or not, but finally did. Inside was Teddy Long, bound and gagged. Punk seemed relieved, and didn’t immediately help Long. Punk said Long looked like he had been on an all-night bender “these people” go on. Punk finally got him out and freed him of the restraints, with Long looking disheveled and his clothes torn.. Long grabbed the mic from Punk and fell to the mat. He said effective immediately, there is no longer a ban on the Hell’s Gate submission hold. He also said, in a shaken voice, that Punk would defend against Taker in Hell in a Cell at the PPV. But that wasn’t all, as Punk will face Taker tonight too. See Punk, there are consequences for your actions.

-The announcers plugged Batista vs. Big Show for later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Jim Ross and Todd Grisham discussed the implications of the announcements Long just made.

1- JOHN MORRISON & FINLAY vs. MIKE KNOX & DOLPH ZIGGLER

Big shoulder tackle from Finlay, as he was pretty much hitting anything that moved (save for his partner and referee John Cone- so I guess only two guys). Then Knox capitalized on the over-aggressiveness of the Irishman. Ziggler tagged in and applied a unique rear chin-lock. He settled in that move as they went to break 1:30 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

This time, it was Knox with Finlay in the chin-lock. Those poor fans there live. Jaw-buster allowed Finlay to get out of it, but Knox clotheslined him back down. Good teamwork thus far from the heels. Like every tag match over five minutes in WWE in the last two years (at least), the heels worked to stop Finlay’s many attempts at a tag. Another chin-lock from Knox. JR once again talked about “buying stock” in Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler kept Finlay grounded, but took a risk in a splash in the corner that did not pay off. Ziggler and Finlay both made tags. Morrison flew around the ring and hit a hurricanrana on Knox. Leg lariat followed, then a standing shooting-star press for two. Bicycle kick by Knox out of the corner on the I.C. Champ. He knocked Finlay off the apron, but that allowed Morrison to recover and land the Flying Chuck kick, and the pin was broken up by Ziggler. Cross-body by Knox, but Morrison ducked and Knox landed on his partner. Finlay with the shillelagh shot, then Morrison hit his finisher on Knox for the win.

WINNERS: Morrison and Finlay, at 9:20. Way too formula. I still don’t get the booking of Finlay, a face, to constantly use a foreign object.

-More hijinks with Cryme Tyme and Slam Master J backstage. Eve Torres was there as well. CT tried to give him hints on how to step it up. JTG gave J a spray paint can, and they directed him to a nearby locker room. Cryme Tyme suggested he wouldn’t do it. He came back with the Smackdown and WCW DVDs as well. Come to find out, it was Teddy Long’s locker room that J defaced. Long came out and accused J of it after Cryme Tyme wisely left. J fessed up and Long put him in a match for tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-They plugged Punk vs. Taker for later tonight.

2- SLAM MASTER J vs. KANE

Saw this one coming a mile away. J started off with some dropkicks, then Kane followed with a corner clothesline and side slam. For those that didn’t hear on Superstars last night, Kane has yet to be pinned or submitted since coming over to Smackdown. And as I typed that, Kane finished off the former Jesse with a chokeslam.

WINNER: Kane, at :45. And of course, JR talked about Kane’s record after I went to the trouble of typing it up a few lines ago.

Cryme Tyme were shown watching with disappointment on a monitor backstage.

-C.M. Punk caught up with Vince McMahon backstage. Punk pleaded with Vince to overturn Long’s decision, but Vince said Punk should’ve thought of this repercussions when he conspired with Long and the ref to screw Undertaker.

[Commercial Break]

-Vince McMahon came down to the ring. Grisham said the backstage area has been buzzing that McMahon was going to have an announcement on the future of Smackdown tonight. Crowd seems to be treating him as a face. McMahon started insulting Oklahoma and JR (mentioning the personification of Porky Pig, and BBQ sauce). He invited everyone to a very special broadcast of Smackdown next week. He said they’re honoring those who have come before them on Smackdown, such as Steve Austin and The Rock. He said DX and John Cena would be on the show next week. McMahon said he made a personal signing for Smackdown, a man who reminds him of him. Smart, aggressive and handsome. He called him a future World Champion. He said he’s simply, “bad ass.” Crowd didn’t know how to react, so Vince threw in another dig at the state. He then introduced Drew McIntyre. With an intro like that from McMahon, they must really be expecting big things from this kid.

McIntyre got the mic as Vince left. McIntyre said he’d like to say he’s surprised....but he’s not. He claimed there is no one on the roster that can match his potential and aggressiveness. He called out Long for not paying attention to his own show. “USA, USA” chants, but Drew ignored him. That’s a newbie for ya. He talked about next week’s Smackdown celebration, but after that, he said it would all be about him. McIntyre said there will be a big party in his honor, with all the members of the roster there to welcome him to Smackdown. He then said the party has just begun. He looked very self-satisfied, but R-Truth’s music interrupted, and he rapped to the ring through the crowd. Probably not the most effective way to interrupt a promo. McIntyre seemed ready for a row as Truth continued to pander to the crowd at ringside. He turned his attention to Drew and wanted to tell him what was up. Truth said, “allow me to welcome you to Smackdown.” Truth then got in the ring and the two brawled, with Truth getting the better of it, before a triumvirate of officials broke it up. A continuation of a solid mid-card feud.

-The announcers once again reminded viewers of Batista vs. Big Show. And hey, it’s next!

[Commercial Break]

3- THE BIG SHOW vs. BATISTA

Jericho walked to the ring with Show. Crowd chanted for Batista as soon as the bell rang. Show displayed his power by shrugging Batista off on a collar-and-elbow tie-up. He shoved him off harder this time, and Batista fell to the mat. Batista left his feet for a shoulderblock, but Batista himself ended up on the mat with little effect on Show. Hard slap to the chest by Show in the corner. He followed it up with one more in another corner. Jericho shouted some play-by-play at the fans from ringside. Batista’s right hands had little effect, but Show’s clothesline did. Shot to the ribs by Show. Batista again fired back with rights, and then dodged a big boot try by Show. Show ended up crotched on the top rope, and Batista shoved him to the floor. They went to break about 3:30 into the contest.

[Commercial Break]

You could tell Jericho was worried out of break, because he had his jacket off. Apparently, he got involved during the break. Batista with a weak jaw-breaker to get out of a chin-lock, but then he jumped right into a bear-hug. It eventually got down to a rear waist-lock by Show. Leg-drop from an inverted DDT position by Show for a two-count. Another waist-lock. Batsita elbowed out of it and got his boots up on a corner charge. Show was able to slam him down though. To the middle rope for Show, but he missed the splash. Show also missed a running (and I use that term loosely) splash in the corner that Batista followed up with a spear. He tried a Batista Bomb, but really, who is he kidding? Show went for a chokeslam but couldn’t get it. Batista with a single-leg take-down, then an ankle-lock(!). Before Show could tap, Jericho interfered for the DQ.

WINNER: Batista, via DQ, at 11:02. Way too long for these two. But it was watchable.

Batista ended up hooking the ankle-lock on Jericho, who tapped to the move.

-They showed the exterior of the Bok Center in Tulsa.

-Grisham threw it to the video package that opened the show to once again see what happened to Long last week. Punk and Undertaker face each other one-on-one tonight.

-McMahon walked into Long’s office happy, but was disturbed to see how he was dressed. “What is the explanation for this?” he said hilariously, clearly showing that he didn’t even watch his own show. He asked Long why he conspired with “that referee” and Punk to screw Undertaker. McMahon was once again disappointed and angry to see that his picture wasn’t there. Long said it was, but it wasn’t finished. He didn’t want Vince to see it until it had the right frame. But Vince angrily insisted he see it. When the picture was brought in front of him off camera, his face turned sour. It had Slam Master J’s spray-paint all over it. McMahon said he’d make Hell look like Sunday School for Teddy.

[Commercial Break]

4- JTG vs. DAVID HART SMITH

JTG came out firing, getting to Smith before he knew what hit him. Smith quickly re-grouped and was on offense. He really put the boots to his opponent in the ropes, then began to work the back. Smith lowered his shoulder into the gut of JTG. JTG fought his way out of the corner though and made his comeback. He got the crowd into it and hit a flying legdrop off the top, but Natalya put Smith’s leg on the bottom rope on the pin attempt. That brought Eve over for a brawl. Natalya found solace inside the ring while Tyson Kidd cheapshotted JTG. Back suplex variation from Smith for the win.

WINNER: Smith, at 2:49. This feud went from entertaining and interesting to very dull quite quickly. Seeing them in the ring together every week has watered things down.

-Still to come tonight, CM Punk vs. Undertaker.

-They showed what happened earlier tonight in the Big Show vs. Batista match, focusing on Batista expanding his arsenal with an ankle-lock.

-Backstage, Josh Mathews said that Batista would join him after the break.

[Commercial Break]

-JR and The Grish talked about the 10th anniversary of Smackdown next week. They advertised Undertkaer, DX, Cena, Punk, Orton and Legacy. I smell an eight-man tag!

-Mathews was backstage with Batista. He asked Batista about the rumors of him challenging Show and Jericho at Hell in a Cell for the title. Batista said his partner is a dear friend and former World Champion. He said they have the champs’ number....and his partner’s number is “619.” That has potential.

-C.M Punk came to the ring for the main event. He looked pretty happy coming down the aisle. Grisham even noted it. They showed Long’s announcements made earlier tonight. They took a break before Taker’s entrance.

[Commercial Break]

5- C.M. PUNK vs. THE UNDERTAKER

They’ve really drawn this segment out. Punk’s entrance, videos, a commercial, Taker’s long entrance, and the match will likely start nearly 15 minutes after the match set-up began. Taker cornered Punk, and Punk could not escape the Dead Man’s grasp. Punk with some body shots in the corner, and numerous kicks to the legs of Taker. Taker just grabbed the champ by the throat and threw him out of the ring. 1:10 into the match, they went to the final break of the show.

[Commercial Break]

Punk was in control out of break, with a side-headlock on Taker. Shoulder knock-down by Taker though, and he once again easily tossed Punk over the top and to the outside Punk ran away from Taker outside the ring, so JR could get his “nowhere to run in Hell in a Cell” comment in. Taker out-smarted Punk as the champ tried to catch Taker coming back into the ring. Couple elbow smashes by Taker, then he dropped his leg over the throat of Punk with C.M. draped over the apron. The fight continued on the outside until Taker finally (mercifully?) threw Punk back in. Taker worked over Punk’s left arm and decided to go Old School. But Punk had other ideas and he stopped Taker on the top rope. Punk tried a suplex off the top, to no avail, as Taker kept up with the punches and knocked the champ off. Punk tried again and this time the suplex was successful. Pin, after Punk recovered, got two. Punk locked in a head-scissors on Taker as Taker tried to push away the hands of Undertaker, trying to get himself out of the hold. He eventually did and got Punk in a choke for a possible chokeslam. But Punk struck the legs of Taker to break it. Taker laid in the punches and clotheslined Punk in the corner. Snake Eyes followed up by the big boot. Only a two count there. Another chokeslam attempt, but Punk kicked Taker right in the temple. But Taker surprised him with Hell’s Gate. Punk got his feet on the ropes and fled to ringside to grab his title belt. Taker sensed his opponent was intending to flee, so he went out to stop him. He threw the championship in the ring and went to powerbomb Taker on the announce table. Punk got down off of Taker’s shoulders and scurried into the ring to win by count-out.

WINNER: Punk, at 11:58. I’m not sure the purpose of this match. They couldn’t further build the feud without giving away a one-on-one match?

-They closed with an ad for the 10th Anniversary of Smackdown next week.

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