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WWE Smackdown review
October 9, 2009
Taped 10/6/09 in Trenton, N.J.
Aired on MyNetwork TV

-WWE Open.

-Clips aired of the Hell in a Cell match between C.M. Punk and The Undertaker from this past Sunday.

-Smackdown Open.

-After fireworks and panning shots of the crowd, Jim Ross announced that Undertaker would be here tonight. The last time they said that, he showed up with two minutes to go in the show. Also, Rey Mysterio faces Chris Jericho one-on-one, and in the main event, Batista faces C.M. Punk. Also, the “X” for the tenth anniversary of Smackdown has seemingly been permanently affixed to the back of the Smackdown logo.

-Theodore Long was in the ring after all the plugs were made. Long happily announced that Undertaker was the new World Champion and said because of Taker’s performance, it solidifies that Smackdown is the top brand in WWE. Long moved on to Bragging Rights, a new WWE, PPV, and talked about Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a WWE Title match. He extended an invitation to John Cena if he loses to Orton at the PPV, to re-join Smackdown. Then C.M. Punk’s theme interrupted, and he came to the ring.

As if it needs to be said, Punk was none too happy. He was especially mad about Long talking about John Cena, a Raw wrestler, and said Smackdown doesn’t need John Cena. Well, he’s right-on there. He said Long’s focus should be on him. Punk reminded Long of his guaranteed re-match. He called Trenton a “dump,” and complained about having to fight Batista. Punk also issued a grievance over having to fight five days after a grueling Cell match. Hey, Cena didn’t complain on Monday. He looked good and didn’t show any wear and tear. Punk requested his re-match with Long at ringside and Scott Armstrong as referee. Punk then said he’d indicate at a later time when and where the title shot will take place. Then Vince McMahon came out.

McMahon strutted to the ring, as only he can. I’m guessing he demands Drew McIntyre get a title shot! After he got into the ring, Long properly introduced Mr. McMahon. He reiterated that his patience with Long is wearing thin (he’s still on probation too). He said that what Teddy Long was about to announce is not going to please Punk or The Undertaker. McMahon scolded him for continually provoking Undertaker. McMahon said Long was about to announce that, at Bragging Rights, the title will be on the line in a Fatal Four-Way with Punk, Batista and Rey Mysterio. Long and McMahon had some off-mic words. McMahon then officially got Smackdown underway by introducing Rey Mysterio. He shook hands with Vince on the way to the ring. That was weird. I think he handed Vince a doctor’s note! Tony Chimel is your ring announcer for this evening. Mysterio faces Jericho next.

[Commercial Break]

-Grisham plugged Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison for the I.C. Title tonight in a re-match from Hell in a Cell.

1- REY MYSTERIO vs. CHRIS JERICHO

Monkey flip by Rey sent Jericho to the outside. He dove onto Jericho with a flying body-press. But Jericho clotheslined him and took control back in the ring. Jericho picked Rey up and allowed him to land chest-first on the ring. Match was pretty slow, but still good. Jericho threw Mysterio under the bottom rope and he landed with a thud on the mats outside. They went to break about 3:05 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

-Jericho had Mysterio in a rear chin-lock out of break. Enziguiri by Jericho, but Rey was already on his way down when it hit so it looked not-so-good. Jericho hung Rey up chest-first on the top rope, then simply pushed him to the floor in a good heel move. Jericho set Rey up on the top rope and tried to un-mask him. Continuity! Rey pelted him with elbows that sent him to the mat in the ring. Springboard cross-body by Rey for two. JR noted that Rey gives hope to all the kids who played right field and batted ninth in Little League, and other such examples. Hey, I played RF and batted ninth in Varsity! Jericho caught Rey on a 619 attempt, which Grisham met with a Vince McMahon-like “he’s gonna hit the 619 and....noooooo!” (as in “one, two, he got him...nooooo!). Jericho caught Rey again trying a springboard and applied the Walls, this time, sitting down on the back nicely. Rey got out of it and Jericho tried to put it on again, but Rey kicked him in the head and into position for a 619, followed by the springboard splash for three.

WINNER: Mysterio, at 11:28. A notch or two below their past encounters. I think they lost their mojo. Still, better than most of the drek on Raw and Impact.

-Grisham and JR talked on camera about Ben Roethlisberger hosting Raw. The Raw Rebound followed that up.

-It’s time for “Word Up” with Cryme Tyme. This week’s word: Eve. That’s for “exquisite” and “vivacious.” The boys complimented Eve, who was with them and who they didn’t allow to present the word this week. She’s in action next against Michelle McCool.

[Commercial Break]

-Batista vs. C.M. Punk is the main event for tonight’s show.

2- EVE TORRES vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL

This is non-title, for those wondering. No clean break in the corner from Michelle. She included a shove in there as well. Eve turned it around and pounded away with forearms. The two ladies brawled, rolling around on the ground as Grisham explained that Eve likes to practice karate and ju-jitsu. Perfect timing, Todd. Running knee to the face of Eve by McCool in the corner. Michelle continued using the knee, protected by a rather large knee-brace. McCool tied Eve’s arms around her throat and shook her around. Eve broke free and hit a few one-footed dropkicks. Forward somersault for two. She tried a handspring elbow in the corner, but McCoool got the foot up. Inside cradle by Eve for two. Big boot to the chest by McCool (though JR tried to sell it as a shot to the jaw), which carried a lot of sound, and got the win. Upon replay, her toe may have caught Eve in the jaw.

WINNER: McCool, at 3:18. Short match, so they couldn’t screw too much up. It was fine.

-The Undertaker returns as champion tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Vickie Guerrero was backstage with her new beau Eric Escobar, and they were in Teddy’s office. “Excuse me?” Teddy asked off-camera. Nice. Vickie complained that Escobar wasn’t in a match tonight, and it’s also unfair that C.M. Punk doesn’t get his one-on-one re-match. She also said it was unfair to Undertaker, saying the odds are against him. Long tried to interrupt, saying, “But Mr. McMahon....” but Vickie asked if Long was trying to blame McMahon for the decision. Escobar spoke some Spanish, then kissed Vickie’s hand and arm. Vickie reminded Teddy that he was still on probation.

-John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler made their entrances for the I.C. Title match, which is up next after the break.

[Commercial Break]

3- JOHN MORRISON vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER- INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Bell rang as soon as they came back from break. Ziggler with a take-down as he kept things on the mat. Morrison matched him there though. Dropkick by Morrison took Ziggler down for a near-fall. The men struggled over a backslide, but Morrison hit an inverted back-breaker, then a Russian leg-sweep. Maria came down to cheer on Ziggler at ringside. She took a seat next to the commentators. I guess so she doesn’t look like an actual manager. The two went back-and-forth until Ziggler hit a belly-to-back suplex nicely for a two. Splash in the corner by Ziggler. Dolph slammed Morrison’s head into the mat several times, then hit a screaming standing elbow-drop for two. Ziggler kept the heat on Morrison and taunted him by proclaiming himself “new champ” to Morrison. Scoop slam got two for the former Spirit Squad member. Morrison tried to get the fans behind him as he was stuck in a submission hold. He ended up getting to a vertical base and flipping the switch on an electric chair (as JR said). Morrison got his second wind and clotheslined Dolph down, then landed a heel kick and a standing shooting-star press for two. Morrison hit a cross-body on Ziggler too close to the ropes and both men were propelled over the top. Ziggler thought about bringing a chair in, but stopped short. Drokick from Ziggler back in the ring. He went to get the chair he set by ringside, but Maria had taken it back to sit in. Ziggler turned around and into a Flying Chuck kick. Morrison got the win.

WINNER: Morrison, at 9:44. Ziggler is the Buffalo Bills of I.C. Title chasers. 0-4 at least now.

-Grisham and Ross talked about Undertaker joining us later in the show. Then we got a video package on the man, the myth, the legend. It chronicled his seven World Title victories.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed what happened moments ago, with Ziggler sneaking the chair close to ringside, then Maria unknowingly taking it back and costing Ziggler the match. How exactly would he have used it, anyway?

-Ziggler was walking backstage as Maria tried to get him to talk to her. Ziggler finally said he had a professional and a personal life, and he thought she could differentiate the two. Maria said she thought they were a team. Ziggler said in his professional life, he sees fame in fortune; in his personal life: he doesn’t see her. And Maria was left to emote that feeling, which didn’t go so well.

-Rey and Batista had a pow-wow backstage, and Rey said he hoped he didn’t let Batista down at Hell in a Cell. Batista assured him it wasn’t the case, but things turned when Batista said he’d win the title at the next PPV. That was soon over and they hugged.

-R-Truth and Matt Hardy made separate entrances for a tag match, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

4- R-TRUTH & MATT HARDY vs. DREW MCINTYRE & KANE

Drew didn’t get much of an entrance, which was cut off during the break. Blind tag made by Kane, who kicked an unsuspecting Truth right in the mush. He went to work on Truth in the corner. Basement dropkick by the big man. The heels did some team-work until Truth did a drop-toe hold on Kane. He made the tag to Hardy, who cleaned house on the Scot. Second-rope elbow by Matt, then a Side Effect for two. Kane broke up a pin, but Truth dropkicked him to the apron. McIntyre saw his chance and attacked Truth. Matt was pushed into Kane, who landed an uppercut. Double-underhook DDT on Hardy by Mac for the win.

WINNERS: Kane and Hardy, at 3:56. Hardy taking the pin here was kinda surprising.

-Up next, the World Champion Undertaker will be on the broadcast.

[Commercial Break]

-Grisham plugged the theme song for Bragging Rights.

-Tony Chimel introduced The Undertaker to the masses. Taker proclaimed himself World Heavyweight Champion, which drew a pop from the crowd. He talked about it being the Holy Grail of everyone who steps foot in the ring. There’s something weird with his speech tonight, as if he’s enunciating every letter in every word he’s saying to an obvious level. Taker talked about the wayward souls and said the road ends in his yard (as he looked down at the ring). He said for them, it would be a graveyard. The champ said three men would tempt their fate on October 25th at Bragging Rights. C.M. Punk, he said, left Hell in a Cell unscathed aside from his title. He said he’d take Punk’s soul at Bragging Rights. As for Rey Mysterio- he acknowledged his heart and tenacity, but then said he’d show him no mercy. Finally, Batista. He invoked the memory of their battles past and said Batista’s strength and rage wouldn’t be enough to save his soul. He called the name “Fatal Four-Way” appropriate, as each would fall beneath his shadow. He then said they’d Rest in Peace.

[Commercial Break]

5- BATISTA vs. C.M. PUNK

Punk threw his t-shirt at Batista, then left the ring before the match began. Hard whip into the corner by Batista and a follow-up clothesline once the match began. Punk scurries to ringside when he got the next opportunity. Punk went to the apron and choked Batista over the top rope. Springboard clothesline was stopped by a Batista boot, and Punk ran away again after Batista attempted a powerbomb. They went to break about 2:30 into the main event.

[Commercial Break]

Batista was in control as the show returned. He got a two-count off of a suplex. The ankle-lock was applied by Batista, but Punk got to the ropes. He scampered around ringside, then caught Batista coming back into the ring. Elbow to the back of the head of Big Dave. Punk got Batista to the ground and put him in a head-scissors. Batista broke free and slammed Punk to the mat. The Animal used his strength to keep Punk at bay, slamming him in the corner and then to then down with a spinebuster. Punk came back with a running knee in the corner. Batista went for a spear, but Punk kicked him in the head. Batista dodged another knee in the corner and he spinebusted Punk again. He began his Warrior routine, and Punk smartly went to the outside again. He tried to go under the ring but Batista grabbed his legs. He went to powerbomb Punk on the outside, but Punk grabbed the top rope. He struggled a while, then kicked Batista away to the floor at a nine-count, made it back in the ring and won the match.

WINNER: Punk, at 11:22. OK match, but it didn’t do much for Punk.

Speaking of not doing much for Punk, he got Batista Bombed after the match. They went out soon after, with Batista staring at the ref and Punk prone in the ring.

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. Also, look for his Tuesday chats with James Caldwell each Tuesday afternoon on the Torch. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

[Michelle McCool art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

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