by Greg Parks, Torch Columnist

WWE Smackdown review
February 19, 2010
Taped 2/16/10 in Kansas City, Mo.
Aired on MyNetwork TV

- WWE Open.

- Smackdown Open.

- Todd Grisham intro’d the show as the camera panned the crowd. He plugged Batista vs. Edge, the main event of tonight’s show.

- Chris Jericho walked out, dressed for talking rather than wrestling. Jericho commented that he has made a career out of doing the impossible, somehow managing to always come out on top. He talked about becoming the first Undisputed Champion, beating HBK in a Ladder Match to become Champion again, and just last week, pinning The Undertaker. They showed Jericho giving Taker the Codebreaker and picking up the win. “I beat the Undertaker, “Jericho repeated several times. He said he’d beat the odds again this Sunday when he wins the Elimination Chamber and becomes champion a sixth time. Most people curl up and hide when faced with adversity, according to Jericho, but he hides behind nothing. He said he’d leave the Chamber as World….but before he could say “champion,” Edge’s theme hit and he came out.

Edge said that it was refreshing to hear Jericho talk about what a big deal it is to beat The Undertaker. He compared winning over Taker to such things as winning the Stanley Cup or knocking a hole-in-one. Then he said it’s actually better than any of those things. Jericho said of course he did it – he’s the best in the world at what he does. Edge reminded Jericho of what led to the clip that was shown earlier, and Edge showed the clip of him attacking Taker prior to Jericho’s victory. Edge said he didn’t do it to help Jericho, but because Taker kicked him in the mush. He even went so far as to say Jericho isn’t as good as he thinks he is, and that he wouldn’t have won had Edge not speared the Dead Man. Jericho implored Edge to face the winner of the Raw Chamber instead of facing him at Wrestlemania, because bad things seem to happen to Edge when Jericho is around. Edge started losing it, saying the more he hears Jericho, the more he wants to knock the holier-than-thou look off of Jericho’s mug. He told Jericho he should be concerned about what he’s going to do to him right now. They went forehead-to-forehead as the lights in the arena began to flicker. This distracted Jericho enough for Edge to hit the spear. Matt Striker said Edge speared Jericho out of his Bruno Magli’s – I don’t think I’ve heard reference to those shoes since the O.J. trial. Or, at least the Family Guy where Stewie was talked to the Juice.

[Commercial Break]

1 – KANE vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Ziggler connected with some body shots, but Kane came back with a low dropkick for a near-fall. Striker name-dropped WWE.com’s Craig Tello when giving a few statistics on past I.C. Champions and how many of them have gone on to win World Titles and 20% have gone into the Hall-of-Fame. The referee had to separate an aggressive Ziggler from Kane in the corner, and Kane took the opportunity to land an uppercut on his foe. Kane clotheslined Ziggler over the top, and the fans were behind him as they went to break about 1:25 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Ziggler was working the arm out of break. He gained control during break when he got a drop-toe hold on Kane on the outside, sending Kane’s arm into the barricade. Kane retaliated, however, with a sidewalk slam. Kane hit a few of his pet moves, then went to the top for a clothesline, but Drew McIntyre’s AWESOME theme song interrupted, and he walked out to distract Kane. Ziggler took him off the top and locked in a sleeper. Kane got to the ropes to break the hold, though. Ziggler tried another one, but Kane turned it into a chokeslam for the win.

WINNER: Kane, at 7:22. Good warm-up match for Kane heading into Sunday.

McIntyre ran in and tried to give Kane the Future Shock DDT, but Kane back-dropped him. Mac escaped before any more damage could be done.

- Josh Mathews was backstage with Rey Mysterio, and he asked Rey about the Chamber match. Rey said the match is brutal, but no more brutal than what happened to him last week when The Straight Edge Society beat him up. Mysterio said that doesn’t matter, because he’ll walk out of Sunday’s PPV as World Champion.

- R-Truth and John Morrison team up to take on C.M. Punk and Luke Gallows tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed a video package on Ezekiel Jackson, specifically, him winning the ECW Title on Tuesday night. The final image plugged him coming to Smackdown. Or, more accurately, coming back to Smackdown.

2 – CRYME TYME vs. TRENT BARRETA & CAYLEN CROFT

This is the debut of Croft and Barreta on Smackdown, as they’ve been on ECW since their debut. Striker even just referred to them as “The Dudebusters,” their FCW tag name. I only wish they went by that in WWE. JTG managed to take out Croft AND Barreta. The announcers talked about the duo always spending time together and portrayed them as best buds. JTG spilled to the floor by Croft after a distraction by Barreta. High dropkick by Croft on JTG for a one-count. Striker said he saw a little bit of the Rock ‘N Roll Express and a little bit of the Brainbusters in Croft and Barreta. More work on the isolated JTG by the heels. JTG battled out of the corner and he finally tagged in Shad Gaspard. Shad had his way with Barreta and Croft, including a big back-body drop and a military press into a powerslam for a near-fall. But Croft interfered to break it up. Barreta landed a dropkick once the ring was cleared of the illegal men. He went for a tornado DDT, but Shad held on before Barreta could land it. STO (or, “Thugnificent,” if you’re playing the Smackdown vs Raw video game) by Shad for the victory.

WINNERS: Cryme Tyme, at 4:55. Impressive Smackdown debut for Barreta and Croft, despite the loss.

- The video package on 2010 WWE Hall-of-Famer Antonio Inoki aired.

[Commercial Break]

- Josh Mathews was backstage with John Morrison. He asked Morrison how his ankle was. Morrison said ever since he stood in line to be in Tough Enough, his career has led to him being in the Elimination Chamber this Sunday. He said a tweaked ankle wouldn’t stop him from being on PPV. R-Truth walked up and said that was the Truth. Truth sent Mathews off, and told Morrison that he would take WWE to levels it has never seen before, even if it means having to go through Morrison. He said tonight, though, he wanted to make sure they’re on the same page. Morrison and Truth did some rhymes to prove they were in it together.

- The Straight Edge Society came out. Punk said he is a humble man, but he did say he was the greatest thing to happen to the fans, and they know it. He said whether they want to be or not, they’re all part of his crusade. Punk said their lack of faith is disturbing. He said he would break Rey Mysterio, then pour him out onto the floor and fill the void with Straight Edge. Punk said they need him and that he’s better than all of them. Sign in the crowd: “Save Me Punk, I need a haircut.” He said he’s more courageous than anyone, fueled by a fire inside him. This Sunday, he said he’d become four-time Straight Edge champion, and that his crusade will be burning bright. Did Grisham just say the Straight Edge Society would go one-on-one with Truth and Morrison in a tag team match? Anyway, it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS vs. JOHN MORRISON & R-TRUTH

Morrison had to talk Truth into letting him start the match. Morrison and Punk did some mat wrestling at the outset. Tag-team gut-buster by Morrison and Truth. After Punk got control, he tagged out to his bigger half, Gallows. Truth fired at him with right hands, and Gallows missed a charge. Cross-body by Truth for two. As they both got to their feet, fire exploded at the top of the ramp, and continued to burn. Grisham hinted that it was a sign from The Undertaker to those in this match who will be in the Chamber on Sunday. Match went to break at this point, about 2:50 in.

[Commercial Break]

Punk was stretching the arms and back of Truth out of break. Bodyslam in the heel corner, followed by a tag to Gallows by Punk. Punk got knocked off the apron, but it didn’t translate to any offense for Truth. The back of Truth was worked over until he landed a desperation forearm to the jaw. He tried to fight back, but punk downed him with a kick to the head. Gallows mounted Truth and pounded away with rights and lefts. Punk went for a springboard maneuver, but Truth dropkicked him in the gut on the way down. Not the best-looking version of that move. Truth finally made the tag to Morrison, who unloaded with rights. Running knee to the seated Punk for two. Morrison and Punk both found themselves on the apron, and Morrison went for a side-kick, but Punk ducked and Morrison connected with the ringpost. Made a good sound too (or was added in post-production). Morrison really sold it well, and the referee ended up having to call for the bell because Morrison couldn’t continue.

WINNERS: Punk and Gallows, via referee stoppage, at 11:19. By-the-numbers tag match, but at least these four know how to work it.

After the match, Gallows attacked Truth and gave him his finisher, which apparently has two names. Is it the Gallow’s Pole, or the 12th Step? Pick a side WWE, we’re at war! Anywho, Rey Mysterio came out in an attempt to cease the attack, but it didn’t work. Gallows gave Mysterio a back-breaker, then held in that position as Punk came off the top with a knee to Mysterio’s head. Punk again got on his knees in front of Mysterio, like last week, and put his arms up, hands clasped by Gallows and Serena. Good segment that built for the Chamber, as well as Mysterio vs. Punk down the line.

- Bret Hart’s situation from Monday was recapped in video form.

- Striker and Grisham talked about it on camera, and confirmed that Bret has a broken left leg, as well as tendon and ligament damage.

- Edge returns to action tonight against Batista.

[Commercial Break]

- Backstage, a clip from last week of Mickie getting cottage cheese all over Vickie was airing. Teddy Long was laughing at it when Vickie came up from behind him. She asked Long how his chin was. He said he was taking action against Shawn Michaels. Mickie James walked in and apologized to Vickie, saying she knows what it’s like to get made fun of every week, and she would never do anything to intentionally embarrass Vickie. Guerrero told Mickie that Michelle McCool has invoked her re-match clause, and the match will take place next week. Oh, and Vickie will be special ref.

4 – THE GREAT KHALI & MATT HARDY & MARIA vs. THE HART DYNASTY – SIX-PERSON MIXED TAG MATCH

Natalya and Maria started the match off. They didn’t get anywhere really, before Natalya tagged Tyson Kidd into the match. Tilt-a-whirl side-slam by Hardy for two. Kidd wisely backed Matt into his own corner, allowing D.H. Smith to tag himself in. Some double-teaming by the Dynasty garnered Kidd a two-count. Smith got Hardy in a chin-lock. The crowd was the impetus for Hardy’s comeback, and both men ended up on the mat after a side suplex. Hardy went for a tag, but Smith simply pushed him out of the ring. Apparently, Maria touched Hardy on his way past her. Natalya saw it but Maria didn’t realize it. Natalya dragged Maria into the ring, then hit a tornado clothesline on Maria for the pinfall.

WINNERS: The Hart Dynasty, at 4:11. Just another match to advance this mid-card feud.

- A video package aired on the Elimination Chamber. After that was shown, the announcers plugged the Chamber matches.

- Edge vs. Batista is up next.

[Commercial Break]

- Backstage, Matt Hardy and Maria were having a lover’s quarrel. Or so it seemed. Maria was upset that she lost the match for people she cares about. Apparently, she cares about Khali. Matt told her to forget about it because she’s an awesome person. He was about to kiss her after complimenting her face when McCool and Layla walked up. They told them to get a room and called them losers in love. Then McCool called Maria “loose lips” and said Matt would get cooties from Maria. She asked why the two of them can never make a relationship last. Maria pushed past them in a huff. Hardy walked closer to the two (and was eye-to-eye with McCool) and said, “children….please grow up.” Isn’t that what one of the ladies in “Anchorman” told Ron Burgundy and his gang after Veronica Corningstone showed up? Give them credit, McCool and Layla play their parts well.

- Batista made his entrance into the arena for the main event. Then they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

5 – BATISTA vs. EDGE

Batista began the match by stalling whenever he felt Edge got too close to him. Batista then waved at Edge and walked out on the match, much like he did in the Chamber qualifying match against C.M. Punk. Edge stopped the referee’s count and grabbed a mic as Batista made it to the stage. Edge said he understands that Batista does not want to fight him tonight, but his days of backing away from fights are over with. He said maybe Cena is right: Maybe Batista is spineless. Those words got Batista’s attention and he stormed back to the ring with purpose. He got back into the ring and the two finally locked-up. Batista hammered away, and the two traded soup-bones in the middle of the ring. Edge set up for a spear, but Batista escaped harm’s way. They went to break with Batista on the outside, 2:40 into the contest.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the match, Batista gained control and threw Edge shoulder-first into the ring post. Batista began to dismantle the steps at ringside in preparation for using them on Edge. He set up to powerbomb Edge onto them, but Edge back-dropped Batista onto the steel stairs instead. Edge climbed onto the apron, then flew onto Batista with a clothesline. Batista, however, managed to kick Edge in the head as he came back into the ring. Edge-O-Matic for two. He again set up for the spear, and got a running start but Batista hoisted him up and gave him a spinebuster. DDT by Edge after Batista started his rope shaking bit. Batista again got the advantage, and seemed poised to hit a spear of his own. Instead, Edge countered with his own spear. At that moment, the bell tolled and the lights went out. When they came back on, Undertaker was in the ring with his hand around Edge’s throat. He followed through with a chokeslam as Batista fled the ring.

WINNER: Edge, via DQ, at about 10:19 (no bell).

The camera focused on Taker’s exit as Edge tried to regain his bearings inside the ring. Out of nowhere came Chris Jericho, who gave the Codebreaker to Edge. Taker saw it and stared at Jericho, who had his hands raised in triumph. He even made the “belt around my waist” sign as Taker responded with the throat-slash to end things.

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. Once a week, Greg participates in the Pro Wrestling Torch Livecast on blogtalkradio.com. Also, look for his Wednesday chats with James Caldwell each Wednesday afternoon, posted on the Torch website. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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