KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MARCH 5, 2010
TAPED TUESDAY IN WICHITA, KS.
AIRED ON MY NETWORK

[Q1]

-The show opened with a video package on the Chris Jericho vs. Edge title match at WrestleMania 26. The Smackdown opening then aired, followed by pyro in the arena and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introducing the show. They hyped an Edge vs. Big Show main event.

-Edge made his full ring entrance. Edge said he's concerned about his WrestleMania 26 opponent Chris Jericho. He repeated some of Jericho's boasts. He then went back to saying "speared!" with added punch as he repeated it over and over again, with the crowd joining in. The Big Show's music interrupted and Show walked to the ring with is Unified Tag Team title proudly hoisted over his left shoulder. Edge said, "Wow, big show, what a depressing surprise." He asked him why he's there. He ripped on his little friend, Jericho. He then vowed to spear Big Show. Show said Edge isn't the only reason he's there. He said tonight he and Miz find out their tag team challenger opponents at WM26. He said tonight Edge's luck runs out because he's the most dominant Superstar in WWE history. Edge asked, "What are you going to do? Eat me?" Show replied: "I eat pieces of crap like you for breakfast." He vowed to knock him out tonight. Edge asked him if he really eats "pieces of crap" for breakfast, "because that really explains a lot." He said Show's promises don't mean a lot to him. He made a move to spear Show. Show flinched. Then Show charged Edge. Edge ducked and pulled the top rope down, so Edge tumbled to the floor. Edge raised his arms as his music played. Nice set-up for the main event match. Good basic stuff to build a little personal rivalry for a TV main event.

[Q2]

-Drew McIntrye walked up to Teddy Long backstage. Drew said there are a lot of people under the impression he lost his first match to Kane last week. He asked Long to do him a little favor and set the record straight. Long looked at the camera and said, "By order of the Chairman, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, Drew McIntrye's first loss has been expunged. Therefore the record book will show that Drew McIntrye is still undefeated." Long said Kane is disqualified from the MITB match and Drew will be re-entered into another MITB qualifying match against Matt Hardy - next. [c]

1 -- MATT HARDY (w/Justin Gabriel) vs. DREW MCINTRYE

A minute into the match they cut to an early break. [c] Back from the break, McIntyre dominated for several minutes. Hardy blocked a top rope move and flew off with an elbow. Hardy did his dance and went for the Twist of Fate. Drew set up a Future Shock DDT, but Hardy backdropped out of it. Hardy went for a DDT, but Drew reversed it into a pin attempt. Hardy quickly shifted leverage and scored a pin on McIntyre. Striker said this was unquestionably the first pinfall loss of McIntyre's career. McIntye went up to Striker and swore he'd be at WrestleMania.

WINNER: Hardy in 7:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Hardy is looking increasingly out of shape cosmetically.

-They showed the six qualified wrestlers for MITB so far.

-John Morrison and Jesse talked about the work they're been doing to get into shape. Jesse showed off his abs. Morrison looked impressed. R-Truth walked into the room after Jesse left and introduced his protege, David Otunga. Truth said Otunga is a bit of hot-head because he lost his NXT match, but he said he set him straight. Truth asked Otunga if he is over it. Otunga said yes but didn't look sincere. He still showed attitude. Truth and Morrison talked about how they had one last shot to get to WrestleMania. He said they need to get onto the same page. Truth wanted to come up with a name for their new team. He suggested "Dis 'n' That" or "Two Times What?" Morrison suggested "Black Magic & The White Shadow." Truth suggested "Rock 'n' Rap." He finally suggested he has a name they can both agree on: "Unified Tag Team Champions." The smiled and shook hands.

-Striker plugged Rey vs. Gallos and gave a little of the backstory.

[Q3] [c]

2 -- DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Striker plugged the Saturday morning ticket sales launch for Extreme Rulez on PPV. They didn't give the date of the event, just the location. After getting outmaneuvered early, Ziggler went for an early sleeper. A fresh Shelton escaped. Ziggler hit a high dropkick that seemed to just graze Shelton, but the "ohh ahh" post-production machine made it seem like he knocked his front teeth out. Ziggler stayed on offense. At 3:00 Ziggler gave Shelton a monkey flip, but Shelton landed on his feet. Shelton scored a near fall a minute later, but Ziggler avoided a charging Shelton seconds later and applied a sleeper again. He set up a Zig Zag, but Shelton catapulted Ziggler into the corner, hit his Gold Standard finisher, and scored the clean pin.

WINNER: Benjamin in 5:00 to qualify for the "Money in the Bank" ladder match, which should be renamed "The Annual Shelton Benjamin Tease of a Push" match.

-Striker plugged the Edge vs. Show main event.

[Q4] [c]

3 -- EZEKIEL JACKSON vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Wang was there to take crazy bumps and show off Jackson's brute strength. This was Jackson's Smackdown debut. Yang caught a charging Jackson with a boot and ten gave him a spinning hook kick. Jackson came back with a one-arm jam slam for the win. In an era where flexing is out and has been for maybe a dozen years or so, Jackson flexed and posed after his win.

WINNER: Jackson in 3:00.

-Rey welcomed Tiffany to Smackdown. He introduced her to his daughter. Apparently Tiffany has been shifted from ECW G.M. to babysitter. She sat down with Rey's daughter to open a new toy. [c]

-Punk led Gallos and Serina to the ring by lecturing the fan about Rey being their superhero. He looked at a boy in a Rey mask and said he wears the mask to make up for his mom and dad neglecting him. He said if the rumors are true, Rey is just an average neglectful parent just like everyone at the arena. He said those people cheered Rey in his act of cowardice last week. He said he put his hands on Gallos last week, unprovoked. Punk told Gallos it's not his fault and he forgives him for last week, but he doesn't forgive Rey. He said he wants him to make Rey answer for his actions. He told him to remember that he's fighting for an entire society, not just himself. Talk about pressure!

[Q5]

4 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. LUKE GALLOS (w/Rey Mysterio, Serina)

Grisham said the fan support Rey has with the WWE Universe "is simply unparalleled." Grisham said Gallos hasn't wavered one iota in his loyalty to the Straight Edge Society. They showed Punk's protege Darren Young watching on a monitor backstage. Rey ducked a charging Gallos at 1:00. He tumbled to the floor. Punk yelled at him, then whispered secret strategy into his ear as they cut to an early break. [c] Back to the match, Gallos took control of the match including a short-arm clothesline for a two count. He whipped Rey into the steel ringpost, knocking him to the floor. He dominated the next several minutes. At 7:00 Rey avoided a charging Gallos again and he flew into the ringpost through the turnbuckles. He went on a flurry of offense leading to a near fall. Gallos fired back with a shove into the ropes and a clothesline of Rey from his knees for a two count. Rey came back and climbed to the top rope. Gallos caught up to him. Rey headbutted him away and leaped at him. Gallos punched him out of mid-air and splashed him. When he made the cover, Grisham said, "It is over, ladies and gentlemen. Luke Gallos has..." Then Rey kicked out. Because Grisham called it over before the count, we knew as long-term WWE viewers that Rey would kick out since announcers would never call an actual finish before the ref hit the mat a third time. Rey set up Gallos for a 619, but Serina stood on the apron to block him. Punk then distracted Rey on the opposite side of the ring. Gallas set up Rey for a powerbomb, but Rey shifted his weight, landed on Gallos, and scored a leverage pin. Afterward Punk entered the ring and set up Rey for his Go To Sleep. Rey escaped, kicked Punk's leg, and slipped out of the ring.

WINNER: Rey in 9:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Well executed match and a solid finish with Rey scoring a win without making Gallos seem weak by comparison. [c]

-Chris Jericho congratulated Big Show for winning the tag titles. He was kissing up so much, Big Show told him to stop. Jericho then told Show he wants him to chokeslam Edge and knock him out and show him he's the giant destroyer he knows he can be. "You owe it to me to do that!" he said. Show replied that he didn't owe him anything. He said Jericho is always selfish. He said he's wrestling Edge for himself, not Jericho. He scowled at Jericho, shook his head, and walked away. Jericho, in denial, smiled and said to no one in particular, "Go get him, Show."

[Q6]

-A video package aired on the Undertaker-Shawn Michaels feud. [c]

-Another video package aired on Michaels-Taker including the latest developments on Raw earlier in the week.

5 -- JOHN MORRISON & R-TRUTH vs. HART DYNASTY vs. CRYME TYME -- Winner Earns WrestleMania Unified Tag Team Title match

A minute aired before the break, and then after a commercial, about four minute aired. With six wrestlers, there wasn't enough time for any semblance of a story to be told, but everyone got in some spots. The announcers talked about Morrison's workout video. Striker said he could do it. Grisham was waiting for the punchline. Morrison hot-tagged Truth at 7:00. He scored a near fall on Tyson Kidd, broken up by David Smith. Morrison dove at Smith and Shad, knocking both over the top rope to the floor. Tyson leaped at Truth with a springboard dropkick for a two count. Truth fired back with a flying forearm for the win. Afterward Morrison did some breakdancing. Truth did the splits and they high-fived each other.

WINNERS: Morrison & Truth in 9:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

-A commercial aired hyping Vince McMahon vs. John Cena on Raw on Monday.

[Q8]

-Backstage Michelle McCool and Layla chatted with Vickie Guerrero, laughing about what they did to Mickey James last week. They told Vickie she looked flawless last week. She said they have a gift for her. Vickie seemed exited to get this attention from the "popular girls." They gave her a "Simply Flawless" sleeveless shirt. Beth Phoenix walked up to them. They asked, "Do you smell something?!" Then they looked at her, then left. Phoenix asked VIckie when she'l get her shot at the Women's Championship. Vickie said she won't get a title shot until she gives her one. Phoenix told her not to threaten her. Vickie told Phoenix if she crosses her, she won't get anywhere, just ask Mickie James.

-Grisham and Striker hyped the WrestleMania line-up.

-Big Show made his ring entrance. [c]

6 -- EDGE vs. THE BIG SHOW

With eight minutes left in the show, the match began. Show headbutted Edge early and then stomped on his chest. Striker talked about how tough it is to get up from the spear. He really put it over and explained how it hurts and knocks the wind out of you. After four minutes of Show methodically beating down Edge, Edge avoided a corner swing splash. Both were slow to get up. Show swatted away a DDT attempt. Edge then hit a second rope bulldog for a two count. Show powered out with authority. Show yanked Edge off of him and threw him like a Frisbee to the mat. He then set up a chokeslam, but Edge turned it into a rolling DDT. He then set up the spear. He made his obligatory anticipatory facial expressions, and then hit the spear for the clean win.

WINNER: Edge in 6:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Not a lot to the match with Show's methodical beatdown testing everyone's patience, but the finish was right as they continue to build Edge strong for WrestleMania.

-Afterward, Jericho charged at Edge with his World Title belt. Edge countered with a spear. He then taunted Jericho by leading the crowd in a chant of "Spear! Spear! Spear!" Jericho retreated as Edge's music played.

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