KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MARCH 12, 2010
TAPED TUESDAY IN SEATTLE, WASH.
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

-Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introduced the show. They hyped the Highlight Reel featuring Edge interviewing Chris Jericho.

-Rey Mysterio walked out to his music, then brought his family - wife, son, and daughter - to the ring with him. Everyone was all smiles. He said he travels so much, sometimes he misses out on very important days in his family's lives. He said as parents, they go out of their way to make kids feel special. He said it's his daughter's ninth birthday. The crowd chanted, "Happy birthday! Happy birthday!" Rey sang the Happy Birthday song. C.M. Punk's music interrupted. His daughter did a good job reacting with instant fear and then tears. Punk walked out with Luke Gallos.

Punk finished the Happy Birthday song. She cried and covered hear ears because his facial expressions were creeping her out. He told Rey's daughter that as his birthday present to her, he's let her shut her eyes as he reduces her daddy to tears and beg for mercy. He looked at Dominique and said he's all grown up now. He said they've watched him grow up before their eyes, but he's never heard his dad squeal like a pig as he stomps on his surgically repaired knees. He then looked at Rey's wife Angie. He called her "beautiful and voluptuous." He said he's sure she and Rey have shared the best of times, but after he's done with doing what he does to her husband it'll be the worst of times, so feel free to cup her hand over her mouth to muffle the screams. He called Rey a coward and said his family knows it. Rey's daughter kept crying and hugging her mom.

Punk dropped to his knees and called it "Rey's level." He begged him to take the first shot. Rey hid his family behind him. Punk slapped Rey. Dominique led his mother and sister out of the ring. Rey the joined them. Punk said, "There goes your super hero." He said he's taking a walk of shame. Punk continued his horror movie singing of Happy Birthday to Rey's daughter as they returned to the back. Then they faded to commercial.

[Q1] [c]

-Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were on camera, talking about the uncomfortable previous segment. Striker said he can think of no greater humiliation than what he just saw - a father being humiliated in front of his family.

1 -- THE MIZ (w/Daniel Bryan) vs. R-TRUTH (w/David Otunga)

Before the match The Miz bragged up ShowMiz and did his "Really?" bit. Then R-Truth sang his way to the ring. Truth got in the early offense and dove onto Miz at ringside. They cut to an early break. Miz made a comeback at 4:00 with a neckbreaker. Miz went for a pin with his feet on the middle rope, but Bryan shoved his feet off the rope. Miz turned, fuming. Striker said Miz is a veteran, so rookie Bryan should show some respect. R-Truth then finished Miz with his Lie Detector spinning forearm.

WINNER: Truth in 6:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- The relationship between Miz and Daniel continues to be fun. [c]

[Q3]

-Striker thanked Audioslave for the WrestleMania 26 theme, "Be Yourself." As scenes aired of the fishing industry in Seattle, Grisham threw to a video package on the Undertaker winning streak at WrestleMania. Clips aired of each of his wins. John Cena, Triple H, Rey Msysterio, Chris Jericho, The Big Show, MVP, and C.M. Punk (who always gets in these video packages) commented on the streak. "No matter what your expectations are, it'll surpass it."

-Grisham and Striker then commented on each of the announced matches for WrestleMania.

-Teddy Long caught up to Drew McIntrye backstage. He told him he lost his first two qualifying matches for MITB. Drew claimed he is undefeated as IC Champion. He said tonight he'll qualify for the MITB match. Long said he must be proud that Mr. McMahon has hand-picked his opponent for tonight. Drew reminded him that he's the boss. Long said he may be his boss, but he is still in charge. Long said he can't change the match, but he can add a stip - putting the IC Title on the line. Long said if he loses tonight he can kiss his so-called undefeated streak goodbye. "And that's real talk, playa," Long said.

-WWE Fact: Fans from all 50 states and 24 countries have purchased tickets from WrestleMania. They get that data from TicketMaster, which tracks the location of credit card orders.

[Q4]

2 -- DREW MCINTRYE vs. AARON BOLO -- IC Title & MITB Qualifier

Three-time Washington State wrestling champion and MMA champion in the light-heavyweight division. Grisham said McIntrye didn't seem concerned, but there should be some fear of the unknown. McIntrye threw a knee to the gut and then shoved into the corner and hit two hard clotheslines. He followed with a short-arm clothesline and his Future Shock DDT for the win.

WINNER: McIntrye in 1:00. It's not often they mention "MMA," but it's no surprise that when they do, they set up their "WWE Superstar" to dominate. Not sure how that will play with fans of both sports as it seems like a bit of cheap shot and rather silly the way it played out, but for the pro wrestling fans who are sick of MMA talk, it is a little storyline "validation" that pro wrestlers are tougher than MMA fighters, at least in the world WWE creates.

-The showed The Big Show heading toward the entrance tunnel. [c]

3 -- THE BIG SHOW vs. JOHN MORRISON

Morrison went after Show with rapid punches. Show fought back quickly and overpowered Morrison. Striker said this won't be pretty and it'll be a mauling. Grisham told him he was being premature. He methodically took Morrison apart and settled into a standing chinlock with some trash talking mixed in. He kicked Morrison to the floor at 4:00. Morrison beat the count and then made a comeback attempt. Show swatted him away, but when he charged, Morrison caught him with a boot. Morrison charged at Show, but Show grabbed his throat. Morrison countered with a roundkick to the head and then leaped off the top rope with a dropkick for a near fall. Show powered out with authority. Morrison followed up with a Shining Wizard for another two count. When Morrison springboarded at Show, Show caught him with his big KO punch for the win.

WINNER: Show in 6:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Nicely constructed match playing up Show's overwhelming size and power advantage, but giving Morrison a believable comeback and two near falls before the final KO punch that WWE has done a good job selling as a legit move that stops just about anyone.

-It won't help this week's ratings that they went to a commercial at the top of the hour.

[Q5] [c]

-Teddy Long reunited with Tiffany. He said he missed her. Vickie Guerrero walked in and refused to shake her hand. She told Long that Tiffany is the reason ECW was shut down. Long disagreed, but clarified that she's not there to mess with Vickie's place on Smackdown, but instead is going to compete as a Diva. Vickie then laughed and booked her against Michelle McCool later.

4 -- THE HART DYNASTY (w/Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith) vs. CRYME TYME

They showed pre-teens dancing in the crowd to Cryme Tyme's ring entrance. At 2:00 with Kidd locking J.T.G. in a single leg crab, the lights went dark and when they came on, Undertaker attacked all four. He chokeslammed Shad Gaspar and gave a Last Ride to Tyson Kidd. The Smith took a Tombstone. That left J.T.G. begging off. Taker gave him the Hell's Gate.

WINNER: No contest. Nice little segment to get Taker over as standing above all others, but it certainly chips away at the idea that top tag team contenders are anything but inferior jobber-level fighters relative to him.

-An NXT recap aired.

[Q5] [c] A Raw Rebound then aired. After a scene of the Seattle Space needle, Striker and Grisham hyped Raw including "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's appearance as a guest G.M. plus three WrestleMania Rewind rematches.

5 -- MICHELLE MCOOL (w/Layla) vs. TIFFANY

Tiffany came out dressed in a cheerleader outfit. McCool pointed at her wrist a if to indicate she didn't have all day. She shoved Tiffany to the mat then did some jumping jacks and push-ups. Tiffany charged at her, so McCool backed off. Vickie was at ringside to watch with Layla. Tiffany aggressively went after McCool at ringside. Vickie charged at Tiffany at ringside and checked her hard to the floor. The ref DQ'd McCool. Striker wondered if Vickie "just tripped or something." McCool threw Tiffany into the ring afterward and choked her with her boot. Beth Phoenix ran out for the save. She knocked Layla and McCool down and out, then went after Vickie, who channeled the great Bobby Heenan as she reacted to her predicament. Phoenix knocked her down and out, too. McCool and Layla made the save, giving Vickie an opening to run to the back.

WINNER: Tiffany via DQ in 2:00.

-They showed Kane headed to the entrance tunnel backstage, hyping his match against Luke Gallos. [c]

-WWE Fact: WWE Magazine is the no. 1 sports magazine sold at WalMart. Oh, so now WWE is a sport?

6 -- LUKE GALLOS (w/C.M. Punk) vs. KANE

Gallos got in early offense against Kane. Kane came back and signaled for a chokeslam, so Gallos bailed out to ringside. They cut to a break. [c] Gallos controlled after the break for several minutes. Kane came back at 8:00 with a chokeslam out of nowhere. Punk attacked Kane before Kane could make the cover.

WINNER: Kane via DQ in 8:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Two interference DQ finishes in a row is one too many.

-Afterward Rey ran out and attacked Punk to try to get revenge for his comments earlier. He beat him over the barrier and into the crowd. Punk escaped to the back.

[Q8] [c]

-Highlight Reel with host Chris Jericho and special guest Edge. Grisham noted it was the first time in two years for the Highlight Reel. Jericho made his entrance first. He carried the World Hvt. Title belt over his shoulder. Edge then made his full ring intro. Edge told Jericho what's on his mind is that he keeps hitting him with a certain move and he can't remember its name. The crowd chanted "Spear!" Jericho called him "quite humorous" and said the sheep and mindless drones at the drop of a dime are chanting for him. Jericho said that's fantasy and he only deals in reality.

Jericho said he's an honest man who only tells the truth. He said the truth is they could have been the greatest tag team in history, but Edge had to go selfishly get hurt. Jericho said Edge gets to the cusp of greatness and then gets injured. He said when he was stealing the show against Michaels at WrestleMania 19, Edge was sitting at home watching. He said same story at WrestleMania 20. He asked him how many days, months, years he's missed due to injury. Edge said Jericho was busy losing at those WrestleManias. Jericho said he was forging a Hall of Fame career "as the greatest performer of my generation." He said he was doing it injury-free.

Edge said he has been injured, but he said it's because he only knows how to do his job one way - taking risks. He talked about diving off of 20 foot ladders and going through flaming tables and landing on thumb tacks. He said his style has taken years off of his career, but he has no regrets for facing adversity and coming back every time. Edge said he's face whatever risks necessary to take back his championship. Jericho said Edge hasn't succeeded at anything on his own. He said the best he's ever done was when he was with Vickie Guerrero. Edge laughed. "Everyone has that girlfriend they regret having," he said. "You all do, you know it." He said for him it's Vickie, but for Jericho it's Big Show. The crowd laughed. Jericho made a face.

Edge said his risks are calculated. He said he'll take those risks and beat Jericho for the World Championship at WrestleMania. Jericho told Edge he should have stayed away from him because bad things happen to him when he's around. He said he was there when he tore his Achilles Tendon. He said Edge came back after only six months from that injury. He said he deserves a hand for that. He said he won the Royal Rumble, but that's going to cost him because he doesn't think he was fully healed. He said he was so busy pandering to the hypocrites, he's still injured and in denial about it. He said the reality is at WrestleMania he will beat him and hurt him and send him home for another six months, "and that's a guarantee."

Edge said he's going to make Jericho an ex-champion after he hits him with a Spear. Jericho popped Edge in the face with a mic and then pounded him with a wood stool. The sound machine "ohhed and ahhed." Jericho kicked him again, then trash-talked him a bit while whipping him with his suit jacket. Edge came back with a DDT and then set up a spear. Jericho was slow to get up, but when he did and Edge charged, Jericho hit him in the face with the World Title belt. He then taunted Edge with the word: "Spear! Spear! Spear! Spear!..." as the show ended.

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