By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Friday Night Smackdown
June 13, 2008
Upcoming PPV: Night of Champions (third-to-last episode before PPV)

SMACKDOWN STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the fortieth edition of Smackdown Storylines and Feuds.

For those wondering about the Intrigue Level system that I employ, you can refer to the numbers as follows:

10 (excellent), 9 (great), 8-6 (very good, good, pretty good), 5 (decent; has its good and bad qualities), 4-3 (needs work, poor), 2 (bad), 1 (terrible)


World Heavyweight Champion EDGE & Smackdown GM VICKIE GUERRERO vs. BATISTA (2 weeks)

Vickie Guerrero kicked things off by sitting in front of a table that was standing in the ring for the official contract signing for the World Heavyweight Championship Match at Night of Champions between Batista and Edge. She introduced Batista before signing the contract herself, claiming that Edge had already done so earlier. She then told The Animal that she took the liberty of attaching an addendum to the contract that states that Batista must win a match against The Great Khali before earning the title match. Batista told Vickie that he's beaten Khali before and that he'll do it again. Then he said some stupid line about how she's ugly before signing the contract. As he walked to the back, Vickie told him about another addendum: if he loses against Khali, he will be banished from WWE. A serious look of anger grew on Batista's face, as if she had blindsided him.

Later in the back, Eve interviewed Edge, who sarcastically said that a loss for Batista against Khali would really mean a loss for Smackdown (the implication being that he would be banished). He continued by saying that if Batista is banished, he (Edge) won't get to beat him again at Night of Champions. As Edge continued, CM Punk interrupted, congratulating him on his upcoming wedding and suggesting that he might cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase that night. Edge wasn't too pleased with that thought. Later, Edge went to Vickie to complain (very much like a child) that CM Punk threatened him. MVP also stepped into the office to ask for a contract renegotiation. Vickie made Porter a deal: she'd consider looking at his contract if he takes care of CM Punk for Edge; he agreed. In the main event, Edge and Vickie surveyed the Khali-Batista match from the stage. The bout ended when Batista surprised Khali with a spear for the win.

The Edge-Batista feud is a strong top-tier storyline for WWE's Friday night show. Edge remains perhaps the company's biggest heel, and his almost childish response to CM Punk's threat drains even more respect from his character. He's the right guy to head the show, but WWE should probably consider putting him out there more as the World Heavyweight Champion. Like Triple H (until just recently), Edge isn't standing out as the guy with the title. Other big characters, like Batista and even Vickie, are slightly overshadowing him. Speaking of Vickie, she's one of Smackdown's other great characters. Her "excuse me" lines really get the crowd booing, and she has successfully grown a perception as a hard-working, very busy GM who makes some biased decisions. It was also smart to roll the banishment stipulation over to Batista this week to make it seem like Vickie has some diabolical plan to rid Smackdown of anyone who can threaten Edge's reign as World Champion. Nicely done.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7 [up 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Edge: Kane, Batista
Vickie Guerrero: Undertaker, Batista
Batista: Edge, The Great Khali, Undertaker, MVP, Umaga, Shawn Michaels

United States Champion MATT HARDY vs. CHAVO GUERRERO (w/ Bam Neely) (1 week)

Chavo Guerrero stood in center ring alongside his bodyguard, Bam Neely, to announce that at Night of Champions he will face Matt Hardy for the U.S. Title. He introduced Hardy, who came out to the ring. But when Hardy finally arrived, Chavo and Bam bolted as Chuck Palumbo's music hit. Hardy and Palumbo fought in singles competition, with Hardy claiming the victory after hitting the Twist of Fate. After the matchup, Chavo got on the mic and said, "The winner of the match and the loser of the United States Championship at the Night of Champions, Matt Hardy!" Hardy stared angrily at Chavo as they had an inaudible argument.

Doesn't it sometimes feel like things are happening just because WWE needs to have a United States Title Match at the next PPV? This one (more than usual) felt like it was thrown together right before Chavo stepped out to the ring. One of the problems with having a PPV based entirely on title matches (not that I'm complaining or criticizing the idea, but simply expressing the downside) is that many of the programs seem to just be set up because there needs to be a title match as part of the card. If the U.S. Title, for example, didn't have to be defended, I can't see WWE starting a Chavo-Hardy feud like this; it just seems a little random. However, if WWE really pushes Hardy and Chavo, they could make a strong midcard rivalry with a title hanging in the balance. After all, WWE does have two more episodes (and perhaps can use ECW) to help promote this particular feud.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5

Previous Feuds
Matt Hardy: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch, MVP
Chavo Guerrero: Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Kane

WWE Tag Team Champions JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. FINLAY & HORNSWOGGLE (2 weeks)

They replayed footage of last week where Finlay and Hornswoggle challenged Morrison and The Miz for the WWE Tag Team Championship at Night of Champions. Then Finlay went one-on-one with Morrison. The match saw Miz grab Hornswoggle under the ring, causing a distraction that allowed Morrison to roll Finlay up for the three count. After the match, the WWE Tag Team Champions held their titles in the air in celebration.

This is only the beginning of the rivalry, and we already know that WWE forwards it even more on ECW. The idea of Finlay wanting to team with his son for tag team gold is a good narrative change of pace for their characters, who have basically been wandering around with nothing to do since WrestleMania. The title match at Night of Champions could also be very interesting when you consider the fact that it will likely be either Finlay or Hornswoggle taking an extensive beating, while the other has to make some kind of comeback and save in order to win. If Finlay handles the brunt of the match, what can Hornswoggle do when he gets the tag? We'll have to see how this one plays out in the coming weeks.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5.5

Previous Feuds
John Morrison & The Miz: Jesse & Festus, Yang & Moore, Dreamer & Delaney
Finlay: Kane, Rey Mysterio, The Great Khali, Mr. McMahon, JBL
Hornswoggle: Mr. McMahon

VICTORIA & NATALYA NEIDHART vs. MICHELLE McCOOL (11 weeks w/ 3 weeks hiatus)

Nothing was done to specifically advance this rivalry, and none of these divas showed up this week on Smackdown television. This one could very well be over, but I still predict that Natalya and McCool will go one-on-one for the WWE Divas' Title at Night of Champions (which is why I'm reluctant to scratch this feud off the list).

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5 [down 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Victoria: Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly
Natalya Neidhart: n/a
Michelle McCool: Victoria, Chuck Palumbo

MARYSE (w/ Deuce & Domino) vs. CHERRY (6 weeks)

This week, Cherry went head-to-head with her current rival, Maryse. The match concluded when Cherry hit a nice DDT while holding Maryse's own arm behind her to pick up the win. The announcers discussed how Smackdown GM Vickie Guerrero will be watching the divas compete in matches heading into Night of Champions to determine herself who will face Natalya to crown the first ever WWE Divas' Title.

With Cherry winning in a very clean and emphatic way, it remains uncertain whether this one will continue beyond this week. WWE clearly has reason to conclude it here with the babyface finally getting revenge on her month-and-a-half-long rival. Interestingly, they've seemed more dedicated to this feud than they have to anything including Natalya, Victoria, and Michelle McCool. Cherry is still a strong character who has a vulnerable, sympathetic element to her that audiences can really rally behind. Plus, now she presumably has a very decent finisher, perhaps suggesting that WWE plans on utilizing her character in some other meaningful divas' feuds in the coming months.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6 [up 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Cherry: Victoria & Natalya
Maryse: n/a

MARK HENRY vs. BIG SHOW (7 weeks w/ 2 weeks hiatus)

Mark Henry cut a promo in the back where he explained how Big Show currently looks with his big black-and-blue eye. He even had a visual prepared on a big poster-sized board. Then he flipped the board, showing that Big Show will have two eyes that are bruised closed after he gets through with him. Henry then had a match with ECW's Tommy Dreamer in another case of WWE blending the brands. The match predictably ended in a win for Henry after he hit Dreamer with the World's Strongest Slam.

This week was just a squash match to make Henry seem really tough. The promo with the poster wasn't anything special, but it was worth the effort. Then again, I just can't imagine Mark Henry's character taking the time to Photoshop and blow up images for a visual presentation. He's the kind of guy that would just threaten it into the camera or pick up a mic while (or after) he's beating Dreamer to show Big Show what he's going to do to him. In any event, this feud still baffles me because WWE seems to be suggesting that Henry will somehow be involved with Big Show and Kane either during their ECW Title Match or afterward (in a follow-up rivalry).

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5.5 [up 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Mark Henry: Undertaker, Kane
Big Show: Floyd Mayweather, The Great Khali


CONCLUDED FEUDS

(1) Finlay vs. Chuck Palumbo
(2) Victoria & Natalya vs. Michelle McCool?


POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) Vladimir Kozlov vs. ?
(2) The Great Khali vs. ?
(3) MVP vs. CM Punk
(4) Jesse & Festus vs. Deuce 'N' Domino
(5) Deuce vs. Domino


Thanks for reading, everyone. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to email me at newthtorch@hotmail.com. I greatly appreciate all the feedback that I receive, and I will respond to every email. Please insert a word in the subject line that deals with a wrestling topic or write something such as "WWE," "feud," or "Funaki" so that I know it's not junk mail.

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