WWE Smackdown review
May 28, 2010
Taped 5/25/10 in Cleveland, Ohio
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist

- For some reason, commercials were playing until 8:02 pm, when Smackdown was seemingly joined in progress with Teddy Long walking to the ring. Todd Grisham said Long had promised a big announcement. Once in the ring, Long talked about the Fatal Four-Way PPV coming up in June. He said that Big Show has already qualified due to his rematch clause. Tonight, the other two competitors will be decided in qualifying matches. Kane takes on C.M. Punk, and Rey Mysterio faces the returning Undertaker. Long continued to talk about Fatal Four-Way, until Drew McIntyre's music interrupted. He was dressed to compete, and as one would expect, very unhappy. McIntyre said he should still be Intercontinental Champion, as his match with Kofi Kingston at Over the Limit should've been stopped due to a laceration to his arm. Mac said that if Long didn't do his job, Drew would do it for him. Long said McIntyre losing the title doesn't give him the right to trash his office on Sunday, or interrupt him tonight. McIntyre reiterated that he was the chosen one. Long said that when Matt Hardy gets his hands on Drew….but then McIntyre pulled out another letter from Mr. McMahon. He said McMahon demanded that Long read the letter out loud.

The letter read that Matt Hardy had been suspended without pay for further notice due to his actions after the I.C. title match at Over the Limit. McIntyre said if Long doesn't shape up, the next letter he'll get from McIntyre will inform Long of his termination as Smackdown GM. Long turned to leave and once he exited the ring, Matt Hardy's music played. He came to the ring in a huff, but Long stopped him. Security helped wrangle Hardy before he could enter the ring to get to McIntyre. Long told Matt that they'd make him fire him if he didn't back it up. McIntyre poured salt into the wounds, saying he was the reason Hardy was suspended. Crowd chanted "you suck" at McIntyre. Next, McIntyre and Jack Swagger face Kofi Kingston and Big Show. Good opening segment.

[Commercial Break]

- Jack Swagger came to the ring to partner with McIntyre. He reminded fans about three times that he's still World Heavyweight Champion. Oops, make that four.

1 - DREW MCINTYRE & JACK SWAGGER vs. KOFI KINGSTON & THE BIG SHOW

Pretty big match for the opener. Then again, when you've got the Undertaker in action, chances are good he's going to be in the main event. Kofi with the pine green tights tonight. Swagger wrestled him to the ground to start. Swagger had taped ribs under his singlet due to the damage inflicted by Show on Sunday. Matt Striker talked about how he texts with Vince McMahon instead of receiving letters like McIntyre. The image of McMahon texting almost made me laugh out loud. Kingston and McIntyre had a back-and-forth exchange. Flying forearm by Kingston as Striker for some reason mentioned people thinking that Tom Petty is the third Mulkey brother. Show tagged in and did a number on McIntyre. They went to break more than three minutes into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Show was still in control of McIntyre out of break. He even managed to scare Swagger off the apron. Bodyslam by Mac in the babyface corner. Kingston tagged in and worked the left arm of the former I.C. Champ. McIntyre finally came back, but it was short-lived. I like how they're saying this Fatal Four-Way PPV is a new concept, when the entire premise is the titles defended in Fatal Four-Way matches, which is not a new concept at all. Swagger took out Kingston as he went for a high-risk maneuver, pulling his leg down before he could springboard, which bounced Kofi's head off the apron. The camera caught it nicely. McIntyre took advantage with a hard chop to the chest. He then tagged Swagger. McIntyre picked up where Swagger left off in taking the beating to Kingston. A Craig Ehlo name-drop by Striker. Well, they are in Cleveland. Kingston fired back against Swagger, landing a cross-body off the top. Both men were down and needed to make tags. Both did, and Big Show ate McIntyre's lunch. A distraction by Swagger allowed Mac to try the Future Shock, but it did not pan out. Show set up for the punch, staring right at Swagger as he did it. And he picked up the win with it.

WINNERS: Kingston and Show, at 13:46. Fun match, but the way it was put together, you could definitely tell McIntyre is in the doghouse.

- They plugged Undertaker vs. Mysterio in a Fatal Four-Way Qualifying match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Backstage, Punk's back was to the camera with a towel over his head. Luke Gallows and Serena were trying to tell him that he looked OK. He was worried the fans were going to mock him. Then he said he didn't mind if they mocked him, because he's courageous, unlike everyone else. He said he'd take the towel off his head in the ring and show everyone the true face of C.M. punk.

- Vickie Guerrero was backstage with Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer. Not sure why she was looking into space to begin the segment, but then she started talking in Spanish to the tag team. She was unhappy with them, for some reason. When they left, Dolph Ziggler walked in. Vickie thanked him for sticking up for her last week on Smackdown. She was almost rubbing up against him, talking in what I assume is her sexy voice. She said she owed him one and it puts Ziggler in a very good position. Ziggler thought about it, then ranted on Hornswoggle and Christian. Vickie said Ziggler and Chavo will face Christian and Hornswoggle later tonight. She said there was more where that came from. The camera focused on the necklace she was wearing, which read "cougar." Man, going from Maria to Vickie Guerrero is a steep fall for Dolph.

- Punk walked out with a towel over his head, lead by Serena and Luke Gallows. He's going to be wrestling in a qualifying match coming up. Punk covered his ears and threw his hands up in frustration as he began to walk to the back, but his fellow Straight Edge Society members stopped him. Punk took off his towel, and he had a mask on. It had a Dallas Cowboys star on the side and front, along with SES down the bridge of the nose and was black. He looked…like a joke. Just what I was afraid of. Match is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker once again mentioned Taker vs. Mysterio tonight.

2 - C.M. PUNK vs. KANE

Kane got off to a good start, slowly picking Punk apart. He worked the left arm as Striker tried to make a case for Punk being stronger with the mask on. Kane missed a splash in the corner, then Punk followed up with a knee to the face. Bulldog was not successful, and Kane grabbed at the mask. Punk was able to escape with his mask (and dignity) still in tact. They went to break about 2:30 in.

[Commercial Break]

Back with Punk stomping away on the grounded Kane. Kane recovered and went to the top, but Punk crotched him, then kicked him to ringside. Punk continued work on the left leg of the Big Red Monster. Kane fought back on the mat and finally got to a vertical base, suplexing Punk for a two-count. But Punk went right back to the leg. Modified Indian Deathlock by Punk. Kane registered a couple of near falls, one close one on a sidewalk slam. To the top he went and he landed the clothesline, but Kane came up lame. He readied for the chokeslam, but Kane kicked at the legs. "The Executioner, Dr. X himself, C.M. Punk" said Striker. I can't even keep up with his references tonight. Punk hit a cross-body but Kane rolled through for two. Punk escaped a chokeslam and attempted to get Kane up for the Go To Sleep. Kane grabbed the mask, but Serena distracted the ref so Gallows could hit Kane with a right hand. Kick to the head of Kane got him wobbly, then a GTS finished it. The GTS was just awful, by the way. Like, really bad.

WINNER: Punk, at 13:59. Match never got out of first gear. Disappointing.

- Another plug for Mysterio vs. Undertaker.

[Commercial Break]

3 - CHRISTIAN & HORNSWOGGLE vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER & CHAVO GUERRERO

Vickie accompanied Chavo to the ring. Chavo went for the Three Amigos suplexes, but Christian stopped it short. Hornswoggle tagged in and sat on Chavo. His offense didn't last long, as Chavo put him on the mat. He lectured Hornswoggle, then slammed him in the heel corner. Ziggler tagged in and attached Horny to the corner, but Ziggler missed a charge. Christian and Chavo tagged in, with Christian getting the better of the exchange. Not much heat after the tag. Flapjack by Christian, then a second rope elbow. Flip kick in the corner, then a second-rope dropkick. Ziggler broke up the pin, but Hornswoggle kicked at Ziggler. Ziggler grabbed him by the collar and tossed him to ringside. Ziggler followed via Christian. Suplex by Chavo, then it was Frogsplash time. Christian moved, and Chavo rolled through. Killswitch by Christian for the win.

WINNER: Christian and Hornswoggle, at 4:15.

Ziggler attacked after the match and locked Christian into a sleeper.

- Another reminder of Mysterio vs. Taker, which will happen tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Next week, Drew McIntyre faces Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Title.

- Josh Mathews was backstage with LayCool. What happened to "Simply Flawless"? They pushed Mathews aside and Michelle McCool talked about the Women's Title being the oldest title in WWE. They thanked Vickie Guerrero for making them co-champions. They also took a few jabs at Beth Phoenix and her injury. They gave a sarcastic "get well soon" to Beth.

4 - LUKE GALLOWS vs. MVP

MVP went to the announce table and got some powder, throwing it in the air before the match. It's a LeBron thing. Belly-to-belly suplex by MVP, then he rained down right hands on the cranium of Gallows. Flying forearm by MVP, but Gallows asked the referee to check his eye. MVP tried to attack, but Gallows sent him to ringside. Back in the ring, the Sober Soldier slowed things down. Boot to the face by MVP and he went on offense once again. Face-buster, then he set up and hit the "Ballin'!" elbowdrop. Gallows retreated to the arena floor, where MVP met him with a clothesline from the apron. Serena distracted MVP and the masked stranger DDT'd MVP on the apron behind the ref's back. Gallows hit the Gallows' Pole (or, the 12th Step) for the pin.

WINNER: Gallows, at 4:12. Just a match. Good win for Gallows, though.

- The Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio is up next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- The announcers discussed the Fatal Four-Way card.

- Rey Mysterio made his entrance for the main event, which is coming up after the break.

[Commercial Break]

5 - REY MYSTERIO vs. THE UNDERTAKER

Mysterio tried to dance away from Taker, but no dice. Front-first suplex onto the top rope by Taker, but Mysterio dodged a big boot and sent Taker to ringside. That just upset the Dead Man, and Rey wisely escaped the ring. Moonsault onto Taker on the outside as they went to break under 2:00 in.

[Commercial Break]

Taker got Mysterio up for a bodyslam, but Rey slipped out. Mysterio fought out of a chokeslam, and then a Last Ride. Taker got set up for the 619, but Taker stood up and booted Mysterio down. Striker tried to claim Taker was moving better than he ever has before. My bullshit meter just blew up. Mysterio was thrown out of the ring. Mysterio was driven back-first into the ring post. More work on the back of Mysterio by the Undertaker. Rey came back with an ugly headscissors to send Taker into the corner. Seated Senton after Taker sat up, which was unique. Both men seemed drained at about the ten minute mark. Mysterio dialed up the 619 and went for the splash, but Taker put his arm up and Rey found himself in chokeslam position. He fought out and Taker gave him the Snake Eyes. Taker was bleeding from the mouth, I think. Springboard moonsault, but Taker caught it and Tombstoned Rey. That was all she wrote for Rey.

WINNER: Taker, at 10:43. Well, Rey can take his month off now. Surprised to see Taker back so soon, but with Rey out and Big Show as the top face, clearly, Smackdown needs him.

Taker posed as they were out soon after the match ended.

- A commercial aired on Taker's Smackdown dominance, and Kofi Kingston vs. Drew McIntyre next week for the Intercontinental Title.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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