WWE Smackdown review
July 16, 2010
Taped 7/13/10 in Louisville, KY.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- They opened with a Big Show-Jack Swagger video package, complete with “dramatic action sequence” music. The clips were mostly from last week, including Kane’s show-closing attack on Swagger.

- Smackdown Open.

- We immediately saw a preview graphic asking if Jack Swagger would have an answer for Kane tonight.

1 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. “DASHING” CODY RHODES

The briefcase, of course, hung over the ring for effect. They showed Kofi getting beat up on NXT by Nexus this past Tuesday. Kofi kipped up out of a headscissors early on. Cody pounded away on his opponent with rights, then stomped him in the corner. He hung Kofi stomach-first on to the top rope, then kicked him to ringside as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Rhodes held serve on offense when the show returned. He went into an abdominal stretch as the crowd cheered on the fan favorite. From his back, Kofi was able to hurricanrana Cody down and began to build momentum. Desperation second-rope bulldog by Rhode broke that up. Kingston later came off the top with a cross-body that hurt Kofi as well. Then, Kane’s music played and he walked out, chokeslamming both competitors.

WINNER: No Contest (no bell), about 10:12. Can I get a friggin’ bell PLEASE, WWE? How hard is it, really? They’ve been doing this “no announcement of the finish” way too often lately.

Kane got the mic after his attack and promised a bludgeoning tonight. Fans seemed up for it. He said Swagger is a liar and will pay for his sins. They replayed his attack as he left.

- Tonight, Christian will face Drew McIntyre in one-on-one competition.

- Also, Matt Hardy vs. Dolph Ziggler.

[Commercial Break]

- Todd Grisham and Matt Striker talked on-camera about Swagger vs. Rey Mysterio on Sunday. They said Rey suffered torn ankle ligaments, and showed Swagger’s attacks on Rey the past two weeks.

- Rey was being worked on backstage by a trainer, who was wrapping his ankle with a brace. The trainer left and Josh Mathews walked in. Mysterio said he’s still in pain, especially when he stands up. Rey was asked how he’s going to defend the title on Sunday. He said he’s not going to – he’s going to forfeit the title to Swagger tonight. Mathews asked if he was serious, and Rey replied, “of course not!” He said the ankle brace will allow him to continue to live his dream as champion. He talked about Swagger attacking Undertaker and said that karma works in mysterious ways. I actually bought that Rey was forfeiting the belt for a second!

- Swagger was on the phone in his locker room with someone, and he was telling the person what Rey had just said. Jack was miffed that this person wasn’t at the arena yet and he was clearly leery of Kane. Is it his daddy or his alibi? Or both?

[Commercial Break]

- A highlight reel of Edge’s MITB win aired.

2 – DREW MCINTYRE vs. CHRISTIAN

Christian made McIntyre chase him, playing mind games as the match began. Christian flew onto Mac from the top rope to the arena floor. Back in the ring, he landed another for a near-fall. McIntyre took over on offense and Christian tried a Tornado DDT, but Drew pushed him to the floor. They went to break at this point.

[Commercial Break]

Christian barely made it back in before the ten-count during the break, apparently. After a few knees to McIntyre, the Tornado DDT was finally hit. Another DDT variation from Christian, this time for two. Dropkick off the top for two. He went to the second rope, but McIntyre booted him in the chest in mid-air. Monkey flip in the corner and both men went to the second rope. Christian elbowed Drew down and did a sunset flip for two. Finishers of both men were countered by the other. Thumb to the eye by McIntyre, and the ref didn’t see it. He finished Christian with his Future Shock DDT.

WINNER: McIntyre, at 11:30. A notch better than the opening match. Christian continues to bring it, and McIntyre is improving.

- The Alberto Del Rio vignette from last week aired, the one with the butler.

[Commercial Break]

- Another MITB video aired, this one with Punk winning and defeating Jeff Hardy for the belt.

- The entire Straight Edge Society was in the ring. CM Punk talked up the SES, saying there were no cracks in their foundation. But before too much could be said, Big Show walked out to his music. He brought down a big ladder, and a small ladder. Punk kept trying to get Show’s attention, but Show ignored him. Show set up the big ladder in the ring. Big Show finally spoke, saying he thought Punk was trying to put everyone to sleep. He made fun of the SES and talked about what he’ll do in the MITB match. Punk told him to do a Shooting Star Press or something to impress him. Show broke the ladders as he tried to climb them to get the briefcase. He then brought out an even bigger, sturdier ladder. Punk said Show would look like King Kong on top of the Empire State Building if he climbed it. He said if it weren’t for Kane injuring him, he’d be winning that MITB match on Sunday. Show was distracted by Punk’s shenanigans, allowing Luke Gallows and the masked man to attack him. Punk climbed the ladder and pronounced, “Straight Edge means I’m better than you!” However, Show rose and soon disposed of Gallows and the other guy, leaving Punk stuck on the ladder as Show climbed it. He reached the top and grabbed Punk around the neck, holding his arm. Show pulled off Punk’s mask, revealing his still-bald head. Not sure how that happened. Didn’t care for this segment at all. Show was way too heavy on the comedy for the go-home episode. Punk shouldn’t have had his mask pulled off here either. It felt totally anti-climactic.

[Commercial Break]

- They replayed the de-masking of Punk.

- Backstage, Swagger was talking on the phone to the person from earlier again. We learned that apparently, the person will have evidence that will exonerate Swagger.

3 – LAYLA & TRENT BARRETA vs. KELLY KELLY & CHRIS MASTERS

Poor Masters had to come out to Kelly’s jam. Caylen Croft and Tiffany were the persons at ringside for this one, for those scoring at home. Layla got her feet up on a cartwheel elbow attempt by Kelly in the corner. Soon after, Rosa Mendes jump roped her way to the ring, to show Layla how she’s trying to get in shape. The Dudebusters assisted her in Double Dutch, pissing Layla off. Masters clotheslined Barreta on the outside, while Kelly K2’d the distracted Layla for the win.

WINNERS: Kelly & Masters, at 1:33. Just a comedy match to hype Kelly vs. Layla for Sunday. Barreta was an odd choice for Layla’s partner, though.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker thanked I Fight Dragons for supplying the MITB theme, “Money.”

- The announcers discussed the MITB card.

- Matt Hardy came out for his match against Dolph Ziggler. He promised that if he won the MITB match on Sunday, he’d cash it in that night. His one-on-one match begins next.

[Commercial Break]

- A new Alberto Del Rio vignette aired. He talked about bravery and that quality living in extraordinary men. He, of course, was an example of that.

4 – MATT HARDY vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Hardy worked over Ziggler on the ground to start. Ziggler went to the top but missed an axe-handle, catching a fist in the gut instead. Hardy clotheslined Ziggler outside the ring. Ziggler turned things around by slamming Matt into the barricade as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Hardy worked out of a chin-lock, but was sent crashing back down to the canvas. Back to another rest-hold. Matt made a comeback and landed a patented elbow to the back of Ziggler’s neck off the second rope. Hardy turned a Fame-Asser attempt by Ziggler into a powerbomb in a nice sequence. Side Effect by Hardy, but Ziggler grabbed the bottom rope on the pin attempt. Vickie Guerrero, who was at ringside with Ziggler, got on the apron after Ziggler failed on a sleeper attempt. Ziggler pushed Matt into Vickie, but Matt stopped short. That allowed Ziggler to land the Zig Zag for the win.

WINNER: Ziggler, at 10:57.

- They showed Kane attacking Rhodes and Kingston from earlier tonight, and his comments afterward.

- Outside the arena, a limo pulled up. Swagger opened the door and an older guy gave him a package. Swagger gave it to a PA and told him to take it to production. Swagger and the man I presume to be his father began to walk into the arena.

[Commercial Break]

- Jack Swagger and his daddy came out. Swagger said winning his title back is job number one, so he wants to clear his name to Kane. He said that on that Memorial Day, he spent time with the man who made him the All-American American: His father. The two men hugged in the ring. Jack said he and his dad were winning and looking good that day. They showed pics of the two doing push-ups and workouts in the morning. More pics on the Titan-Tron, this time of them winning a fishing contest, with big, goofy grins of course. No proof of the time or date of these photos, by the way. Finally, pics of them winning a chicken-wing eating contest. Kane had had enough and he came out. He got into the ring and said he didn’t believe any of it. Swagger shared more pics as proof, with him and his father running a 5K. Kane tired of this, and grabbed Jack by the throat as his dad tried to verbally intervene. Swagger bopped Kane with the mic and applied the ankle-lock as his dad cheered him on. Rey hobbled out and gave the 619 to Swagger, then walked over him to leave the ring. Kane ended up locking both Swaggers in his grip, but Jack got out by stepping on Kane’s foot. He fled to ringside, pleading with Kane to let go of his daddy. He turned his back at ringside as Kane chokeslammed Mr. Swagger. Jack began heading to the back, turning around in the aisle long enough to watch his dad get Tombstoned. He sold distraught as Kane cued his flames. They replayed the beating then Kane’s face, cloaked in his red light, was the final image.

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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