WWE Smackdown review
July 30, 2010
Taped 7/27/10 in Corpus Christi, Tex.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- The local MyNetwork affiliate here was four minutes late in picking up the feed or something, so I joined things with Kane, bathed in the red light in the ring, cutting a promo with a casket by his side. I guess he thinks Rey Mysterio injured the Undertaker, but probably not alone (according to him). He said Rey had the most to gain from taking out taker. More mood music and still photos, just like last week. Kane said it was Taker who beat Rey to get into the Fatal Four-Way, but now, he has brought the title to the dark side. He opened the casket and said that at Summerslam, he’d stuff Rey in it. Kane described what Rey’s last feelings and thoughts would be as he’d close the lid on him. There was a camera in the casket and Kane shut the lid on it to send things to break. Another good promo from Kane, but like last week, a little too dramatic to the point of taking you out of the moment.

[Commercial Break]

- Matt Striker and Todd Grisham were shown on camera talking solemnly about Kane vs. Rey.

- They plugged that tonight, Rey would face Jack Swagger in a no-disqualification match.

1 – CHRISTIAN vs. DREW MCINTYRE

McIntyre got the better of Christian to start, but Christian back-dropped his foe to the floor. He missed a baseball slide, but dropkicked McIntyre into the apron instead. McIntyre lured Christian in as he hid under the ring – he grabbed Christian’s arm as Christian reached in to get him, and slammed his shoulder into the steel beam on the apron. Back in the ring, McIntyre worked the sore area of Christian, sending him back outside again before they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Christian made it back into the ring just before the ten-count was administered by the referee. McIntyre kept working the shoulder, but Christian fired back with a headbutt. Both men were down, but Christian got up and went on the attack. He survived a backdrop, landing on the apron, and used the ropes to his advantage. To the top, cross-body by Christian, reversed by McIntyre for a two-count. Christian went for a reverse DDT, but he hurt his arm in the process. McIntyre went to the second rope, but Christian got his boot up in Drew’s face as McIntyre came down. Flying uppercut by Christian, but McIntyre stopped his momentum by sending him shoulder-first into the ring post. The announcers discussed the referee contemplating stopping the match due to Christian’s injury. The Scotsman set up for his DDT finish, but Christian turned it into a small package for the win.

WINNER: Christian, at 12:40. A bit too slow at times, and while it was a fine match, I was a tad disappointed. The spot with McIntyre luring Christian in and slamming his shoulder against the steel of the apron was a nice, innovative move though.

- Tiffany vs. Layla for the Women’s Title is still to come.

- Another grooming tip with “Dashing” Cody Rhodes: This time, facial masks and how they can improve your looks. It took me a couple times to come up with a way to describe what he was teaching without making it sound dirty.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker plugged the Summerslam page on WWE.com.

- Another plug for Rey vs. Swagger, no-DQ, tonight.

- The first Alberto Del Rio vignette of the night aired. He was playing billiards. He talked about excellence being beyond the reach of most men and said that some are elite in everything they do. He hit a Mr. Perfect-like shot that sank all the balls on the table. I must take issue with Wade constantly bringing up that these promos didn’t seem like part of the show early on; they always had the WWE logo in the corner, so I don’t know where the confusion would come in.

- A bald C.M. Punk was backstage with the rest of his Straight Edge Society. He asked which one of his group would be letting him down tonight. He demanded to smell Serena’s breath to make sure she wasn’t back on the wagon. He called Joey Mercury “Joseph” when he addressed him. Punk said Gallows’ incompetence dates back to Wrestlemania. Punk said that without him, they are nothing. He tossed a leather bag at Gallows and said they can all pack their bags if they don’t start pulling their weight.

- The Big Show came out for a match, and it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – THE BIG SHOW vs. LUKE GALLOWS

Big chop by Show, and then he asked for a microphone. He had ring announcer Tony Chimel hold the mic close on a second chop so the sound would echo throughout the arena. Front face-lock by Show, who then clotheslined Gallows over the top. He went outside where Punk got involved for the DQ.

WINNER: Show, via DQ, at 1:45.

The Straight Edge Society when on the attack, holding Show down so Punk, then Serena, could step on Show’s hand on the steel steps. They did it over and over again. Grisham suggested it was Show’s knockout hand. Show passed out from the pain.

[Commercial Break]

- They replayed the injury to Show and the trainers checking on him during the break.

3 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

The two chain wrestled to start. Monkey flip, then punches in the corner from Kingston. Ziggler came back and bodyslammed Kofi. Kingston hooked Ziggler by the head with his feet and sent him to the apron. Neck-breaker assisted by the middle rope from Dolph. He continued continue the offense though and Kofi landed a high dropkick. Ziggler then made a comeback of his own with an inverted bodyslam, allowing him to keep control into break.

[Commercial Break]

The announcers reiterated that if Ziggler won here, he’d get an Intercontinental Title shot next week. Ziggler missed a dropkick and Kingston catapulted him into the corner. Two-handed chops from Kingston, then a dropkick. Jumping clothesline, but not much of a reaction from the fans. Fameasser from Ziggler (“makin’ him famous!” said Striker in an indirect reference to the move). Some choking in the ropes by Ziggler. Behind the ref’s back, Vickie Guerrero slapped Kingston across the face. That enraged Kingston, who attacked Ziggler with much zeal, ignoring the referee’s orders to break, which led to a disqualification.

WINNER: Ziggler, via DQ, at 13:44. Slightly better than the opening match of the night. These two seemed a little more motivated throughout.

Kingston continued his assault outside the ring and took the fight to the announce table. He tossed Ziggler into the barricade. A slew of refs had to restrain him. A little edge to Kofi?

- Another preview for Rey vs. Swagger, still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- The announcers discussed the Summerslam card.

- Josh Mathews was backstage with Jack Swagger. Swagger didn’t even wait for a question to be asked – he was that pissed off. He said his dad was still in the hospital. He told Josh to ask him what he’s going to do to Mysterio tonight. Mathews obliged and Swagger detailed what his plan was, including throwing Rey into the Gulf of Mexico, just outside the arena. He planned on Mysterio not being able to wrestle at Summerslam after tonight.

- Tiffany, walking with Kelly Kelly backstage, passed Rosa Mendes jumping rope. Tiffany complimented her on their way by. The Women’s Title match is next.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers plugged Kingston vs. Ziggler for the IC Title, which will take place next Friday night.

- LayCool and Tiffany (with Kelly Kelly) both made their entrances for the title match. Vickie Guerrero interrupted prior to the match. She said it won’t be Layla defending the Women’s Title, and since there are co-champions, it’ll be Michelle McCool in action tonight. Guerrero, who often confuses common phrases, said that she was making the match, “with the power invested as me,” instead of “with the power vested in me.”

4 – MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. TIFFANY – WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

McCool did not exactly treat Tiffany as serious competition once the bell rang. In fact, Tiffany dropkicked McCool as Michelle was getting up following a series of push-ups. She set Michelle on the top rope and pounded away. She went to the top herself, where the ladies did battle. Tiffany suplexed McCool off, but couldn’t make the cover. She finally did for a very near-fall. Layla tripped up Tiffany, so Kelly attacked Layla. Tiffany dropkicked Layla through the ropes and went to the top. McCool crotched her there and set her up for the Faith Breaker. It was hit successfully, followed by the three-count.

WINNER: McCool, at 2:37. They don’t have a lot of confidence in Tiffany, and it showed here. It’s LayCool or bust (no pun intended) on Smackdown right now in the women’s division.

- Teddy Long came on the Titan-Tron as the co-champs celebrated. He said the fun was over and that there’s only one Women’s Title. He said they need to decide who the champion is by next week, and if they didn’t do it, he would. Nice to see them finally addressing this, even though I can see that Long would let them act like co-champions until it went too far (in this case, McCool defending a title she doesn’t really have). Although you’d then have to wonder why Long would allow LayCool to decide the champion, which could presumably end up being McCool. I think I’ve given too much thought to this.

- Another Del Rio promo. He said deep down, we have the power to get what is attainable, yet we don’t because we’re mentally constipated. That doesn’t sound like a phrase that would come from a man as well-read as Del Rio appears to be. He said he isn’t bound by limitations.

- Mysterio vs. Swagger is next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – REY MYSTERIO vs. JACK SWAGGER – NO-DISQUALIFICATION MATCH

Apparently, what I missed earlier was Taker admitting that Rey attacked him (according to Kane, at least; not the most credible witness). Swagger went for a Vader bomb early, but Mysterio got away and dropkicked Swagger. Swagger avoided a 619 by fleeing the ring. He went for a springboard moonsault but Swagger pulled him down by the ankle. He couldn’t lock in the ankle-lock however and Rey got out.

[Commercial Break]

Rey started coming back but missed a springboard cross-body as Swagger timed the dodge perfectly. Swagger got dumped over the top and to ringside, where the fight continued. Swagger threw Rey over the barricade and took the fight into the crowd. He picked Rey up and began to carry him. Mysterio countered and swagger’s jaw bounced off the divider in the crowd. Kicks from Rey, then he pushed Swagger into a metal hand-rail for the stairs. He climbed atop the rail, but Swagger caught him and shoved him spine-first into the metal. He dragged Rey backstage where there was an awful lot of green. Into the merchandise table went Rey. Fans getting off the elevator had an unexpected treat: A fight right in front of them as they stepped off. Swagger shoved Rey through a few doors and outside, down some stairs. Cars drove by as the two went across the street. The referee hilariously pleaded with Swagger to get Rey back into the arena. Swagger carried Rey into traffic – a driver had to slam on the brakes and then he argued with Swagger.

Mysterio kicked back and fought with Swagger near the bay. He threw Swagger into a lower level, then dropped the dime on him as people off-camera yelled at the commotion. More kicks from Mysterio. Swagger took Rey down and punched away at his noggin. He trash talked Rey and said he’s not half the man Swagger is. Swagger put Rey on his back and surveyed the water. He lifted Rey over his head, but Mysterio got down and headscissored Swagger into the Gulf of Mexico. Swagger gasped for breath and was swept away, shouting that he couldn’t swim. Mysterio turned around into Kane, who chokeslammed him into the water. The camera focused on Kane’s face to close the show.

WINNER: No Contest (no bell), at around 14:12.

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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