WWE Smackdown review
August 27, 2010
Taped 8/18/10 in Fresno, Calif.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- Smackdown Open.

- Todd Grisham and Matt Striker opened the show, welcoming fans to their continuing West Coast swing. The first match they plugged was Rey Mysterio vs. Kane, a re-match requested by Mysterio, and this time, it’s a no-DQ match. Plus, Kofi Kingston challenges Dolph Ziggler once again for the Intercontinental Title. This is getting to be like the Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Tyme from a year ago. Also, the Undertaker returns, and there will be vengeance. Or so they say.

1 – REY MYSTERIO vs. KANE – NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH

The announcers discussed possible injuries Mysterio may be dealing with after his match against the debuting Alberto Del Rio last week. Usually when a match of this caliber starts the show, you can count on something screwy happening that will have an effect on the rest of the show. Kane threw Mysterio out of the ring under the bottom rope and draped him throat-first over the ringside barricade. After tossing Mysterio back into the ring, Kane went under the ring and grabbed a kendo stick. Mysterio kicked at Kane’s leg on his way back into the ring, then used the stick on them. However, Mysterio ran into a big boot. Pin attempt got two. Hard whip into the buckle by Kane. Neck vice applied to Mysterio. He got free and was going to springboard off the top from the apron, but he was booted down in mid-air and found himself prone outside the ring. Mysterio with a drop toe-hold on Kane on the steps. Off the announce table with a seated senton went Rey. They took a break about 3:30 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Uppercut by Kane upon return, and he got a two-count from it. Still in control, Kane put Rey in a chin-lock. Once Rey broke out, he ran into a sidewalk slam. Kane retrieved a steel chair from ringside. Mysterio got his feet up and knocked the chair out of Kane’s hands. Seated senton off the top, then a headscissors into the 619 position. On the attempt, Kane caught him by the throat. Rey wouldn’t allow the chokeslam and went after Kane’s knee. He jammed the top of the chair into the back of Kane’s knee, then gave him a shot to the back. Another 619, this one connected. Springboard, but right into a chokeslam on the chair. Kane hooked the leg and was awarded the pinfall victory.

WINNER: Kane, at 9:28. This doesn’t hurt Rey much, as despite not being on offense a lot, he had the built-in excuse for the loss, with the arm injured by Del Rio. The announcers made very sure to get that point across throughout the match.

Rey was helped out of the ring by a trainer and referee after the match. As he was being checked over at ringside, Alberto Del Rio walked out with a mic. Loud “you suck” chants. And this was taped before his big debut aired last week. Del Rio asked if Rey was okay and then he asked the doctor if Rey would be okay. Del Rio said Mysterio looked like a dying dog. I think that’s what he said. Del Rio then said someone needs to put Rey down. He attacked Mysterio and threw him into the barricade. After some light trash talk, Del Rio hooked in his arm-bar submission. Del Rio just smiled after he broke the hold. He began to walk up the ramp, then turned back to the ring and hopped inside. He took the steel chair and put Rey’s arm in it, then shoved him arm-first into the ringpost. Del Rio gloated over Rey and picked up his jacket, threw it over his shoulder and walked to the back to a lot of heel heat. Del Rio just seems to do all the little things right already.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed clips of what happened moments ago, as it pertains to Alberto Del Rio’s attack on Rey Mysterio.

2 – CM PUNK vs. JTG

The entire Straight Edge Society accompanied Punk, including the since-released Serena. Striker noted it looked like she was wearing Cpl. Kirschner’s pants. Couple of quick pin attempts by JTG, but Punk pounded him down. He kicked away at JTG in the corner, then clotheslined him after a whip into the opposite turnbuckle. Knees to the gut and shots to the back from the SES leader. Running knee in the corner, followed up by the bulldog. Go To Sleep connected, but then locked in the long-forgotten Anaconda Vice for the tap-out win.

WINNER: Punk, by submission, at 1:56. Pretty much a squash for Punk.

Punk ordered the SES into the ring and told them to get on their knees. He said that’s how you operate in the Society, and that’s how you treat the weak and advance the message of Straight Edge. Punk said he leads by example and the example has been set. He told Luke Gallows he wants Big Show face-down in his own drool. He said this is the last time he’s going to tell them this: Be better, or be gone.

- Rosa Mendes was doing the Shake Weight backstage in Teddy Long’s office and he told her to keep it up, because she’s looking good. She left and Long sat down to look at a magazine. The plant behind him kept moving and he didn’t know what it was, until Hornswoggle revealed himself. Long asked if Horny was trying to give him another heart attack. Hornswoggle said he was spying on Long (not in those exact words). They played charades until Long figured out he was also spying on LayCool. Long couldn’t understand what Horny was relaying to him about LayCool, so he wrote it down. There were just scribbly lines though and Horny started freaking out. Long said Hornswoggle was short on height but long on potential. He said there was a way he and Hornswoggle could work together. I hope this doesn’t lead to a Kaval vs. Hornswoggle feud.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Striker and Grisham talked about Night of Champions, and then about the Undertaker’s return to Smackdown tonight.

- Clips aired of the finish to Kingston vs. Ziggler from last Friday, as well as the post-match beat-down from Ziggler. Up next, Kingston vs. Ziggler for the IC Title; Ziggler loses the title if he gets DQ’d.

[Commercial Break]

- This week’s grooming tips from Cody Rhodes dealt with shaving your entire body, especially your legs. No thanks, Cody.

3 – DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. KOFI KINGSTON – INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Striker said Kingston’s jaw is still slightly dislocated after last week. Kicks in the corner by Kingston and Ziggler took an early break on the outside. It didn’t last long as Kingston clotheslined him down. Roll-up by Kofi, who smartly shifted his legs out from underneath the bottom rope. Unfortunately, the referee had to re-position himself and the challenger only got a one-count. Trouble in Paradise attempt, but Ziggler held onto the ropes. Flip roll-up by Kingston, the move he won the title with, but that only got two. Ziggler’s title appeared to be in jeopardy as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back-and-forth action was what viewers saw out of break. Kofi fired away with rights, attacking Ziggler in the corner. Ziggler got a boot up that floored Kingston. Cover got two. Jumping elbowdrop to the back of Kingston’s head for a two-count. Rear chin-lock with Ziggler sitting on Kingston’s back. Kingston fought back and again Ziggler held onto the ropes on a Trouble in Paradise attempt. Kingston then hit the same flip roll-up from earlier. The ref counted three, but Ziggler grabbed the bottom rope at two. Referee Chad Patton immediately waved off the pinfall. Kingston was visibly upset, and went for another pin that got two. Kingston missed a shoulder charge in the corner. Cover by Ziggler for two. Running neck-snap by Ziggler, shades of Mr. Perfect. Big neckbreaker followed that up. Kingston missed wildly with a right hand and the champion locked in a sleeper. Kofi got to the ropes and Vickie slapped Kofi behind the ref’s back. Ziggler was understandably mad and told Vickie not to screw this up for him. Lots of near-falls by Ziggler here.

Kofi fought back to a vertical base and went for a dropkick, but Ziggler caught him and catapulted him into the corner. Kofi landed on the middle rope and came off with a big punch for two. Kingston telegraphed his flip kick, but it connected anyway. He went to the top and landed a cross-body for two. Crowd was really into it at this point. Fireman’s carry take-over by Ziggler for a very near fall. Zig Zag attempt but Kofi held on to the top rope. Dropkick sent Ziggler outside the ring. Vickie stood in Kofi’s way as he tried to land on Kingston, so he stepped aside and hit a cross-body from the apron. Double-clothesline on the outside. Both men crawled toward the ring, and as they attempted to get in at the nine-count, Vickie held Ziggler back. That allowed Kingston to win by count-out and Ziggler to retain the title.

WINNER: Kingston, by count-out, at 14:09. One of the better matches these two have had as of late, thanks in part to the good story it told.

- Another plug aired for Undertaker’s return to Smackdown tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- They aired clips of Kane’s confession from last week. It was really long.

- Striker and Grisham discussed the Kane-Undertaker situation and how the Undertaker has promised vengeance tonight.

- Jack Swagger walked out for the Jack Swagger Senior Invitational Shoot-Out. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- Swagger was in the ring for the Invitational. The first to five take-downs wins.

4 – JACK SWAGGER vs. MVP – JACK SWAGGER SR. INVITATIONAL – FIRST TO FIVE TAKE-DOWNS WINS

Grisham explained the rules and Swagger and MVP were given headgear. MVP threw his into the crowd. Swagger practice a couple times before locking up. Swagger taunted MVP, so MVP slapped him. Swagger took MVP down with ease to get an early 1-0 lead. Swagger invited MVP to take his leg, so MVP did so. A reversal by Swagger put MVP on the mat. 2-0. Crowd started chanting for MVP. Swagger went low and got a rear waist-lock. MVP blocked a take-down and performed a standing switch. Swagger picked MVP up and gave him almost a spinebuster to go up 3-0. Front face-lock by Swagger and MVP started to get frustrated, so he slapped Swagger, drawing the DQ.

WINNER: Swagger, via DQ, at 2:04.

The two continued to go at it after the bell, with Swagger locking MVP in the ankle-lock in the aisle.

- LayCool was backstage getting photos taken, with Kaval off-camera. He even commented that it was flawless. LayCool dissed Melina and Layla asked if Long would approve of what they had planned for Melina at the 900th Raw celebration. Then they made fun of the outfit she wore at the PPV. McCool whispered something in Layla’s ear as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

- Stills were shown of WWE’s trip to China last weekend.

- They showed what happened last Friday, when Christian beat Drew McIntyre, followed by an attack by McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, until Matt Hardy made the save.

- Tony Chimel handed the mic over to Ricardo Rodriguez, the personal ring announcer of Alberto Del Rio.

5 – ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. CARLOS SANCHEZ

Sanchez even got an entrance. Well, kind of, as they showed Del Rio’s attack on Mysterio through most of it. Sanchez was billed as being from Fresno and Striker claimed he was a state grappling champion and that his family was on hand for this. Del Rio worked over Sanchez in the corner, then connected on a belly-to-back suplex. Rear chinlock by Del Rio, and the fans seemed particularly hot for Sanchez. He elbowed out, and Del Rio missed a splash in the corner. Del Rio got tired of Sanchez’s punches and grabbed him, sitting him on the top rope. Del Rio winked at him, then pushed him over to the outside. Ouch. Back in, he flipped the jobber over and hooked in the cross arm-breaker for the win.

WINNER: Del Rio, by submission, at 2:29.

- Backstage, Kelly Kelly and Big Show were walking together. Show is in action next.

[Commercial Break]

6 – THE BIG SHOW vs. LUKE GALLOWS

Punk was conspicuous by his absence from the rest of the SES. Slaps to the chest of Gallows by Show, then a slap to the back. He tossed Gallows across the ring with ease. Joseph Mercury tried to get involved, but Show chased him away. Show slapped Gallows as he laid across the announce table. Serena started to get near Show, so Kelly jumped her. Gallows kicked at Show’s knee back in the ring, then to his face. Show put him down again (he was wearing his t-shirt during the match, by the way). Show sized up Gallows and nailed him with a right hand.

WINNER: Show, at 2:22. Based on this and Serena’s firing, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a reset on the SES next week.

They showed an angry Punk watching what just took place backstage.

- Grisham and Striker talked more about the Undertaker and Kane’s situation. Taker’s vengeance will apparently be confined to about a 10-minute span, because it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- They came right back for the start of Undertaker’s entrance. Three minutes later, the music turned off and he was ready to talk. He said that although he may look dead, he’s not dead yet. Wait, isn’t he the Dead Man? He said he was still very much the Dead Man. That…doesn’t really clear it up. He said the ring is still his yard. Taker assured the fans that he would never pardon the guilty. Speaking of guilty, he turned his attention to Kane. He said Kane was guilty of a betrayal that he will pay dearly for. He said Kane has what he likes to call “a diseased soul.” The disease has festered into a web of lies, including thinking he can fill Taker’s boots. He said the biggest lie was that Kane thinks he can carry the World Heavyweight Championship. The fire went off and Kane made his way out to his music. He stayed on the top of the stage, though.

Kane had a mic and said Taker is the one spinning the web of lies. He said he can hear the weakness in his brother’s voice. Kane told Taker to take a look at himself, because he’s no longer the phenom, nor even a shadow of what he once was. He promised to drop Taker on his head, much like he did at Summerslam. He told Taker he was bigger and stronger than him, and that he’s now the dominant brother. He said he has nothing left to prove. Taker responded that there was a reason Kane always walked in his shadow. He said his memory isn’t quite what it used to be, and asked Kane to remind him what he called himself last week. Taker remembered that it was, “the devil’s favorite demon.” Taker asked if he forgot that it was Taker who built the house the devil lives in. He said the devil still answers him with “sir.” He said Kane has never been worthy, and never will be. He said Kane wasn’t worthy to carry the championship or of the fear he inspires. He finished by saying Kane wasn’t worthy of being his brother. Taker told Kane he taught him everything Kane knows about evil…but not everything HE knows. Taker said he’d be waiting when the mood strikes Kane, and when the fight starts, it’s always going to end the same way. Kane shouted, “not this time!” He said they both know that this time, it’ll end the same way as it did at Summerslam. Kane promised on the grave of their mother that Taker will never rest in peace. Kane’s music then played and he laughed as they faded out.


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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