WWE Smackdown review
September 10, 2010
Taped 9/7/10 in Baltimore, Md.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- Tonight, Undertaker faces C.M. Punk.

- Matt Striker and Todd Grisham discussed the match until the lights went out and the Undertaker appeared in the ring. Fire came up from the stage. Taker said Kane has always been psychotic, so he won’t feel bad putting Kane out of his misery. He said Kane has a false sense of confidence after attacking him. Taker turned his attention to the World Heavyweight Championship and talked about there being no rules to stop them and when they fight at Night of Champions, it must be No Holds Barred. C.M. Punk interrupted and he walked out.

Punk implored the fans to applaud for the Undertaker, but then called him delusional for believing he’s still a phenom. Even his threats don’t have the same panache. Punk said he’d be sending a message to Big Show during their match tonight, saying the power of the dark side can’t compare with the power of Straight Edge. Taker dared Punk to try him. He said the result will be the same as always, in that Punk will fail. Punk reminded Taker he made him tap out when Taker was 100%, but Taker said Punk would Rest In Peace. The two men stared at each other to end the segment.

[Commercial Break]

1 – JACK SWAGGER vs. MVP

Swagger with an amateur take-down, going back to what brought him to the dance. Corner charge missed and MVP followed it with a lariat. Big kick to the head sent Swagger out of the ring. Drop toe-hold by MVP, then a running knee to the back of the head. Swagger responded with a clothesline himself. Forearm to the back of the head by Swagger. Cover got a two-count. He stretched the arms of MVP behind his back. At this point, they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back with Swagger booting MVP in the jaw, showing a lot of light. Vader Bomb, but MVP lifted his knees. Overhead throw by MVP, then a running boot in the corner. Swagger kicked out on a pin attempt though. Shot to the throat by MVP, then a “Ballin’!” elbowdrop. Swagger ducked out of the ring, and kicked the steel steps into MVP’s legs. He slammed MVP’s leg into the ring post. Swagger locked in the ankle lock back inside the ring. MVP tapped immediately.

WINNER: Swagger, at 8:04. Lasted a little longer than I expected. Maybe MVP is out of the doghouse.

- LayCool was backstage talking about the clause in their contract that says either one can face Melina at Night of Champions. They then argued over which one would face her and defend the title. Kaval was behind them and finally interrupted, mocking their argument. LayCool wasn’t happy and said if it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be there. McCool made fun of his stare and Layla imitated his deep voice. He said he had a match to prepare for, then left as the women continued to argue. So apparently Kaval is on Smackdown? I thought a little more pomp and circumstance would go into that decision, since he did win NXT Season Two.

- The history of Undertaker and Kane will be profiled next.

[Commercial Break]

- The history of Kane and the Undertaker’s partnerships and battles were profiled.

- Undertaker and CM Punk will do battle, one-on-one tonight.

- Matt Hardy was walking backstage. He faces Alberto Del Rio next.

[Commercial Break]

- Ring announcer Tony Chimel introduced Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez. He brought out Alberto Del Rio, who drove into the arena in a Bentley.

2 – ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. MATT HARDY

They showed a clip of Del Rio’s celebration from last week, which was interrupted by Christian. Del Rio got the advantage aggressively to start, but Hardy bulldogged him down for two. Del Rio missed a kick and flew outside the ring. As Hardy came back to the apron, Del Rio landed an enziguiri, sending Matt to ringside.

[Commercial Break]

Del Rio had Hardy in a chinlock out of break. Some choking of Hardy on the middle rope by Del Rio, then he continued to wear him down. Spinebuster by Del Rio, then a running knee. Another cover for only two, as Del Rio appeared to get frustrated. Hardy hit a Side Effect for a near-fall, then another. Moonsault by Hardy off the top for two. Del Rio to the top, but Hardy met him there. He dropped Hardy arm-first over the top rope, then a shoulder into the ring post. Cross arm-breaker for the submission victory.

WINNER: Del Rio, at 11:13. Another impressive showing for Del Rio. Hardy is kind of stuck in the mid-card right now, but that’s a good spot for him.

After the match, Del Rio went back for more, but before any further damage could be inflicted, Christian ran down to chase off Del Rio.

- A special sneak-peek of Legendary was shown.

[Commercial Break]

- Still to come tonight, Undertaker vs. CM Punk.

3 – DREW MCINTYRE vs. KAVAL

McIntyre backed Kaval into the corner until the ref ordered a break. Running kick to the face by McIntyre for a two-count. He went for a springboard move, but Mac tripped him up on the top rope and Kaval fell to ringside. He suplexed Kaval back-first onto the apron in an impressive move. Back in, Kaval kneed McIntyre in the head on a suplex attempt. More kicks as Kaval rubbed his head. Kaval with a back-kick off the top rope to the head for a very near-fall. To the top again, but McIntyre rolled to ringside. He tried a hurricanrana off the apron, but Mac caught him and powerbombed him into the barricade. He tossed Kaval back into the ring and landed the Future Shock DDT for the pinfall victory.

WINNER: McIntyre, at 3:58. Striker made up for the loss saying McIntyre seemed to eye Kaval with respect after the match. Despite the loss, Kaval had a good showing.

- LayCool ran down to help console Kaval and help him out of the ring. I thought a turn was coming there.

[Commercial Break]

- Time for more grooming tips with “Dashing” Cody Rhodes. All these close-ups they show of people who are not Dashing is kinda gross. Rhodes suggested a facial to clear your pores and give you good skin.

- Vickie Guerrero and her NXT Season Three Rookie Kaitlyn were out. She made Kaitlyn introduce her. Vickie called her introduction “mediocre.” Well, she was right. Vickie wanted to show Kaitlyn how it was done. She told the fans to stand up and welcome her boyfriend and the Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler. He walked out with Chavo Guerrero for a tag match. They showed Vickie getting involved three weeks ago in Ziggler’s match with Kofi, then the count-out win for Kofi two weeks ago. Ziggler will take on Kofi at Night of Champions in a feud that will never end.

4 – DOLPH ZIGGLER & CHAVO GUERRERO vs. KOFI KINGSTON & CHRIS MASTERS

Press slam by Masters on Ziggler, who immediately tagged out. Ziggler caused a distraction that allowed Chavo to take out Masters’ knees. Ziggler wanted back in, and he kicked away at Masters once he made the tag. Masters made the hot tag only a few minutes in. Kingston with chops and a dropkick. He pounded away on Ziggler on the top rope, but the two Night of Champions opponents both delivered simultaneous clotheslines. Ziggler made the tag, but the ref was busy with Masters and the ref didn’t see it. Ziggler got to his feet and complained to the ref, then Kofi gave him the Trouble In Paradise for the win.

WINNERS: Kingston and Masters, at 2:48. Interesting that the tag not seen by the ref was for the heels, not the babyfaces. Just a short tag match to hype the IC Title match.

- Tonight, Punk vs. Undertaker.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker and Grisham talked about where you can find Legendary in your area.

- The announcers plugged Night of Champions.

- They sent it backstage to Josh Mathews, but it was Big Show imitating Mathews, and interviewing himself. Show talked about taking out the entire Straight Edge Society and he’d do the same to Punk at Night of Champions. Kelly Kelly interrupted and called Show a nerd. Then Mathews walked up and asked if they’d seen his microphone. Show played dumb but Kelly ratted him out. He had it under his arm, so they acted all grossed out when they gave it back to Mathews.

[Commercial Break]

5 – CM PUNK vs. THE UNDERTAKER

Punk yelled at Luke Gallows and Joseph Mercury when they walked out to the stage with him, and they ended up walking back. Punk avoided a couple shots from Taker at the outset. He kicked at the thighs of the Dead Man, but Taker came back and cornered Punk, taking him down with kicks of his own. He worked over Punk’s left arm, and legdropped it for only a one-count. He sent Punk shoulder-first into the turnbuckle. He attempted Old School, but Punk pulled on the arm and crotched Taker on the top rope. Punk dropkicked Taker off the apron and to the arena floor. Undertaker attempted to recover as they went to break about three minutes into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Punk continued to work the left arm as Grisham reminded fans that this was Taker’s first match in almost four months. During the break, Punk continued the onslaught on the outside. Headscissors by Punk as they tried to sell this as a legitimate submission finisher, despite the fact that no one has submitted to it in years. Back outside the ring they went, as Punk charged at Taker and rammed him back-first into the barricade. Taker fought back before Punk could throw him into the ring. The pace was slowed down quite a bit at this point, but Taker amped things up by dropping the leg across Punk’s throat with Punk lying on the apron. But Taker was struggling to get back to his feet near the announce table. Running boot in the corner missed from Taker and Punk met him with a kick of his own for two. Punk tied Taker up in a potential submission hold. Side suplex by Taker to break free. He missed a follow-up elbowdrop after getting back to his feet, though. Running knee in the corner by Punk, then a bulldog out of the corner that Taker took oddly. He kicked out at two. Both men got to their feet and slugged away at each other. Taker landed Snake Eyes, but hit the ropes and was greeted with a running leg lariat from his opposition. Springboard clothesline, but Punk was grabbed by the throat and chokeslammed. He kicked out at two. Taker signaled for the Tombstone, but Punk got out. Taker up for the GTS and he connected. But it took too much out of Punk and it took a while for him to make the cover. He ended up in the Hell’s Gate finisher and he tapped soon after it was locked in.

WINNER: Undertaker, at 14:35.

Taker celebrated after the match as the announcers speculated on his condition heading into Night of Champions. As he posed in the ring, flames shot out of the ring posts and Kane’s music played. Kane laughed over the PA system. Taker looked around for his brother, who was nowhere to be found. The show went off the air as Kane continued to cackle.

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