By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with a video package narrated by Kane admitting he has long admired Undertaker's powers more than he will ever know. He said his goal is to make Undertaker known simply as "the brother I destroyed." Then he maniacally laughed.

-The Smackdown opening aired. Then pryo blasted in the arena and Todd Grisham introduced the show with Matt Striker. They hyped the Undertaker vs. C.M. Punk match. Grisham said they'd find out just what Taker has left in his match tonight.

-Suddenly Taker appeared in the ring. He said his brother Kane has always a disturbed freak of nature. He said so many times he had to protect him - not just from others, but also from himself. He said he will have no regrets doing what he must do at Night of the Champions. He said Kane attacked him like a coward, leaving him beaten, battered, and unconscious. He said it's given himself a false sense of confidence. He said he thinks that he has the tide of momentum on his side and the power of the darkness. He said the power, though, is his and he is still in control. He said when the time comes they will open the Gates of Hell on one another. He said their match must be No Holds Barred.

Punk interrupted. Grisham asked if it's wise to interrupt the Dead Man. Punk asked everyone in attendance to give the "Legendary Dead Man the respect and admiration he deserves." He said fans of Taker should bask in his glory. He encouraged an even bigger crowd pop. He said nothing brings a smile to his face like watching him on his "own personal downward spiral." He said he sees a man who has bitten off more than he can chew who's more delusional than all the drunken losers in the audience.

Taker said when he looks at him, he sees his next victim. Punk said for the first time he hears doubt in his voice. He said he'll be sending a loud message when he beats him tonight. He said the power of the WWE Universe and the power of the Darkside simply cannot compare to the power of Straight Edge. Taker invited him to come to the ring and try, but he said as always he will fail. Punk didn't lose any sense of his confidence. He said he is the most dangerous man on Smackdown. He asked Taker what he thinks he'll do to him in his weakened condition. He said he'll Rest... In... Peace! The crowd cheered and Punk just shook his head mouthed "I don't think so." [c]

[Q2]

1 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. MVP

Grisham questioned why Swagger didn't help his dad last week. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c] Afterward, Swagger was on offense after a big boot off the ropes. He followed with the corner swing splash. MVP lifted his knees. Swagger gasped for breath. MVP overhead tossed a charging Swagger into the corner and then charged at him with a boot to the chin. That was good for a two count. Grisham unconvincingly yelled, "He got him! No he didn't!" Swagger took over by working over MVP's ankle including ramming it against the ringpost. He then applied an anklelock and got a tapout.

WINNER: Swagger in 9:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- This was okay. It served its purpose, but overall felt forgettable. It's nice to see a clean finish here between two wrestlers not far apart on the totem pole. Swagger continues to carry himself like a future long-term main eventer.

-Backstage Kaval continued to hang with LayCool backstage. The women bragged about Vickie Guerrero putting a clause into their contract that either of them can face Melina later. They were happy, but then argued over who would get to face Melina later. Layla had a temper tantrum. Kaval asked them to calm down. He said it's his first night on Smackdown, and he can't concentrate with all their bickering. He imitated them. McCool imitated Kaval's facial expression. Layla mocked Kaval's voice and catchphrase ("It's not the size of the man in the fight...") He said he had to go prepare for his match later.

-Grisham plugged that a video package on the history between Undertaker and Kane was next.

[Q3] [c]

-A five minute video package aired on the history of Kane and Undertaker. Then at ringside Grisham and Striker talked about their history and the main event later on the show.

-They showed Matt Hardy heading toward the entrance tunnel backstage. [c]

-A commercial hyped the John Cena vs. Randy Orton and Raw Roulette gimmick on Raw this Monday night.

[Q4]

-A clip aired during Alberto Del Rio's ring entrance of his fiesta last week and his confrontation with Christian.

3 -- ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. MATT HARDY

Striker accused Rey Mysterio of exaggerating his injuries. Hardy knocked Del Rio to the floor early and pounded on him briefly. Del Rio knocked Hardy off the ring apron as he tried to re-enter with a kick to his head. [c] Del Rio had Hardy in the chinlock afterward. Three minutes and two more chinlocks later, Hardy teased a comeback with a Side Effect. He scored a two count a minute later. Hardy followed with a moonsault for a near fall. He overshot a little on it. Hardy limped to his feet. Del Rio shoved him into the corner and then mounted him. Hardy fought back, but Del Rio dropped down and yanked Hardy's arm over the top rope as he dropped. He then threw Hardy into the ringpost and applied the cross armbreaker for the quick tapout. Christian ran out to save Hardy from a post-match attack. Del Rio bailed out and said he would make him pay another place, another time.

WINNER: Del Rio in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Mediocre. Not exciting until the final couple minutes. The three chinlocks in a row were a bit much mid-match. Del Rio does have a good presence, though, and Hardy is making for an effectively sad sympathetic stepping stone for him.

[Q5]

-Grisham and Striker said "Legendary" has a very limited release in theaters, so go to WWE.com for a list of theaters in their area. They threw to a video package hyping it. [c]

-Striker hyped Taker vs. Punk once again.

3 -- DREW MCINTYRE vs. KAVAL

Striker said Kaval had to fight "tooth and nail" for over a dozen years to finally make it to WWE. He congratulated him. Kaval took McIntyre down with a running round kick. Striker said he is internationally known and has traveled the world, but was quick to add, "It doesn't matter what you have done anywhere else once you get to WWE." He said Kaval is finding out the difference between competing against rookies on NXT and battling McIntrye on Smackdown. Striker said Kaval has watched footage of Tatsumi Fujinami and Dynamite Kid from Japan in the early 1980s and is trying to bring it to WWE. When Kaval set up his double stomp off the top rope, McIntryre jumped to ringside. Kaval leaped at him. McIntyre caught him and swung him into the ringside barrier. The announcers said Kaval insisted LayCool not accompany him to the ring. McIntyre gave him his Future Shock DDT finisher for the clean win.

WINNER: McIntyre in 4:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Kaval got in some signature offense, but overall losing clean this quickly doesn't really give him any sense of momentum coming out of NXT. Why not give him a few wins first?

-Afterward LayCool ran out to help Kaval to the back, although they seemed grossed out by his sweat. Striker said we'll find out now how Kaval deals with adversity.

[Q6] [c]

-A Cody Rhodes grooming segment aired featuring him wearing an avocado facial mask. "A facial is so important to today's man," he said. That theme song is as bad a song as could possibly be invented.

-Vickie Guerrero walked out with her NXT rookie, Kaitlyn. She was not happy with Kaitlyn's introduction of her. She then introduced her man, Dolph Ziggler.

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

Striker announced that Ziggler will have to defend his IC Title against Kingston at Night of the Champions, and if he loses by DQ he loses his title. Masters overpowered Ziggler in the opening minute. Ziggler tagged in Chavo, who fended off an immediate Master Lock attempt. Striker called Chavo one of the most underrated Superstars in WWE. At 2:00 Kofi hot-tagged in against Ziggler with a flying Superman punch. At 3:00 Ziggler hot-tagged Chavo, but the ref didn't see it as he was stopping Masters from entering. As Ziggler protested, Kingston surprised him with Trouble in Paradise for the win. Striker said this shows there should be two referees - one in the ring and one at ringside.

WINNERS: Kingston & Masters in 3:00. This was fine for telling a story of Kingston scoring a pin on Ziggler, although it was clearly a fluke. Having Chavo and Masters out there was just to avoid giving away a singles matches which they're saving for the PPV. [c]

[Q7]

-Grisham and Striker hyped the line-up for Night of Champions. They said the sixth spot in the Six Pack Challenge match will be revealed at the PPV.

-They went backstage to Big Show imitating Josh Matthews and interviewing himself about facing Punk at NOC. Kelly Kelly walked in and said he's a giant nerd. Matthews then walked up to them and asked if they had seen his microphone anywhere. Show hid it in his armpit. Kelly implored him to give it to Matthews. He did. Kelly waved her hand in front of her face like it stunk. Show shoved his armpit toward her. [c]

5 -- C.M. PUNK (w/Mercury, Luke Gallows) vs. UNDERTAKER

Punk made his full ring intro followed by Undertaker. The match began with 18 minutes left in the show. Taker walked the top rope at 2:00, but Punk yanked him off balance and then kicked him to the floor.

[Q8] [c]

After the break, Punk applied a head scissors. At ringside at 8:00 Punk pounded away at Taker. Taker, though, made a comeback with an elbow and punch. Punk took over again and worked over Taker's arm in the ring. Striker said he's heard from WWE Superstars that they see a look in Taker's eyes that they've never seen. Grisham said the question is whether Taker is "irreversibly damaged." Striker wondered if Taker will ever be the same. Grisham recited, "Has Kane usurped the Undertaker's powers? Has he surpassed his own brother, becoming the Devil's Favorite Demon?" Punk shifted to a chinlock. Taker teased a comeback at 11:00, but Punk avoided an elbow drop and then hit a running knee in the corner. He followed immediately with a running bulldog for a nearly convincing near fall. Taker came back with a Snake Eyes at 13:00. Punk fired right back with a hook kick. Both were slow to get up. Taker caught Punk flying off the top rope and turned it into a chokeslam for a convincing near fall at 14:00. Taker looked winded and frustrated. He fell backward into the ropes and the did the throat-slicing gesture. Punk stood. Taker set it up. Punk slid out and gave him a Go To Sleep. Both again were slow to get up. As Punk moved in for the cover, Taker surprised him with the Devil's Gate for a quick tapout win. Grisham said it wasn't his most impressive performance, but he did ultimately win. He was wobbly as he tried to stand.

WINNER: Punk in 15:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- Very good TV main event match. It told a story while also providing convincing near falls for both men. They continued to really play up the idea that Taker is far from 100 percent.

-Afterward as Taker looked wobbly as he tried to stand, Kane's music played and the arena lights went red. Kane laughed maniacally as the show ended with Taker looking around giving off a sense he was feeling intimidated and concerned.

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