By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 8, 2010
AIRED ON SYFY

[Q1]

-The show opened with a focus on Rey Mysterio's in-ring return to Smackdown against Alberto Del Rio. As much as WWE attracts viewers due to the brand itself, it's still a business elevated to higher levels by name-brand stars, and Rey is one of them.

-Todd Grisham, Michael Cole, and Matt Striker introduced the show. They hyped that Kane has a message for Undertaker. When they went to all three announcers at ringside, no explanation was given for Cole's presence. Instead, Grisham just introduced him as being from Raw.

-Teddy Long walked out onto the stage to his entrance music and said it's his distinct pleasure to introduce Smackdown's newest Superstar. He said he personally traded for him: Edge. Edge walked out onto the stage to his music. Grisham called it a Blue Chip acquisition for Smackdown.

1 -- EDGE vs. JACK SWAGGER

As Edge made his ring intro, Grisham asked Cole, "Why exactly are you here?" Cole replied: "Didn't you hear the Miz? I am a visionary when it comes to broadcasting and sports entertainment. I am the voice of WWE." Swagger walked onto the stage with his mascot. This is pretty funny that a heel wrestler has an animal mascot. Swagger said he's happy Edge was traded to Smackdown. He said he can ruin his return to SD the same way Edge ruined his return to Oklahoma on the Smackdown season premiere. He said he and his mascot were flying high and Edge ruined it by spearing his personal mascot, the "Swagger Soaring Eagle." He asked why. He said he's friendly and children love him. "Do you know how hard it is for an eagle to get medical insurance?" he asked. Edge challenged Swagger to get into the ring so he could make him look stupid in three seconds. He then said he also has no problem flipping the bird. Cole said he's wondering which wrestler Raw gets in exchange for Edge.

Swagger entered the ring and the bell rang to start the match. Grisham noted this is a rematch from Hell in a Cell's impromptu battle between these two. Swagger outwrestled Edge and then did push-ups on his back. The eagle celebrated at ringside as Edge regrouped on the other side of the ring. Edge re-entered the ring and speared the eagle off the ring apron. Swagger checked on the eagle as they cut to a break. [c]

Cole said the Swagger Soaring Eagle is being stretchered to the back. Cole said Edge should be in trouble since bald eagles are an endangered species. Grisham pointed out it's not a real eagle. Cole said it's the symbolism of the matter. Swagger settled into an armbar in mid-ring. They showed a clip of the eagle being stretchered. Cole asked, "Does this silly human occur every Friday on Smackdown?"

[Q2]

When Swagger went for the anklelock at 10:00, Edge powered out. Swagger lifted Edge for a powerslam, but Edge slipped free and hit a spear for the win. Afterward Edge said he knows this is a PG show, but he definitely just flipped the bird. WWE needs to stop referencing that they're PG. It turns off a key male adult demo that doesn't want to feel like it's watching a show that crosses demographics with Spongebob Squarepants. It's not worth the one-liner to advertise "nothing edgy happens here."

WINNER: Edge in 11:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- The comedy stuff aside, good action between these two. Cole added some energy to the broadcast team so far, too. It's still a bad idea to have a lead Raw announcer be a heelish character, though.

-The announcers hyped Rey vs. Del Rio was coming up. [c]

-Cody Rhodes did a segment on brushing teeth, including instructions on specific teeth to brush and how to do it, then footage of him spitting out the toothpaste. Then he said you should rinse with ice cold bottle water (funny) and "swish and swish and spit."

-Cole said he likes being on Smackdown because he learns something new every week from "Dashing" Cody.

2 -- LAYLA (w/Michelle McCool) vs. KELLY KELLY (w/Natalya)

Striker said this rivalry between Layla and Kelly goes back to Extreme Expose years ago. Cole asked who remembers that. Kelly showed some high energy offense, but then Layla finished her with a stunner out of nowhere. Afterward Layla went after Natalya, but Natalya countered and went for a quick sharpshooter. McCool yanked her out of the ring by her leg to save her.

WINNER: Layla in 2:00.

-Grisham plugged MVP vs. Dolph Ziggler for the IC Title later tonight. A title match doesn't get mentioned until 30 minutes into the show?

[Q3] [c]

-Big Show ran to the ring. "I bet you never saw a fat man run that fast, have you?" He said October is a huge month for him. He hyped his movie, "Knucklehead," coming out Oct. 22. "Where else can you see a fat man in his underwear other than here?" He said he just found out a few minutes ago he has been named Team Captain for Smackdown at Bragging Rights on Oct. 23. He said his first decision is to unify the SD roster and put all of the ill-will aside. He said they need a macot, and then introduced Hornswoggle dressed up as a viking. "Do not adjust your TV set. Smurfet did not grow a beard." The Dude Busters interrupted. They told Show they're so happy to be there. "We're your guys for Team Smackdown," they lobbied. Show said, "Sorry, I don't know who you guys are. Who are you bustin'. I don't get it?" He said he appreciates their enthusiasm, but he needs time to evaluate the roster and decide who's best for the team. They pulled off their Smackdown t-shirts and revealed Raw t-shirts, threatening to defect if he doesn't choose them. Shouldn't the announcers point out wrestlers can't switch brands on a whim on their own. Show then chokeslammed both of them and ripped off their t-shirts. Hornswoggle then charged at Show holding up the ripped Raw red t-shirts as if he he was a bull and Show was a matador.

-A clip aired of Del Rio attacking Rey on a previous show. The announcers hyped that match again. [c]

[Q4]

3 -- CODY RHODES & DREW MCINTYRE vs. KAVAL & KOFI KINGSTON

Striker said Drew got into a shouting match with a baggage handler at an airport last weekend; he said since winning the tag team titles his ego is out of control. Grisham questioned their walking out separately to their own music. Kaval hot-tagged in at 2:00 and went to work on Cody rapid-fire. Kaval applied a Dragon Sleeper. When Drew interfered, Kofi attacked him. Cody then threw Kofi over the top rope. Cody then dropped Kaval over the top rope and then gave him his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Cody & Drew in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Good short tag match. [c]

-Paul Bearer stood mid-ring and said Kane is a man who should be revered, respected, and feared. He said this man, Kane, single-handedly destroyed the myth of the Undertaker. He said his very soul seeped into the concrete. Kane came out and said he didn't think his brother's pride would make him so weak. He said he is more powerful than Undertaker can ever imagine. He had horror movie theme music in the background. He relished the look on Taker's face when Bearer turned on him and handed him the urn. He said everyone wrongly assumed that with Bearer's return, Taker would once again be full, and that is the most delicious part.

[Q5]

The crowd chanted "Un-der-ta-ker!" He said the Dead Man now answers to the Devil's Favorite Son. He said he destroyed the legend and now the fans have nothing left but their empty, miserable, pathetic lives. He said Taker's legacy has been shattered and he has failed all of his creatures of the night. He said it must feel like he's in his own corner of hell, but he shouldn't worry "because we are just warming up." The announcers wondered what he meant by that.

-Another clip aired of Del Rio taunting and tormenting Rey. [c]

-WWE Fact: In 2007, the word Smackdown as actually added to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

4 -- DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. MVP -- Intercontinental Title Match

Striker asked, when Vickie walked out wearing a leather outfit, "Have you ever seen leather look so good?" Grisham said, "As the Bee Gees said, she's more than a woman." Cole said it's 2010, that song came out in 1977. He said Vince McMahon wasn't even an announcer yet. Striker said some have said Vickie is a gold digger, so what would she do if Ziggler lost the IC Title. Ziggler draped MVP over the bottom rope and wanted Vickie to slap him as he distracted the ref. She didn't. Grisham said she "not exactly a ray of sunshine tonight." He wondered why she even came to ringside tonight, since she stood there scowling with her arms crossed. When Dolph asked her why she was acting that way, she just walked away. Cole said his infidelity cost him Vickie's loyalty. They cut to a break as MVP went after Ziggler at ringside. [c]

[Q6]

Ziggler dominated for several minutes after the break. After MVP made a comeback, Kaitlyn walked out. Ziggler applied a sleeper at 10:00. MVP countered with a judo toss. MVP signaled for his finishing sequence, but Kaitlyn grabbed his leg. MVP turned to protest at which point Ziggler surprised him with the Zig Zag for the win. Vickie stepped onto the stage and yelled angrily at the ring. Ziggler shouted that Kaitlyn means nothing and he loves her.

WINNER: Ziggler in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- The match was missing something. The action wasn't bad, but it felt like merely a sequence of moves leading up to angle at the end.

-A video aired touting WWE's involvement in visiting the troops. [c]

[Q7]

-The Raw Rebound aired. The Smackdown announcers reacted. Cole said it was one of the most unbelievable nights he's experienced in WWE. Striker said Wade Barrett said it perfectly: Change is in the air.

-Josh Matthews interviewed Del Rio backstage. He asked if he was concerned with Rey's motivation level for this fight. Del Rio said Rey's bark is bigger than his bite. He said he's a Mexican icon, but he's not the Essence of Excellence. He said the only thing the people need to know is he's going to leave Rey in a pile of dog trash and his only concern is how he'll wipe him off the bottom of his shoe. That little Smackdown logo hanging behind Del Rio in that interview looks low budget. [c]

-Del Rio's elaborate ring entrance took place with his personal ring announcer introducing him and him driving out in a Rolls Royce. Then Rey's full ring intro took place.

[Q8]

5 -- ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. REY MYSTERIO

Cole questioned Rey's conditioning and whether his recent injury would cost him as the match progressed. At 1:00 Rey knocked Del Rio to the floor and then sent him face-first into the ringside steps. He followed up with a slidekick into his arm while it was pressed against the ringpost. Grisham said that could affect his ability to apply the cross armbreaker. He then dove off the top rope onto Del Rio on the floor. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]

Rey set up Del Rio for a 619 after the break, but Del Rio bailed out to ringside. As Del Rio returned to the ring, Rey swung through the ropes and kicked him to the floor again. Cole said he hasn't seen Rey this determined in a long time. Rey slidekicked Del Rio in the corner of the ring a minute later. Cole said Del Rio didn't expect this onslaught from Rey tonight. When Rey climbed to the top rope, Del Rio jumped high and roundkicked Rey to the floor at 7:00. Del Rio went into his offense, which is still pretty plodding and unimaginative.

Rey countered at 11:00 with a sunset flip powerbomb off the top rope. Rey roundkicked Del Rio in the head when he was on his knees and then made the cover for a two count. Cole said Del Rio is impressively kicking out of these near falls by Rey. Del Rio came back with a quick powerslam for a sudden two count. He followed up with a back suplex for another two count. Rey climbed to the top rope and hit a flying head scissors; Del Rio landed against the middle rope in 619 position. Del Rio's ring announcer distracted Rey, which gave Del Rio a chance to come back and hit Rey from behind. Rey, though, countered by sending Del Rio into his ring announcer with a spear off the ring apron. He followed up with a 619 and top rope splash for the win.

WINNER: Mysterio in 13:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Solid grudge match with good intensity early and a steady pace throughout. Surprising to see Rey get clean revenge so soon. They'll have to find a way to propel this feud to another level as I assume this isn't the end.

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