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WWE Smackdown review
February 22, 2008
Taped 2/19/08 in San Diego, CA.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open

-The show started with clips of the Smackdown Chamber match from No Way Out..

-Smackdown Open.

-Edge and his cohorts came to the ring. The champ talked about being a predator and an opportunist. He turned his attention to the Undertaker. Edge said he and Taker are both undefeated at WrestleMania. Edge had the camera zoom in close so the viewers could look in his eyes- he will not fall. The lights went out and when they came back on, Taker had Edge by the throat. Edge managed to escape thanks to the EdgeHeads, one of whom took a chokeslam.

[Commercial Break]

-Rey Mysterio will address his health and future tonight.

1- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. JIMMY WANG YANG- MITB QUALIFYING MATCH

Yang has no chance, but I’d like to see him in the match. It certainly plays to his strengths. Benjamin power-bombed Yang onto the top rope for two. Yang countered Shelton a few times and got a couple roll-ups for near-falls. Banjamin jumped to the top rope and overhead-threw Yang across the ring. Shelton went for the powerbomb again, but Yang fell forward and Shelton landed on his head. Crossbody by Yang for two. After Yang landed on his feet on a moonsault attempt, Benjamin surprised him with his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Benjamin at 6:52.

-Maryse was backstage, and she ran into Teddy Long outside his office. She requested five minutes with him and they went back into the room.

[Commercial Break]

-A medical update on Hornswoggle was given. We’ll see the footage later tonight.

2- JESSE & FESTUS vs. DEUCE ‘N DOMINO

I feel like I’ve seen this match ten times. Cherry looks different. I guess it’s her hair. Festus dominated Deuce early on. Deuce pushed Cherry into Jesse, allowing him to hit a sidekick off the distraction. Jesse’s nose was bleeding after the kick. Upon reply, looks like he caught Deuce’s heel right on the button. Jesse was able to tag Festus, who cleaned house. Rocket launcher and Jesse pinned Domino.

WINNERS: Jesse & Festus, at 5:15. Another loss for the Greasers where they got little offense.

-The Raw Rebound aired, focusing on Floyd and Big Show’s confrontation.

[Commercial Break]

-Some Smackdown superstars discussed their tour of South America.

3- BIG DADDY V vs. SHANNON MOORE

Side slam by V. Striker’s heckling at ringside is pretty funny. Big splash in the corner missed. Moore hit some dropkicks to the leg of Big Daddy, and even got him down to one knee. But he ran into a Samoan drop. V hit a running elbowdrop and that’ll do it.

WINNER: Big Daddy V, at 3:09.

-Coming up next, Batista takes on MVP in a re-match from last week.

[Commercial Break]

4- MVP vs. BATISTA

MVP did an inset interview, proclaiming that Batista would never beat him again. MV favored his back early on, from the top-of-the-pod chokeslam he took on Sunday. Back-and-forth action in the first minute or two, but it settled into MVP on offense. The match slowed to a crawl with MVP working on Batista’s neck. Batista was kicked to the outside and almost counted out. MVP kicked Batista in the head, but kicked out of a pin attempt. Playmaker was countered into a spinebuster. Make that three. Batista Bomb followed.

WINNER: Batista, at 7:42. Two straight clean losses for MVP. Hmm….

[Commercial Break]

-Michael Cole and Jonathon Coachman, on camera, discussed the injuries suffered by Hornswoggle on Monday night. Highlights were then shown of the beating.

[Commercial Break]

-Former WBC featherweight boxing champion Erik Morales was shown in the crowd.

5- GREAT KHALI vs. KANE

Ranjin Singh was not at ringside with Khali; he shattered his kneecap at NOW after taking the kick off the stairs by Taker. Clothesline in the corner from Kane, but the second try was unsuccessful. Cole compared Khali’s elbow size to a typewriter, and to their credit, both announcers made fun of that dated reference. Big boot by Khali. A standing boot to Khali’s face simply staggered the beast. Khali locked in his vice grip. He fell backward and grapevined Kane’s body with his legs, but the ref counted Khali’s shoulders down.

WINNER: Kane, at 3:09.

-Cole & Coach talked about Edge vs. Taker, then a video package on The Dead Man’s win streak aired.

[Commercial Break]

6- CHUCK PALUMBO vs. MATT JACKSON

Michelle McCool watched the match on a monitor backstage. Jackson’s back was rammed against the ringpost twice. Full Throttle finished the jobber off.

WINNER: Palumbo, at 2:00. Pretty impressive squash.

-Rey Mysterio was walking backstage, headed to the ring for his interview.

[Commercial Break]

-Rey Mysterio came out and got a good reception from his hometown crowd. Rey said his bicep is completely torn, then showed the bruise. He said he’s having surgery this weekend and won’t be able to participate in WrestleMania. He was interrupted by Vickie Guerrero in her trusty wheelchair. She said she didn’t give a damn if Rey was hurt. Clips were shown of last Friday’s main event segment. Vickie said Rey has to compete tonight. Boy, she’s in full heel mode here. She called for a referee and said he’d have to face her nephew, Chavo Guerrero.

7- REY MYSTERIO vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

Chavo ambushed Rey but Mysterio came back with a head-scissors. Chavo though landed a faceplant and Rey came down on his forearm. He writhed in pain as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Chavo predictably worked on the left arm of Rey. Rey got some offense in on the outside, then went to the top. Suplex off the top rope was blocked and Guerrero was knocked down. Rey came off the top with his seated senton for two. 619 was hit, but Rey couldn’t springboard himself to the top. Chavo took advantage and hit the Three Amigos. He missed a frogsplash and Rey rolled him up for three.

WINNER: Rey Mysterio, at 9:06. Decent match, all things considered.

-Vickie got on the mic and said since Rey hurt her, she’s going to hurt him. Big Show’s music began to play. Rey, for some reason, didn’t leave the ring. Once Show got in the ring he tried to leave, but Show grabbed him. Big splash in the corner, then Show stepped on Rey’s injured arm. Giant chokeslam from Show. He stared angrily into the camera as the screen faded to black.

Final Thoughts: If there was any question as to whether they’d switch the heel/face roles in the Show/Floyd feud, this show pretty much threw that idea out the window. Tonight’s show was not good….nothing was advanced, but there’s more than a month until WrestleMania, so that’s not a problem. Plenty of squash matches though, if that’s what floats your boat. Skippable show for sure.

For another perspective on this show, check out Jason Powell's Smackdown report with his POV analysis at our co-affiliate website, prowrestling.NET, right now!

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