By Greg Parks, PWTorch contributor

WWE Smackdown review
April 11, 2008
Taped 4/8/08 in Boston, Mass.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-Smackdown Open.

-Michael Cole had the gall to call this “network television’s hottest show.” He and Jonathon Coachman plugged Undertaker vs. Festus tonight. In the ring, it looks like it’s another Khali celebration. Dancing music, and guys without shirts in the ring with Khali. It wouldn’t be a sports-entertainment show without guys not wearing shirts. Apparently, the big man has a Punjabi peace offering for Big Show. One of the shirtless men is speaking for Khali. Khali then got the mic and was apparently speaking directly to Show when Big Show’s music hit and the man himself came to the ring. Special water from the Ganges, I think he said, is the peace offering. The water is in some sort of bowl. Big Show didn’t appear to be enthralled with the smell. The second gift was India’s finest Scotch. Big Show took a sip, and barely downed it. Next, a chicken, so Show can have its eggs and never go hungry. Oh my, a goat is next. Gandhi used to drink goat milk said one of the men, and it is so Show never goes thirsty. Show said words can’t describe how this feels, so he’ll show him: and he shook his hand. Some fans actually clapped. Of course, Show then socked Khali, felling the giant. And Show is the face here? He just came off as intolerant of Khali’s culture.

[Commercial Break]

-We saw what happened moments ago.

-Tonight on Smackdown, Shawn Michaels and Batista go face-to-face....again. They’re also running the same text poll from Raw, seeing if the Smackdown crowd agrees with the Raw crowd.

1- JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. SHANNON MOORE & JIMMY WANG YANG

Clips of the tag champs imitating Moore & Yang on WWE.com’s “Dirt Sheet” were shown. I feel like we’ve seen this match a dozen times in the last three or four months. Morrison was trash talking in the ring, and called one of the faces a virgin. Back-and-forth action for the first few minutes. Yang and Moore got a few near falls, but a Morrison cheap shot allowed the heels to take over. Most of the work by the champs were done on Shannon Moore. Moore finally made the hot tag to Yang, who cleaned house on Morrison, using his educated feet. Dropkick off the middle rope for two by Yang. Miz broke the count. Yang was distracted by Miz and Morrison hit a springboard kick for two. Morrison missed a charge and went over the top rope, but a blind tag was made and Miz hit the Reality Check for the win.

WINNERS: Miz & Morrison, at 8:06. Not a bad match, but one we’ve seen before.

-Teddy Long was standing by....somewhere.....as Edge and Vickie Guerrero were getting massages. Edge said it was nice and relaxing and he’s glad Vickie suggested massages rather than being at the arena. If Vickie and Teddy are there, who’s in charge of Smackdown?

[Commercial Break]

2- FINLAY vs. MATT STRIKER

Hornswoggle was back with Finlay, and they came out to Horny’s music. He hid under the ring before the match started. A minute into the match, he squirted Striker with a water gun. It was all Finlay until Striker poked Fit in the eye. He dropkicked Finlay to the apron, then worked the left arm back in the ring. Finlay came back and used a monkey-flip to gain control. Striker came back and sent Finlay to the outside, but Finlay trapped him in the apron cover on a baseball slide attempt. Hornswoggle and Finlay dumped confetti and water on Striker as Striker called Hornswoggle “Sky Low Low.” Hornswoggle used a balloon hammer on Striker, who took it away from the little guy. Referee Mickey Henson saw Striker with it and took it away from him. As that happened, Finlay nailed Striker with a shillaleigh for the win.

WINNER: Finlay, at 4:59. Just a comedy match, but it speaks volumes when Finlay needs all those distractions AND a weapon to be Striker.

After the match, Hornswoggle hit a Tadpole Splash on Striker.

[Commercial Break]

3- VICTORIA vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL

Victoria introduced Natalia Neidhart, her new best friend, who came down to the ring with her. We even got a video package of her father, Jim Neidhart. Natalia said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She gave a message to the divas on Smackdown: When you mess with the best, you go down with the best. She even did a laugh and gave a “yeah, baby.” Nice.

Michelle was not happy, and came out swinging. Victoria got away from the onslaught by retreating to ringside. Michelle followed her out and clotheslined her. Victoria turned the tables back inside the squared circle. McCool went to the top, but was caught by Victoria. She hit a suplex off the middle rope for only two. Neck-breaker by McCool. Neidhart threw her jacket at McCool, distracting her while Victoria rolled her up, grabbed the tights, and pulled off the victory.

WINNER: Victoria, at 2:22.

-Cole plugged the “who was right?” text poll between Batista and HBK. They go face-to-face next.

[Commercial Break]

-Michael Cole was in the ring. He talked about the rivalry, then threw it to a video package of how things got started. After that, Cole introduced Batista first, then Shawn Michaels. Cole went back to the announce table and Batista said he just wants it HBK and him. HBK said everybody, even Flair, has closure on the situation...except Batista. HBK said Batista’s problem isn’t what happened at WM....his problem is with Michaels. Batista said Michaels was right, then called him the same old Shawn Michaels and said he hasn’t changed at all. Batista said he doesn’t like the way HBK got to the top- by holding people down, stepping on people, and stabbing them in the back. HBK said he isn’t Batista’s size so he had to do what he had to do to get noticed. Michaels said come Backlash, he’s going to knock Batista’s teet down his throat. HBK went for a superkick, but Batista avoided it- HBK then squirmed out of a Batista Bomb and got out of the ring. Sounds like they’re getting away from the Flair part of the storyline.

-Undertaker vs. Festus is still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

4- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. MATT LOGAN

Apparently, Kozlov has a taste for wrestlers named “Matt.” Logan’s offense had no effect and Kozlov used some unique offense to put Logan down, including headbutts to the chest. He caught Logan coming off the top, and gave him a reverse DDT. That was it.

WINNER: Kozlov, at :58.

-More Vickie and Edge, who were getting facials. Teddy brought them drinks. Boy when Vickie gets her comeuppance and Teddy takes back over, that should get a pretty good pop after the way he’s been treated. They were even getting pedicures. High class.

[Commercial Break]

-MVP came out to do guest commentary for the next match.

5- MATT HARDY vs. CHUCK PALUMBO

Palumbo worked a side-headlock to start. Chuck hammered at Hardy in the corner. MVP made fun of Coach, even though both are heels. Something tells me that’s Vince egging him on. Palumbo had control until he missed an elbowdrop. Enziguiri by Hardy, then a cross-body sent both men over the top rope. MVP distracted Matt by just standing there, allowing Chuck to get a clothesline to the back of the head.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the match, Palumbo hit a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Belly-to-back suplex by Palumbo after Hardy worked out of a chin-lock. Boot to the skull by Palumbo after Hardy got out of another rest-hold. Hardy came back a minute later with a Side Effect. Twist of Fate was blocked and Palumbo responded with a Samoan drop; Hardy kicked out at two. He finally hit the Twist of Fate for the win.

WINNER: Hardy, at 11:57. During commentary, MVP challenged Hardy to a match next week in England. The match was fine, though Palumbo got more offense than I expected.

-Eve Torres knocked on Jesse & Festus’ door backstage...she’s going to try to get an interview with them next.

[Commercial Break]

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