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By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
April 25, 2008
Taped 4/22/08 in Greensboro, N.C.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-A video package that caught viewers up on what has happened since Edge lost the belt at ‘Mania aired. It also previewed tonight’s main event.

-Smackdown Open.

-In the ring, it’s the Edge-Guerrero clan. Edge seemed quite happy that Batista and Edge would be going at it again tonight. Vickie took the mic and said she was excited to announce that the Undertaker vs. Batista match would be no-DQ. Edge said no matter who wins tonight, there will be a new World Champion at Backlash. He then plugged Chavo vs. Kane as well. He said it would be a great night for his familia....when CM Punk’s music interrupted. Edged taunted Punk about losing to William Regal in the King of the Ring tournament on Monday. Punk said the Money in the Bank contract is a lot better way to the top than sleeping with the boss, like SOMEONE he knows. Punk said the love Edge and Vickie have for each other is “gross.” Punk said he was out to make a public service announcement about the fact that he can cash his briefcase in anytime he wants. He said he, Undertaker and Batista can all beat Edge. Edge wanted a match with Punk tonight, so Vickie granted it. Edge said after tonight, Punk will be “bankrupt.” What does that even mean?

[Commercial Break]

-Coach and Cole plugged the new WWE Kids Magazine.

1- THE MIZ vs. SHANNON MOORE

Cole noted that this match was made so the tag champs could get even with Yang & Moore over what happened Tuesday night on ECW. John Morrison did commentary with Coach & Cole. Morrison blamed his loss on Tuesday on it being Earth Day, which has got to be a first. Moore and Miz went back-and-forth. Moore hit a couple of arm-drags, then a head-scissors. Morrison made a note of Adamle taking over for Coach as the worst announcer in WWE. Miz pulled Moore off the top rope and got a near-fall. A small-package by Moore surprised Miz and earned Moore a two-count. Moore started his comeback, but it ended when Miz got a scoop slam. Reality Check was dodged, and Moore locked in a backslide to earn the victory.

WINNER: Moore, at 4:35. I would assume this makes Moore & Yang number one contenders....again.

-Undertaker vs. Batista in a no-DQ match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Cole talked about this past Monday, when all three Presidential candidates addressed the WWE fan-base. Clips of each one of their promos aired.

2- CHERRY vs. NATALYA

I guess they’ve already gotten rid of the “Neidhart.” Nice take-down and snap suplex from Natalya. Two bodyslams in a row got Natalya a near-fall. Natalya taunted Cherry, but Cherry came back with a slap to the face. Neidhart took out her leg though and began to work on it. Crowd got behind Cherry as she was near submission at the hands on her opponent. Neidhart missed a charge and Cherry got a roll-up, then a bulldog. She tried a monkey-flip, but Neidhart just pushed her off. She did the family laugh and locked in the Sharpshooter for the submission victory.

WINNER: Natalya, at 4:24. Natalya looked impressive in her debut, but she’s very similar, in a lot of ways, to Beth Phoenix. I don’t mind, since they’re on separate shows, and it could lead to quite an inter-promotional dream match.

-A video package on Big Show vs. Khali aired.

[Commercial Break]

-In the ring, Michael Cole brought out Matt Hardy for an interview. We saw what happened five months ago, when MVP turned on Matt and injured his knee. Cole asked about his knee, and Matt said he was 100%. Hardy called himself the biggest threat MVP has ever had. MVP’s music interrupted Matt and the U.S. Champ came out. MVP told Cole to scram. MVP tried to take credit for their teamwork late last year. MVP said his friendship with Matt was genuine. He said Matt screwed himself because he was jealous. Matt said what MVP sees in his eyes is not jealousy, but confidence. Matt said this Sunday, he’d prove he was better than MVP. MVP said he was hoping they could become friends, but Matt will have his chance to become champion on Sunday. He then attacked Matt with the belt and left him laying in the ring. Matt held up his end of the interview pretty well.

-Backstage, CM Punk was on his way to the ring for his match with Edge, next.

[Commercial Break]

-A video on the WrestleMania reading challenge aired.

3- EDGE vs. CM PUNK

Punk stayed on top of Edge as the two fought to the mat. Slow start to things. Edge took over with a knee-lift and some well-placed knees to the back. He tried another knee-lift, and Punk rolled him up for two. Punk worked the arm for a bit, but both men went to the top rope and punched each other off- Edge hit in the ring and Punk outside. Perfect time for a break.

[Commercial Break]

Edge was able to gain the upper hand during the break, and had a body-scissors on Punk in the ring upon return. Punk came back and monkey-flipped Edge into the turnbuckle. Back on their feet, both men collided in mid-air on stereo cross-body attempts. Enziguiri by Punk, but Edge rolled out of a GTS attempt and got a two-count. Bulldog by Punk for two. A series of near-falls ensued, that really got the crowd into things. Edge came back with the Edgecution, but he took too long to make the cover and Punk kicked out. Punk landed the GTS, but it was too close to the ropes and Edge rolled out of the ring. Punk rolled Edge into the ring, but as the ref was distracted, Zach Ryder came from behind Punk. Punk caught him, but the delay gave Edge enough time to recover and hit the spear for the three.

WINNER: Edge, at 16:19. Very good match. The loss didn’t hurt Punk much, either.

-Coming up in the main event, Undertaker vs. Batista, no-DQ for the World Title.

[Commercial Break]

-WWE Rebound aired.

4- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. MARTY GARNER

Hard headlock on Garner by Kozlov. Garner came back with a couple right hands, but a headbutt to the breadbasket ended that onslaught. Overhead throw by Kozlov and his reverse DDT finished it.

WINNER: Kozlov, at 1:36.

-Cole profiled Taker’s new finisher, still not calling it by name. A video showed Taker’s history with the move, starting on January 25, 2008, using it to beat Big Daddy V.

[Commercial Break]

-Cole & Coach previewed the Backlash card.

-Batista thanked Vickie Guerrero in her office for the shot at the title, but he said he knows what she’s up to.

[Commercial Break]

-Coach congratulated Hillary Clinton for winning Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Cole then threw it to highlights of the Clinton vs. Barack match from Raw.

5- BATISTA vs. UNDERTAKER- NO DQ MATCH FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

The two men took turns shoulderblocking the other down. Batista speared Undertaker, but fell down on Taker, who tried to apply his submission hold, but Batista rolled out of the ring.

[Commercial Break]

Batista was thrown shoulder-first into the ring steps upon return. Taker went for Old School, but Batista was having none of that. A few seconds later, Taker tried it again, and hit it. Taker grabbed Batista for a chokeslam, but Batista fended it off. Powerslam by Batista for two. Spear by Batista for two. Batista punched away at Taker, but Taker came away from the corner and powerbombed him. Only two, again. Taker brought the steps into the ring and had Batista up for a Tombstone on it. But Batista got out and hit the spinebuster on Taker on the stairs. Ouch. He then tried to hit the Batista Bomb onto the stairs, but HBK came out of nowhere and hit Sweet Chin Music on Batista. Tombstone by Taker and it’s over.

WINNER: Undertaker, at 13:26.

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