By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
May 9, 2008
Taped 5/6/08 in London, Ontario, Can.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-Clips aired of last week’s main event segment, when Vickie Guerrero stripped Undertaker of the World Title.

-Vickie Guerrero was wheeled out by Teddy Long, and accompanied by her fiancee, Edge. Vickie read a prepared statement. She said she didn’t like having to strip Taker of the title. To find out who will be the new champion, there will be a match at Judgment Day. One of the participants will be Undertaker. She said his opponent will be determined tonight, as she has invited any former World or U.S. champion on Smackdown or ECW to participate in a championship chase. Edge has not been medically cleared, so he won’t be fighting. Big Show, John Morrison, Finlay, CM Punk, Chavo Guerrero, Tommy Dreamer, MVP, Kane, Matt Hardy, and Batista are the men participating in one-on-one matches tonight, with the winners being put in an over-the-top-rope battle royal in the main event, and the winner of THAT advancing to Judgment Day to face Taker. Sounds like a TNA-booked angle.

-Smackdown Open.

1- MATT HARDY vs. CM PUNK- CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE MATCH

Crowd was behind Hardy early on. Cole noted that this was a rematch from the King of the Ring tournament on Raw a few weeks ago. Punk got into an exchange of words with Hardy after Hardy refused to break an arm-bar when Punk got to the ropes. Electric chair by Hardy. He missed the yodeling elbow off the middle rope, but hit a Side Effect for two. Twist of Fate was blocked, and Punk hit the bulldog for a two-count. Hardy continued to work on the injured left arm of Punk. Punk tried a Magistra cradle, but couldn’t turn him all the way to get Matt’s shoulders down; instead, Matt just laid down onto Punk, and got the pin to advance.

WINNER: Hardy, at 4:46. Felt like it was setting up for a longer match, but like the KOTR tournament, you know we’re going to see some shorter matches from guys used to going long.

[Commercial Break]

2- MVP vs. FINLAY- CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE MATCH

Finlay distracted MVP with tennis balls, allowing Finlay to attack at the bell. Some mat wrestling followed, with MVP pie-facing Finlay during a break in the corner. A charge in the corner by Finlay missed, and he met the steel post. Fujiwara arm-bar on Finlay by MVP and for some reason, the show went to commercial in the middle of the hold.

[Commercial Break]

Crowd was behind Finlay as MVP was still working on the left arm. Didn’t they do the same thing in the last match? After Finlay landed a desperation clothesline, MVP kicked Finlay in the head and out of the ring. Another Hornswoggle distraction helped Finlay take over outside the ring, but once back in the ring, it was back to MVP’s advantage. MVP continued the abuse on Finlay’s arm/shoulder area. Finlay bodyslammed MVP and it was so close to the ropes that MVP’s legs bounced off the ropes. Half Boston Crab by Finlay. Back-and-forth mat holds by both men, with MVP working the arm and Finlay working MVP’s leg. Back suplex by MVP, and the count of three is registered, but both men’s shoulders were down. Referee Mickie Henson declared it a draw.

WINNER: Draw, at 14:46. No word as to whether either man or neither man advances. Match was stylistically fine, but not really exciting.

[Commercial Break]

3- KELLY KELLY vs. NATALYA

The girls got into a shoving match after Neidhart opened things with a snap suplex. They showed Michelle McCool backstage watching the match on a monitor. Surfboard applied by Natalya. Natalya pulled Kelly off the middle rope, then applied the Sharpshooter for the submission victory.

WINNER: Natalya, at 2:43. Kelly has really become competent in the ring.

-Fans reacted to Vickie stripping Undertaker of the World Title.

-Batista is in action next.

[Commercial Break]

-Clips aired of Finlay vs. MVP from earlier tonight. Vickie announced that both men would participate in tonight’s battle royal.

4- JOHN MORRISON vs. BATISTA- CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE MATCH

Morrison tried to kick and run; his kicks didn’t seem to have much effect on the former champ, though. Morrison got Batista to chase him and ended up dropkicking him through the ropes. Batista came back and laid the shoulders into Morrison’s gut. Morrison just grazed Batista with a dropkick that sent Batista to the outside. The former Tough Enough winner continued the assault on Batista outside the ring. Dropkick off the top for Morrison, who got a two-count. Hurricanrana by Morrison after Batista had him set up for a powerbomb. Mid-air spear by Batitsa. Batista Bomb, and it’s over.

WINNER: Batista, at 6:34. The winner was a foregone conclusion, but I’m surprised how much offense Morrison got in. Pretty decent match, too.

-The video from the opening of the show aired again.

-They showed a graphic of who is in the over-the-top-rope challenge scheduled for later tonight.

-Big Show was walking backstage...his match is next.

[Commercial Break]

5- BIG SHOW vs. TOMMY DREAMER- CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE MATCH

Dreamer limped to the ring, selling the effects of his match from this past Tuesday night on ECW. Show headbutted Dreamer down then hit his trademark chop. Dreamer came back with a double axe-handle of the middle rope, but soon after, was caught in the chokeslam.

WINNER: Show, at 1:35.

[Commercial Break]

6- CHAVO GUERRERO vs. KANE- CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE MATCH

Is it supposed to be ironic that Bam Neely is a former border patrol agent working with a Mexican, in Chavo Guerrero? Kane went for the chokeslam early, but Chavo got to the ropes. Kane used a double-leg take-down on Chavo, but Guerrero still held the advantage. Chavo worked over the legs of Kane and it came in handy when Kane had Chavo up in the two-handed choke- Kane just collapsed due to the pressure on his knee. Missile dropkick from the top by Chavo. Kane sat up when Chavo took too much time, and hti the big boot. Chavo tried to come off the top again, but Kane grabbed him in a choke. Chavo attempted a sunset flip, but Kane sat down and got the victory.

WINNER: Kane, at 5:56. Okay match I guess. This feud just doesn’t inspire memorable matches.

[Commercial Break]

-A WWE.com exclusive saw Cherry getting tossed from the Deuce ‘N Domino team in favor of Maryse.

7- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs PHIL ATLAS

Overhead belly-to-belly throw by Kozlov. Headbutt to the gut was next. Reverse DDT and that’s all she wrote.

WINNER: Kozlov, at 1:24. The matches of Kozlov are worth watching for his facial reactions alone.

-76% of fans think Vickie was not justified in stripping Taker of the title, according to WWE’s text messaging poll. I actually thought that number would be higher.

-Batista was....jumping around, getting ready for the over-the-top-rope battle, which is on deck.

[Commercial Break]

8- CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE OVER-THE-TOP-ROPE CHALLENGE

Your participants: Big Show, MVP, Kane, Finlay, Matt Hardy and Batista. All six man paired off once the bell rang. MVP’s strategy included going to the outside for a breather. Kane and Show were going at it when Batista joined in to try to take Show out. Finlay barely hung on when MVP saved him from an elimination by Show. Big clothesline on Batista from Show after he shrugged off another double-team from Hardy and Kane.

[Commercial Break]

The crowd watched in stunned silence (I assume) as Show continued to dominate. No one eliminated yet, and we’re about eight minutes in. Batista came close to eliminating Big Show. Hardy hit the Side Effect on Finlay, but MVP came from behind and eliminated Hardy, the first elimination, 9:58 into the match. Big Show picked Finlay up over his head for a press-slam when Batista came and speared him. Finlay grabbed a shillaleigh and unloaded on everyone until Kane booted him out at 10:59 of the contest. MVP missed a corner kick on Batista and propelled himself out at 12:39. Kane quickly followed in being eliminated 13 seconds later.

The match was down to Big Show and Batista. Show charged at Batista in the corner, but Batista drop-toe holded him into the turnbuckle. Batista tried a Batista Bomb but Show picked him up and got near the ropes. Batista head-scissored Show out of the ring for the win at 15:06.

But wait! Vickie came out and said Edge has just been medically cleared to wrestle, and Batista has to go through HIM to win the match! Edge rushed out to the ring and speared Batista, who was still recovering on the ring apron, and Batista hit the floor, with Edge getting the win and the title shot at Judgment Day.

WINNER: Edge, at 15:59.

After the match, Edge went up the ramp to the title, which was held on a pedestal in a box. The pedestal burst into flames, and Undertaker’s gong went off over the loud-speaker. Edge looked around in fear as the show ended.

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