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WWE Smackdown review
May 30, 2008
Taped 5/26/08 in Colorado Springs, Co.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

Sorry for the absence last week....my CW affiliate was showing the Yankees game for some reason.

-WWE Open.

-Backstage, Edge addressed the camera. He said he’d be presenting moments that chronicle the Undertaker’s career, as this will be the last time Taker will be on Smackdown. He’ll also be a guest on “The Cutting Edge” tonight.

-Smackdown Open.

-Batista, dressed to the nines, came out, likely to talk about his One Night Stand match with Shawn Michaels. Batista soaked in the reaction before speaking. He said the time for talking is over, so he’ll make it short. Batista vowed that he would hurt Shawn on Sunday. He said the issue between he and Shawn is beyond personal. Batista was about to say the winner of the TLC match would have to deal with him, but Vickie Guerrero interrupted. Crowd was all over her again. Vickie warned Batista not to get ahead of himself, as the draft lottery is coming up, and he may not even be on Smackdown. She then scolded him for assuming he’d be in line for a title shot. Vickie warned him not to lose on Sunday, as it would make her and the brand look bad. Dave said it wasn’t about her or the brands, it’s about he and Shawn. Curt Hawkins (thankfully wearing a jacket with his name on it), told Batista to shut his mouth. That upset Batista, naturally. Vickie made a tag match for later...Hawkins & Ryder vs. Batista and a partner of his choice.

-The first Undertaker video aired. It was his debut at Survivor Series 1990.

-Matt Hardy was walking backstage. He’s in action next.

[Commercial Break]

1- MATT HARDY vs. ELIJAH BURKE

Matt got out of the gate quickly, but Burke took some shots at Matt in the corner. Burke got a near-fall and stayed on offense. Burke was seated on the top rope, but Matt punched him off. Elijah came back with a fist-drop off the second rope for two. A Side Effect was blocked, but Burke couldn’t get the backslide and was hit with the Effect for two. Twist of Fate after a blocked bulldog was all for Burke.

WINNER: Hardy, at 5:30. Decent TV match.

-Eve Torres was backstage with MVP. He said no one cares about Matt Hardy. MVP blamed moronic decision-making for his losses when Jamie Noble walked up. He said MVP is blaming his problems on everyone but himself. He tried to say MVP and him are a lot alike, but MVP wasn’t having that. He said he’s half-man, half-amazing, and Noble is barely half-man. Noble got offended, so the two got to arguing. Jamie challenged MVP to a match for tonight. Kind of an odd match-up.

[Commercial Break]

2- FINLAY vs. CHUCK PALUMBO

With his big black hat and sunglasses, Palumbo came down to the ring looking like Big Kenny from Big & Rich. Palumbo aggressively started out the match, just throwing Finlay around like few have in the past. Finlay turned the tide by side-stepping a charge and Palumbo went shoulder-first into the post. Finlay worked over the shoulder, including throwing Chuck into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Chuck hit a big boot with Finlay coming off the ropes at full-speed. Palumbo missed with a legdrop off the middle rope. Back to the outside, Palumbo pulled Hornswoggle out from under the ring, but couldn’t do any damage. Palumbo did some damage to Finlay though, punching him with a steel chain wrapped around his wrist to draw the DQ.

WINNER: Finlay, by DQ, at 4:40. Intense, hard-fought match.

-Ryder & Hawkins were talking with Vickie when Jamie Noble walked in. He wanted a match with MVP and Vickie granted it, but Jamie kept ranting about MVP until the three told him to get out.

-Undertaker moment number two: Skip ahead eight years to Taker throwing Mick Foley off the top of Hell in a Cell.

-On “The Cutting Edge” tonight, Undertaker is the special guest.

[Commercial Break]

3- JOHN MORRISON vs. CM PUNK

The Miz was tossed from ringside before the match even began. The two former ECW champs went back-and-forth for the first two minutes. Bulldog out of the corner by Punk got him a two-count. Punk set Morrison up for a reverse suplex, but brought him up to his shoulders and landed the GTS for the win.

WINNER: Punk, at 2:57. High-energy match, but surprisingly short. I don’t think this says much of Morrison’s chances on Sunday.

-Hawkins & Ryder face Batista and a partner of his choice....and it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

4- BATISTA & BIG SHOW vs. ZACK RYDER & CURT HAWKINS

Batista said he did not need a partner. Vickie taunted him, so Big Show came out. He took Vickie backstage and came out to be Batista’s partner. Batista owned Ryder at the outset, and even hit Show’s slap to the chest in the corner. Show then tagged in to show Batista how it’s done. Hawkins and Ryder took a breather on the outside, so Show pulled Ryder in by his head. Yikes. Ryder ran from Batista, and tagged Hawkins, who looked none to happy about it. Batista continued chasing Ryder, so Hawkins nailed him from behind. That offense didn’t last long though, and before long, Batista took back over. The two faces hit their finishers at the same time to the guys in the ring to finish it.

WINNERS: Show & Batista, at 3:20.

-Later tonight, Undertaker is the guest on “The Cutting Edge.”

-From 2007, Undertaker won the Royal Rumble, throwing out Shawn Michaels.

[Commercial Break]

-Cherry was getting looked at by a trainer when Maryse barged in. She said Cherry isn’t the only one who needs attention. Maryse said her ankle hurt every since she beat Cherry last week. Maryse then walked away, satisfied with her little dig at Cherry.

-Michael Cole and Mick Foley discussed the One Night Stand card.

-Backstage, MVP was getting ready for his match with Jamie Noble...and it’s next.

[Commercial Break]

5- MVP vs. JAMIE NOBLE

Noble got off to a good start and worked the left leg of MVP. MVP came back, stomping the mid-section of Noble and managing to fit in some trash talk. MVP tried the running kick, but before he could, Noble dropkicked his leg. Noble used a bit of unorthodox offense to almost pin MVP. MVP came back and hung Noble up gut-first on the top rope, then landed the running kick to the head for the win.

WINNER: MVP, at 4:16.

-At WrestleMania 23, Undertaker beat Batista to stay undefeated at WM, and also won the title.

-Undertaker will be on “The Cutting Edge” later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Cousin Sal takes on Santino Marella next week on Smackdown, in a match Foley said could set Smackdown back a decade.

6- SHANNON MOORE vs. VLADIMIR KOZLOV

Moore came off with a flying bodypress, but Kozlov headbutted him in the chest in mid-air. Shannon got some offense in and Kozlov’s selling was as bad as advertised. Reverse DDT and it’s goodnight Shannon.

WINNER: Kozlov, at 1:24. He’s got some unique offense, but whether he can survive in a match that goes more than two minutes remains to be seen.

-Cole and Foley discussed Vince’s million-dollar giveaway, and then we saw video of it.

[Commercial Break]

7- MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. MARYSE

Cole kept pronouncing Maryse like “Maurice.” It was slightly annoying. Michelle got some nice take-downs on Maryse, but Maryse made a comeback and did the standard diva choke in the corner with the leg. Michelle went after Domino when he tried to distract her, so Maryse took out Michelle’s leg and went to work on it. Half-crab by Maryse, but Cherry came out and distracted Maryse enough for Michelle to put on the heel hook for the submission win.

WINNER: Michelle, at 2:16. Maryse isn’t too bad, considering her lack of experience.

-Edge cashing in his MITB on Smackdown against Taker in 2007 made the list of Taker moments.

-“The Cutting Edge” is up next, with special guest, The Undertaker.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge came out for “The Cutting Edge.” Edge said Taker has been hovering over him like a black cloud. Edge said the stipulation at ONS is that Taker is banished from all of WWE, not just Smackdown. Edge said his experience will give him the edge on Sunday. Edge showed footage of both of their experiences in the TLC matches. First was Taker’s, which nothing aired as he’s never been in that match before. Edge then showed a preview of his match at ONS. Edge introduced Taker as someone who’s career will be over come Sunday. Cole noted that Taker has been on Smackdown since the beginning, nine years ago. Taker came out ready to fight. Edge said he knew Taker was uncomfortable with tables, ladders and chairs so Edge had Ryder, Hawkins, Neely and Chavo bring out something to make Taker feel more at home: A casket.

Taker tried to go after Edge, but Edge ran. Taker went to ringside and unloaded on La Familia. Eventually, the numbers game got to him. If the rest of the heel locker room came out, it would be like Royal Rumble ‘94 all over again. Taker almost chokeslammed Chavo on the casket, but Edge attacked with a chair. He reigned several blows down on Taker. Edge rolled Taker into the casket then talked about climbing the ladder symbolizing him becoming champion again. The bell tolled though, and the lights went out. When they came on, Taker was on the opposite side of the ladder as Edge and he once again had to fight off La Familia. He tried to chokeslam Edge, but Ryder stopped that. He then received the Last Ride through a table. Taker, in the ring, stared down Edge, in the aisle, to end the show.

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