By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
June 27, 2008
Taped 6/24/08 in Houston, Tex.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-No shocker, they started out with highlights of the draft lottery from Raw. “The landscape has changed.”

-Vickie Guerrero addressed the camera backstage. She tried to hold back tears as she talked about Mr. McMahon’s accident from Monday night. Then they showed clips of it. Vickie extended her thoughts and prayers, from her family to the McMahon’s. Of course, she had to make it about her, noting that she hoped Mr. McMahon wouldn’t be confined to a wheelchair like she is.

Vickie said Vince would like them to focus on the positives, one of which is her getting married to Edge. She talked a bit about the strength of the Smackdown brand, then asked the fans to help welcome the new voice of Smackdown, WWE Hall-of-Famer, Jim Ross. JR then made his full entrance into the arena, and to his seat beside Mick Foley. JR said he’s ready to go and said Friday night would never be the same again.

-Nice segue into Triple H’s first Smackdown entrance in....how long? Triple H started out with, “what a difference a day makes.” He said Vince’s world came crashing down around him...or, on top of him. Strange that he’s taking a humorous tone with that angle, since everyone else is being serious about it. HHH did a rah-rah promo for the crowd (much like Cena a few weeks ago on Raw). He even acknowledged his “blatant sucking up.” He then moved on to “blatant shilling” in promoting Night of Champions on Sunday. Edge’s music interrupted HHH’s promo, and he came down to the ring as the WWE Champion faced off with the World Heavyweight champ.

Edge noted that they’re both the best-of-the-best. He even said he thinks he can get along with HHH. Trips said his massive ego was much bigger than Edge’s. He also insinuated Edge wouldn’t be champion after Sunday. Edge responded that Batista has never beaten him in a title match. He finally cut to the chase and told Triple H it was HIS show, and that HHH better respect him. That brought out Batista.

As he was coming down the aisle, Edge was pushed out of the ring by Triple H, and speared by Edge. Batista picked up the title in the ring and both he and Triple H both raised their respective belts. Well, they didn’t waste much time giving away the Edge-Triple H confrontation. But it wasn’t overly long, just a teaser for future confrontations really.

-Matches for tonight: Batista vs. Umaga and Edge vs. Matt Hardy in a champion vs. champion match.

[Commercial Break]

-Rey Mysterio’s final appearance on Smackdown (until the next time he shows up) will be later tonight.

1- KANE & BIG SHOW vs. MVP & MARK HENRY

MVP ran into an uppercut from Kane, who then hit his low dropkick. Kane made a hard tag to Big Show. He pressed MVP over his head and slammed him. MVP crawled over and made the tag to Henry. Like IRS walking to the ring for a Royal Rumble, Henry was none too eager to get in there. Another hard tag, this time to Kane. Henry reversed things and splashed Kane in the corner. MVP, smelling blood, tagged himself in. Running kick by Montel Vontavious Porter, but he couldn’t pin the big man. Kane recovered and hit a sidewalk slam. Kane was about to chokeslam MVP when MVP walked out on the match. Mark Henry went after him and threw him back into the ring, right into a chokeslam for three.

WINNERS: Kane & Big Show, at 5:25. You knew they’d keep the three ECW Title challengers strong for Sunday, so it made sense for MVP to eat the pin. This could also lead to advancing his “trying to get out of Smackdown” angle.

-Vickie’s bridal assistant was discussing the wedding with her when Edge barged in. He was upset about the attack earlier in the match, but Vickie told him that after Sunday, Batista will be off the show and out of their lives. Vickie promised Edge he’d get his title back. They made doe-eyes at each other as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

-Later tonight, Batista faces Umaga. JR and Foley discussed the match-up, then we got a video package on him. Good way to introduce him to Smackdown fans.

2- FINLAY & HORNSWOGGLE vs. CURT HAWKINS & ZACK RYDER

Hornswoggle helped destroy the credibility of the Cruiserweight belt...will he do it to another belt this Sunday? Finlay fought his way out of the heel corner right off the bat. Finlay did that thing where he catches a baseball slide from his opponent in the apron from outside the ring. But the heels did take over control on the Irishman. That didn’t last long, as Finlay came back by back-body dropping one out of the ring, and giving a Celtic Cross to the other, followed by Hornswoggle’s Tadpole splash for the win.

WINNERS: Finlay and Hornswoggle, at 2:32. Just to clarify, Ryder & Hawkins were just beaten by one man in under three minutes. Sad.

-Edge vs. Matt Hardy is next!

[Commercial Break]

-They plugged Rey Mysterio’s final Smackdown appearance later tonight.

3- MATT HARDY vs. EDGE

Edge came to the ring without the belt, as apparently Batista still has it from earlier tonight. The two did some mat wrestling to start. Matt clotheslined Edge in the corner, then bulldogged him out for two. Edge shoved Matt off of him during a Twist of Fate attempt and Edge took respite in the corner as the show went to commercial.

[Commercial Break]

Matt arm-dragged Edge out of the corner. Enziguiri by Matt on Edge. JR made note that Edge seemed hesitant, maybe injured from Batista’s spear. Edge went on offense for really, the first tim ein the match. Matt turned an attempted neck-breaker by Edge into a back-slide, but Edge got it for a near fall. Side Effect by Matt for two. DDT by Matt for another near-fall. He made a mistake and missed a moonsault. Hardy side-stepped a spear, but Edge got a near-fall on a back-slide with his feet on the ropes. Roll-up by Matt for two. Edge finally hit the spear and picked up the victory.

WINNER: Edge, at 12:59. Fine match.

-Batista vs. Umaga is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

-JR plugged Rey’s last night on the show, and they showed a video package on Jeff Hardy.

-JR and Foley ran down the Night of Champions card.

-Kelly Kelly & Michelle McCool made their entrances for a six-diva tag match that is coming up next.

[Commercial Break]

4- KELLY KELLY & MICHELLE MCCOOL & CHERRY vs. VICTORIA & NATALYA & MARYSE

I’m wondering if Maria gets consideration for the spot in the Divas Title match on Sunday. Michelle had success in the ring against Maryse, then Victoria. Kelly with a nice sunset flip and then a hurricanrana. Two for two! Victoria got away from Cherry and made the tag to Natalya. Foley informed us that Melina suffered a fractured heel this past week on Raw. Natalya hung Michelle up throat-first on the top rope. Vickie was shown watching the match backstage, but also doing some wedding planning. Surfboard by Natalya. McCool got out and almost locked in the heel hook. Victoria tagged in and hit the standing moonsault for two. Maryse came in and there were a few ugly spots as Michelle made the tag. Neck-breaker by Cherry on Maryse for two. Natalya helped Maryse out, and Michelle then went after her. Things broke down, and Maryse eventually was able to roll Cherry up for the three.

WINNERS: Victoria, Natalya & Maryse at 6:12. Not bad, especially when Michelle and Natalya were in there. Even Kelly looked good for the short time she was in.

-Rey Mysterio says goodbye to his Smackdown fans tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-They plugged that Mr. Kennedy would return to Smackdown next week.

5- DOMINO vs. VLADIMIR KOZLOV

Boy did Deuce ‘N Domino fall far in one year; last year, they were defending tag champs at Night of Champions. I like Domino’s trash-talking. He grabbed a wrist-lock, but Kozlov turned things around and took Domino over by one arm. Headbutts to the chest by Kozlov, then the overhead throw. Flying elbow by Domino, who went for a cover and got one. Kozlov caught Domino coming off the top rope, with a headbutt to the gut for the win.

WINNER: Kozlov, at 2:45. Get used to this, Domino.

-Rey Mysterio was walking backstage when he ran into Hornswoggle. Horny gave him his hat and Rey clicked his heels with it on. He headed to the ring to say goodbye.

[Commercial Break]

-Rey Mysterio came out for his final Smackdown appearance. Rey took his time getting to the ring, shaking hands with fans and posing in the ring. Rey said six years ago, he came to Smackdown with dreams and expectations. And with the fans help, he became a multiple-time champion. He said Smackdown, and the fans, will always have a place in his heart. Rey urged the fans to join him on Raw. After speaking in English, he began cutting the promo in Spanish (to which the fans popped bigger). As Rey was posing again in the ring, Batista came out, presumably for his match. The two embraced in the ring. The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

6- BATISTA vs. UMAGA

No mention of this being a WrestleMania re-match. Umaga pounded away on Big Dave. Umaga worked on the head of Batista, where he collided with Edge this past Monday on Raw. He locked in the nerve hold on the trapezius of Batista. Batista came back with punches and Umaga dropkicked him. Batista was staggering as Umaga hit a few headbutts. Umaga went for a splash, but his head hit the ring post. He then ran into a spinebuster from Batista. As he started his Warrior routine, Hawkins, Ryder, Chavo and Edge interfered for the DQ.

WINNER: Batista via DQ, at 7:02.

After the attack, Umaga pushed them away so he could finish the job. Butt splash in the corner on the already dazed Batista. As Umaga went for a top-rope splash, triple H made the save. He and Batista fought off everyone in the ring, then Hawkins and Ryder took a Pedigree and Batista Bomb. The faces stood tall as the show ended.

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