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WWE Smackdown review
July 18, 2008
Taped 7/8/08 in Charlotte, N.C.
Aired on the CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-A romantic video recap of Edge & Vickie’s relationship started things off.

-Earlier today, it looks like it was an official ceremony. Chavo Guerrero, best man, faked losing the ring. We picked things up at “Do you take Vickie to be your wife?” Looks like they got through things without incident. Ah, the Wedding Reception is tonight. At least it’s a different twist on the “wrestling wedding” angle.

-In the arena, ring announcer Justin Roberts introduced the Wedding party. The stage was set up with chairs and tables with white tablecloths, as well as the wedding cake. Chavo was introduced, joining Ryder, Hawkins, Neely and Alicia Fox. Edge and Vickie were then introduced to the live crowd. They took a seat on an elevated platform on the stage. Chavo gave the best-man speech. He told Edge has a little Guerrero in him, and that he’d fit right into the family. He said the love they share is the greatest of them all. Chavo said the celebration of Edge beating HHH this Sunday may be bigger than the wedding celebration. Chavo then asked everyone to toast the bride and groom. Edge then got the mic.

He called today the most wonderful day of his life. Edge said Vickie likes her action (“in more ways than one”) and suggested the show get underway.

1- FINLAY & HORNSWOGGLE vs. RYDER & HAWKINS
Edge scolded Finlay before the match for constantly cheating and said Hawkins and Ryder were too smart for that. Edge introduced himself as special guest referee. Edge threw the shillaleigh up the aisle before the match. Edge ref’d in his tux (white pants, grey tie, white shirt, grey and black vest).

Edge was very aggressive in scolding Finlay early on. Ryder and Hawkins were dressed similarly as Edge, only with black pants and plain grey vests. Foley got in his first “me so Horny!”line. Finlay hit the Celtic Cross, but was speared by Edge, then pinned by one of the heels.

WINNERS: Ryder & Hawkins, at 2:14.

-Edge and Vickie were introduced to have their first dance as husband and wife. They had live singers too. Toward the end, Big Show came out and cut-in for a dance of his own with Vickie. Edge stopped the music and threatened Show, who has a match next.

[Commercial Break]

2- BIG SHOW vs. MVP & SHELTON BENJAMIN & VLADIMIR KOZLOV & GREAT KHALI

Tough night for Show. That heel side would be a cool Survivor Series team. In any event, Show threw Benjamin into his own corner after a lock-up. He tagged MVP in. Before touching Show, he tagged Kozlov. Kozlov was unsuccessful on a throw, so Khali tagged himself in. They shoved each other, and Khali got some punches in, then clotheslined Khali down. Show took on all the heels, but Benjamin was getting the best of him when the referee called for the bell, presumably disqualifying the heel squad for all running into the ring.

WINNER: Show, via DQ, at 1:54.

The heels finished off Show after the bell rang.

-Later tonight, Matt takes on brother Jeff, Hardy vs. Hardy.

[Commercial Break]

-Vickie got the mic in the ring, which brought boos from the crowd. “Excuse me! This is my day!” Great stuff. All the eligible bachelorette divas were at ringside waiting for the bouquet from Vickie. All of a sudden, Natalya attacked Michelle McCool. They fought until they were broken up by Hawkins and Ryder. Upon the throw, Cherry got the bouquet. Vickie said catching the bouquet put Cherry in a special match tonight: against Vickie. But first, she has to face Natalya. It would make things more interesting at if this were tradition for all weddings.

3- CHERRY vs. NATALYA

Natalya attacked and punched Cherry in the face. Then she locked in the Sharpshooter and Cherry tapped.

WINNER: Natalya, at :32.

Vickie demanded the ref start her match immediately. “It’s my turn!” she screamed.

4- CHERRY vs. VICKIE GUERRERO

Vickie simply pinned the already injured Cherry.

WINNER: Vickie, at :03. “I win! The bride wins!” Vickie crowed. What a heel.

[Commercial Break]

5- JIMMY WANG YANG vs. BRIAN KENDRICK

“Jimmy looks quite rested, doesn’t he JR?” said Foley. Kendrick had a new outfit, new music and bodyguard, named Ezekiel. Kendrick worked Yang’s arm, and Yang did the same to Kendrick. Hurricanrana by Yang, then a clothesline that sent Kendrick over the top. Yang went face-to-face with Ezekiel, allowing Kendrick to take Yang down. Straight kick to the jaw by Kendrick. He went back to the arm. Hammerlock slam by Kendrick, but cover only got one. He then applied a key-lock on Yang. Yang came back with a missile dropkick off the second rope, then a modified enziguiri for two. Yang went for a moonsault, but Ezekiel climbed the steps to distract him. Kendrick pulled Yang off the top, then hit Sliced Bread #2 for the win.

WINNER: Kendrick, at 4:49. Good match, and the Ezekiel-Kendrick pairing is intriguing.

-Backstage, a Slim Jim guy greeted Edge and gave him a box of Slim Jim for a gift. Edge said he’d love to get to his “spicy side,” but he’s got to get back to his reception. You know, maybe I wasn’t far off in the Raw Audio, talking about product placement that was on Raw. Because this little segment had no other purpose (at this point) but to plug Slim Jim.

[Commercial Break]

-The meals have been passed out at the reception.

6- MR. KENNEDY vs. UMAGA

Kennedy tried the hit-and-run tactic, and that worked....for a few seconds. Hard shoulderblock by Umaga was the first high-impact move of the match. Umaga missed a diving headbutt and Kennedy came back after getting his feet up on a splash attempt. Kennedy, though, couldn’t connect on his running kick, as Umaga elbowed him down. Nerve hold by Umaga. Knee-lift by Umaga, then back to the nerve-hold. Samoan drop, then a break.

[Commercial Break]

Umaga had the advantage throughout break, according to JR. Kennedy tried to slam Umaga but couldn’t, thanks in part to the nerve hold from earlier in the match. Headbutt off the second rope by Umaga missed, as did a splash in the corner. Kennedy’s roundhouse kick put Umaga down for two. Mic Check was blocked, and Umaga hit the Samoan Spike for the win.

WINNER: Umaga, at 13:12. Slow match, with most of the first half being Umaga using the nerve hold.

-JR and Foley discussed Vickie’s gift to Edge, a chance to be the new spokesperson for Slim Jim. We then saw what appeared to be a new commercial starring Edge.

-Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy is yet to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

7- JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. JESSE & FESTUS

Jesse whipped Morrison into Festus, who nailed John with an uppercut. Monkey-flip out of the corner by Jesse. High cross-body got two. JR said Morrison reminds him of “Ravishing” Rick Rude. Miz worked over Jesse for a while, until Festus made the tag. He took out both tag champs himself. Rocket Launcher got two, with Morrison interfering to break it up. Festus hit his finisher on Morrison outside the ring and Miz finished Jesse with the Reality Check inside.

WINNER: 3:57. OK preview match for the Bash.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-JR and Foley previewed the Great American Bash.

-Matt and Jeff came out for their match. This match was “by order of the bride and groom,” and the opponents came out together. They took the wedding cake and hit Chavo with it.

[Commercial Break]

8- MATT HARDY vs. JEFF HARDY

This is a non-title match. Foley noted that former U.S. champ Magnum T.A. was backstage visiting during the night. Hip-toss by Matt, in which Jeff almost landed on his head. Jeff with a split-legged pinning combination for two. Matt came back and clotheslined Jeff over the top rope after Jeff skinned the cat to get back in. Matt cinched in a front face-lock type sleeper, but Jeff backed him into the corner. Jeff missed a Swanton and Matt hit a moonsault for two. The entire wedding party (well, Edge’s side....we never saw Vickie’s bridesmaids) interfered and attacked both men.

WINNER: Double DQ, at 4:36. Good while it lasted, but I was looking forward to a 10-minute match.

[Commercial Break]

-The Wedding reception continued in the ring, with the wedding party and Edge on the mic. Edge and Vickie were seated on stools in the ring. Edge continued to sweet-talk Vickie, then introduced a video package put together by the Smackdown production team (“they haven’t even slept!” proclaimed Edge). It was similar to the one that has previously aired on Smackdown. Finally, The Game interrupted.

He only came out to the top of the ramp, and said that he promised that he wasn’t out there to say he was secretly married to Vickie Guerrero. The live crowd didn’t seem to get it. HHH said they’re love warms his heart, and he has some nice gifts for them. One of them is a video of his own for them. The stationary camera video showed Edge sitting on a couch (dated 7/17/08). The door knocked and Alicia Fox walked in. They discussed some wedding planning things, until it became evident that Edge was leaning in toward Edge. Triple H stopped the video and said Edge clearly isn’t happy with the video, so he promised to fast-forward through to the good part. Somehow, this presumably secret, hidden camera started close-up, then panned out. Edge complimented Alicia on her perfume then began to caress her shoulder. Edge then complained of a problem in his trapezoid and conned Alicia into massaging it for him.

HHH stopped the video again as Edge complained about his previous neck injuries and how he’s always in pain like that. Edge ordered the wedding party to go after Triple H. He said that led him to gift number two....his trusty sledgehammer. That stopped the guys in their tracks as HHH continued with the video. They picked up with Edge massaging Alicia’s back. In the video, Edge made some not-so-kind comments about Vickie’s undergarments. Again, Trips stopped the tape. “This is awkward,” he said. He said he didn’t watch it before he made it, and this part kills gift #3, a pair of granny panties (mentioned by Edge in the video). He finally cut to the chase and cued the video back up. Edge made his move on the video, by taking her glasses off. They kissed, but Alicia pulled back (all the while smiling). Then they made out hardcore. Alicia was almost in tears in the arena as Vickie physically attacked Edge. Edge left the ring as Vickie continued to scream. This would’ve meant so much more if they didn’t already have a show-long fight last week.

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