By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMAKDOWN REPORT
AUGUST 8, 2008
TAPED TUESDAY IN ATLANTA, GA.
AIRED ON THE CW

[Q1]

-An extended video recap aired of last week's show-closing segment with Edge and Mick Foley. Then the Smackdown opening aired. Jim Ross introduced the show. He was sitting alongside Tazz, who said he's back in his old stomping grounds. He said it's cool to be back. Ross plugged an Indian Broken Glass Arm Wrestling Contest with The Great Khali vs. Triple H, plus Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin.

1 -- MARYSE & VICTORIA & NATALYA vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL & MARIA & CHERRY

Maryse wore a tennis outfit to the ring. Victoria wore a gymnast outfit and did somersaults on her way to the ring. Natalya dressed as an equestrian. Tazz asked Ross if back in Oklahoma when he was a kid he rode a horse to school. Ross said, "I rode a yellow bus; the long one." Tazz said, "I rode the short one." Michelle dressed as a volleyball player. Then Cherry came out dressed as a boxer. Maria dressed as a snow skiier. Ross pointed out she's a little confused about summer and winter Olympic sports. Maria got a big pop coming to the ring. Natalya made Maria submit to a sharpshooter.

WINNERS: Natayla & Victoria & Maryse in 2:00. Way too short. The ring intros literally took three times longer than the match itself. Everyone got in about two moves before it was over.

-Backstage Chavo, Vickie Guerrero, Curt Hawkins, and Zach Ryder found Bam Neely knocked out backstage. Next to him was a black rose.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

-Did You Know? More males watched Smackdown last Friday than any show on CBS, ABC, NBC, or Fox.

-A replay aired of Neely being found knocked out backstage.

1 -- CURT HAWKINS & ZACH RYDER vs. JIMMY WANG YANG & SHANNON MOORE

This would turn out to be Moore's final match before being released by WWE. Hawkins took a nasty face-first bump in a miscue move off the ropes, knocking his nose on the canvas. Ryder tagged in at 2:00. Moore got a hot-tag into the match for the first time at 3:00. Four-way action broke out seconds later when Yang tried to cut off interference. Ryder and Hawkins, as the ref turned to get Yang out of the ring, gave a double DDT to Moore to score the pin.

WINNERS: Ryder & Hawkins in 4:00.

-In a backstage promo, MVP talked about his match against Jeff Hardy at SummerSlam. Footage aired of MVP costing Hardy his match last week due to outside interference. MVP said they should have aired footage of Hardy kicking him first. MVP said he's thrilled to have a match against Hardy at SummerSlam. MVP said he doesn't have to beat Hardy, Hardy will beat himself, so he can just sit back and be himself. Ross again plugged the Hardy vs. Shelton match.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- JEFF HARDY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Pretty methodical start, with Shelton settling into sustained offense with some mat holds. At 4:00 Hardy came back, knocked Shelton out of the ring, and then dove onto him at ringside. Back in the ring, Hardy slammed Shelton and then climbed to the top rope. Shelton popped to his feet and then leaped to the top rope. Hardy shoved him to the mat, then went for a Swanton. Shelton moved, Hardy crashed, then Shelton scored a near fall as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

Shelton worked over Hardy's left knee after the break for several minutes. Tazz said that's how you stop a high flyer. At 15:00 Hardy made a comeback and scored some two counts. Hardy hit a Whisper in the Wind for a very near fall. Shelton played possum and surprised Hardy with a powerslam for a very near fall. He charged at Hardy next, but Hardy sidestepped him and hit a neckbreaker. Hardy then hit the Swanton. MVP suck into the ring and KO'd Hardy in the face with a kick. The ref called for the bell.

WINNER: Hardy via DQ in 18:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Good match. Had some dramatic falls. It felt a bit like time was being filled a few times rather than a fight was taking place, but certainly not bad at all.

-Chavo and Vickie grilled Hawkins on whether he had checked everywhere for Undertaker. He said he had. Vickie asked, "What about the parking lot?" He hadn't, so he left to check that out.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed the colored broken glass set up in the ring at the arm wrestling table. Triple H's full ring intro then took place. Ross said given Great Khali's size, it's an intriguing situation to see how Triple H will deal with that at SummerSlam.

[Q5]

As Khali came out, he said television doesn't do Khali's size justice. Khali came out next with Runjin Singh. Before the contest began, Khali grabbed the mic and spoke in his native language as the crowd chanted, "What? What?" When he stopped, Triple H said dryly, "That's a really good point." He then looked to the ref and said he didn't understand what he said. The crowd laughed. Singh translated. He said Triple H should enjoy being champ when he can and that he doesn't care how many big names he's defeated "such as Steve Austin, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, The Big Show, Edge, and John Cena." Singh said he has never gone one-on-one with Khali. Triple H said, "That's what I thought he said." Triple H asked him his name. He said, "Runjin!" Triple H said, "Bunion?" Triple H told him to rub him until he goes back into the lamp he came out of. He said it's true he's never been in the ring with Great Khali, but Khali has never been in the ring with The Game. He said he's the type of guy who often comes up with a plan but doesn't tell his opponent. He said this time he's going to tell him his plan. He said he's going to take those "wrinkled up Slim Jims he calls legs" and break them, then beat him when he's knocked down to normal size. He called Runjin "Onion," and said there's nothing he or the Jolly Genie can do about it. He said if he's not down with that, he's got two words for him. The crowd chanted, "Suck it!"

Triple H leaned in to begin, but then pulled back to warm up a little. They finally locked up after another minute. The ref wrapped their wrists together with a rope as Triple H and Khali had a staredown. Hunter spit in Khali's face to get an early advantage as the contest began. He got early advantage. Khali held off and began to get the advantage. Hunter began going down. Hunter fought back. Tazz said he was impressed with The Game. Once Triple H got close to winning, Khali reached up and headbutted him, then tossed the table of glass aside. He headbutted Hunter again, knocking him to the mat. He untied their wrists then set up a chokeslam on the glass. Triple H broke free, though, and set up a Pedigree. Tazz said he doesn't think it's anatomically possible. Khali powered out and chopped Hunter in the head, then applied his vice grip. Hunter swung his arms, but couldn't break free. He took Triple H down to the mat, knocked out cold. Ross said, "Can you imagine the celebration in the country of India if the Great Khali beat The Game at SummerSlam for the WWE Title." He said if that vice grip is applied in Indianapolis, there will be a new champion. Tazz said, "Quite possibly could be Game Over."

[Commercial Break]

[Q6]

-They showed Curt Hawkins knocked out backstage with a black rose on his chest. They went ringside to Tazz and Ross who talked about how ominous things feel. Ross threw to a vignette on R-Truth.

-The R-Truth video showed him walking through a dilapidated neighborhood, playing basketball, talking about the need for direction and strategy in life. "To play the game, you've got to be in the game, and that's the Truth."

-They went backstage where Chavo said Ryder, Hawkins, and Bam have all been knocked out. He told Vickie they are vulnerable, too. Vickie said she's scared. Chavo said they have to find the only person who can help them - her husband, Edge. Vickie said no way. Chavo said they have no choice. He said he'd do the talking. Chavo walked away as Vickie looked worried.

[Commercial Break]

-A short video package aired on Vladimir Kozlov.

3 -- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. JESSE

Vladimir Kozlov walked to the ring. Tazz said he likes Kozlov. He said he's been watching him every Friday night. Kozlov entered the ring and talked about being undefeated. He demanded better coom-pee-ti-shun. Then "Biscuits and Gravy" played. Out walked Jesse and Festus. The bell rang and Festus tried to go after Kozlov. Jesse stepped in front of him and walked him back. Festus continued to go bonkers. He then dropped to the floor and paced as Kozlov kicked Jesse in the face and then choked him with his boot. Jesse showed a brief sign of life, but Kozlov easily tossed him around the ring and battered him with forearms and suplexes. A crawler plugged wwekids.com. Jesse managed to climb to the top rope, but Kozlov headbutted him in mid-air. The bell range. Festus went dormant and into a trance. Kozlov stepped out and stared at him, then walked away. Ross said, "We're seeing the evolution of a true superstar in the WWE."

WINNER: Kozlov in 2:00.

[Commercial Break]

[Q7]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-Ross and Lawler then hyped the entire announced SummerSlam line-up. Tazz said he can't wait to hear what Shawn Michaels has to say about his future. Tazz said Khali is the biggest challenge to date for Triple H. That's true.

-Chavo told Vickie that he talked to Edge and he's agreed to see them. Chavo said this isn't about their marriage, this is about something bigger - their survival. He said she has to be nice, cordial, and civil. She huffed and puffed and tore apart a black rose in her hand, winced, and then whispered, "Alright."

[Commercial Break]

-Ross and Tazz were shown at ringside. Ross bragged that more men watched Smackdown last week than any other network last Friday. Tazz said he has a huge male following, so a new record may be set this week.

4 -- BRIAN KENDRICK (w/Ezekiel Jackson) vs. SUPER CRAZY

Wasn't Crazy drafted back to ECW? Thee Brian Kendrick said Ezekiel is his advisor. Tazz asked how many people have an advisor with a back big enough to show a movie on. Kendrick controlled the first couple minutes with matwork. Crazy made a comeback at 3:00 and scored a near fall. Kendrick surprised Crazy with The Kendrick (sliced bread) finisher for the win. Afterward, Ezekiel gave Kendrick a torture rack. Ross said he was "racking him up." Can they not call it a torture rack? As Kendrick danced his way to the back, Ross said he is "loose cannonish," a Brian Pillman reference.

WINNER: Kendrick in 4:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Some okay action, but at his size Kendrick needs to do more than act cocky and wrestle an ordinary style. He needs to be special in that ring, but he's not standing out as special in the ring (as opposed to, say, Evan Bourne, who really stands out, although Kendrick has the challenge of not being too flashy since he's a heel; it's a tough line for him to walk).

[Q8]

-Edge approached Vickie backstage. As he began to talk, presenting himself in a timid, humble way, she snapped, "You have made me miserable." Chavo told her not now. Edge said he knows they can get past everything. He said they can't let the Undertaker do to them what he did to Hawkins, Ryder, and Neely. He said as head of their family, he has a plan. He said they have to do it his way. Chavo agreed. Edge asked if Vickie would do things his way. She said nothing. He said, "Yes or no?" She said yes quietly. He said he couldn't hear her. She said, "Yes." Edge led the way. Chavo wheeled Vickie behind him.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge, Vickie, and Chavo headed to the ring. Edge called for Undertaker to use his superpowers to strike him down with lightning in mid-ring. When nothing happened, Edge said, "That's what I thought, because we're ready for you, Undertaker." He continued to taunt Taker. Edge held two chairs. He called Chavo to mid-ring. He dropped one of the chairs. When Chavo bent over to pick it up, Edge bashed him with the chair and then rammed his head into it. Ross asked, "Has Edge snapped?" Tazz wondered if this was his plan, and if so what kind of plan is it? Edge then looked over at his vulnerable wife before bashing Chavo with the chair once again. Vickie screamed in the corner in fright. This might have been a good time for her to get out of the chair on her own, as she has often done. Edge moved in and wheeled her to center ring as she cried in fear. Edge shook her chair as she screeched. Edge then dumped her backwards out of the chair. He got down on his hands and knees and crawled toward her. She backed into the corner as he moved in on her. He asked her what was wrong. "You look a little nervous," he said. "Is it finally dawning on you that the person you need to worry about isn't the Undertaker? You wanna put me in a Hell in a Cell with the Undertaker like some form of punishment?" He got maniacal and said Foley was right, "This is the Edge that needs to step into the Cell with the Undertaker." He vowed to pull Undertaker down to hell with him. He said he's going to take the entire family with him. He said more than anyone else, he's going to take her down to hell with him.

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