by Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown
September 19, 2008
Taped 9/16/08 from Nashville, Tenn.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-Highlights of the Jeff Hardy-Triple H-Vladimir Kozlov situation aired.

-Smackdown Open.

1- MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. MARYSE- DIVAS TITLE MATCH

Maryse got low dropkicked by Michelle and rolled out of the ring. She came back with a kick to the head of McCoo, but Maryse was more interested in showboating. The two girls traded forearms and Maryse again gained advantage. Michelle came back with a springboard kick and finished Maryse off with the Angel's Wings, called "The Wings of Love" by Tazz.

WINNER: McCool to retain.

-Backstage, it was Big Show and Vickie Guerrero in Vickie's office. Show said Vickie would help him win the title. Eve Torres walked in and wanted to ask some questions for an interview. Vickie dodged the first one, about Undertaker, then laughed at the second one, Eve wondering if Vickie would let her wrestle. Show then somehow cued up footage of him beating up Taker from Unforgiven.

[Commercial Break]

2- FESTUS vs. RYAN BRADDOCK

Jesse & Festus were dressed as movers again. Festus' punches had their effect, but Braddock dropkicked Festus into the corner. Festus came back with a big uppercut. Braddock ended up tripping up Festus on a shoulderblock attempt, then went to a chin-lock. Festus fought out and hit a big boot. Flapjack by Festus and before the pin, they started wrapping Braddock up. "Referee Mahoney," as JR called him, called for the bell.

WINNER: Braddock, by DQ, at 2:00. I'm assuming that was the decision; one wasn't announced.

[Commercial Break]

-Braddock was being hauled away from ringside by MyMovingCo. after the break.

-Carlito's Cabana will return to Smackdown tonight.

-Big Show asked Vickie bacckstage what would happen if Taker showed up. She said she'd make him apologize for everything he's done. Show, channeling the Iron Sheik, said he'd humble Taker. Show then took Vickie down memory lane, again playing the footage from Unforgiven.

-JR & Tazz talked about the situation on camera.

-Shelton Benjamin, on the TitanTron, talked about being The Gold Standard, and making the right decisions.

3- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. R-TRUTH

Shelton has what sounds like ANOTHER remix of his theme. He looked disgusted at Truth's entrance. Shelton showed ff his mat skills to start. R-Truth nailed his corkscrew forearm, but Shelton one-upped him with a T-Bone suplex. Crowd chanted for R-Truth, but Shelton had him grounded. Truth got some brief offense in, but Shelton took him to the mat again. Shelton went for a German suplex, but Truth cradled him for the three-count.

WINNER: R-Truth, at 7:00. Not a bad little match.

-As soon as the match ended, Gregory Helms, in a small bubble on the screen, said it looked like the price of gold has gone down.

-The Brian Kendrick vs. Jeff Hardy is next.

[Commercial Break]

-Jeff Hardy came out for his match and had a mic. He said he's become known as a risk-taker in his time with WWE. Hardy said he's comfortable with who he is and hopes people will respect that. Hardy said something HHH said last week made him think- it was about how Hardy has never reached the brass ring. Hardy said HHH just fired him up and made him work harder. Lotta fire in this promo. He turned his attention to Vladimir Kozlov, but before he could finish his thought, The Brian Kendrick interrupted and suggested Hardy concentrate on him.

4- JEFF HARDY vs. THE BRIAN KENDRICK

Jeff started hot out of the gate, but Kendrick clotheslined him over the top rope.

[Commercial Break]

Kendrick worked Hardy's leg ut of break. That included a couple of half-crabs. Hardy got to his feet and mule-kicked Kendrick. Jeff tried to go to the top, but Brian grabbed his foot to stop him. BK nailed Jeff with a kick to the face. After a distraction by Zeke, Kendrick went for The Kendrick, but Jeff stopped him with a backslide for the win.

WINNER: Hardy, at 7:00. About what you'd expect. Good athelticism.

Up on the ramp after the matc, Kozlov came out and kicked Hardy in the chest, knocking him out.

-Show banged on Vickie's door to tell her Taker was in the arena. Show said he'd protect her. The camera walked in and Vickie told it to apologize. It did, in Undertaker's voice. She said to kiss her feet and it went down to her feet and apologized again. The camera pulled back to show Chavo Guerrero dressed as Taker. Show played the footage again. I have no idea what that was about.

[Commercial Break]

-Carlito and Primo Colon were in the Cabana. Carlito introduced Primo as his guest. Primo talked about winning last week and was surprised at how easy it was. Primo said he and Carlito would be tag champs soon. They argued when Primo stole Carlito's line, but Ryder & Hawkins came out. Gregory Helms appeared in a bubble again to take a shot at the champs. Ryder and Hawkins said the brothers just got lucky in their win last week. Carlito challenged the champs to a match tonight. Primo tried speaking Spanish to the former members of La Familia. They said they'd take on the brothers next week. Carlito called for Jesse & Festus to come out; they did, but Ryder & Hawkins attacked Primo & Carlito. Primo rang the bell and Festus and Jesse helped them out. Festus chased the tag champs up the ramp with a palm tree.

-HHH vs. MVP is still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

5- SCOTTY GOLDMAN vs. GREAT KHALI

Goldman did an inset interview where he spoke gibberish to a hand puppet. Goldman tried to kick at Khali's legs, to no avail. Two short-arm clotheslines by Khali, then the two-handed chokeslam finished it.

WINNER: Khali, at 2:00. Goldman is the 2008 version of Alex Porteau.

-Next week, Khali faces Vladimir Kozlov. Interesting.

[Commercial Break]

-JR and Tazz bragged about Smackdown's ratings last week. Bad timing for that, I'd say, what with Raw and ECW on the down-turn.

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-Chavo kicked Ryder, Hawkins and Bam Neely out of Vickie's office so he could watch Show beat up Taker again. And we saw it too. When it finished, the TV went on the fritz and Taker showed up on it. He rolled his eyes back in his head and the bell tolled; when Chavo turned around, a hand (Taker's) reached out from the camera and grabbed Chavo by the throat. The arm brought him down to the ground as the show faded into break.

[Commercial Break]

6- TRIPLE H vs. MVP

MVP got cocky early on, but HHH didn't seem impressed or even amused. After Trips, got his first offense in, he mocked MVP's pose, then added a crotch chop. MVP got overagressive, and Triple H took advantage. Headlock on the mat by HHH as the show took the final break.

[Commercial Break]

MVP worked Triple H's arm, after it was injured during the break. Key-lock by MVP. HHH powered out, but he couldn't follow-up. MVP got a few near-falls when working the arm/shoulder. MVP tried a running boot to the arm, but HHH ran at him and caught him in mid-stride with a high knee. After a spinebuster, MVP went to ringside. He lured HHH out and pushed him head-first into the announce table. Back in the ring, MVP came off the top, but Trips kicked him in the gut. Pedigree, goodnight.

WINNER: Triple H, at 14:00. Solid match, the usual Triple H TV match.

After the match, Kozlov came out onto the ramp. He stared at Triple H, then walked to the ring. He got in the ring and a distraction by MVP allowed Kozlov to attack. HHH got his shots in (of course), but Kozlov kept laying the shots in, including a headbutt to the sternum. He stood over the injured Game as the show ended.

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since February of 2007. You can also hear him every-other-week in the post-Raw audio show Monday nights in the Torch VIP audio section. Check out his new column in a PDF-exclusive version of the Torch Newsletter. Comments, questions and feedback is welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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