By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
October 24, 2008
Taped 10/21/08 in Laredo, Tex.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-In Memory of Leah Maivia: 1927-2008.

-WWE Open.

-Smackdown Open.

-Jim Ross and Tazz opened the show and JR plugged HHH vs. Undertaker for tonight.

-Triple H came out to “Bow Down To The Game.” HHH asked if everyone is as sick of Vickie Guerrero as he is. What has she really done to him yet? He said she thinks she can come out and tell everyone what to do. Well, it is her job. He also called her an annoying hag a couple times. Triple H said he should probably stop talking because Vickie would come out an interrupt, but he did see a Twinkie truck pull up before he came out and Vickie will be out there grazing for hours. Wow. That’s really unnecessary.

He then turned his attention to his match at Cyber Sunday. He did some bad comedy then talked about Undertaker making sure he doesn’t make it to Cyber Sunday tonight. He said he couldn’t let that happen. Then Jeff Hardy came out. Hardy said he knows the audience better than HHH, and it’s kind-of like a popularity contest- thus, he’d be voted in. He then said there’s also a good chance he’ll walk out of Cyber Sunday as champion. That brought Vladimir Kozlov out.

Kozlov only came to the ramp, then said the people won’t pick him because they’re afraid he’ll win the title. HHH told Kozlov he had no idea what he just said. Triple H said it doesn’t make a difference who gets the shot at Cyber Sunday, then said “this is going to happen either way,” then Peidgreed Hardy and stood over him with the belt. The announcers then gave instructions for voting for the match at Cyber Sunday.

-Triple H was already backstage walking. The hallway lights went out, and he ran into the Undertaker. They stood face-to-face as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

1- MARIA & MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. MARYSE & NATALYA

Interesting that they came out to Maria’s music when Michelle is champ. JR plugged Great Khali’s Kiss Cam tonight. Oh joy. Before the match, Hurrican Helms made a “Hurrapop” on the screen (at least, that’s what it said), only to say “Divas: Giggity. I’m just sayin’.”

Michelle started the match with Maryse. They did some technical wrestling, then McCool clotheslined Natalya off the apron, allowing Maryse to take over on offense. Why did they take away Natalya’s last name? It’s not that they are shying away from referring to her as Jim Neidhart’s daughter, since they do it every match. Michelle kicked Maryse as some Mariachi music started playing. Jesse brought Festus out, who was dressed as a Mariachi player. He gave Maria a flower as a band played behind him. Michelle got Maryse in a wrist-lock, then went for a tag, but Maria was distracted by Festus and Maryse rolled Michelle up for three.

WINNERS: Maryse & Natalya, at 2:13. Interesting finish to get over Festus and Maria’s relationship, and also strain the one between her and Michelle. I hope they don’t turn Michelle heel though.

Of course, when the bell rang to end the match, Festus went crazy and chased the Mariachi guys to the back as Jesse tried to hold him back. That was pretty amusing.

[Commercial Break]

-JR plugged HHH vs. Undertaker for later tonight.

2- CHAVO GUERRERO & BAM NEELY vs. PRIMO & CARLITO

Double-leg take-down by Chavo on Carlito. Carlito got a dropkick and a one-count, then tagged Primo. Chavo made a hard tag to Neely, and he had his way with Primo until Carlito came in for the double-team. He sent Chavo to the outside, then powerbombed Primo onto Bam for a one-count. Chavo was bragging to Bam how to do things once he got back into the ring. Primo came back and hit a double axe-handle onto Bam on the apron, allowing Chavo to hit a spinning kick on Primo. Chavo was upset by the distraction Bam caused and tagged him in. Chavo did some choking on Primo while the ref was distracted, but Bam accidentally hit Chavo in the corner, allowing Primo to make the tag. Carlito blocked what looked like a botched move to hit a neckbreaker for two, when Chavo interfered. Neely and Chavo then started arguing until Chavo slapped Neely. Chavo jumped off the apron so Neely couldn’t hit him; then Carlito hit the Backstabber for three.

WINNERS: Carlito & Primo, at 4:45. This is like a TNA break-up; Chavo and Bam haven’t been together on-screen in a while, and they’re breakup won’t have any effect because Bam is basically a jobber anyway. Hurricane Helms said something similar in his bubble pop-up at the end of the match.

-Another Kizarny promo aired.

[Commercial Break]

-A John Cena return promo aired, the one that aired on Raw, with the celebrities.

-Maria was walking backstage when Michelle caught up with her and wanted to know what was going on. Michelle told Maria she needs to focus, while Maria told her she needed to find her friend. Michelle walked past Primo talking to Brie Bella. They were flirting when Carlito interrupted. Primo tried to gently tell his bigger brother to scram, but it wasn’t working. Brie then said she had to get to a photoshoot. Carlito told Primo he chased her away. As they were arguing, the Mariachi band ran by them, with Festus after them and Maria trailing him.

[Commercial Break]

3- R-TRUTH & KUNG FU NAKI vs. MVP & SHELTON BENJAMIN

Funaki even got some new theme music; it was like ‘70s music with the words R-Truth came up with a few weeks ago on Smackdown added in. JR plugged the U.S. Title match that will stream live on WWE.com before the show on Sunday.

MVP asked for Funaki to start the match. Funaki used some martial arts, “somewhat reminiscent of Ricky Steamboat” said JR. Way to bastardize THAT memory. MVP tagged in Benjamin after a shot to the gut by Funaki. Funaki dodged Benjamin in the corner and got some chops and kicks in before tagging R-Truth. Side slam by Shelton, then MVP roughed up Truth in the corner after tagging in. Twisting forearm shot by Truth and both men were down. He made the hot tag to Kun Fu Naki, nailing MVP off the top rope. Benjamin broke up a pin, but Truth came in to take care of him. MVP threw Truth out of the ring and a roundhouse kick put MVP down for the three.

WINNERS: Funaki & Truth, at 4:00. Funaki did not have to sell once the entire match and got a pin on MVP after being treated as a jobber for years. Not really believable.

-Primo and Carlito came up to Brie, but from a distance, Carlito called dibs. Primo said he always gets dibs, so he went in himself. He got Brie around the waist from behind and wanted to continue their discussion from earlier. Brie (or someone who looked like her.....) acted like she didn’t recognize Primo, then walked away. Carlito asked how it went and Primo said he thinks he’s in love. Khali and Rajin Singh walked up to the duo and said they had no game, and to watch Khali in the Kiss Cam segment coming up next.

[Commercial Break]

-Tazz and JR were shown on camera and Tazz plugged the 3D edition of the new WWE Magazine.

-Great Khali and Ranjin Singh came out for the Kiss Cam. They showed Khali punching the chair out of Big Show’s hand last week. As Khali spoke, Singh poured letters out of a giant sack that he said were love letters from women around the world who wanted to know what it would be like to kiss Khali in the middle of the ring. Singh then read two letters, selected at random. One letter writer said she had a giant crush on John Cena until she saw Khali lock lips with that woman on Smackdown a few weeks ago. Now Khali is her new crush. The next letter complimented Khali’s physique. In detail. This is going to be in my nightmares tonight. The letter was signed “Bruce from San Francisco.” Khali didn’t seem amused by that.

Singh said Khali would make someone very lucky in Laredo tonight by kissing them. The Kiss Cam was just used to find a girl to kiss Khali instead of showing others kiss. They found a pretty hot volunteer and Tazz led her over the barricade as she mouthed the words, “Oh my God.” Singh wanted to look for a second volunteer. The second volunteer was....um...more in line with the girl Khali kissed a few weeks back. The first girl (did I mention she was hot? Because she was) was about to get kissed by Khali, but Singh stopped him. He said, “anybody can kiss that one.” He said it takes a giant to kiss the other one. Singh said Khali was a bit intimidated because she was so beautiful, then asked for crowd encouragement. I’m not sure the emotion Khali was supposed to be showing here: He was smiling, but seemed hesitant. The crowd chanted “Khali, Khali.” And he locked lips with the second woman, much to the delight of the crowd. Then Khali raised his hands and yelled in triumph, as any man does when kissing a woman. I think Khali is stealing one of Mike Awesome’s WCW gimmicks.

-Another plug for HHH vs. Undertaker tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-A new Kizarny promo aired. He stood under a “World of Wonders” banner.

-JR and Tazz discussed the Cyber Sunday card. Well, some of the matches anyway.

-Taker cut a backstage promo on Big Show and his match with Show at Cyber Sunday. He said Triple H will walk with him into darkness tonight; but whether he leaves is a question both must answer. They fight......tonight.

[Commercial Break]

4- THE BRIAN KENDRICK vs. SUPER CRAZY

Crazy hit some offense on Kendrick to start and was quite aggressive. Tilt-A-Whirl backbreaker by Crazy. The ref held Crazy back, but Kendrick kicked Crazy while the ref was bent over holding Crazy back. Kendrick hit his finisher for the win, then did his “kooky” dance, as Tazz called it.

WINNER: Kendrick, at 1:07. Ezekiel hit a Uranage on Crazy after the match.

-HHH vs. Undertaker is next.

[Commercial Break]

-Highlights aired from the Smackdown and ECW tour of Mexico.

-Triple H and Undertaker made their entrances. I figured they’d give this match a few minutes and do some interference to end it. Looks like they’re planning a long match though, as both men are in the ring at 9:33 ET. However, they’re going to commercial to pad things a little.

[Commercial Break]

5- TRIPLE H vs. THE UNDERTAKER

Big shoulder knock-down from Taker to start things. Another shoulderblock. HHH got some right hands in on Taker in the corner, but the Dead Man reversed things and hit a few soup-bones of his own. Hard whip into the buckle followed by a splash/clothesline in the corner. Undertaker slowed things down a bit more, working on HHH’s arm. Nothing really yet from JR on the in-ring history between the two. Taker made a mistake, missing a big boot in the corner, catching Taker’s leg in the ropes. Chop block by The Game and you know what he’s going to be working on. Both men hit the ropes and went for a clothesline, sending the two to the mat.

The two traded fisticuffs in the middle of the ring, and Taker seemed to get the best of it. Snake Eyes in the corner, but HHH hit a high knee for two. Trips went for the Pedigree, which Taker countered into a catapult, then a big boot for two. Taker went for Old School, but HHH crotched him on the top. Superplex followed that up. That got a two count. Taker got sent to the outside but he landed on his feet and pulled Triple H out to him. He whipped The Game into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Taker got a two-count on a pin, then signaled for the end. He picked Triple H up for the Last Ride, but Trips countered it into a neck-breaker for two. Flying clothesline from Taker for two. Undertaker wanted a chokeslam, but Triple H hit him with a spinebuster for two. Chokeslam countered, Pedigree countered, Tombstone countered. Triple H went to the corner and did the ten-punches, but Taker pulled him out and landed a Last Ride, but Taker went down himself, unable to make the pin. Then Big Show came out.

Show went right into the ring and after Undertaker as referee Scott Armstrong called for the bell.

WINNER: Undertaker via DQ, at 13:48. Good, solid match. They didn’t do too much, just relying on the basics, but it was well-executed.

Show continued his assault on Taker. HHH went at him with a chair, but Show chokeslammed him. Show then used the chair on Taker. Commercial break at 9:53 ET.

[Commercial Break]

-Upon return from break, Taker had just exited the ring while Triple H was just getting up. The replayed what happened to end the match and the damage done by Big Show. Ross and Tazz discussed the shape Taker and HHH would be in on Sunday. As HHH was on his hands and knees in the ring, Vladimir Kozlov walked out. Headbutts to the chest of Triple H, followed by a running headbutt by Kozlov. Reverse DDT from Kozlov, and then he did some trash talking. He stood over a prone HHH 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 column each week in the 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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