By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 22, 2008
TAPED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

-A video package aired on the Undertaker-Jeff Hardy feud including all of the events of last week leading to the Triple H vs. Hardy main event set up for this week.

1 -- MATT HARDY & R-TRUTH vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN & MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas)

Truth's chains are so annoying to listen to on speakers during matches. Hardy and Truth quickly cleared the ring of the heels. They cut to a break at 1:00.

[Commercial Break]

Shelton battled Hardy after the break. Later Shelton and Truth had some nice athletic fast-paced exchanges. At 10:00 Hardy kicked Henry into Atlas at ringside, then dove onto Henry, taking him down to the mat. Shelton charged at Truth in the ring, but Truth moved. Killings kicked Shelton with a corkscrew elbow, then shouted "What's up?" before hitting an axe kick for the win.

WINNERS: Hardy & Truth in 11:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- Solid ten minute tag match. Some nice exchanges between Truth and Shelton, especially.

-They showed Ross and Tazz at ringside. Tazz laughed and asked, "What's up?!"

-A video package aired, the same one as on Raw, showing what a swell guy John Cena is.

[Commercial Break]

-Eve Torres interviewed Triple H backstage. He was apparently distracted by her large breasts. He apologized for not being able to concentrate. He said, "Are those real? Those are magnificant. I've never seen anything like them." He apologized for staring at them. He said they're perfectly shaped and so round. He asked if he could touch them. She said, "Of course." He then admired her pearl necklace. That was moderately funny and well played, although you could see it coming from a mile away. What's most amazing about it is that he didn't make some sort of innuendo about wanting to give her a pearl necklace as nice as that, or something along those lines. As Triple H talked about Hardy having to turn his talk of wanting into reality. Vladimir Kozlov walked into the room. He told Triple H that his days as champion are coming to an end. After Kozlov walked away, Triple H told Eve that Kozlov "couldn't take his eyes off them, either."

-Backstage Maria talked to Festus about her disappointment over the outcome of her match against Michelle McCool, but she sees herself as taking one step toward some day becoming champion. She liked how good a listener Festus was, as he just stood there frozen. Miz and John Morrison walked in. Morrison said he saw some really hot photos of her on WWE.com. He added, "You're pretty photogenic. It's almost hard to believe it's you in those photos. It's amazing what they can do with airbrushing these days." Miz patted Festus on the chest and said he knows that Maria isn't like some girls, who are all show and no go. Morrison said he doesn't let women like her to the Palace of Wisdom, "but that doesn't mean you can't dream about it." Miz licked his index finger and stuck it deep in Festus's ear. That was a good segment. Morrison and Miz have really found their characters and are consistently entertaining with them. The finger in the ear was a great touch.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

2 -- JESSE & FESTUS vs. MIZ & JOHN MORRISON

When the bell rang, Festus went right after Miz. Morrison attacked Festus from behind. At 2:00 when Festus had the advantage on Miz, Morrison rang a bell at ringside. That switched Festus off. Miz gave him the Reality Check for the win. Morrison also gave Jesse his finisher for good measure after the pin. When Miz and Morrison got to the stage, Morrison rang the bell again. That set of Festus, who charged up the ramp at them. They laughed and retreated.

WNNERS: Miz & Morrison in 3:00.

[Commercial Break]

-Tazz and Ross narrated highlights of WWE's European tour last week. Ross said the WWE Universe speaks no language and brings people of diverse backgrounds and cultures together.

[Q4]

3 -- TRIPLE H vs. JEFF HARDY

Hardy went after Triple H aggressively during a hand shake with an arm yank and a series of punches. Hardy dove at Triple H with a flying forearm. Hardy missed with a corner swing kick. Triple H set up an early Pedigree, but Hardy escaped and catapulted Triple H into the top turnbuckle. He followed with a reverse Russian leg sweep. Hardy missed a bodyblock attempt and rolled to the floor. They cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Triple H was in sustained control after the break. He settled into an abdominal stretch.

[Q5]

Hardy escaped at 10:00. Triple H stayed in control, though. He hit a spinebuster and played to the crowd, which greeted him with more boos than cheers. Hardy escaped a Pedigree attempt. Hardy got to his feet and hit a Whisper in the Wind. Hardy went on sustained control, but was showing signs of exhaustion himself. He whipped Triple H into the corner, and Hunter flipped over the top rope to the floor. He hit a slingshot legdrop for a near fall. Tazz said kicking out takes a lot of energy, and you can't convey it to someone who hasn't done it. Good comment. Hardy faceplanted Triple H, then climbed to the top rope and went for a Swanton. Triple H moved. Kozlov walked up to the edge of the ring. Hunter turned and punched him. Hardy dove at them and missed Hunter, but landed on Kozlov at ringside. A minute later, Hardy then schoolboyed Triple H for a leverage three count.

WINNER: Hardy in 15:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- Good all-around match. With wins this week against Triple H and last week against Undertaker, it's quite a statement for Hardy that gives him credibility as a legit World Title prospect.

-Afterward, Kozlov went after Triple H and Hardy. He gave Hardy an overhead backward toss, then battering rammed Hunter's chest followed by a powerslam. He then trash talked in Russian.

[Commercial Break]

-Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel were walking down the hallway when someone directed them to a different way. Kendrick knocked his coffee out of his hand and then stuck his tongue out and spit-sprayed his face, then called him a nerd.

[Q6]

4 -- BRIAN KENDRICK & EZEKIEL vs. CARLITO & PRIMO COLON

Hurricane popped up and said, "Not to criticize your dancing, but does Koko B. Ware know you're doing the bird."

WINNERS: Ezekiel & Kendrick in 4:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Well paced and lots of athleticism in a short match. Better than you'd expect, although it really deflated any sense that Carlito & Primo are a legit contending tag team. No big deal was made of them losing clean and decisively so quickly.

[Commercial Break]

-Kizarny observed a circus freak swinging a heavy ball on a chain from his earlobes.

-A video package aired on the Undertaker-Big Show feud. Images were shown of Hulk Hogan, Kamala, Kane, Randy Orton, and Yokozuna as Jerry Lawler said "the fear is always there" in opponents of Taker. Show says he's not afraid, though, and he knows that Undertaker made of flesh and blood.

-Ross and Tazz plugged the entire Survivor Series line-up.

-A promo aired with a crazed Jeff Hardy with a herky-jerky camera filming him. He said this Sunday he's going to exactly what he needs from Triple H.

[Commercial Break]

[Q7]

5 -- MVP vs. JAMES MASON

Tazz said MVP looked really confident for a man on the verge of his last chance to earn his bonus. Great Khali and Ranjin Singh walked out seconds into the match. MVP turned and yelled at him. Mason schoolboyed him and scored a three count. Afterward, Khali chopped MVP in the head as MVP yapped at him. Ross said Khali has just cost MVP "literally millions of dollars." As MVP paced and fretted in the ring, Hurricane popped up and said, "Seriously, MVP. I'm running out of things to say. I'm just sayin'."

WINNER: Mason in 1:00.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

6 -- BRIE & NIKII BELLA vs. VICTORIA & NATALYA

Lots of whistling by the UK fans during this. When Tazz suggested Ross might have a twin who looks just like him, Ross said, "I feel bad for that son of a gun." The Bella Twins won after a sneaky illegal switch to get the fresh twin into the ring to finish off Victoria with a roll-up.

WINNERS: The Bella Twins in 4:00.

[Q8]

-Ross said they didn't know what to expect next, except Undertaker is scheduled to read Big Show his last rites.

[Commercial Break]

-Undertaker's full entrance took place. He said on Sunday they'd settle their difference in a casket match. Big Show came out and said that because he's not scared of Undertaker, Undertaker has no power over him. He said this from ringside. The lights went out. When they came back on, Vickie Guerrero was mid-ring with Undertaker's hand around her heck. Chavo encouraged Show to save her. Taker dropped Vickie in the casket and closed the lid. Chavo yelled in protest that SHow did nothing. Show finally threw him into the ring so he could save Vickie himself. Taker beat him up in the corner. Show entered the ring and helped Vickie out. She scurried out of the ring screaming like she saw a mouse. Taker gave Chavo a Tombstone in the ring, then dropped him in the casket.

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