By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
December 5, 2008
Taped 11/25/08 in Albany, N.Y.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor


-Clips aired of the Beat the Clock matches from last week. They also showed that it would be a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title at Armageddon between Triple H, Jeff Hardy and Edge.

-Smackdown Open.

-Jim Ross and Tazz introduced the show, then plugged the WWE Title Match at Armageddon, first read on WWE.com.

-Edge and Vickie Guerrero came out, and the return of Edge has appeared to have cured whatever kept Vickie in the wheelchair. JR insinuated WWE’s higher-ups made the Triple Threat Match, rather than Vickie Guerrero. I guess he’ll be wrestling here.

1- EDGE vs. KUNG FU NAKI

Quite the challenge for the returning Edge. The former member of Kaientai went on the offensive as soon as the bell rang and even hit a tornado DDT for a near-fall, then a couple roll-ups. Edge finally put a knee to the gut to stop Funaki’s momentum, but Funaki was fast as lighting there. Crane kick by Funaki for a near fall. That was a little bit frightening for Edge. Big boot by Edge put Funaki down. Edge crouched in the corner, then hit the Spear and picked up the victory.

WINNER: Edge, at 1:40. Lots of offense for Funaki, surprisingly.

Vickie got on the mic after the match and called Edge’s performance “masterful,” then asked for the crowd to cheer him. Vickie said since Edge had to compete tonight, it’s only fair that his opponents at Armageddon fight tonight too. She put Jeff Hardy & Triple H together in a tag-team gauntlet match. The fans started chanting something, so Vickie gave them the “Excuse Me!” treatment. Vickie said Trips and Hardy would have to take on one tag team after another and the match can only end when HHH and Hardy finally lose. Why doesn’t she make all their matches like that then? It must continue ‘til they lose?

-The camera focused on the steel cage ominously hanging above the ring. Big Show faces Undertaker in that very cage tonight.

[Commercial Break]

2- MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. MARIA

This is a non-title match. The ladies aggressively went after each other and rolled around a bit. After they separated, Michelle grabbed a side headlock. She took Maria down with some shoulder tackles and went for a cover after a legdrop. McCool laid some shoulders into Maria in the corner, but Maria got a sunset flip for two. The girls traded offense in the corner. Inside cradle for one, as Maria couldn’t hold it. Boy, Maria’s offense looks weak. Michelle missed kick to the head and Maria rolled her up for three.

WINNER: Maria, at 3:19. Not good. For some reason, I thought Maria was a little better than this in the ring on Raw.

-A Tag Team Gauntlet Match is to come tonight, with Triple H & Jeff Hardy facing the gauntlet.

[Commercial Break]

-Maria, backstage, ran up to the Bella Twins and Carlito and Primo and jumped up and down in celebration of her victory. McCool came up from behind, turned Maria around and kicked her in the gut. The Bellas tended to Maria.

-The trailer for “Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia” aired.

-Big Show was backstage with a dark blue screen behind him. Show said Taker shut him in a casket and made him gasp for air a few weeks ago, but now they’re in his environment. To remind Taker what he’s capable of, Show had the clip of him knocking out Taker play to the viewers. Ya know, the one they played non-stop a month or two ago. Show intimated that his fist would do the talking in the match and said they’re both going to hell tonight, but only one would come back: him.

[Commercial Break]

-MVP was in the ring out of break. He talked about losing his incentive clause, then said he was going to spend the money buying gifts for loved ones. Apparently, WWE took away his entrance bubble and his fireworks. He then turned his attention to someone who had been “popping” off at the mouth and asked him to come out. Hurricane Helms then entered the arena, making his Smackdown return, with new music.

3- MVP vs. HURRICANE HELMS

MVP started out with a bodyslam and an elbowdrop. Helms came back with an arm-drag, then another. He applied a cross arm-breaker on MVP. Helms got tossed to the apron where MVP nailed him in the head with a boot. Back in the ring, Montel Vontavious Porter went back on the offensive. Helms fought back with a clothesline and an elbow. To the top, he hit a cross-body but didn’t go for the pin. He set up for something, Shining Wizard perhaps, but got clotheslined. MVP went for his finisher, but Helms reversed it. Helms missed a kick, but was able to hit the second one, though it only connected to the upper back of MVP. It was enough for the pin though.

WINNER: Helms, at 3:49. Helms looked rusty and actually looked like a different wrestler; naturally, he’s lost a lot of muscle definition. Finish especially didn’t look good, but it’s good to see him back and he looked a bit emotional after the match.

-Jeff Hardy and Triple H had a confrontation backstage, almost daring either one to do something to the other in the match.

[Commercial Break]

4- TRIPLE H & JEFF HARDY TAG-TEAM GAUNTLET MATCH

The first team to face these two is Ryder & Hawkins. Hardy hit Whisper in the Wind immediately, then tagged in a reluctant Triple H. He came in and hit a spinebuster, then a Pedigree. He went for a pin near the team’s corner and Hardy went to the top for a Swanton and HHH moved just in time. Hardy hit the move, then HHH got the pin, at 1:19.

John Morrison and The Miz came out next as Hardy and Triple H started getting physical.

[Commercial Break]

This part of the gauntlet was joined already in progress, with HHH taking on The Miz. HHH tagged in Hardy. Hardy hit a big splash in the corner for a two-count. Miz hit and run, and ran over to Morrison. The tagging between the faces has gotten more civil. Triple H worked the arm of Morrison. The faces even did some double-teaming. Hardy though tagged in HHH with a knife-edge chop. Morrison got a springboard kick and Triple H was half-way down to the mat to sell it before Morrison hit it. Corner clothesline by Miz on The Game. He went for a cover and only got two. Trips fought out of a Miz rest-hold but Miz missed his corner clothesline and Jeff tagged in. Hardy hit some offense and went for a cover, one that was interrupted by Morrison. Triple H fought him off and kicked Miz out of the ring. Miz, Morrison and Triple H were on the outside and Hardy propelled himself over the top and onto all three. Once the men got to their feet, HHH and Hardy traded blows and Triple H threw Hardy into the ring steps. Officials came out to try to break it up as Charles Robinson counted the legal man out. Miz and Morrison picked up the win, with 8:17 shown. Hey, at least they didn’t bury any tag teams this time (and I’m not counting Ryder & Hawkins).

The fight continued as security and referees broke them up.

-Undertaker takes on Big Show tonight in a Steel Cage.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed what happened moments ago, when Triple H and Jeff Hardy started going at it with one another.

-Edge was backstage with Vickie Guerrero. Apparently, Vickie has made (or discussed) Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy for next week on the show. Edge and Vickie were about to go in for a kiss when Jeff Hardy barged in. He angrily wanted to know if they wanted to see him. Edge said he was tired of Hardy blaming them for attacking him and told Jeff to think about who had the most to gain: Triple H. HHH walked in and he and Hardy immediately went at it again, to be separated by officials and security. After Jeff and Trips had been taken out, Edge and Vickie went back to making out.

[Commercial Break]

5- MATT HARDY vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

The two traded holds to start, then Matt hit a clothesline in the corner, then brought Chavo out with a bulldog. Chavo returned fire but got bodyslammed. Matt went to the middle rope and hit the jumping elbow to the back of Chavo’s head. High standing dropkick from Chavo for two. Matt got back on offense but Vladimir Kozlov came out and blatantly kicked Matt in the head, causing a DQ.

WINNER: Hardy by DQ, at 3:12.

Kozlov got Matt’s arms tangled in the ropes and did some more damage before referees came out to escort Vlad to the back. Matt was receiving medical attention in the ring.

-Backstage, Great Khali was making sure his hair was straight and gargling with mouthwash, getting ready for his Khali Kiss Cam. Ranjin Singh came in to tell him it’s time. Ugh.

[Commercial Break]

-The latest DX commercial aired.

-Great Khali came out with a Santa hat on. Ranjin Singh had a hat on too....I guess that makes him an elf. There was red carpet in the ring and Singh had mistletoe with him. They showed those in the audience and had them kiss. Khali thought that was it but apparently he hasn’t been paying attention to his own segments because Ranjin then went looking for someone to kiss Khali. Khali wanted no part of it, but that’s the M.O every week. Singh couldn’t find one and told the producers to cut the music. Singh said it’s the season of giving, so he wants to give Khali a gift of his own. Ranjin brought out Santa’s Little Helper, which was Eve Torres in festive garb. Khali held the mistletoe above him and he and Eve shared some holiday cheer. Finally a happy ending for Khali in one of these segments!

-Coming up next, Undertaker meets Big Show in a steel cage.

[Commercial Break]

6- THE BIG SHOW vs. THE UNDERTAKER- STEEL CAGE MATCH

Show started off the match with body shots to the Undertaker and went for a Vader Bomb. Taker got out of the way, but Show’s legs still hit Taker as he was rolling away. Upon replay, looks like Show’s boot landed right in Taker’s face. Ouch. Taker stuck Show between the cage and the ropes and splashed him. Then he gave him a running kick. Taker then ran into an elbow. Show threw Taker into the cage and the fans were chanting for him to get up as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Show was still on offense and even got a near-fall. He again threw Taker into the cage, then clotheslined him down. Taker fought back with right hands, pummeling Big Show. Jumping clothesline from Taker. Taker went for Old School, but Show wouldn’t let him. Show went to the middle rope and suplexed Taker off the top. Pretty impressive visual. After a kick to the head as Taker was down, Show went up the cage....but stopped at the top rope. Looked like he was going for a high-risk move, but started climbing to the top of the cage when he saw Taker get up. They met on the top turnbuckle, trading punches. Show started teetering from some Taker punches and he finally fell like a giant Redwood. Taker got to the top of the cage and was about to go over, but appeared to have second thoughts. He made the throat-slash gesture and came back into the ring. He jumped off the top rope, but Show moved and Taker landed flat on his back on the canvas. Show went for the pin, but got two. Show tried to get Taker up for a chokeslam, but Taker countered into a DDT. A cover got two. The Dead Man got up and signaled for a chokeslam. Show broke it and gave Taker a chokeslam of his own, but he himself fell down as well from fatigue. He managed to get two on a pin attempt. Show sized Taker up for his knockout punch, but Undertaker fought back. He hit the ropes but ran right into the meaty right hand of Big Show. He slowly made his way over toward Taker for perhaps a pin, but Taker sat up. Show grabbed him by the throat, but Taker locked in the Hell’s Gate submission (is that what the gogoplata is called? I thought they called it something else, but JR called it Hell’s Gate) move and Show tapped.

WINNER: Undertaker, at 16:15. Solid main event match. Lots of big moves from these two and plenty of drama.

What was your opinion of tonight’s show? Share your thoughts below in our new instant reader comment section!

Greg Parks has been covering Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January 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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