By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JANUARY 23, 2009
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with a video package on last week's Cutting Edge incident where Jeff Hardy was engulfed by pyro. The slo-mo replays and the shots of concerned, horrified fans were great.

-No Smackdown opening. They went right to Jim Ross and Tazz at ringside. Ross said he spoke to Jeff earlier in the week and while it's miraculous that he survived, he is only bruised and burned and battered. Tazz said he was shocked to hear that there was actual foul play involved, that someone tampered with the pyrotechnics. Ross said Hardy has vowed he'd be at the Royal Rumble. Ross said his interview with Jeff will air later which includes some "provocative conspiracy theories."

-Edge walked out to his intro music wearing just jeans and a t-shirt. HIs pryo went off correctly. Ross said, "Luckily no one was injured" after Edge's pryo blasted. Edge said if the incidents were more than accidents, "I definitely had nothing to do with them." He said he admires Jeff, but as much as he admires him, he has to admit he made the biggest mistake of his life and he'll pay with his WWE Championship. "We all pay for our mistakes, Jeff," he said. He doesn't want him to have any excuses at the Rumble. He said a true champion overcomes all problems and endures sacrifices. He said he wasn't behind the incidents because he doesn't need to do those things to order to become WWE Champion. Matt Hardy ran to the ring and attacked Edge. Edge bailed out of the ring and into the crowd. Matt followed and chased after him.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

-A quick video recap aired of MVP ending his losing streak to secure Triple H's Royal Rumble entrance.

1 -- UNDERTAKER vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Taker threw strikes early. Shelton came back after countering the top rope walk. Taker shot back at 2:00 and went for a running boot in the corner. Shelton moved and Taker tumbled to the floor. Shelton took control at ringside. Back in the ring he punched at Taker's head repeatedly. At 6:00 Taker made a comeback with more punches (lots of punches in this match) and then a hard clothesline in the corner, and another, and then a Snake Eyes, big boot, and elbow drop for a near fall. Taker went back to the top rope, but again Shelton countered by kicking Taker off balance. Shelton executed a superplex for a near fall. Taker went for a sudden chokeslam, but Shelton countered into a DDT for a near fall. Taker blocked Shelton's next offensive attempts, but Shelton again countered with a spin wheel kick for another two count. Shelton made the mistake of positioning himself for Taker's Devil's Date finisher by mounting him, and Taker applied his submission for the win. Shelton tapped out quickly.

WINNER: Undertaker in 9:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Really good TV match. A little heavy on stand-up punching early, but Shelton's athleticism and Taker's efficiency combined for a good match with minimal wear and tear on Taker's aging body. I'd still like to see WWE treat Taker matches as a bigger deal, rather than a throwaway opener on TV. It diminished his appeal as a special attraction when his match gets as much build up as MVP or Hurricane Helms.

-A video package aired on the JBL-Shawn Michaels-John Cena situation.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

-A vignette aired on Umaga hyping his return next week.

-Chavo stood mid-ring and said he's not a gopher, he's a Mexican warrior. They've found the right character for Chavo to play now, a sniveling, wining heel who tries to convince others - and himself - he's more than that. His demeanor and voice just doesn't lend itself to him being a serious character. He said Khali is trying to humiliate his family, so he'll take care of that tonight.

2 -- CHAVO GUERRERO vs. THE GREAT KHALI (w/Runjin Singh)

Khali lifted and tossed Chavo by his arm early, fending off Chavo's early flurry of offense. Chavo ducked a big boot by Khali, but Khali swatted Chavo down a second later. Then he lifted him by his throat and gave him the Punjabi Plunge. He stood on his chest for the three count. Ross said Khali would love to be the winner of the Royal Rumble match.

WINNER: The Great Khali in 2:00.

-Edge told Vickie he needs security to watch his back. Vickie shouted for him to listen to her, and then he booked Edge vs. Matt in a no-DQ match. Edge said she must think he had something to do with Jeff. Vickie, looking angry, didn't deny it and said, "All I know is you better man up."

-Ross narrated brief clips of what Randy Orton did to Vince McMahon. He said they'd have more later.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- MICHELLE MCCOOL & NATALYA vs. THE BELLA TWINS

Maryse came out first and joined Ross and Tazz on commentary. A minute into the match Maria ran in and jumped McCool. The ref called for the bell.

WINNERS: The Bella Twins? Or a no contest? Nobody bothered to say.

-Maria beat up McCool at ringside. Natalya made the save and beat up Maria. McCool gave her a running knee to the face against the ringside barrier. Maryse said she can't wait to have a rematch with her and show her who's queen of the ring.

-A teaser aired for the Jeff Hardy interview later.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

-The sitdown interview aired with Ross. Ross first threw to footage of the pryo incident. Ross said he's surprised Hardy agreed to the interview since he said nothing since the incident. Hardy said he respects him and that's why he chose him to interview him. Hardy said it wasn't an accident and he knows who's responsible. Ross said through an investigation the found out the pryo was tampered with. When Ross brought up the "hit and run accident," Hardy interrupted and said it was no accident. He said someone is trying to stop him from living his dream. He looked at the camera and said, "Edge, I pity you." He said Edge can't stop what's inside of him and he will never stop what all of the other misfits and screw up feel. He said there are no rules for his life. "I just do, no regrets, no looking back, I just go. Mistakes aren't my downfall. Mistakes are my sanctuary, where I learn and grow." He said all his life "he's gone in the out door and up the down stairs." He said Edge will never stop him. He said he's not afraid. "Edge, are you?" he closed. It felt like Hardy was reading a teleprompter, but for that, it wasn't bad. It served it's purpose well.

-Edge's ring intro took place.

[Commercial Break]

-A vignette aired of an intimidating Vladimir Kozlov working out.

[Q5]

4 -- EDGE vs. MATT HARDY -- No DQ match

Matt went after Edge at ringside. He brought a ladder into the ring, but Edge used it against Hardy first. Edge brought a kendo stick into the ring. Hardy grabbed them from Edge and began beating him down. Edge grabbed a chair at ringside and swung it at Hardy. Hardy ducked and the chair hit the ringpost. Mark Henry charged to the ring, but Hardy ducked and used a drop toe hold to send him into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Edge swung a chair at Hardy, but Hardy ducked and hit the Twist of Fate. Jack Swagger attacked Hardy before the three count. Swagger slammed Hardy to the mat, then Henry powerslammed Hardy. Edge speared Hardy as Henry and Swagger held him. That led to an easy three count.

WINNER: Edge in 6:00.

-Ross threw to a commercial for "The Wrestler." Mickey Rourke talked about how challenging it was to make the movie and learn to emulate a wrestler.

-Tazz plugged Triple H vs. Vladimir Kozlov, the scheduled main event.

[Commercial Break]

-Ross explained the Royal Rumble rules.

[Q6]

5 -- MIZ & JOHN MORRISON vs. CARLITO & PRIMO COLON

The heels beat on Primo early. Carlito hot-tagged Primo at 2:00. Miz soon took control, and then they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Carlito hot-agged in at 10:00 against Morrison, prompting Ross to say they're starting the tag match all over again with two fresh wrestlers in the ring. Primo fended off interference by Miz, diving through the ropes on him at ringside. Morrison nailed Carlito with a springboard roundkick off the ropes. Primo broke up the pin attempt. Carlito knocked Miz out of the ring. Morrison rolled him up. Carlito rolled through for a two count. Morrison then nailed Carlito with a roundkick to the head followed by a DDT attempt. Carlito caught Morrison with a back stabber. Miz blind tagged in and snuck up on Carlito with a schoolboy for the three count.

WINNERS: Miz & Morrison in 12:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- Pretty basic stuff. Solid, but not particularly memorable.

-Ross hyped the McMahon-Orton angle would be recapped next.

[Q7]

[Commercial Break]

-A video recap aired of the McMahon-Orton-Jericho-Stephanie angle from Raw.

-Ross and Tazz hyped the Royal Rumble line-up.

-Vladimir's ring entrance took place.

[Commercial Break]

-Triple H made his full ring intro after the break.

[Q8]

6 -- TRIPLE H vs. VLADIMIR KOZLOV

After exchanging blows in the ring, Triple H rammed Kozlov into the ringpost at ringside. Vickie stepped out and said, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" She apologized for interrupting, but something slipped her mind. She said something is missing from this match - it's a handicapped match and his other opponent is The Big Show. As Big Show walked to the ring, they cut to a break at 2:00.

[Commercial Break]

Big Show had Triple H on the mat after the break. Triple H caught Big Show with a boot to the face he charged him in the corner. Show, though, came back with a spear of his own. At 10:00 Show chokeslammed Triple H for a near fall. When Kozlov tagged in, Triple H hit him with what Ross called "a sudden, striking DDT." Both men were slow to get up. Triple H gave Kozlov a spinebuster. Ross said, "Can you believe this man? Fighting, clawing his way back into this contest!" Triple H gave a charging Show a big boot. Kozlov hit Triple H from behind and chokeslammed him for the win. Vickie walked out smiling and clapping.

WINNERS: Big Show & Kozlov in 12:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Okay, I suppose. Triple H losing is always noteworthy, but it took an undefeated monster heel and the Big Show 12 minutes to do it, so it's hardly an accomplishment for the heels in this case. Not sure of what that did to help sell the Rumble. That was the last segment of the last show before the PPV and there jus wasn't that hook to make you run to your cable remote to pre-order the Rumble. Odd decision formatting-wise.

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