By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
FEBRUARY 27, 2009
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-Jim Ross and Tazz introduced the show, hyping the "strange enigma" (as Ross described him) Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy and Undertaker vs. Vladimir Kozlov. Ross said Kozlov may not be undefeated by the time they go off the air tonight.

-They went to highlights of the interaction between Vickie Guerrero and John Cena, including Cena telling Vickie he's going to follow her everywhere she goes. Then Cena came out live to his entrance music. He told viewers not to adjust their TV sets. He said they've got a special night planned for them. He looked to the crowd and declared, "This is Smackdown!" He said he hasn't been on Smackdown in two years. He said things have changed, except there's still the same fans. (It's weird how they pretend the fans are different from brand to brand, rather than just WWE fans who attend a live WWE show and are at the mercy of whatever brand shows up.) He said: "Tazz, Cole still calling the action." He told Ross, pretending he was Cole, that he's put on a little weight and added a Village People hat. He said they moved to MyNetwork, but he said he didn't even realize he had a network. He also said the World Heavyweight Championship has changed hands. He said it's been held the last few weeks by a coward. He said that is why he is there. He looked at the camera and told Edge if he tried to hide, he'd fine him. He said he wants a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship, and he wants it tonight. He said he wouldn't leave until he has an answer.

Edge walked out onto the stage. He said he can't believe Cena actually showed. He said if he wants a rematch tonight, "I say let's do it!" Ross said he is pleasantly surprised. Vickie then walked out onto the stage with a big smile on her face. "Hold on," she said. "She said her husband is a warrior and he never backs down from a challenge." She said Edge will not be competing tonight. Cena said he figured something like that would happen. Cena said he plans to get his hands on Edge and he won't let the fans down. Vickie told him to stop right there. She snickered as she said Cena was instead booked against The Big Show.

-Ross hyped Primo & Carlito vs. Miz & Morrison for the WWE Tag Team Titles was up next. Add that, Taker-Vlad, Jeff-Matt, and Cena-Show, this is practically a PPV line-up.

[Commercial Break]

-Another Gail Kim vignette aired, with a graphic stating: "Strong... but sexy." Gee, thanks for letting us know. Nobody would have noticed if they didn't explicitly state that. Some things are better decided by the viewer than spelled out like that.

[Q2]

1 -- PRIMO & CARLITO COLON vs. MIZ & JOHN MORRISON - WWE Tag Team Title match

If Miz & Morrison win, they keep their tag titles (which aren't at stake here) and also win the Colon Brothers' tag titles. They went to a clip of the Valentine's Day date with Miz & Morrison and the Bella Twins, with the Colons messing with them from behind the scenes as covert chefs, ending with the Colons mistakenly throwing pies in the Bella Twins' faces. Primo and Carlito were still sore from that miscue, having a heated discussion in the ring. Primo leapfrogged Miz coming off the ropes and Carlito hit him with a dropkick. Miz's head barely cleared Primo's leg. Primo settled into a chinlock. At 3:00 the Bella Twins walked to ringside. Carlito knocked a distracted Morrison to the floor, then tossed Miz on to of him. Carlito then flip dove onto both heels at ringside. They cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

The heels took over after the break, including Miz stompting on Primo on the floor as Carlito distracted the ref. Miz scored a near fall at 8:00. Miz dropped Carlito's neck over the top rope as the ref was distracted, then Morrison went for his finisher. Carlito, though, escaped and reversed him into his Backstabber for the sudden win. The Bella Twins seemed impressed and walked up to the Colon brothers afterward, and then left with them.

WINNERS: Primo & Carlito in 12:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Good tag match. It's still annoying there's no explanation for why teams from different brands are wrestling each other.

[Q3]

-Ross and Tazz threw to a video package on Ricky Steamboat being nominated for the Hall of Fame this year.

[Commercial Break]

-A WrestleMania video aired to the AC/DC theme song.

-Ross and Tazz threw to highlights of Triple H's feud with Randy Orton.

-Vladimir Kozlov's ring intro took place.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

2 -- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. UNDERTAKER

The further undercutting of Undertaker as a truly special attraction continues as Taker wrestles in the first hour of Smackdown rather than in the main event against an undefeated heel opponent. Kozlov opened with a standing side headlock. Tazz speculated that Kozlov could escape Undertaker's Devil's Gate submission given his Sambo and amateur wrestling background. Kozlov shoulder blocked Taker to the mat. They circled each other mid-ring and Taker dropped Kozlov with a big boot. He went for an elbow drop, but Kozlov moved. Kozlov clotheslined Taker over the to rope, but Taker landed on his feet. Kozlov celebrated before noticing Taker landed on his feet. They cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

After the break, Taker hit a guillotine legdrop on he ring apron. They showed that during the break, Kozlov whipped Taker into the security railing, but Taker came back by shoving Taker into a ringpost. Taker went for a Devil's Gate at 6:00, but Kozlov blocked it quickly and forearmed his way free. He followed with a clothesline. Taker came back with punches in the corner. Kozlov fired back with a clothesline for a two count. Kozlov settled into a chinlock mid-ring. Ross cited that Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated many opponents with the side headlock. Taker back suplexed Kozlov to escape the headlock. Ross called it a shrewd maneuver. Taker went on a flurry of offense, including a hard clothesline on Kozlov in the corner at 10:00.

[Q5]

Taker gave Kozlov a snake eyes and then a big boot and a legdrop for a near fall. Taker set up a chokeslam, but Kozlov escaped and went for a battering ram. Taker countered with a kick to face leading to a two count. Taker walked the top rope, but Kozlov countered by yanking Taker to the mat with a powerslam for a three count. "My god, I can't believe it!" exclaimed Ross. Tazz called it a "stunning turn of events."

WINNER: Kozlov in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- I really have no complaints about that match. It's easy to focus on Vlad's limitations offensively and in selling, but other than a odd snake eyes bumps, Kozlov executed his moves fine. The match was well plotted and the finish was believable and dramatic, if not sudden. Taker gets credit for knowing exactly what Kozlov can do and making the most of it.

[Commercial Break]

-Last month over 100 million photos of WWE Divas were viewed on WWE.com.

-Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy was next. Matt Hardy came out first. By presenting this match in a "lost in the shuffle" manner without any video packages or promos or anything separating it from a typical TV match, it defined down the significance of it. These two facing off should have been treated as a big enough deal to carry the entire show, even if they were never going to actually lock up. Jeff walked out in street clothes. Ross and Tazz didn't know what to make of it. Tazz said maybe it's a street fight. Jeff entered the ring and told Matt that he's always been there for him and they've always helped each other out. Jeff said he hopes Matt can get over this crazy phase he's in and realize he's done nothing wrong. He said he's not going to fight him - not tonight, not ever. He said whether Matt likes it or not, he is his brother. Matt yanked the mic from Jeff.

"I am not your brother," Matt said. "And as far as getting over things, Jeff, it's not quite that simple." Matt said Jeff may be used to everything being about him, but this isn't about him anymore. "This is about me," he said. "For one it's about Matt. It's about my needs. It's about what I need to say." He said the fans all make him physically sick when they cheer for him. He said he's also had to "swallow the fact" that his career was mediocre while his has skyrocketed to the top. (Wasn't Matt just ECW World Champion and U.S. Champion? So, mediocre? Come on...) He said he's always ben the more talented Hardy of the two, but people don't see it that way. He said he blames Jeff for that, and the fans who believe his hype. Matt slapped Jeff and asked him to fight him. He called him a coward. Jeff paused, looked up, and then got slapped in the face again. He went down to one knee, then got up and held his jaw, shook his head, and walked out of the ring. Jeff played to the crowd as he walked onto the stage, getting a big ovation. Matt just stared him down.

[Q6]

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired on WrestleManias IV and V from the Trump Plaza.

3 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

MVP joined Ross and Tazz on commentary. Tazz congratulated MVP for turning things around lately. He said he has a proper perspective now. MVP said Shelton may be the longest current reigning champion, he won't break his record because he's going to get a title match soon. Shelton tossed Chavo into MVP's lap at ringside. Ross called it blatant. Back in the ring, Chavo surprised Shelton with a leverage pin for the win. Afterward, MVP surprised Shelton with a running boot, the "Drive By."

WINNER: Chavo in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Short, but fine action.

-Ross hyped the Cena vs. Big Show main event.

[Q7]

[Commercial Break]

-A trailer aired for John Cena's "12 Rounds."

-Ring intros took place for Cena and Big Show. Ross wondered what was in this for The Big Show.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- JOHN CENA vs. THE BIG SHOW

When Tazz said it's been two years since Cena was wrestled on Smackdown, Ross said, "Now he knows what it's like to be in the big time, Friday night, My Network TV." Tazz chuckled. Show took early advantage with a headbutt. They showed Edge and Vickie watching on a monitor backstage. Show went for a big chest slap in the corner, but Cena ducked and made a comeback with punches and a flying shoulder. Show countered with a check that took Cena down. Show followed up with a headbutt, which Ross called "simplistically sadistic." Cena attempted a comeback, but Show caught him with a sideslam. Show methodically stalked Cena against the ropes and squeezed him between the top and middle rope. Cena teased an FU out of nowhere, but Show easily brushed it off. Show told him to go back to Raw because there's nothing on Smackdown for him. Show really slowed the pace and acted cocky. When he charged Cena in the corner, Cena lifted his boots and then leaped onto Show's back with a sleeper. Show backed Cena into the corner, but Cena held his grip. Show countered with a backward one-arm slam.

[Q8]

[Commercial Break]

-A commercial aired hyping the Kozlov vs. Shawn Michaels match on Raw on Monday, with the winner facing Undertaker at WrestleMania. With Kozlov pinning Taker on this show, it creates some doubt as to whether it's inevitable that Michaels beat Kozlov to move on to face Taker at WM, since Taker getting revenge against Kozlov at WM is at least a plausible possibility.

Back to the match, Show remained on offense at 12:00. Show knocked Cena off the ring apron and onto the announce table at ringside. Cena knocked Show into the ringpost and then in the ring went for a bulldog, but Show just tossed Cena to the floor. Ross called it one of the most amazing things he's ever seen. That's a big of an overstatement. Ross said: "I'm not trying to be someone that's over hyperbowl (sic) here, but that was a one-handed slap that knocked Cena out of the ring. Show settled into a nerve hold on Cena's shoulder. Tazz said Cena was being dominated, but he showed up to get at Edge and never expected to be facing Show. Cena came back with a punch, but when he went for a bodyslam, he fell back. Show landed on him and scored a two count. Show set up his corner swing splash, but Cena moved. Cena then leaped off the top rope with a legdrop to the back of Show's neck. Cena went into the You Can't See Me routine. He threw his Five Knuckle Shuffle and then went for his Attitude Adjuster. Show blocked it, forearmed him, and then Olympic slammed him. Show signaled for a chokeslam. Cena escaped and hit a sudden Attitude Adjuster. The crowd popped as Show sold the harmless looking move by lying flat on the mat. Edge ran into the ring and then slid right out. That distracted Cena. Show KO'd Cena with his temple punch. Show then followed with a chokeslam for the win.

WNNER: Big Show in 20:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Pretty much the definition of "lumbering" throughout, but enough crowd heat for Cena's well-timed comebacks to keep it relatively interesting. It's too bad Show's put on so much weight again as he's a gifted athlete when he's 50-100 pounds lighter than he is now.

-Afterward, Edge entered the ring, bent over Cena, and told him, "This is my show!" He told him to go away and not come back. He held the World Hvt. Title belt in the air as the show ended.

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