By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

WWE Smackdown Report - Episode #500
March 20, 2009
Taped Mar. 17 in Corpus Christi, Tex.

-- The show started with a video package on the Triple H vs. Randy Orton feud setting up their WrestleMania 25 match for the WWE Title. On cue, Hunter came out for the opening match against Kozlov. Before that, though, Hunter took the mic and said the worst-kept secret in wrestling is that Hunter and Stephanie are actually married in real-life. They tried to keep it quiet for business reasons, but everyone knew. Orton definitely knew. And Orton should have known better.

Hunter didn't care that Orton kicked the old man and his brother-in-law in the head. They're grown men, you see. But, when it comes to his wife, Orton should have known better. Hunter said IED = cowardness. He said Orton has run from every challenge he's ever faced in his life. The running stops at WrestleMania, Randy. He said there will be nowhere to run or hide. No lawyers. No doctors. No cops. No partners. No wives. No family. No Orton's Law. Hunter said it will just be Hunter and Orton. Randy, you better pray to God that you're as good as you think you are. He said Orton thinks he has a disease, but he is the disease. Hunter said he is the cure. Whammo.

(1) TRIPLE H beat VLADIMIR KOZLOV. Triple H teased a Pedigree after a commercial break, but Kozlov back-body dropped out of the hold. Hunter nailed a Double A spinebuster, then went to the Pedigree . This time, Hunter connected and scored the pin for the win. Tazz: Have we witnessed the fate of Randy Orton at WrestleMania?

Caldwell's Analysis: Fine to feature Hunter winning an "enhancement match" over Kozlov on the show, but Hunter is in zero jeopardy for WrestleMania. He has out-witted, out-played, and out-smarted Orton, so it's up to WWE to put Hunter in some form of jeopardy of losing the WWE Title. But, this storyline isn't about the title, unfortunately. It's become a personal deal where the title is secondary to Hunter defending his wife and just plain disliking Orton. I believe the title matches should sell themselves on the annual WrestleMania card and the "personal feuds" should be kept to non-title matches.

(2) MVP beat SHELTON BENJAMIN to capture the U.S. Title. Both men were already in the ring for formal ring intros coming out of the commercial break. Nice touch to come back live with both men already ready to compete. Hot action early on with the crowd firmly behind MVP. After several intense exchanges, MVP nailed the Playmaker at 6:00 for the pin and the win to re-capture the U.S. Title. Jim Ross took us all the way back through the 20-match losing streak until finally getting the belt back.

Caldwell's Analysis: Short match. Really good for only six minutes, though. Hopefully the April Draft will give MVP some fresh heel opponents to work against on Smackdown (if he stays there). Even though I want to see that Evan Bourne vs. Tyson Kidd program, something about a potential MVP vs. Kidd program sounds magical.

-- WrestleMania Axxess promo: Todd Grisham was shown in the weekly Houston-specific promo to promote WrestleMania. Grisham gave the list of the wrestlers scheduled for each Axxess session. Jericho and Flair are scheduled for Sunday morning, April 5, then Batista returns "with a lot on his mind" at 1:00 p.m. before Mania starts.

(3) SHAWN MICHAELS beat KANE. Kane was defending his brother, The Undertaker's, honor to give this match some back-story. Not sure if Kane is a babyface or heel, but Michaels wrestled as the babyface despite superkicking Taker, the default babyface, on Raw last Monday. It's as complicated as trying to figure out which brand Miz & Morrison are actually on. Kane teased a chokeslam at 10:00, but Michaels fired off a babyface comeback and went up top for an elbow drop that Kane blocked. Kane wanted the chokeslam again, but Michaels nailed a superkick out of nowhere for the win.

Caldwell's Analysis: A meaningful match with high energy to set up Michaels vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania. WWE focusing on Michaels being able to sudden-strike Taker at WrestleMania is effective for selling their match and should create some exciting exchanges during the actual match.

-- Big Show and Vickie Guerrero had a discussion about Show not killing Edge. Despite Vickie's pleadings to spare her husband's life, Show calmly said Edge is going to get every last bit of what he deserves.

4 -- JEFF HARDY beat THE BRIAN KENDRICK (w/Zeke) in an Extreme Rules match. Kendrick was given the "enhancement talent" treatment with a pre-match intro and no ring entrance. Perhaps Kendrick, Jamie Noble, and Dolph Ziggler can form the JOB Squad 2009 stable after the Draft. Bring in Al Snow as their manager. Hardy, who has an Extreme Rules match against Matt Hardy at WrestleMania, took a chair to Zeke's back early on. Kendrick tried to take advantage, but Hardy came back with repeat head-smashes into the seat of the chair. Hardy was sporting his dark facepaint to show darkness in his soul for Matt at WrestleMania, then Jeff nailed a Twist of Fate into the face of the chair. He went up top and hit the Swanton Bomb for the pin and the decisive win.

Caldwell's Analysis: Nice hype for Matt vs. Jeff in Extreme Rules at WrestleMania. Would have been nice to have Matt watching on a backstage monitor or lurking in the rafters or something. Kendrick's stock has crashed in the past six months. Remember back to the Championship Scramble match when Kendrick had a stand-out performance competing for the WWE Title? Yeah, that's long-forgotten.

-- Hall of Fame 2009: Jim Ross hyped the Hall of Fame class, then a video package aired on the Von Erichs running Texas before Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels became stars from Texas. The video focused on the patriarch, Fritz Von Erich, before focusing on each of the brothers. Austin called them the biggest rock stars at the time. Cue up the Von Erichs vs. Freebirds feud. They went to May 6, 1984 for Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair in Texas Stadium for Von Erich's NWA Title victory. The graphic showed the entire family of Fritz and the Boys with Michael Hayes inducting them into the Hall.

-- The Undertaker came to the ring and addressed Shawn Michaels. He said Michaels is the prey and Taker is the hunter. He said when Michaels least expects it, he will feel the wrath of The Undertaker. Short and to the point. JBL came out as the opposition and Jim Ross announced that JBL has accepted Rey Mysterio's challenge for an IC Title match at WrestleMania.

(5) THE UNDERTAKER beat IC champion JBL in a non-title match. Very physical match between the two Texans. Ross called it a barroom brawl, then it turned it a mat-based contest with JBL slapping on a figure four to work Taker's left knee. Taker did his classic sit-up to escape Flair's hold, but JBL nailed the Clothesline from Hell. Taker kicked out, then slapped on the Devil's Gate triangle choke for the submission victory.

Caldwell's Analysis: Another solid, physical TV match with an eye on WrestleMania 25. Taker taking a beating on his knee probably won't be played up before WrestleMania as WWE wants both Taker and Michaels looking strong going into Mania to create an epic battle. The curse of the IC Title belt followed JBL, as IC champions simply don't win matches once they win the belt.

-- The show-concluding segment started with Big Show calling out World champion Edge to hurry on out here. Edge is walking very gingerly with his banged-up knees. They had a playground-quality verbal exchange before Vickie Guerrero ran to the ring to restore order between her husband and lover. Vickie announced she's in love with both of them. And the winner at WrestleMania will be World champion and champion of her heart. Aww. As for now, they need to call a truce before Mania when it's all over with. She asked for them to shake and just get along. Show and Edge had a very tense shake before John Cena's music interrupted.

Cena came out to a huge reception and said they're all forgetting about the third man in the ring at WrestleMania. He said this whole truce thing is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard. Cena said this is the 500th episode of Smackdown and this is all they have for the WWE fans? Cena was bored by this whole mess, then urged Edge to man-up and not be scared to stand up for his wife. How about you, Show? You tried to help Edge, but he speared you center ring. Show's smile turned upside down.

The thing that gets him, Cena said, is that on the grandest stage of them all, those two goofs are going to compete to see who gets Vickie's long-term infection...er...affection. Edge had enough and said Vickie's love is worth fighting for. For instance, when she's asleep and all snuggled up, she passes gas. He said it's little things like that worth fighting for. Show chimed in, which Edge didn't want to hear. Show told Vickie to tell her so-called husband that if he doesn't watch his mouth, he might not make it to Mania. "Run with the lip and I'll break your hip," Show said.

Their playful shoving turned into Vickie getting knocked down accidentally. Show then helped up Vickie, Edge readied a spear, but Vickie took the spear instead of Show on accident. Oopsie. Show slowly peered over to check on Vickie, then he shoved Edge away into the corner. Show helped Vickie up, then Edge grabbed Vickie to carry her away. Show then grabbed Vickie. Edge came up from behind Show and chop-blocked him, causing Vickie to crash to the mat. Show had enough and gave Edge a big chokeslam in center ring before stepping out of the ring and carrying Vickie to the back. Somewhere in the middle of this, John Cena disappeared to promote "12 Rounds." End show.

Caldwell's Analysis: Good set-up for Edge vs. Big Show on Raw tonight. The ending portion of the segment was comically absurd and generated some decent crowd reactions. Live audiences are certainly into this over-the-top storyline, which is a good sign for people tuning in on free TV, but doesn't indicate people are willing to spend money to see it play out on pay TV. Fortunatley, there's HBK vs. Taker to sell the PPV on April 5.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "Smackdown Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Smackdown, email to pwtorch@gmail.com

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