KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 16, 2010
TAPED TUESDAY IN LONDON, ENGLAND
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-Todd Grisham introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd, then Chris Jericho made his ring entrance. Matt Striker called him a disgruntled former World Heavyweight Champion. Jericho complained, rightfully, about Randy Orton, from Raw, getting a title shot against Jack Swagger. He said that title should be defended only against Smackdown contenders. He said he deserved a rematch, but he's not getting one. He called Teddy Long an incompetent buffoon. He demanded better treatment "as the most valuable performer in this company." Edge interrupted him.

Edge said he surprisingly agrees with a few things he said such as him deserving a rematch and the title should remain on Smackdown. He said he also deserves a swift kick to the cobblers. He chuckled and said Jericho actually didn't say that, but oh well. He said if he really cares about Smackdown, he should give up on the rematch clause because in the condition he's in, he can't beat Randy Orton or Jack Swagger. Jericho asked if he think he can beat Orton and Swagger. Teddy Long walked out.

Long said he doesn't appreciate Jericho hating on him. Jericho said if he gave him what he deserved, he wouldn't have to hate on him. Long said giving him what he deserved would be having security throwing him out of the building. Long blamed Jericho and Edge for getting counted out last week as the impetus for Orton getting the shot instead. He said Jericho does get a title rematch, but it's he, Long, who deserves when it happens. Long said he will get his title rematch tonight. Jericho said it's about time Long did the right thing. He said he will beat Swagger tonight, he'll retain against Orton on Sunday, and then he'll be sure Edge never gets near the title. Long interrupted and said Swagger will defend against Jericho and Edge. Jericho didn't like that. The fans did, sort of. Striker said a Triple Threat match is especially dangerous for the champion because the champion doesn't need to get pinned to lose his title. Striker left out the part about how this makes a mockery of the whole concept of champions and a championship. [c]

-A clip aired of Drew McIntrye DDT'ing Matt Hardy on the floor last week and pinning him afterward.

[Q2]

-McIntrye walked to the ring and cut a promo. He wondered if the fans hated him because he's handsome or perhaps because he's the IC Champion and The Chosen One. He said the fans may not like him, but he doesn't like them, either.

1 -- DREW MCINTRYE vs. KANE

Striker said McIntrye isn't the type of guy who gets married in Las Vegas, he does everything first class. McIntrye caught Kane with a big boot at 2:00. Striker said you have to feel bad for Kane because where he goes people stare and gawk. Kane came back with a big boot of his own. Kane climbed to the top rope. Grisham said Kane was "gonna roll the dice" because he went to the top rope. He hit a clothesline. McIntryle bailed out to ringside. Hardy ran out and threw McIntrye back into the ring. The ref called for the bell due to outside interference. Kane chokeslammed McIntrye. Hardy's face conveyed, "Oops!" Hardy entered the ring and Kane gave him a chokeslam. "I told you he doesn't like anybody," said Striker.

WINNER: McIntrye in 3:00.

-Jack Swagger complained to Long backstage. He said the title defense later is the worst decision he's ever made. Long said as long as he's G.M., he'll have to abide by his rules.

-Cole and Striker hyped the WWE Draft, and that highlights of the draft history were presented at WWE.com.

-A clip aired of Dolph Ziggler attacking Josh Matthews last week.

-Ziggler entered the ring and said the G.M. has insisted he apologize. He said, "Blah blah blah, I sincerely and humbly apologize to Josh Matthews." Striker said that was good enough for him. As a former school teacher, he's probably heard many half-heard apologies in his day and learned to accept what he could get. R-Truth rasped, I mean rapped his way to the ring. He made some puns about "the Truth being that the truth hurts." He said Ziggler has no heart and sould and "that's the truth." He said he has never been sincere or humble about anything in his life. He said the truth is, he didn't mean a word he said. In a few minutes he'll find out the truth hurts.

[Q3]

2 -- R-TRUTH vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Striker raved about Ziggler inverted body slam early in the match. Truth fought back and kickd Ziggler after a backflip and the splits. He followed with a very high hip toss, but then he missed with his Lie Detector tornado kick. "How can you not like Dolph Ziggler?" asked Striker. Ziggler put Truth in a sleeper and won clean. Striker said it's time to sit up and take notice of Ziggler.

WINNER: Ziggler in 2:00.

-WWE Fact: WWE Divas were viewed over 100 million times last month.


3 -- MICKIE JAMIES vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL (w/Vickie Guerrero, Layla)

When McCool showed off with some push-ups, Mickie did some push-ups, too. At 3:00 Mickie dove onto McCool at ringside, the dove onto Layla, and then caused Vickie to back away. Back in the ring, Mickie caught McCool with a neckbreaker for a one count. Layla shouting from the ring apron caused Mickie to give up on her cover. They need to stop booking babyfaces to be absolute idiots by giving up a chance at victory over something like that. McCool then surprised Mickie with a boot and scored the pin.W

WINNER: McCool in 4:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Nice to see a women's match on TV go longer than three minutes. Too bad the finish was lousy.

-When McCool went after Mickie afterward, Beth Phoenix ran out and attacked McCool. McCool and Layla fled through the crowd.

[Q4] [c]

-After a commercial for the draft, Grisham and Striker talked about last year's draft. Striker said they could be broken up. Grisham said, "God save the queen." Then they plugged the Triple Threat World Title main event.

-Backstage Luke Gallows exchanged words with Darren Young from NXT. C.M. Punk said if they're going to fight, keep it in the ring.

4 -- C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS & DARREN YOUNG vs. REY MYSTERIO & THE HART DYNASTY

The Miz joined the announcers at ringside. He bragged about being the first wrestler in WWE history to have all of the title belts he has at one time. Miz bragged about beating David Hart Smith in "daddy's home town" of London, England. He said next week live on Raw, Bret "The Hitman" Hart has to say ShowMiz is the greatest tag team in the history of WWE. A certain volcano may have something to say about that. Miz mocked Bret's "best there is..." phrase. Miz said the Hart Dynasty, Hart Foundation, and British Bulldogs were all good tag teams, but on Monday night Bret will declare ShowMiz the best of all time. Punk opened against Kidd.

[Q5]

Miz took credit for weakening Shawn Michaels leading to his losing to Undertaker and retiring. Grisham asked Miz if he would mind be drafted back to Smackdown. He said his questions are stupid because he's the Unified Champion and he can go anywhere he wants. He said he's a walking talking ratings spike. Striker wondered what Punk would look like bald. Miz couldn't believe the question, but added, "He couldn't look any worse." He said he actually likes Striker, so he won't make fun of him. At 4:00 Rey set up a 619, but Gallows helped pull Punk away and to ringside. They cut to a break. [c]

Gallows caught a diving Kidd with a boot to the face. Kidd tumbled to the floor. Striker said the course of the match changed with that one move. At 11:00 Kidd reached to tag Rey. Punk interfered and knocked Page out of the ring. Kidd then tagged David Hart Smith who went to work on Punk. Punk rolled up DHS, but DHS rolled through and had Punk pinned, but decided to give up that position to go after Gallows. Kidd dove onto Gallows at ringside. Punk caught a distracted DHS with a kick to the head for a two count. Miz said to Striker, "You're such a geek!" Rey hit a 619 around the ringpost at Punk in the corner. DHS then hit the running powerslam for the win.

WINNER: The Hart Dynasty & Rey Mysterio in 12:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- Decent TV match.

-Backstage Chris Jericho talked to Wade Barrett backstage. He told Barrett that he hopes some day he has the opportunity that he has tonight to show the world he's the best at what he does. Barrett said, "I'm in awe of your presence." Jericho said, "You should be." Jericho was standing on a phone book, I'm guessing, since the height difference between them was nearly erased in that shot. [c]

[Q6]

5 -- "DUDE BUSTER" CALEN CROFT (w/Trent Barretta) vs. J.T.G.

Striker said J.T.G. is poised for a breakout of his career. Shad came to ringside to watch and taunt J.T.G. He said, "You ain't nothing without me." That was actually nice of him, if you take the double-negative into consideration. J.T.G. won clean, but then Shad entered immediately and clotheslined him before he could celebrate. J.T.G. made a comeback after some trash-talking by Shad. He knocked Shad around and Shad retreated to ringside.

WINNER: J.T.G. in 3:00.

-Backstage Edge talked to Josh Matthews about how he relates to Swagger because he cashed in the Money in the Bank, just as he did years ago. He said he's in a good position because he can pin either Swagger or Jericho and walk out with the World Title. [c]

-A video package aired on the John Cena vs. Batista feud.

[Q7]

-Striker and Grisham hyped the line-up to Extreme Rules.

-Jack Swagger's ring intro took place. Swagger said there is a 66.6 percent chance Swagger could lose the World Title tonight. Not really. That's only if all three competitors are 100 percent equal in skill and motivation and health. That's like saying the Timberwolves would have a 50/50 shot against the Cleveland Cavs just because it's two teams battling one-on-one. Or like saying Todd Grisham would have a one-third chance in a three-way street fight against Brock Lesnar and Jared Allen. [c]

-Ring intros continued with Jericho and then Edge.

6 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. CHRIS JERICHO vs. EDGE -- World Hvt. Title Match

After formal ring introductions, the match began with 20 minutes left in the show. Jericho got knocked out of the ring and he hung out there as Swagger battled Edge for several minutes. At 3:00 Jericho joined Swagger in attacking Edge. Edge fought back and slidekicked both Swagger and Jericho at ringside. He whipped Jericho into the ringside barrier. Swagger attempted to suplex Jericho into the ring. Edge yanked Jericho hard to the floor and also snapped Swagger over the top rope in the process.

[Q8] [c]

Swagger had Edge in an armbar mid-ring after the break. Swagger and Edge fought at ringside at 11:00. Jericho re-entered the match and opportunistically took control of Edge. He settled into a chinlock at 12:00. Swagger called it a "potential submission hold." What planet does Swagger live on when a chinlock is a potential submission. Swagger went for a gut-wrench powerbomb, but Edge slipped out of his grip and rammed Swagger into Jericho like a battering ram in the corner. He then hit both heels with a flying clothesline off the second rope. Edge knocked Swagger off the ring apron onto the announce table. Jericho surprised Edge with a schoolboy for a near fall. Jericho caught a charging Edge with a boot, but missed with a bulldog attempt. Edge made his face and set up the Spear. Jericho countered with a sidestep and then a Walls of Jericho. Edge crawled toward the bottom rope, but Jericho pulled him away. Swagger interfered. Jericho put him suddenly in the Walls. Edge broke that up with an implant DDT at 15:00. Swagger went for the gut-wrench suplex, but Edge countered with another DDT. Edge went for another Spear, but Jericho cut him off with a tackle for a near fall. Swagger gave Jericho an Oklahoma Roll for a near fall. Jericho came back with a sudden Code Breaker. All three were down and slow to get up. Edge got up and hit Jericho with a spear, but Swagger broke up the count. Swagger then yanked Edge out of the ring, made the cover on Jericho, and scored the pin. After Swagger's celebration, Jericho stomped away at Edge's ankle and then stuck it between the steps and the ringpost and kicked the steps. Edge wailed in agony as Jericho gave a sinister laugh to end the show.

WINNER: Swagger in 17:00 to retain the World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Good TV main event.

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