WWE Smackdown review
April 23, 2010
Taped 4/20/10, in Uncasville, Conn.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist


- WWE Open.

- A video package aired, showing highlights of the Triple-Threat main event from last week.

- Jack Swagger came out for the first match of the evening, but worked the stick a bit first. He said that last week, he beat two first ballot Hall-of-Famers. I don’t even think there are ballots for the WWE Hall-of-Fame. It’s one of those commonly used phrases, but doesn’t make sense here. Then, he talked about taking Undertaker to the limit on Raw. They showed highlights of that match. Swagger said he looked like a champion in that video package. He also mentioned his desire to become a member of the Smackdown roster next week, via the Draft Lottery. Swagger said he’d be someone people can look up to for generations. He turned his attention to Randy Orton and compared him to a viper. He called himself the antidote for the viper’s poison, and would cut the viper’s head off. That’s some gruesome imagery.

1 – JACK SWAGGER vs. JOHN MORRISON

This is a re-match from two weeks ago. Swagger rolled around with Morrison in a waist-lock. Fans got behind Morrison early on and he was able to connect on his running knee to the face of Swagger. Swagger used his amateur skills to avoid Morrison’s offense and slam him down. They went to break about two minutes in.

[Commercial Break]

Back with Morrison in a body-scissors on the mat. Swagger planned to suplex Morrison off the top rope, but Morrison knocked him off. He hit a dropkick off the top on Swagger for a near-fall. La Magistral cradle for two. Flying Chuck kick attempt, but Swagger booted him down in mid-air. That was a violent collision. Morrison stepped on Swagger’s foot to get out of a submission hold, but Swagger countered the wheel-barrow by slamming Morrison over his head. He came up bleeding from the mouth, and referee Jack Doan gloved up. Swagger trash-talked Morrison, then attempted a chicken wing-like move again to Morrison. Morrison fought back though and DDT’d Swagger, leaving both men down on the canvas. The former MNM member amped up his offense and kicked Swagger in the chest as the big man tried to jump over the top rope. Roll-up by Morrison for two. Flying Chuck again, and this time, it found the mark. Still only got two. Morrison got hot-shotted on the top rope and Swagger nailed him with the gutwrench power-bomb. Morrison grabbed the bottom rope on a two-count. Swagger avoided the corner but got a Pele kick in. He followed it up with a Starship Pain and got the 1-2-3.

WINNER: Morrison, at 12:19. I liked this match, but wow, another loss for Swagger. And this is against a guy who isn’t even on the Extreme Rules card. Even Steven booking says he wins on Sunday, but we’ll see.


[Commercial Break]

- They showed the Mohegan Sun Casino, where this event was taped, then they showed a shot of the steel cage hanging above the ring.

- C.M. Punk was in Teddy Long’s office, complaining about Rey Mysterio cutting his hair on Monday Night Raw. Long didn’t seem to have much sympathy for him. He said Punk would be really ugly with a bald head. Only a handsome man like him could pull it off, he told Punk. Punk said he’d find Rey Mysterio tonight and hurt him, but Long put Punk and Luke Gallows in a tag team match against Rey Mysterio and Kane, another bald man. Punk was at a loss for words at that proclamation.

- R-Truth and Matt Hardy made separate entrances for the next match, which will commence following the break.

[Commercial Break]

2 – R-TRUTH & MATT HARDY vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER & DREW MCINTYRE

Truth and Ziggler exchanged holds in the early going. Truth and Hardy were a step off in their double-teaming of Ziggler, resulting in Hardy dropping Ziggler’s head just shy of the corner. They went to break after that move.

[Commercial Break]

Ziggler had Hardy in a side head-lock out of break. Then, it flipped to another commercial. Weird. It was only one commercial, and then it went back to the match. Hardy and Ziggler were in this time. Hardy got thrown shoulder-first into the ring post. I feel like I type that phrase every week. With Hardy lying face-first on the steel steps, McIntyre wandered over and stomped on Hardy’s head. Ziggler tried to pick him up, but referee “Goose” Mahoney backed him off so he could check on Hardy’s condition. Matt began to get to his feet, but Ziggler punched him right in the head. He tried a pin back in the ring, but Hardy kicked out. Not much of a pop there. The referee finally called for the bell to end the match due to Hardy’s injury, but Ziggler was less than pleased.

WINNERS: Ziggler & McIntyre, via ref stoppage, at 7:35. Ziggler and Truth were just pawns to advance the McIntyre-Hardy feud. I don’t have a problem with that, as they are deserving of TV time, even in a situation like this.

The WWE medical staff helped Hardy from ringside. Hardy kept trying to get into the ring. McIntyre attacked Hardy from behind and threw him into the ring steps, with the back of Hardy’s head bouncing off the side. “This is the last time I ever want to see you again,” McIntyre told Hardy.

- Chris Jericho and his NXT Rookie Wade Barrett were walking backstage. The steel cage lowered back in the arena. I assume Jericho will do some sort of interview inside the cage, next.

[Commercial Break]

- Jericho and Barrett came out, with the cage surrounding the ring. Jericho immediately insulted the audience, then said he’d end Edge’s career on Sunday at Extreme Rules. He encouraged the fans to chant “spear,” as that’ll be the last time he said they’d be able to do so. Jericho promised to use the cage as a weapon against Edge and described some of the things he’d do to him. He said he’d draft Raw back to the hospital, while the other wrestlers will be drafted to other brands on Monday night. Another “spear” chant was encouraged, but the crowd fired back with “you suck.” Nice. Jericho said, instead, fans would be chanting “goodbye Edge.” On cue, Edge’s music hit and the Rated R Superstar walked out onto the stage.

Edge said that Jericho did injure his ankle last week. He also walked with a limp. Edge said people are wondering how he’ll compete on Sunday, just like people are wondering how Jericho lost to NXT Rookie Heath Slater this past Tuesday. He was walking to the ring as he talked, saying nothing would stop him from getting into the cage on Sunday. He also said nothing would stop him from getting into the cage now. He opened the door and walked in. Walking into a steel cage in a one-on-two situation: gutsy or stupid? Edge got intense as he said he knows how to come back from injuries, and he’ll do it again. He asked Jericho to look into his eyes, and asked if he looked like a man who had anything to lose. Jericho was a bit leery of Edge at this point. Edge said nothing will stop him from spearing Jericho through the cage. He also said there was nothing stopping him from spearing Jericho now. He went on the attack, nailing Jericho, then Barrett. But his onslaught was short-lived, as the numbers game caught up with Edge. Edge kicked out of the Walls of Jericho attempt, then took down Barrett. He lined up for the spear, but Jericho escaped through the door before he could connect. He shut the door, leaving Barrett in there with Edge. Barrett reached the door, but Jericho wouldn’t open it. He told Barrett that Edge was right behind him, and Edge began to bounce Barrett’s head off of the cage. Finally, he speared Barrett in the middle of the ring. Edge taunted Jericho through the cage, and Jericho made sure it was locked. I liked the finish with Barrett asking Jericho to leave and Jericho not letting him.

- Tonight, Kane and Rey Mysterio team up to face C.M. Punk and Luke Gallows.

- Matt Striker threw it to a trailer for “MacGruber.”

[Commercial Break]

- Shad Gaspard, dressed to the nines, joined Todd Grisham and Matt Striker at the commentator’s table. He had a strap with him, as a way to preview the strap match he has with JTG on Sunday.

3 – JTG vs. MIKE KNOX

Big cross-body from Knox for a quick two-count. Knox was released yesterday, so this is his last match on WWE television. Knox kicked and punched at JTG, but he ate a pair of boots in the corner. Flip shoulder tackle by JTG off the top rope. Shad called JTG, “all flash.” Dive over the top rope by JTG onto Knox, right in front of the announcers. JTG hit his finisher on the big man to end things.

WINNER: JTG, at 1:47.

After the match, Shad attacked JTG and whipped him with the strap.

[Commercial Break]

- Grisham and Striker previewed the Extreme Rules card.

- They showed how Punk lost a chunk of his hair this past week on Raw. After that, they went to a shot of the barber’s chair on the stage at Mohegan Sun.

- Next, Mickie James and Beth Phoenix team up to take on Michelle McCool and Layla.

[Commercial Break]

4 – MICHELLE MCCOOL & LAYLA vs. BETH PHOENIX & MICKIE JAMES

Vickie Guerrero was at ringside for her fellow Simply Flawless team members. Striker said Beth would fight Michelle for the Women’s Title at Extreme Rules in an Extreme Makeover match. Side head-lock by Layla, but Beth picked her up and twirled her around, while holding the move. Nice kicks by Layla, but she found herself in a giant swing while Striker name-dropped Hiroshi Hase. Michelle McCool made the blind tag and went after the legs of Phoenix. Mickie finally tagged in and hit some running clotheslines on Layla, then took out McCool. Top rope Thesz Press onto Layla, who took it wrong. Running knee to the head by McCool to break things up. Phoenix took her out while Layla hit a neck-breaker (termed the “Lay-out” by Striker) and pinned James.

WINNERS: McCool & Layla, at 3:01. Not much of a match, but Mickie brought some nice energy. It was close she was on her way out, losing to Layla here and being tossed aside for the post-match happenings.

Layla grabbed an ironing board from under the ring and set it up in the corner after the match. Phoenix got whipped into it, then McCool downed her with a big boot. Vickie gave the ladies some lipstick, and they drew all over Beth’s face.

- Kane and Mysterio were discussing what one can only presume would be their strategy for their match. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Straight Edge Society came out for the main event. Punk did some mic work on his way to the ring. He said Mysterio showed the true colors of a coward on Raw by cutting his hair. He said that lock of hair is all he’ll get from Punk after Sunday. His hair will remain as pure as the driven snow. That’s an odd simile. The barber’s chair was at ringside, and said someone tonight will be saved.

5 – THE STRAIGHT EDGE SOCIETY vs. REY MYSTERIO & KANE

I hope they address the volatile past between Kane and Rey. Gallows began the match, and as soon as he got an advantage, Punk was desperate to tag in. Striker said Punk bald would look like a cross between Ivan Koloff and one of the Oak Ridge Boys. Rey flipped out of a suplex and tagged in Kane. Punk cowered in the corner as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the match, Punk landed a running knee to Rey in the corner, followed by a bulldog for a two-count. Back elbow got Punk another near-fall. Gallows tagged in with the job of wearing down Rey. It didn’t quite work, as Mysterio countered into a spinning DDT. Both men made tags, with Kane getting the better of Punk. Clothesline off the top by Kane, but a pin was broken up by Gallows. He was deposited over the top rope, though and Kane booted Punk down. Rey tagged in and stood on Kane’s shoulders to deliver a big splash. That got two. Punk was put in position for the 619, but Serena got on the apron. While the ref dealt with her, Gallows tripped Mysterio and brought him to the outside for punishment. Kane sent Gallows over the guardrail, so it was down to Rey vs. Punk. Rey tried a springboard moonsault, but he landed right in position for the GTS. Counter, then another as Punk sat down on a hurricanrana attempt, hooked the legs and got the win.

WINNERS: Punk and Gallows, at 10:34.

Punk continued the beating post-match. However, he ended up in position for the 619. He fled the ring, but Mysterio kicked him into the barber’s chair. Mysterio grabbed the clippers, but Serena got in between him and Punk. They were able to escape, with Punk and Serena looking on worriedly from the ramp, as Mysterio brandished the razor to end the show.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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