By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 25, 2010
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

-After highlights of last week's Smackdown, Jack Swagger came out to the ring as Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introduced the show. They talked about Swagger facing Randy Orton at "Extreme Rules." He bragged about beating two future first-ballot WWE Hall of Famers last week. I didn't know there were ballots. He then said he dominated the Undertaker on Raw earlier in the week "like no other Superstar in WWE history including Shawn Michaels." There he is talking about Michaels again. They're setting up a possible opponent for Michaels if he ever were to return. He threw to a video package, carefully edited to make him look dominant, from his match against Taker on Raw.

He said that video package says it all and shows nobody compares to his abilities. He said he didn't just look like a winner, he looks like a champion. He said he is their champion who hopes to become a permanent member of the Smackdown roster next week. He said he wants to flourish and inspire an entire universe. He said he plans to dominate Randy Orton and give them a champion they can believe in and transcend generations. He said Randy will be "coiled, ready to strike, fangs out." He said Orton isn't looking at a normal man. He touted his streak of victories in the NCAA. He said he is "the antidote." He said he won't play with the viper, he's going straight for the viper's neck and he's going to cut his neck off.

1 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. JOHN MORRISON

Morrison went on early offense with some of his signature offensive moves. Swagger came back with a powerslam and they cut to a break at 2:00. [c] Morrison elbowed Swagger to try to break free of his grip, but Swagger powered him up onto the top turnbuckle and set up a superplex. Morrison elbowed his way free and came off the top rope with a flying dropkick for a near fall. Morrison went for a cradle for a two count. When Morrison springboarded toward Swagger, Swagger caught him with a kick. He followed with some reapid elbow drops and a legdrop to the abdomen. That's called attacking someone's strength.

[Q2]

Swagger bled from a cut lip. Swagger reverse flap-jacked Morrison at 7:00 and then settled into a submission hammer-lock/half-nelson. Morrison fired back with a DDT out of nowhere. He kicked Swagger as Swagger sling-shot himself into the ring and scored a believable near fall. He did the Flair-thing where he watched the referee as he counts and kicks out just before three. Morrison threw another signature roundkick for another two count. Striker said Swagger was kicking out with less authority over time. He said Randy Orton is watching somewhere. Swagger dropped Morrison throat-first over the top rope and then hit his gut-wrench powerbomb for a very near fall. Morrison surprised Swagger with another kick and then Starship Pain for the win.

WINNER: Morrison in 12:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Very good match with a surprising finish. They're definitely going somewhere with Swagger's string of non-title losses, but it's hardly a way to establish him as a strong champion out of the gate. I hope they know what they're doing. [c]

-C.M. Punk and his minions approached Teddy Long backstage and insisted Rey Mysterio shouldn't be allowed to go around cutting people's hair. Long said it's Punk's problem. Punk said it's Long's show, he should take control. Long said he better win at Extreme Rules because he's going to be really ugly bald. Long said he looks good bald, but Punk won't. He then told Punk that he and Luke Gallows will face Rey Mysterio and a partner who's handsome without hair. Punk said, "Who? You?" Long said, "No. Kane." He added, "One more thing. Bald is beautiful!"

[Q3]

-R-Truth made his ring entrance, singing on the way to the ring. Matt Hardy came out next. [c]

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

Striker said McIntrye is the first Scottish-born wrestler. Grisham corrected him and said Roddy Piper was first. Striker said Piper was actually born in Canada and told him to do his homework. Grisham said he was just testing Striker. Striker then asked Grisham if he'd rather be feared or respected. Grisham, in a funny line, said either would be nice. Just over a minute into the match, after a flurry by Hardy against the heels, they cut to a break. [c] As Ziggler distracted the referee, at ringside McIntrye stomped on Hardy's head on the ring steps. Striker said, "That was disgusting. I love it!" Grisham called it "a disgrace." When Ziggler got Hardy back in the ring, Striker said the ref should stop it. Seconds later the referee did. Ziggler wasn't happy as he wanted to keep beating him down.

[Q4]

Grisham asked if that's how a champion should act. Striker said a suspension may be in order. Grisham said it's about as low as you can go. Grisham said it's mind-boggling what happened. Striker gave him a hard time for that term. Grisham offered up "deplorable" instead. Striker said that was better. Afterward McIntyre attacked Hardy and Truth again, ramming the back of Hardy's head into the stairs and then bent over for some trash-talking. The tried to get McIntyre to back off. McIntrye said, "Touch me again and see what happens."

WINNERS: Ziggler & McIntrye in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 [c]

-Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett walked out to the ring which was surrounded by a cage. Grisham talked about how damaged Edge's leg is after Jericho's attack last week. Jericho called the fans "moronic hypocrites." He said on Sunday he will end the career of Edge, which means no more heroic comebacks, championship reigns, or spears. He said, "Go ahead, chat spear all you like. Let's hear it. It's the last time you will." There wasn't really a chant going when he said that. They have tried really hard to get the spear over, but it's just not working. Maybe heels should actually turn babyface in the future and not just show up after a layoff and be presented as cheer-worthy.

He said on Monday when the entire roster is watching to see which roster they'll be drafted to, Edge will be watching from a bed in the hospital where he's spent so much time over the last several years. He said the greatest part of the entire situation is that with Edge gone from WWE forever, these "parasitic sycophants who call themselves Edgeheads won't chant "Spear! Spear! Spear!" anymore. (They don't now!). Instead, they'll be chanting, "Good bye, Edge! Good bye, Edge!"

Edge then walked out onto the stage. He said Jericho brings up a good point. He said that yes people ask him how he's going to compete at Extreme Rules, but even more are asking how he lost to rookie on NXT on Tuesday. Edge limped toward the ring and said it's true he's banged up, but nothing is going to stop him from getting inside the cage at Extreme Rules. He said nothing will actually stop him from getting inside the cage right now. He entered the cage. He said he knows how to deal with an injury and what it takes to scrape and claw from the bottom of his guts to work through an injury. He said he broke his neck before and tore his Achilles tendon.

[Q5]

Edge looked at Jericho and asked if he looks like someone with anything to lose. Jericho seemed disturbed by Edge's crazed look. Edge said he plans to find out at Extreme Rules if Jericho has what it takes to fight through an injury. He said he will do whatever it takes to spear him through the cage. He then attacked Jericho and Barrett. Jericho struck back with a spear and attempted a Walls of Jericho. Edge powered out and then set up a spear, but Jericho bailed out of the cage door. Edge then beat up Barrett, who was trapped in the cage with Edge. Edge gave Barrett a spear.

Very good segment. Edge told a story of having heart and determination and questioned Jericho's. He also set up a goal for spearing Jericho through the cage at the PPV, giving fans an image to anticipate. [c]

3 -- J.T.G. vs. MIKE KNOX

Shad joined in on commentary. Striker told Shad he likes his thuggery. He asked him why Cryme Tyme broke up. Shad said he got tired of watching his back. Ah, the dreaded "job on national TV before being cut." Striker said J.T.G. took the match against a much larger opponent to prepare for him on Sunday. Shad said he isn't a monster like Knox, he's a Brooklyn Beast and he dominates anyone who gets in his way. Knox hit J.T.G. with a sudden bodyblock. J.T.G. made a comeback. Shad said he's all flash and he carried him all along. J.T.G. dove onto Knox at ringside, then stared at Shad. "Worse than Lebron James, all flash and no substance." J.T.G. hit his new finisher out of nowhere for a sudden win.

WINNER: J.T.G. in 3:00. Just enough offense by Knox that J.T.G.'s win seemed worth something.

Afterward Shad attacked J.T.G. in the ring. He whipped him with his belt.

[Q5] [c]

-Grisham and Striker threw to a video package on the Batista-John Cena feud. Then they ran down the line-up for Extreme Rules. Then a clip aired of Punk's confrontation with Triple H on Raw on Monday ending with Rey Mysterio getting a clip of Punk's hair. [c]

[Q7]

4 -- MICKIE JAMES & "GLAMAZON" BETH PHOENIX vs. LAYLA & MICHELLE MCCOOL (w/Vickie Guerrero)

Striker announced a first-ever "Extreme Makeover" match at the PPV. Layla finished Mickie with a neckbreaker. Mickie's last WWE appearance, too. Afterward, the heels whipped Phoenix into a ironing board in the corner of the ring as Vickie stood in the ring and applauded. The heel trio then painted Phoenix's face with lipstick.

WINNERS: Layla & Michelle in 2:00.

-They showed Kane and Rey chatting backstage. [c]

[Q8]

5 -- C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS (w/Sarita) vs. REY MYSTERIO & KANE

Before the match Punk said his hair will remain as pure as the fallen snow. He sat in a barber chair at ringside and said someone tonight will be saved and join the Straight Edge Society and get their head shaved. Rey's music then played. A minute into the match, believe it or not, they cut to a break. [c] Rey hot-tagged in at 5:00 and went after Punk. Rey scored a near fall on Punk after a flurry of offense, popping the crowd. He set up a 619, but Gallows yanked him out of the ring by his legs and then punched him. Kane made the save and brawled with Gallows in the crowd. Rey blocked a Punk GTS and went for a sunset flip, but Punk sat down on Rey's shoulders for the win.

WINNERS: Punk & Gallows in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4

-Afterward Punk went after Rey, but Rey came back and set up a 619. Punk escaped to ringside. Rey slidekicked him right into the barber chair and went after him with the clippers. Punk fled and grabbed at his hair, as if the worst fate he could suffer is his pure hair being cut. Good final image to sell the PPV.

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