WWE Smackdown/ECW taping
August 19, 2008
Moline, Ill. at the iWireless Center
Report by Brian Rathjen of Eldridge, Ia. - PWTorch.com reader

Following is an in-person report of the WWE SmackDown! and ECW tapings Aug. 19, 2008, at the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. This report includes spoilers.

DARK MATCH

(1) Morishima beat Jamie Nobel with a sideslam. Morishima used the Orient Express' old entrance music.

SMACKDOWN TAPING

-Opening segment: Vickie Guerrero was wheeled out to the entrance ramp, where she blamed Edge for her recent decision-making. She said that Edge made her life a living Hell, and now he's residing there. She then previewed the night's series of Championship Scramble-qualifying matches, wherein four wrestlers would earn a shot at Triple H's belt at the upcoming Unforgiven PPV. She also promised that the Undertaker would be present tonight and that she was planning to talk with him in the ring about the SummerSlam match.

(1) Maria defeated Natalya by apparent disqualification when Maryse interfered on Natalya's behalf. Michelle McCool came out for the save.

-A backstage segment aired on the TitanTron, where the Big Show was talking to Vickie Guererro and La Familia about the upcoming 10-man battle royale (where the winner earns a spot in the Championship Scramble). Poor audio quality here.

(2) 10-man battle royale (Championship Scramble qualifying match). Entrants are Armando Alejandro Estrada, Funaki, Super Crazy, Scotty Goldman, Brian Kendrick, Zach Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Jimmy Wang Yang, Vladimir Kolzov and the Big Show.

The Big Show didn't enter right away - he sat at ringside in a chair. On cue, he entered and threw out everyone. However, he did not notice Kendrick was caught by Ezekiel. The Big Show, thinking he won, left the ring ... and shortly thereafter, Ezekiel helped Kendrick back into the ring. Kendrick was declared the winner and earned a spot in the Championship Scramble.

(3) MVP beat Festus (w/Jesse) via countout for a spot in the Championship Scramble. MVP won by countout. The two were brawling outside the ring when MVP kicked over Jesse; MVP got back into the ring and Festus was tending to Jesse as the 10-count ended. MVP earned a spot in the Championship Scramble.

-A Jeff Hardy video played on the TitanTron, along with an apparent recap of Kendrick's win in the battle royale. Also: "WWE 24/7 Classics, from the May 16, 2002, RAW bikini contest between Torrie Wilson and Stacy Kiebler, which Trish Stratus won unexpectedly.

(4) U.S. Champion Shelton Benjamin defeated Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) for a spot in the Championship Scramble. I forget the guy's name who came down during the match to interfere on Benjamin's behalf (Snitksky?), but he distracted Finlay when he struck Hornswoggle. Benjamin got the win and earned a spot in the Championship Scramble. Snitsky(?) attacked Finlay in the post-match.

-Another backstage segment with La Familia (no audio)

-Triple H comes to ringside to sit at the announcer's table for the next match.

(5) Jeff Hardy defeated The Great Khali for a spot in the Championship Scramble. Khali dominated, but Hardy held his own. Eventually, Triple H struck Khali on the head with a chair, allowing Hardy to hit the Swanton Bomb and get the win. Hardy earned a spot in the Championship Scramble.

-Triple H in-ring promo, where he reviewd the rules and said that he will be the champion at the end of the 20-minute time period. Kenny Dykstra came to the ring and said that he will be noticed someday, but Triple H easily laid him out with a Pedigree. "Good to see ya, Kenny!" said Triple H.

-Backstage segment with La Familia, where they learned the Undertaker had arrived and were ready to come ot the ring.

-After various other promos aired (including three Vickie Guererro segments where the audio had cut off), Vickie came to the ring and read a statement explaining why she asked the Undertaker to wrestle Edge in Hell in a Cell at SummerSlam. She said she wanted to apologize to Undertaker.

Undertaker came out and met Vickie, who was on her knees begging for forgiveness. Undertaker refused to accept and said he came for her soul. Guererro's stooges began to attack Undertaker (as she scooted out of the ring and walked to the top of the entrance ramp). La Familia members got the best of Undertaker, but it was temporary as he fought them all off. Undertaker stared at Vickie, who looked very worried. The show will likely end here. No real pomp and circumstance afterward

AFTER SMACKDOWN

(1) I didn't stay for this, but it was a Street Fight between Triple H and The Great Khali.

NOTES: Sorry if this seems a little random and not really detailed. If I made a few mistakes, I also apologize, but hope this helps entice readers. Hope to do this again in the future.

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