KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
APRIL 30, 2010
TAPED TUESDAY IN HERSHEY, PA.
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with a video package on recapping the WWE Draft that aired on Raw. Then a clip aired of Edge spearing Randy Orton at the end of the show.

-The Smackdown opening aired and Todd Grisham introduced the show. G.M. Teddy Long walked out onto the stage and said talked about the draft. He said it was "off the shu-hizzle duh-hizzle" or something like that. Long said Smackdown "showed up, got the better of it." He introduced Kofi Kingston with a smile. When Kingston came out, Matt Striker said he brings an exuberance and "a chaotic frenzy." No, it's "a controlled frenzy." Chaotic and controlled or opposites. At least with the draft we don't have to hear Cole say "controlled frenzy" anytime except on PPVs. Chris Jericho then walked out.

Jericho said he promised to become the Face of Smackdown, and that's what he's done. He said he dazzled the fans and took Smackdown to a new level, but now his work is done. He said he will now become the Face of Raw. He said the "hyporcrites" will be sad and miss him, and there will be an empty hold in their lives from now on. He said it's time for them to move on and grow up. Kingston yanked the mic out of his hand and told him to shut up. He said if he won't do that or can't do that, then he'll help him out. He popped the mic a few times. Jericho looked at him incredulously. The bell rang to start the match.

1 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. KOFI KINGSTON

Grisham said this is Kingston's first SD match and Jericho's final SD match, with no explanation why they overlapped. Not that it's a huge deal, but why not just say that on WWE Draft week, both Raw and Smackdown get access to all wrestlers since the fate of the wrestlers isn't known ahead of time. They cut to a break early. [c] Back from the break, Striker talked about wrestling Kingston early in Kingston's WWE career. He said Kingston had athleticism unlike anyone else he has wrestled. Jericho dominated after the break.

[Q2]

At 8:00 Jericho threw a limp-bodied Kofi into the ring and scored a two count. He was frustrated that it didn't lead to a three count. After stalling in frustration, Kingston recovered and surprised Jericho with his finishing 360 degree round kick for the win.

WINNER: Kingston in 9:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Smart idea to have Kingston beat clean an established main eventer in Jericho to give Smackdown fans the feeling they got the better of that exchange.

-Backstage Jack Swagger said after winning the 2002 Rose Bowl, he was "personally invited to the White House by the greatest president in our country's history, George W. Bush." That's all he said. Now that the poll came out saying the vast majority of WWE fans are left of center and align with the Democratic party, WWE is apparently aligning their heels with Republicans. It does say something that calling Bush the "greatest president in history" is considered a punchline in and of itself.

-A quick video package aired on Extreme Rules. [c]

-Jericho looked up at someone off camera, lecturing this person about not listening to him. Then we saw a fist. It was Big Show punching Jericho and knocking him out and face down onto the floor.

-In the ring stood formerly MIA Chavo Guerrero. He told the fans there's no reason for them rub their eyes or adjust their TV sets. He said it's true that "Chavo is back on Smackdown, baby." He said no longer is he under the thumb of the Raw guest host and it feels good to be back. He said think of the possibilities of there being two Guerreros on Smackdown. He said he and Vickie Guerrero are really close. Out walked Kane. Chavo wasn't thrilled. Grisham said maybe Kane just wants to befriend Chavo. Kane walked up to Chavo, chokeslammed him, and then stood over him with a mic in hand and said, "Welcome back, Chavo." His red pyro blasted off the corner turnbuckles.

-Grisham plugged Cody Rhodes vs. John Morrison. [c]

[Q3]

-WWE Fact: Over the past six years, WWE has visited more than 300 minlitary installations, hospitals, aircraft carriers, submarines, and the Pentagon. Most of that was JBL wanting to be around the troops.

-Shad Gaspar stood backstage wearing a suit that looked like it'd fit Dwight Howard. He said some new Smackdown Superstars think it's their time, "but it's my time."

2 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. CODY RHODES

Another case of a last match for a Smackdown wrestler going to Raw and a first match for a Raw wrestlers going to Smackdown. Morrison scored a two count after a standing moonsault mid-ring. They fought at ringside next. Rhodes fought back and kicked Morrison as they cut to a break at 2:00. [c] Striker said Rhodes doesn't wear kneepads, which means his knees can quickly be used as a weapon in matches. Rhodes dominated after the break for several minutes. Cody hit the Alabama Slam for a near fall at 10:00. Morrison made a comeback and scored a near fall. Rhodes, though, surprised Morrison with Crossroads for the clean win.

WINNER: Rhodes in 11:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Good match, as you'd expect between these two, who may meet in big PPV matches down the line. Another good win for a new SD wrestler over a departing SD wrestler.

[Q4]

-They went back to Swagger again, who stood in the same spot with the same (lack of) expression. He bragged about leading his Oklahoma Sooners wrestling team to three consecutive National Championships. That was it. Just a quick braggart moment.

-They showed Edge heading toward the entrance tunnel backstage. Grisham said he'd speak next. [c]

-Edge walked out and said he unfortunately got drafted to Raw. He said he's not happy about it. He said the fans of Smackdown have been with him every step of the way and he loves them. Christian came out to talk to Edge. Edge said he wanted to just say one thing: "Edge and Christian." He said they have so much history together, it's great to be together again in the ring. Christian talked about their history. Christian then said he knows Edge better than anyone. He said while the fans respected him, he didn't respect them back. He used them to get what he wanted and that was all. Edge said he's realizing this is all about him.

Edge said he's a nine-time World Champion. He asked Christian how many World Titles he's won. Christian said the magic words which sting TNA fans: "It's true, I've never World Champion, yet." He said when he does win a world championship, he'll win it with his own merit and talent, not because he had to step on other people's necks to get there. He said he was going to call out Edge in front of the WWE Universe and look him in the eyes and say, "You are a liar." The crowd wasn't sure what to make of this.

[Q5]

Edge paused, then said Christian is right, he can't wait to get off the show. He said for the last few months he's been the puppeteer and the fans have been his puppet. He said he made them say "Spear! Spear! Spear!" anytime he wanted them to, and they did it. He said he was a master psychologist. He said he played the fans and enjoyed every second of it. Christian said since he returned to WWE, the peeps have been asking when they'd see Edge and Christian reunite and make another run at the titles. He said it dawned on him after all of these years and all they've been through together that he used him, too, to get to the top. He said he doesn't want to see "Edge and Christian" anymore. he said he'd rather see Edge versus Christian right here, right now. The crowd cheered. Edge yanked off his jacket, but then said, "No." Christian said that didn't surprise him, but then Edge took a cheap shot at him. Edge gave Christian a big boot, snarled, and then set up a spear. When he charged, Christian kicked him in the gut. They rolled around on the mat. Christian went for a Kill Switch, but Edge fled the ring. As Edge backed up the ramp, Christian said he has a better chant than "Spear! Spear! Spear!" He said it goes like this: "Na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye." The crowd sang along. [c]

-Josh Matthews caught up to Edge backstage and asked if we'll ever see an Edge vs. Christian match. Edge said Christian wouldn't want that because it wouldn't work out well for him. Big Show walked up to Edge and told him it's too bad they won't see that match, or a match between himself and Edge. Edge turned to walk away. Big Show gave him the KO punch from behind. Edge went face-down on the floor. Grisham said Edge may not regain consciousness until Raw on Monday.

3 -- MICHELLE MCCOOL & LAYLA vs. BETH PHOENIX & KELLY KELLY

Phoenix got a hot-tag at 2:00 and went after Layla, catching her with an elbow and a clothesline off the second rope. She then shoved her into McCool who attempted to block the Glam Slam. Phoenix then hit a slingshot suplex on Layla and tagged in Kelly. Kelly gave Layla a legdrop to the back of her neck for the win.

WINNERS: Kelly & Phoenix in 3:00.

-Jack Swagger bragged about being offered scholarships to top colleges and universities including Stanford, UCS, Miami, and Texas.

[Q6] [c]

-WWE Fact: For the first three months of 2010, WWE.com had more pageviews and more monthly unique visitors than ABC.com, UFC.com, NBC.com, CBS.com, and Fox.com.

-Chris Masters looked at the camera and said for the first time Smackdown he presents his dancing pecs. He said that video may go viral. He called it a masterpiece. Grisham asked Striker if he can do that. Striker said he only does it to classical and hip-hop.

-Dolph Ziggler walked out and said last week was the proudest moment of his life. A replay aired of him beating up Hornswoggle last week. Ziggler said Hornswoggle is now in Leprechaun heaven. That was it. Short segment.

-Striker and Grisham commentated on clips of Drew McIntrye's attack on Matt Hardy last week. Matthews then interviewed Hardy backstage. Hardy said he's suffered a lot of injuried in his career, but nothing like he did last week. He said what Drew did to him last week took a physical and psychological toll on him. Drew interrupted Hardy's comments with a blindside attack. As bystanders told him to stop, Drew gave him an impact DDT on the floor. Then he left. [c]

-J.T.G. still uses the Cryme Tyme music. He stood backstage and said now that he's on his own, he's been talking to himself about what's next. He made some utterances which were difficult to decipher, especially over the music playing in the background.

[Q7]

-C.M. Punk, Luke Gallows, and Serina walked to the ring. Punk said he knows everyone in the WWE Universe believed that Rey Mysterio was going to defeat him and shave him bald. He said he wanted to give the fans the sober reality, which he knows most fans struggle with. He said he took care of Rey rather easily, even with Gallos and Serina being ejected from ringside. He said he did it because he is drug and alcohol free. He said he is stronger than everyone else. MVP interrupted. Punk said, "I was talking."

MVP made his way to the ring with the mic in hand. He said some of his catch phrases and said he is indeed back on Smackdown. Punk said, "I was speaking." MVP said, "That's the problem." MVP apologized that every week Smackdown fans had to listen to this moron and his band of followers spew this rhetoric every week. He said he wants to save people from hearing him run his mouth. He said he remembered when Friday Night Smackdown was cool, with the MVP Lounge. He said it was a big party, but then Punk put a wet blanket on it with his message of no drinking and no fun. He said Friday nights are about to get hot again. He punched Punk, then tackled Gallows. Punk stomped on MVP. Rey Mysterio made the save. They have to be careful targeting this show toward kids, at least in part, and having parents hear a message that you're a spoil sport if you don't approve of drinking and that without drinking, there's no fun to be had. [c]

[Q8]

4 -- C.M. PUNK & LUKE GALLOWS (w/Serina) vs. REY MYSTERIO & MVP

The heels dominated for several minutes after the break, beating on Rey with frequent tags. Rey made a comeback and hot-tagged MVP at 5:00. MVP set up Gallows for a 619 from Rey as the ref was distracted by Punk, then MVP finished Gallows with his 305. As MVP and Rey cele rated, a hooded mystery man interfered and attacked Rey from behind, then took a scarper through the crowd.

WINNERS: Mysterio & MVP in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4

-Jack Swagger looked at the camera and bragged about being a 4.0 student at the University of Oklahoma and being invited back for the commencement speech this year. [c]

-Swagger walked to the ring and said he had something very important to say. The crowd kept booing and interrupting as he tried to talk about his childhood. He told the fans to sit down and listen to him. He said his father sat him down and told him when he was a boy that one day he will be a World Champion.

He said by age 5 he had already completed the first grade and was six inches taller than everyone else in his class. When he was 12 he won the NFL punt, pass, and kick competition. "I really did. Look it up," he said. In the same year, he said he achieved the Boy Scout's highest honor, becoming an Eagle Scout. "I know that's impressive," he said. When he was 16, he scored a combined 1510 on his SAT. "Yeah, 1510!" he bragged. "Because of that I was admitted early to the most prestigious university in the land, thee University of Oklahoma on a full scholarship. Did I say full scholarship? Because it was free. I didn't pay for anything. It was a full scholarship."

He said three years later he graduated at the top of his class. He said he was the premier collegiate athlete in the company and a two-time, two-time All-American. "Thank you, thank you, it was hard work, but I earned it," he said. "I earned every bit of it." He said since he's pouring his heart out to every fan he has to tell them that his favorite achievement. his greatest achievement, his crowning achievement was winning the World Heavyweight Championship. He said 30 days ago when he won the title, he sat down with his daddy again for a man-to-man talk. He said he told him, "Son, I told you so." Swagger said he's going remain World Champion until he retires.

Teddy Long interrupted and announced that Swagger will defend his title against Big Show at Over the Edge. Big Show walked to the ring and led the crowd in a round of applause for his accomplishments. He said when he was born, the doctor said, "Look at how big he is!" He said he may be many things, but he's not a giant. He said he is the World's Largest Athlete. He listed Swagger's accomplishments, and he said he should add on more. "Early retirement!" He then KO'd Swagger with a punch. Swagger lay face down as Show celebrated as the show ended.

Final Thoughts: Excellent episode. Great job introducing the new faces of Smackdown post-draft. The Swagger segments throughout the show were a great place-setter for his in-ring promo. Kurt Angle may be pro wrestling's only Gold Medalist, but Swagger's resume gives him a run for his money in the big picture. Show is good on the mic and I like that match-up because Swagger has bragged enough that fans can get behind Show humbling him. Overall, this show removed the fear that Smackdown fans had that they lost in the draft as everyone on the roster was positioned well and in a good mix with one another.

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