WWE Smackdown review
June 11, 2010
Taped 6/8/10 in Tampa, Fla.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist

- WWE Open.

- Smackdown opened with clips of Kane's eulogy to his brother last week, as well as portions of the show-ending Battle Royal, won by Rey Mysterio

- Smackdown Open.

- Matt Striker and Todd Grisham welcomed viewers to Smackdown, plugging the Fatal Four-Way World Title Match at the Fatal Four-Way PPV. They also previewed two singles matches tonight: Big Show vs. CM Punk, for the first time ever, and Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger. That one is takes place...now.

- Rey Mysterio came out for the match. He said he did the impossible last week and when he wins the title at the PPV, he will share it with the fans. Jack Swagger's music interrupted and claimed that Rey earned nothing last week. He talked about training to be a wrestler all of his life, because the World Heavyweight Championship is his destiny. "Swagger sucks" chant before Rey's reply. Mysterio made fun of Swagger's lisp and said he was proud of his heritage (something Swagger mocked). He said it would take just one 619 to win the title. Then CM Punk's music hit and he and the Straight Edge Society walked out. Punk talked about being the victim of an assassination attempt on Raw, as 36 armed men (according to Punk) attacked him. He said at Fatal Four-Way, he'd become four-time Straight Edge Champion. Mysterio responded by saying that everyone in the WWE Universe is tired of Punk running his mouth. He implored Punk to take off the mask. Punk rightfully said that's the pot calling the kettle black. Shockingly, the Big Show came out next.

Show nonchalantly said that he'd walk into the PPV, beat everyone up, and walk out as champion. Show said he pulls off bald pretty well, and suggested he pull Punk's mask off for him. "How about I pull of your face?" Punk responded, as if he was on the playground in elementary school. The lights turned red, and Kane came on the Titan Tron. He said if the four men in the ring think they will fight over Undertaker's title with no fear of reprisal, they are wrong. He was standing next to a casket, which he promised to put the person in who attacked Undertaker. "There will be vengeance!," he once again screamed before slamming the casket lid shut. The camera stayed on a close up of him breathing heavily as they went to break. The standard four-way match hype segment that we've seen hundreds of times before, but at least they shoe-horned Kane into it to give it a different angle.

[Commercial Break]

1 - REY MYSTERIO vs. JACK SWAGGER

The bell rang to start the contest immediately out of break. Swagger tried to wrestle with Rey, but Rey used Swagger's own momentum against him, low-bridging him out of the ring. Back inside, Swagger re-gained control. Wheel-barrow into the bulldog by Mysterio for two. Mysterio again had Swagger in a vulnerable position, but Swagger found his way out and rolled to the outside about three minutes in, as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Mysterio took a spill to the outside via Swagger. Swagger kept taking the punishment to Mysterio as Striker got annoyed by Grisham, asking him, "can you lay out until the main event?" Rear chin-lock from the champ. Big clothesline from Swagger as Rey attempted his comeback. He just ran Mysterio right over. To the top, as Swagger tried to suplex Rey off, but couldn't get it. Instead, Swagger jumped up to the second rope and threw Rey over his head and across the ring. That garnered him a two-count. They went to break again, about 9:00 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Swagger was bending Mysterio's torso around the ring post. He worked a body-scissors back in the ring, but Mysterio kicked at Swagger in the corner, then went to the top. However, Swagger tripped him up on the top and put him in the Tree of Woe. Mysterio sat up, allowing Swagger to ram his shoulder into the post. Seated senton off the top onto Swagger, but Jack booted him down for two. Gutwrench powerbomb but no, Mysterio slid out. He put Swagger in the 619 position, but Swagger stood up, so Rey gave it to him in the stomach. He positioned him more naturally and hit it, then dropped the dime for the win.

WINNER: Mysterio, at 15:19. Tough luck with two breaks in between the match. Rey got the win he won't get at the PPV, so it works out.

Swagger attacked post-match, but Kane walked out to his music. He gave a chokeslam to Swagger, then Mysterio.

- Grisham plugged photos and videos of NXT Season One's Raw attack this past Monday, on WWE.com. They're going to air it again tonight.

[Commercial Break]

2- LAYLA vs. TIFFANY

An annoyed Kaval came to the ring with Team LayCool, his NXT Pros. The two Divas insulted the crowd before the match. Mary and Terry McCool, Michelle's parents, were shown at ringside. McCool gave a shout-out to them. They agreed that the crowd need a make-over. Kelly Kelly seconded Tiffany for the match.

Layla took the match to Tiffany, putting her in a head-scissors and using the ropes for leverage as Striker said that Kaval is watching this match closely to learn some things. Tiffany had a short comeback, but Layla pushed her away. Inside cradle by Tiffany for two. McCool got on the apron and was yelling at Kaval for some reason. Tiffany speared her down, allowing Layla to hit her neckbreaker for the win.

WINNER: Layla, at 1:39. This division desperately needs some depth.

- Next, the graphic footage of the assault that took place on Raw this past week.

[Commercial Break]

- Striker thanked Toby Mac for the official Fatal Four-Way Theme, "Showstopper."

- Grisham and Striker talked about the NXT attack on Monday, and Striker simply asked, "why?" Then they cued up the footage, from Cena's comeback all the way through the end of the attack. The fact that they took almost 15 minutes of NXT and Smackdown to show the entire beating tells me they have big plans for this angle.

-Back to Grisham and Striker, Striker said that the locker room is on edge now, and that intensity is going to pick up in the matches because the wrestlers want to defend their turf and welcome a challenge.

[Commercial Break]

- Christian came out for a match, and they showed what happened on WWE Superstars this past week, when Vickie Guerrero turned a Chavo vs. Christian match into Chavo & Dolph Ziggler vs. Christian. Then, back on Smackdown, Vickie came out to personally introduce Ziggler. The two walked arm-in-arm to the ring.

3 - CHRISTIAN vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Ziggler got the better of Christian in a chase around the ring. Christian though, flipped Ziggler out of the ring and then flew onto him with a cross-body. Ziggler launched Christian off the top rope and to the floor as they went to break a little more than a minute in.

[Commercial Break]

Ziggler was choking Christian in the middle rope upon return. Dolph came off the middle rope, but was met with a boot to the jaw. Christian responded with his trademark open-hand slaps. Middle-rope dropkick for two. Top rope cross-body, but Ziggler rolled through for two. Fameasser by Ziggler for a near-fall. Christian came back with a flying elbow. Ziggler shrugged off the Killswitch and locked in the sleeper. Christian slipped out, then went for his springboard sunset flip. He connected and picked up the three-count.

WINNER: Christian, at 7:45. I like Christian winning with one of his signature moves, to give the near-falls on it in the future more believability.

Post-match, Vance Archer and Curt Hawkins attacked Christian. Their contracts expire at midnight tonight, so they're trying to make a last-minute impact. Ziggler then took advantage and locked in the sleeper on Christian after the damage had been done. He and Vickie hugged after the match.

- Backstage, Kane was next to the casket again. There were some candles, and he said he'd never let the fire extinguish. He said Taker has always guided him to the stairway of success. He said his soul is empty and hollow now. He promised that the men who did this would be damned. I see they've switched it to focus on more of a "they" now than a "he."

[Commercial Break]

- Still to come tonight, Big Show faces CM Punk.

- Drew McIntyre came out. He demanded that Teddy Long come out, so Long obliged. Mac shushed Long, and made him watch a video of Matt Hardy costing him his title against Kofi Kingston at the last PPV, then Hardy beating him this past week on Raw. Long was interrupted again by McIntyre, who was clearly the alpha male of this segment. McIntyre said that as far as Viewer's Choice, he's the only choice because he's the chosen one. That doesn't even make any sense. He said he'd have to do Long's job for him again, as per Vince McMahon, Hardy is now suspended from Smackdown AND Raw, as well as all WWE programming. Even Superstars!?!? McIntyre threw Long's mic to ringside so he couldn't talk. Mac said he warned Long that if he crossed him again, there will be a price to pay. He shoved Long and was going to break some news, but Kofi Kingston's music interrupted.

He said he was sick of McIntyre whining and crying each week when he doesn't get his way. Kofi said that, on behalf of everyone: "Shut up." He said he earns what he gets, like when he won the IC Title. And if he's mad about something, he does this: and then he attacked McIntyre. They rolled around on the floor fighting for a bit, then Kingston knocked McIntyre out of the ring with a Trouble in Paradise.

- Big Show was walking backstage - he faces CM Punk next.

[Commercial Break]

- Teddy Long was in his office, on his phone, trying to get through to Mr. McMahon. Drew McIntyre barged in and said that next week, he has a match...against Teddy Long, as per Mr. McMahon. And if Teddy doesn't show up, he's fired. Long took off his glasses and showed concern.

4 - THE BIG SHOW vs. C.M. PUNK

Striker compared Punk early in the match to a fat kid at a milkshake store: "just grasping at straws" to try to best Big Show. Punk nailed Show with a few kicks to the head, then went to the top. Show threatened him with a right hand and Punk descended the turnbuckle to counsel with his associates on the outside. They took the final break at this point.

[Commercial Break]

Show was in control out of break, of course, working in his trademark slap to the chest. "Take it off" chant, wanting Show to remove Punk's mask. He got Punk in a choke, but instead of slamming him, he went for the mask. As he was about to pull it off, Luke Gallows, Serena and the masked man interfered for the DQ.

Winner: Show, via disqualification, at 7:24.

After the match, Kane came out and attacked...well, everyone. Chokeslam for Gallows, then he attacked Show. My bad: Punk appeared to escape Kane's wrath. The fire went off from the turnbuckles as the show closed.

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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