By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
JUNE 18, 2010
TAPED TUESDAY IN N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY
AIRED ON MY NETWORK TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with more clips of Kane vowing to prosecute anyone who had anything to do with the Undertaker tragedy. Kane plays his character really, really well. Back when he wore the mask he was able to get a lot of emotions across with just a tilt of his head and body positioning. He's been able to translated that now to his creepy damaged-soul facial expressions and believable despair and desire for justice over what happened to his "brother."

-The Smackdown opening aired. Then Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introduced the show and hyped that C.M. Punk & Jack Swagger would face Big Show & Rey Mysterio in a preview of the Fatal 4-Way World Title four-way main event. Also, Drew McIntrye vs. Teddy Long. Long must wrestle or be fired.

-C.M. Punk walked and said he will become four-time Straight Edge World Hvt. Champion on Sunday. He said nobody in history has ever accomplished that. He said what would make it sweeter is if the Phenom of WWE was here to see it. He said a lot of the fans probably flunked out of high school and it's been a long time since their last history lesson. Since then they've killed billions of brain cells eating pills, smoking drugs, and drinking beer. He said he is the only man in the history of WWE to make Undertaker tap out. He said if it weren't for Taker's "current vegetative state," he'd make him tap out again at Fatal 4-Way. He said he wants to talk about Undertaker's vegetative state.

He said by looking at the fans, many of them are familiar with "vegetative states." He said it's hilarious that nobody in his S.E.S. is responsible for his vegetative state, but that makes it no less hilarious to him. He said he wishes he could have seen the look on his face as he was beaten to a point of no return. He said when the perpetrator or perpetrators are known, he wants to be first to shake their hand. He said the WWE landscape has been much better without Undertaker around. The lights flickered and then went dark. In the ring apparently stood the Undertaker. Punk got bug-eyed, while some fans screamed. Striker gullibly said, "Undertaker is back! I told you there is no way to keep him down." After a long pause, Punk moved in toward Taker and poked him to see if he was real. Punk then spun him around and Luke Gallows took off the wig and revealed that it was him. Punk and Gallows shared a laugh.

Kane's music played, pyro blasted, and red lights flashed. He walked toward the ring, but Jack Swagger chased him down from behind and attacked him. Gallows, Punk, the masked man, and Swagger gang attacked him. Swagger swing-splashed Kane three times as the other heels held him down in the corner. Rey Mysterio and Big Show made the save. The heels fled the ring as the largest and smallest WWE main eventers stood side-by-side in the ring. Good set-up for the main event tag match. As Kane began to stand, Rey gave him a 619. Show then chokeslammed him. Revenge for accusing them attacking Taker? Show stood over Kane. Grisham had nothing but stoic generic things to say in response, such as "what a chaotic start here on Friday Night Smackdown." Yawn. Striker wondered what was implied by their actions. Show leaned down into Kane's face and said, "For the last time, I had nothing to do with what happened to the Undertaker. Nothing is going to stop me from becoming the next World Heavyweight Champion!" [c]

[Q2]

-Highlights aired of Drew McIntrye's history on Smackdown as Mr. McMahon's "Chosn One." What if he's like Dolly Parton's character in "9-to-5" who forged her bosses signature time after time?

1 -- CHRISTIAN & MVP vs. VANCE ARCHER & CURT HAWKINS

Striker said Archer and Hawkins were on their second 30 day contract based on their actions recently. This is still a stoopid storyline - that Archer and Hawins are being rewarded by G.M. Teddy Long for "making an impact" by attacking people and cheating and doing nothing honorable. MVP knocked Archer to the floor with a boot and then backdropped Hawkins to the floor Christian and MVP then dove onto both of them. Archer threw MVP into the ringside steps once he turned his back on him. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c] The heels beat up MVP for a couple minutes. Christian hot-tagged in at 7:00. Striker noted that Christian has won 17 major titles in his career (I wonder if he's including the TNA World Title). Christian went for the Kill Switch on Hawkins, but Archer made the save and then Hawkins hit the top rope elbow for the win. They added a couple more moves to lay out MVP and Christian. Striker wondered if this win will get them a full contract.

WINNERS: Archer & Hawkins in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Nothing special, but fine. Christian jobbing that easily out of nowhere doesn't bode well for him being a go-to guy during a time when established stars are dropping off the roster rapidly. Good to see Hawkins & Archer do something to "earn their keep" that has to do with showing skill and winning matches rather than being thugs.

[Q3]

-Rosa Mendez walked up to Michelle McCool and Layla. LayCool made fun of her. Layla told Rosa, "The Joker called. He wants his make-up back." Lala told Rosa she needs to reevaluate her clothes. McCool said she needs "super-duper training." Rosa left trying. Kaval just stood there frowning. They told him to turn that frown upside down.

-Striker plugged the main event tag match.

-Another flashback clip aired on McIntrye's ongoing relationship with Long. [c]

-Chavo Guerrero told Vickie it's so great to be back together. Dolph Ziggler walked into the room. Vickie was impressed with his wearing very tight shorts she bought for him and a construction belt. He said it was ridiculous looking. She asked him to hang a big framed picture of them together. He stood on a couch to hang it and she admired his ass. Chris Masters walked in and tried talking to her, but she was too turned on by Ziggler ass to pay attention.

-They showed Striker and Grisham. Grisham asked Striker if Vickie bought those shorts from him on Ebay. They threw to another clip of the McIntrye journey on Smackdown.

-J.T.G. did his ring entrance, then they cut to a break. No offense to J.T.G., but that's the saddest attempt to hold an audience I've seen. [c]

-WWE Fact: WWEUniverse.com consistently ranks higher than Facebook in terms of Average Time Spent per Visit.

[Q4]

4 -- J.T.G. vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

Striker said Vickie has a "tell nobody-body." This body image crap that WWE keeps pushing should be used against Linda McMahon by her opponents. WWE markets to kids, and is constantly reenforcing body image standards that aren't connected to the real world, or at least aren't consistent with programming overly aimed at kids and catering to Mattel as a sponsor. You get the feeling, too, that nobody in WWE thinks twice about turning Vickie's body into a subject of open mockery and ridicule as a reason she should be despised and hated and laughed at. It's like, "Hey kids! Ha ha! Look at the fat lady! Isn't she hideous! Laugh at her and mock her! Isn't this fun!" Quick win for J.T.G. Striker called Chavo "game and brave." That's barely better than calling a losing wrestler "very capable." J.G.T. picked out three kids from the crowd to do dance with him in the ring. The oldest girl couldn't bring herself to do something so ridiculous looking on national TV.

WINNER: J.T.G. in 2:00.

-Josh Matthews interviewed Kofi Kingston backstage about the deck being stacked against him. He said he's ready for anything. Kofi said what he's concerned about is Mr. McMahon matching Drew against Long. He said nothing good can came of that. He said he will walk out of Fatal 4-Way the IC Champion.

-Another clip aired of the McIntrye storyline with Long and Kofi.

5 -- DREW MCINTRYE vs. TEDDY LONG

Drew came to the ring first. Then Long walked to the ring in his suit. Drew had the referee check him for foreign objects. Striker said Long is brave and has to do this because he has a family to feed. Drew said a lot of Long's family is unemployed and the only thing he knows is pro wrestling so without his G.M. job, he's nothing. Drew said he's giving Long a chance to save himself. He told him to get down on his hands and knees or else he'll put him down. Long got down on one knee. Drew told him to think of his family's future. He told him to get down on both knees. Long did. Drew said he wants to hear him say the world, "I am the Chosen One." He told him to "say 'et or your family is going to go hungry." A broken Long said, "Drew, you're the chosen one." He then stood up. Drew said, "I didn't say you could stand up." He told him to get back down on his knees.

[Q5]

Drew said he wanted him to lie down on his back in the middle of the ring. "If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your lovely wife." Long lay on his back. Drew looked down at him and said, "You are pathetic. Ring the bell." Drew stood his boot on Long's chest and told the ref to count to three.

WINNER: McIntrye.

-Long got up crying, humiliated and broken. Striker said he was stripped of his dignity. As Long was about to leave the ring, Drew grabbed him by his shoulder and set up a DDT. Kingston ran out. Security stopped him before he reached the ring, but it did save Long from a DDT. Security held Kofi at Drew attacked him. Security was under orders from Mr. McMahon to listen to Drew's orders. Matt Hardy charged out of the crowd and speared Drew. Security grabbed Hardy and held him as Drew beat on him, too. Drew gave Hardy a DDT in the ring. He then DDT'd Kofi in the ring. [c]

[Q6]

5 -- LAYLA (w/Michelle McCool) vs. KELLY KELLY (w/Tiffany)

Grisham clarified that Layla is the actual champion, even though LayCool claim to be co-champioins. Striker noted that Kaval was conspicuous by his absence. Kelly got in most of the early offense. When McCool distracted Kelly, Tiffany attacked McCool. Kelly then finished Layla with the K2 legdrop. Because it was the finish, Grisham didn't declare, "It's over!" before the three count. Instead he asked whether this would be it.

WINNER: Kelly in 2:00.

-Matthews, who looked like he hadn't slept in two days, interviewed Jack Swagger backstage. Swagger reminisced about his amateur wrestling days. Before a big match, he said his dad told him even though he's wrestling kids twice his age, go for the win and make sure everyone sees exactly who he is. He said he won four gold medals that day. He said he's always been a winner and always will be. "It's just what I do," he said. He dedicated his match at Fatal 4-Way to his dad. [c]

-Vickie walked onto the stage and told everyone to pay her respects to "the most amazing man to ever walk this planet." Ziggler walked onto the stage. Vickie walked him to the ring.

6 -- CHRIS MASTERS vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Striker said he saw Masters at the gym and he had headphones on and he tried talking to him, but Masters didn't respond. Then he saw his headphones weren't plugged into anything. Masters got in early offense including an attempt at a Masterlock. Ziggler escaped, but Masters then sideslammed him for a near fall. Ziggler surprised Masters with his signature sleeper hold. Masters fought it off and attempted another Masterlock. Ziggler reached the ropes to force a break, then he hit the Zig Zag for the win. Vickie applauded from ringside.

WINNER: Ziggler in 3:00.

[Q7] [c]

-An extended video package aired of what happened on Raw on Monday with the NXT rebels.

-Striker and Grisham then hyped the Fatal 4-Way line-up. Striker said we were almost guaranteed to have a new champion, and then noted the ludicrous rule that the champion need not be pinned to lose his title.

-Rey Mysterio's full ring intro took place. They showed a clip of the angle earlier in the show with Big Show and Kane. [c]

[Q8]

7 -- REY MYSTERIO & THE BIG SHOW vs. JACK SWAGGER & C.M. PUNK

The heels beat up Rey early. At 3:00 Rey made a comeback and went after Punk's mask. Luke Gallows clotheslined Rey at ringside. They cut to a break at 3:00. Punk had Rey on the mat after the break. Swagger tagged in and worked over Rey's arm. At 8:00 Rey hot-tagged Show. Show bulldozed Swagger with a clotheslines and a splash in the corner. He gave Punk a boot knocking him to the floor. He then set up a chokeslam, but Swagger countered into a DDT. Both were slow to get up. Rey tagged in and dove at Swagger off the ropes, but Swagger moved. Rey countered a gut-wrench powerbomb attempt and drove Swagger to the mat for the win.

WINNERS: Rey & Show in 10:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

-Afterward, Kane walked to the ring and he took Gallows out with one punch at ringside, then chokeslammed Swagger, then Punk. He walked over to Rey and gave him a tombstone piledriver. Kane said one of them is already in hell and doesn't even know it. He said this Sunday will be a fatal night for the guilty party.

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