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Smackdown: Kozlov seeks competition
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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The Smackdown crew is back on the air after the Unforgiven PPV, just in time
for the build to No Mercy. Let's see what the boys and girls of silver and blue
have cooked up.
We start the show with Triple H, chatting about his title victory. He shills
the upcoming DVD for Unforgiven and his usual shpiel, when one Jeffrey Hardy
comes out. The two continue their Kayfabe-breaking exchange, with Hardy talking
about Triple H's family ties and Hunter responding with allusions to certain
activities that kept Hardy off of TV for a while. The exchange is good, though
it seems to tell me that their feud will continue through tonight's "fatal-four-way"
match to determine Trippy's opponent at No Mercy (the others being Brian Kendrick,
MVP and Shelton Benjamin).
Match 1 - Michelle McCool/Brie Bella/Maria vs. Natalya/Victoria/Maryse
You'd think this match would be used as a vehicle to transition Natalya or
Victoria into the number-one contender spot for the Butterfly Belt, but instead
it's just another instance of the Brie Bella magical reviving act. You'd think
that after two weeks of something happening under the ring the heel girls would
catch on and block Ms. Bella from going under the ring. Sadly, we'll have to
wait to see if the ladies have unlocked the mystery one more week, as Bella
again makes Victoria the victim.
Winners: McCool/Bella/Maria
Match 2 - R-Truth vs. Chavo Guerrero
I dig Truth's entrance and hope that he can get some gold consideration shortly.
Chavo, on the other hand, is pretty much lost here. In an effort to bring him
back to the point of interesting, Chavito ends up on the losing end of the match
after Bam Neely interference.
Winner: R-Truth
Post-match, the Familia members have a spat and duke it out until Truth clears
them both away.
Elsewhere in the arena, Benjamin and Eve Torres are chatting when Trple H walks
in. He discusses the Scramble and the upcoming match, giving the IC champ a
pep talk.
Match 3 - Festus vs. Kenny Dykstra
Apparently Festus and Jesse are now working for My Moving Co. The match doesn't
last long, as young Kenny is duct-taped and put on a cart. I get the joke, but
I think you have to take it one-step further and not only use the Dire Straits
"Money for Nothing" song, but make a digitzed version of Jesse and
Festus video.
Winner: Kenny Dykstra (I think...)
Post-match, bubble wrap gets involved. That's all I'll say.
Next up, the scream queen is out with her man of the hour - Big Show. The expected
promo on Undertaker is delivered, nothing really of note at this point.
Match 4 - Vladimir Kozlov vs. Scott Goldman/Funaki
Lovely -- Cabana is now at Funaki level. Methinks he's not long for this world.
Winner: Kozlov
Kozlov demands competition again after the match, this time threatening to
find his own.
Triple H then runs into Zeke and Kendrick, with a pretty good exchange. I like
the way that Kendrick and the big man are being built up here, I really do.
Match 5 - Zach Ryder/Curt Hawkins vs. The Colons
Carlito's back, but not with the hair that a SD! promo poster showed. Rather
than cornrows, the 'fro is in full effect. And what's the deal with this team?
Wasn't it just a week or two ago that Primo was trying to distance himself from
Carlito?
I guess I can forgive WWE because the Colons are a wicked tag team, doing some
great tandem moves and showing off a Lucha style. Together, the four put on
a solid match and, if Jesse and Festus can be kept away, we could see the beginning
of a rejuvinated tag division here, especially with Miz and John Morrison.
The Colons get the first strike in this feud with Carlito hitting the Backcracker
to a pretty sizeable pop.
Winners: The Colons
Elsewhere in the arena, MVP and Triple H have a less-than-friendly exchange.
Match 6 - Jeff Hardy vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Brian Kendrick (#1
contenter match)
I suppose the angle we're supposed to buy into for this match is that with
so many heels and a face champion, Hardy wasn't likely to win, but the exchange
earlier in the show pretty much gave the ending away. Still, the match is worth
checking out on a Score replay or hunting down on YouTube.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Hardy doesn'y get to celebrate for long though, as Kozlov makes good on his
threat and takes out the new number-one contender. Interesting twist here, but
I think it's too soon for Kozlov to be in the main event mix. We'll see what
fallout there is wrinkle next week. See you then.
Jon Waldman has been with SLAM! since 2000.
