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Smackdown: re-writing a good show
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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If the previews are to be believed, then Smackdown this week was supposed to
be one of the better ones in recent memory, especially in light of it being
quickly re-written in light of Rey Mysterio's Superstars injury. Let's see if
the rumours were true.
Match 1 - John Morrison/CM Punk vs. World's Greatest Tag Team
Um...the hell? The faces fought tooth and nail for MONTHS and all the sudden
they're friends? Who do they think they are? Matt Hardy and Edge?
Well, when you get these four guys in, it's almost a guarantee to be a good
match, and indeed this bout lives up to some of the hype we saw in live reports.
Smooth work from both teams here, and I like that Haas was given a lot of time
to look good in the ring. The move to Smackdown may have saved his career.
In the end, Morrison gets the pin after a Split-leg Corkscrew Moonsault, which
looked absolutely sick.
Winners: Morrison/Punk
Next up, Chris Jericho comes out for an interview and talks about being on
Smackdown and beating Rey Mysterio at Judgement Day. He then calls out ReyRey
but gets Edge instead, who comes out to a decent pop. Edge quelches Jericho
and calls out Jeff Hardy. The two then bicker, which leads to Teddy Long coming
out and declaring that the two will face off.
Match 2 - Ricky Ortiz vs. Jeff Hardy
Like Ortiz had a chance.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After a break, Josh Matthews interviews Hardy in the ring about Judgement Day.
Match 3 - Alicia Fox/Michelle McCool vs. Gail Kim/Melina
This is Melina's SD! (re-)debut and she makes the most of it, picking up the
win with Code Red for her team after a very watchable Divas match.
Winners: Gail/Melina
Match 4 - Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Dolph Ziggler
I guess it's nice to see Yang back, but the gimmick is dead and done. Sadly,
his career in WWE may be soon as well. I'm just saying.
The match itslef is okay, but the ending was never in doubt as Ziggler wins
after what can best be described as a reverse bulldog. Decent looking move whatever
it was.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Immediately, after, Great Khali comes out and gets his mits on Ziggler, who
barely escapes from the big man.
Back from break, Cryme Tyme is hitting on Eva Torres and entice her to go after
Layla El. TYhe two then have a catfight in the makeup area until, coincidentally,
Cryme Tyme breaks it up.
Match 5 - R-Truth vs. Mike Knox
Quick match which ends rather surprisingly with Truth getting the duke after
a Cyclone Elbow.
Back from break, Matthews interviews Mysterio about Sunday's fight against
Jericho
Match 6 - Edge vs. Chris Jericho
This is almost too much of a tease. What red-blooded Canadian wouldn't want
to see a lengthy feud between these two?
As you'd expect, this was a great match which ended in a double DQ when a chair
was introduced.
Winner: No contest
Post-match, Hardy ran out and attacked both men, eventually clearing the ring
of Jericho. This leads to Punk coming out to try to cash in the Money in the
Bank, only for Umaga to come out and break up the potential cash-in. Hardy re-joins
the fray as Jericho escapes, only to be attacked by Mysterio on the stage to
close off a very hot ep.
Well, we had three good to great matches here, and two squashes. Overall, this
show was definitely strong, but I'm not sure if it fully lived up to the hype.
I get the feeling that the tag bout at the beginning will some day be remembered
as one of the true launching points for Morrison as a Smackdown superstar, and
hopefully for Haas as well.
Until next week, keep it real.
