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Smackdown: Contenders and conflict
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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Smackdown begins a new era, the era of Punk, with tonight's episode. And appropriately
it is Punk who starts off tonight's show, holding high the World Heavyweight Title.
Punk gets a mixed reaction as he cuts a very honest promo about defeating Jeff
Hardy this past Sunday. You get feeling that he's starting to turn heel, but it's
a slow burn, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Eventually Hardy comes
out and the two have a war of words, with Hardy furthering the heel turn. Hardy
demands a rematch, which brings Edge out to say that he wants his rematch.
Edge then lays into Punk, keeping CM face. Hardy, ever the face, then attacks
both men. I'm confused...
Teddy Long then comes out and makes a number-one
contender match between Edge and Hardy.
Next up, Long returns his office
to find Jericho there. Jericho wants a World Title match as well. Long then makes
a non-title match between Jericho and Punk.
Match 1 - Dolph Ziggler vs.
The Great Khali
Joy. I'm done with this lame feud. Ziggler wins by countout
after taking Ranjin Singh hostage.
Winner: The Great Khali
Match
2 - Michelle McCool/Layla vs. Melina/Eve
Joy v.2. I will say this though
- Melina has really been coming up with some innovative moves of late. McCool
ends up getting the pin with the Styles Clash. Two straight losses for the champ?
That's far from strong booking.
Winners: McCool/Layla
Match
3 - R-Truth/John Morrison vs. The World's Greatest Tag Team
We're close
to getting a rebirth of the Smackdown Six with talent like this in the ring. Great
match as always between these four. Morrison gets the pin again with Starship
Pain.
Winners: Truth/Morrison
Before our next match, Jericho
cuts a promo, holding Rey Mysterio's mask. I'm waiting for him to dig out Juventud
Guerrera's mask and Prince Iaukea's mahi-mahi.
Match 4 - CM Punk vs.
Chris Jericho (non-title)
Let's make that two strong matches in a row.
It makes you wish Punk wasn't turning heel, because these two could have a great
feud. Punk gets the duke after hard-fought match with the GTS.
Winner:
CM Punk
Match 5 - Edge vs. Jeff Hardy (Number One Contender)
Punk
sits in on commentary for another good match, especially as both sell injuries
from Sunday.
The bout is one of the longer ones in recent memory on WWE
TV with solid back and forth action. Punk is pretty good on the headphones too,
adding good insight on the bout. At one point, Edge tossed Hardy straight into
Punk at ringside. The bell sounds after Punk leaves the desk to attack Edge.
Winner:
No contest
Punk eventually leaves Hardy lying after the GTS, and we
go back to Long's office, watching him and Tiffany. The match on Monday, Long
declares, will be all three men in a Triple Threat bout.
Well, we batted
.500 in terms of match quality, but not much was done, on the flip side, to advance
storylines. Take this episode as is if you look for a replay somewhere, but don't
TiVo it for much more than a first watch.
