411’s WWE Smackdown Report 10.01.10

Like my friend Dwayne always says, Wass good ya’ll? Let me break it down. Tonight is the night we have been waiting for- Smackdown moves to SyFy and graduates to cable TV. At the very least, this episode will certainly be different than usual.

In order to change things up a little bit, I have dug into the 2010 Smackdown archives and recorded the Win/Loss record of every current Smackdown superstar. Here are a few guidelines:
– These records only reflect matches that have taken place on Smackdown or Pay-Per-View.
– Matches that end or have ended in a No Contest are not counted.
– In the case of Tag Team matches, each member of the losing team gets a Loss and each member of the winning team gets a Win.
– In the case of multi-man matches, every participant besides the winner gets a Loss.
– Some wrestlers will have a third number in their record. This number represents matches that have ended in a Draw.

Now updated to include current Raw wrestlers, just in case.

Brand new opening video and song to open the show- Know Your Enemy by Green Day. Tonight we are…LIVE…from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Straight to the ring for a match!

Match One: Intercontinental Championship- Dolph Ziggler (15-16-1) © vs. MVP (8-9)

Lock-up to start with Ziggler ending up in the corner. He comes out swinging and gets a fireman’s carry takeover for two. Ziggler delivers his repeated elbow drops that get two. Sleeper! MVP ends it quickly and hits a nice belly-to-back suplex followed by a big running low boot for two. Ziggler ducks a clothesline but gets caught with an overhead suplex that takes him to the outside. The Nexus, minus Wade Barrett, is here. They attack Ziggler and the ref calls for the bell.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler via DQ in 2:00 to retain the Intercontinental Championship

Rating: N/A (All about the post-match angle. That Sleeper looked good though!)

Post-match, Nexus circles the ring and stares down MVP. They attack and get the numbers advantage, stomping away. David Otunga sets MVP up for a nice 450 Splash by Justin Gabriel. Big Show to the rescue! He almost single-handedly takes them out, but eventually gets overpowered. Cena is here! He runs straight to the ring and charges, but is taken down quickly. Show comes back in with the great equalizer- a steel chair, and nails Heath Slater with it. The Nexus retreats.

Wade Barrett appears on the TitanTron with a message. This is a monumental evening and we just witnessed a monumental moment. That was the last time the Nexus will take Cena out as this Sunday, Cena will join The Nexus. Barrett has something to say that will change Smackdown for good tonight. Isn’t that right, Teddy? Barrett is close friends with the president of SyFy and he has allowed Barrett to make some matches for tonight’s show. Big Show vs. The Nexus in a 5-on-1 Handicap match and John Cena vs. Kane.

At ringside, Michael Cole is with Todd Grisham and Matt Striker. Later tonight, The Undertaker vs. CM Punk.

Match Two: Michelle McCool (15-8)/Layla (11-7)/Maryse (1-0)/Alicia Fox (1-0) vs. Natalya (0-0)/Kelly Kelly (6-6)/The Bella Twins (0-0)

Kelly and Fox start. Fox goes low with a kick but runs into Kelly and tags in Maryse. Natalya tags in and hits a nice snap suplex. Back up, a sitout bodyslam gets her two. A Natalya spinning back elbow sets her up for a Sharpshooter but receives a kick to the face by McCool. Things break down. Kelly attacks Fox with a Thesz Press. On the outside, Layla is dragged halfway under the ring by Hornswoggle. He then proceeds to chase her around the ring but ends up going down to another McCool boot. Natalya continues the match with a baseball slide on LayCool. Back inside, Natalya locks in a Sharpshooter on Maryse for the win.

Winner: Natalya/Kelly Kelly/The Bella Twins in 2:00

Rating: ¾* (Just a showcase match for Natalya. She looked good in there, hitting some nice offense in the very limited time they had to work with. Not exactly sure what purpose Hornswoggle served.)

Up next, Jack Swagger’s All American American Homecoming Celebration.

Swagger comes out with a cape and to the Oklahoma fight song. Oh yeah, and a big Eagle mascot. The ring is decorated with a red carpet and USA drapes. Thank you Oklahoma! What would this premiere be without Oklahoma’s own, Jack Swagger? He has a huge announcement to make. This will be a great day in the history of Oklahoma. Before he gets to that, he wants to say he has a problem with every single person in this building, and Oklahoma itself. He never got his Jack Swagger Parade or Jack Swagger Day. He never even got the key to Oklahoma City! This is why he, and his personal mascot, the Soaring Eagle, have moved. They have gone to a place that has class- Texas! God bless Texas. It is a state for winners and they will prove that tomorrow when they defeat Oklahoma. That said, Swagger will be the bigger man. He is a leader and role model. He is their king. Only one person is qualified for this coronation. By the power invested in Swagger, he hereby proclaims himself the official, undisputed King of Oklahoma. All hail, King Swagga!…

You think you know me. Out comes Edge. After the talking Raw GM thing, Edge promised himself he was
going on a mission- to rid the WWE of anything stupid. There is a joke in there somewhere. This mascot is ridiculous. This podium is stupid. That stupid cape is stupid. That stupid crown is stupid. So, Edge will start his mission right now. Swagger hides behind the Swagger Soaring Eagle, who ends up getting decked. Swagger retreats, pissed off. Back in the ring, Edge calls for a Spear and hits it. “Put some BBQ sauce on it,” says Grisham.

Later tonight, John Cena vs. Kane with The Nexus as Lumberjacks.

In the back, Barrett is with The Nexus. They have to push the envelope tonight, if anyone lays a finger on them, they will get suspended. They talk strategy.

Woah, Oh! Rhodes is back with his grooming tips. Big sweat stains under your armpits are disgusting. The solution? A clear gel deodorant. That doesn’t always work Cody!

Match Three: Handicap Match- The Nexus (0-1) vs. Big Show (17-4-1)

I like the new Smackdown graphics. However, I still don’t like the Big Show headband. No tag-ins here. Nexus attacks in the corner and Show powers Slater out of the ring. Wrong move, as Slater and Gabriel hold his ankles from the outside as Barrett connects with a running boot in the corner. They all team up and lock in two armbars, two leglocks and a leg scissor headlock simultaneously for the win.

Winner: The Nexus in 2:00

Rating: ½* (Last week I questioned what the point was of having Show win all these handicap matches. Now it makes sense. The Nexus looked that much stronger taking out the guy who had been getting countless dominating victories over the last several weeks.)

Post-match, Gabriel hits a 450 Splash. Barrett then instructs him to go for a second. Gabriel connects again, but lands awkwardly. The Nexus pose as Show is sprawled across in the ring.

Later tonight, Rey Mysterio Returns!

During the commercial, Show exits under his own power.

Grisham and Striker send it to a Kane/Undertaker video package for Hell in a Cell.

Match Four: CM Punk (11-17) vs. The Undertaker (5-3)

Paul Bearer gets a proper entrance, leading Taker to the ring just like old times. Is it just me, or does Taker look like he belongs in LayCool with that hooded coat? Taker backs Punk into the corner but Punk dodges and connects with strikes. Taker grabs him around the throat and throws him outside. Punk gets tossed into the barricade then gets spread across the apron. Taker leg drop. Vintage! Back in, a cover gets him two. Taker wrenches the arm and connects with Old School. He charges into the corner but Punk moves away. Punk continues with kicks, jabs and shoulderblocks. He connects with a running high knee and a bulldog. Taker sit-up! Punk ducks one clothesline but can’t avoid the second. Taker hits a splash in the corner and hits snake eyes followed by a big boot. A leg drop gets him two. Taker calls for a chokeslam and gets it. Hide your wife, hide your kids! I think you got that backwards, Striker! Tombstone ends it.

Winner: The Undertaker in 4:00

Rating: *3/4 (Good action, even if it was one-sided. Taker looked good. Too bad for Punk tough. He finally got a good win last week, but gets completely dominated tonight. At least it served the purpose of reaffirming the fact that Taker is back to his old-self.)

Rey Mysterio returns, next!

The WWE Smack of the Night is Alberto Del Rio taking Rey Mysterio out with his cross armbreaker last month.

In the ring, Tony Chimel introduces Ricardo Rodriguez, who introduces Alberto Del Rio. There’s that grin. His name is Alberto Del Rio, but you already knew that. Just a few weeks ago, he broke this Mysterio’s arm. Tonight, he is here to apologize and plant a kiss right on his cheek. Ladies and gentlemen, Rey Mysterio! Out comes Rodriguez with a masked Chihuahua in hand. Hey Rey, Del Rio just wants to say sorry. Not for the fact that he is a handsome man while Mysterio is just a little dog. He is sorry for hurting him, and shows it by kissing the dog. Del Rio is just kidding; Mysterio will be here tonight…

Out comes the real Mysterio. He charges and attacks Del Rio. He sets up the 619 but Rodriguez holds Mysterio’s legs as Del Rio retreats. Mysterio rips Rodriguez’s jacket off and hits a 619. Del Rio and Mysterio stare at one another as Del Rio walks up the ramp.

Match Five: Randy Orton (0-0) vs. Cody Rhodes (9-3)

We get a Legacy reunion of sorts here on Smackdown. Orton goes low with a kick to start then gets another to the chest. Rhodes hits a jab out of the corner and a knee drop. Orton comes back with a European uppercut. He attempts a DDT through the ropes but Rhodes escapes. He can’t escape a powerslam though. Rhodes retreats to the outside and Orton follows. McIntyre distracts Orton allowing Rhodes to take over. Back in, Rhodes covers for two. In the corner, he stomps away. A snapmare sets up a shoulder stretch. Orton fights out of it but Rhodes comes back with a club to the back. Rhodes misses Beautiful Disaster which allows Orton to hit his backbreaker. RKO ends it.

Winner: Randy Orton in 2:00

Rating: *1/2 (The squashes continue. )

Post-match, Orton escapes a McIntyre Future Shock DDT attempt and hits another RKO. Sheamus is here and takes Orton down. He connects with the Brogue Kick and stands tall over Orton’s body.

Later tonight, Cena vs. Kane with Nexus as Lumberjacks.

Match Six: Lumberjack Match- Kane (16-7-2) vs. John Cena (0-0)

The ring had a cool new video graphic of fire during Kane’s entrance. Kane hits a knee lift to start and stomps away with Cena on the mat. In the corner, he hits with a couple shoulderblocks then connects with a basement dropkick for two. Back in the corner, Kane knee lifts Cena a couple more times then sends him with a strong Irish whip into another corner. Cover gets two. Kane continues with a keylock. Cena tries to fight out but Kane clubs him on the back and sends him to the outside where Nexus attacks. I thought we already saw the last time Nexus was going to attack Cena at the start of the show? Back in the ring, Kane delivers a kick as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Kane has a body scissors on Cena with a headlock. Cena escapes but quickly goes down to an uppercut. Kane heads to the top and misses with a flying clothesline. Cena gets two shoulderblocks and a back suplex. You can’t see me! Five knuckle shuffle connects and Cena attempts an Attitude Adjustment but Kane escapes. He tries for a chokeslam but Cena sends Kane to the outside. The Nexus don’t attack him, but circle the apron instead. Kane starts taking them out anyway. Cena heads outside to help take them out and retreats up the ramp…

Winner: No Contest in 7:00

Rating: *3/4 (Most of the match took place during the break, but what we saw was fine. Again, like many other matches on the card, this was here for the post-match angle.)

Dong! The lights go out and Taker is in the ring as they come back on. He attacks Kane and the action spills to the outside. He pummels him around the announce table and sends him over the barricade and into the crowd. He continues the attack through the crowd, taking out a fan in the process. They make their way back to ringside. In the ring, Kane gets a small advantage but it quickly ends when Bearer holds up the urn. Chokeslam by Taker and he motions for a Tombstone but Kane retreats. Taker poses with Bearer to close the show.

(Similar to an episode of Raw. I guess that’s what cable does to a wrestling show. No match was worth watching as most were squashes. Good storyline development though, and I liked the urgent pacing of the show- it never felt boring.)