411’s WWE Smackdown Report 07.09.10

Hi, hello and welcome to 411’s WWE Smackdown Report! I’m Steve Cook, and tonight we’ve got the latest installment of the Show/Swagger war, as Big Show & Jack Swagger are set to go one-on-one one more time. We are nine days from Money in the Bank, so I’d expect some storyline development setting up that pay-per-view. Plus, I hear that Drew McIntyre is back in the country, so he’ll probably be involved in this show in some way.

Let’s get it started!

We open with a video package chronicling Jack Swagger’s recent usage of the ankle lock. They sure are putting that over…and that’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing!

*cheesy smile*

LET IT ROLL! Smackdown is in the ATL this week, home of WrestleMania 27! Todd Grisham & Matt Striker are your hosts.

Opening Promo!

Drew McIntyre is in the ring. I thought he got deported? The fans are not happy to see him. Before Drew can open his mouth, Atlanta’s own Theodore Long makes his way to the ring in a niiiiice jacket. He asks Drew what he’s doing out here. Drew says that two weeks ago his visa expired, but he’s here now and all his citizenship issues have been resolved. But what hasn’t been resolved is their relationship, Mr. Long. On his flight back home he realized that he has wronged Teddy in many ways recently. He knows it’s never too late to say I’m sorry. Teddy says it’s never too early to say that he’s a liar. It’s obvious that he used to have Mr. McMahon in his back pocket, but now that Vince isn’t around, there’s no special privileges for him. He’s going to be on the same playing field as everybody else. Drew couldn’t agree more. He came out to apologize and let him know that he’s nominating him as a candidate for the WWE Hall Of Fame Class of 2011. WrestleMania will be a huge week for Atlanta. He asks Teddy to imagine receiving his HOF ring in his own hometown while Drew main events as the World Champion! Teddy says that all of these things may be true, but the only way that would happen is that Drew would have to win the MITB ladder match. Teddy thinks Drew could win. Drew thanks him, and Teddy says there’s one thing he’d like him to do for him…get down on his knees and beg for it! Drew says he can’t be serious. Teddy shows the clips from three weeks ago where Drew made him do the same thing, then tells him to get down on his knees, playa. The fans chant “On Your Knees”. Drew drops to his knees and Teddy tells him to repeat after him. Teddy is the most handsome, debonair, high class, sharp dressed & intelligent. Teddy has one other thing for him to say, it’s an honor and a privilege to have Teddy Long as his boss. Teddy tells him he can get up now. Teddy informs him that he’s not in the MITB match yet, as he has to earn his way in by defeating Kofi Kingston!

Nice little segment here where Teddy got to look all powerful and stuff in his hometown while getting some heat back on McIntyre. The fans liked seeing Drew get what was coming to him, as did I.

Match 1: Triple Threat Match where the Winner Qualifies For The Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. MVP

How come Vickie accompanies her boyfriend instead of her nephew? That just ain’t right. She joins Todd & Matt for commentary during the match. Chavo & Dolph double-team MVP early on, to the surprise of nobody. MVP fights back after being pounded down in the corner. Overhead suplex to Dolph, Chavo gets whipped hard into the corner. Vickie denies that this is a scheme to get Dolph into the ladder match while Dolph & Chavo double suplex MVP & Dolph covers for a two count. MVP dumps Chavo over the top and Ziggler follows. MVP poses as we head to commercial…

When we return MVP is covering Ziggler for a two count. Chavo trips MVP from outside the ring and the two bad guys resume beating down MVP. Chavo holds him while Ziggler goes up top…MVP whips Chavo into the corner, crotching Dolph! Clothesline to Chavo, and MVP goes up to superplex Dolph! Chavo is the first one up…he pauses and looks up to the briefcase…he slowly covers MVP for a two count. Vickie is not happy with her nephew and gets up to yell at him while Chavo gets another two count on MVP. Chavo tells Vickie that he wants to win too, and Dolph attacks Chavo from behind! He tells Chavo not to ruin this for him. Chavo starts punching away on Dolph, and hits the 3 Amigos! MVP backdrops Chavo, clotheslines Dolph, kicks Chavo down, flapjacks Dolph, punches Chavo, kicks Dolph and throws him outside. Knee to Chavo’s head. BALLIN ELBOW! Play of the Day…but no, Vickie Guerrero pulls the referee outside! Dolph locks in the sleeper hold on MVP! It’s over!

Winner: Dolph Ziggler (7:35 aired **½)
Decent match here that did a good job of establishing Dolph as a contender to winning the MITB match…if nothing else, because of his resourcefulness & Vickie Guerrero.

He is perfection, and he’s going to Money in the Bank!

Alberto Del Rio walks down a staircase and talks some Spanglish. Always accomplish the impossible! He is the embodiment of inspiration.

In the trainer‘s room, Josh Mathews talks to Rey Mysterio & WWE’s resident physician, Dr. Michael Samson. Dr. Samson says a lot of medical stuff, the jist of it is that there’s a tear and Rey needs to stay off of it. Rey feels a lot of pain…and Jack Swagger barges in and yells “EVERYBODY OUT!” Mathews heads for higher ground while Show applies the ankle lock to Rey’s already injured ankle! Well that can’t be good. He drags Rey through the hallway while still applying the hold. He slams Rey’s knee into the pavement, and Rey is feeling some pain. Swagger sends him head first into the wall, and drags him by the leg down the hallway some more before reapplying the ankle lock.

Now they make their way into the arena, where the fans are none too enamored with Swagger’s antics. Finally Big Show arrives and Swagger runs away while the trainers & Show tend to Rey. He tells them not to touch it as we go to commercial.

Moments ago, that happened! Big Show carried Rey off in his arms.

Match 2: Tag Team Contest
Christian & Matt Hardy vs. Curt Hawkins & Vance Archer

Last week, Christian & Matt had a confrontation on the Peep Show. So this week they’re teaming up. Of course. Hawkins had some fluid drained from his elbow today, so one might assume that the top rope elbow drop is out of his arsenal this evening. He & Matt start it off…Matt with a headlock, off the ropes, shoulder block by Matt, then a takedown. Arm wringer, forearm by Hawkins, he rams Hardy into the corner and tags in Archer so they can do an Irish whip double team for two. Hawkins kicks Matt behind the ref’s back, then Archer belly to bellys Matt for two. Matt boots a charging Archer, then delivers a swinging DDT. Matt goes for a tag…but Christian grabs him by the arm and yanks him out of the ring! He exits to the disapproval of the crowd, leaving Matt in a two on one situation. Archer reverse DDTs Hardy, then Hawkins hits that elbow drop (huh, must have been the other elbow) and gets a three count.

Winners: Curt Hawkins & Vance Archer (2:55, *)
Not a whole lot of wrestling here, but do we have a heel turn from Christian? Or is this like when Randy Orton RKOed Evan Bourne on Raw? Time will tell…

Match 3: If Drew McIntyre wins, he qualifies for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston

Kofi gets a quick rollup for two. Tieup into the corner, Kofi with a headlock takeover…off the ropes, Kofi with a cross body for two. Drew yanks Kofi down by his hair and then applies the rear chinlock. Kofi fights out, but Drew clubs him down and covers for a two count. Stomp, whip, Kofi reverses an attempted hip toss into a monkey flip for a one count. Kofi & Drew exchange strikes with Drew getting the better of it. Drew neck breaks Kofi on his knee for a two count, but Kofi crucifixes Drew for two and Drew resumes clubberin’ on Kofi. Kofi kicks him in the corner, but Drew kicks Kofi in the middle of a springboard attempt and covers for two.

When we return from commercial, Drew has Kofi in a seated abdominal stretch, but Kofi fights out and hip tosses Drew over. Drew clotheslines Kofi down, but misses a leg drop, brother. Kofi double-chops him down, does it again but Drew blocks a standing dropkick. He tries to apply his double-arm DDT, but Kofi fights it off and they go into the corner. Drew places Kofi up top, which he regrets when Kofi fights him off and hits a modified Shadows Over Hell! Interesting how Delirious keeps coming up in my recaps. Cover gets two. Jumping clothesline from Kofi leads to the BOOM BOOM BOOM drop. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM…misses the Trouble in Paradise, but comes back and hits Drew with it…it only gets two! I think that’s the first time I’ve seen somebody kick out of that one. Drew elbows Kofi, props him on the ropes and hits him with a reverse Alabama Slam! Two count. Drew tries for the Futureshock, Kofi fights out but Drew shrugs off a swinging DDT attempt. Misses the boot & Kofi kicks Drew out of the ring! Kofi with a suicide dive! Kofi rolls Drew in the ring at eight, which might be a mistake on the part of the Intercontinental Champion. Kofi sets up the Boom drop on the apron, but Drew grabs his tights and pulls him headfirst into the bottom turnbuckle! Drew drags Kofi in…FutureShock DDT! That gets the 1-2-3.

Winner: Drew McIntyre (9:37 shown ***)
Pretty solid effort from both individuals here. Nice to see Drew get a somewhat clean victory for once.

Drew McIntyre’s going to Money in the Bank, so now our field is set! Kane, Christian, Kofi Kingston, Big Show, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Dashing Cody Rhodes & Matt Hardy will meet in Kansas City in nine days. Got a favorite? I have a feeling that the person who was (reportedly) originally supposed to win at WrestleMania will win this one.

Last week, Serena revealed that CM Punk was an innocent man. However, Punk was not happy with how she did it.

Backstage, Rosa Mendes works out. CM Punk & Luke Gallows stare at her for a few seconds before WALKING towards the ring.

Alberto Del Rio reads from a book and says he is proud of his intelligence. He went to the finest universities in Mexico. Knowledge is power. Many of us have squandered our opportunity at a formal education. He drinks from a wine glass and talks about how he consumed as much knowledge as possible. If his college experience was anything like mine, he was consuming lots of alcoholic beverages as well.

Straight Edge Society Promo Time!

CM Punk & Luke Gallows have come out to discuss what happened last week. Luke says that all of us saw a side of the SES that we were never supposed to see, so he asks Serena to come out right now. Serena has a microphone and tells us that this has been the hardest week of her life. Punk is everything to her, he is her world. Last week, she made a terrible mistake when she allowed herself to get drunk and defied him. She did it to save him and protect him. Kane is a monster, if she hadn’t saved him she doesn’t know what would have happened. She asks for his forgiveness. Luke says she is the most pathetic person he’s ever seen in his life. He says Punk won’t forgive him and it makes him sick to think he considered her a sister in the SES. When they found her, he wanted to kick her out and let her wallow in her addiction. But it wasn’t up to him, and Punk helped him see the bigger picture. She was supposed to set an example for women across the world that they could lead the straight-edge lifestyle, but she failed. Serena says she’s sorry, and Luke says that if she’s really sorry, she’ll leave the SES forever. Punk takes the microphone and says that the only good thing he’s said all night is that it’s not his decision…it’s his. And he forgives her. Gallows glares at Punk & Serena and leaves the ring. Serena can’t explain what he’s done for her, and she promises she will never fail him again. Punk says that she better not. Big hug! Luke looks on from the entranceway and shakes his head.

Come on Luke, you had to know that Punk would side with the girl. Just ask Colt Cabana or any of Punk’s previous cohorts!

Match 4: Singles Action
Dashing Cody Rhodes vs. JTG

Cody has new music and looks at himself on the digital mirror that makes up part of his entrance graphics. Tieup, JTG with two arm drags, Cody goes to the ropes. JTG with a hammerlock, Cody backs him into the corner and elbows him, misses a punch, JTG gets pulled off the middle rope and Cody stomps away. Scoop slam by Cody, jumping boot to the chest. Big punch by Cody rocks JTG, snap mare and a cravate by the Dashing One. JTG fights out with forearms, then elbows Cody off the ropes. Clothesline, and a flipping one off the ropes. He runs right into a forearm from Cody. Not too long after that, Cody hits the CrossRhodes and gets the duke.

Winner: Dashing Cody Rhodes (2:41 *½)
Pretty easy victory for DCR here, ending JTG’s winning streak where he mostly beat Dude Busters.

Josh Mathews welcomes Kelly Kelly, who is looking good tonight. She will be challenging Layla for the Women’s Title at Money in the Bank. Layla tells Josh to go away and tries to spray Kelly, but Kelly blocks & Michelle McCool attacks from behind. Team LayCool beats down Kelly and leaves her laying while various referees & Tiffany run in to check on her.

Well crap. If that’s the only Diva interaction on tonight’s show, nobody will have anything to comment about.

Earlier tonight, Jack Swagger beat Rey Mysterio up pretty bad.

Big Show tells Josh Mathews about how he never felt pain like Jack Swagger’s ankle lock before. Rey’s suffering right now. Giants heal fast, and tonight he’s 100%. Jack wants to make people suffer and put fear in their minds. Tonight, he’ll put some fear in Jack Swagger. He’ll make Swagger suffer.

Match 5: Main Event Rematch
Jack Swagger vs. Big Show

Show seems to be walking pretty well, and makes sure to be friendly with the folks holding a Big Show sign in the front row. Swagger tries to sweep Show’s leg, then a double leg takedown, but Show clubs him and picks him up for a slam…Swagger slips out, strikes Show’s leg, goes off the ropes and jumps into the arms of Big Show, who just dumps him down to the mat. Punch in the gut sends Swagger down, and well it’s a big chop! Shhhhhhhhh…chop drops Swagger to all fours. Show picks him up and slaps him down. He places his boot on the throat of the All-American American. Show whips Swagger in the corner and hits the Flying Apple followed by a running shoulder block! Swagger rolls outside and tries to recuperate…he drops Show neck first on the ropes, and then rams Show’s leg against the ring post! He goes for the ankle lock, but Show kicks him outside. Swagger runs into a goozle and Show wings him over the top rope! Show slaps Swagger down in the entranceway. Swagger fights back but gets head butted by Show. Show throws Swagger up the ramp while the referee’s count reaches ten. A bell never rings, but I presume that ends the match.

Match ruled a Double Countout (4:20 **)
Show had some good moments of offense as usual, but this was less about the ring work and more about what would happen afterwards.

Swagger manages to kick Show’s leg out on the stage, then DDT’s the foot! Show is in agony on the stage while Swagger walks off. The referees check on Show & Swagger heads to the back, but once he walks through the curtain he’s goozled by Kane! He tells Swagger that they need to talk, and he brings him into his red-lighted locker room. He sits Swagger down and says that it was him all along. He likes to make people suffer, he made his brother suffer. Swagger claims it wasn’t him, and Kane says that what Swagger did to his brother will be nothing compared to what he does to him. Kane likes pain & suffering, and claims that Swagger is a lair. Swagger says he has an alibi. Kane asks him to prove it, so Swagger claims he’ll prove it next week. Kane gives him one week, and his alibi had better be a good one. If there’s the slightest bit of doubt in his mind, he’ll be sentenced to hell and eternal suffering. Swagger pants and emotes fear as we fade to black. So long and good night, everybody!