411’s WWE Smackdown Report 03.19.10

Matt Striker and Todd Grisham welcome everyone to Friday Night Smackdown in Los Angeles, CA. Grisham says that they, along with everyone in the WWE Universe, are shocked over what happened last week. “The public humiliation that Rey Mysterio experienced in front of his family at the hands of CM Punk is one of the most heinous and disturbing things we’ve seen in quite some time.”- Striker. Well said, although Punk’s promo was GOLD. Grisham is taking us back to last Friday when it all happened.

Watching what happened again, this only confirms that Punk is the hottest heel in the entire company.

Rey Mysterio comes out to a massive pop. Huge 619 chant from the crowd. Rey says that he has not had a moment of peace for the last week. Every time he closes his eyes, he can see his daughter Aaliyah crying. He sees his wife and son looking at him, putting the weight of the world on his shoulders. All this is because of one person. CM Punk. Rey says that he has climbed a lot of mountains in his career. He’s taken beatings, he’s won titles, he’s been embarrassed and he’s been afraid. But CM Punk crossed a line that should never be crossed. This goes way beyond brainwashing his so-called Straight Edge Society and his never-ending sea of lies. CM Punk last week challenged him to a match last week, and Rey accepts that challenge. Rey says that it’s not just going to be any match. Rey doesn’t want to just compete against Punk. Punk doesn’t deserve that. “I want to face you at Wrestlemania in a Street Fight.”- Rey. Huge pop for that, and I’m all in favor for it. Rey says that Punk needs to learn a lesson, and that he needs to learn that you never, ever mess with another man’s family. Rey says that that is a lesson that he is going to teach Punk.

Enter CM Punk. He and the SES stand on the ramp. Punk says that Rey is a little emotional, so he’ll stay where he is. Punk says after all, I can understand how you feel. You showed your family and the WWE Universe that you’re a coward. “You keep my family out of this”-Rey. Punk says that he knows that Rey’s heart is broken and that it is filled with hatred and rage, but that’s no way to solve any of your problems. Rey says that Punk has no idea how he is feeling. You have to be human to understand what my heart is feeling right now, and you are not human.”-Rey. Rey calls Punk a monster. Rey says that is what you are in Spanish. You are a monster. Rey says that he doesn’t know why he shouldn’t walk up the ramp and give Punk a beating that you didn’t get last week. Punk says that if Rey lays a finger on him between now and Wrestlemania, he doesn’t get a match at Wrestlemania. Punk says that he came out to tell Rey that he sees so much potential in him, underneath that mask, if Rey would just see the straight edge inside of himself. Punk says that it’s been an emotional roller coaster for Rey, and Punk has had that too, except he doesn’t have to shut his eyes to relive Princess Aaliyah’s birthday, because he’s got pictures to remind himself of the momentous occasion. Punk says that picture is important because it illustrates the trust that only a little daughter can have with her father. If you look at her eyes right there, she trusts you to be that superhero. Daddy will make everything ok. Punk says that if you look at her eyes in this picture, you can see her holding on to that glimmer of hope that her father, the superhero, is going to make the monster go away. But that’s not what happened, Rey. You didn’t make the monster go away and you’re no superhero. Punk says that it’s not the moment that Rey’s daughter realized she couldn’t depend on her father. It’s not the moment where everyone realized that you’re a coward. It’s not the moment where Dominic looked at you and realized that he is more of a man than you will ever be, Rey. “Why don’t you shut your mouth and come down here?”-Rey. Punk is talking about the moment where he realized that he could save Rey. Rey says that he and Punk are nothing alike. Punk knows that, because he’s straight-edge, and that means he’s better than Rey. He can make Rey better as a father. Rey says that Punk has really gone out of his mind. You’re crazy. That will never happen, because if you don’t accept the Street Fight at Wrestlemania, you’re going to have to live with me fighting you every day. It’s your choice, Punk. You can either just say yes, or just say no. Punk rejects both options and offers one of his own. If Rey can beat Gallows tonight, he’ll get the Street Fight. But if he loses at Wrestlemania, he will have to join the Straight Edge Society. Rey says that is an image he’ll never forget that image even after he dies, and that he’ll beat Gallows like he’s done before. Rey’s gonna make sure that Punk never forgets the beating that he is going to get at Wrestlemania. Rey says may God have mercy on your soul.

They show the briefcase above the ring, and Striker says that everyone who has won MITB has become world champion.

MVP and Matt Hardy vs. Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler

MVP comes out to a pretty nice pop. Grisham reminds us that Edge cashed in the first MITB on Cena after the Elimination Chamber. Matt Hardy makes his way out as well. Swagger’s entrance makes him look like a retarded gorilla. Dolph makes his way out as well.

The bell rings, and we have Matt Hardy and Ziggler to start. They lock up, and Ziggler grabs a wristlock. Hardy reverses, and Dolph lands a right hand. Irish whip reversed, and a back elbow from Hardy to Ziggler, followed by an elbow drop, a fist drop, and a leg drop for 2. Ziggler drives Hardy into the turnbuckle, which allows Swagger to blind tag himself in. Hardy blocks a right and lands a few of his own. Swagger reverses an Irish whip into the corner, and grabs Hardy’s legs as he tries to block a charge, spins him in the ropes, lands some elbows into Hardy’s back, and then just throws him to the mat. Time for a commercial.

Back from commercial, Swagger has locked a ground bearhug on Hardy. Hardy fights to his feet and elbows out, but Swagger catches him and scoop slams him to the mat. He runs and goes off the ropes and hits the Vader Bomb! That gets 2! Swagger and Hardy exchange blows, Hardy off the ropes, Swagger ducks under and goes for the gutwrench powerbomb, but Hardy counters to a side Russian legsweep. Hardy makes the tag to MVP, and Swagger makes the tag to Ziggler. Striker and Grisham are talking about MITB, and if say someone was to cash in on Cena or Batista after their match, what would happen? That would be interesting. MVP hits an overhead belly-to-belly throw on Ziggler, followed by a clothesline, a back elbow, and a facebuster. Looks like MVP is about to go BALLIN! BALLIN ELBOW connects! MVP setting up for the Playmaker, and goes for it, but Swagger is in the ring. Matt Hardy takes Swagger to the floor. ZIG ZAG out of nowhere! 1…2…3!

Winners: Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger over via Zig Zag on MVP and Matt Hardy- Good little tag match, but way too short to really mean anything. Just a way to showcase the MITB opponents. ** After the match, Dolph gets a ladder out and climbs and takes off the briefcase and poses with it on the ladder.

Tonight, Chris Jericho is a guest on the Cutting Edge. A replay of the Highlight Reel from last Friday on Smackdown, showing Edge going for the spear on Jericho, but getting nailed with the title belt. That was an EPIC belt shot.

They show the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the star that has Mr. McMahon’s name on it.

Backstage, Teddy Long is on the phone. Drew McIntyre walks in and says that Teddy wanted to see him. Teddy says that he’s impressed that Drew is still technically undefeated, since August. Until tonight. Teddy is thinking of a match for Drew, and he was thinking of undefeated streaks. Like the ones at Wrestlemania. 17-0. Drew says that Mr. McMahon probably wouldn’t want him in a match this close to Wrestlemania. Teddy says he tried to call him, but all he got was his voicemail. Teddy says tonight, Drew will go one-on-one with the Undertaker. Drew seems not too pleased with this announcement.

Grisham wishes Drew luck against a future HOF. Speaking of the HOF, Stu Hart, Gorgeous George, Ted DiBiase, Sr., Mad Dog Vachon, Antonio Inoki, and Wendi Richter are being inducted this year.

Layla and the Women’s Champion Michelle McCool are talking backstage. They have a match against Beth Phoenix and Tiffany, and that match is next.

WWE Smack of the Night shows Tiffany destroying Michelle McCool before a cow interfered. Oh, that was Vickie.

Michelle McCool and Layla vs. Beth Phoenix and Tiffany

Team Laycool is already in the ring. Beth and Tiffany make their way to the ring. The bell rings, and we have Beth and Layla to start. Not good for Layla. Beth blocks a punch, and hits the Aeroplane Spin! WIN! Layla is in the wrong corner, and as she realizes this, Beth drops her with a clothesline. I could watch that all day. Beth tags in Tiffany, who hits a nice crossbody on Layla! That gets 2! Back elbow by Tiffany, another, and then a textbook suplex by Tiffany. This is nice stuff. That gets 2 as well. Tiffany Irish whips Layla into the corner, and Layla tosses her over the top rope, Tiffany lands on the apron, and Layla kicks her in the head. Tiffany hangs Layla out to dry on the top rope, and McCool knocks her down from behind. Layla rolls her in and covers for 1. Layla tags in McCool, who hits a clothesline. McCool locks in a cravat, and then adds some knees to the head of Tiffany. McCool then throws her to the mat, and then pounds her head into the mat again and again. McCool taunts Tiffany, and then misses an elbow drop off the ropes. McCool tries to grab Tiffany’s leg to keep her from tagging Beth, but Tiffany kicks her off and makes the HOT TAG to Beth. Beth just bowls McCool over with a shoulderblock. Irish whip, into a back body drop. That may be the only time that that has ever worked out that way. Elbows and strikes to McCool, then a motherfucking STANDING SLINGSHOT VERTICAL SUPLEX! HOLY SHIT! Layla runs in and breaks the count, kick by McCool, goes for the Faith Breaker, countered, countered by McCool, go behind by McCool, Beth into the ropes, looks like the ropes hit McCool in the face, GLAM SLAM by Beth! 1..2…3!

Winners: Beth Phoenix and Tiffany over Michelle McCool and Layla via Glam Slam- This was the best women’s wrestling match I’ve seen in WWE for a long time. A little extra for the slingshot suplex. ***

A cow comes out saying Excuse me, Excuse me! Oh, that’s Vickie Guerrero. Vickie demands an apology from Beth Phoenix. Beth says she already did, but Vickie wants one in front of everybody. Beth says it was wrong to lay hands on a WWE authority figure, and that is why she apologizes. Vickie says she still is not acceptable. Vickie says she will regret the day she laid hands on Vickie. Next week, it’s Vickie and Beth in a match one-on-one. I don’t think that ends well for Vickie.

Chris Jericho is a guest on the Cutting Edge tonight.

Kevin Rudolf provides “I Made It,” the official theme song of Wrestlemania XXVI. Kevin Rudolf is in attendance.

Edge comes out to huge cheers. A replay of the Highlight Reel from last week is shown again. He says that last week Jericho had him on his show, so Edge thought he’d return the favor. He invites down Chris Jericho. Chris Jericho comes down with his NXT rookie, Wade Barrett. Edge says that it looks like the two of them are ready to go to the prom together. That’s well played, Jericho. It’s a game of chess between the two master manipulators, says Edge. “Who is going to make the next move, and what is that move going to be? Last week you nailed me with the belt, and on RAW, I got you back. But Chris, I always look a few moves ahead, and I plan on getting the last move in this game of chess.” Edge says he’s gonna get the last move at Wrestlemania, and that Jericho knows what move it’s gonna be. Jericho says that Edge is wrong. Finally, the ultimate opportunist has made the ultimate mistake. He’s boiling the match down to one move, one action, the Spear. There are variables that you haven’t thought of, Edge. I am the World Heavyweight Champion, Edge, and I am the best at what I do. Can you live up to the expectations of all these parasites at Wrestlemania, Edge? You may not be 100% healed from your injury, Edge. Jericho says that the sound of 70,000 hypocrites chanting spear will not be enough to help you, Edge. Jericho says that he saw him tear his Achilles tendon and it was an accident. What would happen if Jericho tore it on purpose? Edge says that you want to hurt me, Chris? You don’t think I’m 100%? You don’t think I’m the same guy? You think I came back too soon? Guess what, I might have. I might still be injured. No one knows. There’s one way to find out Chris. Make your move. Go for your checkmate. I’m sick of talking about it. No? Okay. Edge hits Jericho with a mic and goes after Barrett. Chop block by Jericho, and now the doubleteam. Edge fights back, tosses Jericho, and spears Barrett! He sold that like a champ. Jericho hits the Codebreaker! He stomps on the Achilles’ tendon and says Spear! He stands over Edge holding the belt. Great job by both men putting over their match at Wrestlemania.

We have a Joker reference (Jack Nicholson, not Heath Ledger) as Striker asks, ” Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” as we see that Drew McIntyre goes against the Undertaker later tonight.

The Hart Dynasty vs. John Morrison and R-Truth

The Hart Dynasty is already in the ring, and Morrison comes out to the ring in his hometown in his awesome slow-motion entrance. R-Truth does his entrance, and every time I hear it, I like it even more. The bell rings, and R-Truth and David Hart Smith start. Boot by Smith, and some punches. R-Truth fires back with some rights. Truth tags in Morrison, and they hit a SWANK double dropkick. Smith with a shot to the gut, and then an impressive belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Smith drives Morrison into the corner, and Kidd blind tags himself in. Smith with some shoulders to the gut, then leaves. Corner offense by Kidd with an assist from Smith. Snapmare/dropkick combo by Kidd gets 2. Kidd with an elbow to Morrison’s head. He taunts Truth, and goes for a suplex, but Morrison counters and grabs a headlock, goes off the ropes, and knocks down Kidd. R-Truth in now with the blind tag off the ropes, and hits the Lie Detector! 1…2…3!

Winners: R-Truth and John Morrison over The Hart Dynasty via Lie Detector- Wow. Who did the Hart Dynasty piss off? Ok match for what it was. *1/2

A package for Luke Gallows vs. Rey Mysterio is shown. If Gallows wins, then if Rey loses at Wrestlemania, he has to join the SES. If Rey loses, he doesn’t get a match at Mania, according to Punk. I’m confused. If Rey wins, however, it’s a Street Fight at Wrestlemania between Punk and Rey.

Next week’s guest host is none other than Hall of Famer Pete Rose. I want a Tombstone.

Rey Mysterio vs. Luke Gallows

Rey comes out to HUGE cheers. I get it. If Gallows wins, then it’s a normal match at Wrestlemania where if Rey loses, he joins the SES. If Rey wins, it’s a Street Fight at Wrestlemania. Gallows actually has music? Sounds a lot like Big Bossman’s. The bell rings.

Rey ducks under a swing from Gallows, and lands some kicks and punches. Gallows responds with a kick of his own to the gut. Irish whip by Gallows, but Rey avoids the charge. Corner offense by Rey, and then a basement dropkick to the leg of Gallows. Rey is sporting Lakers colors tonight. Knee to the gut of Rey, and then another. Huge uppercut by Gallows. Irish whip by Gallows, Rey ducks and goes off the ropes and headscissors Gallows into the 619 position! Gallows counters the 619 into a nice tilt-a-whirl backbreaker variation! Gallows throws Rey into the turnbuckle and then out of the ring into the barricade! He lifts Rey and sort of flapjacks him onto the barricade. Crowd chants 619 to get Rey back up and into the ring. Rey J…U…S…T makes it back into the ring. The SES is not happy, except Punk, who is nearly apoplectic with rage. Commercial! I’m gonna get some graham crackers.

Back from commercial, Gallows has Rey in a bearhug. Rey fights out, but Gallows throws in the corner, and sets him up on the top rope. Rey counters a superplex, headbutts Gallows off the ropes, and hits a senton off the top rope! Springboard crossbody! That gets 2! Gallows powered out. Knee to the gut of Rey by Gallows, and Gallows just plants Rey on the mat! Huge splash by Gallows to Rey’s back! Shades of Warrior! Rey kicks out at 2! Rey blocks a corner charge twice, then hits a DDT on Gallows! Springboard Leg Drop (or Droppin’ Da Dime!)!1…2…NO! I thought that was it. Dropkick to Gallows by Rey puts him in 619 position! 619 connects! Rey goes for the springboard splash, but Punk distracts the ref and Serena knocks him off the ropes! Gallows covers! 1…2…3! Rey goes after Gallows post-match and gives him a beating until Punk gets in between them.

Winner: Luke Gallows over Rey Mysterio via Serena-ference- This was a great match until the end. I get it with Gallows winning, but that hurts the Mania match. Does anyone really buy Mysterio having to join the SES? I don’t. They should still kick all sorts of ass at Mania though. ***1/4

Another video package shows Drew McIntyre vs. Taker for tonight.

The RAW Rebound shows that Bret got one over on Vince by getting him to sign the contract and then revealing that he is 100%, or is as close as he is going to get. Vince vs. Bret at Wrestlemania- No Holds Barred.

Grisham and Striker put over the Vince McMahon- Bret Hart no Holds Barred match at Wrestlemania, along with the Cena/Batista match, along with the Edge-Jericho match. They also hype Triple H/Sheamus, HBK-Taker, and CM Punk/ Rey Mysterio. These guys are great together. They do a great job of hyping each match.

Taker makes his ever-impressive entrance to the ring. Commercial.

Next Smackdown is a huge 9-man tag match between the MITB participants, and a match between Vickie Guerrero and Beth Phoenix.

The Undertaker vs. Drew McIntyre(c)- Non-title

Drew’s music plays as he makes his way to the ring. I don’t like the beginning, but it grows on me pretty quickly. The bell rings, and Taker tries to corner Drew, who bails out of the ring pretty quickly. Taker counters an elbow by Drew, hits a right, smacks Drew’s head on the apron, and tosses him into the ring. Taker charges Drew and nails him with a HUGE corner clothesline. Drew counters an Irish whip, but eats a boot as he charges. Taker comes off the ropes, but Drew counters into a nice powerslam for 2. Drew with some mounted punches, and argues with the ref. Unbeknownst to Drew, Taker does the zombie sit-up. Huge rights by Taker, followed by body shots and more body shots in the corner. Taker just flings Drew McIntyre over the top rope. Taker hits the apron legdrop, and follows that up with a goozle! CHOKESLAM! Taker calls for the Tombstone! TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER! 1…2…3!

Winner: The Undertaker via Tombstone on Drew McIntyre- Way to make the IC champ look weak. Just an extended squash. *1/4

Taker walks up the ramp, and Shawn Michaels is out! Sweet Chin Music try, countered, Tombstone try countered, Sweet Chin Music! HBK stands tall as the show ends.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
This was an improvement over last week’s show. Good matches and good build, even the women’s match was great. The Blue Brand dominates over RAW again this week as we are now just 8 days from Wrestlemania!