The Smackdown Summary - 2nd April 2010
02/04/2010
Hello and welcome the this edition of the Smackdown Summary.
We’d love to know what you think to the new layout, or any other aspects of the Summary, so please feel free to get in touch via the Contact Us page, or any of the usual email addresses.
On with the show!
Quick Links
Opening Segment: Still the World Heavyweight Champion
Match 2: R-Truth & John Morrison Vs. Cryme Tyme
Segment 2: Swaggering Backstage
Segment 3: Shad Gaspard Interviewed
Match 3: Drew McIntyre Vs. Matt Hardy
Match 4: The Great Khali Vs. Dolph Ziggler
Segment 5: Straight Edge Salvation
Match 5: Lay-Cool Vs. Tiffany & Beth Phoenix
Main Event: Kane’s NXT Invitational
Closing Segment: State of Championship Address
The Smackdown Summary
Segment 1
Still World Heavyweight Champion
Chris Jericho is the first man to show his face on Smackdown following WrestleMania XXVI and despite retaining his title at the grandstand event, he doesn’t look too pleased.
However, as soon as he enters the ring and announces the continuation of his title reign a huge grin breaks out across his face.
He tells the crowd that he was right last week when he claimed genetic superiority over Edge and the WWE Universe, and last Sunday he wrestled a perfect match and proved that he’s not only the greatest Champion of his generation, but of all time.
Next he moved on to Edge’s after-match assault, which saw him take a Spear from the announce table right through the barricade into the timekeepers area.
He talked about how as he lay battered and broken all he could hear was the crowd chanting Edge’s name, then explained that they were doing it because they are exactly the same as The Rated R Superstar; Losers.
After a few more insults Edge made his way to the ring and agreed that he does have a lot in common with the crowd, but the main thing is that they all love to see Jericho get Speared.
He demands a re-match for the title, but Jericho just grins and after toying with the crowd he rejects, telling Edge that he had his chance at WrestleMania and now he’s at the back of the line.
He tells Edge to get out of his ring before he tears his Achilles again, but Edge takes the opportunity to strike instead, hitting Jericho with the Edgecution and a Spear to the injured ribs.
Edge began to head up the ramp, but just as it looked like the segment might be over Jack Swagger ran down, blasted him with the briefcase and announced that he was cashing in his Money in the Bank contract.
Match 1
Money in the Bank World Heavyweight Championship Match
Chris Jericho (c)
Vs.
Jack Swagger
This lasted about as long as most of the Money in the Bank cash-ins.
Once the referee cleared all the debris from the ring Swagger hit the Gutwrench Powerbomb and covered for the 1..2..3.
Wow, you’ve got to feel for Jericho a little, screwed yet again.
ECW Champion was about his level, Intercontinental/U.S Championship.. sure, but Swagger as World Heavyweight Champ?
I’m really not buying it at the minute.
During the commercials after the match Jericho came to and had a tantrum, smashing things up and throwing crap around ringside.
Jack Swagger wins by Pinfall and becomes the NEW World Heavyweight Champion.
Match 2
Tag Team Match
R-Truth & John Morrison
Vs.
Cryme Tyme
Oh god it’s not over.
It was the opinion of a lot of the WWEBlog team that following their loss at WrestleMania Truth and Morrison would split, as John Morrison really should be above this whole ‘two guys being shoved together’ gimmick.
Unfortunately that doesn’t appear to be the case, however that’s not to say that there wouldn’t be a split in this match.
Let me explain…
After losing the match in just under 2 minutes to a Starship Pain, Shad Gaspard seemed more than a little cranky as JTG helped him to his feet.
Moments later the two began to argue and Shad struck with a big work boot to his partner’s face. He then continued the assault as the crowd looked on speechless (or possibly even uninterested), before hitting his trademark STO and heading to the back to a chorus of boos.
Four years of teaming together looks to be at an end. I knew something was going to go down when Shad got that haircut a few weeks back.
For quite a few years it was expected that a huge turn would take place at WrestleMania. I remember a few years just sitting and waiting for it to happen.
But now it looks like this is the best we’re going to get. Oh well.
R-Truth & John Morrison win by Pinfall.
Segment 2
Swaggering Backstage
Brand new World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger is shown walking backstage with his gold proudly displayed on his shoulder.
After being congratulated by Tony Atlas he bumps into Shelton Benjamin. He claims that maybe people should call him the Gold Standard now, before heading off down the corridor.
Unless this leads to some sort of rivalry (and a title push for Shelton, which I’m all for) I can’t see the point of it.
Segment 3
Shad Gaspard Interviewed
Elsewhere backstage Josh Mathews begins to ask Shad about how he and JTG have been together for a long time.
After hearing the word time Shad pulled the microphone towards himself and said “No more time, no more Cryme Tyme, this is MY Time!”
I don’t want to judge him solely on this segment, but it doesn’t look like he’s that good at promos when he’s not being ’street’.
Match 3
Singles Match
Drew McIntyre
Vs.
Matt Hardy
After going on a fairly long (at least by his standards) losing streak, not counting the win over a ‘local talent’, it’s understandable that McIntyre wanted to get back to winning ways.
However, he seemed a little too keen here and struck Matt before he’d even entered the ring.
After hurling him along the apron and into the ring-post McIntyre hit FutureShock before grabbing his title and leaving, point clearly proven.
Matt must be counting the days until his contract comes up and he can jump ship to be with Jeff and Shannon.
Match ends in a No-Contest.
Segment 4
More Swaggering
As Vickie and Lay-Cool discuss their WrestleMania victory backstage Jack Swagger enters and after a round of applause he asks if they’ve seen Teddy Long.
Vickie says that as official consultant she can help him in any way he likes.
He requests time tonight to make a State of Championship Address.
She congratulates him and tells him that he can have all the time he likes tonight.
He thanks her and after a moments hesitation gives her a peck on the cheek before leaving.
Afterwards the girls all agree that he’s going to make a great champion, then cackle like witches about the kiss.
God I hope this isn’t going to be ANOTHER heel toy boy for Guerrero.
Match 4
Singles Match
The Great Khali (w/ Ranjin Singh)
Vs.
Dolph Ziggler
It looks like things have come full circle for Dolph Ziggler here.
He claimed his first ‘big’ PPV victory against The Great Khali at The Bash last year, after a huge assist from The Big Red Machine; Kane.
The commentary team didn’t mention this at all for some reason though, choosing instead to point out some of the ‘bigger’ opponents he’s challenged in recent months.
Before the match began Matt Striker made an awful lot of noise about how Dolph Ziggler has a big move in his arsenal in the form of a Sleeper, so it was no surprise that it ended up being very prominent in the climax of the match.
After locking the Sleeper on for the second time the referee declared Ziggler the winner, despite the fact that Khali seemed to have got his foot under the bottom rope, at least momentarily.
Ranjin Singh did his best to draw the referee’s attention to this, but the official seemed uninterested and made the call without there being any real indication that Khali was out.
After the bell Khali grabbed a microphone and via his brother declared that it was time for him to go back home to his native India and regroup, ready to return one day and claim the World Heavyweight Championship.
Hmmm, the Punjabi Playboy must be injured.
Anyone want to bet £1 we’ll never see him again?
Big win for Ziggler anyway, it looks like he’s on the up.
Dolph Ziggler wins by Submission.
Segment 5
Straight Edge Salvation
After making their way to the ring to a rapturous chorus of booing The Straight Edge Society lined up in the centre of the ring.
As Punk attempted to talk the crowds booing continued, which led to Gallows snatching the microphone and rather respectfully telling them to shut up because Punk could make a difference to their lives just as he has to his.
Punk took the microphone back but the noise continued, so Serena snatched it and said her piece too.
She claimed that Punk was perfect in every way and if they took a moment to look into his beautiful eyes they would see that he can save them, because he’s an angel and they are a sea of demons.
Punk finally spoke and said that if any city around the globe needed his help, it’s Las Vegas.
He told the fans at home that he envied them simply because they were anywhere else other than there, then began listing the ‘problems’ with Vegas, each one getting a cheer.
He then moved onto Rey Mysterio, saying that he was meant to save him at Mania but as things didn’t quite go according to plan he’ll have to do it in a re-match.
Punk says that he knows Rey will be unlikely to agree to a re-match unless he too risks something, so he offers to put his hair on the line, something that apparently signifies his leadership of the Society.
Finally he tells Rey that it should tell him how much he cares, that he’d go to such lengths to save him.
It looks like we’ll have to wait for an answer, as the segment ends with no sign of Mr. 619.
Match 5
Divas Tag Team Match
Lay-Cool (w/ Vickie Guerrero)
Vs.
Tiffany & Beth Phoenix
Hmm, our regular readers will know that I’m not exactly the biggest fan of Divas competitions, but this one I’m actually quite interested to see.
Beth is undoubtedly the best Diva on Smackdown in terms of wrestling ability, and I’ve been pretty impressed with Tiffany since her in-ring début a few weeks ago.
Michelle’s at the top of her game too and although probably the weakest in the match, Layla is still competent.
The only thing that really could have ruined the match for me is Vickie, and luckily she kept out of it.
All four women put in a great performance and although the match didn’t go on very long, it was one of the better Divas matches I’ve seen since I started writing for WWEBlog.
Beth Phoenix picked up the win after dominating both members of Lay-Cool, hitting Layla with the Glam Slam for the 1..2..3.
Tiffany & Beth Phoenix win by Pinfall.
Segment 6
A Champion Scorned
Teddy Long is shown watching the Divas in the back when Jericho enters his office.
Jericho says he’s only going to say it once, then demands Teddy reverse the decision from earlier on and return him his World Title.
Teddy asks if he’s out of his mind, then refuses, saying the best he can do is offer him his re-match tonight.
Jericho refuses this offer, claiming to still be hurt from the Spear he took at WrestleMania.
Teddy tells him that if he doesn’t want his re-match tonight he has nothing else to talk to him about.
Jericho says that there’s no way Swagger will get away with what he’s done, then leaves the office disgruntled.
Segment 7
The Hart Dynasty Interviewed
After stills of the Bret Hart Vs. Mr. McMahon match at WrestleMania Josh Mathews introduced The Hart Dynasty backstage.
They talked about how proud they were to be part of the match and also to see Stu Hart get inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Tyson Kidd said that now the match is over it’s their time to continue the tradition of the Hart family.
Then, Jack Swagger wandered into shot and stood in front of them all, holding his title up to make sure he was the only one in shot.
I’ve got a feeling things aren’t going to go well for Swagger at his Championship Address later tonight.
Main Event Match
Kane’s NXT Invitational Handicap Elimination Match
Kane
Vs.
Daniel Bryan
Darren young
Michael Tarver
Justin Gabriel
Heath Slater
David Otunga
Skip Sheffield
Wade Barrett
Kane made his way to the ring and said that he was bored, and when he gets bored he gets frustrated.
So, he’s decided to take his frustrations out on someone tonight, and it’s a case of ‘the more, the merrier’ as he’s challenged ALL the members of the NXT rookie roster to a Handicap Elimination Match.
After both Daniel Bryan and Darren Young had taken beatings from The Big Red Machine, Wade Barrett rather confidently tagged himself in and took the fight to Kane, backing him into a corner and landing some big shots.
However, moments later Kane landed a huge Big Boot and ended Jericho’s rookie’s chances to get an impressive victory.
Elimination : Wade Barrett by Pinfall.
Skip Sheffield was next to step up to the plate, but after taking a beating during the commercial break Heath Slater made a blind tag, which proved to be a bad move as he tasted a Chokeslam and a pinfall just seconds after joining the action.
Elimination : Heath Slater by Pinfall.
Next the rookies cooked up a new game-plan, surrounding the ring before jumping Kane from every side, ganging up on The Big Red Machine and taking him apart finisher by finisher.
Far from endearing themselves to the crowd, this move seemed to cause the attending audience to turn on the newcomers, with the boos echoing around the arena turning to cheers as Kane sat up and chased them up the ramp.
To be honest I was expecting more eliminations here, I wouldn’t have bothered digging out the ‘Elimination’ box had I known there were only going to be two.
Kane wins by Disqualification.
Closing Segment
State of Championship Address
Swagger says this is the first of many State of the World Championship Addresses that he will be giving, and he’s prepared a few statements.
Swagger then begins to read a prepared statement from his little black folio.
He congratulates the crowd for being in attendance on the night his long and successful title reign began, then talked for a while about how he has always been the odds-on favourite in everything he’s ever done.
He says that his victory couldn’t have come at a better time as now the fans have a replacement for Shawn Michaels as the greatest wrestler of all time.
As he continues to talk about his own successes Chris Jericho’s music hits and the former champion makes his way to the ring to a rather strange ’should we/shouldn’t we’ cheer from the crowd.
He tells Swagger to hand him his title back right now, but Swagger tells him there is nothing he can do any more and the gold is his.
Jericho informs him that he heals very quickly and as soon as he does he’ll take the title back, but as he paces back and forward demanding something be done Edge’s music kicks in and he too walks to the ring.
Edge says he appreciates how well Swagger cashed in the Money in the Bank, but if Swagger wants a real challenge he should face him, because without him the gold wouldn’t have even changed hands in the first place.
Jericho and Edge bicker over who deserves a shot at the gold, until Teddy Long emerges.
He says that the dilemma is this; Jericho has a re-match, but doesn’t want to take it. Edge wants a match, but isn’t entitled to one. So next week Jericho and Edge are going to meet in a #1 contendership match.
As Teddy leaves Swagger jumps up onto the apron, distracting Edge long enough for Jericho to catch him with the CodeBreaker. Swagger then lands a Gutwrench on both men, to be the only one left standing as the show goes off the air.
