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WWE Smackdown- May 9, 2008
by Sassy

Smackdown is broadcast on the CW Network

Ringside announcers: Michael Cole & Mick Foley

Ring announcer: Justin Roberts

The audience sees a recap of last week’s Smackdown and The Undertaker being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The live show begins with Theodore Long wheeling Vickie Guerrero to the top of the entrance ramp accompanied by The Rated R Superstar Edge. She reads a prepared statement to the very loud jeers of the fans. At Judgment Day there will be a match for the vacated title with Undertaker as one of the opponents. Any member of the Smackdown or ECW roster who is now or has had a championship title can participate. She claims that The Great Khali is in India recuperating from the attack by Undertaker last week and Edge has not been medically cleared to compete, leaving Big Show, John Morrison, Finlay, CM Punk, Chavo Guerrero, Tommy Dreamer, M.V.P., Kane, Matt Hardy and Batista to compete for a spot at the match on Judgment Day. They will all compete tonight and the winner of the final match will face Undertaker at Judgment Day.

Championship Chase to Judgment Day Match:
Matt Hardy from Cameron, NC, WWE United States Champion
Vs. CM Punk from Chicago, IL, MITB Winner

Mick Foley is not happy about Undertaker being stripped of the title and says so before the match begins. Punk defeated Hardy during the King of the Ring Tournament. During the match, Michael Cole informs the audience that Punk will team with The Big Red Machine Kane at Judgment Day to face Morrison and The Miz for the WWE Tag Team Championship. The live audience is pro Hardy and the fact that Cole has told the audience that Punk is already in a championship match at the next pay per view, it makes me believe that Hardy will be the winner of this match. Punk goes for the first cover but Hardy kicks out at the one count. Hardy goes for a roll up and Punk kicks out at two. Hardy hits the side effect and Punk kicks out at two. Punk delivers a high knee and a bulldog, goes for the cover and gets a two count. Hardy goes for a bridge and Punk rolls out after a two count. Punk goes for the cover and gets a two count before Hardy kicks out. Punk goes for a cover, Hardy counters and gets the three count.
Time: 5 minutes

Winner: Matt Hardy

There were a lot of holds and counters in this match. Punk stayed on the mat, which isn’t the way I like to see Punk wrestle, and Hardy didn’t impress me much in this match up but it was a decent match for the opener.

M.V.P., weighing 248 lbs. Vs. Finlay, weighing 233 lbs. with Hornswoggle
I say my favorite is M.V.P. because Finlay hasn’t been winning many matches lately against regular roster members. That doesn’t mean I don’t think Finlay can’t win. MVP goes for the first cover but only gets a one count before Finlay powers out. Finlay decides that wrestling isn’t the way to beat MVP and then goes for a cover, getting a two count. Finlay meets the ring post shoulder first when MVP gets out of the way. MVP goes after Finlay with an arm bar to work on the injured shoulder. Hornswoggle is out from under the ring again to encourage Finlay and we go to COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH! Back to the show, MVP is still working on Finlay’s shoulder. The fans are now encouraging Finlay to get off the mat and beat MVP. MVP gets Finlay down on the mat and tries to get the shoulders down but Finlay keeps his shoulders off the mat. Finlay drops MVP with a clothesline, MVP delivers a kick to the head that sends Finlay out to the floor. MVP goes out after Finlay and then chases Hornswoggle, but the distraction gives Finlay the opportunity to blind side MVP. MVP again gets Finlay for a cover but he can’t get the three count. MVP goes for another cover and gets a two count. Hornswoggle continues to pound on the ring apron, getting the fans involved. Finlay goes to work on MVP’s leg and ankle but MVP grabs the bottom rope. Finlay goes for a cover but only gets a one count.
Time: 10 minutes.

Winner: Draw match – both men’s shoulders were down on the mat for the three count.

There seems to be a question as to who advances in this match up and then we go to...

Divas Match (not part of the tournament)
Kelly Kelly from Jacksonville, FL Vs. Natalya from Calgary, Alberta, Canada with Victoria

During the match, Michelle McCool is backstage watching the match on a monitor. Natalya delivers a sharpshooter and gets the win.
Time: 3 minutes

Winner: Natalya

I would prefer to see Natalya in a match against Beth Phoenix, Victoria, or Mickie James, however, we don’t seem to be able to see Natalya up against the women who can actually wrestle.

I’m skipping the second recap of The Undertaker title loss last week.

Guerrero is backstage with a decision advising that MVP and Finlay will both advance to the finals.

John Morrison from Los Angeles, CA, weighing 219 lbs.
One half of the WWE Tag Team Champions
Vs. The Animal Batista from Washington, DC, weighing 290 lbs.

I’m not fond of the size difference in this match but it would be better in Morrison beat someone that much larger than he is. It doesn’t take Morrison long to roll out of the ring with Batista right behind him. Morrison rolls out again and nails Batista with his boots as Batista tries to get back into the ring. A big mistake by Morrison going out on the floor after Batista. Morrison is going to make this an on the floor match one way or the other but no matter how athletic Morrison happens to be, Batista is much more powerful. Nice dropkick that sends Batista through the ropes and out to the floor, giving Morrison the chance to slam Batista against the steel steps. The audience appears to be pro Batista and the chants for Batista have started. Morrison goes for a cover but he can’t get the three count. Morrison delivers a neck breaker, goes for the pin and gets a two count. Morrison goes up to the top and comes off with a missile dropkick, goes again for the cover and again gets a two count. Morrison goes for the cover again and gets a two count. Batista is staying down on the mat longer than I thought he would. Batista slams Morrison into the ring post but Morrison manages to send Batista head first into the same ring post. Morrison takes Batista down with a clothesline, tries for the neck breaker but gets taken to the mat by a back body drop. Morrison comes off the second rope but Batista catches Morrison with a spear, delivers the Batista bomb, goes for the pin and gets the three count. Time: 7 minutes.

Winner: Batista

Not a bad match with Morrison getting a chance to show his ability. I was not impressed with Batista during the match mostly because his movements appear slow and awkward in comparison to Morrison’s movements.

Cole and Foley remind the fans that M.V.P, Finlay, Matt Hardy and Batista have advanced in the Chase to Judgment Day.

The Big Show is heading toward the arena.

The Big Show Vs. Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer limps to the ring and Cole reminds the audience that Dreamer faced Mike Knox in an Extreme Rules match on ECW last Tuesday. The bell rings and Dreamer is probably wishing that this was an Extreme Rules match and he had a cart full of weapons inside the ring. Dreamer is down on the mat right away but Show picks him up and delivers a chop to the chest before sending Dreamer across the ring and into the ring post. Dreamer gets back to his feet, Show charges and Dreamer delivers both feet to Show. Show delivers a choke slam, goes for the cover and gets the win.
Time: 2 minutes

The Big Show has now advanced to the finals. Tommy Dreamer again gets beat down in a match. It wasn’t a match.

Chavo Guerrero from El Paso, TX
With Bam Neely
Vs. The Big Red Machine Kane, weighing 323 lbs., WWE ECW Champion

Not that I don’t like Guerrero, but I am a Kane fan and barring excessive interference by Neely, Kane should have this match won. Guerrero goes for the legs but Kane shoves him across the ring. Kane backs Guerrero into the corner and breaks clean. Kane picks Guerrero up and slams him to the mat. Kane has Guerrero by the throat but Guerrero is against the ropes and the referee makes Kane break the hold. Guerrero manages to get Kane down on the mat and goes to work on Kane’s left leg. While Guerrero has the ref distracted, Neely delivers a blow to Kane’s leg from outside the ring. Guerrero continues to work on the leg. Kane shoves Guerrero across the ring and tries to lift Chavo to slam him to the mat, but Kane’s knee gives out and Kane is back down on the mat. Guerrero continues to work on Kane’s leg but Kane refuses to give up. Guerrero goes up on the second rope and delivers a dropkick. Kane is down on the mat but he sits up and Guerrero backs up. Guerrero comes off the ropes and Kane catches him with a boot to the face and then a back body drop before dropping an elbow across Guerrero’s chest. Kane goes for the cover but only gets a two count. Guerrero goes up to the top and leaps off, Kane stops him and tries to go for the side slam, Guerrero counters and tries for a sunset flip, Kane drops down, makes the cover and gets the three count. Time: 7 minutes.

Winner: The Big Red Machine Kane

This truthfully was not a bad match. Kane didn’t get a chance to use any of his off the top rope abilities but he did a good job. Guerrero has true wrestling ability and he appeared to be using that during this match.

After the match, Neely tries to get into the ring but Kane catches him with a boot and sends him back to the floor from the ring apron. Kane now advances.

Deuce & Domino are backstage with Maryse and they are dumping Cherry because she left them to go off and do her own thing. Maryse calls Cherry a dog and Cherry slaps her. It could have been worse. Cherry could have called Maryse a ho’.

Vladimir Kozlov from Russia Vs. Dale Atlas (already in the ring)
Cole and Foley are telling the audience how amazing Kozlov has been in the last few weeks but they neglected to mention that Kozlov hasn’t been up against anyone his size and weight since he has been in the WWE ring. Kozlov weights 300 lbs and Atlas weighs 207 lbs. Time: 1 minute.

Winner: Vladimir Kozlov
This was another “not really a match”. Kozlov should have been in the ring with Big Show.

Cole says that the fans were asked if they thought Vickie Guerrero was justified in stripping The Undertaker of the World Heavyweight Championship. The response was

Yes 24%

No 76%

I can’t believe anyone voted yes. Must have been Edge and Vickie sitting at the computer casting vote after vote.

Over the Top Rope Challenge:
Winner to face The Undertaker at Judgment Day
Big Show, 7’0”, weighing 441 lbs.
Vs.
M.V.P., weighing 248 lbs.
Vs.
The Big Red Machine Kane, weighing 323 lbs.
WWE ECW Champion
Vs.
Finlay from Belfast, Northern Ireland, weighing 233 lbs.
Vs.
Matt Hardy, weighing 226 lbs.
WWE United States Champion
Vs.
The Animal Batista, weighing 290 lbs.

MVP rolls out of the ring early but then rolls back in. MVP again rolls out of the ring after receiving a head butt courtesy of Big Show. MVP is spending a lot of time out on the floor outside the ring and out of the way of the action in the ring. MVP rolls out of the ring and away from Show. Show finally catches MVP with a head butt before he can roll out of the ring again and we go to COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH! Back to the action, everyone appears to still be in the ring. MVP rolls out of Show’s way again by going out to the floor. MVP back in and this time he doesn’t get away from Show. MVP smacks Show in the back and again rolls out of the ring when Show comes after him.

MVP eliminates Matt Hardy.

Show picks up Finlay but Batista catches Show with a spear. Finlay grabs a weapon but Kane sends Finlay over the top rope.

Kane eliminates Finlay.

MVP eliminates himself when he misses Batista.

Big Show eliminates Kane.

Show looks happy but Batista looks a little nervous.

Batista eliminates Big Show.

Time: 13 minutes

Winner: The Animal Batista

Teddy Long wheels out Vickie to tell everyone that the match is not over because Edge has just been medically cleared to wrestle and so now Batista will face The Rated R Superstar Edge in the final match.

Could someone please send me the name(s) of the writer(s) for Friday Night Smackdown so I can send them a “Can You Get Any Dumber” card?

The Animal Batista
Vs.
Edge and yes, I say that with a smirk…

Edge runs into the ring, delivers a spear and Batista is eliminated.

Winner – before the match even begins, I can tell you who it will be – The Rated R Superstar Edge

I’m glad this was the end of the show. If this had been the beginning of the show I wouldn’t have bothered to watch the rest.

As Edge gets to the top of the entrance ramp and looks at the belt, the stand on which the belt is resting bursts into flames. Shades of The Undertaker who Edge will now be facing at Judgment Day.

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