Pulse Wrestling’s Real-Time Smackdown Report 01/23/2009

Reviews, Shows, Top Story, TV Shows

Welcome back to the Friday night Smackdown report! Follow along with us for the next two full hours of action as we travel the road to the Royal Rumble…

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!

Smackdown is being aired on MyNetworkTV and our ringside announcers are Jim Ross and Tazz.

The show opens with a recap of the “accidents” Jeff Hardy has suffered the last few weeks including the hit and run auto accident and the pyro disaster last week at the end of Smackdown. JR tells us that Jeff is battered, bruised and burned and Tazz says that someone messed with the pyrotechnics and it was no accident. Jim says that he will have a previously taped interview with Jeff that will include some “conspiracy theories”. “The Rated R Superstar” Edge enters the ring in order to tell us that he had nothing to do with what happened to Jeff Hardy and that if the incidents turn out to be something else, Edge had nothing to do with them. Matt Hardy charges into the ring and goes after The Rated R Superstar, chasing him through the crowd and we go to commercial break.

We see a video of M.V.P. versus Big Show last week. M.V.P. won after “The Game” Triple H interceded with a sledgehammer and because of that interference, tonight Trips will be facing “The Moscow Mauler” Vladimir Kozlov.

United States Champion ”The Gold Standard” Shelton Benjamin vs. The Undertaker

Benjamin is already in the ring but Undertaker does his standard entrance and JR reminds us that the two opponents are in the Royal Rumble match this Sunday. The referee calls for the bell and Shelton tries to go after The Dead Man but he loses as Taker comes back with some fists of his own. Undertaker runs into an elbow and Benjamin comes back with fists and knees but catches a boot to the face as he comes off the ropes. Taker covers for two. The Gold Standard is sent shoulder first into the turnbuckle and The Dead Man goes old school but gets caught with a fist. Benjamin’s comeback is short lived as Taker sends him into the corner, but as Undertaker charges, Shelton gets out of the way and The Dead Man ends up outside. The Gold Standard goes out after Taker, rolls back in to break the ref’s count and then rolls back out. Once again in the ring, Benjamin continues his assault with fists but catches a boot to the abdomen. Shelton delivers a suplex, covers and gets two. Undertaker delivers a back suplex and sits up and it’s a slugfest in the center of the ring. The Dead Man comes off the ropes with hard right hands and delivers a couple of clotheslines in the corner, snake eyes, a boot, a leg drop and covers but only gets two. Taker goes old school but Shelton kicks the ropes and takes Taker down to the top turnbuckle. The Gold Standard delivers a suplex off the top, covers and gets two. Benjamin counters a choke slam with a DDT, covers and gets two. Shelton delivers a high kick to the face, covers and gets two. The Dead Man applies his submission move and Benjamin taps out.

Winner: The Undertaker with a submission hold.

Undertaker did a good job in this match but Shelton Benjamin looked great in the ring. This was a better opening match than I had hoped for tonight even though I would have liked to see The Gold Standard with a win. We go to commercial break.

Paul Marshall’s got you covered on Monday nights with Pulse Wrestling’s Real-Time Raw Report!

We see a video of Umaga who will be returning to Smackdown.

Chavo Guerrero is in the ring to complain about what Triple H has been calling him, Vickie and Edge’s fetch and carry boy. Chavo claims that he is a go-getter, a Mexican warrior and a Guerrero. He says there is nothing that he wouldn’t do for his Aunt Vickie and since The Great Khali is trying to embarrass the Guerrero name, Chavo is going to handle it.

Chavo Guerrero vs. The Great Khali with Ranjin Singh

Chavo would be better off facing Ranjin and I am betting this will be a squash match unless Guerrero gets some outside help. Khali delivers a chop to the head, picks Chavo up, delivers The Punjabi Plunge, and gets three.

The Great Khali with The Punjabi Plunge

Squash match and not much to applaud. Edge and Vickie are backstage where The Rated R Superstar is complaining about Matt Hardy. The Smackdown General Manager says that tonight Edge will face Hardy in a No Disqualification Match and tells her hubby he had better man up. We see a video replay of Randy Orton attacking Vince McMahon on Monday Night Raw and we go to commercial break.

Kevin Innarelli picks up the action on Tuesday night with Pulse Wrestling’s ECW Real-Time Coverage!

Kevin Rudolph’s “Let It Rock” is the official theme song of The Royal Rumble.

The Diva’s Champion, Maryse, is introduced and makes her way to the announcer’s table.

Diva’s Tag Team Match – Brie and Nikki, The Bella Twins vs. Michelle McCool and Natalya

Maryse sits at the announcer’s table talking about herself as the ref calls for the bell and McCool faces one of the Bellas. Maria charges into the ring to attack Michelle. Maria may just be upset because McCool is wearing less than Maria. Maria gets the worst of the beating and I assume that means the match is over. Here’s hoping the McCool heel turn is over soon Nice waste of Natalya in the ring, by the way, and we go to commercial break.

We see the interview JR conducted with Jeff Hardy including a replay of last Friday night’s pryo malfunction that was not an accident. Jeff says that last Friday night was no accident, it was intentional and he knows who was responsible. Jim says that they did find out that the pyro had been tampered with and Hardy says that the hit and run accident and the injuries he suffered in the stairwell were no accident and he knows Edge is behind it all.

No Disqualification Match – ”The Rated Superstar” Edge and we go to commercial break.

When we come back, we see a video of the undefeated “Moscow Mauler” Vladimir Kozlov training.

vs. Matt Hardy

Hardy enters the ring and Edge exits the ring with Matt hot on his trail. The ref calls for the bell and the action is on the outside with The Rated R Superstar meeting the announcer’s table with his face. The action moves back into the ring where Hardy catches a boot to the face. Matt’s punches look a little week and Edge manages to send him out through the ropes but misses a baseball slide and gets sent back first into the guardrail. Hardy removes part of the mat outside the ring exposing concrete but The Rated R Superstar comes back, but Matt rolls him into the ring and then brings weapons out from under the ring. Edge nails Hardy in the head with a metal garbage can and then again with the metal lid and both men are down on the canvas. Edge goes after Matt with fists, covers and gets two. Edge delivers a boot to the chest and a fist to the head before going out and coming back in with a kendo stick. Matt catches Edge with a boot to the abdomen and uses the stick on Edge, but Hardy misses Edge and catches his arm and shoulder on the ring post. Edge misses Matt with a chair and Hardy sends Edge face first into the steel steps and then hip first into the opposite steps. “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry tries to interfere, but Matt catches Edge with the Twist of Fate, covers and Jack Swagger enters the ring to take out Matt. Now it’s three on one as Edge delivers a spear, covers and gets three.

Winner: Edge with a lot of help and a spear

That’s one way to get ECW talent on Friday Night Smackdown although the first part of the match was good. We see a recap of “The Wrestler”. Mickey Rourke is awesome! We go to commercial break.

JR reminds everyone how the Royal Rumble Match works.

Tag Team Match – John Morrison and The Miz, WWE World Tag Team Champions vs. Carlito and Primo, WWE Tag Team Champions

Miz’s hair reminds me of a skunk, no offense to any real skunks. The ref calls for the bell and Carlito faces off with Miz. Carlito pounds on Miz and tags in Primo who goes for an early cover and gets one. Primo tags Carlito who misses a springboard off the ropes and tags in Primo. Primo takes down Miz and sends Morrison off the ring apron. Primo goes for a roll up but Miz kicks out and sends Primo head first into the top turnbuckle and we go to commercial break in the middle of the match.

Back to the action, John and Primo are in the ring with Primo going for a cover and getting one. Morrison tags in Miz and there is a little double team action before John leaves the ring. Miz delivers a suplex, covers and gets two. Miz delivers a face plant, covers and gets two before John tags himself in and we have more double team effort before Morrison covers for two. Miz gets the tag but stops to show off a little before pounding on Primo in the corner. Miz charges and we have a double clothesline with both men down on the mat and the ref counting. Miz tags in John as Primo tags in Carlito. Carlito delivers a knee to the side of the head and springboards off the ropes to take John down to the mat, covers and Miz breaks it up. Primo comes in after Miz and delivers a suicide dive out to the floor. John springboards off the ropes with a kick to the head, covers and Primo is back in to break it up. Miz sends Primo over the top rope and Carlito sends Miz over the top. Miz gets a blind tag as Carlito delivers a back stabber and Miz is in for a roll up and three.

Winners: The Miz and John Morrison with a roll up.

I didn’t care for the ending but these four did a great job of keeping the action flowing. Carlito and Primo do some great tag team work and Miz appears to be trying to step up his game. We again see the video of Orton attacking McMahon and we go to commercial break.

Daniel Douglas takes care of Thursday night with TNA iMPACT! Real-Time Coverage!

We see a video replay of Monday Night Raw and Chris Jericho’s apology to Stephanie, Vince and the fans and the attack by Randy Orton with a kick to Vince’s head instead of apologizing. And then Orton looks surprised that he did it. Anger management classes, anyone? Tazz and Jim Ross go over the Royal Rumble matches coming up on this Sunday’s pay per view.

”The Moscow Mauler” Vladimir Kozlov and we go to commercial break.

WWE Slam of the Week is last week’s match between M.V.P. and the Big Show with interference by HHH and the reason he is facing Vlad tonight.

vs. “The Game” Triple H

Ross reminds us that Kozlov is undefeated and the Smackdown GM is hoping that The Moscow Mauler will eliminate The Game tonight making him unable to compete in the Royal Rumble match on Sunday. The ref calls for the bell and I could stand to see another wrestling match between these two competitors. This one starts as fists flying with Trips going for an early pedigree but Vlad counters with shoulder blocks in the corner. The Moscow Mauler catches a boot to the chest and is sent over the top rope. HHH comes off the apron but Kozlov catches him. The Game avoids colliding with the ring post and Vlad catches it instead but Vickie shows up to tell Trips that this match is not a one on one match, it is a handicap match and the Big Show is Kozlov’s partner. Vlad doesn’t look too happy and The Game looks a little concerned and we go to commercial break.

Back to the action, Show and HHH are in the ring with Vlad yelling at Big Show to do something as Trips is pounding on him. Show catches The Game with a spear but can’t cover. Big Show tags in The Moscow Mauler who continues the assault with shoulder blocks. Trips delivers a high knee as Kozlov comes off the ropes but gets caught in a power slam, Vlad covers and gets two. Show gets the tag and the audience begins a “Triple H” chant as Trips catches a head butt. Show delivers chops and punches until the ref backs him up. Big Show delivers another head butt and then uses his boot to choke HHH. The Moscow Mauler is giving Show advice on how to handle The Game. Show delivers a suplex, comes off the ropes with a leg drop and covers for two. Big Show tags in Kozlov who comes in throwing fists but Trips tries to fight back with fists of his own, but he comes off the ropes and gets caught in a fall away slam, Vlad covers for two and then tags in Show who delivers another head butt, climbs up to the second rope but misses the drop as The Game rolls out of the way. Vlad is yelling at Show, the fans are chanting for Trips who leaps off the second rope and gets caught in a choke slam. Big Show covers and gets two and tags in The Moscow Mauler. Trips counters a rush to the corner with a DDT and both men are down. HHH comes up punching, delivers a face buster, nails Show with a fist, delivers a spine buster to Vlad, tries for a pedigree but gets nailed by Show. Kozlov delivers a choke slam, covers and gets three.

Winners: Vladimir Kozlov and Big Show with a choke slam.

This was a decent match but not nearly as exciting as seeing Trips face The Moscow Mauler one on one.

Thank you for joining us. Everyone have a great weekend and stay safe! Check Pulse Wrestling every day for the best in professional wrestling news, updates, columns and reviews. And join me every Friday night for the live Smackdown Report!

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