First things first. Yes, I’ve been horrible with my IP commitments the last few weeks. Frankly, it’s hard to keep on top of this when you’re usually working near constantly from Thursday through Monday amongst other shit to do. So, sorry for my lax coverage lately.
The usual opening video opens us up, but the V.I.P Lounge is right away.
It’s odd to see Porter out of his Business Suit or his usual attire. Porter hypes the draft on RAW, remind us that everyone is up for draft. Porter says he’s cool with leaving SmackDown and a change of environment would be good for everyone involved, since he doesn’t feel his talents are being properly used on SmackDown. Porter says maybe SmackDown management doesn’t know how to use him, or maybe they’re distracted by getting married, or maybe if he was given the chance he would outshine everyone including La Familia. Vickie Guerrero takes super offence! Vickie asks Porter who the hell he is to run down her family, as well as Porter’s campaigning to be drafted to RAW. Porter apologizes for her taking it the wrong way, since he wasn’t offending her family. Porter says he beat Punk just like she asked, Guerrero says that wasn’t what she asked from him – Porter says that when his agent called to renegotiate, Vickie wasn’t available. Porter doesn’t want to leave the SmackDown franchise since he’s the face of it, but he feels like Vickie doesn’t want him here. That gets Vickie major boos, could we be seeing a Porter face turn? Vickie says Porter still has a contract on SmackDown, but tonight she’s ordering him to go one on one against ECW Champion Kane.
Matt Hardy is walking backstage!
Commercials.
Matt Hardy vs. Bam Neely
I genuinely don’t want to see Hardy against Guerrero at Night of Champions. What the hell is it with WWE’s love of Guerrero, anyways? He’s one guy that they just won’t give up on, I just hope it’s not entirely based on Eddie. Neely forces Hardy into the corner to start, but Neely doesn’t continue the attack. Lock up and Hardy gets a headlock on Neely, Neely pushes him off and Hardy comes off the ropes into a shoulder block. Hardy with a enziguri to a kneeling Neely. Neely drops Hardy throat first on the top rope and covers for a one and a half. Neely with an interesting sleeper cobra clutch combination. Hardy ducks a clothesline and tries for the side effect, but Neely escapes and boots Hardy down for a two count. Hardy with rights to Neely, but Hardy off the ropes into a clothesline. Neely with a sleeper applied, but Hardy turns it into a jawbreaker. Hardy goes for the twist of Fate, Neely counters and Hardy goes for the clothesline bulldog combo – clothesline connects but the bulldog falls short. Neely runs into a pair of boots and Hardy follows up with a second rope bulldog for a two count. Hardy with a swinging neck breaker, Hardy goes up top but Guerrero provides enough distraction for Neely to throw Hardy into the ring. The referee, Charles Robinson, demands Guerrero exit to the back. Hardy falls behind a scoop slam attempt and nails the Twist of Fate for the three count.
Winner: Matt Hardy
An alright match. Arguably too long but still a solid effort from both guys. I don’t particularly see Bam Neely getting far (I think he might be a modern day Bull Buchanan or Albert), but he fit’s the role he’s got right now. Four out of Ten.
Tonight: Kane vs. Montel Vontavious Porter.
Commercials.
Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely aren’t happy over Charles Robinson’s actions. Edge promises that Vickie will take care of Robinson, and Edge says that he’ll take care of Matt Hardy next week. Edge says he wants Guerrero to face Batista later tonight …
Michelle McCool vs. Layla El
I really like it when these two ladies wrestle. El attacks Mc to start, Mc goes for a head scissors but El throws her onto the apron. Mc goes to climb up top but El pushes her outside. El slams Mc face first into the apron, back in the ring El gets a one count. El gets in a sleeper hold. Mc looks to escape, but El slams her down. A leg drop gets El a one count. El reconnects the sleeper hold, but this time Mc escapes while Natalya watches on from the entrance way. Natalya looks good tonight, by the way. Mc kicks El away. Mc with a small package for a one count. Mc ducks a clothesline but connects with a dropkick. Mc with a clothesline, dropkick and a belly to belly for a two count. El with an elbow to the face of Mc. Mc runs into a knee to the gut, El goes to the second rope and tries to boot Mc but Mc catches the boot and tosses El into the ring – Mc locks in a heel hock for the submission.
Winner: Michelle McCool
You know, between McCool and Neidhart – I genuinely don’t know which woman I want to be the Diva’s Champion. It’s one of the few matches that I’m genuinely looking forward to at Night of Champions and kudos to WWE for holding off on the obligatory match for such a long time, and to give it that special feel by making it for a brand new championship. The match was nothing revolutionary, but was satisfactory. El kept it simple and within her boundaries, but Mc didn’t get anywhere near enough offence. Four out of Ten. SmackDown Diva Standards. I may have to raise the judging of the SmackDown Diva Standards soon.
Vickie is planning her wedding backstage, when Edge comes in and asks for some privacy. Edge says that Chavo’s pretty worked up, and Charles Robinson comes in – Vickie’s been reviewing his past performance and she says he’s bias! She mentions WrestleMania, Judgment Day and what he did to Chavo tonight. Vickie says that he needs to experience a superstar’s perspective, and she announces that he’ll be wrestling tonight.
Commercials.
Jamie Noble vs. Vladimir Koslov
I might recap this match. Noble tries to take Koslov down, but Koslov throws him away. Noble goes behind but Koslov reverses it and takes Noble down with force (I almost said authority there). Noble with the almighty headlock, and off the ropes into the even almightier shoulder block from Koslov. Koslov kicks Noble down. Foley shows off his Sambo knowledge. Koslov runs into a pair of boots from Noble, and Noble gets a missile dropkick! On – no. Noble with a guillotine on Koslov, and he actually keeps it in for a good while. Koslov stops the guillotine by slamming Noble into the corner. Koslov with a big belly to belly. Koslov slams Noble into the corner for an uppercut, spear – and continuing to force the spear into Noble afterwards. Koslov charges at Noble but Noble gets his knees up! Noble jumps off but Koslov gets the battering ram head butt for the three count.
Winner: Vladimir Koslov
Anyone who’s been reading me since I started at Inside Pulse should know how much of a Jamie Noble fan I am. I really enjoyed this match, complete with my Noble markdom. It was really awesome to see Noble as the one man who’d might defeat Koslov, and that genuinely got me into the match, but I wish they’d had more of an ending. Four out of Ten.
Still to come: Batista vs. Guerrero, but Kane vs. Porter is up next!
Commercials.
Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Kane
Would be interesting to see these two feud again, now that the pairing’s somewhat fresh now. Porter tries punking Kane out, but Kane simply knocks him down. Ohh, snap! Kane with an elbow drop to Porter. Kane with a headlock takedown but Porter turns it into a head scissors. Kane relocks the headlock on Porter, but Porter gets to his feet and takes Kane into the corner. Kane punches Porter down before whipping Porter into the corner, Kane charges but Porter gets a drop toe hold and sends Kane into the second turnbuckle. Porter with elbows to Kane, off the ropes with a boot to the head of Kane for a two count. Porter off the ropes into a power slam for a two count for Kane. Kane misses an elbow drop, Porter follows with a soccer kick to the back of Kane for a brief pinfall. Kane with the corner boot to Kane for a two count pinfall. Porter with an interesting armbar – meanwhile, Foley theorizes Punk cashing in the MITB title match during Edge’s Wedding Night, like, the hotel room IF you know what I mean. I think you do.
Porter with a headlock but Kane turns it into a big back drop. Kane with a clothesline, scoop slam and low dropkick to a seated Porter for a two count pinfall. Porter off the ropes into a big boot by Kane. Kane with a clothesline to Porter. Kane goes for another, Porter gets an elbow up before charging at Kane but Kane counters with a sideslam. Kane goes up top and nails the flying clothesline. Kane signals for the Chokeslam and connects it, but Porter grabs the ropes. Kane, not happy over Porter grabbing the ropes, clotheslines Porter outside. Porter remains outside … and gets counted out!
Winner: Kane
Post match, Mark Henry makes his way on out. Henry does his best to charge at Kane, who attacks Porter on the outside. Henry attacks Kane and nails him with a World’s Strongest Slam. The match wasn’t shabby, a hell of a lot better than their anti-classics from 2006, but I guess that‘s obvious. Five out of Ten.
Charles Robinson is confronted by Chavo Guerrero, who wishes him good luck in his match tonight.
Commercials.
Charles Robinson vs. The Great Khali
This match even gets the super special introductions. Robinson tries running backstage but Hawkins and Ryder attack Lil’ Naitch. Khali with a big time short arm clothesline for the one count … Khali stopped the count, not like Robinson kicked out of nothing. Vice Grip ends this.
Winner: The Great Khali
I thought Khali was going to be turned face? That would’ve been cool to watch. -One out of Ten. I found this entertaining in a odd way.
Commercials.
Jesse and Festus vs. Deuce and Domino
Oh, do we NEED to see this match again? Festus goes Festus on both Domino and Deuce right away, but the pair begin fighting on the outside. Cole and Foley go on about Happy Day (I wonder how many people watching would actually get those references?). Deuce sacrifices Domino to Festus, who dominates and soundly defeats Domino.
Winners: Jesse and Festus
The most interesting Jesse and Festus vs. Deuce and Domino match … EVER! One out of Ten. Deuce nails Domino with the Crack ‘Em In The Mouth afterwards. I’d buy Domino as a face, but I don’t particularly see either as singles wrestlers. That’s pretty much half of the tag division that has been broken up (WGTT, Cade / Murdoch and Deuce / Domino) in the past few months.
Up next: Miz vs. Finlay.
Commercials.
Finlay w/ Hornswoggle vs. The Miz w/ John Morrison
Finlay takes Miz into the corner to start, but the referee gets Finlay back into the ring. Miz targets the arm but Finlay gets Miz to his knees and elbows his face. Finlay with a headlock takedown. Finlay off the ropes with a shoulder block for a one count. Foley hits gold, asking Morrison how much back exercises he has to do to carry Miz to a victory. Finlay with an uppercut and short arm clothesline. Miz with the cool clothesline to Finlay in the corner. Finlay tries dragging Miz outside but Miz kicks him away into the security rail. Miz tosses Finlay back into the ring and clubs at him for a one count. Miz forces his knees into the spine of Finlay, before locking Finlay in the front facelock. Finlay blocks a kick and nails Miz with a clothesline. Finlay with clotheslines, scoop slam and a butt drop for a two count. Morrison goes after Hornswoggle, distracting Finlay and allowing Miz to get the advantage. Hornswoggle with a shillelagh to Morrison, Celtic Cross to Miz for the three count.
Winner: Finlay
Okay match. Four out of Ten.
Up next: Batista vs. Chavo Guerrero.
Commercials.
Vickie Guerrero makes a statement before the match starts place: Charles Robinson was set to referee, but since he’s gone to the hospital, a special guest referee has been assigned … and if Batista touches the official, he will forfeit his title match at Night Of Champions … the referee is Edge. Edge looks somewhat charming as a referee.
Spcial Guest Referee Edge: Batista vs. Chavo Guerrero w/ Bam Neely
Edge speaks down to Batista to start. Circling, and Edge gets in the way so Batista accidentally knocks into him. Guerrero with a headlock, off the ropes into a shoulder block from Batista. Batista with spears to Guerrero in the corner, while Foley theorizes that the destruction of Robinson had been purposely done for this match. Batista hooks Guerrero’s arm on the ropes, breaks at the five count – Neely distracts Batista which allows Guerrero to attack Batista. Guerrero with ten count punches but Batista throws him off, very delayed vertical suplex and Batista covers but Edge is tying his shoelace. Edge notices the count and counts a one. Batista off the ropes but Edge accidentally trips him in an awesome moment, which allows Guerrero to regain control. Batista and Guerrero exchange punches, Batista sends Guerrero into the corner but Guerrero gets his boots up. Guerrero jumps off the second rope but Batista catches him and goes for a power slam, but Edge grabs the leg of Guerrero and brings them down and counts a quick two count. Guerrero with a headlock on Batista, Batista escapes but runs into a dropkick from Guerrero. Guerrero covers with a quick two count. Batista with a big shoulder toss, clothesline in the corner. Batista gets dragged outside by Neely, and Edge does a very quick ten count to give Guerrero the victory!
Winner: Chavo Guerrero
Okay, this is one Chavo Guerrero match that I could dig. The booking of the match was cool, Batista looked dominant, and it built up to their match at Night of Champions very well. Six out of Ten. Post match, La Familia attack Batista. Double Team Inverted DDT from Hawkins and Ryder, Frog Splash from Guerrero, and a Spear from Edge. La Familia pose as SmackDown fades out.
Matt Hardy defeats Bam Neely: 4/10
Michelle McCool defeats Layla El: 4/10
Vladimir Koslov defeats Jamie Noble: 4/10
Kane defeats Montel Vontavious Porter: 5/10
The Great Khali defeats Charles Robinson: -1/10
Jesse and Festus defeat Deuce and Domino: 1/10
Finlay defeats The Miz: 4/10
Chavo Guerrero defeats Batista: 6/10
SmackDown 20/06/08: 27/70
Not bad, not bad. No matches where flat out bad, which is always a good thing. But SmackDown simply seems to be in cruise-control mode, with the only exceptions being the Deuce and Domino storyline as well as the new Diva Championship. A solid effort this week but, sadly, nothing which stands out. Until next time, have a good one!
