Source: ProWrestling.NET
WWE Smackdown Taping
East Rutherford, N.J.
Report by Dot Net Member Jules Mercuri
They ran a five-minute video recapping WrestleManias and WWE in pop culture. Fred Durst, Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama and John Cena (half and half reaction) commented. Nicely produced puff piece, touting $2 billion in PPV buys, WWE films, charity, etc.
Justin Roberts welcomed us and out came Ryan Braddock and his sideburns.
Dark Match
1. R-Truth vs Ryan Braddock in a dark match. Truth won in 6:00 with the scissor kick. Pretty standard match.
WWE Smackdown Taping
Jim Ross and Tazz came out to start the show.
Vickie Guerrero came out to huge boos and announced Jeff Hardy vs. Edge for the WWE Title at the Royal Rumble. She said we would also also find out later which Smackdown superstars will be in the Rumble match.
Triple H came out and wanted to know if he will be in the Rumble match. He joked around and Vickie threatened to take him out of the Rumble match, but after HHH made fun of her – using her action figure – she reneged and let him in. Hunter said he found nude photos of her on eBay and is in a bidding war with “ChavoG2009” for them. She ran to the back.
Ryder and Hawkins come out and an Umaga video runs. “Umaga returns to SmackDown” is all we get…
1. Khali and Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) beat Ryder and Hawkins. Khali pinned the one with the short trunks with his foot in 4:00. Post-match, Finlay gave the other one the Celtic Cross and Hornswoggle tadpole splashed him. Hornswoggle and Runjin danced.
Eve was backstage with Michelle. They recapped last week’s beatdown of Maria. Michelle heeled it up on Eve and said Maria got what she deserved.
Edge, Vickie, and Show were in their office angry about the nude pictures. Edge and Show tussled.
2. Ezekiel and The Brian Kendrick beat Jesse and Festus in 6:00. Zeke pinned Jesse after TBK did what looked like a full nelson suplex.
3. Vladimir Kozlov beat Hurricane Helms. Kozlov pinned Helms in 5:00, but I didn’t catch the finishing move.
Behind Enemy Lines 3 and Tribute to the Troops videos ran for the live crowd.
J.R., in the ring, explained the Rumble match and announced some of Smackdown’s participants – HHH, Big Show, Kozlov, and Shelton Benjamin. Shelton came out and interrupted. He claimed he was the odds-on-favorite and should be announced as such. He made J.R. leave and put himself over, and then ran down the other Rumble participants like Y2J and Randy Orton until Undertaker said, “I think you forgot someone,” and appeared in the ring out of nowhere. He chokeslammed Shelton and we went to a break.
Michelle came out and apologized to Maria (who couldn’t appear due to injuries sustained last week) and Eve (who came down to the ring). Michelle and Eve hugged, but as soon as Eve turned her back, Michelle beat her down.
La Familia was backstage with Hunter. Vickie announced the latter would be in three matches next week: tables, handicap, and Last Man Standing. Chavo called it “Triple Jeopardy,” a name which Vickie adopted as well after some hesitation.
MVP came out and said, “Whoever I’m wrestling, let’s just get it over with.” Kizarny made his debut.
4. Kizarny beat MVP. Kizarny won the match in 6:00 with a weird-looking DDT. There were sizable MVP chants throughout. Kizarny works a pretty aerial style. The match was pretty good.
Post-match, Kennedy came out and shilled his DVD.
Edge came out for the main event. He said we should respect him and Vickie, naked pictures or not. He accused the fans of blaming everything on him and called Jeff a screwup. Big Show came out, followed by Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy, who received a warm reaction.
5. The Hardys beat Edge and Big Show in 13:00. Jeff hit the Swanton on Edge, who had been deserted by his partner earlier. All the signature Hardyz spots here including the Whisper in the Wind and Poetry in Motion.
JerseySmarts.com: A New Jersey View on the Issues! Come see ›››
