Full Credit: PWTorch.com
WWE Smackdown review
February 6, 2009
Taped 1/27/09 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Aired on MyNetwork TV
-WWE Open.
-Smackdown Open.
-Tonight, we’ll find out who will fill the final two spots in the Smackdown Elimination Chamber at No Way Out. Also, Triple H & Undertaker will face Edge & Big Show, the four guys we do know that will be in the Chamber thus far.
1- BATTLE ROYAL- WINNER GETS FINAL ELIMINATION CHAMBER SPOT
We have a Kizarny sighting! Vladimir Kozlov and Great Khali got entrances. Other entrants include Scotty Goldman, Kung Fu Naki, R-Truth, Shelton Benjamin, The Brian Kendrick, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Chavo Guerrero, Jesse, Carlito, Primo and MVP. Vickie Guerrero came out and said if Jeff Hardy recovers in time, he’ll be in the Chamber at No Way Out. This battle royal will find out who will fill the last slot. Goldman was out :13 seconds in, via Kozlov. Kizarny was tossed at 1:09 by I believe Kendrick. Shelton teetered on the ring apron while Jesse tried to get him out. Instead, Benjamin suplexed Jesse out at 2:12. MVP tossed Shelton right after and Chavo threw out MVP, all within a matter of seconds. Shelton got pissed and superkicked MVP as the show went to break.
[Commercial Break]
Doesn’t look like there were any eliminations during the break. Chavo and Fu Naki were thrown out at 6:33 and 6:34. He lifted Kendrick over his head and tossed him at 6:55. Kozlov and Khali finally faced off. Hawkins & Ryder went after Khali and he threw both of them out at 7:52. Kozlov then saw his opportunity and pushed Khali out right after. We’re down to the Colons, R-Truth and Kozlov. Two dropkicks by the brothers couldn’t put him down, so we got a triple dropkick that finally send Kozlov to the mat. Nice visual there. Kozlov eliminated the tag champs when they tried to team up to get him out at 9:03. R-Truth set up for his finisher, but Kozlov headbutted him and eliminated Truth to win.
WINNER: Kozlov, at 9:24. With Kane getting in after losing a qualifying match on Raw and Kozlov doing the same, it really diminishes their importance. But Kozlov was really the only logical one to win here and shows that WWE hasn’t given up on him yet.
Kozlov got on the mic and said he’d win the Elimination Chamber and become champion.
-Tazz and JR took a look at the Elimination Chamber match as it stands now, then previewed the main event tag match for tonight.
[Commercial Break]
-The Wrestlemania 2 video package aired. It focused on Roddy Piper vs. Mr. T and Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy.
-Todd Grisham was backstage and brought in Hurricane Helms. Grisham prefaced things by saying Helms was a long-time friend of the Hardys, and asked for his opinion on what happened at the Royal Rumble. Helms said he was surprised at first, but thinking back, he shouldn’t have been. He said Matt has always had a bit of an ego. Helms said he didn’t think Matt became some new person at the Rumble; he simply revealed who he’s been all along: A self-centered, egotistical jerk. He said Jeff might not be here to stick up for himself, but he is, and he’s going to find Matt. Good promo from Helms.
-Vickie and Edge were backstage. Edge was not happy about having to defend his title in the Chamber against a long list of tough opponents. Vickie said he can do anything and she believes in him. Big Show walked in and asked Edge if he needed a pep talk tonight. Edge said last time they teamed up, Show walked out on him and that Vickie was going to take him out of the Chamber. Vickie said she wasn’t going to do that and Show sarcastically told the champ “I believe in you!” to get him ready for their match. Show’s character is kinda confusing in that he’s been portrayed as a heel but he’s always smiling and seems to always be conflicting with Edge.
[Commercial Break]
–Matt Hardy was already in the ring, mic in hand upon return. A “we want Jeff” chant came from the fans. Matt said Helms doesn’t need to try to find him because he’s right here. He then told Helms to come out and do something about it. Helms ran to the ring and the two started brawling. Hardy got the better of Helms with some forearms and a clothesline. Where are the officials? Hardy hit the ropes again but Helms caught him with a Thesz Press. After he connected with some punches, Matt went to the outside. He tried to leave through the crowd but Helms pulled him back in. Hardy then whipped Helms into the steel ring steps. Matt put Hurricane in a submission move and elbowed him in the face numerous times. Finally, Charles Robinson and Marty Elias came to the ring to break it up. I hadn’t thought of it ‘til now, but Matt’s probably going to have to change his theme song and most of his signature moves because they’re so associated with him as a face, people may cheer them even if he’s a heel.
-JR & Tazz again plugged the main event tag match.
[Commercial Break]
2- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. MVP
Shelton got on the mic before the match and said some people can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality. He said he is the longest-reigning champion on any brand in WWE. He said his opponent has had a few lucky wins after 20 weeks of losing. He said MVP was no Cinderella Man and that there will be no happy endings. He said MVP should change his name to VPM: Very Peyton Manning (they’re in Indianapolis again this week). Benjamin said that just like Peyton, when everything is on the line, MVP is going to blow it.
Hard clothesline by MVP to start things off. He slammed some forearms into the back of Shelton’s head. Benjamin tried to call a timeout less than a minute into the match. A second later, he hit a T-Bone suplex on MVP. MVP shrugged off Paydirt and MVP landed a back-elbow. MVP tried a suplex, but Shelton reversed it and hung MVP gut-first onto the top rope. Shelton took the fight to the outside, where he dropped MVP right on his chest on top of the barricade. Near-fall by Shelton as the fans began to get behind MVP. Gut-buster by Shelton for two. Abdominal stretch by Benjamin, working the intercostal muscles. MVP broke out and landed an overhead throw. Shelton countered and a German suplex got two. Running kick by MVP registered another two-count. Shelton avoided a clothesline and got a back-breaker on MVP. Blinger Splash in the corner, but he missed a second one. MVP missed a running kick and they collided heads. MVP laced Shelton with a Drive-By, earning him the three-count.
WINNER: MVP, at 6:38. Nothing wrong with that match. The usual “challenger gets a non-title win leading up to a title match” booking.
-The Colons were backstage and the Bellas came up to them and kissed them. The Colons discussed their upcoming match with the Bellas and R-Truth came up to them. Truth asked if they were ready to do this, so apparently it’s a six-man match. Truth told them they were too much and asked if they were focused. All three of them laughed it off and headed to the ring.
[Commercial Break]
3- JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ & THE BRIAN KENDRICK vs. R-TRUTH & THE COLONS
So are Miz and Morrison still considered ECW guys, is that why they couldn’t get into either of the Chamber matches? Primo and Miz traded offense until R-Truth tagged in. He loves to spin with his offensive maneuvers. Morrison distracted Truth, allowing Miz to take control. Tazz dropped the names Ax and Smash this week, trying to one-up Matt Striker. Morrison went to make a tag to Miz but Kendrick tagged himself in. The heels continued to work over Truth, but Killings got a surprise roll-up on Morrison for two. Kendrick came back in and settled into a Camel Clutch. Kendrick knocked Primo off the apron and Carlito got a handful of his hair, allowing Truth to make the tag to Carlito. Carlito got his spots in and even took out Miz & Morrison. Carlito wheel-barrowed Kendrick over his head, but the pin was broken up by both Miz and Morrison. Springboard dropkick by Primo on Miz and Truth hit his spinning flying forearm on Morrison. It was back to just Carlito and Kendrick. Miz caused the distraction and Kendrick landed The Kendrick for the win.
WINNERS: Miz, Morrison and Kendrick at 5:36.
-JR and Tazz announced that Jeff Hardy would be back on Smackdown next week.
-We saw clips of Michelle McCool attacking Eve Torres last month. Eve was backstage walking and heading to the ring in what was billed as her first match ever, against Michelle McCool.
[Commercial Break]
-A video package aired on Maryse.
4- EVE TORRES vs. MICHELLE MCCOOL
I guess they figured they had to get Eve in a match so we could hear the theme song of hers they put on the new CD. Michelle toyed with Eve when she backed her into a corner. McCool worked over Eve’s arm and just kicked her around the ring. Hard whip into the buckle by McCool. Michelle missed a charge and Eve got a hip-toss and a waist-lock take-down. Roll-up by Eve for one. Michelle took a break on the outside. Michelle had the referee check her nose, which caused Eve to take her eyes off Michelle, and you know what happens next. McCool took some more punishment to Eve. More work on the back of Eve. She even fish-hooked Eve! Single-leg Boston Crab by Michelle. Eve tripped Michelle and rolled her up for two. Nice elbows and a dropkick by Eve for two. Michelle whipped Eve off the top rope and locked in the Heel Hook for the win.
WINNER: McCool, at 4:40. Eve was 100% better in the ring than I expected. Pretty decent match overall.
Michelle wouldn’t break the hold, so Maria came out and ran Michelle off.
-JR talked to Matt Hardy, who was backstage, and asked about Matt’s thoughts about his brother returning next week. Matt reminded people that he said last week he doesn’t have a brother. He said a lot can happen in seven days, and it would be unfortunate for Jeff to get in another accident. He said if Jeff does return next week, he’ll welcome him with open arms.
[Commercial Break]
-A WrestleMania X video package aired, which focused on Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart.
5- UMAGA vs. KUNG FU NAKI
Funaki tried to get out of the corner, but Umaga superkicked him into next week. Umaga dragged Funaki’s carcass into the corner. Umaga choked him, then did the running butt splash. Umaga gave the thumbs up and it’s almost like he’s got some face tendencies. Samoan Spike, which didn’t look like it connected with the throat, finished Kung Fu Naki.
WINNER: Umaga, at 1:33. An effective squash.
-Triple H was in his locker room, taping himself up for the main event tag coming up tonight.
[Commercial Break]
-The Raw Rebound aired.
-JR and Tazz previewed No Way Out.
-Edge and Big Show came out for the main event match, which is next.
[Commercial Break]
6- EDGE & THE BIG SHOW vs. TRIPLE H & THE UNDERTAKER
Taker and Show started things off and predictably, they started the match exchanging rights and lefts. Taker hit the ropes, but was hit by a Big Show clothesline. HHH and Taker showed some teamwork in their beat-down of the champion, Edge. Edge went for a spear, but HHH lined him up for a Pedigree. Edge escaped under the bottom rope and looked in the ring wide-eyed as the show went to commercial.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, a high knee from HHH led to Edge getting sent to the mat. Vertical suplex by Triple H. Big Show tagged himself in and did some damage on Triple after The Game gave Edge a spinebuster. Big Show landed a few “vile elbows,” according to JR. What per say makes an elbowdrop “vile”? Edge came in and tried to hold the fort down for his team. Show splashed Triple H (showing a lot of light) right in the middle of the ring. Side salto by Big Show got a near-fall. HHH continued getting worn down, but avoided a spear at the last second. Show prevented HHH from making the tag. Tornado DDT out of the corner by Triple H on Show after he avoided a middle rope elbowdrop. Both men made tags and Taker cleaned house. Show choked Taker on the top rope and Edge hit the spear, but Taker turned it into the Hell’s Gate. Show interrupted it by leg-dropping Taker. Taker was able to make the tag and HHH set up for the Pedigree. Show came in and chokeslammed Trips instead. Edge and Big Show then, for some reason, got into a shoving match that ended when Show popped him with a straight right hand. Undertaker made the tag and picked up Edge, Tombstoning him for the win.
WINNERS: Undertaker and Triple H, at 15:32. Not sure why Edge got mad at Big Show there.
