Hey everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. In this week’s blog I shall be discussing Kofi Kingston’s foray into the main event, Hulk Hogan joining TNA and analysing this week’s show. As always please feel free to leave some feedback via the comment board or drop an email to a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com  

First off my apologies I could not get this up yesterday but I was so tired that after I finished my Bragging Rights Review I fell asleep and had to work late today so this was the earliest I could get a decent piece of work up. I know some people are less understanding of this than others but when I was a student I finished at 5 or 6pm every day during the week and had time to answer questions, do research and everything else during the week and then just watch the show on Saturday. Now I work full time and due to a recent promotion at work I am currently working 62 hours, 7 days a week in my day job as well as putting in 2 late night DJ shifts on a Friday and Saturday night. This means I have very limited free time in which to write and have to fit in researching, viewing and watching in the seven or eight hours I have free at the weekend and recently as was the case yesterday I was so exhausted I just fell asleep. However I am working on getting my hours changed at work so I can start earlier in the morning and finish earlier at night which will allow me once again to get everything other than the show review done during the week. Like I have said many times I would never half arse anything I post on WNW. I find out on Wednesday if I can change my hours so hopefully, fingers crossed, things can start returning to normal once again.

On last Monday’s RAW we saw an interesting move from WWE to create new stars. True we have a somewhat stagnant main event for Survivor Series with Triple H once being placed in the main event, albeit this time against DX partner Shawn Michaels as well as John Cena. However Jack Swagger and The Miz have been placed in a heel vs heel feud which should certainly lead to an entertaining and different storyline especially as it seems they are not only vying over the United States Title but also the affections of Eve Torres. The biggest news however was Kofi Kingston’s ascent to the crest of main event status after being placed in a feud with Randy Orton. This is great news for Kofi and I am delighted that WWE have pulled the trigger on pushing one of the most over babyfaces on the roster. Just like Richard, Luke and pretty much everyone else on the IWC I am thrilled WWE dropped the silly Jamaican gimmick and have just let Kofi be himself. He showed on RAW that he is more than capable of cutting a decent and serious promo, something that he was never given a chance to do under the old gimmick. Kofi Kingston is exciting to watch in the ring and incredibly over with the crowd and this feud with Orton could be the turning point in his career. Of course there is always a chance WWE creative may have Orton squash Kofi much as Cena did to The Miz and Triple H did to MVP and Shelton but I am seriously hoping that they learn from their previous mistakes and even if they have Orton go over in the first instance (perhaps in a Team Orton vs Team Kofi Survivor Series Match), have Kofi come back strong and defeat Orton one on one at the following PPV which I believe has now been renamed TLC and as Kofi proved during MITB this year, he knows his way around a ladder or two! I did not watch RAW live but caught it the next day and was excited to see the show for the first time since the draft other than the Legacy vs DX feud. Hopefully this new direction will continue on RAW and guys like Kofi, Swagger and The Miz continue to get the chance to show they are the future and breakout.

So perhaps the biggest wrestling news since Shawn Michaels coming out of retirement in 2002, hell probably even bigger than that, which is of course Hulk Hogan signing a deal with TNA Wrestling. Wow, I can honestly say I never saw this one coming! I am going to be honest, after TNA’s recent youth incentive, at first glance this seemed a step backwards but there is no denying that other than Austin in his heyday, Hulk Hogan is the biggest draw in the history of professional wrestling and just by having him associated with TNA it is going to mean big things for the company. Bischoff and Hogan are going to do great things for TNA, of that I am sure. They will bring the company into the spotlight and provide the marketing and publicity that the company has so far been unable to tap in to. As long as Hogan does not book himself in main event spots and instead focuses on continuing the current direction the company is taking then that is fantastic, Hogan as a weekly on screen personality who works the occasional match against the likes of Sting and Foley would be great, Hulk Hogan and friends as NWO version 3 with Hogan is TNA Champion would not be. Likewise Eric Bischoff will have (should have) learned from his mistakes in WCW and run things differently this time. Bischoff was a creative genius in WCW and is in touch with what wrestling fans want to see from a product, so hopefully with Hogan and Bischoff at the helm TNA can finally step up and become the major competition to WWE it has always wanted to be. There are all sorts of rumours flying around the internet as to names TNA want to bring in, from the downright ridiculous (Austin, Goldberg) to the highly unlikely (Ric Flair, DDP) to the far more likely (RVD, Ken Anderson) Whoever TNA bring in and I do expect them to bring in some big names, it is VITAL that the company does not make the mistakes of WCW and bury its home grown talent in the process. AJ, Joe, Daniels, Beer Money, MCMG etc have all earned their spots and deserve to remain the focus of the company. I really hope TNA do launch a Monday night program to compete with RAW as this could lead to some seriously exciting programming from both WWE and TNA. TNA has made a point to emphasise the fact that they are not PG and hopefully if they start seriously competing with WWE it will force Vince to drop the PG crap and freshen up his stale product. It is exciting to be a wrestling fan right now and I cannot wait to see what goes down on Impact! this week and if/how WWE will adjust their programming. Impact! did a 1.3 rating with some serious competition and had that been a normal week (without the sports) I have read the number would have been more like a 2.5 which is vastly more than either ECW or Smackdown have been doing for a long time. I will be commenting on the WWE/TNA situation every week now as it develops and hopefully both TNA and WWE will both strive to out do each other and deliver cutting edge programming once again! Thank you Hulk Hogan for making wrestling interesting once again!

So on to this week’s Smackdown

Opening Segment: Teddy Long, Chris Jericho and Kane

We see highlights of Batista turning on Rey at Bragging Rights and Teddy Long makes his way to ringside as Todd Grisham and Matt Striker (filling in for JR) welcoming us to the show. Long gets on the mic and congratulates Team Smackdown for winning the 7 on 7 tag team match at Bragging Rights and it proves without a shadow of a doubt that Smackdown is the A Brand in WWE. Long goes on to mention Bragging Rights as well as being a historic night was also a disturbing one with Batista turning on his long time friend Rey Mysterio. Long says that later tonight Batista and Rey will have a heart to heart in the ring and Batista can explain his actions to the WWE Universe. Long moves on to discuss the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship: The Big Show. Long is cut off my Chris Jericho who stalks down to the ring with his tag titles and the Bragging Rights trophy. Jericho gets on the mic but Long cuts him off and says the trophy is property of Smackdown and takes it from him. Jericho gets in Long’s face and tells him to make no mistake, the trophy belongs to Jericho. Jericho says he is the genius that won Bragging Rights for Smackdown. Jericho says he did not do it for Teddy or the fans but for himself as it once again proves he is the best in the world at what he does. Large ‘You Suck’ chant breaks out from the fans as Jericho rips into Long for giving Big Show a title shot saying it was one of the most underhanded and devious decisions Long has ever made. Jericho calls himself the crown jewel of the show and the face of the show and he single handed brought victory to Smackdown and deserves to be world champion. Kane’s music hits and he walks to the ring looking pissed, Kane asks if he heard Jericho correctly when he said he brought Smackdown victory single handed. Kane reminds Jericho he was co captain so the trophy and all the Bragging Rights belong to Kane just as much as Jericho and if anyone deserves a title shot it is Kane. Jericho reminds Kane that it was he who got the winning pinfall at Bragging Rights. Jericho brings up Kane’s less than perfect record against The Undertaker and tells him to forget his delusions of grandeur and he should just be thankful that he had his hand raised in victory thanks to Jericho. Jericho calls himself the hero of Smackdown and the hero of all the germ incubating fans. Jericho tells Kane to turn around and get out of his face. Kane grabs Jericho but Teddy calls him off and tells him he has something to say and begs him to let Jericho go. Long says The Undertaker will defend the title at Survivor Series but if RAW can have a triple threat match so can Smackdown and tells Kane and Jericho that they will have a one on one match later tonight to determine the third member of the triple threat alongside Big Show and The Undertaker.

Chris Considers: Awesome opening segment mainly thanks to the wonderful mic work of Jericho. He is just so good at playing the guy you love to hate. This segment not only built the title match at Survivor Series but also gave us a reason to stay tuned for tonight’s main event. I am a bit confused as to Teddy Long’s current status as he seemed to be playing a heel last week but now is back to being a babyface, bizarre…

Match 1: John Morrison vs Dolph Ziggler

Morrison gets a smaller pop than usual but Striker really talks him up on announce. Dolph gets a tonne of heat and comes out with a mic in hand and mocks Morrison for being the only member of Smackdown to lose his match at Bragging Rights. Morrison questions how Dolph can include himself in any victory speech saying he was dropped from the team so he may be being a little premature, something he is used to according to Maria (how very PG!!!) Dolph looks pissed and enters the ring and the two lock up and Morrison forces Dolph into the corner but the referee makes the break and the two circle in the middle of the ring before locking up once again. Morrison with a waistlock take down but Dolph battles out of a headlock and applies one of his own but Morrison fights free only to run into a shoulder charge from Dolph. Morrison is up and both men leapfrog each other before Dolph does an amazing counter of an arm drag takeover only to get subsequently flapjacked by Morrison. Morrison connects the standing Shooting Star Press for a near fall. Morrison drops Dolph again but Ziggler counters a charge and drops Morrison face first into the turnbuckle, Dolph covers for two before punching and stomping away at Morrison on the mat. Scoop slam from Dolph followed by his high impact elbow drop for a near fall. Headlock from Dolph and the crowd rally behind Morrison whoch battles out only to get dropped into the turnbuckle once again and Dolph follows up with a nice powerslam for another near fall as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Dolph has a Matrix like headlock applied which he turns round before slamming Morrison head first into the mat. Dolph connects with a running blockbuster but it only gets a near fall and Dolph rubs Morrison’s face in the mat. Seated camel clutch from Ziggler which he rolls to the mat and turns it into a headlock and as Morrison battles to his feet Dolph drops strikes and elbows but Morrison is able to hit an back drop before coming back with a flurry of strikes and elbows followed by a pair of clotheslines and a flying leg lariat for a near fall. Morrison looks frustrated and calls for the Moonlight Drive which Dolph tries to counter into a neckbreaker only for Morrison to counter with a backslide for a near fall, nice sequence! Dolph counters and elbow and connects a big powerslam for a near fall and taunts Morrison and attempts the Zig Zag but Morrison counters with a catapult only for Dolph to land on the middle rope and fly back with an axe handle which Morrison ducks and connects the Flying Chuck for a near fall but Dolph gets a foot on the ropes. Morrison calls for Starship Pain but Dolph bails to the outside and Morrison looks to be setting up a corkscrew plancha but sweeps Morrison’s feet out from under him dropping him on the apron and powerslams him into the announce desk. Dolph gets back in the ring and the referee reaches the count of ten and Morrison is counted out.

Result: Dolph Ziggler defeats John Morrison via countout ***

Chris Considers: Very enjoyable opening match here. I know we haveseen these two a few times now but this was very, very good once again. There were some very good counter sequences and solid wrestling. I also enjoyed the promo before the match as Morrison seems to enjoy pushing the PG boundaries as much as possible! Hopefully this will lead to another title shot for Dolph and hopefully he will finally go over and cement himself as a champion on Smackdown!

We see more highlights of Batista decimating Rey Mysterio at Bragging Rights. I am so excited to see Batista as a heel and have been wanting this since 2007!

Backstage Segment: Teddy Long, Vince McMahon & CM Punk

Teddy Long is in his office and Vince walks in and congratulates him for Smackdown winning at Bragging Rights. He tells Long that is he keeps this up he may well be off probation soon. CM Punk storms in and runs down Long for giving Big Show a title shot when he is a member of the RAW roster and then demands to know why Chris Jericho and Kane are facing off against each other for the third spot when it should be Punk’s match as he would be champion if it wasn’t for Scott Armstrong’s poor officiating. Vince cuts in and says he will give Punk exactly what he wants and Punk asks if he is in the main event at Survivor Series to which Vince tells him no but instead he has a match tonight one on one against referee Scott Armstrong. Punk is thrilled and Long looks upset.

Chris Considers: And so CM Punk is officially out of main event contention for the time being. This angle and storyline could have been so very good but it is going down the toilet quickly and Smackdown creative need to come up with something quickly to save it, else risk Punk being stuck in mid card obscurity for the foreseeable future.

Match 2: Beth Phoenix vs Jenny Brooks

It is awesome seeing Beth on Smackdown. Her opponent seems to be a jobber but Matt Striker informs us that Brooks was the only person to defeat Beth in amateur wrestling so perhaps this could be something of a tryout match for Brooks. Beth slams Jenny to the mat and stomps and punches away before connecting a huge punt to the mid section sending Brooks tumbling to the outside. Beth hauls Jenny into the ring and connects a beautiful delayed vertical suplex. Beth connects a back breaker before shoving Jenny into the corner and dragging her back out and Beth drops her with a clothesline. Implant Buster from Beth and it is all over

Result: Beth Phoenix defeats Jenny Brooks via pinfall *

Chris Considers: Whilst this was a squash for Beth, she showed more wrestling ability in this match than many WWE Divas have done in the last six months! I loved how Matt Striker gave this match some back story and the pop for Beth after the match suggests WWE may be forced to turn her face especially if she is facing the despised Michelle McCool

Match 3: Eric Escobar with Vickie Guerrero vs Matt Hardy

Before the match Vickie comes out to heat heels could only dream off. Vickie asks the crowd to excuse her announces that tonight she has come dressed as Princess Vickie Guerrero and she introduces her Prince Charming: Eric Escobar. Matt Hardy gets a great pop and poses to the fans as the match gets underway. HUGE ‘Hardy’ chant as the match gets underway. Escobar hits a shoulder charge dropping Matt but he missed an elbow drop allowing Matt to strike with drop kick sending Escobar into the ropes. Matt hits a running leg drop which he shouts out to the crowd is called the 319 before striking away at Escobar in the corner but Eric comes back with stomps and strikes but after whipping Hardy across the ring he misses a charging clothesline and Matt comes back with a clothesline and a bulldog. Matt heads to the top rope but Eric is up and strikes away before setting up for a superplex but Matt elbows him off and connects a nice moonsault to a pop from the crowd. This gets a near fall for Matt who sells an injured knee after the pin attempt and Eric is straight to work on the knee stomping, kicking and dropping elbows onto the injured limb. Another huge ‘Lets go Hardy’ chant breaks out from the crowd and Matt responds by getting both feet up in the corner dropping Eric to the mat. In a rather awkward looking spot Matt runs into Escobar who hits a scoop slam before taunting Matt who promptly counters another slam with a neck breaker and pins for the three count and victory.

Result: Matt Hardy defeats Eric Escobar via pinfall *

Chris Considers: I do not know what has happened to Eric Escobar, he was so good in FCW but has been absolutely dire so far on Smackdown. I remember a similar thing happened with Kevin Thorne when he debuted as Mordaci and got shell shock. Perhaps that is what is happening here or WWE are making him look like a rookie on purpose, I don’t know but he was awful here once again and to be defeated by a lowly neck breaker says it all. Thankfully Matt is on the right track once again and my rating here is no reflection on his work which is always top notch but Escobar needs to up his game as I cannot see him being given many more chances!

In Ring Segment: Rey Mysterio & Batista

We see a wonderful video package of Batista turning heel which was highlighted by the point in the match Rey cost Batista certain victory. When Batista turned to Rey and said ‘Im gonna rip you head off’ I actually got goose bumps! Rey gets a nice pop and walks to the ring looking dejected. Rey says we all saw what happened at Bragging Rights where Dave Batista beat him down. Rey said as much as this hurt physically it hurt far more inside as he considered Batista his best friend in the world and still does. Rey says at first he was angry about what happened but it is more important to him that Batista being his family. Rey says he owes him the benefit of the doubt and calls Dave to the ring to straighten this out like men and the family that they are. Batista’s music hits and some fans still pop for him although it is mostly boos from the crowd. Batista strolls to the top of the ramp and walks to the ring looking indifferent. Batista asks Rey is he is disappointed he hurt him, Batista said Rey just doesn’t get it and he doesn’t know how bad this is going to get for him. Batista asks Rey who he thinks he is calling him out and Batista is going to be the bigger man and give Rey one opportunity to walk away and out of his ring. Rey goes to walk away but then decides better of it to a pop. Rey said he came out to straighten things out and after everything they have been through they need to sort this. Rey reminds Dave it was a fatal four way match and did he want him not to try and tells him to let it go. Rey tells Batista he is willing to let bygones by bygones and says Batista is like a big brother to him and Rey looks up to him and what they have will last much longer than their careers and after they finish wrestling they will still be family. Batista looks unimpressed and asks Rey what he is thinking, Batista tells Rey he knows what he is thinking and that is he knows what little effort it took Batista to hurt Rey and what is Rey going to do now he doesn’t have Big Dave watching his back and Rey wishes he never stabbed Dave in the back and most of all what is Dave going to do to him if he doesn’t leave this ring right now. Rey says he would have never done what he did (poor English from Rey!) if he knew it was going to interfere with their friendship. Rey says accepting to be a part of that fatal four way was the biggest mistake he ever made. Batista tells Rey he has one last chance to walk away, Rey looks torn and then says he is not leaving and tells Batista to do what he has to do but Rey is not leaving until things have been straightened out. Rey begs Batista to think about everything they have been through and about Eddie. Batista tells Rey that Eddie is dead (huge heat from the fans at this) and he is not thinking about Rey or anyone else other than himself. Batista smiles and leaves the ring leaving Rey looking devastated.

Chris Considers: Wow how much better is Batista in the mic as a heel! As a face he was so flat and monotone and boring but now his character has some edge again he really came to life and seemed like he genuinely didn’t care for Rey in the slightest. The Eddie comment was perhaps in bad taste but I felt it gave Batista even more heat and I cannot wait to see this unfold over the coming weeks! Rey played the part of the innocent victim well here and I cannot commend both men enough for what this achieved in building their upcoming feud. That was the best promo Batista has given since his feud with Undertaker in 2007 hands down.

We see Batista walking backstage and Matt Hardy stops him. Matt says he knows it his not any of his business but he knows how close Rey and Batista were and they were like brothers and if anyone knows about brothers it is Matt and he urges Batista not to make the same mistakes he did when he turned on Jeff. Batista laughs and walks away but as Matt turns to make a phone call, Batista storms back from the door he just left from and hurls Matt into the wall and leaves him prone on the floor. A great way to put Batista over as a heel just that little bit more!

Match 4: Drew McIntyre vs Finlay

Before the match Drew gets on the mic and sarcastically congratulates Team Smackdown on their victory at Bragging Rights. Drew says he never wanted to be on the team in the first place and he intends to make his own impact. Before Finlay even makes it to the ring Drew strikes with a big boot and hurls Finlay into the steps before pounding Finlay again and again on the mat. The referee hauls Drew off and tells him to leave but Drew nails a punt to the skull before surveying his handy work and stalking to the back.

Result: Drew McIntyre vs Finlay ends as a no contest n/a

Chris Considers: Drew just gets better and better. No one has out and out taken it to Finlay like that since JBL during their feud at Wrestlemania 24. Working with Finlay will do wonders for Drew’s career and I look forward to some very stiff and brutal match ups! Great call from WWE Creative putting these two together.

In Ring Segment: Cryme Tyme host a Divas Halloween Contest

Cryme Tyme talk some gangsta and they introduce the divas who don’t even get their own intros. Natalya is dressed as matador, Layla as Michael Jackson ( I would say this was in bad taste but Layla is a well documented huge Jackson fan) Michelle McCool is dressed as the devil and Mickie James as Electra. Cryme Tyme introduce the girls, Shad chases Natalya’s red flag, Layla dances with JTG, Michelle takes a shot at Shad and Mickie prances around with sais. Cryme Tyme ask the crowd who should win, I personally think it was split between Layla and Mickie but Mickie is given the win. After the match things predictably break down into a cat fight. Natalya drops Layla with a clothesline, Mickie takes out Natalya but is subsequently taken out herself by Michelle.

Chris Considers: Well it was shorter than last years Diva Halloween Contest…. At least it sowed seeds for a Mickie vs Michelle feud which will be decent and also suggested Layla may be once again turning face now that Eve has left.

Match 5: CM Punk vs Scott Armstrong

I cannot believe I am actually going to have to sit through this. Punk still draws a tonne of heat on his way to the ring but this may not last if he is continued to be booked like this! Scott Armstrong doesn’t even get generic music as he makes his way to the ring. Punk laughs at Scott and forces him into the corner and screams at him that he would have been a four time champion if Armstrong had done his job. Punk asks Armstrong who he thinks he is and slaps him. Scott has had enough and nails three right hand to Punk’s face that were a hundred times better than Shane McMahon’s ‘ghost punches’ all those months ago! Punk looks furious and drops Armstrong with a huge kick before stomping and kicking away and mocking Scott on the floor. Punk pulls him to his feet and nails a GTS before putting his foot across Armstrong’s throat and pinning him for the victory. Punk continues to mock Armstrong after the match.

Result: CM Punk defeats Scott Armstrong via pinfall n/a

Chris Considers: I am not even giving this a rating. I cannot understand where they are going with this and CM Punk and us fans deserve better than seeing him beat up referees. I wonder what is next? CM Punk vs Teddy Long… garbage!

Main Event: Kane vs Chris Jericho (winner is added to the Heavyweight Championship match at Survivor Series)

The crowd is solidly behind Kane as Jericho immediately bails to the outside. The crowd boo Jericho and he eventually gets back in the ring and slaps Kane before hitting strikes and kicks before trying a cross body but Kane catches Jericho in mid air and hits a scoop slam for an early near fall. Overhead takedown from Kane followed by a low drop kick to the face for another near fall. Jericho comes back with kicks and forces Kane into the corner and connects repeated kicks but Kane comes back with a big boot but misses a splash and Jericho comes back with a low drop kick of his own for a two count. Jericho strike away but Kane calls for the Chokeslam which Jericho counters but doesn’t have the strength to lock in the Walls of Jericho and gets booted to the outside into the announce desk. Kane follows and tosses Jericho back into the ring but as he tries to climb through the ropes Jericho strikes with a kick to the head followed by a charging shoulder block which sends Kane crashing into the security barrier as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Jericho is stomping away in the ring and taunting Kane. Jericho chokes Kane in the corner and is dragged away by the referee. Jericho catapults Kane into the bottom rope and covers for a near fall before applying a seated headlock. The crowd rally behind Kane who powers to his feet and back slams Jericho into the turnbuckle. Jericho gets a boot up and goes for a Bulldog but Kane counters with a sidewalk slam for a near fall and drops Jericho with a series of clotheslines before whipping him across the ring and connecting a charging clothesline in the corner. Another sidewalk slam from Kane earns a near fall and Kane gets Jericho to his feet only for Y2J to connect with a step up enzuguri which sends Kane rolling to the outside. As Kane climbs through the ropes Jericho tries a springboard axe handle but Kane catches Jericho for a Chokeslam only for Jericho to elbow his way free. Jericho runs straight into a big boot which earns Kane another near fall but as Kane attempts a third sidewalk slam Jericho flips out of the move and hits a Codebreaker out of nowhere but it is only good for a near fall as Jericho is slow making the cover. Jericho kicks away and connects a Bulldog followed by a Lionsault but Kane catches Jericho as he lands and pulls him up before nailing a Chokeslam but it sends Jericho rolling to the outside. Kane struggles to his feet and tosses Jericho back in the ring and pins for a near fall. Kane is furious and hauls Jericho to his feet but as he goes for a scoop slam Jericho flips out of the move once again and shoves Kane into the turnbuckle before hitting a chop block and this time Y2J gets the Walls of Jericho locked in. Kane refuses to give in and makes it to the ropes and Jericho breaks the hold. Kane drops Jericho with a massive uppercut and heads to the top rope but Jericho gets to his feet and crotches Kane onto the top rope and sets up for a superplex but Kane headbutts him off and flies off the top rope with an axe handle but Jericho connects an awesome looking mid air Codebreaker for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Chris Jericho defeats Kane via pinfall to become a member of the Triple Threat match at Survivor Series ***

Chris Considers: This was a very good match that showcased some excellent ring work from both men. I liked how Jericho learned from his mistake in this one and after getting caught twice in a sidewalk slam he was able to counter it the third time. Kane looked good here and I do wonder what is next for him. Perhaps we will get a Brothers of Destruction vs Jeri-Show tag match in the coming weeks! I am pleased Jericho qualified as I certainly could not have handled seeing a triple threat between Taker, Show and Kane. The thought of Taker vs Show was bad enough but thankfully Jericho will save this match and make it fresh! Great main event to top off a hit and miss show.

First off I would like to say what a great job Matt Striker did on commentary tonight. His knowledge and random factoids added so much to the matches and it gave perhaps the best indication yet that it is only a matter of time before he is promoted to one of the big shows. I would love to see him work alongside JR! This was something of a mixed show, Eric Escobar was once again appalling, CM Punk showed that his main event run is at an end for now and he is reduced to wrestling referees whilst the divas had ANOTHER Halloween contest although at least this one built some potential rivalries. On the flip side Jericho and Long got the show off to a great start with a wonderful opening promo. Drew McIntyre continues to show both promise and savagery and I cannot wait to see him get in the ring with Finlay. Morrison and Dolph Ziggler had a great opening match that was something different to what we have seen from them before and hopefully we will get one more pay per view match from them. Jericho and Kane had a very well wrestled and entertaining main event but the highlight for me was Batista as a heel on the mic, I will never rate Dave as a wrestler but tonight he had me more interested in his character than I have been since 2005 during his feud with Triple H and he deserves major credit for that. Matt Hardy vs Batista has been announced for next week and that should be a good match!

This week’s match of the night was Chris Jericho vs Kane and the show scores a good if not spectacular 7.5/10

That’s all for this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown, As I mentioned earlier I have asked my boss to try and rearrange my hours from now on so I can devote more time in the week to my writing here on WNW so lets hope this happens. I hope you all have a great week! As always you can email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks  or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks  I would love to hear from you!

Here are ten points to consider coming out of this week’s show
• Chris Jericho has really upped his game recently as people were starting to cheer him and I think he picked up on this and has gone that extra mile to get over as a heel even more. The best in the world at what he does? You better believe it!
• I love how Morrison constantly pushes things with his promos, his premature comment to Dolph was priceless
• I really enjoyed Dolph vs Morrison and hope we get one more match with Dolph finally winning that illusive Intercontinental Championship!
• I really enjoyed how Matt Striker made Beth vs Jenny significant with his factoids about their past, otherwise this would have just been any old squash
• I don’t know why Eric Escobar is wrestling SO badly on Smackdown, the guy is uber talented, maybe WWE are making him look bad on purpose so he will increasingly need Vickie’s help which will in the end get him over more as a heel but then never considered a legitimate threat until they let him show what he can really do
• That was the best Batista promo I can remember in a long time! There is something so much more interesting about his character as a heel and he comes across as genuinely menacing. I am excited to see where both he and Rey go over the coming weeks
• Drew McIntye is going to have a HUGE future, hopefully next week he will get a proper match with Finlay which would be stiff and well worked by both!
• The ONLY good thing to come from that Diva’s Halloween contest was that is has sown the seeds for Mickie vs Michelle which would be awesome but I hope Beth is also added to the mix, now that could be the best Women’s match in YEARS (in WWE obviously)
• I cannot fathom why CM Punk has been dropped down the card and is now facing referees. He was the hottest property in WWE throughout the Summer but is being chronically misused at the minute
• So the two top tag teams in WWE are involved in separate main events? In my mind this is an opportunity missed for a good tag team match between DX and Jeri-Show but at least it is not just Cena vs Triple H and Big Show vs Undertaker AGAIN!

My top ten matches of the year so far in WWE

1: The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania – April 5th 2009
2: Legacy vs DeGeneration X – Breaking Point – September 13th 2009
3: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Smackdown – August 28th 2009
4: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – The Bash – June 28th 2009
5: Rey Mysterio vs John Morrison – Smackdown – August 4th 2009
6: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam – August 23rd 2009
7: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Smackdown – July 10th 2009
8: Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison – Smackdown – July 31st 2009
9: John Cena vs Randy Orton – Bragging Rights – October 25th 2009
10: John Morrison vs CM Punk – Smackdown – June 26th 2009

Smackdown Power 10

1: The Undertaker
2: Chris Jericho (+5)
3: Batista (+1)
4: CM Punk (-3)
5: Rey Mysterio (-2)
6: John Morrison (-1)
7: Dolph Ziggler (-1)
8: Kane
9: Drew McIntyre
10: Matt Hardy (NE)

Watch any WWE programming you miss at www.Dailymotion.com  , your online source for TV shows!

Hey everyone and welcome to another edition of Chris Considers. This time examining the latest WWE pay per view offering Breaking Point. Due to some very unfortunate and extremely unpleasant personal circumstances I was unable to watch the show live but managed to catch it online a few days after the event.

Before I take a look a look at the matches I would like to say that once again I did horribly with my predictions. I have really sucked for the last couple of shows but hopefully will be able to turn this around at Survivor Series. However when I am wrong it usually means the show was good and pretty unpredictable which was certainly the case here! So let’s take a look at the matches

Interbrand Champion vs Champion Match: Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs United States Champion The Miz

The only two things that really hurt this match were the fact it was only given little over ten minutes and the kind of anti climatic finish. Other than that I have no complaints. Morrison and Miz went out and put on the best display they could in the time they were given. I was impressed with Miz countering and evading Morrison’s high impact offence and it was clear these two knew each other inside out. I liked the story that they told with Miz just waiting for the opportune moment to take advantage which he did at certain points in the match, however the finish was just lame with Miz preventing Morrison from hitting Starship Pain by pushing him from the rope and getting the pin. We have all seen Morrison kick out from far more than this on Smackdown and Superstars and I felt this put a downer on what had been a very bright opener. Miz going over actually makes sense now I think about it as it was essential to help the continuing rebuilding of his character going after being buried twice by John Cena and the loss does not really hurt John Morrison in the long run. I hope this is not the last time we see these two go at it, in fact I would love to see a Team Morrison vs Team Miz traditional Survivor Series match to help even the odds.

Chris’ Star Rating: ***

Smackdown vs RAW Diva Tag Match: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly) vs Team Smackdown (Natalya, Michelle McCool & Beth Phoenix)

To say this was the best diva match of the year would be an understatement, but it still wasn’t half as good as what the Knockouts are doing in TNA right now. I really enjoyed the exchanges between Beth and Gail and it is a shame that they were never given the chance to feud properly on RAW. However I would now turn Beth face and have her chase Michelle McCool’s title on Smackdown. Michelle copying AJ Styles ring gear seemed a little bizarre, in fact if we didn’t all know she was dating Undertaker, I am sure rumours would be flying round the net about her and AJ! It does make her look pretty stupid and arrogant though! I will say one thing and that is no one jumps on Beth’s back for using the Implant Buster even though Awesome Kong uses that, whereas everyone is always all over Michelle for using the Styles Clash. The only reason I picked Team RAW to go over was because I thought Morrison would beat the Miz and I knew they would be tied heading into the seven on seven tag match. Unfortunately I got them the wrong way around! Hopefully this will be the start of something of a turn around for the WWE Divas Division and hopefully they will get more pay per view opportunities to show what they can do

Chris’ Star Rating: **

Fatal Four Way Match For The World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker © vs Batista vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

The fact that the World Heavyweight title match once again took second stage to DX irritated me no end, but I guess the 7 on 7 tag match had been built much better than this one so perhaps that is why they chose to do things this way. This match started off at a very fast paced and really got the crowd fired up. I really enjoyed how CM Punk kept breaking up pin attempts and trying to sneak the victory for himself. This was a solid if not spectacular match with he main story being Batista turning on Rey after Rey broke up a certain victory pin for The Animal. I LOVE the fact that Batista turned on Rey as it made all the Bromance stuff that had come before in the last couple of weeks significant and no doubt we will see this intercut with the beatdown footage leading into their inevitable match. Batista was long over due a heel turn as his face character had become stale and boring in 2007, let alone 2009! I am excited to see Batista as a heel and really think this could be the momentum changing moment in his career that makes him enjoyable again. I was surprised Undertaker retained due to his physical shape but it made sense considering what was announced on RAW this past Monday. I do question where all of this leaves CM Punk as he has gone from the hottest heel in WWE to a possible mid card role for the next few months whilst the big guns feud over the title. Perhaps he could be co-captain of Team Miz against Team Morrison at Survivor Series (if it happens)

Chris’ Star Rating: ***

7 Man Interbrand Tag Match: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry) vs Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

I can honestly say that I never saw Team Smackdown going over here! I mean it was pretty obvious that Big Show would be turning but I did not expect that to influence the outcome of the match as I felt sure DX would overcome him setting up a DX vs Jeri-Show tag match at Survivor Series. However WWE Creative have clearly decided to go a different route and booked ANOTHER Big Show vs Undertaker match which should be just as “entertaining” as their last ten encounters! As well as DX vs Cena in a triple threat which may well see their break up. Who knows, anyway back to this match, I thought this went down a lot better than I was expecting it to do and was not the clusterfuck I was fearing it would be. I thought the Hart Dynasty were very good during their involvement as well as Matt Hardy, who put on a very good show despite his chronic misuse recently on Smackdown! HBK did a great job selling Team Smackdown’s offence especially during his exchanges with Finlay. Overall this was a good match and an enjoyable one. I still find it a strange decision to hold a match like this the month before Survivor Series but there you go! Kofi getting pinned obviously did not hurt him as he has now rocketed right up the card due to the excellent angle with Legacy this past Monday on RAW.

Chris’ Star Rating: ***

Iron Man Match For The WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

This was the match many of us were expecting to be an epic fail but luckily Orton and Cena went out there and delivered something very unique and very entertaining. The fact this was made into a Falls Count Anywhere, Anything Goes stipulation match certainly made a difference and we saw some very entertaining and unique spots, especially the pyro sequence which was particularly awesome to watch! Cena winning was pretty predictable as was him being a couple of falls down towards the end of the match and coming back to overcome the odds. However the crowd were really into this from start to finish and this was exactly what was needed to finally end this long running feud. The spot where Cena gave the FU on steps sending Orton through the announce desk was particularly memorable. I would never want to see another Iron Man match between these two and hopefully they will not wrestle one another for at least three or four years! Also we actually got to see some blood which was fresh and different and I loved how Cena kept resisting the medical attention and continued to try and punish Orton further as it made for a very realistic feel to the match. This was not a wrestling classic as much of the action and big spots were built around foreign objects but I cannot honestly remember a better all out brawl in recent memory and major props to both Cena and Orton for going out and delivering not only their best match in recent memory but a match that was far better than any of us were expecting to see!

Chris’ Star Rating: ****1/2

Overall then despite the fact that there were only five matches on the Bragging Rights card it was still an excellent pay per view. Every match on the card delivered and unlike HIAC, the booking here was logical and enjoyable. After TNA delivered big time with Bound For Glory, WWE needed to put on a great show here and they did just that. This was certainly one of the better of WWE’s theme pay per views and a vast improvement on Cyber Sunday and I hope Bragging Rights is a tradition that continues for a few years as I am always happy to see some interbrand warfare. I highly recommend picking this one up on DVD when it is released as it is one of WWE’s better pay per views of the year so far!

Chris’ Overall Ratting For WWE Bragging Rights: ***1/2

I shall be back later on today with more Chris Review Smackdown as always email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks  or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks  I would love to hear from you!

Hello people who read prediction blogs it is I, Paul Smith alongside once again the man from the Blue Blog, Chris Jacks, for another slice of Talent Exchange pie. This time we have another first time ever to follow Hell in a Cell, as we get the inaugural ‘Bragging Rights’. Now, can this show beat Cyber Sunday, traditionally one of the worst WWE shows over the year that has previously only rivalled The Great American Bash in terms of mediocrity? In all honesty the card here doesn’t look fantastic and neither does the fact that over 33% of this PPV (1 hour plus video packages and entrances of a 2hr45min show) is taken up by two wrestlers who I generally find exceptionally boring to watch, in Randy Orton and John Cena Anyway, I as ever will be watching and below you will find my take on what could happen on tonight’s show.

Hey everyone and welcome to another fully loaded edition of the Talent Exchange, this time taking a look at the all new WWE pay per view: Bragging Rights. This pay per view replaces Cyber Sunday, which is certainly not a bad thing as Cyber Sunday was usually a horrible pay per view, remember Batista beating Jericho for the title last year in one of the most over booked matches ever?… anyway whilst there are only 5 matches on the card tonight I am expecting them all to deliver. Sadly the cable in the hotel I am staying at during my cousins wedding does not have Sky Sports, so even though this would usually be a free pay per view here in the UK, if I want to watch it live I am going to have to shell out $40 for the WWE web stream! Nice to see ECW is once again being completely ignored on this show! Yoshi vs Christian would have been a great addition to the card but sadly we have to wait till Tuesday for that one! Anyway lets get on with our picks!

Paul Predicts: Interbrand Champion vs Champion Match: Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs United States Champion The Miz

The Miz may think he is awesome but he has nothing on us as if you look back to The Talent Exchange from HIAC, you would see that both Chris and I predicted this match would occur. I think this match all ties nicely together with them being former partners on opposing show with the midcard title equivalents around their waists; it makes a very nice fit. Miz has improved beyond all recognition in the last couple of years and Morrison has been awesome for the last three or four, so this should be a very good singles match, and it’s a shame we’ve had to wait so long to get it, but at least both guys have had chance to establish themselves on their separate brands. If this was going to go longer as a feud I would give this to Miz but I suspect that this will be it for now, and as such I’m going for a John Morrison victory, possibly by DQ or count out or something stupid like that, to protect both guys.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Morrison

Chris Predicts: Interbrand Champion vs Champion Match: Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs United States Champion The Miz

This is the match I have wanted to see ever since Morrison and Miz were split up in this year’s draft. Since then Morrison has turned babyface, become the biggest rising star in WWE and had the best TV match of the year with Rey Mysterio, whilst after initially being buried by John Cena, The Miz has come back strong with some excellent performances culminating in his US title win on RAW. This match could well be a vision of a future Wrestlemania main event and I am as excited to see this as I was to see Triple H vs The Rock in their ladder match at Summerslam 1998. As long as this match is given a good twenty minutes it could easily steal the show. If I do end up ordering the WWE Web Stream it will be because of this match. As for a winner I am going to have to go with Morrison as he has been on such a roll recently I do not see it ending here, but even with a Morrison win I am sure the Miz will come out of this looking great as well!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Morrison

Paul Predicts: Smackdown vs RAW Diva Tag Match: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly) vs Team Smackdown (Natalya, Michelle McCool & Beth Phoenix)

If they’re gonna put the divas on PPV at least having four of the best workers they have in the match makes it a whole lot better than it would be. I think the Divas trade has worked well as before Melina and McCool were stuck in an endless feud on Smackdown but now with Beth and Mickie there, we look to be getting somewhere as far as actual stories go. I’m also certain we’re going to move somewhere into beginning those stories with this match and I think that some bickering on the Smackdown team will lead to the RAW ladies getting the victory, also tying up the best out of three RAW vs Smackdown series they have going on the show. What I do fear is that this won’t get enough time and will end up messy and stupid because they’ll have to get their stuff in in about three minutes.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly)

Chris Predicts: Smackdown vs RAW Diva Tag Match: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly) vs Team Smackdown (Natalya, Michelle McCool & Beth Phoenix)

Kelly Kelly aside these are five of best wrestling divas in WWE and perhaps the world especially Gail, Natalya and Beth. I am actually really excited to see this match as it could be the first time Gail Kim is unleashed and allowed to show the amazing skill she showed in TNA. This match hasn’t been built particularly well and there is some slight dissention in Team Smackdown, with Beth making it clear she has her sights set on the Women’s Championship. How good this match ends up being largely depends on how much time it is given. With Cena and Orton taking up a third of the card I am worried both this match and Miz vs Morrison may be treated as something of an afterthought but hopefully that wont happen. This could be WWE’s strongest diva match of the year but could also be just as bad as the diva tag match from Survivor Series last year (the one where the divas just rushed into the ring hit their finisher and were tossed out) I hope it is the former and we see some outstanding female wrestling action to try and restore some pride in their division! As for a winner I would say Team Smackdown is a far superior wrestling team but the fact is this would give Smackdown the overall Bragging Rights from winning two out of three matches and we all know how much Vince prefers RAW and how small of a priority Smackdown is too him. My head says team Smackdown but my gut says Team RAW so I am going with RAW here.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly)

Paul Predicts: 7 Man Interbrand Tag Match: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry) vs Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

Chris gave me the one word that sums this one up for me when I look at it in his prediction: CLUSTERFUCK. There is no way that this is going to be a cohesive match, especially when it probably won’t get a whole load of time due to the Ironman, and especially when Team Smackdown changing two days before means that they pretty much look really stupid. I also have to say this is stupid when they could do this exact same thing at Survivor Series which is based around big multiman tag matches. Due to the nature of this match, I can’t really see it being of any real quality, but if you like seeing lots of stars and sort of stars in a match, then this one could be for you. I personally think that something will go down with Big Show screwing Team RAW and giving the match to Smackdown, to set up DX vs Jerishow for the titles either at Survivor Series or the next show if they choose to extend the feud into a Survivor Series match before doing the title shot. I think your Finlays and R-Truths and probably even Matt Hardys are only in there because they for some inexplicable reason did a four way for the Smackdown title, taking out three of the top talent you could have put in the team to give it some star power. Anyway, I look to The Hart Dynasty to make a name for themselves in their PPV debut, and overall I think Team Smackdown takes this one, but not because they are necessarily the better team.

Paul Predicted Winner: Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

Chris Predicts: 7 Man Interbrand Tag Match: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry) vs Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

I actually have my own theory as to why Team Smackdown was changed for this match. Ziggler is a huge star on the rise and McIntyre and Escobar are two new stars WWE have high hopes for so they did not want to feed them to DX in this match whereas they are more than happy to job out the likes of Finlay, R-Truth and sadly Matt Hardy. Despite the wealth of talent present here I fear this match may turn into a bit of a clusterfuck as there will no doubt be so much interference and brawling outside the ring that it may be hard to keep track of what is going on inside the ring! I do see Big Show turning on his team but I still do not see it as enough to stop Team RAW emerging victorious here as I cannot believe that Triple H would be happy to put the likes of Hardy and Finlay over on ppv. Hell we all remember what he has done to Jericho pretty much every time he steps in a ring with him! The teams may break down and squabble amongst themselves but hopefully there will be enough decent in ring action to make this one worth watching. I am delighted the Hart Dynasty are on PPV and I am looking for a very strong showing from them! I also fully expect DX to get the winning pin with the old superkick, pedigree combination.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry

Paul Predicts: Fatal Four Way Match For The World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker © vs Batista vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

Okay so Undertaker’s challengers are a guy he’s beaten twice in title matches successively and only lost the first one due to a screwjob and then two guys coming in off time out, whose only PPV appearance has been not winning the tag team titles. Zuh? Not only that but this match hasn’t even got a story with Batista and Rey barely interacting with Punk or Undertaker outside of the Punk/Tista match a couple of weeks back. This is two separate stories being thrown together for no real reason. I think that in this match Batista turns on Rey, goes heel and sets up that program, but I do not think that that will be a title feud. Where I think this match will actually go depends on Taker’s MRI he was reported to have earlier this week. I think that either Taker can just retain or there will be a big ruckus following Batista’s heel turn and that Punk will sneak in for a fluke pin. Personally, with Taker looking weak and him being put in a four way so he doesn’t have to take the fall (or more specifically so that Rey can) I’m going to go for the former. I also think that it would be reasonable to do Rey taking the fall for Batista, but I am going to bet against that, this time round.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: CM Punk (new World Heavyweight Champion)

Chris Predicts: Fatal Four Way Match For The World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker © vs Batista vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

This match has not been built very well at all. Batista and Rey were added to the mix for no real reason and have spent the last few weeks sucking up to each other on Smackdown. Undertaker and Punk have continued their issues which were further advanced with their excellent match on this week’s Smackdown. With Long, Armstrong, Punk and Vince all trying to screw The Undertaker I am not sure he will be keeping hold of his belt here, especially since he is in such terrible physical shape. Putting the belt back on CM Punk makes no sense to me, seeing as he only lost it a month ago but WWE Creative have shown no sense with booking recently so perhaps this is not as far fetched as it sounds. Another possibility, albeit an unlikely one, is Batista turning on Rey and pinning him for the win, setting up Batista vs Rey for the title for a few months, whilst Punk and co continue their feud with Undertaker separately. With all the ‘Bromance’ and sucking up Rey and Batista have been doing recently I am really sensing some kind of swerve else all that mushy crap would have been for nothing. The more I think about it the more I see Batista leaving as champion after turning on Rey, as much as I don’t want to see it!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Batista (new World Heavyweight Champion)

Paul Predicts: Iron Man Match For The WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

Out of all the wrestlers they have, Randy Orton is a guy I can barely stand for one minute in the ring, nevermind an hour. He can put in a decent match character wise very occasionally, but in an Ironman match, you have to be able to wrestle. Something neither Orton nor Cena can do for a sustained period of this length. The only consolation is that this is allegedly the last encounter between these two and if that is the case I don’t know whether seeing them fight for an hour is a bullet I’m willing to take. Of course there is always the Cena leaves RAW if he loses thing which makes this somewhat interesting, as they would have to give away the title again to keep him in it. I don’t know where to go here, but my thoughts are that WWE reasons that Cena = Ratings, and since they are losing people in key demographics such as 18-34 y/o males to Monday Night Football and that they have been beaten one week by The Ultimate Fighter, I have to reason that Cena takes this one, likely from a 2 or 3 fall deficit, that Superman himself will have to overcome in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Cena (new WWE Champion)

Chris Predicts: Iron Man Match For The WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

Whoever wins, we loose! Of all the wrestlers on the current roster there are perhaps four or five I would want to watch wrestle for an hour and none of those are John Cena or Randy Orton. This match has been built well with some good work from both Cena and Orton on RAW, props especially to Cena for making it look like last Monday’s clash with Triple H was his last match for the brand. However I do not agree that it is THE rivalry in WWE, both Jericho vs Mysterio and Punk vs Hardy were better in my opinion. I am not looking forward to seeing this, Orton is an excellent heel and plays his role well but he is SO SLOW and BORING to watch in the ring that sometimes I feel it is like watching a match in slow motion. Endless stomps, chin locks, head locks and staring at Cena when he is down is a recipe for a very boring match. Then of course Cena has one of stalest move sets in the company! These two need to do something very different here in order for this match to be entertaining or a success. I think Orton may take an early advantage here and maybe get a one or two falls on Cena but of course there is no way WWE would EVER put Cena on Smackdown or ECW so of course Super Cena will battle back and overcome the odds once again. I think Ted DiBiase could well get involved at some point during this match, perhaps coming down to save Orton but accidentally cost him the title leading to some serious vengeance on RAW next week. This match will almost certainly close the show and could well send all of us British viewers to sleep if it is too slow and boring. However I am really hoping Cena and Orton go out and blow us all away with a fantastic match that will FINALLY put an end to this rivalry once and for all. I think they should have had a loser leaves the brand stipulation just so these two do not meet again for years to come!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Cena (new WWE Champion)

Hopefully I can continue my strong showing from Hell in a Cell, but really who knows. With this show not looking particularly amazing, the best I can hope for is that this is bearable and that the matches that look decent actually really deliver. Until next time I have been Paul Smith, and I will see you on Wednesday to see how Yoshi Tatsu does in his quest to become ECW Champion.

Well there you have it, another bunch of predictions. Hopefully I will do a bit better this time round than at Breaking Point! Whilst there are only five matches on the card I do not look for anything else to be added here as Cena vs Orton is going on for so long. I hope you all have a great week and I shall be back next weekend with Chris Reviews Smackdown!

Hey everyone and welcome to a special edition of Chris Reviews ECW. As I mentioned in last week’s Smackdown Blog, I am away at a family wedding this weekend so Paul is kindly filling in for me once again. In this blog I shall be discussing Nigel McGuiness in TNA (without spoiling Impact!) and analysing ECW. Please read and be sure to leave some feedback via the comment board.

First off I would like to take a moment to wish Luke Parks all the best in the future. Luke will certainly be missed here at WNW as his witty and insightful analysis is always a quality read, some people say he has been too negative, but RAW since the draft this year has sucked pure and simple and had myself or Paul been reviewing RAW we probably would have been far more critical and negative. Before working for Wrestling News World, I used to really look forward to breakfast on Tuesday mornings when I would religiously read RAW is blogged and this is a tradition I still have today! I have already received a number of emails asking if I will apply to review RAW after Luke finishes up at the end of the year and to be honest it will entirely depend on the quality of the show. Right now I would not want to review RAW, simply because there is so little I actually enjoy about the show and I would never want to be in a position where I was constantly hating on the show I was writing about, which I certainly would be with the current product. If RAW creative steps up their game by the end of the year, freshens up the main event picture, drops the horrible slapstick comedy and has decent length wrestling matches I will consider asking Richard if I can take over with RAW but if the show remains as it is now I will not.

I picked up 12 Rounds on DVD the other day as it was released here in the UK last week. Ill be honest I actually really enjoyed the movie, Cena was convincing as Danny Fisher whilst Aiden Gillen is an excellent menacing villain. I love action movies with guys like Steven Segal, Jean Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis so 12 Rounds was right up my street. The action was almost non stop and the film, although having a similar plot to The Marine, was as my girlfriend put it ‘like the Marine on acid’ There is also an awesome twist towards the end of the film that you really do not see coming and when you watch through again you notice so many things that you did not the first time. If you like action films then you will love 12 Rounds, if you don’t you will hate it. I would certainly have no problem recommending it and will be checking out John Cena’s commentary version of the film once I have finished writing this blog.

On the subject of Cena, I really enjoyed his match with Triple H on RAW the other night and I thought Cena did a great job with selling that this really could be his last match on RAW. Whilst I fully expect Cena to defeat Orton (with a little help from DiBiase) at Bragging Rights, this latest instalment in Cena vs Orton has been done pretty well and at least has us believing that there is a chance Cena might not win and end up on Smackdown or EC…(like that would happen!) Triple H and Cena always deliver in matches against one another and this was one of the best one on one matches on RAW so far this year. I recommend checking it out.

Ok lets talk some TNA, I would like to take a moment to talk about the sudden and shock news that TNA swooped in under WWE’s noses and signed Nigel McGuiness. Now whilst nothing has been confirmed for sure yet (as in, it hasn’t been posted here on WNW) I have read plenty of rumours stating that WWE were dragging their heels on the deal and taking too long to send Nigel his contract so TNA jumped in and snapped him up. Now this is a HUGE coup for TNA as McGuiness is one of the best workers in the world and will no doubt become a household name through his work for the promotion. I mean upon debuting he has been put in just about the biggest feud possible in the company, besides challenging straight for the title. (I am not going to spoil it for people you do not read the Impact spoilers) My one complaint is McGuiness is now going under the rather ridiculous moniker of Desmond Wolfe. I would argue that Nigel McGuiness has become a name in his own right and is probably the most recognisable independent worker in the world other than Bryan Danielson. McGuiness is bigger now than CM Punk, Homicide, AJ Styles, Joe or Chris Daniels were when they left ROH and deserves to wrestle under his own name yet he has been saddled with this STUPID name. Nigel McGuiness is recognisable to wrestling fans as such and this just makes TNA look incredibly STUPID. It seems to always be the way with TNA in that they do something so right and then so very wrong straight after it. I urge all wrestling fans to bombard Borash and the TNA message boards and Twitter pages expressing just how dumb renaming one of the biggest names in professional wrestling is and how TNA should let McGuiness use his actual ring name rather than Desmond Wolfe! There are several things I want to talk about coming out of this week’s impact tapings but I shall discuss them next week when I review Smackdown so I do not spoil it for anyone.

Ok on to this week’s ECW

We immediately open the show with Abraham Washington announcing he is hosting the show and cracks some black jokes once again and is interrupted by Chris Jericho who gets a mixed reaction. Jericho asks where the general managers office is and Washington tells him it is down the hall. Abraham tells Chris he would love him to be a guest on the show sometime and Jericho tells him he is sure he would before walking off. Atlas helpfully tells us he thinks that was a no.

Number One Contenders Match For The ECW Championship: Yoshi Tatsu vs Zak Ryder

Matthews and Striker welcome us to the show and the new ring announcer Lauren announces this is a number one contenders match for the ECW title. Yoshi is out first to his hideous music and gets a small pop whereas The Man Zack Ryder draws some heat during his cocky entrance. The two lock up and Zack nails a quick arm drag takeover ‘Woo Woo Woo’ from Zack and the crowd join in! A schoolboy from Zack gets an early one count but Yoshi fights back with a drop toe hold and a roll up for a one count as an enormous ‘Yoshi’ chant breaks out from the crowd. Zack taunts Yoshi and strikes away dropping him to the mat before whipping him to the turnbuckle but Yoshi leapfrogs Ryder and hits a pair of innovative arm drag take downs before hitting a standing drop kick for a near fall. Yoshi tries for a double underhook move but Zack powers him into the air and drops him on to the ropes. Baseball slide from Ryder sends Yoshi to the outside and Zack follows him out and tosses him back into the ring and scores a near fall. Zack arrogantly stomps away and drops a knee before charging Yoshi into the corner and chocking him with his leg. Scoop slam from Ryder and he then begins to work over Yoshi’s arm before hitting a stiff kick to the ribs and applying a body scissors submission hold. Yoshi elbows free and counters with a jack knife for a near fall. Zack is immediately back on the offence though and charges Yoshi in the corner and drops some shoulders but Yoshi evades the third charge and connects his roaring elbow dropping both men to the mat. Zack is up first but Yoshi nails a series of stiff kicks and connects a big running knee before an enzuguri for a near fall. Yoshi fires up the crowd and heads to the top rope but Zack is quickly there only to get crotched and both men tumble to the outside as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Ryder has a seated abdominal stretch applied. Yoshi powers to his feet and elbows free before dropping to the mat and nailing a kick to Zack’s face. Yoshi continues to sweep and kick Zack from the mat before nailing some chops and a back body drop before catapulting Zack into the turnbuckle and connecting a big running double knee to the back. Yoshi connects with a beautiful rolling pin attempt but it is only good for a near fall. Drop kick from Yoshi gets another near fall followed by a school boy for another two. Yoshi applies a hammerlock but Zack comes back with strikes and kicks and tries to toss Yoshi out of the ring but he lands on the apron nails a roundhouse kick to the head and hits a springboard splash for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Yoshi Tatsu defeats Zack Ryder to become the number one contender for the ECW Championship **3/4

Chris Considers: Very enjoyable opener here with both men looking very impressive. Yoshi Tatsu is a star on the rise and it is amazing how over he has gotten with so little exposure. Zack Ryder is still The Man and this loss does not hurt him in the slightest. I think a Yoshi vs Christian title match will be very exciting and innovative and I cannot wait to see it!

Rosa is backstage with Tiffany telling her how excited she is to be part of ECW. She is interrupted by Chris Jericho and Tiffany asks him what he is doing here. Jericho says like any good general he is looking to improve his army and is here scouting talent from ECW to see if any are good enough to become a part of team Smackdown. Tiffany tells him that he cannot just barge in and cherry pick ECW talent and refuses to let him recruit any of her talent. She tells Chris he is welcome to stay and watch the show and he looks disgusted and walks away.

We see Regal and the Roundtable discussing Yoshi’s title shot before Jericho interrupts. Jericho and Regal exchange pleasantries. Jericho runs down Tiffany and Regal agrees saying that Tiffany only thinks she calls the shots. Jericho tells Regal he would rather have Jackson and Kozlov on his team than Cryme Tyme but Tiffany interrupts and demands to know what is going on. She says due to Regal’s continued disrespect that is exactly why he is on the outside looking in at the ECW Championship Picture. Tiffany tells Jericho he is no longer welcome and asks him to leave. Jericho tells Tiffany he is sick of her attitude and as one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions he can go to any show he chooses and do whatever he wants. Tiffany agree and says rather than just watch the action he has just earned himself a match against the best ECW has to offer: The ECW Champion Christian!

Chris Considers: Tiffany is appalling as ever on the mic but Jericho more than made up for it. Jericho vs Christian = awesome! I am so happy I got to cover this show!

Match 2: Sheamus vs JT Quinn

I still prefer Sheamus’ FCW theme but since his music has been remixed it is slightly better. Sheamus quickly forces Quinn in to the corner and hits some big knees before dragging him in to the centre of the ring and hitting another huge knee. Running kick from Sheamus drops Quinn and he pins him only to drag his head up at the last moment and indicate the punishment will continue. Sheamus drags Quinn to his feet and hits his Uranage Back Breaker but once again will not pin for victory. At this point Shelton Benjamin hits the ring and the crowd erupt. The two engage in a slug fest and Shelton sends Sheamus tumbling to the outside but is quick to follow and continue the beating before rolling him back in the ring and connecting a nice German Suplex sending the Irishman rolling from the ring. Shelton rips his shirt off and tells Sheamus to bring it but he backs up the ramp in retreat.

Result: Sheamus defeats JT Quinn via disqualification ¾*

Chris Considers: This squash achieved exactly what it set out to in that it put Sheamus over as a truly wicked heel that likes to punish his opponent and furthered things between Sheamus and Shelton. I cannot wait to see a match between these two! Shelton has impressed me how he has gotten over as a babyface and it should mean he wrestles to his full potential once again!

We get the John Cena vs Randy Orton feud recapped with a very long video which was very well done. If this was anyone other than these two I would be excited to see this match but Orton wrestles such a slow methodical style I seriously think he will send me to sleep and Cena better bring his A Game and hit more than the usual 5 moves over and over again in this one!

In Ring Segment: Paul Burchill, Katie-Lea Burchill and The Hurricane

Katie-Lea is seriously hot! Burchill gets on the mic and talks about Helms has been pretending for years that he is something he is not and he has been adulated as a hero for it. Burchill says here he is a finely trained professional athlete, well spoken with good family values and yet he is booed. Burchill says he doesn’t get it and perhaps it is an American thing as in England out heroes are men and women who have thrived in arts, science and politics but the fans are so bereft of anyone to look up to that they have turned to a tart who wears underwear and rescues cats from trees. Burchill says his victory for last week was a victory for sanity and honesty and the fraud that is known as the Hurricane has been exposed and eliminated. Burchill demands Helms comes to the ring and unmasks and admits Burchill is the better man. Throughout this segment Burchill was drawing a tonne of heat. ‘Stand Back! There’s a Hurricane coming through!” Hurricane walks to the ring looking despondent and Burchill demands the mask which Hurricane gives him only to reveal it is not Helms under the mask but someone else. Burchill quickly drops the imposter with a knee and tosses him from the ring and gets ready for Helms but Hurricane appears from behind with a green and black Kendo stick and wails away at Burchill sending him scurrying from the ring in fury. Hurricane poses and the fans go wild!

Chris Considers: Despite the somewhat overdone ‘who is under the mask’ storyline this feud has been really well done and has featured some fabulous ring work from both Burchill and Helms. I really wish ECW would get some more exposure as these two have worked hard enough to earn a pay per view match in my opinion. Either way the blow off match should be very, very good and I cannot wait to see it!

Main Event: Chris Jericho vs Christian

Words cannot describe how excited I am to see this one! Even though we only have fifteen minutes left, this should be awesome! Jericho comes out to plenty of heat and poses with his tag belts in the ring staring at the crowd with distain. Christian gets a good pop as always and acknowledges some ‘Peep’ signs before posing on the turnbuckles with the ECW Championship. Jericho is heckled by the fans as the match gets underway. They lock up and Jericho bails to the outside to huge heat from the crowd. Jericho applies a quick headlock but Christian powers out and the two have a test of strength and jockey for position before Christian shoulder charges Jericho to the mat for an early one count. Jericho nails a kick to the gut and strikes away talking smack to Christian which infuriates the ECW champion and he comes back with strikes only for Jericho to counter with a spinning elbow before connecting a knee to the head and forcing Christian into the corner. Jericho chokes Christian and whips him across the ring before connecting a clothesline and going for the Lionsault but Christian is quickly up and he shoves Jericho to the outside before hitting a nice drop kick through the ropes sending Jericho back to the ground. Christian fires up the crowd as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Christian leap frogs Jericho and connects a nice rolling mule kick for a near fall. Headlock takeover from Christian and he keeps the hold locked in but Jericho powers up and forces Christian into the corner. Jericho tries a running clothesline but Christian elbows him off and comes off the top rope with a beautiful missile drop kick for a very close near fall. Jericho grabs ducks under the ropes and stands on the apron before giving Christian a big back body drop over the ropes to the outside. Huge heat for Jericho as he bounces Christian’s head from the steel steps and drops him on to the security wall before tossing him back into the ring. Huge ‘You Suck’ chant for Jericho and he mocks the crowd before arrogantly stepping on Christian in the ring. Captain Charisma comes back with a huge slap but Jericho is quickly back in control and hangs Christian up in the middle rope and chokes him by standing on his back until the referee reaches four. Back suplex from Jericho nets another near fall and Christian rolls to the corner. Jericho strikes away and connects an overhead takeover and keeps the hold locked in demanding the referee ‘ask him’ Christian battles to his feet and connects some strikes before hitting a schoolboy from nowhere for a near fall. Jericho fights back with a clothesline for a near fall before punching away at Christian on the mat. Jericho continues to mock the crowd and goes for the Lionsault but Christian evades it and strikes away and hits a big shoulder block before coming off the top rope with a diving back elbow. Christian calls for the Killswitch but Jericho counters out only for Christian to hang Jericho on the middle rope and choke him just as Jericho did earlier. Christian leaps over Jericho to the outside and nails a vicious slap before heading back to the top rope and attempting another missile drop kick which Jericho counters into the Walls of Jericho only for Christian to counter with an inside cradle for a near fall! Fantastic sequence! Jericho nails a step up enzuguri for a near fall and is very frustrated, headbutt from Jericho but Christian counters a Bulldog attempt with an inverted neck breaker before calling for the Killswitch once again. Jericho counters with a schoolboy but quickly changes his mind and goes for the Walls but Christian struggles causing Jericho to catapult him into the turnbuckle but Christian quickly nails a quick springboard sunset flip from the top rope which Jericho somehow counters and this time the Walls of Jericho are locked in. Christian screams in agony but eventually makes it to the ropes. Jericho misses a running knee and gets hung up in the middle rope allowing Christian to drag him off and nail the Killswitch for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Christian defeats Chris Jericho via pinfall ***1/2

Chris Considers: I did not want this match to end! It was so refreshing to see Christian wrestle another main event level talent again and this match was absolutely fantastic. If they had been given another ten minutes this would have been a five star affair! So many fantastic counters and reversals between two guys who were made to wrestle each other! Hopefully this will be a wake up call to WWE management to see just how awesome Christian is and perhaps move him to Smackdown as he has done pretty much all there is to do on ECW! Seeing this has just made me want to see more each and every week!

This was a fantastic episode of ECW! Probably one of the best I have seen since I began writing an ECW review blog before I joined WNW! Storylines and feuds were developed and even though ECW once again has NO REPRESENTATION on PPV Bragging Rights was still plugged with the appearance of Chris Jericho. Wrestling wise both the number one contenders match and the main event were excellent, whilst the Sheamus squash match furthered issues between him and Shelton. All in all you couldn’t really ask for more from an hour long show and I urge you all check out this episode of ECW as despite the crappy recent ratings it still delivers far more quality wrestling and decent booking in one hour than RAW can manage in two!

This week’s match of the night was Christian vs Chris Jericho and the show scores 9.5/10

That is all for this weeks blog. Be sure to check out Paul covering Smackdown over the weekend and I will be back posting the Talent Exchange from my hotel as I have free Wi-Fi access there. Email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks I would love to hear from you!

Ten Points to Consider from ECW
• Jericho sure put Abraham Washington in his place! I am so glad we only got 30 seconds of Abe rather than the usual ten minutes!
• It still amazes me just how quickly Yoshi Tatsu has gotten over, especially considering whilst he is very good in the ring he does not have the fancy high spot moves like Bourne or Mysterio
• Such a pity the no doubt awesome title match between Christian and Tatsu will be on next weeks ECW rather than on PPV where it belongs!
• I do wonder where this whole Regal/Tiffany feud is going. I am seriously thinking we will have a power struggle at some point down the line and hopefully my fellow Brit taking control in the Land of Extreme!
• Sheamus is awesome! I cannot wait to see things between him and Bejamin culminate in a match. Shelton has gotten over well as a babyface during this feud and it will be interesting to see him unleash his full repertoire of moves wrestling as a babyface once more
• Katie-Lea is gorgeous!
• Burchill and Hurricane may have been feuding for some time now but it has been ever so well done, with excellent ring work and mic work from both men and I really wish creative would give them a ppv match to blow off the feud as this is one of the better feuds going in WWE right now
• Jericho doesn’t even have to cut promos when the crowd was this hot! Just his slight interactions and mocking was enough to generate heat that most wrestlers can only dream of! Quite simply Chris Jericho is the best in the world at what he does!
• The main event was a timely reminder that Christian deserves so much more in WWE, this was the most enjoyable TV match since Morrison vs Mysterio and so exciting to watch!
• It is such a shame that despite putting on such a quality hour of wrestling that WWE is not even giving ECW pay per time at Bragging Rights…

My top ten matches of the year so far in WWE

1: The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania – April 5th 2009
2: Legacy vs DeGeneration X – Breaking Point – September 13th 2009
3: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Smackdown – August 28th 2009
4: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – The Bash – June 28th 2009
5: Rey Mysterio vs John Morrison – Smackdown – August 4th 2009
6: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam – August 23rd 2009
7: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Smackdown – July 10th 2009
8: Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison – Smackdown – July 31st 2009
9: John Morrison vs CM Punk – Smackdown – June 26th 2009
10: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Judgement Day – May 17th 2009

Watch any WWE programming you miss at www.Dailymotion.com , your online source for TV shows!

This started as an extension of my ECW Blog this week but I ended up going in to such detail with it, Richard and I deemed it worthy of being a separate piece especially considering we did not have a reacts/considers blog for Bound For Glory up already. I mentioned in last weeks Smackdown blog that I had written a sizeable preview to the show which was made redundant when I had a family emergency on Sunday and could not get my blog up till Monday. One of the things I said was Bound For Glory is TNA’s biggest test to date, this for me was a moment that they could either sink or swim when it came to the booking and putting the right people over and showing that the company was taking a positive direction going forward rather than relying on aged stars who should not be in the ring, let alone holding titles and rather pushing their own phenomenal home grown talent. Well I am pleased to say that TNA delivered on this 100% and showed that sans Jarret, they are serious about creating new stars, distancing themselves from pushing WWE/WCW cast offs. I know we all had plenty of fears about Russo and Ferrera, but aside from a couple of decisions I would have booked BFG exactly as they did and I cannot commend the work rate of all the wrestlers and how well the show came off.

Ultimate X Match for The X Division Championship: Chris Sabin vs Alex Shelley vs Suicide vs Homicide vs Daniels vs Amazing Red © with Don West

This was one hell of a match! It showcased exactly why the X-Division is so awesome and highlighted just how lacking WWE is when it comes to fast paced high flying action like this! Some people criticise these matches for being spot fests but I was gripped from start to finish! There were some fantastic sequences and crazy bumps during this one, and all six men worked their hearts out and put on one of the most memorable pay per view openers in recent history. No one wrestler particularly stood out as each man was on it but I do think Amazing Red proved he deserves to be holding the belt, the spot where he gave Daniels a top rope huricanranna to the outside was insane! We saw some great team work from the MCMG and so many great individual moves it is impossible to recap them all. Quite simply check this match out, you will not be disappointed! Probably one of the top five matches of the year from any promotion! Putting Red over was absolutely the correct decision as it solidifies him as a legitimate champion and sets up so many possible exciting feuds leading out of this. It was a shame Pope missed the match but the MCMG more than made up for it.

Chris’ Star Rating: ****3/4

Knockout Tag Team Championship Match: Taylor Wilde & Sarita © vs The Beautiful People

Before this one started Lacey was sent to the back so at least we were guaranteed no interference. The Beautiful People have a good gimmick but their ring work sucks and Madison Rayne is no Angelina Love! Thankfully this one was kept mercifully short and Wilde and Sarita rightfully retained their titles. Hopefully with the wealth of talent in the Knockout division, TNA can give them some more credible opponents for Turning Point.

Chris’ Star Rating: *1/2

TNA Legends Championship Match: Kevin Nash © vs Eric Young vs Hernandez

Whilst Eric Young double crossing Nash was very predictable leading into this one, it was still a toss up between him and Super Mex for who would be leaving with the belt. This was an enjoyable match, despite Nash’s incredibly limited in ring repertoire. Eric Young has become one of the top heels in wrestling and he showed it during this match with his interactions with both Nash and Hernandez. The back drop that Hernandez hit on Young towards the end of this match was BRUTAL! Hernandez is a World Champion in waiting and I expect it will not be too long before he is stepping up to challenge for the belt. The go home sequence here was fantastic with Young pulling down Nash’s straps to get him ready for the Jack knife only to betray him and take him out using Hernandez and pin him for the win. Good match and a great call putting the title on Young as this sets up all sorts of possibilities going forward!

Chris’ Star Rating: ***

Full Metal Mayhem for the TNA & IWGP Tag Team Championship: Team 3D vs Beer Money Inc vs The British Invasion © vs Scott Steiner and Booker T ©

This match may be a bit gimmicky for some tastes but for me this was TNA’s equivalent of TLC. The only problem with this one is it featured two wrestlers well past their best: Booker and Steiner as well as one hopeless rookie in Brutus Magnus and of course one big useless lump in Rob Terry. However Booker was thankfully taken out of the equation (and TNA) early when he was stretchered out after taking a DWI from Beer Money. This match was fast paced, exciting and filled with crazy bumps and spots. Steiner actually impressed the hell out me in this match and although I know Kendra hates the way he suplexes people as it looks unsafe, in this match it just added to the brutal feel of things! His Frankensteiner on Williams was also very impressive! Beer Money in my mind once again solidified their position as the top tag team in wrestling as despite not leaving with the gold, they sure as hell were the star performers in this match. Team 3D have still got it without a shadow of a doubt and I was pleased to see them recapture the IWGP titles. Rhino getting involved was expected after all of his recent troubles with 3D and kept them from having a clean sweep as well as setting up a future feud for the tag titles (if he can find a partner he doesn’t try and destroy!) I seriously question the decision to put the TNA tag titles on TBI because Magnus is appalling and needs some serious seasoning before he can legitimately hold a top title. I marked out when Zak Wylde nailed him with a chair! Williams is an outstanding worker but needs a better partner. If only TNA would let McGuiness debut as himself he would have been the perfect candidate! This match showed that whilst WWE is improving in the tag team department, TNA is still miles ahead in this division and that is largely thanks to 3D and Beer Money! This was another outstanding match and I recommend checking it out!

Chris’ Star Rating: ****

Knockout Championship Match: ODB © vs Tara vs Awesome Kong

This one ended up being quite controversial due to Tara’s spat with Kym Couture mid way through and their subsequent denials that it was a work. Whilst that remains to be seen I thought this match was good but not half as good as Flash and Hamanda from Impact the other week. ODB is sadly just not in the same league as either Kong or Tara and I really question the decision to keep the title on her, especially seeing as how many talented women are behind her in the division. ODB would be better suited to tag team action with Roxxi challenging for the tag belts, leaving the really awesome wrestlers to challenge for the title. Its not that ODB is awful, she could wrestle rings round Kelly Kelly etc, it is more that the likes of Kong, Tara, Flash etc are so good! The go home sequence of this match was very good with Saeed and Kong having some miscommunication leading to ODB nailing Kong with a face buster on the chair Saeed had given Kong to use. This sets up all sorts of possibilities for a Kong vs Saeed feud and that would be phenomenal! So a good match, but by no means outstanding.

Chris’ Star Rating: **1/2

Submission Match: Bobby Lashley Goldberg vs Samoa Joe

I would say that besides the Knockout Tag Match, this was the only match on the card that I really did not enjoy in the slightest, nor was I expecting too. I like Bobby Lashley, I thought he was great after being pushed to the sky on ECW, but so far in TNA he has bulldozed through everyone he has faced with ease. Joe is one of the best workers in the world and to have him job so completely and quickly to Lashley is a disgrace. I also hate the fact that 80% of Lashley’s offence is MMA based. I like MMA but this is not MMA, this is pro-wrestling and despite the fact Lashley does both he needs to focus more on his wrestling in TNA rather than constantly trying to be an MMA fighter, I mean after Joe nails two Uranages (which is the finisher of half the current ECW roster!) Lashley is completely unaffected and applies a lame choke hold to finish the match. Lashley is becoming the Goldberg of TNA and I fear it is only a matter of time before he is main eventing ppvs and I hope TNA hold this off for awhile or at least insist Lashley works more as a pro wrestler and less as an MMA fighter when he is in the six sided ring!

Chris’ Star Rating: *

Monsters Ball Match: Abyss vs Mick Foley with Dr Stevie as special guest referee

Despite this match having one of the most predictable outcomes of the evening, I challenge anyone to watch this and say they were not entertained. It was not the greatest technical wrestling match you will ever see, it was not even the best Abyss match you will ever see taking this as a hardcore brawl it would be hard to find complaint with it. Yes I know if you have seen one Abyss hardcore match, you have seen them all but I thought this was one of the better ones and even though Foley is well past his prime, he still gave his all in this one and put in a very convincing performance. I am particularly fond of matches like this right now because WWE does not do them and I commend TNA for sticking to their guns and continuing to produce non PG wrestling such as this. Some of the spots in this match were truly brutal such as Abyss’ early tumble from the scaffold, Foley taking a drop toe hold into barbed wire and Daffney being sent though a barbed wire table! This fulfilled every expectation I had of it and I enjoyed it for what it was and that was a very good hardcore match. Hopefully Abyss can have one final blow off match with Stevie (barbed wire massacre anyone?!?!) and then move on to wrestle like we know he can!

Chris’ Star Rating: ***1/4

Matt Morgan vs Kurt Angle

Going in to this match it was very hard to pick a winner. One thing was for sure and that was it was Morgan’s moment to prove he belonged in the main event and I think he accomplished this and some with a towering performance and even though he did not win the match, he showed he can hang with one of the best in the business and I think it is only a matter of time before Matt Morgan becomes TNA champion. This was a superb match which told a fantastic story and had so many great moments that it would be once again impossible to recap them all. I really enjoyed how both Morgan and Angle could not put each other down with their signature moves and finishers and in the end it was a simple victory roll from Angle which sealed the deal. This was a perfect example of a knowledgeable veteran managing to out wrestle his less experienced but more powerful opponent and sets up so many interesting options going forward. Some people will yap that Kurt should have put his ego aside and put Morgan over here but I disagree, Morgan kicked out of Angle Slams, Olympic Slams, powered out of Ankle Locks but in the end was simply outsmarted by Angle and if anything this will make the moment Morgan does finally overcome Angle that much more significant because in their next match Morgan can learn from his mistakes here and not allow Angle to out wrestle him and the torch can truly be passed so to speak. Kurt shaking Morgan’s hand after the match was a nice show of respect and reminded me of Undertaker and Jeff Hardy following their memorable ladder match for the unified title. This was the best match of the night and in my opinion second only to Undertaker vs Michaels for MOTY. Absolutely perfect!

Chris Star Rating: *****

TNA Championship Match: AJ Styles © vs Sting

Realistically nothing was ever going to be able to follow Morgan vs Angle but AJ and Sting pulled out all the stops and delivered a very solid main event that may or may not be Sting’s final match. Going in to this one I was hoping and praying that TNA did the right thing and kept the title on AJ who has deserved this run for more than anyone else in the company in recent times. This match told a very good story and was the perfect example of a face vs face encounter. A good clean, competitive match with no outside interference or over booking. Then spot where Sting bent the guardrail was brutal and AJ not letting Hebner make the count out was a nice show of respect as well as solidifying Styles as the ultimate babyface. The fact AJ absorbed all of Sting’s offence and managed to kick out of Tombstones, Death Drops and power out of the Death Lock made this the passing of the torch moment it needed to be and Sting showed that he is not afraid to put the right guys over if he needs to. If Sting never wrestles again this will defiantly be one of his top ten matches and I hope if he does return it is to work with some of the up and coming guys like Hernandez and Eric Young. Sting’s post match promo was emotional and the fact the crowd are still so hot for him suggests that he may well go another year which I would be more than happy to see if he continues to produce matches like this one, of course working with a world class talent like AJ helps no end and the fact he has beaten Sting cleanly one on one has instantly legitimised him as a major, major player in TNA and I hope he has a long and dominant title run.

Chris’ Star Rating: ****1/2

TNA Bound For Glory achieved everything it set out to accomplish and throughout the show it had the big event feel that was needed for TNA’s biggest ppv of the year. We had three superb matches in The Ultimate X Match, Morgan vs Angle and The TNA Championship Match whilst The Full Metal Mayhem Match, Legends title Match and The Monsters Ball were very good. The Knockouts were not their best but the title match was still decent whilst Lashley vs Joe was the only real disappointment but then I think we knew it would be. Bound For Glory was a hundred times better than Wrestlemania 25 which only really delivered with one match and I would say is probably the best pay per view of the year so far from either WWE or TNA. I strongly urge all of you to check out the replays and order the DVD or at the very least check out Angle vs Morgan and The Ultimate X Match. TNA receives a lot of criticism when they get things wrong but at Bound For Glory they got things very right and both the company and the performers involved deserve all the praise in the world right now!

Chris’ Star Rating for TNA Bound For Glory: ****1/2

I shall be back in a few hours with Chris Reviews ECW. I hope you have enjoyed this TNA special and it if the feedback is positive it may become a regular thing!

Hey everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. In this week’s blog I shall be discussing Shane McMahon’s resignation, my distain at the idea of Booker T returning to WWE, the diva trade and analysing the show. Please feel free to leave some feedback via the comment board or drop an email to a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com  

Before anything else I would like to send my thoughts out to the friends and family of Captain Lou Albano who sadly passed last week. His legacy within the world of professional wrestling shall live on and his work forever admired and studied by those within the industry as perhaps one of the greatest examples ever of the Wrestling Manager. Captain Lou will be missed but never forgotten.

First off my apologies this blog is up so late, I had an incredibly busy work schedule on Saturday and then a sudden family emergency meant I was out all day after work yesterday. What this does mean is the sizeable preview section I wrote for TNA Bound For Glory is now somewhat redundant but I rather than analysing the show now I shall do it in next weeks blog.

So it seems like Booker T seems intent on returning to WWE after Sunday’s Bound For Glory PPV. Now Booker has had a lacklustre run in TNA and a poor backstage reputation. In my opinion Booker needs WWE far more than WWE needs Booker at this point in his career. Ever since he was drafted to Smackdown along with the Dudley Boyz in a re exchange for Triple H his, once one of the hottest prospects in all of wrestling became a lacklustre and lazy worker who seemed to be just going through the motions. The man who once displayed such innovative and exciting ring work became stale and predictable and his mic work, once highly entertaining and enjoyable became unintelligible babble. I firmly stack the blame for this at the feet of Triple H who absolutely killed Booker’s momentum during their feud and his subsequent burial at Wrestlemania 19 was the final nail in the coffin and Booker never recovered from the blow and it seemed to permanently blight his career all the way up to his final match at Summerslam 2007 where he was once again humiliated by Triple H. If Triple H had done the correct thing and put Booker over he could have realised his amazing potential and gone on to be one of the biggest superstars on the planet, however Triple H, clearly feeling that his spot was under threat used his backstage pull and influence to stop this from happening. Upon initially joining TNA Booker seemed to regain some of his lost spark but this soon faded and he became stale and unintelligible once again. What I am trying to say is Booker’s career slide was not entirely his fault but he certainly has done nothing to help matters and if he returns to WWE then he really needs to step up his game and work hard to show he can still be the man he once was. If as expected he returns to ECW then Booker should put his ego to one side and start helping the young talent on the brand get over and use his experience to help rather than hinder them because in my opinion during his TNA run Booker has in essence become like Triple H and surely instead of repeating the same mistakes, he should try and learn from them because with an ego like he currently has, there is no place for him in WWE.

I think WWE made its best decision in a long time when it reshuffled the women’s division last week on RAW. Whilst I feel that Smackdown shall certainly miss Melina, we have been more than compensated with the arrivals of Beth and Mickie James. I think Eve is something of a loss as she had certainly shown promise but now with Beth, Mickie, Natalya and Michelle we have a fresh division and plenty of exciting match oppertunities. RAW as well will benefit because rather than the endless Mickie vs ??? they now have so many exciting options such as Melina vs Jillian, Melina vs Gail Kim, Melina vs Alicia and Melina vs Eve. The Bellas I guess will remain eye candy, despite their in ring skills and Rosa being sent to ECW may be her last stop before being released as she has so far been appalling and other than Katie Lea has no real feud options on the brand.

So the biggest news last week was Shane McMahon’s resignation from WWE. I have to admit I was quite surprised as I always saw Shane taking over from Linda in the long term in WWE, although as Richard has since reported it always appears that Shane was ready to step aside when Vince did for Stephanie and Hunter to run things. I have to commend Shane for all the amazing things he has done for WWE over the years both on camera and behind the scenes. In the ring Shane has put on some crazy matches and taken insane bumps that a non wrestler had no means to take, but Shane always went above and beyond to make his opponent look like a star such as Steve Blackman, Kane, Kurt Angle and of course more recently Randy Orton. Behind the scenes Shane has secured many lucrative contracts for WWE, perhaps most famously being the brains behind Floyd Mayweather’s Wrestlemania 24 appearance. Shane’s commitment and drive can never be questioned and I honestly think WWE will miss his work rate and innovation. However Shane is now free to pursue other avenues and I am sure based on what we have seen during his time in WWE, that whatever Shane pursues will become successful. I would not be surprised to see Shane become a major player in a MMA promotion that will step up to rival UFC and for Shane to forever imprint his legacy in the MMA world just as he father has done with professional wrestling.

So with that slightly reduced pre show notes out of the way thanks to my now redundant Bound for Glory preview lets take a look at this week’s Smackdown.

Grisham welcomes us to the show and hypes tonight’s main event between Batista and Rey Mysterio as well as a special champion edition of The Dirt Sheet. Michael Cole is filling in for JR this week and the prospect of hearing the word vintage 5000 times fills me with dread!

Opening Segment: Teddy Long, Chris Jericho and Kane

Teddy Long announces that Bragging Rights takes place in 9 days and as well as the championship matches there will be a special 7 on 7 tag team match between Smackdown and RAW to determine which brand is superior. Long talks about how as general manager he intends to uphold Smackdown’s great history and heritage and ensure it prevails as the dominant show. He says he has had to make a tough decision to counter RAW’s team DX, Cody, Jack Swagger, Kofi, Big Show and Mark Henry and introduces the captain of team Smackdown: Chris Jericho. Jericho makes his way to the ring to huge heat from the fans. Jericho says finally after years of incompetence and prejudice Teddy has made the right decision and made Jericho the captain of the team and people may not like it but that is just the way it is. Jericho says as the face of this show he has to address the possibility of John Cena returning, Jericho says when Orton beats Cena he will be banned from RAW and will want to return to where it began but things have changed and there is a new man: Jericho and if Cena wants to return he has to go through him. Jericho says he has led the locker room by example and by honesty and integrity and he is the corner stone of Smackdown and he is the best in the world at what he does and the reason why all of the parasite fans are here tonight. Jericho gets huge heat for this. Jericho says as captain of Smackdown he has to put together a team who will listen to his every word and do exactly what he says and he will lead them to the promised land and beat RAW. Jericho runs down DX and gives their book a heel plug and criticises the mindless sheep fans for buying DX merchandise. Jericho rips up the DX book and throws a tantrum and says he will do the same thing to DX at Bragging Rights. Kane’s music hits and he stalks to the ring to a pop from the fans. Kane gets in Jericho’s face and questions if Team Smackdown is Jericho’s team and tells him they need to talk. Kane says he has been listening to Jericho’s every word and tells him he is out here to inform him he is now the co-captain of the Smackdown Seven. Jericho says of course he is and he was just about to announce that and with Kane’s strength and Jericho’s immense intellect RAW does not stand a chance. Kane says DX and all of team RAW can all go up in flames and poses as his fire pyro explodes.

Chris Considers: Awesome promo from Jericho here, I really liked how he played off the crowd and then Kane who also made a good impact on the mic. Kane is an obvious choice for Team Smackdown seeing as how there are so many big men on Team RAW. I like the idea of qualifying matches for team places as it makes each standard match important.

We are reminded how the ever so PG Snoop Dogg is guest hosting Monday RAW, yep the renowned gun toting, dope smoking gangster will be WWE’s face of PG this Monday!

Match 1: Triple Threat Team Smackdown Qualifying Match: Finlay vs Mike Knox vs Dolph Ziggler

Finlay gets a decent pop from the fans, whilst Knox draws little reaction. Ziggler gets a tonne of heat and seems the most obvious choice to qualify here although as Knox showed at No Way Out, he can be pretty solid in multi man matches. Ziggler eyes Knox and Finlay as he enters the ring. As the bell rings Dolph tries to team up with Knox who promptly drops him with a clothesline. Finlay sends Knox over the ropes before nailing Dolph with an uppercut and bouncing his head into the turnbuckle. Finlay whips Dolph across the ring and connects a shoulder charge and an uppercut but Dolph comes back with a kick and clotheslines Finlay over the ropes before taunting him but Knox charges him off the apron only to be pulled from the ring by Finlay. Finlay strikes away but Dolph hits a nice standing drop kick on Finlay and tosses Knox back in the ring and covering for a near fall. Dolph strikes away and hits his high impact elbow and covers again but Finlay breaks up the pin. Finlay covers Dolph for one before hitting a lariat on Dolph and an elbow drop on Knox. Scoop slam from Finlay on Dolph earns a near fall. Dolph is up and striking away but Finlay fights back and sets Dolph up for a superplex but Knox is there and connects an electric chair on Finlay but cannot make the cover due to his selling of his earlier leg injury from Finlay. Dolph comes off the top rope with a flying cross body and pins Finlay for two but Knox is able to break it up. Knox beats Dolph around the ring and hits a solid vertical suplex for two. Knox covers Dolph for a near fall and immediately covers Finlay for another two count. Dolph connects with the Zig Zag (what a horrible name) on Knox and looks to have the match won but Finlay breaks up the pin and smashes Dolph with a big European uppercut. Dolph comes back with a kick but Finlay continues to hit uppercuts and the two slug it out before Dolph drops the Irishman with a drop kick for a near fall. Ziggler whips Finlay across the ring but Finlay gets a boot up before connecting the Celtic Cross (which has apparently been renamed Rolling Thunder) on Dolph. Knox is on his feet but Finlay nails him with Rolling Thunder as well but the feat clearly takes it out of the Irishman. Knox is up first and he forces Finlay into the corner but as he staggers away Dolph nails a flying clothesline on Finlay only to turn into a charging clothesline from Knox. Knox connects his jumping kick and Dolph which sends him rolling from the ring and Konx then hits his running cross body on Finlay who simultaneously strikes with the shelaighlee. Both men are down and Finlay goes for the cover but Ziggler yanks Finlay from the ring and covers Knox for the victory himself.

Result: Dolph Ziggler defeats Finlay & Mike Knox to qualify for Team Smackdown **1/2

Chris Considers: In my opinion the star of this match was Mike Knox, who looked very strong indeed and had me wishing WWE would utilise him more efficiently, however Dolph is the star on the rise and deserves to be on pay per view. This was a fast paced and exciting match that featured some great spots such as the electric chair, cross body from Knox and Dolph on Finlay and the crossbody, shelaighlee clash was very well done. I really hope Mike Knox can move on from this feud with Finlay and perhaps step up to challenge Morrison for the Intercontinental Title.

Match 2: Team Smackdown Qualifying Match: Cryme Tyme vs The Hart Dynasty

The crowd are hot for Cryme Tyme tonight and we get some comedic nerdy white kids trying to gangsta dance. Personally I would like to see The Hart Dynasty go through here as despite Cryme Tyme’s popularity, these guys are so talented they deserve a pay per view shot and the chance to work with guys like Shawn, Triple H and Big Show. Shad and DH Smith start things out and Smith immediately connects a cheap shot on JTG before hitting a low drop kick on Shad’s leg. Smith stomps away before tagging in Tyson who wraps on Shad’s legs around the ring post and applies a submission hold which the referee breaks. Smith is tagged back in and he immediately continues to work over Shad’s legs with wrenches and holds. Smith applies a half Boston Crab and then rolls it through into an ankle lock which looked awesome. Shad is able to power out of the move and hits an elbow to Smith’s face and make the hot tag to JTG who explodes into the ring against Tyson who Smith also tagged in. JTG hits a somersault elbow and a leg drop before connecting a cheap shot on Smith and setting up Tyson and hitting the Mug Shot for a near fall. JTG stalks Tyson but is distracted by Smith allowing Tyson to strike with a roll up for a near fall. Shad nails a huge diving clothesline on Smith and JTG goes for a neckbreaker but Tyson with an amazing flipping counter into a pin attempt for a near fall. Tyson bounces JTG’s head off the ropes and tries for a springboard strike but Shad delays the move by grabbing his foot and after Tyson has kicked him off JTG is able to avoid the move and hit his tilt-a-whirl neck breaker for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Cryme Tyme defeat The Hart Dynasty to qualify for Team Smackdown **

Chris Considers: Whilst I personally would have put The Hart Dynasty over here I can understand that Cryme Tyme are a bigger draw and with pay per view buys an issue WWE will want their biggest draws on the show. This was a very good if slightly short match that featured some superb wrestling from Tyson and Smith such as Smith’s half Boston Crab into Ankle Lock and Tyson’s amazing flipping pin counter. JTG is always fun to watch as well and should provide a good foil for the likes of Kofi and Swagger in the Bragging Rights match.

Jericho is backstage with Michelle and tells her as Captain of Team Smackdown, at which point Long reminds him that he is Co-Captain, Jericho then says there are three Smackdown vs RAW matches and Smackdown needs to win at least two and whilst he is confident his team of warriors will triumph in the seven man tag match he cannot guarantee Morrison will beat The Miz and he wants to know he can rely on Michelle to get the job done. She tells him that he is the best in the world at what he does and she appreciates that. She tells him that she makes history and can beat any diva on any brand at any time. Mickie pops up and says she is excited to come to Smackdown. Mickie says to Jericho if he is looking for someone to beat the RAW divas then he should look no further than someone who has already beaten every diva on RAW. Michelle storms off and runs into Beth who tells her that now she has been traded she shouldn’t plan on keeping her title for too long.

We see Vince chatting on the phone but he is interrupted by CM Punk. Vince asks Punk if he wants something. Punk says yes he does and the fatal four way match that Teddy has planned is ridiculous and Punk is not feeling it. Vince agrees and says that is exactly why he is on probation and Punk asks what about him as he deserves his one on one rematch with Undertaker. Vince says he did like the idea of Punk had last week with a submission match against Undertaker with Scott Armstrong as referee and Teddy Long at ringside. Vince said it will be like a return of Montreal when the three of them conspired against Undertaker, which Vince called a brilliant idea and says he wishes he could have though of it. Punk asks if Vince is calling off the Fatal Four Way and he says no as that is a fabulous match that has already been advertised. Vince says however that Punk will get his shot one on one next week on Smackdown with the stipulations he set last week.

Chris Considers: Damn it! I am away at a family wedding next weekend and Paul is covering Smackdown and I am doing ECW. Why is it whenever I am away Paul always gets to cover AMAZING matches! I will certainly be checking that out when I return on Monday!

Match 3: Team Smackdown Qualifying Match: Eric Escobar with Vickie Guerrero vs Matt Hardy

Vickie appears to an astonishing amount of heat and introduces her new boyfriend Eric Escobar who comes out to a somewhat generic latino theme. Matt Hardy receives a heroes welcome but lets face it he has no chance in this match, not only because of his unfair punishment but because it is clear WWE have HUGE plans for Escobar since they have paired him with Vickie. Huge ‘Hardy’ chant erupts and the two lock up and Matt connects a knee and some strikes before hitting a backslide for an early one count. Escobar sets up for a suplex only to get caught in an inside cradle from Matt for another one count. Matt slugs away but gets dropped by a big shoulder block and Eric then hits a series of vicious seated strikes before pulling Matt to his feet and dropping him with a big clothesline before applying a headlock which he breaks only to connect a scoop slam. Eric misses a splash and Matt connects punches before nailing the Side Effect for as always a near fall. Matt heads to the top rope and hits his diving elbow. Vickie at this point climbs on the apron and screams at Matt and the referee about an injured ankle and whilst the referee tends to Vickie, Escobar hurls Matt into the ring post before rolling him up with a handful of tights for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Eric Escobar defeats Matt Hardy via pinfall to qualify for Team Smackdown *

Chris Considers: I am starting to get seriously annoyed with WWE’s burial of Matt Hardy for no good reason. He should be challenging for main event spots but instead is doing jobs to debuting talents? Not good! This was also a none to impressive debut from Escobar who’s entire wrestling output in this match was a scoop slam. I have seen plenty of his work from FCW and he is one hell of an athlete and capable of so much more. I hope WWE gives him the opportunity to do this.

The Dirt Sheet featuring Intercontinental Champion: John Morrison & United States Champion: The Miz

The Miz is out first to heat from the fans and kisses the belt as he poses on the ramp. Morrison gets a nice pop and is sporting a new T-shirt. Morrison introduces himself and at Bragging Rights he will prove why being the Intercontinental Champion is far superior… wait he asks The Miz if he got his championship from WWEshop.com. Miz introduces himself and says WWE introduces a new concept in Bragging Rights and which show is superior is it RAW, Morrison interrupts and says or is it Smackdown. Morrison says they will also determine which member of one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history is superior. The Miz? (heat from the fans) or John Morrison (pop from the fans) The Miz says everybody knows he was the star of that tag team and throughout history, teams have broken up, one going on to fame and fortune and the other fizzling into security. For example Mark & Mindy: Mark was Robin Williams and who was Mindy? Morrison says there is Bill and Ted where Ted went on to become Neo and crack the Matrix whilst Bill ended up on the unemployment line where the Miz will probably end up which gets a pop from the fans. Miz laughs it off and says the list goes on: Wayne and Garth, Regis & Kathy Lee and of course The Rockers. Miz says when they broke Shawn Michaels went on to become SHAWN MICHAELS whilst Marty Jannety went on to become Marty Jannety and at Bragging Rights Miz will prove his is the Michaels and Morrison is the Jannety. Morrison says this is impossible because Jannety did not have sweet merchandise like his new T-shirt. Morrison mocks Miz for not having any merch before telling him that his mum has one. Miz says there cannot be two Jannetys so by default Morrison is the Jannety. Morrison says actually there can be Marty Jannety and Mizzy Jannety who would make a great tag team. Morrison says this is what happens when you don’t have a girlfriend. Miz angrily insists he has had tonnes of girlfriends which Morrison laughs off before saying Miz hasn’t changed and the only thing he has done is conformed. Back in the day Miz had his hat, his capris and scarf and had the courage to be himself. Morrison shows a graphic of what Miz used to look like before saying now he is a mixture of Michael Felps, Mr Ed, Pink and Big Dick Johnson. Miz laughs it off and says number one: he has great hair, number two: the women love his pearly whites and number three: he looks great in trunks. Morrison says if by good he means husky then yes. Morrison explains this is what mums call their kids when they are fat but don’t want to hurt their feelings. Miz is incensed and Morrison asks the crowd to make some noise if they think Miz is husky and of course the crowd erupt. Miz asks the crowd if they really think that and then says all these Miztakes are just jealous of his amazing body and at Bragging Rights he will prove what everyone has always known, that he is better than Morrison. Morrison says why wait, why not try and prove that right now and Miz says he is not going to do that in this second rate city, in this second rate state on this second rate show and he will do it at the ppv. Morrison asks Miz if he heard him correctly and then quite rightly states that all RAW is these days is a cheap version of Saturday Night Live and asks if The Big Bird is hosting next week. Morrison says if you want to see real action you tune in to watch Friday Night Smackdown. Morrison says he is sure people are sick of listening to the boring Miz. Miz erupts and says he is the most entertaining and charismatic superstar in WWE, he is the reason people watch Monday night RAW, he is the reason people are watching tonight, he carried Morrison for two years, he was the talent of the tag team because ‘IM THE MIZ AND IM AWESOME!’ which draws heat from the fans. Morrison says he is the Miz and all he does is run his mouth and all he heard for two years was ‘I’m The Miz, and I’ve got a catchphrase: I’m awesome, be jealous” Morrison tells The Miz to shut up, this is Smackdown and unlike RAW they don’t just sit around and talk, Morrison tells Miz to get up and do something, to get up and act like a champion, to prove something. Morrison dares Miz to take a shot before hurling the mic away. The two stare down and Morrison begs Miz to take a shot and the crowd erupt in to a ‘husky’ chant. Miz backs down looking furious. Morrison gets back on the mic and says that is what he thought and tells Miz he will see him at Bragging Rights before calling him Jannety once again.

Chris Considers: I am huge fans of both of these guys and this was one hell of a promo that did so much to build the match between these two at Bragging Rights. When these two are together sparks fly and I cannot wait to see the match, in fact I can honestly say it is the only reason I am ordering the ppv. The comments Morrison made about RAW were spot on and in this segment he voiced what all of us real wrestling fans have been saying for a long time: that RAW pretty much sucks!

Match 4: Team Smackdown Qualifying Match: R-Truth vs Drew McIntyre

The feud between these two is recapped as we see Truth walking backstage looking focussed. Truth makes his way to the ring rapping as always and seems pretty over as always. McIntyre arrogantly struts down the ramp and smiles at Truth as he enters the ring. Truth blocks a kick and Truth strikes away but McIntyre comes back with a kick only for Truth to fight back and slides and leap frogs over Drew’s charges before hitting an athletic arm drag take over. Drew eats a drop kick and is sent flying from the ring and Truth flies over the tope rope taking Drew out on the outside as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Drew has a headlock applied in the centre of the ring. Drew breaks the hold and whips Truth into the ropes but Truth tosses Drew over the top rope. Truth is selling his injuries though and follows Drew out and limply tosses him back into the ring. As Truth climbs on the apron Drew slams Truth into the ring post and hauls him into the centre of the ring and covers for one. Drew hits a series of seated strikes as we see Jericho and Long discussing strategy backstage. Drew applies an chin lock before connecting a scoop slam and heading to the middle rope and he goes for a double knee drop but Truth hits a really nice counter and gets two feet up before leaping to his feet and avoiding a charge. Truth cartwheels away and splits under another charge before connecting a big flying leg lariat for a near fall. Drew evades a Scissor Kick and sets up for his underhook DDT but Truth forces him into the corner before clotheslining Drew from the ring. Truth goes for a Bulldog onto the steel steps but Drew counters and slams Truth onto the steel and rolls back into the ring leaving R-Truth on the outside and unable to get back into the ring before the count of ten.

Result: Drew McIntyre defeats R-Truth via countout **1/2

Chris Considers: I am normally not a fan of count out endings but felt this one worked particularly well. Drew out smarted and out wrestled the more experienced Truth here and showed plenty of promise. I am really high on the young Scot and feel he has made the biggest impact on debuting that I can remember for some years. He rightfully gets another ppv appearance and hopefully will get a real chance to shine in the seven on seven match. Truth is another guy that should be pushed more than he is due to his phenomenal crowd responses but WWE seem reluctant for him to be used as anything more than enhancement talent which is a real shame.

We see Rey and Batista backstage and they embrace. Batista says Rey is his brother and this match feels wrong. Rey jokingly asks him if he is scared. Batista says at Bragging Rights he is going to have to put their friendship aside as Rey knows how much the title means to Batista. Rey says this is ok and he would expect nothing less and he also has championship aspirations. After some more sucking up Batista and Rey embrace and Dave walks away smiling. I never thought I would reference this ever but Cryme Tyme had an edition of Word Up called Bromance and that is what I was feeling here! I like face vs face rivalries but this is just too much sucking up and makes me nauseous!

We get a recap of The Montreal Screw Job version 2 which is pretty redundant if you ask me seeing as how Undertaker so easily dealt with Punk at HIAC, however with our rematch next week it seems Vince is determined to drag this one out!

Promo: The Undertaker

The Undertaker walks on to camera to some spooky music and says that is has been said history has a way of repeating itself, but not in his yard. CM Punk, Theodore Long, Scott Armstrong, once again the three of them have decided to tempt their fates and try to rest the holy grail from Death’s grip. Undertaker tells them that once they enter Hell’s Gate, there is no turning back and at Bragging Rights he will take Punk’s soul and in one week’s time he will give Punk his last rights.

Chris Considers: As always short, to the point and effective from Undertaker. It makes me wish they would give him more mic time!

Main Event: Rey Mysterio vs Batista

I really do not want to cover this! Rey should be wrestling guys like Jericho, Punk, Bourne etc, you know guys who are actually skilled in the ring! This has the potential to be worse than Rey vs Henry from Tribute to the Troops a couple of years ago! Frustratingly Batista gets a far bigger response than Rey! Open your eyes wrestling fans!!! Surely even kids can tell that Rey is a hundred times more interesting and innovative to watch than Batista!? Well with only eight minutes left this isn’t going to be long at least! Rey applies a waist lock but Batista easily powers out. Rey goes for a springboard cross body but Batista catches him with ease but rather than hitting a move just throws Rey off. Rey goes for a hammerlock but Batista laughs and hurls him off. Batista slides under Rey’s legs but Batista hurls Rey from the ring. Rey charges back in and the two smile at each other as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Batista whips Rey into the corner. The two lock up and Batista shoves Rey off but Rey fires back with a low drop kick and hits several quick kicks to Batista’s legs before drop toe holding him in to the ropes. Rey goes for the 619 but Batista ducks and goes for the Batista Bomb but Rey flips over his shoulders and nails a kick to the gut but runs straight into a Spear. Batista looks upset he just had to do that as the referee begins to count Rey out. The referee gets to nine and Batista makes two quick near fall pins. Rey tries to fight back but Batista drops shoulders in the corner and drops Rey to the mat. Big running kick from Batista for another near fall before applying a standing bear hug which he drops to the mat. The crowd rally behind Rey and he elbows his way out and ducks under a clothesline and tries for a springboard attack but Batista catches him only for Rey to attempt a sunset flip but Batista hauls him up for a slam but Rey wriggles free and hits a chop block followed by kick to the head and sends Batista into the ropes with a drop kick, Rey connects the 619 but as he tries for the Hurricanranna Batista catches him and goes for a slam but Rey somehow hits the move and pins Batista and even though Dave clearly gets his shoulder up the referee did not see it and awards Rey the victory. After the match Punk hits the ring and nails Rey with a GTS to the fury of Batista who storms the ring but Punk who flees through the crowd. Batista helps Rey to his feet and they embrace as Smackdown goes off the air.

Result: Rey Mysterio defeats Batista via pinfall *1/2

Chris Considers: This match started off as a complete joke but actually turned really competitive and left me wanting more. The screwy finish was irritating as if the match had been given more time Rey could have done the sportsmanlike thing and had it restarted but with a pretty loaded show I guess they had to make this a quick one. Punk striking at the end was good as it kept the heat on him but with a babyface loaded fatal four way I would have liked to see things break down a bit more between Rey and Batista

This was a very good Smackdown in that it really build the pay per view and made you want to order it. I have to admit Team Smackdown looks fairly weak on paper compared to Team RAW but with the way guys like McIntyre are being pushed, there is no way they will be the ones getting pinned. I feel sorry for The Hart Dynasty and really think WWE should utilise them better as they should Mike Knox who certainly looked the best in the triple threat match. Drew McIntyre impressed me once again and I am really enjoying his push. Eric Escobar had a forgettable debut, sadly at the expense of the deserving Matt Hardy, I will be happy when the business with Jeff is resolved so Matt can get his career back on track because things are certainly not looking good for him right now. The best part of this Smackdown was The Dirt Sheet, Miz and Morrison were both fabulous on the mic and the way Morrison ran down RAW was priceless. I would happily part with $40 just to see that match, I realy think it will be that good!

This week’s match of the night was Drew McIntyre vs R-Truth and the show scores a good 8/10

That is all for this week. My apologies once again for the lateness but family has to come first sometimes. As I mentioned earlier I am away at a family wedding this weekend so Paul is filling in for me and will be handling posting The Talent Exchange. I will be covering ECW this week which means I shall be back on Wednesday evening with my thoughts on the show as well as a full review of TNA Bound For Glory which I started watching tonight and so far am very impressed.

Email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks  or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks  I would love to hear from you!

Here are ten points to consider coming out of this week’s show:
• How great was Chris Jericho’s opening promo, with all the time he spends on RAW these days his presence is sometimes missed on Smackdown but this was a timely reminder that when his tag title run is done he shall return to the A show!
• Despite Ziggler’s win, it was Mike Knox who stood out in that match for me and I feel he should have got a place on Team Smackdown
• Likewise The Hart Dynasty blew me away with their technical prowess in their short qualifying match, the counters and techniques they used were flawless and it is a shame we could not have had JTG and Tyson on the team
• Paul is a lucky man getting to review the title match next week! That will be my first port of call when I get back Monday morning! Perhaps my hotel at the wedding will have SKY so I can catch up over the weekend!
• A disappointing debut from Escobar in my opinion but since I regularly catch FCW I know what he can do and hope WWE let him actually wrestle to the best of his ability rather than this.
• As I said last week Matt Hardy does not deserve this treatment… such a shame
• The Dirt Sheet’s one night reunion was awesome! Morrison hit the nail on the head when he said RAW was like a cheap version of Saturday Night Live and Smackdown is the show where they do things rather than sit around and talk about them! This segment built the match at Bragging Rights so much and I cannot wait to see it!
• Another great showing from Drew McIntyre, I really hope he gets to shine for Team Smackdown at Bragging Rights, I think some exchanges between Drew and Swagger and Drew and Cody will be exciting to watch!
• Despite the somewhat farcical start and finish I did enjoy Batista vs Mysterio for what it was and actually wished it had gone longer so their friendship could have been strained further to help even the heel/face ratio in the Fatal Four Way!
• Michael Cole went the whole night without saying vintage!!! If only he could apply that to his RAW commentary!

My top ten matches of the year so far in WWE

1: The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania – April 5th 2009
2: Legacy vs DeGeneration X – Breaking Point – September 13th 2009
3: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Smackdown – August 28th 2009
4: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – The Bash – June 28th 2009
5: Rey Mysterio vs John Morrison – Smackdown – August 4th 2009
6: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam – August 23rd 2009
7: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Smackdown – July 10th 2009
8: Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison – Smackdown – July 31st 2009
9: John Morrison vs CM Punk – Smackdown – June 26th 2009
10: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Judgement Day – May 17th 2009

Smackdown Power 10

1: The Undertaker
2: CM Punk (-1)
3: Rey Mysterio (+1)
4: Batista (-1)
5: John Morrison
6: Dolph Ziggler
7: Chris Jericho
8: Kane
9: Drew McIntyre (+1)
10: Eric Escobar (NE)

Watch any WWE programming you miss at www.Dailymotion.com  , your online source for TV shows!

Hey everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. In this weeks blog I shall be discussing my thoughts on Hell in a Cell, the current situation of short title reigns and analysing the show. Please feel free to drop an email to a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com or leave me some feedback via the comment board

First off my apologies this blog is up late but due to work commitments I had hardly any free time over the weekend, topped off with the fact I was very ill yesterday. In short it has not been a good weekend!

I could talk about several things coming out of last week’s RAW but the main thing I want to talk about is the stupid amount of short WWE Championship and Heavyweight Title reigns we have seen this year. Now the WWE title has changed hands an unbelievable 7 times since the Royal Rumble whilst the World Heavyweight Title has now changed hands 8 times in the same period. In my opinion this is a very bad thing as it is turning titles which were previously thought of as prestigious, into nothing more than props to advance current storylines. It has also given the likes of Edge, Batista, Randy Orton and John Cena far more title reigns than they should have had at this point in their careers and none of their recent reigns will ever be held in the same regard as the likes of Hogan, Flair, Diesel etc who all held the majority of their world titles for a respectable amount of time. It is shocking think that both Randy Orton and John Cena are just one title win away from equally Bret Hart’s seven reigns when they are so early into their respective careers. I know plenty of people were complaining when John Cena had his year long title reign between 2006 and 2007 but at least it actually meant something when Randy Orton won the belt, albeit after Cena vacated the title through injury. This glut of quick reigns also cheapens pay per views as major title changes were usually saved for a big show like Summerslam or Wrestlemania. These days it is common to see title changes at B & C level pay per views, which takes away from the “Big Four” format we have seen in previous years. This run of quick reigns is unlikely to end any time soon as Undertaker is in no physical shape to hold the belt for any decent length of time and I see it as very unlikely that John Cena will loose the Iron Man match with Orton, in fact the only reason I think creative did a WWE title change was to extend this never ending feud because they have flat out failed to establish any new stars on RAW. I am a lifelong WWE fan but I can honestly say that I am starting to get quite down about the way the product is heading. The PG programming is really starting to bother me as is the slapstick variety garbage that RAW has become. It wasn’t that long ago I would religiously stay up to watch RAW live at 2am and the week leading up to a PPV I was excited about it all week, but now I am hardly bothered because the “main events” are so stale and repetitive. Smackdown has been the saving grace during this period of decline but ever since Batista made the switch and we saw the Montreal Screw Job v2, the show has taken a sharp nose dive in terms of quality wrestling which saddens me as I never want to be writing these blogs for something I am consistently not enjoying. Lets hope that WWE realises the error of their ways and steps it up considerably over the coming weeks otherwise they will continue to alienate their already dwindling fan base…

Ok so lets take a look at the Hell in a Cell pay per view. I tanked in my predictions here but I think that had a lot more to do with WWE’s questionable booking and wanting to swerve the fans, rather than the show being particularly hard to predict. HIAC reminded me very much of a TNA pay per view, in that the wrestling was generally good but the booking left a lot to be desired.

The show opened with the biggest disappointment of the night and that was CM Punk vs The Undertaker. Now once again both Punk and Undertaker wrestled very well in the time that they were given but this match was ridiculously short for a world title match and despite some use of the cell early on, this didn’t really feel like a real HIAC match, like some we have seen in the past. CM Punk certainly has lost some of his credibility after being so comprehensively beaten and I cannot fathom why WWE would strap Undertaker when he is clearly not in the best physical shape and this change strongly suggests this is just a stop gap reign until the belt inevitably returns to Batista at either Bragging Rights or Survivor Series.

Chris’ Star Rating: **

Next up was probably one of my favourite matches of the night in John Morrison vs Dolph Ziggler. One thing that really hurt this match was the rather dead crowd and for whatever reason they did not seem to take Dolph seriously as a heel despite how well he has been built up on Smackdown. We saw some excellent mat wrestling in the early stages followed by some memorable spots later on and the go home sequence was fantastic with an excellent series of counters leading to Morrison picking up the win with Starship Pain. The aim of this match was for both men to impress and I felt they did this in leaps and bounds. I think the decision to keep the belt on Morrison was the correct one as it allows this feud to continue which will eventually give Dolph a bigger rub when he finally overcomes Morrison.

Chris’ Star Rating: ***1/2

After all of her recent heat and botches I was very surprised that creative kept the belt on Mickie James. This match with Alicia Fix could have been kept on RAW, giving more time to the Punk vs Taker match. What we saw wasn’t awful and Alicia certainly showed promise in her first singles match on PPV, her Northern Lights Suplex in particular was quite impressive. I would not be opposed to this program continuing and Alicia eventually winning the belt in order to freshen up the women’s division on RAW.

Chris’ Star Rating: *1/2

The Unified Tag Title Match turned out to be really, really good, much better than I was expecting. Batista and Big Show’s involvement was kept to a minimum and the majority of the match focussed on some more outstanding wrestling between Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio. The finish with Mysterio coming off the top rope into a KO punch was awesome! The decision to keep the belts on Jeri-Show was the right one in my books and I am really enjoying their run and how the tag team division has been rebuilt since Edge and Jericho first captured the titles.

Chris’ Star Rating: ***1/2

John Cena and Randy Orton has probably their best match in recent memory but I was very surprised this match was so low down the card! This did have the big match feel it needed to and for once Cena did a good job selling Orton’s offence. This did not really feel like a HIAC match and was more a standard wrestling match inside a cell but it was still miles better than anything these two have done against each other all year. The decision to put the belt back on Orton is ludicrous in my opinion as it needlessly extends this feud as well as giving Cena another short title reign. If Creative had done a decent job building the likes of Swagger on RAW then there would have been no need to have ANOTHER Cena vs Orton match, but sadly due to RAW being almost entirely focussed on a combination of Cena, HHH, Orton, HBK and guest hosts, that is exactly the situation we are in now. Can anybody say they are looking forward to watching John Cena and Randy Orton wrestle for an hour? I know I am not! I wonder how many Orton-Locks will be cracked out in that one!

Chris’ Star Rating: ***

Whilst I like the idea of Drew McIntyre being introduced to a pay per view audience, his match with R-Truth was nothing spectacular and could have been left for Smackdown and allowed further time to be devoted to the very lacking Heavy Weight Championship match. Obviously McIntyre was going over here to maintain his push and hopefully this will be the first of many ppv outings for the talented young scot.

Chris’ Star Rating: **

I have read plenty of mixed opinion regarding the US title match but I actually really enjoyed it. I think Swagger, Miz and Kofi all work really well together and despite the rather crappy build up featuring multiple belt thefts, this match was decent and featured some excellent spots and from an excitement point of view was probably the most dramatic match of the night, with plenty of pin attempts being broken up by the third man. The decision to keep the belt on Kofi only to strap Miz the next night on RAW is highly questionable to me as I will always feel that putting someone over on pay per view is far more of a big deal than doing so on free TV but it seems WWE may be starting to think otherwise. I am glad The Miz is now champion and hopefully we will get the Miz vs Morrison Bragging Rights match that Paul and I predicted in The Talent Exchange

Chris’ Star Rating: ***

The main event between DX and Legacy was awesome, as have been the majority of encounters between these two teams. This one could have gone either way but after Legacy trapped HHH came storming back with the blot cutters I just knew DX were going over. If anything the way this was booked makes Legacy look even better as they could have pinned Shawn at any time but chose to punish him further and this makes them even bigger and more arrogant heels in my opinion. DX were always going to win the blow off match in this feud and whilst I am sad to see this one end, I think we can all agree that Ted and Cody look a hundred times better than they did before it started. This also felt like far more of a HIAC match than either of the other two title matches and was my favourite match of the night. I will be watching with interest to see where Legacy go from here.

Chris’ Star Rating: ****

So HIAC was both a newsworthy show, in that both world titles changed hands, as well as a decent show from a wrestling stand point. I completely disagree with the decision to strap both Randy Orton and Undertaker and feel that Miz should have gone over on the PPV. If you want to see a show with decent wrestling and are not really bothered about current storylines, title changes etc then this would be worth picking up on DVD but if, like me, you enjoy shows that are both wrestled and booked well, then this would probably be one to avoid.

Chris’ Overall Rating for WWE Hell In A Cell: ***

Ok so lets move on to this week’s Smackdown.

The show opens with highlight stills of The Undertaker capturing the World Heavyweight title from CM Punk at HIAC. JR welcomes us to ringside and announces tonight’s main event will feature Batista vs CM Punk in a match up I have been dreading since the Animal’s return to Smackdown!

Opening Segment: Teddy Long, CM Punk and Vince McMahon

Teddy Long is in the ring and congratulates The Undertaker and says that The Deadman’s performance reinforces that Smackdown is the dominant brand in WWE. Long talks about the Iron Man match between Orton and Cena at Bragging Rights. Long announces that Cena is welcome back to Smackdown if he looses that match. CM Punk’s music hits and he limps to the ring before grabbing a mic questions why the general manager of Smackdown is talking about a RAW wrestler. Punk says Smackdown does not need John Cena, what it needs is a bit of focus from the esteemed general manager and Long’s focus should solely be on Punk right now. Punk says if Long is about to name a number one contender, then Punk’s name should be the only name on the tip of Teddy’s tongue. Punk says that Long and all of the people here know as the only straight edged world champion in WWE history Punk has a guaranteed rematch and it is bad enough that Long has Punk wrestling Batista tonight in this dump. Punk questions Long putting him against Batista, five days removed from the toughest match of his career. Punk demands that his rematch with Undertaker takes place in a submission match with Scott Armstrong as the guest referee and Long standing ringside watching. Punk says he will say when and where this match will take place. Long starts to reply but is cut off by Vince’s music and the chairman does his ridiculous walk to the ring whilst Punk screams at Long. Vince gets a mic and Long gives him a formal introduction. Vince says he tries to support Teddy in any way he can but his patience is wearing thin. What Long was about to announce is not going to please Punk at all and it certainly will not please the Undertaker. Vince questions why Teddy continues to provoke the Undertaker. Vince says Teddy was about to announce that at Bragging Rights the World Heavyweight Championship will be up for grabs but not in singles competition. Punk immediately cuts in and asks why but Vince cuts him off and says that Long was about to announce the Undertaker will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk, Rey Mysterio and Batista. A fatal four way presented by Theodore Long. Vince introduces Rey Mysterio whilst Punk screams in fury at Teddy in the ring. Vince shakes Rey’s hand as we go to commercial.

Chris Considers: I enjoyed the back and forth between Punk and Teddy Long. Vince appearing was unexpected and unwanted but it continues the “feud” between Vince and Long. It was clearly Vince’s idea for the fatal four way but he is still trying to force the fact that it was Long’s decision to provoke The Undertaker. Quite how both Batista and Rey have earned title shots after loosing a tag team title match is beyond me seeing as surely guys like John Morrison and Matt Hardy would be more deserving!

Match 1: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho

I don’t think these two could possibly put on a bad match against one another! Jericho struts arrogantly to the ring as we return from the break and we see highlight stills of the tag match at Hell in a Cell. The two lock up and Batista shoves Rey across the ring. Rey connects with a kick and nails an innovative wheelbarrow arm drag take over before hurling Jericho out of the ring with his feet. Flying cross body to Jericho on the outside but as both men get back in the ring Jericho connects a clothesline and stomps away before connecting a standing vertical suplex for an early one count. Jericho talks trash before choking Rey in the ropes and whipping him across the ring. Rey gets a boot up and connects with head scissors takedown but Jericho fights back with a military press slam and a drop kick to the head. Jericho catapults Rey into the middle rope before dragging him to his feet. Rey fires away with strikes but Jericho hurls Rey out of the ring as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Jericho has a seated half nelson applied and is demanding that the referee ‘ask him’ Rey kicks free and connects a quick schoolboy on Jericho for a near fall. Jericho somewhat botches an enzuguri as it makes no contact with Rey’s head and yet he falls to the mat as if hit by a freight train. Near fall for Jericho and he hurls Rey onto the top rope hanging him up before Jericho shoves him to the outside and poses to heat in the centre of the ring. Jericho drops a knee on the outside and tosses Rey back into the ring before connecting a crossbody over the ropes for a near fall. Jericho sets up Rey on the turnbuckle and drops some elbows before climbing the ropes and going to rip Rey’s mask off but Rey elbows him free and comes off the top rope with a seated senton followed by a springboard crossbody for a near fall. Jericho hits a kick to the gut and attempts a sunset flip but Rey rolls the move through and fires back with a low drop kick for another near fall. Rey knees away and dodges a clothesline and setting Jericho up for the 619 in the process but as Rey flies back through the ropes Jericho catches his legs and applies the Walls of Jericho which Rey sometimes counters with an inside cradle for a near fall, awesome sequence! Rey tries for another head scissors but Jericho counters into a torture rack which he drops into a back breaker for a near fall. Jericho is furious with the referee before stalking Rey and stomping away. Rey counters a running bulldog and sets Jericho up for the 619 but Jericho counters again ducking under a charging Rey and as Rey tries for a springboard splash Jericho locks on the Walls of Jericho right in the middle of the ring. Rey crawls for the ropes but Jericho drags him back to the middle of the ring but in the process Rey tries to wriggle free leading to Jericho hauling up for a slam but Rey counters with an enzuguri sending Jericho into the ropes. Rey finally connects the 619 followed by a springboard splash for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Rey Mysterio defeats Chris Jericho via Pinfall ***1/2

Chris Considers: Excellent quality tv match between two of the best in the business. It doesn’t matter how much these two go at it, they always deliver and this was no exception. This match has several wonderful sequences of multiple counters and Jericho does not look weak in defeat in any way. I can only hope the rest of the show is as good as this!

We see WWE’s Sports Centre moment plugging Ben Rothlesburger’s (sorry for the spelling) appearance and interaction between various superstars and DX effectively squashing Jeri-Show and all of the antics with DX and the Steelers.

Word Up – Cryme Tyme and Eve Torres

After the usual akas etc Cryme Tyme announce this week’s word is Eve and proceed to sleaze all over Eve and plug her match against Michelle next

Chris Considers: Not even worth mentioning…

Match 2: Eve Torres vs Michelle McCool (non title match)

I have been keen to see these two go at it as I feel Eve is one of the best young prospects in the women’s division. The two lock up and Michelle powers Eve into the corner before nailing strikes and kicks. Eve fires back with striking offence of her own but runs into an elbow. Eve leaps on Michelle and nails some strikes on the ground but Michelle rolls it through and connects strikes of her own. The referee gets both women to their feet and Michelle runs round the ring before trying to kick Eve as she follows but Eve catches her boot and nails a clothesline for a near fall. Michelle hurls Eve into the turnbuckle and connects a vicious running knee to the head before dropping a series of knees and leg drops on Eve in the centre of the ring. Nerve hold from Michelle followed by a seated headlock which Eve powers to her feet but Michelle keeps the hold applied and drops Eve back to the mat. Eve eventually powers out and tries an arm drag take over but Michelle counters with a cartwheel only to run straight into a big clothesline from Eve. Eve connects a pair of single leg drop kicks followed by a sommersault slam for a near fall. Eve cartwheels into a kick and sets of the Styles Clash but Eve counters with a roll up for a near fall. Michelle ducks a clothesline and nails a stiff kick to the jaw for the pinfall and victory..

Result: Michelle McCool defeats Eve Torres via pinfall **

Chris Considers: I enjoyed this match and it was nice to see someone different stepping up to challenge Michelle. Eve has shown she is far more than just eye candy during her time so far in WWE. I hope this feud continues and next time they are given a little longer as working with someone like Michelle will only further Eve’s development and I hopefully she will eventually work herself into the stale Women’s title picture.

Backstage Segment: Teddy Long, Vickie Guerrero & Eric Escobar

We see Vickie Guerrero and Eric Escobar backstage. Long interrupts and asks Vickie why she is in his office. Vickie says last week her boyfriend was announced as a new member of the Smackdown roster and she thinks it is completely unfair that Long does not have him in a match tonight. She also thinks the fatal four way announcement is unfair on CM Punk as he is not getting his one on one rematch and mathematically the match is also unfair on The Undertaker. Vickie says she does not understand why Long keeps poking a stick at The Undertaker. Long tries to say something about Vince but Vickie cuts him off and asks if Long was seriously about to suggest that it was Vince’s idea. She whispers something to Eric who tells Long something in Spanish which makes Vickie horny. Eric goes to drag her off but Vickie quickly tells Long he is still on probation.

Chris Considers: It is good to see Vickie back! Eric is also a very confident talker and I am eager to see him make his in ring debut after spending a record 4 years in development!

Match 3: Intercontinental Championship Match: John Morrison © vs Dolph Ziggler

I am really hoping they do not do what they need with the US title in this match! Morrison gets a nice pop whilst Ziggler draws some heat on his way to the ring. The two exchange words as the bell ring and Dolph tries for a quick takedown and we get a nice amateur mat wrestling exchange between the pair. Ziggler hits a right hand followed by a fireman carry takeover for an early one count. Dolph applies a headlock on the ground at gets Morrison’s shoulders down for a one count. Morrison hits a fireman’s carry takeover of his own for a one count and both men get to their feet. Dolph drops Morrison with strikes but Morrison slides under Dolph’s legs fires back with a double leg drop kick for a one count. Another fireman carry takeover from Morrison and he then applies a headlock which Dolph eventually breaks and the two out counter each other with backslide attempts before Morrison connects an inverted backbreaker, side Russian leg sweep and spinning hand stand kick combination for the first near fall of the match. Maria makes her way to ringside and starts firing up Dolph who battles to his feet and an enzuguri attempt from Morrison who promptly nails a pele kick instead! Ziggler drops Morrison into the corner and hits a belly to back suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Ziggler sets Morrison up in the corner and connects a leaping elbow for a near fall. Ziggler repeatedly smashes Morrison’s head into the mat before dropping his high impact elbow for another near fall. Seated chin lock from Ziggler but Morrison battles to his feet only to get dropped by a kick from Dolph who arrogantly strikes and stomps away but he then walks into a kick from Morrison who comes back with strikes but Dolph counters with a powerslam for another near fall which infuriates Dolph. Mounted strikes from Ziggler and he then starts to work over Morrison’s arm before another seated chin lock which Morrison powers out of with an electric chair leaving both men down. Morrison hit a pair of strikes and drops Ziggler with a shoulder block and a clothesline followed by a flying leg lariat and a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Morrison nails a kick to the face takes Dolph over the ropes with a cross body. Dolph charges Morrison into the ring apron and grabs a chair which he sets up on the apron.. Dolph hammers away at Morrison in the corner whilst Maria takes the chair and sits back down. Flying clothesline from Dolph sends Morrison reeling and he follows up with a drop kick and scrambles for the chair only to find Maria sitting in it. Dolph is furious and walks straight into the Flying Chuck giving Morrison the three count and victory.

Result: John Morrison defeats Dolph Ziggler via pinfall (retains Intercontinental Championship) ***1/2

Chris Considers: Very solid match here once again between Morrison and Ziggler that featured some fantastic wrestling sequences. I really enjoyed the early mat exchanges! Dolph showed once again he was the real deal, hitting a number of impactful moves such as the belly to back suplex and powerslam. The finish was innovative and I imagine is going to cause all sorts of problems between Dolph and Maria further down the line. I hope this is not the last time we see these two go at it as they deserve at least one more pay per view outing.

We get an awesome video package highlighting Undertaker’s seven world title wins. This was one of the most awesome promo video packages I have ever seen! WWE really do such an amazing job with these!

Backstage Segment: Dolph Ziggler & Maria

We see Dolph and Maria walking backstage. Dolph is furious, he says he has two lives a personal and a professional life and he thought she could differentiate between the two. Dolph says in professional life he sees bright lights and has a big future before telling Maria in his personal life he doesn’t see her. He storms off and leaves Maria in tears

Chris Considers: Normally I wouldn’t comment on these backstage skits but I think this one is significant as I believe it will lead to a full fledged heel turn from Maria as she goes all out to win back her man and this will probably include interfering in Dolph’s matches on his behalf. I think Dolph and Maria could be the next Edge and Lita (minus Lita’s wrestling ability as Maria obviously has none!) and this could work extremely well if booked right, of course this could be the end of the road for the pair and Dolph could end up aligned with someone like Layla or Michelle but I hope they turn Maria as it would add something different to her air head character.

Rey and Batista are shown and Rey says he is sorry about HIAC and hopes Batista does not feel he let him down. Batista says they are a team and if they loose they loose as a team. Batista says Rey won tonight, he will win tonight and at Bragging Rights, Rey gets to be in the ring when Batista wins back his world title. Rey asks what about him? But Batista insists he will be winning and the two embrace.

Match 4: R-Truth & Matt Hardy vs Drew McIntyre & Kane

R-Truth makes his way out rapping away and gets one of the biggest pops of the night so far! Matt Hardy is also very over and poses to a big pop. Drew swaggers arrogantly down the ramp as Kane emerges to more of a pop than heat. Drew and Matt Hardy start out and a huge ‘Hardy’ chant erupts. Hammerlock from Matt which Drew reverses only for Matt to apply a headlock. Drew whips Matt into the corner but Matt dodges a charging elbow and continues to work over the arm before tagging in Truth who comes off the top rope with an axe handle before nailing some strikes but Drew comes back some strikes. Kane makes the blind tag and Truth is distracted by Drew and turns into a huge boot from Kane who stomps and kicks away before nailing a low drop kick for a near fall. Drew is tagged in and he nails a snap suplex for a near fall before making another tag to Kane who hits a big uppercut and tries for a sidewalk slam but Truth wriggles free and sweeps Kane into the tunbuckle but Drew makes the tag whilst Truth makes the hot tag to Matt Hardy and the two slug it out with Matt coming out on top. Big clothesline from Matt followed by a drop kick and diving leg into the ropes. Matt connects an elbow from the top rope followed by a Side Effect for a near fall which Kane breaks up. Truth hits the ring and send Kane to the apron with a drop kick but as he turns to leave the ring Drew nails a cheap shot only to turn into a Twist of Fate attempt from Matt but Drew counters and sends Matt into Kane who hits a big European Uppercut and Drew than hits his double underhook DDT on Matt for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Drew McIntyre & Kane defeat R-Truth & Matt Hardy via pinfall *1/2

Chris Considers: Things are really not looking good for Matt Hardy these days considering he was challenging CM Punk for the World Title at house shows a month ago. Drew and Kane worked surprisingly well as a tag team here but this match was something of a glorified squash, with Truth in particular getting very little ring time. Drew continues to impress me and I hope he may move on to feud with Matt Hardy as this will help elevate his young career no end.

In Ring Segment: The Undertaker

The Undertaker makes his way to the ring to a thunderous ovation and it appears he has now shed the Ministry of Darkness style attire he has been wearing as of late. Undertaker pauses as the crowd erupt before getting on the mic and saying he is the reaper of wayward souls and the world heavyweight champion. Big pop from the crowd. Undertaker says this belt is the holy grail of everyone who sets foot in the ring and this is why it is so important that he poses it because every wayward soul that crosses the path of The Undertaker but now consumed by the lust of fortune and fame, the recognition that this championship brings will lead them on a road that they wish they had never embarked, that road ends in his yard and for them it will be a graveyard. On October 25th 2009 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania three men will tempt their fate on a new battle ground called Bragging Rights. CM Punk: Punk escaped Hell in a Cell, relatively in one piece, at Bragging Rights, The Undertaker will take his soul. Rey Mysterio: his tenacious heart is legendary, his courage unquestionable but make no mistake about it Undertaker will show him no mercy. This brings him to Batista: their battles from the past are epic but even his strength and rage will not be enough to save his soul. Undertaker says it is appropriate the match is called fatal four way because one by one each of them will fall beneath the shadow of The Undertaker and one by one they will each rest in peace!

Chris Considers: Awesome promo as always from Undertaker. This did a great job hyping the Bragging Rights match and from the way Taker was talking it suggests it may be an Elimination style match as he mentioned one by one they will each fall. That would be pretty great as I really enjoy elimination style multi man matches and even though I am against both Batista and Rey getting a title shot this was strong build.

Main Event: Batista vs CM Punk

Batista got his usual pop as he made his way to the ring. JR announced it was ‘time to feed the animal’ how fitting as that is probably exactly what is going to happen here! Punk draws some serious heat as he walks dejectedly down to the ring still selling his injuries from Hell in a Cell. Punk talks smack to a fan before posing on the top rope. Punk hurls his top at Batista and immediately flees the ring. The referee calls Batista off as Punk slowly makes his way back to the ring. Kick from Punk and he bails to the outside again to heat from the fans before sliding back in the ring and waiting in the corner. Batista forces Punk into the ropes and the referee breaks the hold and Punk hits some strikes and kicks but Batista counters and powers Punk into the corner and connects a charging clothesline. Batista whips Punk across the ring and he bails to the outside once again. Punk climbs to the apron and makes the referee back Batista off before getting back in the ring only to eat a kick. Batista forces Punk into the corner and Punk ducks under the ropes before bouncing Batista’s head off the top rope and trying for an axe handle straight into a kick. Batista goes for the Batista Bomb but Punk wriggles free and takes another time out as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Batista drops Punk with a shoulder block before connecting a suplex for a near fall. Strikes from Batista in the corner but Punk tries for a roll up only for Batista to shrug him off. Punk ducks a clothesline and kicks away but Batista catches his leg and applies an ankle lock but Punk quickly makes the ropes and takes a time out. Batista follows Punk and walks into a kick as he climbs into the ring and is hung up on the middle rope allowing punk to connect a top rope diving knee for a one count. Punk drops a succession of elbows before connecting a leg drop to the head for a near fall. Punk applies a seated headlock as Batista powers to his feet and connects an overhead takeover. Punk is straight back with kicks and a neckbreaker followed by a finger four headlock as Punk demands to know ‘who’s the man’ Batista powers out but steps up into a kick before countering a neck breaker and taking Punk down with a slam but both men are down. Punk struggles to his feet and Batista forces him into the corner and drops shoulders and strikes before whipping Punk across the ring and connecting a clothesline. Punk tries a cross body but Batista catches him and nails a powerslam for a near fall as Batista looks shocked. Punk drop toe holds Batista into the turnbuckle before connecting his high knee but Batista shoves him off before he can connect the Bulldog. Punk goes for another high knee but Batista catches him and nails a spinebuster and does his rope shaking but Punk bails to the outside. Punk tries to crawl under the ring but Batista follows and sets Punk up for the Batista Bomb but Punk grabs the top rope and turns the move into a headlock before kicking Batista off and rolling back in the ring picking up the win via countout. After the match Batista storms into the ring and nails Punk with a Batista Bomb just to make Punk look weak

Result: CM Punk defeats Batista via countout *1/2

Chris Considers: This match was slow and boring. I don not like Punk playing ultimate coward against Batista when we have seen him go toe to toe against Jeff and The Undertaker. Batista hit six moves during the course of this match which is four more than he managed in either of his pervious matches. The fact Punk won via countout only to get dropped by Batista immediately after the match was pathetic and shows just how big Batista’s ego is, that even in technical defeat he must still look stupidly dominant. I am worrying Punk is now going to slip back down the card as the main event gets dominated by Batista and Undertaker.

Overall this was a very solid edition of Friday Night Smackdown. The only parts I did not care for were the main event and I was not particularly high on the opening of the show. In addition the Drew & Kane vs Matt & Truth tag match was too short and one sided for my liking and I feel sorry for Matt Hardy having to work so low down the card when a few weeks ago he was almost on the verge of breaking into the main event. However Michelle and Eve had a promising match that brought something different to the women’s division and Undertaker delivered a superb promo. Jericho and Rey had a superb opening match and Dolph and Morrison stole the show with a great match for the Intercontinental title and the ending to that match and the subsequent dumping of Maria by Dolph has left several interesting possibilities for the coming weeks storylines.

The match of the night was John Morrison vs Dolph Ziggler and the show scores a good: 8/10

Once again my apologies this is so late but my working life is so hectic right now. I shall try my best to ensure I have the blog up in better time next week!

Email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks I would love to hear from you!

Here are ten points to consider coming out of this week’s show
• How the hell do Batista and Rey go from losing a tag title match to becoming joint number one contenders for the world heavyweight title???
• What a fantastic match between Rey and Jericho, no matter how many times these two go at it, the result is always decent. Pity Jericho is usually on the losing end of these bouts though!
• How good to see a fresh challenger step up to face Michelle, I am all for an extended program between her and Eve as it will not only further Eve’s development but also freshen up the division
• How we have missed Vickie Guerrero! I wonder how long before she tries to rest control of Smackdown from Teddy Long???
• Superb TV match between Morrison and Dolph and such an innovative finish! I really hope this feud is extended further!
• I might be alone in this but I find the break up between Dolph and Maria fascinating as I think it opens up the possibility of a full heel turn for Maria and her transformation into a Lita-esque partner for Dolph albeit without the wrestling skills!
• Such a shame that Matt Hardy has fallen so hard and so fast, I cannot help but feel that it is not his fault either…
• Drew McIntyre is a star on the rise, I look to see an extended program between him and Matt that will push him up to the next level!
• Some people may get bored of Undertaker’s soul taking promos but I really enjoy them and feel that he is capable of cutting a more impactful promo in two minutes than most could hope for in ten!
• What a boring main event and how disgraceful Batista still had to bury Punk after losing. I am already praying he either a) retires after Wrestlemania or b) gets drafted back to RAW

My top ten matches of the year so far in WWE

1: The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania – April 5th 2009
2: Legacy vs DeGeneration X – Breaking Point – September 13th 2009
3: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Smackdown – August 28th 2009
4: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – The Bash – June 28th 2009
5: Rey Mysterio vs John Morrison – Smackdown – August 4th 2009
6: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam – August 23rd 2009
7: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Smackdown – July 10th 2009
8: Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison – Smackdown – July 31st 2009
9: John Morrison vs CM Punk – Smackdown – June 26th 2009
10: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Judgement Day – May 17th 2009

Smackdown Power 10

1: The Undertaker (+1)
2: CM Punk (-1)
3: Batista (+3)
4: Rey Mysterio (NE)
5: John Morrison (-2)
6: Dolph Ziggler (-1)
7: Jeri-Show (-2)
8: Kane
9: The Hart Dynasty (-2)
10: Drew McIntyre (NE)

Watch any WWE programming you miss at www.Dailymotion.com  , your online source for TV shows!

Welcome once again Prediction Enthusiasts to another action packed edition of The Talent Exchange, with I, ‘ECW Guy’ Paul Smith and my accomplice in predictions, ‘The Man That Reviews The Friday Night Show’ Chris Jacks. So WWE has finally decided to be merciless and we now have Hell in a Cell as our early October PPV offering. Personally, I think that the three cell matches, especially not in amazingly heat filled feuds will kill the gimmick as the big draw as it once was, but it will be a while before we can truly see whether that is the case. Bad Cell matches are few and far between, and that is why I am trying to be optimistic towards this show. The lack of an ECW match also shows how important that brand is. So with that said, onto the predictions.

Hey guys. I know I am cutting it pretty fine with this one but I was so exhausted when I got in from work earlier I fell asleep and only woke up a short time ago. My predictions will not be hugely detailed here so I am sorry but things are so busy for me right now and I hope you don’t think any less of me. I always try and give my all but 35 days in a row is seriously hard work… I am not even going to be able to watch the show tonight as I am up at 6am tomorrow so I will have to check out the replay when I get home tomorrow night.

Paul Predicts: R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre

Well this one is apparently a last minute addition to the card. And at least they’ve built to a PPV match instead of just throwing it on there. Dew must be popular backstage with a PPV debut, a Vince McMahon rub and a lot of promo time for a new guy. What’s also funny is that this must be R-Truth’s first PPV appearance since the Royal Rumble. Poor guy. Anyway, I assume this will be a quick match used mainly to get Drew over, especially with R-Truth getting the upperhand on the beatdowns the last couple of weeks.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre

Chris Predicts: R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre

Despite the late addition the feud between these two has been built really well and Drew McIntyre has impressed the hell out of me on Smackdown. He can talk, has a good look and is very talented in the ring (as seen in FCW) so hopefully this hould be a really good match. There is no way Drew is not going over in this one on his PPV debut!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre

Paul Predicts: Divas Championship Match Mickie James © vs. Alicia Fox

Mickie James has been in some of the worst women’s matches I’ve ever seen in the last few weeks, and couple that with a popped implant and the fact that Alicia Fox is still green as hell…I really fear for this match. This is gonna be straight up awful. Hopefully this will go quick or it will really kill the crowd. As for a winner, I don’t think Alicia carrying the women on RAW is a good move now or a good move ever.
Paul’s Predicted Winner: Mickie James (retains Diva’s championship)

Chris Predicts: Divas Championship Match Mickie James © vs. Alicia Fox

This one has train wreck written all over it and this should have been Michelle and Melina instead. Alicia has actually looked pretty decent lately but as Paul pointed out Mickie has been in some of the worst women’s matches ever. That match from RAW on Monday with Rosa rivals Bella vs Bella for worst match of the year. Mickie has backstage heat, implant problems and has had a fairly long (by today’s standards) reign so I see a title change here. Sure Alicia is green in the ring but so was Maryse when she won her first title and she came out ok

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Alicia Fox (New Divas Champion)

Paul Predicts: Triple Threat Match for the United States Champion Kofi Kingston © vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger

At least creative has tried to make something of a story with these three guys, and I can only commend them for that even if the actual story has been a little dodgy. The thing is, it’s been a long time since I’ve actually wanted to see a RAW midcard match from a story perspective rather than a ‘this could be a good match’ because of the workers involved. That pattern still hasn’t changed here. Ever since he’s won the title I’ve predicted Kofi losing the title but this time I really really believe it. I think The Miz wins here, just to freshen things up a little bit.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: The Miz (New United States Champion)

Chris Predicts: Triple Threat Match for the United States Champion Kofi Kingston © vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger

This has been an enjoyable feud and the US title actually means something again. I am with Luke on the belt stealing thing kind of sucks but I real like the animosity between heels in Miz and Swagger. I actually think Swagger is well above US title status and depending on the result of the WWE title match, may even get a main event run. I see The Miz finally capturing the gold here and possibly having an inter-brand champion vs champion match with John Morrison at Bragging Rights which would be awesome!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Miz (New United States Champion)

Paul Predicts: Unified Tag Team Championship Match Chris Jericho & Big Show © vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio

I think that while the actual feud coming in has been lacking this time round with Batista just being ownage and Jerishow just losing all over the place to various different people, the actual match could be one of the best yet of this tag reign. Jericho and Mysterio we know have good chemistry after their incredible feud earlier this year. I also quite like Jericho and Batista’s work and I think of Jericho as one of the few people that can still carry Big Dave to a decent match. And of course for the casual and younger fans they get to see the big Big Show lock up with little rey Mysterio and of course another shot at seeing the battle of the big with Batista. With few other teams for JeriShow to feud with, I see there being a rematch to this so for this match, even while I think Batista and Rey could end up champs again, I’m gonna give it to JeriShow.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho & Big Show (Retain Unified Tag Titles)

Chris Predicts: Unified Tag Team Championship Match: Chris Jericho & Big Show © vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio

Well at least Batista is not in the title hunt… lets see if he can manage more than two wrestling moves in this match! I think as long as Show and Batista’s involvement is kept to a minimum this has the potential to be a show stealer as we all know how well Rey and Jericho work together. Whilst I do not see anyone pinning Batista on his return to PPV (or any other time for that matter), there is no way Rey and Batista are walking out as champions. It will probably be an innovative KO Punch once again. Perhaps as Rey goes for a 619 or something leaving Jericho to get the pin

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho & Big Show (Retain Unified Tag Titles)

Paul Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match John Morrison © vs. Dolph Ziggler

While I expect nothing but a great match out of these two, the feud coming in just hasn’t been as solid as I would have expected. The pair’s mic work has just been a little sub par and at the end of the day WWE relies on you to be able to carry a feud with that stuff when you’re on TV once a week. Anyway, Dolph looked strong, pinning Morrison this week and we pretty much know what that means right? I can see this being an enjoyable match with perma-contender Dolph being on the losing side of things once again and I could see that leading to a Miz vs Morrison, US vs IC, RAW vs Smackdown match at Bragging Rights.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Morrison (retains Intercontinental Championship)

Chris Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match John Morrison © vs. Dolph Ziggler

Great minds clearly think alike as Paul has the same thoughts about me for the Bragging Rights match! I actually cannot remember such a tough match to predicts as this! This match has show stealer written all over it and it is great to see John Morrison finally back on pay per view where he belongs. I do not see Ziggler going over here because it is too early into Morrison’s run to end it just yet. The key thing will be to have him looking strong in defeat which I am sure will happen and this feud can then be put on hold till perhaps Survivor Series where Dolph can finally claim the belt and Morrison can be promoted to the main event.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Morrison (retains Intercontinental Championship)

Paul Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match: D-Generation X vs. Legacy

Time for young Cody and Ted to cut their teeth inside the Cell then. And apparently DX have never been in Hell in a Cell, according to Jerry Lawler. Which would be okay if he meant as a team but EVEN THEN, he is forgetting (not unreasonably actually) the cell match DX had against the McMahons and Big Show. With their promo last Monday, DX have made this feel all like a big joke, which a Cell match should never be, and that has radically lost my interest in this one. I can’t see Legacy going over in this feud and if there’s any justice this will be the end of the feud and as such I think DX picks up the victory here.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: DX

Chris Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match: D-Generation X vs. Legacy

This is the best feud in WWE right now in my opinion. Ted and Cody look like legitimate stars now and as long as Hunter does not let his ego run riot this should be a very good match and probably one of the best of the night. I actually think DX will put Legacy over here to set up a final showdown at Survivor Series next month. I cannot wait to watch this when I get home tomorrow!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Legacy

Paul Predicts: Hell In a Cell Match for the WWE: John Cena © vs. Randy Orton

So coming off what was a good match last time round doesn’t change the fact that this feud has overstayed it’s welcome and has been massively overlong and overdone. So having rematch number one million wont help things, especially when youre supposed to really care about a feud to put it in Hell in a Cell (making all of these feuds bad choices to put in there). So while I expect this to be somewhat entertaining (maybe a little optimistically), I don’t know who the winner is going to face outside of the usual suspect of TRIPLE H. All the same, Randy Orton got AA’d on top of a cage and pinned after a tombstone all in one week. He’s a total bitch if he loses this one.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Randy Orton (New WWE Champion)

Chris Predicts: Hell In a Cell Match for the WWE: John Cena © vs. Randy Orton

Here we come to the worst feud in WWE. I am sick of these two going at it. I am sick of Cena’s same old promos and non selling and I am bored of Randy Orton taking fifteen minutes to walk to the ring! Can anyone see Cena losing this? He always overcomes the odds etc but Orton has been booked as a total pussy and needs some vengeance. Plus we come to the biggest problem with RAW right now: this is Orton’s last shot at Cena whilst Cena is champion so after that who is there to step up and challenge Cena… Jack Swagger is the only other heel of any note on RAW right now but I don’t want to see him fed to Cena. Of course with the interbrand stuff at Bragging Rights the next challenger is not an immediate problem but other than Orton there is no legit heel to challenge for the belt unless of course DX put over Legacy and then Ted or Cody could arguably claim a shot against Cena. Hmm tough call due to WWE’s lack of new stars but would they really switch the belt so soon… I am going with The Immortal John Hogan for the win.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Cena (retains WWE Championship)

Paul Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk © vs. Undertaker

So once again we look at the situation of it not looking wise to take the title off CM Punk while he is doing so well and is over as a heel, but also how do you have him beat the legendary Undertaker, a guy most of the fans wont accept as being on the same level as Punk. Interesting situation, and I really don’t think, unless we get another screwjob, there is any way of Punk retaining here. I was nearly swung by the lack of a ‘guaran-damn-tee’ from Rock, which is usually a tell that what will happen will happen, but with everything else, I just have the feeling that Punk loses, which I don’t know, will probably lead to Taker vs Batista Part 793720582 somewhere down the line. This feud hasn’t been quite as good as I would have liked, but at the end of the day, it’s the Hell in a Cell gimmick that is supposed to draw here, not the feuds.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: The Undertaker (New World Heavyweight Champion)

Chris Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk © vs. Undertaker

A lot of people seem to forget Taker put over Brock in HIAC and I see no reason why he wont do the same for Punk here as a win for the only straight edge world champion in history will really cement his place at the top of the pile in WWE. I hope this match headlines and I hope it gets a decent amount of time unlike at Breaking Point. This wont be exactly clean, hell I would not be at all surprised for Vince to come out and screw Taker since he has been hinting he was behind the whole Montreal thing! Hell maybe even Vickie and the debuting Eric Escobar will interfere, who knows, but I do see a CM Punk victory

Chris’ Predicted Winner: CM Punk (retains World Heavyweight Championship)

So there you have it. If I had my way there’d be a double title change at this show, which shows just exactly what I expect from WWE these days. Unfortunately, I wont be able to attend the Live Chat tonight due to a new schedule that would mean waking up three hours after the PPV had ended my time, just to get to University on time. So I may be unable to get to a live chat until at least Armageddon/Tables Ladders and Chairs in December and then we will have to see my timetable for the next semester. Anyway, enjoy the show and see you soon for some ECW action.

I will be not be able to make the live chat either due to my crazy work schedule. Hell I am not even watching the show till tomorrow. This is the first one I have missed live for a couple of years so that sucks. I hope you all enjoy it and have a great week!

Hey everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. As always please feel free to leave me some feedback via the comment board or drop an email to a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com

My apologies this blog is late but I have been working a ridiculous amount of hours at my job due to an insane work load and this also means there will be no pre show notes this week as I am exhausted and haven’t had enough time during the week.

Many thanks to Wrestling News World’s South African correspondent Brandon Van Reenan for designing the awesome blog logo for this week celebrating the tenth anniversary of Friday Night Smackdown! Brandon is studying graphic art and will be creating a new logo for me over the coming weeks!

So lets get straight into the show!

We get an amazing opening video showing some of the monumental moments of Smackdown over the years including Austin destroying the DX Express, the rise of John Cena, Vickie and Edge, Hulk Hogan debuting, Jeff Hardy celebrating his title win, some touching Eddie Guerrero moments and of course The Great One: The Rock cutting many of his classic lines and of course laying the smack down! This was an awesome video and whoever made it deserves a payrise!

Smackdown also has a very cool new opening video featuring many of the current roster. I am not a fan of the new theme song though as it seems very generic rock but then I hated the old one but it grew on me over time so perhaps this one will as well!

JR welcomes us to the decade of Smackdown celebration and hypes tonight’s main event featuring Cena, DX and Undertaker vs Legacy and CM Punk and of a special message from The Rock! I cannot wait to see that! Grisham and JR are in the ring and take us backstage where we see members of the roster partying!

Match 1: Batista vs Kane

Batista gets a deafening ovation from the crowd as he makes his way to the ring. Remember I talked last week about Kane has been built up really well as a genuine threat once again? Well something tells me that is about to come to an end! We see highlights of Rey Mysterio and Batista defeating MNM for the tag titles several years ago! Of course this was back when Batista was the coolest man in wrestling, my how things have changed! The two lock up and Batista powers Kane into the tunbuckle but the Big Red Machine slaps Batista and nails some uppercuts before dropping Batista with a shoulder charge. Kane misses an elbow and Batista hits a running knee and a clothesline for a one count before applying an Orton Lock which Kane powers out from with a sidewalk slam. Kane stomps away and forces Batista into the corner and nails knees and strikes before hitting a DDT for a near fall. Kane works over Batista’s injured arm but Batista powers out and sends Kane over the top rope as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Kane is working over the surgically repaired arm in the middle of the ring. Batista fights him off but eats a big boot and a series of uppercuts and the two charge at each other and both nail simultaneous big boots sending both men to the mat. Batista is up first and connects a shoulder charge and some charging clotheslines but Kane counters and nails some charging clotheslines of his own. Big sidewalk slam from Kane and he heads to the top rope and connects a diving clothesline. Kane calls for the chokeslam but Batista is up and nails a spinebuster for a near fall. Batista tries for the Batista Bomb but Kane powers him off but Batista drops him with a huge clothesline. Batista heads to the top rope and in a very poor looking spot jumps straight into a chokeslam attempt from Kane but Batista counters only for Kane to whip him into the corner and nail some mounted strikes. However Batista nails the Batista Bomb for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Batista defeats Kane via pinfall *

Chris Considers: Aside from clotheslines, strikes and shoulder blocks Batista hit a grand total of two moves in that match: the spinebuster and the Batista Bomb. Absolutely shocking! How can people cheer this guy? Kane worked over his arm for the mid part of this match and Big Dave did not even attempt to sell it. Terrible, terrible match and Kane, who lets not forget had defeated all of the top babyfaces on Smackdown, now looks very weak again. I wonder who Batista will bury next week?

Backstage Segment

We see Teddy Long thanking divas backstage for coming before greeting Chavo. Hornswoggle turns up and slaps Maria’s ass and Michael Cole loudly announces “vintage Hornswoggle!” oh dear… Long thanks Cole for returning to Smackdown. Cole asks Teddy to have a drink with him and he says he will have a diet Pepsi. Finlay interrupts and insists they all have a shot of Irish Whiskey and gets Hornsowggle to pour the drinks. “Vintage Finlay” from Cole and Finlay calls a toast and talks about celebrating ten years of Smackdown. Just as Teddy is about to drink CM Punk appears and tells him not to drink it “Vintage Punk” from Cole and Punk looks like he was going to belt him before turning back to Long and telling everyone that whilst he is World Heavyweight Champion there will be no more alcohol on Smackdown. Punk tells everyone to pay attention to the main event tonight and they will see why Straight Edge is superior. Teddy walks off and runs in to Vickie Guerrero who bashes him for lifting the ban on Hells Gate. Vickie tells Teddy he has no backbone to run the show. Vickie introduces her new boyfriend Eric (Escobar) from development, who looks a bit like Batista when he had hair, she announces she will be returning to Smackdown to manage Eric as Vince signed him to the roster today. Teddy looks sick and then a gong strikes and a very small Undertaker puts a hand on Teddy’s shoulder, of course it is Santino who tells Teddy what a great costume party. Long necks his shot as we go to commercial

Chris Considers: Some parts of this segment were awesome: Punk, Saninto and Vickie and other parts were very annoying: Cole and Hornswoggle. I had an idea that there would probably not be much wrestling on this show! I am hyped Vickie is coming back as that will immediately be a great way to put Eric over as a major heel! Watching this reminds me why I am so happy JR is on Smackdown! Interestingly Matt Hardy was in this segment but did not even get one line… things are not looking bright for Matt these days…

Back from the break and Cole is eating some “vintage shrimp” Finlay calls Hornswoggle over and makes a shrimp joke and Hornswoggle kicks him in the knee and storms off and into MVP’s VIP lounge where Mark Henry is acting as a bouncer. Zack Ryder is on hand demanding to be let in, perhaps if he was not wearing a piece of lingerie he might have more luck! Zack offers Henry a couple of dollars and Henry tells Zack he will think about it. Finally Matt Hardy gets a line and brings all of the divas and Charlie Haas into the VIP lounge. Sergeant Slaughter pops up as well and MVP says one more before welcoming The Iron Sheik into the lounge which infuriates Ryder. The Iron Sheik steals Ryder’s catchphrase and tells him “you know it bro!”

Chris Considers: Remove Hornswoggle and Cole and this was actually quite funny! Ryder is hilarious as was The Iron Sheik! They better keep Sheik away from the Whiskey though!

JR and Grisham talk about the late great Eddie Guerrero and we get a very touching tribute video to one of wrestling’s most tragic losses. This was a moving and touching video that I have to admit brought a tear to my eye especially when we saw Eddie at home with his family and the roster mourning his loss. Eddie Gurrrero, gone but never forgotten… RIP. The fans give a standing ovation after the video airs as we go to commercial.

Match 2: John Morrison and Kofi Kingston vs The Miz and Dolph Ziggler

Jack Swagger is on guest commentary for this one. Morrison gets a nice pop as does Kofi who is now acknowledged from Ghana! Swagger rips off his headset and laughs at Kofi in the ring. Dolph draws some serious heat as he mocks Morrison in the ring. This of course is the long awaited clash between Miz and Morrison which we never saw after their team split! Morrison and Miz start things off and Miz mocks Morrison and calls him a loser before nailing a boot and hitting strikes. Morrison ducks a clothesline and Miz eats a dropkick before Morrison clotheslines him from the ring. Dolph tries to nail a cheap shot but Kofi scares him back out of the ring as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Dolph is working over Kofi but Kofi fights back and nails an innovative slam for a near fall. Dolph whips Kofi into the ropes but Kofi hangs on and shouts at Swagger on the outside. Dolph nails his finisher using the ropes and leaping over them on Kofi whilst Miz screams at Swagger to stay out of it. Near fall for Dolph and Miz is tagged in and he stomps and strikes away before mocking Morrison and hitting his charging elbow. Axe handle from Miz followed by a lateral press for a near fall. Miz applies an Orton Lock and Morrison fires up the crowd. Nice neck breaker from Miz and he tags in Dolph and they go for an old Miz and Morrison double team move but Kofi counters and nails Dolph with a right and tries to make the hot tag but Dolph leaps across the ring and hauls Kofi back towards the heel corner. Nice elbow from Dolph and he applies his inverted headlock before clotheslining Kofi to the mat. Dolph whips Kofi and tags in Miz who mocks Morrison and misses a spear and flies straight into the ring post. Both men make hot tags and Morrison connects strikes and a flying leg lariat followed by a standing Shooting Star Press for a near fall. Morrison sends Dolph into the corner but Miz distracts Morrison leading to Kofi nailing a flying cross body on Miz on the outside. Dolph hangs Morrison up the hard way in the ropes before dragging him off and nailing Zig Zag for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Dolph Ziggler and The Miz defeat John Morrison and Kofi Kingston via pinfall **

Chris Considers: Watching this match I felt like I was watching the main event of a future Wrestlemania unfold before me. I was a bit disappointed with the length of this match but all four men worked hard and looked good, probably Dolph Ziggler stood out the most in this one. I was also a bit disappointed that Miz and Morrison did not go at it a bit more but I am guessing with a Smackdown vs RAW theme at Bragging Rights later this month we may get a US Champion Miz vs Intercontinental Champion Morrison match, presuming of course Miz wins and Morrison retains!

We see Yoshi Tatsu and Kung Funaki singing Sexy Boy backstage and Jillian interrupts and warbles away. Elsewhere Slaughter and Iron Sheik are arguing about which is Greatest Country in World and Sheik chokes on a shrimp only for Hurricane to save the day and get Sheik to spit out the shrimp which flies across the room and is eaten by a wasted Michael Cole. Finaly and Hornswoggle give Cole more shots and Jeri-Show arrive. Big Show silences everyone and Jericho says that Show and he should be guests of honour as they were both on the very first episode of Smackdown and this party should be wrapped up and people need to show them the respect they deserve. Michael Cole promptly vomits all over Jericho who looks appalled and Show then barfs all over the divas. Of course with this being PG and all we did not actually see any vomit. The segment closes with an “Oh My God!” from Joey Styles.

Chris Considers: Utter garbage…

Interview with The Rock

Roberts announces The Great One to an enormous pop. Rock fools us with some false starts saying finally Dwayne Johnson has returned to Friday Nights, followed by At last the people’s champion has made his way back to Friday nights and finally hygienically The Great One’s breath has never been better. I was already in stitches at this point! Rock smiles and says he knows that is not right and then says spiritually The Brahama Bull is at one with nature but then says that sucked and he is searching for something before going off on a tangent and mocking Dolph Ziggler and asking for a coffee. Rock gets pumped up and removes his top and “FINALLY THE ROCK HAS COME BACK TO SMACKDOWN!!!” Huge pop from the fans and he suggests the assistant turn the microphone sideways, shine it up real nice and… he is only kidding. Rock talks about how Smackdown has been on the air for ten years and The Rock was there at the beginning and said down the magic words that changed the English Language forever “LAYING THE SMACK DOWN ON ALL YOUR CANDY ASSES” dropping the most electrifying move in Sports Entertainment The Peoples Elbow and from unleashing the Rock Bottoim. Rock breaks in to the Smackdown Hotel song before saying he knows he sounds good and talks about how the first time he walked out on Smackdown and all of the people were chanting The Rock’s name “ROCKY” chant from the fans and he said it was so good he wants to hear it again “ROCKY ROCKY ROCKY” Rock says ten years on who is champion now, someone named CM Punk, Rock runs riot on Punk and says he always sits down when he uses the toilet and he should be called BM Punk (Bowel Movement) because every time he opens his mouth all the fans want to barf. Rock talks about how he has faced Punk’s opponent: The Undertaker and whipped his candy ass all around the world before remembering he only beat him once and tells the camera crew to edit because he did not want to be Tombstoned. The camera man argues and Rock calls him out and a very geeky bald man comes onto set. The Rock asks the man if he has ever been Tombstoned before mocking the man and telling him to shut his mouth. Rock asks if the man thinks the Tombstone is a pleasant experience “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!” Rock rips the man’s shirt and tells him to shave the chest hair before shoving him off camera. Rock announces that at HIAC there is going to be a new World Champion but no matter what Smackdown will always belong to the Jabroni beating, pie eating, has no peer, has now flaw, now he has tried Smackdown, maybe it is time The Rock guest hosts RAW. HUGE pop from the fans! Rock says he will be the most electrifying host the show has ever seen “IF YA SSSSSMMMMMEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLL… what The Rock is cooking!” Rocks music plays and the fans applaud.

Chris Considers: That was one of my wrestling moments of the year so far. The Rock is in my opinion, THE greatest WWE superstar of all time and this was classic Rock from start to finish. I popped so many times during this interview and literally had to watch it six times to get it all down! Seriously check this promo out, so very, very funny and a reminder that The Great One is still the greatest mic man in the business! If The Rock guest hosts RAW it will be the highest rated show for years, fact!

Lumberjill Match for the Women’s Championship: Michelle McCool © vs Melina

The “Smart, Sexy and Powerful” Lumberjills make their way to the ring. Katie Lea is one sexy lady! Obsiously being a metal head that is my ideal woman right there! Melina gets a nice pop whilst Michelle gets not much of a reaction at all. The two lock up and Michelle takes Melina down with strikes but Melina is up and she pulls herself up on the ropes and applies a head scissors. Michelle pushes Melina who rolls over the ropes and drops down for a punch but Michelle connects a baseball slide sending Melina into the face divas who helps her up. Michelle stomps and kicks away in the ring and applies a hammerlock but Melina battles free and nails strikes before connecting a flapjack for a near fall. The crowd are DEAD! Kick to the head and a clothesline from Melina but Jillian grabs her leg and Melina kicks her off and Melina flies onto the heel divas. Cat Fight ensues before Melina and Michelle end up back in the ring. Melina heads to the top rope but Beth crotches her and Michelle connects The Faith Breaker for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Michelle McCool defeats Melina via pinfall (retains Womens Championship) *

Chris Considers: Considering the classic these two could put on if given the time this was very disappointing. I cannot fault the work of Melina or Michelle just the fact that this match was never given the time it needed to get going. Beth taking Melina out was interesting and I would love her to turn face and come to Smackdown to challenge Michelle but seeing as how WWE seemingly couldn’t give a crap about their women’s divisions this probably will not happen. Such a shame…

Backstage Promo: The Undertaker

The Dead Man gets a massive pop before addressing Punk and telling him that he is about to enter the domain of The Undertaker, a place of eternal suffering where there is no forgiveness, only vengeance. Taker will reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship and in doing so knock Punk from his black horse of self righteousness and the pills and alcohol that Punk so despises he will end up needing and craving them. Welcome to Hell’s Playground, Welcome to Satan’s structure, welcome to Hell in a Cell!

Chris Considers: Short, sweet and to the point! I always enjoy Undertaker promos and this was no exception! I don’t think this feud has been built that well but this was decent!

We see MVP dancing with the divas backstage. Drew McIntyre interrupts and calls for a toast and toasts himself as a future world champion and saying the party is just getting started. R-Truth flies at him and the two brawl until they are separated by assorted wrestlers. Drew McIntyre is awesome! Truth vs McIntyre is on for Hell in a Cell and I cannot wait to see Drew restart his WWE career!

Main Event: Degeneration X, John Cena and The Undertaker vs Legacy and The Only Straight Edged World Champion in History: CM Punk

DX come out to a massive pop as does The Immortal John Hogan (thanks to our loyal readers on the comment board for coming up with that one!). I know I didn’t have any time for pre show notes but I have never witnessed such a pathetic display of non selling as Cena on RAW this past Monday. We see highlights of Cena violating the ruining the WWE Championship as Undertaker then makes his way to the ring. I wonder who will walk to the ring slower, Taker or Orton… We see highlights of Vickie’s feud with The Undertaker and her continuous humiliation of him. I wonder if Vickie and Eric may end up costing Undertaker the match on Sunday? Legacy make their way out to huge heat and SLOWLY walk to the ring, the length of time it takes Orton to walk to the ring is ridiculous! Punk also gets some major heat as he stalks out and talks smack to Taker in the ring. Punk poses with the belt to heat and we are underway. Cody and Cena start out and Cena applies an arm bar and force Cody into the corner. Strikes and a Bulldog from Cena for a quick one count and The Game is tagged in and he nails strikes to Cody. Cody scuttles away and tags in Ted and the two lock up with Hunter winning a striking exchange and absolutely pummelling Ted in the corner. Hunter drops Ted with a clothesline and works over the arm before connecting a neck breaker for a near fall. Hunter continues to work over the arm and hurls Ted into Shawn’s waiting boot. Shawn tags in and nails chops but Ted attempts a comeback only for Shawn to en dup back in control. Shawn goes for a tag and takes a moment before offering his hand to Undertaker but Ted nails a knee to the gut and tries to force Shawn towards the heel corner but as he whips him into the ropes Taker makes a blind tag and drops Ted with a huge uppercut. Taker and Shawn stare down to a pop from the fans before dropping Cody who had tagged in as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Taker is taking Cody apart in the ring before tagging in Triple H who nails an awesome delayed vertical suplex. Hunter crotch chops and drops a knee before tagging in Shawn who connects a chop but Rhodes comes back with vicious strikes before tagging in Ted who nails repeated strikes of his own. Orton tagged in to huge heat and he strikes away. The referee pulls Orton out of the corner and the heels cheap shot Shawn. Punk in to more heat than Orton and he stomps away and Cody once again cheap shots Shawn whilst the referee is distracted. Back suplex from Punk gets a near fall and Orton is tagged in. Orton methodically stomps away as Cena fires up the crowd. Shawn tries to make the hot tag as Orton applies the patented Orton Lock. Back suplex from Shawn and both men are down. Orton makes the hot tag to Cody who eats an enzuguri from Shawn as he grabs his leg and finally makes the hot tag to Cena and the place erupts! Shoulder blocks from Cena followed by a slam and the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Cena calls for the FU and gets Cody up but Ted hits the ring but two men are no match for the “strength” of Cena and he drops Ted with right and goes for a Double FU on Legacy but they counter and hit a high low double team as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Punk is working over Cena. Full Nelson from Punk and Orton is tagged in. Orton nails blow after blow and Cena is out of it on the mat as Orton connects a big knee drop for a near fall. Cena rolls towards his corner but Orton stomps away. Cena suddenly springs to life and gets Orton up for the FU but The Viper counters with a DDT for a near fall. Ted is tagged in and he stomps away and nails a kick to the face for a near fall. Orton Lock from Ted but the strength of Cena prevails and he powers out only to eat a huge clothesline from Ted who drops elbows but Cena is up again forgetting to sell and nails a slam. The crowd are going crazy and both men make hot tags to Hunter and Punk respectively. High knee from the game followed and inverted atomic drop and spinebuster. Hunter tags in Undertaker who explodes into the ring as Punk hurls himself at Orton and makes the tag before quickly fleeing the ring. Undertaker hauls Orton over the ropes and strikes away before nailing Snake Eyes and a big boot. Ted hits the ring and Undertaker drops him but Orton strikes with a backbreaker but as he goes for the cover Taker locks in Hell’s Gate. Cody breaks up the move and Hunter has seen enough and he hurls Cody from the ring. Ted locks in a hold but Shawn connects Sweet Chin Music and Ted then eats a Pedigree. Cody pulls Ted from the ring as Punk flies in and takes down Shawn with a dropkick. Cena FUs Punk over the ropes onto Legacy and the four faces surround Randy Orton in the ring. The Undertaker connects The Tombsone and pins Orton for the victory as the faces pose in the ring and confetti streams from the ceiling.

Degeneration X, John Cena and The Undertaker defeat Legacy and CM Punk via pinfall **

Chris Considers: This match was more of an exhibition than anything but still plenty of fun in parts. Punk did not play a large role and Orton once again ended up looking like a chump. I was very impressed with work of Ted and Cody in this one and they have really stepped up and evolved into true stars before our eyes. Having the faces go over was probably the best call as this was more of a celebration show than anything else

I am honestly not too sure what I thought of this show. Wrestling wise it was very weak but we had some outstanding promos including the touching Eddie tribute video, The Undertaker and of course the one and only Rock entertaining us once again. The main event was ok as was the earlier tag match between Morrison & Kofi vs Dolph and Miz but neither were anything special. Kane vs Batista sucked as did Michelle vs Melina but that was due to the lack of time it was given. Some of the backstage skits were amusing and some of them sucked, Michael Cole irritated the hell out of me, as did Hornswoggle but I am hyped for Vickie’s return and Drew McIntyre’s impeding re-debut

Match of the night was The Main Event and the show scores a 7/10 which is probably a bit generous but that Eddie video moved me and The Rock promo was one of the best things on WWE TV all year!

I shall be back shortly with The Talent Exchange. Once again my apologies this is so late but my working life is so hectic right now. I shall try my best to set aside some time in the week to reply to some of your emails and write some decent pre show notes. I hope you all enjoy Hell in a Cell and have a great week!

Email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks  or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks  I would love to hear from you!

Here are ten points to consider coming out of tonight’s show
• How awesome was that opening video showing Smackdown moments! So well put together!
• From now on each week I will do a Batista wrestling move count! In the last two Smackdown shows he has hit 2 moves in each match so that’s a grand total of four!
• Thank goodness for CM Punk saving that backstage segment! Michael Cole needs to stop talking period!
• I am hyped for Vickie’s return and Eric Escobar will immediately be a big deal by having her manager him! What a smart move from Creative!
• I am sure I was not the only one with a tear in my eye during that Eddie tribute video…
• Despite it being short that tag match was pretty much the future of WWE in the ring! Pity Miz and Morrison did not go at it a bit more but hopefully that will happen sometime soon!
• FINALLY THE ROCK HAS COME BACK TO SMACKDOWN!!! That was one of the best promos EVER! As Michael Cole would say “Vintage” Rock. I cannot wait for The Great One to guest host RAW!
• Such a shame the Women’s Division is currently being treated with such contempt and neglect… Melina, Beth, Michelle etc all deserve so much better
• A fun but predictable main event. If anything it highlighted why I am happy Hunter, Shawn and Cena are not on Smackdown! Ted and Cody look better each week though!
• Was I the only one surprised Vince did not rear his head at some point during the party!

My top ten matches of the year so far in WWE

1: The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania – April 5th 2009
2: Legacy vs DeGeneration X – Breaking Point – September 13th 2009
3: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Smackdown – August 28th 2009
4: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – The Bash – June 28th 2009
5: Rey Mysterio vs John Morrison – Smackdown – August 4th 2009
6: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam – August 23rd 2009
7: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Smackdown – July 10th 2009
8: Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison – Smackdown – July 31st 2009
9: John Morrison vs CM Punk – Smackdown – June 26th 2009
10: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Judgement Day – May 17th 2009

Smackdown Power 10

1: CM Punk
2: The Undertaker
3: John Morrison
4: Dolph Ziggler
5: Jeri-Show
6: Batista (+1)
7: The Hart Dynasty (-1)
8: Kane
9: Cryme Tyme
10: Mike Knox

Watch any WWE programming you miss at www.Dailymotion.com  , your online source for TV shows!

Hey everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. In this week’s blog I shall be discussing TNA’s recent No Surrender Pay Per View, My thoughts on DX vs Legacy and analysing the show. Be sure to leave some feedback via the comment board or drop an email to a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com

First off my apologies this blog is up late but I have had a very hectic weekend with work and a friend’s birthday. I really hope at some point WWE decide to move Smackdown to Thursday nights as my weekend schedule is becoming increasingly jam packed as I have recently taken over running a department at work which means I have to work my day job both Saturday and Sunday as well as playing late night DJ sets!

Anyway enough about my lack of free time! I thought RAW this week was a huge disappointment other than the continuation of the DX vs Legacy feud which is by far and away the best thing going on RAW right now and it is so refreshing to see Shawn and Hunter working hard to put two up and coming stars over and I am so pleased that Legacy has become more like Rated RKO rather than the Spirit Squad as we were all expecting them to! I thought the promo DX cut before the match between Hunter and Cody was one of the best they have done in a long time and built the match at HIAC no end. I am looking forward to that match far more than ANOTHER clash between Cena and Orton and feel that it could potentially be one of the strongest matches on the card. I am still torn as to who to predict as winners in the Talent Exchange next week as I could honestly see Legacy going over one again setting up a final Team DX vs Team Legacy showdown at Survivor Series but likewise it would seem foolish to bet against Triple H when it comes to a HIAC match. Hopefully after RAW on Monday things will be a bit easier to predict and for the first time in a couple of months I intend to stay up and watch the show as this feud has really drawn me back into RAW despite all the celebrity host garbage (I had never heard of Cedric the Entertainer prior to last Monday and probably never will again!)

Before I give my thoughts on No Surrender I would like to address something with regards to TNA ratings over here in the UK. Now TNA are bragging about the fact they are beating WWE most weeks over here but that is not really painting an accurate picture due to the way our cable system works which I will now explain for the benefit of all international readers. Basically if you live in the UK, in order to get any wrestling at all you have to first purchase a SKY TV package which will generally set you back around $30 a month plus a one off payment of about $150 for a SKY+ box (which I think is the equivalent of a DVR in the states) plus the installation fee, although SKY sometimes do an offer where this is free if you sign up to broadband and home phone as well for further costs. Now all the basic package gives you wrestling wise is TNA which is shown on the Bravo channel on SKY. In order to get any WWE programming you must fork out a further $20 a month for the SKY Sports package. So basically to watch TNA costs $30 a month here whereas WWE costs $50 a month and the majority of people I know in the UK who watch WWE TV stream it online for free to avoid the hefty cable costs or they SKY+ live RAW on Monday and watch it on the Tuesday. In addition TNA airs on Bravo in a prime time Saturday night slot between 9pm and 11pm (usually) whereas RAW is either 2am to 4am on Monday or 9pm till 11pm on Thursday, ECW is 11pm to 12am on Thursday and Smackdown is 10pm to 12am on Friday (which just like America is just about the worst night for TV!) So when TNA brags about beating WWE the cost and time factors really need to be pointed out but of course they don’t like to mention that! In addition Bravo airs all TNA pay per views for free the Wednesday following the event whereas SKY offers every other WWE PPV for free so casual and cash strapped viewers will be far more likely to catch TNA shows rather than WWE. I think it is great TNA is stepping up its game of late but they still have a LONG way to go before they will ever be considered serious competition to WWE whereas if you have read reports and press releases regarding UK ratings as of late you could be forgiven we were in the middle of a ratings war which is not case at all! My apologies that was probably a bit boring but this is something which has been bugging me for a few weeks now and after reading more and more bragging every week I felt I had to point the facts out!

Ok so now on to No Surrender. This pay per view was classic TNA in that for everything it did good it also did plenty wrong which is something of a theme more the majority of TNA pay per views (either that or they really suck!), in fact you would have to go all the way back to Lockdown 2007 for a show I enjoyed from start to finish! However this is taking nothing away from TNA as there were some outstanding matches and great creative calls at No Surrender continuing the positive trend of things as of late for the promotion.

Negatives first though and my first complaint was the complete joke of a match that was Eric Young vs Hernandez, I can understand that this furthered the storyline but if they are trying to build Hernandez into a major force in the company then things like this are best saved for Impact and the guy should get to show us all what he can do on PPV. More on Hernandez shortly! The second worst part of the whole show was the disaster between ODB and Cody Deaner, I cannot understand for the life of me what TNA Creative were smoking when they decided to put this match on the card but it was probably the same stuff they were smoking when they hired Deaner in the first place! Just utter, utter garbage that had no place on a wrestling pay per view and the one positive thing is that the “feud” appears to be over and ODB can hopefully have a dominant run as Knockout Champion! I wouldn’t call the whole Abyss vs Nash match a negative but it did not really hold my attention as it was pretty much a slow big man match with a tonne of interference as is usually the case in Abyss matches. Also I cannot understand what they are doing with Kevin Nash as he takes out Stevie, possibly teasing a face turn but then this week on Impact plays a total heel again? Try and make sense of that! Whilst Lasley and Rhino had a solid match I hated the finish just as I did with the finish of Lashley’s match on Impact this week, yes we get he is an MMA fighter but that does not mean he has to use MMA moves as finishers because Lashley was a wrestler long before he was a fighter! What happened to the Dominator? That was an awesome move and certainly something he should consider using in TNA as basic submissions and punches are all very good and deadly in real life MMA but in order to be a draw in Professional Wrestling Lashley needs to implement more stylish wrestling moves else he will get very boring very quickly. Kendra was spot on when she said she can see a Goldberg like undefeated streak for him as I can as well. TNA’s promotional poster for their UK tour has Lashley as the main draw with the tag line “Undefeated MMA Fighter” which must make guys like AJ and Joe feel pretty bad seeing as they have been carrying the company for longer than Lashley has been a pro wrestler! The final and worst moment of the show came when for some unknown and ludicrous reason Hernandez cashed in his FOF briefcase PRIOR to the start of the main event only to get quickly pile drivered by Eric Young and loose his title shot which I felt sure he was going to cash in to become champion at some point down the line. I understand it was to do something different but it came off as a joke as why would Hernandez cash in his best shot at a world title before a match already involving 4 of the top guys in the company. I understand he is being built as the number two babyface in the company behind AJ but to have him loose his title shot in this fashion was ridiculous. If I had been booking this I would have had Hernandesz go to war with the WE perhaps even putting his briefcase on the line in matches against the likes of Eric Young and Homicide and when he had finished the feud call out the then TNA Champion RVD style and set up a big draw match at a per per view rather than loosing it here with no benefit to Hernandez or Eric Young.

But with the negatives came the positives and I thought No Surrender had plenty of these. Whilst I have never been that high up on the ring work of The Beautiful People, they play their heel roles to perfection and I really enjoyed the knock out tag match especially some of the innovative double team work from Sarita and Wilde. Putting them over was the correct decision in my book and hopefully they will get this new division off to a great start as champions. I really enjoyed the Falls Count Anywhere Match between Suicide and The Pope and felt the match featured some really awesome spots even if the ending was slightly lame with Dinero pinning Suicide after he missed a leg drop. The Lethal Lockdown Match was awesome and I will never get bored of watching James Storm and Robert Roode in the ring, a pity this match had to feature Steiner and Booker as well as the god awful Brutus Magnus but Williams was impressive once again as were Team 3D, that chair shot on Rob Terry by Brother Ray was BRUTAL! Whilst taking the Lockdown match away from the Lockdown pay per view may not be the wisest idea, this match was a lot of fun and I was glad to see the best tag team in the business right now correctly going over. Watching this made me long to see a match between Beer Money and The Hart Dynasty! Despite the atrocious booking with Hernandez, the rest of the main event was actually really, really good and I was very impressed with the ring work of all four men and felt that everyone pulled their weight. Matt Morgan could quite easily become one of the biggest things in wrestling if TNA continue to book him as they are because right now he is the ultimate tweener which as proven with Steve Austin etc is the best route to go to sky rocket someone’s career. Putting AJ over was absolutely the correct call from TNA as not only is AJ one of the best athletes in the world today, it sets up the ultimate TNA passing of the torch moment at Bound for Glory next Month when Sting FINALLY puts AJ over cleanly. The best match of the night was without a doubt Joe vs Daniels as they delivered another wrestling clinic that had me gripped from start to finish. I have seen these two go at it more times than Triple H and Orton, but unlike those two, Daniels and Joe always deliver against each other and always manage to bring something new and exciting to their matches. I would love for this feud to continue but I have heard rumours that Joe is next on Lashley’s hit list for TNA domination and whilst this goes against everything I think TNA should be standing for, at least a match between the two should be good.

I think overall the good defiantly outweighed the bad at No Surrender and I really do recommend picking this one up on DVD for both the Main Event (minus the Hernandez booking) and Daniels vs Joe as both are outstanding matches. Lashley’s debut will probably be looked at as a big deal as well especially if he goes on to do great things in both TNA and MMA which I expect he will, so this show will certainly be important from a historical stand point. Let’s hope that Bound for Glory is as good or better than No Surrender!

Ok so with the TNA talk done lets take a look at this week’s Smackdown!

The show opens with highlights of Teddy Long screwing the Undertaker and the god awful limo segment from last week! All of you were spot on with your comments regarding this garabage!

Opening Segment: CM Punk & Teddy Long

Justin Roberts announces the First and Only Straight Edged World Champion in History: CM Punk who comes out to a mammoth amount of heat from the fans. Punk talks about how the fans destroy billions of brain cells every day with their abuse of substances. Punk said the reason he is bringing this up is because he feels we have forgotten his accomplishments and he runs down he world title history, MITB wins and the fact he got rid of Jeff Hardy FORVEVER as well as making the Undertaker “tap out” to the Anaconda Vice and he achieved all of this without any drugs, alcohol or help from the fans. Punk demands that anyone in a position of power comes out and treats him with the respect he deserves as he is not only the face of Smackdown but the poster boy for a new generation and he deserves to know his next opponent now he has defeated the all powerful Undertaker. Punk waits before saying that there isn’t anyone left but then Druid music hits and they approach the arena slowly and bearing a coffin whilst Punk looks on disturbed. Punk flees the ring and grabs a chair as the druids leave the coffin at ringside and disappear. Punk eyes the coffin cautiously before belting it with the chair, this does nothing and Punk opens the coffin to find Teddy Long bound and gagged inside. Punk grabs the mic and says he was expecting someone else but obviously the Undertaker is too scared to come out and face him. Punk tells Long he looks terrible and like he has been on an all night bender like the fans go on. Punk then rolls Teddy into the ring and releases his bonds and Long grabs the mic. Long tells Punk that effective immediately the Undertaker’s Hell’s Gate Submission Hold is now 100% legal and at HIAC Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell and that is not all, tonight CM Punk will face The Undertaker in a match on Smackdown. Punk is furious as Long rolls from the ring and stumbles up the ramp.

Chris Considers: Great opening promo from Punk as always, this segment also set up out main event for HIAC as well as a great main event for tonight. As long as they do not try and say The Undertaker “possessed” Long to make him say these things as that would be a storyline straight out of SVR09!

Match 1: John Morrison & Finlay vs Dolph Ziggler & Mike Knox

Morrison gets a huge ovation from the fans as he makes his way to ringside . Grisham states what we have all been saying for weeks that Finlay’s music does not represent the wrestler in the slightest! We get highlights of the impressive match between Finlay and Ziggler on Superstars. No fact of the week from Knox this week as Ziggler is out quickly after him. Ziggler and Finlay start things off with Finlay taking Dolph down with a shoulder charge followed by a scoop slam before nailing a cheap shot on Knox. Finlay gets Dolph up but he makes a blind tag to Knox who enters the ring and delivers a thunderous jumping kick to the back of Finlay’s head. Knox drops knees and strikes before the referee pulls him off. Knox forces Finlay into the heel corner wand tags in Dolph who connects a flying clothesline. Dolph then applies a very unique headlock as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Knox has an Orton Lock applied but Finlay counters with a Stunner only to turn straight into a massive clothesline from the big man. Dolph is tagged back in and Knox prevents Finlay from making the tag as Dolph drops an elbow for a near fall. Dolph prevents Finlay from making the hot tag as the crowd go wild for the Friday Night Delight. Knox is tagged back in and he drops a knee for a one count before applying another Orton Lock. Knox drops some strikes to the back before tagging in Dolph who nails a stiff kick for a two count. Nice standing drop kick into a lateral press from Dolph for a near fall. Finlay tries for the hot tag but Dolph applies a seated full nelson and we get a nice amateur wrestling sequence from Dolph as he forces Finlay back into the middle of the ring. However Dolph misses a flying elbow and Finlay makes the hot tag and the crowd go wild as Morrison enters the match for the first time. Dolph makes the tag to Knox and Morrison ducks and slides under his cumbersome strikes before getting a boot up in the corner and nailing a beautiful top rope head scissors followed by a flying leg lariat and standing shooting star press for a near fall. Awesome sequence! Morrison connects some mounted punches in the corner but Knox shoves him off and nails a big boot before connecting a cheap shot on Finlay but this gives Morrison chance to recover and he connects his Flying Chuck Kick for a two count which Ziggler breaks up. Dolph tries to hit some sort of move on Morrison as Knox is charging in for a crossbody which Morrison ducks and Knox subsequently annihilates Dolph with the move! Knox forces Morrison into the corner but Finlay nails a shelaighlee strike whilst the referee is tending to Dolph and Morrison connects Starship Pain for the pinfall and victory.

Result: John Morrison & Finlay defeat Mike Knox and Dolph Ziggler via pinfall ***

Chris Considers: That was probably one of the better two separate feuds thrown together tag matches that I have seen for some time. The sequence that Morrison hit on Knox with the top rope head scissors, leg lariat and standing SSP was breath taking and the spot where Knox accidentally nailed Dolph was timed to perfection. Somehow John Morrison can make a ten minute match on Smackdown more entertaining than a half hour of Cena vs Orton on PPV!

We see Cryme Tyme backstage with Jesse and they talk some gangsta and Shad tells Jesse to prove himself to which Jesse tells them he is ready. JTG gives Jesse some spray paint and he runs into a an office and steals some DVDs . It turns out to be Long’s office and he is not impressed as Cryme Tyme flee the scene and Long tells Jesse he has a match tonight and hauls him off to the ring.

We get a video hyping John Cena’s first ever HIAC appearance. Well he pretty much wins every other first time match he has ever had so I don’t see why this one is going to be any different.

Match 2: Slam Master J vs Kane

Jesse must have really upset Long as Kane stalks his way to the ring looking mean as ever. Big boot from Kane but Jesse then evades some offence and nails some strikes and a low drop kick but Kane comes back with strikes and a Sidewalk Slam. Kane calls for the Chokeslam and connects it for the pinfall and victory.

Result: Kane defeats Slam Master J via pinfall ¼*

Chris Considers: That was awful! I actually think Kane vs Khali from last week was better! I guess the future is not too bright for Jesse unless they are planning on using him in a comedy jobber role. Kane is actually on a massive role right now as prior to his feud with and subsequent annihilation of Khali he defeated Jeff and Rey as well as beating the heck out of Morrison. I sense he may be stepping back up towards the top of the card at some point in the near future.

We see Vince walking backstage and Punk chases him down. Punk asks Vince if he is going to allow Teddy Long to do this to him and Vince tells Punk he should have thought about it more carefully before teaming up with Long and the referee to screw the Undertaker. Punk makes as if to say it was all Vince’s idea but Vince quickly tells Punk that it was his conspiracy and walks off. Hmmm a Vince vs Undertaker feud? Intriguing!

In Ring Segment: Vince McMahon, Drew McIntyre & R-Truth

Vince comes out to a huge pop and thanks the fans for their welcome after strutting his way to the ring. Vince says it reminds him of being home but then why would have Vince have a home in Oklahoma and live in this backwards Hill Billy state. Vince says if he lived here he would become a personification of Porky the Pig and he then takes a crack at JR. Vince then promotes next week’s special decade of Smackdown celebration where they will be celebrating stars of the past like the Rock and Austin and the present: Batista and Undertaker. Vince announces that DX and Cena will be present on Smackdown next week. Vince says it is time to introduce to someone he personally signed to Smackdown, someone that reminds him of himself, a man with high intellect and a hugely aggressive as well as being good looking and a guaranteed future world champion and quite simply bad ass. Vince introduces Drew McIntyre who comes out in a suit to plenty of heat. Drew shakes Vince’s hand and he leaves the ring. Drew gets on the mic and says he would like to say he is surprised to but he is not and there is nobody on the Smackdown roster who can match his potential or aggression and seeing as Teddy Long has not been paying attention to his own show the last few weeks it has taken the chairman of the board to sign a true superstar to Smackdown. Drew says that next week they are celebrating the icons of the past but the following week and every week after that it will all be about him. Drew says there is a party planned later with all the members of the roster welcoming him to Smackdown and the party is just starting. R-Truth’s music hits and he raps his way to the ring whilst Drew seethes in fury. Truth says he will tell Drew whats up and welcomes him to Smackdown before leaping in the ring and attacking McIntyre with repeated strikes. Referees break it up and McIntyre is shaking with rage as he stalks back up the ramp.

Chris Considers: I cannot recall being so torn by one segment in quite some time. On one hand I hated the fact that Vince was on Smackdown and equally his ridiculous face/heel switch thing he does seemingly EVERY time he comes to Friday nights. On the other hand he mentioned The Rock for next week which makes me hope that Dwayne will at least in some way make an appearance. Vince also gave Drew McIntyre the ultimate rub as and up and coming heel as anyone who is put over as a big deal by a heel Vince, will instantly become a big deal on TV! Drew was very strong on the mic and the brawl with Truth was good and left me itching to see them have a real match!

Match 3: Batista vs The Big Show with Chris Jericho

With get highlights of Batista taking out Jericho last week before Big Show makes his way to the ring drawing plenty of heat. Batista gets his usual massive ovation, perhaps live audiences are so overawed by his look that they forget what a poor in ring worker he is! Batista stares down Jericho as he poses on the turnbuckle. Jericho hurls abuse at Jericho as the match gets underway. Massive ‘Batista’ chant as Nig Show shoves Batista across the ring. The two lock up and Show shoves Batista over. Jericho asks JR if he just saw Show shove Batista over like a rag doll! Batista ducks under a punch and connects some strikes and goes for a shoulder block but Big Show knocks him to the mat once again. Show uses the ropes to choke Batista whilst Jericho mocks the crowd. Big chop from Show in the corner followed by another one as Jericho riles up the fans further. Show mocks Batista, who retaliates with punches but Show obliterates him with a clothesline followed by the usual punches to the stomach but Batista tries to come back with punches but gets hurled into the ropes. However The Animal then ducks under a big boot and Big Show gets hung up on the ropes and Batista charges and sends him crashing to the outside to a pop from the fans as we go to commercial. Back from the break and as if this match wasn’t slow enough already Show has an Orton Lock applied in the middle of the ring and we see Show had nailed a spear during the break after a distraction from Jericho. Batista powers out of the hold and nails a jaw breaker but Big Show locks in a bear hug as Jericho demands that JR tell us that Big Show is the real animal. Batista tries to power out but Show nails a nice leg drop for a near fall and Show then applies a bear hug on the mat. Batista fights to his feet and elbows Show off before coming back with strikes and getting a boot up in the corner but he runs right into a scoop slam from Show. Big Show goes for the splash that he always misses and surprise, surprise Batista rolls out of the way and comes back striking but Show shoves him off. Batista dodges a charge and Show falls into the turnbuckle and Batista nails a Spear. Batista goes for the Batista Bomb but does not have the strength to execute the move and Show sluggishly counters with a chokeslam attempt but Batista counters with elbows and then applies an ankle lock causing Show to scream in pain. Jericho hits the ring causing the disqualification and Batista nails a Spinebuster on Jericho followed by the ankle lock on Jericho making Y2J his bitch for the second week in a row. The Unified Tag Champs are in rolling (Jericho) and stumbling away (Show) as Batista poses in the ring.

Result: Batista defeats The Big Show via disqualification *

Chris Considers: From a technical and in ring stand point that was absolutely horrible. Aside from punches Batista hit a total of two moves on Show for the whole match: the spear and the ankle lock. What made this mildly entertaining was Jericho’s constant ranting and raving on the outside of the ring. I hated the finish whereby Jericho was made to look like Batista’s bitch for the second week in a row. And when Jericho caused the disqualification Show and Y2J should have been more than a match for The Animal, hell even Triple H put over Legacy when it was two on one! The one and only positive to come from this was all the hard work and effort creative have put in rebuilding Big Show as a dominant force was not ruined here as he dominated the entire match which made Batista’s two move fight back seem all the more ridiculous!

We see Long backstage and Vince walks in to the office. Vince asks Long why he looks so rough and Long tells him he has been to hell and back. Vince reiterates that Teddy, Punk and Armstrong screwing Undertaker was a bad idea and Vince then demands to know where his picture is. Of course this turns out to be what Jesse applied spray paint to earlier and its says Vinne 2 Da Mac all over the picture. Vince is furious with Long and tells him not to screw with him as he will make hell look like Summer School. My god Vince really needs to stay the hell off Smackdown, this is starting to get unbearable!

We get a video package of The Miz and John Morrison on an edition of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader. This actually looks pretty funny and I will try and check it out after it has aired in the states next week!

Match 4: JTG with Shad & Eve vs DH Smith with Tyson Kidd & Natalya

As far as I can recall this is Smith’s first proper singles match aside from his no contest effort with Khali a couple of weeks ago. This should be good! JTG immediately hits a pair of nice standing drop kicks followed a face buster in the corner for an early one count. Smith comes back with a knee and a clothesline and stomps away on JTG using the ropes. Nice powerslam from Smith for a near fall followed by a very innovative move which was something of an overhead slam into a back breaker type submission move. Smith forces JTG into the corner and drops some shoulders but JTG fights back with strikes and a diving punch before connecting a blockbuster and coming off the middle rope with a leg drop for a near fall. Natalya though puts Smith’s leg on the ropes and Tyson points this out to the referee. Eve snaps and attacks Natalya and tosses her into the ring and whilst Shad is cooling down Eve and the ref is getting Natlaya out of the ring, Tyson nails a nice drop kick to the head of JTG and Smith connects a back suplex for the pinfall and victory.

Result: DH Smith defeats JTG Via Pinfall *1/2

Chris Considers: A back suplex for a finisher? Seriously? Why didn’t Smith use his awesome delayed vertical suplex? Anyway what we got here was very good but really needed to go for a good five minutes longer to get into it. The slam into submission move from Smith was very innovative and shows how technically sound The Hart Dynasty are. I am a huge fan if this blossoming, albeit revisited, feud and these guys deserve to be given more time then this, hell keep Vince and the stupid video segments off the show and this could have been a decent length match!

Josh Matthews is backstage with Batista. Josh announces that at HIAC Batista will be challenging Jeri-Show for the titles alongside Rey Mysterio. You know what I am happy with this as it keeps Batista out of the title picture as well giving us the tantalising prospect of more ring action between Jericho and Mysterio. This should actually be a decent match and feud as it allows Mysterio and Jericho to work the majority of the match and Big Show and Batista to lumber in for big spots.

Main Event: The First and Only Straight Edged World Champion in History: CM Punk vs The Undertaker

CM Punk comes to the ring smiling and posing to the heat from the fans. Punk fires himself up in the ring as The Deadman’s music hits and he once again appears clad in his WM24 gear. Punk flees the ring as Taker enters and stares him down and then makes his way cautiously back into the ring. The two circle as the match gets underway and Punk ducks under some strikes before backing into a corner and trying to run once again but Taker hauls him back into the corner and hits some strikes and elbows. Taker whips Punk across the ring and goes for a flying clothesline but Punk gets a boot up and nails a series of strikes and kicks leading to the referee hauling him off. This enrages Taker who tosses Punk out of the ring like he was nothing as we got commercial. Back from the break and Punk is kicking away in the ring but Taker fights out of a headlock and drops Punk with a shoulder charge before tossing him out of the ring once again and Punk tries to run away leading to a chase round the ring. Punk tries to catch Undertaker as he gets back in the ring but Taker is wise to it and bounces Punk’s head off the ropes before setting him up on the apron and dropping a series of elbows before a vintage Taker apron leg drop. Taker strikes away and hurls Punk back into the ring and sets him up in the corner before striking away further. Hammerlock from Taker and he goes for Old School which Punk counters and crotches Taker on the tunbuckle before nailing a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk goes for the superplex but Taker nails a succession of strikes to the body sending Punk crashing back to the mat but Punk is straight back with elbows and headbutts before setting up the superplex once again and this time connecting it. Both men are down and Punk crawls over for the cover and gets a near fall. Punk nails a series of kicks to the spine followed by a leg drop for another near fall and Punk then applies a finger four headlock and demands the referee ask him but Taker chokes Punk and sets up for the Chokeslame but Punk nails some quick kicks and a low drop kick sending the Deadman to the mat. The two duke it out with strikes and kicks before Taker nails a charging clothesline in the corner followed by the snake eyes/big boot/leg drop combo. Taker calls for the chokeslam once again but Punk counters with a roundhouse to the temple. Punk goes for the cover but Undertaker applies Hells Gate but Punk gets his feet on the ropes making him the only man I can remember to ever break the hold. Punk has had enough and tries to leave with the belt but walks right into a big right hand from Taker who then hurls the title back in the ring before ripping the cover off the announce desk and attempting a Last Ride through the table but Punk leaps over Taker’s head and climbs back in the ring just as the referee hits the Ten Count causing Punk to win via countout. Punk mocks the Undertaker’s victory pose as Smackdown goes off the air.

Result: CM Punk defeats The Undertaker via Countout ***

Chris Considers: This was as good, if not better than their Breaking Point match because it had no screwy finish! Despite the big size difference, these two work very well together and the striking exchanges are exciting as it has become what they are both known best for in WWE. I like the way the ending was booked as Punk basically outsmarted Taker and got another one over on him which helped further the feud. I also love how Punk became (correct me if I’m wrong here) the first man to make it to the ropes when locked in Hells Gate. A very good main event that went a long way to saving a pretty lacklustre show.

Well last week Batista sucked the life out of the show and whilst he had an awful match this week, he is not to blame. Nope the blame for the bad parts of tonight’s show lay firmly on the shoulder’s of Vince and his constant need to be in the spotlight. I hate his face on RAW, heel on Smackdown rouitine, I hate him revisiting old storylines where it will turn out he is the one who is messing with Undertaker and masterminding the whole thing. It seems to me due to the celebrity guest hosts on RAW Vince feels the need to be on TV so he comes to Smackdown and this sucks. His interactions with Teddy Long suggest we may well have a new general manager before too long as well! There were also too many assorted promo videos throughout the show plugging various things such as DVDs and RAW and I felt the fact there were so many led to a very disjointed viewing experience! As I already said Batista vs Show sucked, Kane vs Jesse was awful and JTG vs DH Smith was not given the time it deserved. However Morrison, Finlay, Dolph and Knox gave us a very solid six man tag match and the main event between Punk and Taker was also very good, albeit a little short once again. The one good thing of Vince on the show was the way he put over Drew McIntyre and it shows hopefully what a big deal this guy will become. I cannot wait to see him in an actual match! Overall then another decidedly average show which was saved by two matches, Drew McIntyre and Punk’s opening promo.

This week’s match of the night was Undertaker vs CM Punk and the show scores a 7/10

Well I shall be back next week with more Chris Reviews Smackdownandof course The Talent Exchange. I hope you all have a great week!

Email me on a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com , add me on facebook: www.facebook.com\wnws.chris.jacks  or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/WNWsChrisJacks  I would love to hear from you!

Here are ten points to consider coming out of this week’s show
• I am WWE did not try and pull a Teddy Long has been possessed by the dark power of The Undertaker storyline on us! After last week’s theatrics I was really starting to worry…
• I think Vince is trying to make a point that Jeff Hardy is done with WWE. The amount of emphasis Punk our on FOREVER was interesting to say the least!
• I cannot recall a better two separate feuds thrown together in a random tag match than the one between Finlay & Morrison vs Knox & Dolph. The crowd were really in to Morrison!
• What a cool spot with Knox nailing Dolph by accident, the legitimately looked like it annihilated Dolph!
• Poor Jesse, it does not look good for him when he gets destroyed so utterly by Kane in a matter of seconds…
• Speaking of Kane, he is being built as quite a force on Smackdown, I wonder if his match with Matt on Superstars is an indication of a feud between the two?
• I cannot actually believe Batista hit two actual moves in that match and was on the verge of winning after being dominated for the ENTIRE thing. And it is so frustrating that Jericho had to take the fall yet again for Dave’s ego. As I said even Triple H would put (some) guys over in a two on situation
• But I am so happy that Batista is being kept out of the title picture and out in a tag feud instead! This means more ring action between Jericho and Mysterio and Big Show and Batista being kept to a minimum whilst their smaller and more skilful counterparts work the match
• Is he heel? Is he face? Who knows? Damn Vince is really starting to bug me, why cant he just stay away! And if he does eventually reveal himself as the “mastermind” behind screwing The Undertaker then I guess he will be on Smackdown indefinitely… at least he gave Drew McIntyre the ultimate start to a mega push!
• So great to see Punk outwit the Undertaker, that doesn’t happen very often and shows just how much Taker respects Punk and wants to make him look good! Plus he made it to the ropes for Hells Gate!!!

My top ten matches of the year so far in WWE

1: The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania – April 5th 2009
2: Legacy vs DeGeneration X – Breaking Point – September 13th 2009
3: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Smackdown – August 28th 2009
4: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – The Bash – June 28th 2009
5: Rey Mysterio vs John Morrison – Smackdown – August 4th 2009
6: CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy – Summerslam – August 23rd 2009
7: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Smackdown – July 10th 2009
8: Jeff Hardy vs John Morrison – Smackdown – July 31st 2009
9: John Morrison vs CM Punk – Smackdown – June 26th 2009
10: Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho – Judgement Day – May 17th 2009

Smackdown Power 10

1: CM Punk
2: The Undertaker
3: John Morrison
4: Dolph Ziggler
5: Jeri-Show
6: The Hart Dynasty (+1)
7: Batista (+1)
8: Kane (+1)
9: Cryme Tyme (-3)
10: Mike Knox (NE)

Watch any WWE programming you miss at www.Dailymotion.com , your online source for TV shows!