Hey everyone and welcome to this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. I have been incredibly busy at work this week, building two huge cable systems that are being fitted on an oil rig so no time for pre show notes unfortunately. Lets get right into it!

One quick note before I start, I am STILL waiting for the useless British postal service to deliver my imported copy of Fozzy’s new album: Chasing The Grail. As soon as I get it I will sit down and review the CD so expect it some time within the next few days!

Opening Segment: Chris Jericho

Grisham and Striker welcome us to ringside and hype tonight’s qualifying matches for the Smackdown Elimination Chamber. Jericho’s music hits and he storms to ringside suited up and looking furious. Jericho says tonight was supposed to be his night and he should be standing here victorious as winner of the 2010 Royal Rumble but he is not as the honour was taken away from him and with it the main event of Wrestlemania 26. Jericho says he has been preparing for that main event ever since he beat four men in the same night at Wrestlemania 25 and ten months of planning was ruined in ten seconds by Edge (the crowd pop for Edge’s name) Jericho says Edge was entered into the Rumble under false pretences and wasn’t even scheduled to return and did not deserve to win because Jericho deserved it. Jericho says whilst Edge has been at home rehabbing Jericho has been carrying the company on his back for the past seven months, winning championships, filling arenas and accruing accomplishments every single night and now just because Edge is back that is all anyone can talk about. Jericho asks why people are cheering for Edge because he is a con artist just like the fans, Jericho says Edge is the same man who has no heart, no passion and no fire and who had the audacity to walk out on Jericho when they were tag team champions. Now Edge is going to the main event of Wrestlemania and Jericho is left with nothing. Jericho says he is too good for nothing and Long tells him he has to qualify for the Elimination Chamber, well Jericho qualifies for nothing and he demands Long come out and rectify this situation, Jericho wants repercussions against Edge and things made right for him because he is the face of Smackdown and everyone knows it. Long doesn’t show and Jericho calls him out again and once again nothing and Jericho storms out of the ring and heads to the back. We see Jericho storming around backstage, screaming at the Hart Dynasty and random crew members and asking where Long’s office is. Jericho storms into the office and rips down a newspaper, thinking it was Long but it was Edge who gets a pop from the live crowd. Edge says Jericho looks like he has seen a ghost and he has seen that look before, right about the time he eliminated him from the Royal Rumble! Edge says Jericho is the reason Edge is back as he lit a fire in him and made him train every second of every day and Edge wants to thank him as he has created a monster. Jericho snarls that if he created a monster he can slay it and Edge will regret ever coming back. Edge tells Jericho, no it is you who will regret me coming back but tonight Edge wants to celebrate and he will bring back the Cutting Edge and tonight his special guest will be a man Edge can face at Wrestlemania: The Undertaker. Edge smiles as Jericho storms out.

Chris Considers: Brilliant opening segment from two of the best mic workers in the business! This had me hooked from start to finish. So great to see Edge back on Friday Night Smackdown where he belongs! This intro also succeeded in keeping the audience drawn in for the Cutting Edge later. Great stuff!

Match One: Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match; Drew McIntyre vs Kane vs John Morrison

Drew McIntyre gets some decent heel heat on his way to the ring and he slowly stalks down to the ring and holds his Intercontinental championship high. Morrison gets a good pop as Drew stares on from the ring. Kane gets a mixed reaction as he breaks up a potential scuffle between Drew and Morrison and the match is underway! Morrison takes it to Drew and Kane with strikes but Drew clubs him from behind and goes to work on Kane but Morrison is up and catches Drew in a roll up for a two count. Kane tries for a double chokeslam but eats a double team DDT from Drew and Morrison who then strike away at each other before Morrison crossbodys Drew from the ring! We go to commercial and when we return Drew is really taking it to Kane in the ring with strikes but Kane comes back with some uppercuts and a kick before connecting an overhead takeover followed by a low dropkick to the face for a near fall which Morrison breaks up. Morrison strikes away at Kane before turning his attentions to Drew who reverses a head scissors with a brutal back breaker but Kane breaks up the pin attempt and as Drew attempts a charge Kane drops him with a big boot. Kane heads to the top rope but Morrison springs up out of nowhere with a pele kick crotching Kane but Drew quickly clotheslines Morrison from the ring and attempts a superplex on the downed big red machine but Kane shoves him off. Drew immediately tries to cut off Kane’s flaying top rope clothesline but Kane grabs him and goes for the chokeslam but Morrison leaps back into the ring and nails the Flying Chuck on both men before hitting Drew with clotheslines and a drop kick and Kane with a drop kick and leg lariat for a near fall which Drew breaks up. Drew kicks Morrison in the head and tries for another back breaker but Morrison counters with a tilt-a-whirl DDT for a near fall which Kane breaks up. All three men are down but Kane is up first and takes it to Drew and Morrison with running clotheslines before clotheslining Drew from the ring. Morrison slides under a clothesline from Kane who fires back with a Sidewalk Slam before heading back to the top rope and connects a diving clothesline. Kane calls for the chokeslam but Drew storms back into the ring and nails Kane several times with his Intercontinental belt before connecting his Future Shock DDT for a near fall which Morrison breaks up with a drive by knee. Morrison connects Starship Pain on Kane for the pinfall and victory to a big pop from the fans. Morrison celebrates with the fans who are really psyched for him following the match.

Result: John Morrison defeats Kane and Drew McIntyre via pinfall to qualify for the Smackdown Elimination Chamber ***

Chris Considers: Excellent triple threat match that succeeded in getting Morrison over in a big way but also kept Drew looking strong and undefeated. I had to watch this FIVE times to cover it, some of the action was so quick! I loved Morrison nailing both men with the Flying Chuck and can honestly say even with just Undertaker vs Morrison I am already looking forward to the Smackdown Chamber more than the RAW one!

Match Two: Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: R-Truth vs Mike Knox

I am glad WWE have finally clicked on to how over Truth is an are pushing him accordingly. At least we have one former TNA guy flying high in WWE, lets hope Christian soon will be as well! Truth is seriously over with the Memphis crowd whereas Mike Knox gets not much of a reaction at all. This is a shame because Knox was actually pretty decent in the RAW chamber last year. Truth applies a headlock but Knox shoves him off only for Truth to immediately leapfrog Knox in the corner and spilt under a charge but Knox decimates Truth with a flying cross body for a very close near fall. Scoop slam from Knox followed by a knee drop for another near fall. Knox pins again for a near fall and a loud ‘What’s Up’ chant erupts from the crowd. Truth holds down the ropes and sends Knox tumbling from the ring and follows up with a somersault to the outside taking Knox down. As Knox staggers back into the ring Truth flies off the top rope and connects a missile drop kick followed by a kick and his corkscrew elbow for the pinfall and victory. Truth pumps the crowd following his win.

Result: R-Truth defeats Mike Knox via pinfall to qualify for the Smackdown Elimination Chamber *1/2

Chris Considers: Short and to the point, I always feel Knox is chronically underused in WWE. However Truth is over enough to deserve a main event push and he remains exciting to watch. I think if this was any other point of the year he could certainly be considered a dark horse to win but with it being Wrestlemania season that is unlikely to happen.

We see some exclusive footage from RAW after it went of the air of Cena making the save for Bret only for Batista to deliver one hell of a savage beatdown. I am actually excited to see these two feud and best of all, no titles involved!

Backstage Segment: The Straight Edge Society

Punk tells Serena and Luke that without him they would not be and they agree. Punk says without the leader there is no Straight Edge Society. Punk says he says this because tonight he steps into the ring with Batista and we just saw what Batista did to Bret Hart and John Cena, and Batista has that in mind for Punk who so far has sheltered and taken care of Luke and Serena need to know what they are willing to do tonight to protect their saviour. Serena says she would do anything and Luke says if it meant preserving their society Luke would stick his head in a fire. Punk smiles and they make their way to the ring.

Chris Considers: Excellent short promo that just highlights how Punk is manipulating his disciples for his own gains.

Match Three: Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Batista vs CM Punk with Luke Gallows & Serena.

Batista makes his way out to a tonne of heat and does his Steiner-esque poses as he enters the ring. The Straight Edge Society get heat as well as they make their way out whilst Batista smirks in the ring. Batista lazes in the corner as the bell rings and Punk gets irate with the referee. Batista smiles as the crowd boo heavily (although perhaps at how badly this segment is bombing) Batista leaves the ring and walks up the ramp as the referee counts him out. Punk celebrates like he just won the World Title whilst Batista smiles and walk away.

Result: CM Punk defeats Batista via countout N/A

Chris Considers: Whilst I am very intrigued where they are taking Batista’s character (the man obsessed with the world title more than anything else) but it seems he is either joining with Vince against Bret or moving on to feud with Cena separately. However this made for some pretty crappy viewing for the live audience who shit all over it, and as much as I like the storyline I would have probably done the same!

Matt Hardy is walking backstage and bumps into Maria who he congratulates for her part in Celebrity Apprentice. Maria wishes Matt luck as he makes his way to the ring.

Match Four: Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Matt Hardy vs Chris Jericho

Matt comes out to a pop but nothing compared to what R-Truth got earlier in the night, perhaps the fans are resigned to the fact Matt is being buried in mid card obscurity for NO REASON OR FAULT OF HIS OWN! We miss Jericho’s entrance during the commercial and the match is underway when we return. Jericho ducks under the ropes and wastes time to heat from the fans. The two lock up and Matt forces Jericho into the corner who then demands the referee break the hold, exciting stuff this, as Jericho bails to the outside and walks around the ring. They lock up again and Jericho applies a headlock which Matt powers out from only to get dropped by shoulder block. Matt fires back with a clothesline and strikes away before hitting a somewhat sloppy clothesline and knocks Jericho into the ropes. Chris fires back with kicks but Matt tosses him over the ropes to the outside and drops Jericho with a diving clothesline but Jericho responds with a drop kick sending Matt into the steel steps. Matt makes it back into the ring at 9 as Jericho strikes away and connects and overhead takeover and applies a headlock as Matt is bleeding from the mouth. Matt fights out of the hold and goes for a roll up which earns a near fall. Jericho nails a vicious enzuguri for a close near fall as Matt staggers to his feet only to get choked on the ropes by Jericho. Jericho misses a charging shoulder and turns straight into a neckbreaker for a close near fall from Matt who then hits his running clothesline/bulldog combo for another near fall. Matt hits his middle rope elbow and calls for the Twist of Fate but Jericho counters with a reverse elbow and nails the Lionsault for a near fall. Jericho screams at the referee and ends up running into a Side Effect which gets its usual near fall. Jericho dodges a splash from Matt in the corner and tries for a pin using his legs on the ropes but the referee spots it and breaks it up. Jericho immediately applies the Walls but Matt rolls it through for a near fall. Matt tries for the Twist of Fate but Jericho grabs the ropes and Matt spins around to eat a Codebreaker giving Jericho the pinfall and victory.

Result: Chris Jericho defeats Matt Hardy via pinfall to qualify for the Smackdown Elimination Chamber **

Chris Considers: This was ok but nothing special. The lack of crowd response hurt the match and I think fans are starting to loose interest in Matt as he is buried and made to work with Khali. This is ridiculous, Matt has worked hard and deserves to be working at a much higher level than this, hopefully when Jeff’s legal issues are resolved Matt will get utilised more effectively. However this is to take nothing away from Elimination Chamber veteran Jericho who I think is red hot favourite to win the match, perhaps with an assist from a former sworn enemy

In Ring Segment: Mickie James & Beth Phoenix

Mickie comes out to a nice pop and says that ever since she was traded to Smackdown Michelle and Layla made her life hell and the insults hurt but at the Royal Rumble Mickie proved that by rising above and being true to yourself and everything you believe in is what a real champion is about and for anyone who tires to cut you down: what goes around comes around. Beth’s music hits and she strolls down to the ring as we see highlights of her eliminating Khali at the Rumble. Beth says whilst Mickie was celebrating her victory over two little girls, Beth was making history and participating in the Royal Rumble with 29 grown men. Beth says that put her in a league of her own and whilst she is proud of Mickie for standing up for what she believed in and in front of the entire WWE Universe had her moment in the sun. Beth reminds Mickie that she will take the Women’s title any time she wants. Mickie says if she wants a match all she had to do was ask. ‘Excuse Me!’ Vickie comes out to a tonne of heat and screams at Beth and Mickie that this is not how things are done and she will determine when a match is made. Vickie tells them they can face the true number one contender: Michelle McCool and her partner Layla. Both Beth and Mickie look pretty pissed.

Chris Considers: Nice promo here, both girls showed they can do something Michelle McCool cannot to save her life: talk on the mic! I think Beth vs Mickie would make for an excellent women’s Wrestlemania match!

Match Five: Mickie James & Beth Phoenix vs Michelle McCool & Layla

Beth and Michelle start out and Beth works over Michelle’s arm and dumps her on the mat. Michelle fires back with an uppercut but Beth nails a charging butt splash and drops a trio of shoulders in the corner. Michelle hits a drop kick to Beth’s leg and drops a series of elbows before continuing to work over the leg and earning a one count. Michelle locks in her heel hook submission hold but Beth kicks her off and as Layla squawks for a tag Beth sends her flying off the apron. Beth goes toe to toe with Michelle and drops a series of shoulder in the corner. Beth tags in Mickie but the punches her out with a right hand. Beth smiles at Michelle but drops her as well and leaves the ring. Layla is able to tag in but Mickie rolls her up for a quick three count. Mickie looks pissed and hurt with Beth as Layla and Michelle squawk away.

Result: Mickie James & Beth Phoenix defeat Michelle McCool & Layla via pinfall *

Chris Considers: Far too short to be meaningful but it was a good showcase of Beth’s power. I hope to see Beth and Michelle face off in a number one contenders match and Beth obliterate her! Layla is very good at sounding very annoying!

Word Up

After some A.K.As we learn this week’s word is King and they run down some famous kings from Memphis: BB King, Elvis (Shad then sings very badly) They then introduce Jerry Lawler and talk him up and he says it is good to be the king.

Chris Considers: Pointless and yet kind of cool for the live audience I guess. If they had done that with something related to London when I was there last year I would have appreciated it!

Match Six: Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Rey Mysterio vs Dolph Ziggler

Six matches already! No wonder only one of them has been any good! Well these two put on some great matches during their feud so if this is given ten minutes it should be really decent. Interesting to not Rey wearing DX colours! Bet Hunter and Shawn were livid when they saw that! Dolph with a quick waistlock take down followed by talking some smack but Rey kips up and the two circle before Dolph drops Rey with a clothesline and grounds Rey down with a series of pin attempts but Rey leaps up onto Dolph’s shoulders and hits a sunset flip for a near fall. Rey sits some buzzsaw style kicks on Dolph before sending him flying from the ring with a crossbody. Rey nails a springboard crossbody and tosses Dolph in the ring but Dolph runs and strikes Rey as he was climbing through the ropes and tries to charge him into the ring post but Rey punches clear and flies off the top rope only for Dolph to counter with a beautiful dropkick for a near fall. Dolph goes for a back suplex but Rey flips out and sends Dolph into the ropes and goes for a 619 but Dolph bails to the outside as we go to commercial. Back from the break and Dolph is striking away at Rey in the centre of the ring. Dolph sets up for a superplex only for Rey to punch him off but Dolph is quickly back up and this time connects a superplex for a near fall. Dolph stomps and strikes before applying a ground based torture rack. Dolph breaks the hold and drops elbows and punches before catapulting Rey into the ropes who lands on his feet. Rye ducks under a charge and drop toes holds Dolph into the turnbuckle before connecting seated senton for a near fall. Dolph tries a sunset flip but Rey rolls through and hits a stiff kick to the face which earns another near fall. Both men are down but Rey is up first and connects a wheelbarrow bulldog for another near fall. Dolph sends Rey into the turnbuckle but Rey leaps over him and tries a springboard crossbody but Dolph hits an AMAZING mid air counter into a powerslam for a near fall. Dolph immediately pins again for a near fall as a loud ‘619’ chant breaks out. Dolph hits a backbreaker and goes for a back suplex but Rey counters with a roll up which is good for the three. Dolph lunges at Rey after the match and Rey nails a 619 to a nice pop from the crowd.

Result: Rey Mysterio defeats Dolph Ziggler via pinfall to qualify for the Smackdown Elimination Chamber **

Chris Considers: Dolph looked really good in this match despite losing. Rey is defiantly suffering from his injuries and I think is in serious danger of ruining his career by working through to Wrestlemania. Still the Smackdown Chamber match is complete and features a good mix of established and up and coming main event talent.

Main Event: The Cutting Edge

Edge comes out to a nice pop and smiles to the crowd before saying it feels really good to be back. Edge says it feels good to be on Smackdown and good to be back home. Edge says in July he tore his Achilles tendon but every ounce of sweat and pain has been worth it to be here right now for this very moment. Edge defied the doctors and is now on the way to the main event of Wrestlemania. Edge says he could face his guest tonight The Undertaker or the WWE Champion Sheamus. Edge reminds us of the awesome opening to RAW on Monday when he speared the crap out of Sheamus and the crowd love it. Edge says that was fun but then Jericho’s music hits and he stomps to the ring. Edge looks amused as Jericho knocks a chair flying out of the way. Jericho says Edge talks about fun and how it feels good to be back and how Edge has been waiting for this moment, well Jericho was waiting for his moment to be in the main event of Wrestlemania but Edge took that away from him and Jericho is not going to stand here and listen to Edge bask in glory of his tainted victory. Jericho menacingly tells Edge that he did not deserve to win, Jericho did. Edge says here is one big reason why Jericho doesn’t deserve to win: Edge threw him over the top rope and eliminated him (pop from the crowd) Jericho asks Edge is he thinks he is better than him? Jericho need he remind Edge that he is the face of Smackdown. Edge says Chris is not the face on Smackdown and it is his own fault, Edge fires up and says he wanted to take something that was possibly a career ending injury, something that Edge has done for his entire adult life and dreamed about since he was a kid, and turn it in to a punch line? Edge says he wants to make Jericho eat those words and for the last six months he has had to watch Jericho all over TV saying he is the best in the world at what he does. Edge says he is sick of Jericho, sick of his suits and sick of that stupid look he has plastered all over his face all the time. Edge says he is sick of Jericho’s face all together and gets right up nose to nose but then Punk’s music hits and the Straight Edge Society make their way to the ring. Punk says Edge and Jericho almost look beautiful showing off their tragic flaws for the world to see. ‘You Suck’ chant from the crowd. Punk says no, he is better than everybody and does not suck and says Jericho and Edge look like two pill popping junkies arguing over the last fix. Punk says it is not about these two ego maniacs, it is about the Elimination Chamber and The Undertaker and who out of the three of them has had a bigger moment against The Undertaker than CM Punk: The Saviour of the WWE Universe. Punk says that whilst Edge was on vacation he must have seen Punk become the first superstar ever to make The Undertaker tap out. Punk says that is something Edge has never and will never do and certainly something Chris Jericho will never aspire to do either. Punk says he was the first man who was brave enough to challenge the WWE Universe to live one nation under Punk, indivisible, with integrity and sobriety for all. Punk says all these two cowards need do is look to the Elimination Chamber, Punk demands Jericho look at him, which Punk will win and become the four time straight edge champion of the world. The Undertaker’s gong hits and the lights go out and The Undertaker annihilates the Straight Edge Society whilst Edge spears Jericho, after a chokeslam to Punk from Taker, Edge teases a Spear but backs off and smiles and he and Taker circle each other as Smackdown goes off the air.

Chris Considers: The three best guys on the mic in WWE, all in the ring together at once! Hell yes! This was an awesome segment, and I actually think for the first time Punk owned both Jericho and Edge with hi s mic work. I think WWE need to quickly decide how they are going to push Edge as he currently seems to be in a bit of a tweener role and certainly does not yet have the full support of the fans. Some of his exchanges with Jericho even came off a bit heelish. I liked how for once Jericho was not backing down from a fight

This episode of Smackdown was great in terms of pay per view build, storyline development and teasing of potential feuds. Where it was decidedly average was the actual wrestling. The opening triple threat match was good whilst Ziggler vs Rey and Knox vs Truth were solid but the rest of the card were forgettable. But the main point of this show was to build the Elimination Chamber pay per view which it did very well and I liked how all the standard matches meant something even if some of them were forgettable. I loved Jericho and Edge continuing their hostility and the teases of Edge and Taker reigniting their rivalry although I think we may see them as a tag team partners sooner rather than later taking on Jericho and Punk. It was really great seeing Edge back and with such a heel heavy Smackdown, I hope WWE make what I believe to be the correct call and make him an out and out babyface.

This week’s match of the week was Morrison vs Kane vs McIntyre and the show scores a good 8/10

That is all for this week’s edition of Chris Reviews Smackdown. I shall be back with a Roadrunner blog as soon as Chasing The Grail arrives at my house, and then next weekend Kendra and I will be back with the second instalment of the E.A.X TNA prediction column. 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!

Due to the piss poor undercard of the Royal Rumble, the top ten matches of the year is still at this point on hold!

Smackdown Power 10

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

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

Tags: Batista, Beth Phoenix, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, drew mcintyre, Edge, Elimination Chamber, John Morrison, Kane, Layla, Luke Gallows, Matt Hardy, Michelle McCool, Mike Knox, R-Truth, Rey Mysterio, Serena, SmackDown, Smackdown Power 10, The Straight Edge Society