WWE Smackdown on The CW
Taped August 12 in Norfolk, Va.

[Q1] Highlights aired from last week's show of the latest chapter in the Edge and Vickie Guerrero storyline... Jim Ross and Tazz introduced the story from ringside...

1. Jeff Hardy beat Shelton Benjamin fought Jeff Hardy by DQ in a U.S. Title match in 15:30. The always well prepared Jim Ross ran through more U.S. Title history before the bell. He's also hard on himself, as he mentioned that he confuses the Whisper in the Wind and the Twist of Fate sometimes. The show cut to commercial a few minutes into the match.

[Q2] [C] Shelton controlled the offense after the commercial break and become frustrated when Hardy kicked out of his pinfall attempts. Later, Benjamin jumped over the top rope and tried to turn a sunset flip into a powerbomb off the ring apron, but Hardy blocked the move and turned it into a huracanrana. In the end, Hardy went up top for a Swanton, but MVP ran out and pushed him him down to end the match.

Afterward, MVP lined up Hardy for a kick, but Hardy moved and the kick caught Shelton in the chops. Hardy hit the Twist of Fate and a Swanton on MVP and then on Benjamin...

Powell's POV: The finish was predictable to anyone who has been watching the show lately, but the match was entertaining while it lasted. Benjamin was aggressive and got plenty of offense against Hardy. I hope they do more with MVP and Hardy tonight because he got the better of MVP here, so there's no need to pay to see him get revenge at SummerSlam.

Backstage, Victoria comforted a paranoid Vickie, who was concerned about Edge and Undertaker coming after her... A graphic hyped that Triple H would be in action during the show...

[Q3] [C] 2. Natalya and Maryse beat Maria and Michelle McCool in 3:10. Maryse spiced up her ring entrance it's a big improvement over that uninterested look she had previously. After some forgettable action, Natalya took down McCool by the legs and cradled her for the pin. Ross called it a great illustration of leverage...

Powell's POV: That was an even better illustration of Diva filler.

Another Triple H teaser aired... [C] Brian Kendrick cut a promo while Ezekiel Jackson stood by. Good mic work. He said he's successful because he doesn't care what the fans think.

[Q4] 3. The Brian Kendrick (w/Ezekiel Jackson) pinned Scotty Goldman in 2:45. Goldman is better known to everyone as Colt Cabana. He did a pre-tape in which he acted like he was tripped out by seeing himself "in a box" (a/k/a the television monitor). There were some boring chants, but there was a nice pop when Goldman hit his version of Iceman Parsons' Butt-Butt.

Kendrick came back a short time later with The Kendrick and scored the pin. After the match, Jackson hit Goldman with a shoulder block.

Powell's POV: The live crowd wasn't very impressed with this match. They pretty much sat on their hands and only reacted for the big spots. Kendrick is highly entertaining, and it was good to see Colt make his WWE debut. I met him a few times when he worked the local indy shows and he was a great guy.

Highlights aired of Great Khali applying the head vice to Triple H last week... Backstage, Eve asked Hunter whether he's mentally or physically ready to face Khali at SummerSlam. Kenny Dykstra interrupted the interview and said Hunter should be more concerned with him because he was going to take advantage of his opportunity when they meet later in the show. Hunter said he admired Dykstra's "spirit," he picked the wrong day and the wrong guy... [C]

Powell's POV: Short and sweet angle to set up the match. It's nice to see Dykstra again. That being said, I worry for anyone we haven't seen on television in a while because the trend seems to be to have them lose on television before releasing them.

[Q5] Great Khali and Ranjin Singh made their entrance. Khali cut a promo. The crowd chanted, "What?" whenever he paused. I'll never get over how popular the "What?" thing became. Singh took the mic and interpreted. He concluded by saying Hunter should get out while he still holds the title or Great Khali will take it from him.

Triple H's music played and he made his entrance to a huge ovation. Khali and Singh headed to ringside. Ranjin sat in on commentary while Khali stood by and stared at Hunter...

4. Triple H vs. Kenny Dykstra in a non-title match. Dykstra was aggressive with punches and shoulder blocks at the start of the match. Hunter sold for him for about 30 seconds and then took control with a clothesline. The rest of the match was all Hunter. He looked at Khali and then hit the Pedigree for the win.

After the match, Hunter turned his full attention to Khali. He placed the WWE Title belt on the mat in front of him and challenged Khali to enter the ring. Hunter headed to ringside toward Khali, but Ranjin cut him off. He asked if Hunter was out of his mind after last week.

Hunter grabbed Ranjin by the throat and brought him inside the ring. Hunter teased that he would punch the interpreter until Khali climbed onto the ring apron. Hunter and Khali went at it inside the ring. Hunter went for the Pedigree, but Khali blocked it. Moments later, Hunter clotheslined Khali over the top rope and to the floor at ringside... [C]

Powell's POV: Hunter just proved he can knock the giant off his feet and pretty much have his way with him, so there's no reason to order the pay-per-view. Strange booking tonight with two babyfaces getting the better of their pay-per-view opponents.

[Q6] 5. Big Show squashed Ryan Braddock in 1:25. Braddock was given generic entrance music and a generic graphic on the big screen. Show dominated the match and knocked him out with a punch before scoring the pin...

Powell's POV: I think Braddock also worked on my local indy scene as Brad Bradley, but I don't remember much about him.

Backstage, MVP cut a promo in front of his locker room. He said he was going to bury Hardy. He said if Hardy felt bad when he was suspended, when his house burned down, or when his dog died, he'll feel even worse when MVP proves, "I am better than you"... [C]

Backstage, Vickie vented to Victoria again. She began freaking out and asked Victoria to help her leave the building...

The latest R-Truth vignette aired. He narrated the piece while footage aired of him working out in what appeared to be a warehouse boxing gym...

Victoria wheeled Vickie to her limo. When she got to the rear door, Edge rolled down the window. Victoria scrammed as Vickie panicked. Edge helped the panicked Vickie back into her wheelchair and said he wanted to take her for a ride... [C]

[Q7] 6. Vladimir Kozlov pinned Festus (w/Jesse) in 3:00. Festus dominated the offense, but Kozlov caught him with a head butt to the chest and scored the clean pin... [C] A video aired on the John Cena vs. Batista feud. They almost made the buildup seem interesting via the clips they showed...

Backstage, Edge pushed Vickie in the wheelchair as Vickie screamed in terror. Edge told her the last part of the ride would be him taking her to the ring. "Buckle up," he said...

[Q8] [C] Highlights aired of the Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho feud along with clips of HBK stating that he would announce what his future holds at SummerSlam...

Edge wheeled the crying Vickie to ringside and then tilted the wheelchair forward, which made her tumble onto the floor. He grabbed a mic and dramatically fell down right beside her. He said they've been going through a rough patch. "But every marriage does, right?" Edge asked.

He reminded her that they took "for better or worse" vows. He pulled her in and reminded her that he's a good cuddler. He said he wanted to take a trip down memory lane. He aired footage of everything that has happened in their storyline since Triple H played their wedding video, which includes the segment with Mick Foley and Edge attack on La Familia.

Back in the building, with Edge and Vickie still lying on the floor at ringside, Edge made her apologize for what she did to Undertaker. He told her that she's pathetic and blamed her for everything. He challenged Undertaker to come out and vowed to show him "the purest form of hell that you've ever been in."

Edge turned his attention back to Vickie. He hovered over her and brought up "for better or worse" vows and said they could apply to the Hell in a Cell match. "Edge vs. Undertaker, till death do us part," he concluded. Edge stared toward the sky while squatting over the sobbing Vickie to close the show...

Powell's POV: Very good performances Vickie and especially Edge. WWE actually held off and waited until SummerSlam to bring back Undertaker. I thought they might lose their patience and bring him back sooner or at least do the hocus pokus stuff with the lights, but they put the entire spotlight on Edge and Vickie. Well done. I'll have a lot more to say about the show in the WWE Smackdown Hitlist, which Dot Net Members will get the first look at shortly.

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