WWE Smackdown on The CW Network
Taped 8/19/08 in Moline, IL

[Q1] Footage aired of the return of The Undertaker last Sunday at SummerSlam...

The opening video aired and fireworks lit up the stage. JR and Tazz welcomed us to the show. They plugged tonight's card...

Vickie Guerrero appeared via Titantron promo and explained the rules of the upcoming Championship Scramble...

Maria made her ring entrance... [C]

1. Maria defeated Natalya by disqualification in 3:26. JR and Tazz were on their game here plugging both Maria and Natalya. Maryse came down and attacked Maria to avenge her broken nose from a couple of weeks back...

Twill's Two Cents: Throwaway match in what should be a more important division.

[Q2] Big Show approached Vickie, Chavo Guerrero, and Bam Neely backstage. Show said he loved the idea of the Championship Scramble and wondered who he needed to beat to get into the match. Vickie said it was an oversight but Show was not included. Show said it was okay and he walked away...

Show's music hit and he came down to the ring... [C]

Did you know? More people watched Smackdown last Friday than the NFL on Fox...

2. The Brian Kendrick defeated Curt Hawkins, Zach Ryder, Scotty Goldman, Funaki, Jimmy Wang Yang, Vladimir Kozlov, Super Crazy, and Armando Estrada in a battle royal to qualify for the Championship Scramble in 3:17. Kozlov was the first to be eliminated. Does that count as a loss?

Big Show, who was sitting at ringside but not involved in the match, came into the ring and started eliminating everyone. Funny. He knocked Kendrick over the top but Ezekiel Jackson caught him before he hit the floor. Show left the ring over the top and since Kendrick was the only one not officially eliminated, he was declared the winner...

Twill's Two Cents: Show is awesome. He is a company guy and deserves good things. I am thrilled to see Kendrick in a PPV main event. I would not mind seeing him win the title once in the scramble.

JR plugged the first appearance on Smackdown by The Undertaker in months... [C]

[Q3] In case you just tuned in, they ran down the entire battle royal...

JR plugged the latest R-Truth video. Killings talked about what the truth means to him. He said the truth is becoming better every day and building a better future...

Twill's Two Cents: I applaud the videos but debut the guy already!

3. MVP defeated Festus (with Jesse) by countout to qualify for the Championship Scramble in 7:59. Festus took control at the bell as he usually does. Porter took the advantage and worked over the bicep and arm of Festus. He slowed things down with an armbar.

MVP scored a nearfall with a single arm DDT. After a short time with Festus in control, MVP regained the advantage by continuing to work on the arm of Festus. Festus began hitting multiple right hands followed by a shoulder block. Both men went to the floor. MVP gave Jesse the Drive-by kick and entered the ring. Festus checked on Jesse and did not beat the count...

Twill's Two Cents: Good match. Festus can work a match with just about anyone and MVP continues to impress in the ring.

[Q4] After the match, Festus went catatonic and MVP kicked him out of the ring...

JR plugged Finlay vs. Shelton Benjamin in a Championship Scramble match... [C]

4. Shelton Benjamin defeated Finlay (with Hornswoggle) in 16:19. Shelton gave a promo about the being the United States Champion but held the belt upside down. Finlay worked over the leg of Shelton in the early going of the match.

[Q5] Midway during the match, Benjamin knocked Finlay to the floor as the show went to commercial... [C]

Coming back from the break, Finlay reversed Benjamin's advantage by hitting a jawbreaker. With Finlay on the offensive, Mike Knox came down and abducted Hornswoggle. Finlay paid too much attention to Knox and Benjamin hit Pay Dirt for the win... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Very good match with Finlay using his strengths and Benjamin continuing to show why he is one of the best in ring workers in WWE today.

[Q6] Footage aired of the Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho confrontation from SummerSlam...

Backstage, Chavo, Vickie, and Bam talked about why The Undertaker has not shown up yet tonight. They talked about Vickie giving an apology to The Undertaker...

Triple H came down to the ring and did his usual shtick... [C]

[Q7] 5. Jeff Hardy defeated The Great Khali (with Ranjin Singh) to qualify for the Championship Scramble in 5:16. Hardy worked on Khali's legs early in the match. Khali used his power to sustain the advantage throughout the match before Hardy hit a Twist of Fate out of nowhere. After chaos ensued, Triple H hit Khali with a chair, allowing Hardy to hit the Whisper in the Wind and Swanton for the win... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: The correct guy won here and the Championship Scramble is shaping up to be an interesting match.

Triple H stood in the middle of the ring and ran down his opponents for the WWE Championship match at Unforgiven. All of a sudden, Kenny Dykstra came down and wondered why he was not considered for the Championship Scramble. H gave him a Pedigree. He said, "thanks for coming Kenny."...

[Q8] Backstage, La Familia banded together to go apologize to The Undertaker as a family... [C]

Vickie Guerrero and La Familia stood (sat) in the middle of the ring to give a pre-written statement. Vickie said she was a great woman and was willing to apologize to The Undertaker. Vickie stood up and introduced The Undertaker...

Taker came down to the ring and did his usual stuff. Vickie told Taker she delivered Edge to him inside Hell in a Cell. She asked for forgiveness and got down on her knees to apologize. She begged him to accept his apology.

Taker sounded more demonic than usual. He said was not looking for an apology; he was looking for her soul. La Familia attacked Taker and he succumbed to the numbers game. However, he was able to overcome and take out all of La Familia. Vickie retreated up the ramp and Taker did his throat slash...

Twill's Two Cents: Disappointing final segment given what Edge has given us in the past few weeks.

What did you think of the show? Let me know by shooting an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com.

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