Smackdown on MyNetwork TV
Taped on 4/28/09 at Madison Square Garden.

[Q1]A video hyped MSG and the fatal fourway match…The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Jim Ross welcomed us to Smackdown. They hyped the fatal fourway again, along with the US Title match. Sherri Shepard will be in MVP’s corner. Oh goodie…

Pyro popped and Chris Jericho made his way to the ring in his suit and tie. Jericho said that even though his surroundings have changed, the crowd was still hypocrites and ignorant to how talented he is. He said he wasn’t going to introduce himself because he is the biggest superstar to ever be drafted to Smackdown. He said he had a mission statement, he’s taking over. He said from now on it was his show and nobody could do anything about it. He pointed out that he was the 2008 Superstar of the year. He said it was a travesty that he had to compete in a fatal fourway to determine the number one contender when he was already the number one contender. He said it didn’t matter in the end, he was going to win the fatal fourway and go on to win the World Heavyweight Championship at Judgment Day.

Edge’s music hit and he came to the ring in street clothes. Edge said since Chris wouldn’t do it, he wanted to introduce him: “Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Jericho!” Edge called him the harasser of senior citizens everywhere and a former world champion. He asked Jericho who he lost the title to and then answered the question: John Cena. He then asked who beat Cena in a Last Man Standing match and again answered his own question: Edge. Edge went on about how Smackdown is his show and the crowd chanted Cena for a second. He said Jericho could say all he wanted about taking over Smackdown because it belonged to him.

Jericho got in his face and said, “I disagree.” Before he could say more, Mr. Money in the Bank CM Punk made his entrance. He said he heard Edge was introducing people backstage and wanted to introduce himself. He said, “My name is CM Punk, but you can call me Mr. Money in the Bank.” He said we might remember him from “great moments like this.” A video showed Punk cashing in MITB to beat Edge last year. He started to talk and Jericho cut him off and said nobody cared. He said he was the best and he let Edge get away with coming out because he was the champ, but Punk needed to turn around and leave.

Punk again started to talk and Jericho went off about everyone disrespecting him. He said he was done and stormed off. Punk said, “That was awkward.” He started to talk again and Edge cut him off and said he agreed with Jericho, nobody cared about Punk and he was leaving too. Punk held up the briefcase and said Edge should wait because he really wanted to hear him. He said that Vickie Guerrero was no longer the GM and we were in a new era on Smackdown. Punk informed Edge that Teddy Long put them in a match together tonight.

[Q2]Edge said that was fine, he could use a warm up non-title match. He said he would beat Punk and then go on to defeat the new number one contender at Judgment Day. Punk reminded Edge that he had MITB. He said he was going to beat Edge with Go to Sleep and while Edge was still asleep, he was going to cash in and become the new World Heavyweight Champion…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Holy crap was that good. What a way to start the post draft Smackdown. Great mic work from all three. I won’t go on here, I’m ready for the matches after that!

Back from commercial, the announce team hyped the “New Era” on Smackdown with the draft, no Vickie, and Edge as champion…They showed Rey Mysterio, Candice Michelle, and John Morrison as draft picks…Mr. Morrison made his entrance, followed by Shelton Benjamin…

1. John Morrison defeated Shelton Benjamin at 2:43. I had a weird synching problem during most of this match and the video froze several times. Morrison hit a springboard elbow followed by the Moonlight Drive for the win…The announce team hyped the fatal fourway match and Punk vs. Edge for later.

Shore’s Slant: Am I the only one getting a crappy feed? Every other channel is fine and the commercials are fine but Smackdown is terrible. Morrison seemed to be the face here which is cool. Smackdown is very heel heavy and he could be the arrogant face like The Rock was. This match needed more time so I could see part of it. I’m expecting big things from Morrison on Friday nights.

A video package showed the hags on The View talking about MVP and the US Title defense…

[Q3]The announce team put over Kane, Alicia Fox, and Mike Knox as draft picks… Backstage, Jericho was chewing out Teddy Long for the way he had been treated so far. Khali and Mini-Me came in and told Jericho to get out. Jericho said he was leaving for his match…

In the ring, Justin Roberts explained the rules, which is a fatal fourway elimination match. Rey Mysterio made his entrance…[C]

Back from commercial, Kane made his ring entrance. Jeff Hardy and his face paint were out next. Jericho was last out…

2. Jeff Hardy defeated Rey Mysterio, Kane, and Chris Jericho in a four-way elimination match to determine the Number One Contender to the World Heavyweight Title at Judgment Day at 17:31. Everybody attacked Kane to start, but he tossed Hardy and destroyed Jericho and Mysterio. He tossed Jericho to the floor beside Hardy who was selling the most destructive toss through the ropes in history. Kane picked up Rey in a gorilla press and tossed him onto Jericho and Hardy. He smiled in the ring as the three other men recovered into the break…[C]

[Q4]Back at 4:45, Kane came off the top rope and Hardy drop kicked him out of the air. Mysterio hit a leg drop off the top rope on Kane for two. Jericho reversed a Mysterio whip for a tilt a whirl back breaker for two. Hardy hit a flying clothesline of Jericho for two. Hardy tried a move and Jericho countered and tried a Walls of Jericho, but Kane broke it up. Jericho pulled Mysterio out of the ring and Hardy hit Whisper in the Wind and a Swanton on Kane. Jericho pulled Hardy out of the ring and covered Kane to eliminate him at 7:01.

Kane went nuts and tossed chairs into the ring. He tossed Rey in as well, who hit a dropkick on Jericho, setting him up for the 619. Rey hit the 619 and came off the top rope. But Jericho threw one of the chairs at him. The ref disqualified Jericho at 8:18 to eliminate him. Jericho argued and Jeff and Rey recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 12:45, Rey and Jeff stared each other down. Rey hit a kick and whipped Hardy to the ropes and hit a drop kick for two. Rey whipped him again and Jeff grabbed the ropes to cause Rey to miss another dropkick. Jeff dropped both legs on the “mid-section” and hit a sitdown dropkick for two. Hardy hit a Sunset Flip, but Rey rolled through and kicked Jeff in the face. The two men ran the ropes and hit a flying cross body on each other. At 15:45 there were about 17 reversals in a row and ended with Jeff Hardy rolling up Rey for two.

Jeff dropped Rey in the corner and tried for his sitdown corner dropkick but Rey moved. The reversal of reversals happened again and Jeff got another near fall. Rey hit a drop toe hold and the 619 on Jeff. He came off the top rope with the springboard sitdown splash, but Jeff kicked hard on the pin attempt and rolled Rey over for the surprise win. Post match, Jeff and Rey hugged and then Jeff celebrated in the ring…

[Q5]The announce team hyped Punk vs. Edge for later…[C]

Shore’s Slant: If you think I didn’t get everything in this match, you’re right. I’m out of breath from watching it. Great, great match that was PPV worthy in my opinion. If we get something like this every week, Raw will quickly become the number two show. Jeff Hardy is requesting some time off, so I expect Edge to retain at Judgment Day (assuming he wins tonight), but still not a waste of time. I love when they go to MSG!

Back from commercial, a video recapped each of the eliminations in the fourway match…Backstage, Maria was in Teddy Long’s office as Jericho came storming in. He went off on Maria about Teddy Long being incompetent. Maria just looked at him. Edge came in and Jericho stormed off. Edge went off about Teddy putting him a match as Maria just looked at him. He yelled, “I’m going to call my wife.” Maria shrugged…

The announce team hyped Punk, Layla, and Cryme Tyme as draft picks. Cryme Tyme made their way to the ring. They cut a promo on their first night on Smackdown and being in New York. JTG asked if the crowd wanted to see two of the Divas have a dance off. They called it a Brooklyn Breakdown. They introduced Layla who came to the ring followed by Eve Torres who had the girls covered. They had a dance off. JR said he threw his back out watching it. The crowd crowned Eve as the winner. She danced with Cryme Tyme and then they asked Layla to join in.

[Q6]Layla danced for a second and attacked Eve. Eve mounted her and they rolled around. Cryme Tyme broke it up and Layla left the ring as Eve celebrated with Cryme Tyme…Backstage MVP was shown in his locker room. Hermanstyne’s sister Sherri Shepard came in with a Ric Flair type jacket, complete with boa. She asked MVP to appear on The View Monday. MVP said his match was next. Sherri went off in a weird rap thing. MVP calmed her down and said when he is on The View Monday, he will still be the US Champion…[C]

Shore’s Slant: What the hell was all that? Morrison and Benjamin got less than three minutes for that? What a huge turd right in the middle of the show! And Layla was better anyway…what am I saying…

Back from commercial, a video showed Dolph Ziggler’s defeat of MVP two weeks ago…The announce team hyped Melina, Chris Jericho, and Dolph Ziggler as draft picks…Mr. Ziggler made his ring entrance. He took the mic and did his, “My name is,” shtick. He said he was going to win the US title tonight, “Right here in New Jersey.” Funny stuff. MVP came out to the same lack luster response he’s received since he turned face. Shepherd came out with him and stood ringside…

3. MVP w/Sherri Shepherd defeated Dolph Ziggler to retain the United States Championship at 3:55. MVP started out with three quick hip tosses. Ziggler tossed MVP to ringside in front of Shepherd. She checked on him but backed up when Ziggler came towards them. He kicked MVP a few times and then tried to introduce himself to Shepherd. MVP attacked him but Ziggler ducked and MVP ended up in Shepherd’s arms. Ziggler tried to turn MVP around but he elbowed him and went back to Shepherd. He told her to stay right there and went back in the ring.

[Q7]Ziggler took control and beat down MVP. Shepherd climbed up on the apron and Ziggler started harassing her. She slapped him and MVP hit the Playmaker for the win. Post match, the happy couple walked arm in arm up the ramp…The announce team hyped Punk/Edge…[C]

Shore’s Slant: The whole second hour has a surreal quality about it. That match was terrible and Shepherd was the best part about it. I’m glad MVP is on Raw after tonight so I don’t have to deal with her again. Punk/Edge better be awesome.

Back from commercial, the announce team hyped Orton vs. Batista at Judgment Day…Backstage Jericho was chewing Teddy Long out. He said if he was going to be treated this way, he would just quit. Morrison walked out of a door beside Long and said hello to him and looked at Jericho. Jericho asked him what he was looking at. Morrison said, “I thought I was looking at a loser. Turns out, I’m looking at a quitter.” Jericho slapped him and they brawled. Some agents broke it up and they yelled at each other as Punk walked past on his way to the ring…[C]

Shore’s Slant: My baby daddy vs. Jericho? I can’t write I’m so excited.

Back from commercial, Edge made his entrance, followed by Punk…

[Q8]4. CM Punk defeated Edge in a non-title match 11:35. Punk picked up Edge immediately for GTS, but Edge grabbed the ropes. Punk went on the attack, kicking Edge a bunch of different ways. Punk went to the top and Edge climbed up as well. Punk dropped off and hit a hot shot on Edge on the top rope. He went back to the top and Edge swept the feet. He hung Punk upside down and speared his back. Punk fought back and tried a suplex, but his back wouldn’t let him. Edge picked him up and dropped him gut first on the top rope. He kicked Punk to the floor and fell down in the ring. Both men recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 6:27, Edge hit a knee lift on a running Punk. He continued to work on Punk’s back with strikes and kicks. Punk was in a 619 setup and Edge tried to splash him, but Punk moved. That looked like it hurt. Punk came back with a heel kick, followed by a number of kicks. He setup for GTS, but Edge slipped down and tried for a sunset flip. Punk dropped to his knees for two. Edge dropped Punk on his face for two. Edge setup for the spear. He charged, but Punk kicked him. Punk hit the kick in the corner and followed with a bulldog for two. Punk went to the top and jumped over Edge. Edge tried to spear again and Punk hit a powerslam for two.

Punk picked up Edge for GTS. Edge blocked the knee and locked in a Sharpshooter. Punk made it to the rope and Edge broke. He stood on the apron. Edge tried to suplex him back in, but Punk rolled out and hit GTS for the clean win. Punk went and got the briefcase. He talked to the ref who talked to Justin Roberts. Roberts announced that MITB was being cashed in and announced the title match. Punk turned around and Umaga ran in from the crowd and superkicked him before the bell rang. He picked up Punk and hit a spinning fall away slam. Umaga left and Edge picked up the briefcase. Jeff Hardy ran in and hit Twist of Fate and a Swanton on Edge. Jeff Hardy celebrated to end the show…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good match that had a surprising clean pin. The run in by Umaga was fine. I’m sure “Vickie set it up,” which is fine. This was the craziest show in a while. It was hot, then stupid, then hot again. Overall though, solid show that gets me excited to watch again next week. Storylines should clean themselves up next week, which will only make for a better show. Did I mention Morrison and Jericho are going to feud? I feel high just thinking about it. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next week.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.

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