Posted in: Smackdown SmackDown! Report (03/20/09): Historic 500th Episode!
By MIK
Mar 20, 2009 - 8:56:57 PM
Happy first day of Spring Break everyone!
Since exploding onto the scene in 1999, SmackDown has thrilled the WWE Universe with some of the most important moments in WWE history. Tonight marks the latest chapter in creating new moments and memories.
Friday 8/7 ET
Corpus Christi, Texas
A video is shown highlighting the latest and intense Triple H/Randy Orton moments.
We are taken into the arena where “The Game” hits and out comes the WWE Champion, Triple H to kick off the historic 500th episode.
JR and Tazz welcome everybody to the show and say that two of our blockbuster matches for the evening features Shawn Michaels to take on the brother of his WrestleMania 25 opponent, Kane! And, the Undertaker will take on the new Intercontinental Champion, JBL.
Triple H continues his entrance in the ring as he holds the WWE Championship high above his head. The Game proceeds to grab a microphone and is about to speak…
The Cerebral Assassin states that the worst kept secret in this business is that he and Stephanie are married in real life. He continues that they tried keeping it a secret for business purposes, but the fact was everybody knew, including Randy Orton who should’ve known better to lay his hands on his wife. He further tells Orton that he does have a disease, and it isn’t IED, but rather it is called “cowardess” as it runs rampant inside of him causing him to run from every challenge in life. “Well the running stops at WrestleMania. There will be no place to run, no place to hide, no one to hide behind, no lawyers, no doctors, no cops to arrest me, NO ORTON’s LAW! It will be just you and me. And Randy you had better pray to God that you are as good as you think you are. You say you have a disease, no you ARE the disease and I’m the cure!”
(Segment Rating: 4.5/5. Very good Triple H promo to further promote perhaps the most compelling match at WrestleMania 25)
The Moscow Mauler, Vladimir Kozlov, makes his way down to the ring to a chord of boos.
Match 1: Triple H v. Vladimir Kozlov
Bell rings and Kozlov manages to back Triple H in the corner where he punches him in the face a few times. The Game tries fighting back, but is knocked off his feet via a shoulderblock. Triple H uses the ropes to make it back to his feet and Kozlov decides to charge at him. Triple H pulls the top rope down thus sending the Russian to the outside. Furious, Kozlov charges back in the ring and attempts a clothesline on the Cerebral Assassin, but Triple H ducks and gives a clothesline to Kozlov that sends him over the ropes and onto the floor yet again. Triple H poses before we go to break.
-Commercial-
Back, we see Triple H has a Figure-Four Leg Lock applied. Kozlov manages to make it to the ropes and the referee pulls Triple H off of the Russian. As Triple H briefly focuses on the referee, Kozlov quickly gets back to his feet and connects with a battering ram to the sternum of the Game. Kozlov then lifts Triple H up and connects with a belly to belly suplex. Moments later, after a few body shots, Kozlov gives Triple H a fall-a-way slam for the first 2 count of the match. Kozlov then applies a waist lock. As Triple H breaks loose, Kozlov clubs the Game in the back of the head and proceeds to Irish Whip him to the ropes. Kozlov puts his head down and Triple H suddenly connects with the face-buster. Following this, Triple H connects with a swinging neckbreaker and seconds later attempts the Pedigree, but Kozlov tosses the Game overboard. Kozlov charges at the Game, but Triple H reverses it into the Double A Spinebuster. Triple H signals for the Pedigree and connects! Following the pin, Triple H is claimed the victor.
Post-Match: JR asks have we just seen Randy Orton’s fate. We then get replays of the match before Triple H is shown posing at the top of the stage area with the WWE Championship.
(Match Rating: 3.5/5. Strong opening TV bout. Sad to say, Kozlov has become a jobber.)
A video is shown highlighting the latest and intense Edge, Big Show, and John Cena moments.
Still to Come: Edge, Big Show, and John Cena face-off.
-Commercial-
A WrestleMania Tribute is shown in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
In the ring, we see Shelton Benjamin and MVP. Justin Roberts informs everyone that our next bout is for the WWE United States Championship and proceeds to give the crowd ring introductions.
United States Championship
Match 2: Shelton Benjamin v. MVP
To start the match, Benjamin corners MVP and pounds on him with numerous punches and kicks. Following this, Benjamin flapjacks MVP onto the turnbuckle and suplex’s the Ballin Superstar onto the ropes. After a 2 count, Benjamin applies an abdominal stretch. “MVP” chants emerge and he gives Benjamin a hip toss. As the two rivals make it back to their feet, Benjamin charges and connects with a running knee strike. Benjamin then throws MVP into the corner and attempts a Stinger Splash, but MVP dodges and eventually connects with a quick belly to belly suplex. Following a 2 count, MVP connects with a powerslam as well as a big boot. As Benjamin slowly gets up, MVP gives him a double throat thrust and a knee smash. MVP signals for the Ballin Elbow Drop and connects with it. After another 2 count, MVP lifts Benjamin up for a suplex, but Benjamin falls off and connects with a reverse neckbreaker. Moments later, after a series of near pinfalls, Benjamin quickly hits an inverted backbreaker followed by an exploder suplex. “MVP” chants emerge yet again. At this point, Benjamin stalks MVP for PayDirt but as he attempts it, MVP grabs Benjamin and chokes him on the ropes. MVP quickly recovers and connects with the Playmaker for the win.
Post-Match: The crowd is absolutely crazy as MVP celebrates with his newly acquired title on the top rope. JR adds that MVP has come all the way back from a 20+ match losing streak to getting hot at the right time creating his own March Madness. We get replays of the match before cutting back to MVP’s celebration.
(Match Rating: 4/5. That’s right! This match was very physical and the changing of the US Title was completely unexpected. The crowd was seriously hot for this bout and when the final bell sounded, I wanted the fight to continue.)
A video package hypes the debut of John Cena’s new film, 12 Rounds.
-Commercial-
WWE Did You Know? Tonight SmackDown celebrates its 500th Episode. By accomplishing this in 10 years, SmackDown becomes the fastest weekly episodic show to reach this milestone in U.S. primetime history.
JR and Tazz give thanks to AC/DC for “War Machine,” one of the theme songs for the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
Backstage GM Vickie Guerrero is yelling at Edge for turning on Big Show. Edge retaliates telling Vickie that Big Show is poisoning her mind and orders her to forget about him because he done and gone. Vickie tries to plead with him, but Edge walks out.
Mr. WrestleMania, RAW’s Shawn Michaels, comes down to the ring to a huge ovation.
-Commercial-
Pyro goes off and out comes the big red machine, Kane!
Match 3: Shawn Michaels v. Kane
Michaels starts off on the offensive with numerous punches and chops to the face of the monster Kane. Suddenly, Kane grabs Michaels and attempts and a body slam, but the Heart Break Kid slides off and connects with a chop block. With Kane down in the corner, HBK charges at him, but Kane strikes with a thunderous uppercut. Now, with HBK down in the corner, the monster strikes with numerous elbow shots and kicks. Out of nowhere, HBK retaliates with a quick punch, but this angers Kane and he proceeds to Irish Whip Michaels to the corner. HBK flips upon contact with the turnbuckle and falls down.
-Commercial-
Back, and according to JR, Kane had been manhandling HBK during the break. Kane is continuing pressure as he is working on the shoulder of Michaels by ramming it into the turnbuckle. At this point, Kane applies a shoulder-lock, but HBK rakes the eyes of Kane and breaks loose of the hold. Angered, the big red machine snapmares HBK and connects with a quick low dropkick to the face. Following a 2 count, Kane applies a top wristlock submission maneuver, but HBK strikes at Kane’s head with his free hand to break the hold. Kane however retaliates with a giant boot to the face of a downed Michaels. Kane then Irish Whips Michaels to the corner and charges at him, but HBK gets his feet up and kicks Kane in the face. Following this HBK connects with a swinging neckbreaker and eventually with his flying forearm smash. As HBK attempts his atomic drop, Kane grabs Michaels for the Chokeslam, but HBK jumps off and connects with the atomic drop anyways. HBK then clotheslines Kane down and proceeds to go up top for his elbow drop. As Michaels comes down, Kane puts his knees up thus leaving HBK screaming in agony. Kane then goes up top and comes down successfully connecting with his flying clothesline. Kane now signals for Chokeslam, but as he walks towards Michaels to grab him, HBK suddenly strikes with Sweet Chin Music for the win.
Post-Match: We get replays as HBK heads up the ramp to give us his signature pose.
(Match Rating: 3.5/5. Enjoyable TV match on that I wouldn’t mind seeing again. It is rare for HBK to appear on SmackDown! due to religious reasons, but when he does appear, it is a treat for everyone. Nonetheless, the match itself was good.)
Backstage, Vickie is pleading with Big Show not to hurt Edge. Show says that it’s too late for him, because he will not let Edge simply walk away after he speared him. Vickie asks once more to please stop, but Show adds that Edge deserves everything he is going to get. Big Show walks out, leaving Vickie in a world of trouble.
-Commercial-
We get a shot of the beautiful city that is Corpus Christi, Texas.
JR and Tazz inform us that the Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy match that is scheduled for WrestleMania 25 is now an Extreme Rules Match.
“No More Words” hits and out comes the Extreme Enigma, Jeff Hardy, to a huge ovation.
Already in the ring is The Brian Kendrick with Ezekiel Jackson.
JR and Tazz inform us that this bout will be contested under Extreme Rules.
Extreme Rules Match
Match 4: The Brian Kendrick v. Jeff Hardy
To start this bout off, Jeff immediately dropkicks Ezekiel Jackson out of the ring. Kendrick tries sneaking up from behind, but Jeff winds up sending him to the outside as well. Ezekiel gets up on the outside and Jeff takes him down again with a splash. Jeff then turns his attention to Kendrick, but Ezekiel quickly gets up and hurls Jeff into the barricade. Ezekiel then checks up on Kendrick, but suddenly Jeff gets up and strikes at Ezekiel with a steel chair at least six times! Jeff then chases Kendrick on the outside which leads to Kendrick running inside the ring. As Jeff follows him there, Kendrick strikes with a jumping side kick. At this point, Kendrick punches Jeff to head several times. Kendrick then picks Jeff up and sends him to the corner and attempts to charge at him, but Jeff moves out of the way and picks up the steel chair. Jeff throws it at Kendrick once and then catapults off of it to crush Kendrick. Jeff then lifts Kendrick and proceeds to connect with an overhead powerbomb! With the crowd cheering on, Jeff sits the chair up and connects with a Twist of Fate to Kendrick on the chair! Jeff drags the lifeless body of Kendrick to the ring and goes up to the top rope. Jeff connects with the Swanton Bomb for the win.
Post-Match: Jeff goes up to the top rope and shouts, “it’s almost time.” We then get replays highlighting Jeff’s aggressiveness.
(Match Rating: 3.5/5. The Extreme Rules Stipulation was a nice concept as it came across that Jeff is crazy enough to do anything to extract revenge upon his brother. It also provided for some awesome TV action.)
Next WWE 2009 Hall of Fame Inductee: Von Erich Family!
Gong…Lights go out…
The Phenom makes his way down to the ring…
-Commercial-
A video package is shown hyping the Triple H/Randy Orton encounter at WrestleMania 25.
We get some footage dating back to RAW when Shawn Michaels super kicked Undertaker on the stage area.
In the ring, Undertaker has a microphone in hand…
“Shawn Michaels make no mistake about it, you are the prey and I am the hunter. When you least expect it, you will feel the wrath of the Undertaker!”
“Longhorn” hits and out comes the self-made millionaire and the Intercontinental Champion, JBL, in his usual white limousine.
Match 5: Undertaker v. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
As soon as the bell rings JBL walks up to the Undertaker and holds the Intercontinental Title high above his head. Undertaker looks up and decks JBL in the face numerous times before smashing his head in the corner. After striking some more, the referee pulls the Phenom back. This gives JBL the chance to strike and he does so with several punches of his own. The referee then pulls JBL back and this allows Undertaker to grab JBL by the throat and hurl him into the corner where the Dead Man retaliates with boxing body shots. Undertaker then works on the arm of JBL by striking at it several times and attempts Old School, but JBL punches Undertaker down. JBL attempts an Irish Whip, but Undertaker bounces back with a running big boot. Undertaker goes for the pin, but gets a 2 count.
-Commercial-
Back, we see Undertaker connecting on JBL with his signature leg drop off of the apron maneuver. As JBL makes it to his feet, Undertaker rams JBL into the barricade. Undertaker then attempts another running big boot, but this time, JBL moves out of the way causing the Phenom to get hung up on the security wall. JBL then wisely tries capitalizing off of this as he smashes the Dead Man’s foot on the steel steps. JBL proceeds to throw Undertaker in the ring where he applies a leg lock in the center of the ring. “Taker!” chants emerge and Undertaker breaks out of the hold with elbow strikes to the head. Undertaker tries making it back to his feet, but JNL quickly takes him down with a chop block. At this point, JBL ties the Dead Man’s left knee around the ropes. Once releasing the hold, JBL drags the Phenom to the middle of the ring once more and applies a Figure-Four Leg Lock. With Undertaker’s shoulder’s down on the mat, the referee starts the count, but Undertaker sits up. JBL punches the Dead Man across the face not once, but twice! Undertaker grows angry and grabs JBL by the throat to finally break out of the Figure-Four Leg Lock. As Undertaker makes it back up, he tosses JBL to the ropes and attempts a clothesline, but JBL ducks and connects with another chop block. JBL goes for the pin, but gets a 2 count. The “Wall Street Wizard” continues the pressure by striking at the left knee of the Undertaker, but suddenly the Phenom starts to punch back. Eventually, Undertaker tosses JBL to the corner where he connects with Snake Eyes followed by the high boot. The Dead Man then follows all this up with a leg drop for a 2 count. Undertaker signals for Chokeslam, but JBL kicks Undertaker on the injured leg and successfully connects with the Clothesline from Hell! 1…2…NO!!! Undertaker kicks out. JBL slowly tries picks Undertaker up, but out of nowhere, Undertaker locks in Devil’s Gate! After some time, JBL finally taps out.
Post-Match: Light’s dim and the Undertaker celebrates the only way he can.
(Segment Rating: 4/5. Very good and physical match. I was expecting a slow match, but this match proved to be a big surprise. JBL didn’t look weak at all…but I must hope that his ‘promise’ that he will do something shocking at WM25 does not include the Undertaker or his streak)
Backstage, we see Edge and Big Show on their way down to the ring.
-Commercial-
Pyro’s go off and out comes the World’s Largest Athlete, the Big Show. JR adds that this man wear’s a size 70 jacket! (These are the types of Did You Know? that WWE should be running.) Show grabs a microphone.
Show says he is tired of all this nonsense and calls out Edge. To no response, Show asks, “Are you going to make me come and get you?”
“You think you know me?” hits and out comes the reining World Heavyweight Champion, Edge. He is “walking with a purpose,” as JR puts it.
Edge grabs a microphone and says, “be careful what you wish for, because you’re about to get it!” Edge then gets into the ring.
Show asks if Edge is growing to grow a heart.
Edge says he is right in Show’s face. The two continue to exchange words back and forth until Edge says, “Shrek, stop spitting on me!”
Show becomes all angry, but GM Vickie Guerrero comes running down to the ring asking for both men to stop the fighting.
Vickie Guerrero says that they are all in a very difficult situation, but she cannot help the way how she feels as she is in love with both men.
Edge and Big Show look confused.
Edge, now furious, responds, “this is ridiculous.”
Show orders Edge to stop talking to Vickie like that.
Edge counters saying that he could talk to her like that if he chooses to because she is his wife.
Show says so what, she is his lover!
Crowd goes completely aw as Vickie separates the two. Vickie says that this will be settled at WrestleMania, because the winner of the triple threat match will not only the champion of the world, but he will also be the champion of her heart. “So for now, this fighting needs to stop and we’re going to call it truce, because at WrestleMania this will be all over with.” Vickie then asks they shake hands.
Show looks and Edge and says, “I will shake your hand, but you know I don’t like you.”
Edge and Show reluctantly shake hands.
Suddenly, “My Time is Now” hits and comes John Cena to a huge ovation. Cena has a microphone in hands and speaks from the stage area.
Cena says that everyone seems to be forgetting about the third competitor challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship. Cena adds that when he does win, he doesn’t want anything to do with Vickie Guerrero’s heart, head, or handles. “So from my side, this truce that you guys have is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” Cena continues to insult the three standing in the ring by saying that this is how they want the 500th episode of SmackDown! to be remembered? Cena then claims that while he has his sight for the World Title, all Edge and Show think about is sharing Vickie Guerrero’s “infection, wait no affection.” Wait, no he was right the first time; they are concerned over her infection. Cena ponders upon both men failing to realize that it’s WrestleMania time, the place where people cement their legacies and become legends. Cena continues and eventually gets both Edge and Show bickering some more.
Big Show shoves Edge and Edge retaliates with one of his own. Show then shoves Edge again and Edge slaps Show. The two go face to face. Vickie tries to intervene, but Show winds up shoving her aside a little too much to the extent that she falls down. As Show attends to Vickie, Edge tries to Spear him, but Show moves out of the way and Edge hits Vickie!
Show moves Edge aside and lifts Vickie upon his arms, but Edge takes her away. Show takes Vickie back and Edge retaliates with a chop block, which makes Vickie fall onto her back.
Edge yells at Show and this time Show has had enough. Show gives Edge a Chokeslam and heads to the back with Vickie in his arms.
(Segment Rating: 5/5. Very fun segment with numerous comedy involved. Finally, the World Heavyweight Championship is being mentioned as the most important thing in this rivalry rather than Vickie’s love. I’ll be the first to admit, I was disappointed at first when this bout was made, but it has sure become a lot more entertaining since)
Quick Match Results:
-Match 1: Triple H def. Vladimir Kozlov
-Match 2: MVP def. Shelton Benjamin (US Championship)
-Match 3: Shawn Michaels def. Kane
-Match 4: Jeff Hardy def. The Brian Kendrick (Extreme Rules)
-Match 5: Undertaker def. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
Smack of the Night: Undertaker vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
Overall, tonight’s show was great. The World Heavyweight Title is finally starting to show some value in the triple threat feud. In addition, the stipulation of Extreme Rules for the Hardy brothers’ feud is terrific! Tonight’s card featured 5 great matches and 2 really good segments. Final Rating: 8.5/10.
Do you have any questions, concerns, or comments? If so, feel free to email me, MIK, at mik123@ymail.com
