Posted in: Smackdown SmackDown! Report (01/02/09): Hardy Party Crashed?
By MIK
Jan 3, 2009 - 12:34:51 AM
Friday Night SmackDown!
Friday 8/7 ET
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Good evening ladies and gentleman. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and celebrated the New Year in a stylish fashion, but now it’s time to Layeth the SmackDown as this is the first show of 2009! It only gets better from here on out as the new year brings us new rivalries, matches, etc, not to mention, the Road to WrestleMania 25!
WWE’s “World is Watching” video package is shown followed by the SmackDown! opening montage.
Fireworks go off as JR and Tazz welcome us to another edition of SmackDown! They inform us that tonight’s main event will be the Hardys teaming up to take on the tag team of Big Show and Edge.
We then cut to the ring where Justin Roberts tells everyone to please welcome SmackDown! general manager Vickie Guerrero. Vickie makes her way down to the ring (without any music) with a huge smile on her face as the crowd boos!
Vickie wishes everyone a happy new year. She says that 2008 was great, but 2009 will be really fun. She then turns her attention to the Road to WrestleMania, saying that the WWE Champion during the time will main event the Granddaddy of them All. But before that, we have the Royal Rumble where Jeff Hardy will take on The Rated R superstar, Edge for the title. Vickie then informs everyone that she will also announce the SmackDown! superstars that will participate in the Royal Rumble later on in the show. She begins to leave the ring when suddenly, Triple H’s music hits!
The Game makes his way down to the ring to a great ovation and grabs a microphone.
Triple H wishes Vickie a Happy New Year and then tells her that he needs to hear her say that Triple H will participate in the Royal Rumble. He then says that he is a very impatient person, just like the crowd and if they don’t hear that Triple H is in the Rumble match, then they might just have two words for Vickie. Crowd chants “Suck It!”
Vickie says that if Triple H keeps this up, then he won’t participate in the Rumble match.
Triple H says that if he is not entered in the Rumble match, then the chances are that a SmackDown! star won’t win the Rumble match which won’t reflect well on Vickie as she could get fired and fall onto obscurity…and nobody will buy Vickie Guerrero’s action figure. Triple H actually takes one out. He begins to insult Vickie’s size again which leads Vickie to saying that Triple H is apart of the Royal Rumble. Triple H then was about to leave when, but stops and says that he has one more thing to say. Triple H takes off Vickie’s shirt from the action figure and says that he noticed that while some things on that toy got smaller, other things got bigger. Triple H adds that he found the toy very hot and decided to search up some information on the internet. He saw some nude photos of Vickie on the Internet.
Vickie stumbles on her words a bit.
Triple H says that there on eBay and that he put down a lot of money on them, but he keeps on being out-bidded by someone named ChavoG2009.
Vickie rushes to the back while Triple H mocks her.
(Segment Rating: 4/5. Good way to kick off the new year with the GM and the Game. Nice little comedic sequence there too!)
Backstage we see The Great Khali, Ranjin Singh, Finlay, and Hornswoggle in a photo op. They will make their ways to the ring next.
-Commercial-
We see Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins in the ring. Finlay and Hornswoggle then make their way down to the ring followed by Great Khali and Ranjin Singh.
Match 1: Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins v. Finlay & Great Khali
Hawkins and Khali start things off. Early in the match, Hawkins tries to punch the Punjabi giant down, but Khali simply flips him over like a sack of potatoes. Ryder enters the ring and tries a cheap shot, but receives the same fate. Finlay tries to enter the ring, but the referee stops him. During this distraction Hornswoggle runs inside the ring and gives both Hawkins and Ryder a headbutt. Finlay is then tagged in and bodyslams an injured Hawkins. Not long after Hawkins is able to throw Finlay to the outside and attempts a baseball slide. However like the veteran he is, Finlay uses the ring apron to tie up Hawkins and begins to pound on the former tag champion. Finlay throws Hawkins back into the ring and as Finlay tries to go in, Ryder takes a cheap shot at Finlay, but only to get knocked down. From behind, Hawkins attempts another baseball slide and successfully connects with it. After they get back in the ring, Hawkins tags in Ryder and he applies a headlock on Finlay. Not long after, Finlay gets out of the hold. In a nice sequence of action, we then see Finlay and Ryder crack skulls in the corner. Finlay tags in Khali and Khali begins to dominate with massive clotheslines. Hawkins comes in and he receives an elbow to the face. Khali then connects with the Khali Bomb on Ryder for the win.
Post-Match: Finlay hits the Celtic Cross on Hawkins which leads to Hornswoggle hitting the Tadpole Splash. Ranjin Singh then gets in the ring and they all dance and celebrate.
(Match Rating: 3/5. A good opening match. I don’t really think Khali needed Finlay as we have seen in the past time and time again Khali manhandle these guys in Handicap Matches. But I guess it was just to put Khali on the card.)
-Commercial-
Backstage, we see Eve interviewing Michelle McCool. Eve asks McCool what were her reasons behind the assault she gave Maria last week and basically McCool said Maria intentionally cost her the Divas Championship. Eve then says maybe an apology would settle the dispute, but McCool insults Eve and walks away.
Further backstage, Edge, Vickie, and Big Show were in the GM’s office. Edge said it was embarrassing for nude photos of Vickie to be on eBay. It becomes a bit funny then as Big Show states that he has seen those photos and states that they weren’t as bad as he thought they would be. Vickie looks disgusted and leaves the room. Show and Edge then argue back and forth with Edge walking away.
“Biscuits and Gravy!” hits and out comes the team of Jesse & Festus.
-Commercial-
Out comes The Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel Jackson.
Match 2: Jesse & Festus v. The Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel
Bell rings and Festus dominates both Kendrick and Ezekiel. Apparently Kendrick is the legal man for their team. Festus then tags in Kendrick and he applies a modified armbar. Kendrick tries fighting back, but gets elbowed in the face. Festus is then tagged in and he uppercuts Kendrick. Festus proceeds to sit on Kendrick’s chest. Moments later Festus tries lifting Kendrick, but his leg gives out. Kendrick kicks the injured leg multiple times and tags in Ezekiel. Ezekiel takes down Festus’s leg and works on that leg for quite some time as he continues to slam that leg onto the mat. Ezekiel then tags in Kendrick and he goes to the top rope and comes right down on Festus’s hurt leg. Kendrick further kicks that leg until Festus shoves Kendrick away and tags in Jesse. Jesse takes Kendrick down with multiple forearm shots and clothesline. Jesse then connects with a spinning Fisherman Suplex and goes for the cover, but Ezekiel breaks the count at 2. Festus comes in and fights Ezekiel, but Ezekiel throws Festus to the outside. Ezekiel then gets the blind tag on Kendrick and proceeds to hit the Standing Side Slam for the win.
Post-Match: We get replays of what just occurred as Kendrick and Jackson celebrate.
(Match Rating: 3/5. Another good tag team bout. This division is finally starting to pick up. I’m guessing this tag bout put Kendrick and Ezekiel in line for the Tag Team Championship against the Colon Brothers.)
Still to Come: Jeff & Matt v. Edge & Big Show
-Commercial-
Vladimir Koslov’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. His opponent is Hurricane Helms.
Match 3: Vladimir Koslov v. Hurricane Helms
“Hurricane” chants start and Koslov doesn’t look impressed. Koslov strikes Helm’s abdomen and immediately takes him down. Koslov applies what Tazz called a Key Lock to the arm. Koslov then hurls Helms into the corner and charges at him, but Helms puts his feet up. Helms tries to build of that, but gets caught and headbutted in the chest multiple times. Koslov then gets a judo throw on Helms. Moments later, Koslov slams Helms onto the turnbuckle and connects with a fall-a-way slam. Koslov lifts Helms, but Helms punches and kicks back. Helms goes for the Shining Wizard, but gets the battering ram head instead and is knocked out. Koslov then hits the sit down spinebuster like maneuver for the win. Still undefeated: Vladimir Koslov
Post-Match: Tazz and JR show us some replays of Koslov dominating the jobbing Helms.
(Match: 2.5/5. Despite what other critiques will say, I will actually pass this match. Though it was slow at times, Koslov brought a lot of mat techniques which in my opinion stands out considering not many other talents in the wrestling business as a whole use. The Judo flips and throws were nice to see.)
JR and Tazz inform everyone that some of the Royal Rumble participants representing SmackDown! will be announced next.
-Commercial-
JR is in the ring and gives us the rules for the Royal Rumble Match and concludes that the winner of that match will get a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 25! JR then shows us the participants on the titantron: Triple H, Big Show, Vladimir Koslov, and Shelton Benjamin.
At this point Benjamin’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He has a microphone and gets in JR’s face. He tells JR that he should be introduced as the Odds on Favorite to win the 2009 Royal Rumble Match. Benjamin then suggests JR leave the ring. Benjamin then proceeds by saying he has been US Champion for six months and intends on achieving his dream by main eventing WrestleMania and becoming the WWE Champion. Benjamin says that not one person has the credentials to beat him, including Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Finlay, or even R-Truth, because when it comes to comparison, there is no one close enough to him. Benjamin continues, but is interrupted by a strange voice that said, “I think you forgot someone…”
GONG! Light’s out.
GONG! Light’s back on and Undertaker is right behinds Benjamin. Benjamin tries to throw a punch, but is grabbed by the throat and is struck with a devastating Chokeslam.
Undertaker poses for the crowd with JR saying that it goes without question that the Dead Man will be in the Royal Rumble Match only intending on being in the main event of WrestleMania 25!
(Segment Rating: 4/5. Boy is it good to see Undertaker again. And it is even better being a fan, because this is the time of the year when the WWE gets really interesting.)
-Commercial-
A Kizarny Promo aired saying that it will be Showtime Tonight!
Michelle McCool then made her way down to the ring and grabbed a microphone. McCool said she thought about it and owed an apology to both Maria and Eve (for the insults). McCool calls out Eve and so Eve comes out. McCool asks Eve for her forgiveness and Eve accepts.
They hug and Eve attempts to leave when McCool strike Eve in the back of the head with the microphone. McCool then hurls Eve into the barricade and rams her head into the outside floor several times. Crowd boos!
(Segment Rating: 3/5. I’m seriously enjoying this new attitude of McCool as it shows not only her but the entire SmackDown! Divas division get stronger. I could see a seemingly long rivalry developing here between McCool and Maria. Who knows, when Maryse gets healthy, we might even get a triple threat sometime down the road.)
Backstage, Chavo and Vickie were talking when Triple H interrupted. Vickie said she demanded an apology. Triple H says he’s not the one with naked pictures all over the internet. Vickie then since he didn’t apologize, she will make him compete in 3 matches next week. It’s going to be Triple Jeopardy for the Game next week.
-Commercial-
Back, we see MVP already in the ring with a microphone. He simply wants to get the match started.
His opponent is none other than newcomer, Kizarny! He looks like WCW Chris Jericho and Shannon Moore mixed into one. (Lol)
Match 4: MVP v. Kizarny
As soon as the bell rings, Kizarny gets a backslide on MVP followed by modified arm drags. Kizarny then dropkicks MVP out of the ring and dives onto the Ballin Star. Kizarny throws MVP in the ring and goes up top successfully connecting with a flying cross body. Kizarny pauses for a moment and pays for it as MVP strikes Kizarny in the abdomen and hurls him to the outside. Here, MVP slams Kizarny onto the barricade and sends him back into the ring for the cover. After a 2 count, MVP applies a gutwrench and continues to punish Kizarny. MVP then Irish Whips Kizarny and connects with a flapjack. MVP applies another gutwrench submission hold. After some time, Kizarny fights out of it, but gets knocked back down via a belly to belly. MVP then charges at Kizarny, but the strange one gets a dropkick onto the knee of MVP. Kizarny begins to pound MVP’s head into each of the turnbuckles in the corner. Kizarny then attempts a unique cover, but MVP kicks out at 2. Kizarny lifts MVP, but MVP strikes Kizarny’s throat area at connects with a face smash. MVP goes for PlayMaker, but Kizarny reverses into a flipping Double Arm DDT for the win.
Post-Match: Kizarny pulls his hair as we get replays.
(Match Rating: 2.5/5. A good debut for Kizarny. The finish however seemed a bit botched).
Mr. Kennedy comes out and says that MVP just got whizzed. Kennedy then tells MVP to chill, relax, try to smile, and most importantly watch his new movie, Behind Enemies Lines: Columbia.
-Commercial-
JR and Tazz go over next week’s card saying that Triple H will face 3 different opponents in a Tables match, a Handicap Match, and a Last Man Standing’s match. In addition to this, the WWE Tag Team Championships will be on the line as Carlito and Primo will team up to take on The Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel.
Edge then makes his way down to the ring and he looks frustrated. He gets on the microphone and says that everyone better respect he and Vickie, because it’s not right when people blame him for things that he didn’t do such as attacking Jeff Hardy the night of Survivor series. Edge then says that the one thing these people can blame him for is when he defeats Jeff Hardy and reclaims the WWE Championship.
-Commercial-
The Worlds Largest Athlete in the World, The Big Show then makes his way down to the ring.
Matt and Jeff (with crimson red paint) are introduced separately as their respective brands champion.
Main Event: Edge & Big Show v. The Hardys
Matt and Edge start things off. The two lockup with Matt taking Edge down with a quick armdrag. They lockup again and once again, Matt is able to take Edge down with an armdrag. “Hardy!” chants emerge. Another lockup, but this time Edge gets a headlock on Matt. Matt lifts Edge up for a back suplex and tags in Jeff Hardy. The brother’s double team Edge and then double dropkick Big Show off the apron. Edge from behind charges at the Hardys, but they throw Edge overboard. However Big Show catches Edge and they discuss their game plan…
-Commercial-
Edge is in control of Jeff as he chokes Jeff on the rope. Edge tries to slam Jeff’s head on the turnbuckle, but Jeff counters out of it and connects with the Whisper in the Wind. Crowd is going crazy. Jeff tags in Matt and Matt bodyslams Edge and proceeds to go up top for a moonsault attempt. As Matt comes down, Edge moves out the way and tags in Big Show. Show throws Matt to the corner and slaps Matt across the chest. Show then connects with a suplex followed by an elbow drop. Show throws Matt back into the corner and tags in Edge. Edge boasts as the crowd boos. Edge punches Matt down and chokes him on the ropes. Edge drags Matt over and gets a near fall. The Rated R Superstar applies an armlock as Jeff gets the crowd chanting “Hardy!” Matt tries fighting back, but gets a knee in the gut. Edge tags in Big Show and he wraps Matt’s arm around the ropes and whacks it. Show continues to add pressure to Matt’s injured arm by slapping it. Show then begins a few body shots onto Matt. Show gives Matt a headbutt and tags in Edge. The Ultimate Opportunist now applies a bodyscissors, but Matt breaks out of it. As Matt tries to tag in Jeff, Edge comes from behind and rolls Matt up for a 2 count. Edge then applies a hammerlock onto Matt. “Hardy!” chant emerges again. Matt punches Edge in the mouth, but Edge retaliates with a big boot. At this point, Big Show gets off the apron and walks backstage. Edge looks confused. Matt comes up from behind and tries a Twist of Fate, but Edge reverses it into a head slam. Edge signals for the spear. As Edge nears Matt, Matt kicks Edge in the sternum and connects with the Side Affect. Matt gets the hot tag to Jeff who strikes Edge down with numerous forearm shots. Jeff dropkicks Edge in the face and covers, but gets a 2. Matt is tagged in and they do their classic Hardy Boyz tag team maneuver on Edge in the corner. Matt then signals for the Twist of Fate and he tags in Jeff who hits the Swanton Bomb for the 1-2-3!
Post-Match: Crowd is absolutely crazy as the brothers celebrate with their respective titles. We get replays of the match as JR wishes everyone a Happy New Year to end the show…
(Match Rating: 3.5/5. The best match of the night! Awesome crowd involvement with numerous mat techniques displayed throughout the duration of the match. I must say however, Big Show just leaving the match was a bit confusing in my opinion. Oh well, good match nonetheless.)
Quick Match Results:
-Match 1: Finlay & Great Khali def. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
-Match 2: The Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel def. Jesse & Festus
-Match 3: Vladimir Koslov def. Hurricane Helms
-Match 4: Kizarny def. MVP
-Main Event: The Hardys def. Edge & Big Show
Smack of the Night: The Hardys vs. Edge & Big Show
What a way to kick off the new year! A good show overall with its fair share of wrestling, drama, and comedy. I wish everyone fulfills their resolutions and have a safe and happy 2009. Final Rating 7/10.
Do you have any questions, concerns, or comments? If so, feel free to email me, MIK, at mik123@ymail.com
