411’s WWE Smackdown Report 7.25.08

Posted by Larry Csonka on 07.25.2008

I hope Krystal II was a great one night stand, because it may be Edge’s last.



WWE Smackdown: 7.25.08
-We get a video package of the Wedding of the Century, and the unfortunate ending due to that dastardly HHH!

-JR and Mick Foley welcome us to the show. Foley is back to the flannel look as they break down the wedding disaster from last week.

~THE V.I.P. LOUNGE~
MVP is in the ring, big things poppin, little things stoppin. You know the drill, it is for people like him, people better than us. He has a luxurious hair-do, I know I'm jealous. His guest tonight is arguably the most controversial one he has ever had, his name causes men and women to scream like kids. He is a 4-time IC Champion and a 7-time tag team champion, the charismatic enigma, Jeff Hardy.

Jeff makes his way to the ring and enters the lounge. MVP welcomes him to Smackdown and the VIP Lounge, welcome to the big leagues. Tonight they will be in the big battle royal against Kennedy, Umaga, Khali, Big Show and others for a shot at the WWE Title at Summerslam. Unfortunately MVP is in it and he is the odds on favorite. Jeff laughs at this and says MVP hasn't won a match in ages. MVP is OFFENDED and says this is a huge year for Jeff, he is on the cover of the WWE Magazine and in the VIP Lounge. MVP shows off the magazine and says that Jeff isn't known for winning the title, he is known for being a risk taker. The risks have been a success for him, but some have caused failure. Jeff says he paid for his crimes with his suspension and he has been honest about it. MVP then says he lost the IC Title and his house burnt down, well, his trailer. His artwork, studio and everything was gone. Jeff said it was horrible, and when it happens to you…what are you trying to do he asks MVP. MVP says Jeff is emotional, an artist. He knows Jeff has issues, issues of guilt, and responsibility for the loss of his dog. Jack, Jack the dog. MVP says it is his fault. Jeff calls MVP a jerk. MVP says Jeff is guilty of being irresponsible, and he has ruined his career with his behavior. He calls Jeff reckless and is throwing his career down the drain and he will never be WWE champion. Jeff had said that he will never be suspended again, and Jeff says he would be released. MVP says Jeff doesn't care about his career or the people. He'll have no one to blame but himself, and that he is a man and needs to accept responsibility for his actions. Jeff says he is thankful and that MVP knows all about second chances. Jeff says MVP is right though, and that it does burn him up inside. Jeff tosses down MVP, who goes to the floor. Jeff then says that MVP makes him sick as they stare down, as the crowd chants for Jeff.


-Vickie Guerrero is scheduled to arrive.

-Shelton Benjamin is out and says last Sunday at the Great American Bash he did what he said he would do, and that is hit the mother load as he liberated the US Title from Matt Hardy. He is THE gold standard in the WWE and also the US…THE NEW US CHAMPION! Like he has said time and time again, there ain't no stoppin me NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. Please stop yelling the catch phrase dude.

Non-Title Match: Shelton Benjamin © vs. Jimmy Wang Yang

Lock up and a slam by Benjamin. A go behind, and another toss by Benjamin. Off the ropes and an uppercut connects and a cover for 2. Knee to the back of the head by Benjamin, into the neck crank. To the corner and rights by Benjamin connect. Yang manages an Enziguri, forearms and off the ropes with a tilt a whirl head scissors. Rights by Yang, to the corner and Benjamin stops a monkey flip, slams Yang to the corner and as Yang goes up he gets pulled off. They both miss kicks, and then Benjamin gets pay dirt for the win.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin @ 2:05 via pin

It was what it was, short and just a time for Shelton to shine as the US Champion. It was fine.
RATING: *

-Edge is backstage and THOSE EDGE GUYS arrive. He wanted to see them and says they did well winning the titles. Edge then says he is sorry for last week, and they say it is his business. They have a match and will catch him later. Edge got completely blown off by the EDGE GUYS…awesome.


Curt Hawkins w/Zack Ryder vs. Festus w/Jesse

Festus begins to kick ass at the bell. An Irish whip, misses a corner charge and Hawkins with rights. A boot by Festus, leg kicks by Hawkins. Festus tosses him down, Hawkins fails at a snap mare and gets slammed down. Rights and lefts by Festus, a whip and a corner ass charge. Shoulder block and Hawkins to the mat. Jesse fights off Ryder, who wanted to ring the bell. Festus then gets the flapjack on Hawkins and that is all.

Winner: Festus @ 2:00 via pin

All right, you really can't accomplish that much in two-minutes. It was what it was, and the after match and result sets up an eventual tag title match but some wrestling would be appreciated.
RATING: ¾*

-After the match Festus eats the double implant DDT.

-We get a video about Jenny McCarthy, and Generation Rescue.


-JR discusses the Bash and hypes WWE.com.

-Edge is in the back and talking with Krystal II. He says she has to blend in better. They will talk later at the hotel and solve everything. Bam Neeley watches on as they speak. BUSTED.

Vladimir Kozlov vs. Stevie Richards

Stevie challenged Kozlov for the match. Kozlov now has music, complete with some dude speaking Russian during it.

Richards avoids a charge, tries a roll up, fails and as he comes off the ropes gets a clothesline to take Kozlov down. Leg kicks by Richards, caught and then he takes an overhead belly-to-belly toss. Big boot by Kozlov and now a front facelock into a throw and then grabs the arm bar. Richards fights and gets to his feet, but is then slammed down. Chops by Kozlov, Richards kicks him away and then avoids the charge and Kozlov to the floor. Back in, kicks by Richards and then a dropkick and a cover for 1. Stevie-T try, countered by Kozlov, tries a tornado DDT but is tossed off, and Kozlov gets a head butt to a charging Richards for the win.

Winner: Vladimir Kozlov @ 3:10 via pin

Kozlov continues to roll along and to dominate. Stevie got a bit in and tried, which got the crowd involved a bit, but he was just another victim. The action was fine, if unspectacular.
RATING: *

-After the match, Kozlov goes to the announce table, jabbers in Russian and leaves.


-We get another video of last week's wedding disaster.

Summer Block Party Battle Royal to Crown a #1 Contender for the WWE Title at Summerslam: Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Kennedy vs. MVP vs. The Big Show vs. The Great Khali w/Runjin Singh vs. Umaga

MVP bails as Kennedy stupidly goes after Khali. Jeff tries to help as Umaga and Show battle in a corner. MVP continues to stay away from Jeff, who then dropkicks Khali. He and Kennedy try to toss him and fail. Off the ropes and Khali clothesline both Jeff and Kennedy. JUDO CHOP to MVP. Show side slams Umaga, and now Khali head butts Show. Umaga then takes them both down and stands tall as we head to a commercial @ 2:00.

Back from commercial @ 5:00 as Jeff gets the whisper in the wind on Umaga. Kennedy and Show brawl, MVP sneak attacks Jeff and beats him down. Umaga and Khali pair off as Show chokes out Kennedy. MVP tries to toss Jeff, but he stops that and lays the boots to MVP. Jeff now tries to toss him, but he fails as well. Show now attacks Umaga and then Khali. Jeff then eliminates MVP, who can't buy a win these days. Umaga tosses Jeff, but he skins the cat and stays in. Show and Umaga stare down in the middle of the ring, trade shots and then Show eliminates Umaga with a clothesline. Jeff and Kennedy double team Show, but he fights them off. Cobra Clutch spin slam by Show to Jeff. Kennedy with rights to Show, GOOZLE by Show and he just shoves Kennedy to the floor. Show and Khali BATTLE now, Khali in control as Jeff takes a nap in the corner. Show gets a chokeslam on Khali, but Umaga comes back in and gets the SAMOAN SPIKE on Show. Jeff flies in and gets a RANA on Show, which sends him over the top and to the floor. Jeff up top and gets the SWANTON to Khali! Jeff lays the boots to Khali, but he battles back and gets the cranium crunch. Low Blow by Khali…JUDO CHOP! Khali then tosses Jeff and HE is your #1 contender.

Winner: The Great Khali @ 10:30

It was your basic battle royal, nothing wrong with it, but nothing great. They tried to tell a good story with Jeff with the VIP Lounge, elimination of MVP and then got your hopes up when he got Show out to get into the final two.
RATING: **

-The Great Khali will now face HHH for the WWE Title at Summerslam. I would say NO BUYZ, but the first Khali vs. Cena match did pretty well numbers wise on PPV.

-HHH is now out to look at Khali, because he apparently has never seen him before. They do the in ring stare down, chin to nose and Singh backs off Khali and they leave to get some takeout.


-We get a video package for Ron Killings, showing where he grew up and what he had to battle through, his mistakes and what he had to do to eventually be a success. He will be going by "R-TRUTH." Very similar to the video package that TNA did for him, so it looks like he will basically be the same guy when he arrives.

Non-Title Match: Michelle McCool © vs. Maryse

Lock up and Maryse tosses down McCool. McCool then tosses her down, and covers for 2. Maryse backs off, they battle in the corner and then off the ropes with a dropkick for McCool. Maryse then pulls her to the floor, slams her to the apron, rolls her in and covers for 1. A whip by Maryse, rights in the corner and then knees to the back. Short armed clothesline by Maryse, mounted rights as well. To the corner McCool misses a moonsault, lands on her feet and then gets the heel hook for the win.

Winner: Michelle McCool @ 2:05 via Submission

Maryse is gorgeous, but damn she is shitty as a wrestler. Not as bad as some weeks, but this wasn't pretty. Smartly kept short and McCool continues to use the heel hook, which has been built pretty well.
RATING: ½*


-Raw Rebound time.

-JR and Foley hype Summerslam and the BLOCKBUSTER bout signed tonight for the WWE Title.

-Vickie arrives as Chavo wheels her in. Bam is there and asks if Chavo told Vickie about Edge and Krystal II from earlier tonight.


-Maria comes to Smackdown next week.

-Edge is backstage and Bam tells him that Vickie is here. Edge says he needs to apologize in public, and Bam says he will let her know.

-Kendrick is channeling an odd, but so far fun combination of Brian Pillman and his Leonardo Spanky character. He gets some mic time and says that we are privileged because we are seeing the best, well-trained and intelligent wrestler in all of WWE. Brag to your friends and you will be able to tell your kids and grandkids that we saw him. He went and found the biggest and baddest brother around Ezekiel. If you try to touch greatness, you'll have to take it up with ZEKE!

Shannon Moore vs. THE Brian Kendrick w/Ezekiel

They circle, lock up and to the corner they go. Forearm shots by Kendrick, a whip and a knee to the back of Moore. Kendrick lays the boots to Moore and covers for 2. Knee strikes by Kendrick, a slam and to the 2nd rope he goes…MISSES a knee drop. Moore with an atomic drop, leg drop and then goes to the apron. Kendrick stops that, pulls him in and hits sliced bread #2, now called "THE KENDRICK" for the win.

Winner: THE Brian Kendrick @ 2:01 via pin

The short matches are pissing me off this week, but I do like that Kendrick got promo time, because he'll need it. Fine for what little time they got, but I think Kendrick needs something new for a finish. "THE KENDRICK" isn't dickish enough.
RATING: *

-Chavo and Vickie talk, and Bam tells her Edge is here and that he wants to meet in the ring and apologize or her to apologize, he is confused. Vickie isn't happy.


MAIN EVENT INTERVIEW: VICKIE AND EDGE REUNITED?
Edge makes his way to the ring. He is here to apologize to his baby, his wife, Victoria. He wanted to do this in public and face to face with her.

Chavo and Bam wheel out Vickie to meet with Edge. She bravely makes it out of the wheelchair and enters the ring. She's a brave soul indeed. Chavo and Bam exit the ring and leave them alone, well alone in front of 10,000 people. Edge takes a knee and asks Vickie to hear him out. He knows he messed up, and that it was horrible. He understands what he did, and if she can't forgive him he understands. What the video didn't show was how many times he tried to say no, which was zero. Krystal II was very aggressive and wouldn't take no for an answer. NO MEANS NO but she wouldn't listen to him. Why didn't he leave? He wanted to iron out the plans to make sure that their day went perfect, because it was important to them. Nothing means more to him than her love, and he won't live without her love.

Vickie says she understands and smiles at him. They hug and the world is right! IF THESE KIDS CAN MAKE IT ANYONE CAN! Edge looks like he got away with it, but Vickie says hell hath no fury over a woman scorned. When she was really mad at him, she did something he may not like. Edge says it is ok and he understands. He asks what she did, and Vickie tells him that she reinstated THE UNDERTAKER! HUGE POP and Edge about shits himself. Edge says ok, Vickie is a businesswoman and that the move was good business. They can now go on their honeymoon and Taker and HHH can kill each other, they will return, he will pick the bones and he will then win the title back. Vickie says it sounds great, but she already made a match for Taker at Summerslam; Edge. Edge shits his pants again, composes himself and says Vickie doesn't mean it. She says she does, BABY, and it will be a HELL IN A CELL…BWAHAHAHAHAHA! EVIL CACKLE FOR THE WIN!

Well, Edge just got F'd in the A.

-End Scene…