411’s WWE Smackdown Report 8.22.08

Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.22.2008

The lineup for the WWE Title Scramble match is set, and Vickie learns an important lesson: the Dead Man doesn’t appreciate pre-written apologies.



WWE Smackdown: 8.22.08
-We get a video package, highlighting Summerslam and Edge's trip to hell.

-Vickie joins us on the big screen. She says she has not made good decisions over these past few months, and that is due to the influence of Edge. The real Vickie is compassionate and caring, but was corrupted but Edge. She cheated all of us because Edge made her his own puppet, she ruined careers and hurt feelings. But now she is free to be herself, after escaping a personal hell, and now Edge is residing there (maniacal laugh by Vickie here) She feels great about reinstating the Undertaker. She wants us all to join her in welcoming him back tonight. At Unforgiven Smackdown will also have a Scramble match, for the WWE Title. HHH will defend the title in this match. When the night is over, we'll know who will challenge HHH for his title.

-JR and The Tazz welcome us to Smackdown, play up the Scramble match as well as the Undertaker's return to Smackdown.


Maria vs. Natalya

Lock up and a fireman's carry by Natalya. Head scissors counter by Maria, side headlock but Natalya gets a head scissors of her own. Maria escapes, works the wristlock, counters traded and an arm drag by Maria. Off the ropes and a head scissors by Maria. Leg kicks by Maria, but Natalya catches one and gets a dragon screw leg whip. Elbow to the back of the head by Natalya, scoop slam and Maria's leg hits the ropes. Elbows to the knee by Natalya, works the knee crank but Maria escapes with a kick to the face. A jawbreaker follows, boots to Natalya and then a clothesline. Broncobuster by Maria and then as Natalya gets to her feet she spears her off of the apron and to the floor. Maryse now makes her way to the ring and we get a DQ.

Winner: Maria @ 3:30 via DQ

Solid for a three minute match. It was pretty smooth and Maria looked pretty good, although a lot of that could be Natalya leading her. I didn't like Maria getting so much offense in on Natalya as I felt it made her look weak. I say that because not too long ago Natalya was in the title match to crown a first ever champion, and now she is having trouble with Maria. Also, it appears as if Victoria is on the outside looking in on this version of the ladies division and Natalya and Maryse are the two heels and McCool and Maria are the faces they seem focused on.
RATING: *

-Natalya and Maryse beat down Maria until Michelle McCool makes the save.

-Vickie, Chavo and Bam roll backstage and meet the Big Show. He wants to get into the Scramble match, but Vickie didn't get him in a qualifier. She made an oversight. He says he understands and that it is ok.

-The Big Show comes to the ring and has a seat. He shall be a spectator and watch this battle royal.

WWE Title Scramble Match Qualifier: A 10-Man Battle Royal
Participants: THE Brian Kendrick, Funaki, Scotty Goldman, Armando Estrada, Super Crazy, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Ryan Reddick, Jimmy Wang Yang and Vladimir Kozlov

THE Brian Kendrick gets a full entrance, along with Ryder, Hawkins, and Kozlov. The bell rings and CLOBBERING TIME! Ryder and Hawkins double team Kozlov as Estrada attacks Reddick. Kozlov has been tossed by like 5 guys. See ya. The tag champs toss Scotty Goldman. Big Show is PISSED ad comes into the ring and starts tossing bodies! Kendrick eats the Cobra Clutch slam as Show continues his path of destruction. He tosses Kendrick but ZEKE catches him and holds onto him. Show press slams Yang to the floor and leaves, but Zeke outs THE Brian Kendrick back in the ring and HE WINS!

Winner: THE Brian Kendrick @ 3:00

Kozlov was protected because 5 guys tossed him, Show killed a bunch of jobbers (well, the tag champs were in there, sucks to be them) and THE Brian Kendrick proves that he and ZEKE are smarter than the rest of us.
RATING: NR

-Updated WWE Title Scramble Match: HHH © vs. THE Brian Kendrick vs. ??? vs. ??? vs. ???


-Back from commercial and R-TRUTH debuts next week. We get another video package on his life.

WWE Title Scramble Match Qualifier: MVP vs. Festus w/Jesse

Festus goes bat shit and tries to attack MVP, he unloads with rights and then Festus tosses him down. To the corner and MVP hits hard. A suplex by Festus connects and a cover for 2. Rights by MVP, but Festus back with big rights and boots of his own. Uppercuts by Festus and MVP is down. Off the ropes and a clothesline by Festus gets 2. Sack of shit slam by Festus and MVP crawls away to the corner. MVP kicks at the knee and then slams Festus to the steel post. MVP slams him corner first to the turnbuckle and then wraps the arm in the ropes and delivers a big boot. More kicks to the arm by MVP and into the arm bar. Elbows to the arm by MVP, Festus powers to his feet and MVP slams him down and more kicks to the arm and a cover for 2. MVP back to the arm, working the reverse key lock. Festus gets to his feet, head butts to MVP and he escapes. MVP stun guns the arm off the ropes, rights to Festus and then gets the single arm DDT for 2. Big uppercuts by Festus, the ref backs him off and then more rights by Festus. He misses the corner charge and hits shoulder first. Knees to the arm by MVP and a cover for 2. Back to that reverse key lock by MVP, Festus gets back to his feet once again and gets a Samoan Drop (HE ISN'T EVEN SAMOAN~!). Rights to MVP, an Irish whip and the ass splash by Festus. A flying shoulder block follows and then the flying biscuit lands. Festus grabs MVP, but he comes back with a single arm DDT with the knees up. Off the ropes and a big boot by Festus. To the floor they go and Festus levels MVP with a clothesline. MVP fights back but gets back-dropped on the floor. MVP to his feet, nails Jesse and gets back into the ring before the count ends and he wins as Festus checks on Jesse.

Winner: MVP @ 9:00 via count out

That actually wasn't bad at all. It got a bit repetitive but was solid. The finish was a bit lame, but also played off of Festus' weakness of protecting Jesse.
RATING: *¾

-After the match Festus goes back to simple mode, so MVP kicks him in the face and sends him to the floor.

-Updated WWE Title Scramble Match: HHH © vs. THE Brian Kendrick vs. MVP vs. ??? vs. ???


-We see Trish being sexy on a clip from WWE 24/7. I hate Time Warner.

-Benjamin has some stuff to say before this match. He is obsessed with championships, winning and most importantly, gold. That's why we all hear about Michael Phelps, the so-called new gold standard. Make no mistake, there is only one gold standard, Shelton Benjamin.

WWE Title Scramble Match Qualifier: Finlay w/Hornswoggle vs. Shelton Benjamin

This has some promise. Lock up and to the corner they go, and a clean break. Go behind by Finlay, elbows to the face and a cover for 1. To the corner they go, the ref tries to break them up and does. Knuckle lock now, into a side headlock by Finlay. Takedown and Benjamin tries to roll him into a cover, does and gets 2. They separate, Benjamin to the corner and they circle. Lock up and Benjamin rushes him to the corner and unloads with rights on Finlay. Lays the boots to him and the ref pulls him off but Finlay tackles him and they roll to the floor. They stand off, slide back in and Finlay with the single leg takedown. He gets the body scissors and the chinlock. Finlay transitions to the knee crank, knees to the knee of Benjamin now and cranks on the leg even more. Benjamin with kicks to the head but Finlay wraps up the legs and keeps control. Benjamin gets the ropes and we get a break. Finlay misses a charge and eats the steel post. Benjamin on the attack and attacks the shoulder of Finlay. Benjamin chokes out Finlay on the apron and then drops a forearm onto Finlay. Back in they go and Benjamin with the chinlock and body scissors. To the feet and a snap mare by Benjamin and the stiff kick to the back. The ref checks on Finlay, and Benjamin kicks him to the floor. Benjamin misses a baseball slide as Finlay pulls up the apron. He battles back, Benjamin sets him up top and gets tossed off. Benjamin then charges Finlay and knocks him all the way to the floor. We head to a commercial @ 8:00.

We're back from commercial @ 11:00 as Benjamin works the neck crank on Finlay. Finlay escapes, but Benjamin works the kicks to the head and remains in control. Jawbreaker by Finlay turns the tide and he covers for 2. Benjamin comes back with a clothesline, and gets another cover for 2. Benjamin works the double Vulcan neck pinch, but Finlay escapes as he drops Benjamin neck first onto the ropes. Kicks by Benjamin, and into another variation of the neck crank. Benjamin transitions into the body lock but Finlay gets the ropes. Benjamin pulls him back, but Finlay gets a backslide for 2. Spinning kick by Benjamin gets 2. Finlay with a boot to the charging Benjamin, but a TBONE by Benjamin gets 2. Finaly counters the pay dirt, gets a corner spear and the Finlay roll. Mike Knox is out now and tries to attack Hornswoggle, he escapes but this distracts Finaly enough for Benjamin to get pay dirt for the win.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin @ 16:25 via pin

Shelton Benjamin continues to have very good performances on Smackdown on a regular basis, which is very nice to see. Finlay was his normal great self and it all worked. The Knox stuff also plays well into the feud that they are building on the ECW brand, so all was well here.
RATING: ***¼

-Knox hits the ring and wipes out Finlay with the bog boot. A knee drop follows as well as mounted rights.

-Updated WWE Title Scramble Match: HHH © vs. THE Brian Kendrick vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. ???


-We get footage of HBK, Jericho and HBK's wife from Summerslam.

-Vickie, Chavo and Bam all talk. Chavo says it would have been cool if he was in a qualifier for the Scramble match. He then asks why Taker hasn't shown up, and Vickie was wondering this as well. Chavo speculates that Taker may hold a grudge. Vickie says she didn't make these decisions, and Chavo says they should explain themselves, perhaps an apology.

-HHH makes his way to the out for some commentary.


WWE Title Scramble Match Qualifier: The Great Khali w/Runjin Singh vs. Jeff Hardy

Khali shoves Jeff, who comes back with rights and then uses his speed to get more rights on Khali. To the floor and Jeff decides on a game plan, back in and works the leg kicks to Khali. Off the ropes and a clothesline by Khali. Head butt by Khali and lays the boots to Jeff in the corner. Khali then chokes him out, picks Jeff up and works the Kevin Nash corner offense and Jeff is back down. Short armed clothesline by Khali, and now the Vulcan neck pinch applied. Jeff struggles to his feet, but the JUDO CHOP knocks him back down. Body slam by Khali and he celebrates. Khali sets for the vise grip, no gets the double choke and Jeff escapes, up top and Khali chops him down to the floor. Back in and a boot by Jeff, twist of fate connects! Jeff up top and Singh distracts him, which allows Khali to grab him and get the vise grip! HHH takes out Singh, grabs a chair and as Khali grabs him, HHH waffles him with the chair. Whisper in the wind by Jeff! SWANTON BOMB! 1…2…3!

Winner: Jeff Hardy @ 6:30 via pin

Eh, about as good as you could expect really. I don't like HHH "helping" Hardy, if they are putting him in the match I strongly feel that they should have given him the clean win.
RATING: *½

- WWE Title Scramble Match: HHH © vs. THE Brian Kendrick vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Jeff Hardy


-After a commercial HHH says that the odds are against him in the Scramble match, but they thing they all need to understand is that they have to face him. The 12-time champion, the guy have been in every kind of match and survived and come out on top. He is known for a good reason as being the game, the king of kings. There is only one. Kenny Dykstra , wearing the most generic white trunks on earth comes to the ring and bitches that he isn't even considered for the scramble match. His name is Kenny Dykstra, and he just ate a PEDIGREE. HHH says it was good to see him, and leaves.

-Chavo, Vickie and Bam all talk. Ryder and Hawkins tell them the Undertaker has arrived. She says they need to go out there as a family and make their apology.


THE MAIN EVENT INTERVIEW:
WE'RE SORRY UNDERTAKER, SUPER SERIAL SORRY!
Vickie is here with the whole family to say she's sorry. She is a great women, who is not afraid to admit she made mistakes, who stands on her own two feet and stares adversity in the face. She will do the right thing, she is here to apologize to the Undertaker. Join them in a standing ovation. The family stands and applauds, and Vickie then announces the Undertaker.

Taker takes his slow walk to the ring, he doesn't appear to believe that this is a sincere apology. The hat comes off which means someone is getting an ass whooping.

Vickie says that she delivered Edge to him in Hell in a Cell to get his revenge. All she wants to do is earn forgiveness, if he will accept the apology. Hell, if he needs more time he can answer her next week. Please accept the apology. She's really sorry, from her heart, she wants to apologize. She stands and begs, and then drops to her knees. She continues to beg him to accept the apology. Taker grabs the mic and says to look at him, WOMAN! He didn't come here for an apology, he came FOR SOULS! The family surrounds Taker and then argue over who will attack first, so Taker does. NINJA STYLE one at a time attacking! That never works. Taker has control until Bam tackles him and they then dog pile Taker. Chavo goes for a chair as they hold Taker, but Taker boots Chavo down and then bats the hell out of them. Chokeslam for Ryder, one for Hawkins. Vickie has escaped for now, but Taker gives her the cutthroat sign, ensuring she'll have nightmares for weeks.


-End Scene…