411’s WWE Smackdown Report 10.17.08

Posted by Scott Rutherford on 10.17.2008

Michael Hayes: We have the main event set but I feel like I've forgotten something.......

Booking Lacky Reply: Yeah, the undercard you idiot!

Hey all and welcome to this weeks recap. We're still looking for a regular recapper for Smackdown! If you catch the show weekly and can get up a recap within an hour of programs end, drop us a sample and I will forward it on to the big boss.

I got a couple pieces of email about last weeks recap and missing some stuff. I get a feed from Fox8 in Australia and they are more than a little liberal with leaving out some stuff. They've taken to not going to commercial during matches and doing a weird edit in its place like Coliseum Home Video has come back from the dead and clipped it.

So anything that's different, there's your reason.


Pre opening credit package shows clips from the HHH/Big Show title match from last week.



We join J.R. and Tazz from Las Vegas!

The Big Show is in the ring accompanied by Chavo. Things are going to end badly for The Undertaker. TBS questioned his resilience and the strength of his chin which he received his answer for at No Mercy however, he did not questions UTs intelligence until last week. Did Undertaker lose his mind? Did Big Shows large right hand knock him stupid? He was set to be the new champ last week…things are going to end badly. TBS understands UT wants revenge and redemption but be careful what you wish for Undertaker because TBS might just give it too you.

Cyber Sunday has three options as to how Big Show will end The Undertaker. He has helpfully set up three wrestlers to display each of these.

The Big Show vs. Jobber #1 – Knock Out Match
This is over in 30 seconds with the obvious.

Show dumps the prone body at ringside like a bag of garbage.

The Big Show vs. Jobber #2 – I Quit Match
J#2 tries a standing dropkick which misses, he gets head butted out of his conscious mind and Show locks in a cobra clutch to finish as J#2 quits.

The Big Show vs. Jobber #3 – Last Man Standing Match
Clothesline by Show, he nails a series of big blows to the chest, Chavo is in to set up a table and TBS chokeslams J#3 through it and gets counted down.

(Effective opening segment and mini-matches. Show came off looking and sounding like a total prick and the jobber matches served there point nicely. Matches were DUDs of course)

Carlito & Primo vs. Ryder & Hawkins – WWE Tag Team Title Match
Match starts with some chain wrestling between Primo and Ryder that ends up with a 2 count for Primo. Ryder reverses a whip to the corner but Primo catches him with a flying cross body for another 2 count. Tag in for Carlito and the brothers do a criss-cross, which ends with Carlito leg dropping Ryder to the back of the head for another 2 count. Carlito fakes an elbow but gets flipped to the outside on a charge as Hawkins tags in and he promptly rams Carlitos lower back into the ring apron, and rolls him back in for a 2 count. Hawkins works on the back and then tags in Ryder who nails a forearm for a two count. He locks on a body vice from behind but Carlito fights and reverses a tilt-a-whirl slam attempt into a spinning neckbreaker. Both men tag out and Primo owns Hawkins but he eats a big boot during a corner charge, Primo ducks a clothesline attempt and nails a reverse neckbreaker but Ryder breaks his cover attempt. Carlito gets rid of Ryder then Hawkins gets rid of Carlito and then turns into a HUGE missile dropkick from Primo and that's all.

(Short match but a clean decisive win to the Colons'. The tag division is still shot but at least they have a team to build around…although I've lost count of how many times I've said that in the last 4 years. This gets an extra star for the height Primo gets on his dropkick at the end.**1/2

- MVP is in back with Eve. He reminds us he was the longest reigning US champion in WWE history and that he also consistently beats up Jeff Hardy. He's going to get it done against R-Truth tonight unlike the current US Champ. He also reminds us he's just one win away from his performance bonus!

MVP vs. R-Truth

Lock-up to start. R-T gets an armbar which he works into a chicken wing and he rams MVP's shoulder into the corner and R-T hits a hiptoss into another armbar. They work up and R-T charges and MVP back drops him over the top rope but Truth lands upright on the apron. MVP nails him and drops the back of Truths neck over the top rope and gets a two count. MVP hits a chinlock as we get a match clip and we pick the match up as R-T clotheslines MVP. Truth nails a big right hand to the head but telegraphs a clothesline, which MVP counters with a neckbreaker for 2. MVP tries to channel Kevin Nash and goes for a big running boot but R-T ducks and headbutts MVP's mid-section and a rocker dropper ends it for MVP.

(Too short to mean much of anything as the jobbing of MVP continues. At least they have the smarts to match it up with a storyline about him needing one more win. So it keeps it interesting. Truth picks up another win. *)

- We go to the back and we see Vicki and The Big Show. Vic is injured you know and has many issues. Kung Fu Naki jumps in for three seconds and is quickly run off. Next in is Mayrese who wonders why she has to compete in a match tonight with the other divas when she beat Michele McCool two weeks ago. Vic reasons that the true way of finding the #1 woman's contender is by a Fluffy Dice on a Pole match. Last in is the Great Khali. Vicki wants him to destroy The Undertaker tonight. He's not so keen but The Big Show talks him into it.

- The Brian Kendrick makes his way to the ring. He was supposed to wrestle Super Crazy tonight but he developed a throat tickle and cannot compete. In his place Ezekiel will wrestle.

Super Crazy vs. Ezekiel Johnson
Lock-up to start ends badly for Crazy as he eats a big elbow from a whip. Elbow drop by Ezekiel and he nails Crazy with a modified rock bottom for the win.

(Ezekiel is a monster in case you have any doubts. DUD)

- The Brian Kendrick demands the ref raises his arm in victory as well and then nails Crazy with The Kendrick just because he can.

- Backstage with Eve and we're joined by HHH. The clips from last week remind him just how much everyone wants to be champion. There are lots of unknowns heading into Cyber Sunday about whom he'll face but there is one thing for sure, they'll have to beat him. Once that bell rings they will find out why he is the King of Kings, why they call him The Game and why he is that damn good.

The Undertaker vs. The Great Khali
Lock-up to start as Khali overpowers UT. They lock-up again and Khali manages to get ‘Taker in a headlock. Taker fights out and lands a series of big soup bones in the corner, the ref tries to count him off and UT chases him away for even trying. Khali takes advantage of the distraction and takes control with kicks to UT's mid-section. They start trading big blows and Khali nails a big clothesline, gets a bodyslam and a leg drop for a 2 count. Khali applies the Vulcan Nerve Pinch of Annoyance, ‘Taker fights back but runs into KHALICHOP! but that only gets 2. Head vice by Khali, UT fights back from underneath and nails the flying clothesline as The Big Show heads in for the Sports Entertainment Finish.

Chokeslam by The Big Show and he goes outside for a chair. He tries to convince Khali into using it on ‘Taker. Khali's all like, "fuck you fatty" and knocks the chair out of Shows hands and walks away. Show jaws at him as he walks away as UT does the zombie sit-up behind him, gets the chair and imprints Show with it from behind.

(Fuck! This match was actually quite rocking until the bullshit finish. Khali and UT have a freakish chemistry and they just love beating the crap out of each other. **)

Divas Las Vegas – Fluffy Dice on a Pole #1 Contender Match
We have Natalya, Victoria, Brie Bella, Maria and Maryse. The whole match pretty much revolves around Maryse trying to get the dice and the others trying to stop her. Eventually Maria knocks her down and claims the win.

(Utter Shit. Dud)

Jesse & Festus vs. Kenny Dykstra & Ryan Braddock
The heels don't even get an entrance. Bell rings and Festus goes mental. He nails a hiptoss on Braddock, lays in some big shots and tags in Jesse whom Festus slingshots back into Braddock. Jesse nails a running reverse elbow to get a two count and he settles things down with a side headlock . Braddock works his way up and nails a side suplex as we get a match edit and pick up the action with Kenny taking control on Jesse. Braddock tags in and lays in some big boots to the mid-section, bodyslam and legdrop combo gets a two count. Kenny tags in and nails a big right hand off the top rope for a 2. Jesse escapes a scoop slam and tags in Festus who murders Kenny with the typical slow-redneck-who-turns-into-a-monster-when-he-hears-a-bell offense. Festus nails a big boot and hits the Hillbilly Hump Splash but Braddock breaks the cover. Jesse takes him out and Festus nails Kenny with the big F5/flapjack for the win.

(Okay match that really wasn't in any doubt. Another match that shows outside of the main event and MVP/R-Truth/Shelton Benjamin, they are doing nothing with the undercard talent. *1/2)

- Backstage Festus gives Maria a flower. Jesse pimps Big F by desides to get him out of their when Festus looks like he's about to drool on Maria's chesticles. The excuse for beating feet? They have a Wayne Newton concert to rock!

Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jeff Hardy
HHH is out for commentary. Jeff charges at the bell and gets booted for his "cunning". Vlad takes him to the corners and just slams him with big shots but misses a charge and Hardy gets his own boot in. Rights from Jeff as he tries to take control but Kozlov nails him with a shoulder block coming off the ropes. He picks Hardy up and places him across the ropes in the corner and delivers a series of headbutts to the back and the resulting cover only gets 2. Vlad rams Jeff into the ring post twice as we head for a break…

…we're back as Vlad has Hardy down in a keyhole armbar. Jeff tries to fight and gets armdragged down. Hardy tries to fight back and suffers the same fate again. Jeff tries to headbutt his way out but Kozlov shows how they do it Siberia and hits a belly-to-belly, which gets a close 2 count. Some big knees to Hardy's mid-section, Jeff tries to slip in the twist of fate but Kozlov shrugs him off, Hardy with the whisper in the wind, he nails it again and he goes up top but Kozlov ducks under Hardy's leap. Kick attempt by Jeff is blocked but he nails the inside-out kick, which staggers Kozlov who bounces off the ropes and obliterates Jeff with the chest headbutt and claims the win.

(Massive win here for Kozlov as Hardy got nothing but token offense and Vlad looks like a monster. Smart booking see's Hardy on level with HHH in their matches but he can't handle Kozlov at all. The match was okay but the smart booking and the overall effect is worth its weight in gold. ***

HHH gets all up in Vlads grill and they intensely ponder who has the greatest Borscht recipe to end the show.

The 411: Much like last week, half the show is firing but the other half is wasted. The main event gave Kozlov a huge rub and I'm actually excited about his first singles match with HHH whenever it happens. There are some great pieces in place for this show right now in the undercard but it needs a fresh booking perspective STAT. Call it another good show for the main event on the build for Cyber Sunday.