411’s WWE Smackdown! Report 03.20.09

Posted by JP Truss on 03.20.2009

Tonight Smackdown turns 500 tonight and we have a loaded show for you! Superstars from all three brands will be in the building. The United States Champion will be on the line as Shelton Benjamin faces MVP. Kane will face Shawn Michaels and JBL will face the Undertaker! Plus, some of my favorite Smackdown moments!



Welcome to 411's Weekly Smackdown! Report. I am JP Truss your play-by-play man for Smackdown!

Now, before we start let me lay down some grounds rules right now. I am well aware that Smackdown has a plethora of great moments. These are just a few of the ones that stuck out to me throughout the years. And, on top of that, no one is making you click the videos. So feel free to skip them but then you'd be stuck with a bunch of Bow flex and truth commercials. So, the choice is yours on that one.

J.R. and Tazz are coming to you from Corpus Christi, Texas!


WWE Champion Triple H. vs. Vladimir Kozlov

No opening pyro for this one as Triple H comes out to cheers and ready to compete.Triple H takes the mic and says the worst kept secret in professional wrestling is his relationship with Stephanie McMahon. They tried to keep it quiet, but everyone knew (well yeah, obviously) and of course Randy Orton knew. Triple H was willing to let the attacks on Vince and Shane, because they were men. But Stephanie is a different story.

Triple H says that Randy tried to hide behind lawyers and a disease called IED. Orton's disease isn't IED, but actually cowardice. Orton has had it in him his entire life, but it stops at Wrestlemania. Orton will have no one to hide behind and it will just be him versus Triple H. Orton better pray to God that he is as good as he thinks he is. Triple H calls Orton a disease and proclaims himself the cure just before Vladimir Kozlov makes his entrance.

The bell rings and both men tie up with Kozlov forcing HHH into the corner. Kozlov gets in a few shots but HHH knocks him to the side. Kozlov takes control again and goes for the Irish Whip but HHH reverses it and sends Kozlov to the outside. Kozlov is irate! Kozlov slides back into the ring and go for a running clothesline but HHH ducks under it and again sends Kozlov to the outside with a clothesline of his own! Commercial break!

We're back and HHH has Kozlov in a Figure 4 Leg Lock. Kozlov is struggling and makes his way to the bottom rope, forcing HHH to break the hold. Kozlov gets to his feet and nails HHH with a head butt to the sternum. Kozlov, now in control, puts HHH into the corner and hammers him with shots to the torso. Kozlov pulls up HHH and takes him down with a big fall away slam. Kozlov goes for the pin but HHH kicks out.

Kozlov quickly puts HHH in a rear bear hug, keeping him grounded. Slowly though HHH fights to his feet and breaks the hold, but Kozlov stops him with a punch to the back of the head. Kozlov gets HHH up for a bear hug but again HHH fights his way out again and knocks Kozlov into the corner with a face breaker. HHH follows up with a series of clothesline, putting the big man on spaghetti legs, before taking him down with a neck breaker. 1…2.Kozlov kicks out!

Kozlov crawls to the corner and HHH goes to meet him with vicious right to the head. HHH goes for an Irish Whip but Kozlov reverses it. Kozlov goes for the running head butt but HHH gets out of the way at the last minute! HHH goes for the Pedigree but Kozlov counters out! Kozlov measures HHH as the Game gets to his feet and charges, but HHH counters with the Rolling Spine buster! Kozlov eats the Pedigree and HHH gets the three!

Winner: Triple H (Pinfall via Pedigree) ** Not bad as far as opening matches go. If you didn't see it, you didn't miss much but it hopefully help set the tone for a good show.

We get a recap of the events between Vickie and Edge last Monday night and JR notes that all three men that will be apart of the World Championship Match at Wrestlemania will be on Smackdown before we head to a commercial break.


JP's Smackdown! Moments

I've already said on my weekly column Worst Wrestler of the Week that I am a fan of JBL's and that came about from being a fan of the APA. When JBL came to be in 2004, I knew something big was coming. But very few things JBL has done since becoming a heel has topped this segment. Then GM Kurt Angle was preparing to give out his ‘Great American Award' and this video of JBL on the US-Mexico border was his proof that he deserved to win. Enjoy!




As we come back to Smackdown, we get a package from Wrestlemania 23. One of the events highlighted was the rivalry between Trump and McMahon. I remember ordering that show and yes, it was as good as the video made it looked.


United States Championship
MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin

No entrances to slow this one down. We get the old-school stare off and introductions from Justin Roberts and the bell is rung. Benjamin and MVP tie up to start this one of and Benjamin gets the early advantage with kicks to midsection. Benjamin pulls up MVP and reverse whips him into a flapjack into the turnbuckle. Benjamin certainly seems to have a strategy here tonight.

Benjamin suplexes MVP ribs first onto the top rope, sending him crashing to the mat. Benjamin goes for a pin and gets a two count before putting MVP into an Abdominal Stretch, throwing in a few shots for effect. MVP struggles before finally hip tossing his way out of the hold. MVP goes for a charge but Benjamin meets him with a knee to the gut.

Benjamin sets MVP up in to corner and goes for the Stinger Splash, but MVP gets out of the way BUT Benjamin lands on the middle turnbuckle safely. Benjamin springs off the ropes and is caught by MVP with the Overhead Throw. MVP goes for a pin and gets a two count!

MVP is hurting but he's back in control of this match. MVP ducks under an attempted right and knocks Benjamin down with a series of rights. MVP shoots Benjamin to the ropes and hits a big power slam. The crowd is feeling it!

MVP whips Benjamin again. Benjamin hangs onto the ropes and avoids the big boot. Benjamin goes for the charge and gets the big boot anyway! MVP goes for the pin and nearly gets the three count! HE can't believe it!

MVP sends Benjamin to the corner, but Benjamin leaps out of the way. Benjamin goes on the attack but MVP counters with a face breaker. Wait for it…wait for it…

BALLIN~!

The elbow connects and MVP goes for the cover and again only gets a two! MVP pulls Benjamin up, but Benjamin meets him wit ha shot to the ribs. Benjamin goes for Heel Kick but MVP ducks. MVP hooks him for a vertical suplex, but Benjamin drops out of it and hits the neck breaker! Benjamin goes for the pin; two count!

Benjamin is too athletic sometimes. It's freaky what that guy can do in the ring.

Benjamin is in control now and goes for a short arm clothesline, but MVP reverses it into backslide pin! MVP gets a two count! Benjamin is on his feet and may be thinking Pay Dirt, but MVP counters with roll through; he hooks the legs but again gets a two count. MVP tries to capitalize but Benjamin counters with an inverted back breaker! Benjamin hits a big Exploder Suplex but MVP kicks out at the last moment.

Benjamin is stalking MVP now; you know he's thinking Pay Dirt. MVP is on his feet and Benjamin goes for it, but MVP counters with a flap jack on the top ropes! MVP hooks Benjamin for the Playmaker and hits it! MVP gets the three count! New Champion!

Winner and NEW US Champion: MVP (Pinfall via Playmaker) **1/2 This certainly wasn't a bad match and it had plenty of action, but it had a rushed feel to it that underscored the story behind it. That, doesn't take away from the effort both men put into the match. Considering the weeks put into building up a confrontation over the US Championship, I can only hope that there is a bigger pay off after Wrestlemania.

MVP celebrates with the gold before we cut to a package highlight the villain for 12 Rounds; Miles Jackson. Nothing against Robert Patrick, but this enemy looks much more evolved.


Tazz and J.R. note that Shawn Michaels will face Kane tonight and tease him getting a hand up on the Undertaker on Raw before going to commercials.


JP's Smackdown! Moments

The Rock.

Without a down one of the greatest figures the industry has ever produced. To try and get one classic moment from him is no easy task and I'm not even going to try it. But one of the all time great Rock moments for me came on Smackdown before the Royal Rumble in 2002. Apparently, everyone had an opinion on who would win…and of course, Rock had something to say about that;




AC/DC's War Machine is one of the theme song's for Wrestlemania 25!

Edge is in the back with Vickie Guerrero and Vickie isn't too happy with her husband, but Edge doesn't care. Edge is tired of the Big Show humiliating him and declares the couple done with him.


Shawn Michaels vs. Kane

The crowd is on their feet for the one and only Shawn Michaels as he makes his way to the ring. But we'll have to wait for these commercials to finish before we get the match!

We're back and Shawn is having some fun with the crowd before Kane's entrance puts a stop to that. The bell rings and Shawn Michaels get an early lead with shots to the chest and head of Kane. Shawn Michaels going for an Irish Whip, but Kane reverses it. Kane goes for a power slam but Shawn fights his way out of it. Shawn bounces off the ropes and gets knocked down with a shoulder block from Kane. Kane goes for the elbow but Shawn gets out of the way. Shawn takes Kane to the corner with chop blocks to the knee, but Kane takes his down with a big uppercut.

Kane is now in control and takes it to Shawn in the corner, choking him with his boot until the referee backs him off. Michaels tries to fight back but Kane answers with big elbow shots. Michaels finally gets away and fights back with knife-edged chops, but Kane fires back with a big Irish Whip into the corner, flipping Michaels inside out. Commercial break!

We're back and Kane crushes Shawn into the corner with a big clothesline. Kane goes for a pin but Shawn kicks out at two! Kane hooks Michaels with a hammer lock and sends him into the corner. Michaels again tries to fight Kane off but Kane answers back with a boot to the shoulder. Kane hooks in a standing arm bar and sends Michaels to the ground as he puts pressure into the hold. Shawn slowly gets to his feet and breaks the hold. Michaels whips Kane across but Kane answers with a stiff kick to the face. Kane hits Michaels with a snap mare takeover and low dropkick! Kane goes for the pin and Michaels kick out!

Kane hooks in an overhead wristlock and Michaels again struggles on the mat to get a foot hold. Kane stands him up and forces him back to the mat, keeping the hold on. Michaels finally punches his way out but Kane fires back with a stiff kick keeping him down. Kane pulls Shawn up and whips him into the corner. Kane charges but Michaels gets his boots up! Michaels answers back with stiff chops and whips Kane, who counter whips him, but Michaels counters with a neck breaker!

Both men are slow to get up but Kane manages to whip Shawn to the ropes, but Michaels answers with a flying forearm! Michaels his on his feet! Michaels goes for the inverted Atomic Drop, but Kane blocks it! Kane goes for the Chokeslam, but Michaels gets out of it! Michaels hits the Atomic Drop and takes the big man down with a clothesline.

Shawn Michaels heads to the top rope and goes for the elbow drop, but Kane gets his knee up! That had to hurt. Now it's Kane's turn to go to the top rope, measures Michaels and nails him with the flying clothesline! Kane signals for the Chokeslam but Michaels hits Sweet Chin Music! Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere! Michaels gets the pin and the three!

Winner: Shawn Michaels (Pinfall via Sweet Chin Music) **3/4 Quiet possibly the Match of the Night. Strong work from both Michaels and Kane as well.


We're backstage again with Vickie and now the Big Show. Vickie tries to convince the Big Show against…whatever he's planning to do. But Big Show says that Edge has left him with no other choice. HE says that he came out to help Vickie but Edge speared him so he can't walk away. Vickie tells him that if he cares about her, he'll let this go. But Big Show tells her that Edge deserves everything he gives him tonight.


JP's Smackdown! Moments

During John Cena's early days his rapper gimmick earned him the scorn of the Smackdown faithful. This became an Achilles Heel for the future Champion as various opponents usually ended up challenging him to a battle rap and winning. Probably the greatest of these ‘battle raps' featured your Olympic Hero Kurt Angle. Enjoy!




Extreme Rules MatchJeff Hardy vs. The Brian Kendrick w/ Ezekiel ‘The Green Mile' Jackson

J.R. and Tazz inform us that the match between Matt and Jeff has been made into an Extreme Rules match…which means both Hardys will be bringing something interesting to the big show.

Jeff is out with…I'm not sure what inspired this evening's make-up choice but it works for him. TBK is in the ring with TGM. The bell rings and Jeff takes out Jackson with a big dropkick. TBK tries to take advantage but Hardy forces him into the corner. Baseball Slide to Jackson on the outside, which Jeff follows up by sending Kendrick to the outside! Big cross body over the top rope onto Jackson by Jeff!

Jeff is in control and goes after TBK, but Jackson is back on his feet and hurls Jeff into the crowd barricade! Jackson helps TBK to his feet but Jeff is back with a steel chair to Jackson! Jeff murders Jackson with the steel chair and chases Kendrick back into the ring. Kendrick stops Jeff with a kick to the gut and a heel kick, goes for the pin and gets a quick one count.

Kendrick forces Jeff to the corner and goes for the chair, but Jeff is back on the move. Kendrick trips Jeff into the opposite corner and charges, but Jeff moves out of the way. Jeff goes to the outside and retrieves the chair, which he hurls at Kendrick. Jeff sets up the chair as Kendrick gets to his feet; one man Poetry in Motion on Kendrick!

Jeff leaves the chair standing and slams Kendrick face first into the seat. Jeff pulls Kendrick up and hits a big Alley Oop on TBK. Jeff sets up the chair and hits the Twist of Fate on TBK onto the Chair! I think! Swanton Bomb ends this one!

Winner: Jeff Hardy (Pinfall via Swanton Bomb) ** A fast paced match here meant to sell the deeper story between Jeff and Matt playing a prominent role, which ended up making it an extended squash. Making it ‘Extreme Rules' wasn't necessary, but I'll take it.

We get a promo of the WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania, featuring clips from HHH and Stephanie's actual wedding. I am not kidding. Well done again from the production department.


JP's Smackdown! Moments

Days before No Way Out 2004, Brock Lesnar held an impromptu celebration that many still talk about today...if only because of his dancing. So, enjoy a ridiculously big man dancing to Mariachi music!

Wait, let me change that; Ole!




We're back and we get a replay of the announcement that the Von Erich Family will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. When you think of historic wrestling families, the Von Erichs are at the top of the list and since it is in Texas you can expect it to be an emotional moment.

12 Rounds comes out next week and as promised in my column, Worst Wrestler of the Week, will see it and give my own review of the movie. I'm expecting a decent movie so we'll see what happens.


The Undertaker makes his way to the ring and warns Shawn Michaels that when he least expects it, he will feel the wrath of the Undertaker. This sends us to a commercial break.


Intercontinental Champion John ‘Bradshaw' Layfield vs. The Undertaker

We're back as JBL's limo pulls into Smackdown. J.R. notes that Rey Mysterio has challenged JBL to a match at Wrestlemania and JBL has accepted so we will have an Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania for the first time in over five years.

JBL raises the gold in front of Undertaker and Undertaker responds with a huge right hand. Undertaker takes JBL down with a series of rights and forces the Intercontinental Champion into the corner, hammering him with stiff blows to the head. JBL, however, answers back with strong rights of his own. JBL forces the Undertaker into the corner and knocks him down to the lower turnbuckle with a kick. But Undertaker comes back and puts JBL into the corner, teeing off with rights again and topping it off with a head butt. Not a bad slugfest to start off with.

Undertaker twists JBL's arm and begins to attack the shoulder. Undertaker tries to go up for Old School but JBL stops him with a shot to the ribs. Undertaker drops back to the mat and JBL fights him to the ropes, whipping him across but Undertaker counters whips him and catches him with a Big Boot. Undertaker goes for the pin and gets a two count. Commercial break!

We're back just as Undertaker hits the leg drop on the ring apron. JBL crashes and burns to the outside and Undertaker whips him into the crowd barricade. Undertaker breaks the referee's count and goes for another running boot, but JBL moves out of the way and Undertaker is hung up on the crowd barricade! JBL smells blood in the water and goes after the left leg, slamming it into the ring steps.

JBL rolls Undertaker back to the ring and catches onto his left leg before Undertaker can get to his feet. Undertaker tries to fight out but JBL stops him and hits elbow drops onto the left leg before switching over to a leg lock. Undertaker struggles but JBL keeps the hold on. Finally, Undertaker breaks the hold with well placed shots to the face. Both men get to their feet but JBL takes the Undertaker down with another shot to the left leg. JBL sets Undertaker's left leg onto the bottom rope and stretches it out until the referee breaks it up. Undertaker stands and tries to protect himself but JBL kicks his legs out from under him.

JBL hooks Undertaker into a Figure Four Leg Lock. Undertaker's shoulders are on the mat and the referee counts the pin, but JBL only gets a two count. Undertaker sits up and JBL knocks him down. Undertaker sits up and gets his hand around JBL's throat. Both men are on their feet again and whip him across the ring and go for a punch, but JBL ducks under it and hit a big chop block onto Undertaker's left leg. JBL goes for the pin and gets a two count!

Undertaker pulls himself up into the corner as JBL gets to his feet and the slugfest begins again. The Undertaker gets the better of the shots and hits Snake Eyes on JBL! Big Boot! Undertaker's hurting but he hits the big leg drop! Undertaker goes for the pin and gets the two count!

Undertaker signals for the Chokeslam, but JBL stops him with a kick to the left leg! Clothesline from Hell! JBL hits the Clothesline from Hell! JBL goes for the pin but doesn't get the three! JBL is irate! JBL goes for the Undertaker but Undertaker counters with the Devil's Gate! JBL struggles but to no avail and taps out!

Winner: The Undertaker (Submission via Devil's Gate) *** A vicious, brutal match here with enough ring psychology thrown in to keep it from being repetitive. Both Undertaker and JBL brought their A game to this one and gave us a good main event for the 500th Episode.


JP's Smackdown! Moments

Okay, we've all been in this situation. You're trying to help out a friend and your significant other misreads the entire situation. During the McMahon-Helmsley Era, Triple H frequently found himself in such positions with Trish Stratus that Mrs. McMahon-Helmsley did not approve of. I'm sure the Game would've preferred any other position than the one Stephanie caught him in this time around. Enjoy!




As the Smackdown Turns AKA the Main Event Promo

Big Show is in the ring and calls out Edge, who answers him quickly. Edge warns Show to be careful what he wishes for. Both men shout at each other until Edge demands that Show stops spitting on him. Hilarious.
They're ready to get start until Vickie makes her way to the ring and admits that she's in love…with both of them.

…Are you kidding? What is this? Big Love?! No pun intended.

Edge agrees with my sentiments and demands Vickie clarifies her position. Show warns him not to talk to her like that but Edge declares that he can because she's his wife! But she's also Big Show's lover!

EXCUSE ME!!!

Vickie convinces them both to wait until Wrestlemania where they will not only fight for the World Heavyweight Championship…but also her heart. Vickie declares that they make a truce and Show and Edge reluctantly shake hands.

…I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR APPLE PIE!!!!

I swear that's what it sounds like.

John Cena comes out to a big ovation from the Smackdown faithful and begins to take a giant crap on the entire thing. After all, he does plan to win the match at Wrestlemania and wants no part of Vickie's heart…or head…or handles. This is the 500th episode of Smackdown! And this is all they got? A handshake?

Cena: This is awesome TV…People will be talking about this ‘forever'.

Classic.

Cena reminds Edge that Vickie and Big Show have done….certain things to each other and he's pretending to be okay with out. Show laughs at Edge's predicament but Cena brings up Edge attacking him on Monday.
On top of all of this, the thing that gets Cena is that Wrestlemania has become a battleground to see who shares Vickie's infection?

Cena: No, I meant ‘affection'. Wait, yeah, I'm going with ‘infection'.

Touché Mr. Cena.

Edge and Big Show try to defend Vickie since Cena doesn't know her like they do with cute stories of her flatulence and neck kisses, but it breaks down pretty quickly from there. Show tells Vickie to tell Edge to watch his mouth and the poking match begins. Vickie tries to stop them but Edge slaps Big Show! Show goes for the Chokeslam and pushes Vickie out of the way. Vickie look like she landed awkwardly and Show goes to check, but Edge sees an opportunity. Edge goes for the Spear but Show gets out of the way! DOWN GOES VICKIE! DOWN GOES VICKIE!

Uh oh…

Big Show and Edge look like they just broke their mother's favorite vase. The two of them, once they recover from their shock, begin fighting over who helps her. Eventually Show gets Vickie into his arms and Edge attacks again! DOWN GOES VICKIE! DOWN GOES VICKIE!

Edge can't believe the Show just did that!

BIG SHOW ANGRY!

Show takes Edge down with a thunderous Chokeslam and carries Vickie to the back as Smackdown comes to a close.

Final Thoughts : Alright, the final push to Wrestlemania is on and as we all expected the past few weeks would not be repeated. Overall, this was a decent show. The matches for the most part all had implications towards Wrestlemania and told their story well. Again, I hope that we get a more concrete US Title match in the near future but both men did well in the encounter. The Main Event promo overall was well done with Vickie, rightly, taking a lot of hits in order to further separate Edge and the Big Show while not taking up more than ten minutes to get the point across. I don't mind this kind of show as long as the quality of matches doesn't sink in favor of preserving the big action to Wrestlemania.

Well, before we close this out we still have one final Smackdown moment to go. There have been many great ‘underdog' champions that emanated from Smackdown but the first and most historic in my opinion was at No Way Out 2004. Eddie Guerrero, a man from a historic wrestling family maligned by his own demons was never considered World Champion material by most, but on that night he shocked the wrestling world and reached the top of the mountain, winning the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar. On the following Smackdown, Eddie celebrated his victory and for me it was probably my all-time greatest mark out moment. So, enjoy this clip from Eddie's championship celebration and we'll see you this Tuesday for the Worst Wrestler of the Week.