Friday Night Smackdown!
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
August 29, 2008
results thanks to wwe.com
PITTSBURGH – When you’re on top, everyone is gunning for you. This is exactly
the position WWE Champion Triple H finds himself in.
The Game had to fend off United States Champion Shelton Benjamin in a Champion
vs. Champion bout. The King of Kings was successful, using a Pedigree to down
the Gold Standard. But after the bell, Benjamin stunned Triple H by hitting him
from behind with his United States title. To add insult to injury, The Great
Khali came to the ring and chokeslammed the vulnerable champion.
As an unprecedented five-man WWE Championship Scramble looms at Unforgiven, the
reigning champion will continue to have to watch his back. Unforgiven preview …
Nowhere to hide
Since returning from banishment and sending Edge to hell at SummerSlam,
Undertaker has been very clear about how he feels about SmackDown General
Manager Vickie Guerrero.
“I’m not the forgiving kind,” he said at the beginning of SmackDown in a rare
ring appearance on the mic. With Vickie, Chavo Guerrero, Bam Neely, and WWE Tag
Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder watching from a monitor in Vickie’s
office, The Deadman delivered an ominous warning. “I will be coming for you.
And, I will be coming for your soul. And once I take it, you will burn. Burn in
hell,” he bellowed.
Watch Undertaker's grim warning in SmackDown's Quick Cut
SummerSlam Rematch
After losing to Montel Vontavious Porter at SummerSlam, Jeff Hardy had an
opportunity to settle the score in a rematch on SmackDown. From the start, Hardy
came at MVP with an aggressive offense. But as the battle wore on, MVP launched
his own assault, resulting in a series of near pinfalls. But each time, Hardy
found a way to survive.
In the end, the high-flyer dug deep and summoned the energy to deliver a Whisper
in the Wind and Swanton Bomb to finish off SmackDown’s Franchise Playa. After
the bell, United States Champion Shelton Benjamin came to the ring to offer his
version of a congratulations.
Jilted giant
Before a winner could be determined in the tag team match pitting Jesse & Festus
against WWE Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder, Big Show interrupted
to deliver a message. Unfortunately for Festus and the tag team champions, they
ended up strewn about the ring after the angry giant took out his frustrations
on them. The source of his anger? Not being included in last week’s series of
WWE Championship Scramble Qualifying Matches on SmackDown.
“I will never, ever, be overlooked again,” he said. In a sarcastic apology to
Guerrero for disrupting the match, The World’s Largest Athlete said, “Let’s just
call it an oversight.”
Impressive debut
After enduring some harsh trash talking from Kenny Dykstra before the bell,
R-Truth let his actions do the talking throughout their match. Using an
impressive corkscrew flying elbow, followed up by a scissors kick, the SmackDown
newcomer picked up a debut victory.
Beautiful start
Also making an impressive debut was Brie Bella. Using an inside cradle,
SmackDown’s newest Diva was able to stun Victoria and get the pinfall.
Blonde brawl
In other Diva action, Maryse & Natalya picked up a win over Divas Champion
Michelle McCool & Maria. Using a hard-hitting DDT, Maryse got the pinfall over
Maria. But after the bell, Maryse attacked McCool and the two engaged in an
all-out brawl that spilled from the ring onto the arena floor. Natalya got
involved, holding the All-American Girl so that Maryse could get in a cheap
shot. The blow left McCool lifeless on the arena floor, as the victors strutted
their stuff on the way out of the arena.
Matches
R-Truth def. Kenny Dykstra
Maryse & Natalya def. Divas Champion Michelle McCool & Maria
Jeff Hardy def. Montel Vontavious Porter
Jesse & Festus vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder (Non-Title, No-Contest)
Brie Bella def. Victoria
WWE Champion Triple H def. United States Champion
Shelton Benjamin (Non-Title)