Friday Night Smackdown!

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
February 12, 2010
results thanks to pwtorch.com


- Wow, they went straight to the arena with fireworks, no WWE open, no Smackdown open. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker opened the show, plugging Chris Jericho vs. Undertaker in a no-DQ match first up. Then, they advertised John Morrison vs. R-Truth for this evening.

1 – REY MYSTERIO vs. C.M. PUNK

This is the first match that features all of the Chamber participants participating in one-on-one matches against each other on the night. And also, it's a rumored Wrestlemania match as well, so we'll see if anything comes out of this one. Luke Gallows and Serena accompanied Punk to the ring. Mysterio tired of Punk’s mocking very quickly, and went on the offensive to start. Victory roll for a near-fall. Rey began to work the leg of Punk, but it didn’t last long. After a test of strength, Mysterio got another roll-up for two. Punk returned fire with an enziguiri. Headscissors by Punk, who laid in some kicks of his own. Punk ended up on the outside, and avoided Rey’s intended offense; Rey 619’d himself back into the ring and Punk held court with his followers on the outside as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Punk ran the ropes and caught Mysterio with a leg lariat for two. Rey got back-dropped on the apron, where he used his legs to bring Punk to the outside. Seated senton on Punk on the floor followed. Gallows provided the necessary distraction to allow Punk to drop Mysterio back-first on the barricade, with Rey falling into the front row of seats. Punk baseball slid Mysterio into the ring post inside the ring. Back outside the ring and Punk continued to soften up Rey. Bow-and-arrow from Punk as the crowd chanted for Mysterio. Rey came back with another near fall after countering a suplex. Punk regained control with a back-breaker. At about 12:00, Punk tripped Rey up on the top rope, resulting in Rey getting stuck in the Tree of Woe. Punk tried another baseball slide, but Rey picked his head up and Punk went crotch-first into the post. Mysterio began hitting his patented offense, but couldn’t get the three-count. Mysterio rolled through a roll-up and kicked Punk in the head for two. Big powerslam in the middle of the ring by Punk for a near-fall. Knee in the corner by Punk, but was shoved off on the bulldog attempt. Mysterio set up the 619, but Serena got on the apron. Gallows was taken out on an attempt at interference. Punk dodged another 619 and got Mysterio up for the GTS. Rey turned it into a roll-up for the win.

WINNER: Mysterio, at 14:53. About what you’d expect from these two.

Before Rey could even celebrate, Gallows hit the ring and started taking apart Rey. They should bring back the ringing of the bell to attempt to stop post-match attacks. Even Serena got a shot in at Rey. Punk grabbed Rey by the mask and told him he could save him. Punk kneeled down while Gallows picked up Rey and put him on Punk’s shoulders for him. Neat visual. Punk then gave him the GTS.

- Batista’s explanation for his attack on Bret Hart will come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed replays of the finish of the previous match, as well as what followed.

- A brief video of Drew McIntyre aired. Then Tony Chimel announced him in the arena. Holy cow, is that his new music? That is awesome – I wholeheartedly approve. And since I like it, I’m sure it’ll never be heard again. Upon reflection, it looks like the video was his Titan-Tron. McIntyre got the mic and said when he was told he had a match tonight, he told them he didn’t care who it was against. McIntyre bragged about his accomplishments and said he was unstoppable. He looked down when the fire went off and he realized Kane was his opponent. McIntyre said he has nothing to prove tonight, and even dropped Kane last week. McIntyre said Kane could have a match next week, but not tonight. The ref rang the bell anyway, and Kane kicked him out of the ring.

2 – DREW MCINTYRE vs. KANE

Outside the ring, Kane threw McIntyre back in and caught him with a clothesline. Kane to the top, but McIntyre saw it and fled to ringside for relief. Grisham wondered whether his unbeaten streak would be laid to rest tonight as they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

McIntyre worked over Kane with Chris Jericho move #569 (arm-bar). Kane with a sidewalk slam for a two-count. Then he went to the top rope and this time, McIntyre couldn’t get away from the clothesline. Kane grabbed McIntyre by the throat, but McIntyre got out. Future Shock couldn’t fully be locked in, and both men, in their attempt to get the better of the other, went tumbling over the top rope. McIntyre tried to make it in at five, but Kane pulled him back and both men brawled out there. It ended with a double count-out, even though Kane seemed to be in a position to win it.

WINNER: Double count-out, at 6:55. I’ll say it again: the count-out is getting over-used on Smackdown.

McIntyre got a few more cheap shots in on Kane then grabbed his Intercontinental Title from ringside. He was about to use it in the ring, but Kane grabbed him and chokeslammed him. He set the title on McIntyre’s chest, then summoned the fire.

- Backstage, Mickie James was picking at some fruit when Michelle McCool and Layla walked up to her. Imagined their shock to see her eating. Mickie said their issue is over with. McCool said as long as Mickie has her title, it ain’t over. Mickie reminded her of what happened the last time they fought, and McCool countered by asking if the title could even fit around her waist. The heels taunted her with cottage cheese, but Mickie smacked it out of their hands and behind her. Layla and McCool made faces, which must mean it hit someone. And of course the camera panned back to show it did, and it was the butt of every WWE joke, Vickie Guerrero.

[Commercial Break]

3 – MICKIE JAMES vs. LAYLA

Layla was happy with her one offensive move, going so far as to look at the crowd and pause after it. But Mickie capitalized and went right after her. Before she could do too much damage, Vickie Guerrero, who hadn’t cleaned herself off yet, came out and announced the match as a handicap match with Michelle McCool being included.

3 – MICKIE JAMES vs. LAYLA & MICHELLE MCCOOL – HANDICAP MATCH

I’ll treat this as one continuous match in case you’re scoring at home. Michelle came in and her face immediately hit the mat. Then she caught Layla with a Thesz Press. James continued to fight off her challengers until Layla whipped James into a McCool back-breaker for a near-fall. Mickie tried a hurricanrana on Michelle, but Layla held her hair to stop her. She was knocked off the apron, but McCool kicked Mickie in the face. Faith-Breaker finished Mickie off.

WINNERS: McCool and Layla, at 3:01. About 1:30 of that was the handicap match.

- Batista was walking backstage….he’s due in the ring for an explanation next.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed clips of two weeks ago on Raw, when Batista attacked Bret Hart at Mr. McMahon’s behest. They also showed him walking out on his Chamber qualifying match with C.M. Punk.

- In the ring was Josh Mathews, who called out Batista for an interview. Mathews asked him about his actions lately. After a long pause, he took the microphone from Mathews and gave a “get the hell out of my ring” stare to his interviewer, who obliged. Crowd got a “Cena” chant going while Batista waited. And waited. And waited. Then he left the ring, mic still in hand, spotlight following him. He walked around ringside and took some crap from fans in the front row, including one middle-aged man in a Cena shirt who did the “you can’t see me” routine, which popped the crowd. Then Batista got back in the ring, dropped the mic and walked out. He got half-way up the ramp and fans started chanting for Cena again. “You want an explanation?” he shouted. Then he walked back to the ring with a purpose, picked up the mic….and dropped it again. That’s an interesting approach to take. Some people will not like that he didn’t actually address anything (and they watched at least five minutes of nothing going on that led to nothing), but I think it’s OK to do as long as they don’t do it again for a long while.

- The announcers pushed the other two matches tonight featuring Chamber participants.

[Commercial Break]

- Smackdown general manager Theodore Long walked out onto the stage. He addressed the Batista situation. He said since Batista doesn’t feel like talking, maybe he’ll feel like competing – against Edge. Well, since Long brought up that Batista walked out of his match last week against Punk, what’s to stop him from doing the same thing this week? That was kinda weird that they’d bring up his non-match last week in order to force him into another match, presumably in the near future (though no date was announced).

4 – MATT HARDY & THE GREAT KHALI vs. THE HART DYNASTY

Hardy got the mic pre-match and wished everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. He said the Punjabi Playboy always has a special Valentine’s Day, and Matt said he’d have one this year as well….with Maria. Maria then came out and Hardy retconned that the two have been friends for years. David Hart Smith wanted no part of Khali once the bell rang, so Khali brought Tyson Kidd in the hard way. Dropkick to the back of Hardy’s head after a distraction, and a tag to Smith for a standing suplex for two. Side Effect on Kidd for two after Hardy worked out of a rest-hold. Natalya tripped up Hardy behind the ref’s back, and Maria went after her with a Thesz Press on the outside. Roll-up by Kidd for two, and Hardy did the same to Kidd and picked up the three-count. Grisham mistakenly called it two.

WINNERS: Hardy and Khali, at 2:11. Just kinda there. You could see the reason they paired Maria with Hardy out of nowhere when The Harts and Natalya came out. Obviously, both women would get involved, and they did. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the Bret Hart storyline thus far is that the Hart Dynasty hasn’t been (and probably won’t be) involved.

- The Hall-of-Fame video package on Ted DiBiase aired.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Todd Grisham thanked Cypress Hill for “Rise Up,” the official theme song of Elimination Chamber.

- The Chamber PPV card was previewed by the announcers.

- They went to highlights of the Punk vs. Mysterio match from earlier this evening.

- R-Truth came out for his match against John Morrison. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – R-TRUTH vs. JOHN MORRISON

Handshake started things off for the two Chamber entrants. Morrison did a flip off the back of Truth and landed awkwardly on his ankle. He sold the pain immediately, and even began to try to loosen his boots. The referee ordered the match to be ended at this point, with Truth being declared the winner. The replay didn’t appear to show anything twisting, despite the announcers’ insistence otherwise.

WINNER: Truth, via ref stoppage, at :54. With the news that Morrison’s Twitter post of a broken ankle was false, could this be a way to get Shawn Michaels into the match at the PPV?

A trainer and R-Truth helped Morrison to his feet after the match.

- The announcers plugged Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho, no-DQ, later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Edge came out. He talked about the Elimination Chamber matches that are coming up in just more than a week. He said at Wrestlemania, he could end up facing his old Rated RKO buddy, Randy Orton. Or, the guy he faced at ‘Mania last year, John Cena. Or he could choose the winner of the Smackdown Elimination Chamber, which could be Rey Mysterio, or C.M. Punk. Edge said 12 different superstars are in the running to be his opponent at Wrestlemania. But there is one guy who stands out of the pack. This man is undefeated at Wrestlemania. He’s 17-0 at Wrestlemania. And that man is The Undertaker. He did say that he doesn’t know who he’ll be facing at ‘Mania, but he does know he’ll be facing Batista next week on Smackdown. Boos from the crowd, not sure if it’s for Batista or for the fact that the crowd realized the match won’t be happening on this show. Chris Jericho’s music interrupted and he walked out.

Jericho was offended that Edge never mentioned him as a potential opponent at ‘Mania. I can see Sheamus saying the same thing this week on Raw. Jericho said he’s not surprised, as bad things seem to happen to Edge when the two of them are together. Jericho said he was there the night Edge tore his Achilles tendon. He said he doesn’t know what it’s like to make a triumphant return from injury, because he doesn’t get injured; he just wins championships. Great line. Jericho implored Edge to save himself some grief at ‘Mania and to choose the winner off the Raw Elimination Chamber. Jericho said he’d walk out of the Chamber as World Champion and told Edge to stay away from him. He said if Edge continues to antagonize him, bad things will continue to happen to him. Jericho asked Edge to watch what happens when he beats The Undertaker tonight. The bell tolled and the lights went out, signaling Taker’s impending entrance. Taker made his entrance and turned on the lights. They went to break at that point.

[Commercial Break]

6 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. THE UNDERTAKER – NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH

Edge joined the commentary team for this match. Taker pounded away at Jericho from outside the ring, and booted Jericho in the head as Y2J was draped over the apron. Edge talked about his history with The Undertaker as Taker continued to slowly eat away at the endurance of Jericho. Jericho crotched Taker on the top rope and went up to meet him. Superplex off the top for a two-count from Jericho. Taker fought out of a rest-hold and the two traded haymakers back-and-forth. Big splash in the corner from Taker. Taker readied for the chokeslam, but Jericho ran to ringside. He jawed with Edge a bit until Taker attacked him from behind. He took his time glaring at Edge, which brought the 2010 Royal Rumble winner out of his seat. Taker tossed Jericho in Edge’s direction, but Edge dodged it. The two went face-to-face, but Taker decided to go after Jericho. He picked him up and threw him into the ring, then turned around and kicked Edge straight in the face. DDT by Jericho as Taker was coming into the ring, but it only got a two-count. Jericho was thrown off a roll-up and into the turnbuckle, the pad of which he had removed earlier. Taker gave him the Last Ride powerbomb, then turned around and was greeted with an Edge spear. Edge left and went to the back. Taker did his zombie sit-up and went over to Jericho. He picked Jericho up and Jericho hit the Codebreaker out of nowhere for the win.

WINNER: Jericho, at 7:32. I liked the interplay between Edge and the two combatants, as they’ve done a good job throwing some red herrings in there on who will win at the Chamber and who Edge will choose to face. The win by Jericho here makes me wonder if he’ll come out on top in the Chamber now.

After a few replays of the finish, Jericho stood with his hand raised on the ramp as the show faded out.

- The show ended with a video plugging Edge vs. Batista for next week.