Friday Night Smackdown!

Atlanta, Georgia
July 9, 2010
results thanks to pwtorch.com

[Q1]

-They opened with a video package on Jack Swagger hurting Big Show's ankle two weeks ago and hurting Rey Mysterio's last week. Great editing to really add drama to the angle.

-After the Smackdown opening, Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introduced the show. They hyped that Big Show would get a rematch against Swagger tonight.

-Drew McIntrye stood in the ring. As he raised the mic up to speak. Teddy Long's music interrupted. Long strutted to the ring with a big smile on his face. He asked Drew what he was doing out there since the last time he saw him he was being deported. Drew said two weeks ago his visa expired and all of his citizen issues have been resolved. He said what hasn't been resolved is their relationship. He called Long "Mr. Long" and "sir."

Drew said on his long flight back home he realized he has wronged him in so many ways lately. "It's never too late to say I'm sorry," he said. Long said, "It's never too early to say you're a liar, playa'." He said it's obvious he used to have Mr. McMahon in his back pocket, but now that Mr. McMahon isn't here anymore, he has to earn his keep by working on an even playing field. "I couldn't agree with you more, Mr. Long," said Drew. He said he also wanted him to know that he is personally nominating him for the WWE Hall of Fame Class 2011.

Drew said WrestleMania 27 is going to be a huge week for Atlanta. He asked Long to imagine receiving his Hall of Fame ring in his hometown while he, Drew, main events at the World Hvt. Champion. Long said he would love nothing more than to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He said the only way for him to become World Champion is to win the Money in the Bank ladder match. He said if he were in it, he could win it, but there's one little thing left for him to do. Long asked him to get down on his knees and beg. Drew said he can't be serious. Long said he had a reminder for how it's done. He pointed at the big screen.

A video aired of Drew forcing Long to get on his knees and say "Drew, you're The Chosen One." Drew said if he didn't, his family would go hungry. Back live in the ring, Long told Drew to get on his knees if he wants to be The Chosen One. Drew dropped down. Long asked him to say he is the most handsome. Drew said, "You are the most handsome." And Debonaire... High-Class... Sharp-dressed and intelligent... And it's an honor and a privilege to have Teddy Long as his new boss... Long told him he could stand. Drew stood and asked Long to please tell him he's in the MITB match now. Long said, "Not by a longshot." He said he had to earn it. He said he'd have to beat a man he doesn't have much luck with - Kofi Kingston. The crowd cheered. Long wished him luck. Striker said, "How dare Teddy Long do that to The Chosen One."

-Grisham hyped MVP vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Dolph Ziggler with the winner getting the other final slot in the MITB match. [c]

[Q2]

1 -- DOLPH ZIGGER (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. MVP vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

Striker said the Dolph-Vickie relationship is one of convenience. Grisham said some would say it's strictly a platonic and business relationship. Vickie sat at ringside. Striker said, "Hi cougar." He helped her put on her headset. Chavo and Ziggler attacked MVP in the corner at the bell just as Striker asked Vickie if she had a hand in what is essentially a two-on-one match. When Grisham said this is obviously a ploy to get Ziggler into the MITB, VIckie said "how dare you" and insisted it's "every man for himself." At 2:00 MVP cleared the ring of both Chavo and Ziggler. They cut to a break. [c]

At 5:00 MVP hit a superplex on Ziggler. Both were slot to get up. Vickie panicked when Chavo covered MVP. She shouted, "We didn't talk about this." Chavo played it like he was hosting Blues Clues instead of trying to win a fight. He apologized to Vickie as she yelled at him from ringside. Ziggler recovered and attacked Chavo from behind. Chavo fought back with the Three Amigos. He celebrated and showboated over Ziggler, but meanwhile MVP recovered and backdropped him. He punched a charging Ziggler, kicked Chavo, and threw Ziggler to the floor. He then finished Chavo with a knee-driver to Chavo's jaw. He followed up with his finishing routine leading to a near fall on Chavo, which Vickie broke up by pulling the referee out of the ring. Ziggler then locked MVP in a sleeper. The called for the bell when MVP was out. It was strange because the ref didn't bother to lift MVP's arms. He just looked at MVP and declared the match over even though MVP still had his arms up trying to pry Ziggler off of him. I doubt that meant anything other than WWE or the referee being sloppy with the traditional way to decide the actual end of a match.

WINNER: Ziggler in 8:00 to earn a slot in the MITB match.

STAR RATING: *1/4

[Q3] [c]

-Another Alberto Del Rio vignette aired. I still don't think half the viewership tunes in their attention when this is on since there's nothing indicating it's part of the WWE program. Why not just have Grisham or Striker say he's a new WWE Superstar debuting soon and threw to the video package? He bragged himself up as being pure and inspiring. He's quite boring, though, and the music just lulls you to sleep.

-Josh Matthews interviewed a WWE trainer as he examined Rey Mysterio's left ankle on a training table backstage. He used a bunch of medical terms regarding his ankle and knee injuries and what they're doing to treat it. Matthews asked Rey if his injury would affect his chances to defend his championship. In yet another instance of Rey's promo being interrupted in Rey's first sentence (which is almost a running joke now), Jack Swagger charged into the room, ordered everyone to leave, and then put Rey in an anklelock. He dragged Rey while locked in the hold out of the room. Rey cried for him to let him go. He tried to grab onto anything as Swagger dragged him away. The whole thing was pretty nasty looking. Swagger threw Rey into a big panel leaning against the wall, then just as it seemed he might let up, he dragged Rey by his ankle into the entranceway and toward the ring. Finally The Big Show ran out for the save and Swagger retreated. The crowd chanted "Big Show, Big Show." Trainers and referee Charles Robinson checked on Rey. [c]

[Q4]

-They showed night scenes of Downtown Atlanta. Grisham then said everyone is reeling from what happened before the break. He called the Swagger attack disturbing and devastating attack by Swagger.

2 -- CHRISTIAN & MATT HARDY vs. VANCE ARCHER & CURT HAWKINS

Grisham said Hardy and Christian have 16 tag team title reigns between them. At 2:00 Hardy went to tag Christian, but Christian yanked Hardy over the top rope. Striker said he liked that. Grisham over-called the tag, deliberately saying Christian will take him and enter the match. It was ridiculous and funny how he felt the need to explain what was about to happen so that when something different actually happened, it'd be all the more shocking. When has an announcer ever said "he will accept the tag and enter the match" before? Archer and Hawkins easily finished of the injured Hardy second later.

WINNERS: Hawkins & Archer n 3:00.

-An ad aired for Raw hyping John Cena facing all of the Nexus members on Monday. [c]

-A video package aired hyping the Rick Steamboat DVD.

-Ring intros took place for Drew and Kofi.

[Q5]

3 -- DREW MCINTYRE vs. KOFI KINGSTON

Kofi went for a quick schoolboy for a two count on Drew. Striker called Drew's apology to Teddy earlier "nice and sweet." They cut to a break at 3:00 after a good start to the match. [c] At 8:00 Kofi went into his finishing sequence and attempted a Trouble in Paradise. Drew avoided it, but Kofi kicked him on a second try for a near fall. At 11:00 Kofi dove through the ropes at Drew at ringside. Striker said Drew needs to win, not get counted out, to have any hope of being in the MITB. Kofi threw Drew back into the ring, then barely beat the ten count himself. Kofi was going to drop guillotine legdrop on Drew, but Drew yanked the front of his trunks and practically yanked them down from the front as he sent him head-first into the ringpost. He followed with a Future Shock DDT for the win.

WINNER: McIntrye in 12:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4

[Q6]

-They went to Striker and Grisham at ringside. They talked about the complete list of competitors in the Smackdown MITB. Then they threw to a video recap of last week's revelation that C.M. Punk "saved" Serena from drinking and being hit on in a bar, and then Punk freaking out that she revealed that lats week.

-They cut backstage to Punk and Luke Gallows heading to the entrance tunnel to address the Serena situation. [c]

-Another Alberto Del Rio vignette aired. He touted more of his many attributes. He said the one he is most proud of is his intelligence. He said he is educated. Many people squander their chance at an education, but not him. He had his butler pour him a glass of wine. He said he was a hungry baby, consuming as much knowledge as possible. He said he is a product of a superior education. He ended with a wink.

-Punk and Gallows entered the ring. Gallows said the fans saw a side of the Straight Edge Society they shouldn't have ever seen. He said if Serena has a shred of dignity left, she should step out now. Serena said this has been the hardest week of her life. She said Punk means more to her than just being her leader. She said he is her world. She said she made a horrible mistake when she got drunk. (Uh, that wasn't last week that she got drunk; it was last week when she played a video of her getting drunk at the time of Undertaker being attacked.) She said Punk must understand that she felt she needed to put a stop to Kane thinking they had something to do with Taker. She begged for forgiveness. Gallows said he won't forgive her; he said she is the most pathetic person he's ever known. He said he's ashamed she was ever part of S.E.S. He said when they found her in the bar, he wanted her to wallow in the misery of her addiction. He said it's up to Punk to decide her future, but he wanted to make it clear that she ruined her role to set a good example for women everywhere that they can live a Straight Edge lifestyle.

Punk took the mic and said the only good thing Gallows said tonight is that it's not Gallows's decision, it's his (Punk's). He added, "And I forgive her." Gallows stepped out of the ring. Serena looked at Punk and said she can never explain what he's done for her, but she promised to never fail him again. Punk leaned in and said, "You better not." Serena hugged Punk and shed a tear. Gallows looked on from the stage and shook his head in disgust.

[Q7] [c]

4 -- "DASHING" CODY RHODES vs. J.G.T.

Cody came out to his new entrance music. Theyhave it set up where he looks at himself in a digital mirror, which broadcasts his reflection on the stage wall of his admiring himself to a nauseating degree. Grisham gave Striker a hard time for making a dated reference. Cody won with a Crossroads finisher out of nowhere. Grisham didn't call him "Dashing" repeatedly throughout this week's match. Apparently his contract was changed.

WINNER: Cody in in 3:00.

-Josh Matthews interviewed Kelly Kelly backstage. Layla interrupted her promo in her opening sentence, caller her "Smelly Kelly," and waved Josh away. As Kelly retaliated, Michelle McCool attacked her from behind. [c]

-A recap aired of Swagger's attack on Rey earlier.

-Matthews interviewed Show backstage. He said he's never felt pain like that anklelock two weeks ago. He said Swagger's thing is trying to hurt people and make them suffer He said Rey is suffering right now and he knows how badly he hurts. He began to break down as he said the closest he's ever felt his bones might break was two weeks ago. He said he's a giant and he heals quickly. He said if Swagger wants to put fear in people's minds, he's going to put some fear in Swagger. He said tonight he makes Swagger suffer. Convincing interview and nice performance and change of tone from Show to hype that main event.

[Q8] [c]

5 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. THE BIG SHOW

Swagger pointed at Show's ankle at the start. He moved right in at Show's ankle early. Show brushed him off and then pounded his exposed back and went for a bodyslam. Swagger slipped out and clipped Show from behind. Swagger leaped onto Show's back. Show slammed Swagger hard to the ground and then went on sustained methodical offense. At 2:00 he shifted up a gear and knocked Swagger to the floor with a running tackle. The crowd erupted. Swagger punched Show's knee from the floor and then dropped his neck over the top rope. Show collapsed. Swagger yanked his ankle around the ringpost. He went for an anklelock, but Show powered out. He went at Show again, but Show shoved Swagger to the floor again. Show beat on Swagger all the way up the ramp onto the stage. Swagger attacked Show's ankle again, dropping him this time. Striker said the match was now ruled a double countout "if you're keeping track." Nice of him to address that and not just leave it unaddressed.

WINNER: Double countout in 4:00.

-Swagger walked backstage pleased with himself. Kane grabbed him by his throat and threw him into an interrogation area lit up in red. Kane said what he did to his brother is nothing compared to what he's going to do to him. Swagger yelled that it wasn't him. Kane called him a liar. Swagger said he has an alibi. Kane told him to prove it. Swagger said next week he will provide it. "I swear!" he said, while hyperventilating. Kane said his alibi had better be a good one because if there's even the slightest doubt in his mind, he will be "condemned to live in eternal suffering in hell."