WWE SmackDown Taping Results (07/17) *Spoilers*

[Juan]

Dark Match:
* MVP b. Alex Riley w/Beverly in a squash match.
- Riley has a high school gimmick with Beverly as his 'prom queen'. MVP gets the win with his Playmaker finisher after connecting with a clothesline. The match was approximately five minutes long.

SmackDown: (Airing Friday)
* Prior to this week's SmackDown, a promo was taped with Rey Mysterio & Dolph Ziggler. Rey talks about Ziggler's attack last week. Ziggler comes out and interrupts. Mysterio challenges him. Ziggler wants the match at Night of Champions for the Intercontinental Championship. Rey accepts. They brawl until finally Ziggler retreats. The crew prepares for SmackDown.

* SmackDown opens with Jeff Hardy coming to the ring to address CM Punk's comments he made last week. Hardy claims that he'll win at Night of Champions. CM Punk comes out and interrupts. He calls Jeff a joke and asks him how many test and classes he failed in school. Jeff attacks Punk after he claims all of Jeff's fans will become a statistic.

* John Morrison b. CM Punk
- Before the match a recap aired showing Punk's loss to Morrison last month. The match was pretty much back and forth throughout. Both men counter finishers. Morrison gets the win with the rollup. After the match, Punk refuses a friendly handshake.

* Layla comes out in a Miami Heat Jersey and dances for the local fans. She is interrupted by Ricky Ortiz who cuts an anti-heat promo. He gives Layla a towel and she drops it.

* Kane b. R-Truth
- Truth jumps off the top rope and catches a boot to the face. Kane win. After the match, Great Khali comes out. R-Truth hits the top rope dropkick. Kane flees through the crowd.

* The Hart Dynasty b. Cryme Tyme & Eve Torres in a Mixed Tag Team Match
- The Hart Dynasty gets the win when Natalya gets the pin on Eve.

* Edge is interviewed on the screen. He says he'll do everything to get back in the ring. Chris Jericho interrupts the interview and calls Edge pathetic. He says he'll find a new partner for Night of Champion and will continue to reign. Jericho then refers to Edge as injury prone. The crowd is behind Edge.

* Rey Mysterio & Jeff Hardy b. Chris Jericho & Dolph Ziggler via disqualification.
- CM Punk is out to commentate. Jeff tries to throw Jericho into Punk. Punk tosses Jericho to Jeff. The referee calls for the bell. Ziggler lays the referee out on the outside. Jeff gets the Codebreaker. Punk walks to the back as Jeff is in Wall of Jericho. Jericho & Ziggler raise their hands as they exit.

[Innovator]

sounds like a good show

[J Dogg Funk]

I just got home from the Show. (I live in Miami).

Yes it was a solid all raound show. Biggest Pop went to Rey Mysterio, then Jeff Hardy (Duh).

Crowd still very mixed on CM Punk. I wish he would just turn total heel already. He cut a great promo again about Hardy, and how Hardy is a horrible influence on the kids.

I must say though - The Dark Main Event - Punk vs Hardy in a Steel Cage, was a waste of time. Match lasted all of 5 minutes (why bother taking the time to set up the cage). Hardy missed a Swanton and Punk exited the cage.

However, all in all the show was solid and should make for good viewing.

[Fox]

What's with MVP wrestling a dark match for Smackdown?

[DaBrasko]

I guess they realized they couldn't bury him anymore on raw.

[ron the dial]

i'm so conflicted about morrison getting these wins over punk :(

[Juan]

I'm pretty optimistic about it. It's inevitable that these two will feud over the World Title and Morrison's angle will be that Punk can't beat him. The downside, of course, is that the World Champion is getting pinned again, but I dunno, I'm ok with that. At least it wasn't a loss to Kane or something.

[ron the dial]

i mean i love that morrison i winning. but in conflicts with my love for punk. obviously, i'm ok with it because it shows that morrison is going places (if things continue on their current course).

[#1-norm-fan]

Yeah, I'm kinda torn too. Punk losing to Kane or something would piss me off. Their match a few weeks ago though was PPV quality. The way it should be with two guys on their level. If they can put on an awesome match, the length shouldn't be based on whether it's a PPV match or not. I hate that.

That match really was Morrison giving his all against Punk, a man who is kinda on the same level as him even since back in their ECW days, but has just gotten the breaks that Morrison hasn't gotten. I usually hate when the champ loses on a regular basis but this is different than his reign on Raw. Considering Morrison won with a rollup, it looks like they're making it seem like Punk is having to give more than he feels he should to beat Morrison but Morrison is just like his Bane and he's just a thorn in his side.

It's not so unrealistic and retarded. I actually think it's amazing booking.

[Londoner]

It seems that if edge returns we are finally going to get a edge/jericho feud. :)

[FourFifty]

What's with MVP wrestling a dark match for Smackdown?

Isn't that his home town crowd?

[RGWhat316]

Since Pretty Ricky is not mentioned, Im assuming that Kane defeats the real R-Truth this time.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Sounds like it will be another amazing SmackDown!. The one thing I wanted to see was a segment between Dolph Ziggler where Maria chastised Ziggler for attacking poor Rey, and where Ziggler looks like a pimp by telling Maria that if had to choose between her and the IC Title -- he'd choose the IC Title every time. It looks like we won't get that, but I'm glad that Ziggler looks to be adding the IC Title to his resume soon, anyway.

CM Punk's heel promos are right on the money, and I genuinely feel as if people will may to see Punk lose. As such, they can't have him lose too much, though. But, as always, it's hard to tell through the spoilers just how great the match between Morrison and Punk is going to be. I'm sure the win for Morrison feels like a big enough win of opportunity and luck that Punk doesn't look bad as World Heavyweight Champion. Especially considering they seem to be building towards CM Punk vs. John Morrison for Summerslam, or something.

I'm one of the few who actually likes Ricky Ortiz, so I'm glad his character is getting the opportunity to do something. The guy has got a natural charisma, and while he's still green, he can get better in the ring. Kane going over R-Truth also doesn't bother me, and in fact, the more I think about the booking of Kane on SmackDown!, the better I feel about it. Kane has like not lost a match since being re-drafted to the brand (maybe early on). He's gone over the Intercontinental Champion, #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Title, and now a strong mid-carder in back-to-back weeks. Basically, Kane is being booked as a monster who it means something to beat again. That is how Kane becomes worth something.

The six-person tag match sounds interesting, and this rivalry between The Hart Dynasty and Cryme Tyme is simple, and doesn't need too much explaining. I just wish Gail Kim was still on SmackDown! so we could get the Canadian gals fighting over the Women's Title.

Edge turning face would be tremendous. I'm hoping he wins the 2010 Royal Rumble right now. I'm not feeling Edge vs. Jericho for WrestleMania, but I think it would be awesome post-Mania. The main event tag team match is a perfect televised main event, considering the happenings of the previous week. I am so glad that John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler are getting the chance to step up. It's also a bit bizarre that the Intercontinental Title actually feels like it did back in the day -- the default #2 contender to the World Title. Winning the IC Title actually means something again with guys like Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho main eventing shows with it, and actually competing for it.

[ministrychick77]

wait... jericho/ziggler?! ugh...

[#1-norm-fan]

wait... jericho/ziggler?! ugh...

I was afraid of that. Not a big Dolph Ziggler fan. :-\

[Volare]

Easy Rumble set up...I wish they might have done something like this.


Jericho should have done something with Edge's "Ultimate Opportunist" label. Edge can argue back saying Jericho needed him to win a title again saying he couldn't do it on his own and that he lost to the smallest guy in the company. Jericho then finishes with his "injury prone" comment he made on the taping. This sets up Jericho doing well in the Rumble with Edge coming out late in the rumble, and eliminates Jericho while winning the Rumble.

[Indifferent Clox]

I hope they push it like Jericho is responsible.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Does anyone get vibes of The Two Man Power Trip from this?

[Volare]

Kinda sort've.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Watched SmackDown! It was fantastic. Also, Pretty Ricky went to the beach. Don't think this shit with R-Truth is over. :(

CM Punk's opening promo with Jeff Hardy was really fucking good. KK isn't the biggest CM Punk fan, but I think even he would find some joy in the way Punk tears down Jeff Hardy. My favourite exchange from the promo:

Jeff Hardy: (sarcastically) I'm sorry I'm not as perfect as you.

CM Punk: Well, maybe you should be perfect?

I paraphrase, but the idea I got from it was that Punk was suggesting it's not hard to be morally strong, and that Jeff is weak for his vices. Beautiful stuff. Punk would go on to lose to John Morrison, but it happened in a way that again looked like the match could have gone either way on any other night. The only problem I have with it, is that I wish Punk has sucked it up and shook Morrison's hand after the match. I get that they are turning Punk heel, but for the moment in time, Punk should still be an all smiles babyface when not dealing with something Jeff Hardy-related.

Michael Hayes is truly doing a great thing with SmackDown!. Almost everyone has direction. I think the only people that don't are Finlay, Curt Hawkins, Jimmy Wang Yang & Kung Fu Naki, but given the size of the SmackDown! roster, that is pretty impressive.