WWE Smackdown Report for July 25 – HHH Vs Khali
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosted Smackdown this week, focusing on the fallout of last week’s episode and the recent Great American Bash. Tonight’s show was also the initial lead in to SummerSlam, setting the main event stages and midcard feuds.
Jim Ross and Mick Foley start the show off by putting Vickie over as the babyface in her and Edge’s love triangle angle. MVP’s VIP Lounge is the first in-ring segment of the night. He’s been quiet as of late so hopefully this segment can start a fresh feud for him. His guest this evening is Jeff Hardy.
MVP announces that Mr. Kennedy, Umaga, The Great Khali, The Big Show, Jeff Hardy, and himself will all be competing tonight in “The Biggest Blockbuster of the Summer” Battle Royal for “an opportunity to face Triple H for the WWE Title at SummerSlam.”
The segment then takes an amazing shoot twist, as Jeff Hardy is forced by the host to address his 60-day suspension for failing the WWE’s Wellness Policy. But it doesn’t stop there. MVP rips into Hardy’s perceived negligence by bringing up the issue of his home that was burned down several months ago, saying, “it wasn’t exactly a house, more like a trailer, but it was still where you lived.” Hardy, however, takes it all in his stride and says that what happened was simply a horrible thing. MVP decides to dig deeper, though, bringing up Jeff Hardy’s deceased dog, Jack, who died in the fire. (For the record I felt very uncomfortable watching this, as it was almost ‘too real’ for pro wrestling and perhaps even in bad taste). Says MVP, “You feel responsible for Jack’s death” to which Jeff responds, “You’re not just a jerk, what are you, a psychiatrist? …You don’t know me cuz.” But MVP is relentless, adding that “[Jeff's] behaviour cost [him] someone near and dear to [him].” This definitely perturbs the former Intercontinental Champion, but MVP pushes him further, adding, “Let’s talk about how you are reckless and how you are a detriment to everyone around you… it’s because of that that you will never be a WWE Champion. Ever!” Porter continues by telling Jeff Hardy that he needs to act like a professional and that he’s a grown man and that he must start to take responsibility for his actions. Hardy responds by striking a nerve of his own, saying, “I’m very thankful for my second chance, and if anyone should know about second chances it’s you!” (For those of you not in the know, MVP once served 9 years in prison for robbery and kidnapping, before signing for the WWE). Finally, enough is enough and Jeff knocks MVP out of the ring, shouting at him that he makes him sick. The segment overall is very well done and ends very shoot-like, which is what I believe the writers were going for.
CURTAIN JERKER: SHELTON BENJAMIN vs JIMMY WANG YANG
Shelton is introduced as “the new United States Champion” after winning the title at the Great American Bash last weekend, essentially so that the belt can officially return to the Smackdown brand.
Benjamin cuts an in-ring self-hype promo saying that he “liberated the United States Title from Matt Hardy” (even though the ECW-bound Matt Hardy still wrestled on Smackdown regularly). It has to be said that this was a brutal promo and it leads me to believe that no one in the WWE is in greater need of a manger mouth-piece right now than our dear Shelton Benjamin.
The ring bell sounds and the match gets underway. As you would expect, it is a tremendous match, albeit a very short one.
Benjamin carries the match initially until JWY hits a successful inzaguri followed by a head-scissors takedown, to swing momentum in his favour.
The finish comes as both men miss spinning heel kicks, but then Shelton connects with his T-Bone Suplex finisher for the 1-2-3.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Harry Smith sightings: 0
Jimmy Wang Yang sightings: 2
Cameras cut to the backstage area where Edge is greeted by his “kids,” the new Tag Team Champions of Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. Zack and Curt both tell Edge that they don’t need an explanation from their former leader and that it’s not their business what he does in his spare time. Edge is surprised by their stance but welcomes the unexpected acceptance of his situation by the Edge-Heads.
MATCH TWO: CURT HAWKINS (W/ZACK RYDER) vs FESTUS (W/JESSE)
Festus is the aggressor early on, as you would expect.
Hawkins uses a series of kicks to keep the big man at bay, but it is only temporary as Festus wails away with giant fists on his opponent moments later.
JR delivers the great line of, “I don’t think Festus has a reverse gear!”
On the outside, Ryder attempts to ring the bell to return Festus back to his stoic state, but Jesse prevents it.
Back in the ring, and Festus hits his Flapjack finisher on Hawkins for the win.
Winner: Festus
After the match Ryder takes out Jesse and then the Edge-Heads hit a double-DDT on a completely unresponsive Festus, taking him out.
After a commercial break we see Edge confronting Alicia Fox, his former wedding planner, telling her that she has to “blend into the woodwork” better. He finishes by telling her that he’ll talk to her more back at the hotel after the show. In the background we can see Bam Neely eavesdropping.
MATCH THREE: STEVIE RICHARDS vs VLADIMIR KOZLOV
Jim Ross makes the strange comment that Vladimir Kozlov was recognized early on in Russia as being a “Large kid for his size.” Erm???
A modified bulldog by Richards takes Kozlov to the mat.
Belly-to-back suplex by the big Russian.
Double-underarm-hook into a Greco-Roman toss by Kozlov.
Fugiwara arm-bar applied by Kozlov, who despite the impressive move-set is still too cartoony in the ring and seemingly very green with his selling.
Vladimir eventually puts his opponent away with a mere head-butt. Cue the creepy Russian goth theme music.
Winner: Vladimir Kozlov
After the match Vladimir Kozlov threatens the announcers in Russian. JR translates it as Kozlov demanding greater competition.
MATCH FOUR: MR. KENNEDY vs THE GREATH KHALI (W/RANJIN SINGH) vs MVP vs UMAGA vs JEFF HARDY vs THE BIG SHOW; BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER OF THE SUMMER OVER-THE-TOP-ROPE BATTLE ROYAL; FOR THE #1 CONTENDERSHIP FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
It is announced before the match that the winner of this Battle Royal will earn a shot at Triple H’s World Title at SummerSlam.
Before the match starts Ken Kennedy cuts the same generic promo he’s been cutting for weeks. Rinse. Wash. Repeat. (Shame).
The ring bell sounds and the story of this match unfolds as being the smaller men working together to eliminate the threatening bigger men.
Once the smaller men are taken care of, however, the big men square off and start picking the bones of each other.
Jeff Hardy explodes on MVP, eliminating him with a hard clothesline!
Next, The Big Show overpowers Umaga, eliminating him! Then he does the same thing to Mr. Kennedy!
We are down to the final three: The Big Show, The Great Khali, and The Jeff Hardy.
Jeff sits on the sidelines while the two big men go at it. The Big Show Chokeslams Khali down to the canvas, then Umga illegally interferes to Samoan Spike The Big Show. Jeff Hardy uses this turn of events to eliminate The Big Show with a head-scissors for a thunderous pop!
Swanton Bomb on the prone Khali! The fans are going absolutely wild!!!
Vice-Grip! Low blow counter by Jeff Hardy! Hard chop from Khali! A toss over the top rope and it’s over….. silence.
Winner: The Great Khali
After the match Triple H comes out to confront his new rival. The Great Khali backs down from Trips’ challenge.
A vignette airs hyping the re-debut of Ron Killings in the WWE. Killings will be going by the name of R-Truth this time (as opposed to K-Qwik). Ron is a tremendous worker but his mic skills leave a lot to be desired. I hope he does well in the WWE because I was a big fan of his in TNA (mostly for his aforementioned ring work) but I suspect that this was an addition by subtraction on the WWE’s part.
MATCH FIVE: MICHELLE MCCOOL vs MARYSE
That new WWE Diva Title will take some getting used to accepting, and it doesn’t help that it’s on the waist of Michelle “spot monkey” McCool at the moment.
Michelle hits a drop kick on her opponent, sending Maryse to the outside. It is on the outside, however, where the Canadian takes control.
Jim Ross continues his gong show of ill-advised comments by saying, “I’ve noticed that Maryse is quite aggressive, and I like that in a…. in the ring.”
Michelle McCool puts Marsye into a nice roll-into-a-heel-hook for the win.
Winner: Michelle McCool
Cameras cut to the loading bays where we see Vickie Guerrero being wheeled into the arena by Chavo. Bam Neely runs up to the pair and asks Chavo if he’d told Vickie what Edge said yet. Vickie wonders what Bam is talking about but Chavo quickly says that they’ll talk about it later and then just concentrates on getting the Smackdown GM into the venue.
After a commercial break Bam Neely approaches Edge in his locker room and tells him that Vickie is in the building. Edge says that he needs to apologize to her, but that he has to do it “in public.” Bam says that he’ll tell Vickie and leaves.
MATCH SIX: BRIAN KENDRICK (W/EZEKIEL) vs SHANNON MOORE
Jim Ross and Mick Foley decide to compare Brian Kendrick to Brian Pillman at the start of this match, but I can’t quite make the connection myself. Apart from both of their names being Brain, they are/were two completely different characters.
Kendrick cuts a pretty successful heel promo in the ring that introduces his new gimmick and new bodyguard to the television masses.
This is a high-flying match worked at a fast pace. Kendrick is the aggressor early on, hitting his opponent with multiple knees and kicks.
Reverse atomic drop by Moore, but he gets distracted by Kendrick’s bodyguard long enough for Brian to regain the advantage.
A Sliced Bread, now known as “The Kendrick,” seals the win.
Winner: Brian Kendrick
Backstage we see Chavo Guerrero consoling Vickie. Bam walks in and shows his unintelligence by forgetting what Edge told him moments ago (apparently he forgot somewhere between leaving Edge’s locker room and walking down the hall). Bam Neely says that either Edge wants to apologize to Vickie, or that he wants Vickie to apologize to him, but either way he wants it done publicly.
After the ‘Michael Cole’ last commercial break, we see Edge in the ring with a mic in hand. Edge says that he wants to apologize “in public and face-to-face” and then asks for Vickie to come out.
Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely wheel Vickie out and then leave her alone in the ring to talk to Edge, telling her that they’ll be nearby if she needs them.
Edge speaks first, kneeling down in front of his wife and admitting his guilt. This garners a loud chorus of boos from the Philadelphia fans in attendance. Explains Edge, “What that video [from last week] didn’t show was how many times I tried to say no. But Vickie, she was so aggressive, she just kept coming on to me and wouldn’t take no for an answer. No means no but she wouldn’t listen!” Vickie looks sceptical but listens further and Edge continues to explain, “Nothing means more to me than your happiness… I can’t live without your love.”
Vickie responds by saying that she actually understands and then the two embrace. But when they go to kiss Vickie turns away and retorts, “But you need to understand that Hell hath no fury over a woman scorned! When I was really, really, mad at you, I did something that you might not like…..”
The Canadian takes a deep breath, then says “Ok, I understand that… What did you do?”
To a huge pop Vickie declares that she “reinstated The Undertaker!”
At this point Edge has a tremendous reaction and seems to lose his mind as the fans all chant “Und-er-taker” in unison!
Finally, Edge responds by saying that reinstating The Undertaker is good business and that while they go on their honeymoon The Undertaker and Triple H can “destroy each other” and then when he comes back he can “pick the bones” and “regain [his] World Championship.”
However, the Smackdown GM has a different plan in mind, and the segment ends with the bombshell that Vickie Guerrero has booked Edge to face The Undertaker at SummerSlam… in a Hell In The Cell!
Smackdown goes off the air with a distraught Edge sitting on the canvas staring up at Vickie in utter disbelief.
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Final thoughts: The Great Khali winning the title shot against Triple H is not only bad storyline-wise (Jeff Hardy was way over!) but it’s bad wrestling-wise too. The match will probably be a forgettable 5-minute contest, or a laughable 10-minute time-waster. Either way, Trips can be better utilized by working with someone else, and Jeff Hardy would have made perfect sense in retrospect.
The burying of Kennedy continued this week with the former WWE main eventer-elect getting no significant mic time whatsoever nor push in the ring. I wonder who he pissed off and what it was he did?
The new women’s title, whatever it’s called, is about as meaningful as the champion who wears it around her waist. Nothing against Michelle McCool personally, but she’s far too green to be carrying an entire division as its figurehead. Give Nattie Neidhart the belt already! And hurry, before it’s too late to redeem it!!!
Finally, Edge continued to carry the entire brand this week with his tremendous heel heat. His reactions, timing, and storytelling were perfect tonight, with the coup-de-grace being the defence of his affair with the explanation that Alicia was the one coming onto HIM! Haha! It’s always gold from the Rated R Superstar. But the rest of the undercard still needs a lot of work. I’m hopeful for good things from MVP and Jeff Hardy though.
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