TheOneBigWill's 'take' on Friday Night Smackdown: July 18th, 2008:
Opening Segment: Smackdown begins with a segment that was shot earlier in the day, showing the finish of Edge & Vickie getting married. Chavo plays a joke on Edge, claiming to not have the ring, then laughs as they all found it amusing. Edge & Vickie Guerrero "officially" get married.
The show officially opens with the staging area set up with tables, decked out in white lacing. Bam Neely, Hawkins, Ryder & the Wedding Planner are all out near the tables. Chavo Guerrero is introduced as the Best man. Then, the announcer introduces Vickie Guerrero & Edge for the first time as Husband and Wife.
Chavo gives his speech, saying that he felt Vickie found a keeper in Edge and Edge was the brother he never had. Chavo says because Edge has a wild side, he's perfect to be a Guerrero. He goes on to explain Edge won't turn his cell phone off, because he's always waiting for a call from Vickie. Finally, he says Vickie & Edge's love is the greatest of all, that's only seen in movies. Chavo's gift to them is an early release to the W.W.E. magazine, showing Edge as the W.W.E. Champion with the caption reading "Edge plays the Game and wins."
Edge speaks now, explaining that he feels the show should continue, because Vickie loves her action, in more ways than one.
The Matches:
1. Finlay & Hornswoggle v. Curt Hawkins & Zach Ryder: Before the match begins, Edge gets on the mic. and explains that he sees the Family Finlay coming out, week in and week out and cheat to win. So tonight, he'll solve that, because he's the official special referee.
Hawkins & Ryder wrestle in their wedding suits. Instantly Finlay tries cheating by showing Hawkins into the corner, so Edge calmly brings Finlay back out. Hawkins & Ryder get a couple double team moves in, which they're capable of due to the 5 second rule.
Honrswoggle comes in illegally, as Edge grabs him, only to lose him. Finlay tries attacking the official, as he's swept and then hit with a spear, as Edge accidentally tripped into him. Hawkins & Ryder end up with the victory.
2. Handicap Match: Big Show v. Vladimir Kozlov, the Great Khali, M.V.P. & Shelton Benjamin: The show returns from break, with Kozlov making his way to the ring. Benjamin & M.V.P. are already there, and then Khali enters last.
Benjamin begins the match, because apparently it wouldn't be wise to start off with power against power?? Edge is eating while the match is going on. Benjamin gets shoved back into his corner, as M.V.P. laughs only to get tagged in. M.V.P. then tags out to Kozlov. Khali tags himself in, after Kozlov can't toss Big Show. A shoving contest happens, followed by several fists.
Show gets tired of waiting, and systematically brings everyone in the ring. He takes out most of them, but the numbers game isn't in his favor, and Kozlov takes him down. This is followed by a massive beating, that ends with Khali delivering a double handed chokeslam.
3. Natyalya v. Cherry: Both girls are in wedding attire/dresses. Natalya quickly dismantles Cherry, bashing her with the bouquet, then causing her to tap out by the Sharpshooter. That followed quickly by...
4. Vickie Guerrero v. Cherry: Vickie Guerrero pins Cherry, as she's still laid out from the attack brought on by Natalya.
5. Brian Kendrick w/ Ezekiel v. Jimmy Wang Yang: Foley mocks Yang, by saying he looks real rested. Kendrick is debuting a new look, which honestly made me think of Brian Pillman the instant I saw him. He's also sporting a new shadow, apparently named Ezekiel.
The match begins with some chain wrestling, with several reversals. Yang starts picking up the pace, only to send Kendrick to the outside. Yang dives over, but misses the target, as he begins to chase Kendrick, he's quickly met by the new bodyguard. This allows Kendrick to gain the advantage, and take the action back in the ring.
The match once again switches to Yang with the advantage, as he hits a modified enzuigiri and attempts going up for the moonsault, but is haulted by the shadow, Ezekiel. This allows Kendrick to connect with the Sliced Bread no. 2, picking up the victory.
6. Mr. Kennedy v. Umaga: An interesting note, when they ran the replay from last week's attack of Kennedy getting assaulted by Umaga, the video gets cut off from the sound, and Kennedy's lips don't match what he's saying.
Kennedy tries to kick start the match, but quickly gets shoved down. Kennedy gets back to his feet, using his speed to stay ahead of Umaga with punches and kicks, until he's shoved into the ropes and returns into a shoulder block. Umaga controls most of the match, with a couple high impact moves from Kennedy to attempt regaining control, however he really never did.
After the break, Umaga still wears Kennedy down with rest holds, until Kennedy fights back toward the end of the match. Umaga misses a headbutt, and Kennedy hits a roundhouse kick. The Mic-Check is blocked, but the Samoan Spike isn't. Umaga picks up the victory.
7. Non-Title: John Morrison & The Miz v. Jesse & Festus: Jesse & Morrison begin the match, as Jesse stays one step ahead of Morrison with the offense. Festus comes in for a brief couple of moments, only to bring Jesse back in and slam him onto Morrison.
Morrison picks up the switch in pace, thanks to the Miz running distraction. This also allows Miz to get into the match. Miz controls the pace for a little bit, but the challengers to the Tag Team Champions remained roughly one step ahead as Jesse got back to Festus for the hot tag. As Festus completely destroys our tag team Champions, for whatever reason he decides to tag out.
This leads to Morrison & Festus going to the outside, while Miz hits the Reality Check and picks up the victory. Miz seems happy with the victory, unfortunately Morrison wasn't as approving as he was still suffering from the finish he received by Festus outside the ring.
Segments/Promos:
Edge/Vickie's First Dance: The same song that's played in practically every W.W.E. wedding is played, while Vickie & Edge dance directly in front of the entrance. Suddenly, without warning, Big Show walks out and pushes Edge out of the way only to begin dancing with Vickie. Edge gets upset and explains that he doesn't blame him for wanting to dance with his beautiful wife, but at the same time he doesn't know who his opponents are, and Edge does. Edge demands Show to the ring.
Throwing The Bouquet: Vickie is in the ring, and explains that it's wedding tradition to bring together all the single females, and toss the bouquet. Before Vickie can toss the flowers, McCool attacks Natalya and then gets escorted out of the building. Cherry ends up catching the flowers, only to be put into a match. Vickie says Cherry gets a special match, against her. However before that match happens, she has to face Natalya.
Edge/Slim Jim Guy: Before a commercial break, Edge runs into someone he refers to as 'The Slim Jim Guy'. He goes on about not being able to get into his spicy side right now, as he wants to get back out to Vickie Guerrero. He eludes to getting into his spicy side later though. (For those who don't know, Edge is apart of a new Slim Jim commercial that also aired during Smackdown)
Alicia Fox: I just wanted to make a quick note, even though on Smackdown it was announced. Before the Tag Team contest toward the end of the show, Ms. Fox is seen around the cake, with Edge staring intently at her. Her name is Alicia Fox, NOT "Lisa Fox" which someone from the main Wrestlezone site claimed.
Main Event: Non-Title: Matt Hardy v. Jeff Hardy: Dispite being opponents, they come out together and cause a slight bit of chaos as they toss some wedding cake at Chavo on their way to the ring.
Typical beginning to a match of this nature, as it begins with both brothers each trying to get the upper hand on the other. Chain wrestling all over the place in this contest. Matt blocks Jeff's attempt at a Twist of Fate, however doesn't block the Whisper in the Wind.
Once again both brothers countering each other all over the place, as each knows the other oh so well. In the end, it's Jeff missing with a Swanton and Matt hitting a moonsault. However, before the match can find itself a winner, the entire La Familia' interrupts the match, assaulting both brothers.
Edge/Triple H./Wedding Gift: The show ends on this segment. Edge is in the ring and expresses how much he understands that your wedding day is the greatest day of your life. He presents Vickie with a video montage of their entire love angle. This is interrupted by Triple H.
Triple H. says he understands they aren't happy to see him, but that's only because of his past with wedding similar to these. He says that he isn't out there to explain how he's secretly married to Vickie, but instead to share in their true love and present them with gifts.
Triple H. said Edge just showed a beautiful video, but he also has one of his own. This video contains footage of Edge with Alicia Fox, as Edge is discussing his wedding, while sniffing her hair. Triple H. notices Edge isn't pleased, so he said we'll skip ahead. More footage shows Edge claiming his neck is tightening up, and Fox rubs it. In Edge's defense, he said he had neck surgery and it was acting up. Triple H. counters with "A lot of guys bring women up to their room while their wives aren't there, it means nothing." Edge has seen enough, as La Familia' is sent after him.
Triple H. thought that would happen, so he goes back to the original gift. A sledgehammer. La Familia stop short of the ring, as the video continues. This time, its with Edge rubbing Fox's shoulders. Edge begins explaining how they didn't carry lingerie in Vickie's size and that she wear's granny panties.
Triple H. pauses the video and says that makes this awkward, because the third gift is.. GRANNY PANTIES!!! In the end, Edge ends up making out with Alicia Fox.
Vickie Guerrero is shown, flipping out. Alicia Fox gets out of there, as Edge follows in suit, while the show ends with yet another Vickie Guerrero breakdown!
Overall Thoughts: In the end, while this show was revolved completely around a wedding theme, the fact is Smackdown didn't have near as much as Raw did, to build into the final stop before the Great American Bash. While I think the Edge/Triple H. match deserved a bit more build, I think the fact that H.H.H. showed Vickie what Edge was truly all about, has created enough intensity to carry them into Sunday.
My only fear is that with this being said, Vickie Guerrero is now apparently going to turn face, and side against Edge more than anything. So how odd does that seem? Does that say that this Sunday, Edge will lose because of Vickie Guerrero, which would leave it to stand that Triple H. couldn't win against Edge, without using tactics to do so? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Once again, whoever wrote the Smackdown review for the regular site claims that the announcing crew mentioned Matt Hardy against Shelton Benjamin for the United States Championship. Yet that match wasn't announced when "I" watched Smackdown, and wwe.com hasn't reported it either. Which leads me to wanting to know where Nick Paglino gets his information, and if indeed that isn't Ryan Clark with another identity. lol
Could someone explain to me what they're doing with M.V.P.? He's heel when he's talking against Mr. Kennedy, he's tweener when he's laughing at Benjamin getting beat up by the Big Show, and he's face when he's talking against Edge. Does the W.W.E. even know where he stands?
Why were the Tag Team Champions shown in such a weakened way this week? John Morrison got next to NO offense in against Jesse, and both of them had no answer to Festus. Short of them retaining Sunday, I'm curious why they weren't at least pushed to make it believable that they've been great Tag Team Champions thus far. Now I'm lead to believe the only way they'll be seen as anything other than losing a step, is by retaining Sunday which previously I had wanted Jesse & Festus to win the titles.
Hawkins and Ryder have next to no momentum going into the Pay Per View, and they're seen as still somewhat of a no-name Tag Team. They only defeated the Family Finlay because of Edge, and now that apparently Edge & Vickie are seperated, either Hawkins and Ryder will side with one or the other.. but in the end still equal up to be nothing more than henchmen. Meanwhile, I'm hoping the attack that Finlay took at their hands this week will prove to be overcomeable, and leave them without being able to win Sunday. I really don't want to see them become Tag Team Champions, but I have a sneaking suspicion.
Is Mr. Kennedy suppose to be something impressive on Smackdown? Because thus far, he was just fed to Umaga. Infact, Umaga dominated that match-up, and Kennedy had next to no offense against him. He tried, but nothing seemed to work. Either Umaga is beginning his Main Event run, in what I could only assume will be the showdown with the Undertaker, or Kennedy is just being randomly jobbed out for no reason.
I LOVE the new Brian Kendrick look. I can't even begin to explain how much I went crazy when he came out and made me think Brian Pillman had somehow returned. I really hope he does this gimmick well, especially if it's a form of the Pillman gimmick. Kendrick has the look down to a Tee, now all he needs is the mic skills to advance, and what he truly needs to do is find a new finishing move. Kendrick could easily become United States Champion with this gimmick, as long as he works it properly. I can't wait to see more of him, and like I said, I truly hope he does this gimmick justice.
I'm not really looking forward to seeing the Diva's match Sunday. I still can't put a grip on who I believe will win. McCool got the final attack in, which would lead me to believe Natalya would get the last laugh. (literally) However Natalya is whom everyone believes has this thing won, hands down, and that makes me believe McCool will be the girl to make history, as Natalya seems more poised to create her own history as her career continues.
I'm not actually sure what to make of Edge & Vickie still being married. Their wedding wasn't interrupted because they had it before the show ever happened. So technically, Edge is married to the General Manager. Does that mean he's one-half of the G.M. now? That would be for some great Smackdown viewing, in my opinion. It'll be similar to Eric Bischoff and Steve Austin. Of course their marriage could easily be over come the Bash, as Vickie could've filed for an annulment, since they've only "been married" for less than a week. I'd rather see them share the G.M. spot though, that'd be better viewing in my book.
In the end, tonight's episode wasn't really anything great because in the end, it revolved around Edge and Vickie and noone else. They had the Hardys against each other, which is in my opinion a very great option for a Pay Per View match, and they just tossed it away into a no-nothing Main Event without a winner. Outside of that, they didn't really have any amount of decent matches except Umaga's squash over Kennedy, more or less.
I'd rate tonight's episode a 5 outta 10 only because the best parts were the ending video that Triple H. played, the Hardys' match, Kendrick's new gimmick and the Kennedy/Umaga match. Everything else was just a waste.