The following matches were taped Tuesday night for tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown:
— Bragging Rights Team Smackdown Qualifier: Finlay vs. Mike Knox vs. Dolph Ziggler
— Bragging Rights Team Smackdown Qualifier: Cryme Tyme vs. The Hart Dynasty
— Matt Hardy vs. Eric Escobar
— The Dirt Sheet with John Morrison and The Miz
— Bragging Rights Team Smackdown Qualifier: Drew McIntyre vs. R-Truth
— Rey Mysterio vs. Batista
Plus, appearances by Vince McMahon, Vickie Guerrero, Undertaker, Chris Jericho, CM Punk & more.
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WWE SmackDown *SPOILERS* for Tonight
Report by Adam Parker
The Dirt Sheet returns on the shows tonight.
Jim Ross is not at the show. I think it’s Todd Grisham and Michael Cole on commentary.
Teddy Long came out and introduced the captain of Team Smackdown Chris Jericho, who walked to the ring and cut a promo on John Cena. Jericho said that it’s his responsibility to put a team together that will do everything he says and that his team will defeat the delinquents of DX. There was a big chant for DX and a “You Suck” chant at Jericho.
Jericho talked about how DX pushes their merchandise and points out all the merchants. He has the DX book in his hand and said, “You know what I think of DX?” and he rips up the book. Out comes Kane to confront Jericho.
Kane comes out and says “Your team? We need to talk” to Chris Jericho. He says he is the new co-captain of team Smackdown. Jericho says, “Of course you are, I was thinking the same thing” and tries to put Kane over. Kane says that as far as he is concerned, the DX book and DX can all go up in flames.
Finlay vs. Mike Knox vs. Dolph Ziggler for a spot on Team Smackdown at Bragging Rights was up next. Ziggler actually got a pop. Ziggler pinned Knox after Finlay and Knox hit in the air on a cross body while Finlay had the shillelagh in his hands.
In a tag team Bragging Rights qualifier match, Cryme Tyme beat The Hart Dynasty when JTG pinned Tyson Kidd. Cryme Tyme is on Team Smackdown at the PPV.
Chris Jericho, with Michelle McCool, came and said that there will be three Raw vs. Smackdown matches at the PPV and he can’t count on Morrison winning so Jericho asks if he can count on McCool winning her match. McCool says she can beat anyone at any time. Mickie James walked in and said she has a better chance of beating a Raw diva. McCool went to leave and brushed into Beth Phoenix, who told her she won’t be keeping her title for long.
CM Punk walked into Vince McMahon and said that the Fatal Fourway at the PPV is unfair. Vince agreed and said that he really liked the idea. Punk had last week so he’s making a match for next week: Punk vs. Taker in a submission match with Scott Armstrong as the ref and Teddy Long at ringside.
Before a Bragging Rights qualifying match, Tony Chimmel introduced Vickie Guerrero. She got a ton of heat, you could barely hear her. She introduced Eric Escobar and as soon as she said his name, people stopped booing and just sat down. Wow. His opponent is Matt Hardy, to a big pop.
Escobar won after Vickie distracted the ref, rammed Hardy into the turnbuckle and rolled him up. After the match the happy couple posed in the ring.
They aired a commercial for the new Batista DVD, which comes out this Tuesday.
John Morrison and The Miz had a really good Dirt Sheet, which ended with a stare-down and Miz backing down and leaving.
An R Truth-Drew McIntyre promo, followed by Truth walking backstage was next. They met in a match to determine the last spot on Team Smackdown for the PPV.
McIntyre won via countout after he threw Truth back-first in to the ringside steps.
We went backstage with Rey Mysterio and Batista. Batista said that he isn’t sure about his match against Rey because they are like brothers. Batista said that they will both have to do what is needed to win at the PPV. Rey said that this is one time he wishes they could team up, but with Punk being so jaded it shouldn’t be too hard and The Underaker, well Rey reminded us that he is a former champ and can do what it takes to win.
Taker appeared in the Tron. To paraphrase, he said it has been said that history has a way of repeating itself but not in my yard. Teddy Long, Scott Armstrong and Punk are all tempting fate in trying to take the title from Hell’s grip. Once you enter Hell’s Gate, there is no way out and at Bragging Rights Punk, I will take your soul, but next week in their match he will read Punk his last rights.
Rey vs. Batista is up next. Rey hit the 619 on Dave, then jumped off of the outside rope onto his shoulders, Dave went for a Batista Bomb but Rey turned it into a hurricanrana and got the win. After the match they celebrated together and hugged then Rey pandered to the crowd.
Batista left the ring and Rey stood on top of the different ring posts posing. Punk came out and hit Rey. Batista came out and made the save. Batista picked Rey up and they left together, posing on the stage.
Dark Match:
Taker came out with his fire pyro to take on Punk. Taker looked stiff or like he was walking with a limp.
It looks like Punk is working his ass off for this match. Taker is taking it easy and to me he visibly looks like he’s hurting. Punk kicked out of the Chokeslam only to lose to the Tombstone. The Undertaker does his typical exit, except he raised his hand that has World Title. Fire erupted on the stage.
Tong Chimmel thanked us and reminded us how we can watch Smackdown this week.
