Smackdown Recap 05.07.10

Smackdown recap from North Charleston, SC:

The show opened with a replay of highlights from the close of last week's show. World champ Jack Swagger was in the ring to brag about his life achievements including winning MITB and then the World Title, as well as putting away Randy Orton at Extreme Rules. Smackdown GM Teddy Long arrived out to the ramp and introduced Swagger to his next contender, recent draft acquisition The Big Show. Show came to the ring and introduced himself to Swagger with a hard KO punch that left Swagger face down on the mat.

Matt Hardy made his way down to the ring to start off the show. Striker and Grisham were surprised to see Hardy at all after his recent medical problems after attacks from Drew McIntyre. Hardy said he's there tonight whether he should or shouldn't be. He had highlights shown of McIntyre stomping on his head on the steel steps during a tag match two weeks ago on Smackdown. The official ruled Matt couldn't continue, but after the match Drew McIntyre attacked Hardy even more. They also showed Drew attacking Matt during a backstage interview on last week's episode.

Hardy started to speak about Drew McIntyre not wanting to see him ever again. Hardy said that's too bad. Just then, McIntyre's music hit and the IC champ arrived out to the ramp with a mic. McIntyre said he was told by Vince McMahon that he's the future of the WWE. McIntyre called himself "the chosen one." McIntyre said Hardy's not getting the message so he'll have to get in the ring and beat it into him.

McIntyre took off his suit jacket and got in the ring, but Hardy gained the upperhand. He pounded away on McIntyre with several referees coming in to restrain Hardy. As they were escorting Hardy up, McIntyre got up and bashed him down from behind. He pushed away the referees and stomped on Matt's head then beat on him more. Hardy fell to the outside with McIntyre going out there for more attack. Several WWE staff and refs came out to pull him away but were unsuccessful.

Smackdown GM Teddy Long came down with a mic in hand. He warned Drew to stop attacking Hardy, but Drew didn't listen. First Long told him "you're suspended" but when that didn't work Long said "you're stripped of the title." McIntyre kept going at Hardy, so finally Long told him "you're fired!" Drew grabbed Teddy by the suit coat to shake him. Hardy got up but got punched back down. Long yelled for the staff to get him out of the arena, then went to check on Hardy. Cameras followed them backstage as refs and WWE officials told him to get out of there. McIntyre told them not to touch him again, then said Mr. McMahon will hear about this. Officials helped Hardy up at ringside.

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Josh Matthews caught up with Smackdown GM Teddy Long backstage. Matthews asked Long about Hardy's condition. Long said he hopes that Hardy is ok. Josh asked what he makes of McIntyre's behavior and Long said he's never had to deal with anything like that before. Matthews asked what he's going to do about the IC title, and Long said he wasn't sure. Long told Matthews he had to go.

MVP vs. Luke Gallows

They showed MVP and Mysterio against Gallows and Punk last week, with MVP/Rey winning it. However, Mysterio was attacked by the mysterious hooded SES member after the match. MVP never saw it.

MVP was able to gain control after Gallows had dominated things for a stretch. MVP hit his patented "Ballin Elbow" and then set up the Playmaker. Serena jumped onto the apron and distracted MVP and the ref. Gallows slammed MVP down for a near fall. Just then, Rey Mysterio came out of the audience and knocked down CM Punk from behind. The distraction allowed MVP to finish off Gallows for the win, while Serena checked on the fallen Punk.

Winner: MVP wins via pinfall over Luke Gallows.

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Following a commercial break, CM Punk was in the ring to complain about being attacked. Punk called Mysterio a "coward" saying he doesn't have the ability to do it face-to-face. Punk demanded Mysterio come out there. Rey did so with mic in hand, coming to the top of the ramp. Rey asked if Punk was upset he got jumped from behind just like the mystery man has done several times to him? Punk pretended not to know what Rey was even talking about. Punk suggested maybe Rey paints the inside of his mask with hallucenegic drugs. Punk said Rey is blaming others for his problem like the WWE Universe does. Punk said he knows Rey is really out there to join the SES.

Mysterio said Punk is the only one who is hallucinating. Rey said he came out to shave Punk's head. Punk reminded Rey he lost at Extreme Rules. Rey said he won at Wrestlemania, so it's 1-1. He suggested a match for Over The Limit, where if he loses he joins StraightEdge. Rey said if he wins, he shaves Punk bald. Punk played it up saying he can tell that Rey knows he needs SES in his life. Rey said why even fight at OTL when he can come down to the ring and join SES, but only if Punk will shave his head right now. Punk said no way, bringing a chorus of boos.

Rey said he understands the philosophy of SES and agrees with no drugs or drinking but the messenger is bad - CM Punk. Rey told Punk if he's serious about saving people, they can do a lot of good together. Rey told Punk to lead by example and shave his head. Punk told them all that his hair is a symbol of purity. Punk said he's better than everybody. Rey asked what makes Punk any better than Gallows or Serena. He said they've done most of the work for him, but they're bald and he's not. Rey said Punk calls himself a savior, but nothing can save him from the 6-1-9.

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Kelly Kelly & Tiffany vs. Layla & Michelle McCool

They showed Team LayCool attacking Kelly Kelly in the locker room, with Vickie Guerrero helping to "clean up Kelly's act". Beth Phoenix and Tiffany arrived in to scare off the mean girls.

At one point, Michelle rolled out to safety after Tiffany threw her in the ring. Michelle yelled her back was hurting. Vickie and Layla ran interference/distraction outside, which helped Michelle hit a dropkick as Tiffany tried to re-enter. Layla soon tagged in, but Tiffany recovered by putting both knees up when Layla tried to splash. Kelly Kelly came in with momentum, trying to knock Michelle off the apron. Michelle jumped down to avoid it. Kelly went for her handspring move, but Layla avoided that. Kelly was able to drop Layla down, then Tiffany tagged in to do her flying bodypress move off the corner.

Tiffany had the pinfall, but Michelle ran in to break it up. The ref tried to get some order in the ring, by keeping Kelly from entering the mix. Michelle delivered a cheapshot kick to drop Tiffany, then went over to hammer Kelly off the apron. The ref turned as Layla hit a neckbreaker to put away Tiffany for the win.

Winners: Team LayCool wins via pinfall over Kelly Kelly & Tiffany.

Josh Matthews was backstage with Teddy Long who was holding the vacated Intercontinental Title. Teddy said he selected four individuals to compete in a tournament over the title. There will be two matches tonight: Christian vs. Cody Rhodes, and Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston. The winners of those two matches will compete for the IC title.

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Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler
Semifinal match for IC tournament

Early on, Kofi was able to knock Ziggler out of the ring. He then did a suicide dive out to crash onto Ziggler into the crowd barrier. Dolph's head hit the barrier and Kofi got up to hype the crowd up. Kofi tossed Ziggler back in the ring, but as Kofi tried to re-enter through the ropes, Ziggler kicked him in the head. Kofi fell to the outside with the ref counting him out as Smackdown took a commercial. When they returned, Ziggler had control of Kofi in a headlock, inside the ring.

Cody Rhodes was shown watching the match on a monitor backstage in the locker room. Ziggler continued to stay in control and applied a rear naked chinlock on Kofi. Striker said Ziggler seems poised for greatness. Grisham noted that Kofi is a former US champion, tag team title holder and IC champ as well. Ziggler has yet to capture his first major title in WWE.

Kofi became en fuego and eventually dropped Ziggler to the mat for the Boom double leg drop. He prepared for the Trouble in Paradise, but Ziggler avoided it. Kofi ran at him in the corner, with Ziggler avoiding him. Kofi jumped off the corner for the reverse bodypress. Ziggler rolled through for a near fall. Ziggler locked a sleeper hold onto Kofi with Kofi fighting for his life. Kofi fell to his knees, but managed to get back up then fell against the middle rope. He came back to deliver a Trouble in Paradise kick to take out Ziggler.

Winner: Kofi Kingston wins via pinfall over Dolph Ziggler to advance to the Intercontinental championship tournament finals.

They replayed the ending highlights from last week's show again where Big Show was introduced as #1 Contender for Jack Swagger's World Heavyweight title. Smackdown ended after Show delivered a huge punch to lay out Swagger in the ring. Tonight in the main event, Kane will battle Jack Swagger.

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Todd Grisham and Matt Striker discussed the Over the Limit Pay-Per-View scheduled for this month at Detroit's Joe Louis arena. They ran down the four matches announced so far. Edge vs Randy Orton, as well as John Cena vs Batista. John Cena may announced the stipulation for their match on Monday. Also, Jack Swagger defends the World Title against Big Show, and Rey Mysterio battles CM Punk. If Rey loses, he has to join SES, if Punk loses he gets shaved bald by Mysterio.

Christian vs. Cody Rhodes
Intercontinental Championship Tournament semifinal match

The winner of this semifinal match goes on to face Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental championship finals. Christian was escorted to the ring with his NXT rookie Heath Slater. Striker and Grisham looked at the tournament bracket which showed Kofi in the Finals, with Cody vs Christian to determine his opponent.

Kofi Kingston was shown backstage watching the matchup. Rhodes got up to fight Christian on the corner and was able to connect with a Superplex. Both men were down though after the impact. Rhodes finally got up and waltzed over to try for a pin but Christian surprised him by rolling him into a pin. Cody escaped it and the fight continued. Christian eventually clotheslined Cody over the top rope and fell outside the ring with him. Striker questioned what a double countout might mean for the IC title situation. Finally, Rhodes tossed Christian in and went for a pinfall, but Christian kicked out.

In the closing moments, Rhodes jumped off the corner but Christian punched him in the gut and became on fire. He avoided Cody in the corner, then kicked him through the ropes before landing a missile dropkick. Rhodes kicked out of another pinfall. Slater yelled to support Christian. Christian set up for Killswitch, but Rhodes avoided it. The match continued with both men having near falls. Christian did an inverse DDT for a near fall. Cody was able to trip Christian into the corner, but Christian jumped onto the middle rope. Cody swiped his leg out causing Christian to fall. Cody connected on a moonsault from the corner, but surprisingly Christian kicked out. Striker suggested the ref made a poor count. Cody tried to toss Christian into the ringpost, but he reversed and threw Cody into it. From there it was all academic, Christian hit the Killswitch for the victory.

Winner: Christian wins via pinfall over Cody Rhodes to advance to the Intercontinental title tournament finals. Christian will face Kofi Kingston next Friday for the IC title.

They showed how Hart Dynasty defeated ShowMiz for the Unified Tag titles on Raw several weeks ago. After the match, Big Show delivered a huge righthand punch to leave Miz face down on the mat. Show was drafted to Smackdown and is now the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight title. Show arrived to the ring last week and KO'd Swagger with a punch.

Jack Swagger was shown backstage ready for the main event match.

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Striker and Grisham reviewed how Drew McIntyre kept attacking Matt Hardy at the start of Smackdown. GM Teddy Long suspended McIntyre, then stripped him of the IC title, then fired him from Smackdown. Refs and WWE personnel had to escort Drew out of the arena. Matt Hardy's health is still in question after the attack. The commentators said that Kofi Kingston will battle Christian next week to determine the new Intercontinental champion.

Savannah introduced the World Heavyweight champion Jack Swagger who arrived to the ring with the belt cinched around his waist. Swagger got on the mic in the ring to remind the fans how good he is. He noted how he's the first high school athlete ever to be nominated for an ESPY. Swagger said he was up for the Heisman trophy and he was a state and doubles tennis champion as well as chess. Smackdown took a commercial break with Swagger still listing off accomplishments and accolades.

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Swagger asked everyone "when I was taking on the world and winning- Where was Big Show?" The crowd started up a "You suck" chant. He insulted Show saying he was probably in a special ed class riding the short bus to school. Swagger said at Over the Limit he's going to take the World's Largest athlete to school. Kane's pyro went off to interrupt Swagger's speech and the Big Red Monster came to the ring.

Kane vs. Jack Swagger

Early on, Swagger had to back up to the corner to escape and recover from a grappling hold down on the mat. Suddenly, Big Show's music hit and Show arrived down the ramp in a suit waving to fans. Swagger had a puzzled look on his face as Show went over to the commentary area.

Show sat down and Swagger started pounding away on Kane in the ring. Show said he's seeing how agressive Swagger is with Kane, but Kane's explosive. Show said Swagger talks trash but backs it up. Kane started taking control and had a near fall. Swagger made a comeback from the corner, clipping his leg from behind. Swagger put a front facelock on Kane to bring him face first to the mat. Kane got up though and put Swagger in a seated position on the corner.

Swagger punched Kane off the corner, then tried to jump with a double axe handle with Kane punching him in the gut. Kane took down Swagger with a series of clotheslines, then a hard clothesline in the corner. He hit the Sidewalk slam for another near fall. Kane went to the corner for a clothesline to take Swagger down. Kane locked a chokeslam hold on Swagger's throat, but Swagger ws able to escape. He yanked Kane into the corner where the turnbuckle cover had been exposed. Swagger kept attacking Kane in the corner with the belt.ref telling him to break it off. Swagger didn't listen and the ref called for the bell to DQ him. Swagger delivered a big boot to take Kane down.

Swagger left the ring to get his belt so he could put it up for display. The crowd started a Big Show chant, so Swagger turned around and went over to show Big Show the hardware off. Just as he turned around, Kane was there to kick him down. Kane began to pull objects off the commentators table with Show helping a bit. Kane went for the chokeslam but Swagger countered and tossed Kane into the ringpost. Show walked up behind Swagger then grabbed him around the throat and chokeslammed him through the commentators table.

Smackdown ended with Show in the ring holding onto the World Championship belt looking out at Swagger on the collapsed table.

Winner: Kane wins due to disqualification of Jack Swagger.

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