Friday Night Smackdown! – 2/19/10

On the final WWE broadcast before the Elimination Chamber, what would the temperature of the Smackdown roster be going into Sunday?  Here’s what happened:

Chris Jericho comes to the ring, “I’ve made an art form out of accomplishing the impossible… last week, I drove The Phenom to his knees and beat The Undertaker… I proved that the Dead Man is just a man… on Sunday, I’m coming out of the Elimination Chamber…

• Interrupted by Edge, “It’s refreshing to know you realize what a big deal it is to beat The Undertaker.  It’s an elite club… let me remind you what happened to lead up to your win last week…”
• Edge shows video of him getting involved in the match up.  “That’s the problem Chris, you’re not as good as you think you are!”
• Jericho responds, “You shouldn’t be so concerned about the past as you should be about the future.  I’m going to win, and when I do, stay away from me… If you continue to poke and prod me, I’m not just going to beat you, I’m going to hurt you!”
• Edge looks beside himself.  “The more I hear your voice saying the same things over and over again, the more I want to knock that condescending, holier than thou look off your face for good!  I hope you win the chamber so I can do it!”
• There’s an electrical issue and the lights flicker.  Edge uses it as a chance to attack Jericho with a Spear.

Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler
WINNER: Kane via pin fall after hitting a Choke Slam

• Mid match, Drew McIntyre came out to the ramp and temporarily distracted Kane.
• After match, McIntyre tried to attack Kane to no avail.

Backstage: Josh Matthews catches up with Rey Mysterio in the locker room and asks about the chamber match this weekend.  Rey compares the chamber to the beating he took last week from the Straightedge Society. The big difference, Sunday, he claims he’ll walk out World Champion.

Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard & JTG) vs. Caylen Croft & Trent Barreta
WINNERS: Cryme Tyme via pin fall after Shad hit an STO on Barreta

ANNOUNCEMENT: The 2nd WWE Hall of Fame Inductee is Antonio Inoki.

Backstage: Josh Matthews is with John Morrison and asks him about the injury from last week.  “My entire career has led me to this Sunday, and if you think that a tweaked ankle is going to keep me out of the Elimination Chamber, you’re dead wrong!”

• R-Truth enters and wants to talk to John.  “When Sunday rolls in, I’m going to take the WWE Universe to levels they’ve never seen before… If I gotta go through you, it is what it is…”
• They still are on the same page for their tag match later.

Straightedge Society (CM Punk & Luke Gallows with Serena) vs. R-Truth & John Morrison
WINNERS: Straightedge Society via referee stoppage after Morrison re-injured his ankle accidentally kicking the ring post

• Before the match, Punk went on his usual rant at how he’s better than everyone.
• After the match, there’s a beat down of Truth & Morrison and Rey Mysterio comes to save the day, but he gets the tar beat out of him.

Backstage: Teddy Long is watching clip from last week of Vickie Guerrero getting covered by accident in cottage cheese, not realizing she’s standing behind him.  She says, “It’s a shame that Shawn Michaels didn’t leave a boot print on your chin because it would be an improvement!”

• Mickie James enters the room to apologize to Vickie for last week’s accident.
• Vickie informs her that Michelle McCool has evoked her rematch clause and there will be a special guest referee for that match, her!

6-person Mixed Tag Match
Maria, Matt Hardy & The Great Khali with Ranjin Singh vs. The Hart Dynasty (DH Smith, Tyson Kidd & Natalya)
WINNERS: Hart Dynasty via pin fall after Natalya hit Maria with a wicked Discus Lariat

Video Package: A look at the History of the Elimination Chamber

• Todd Grisham & Matt Striker run down the card.

Backstage: Matt Hardy & Maria are talking, and she’s upset that she lost the match for the team.  Matt tells her, “No one’s perfect, but when I look at your face, I see something close to perfect…”

• He leans in to kiss her, and they’re bothered by Layla & Michelle McCool who say, “someone needs to get a room… what’s wrong with you two?!?”
• Maria leaves pissed and Hardy tells them, “children, will you please grow up?!?”  He chases after her.

Batista vs. Edge
WINNER: No Contest

• Opening moments, Batista avoids all contact and tries to head back up the ramp.  Edge grabs a mic and says, “Maybe John Cena‘s right.  Maybe you are spineless?!?”  Batista pissed, returns to ring.
• Near match end, lights off/lights on, and The Undertaker’s got Edge stuck for a Choke Slam.  Batista who just got hit by a Spear, flees for his life.
• Taker walks back up the ramp to the back, and out of nowhere, Chris Jericho comes in and hits the Codebreaker on Edge.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

It was also announced last night that Kane will take on Drew McIntyre at the Chamber for the Intercontinental Title.  There’s been some lead up to it, but I don’t know if it’ll be a great match to watch because they haven’t hammered the rivalry home.

I enjoyed the tag team match between Cryme Tyme and Croft/Barreta.  I think it’s safe to say that we’re going to see a rivalry between these two teams in the coming months.

McCool and Layla’s characters have to go.  There’s a big difference between their version of the character and the version done by TNA’s The Beautiful People.  The Beautiful People are believable and not annoying!

I’m sick of Batista being a pussy!  Something is going to happen tomorrow since he’s not on the card, I can just feel it.  He’s got to go back to actually wrestling and not being a coward.  I don’t like this version of The Animal.

Check back tomorrow for the Elimination Chamber preview and predictions!