Smackdown! – 4/16/10

The Smackdown superstars take center stage on the European tour.  In their last appearance in London, England, how would the World Heavyweight Champion fare?  Find out what happened this week:

EDITORS NOTE: My apologizes for not having this blog posted yesterday.  Smackdown was preempted once again in my area and was changed to Saturday night.

Chris Jericho comes to the ring pissed, “Randy Orton is on RAW, yet he is facing Jack Swagger for the World Heavyweight Title… and yet I don’t have a title opportunity… Teddy Long is an inept buffoon.  He needs to hand in his resignation or award me a title shot…”

• Interrupted by Edge, “Strangely, I agree with a few of your points, but I don’t think you’re the guy to save Smackdown… if you care about this show give up on the rematch clause because I don’t think you could beat Orton or Swagger.”
• Teddy Long comes to the ramp, “Orton wouldn’t be number one contender if you two hadn’t gotten counted out last week… however, you will have your rematch tonight”
• Jericho gloats about how he’s going to win the title and Edge will never get another title shot… not realizing that Teddy Long isn’t giving just him a rematch.  Teddy makes it a triple threat, Swagger vs. Jericho vs. Edge.

Drew McIntyre comes to the ring, “You people don’t like me.  Could it be because I’m young, handsome?  Maybe it’s because I’m the Intercontinental Champion, or maybe because I’m the chosen one..?  Well, I don’t like you either.”

Non-Title Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Kane
WINNER: McIntyre via DQ after Matt Hardy came to the ring and threw McIntyre back into the ring when he was trying to take a walk.

• Kane is pissed, so he progresses to choke slam both men.

Backstage: Teddy Long is in his office, approached by the World Champion, Jack Swagger.  “Who do you think you are?!?”

• Long replies, “I’m the GM of Smackdown playa!  As long as you have the World Heavyweight Title, you’ll have to deal with my rulings!”

Dolph Ziggler comes to the ring and sarcastically apologizes for his assault of Josh Matthews last week during his interview.

• R-Truth comes to the ring and tells him that wasn’t sincere at all.  (DUH!  He’s a heel!)

Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth
WINNER: Ziggler via referee stoppage due to the Sleeper Hold

Non-Title Match
Mickie James vs. Michelle McCool with Layla & Vickie Guerrero
WINNER: McCool via pin fall after kicking Mickie in the face

• After match, beat down of Mickie starts, but Beth Phoenix comes to save the day and everyone runs for the hills.

Backstage: Luke Gallows having a few choice words with NXT Rookie Darren Young and threatening to beat him up and shave his head.

• Young comes back asking Gallows, “What’s it like losing to an NXT Rookie?”  Gallows is pissed and it looks like they’re going to fight.
• CM Punk breaks it up and ushers them to the ring for their match.

CM Punk, Luke Gallows & Darren Young (with Serena) vs. Rey Mysterio & The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd & DH Smith with Natalya)
WINNERS: Mysterio & Harts via pin fall after DH Smith hit Punk with a Running Powerslam

Backstage: Chris Jericho is talking to his NXT Rookie Wade Barrett about winning the World Title and how he’s looking forward to Barrett’s career, telling him he needs to be prepared for his title opportunity.

• Barrett is in awe of Jericho’s presence.

JTG vs. Caylen Croft with Trent Barreta
WINNER: JTG via pin fall after hitting that jumping reverse bulldog

• Mid match, Shad Gaspard came to the ring for a better look.
• After match, Shad jumped in the ring and attacked JTG screaming, “You’re nothing without me!”  After JTG got the slightest advantage, Shad bailed out.

Backstage: Edge talking with Josh Matthews about how he can relate to where Swagger is because he was there before, and that tonight he’s going to become the NEW World Heavyweight Champion.

World Heavyweight Title Match
Jack Swagger (Champion) vs. Edge vs. Chris Jericho
WINNER: Swagger via pin fall after he picked the bones of Chris Jerico from an Edge Spear.

• After match, Swagger hits Edge with the Gut Wrench Power Bomb and leaves victoriously.
• Jericho sees Edge laid out and takes advantage, trying to destroy his leg.  Jericho wraps Edge’s leg around the ring post and traps it between the steel steps.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

Not a bad showing for WWE.  I love it when they have more matches than backstage segments!

Looks like Hardy might get another chance at the Intercontinental Title going against McIntryre.  I’m glad to see that WWE maybe wants to put another title on him.  Hardy has done so much for the WWE and honestly deserves more chances than he’s gotten.

Ziggler’s fake apology was just sad.  What was even more ridiculous is the fact that R-Truth had to come out and call him on it.  Like we don’t have a sarcasm or BS detector going off in our heads when he said it… c’mon!

Six man tag wasn’t bad.  Darren Young held his own with the big boys.  Kudos to him.

When it comes to the JTG vs. Shad rivalry, I just don’t see this going anywhere.  Honestly, could you possibly see this one on one match up on a PPV card to finish this?  I sure as hell can’t!

Main event had a good finish.  Swagger proves once again that he’s struggling to retain the title on his own and was lucky to have Edge to all the heavy lifting for him.  He steals another victory and will still face Randy Orton at Extreme Rules.