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WWE SmackDown – July 30, 2010
Our opening contest was supposed to be a World Cup Group A match between Drew McIntyre and Vance Archer, but McIntyre opted to forfeit, citing that it was a pointless match and he needed his energy for the Round of 16. As such, Drew finishes Group Play at 2-1 and Archer at 1-2. Theodore Long comes out and tells Drew that he didn’t wrestle last week and he’s not getting another night off. He’s found a different opponent – Christian! And that match will be right now.
McIntyre protested, still in his street clothes. Nevertheless, the match went on as Christian teed off on the unprepared McIntyre. Christian finished it off with a Killswitch
and a clean pin of the Intercontinental champion.
The Straight Edge Society was out next. CM Punk said that the group had 3 matches tonight, and they would show the entire world why straight edge means they’re better than you. Serena’s match was up first as she made her in-ring debut against Kelly Kelly. Serena’s training seems to have paid off as she has a good showing and pins Kelly following a fireman’s carry gutbuster. Women’s champion Beth Phoenix gave Serena a nod from the rampway, Serena made good on her promise last week that she’d be gunning for the title.
Group C action as two guys who have already been mathematically eliminated fight for respect in MVP and Chavo Guerrero. Good little match that sees MVP grab the win with the Playmaker and get in the win column, finishing 1-2. Chavo goes 0-3.
Tag team action as Luke Gallows and Joey Mercury face off against Darren Young and Percy Watson, the South Beach Boys. The new team show some impressive athleticism before the Straight Edge disciples ground them. Young is knocked to the outside as Gallows holds back Watson. Watson ducks, causing Mercury to dropkick Gallows in the teeth and send him to the outside. Watson connects with a floatover DDT to Mercury for the win.
Group D next as Finlay tries to salvage a victory against Bryan Danielson. Fucking awesome match here, really all that needs to be said. Crowd reaction is only 64% though despite both guys having overness in the 80s. I knew heel vs. heel matches always bombed, but never before have I noticed face vs. face bombing too. Damn. Anyway, Danielson stays on a roll by making Finlay tap to the Cattle Mutilation as he goes 3-0 in his group. Despite three valiant efforts, Finlay has an 0-3 record to show for it.
Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler get into a slight debate backstage over who will win the final Group D spot between them next week. Big Show shows up and gets in Cody’s face, saying he used cheap tactics to beat him on Superstars last week. Rhodes and Ziggler, despite being opponents next week, shockingly gang up on Big Show and leave him laying backstage. Both guys run away before Show can recover.
Group B action as Kofi Kingston and CM Punk meet, both men having already clinched spots in the Round of 16. Another very good back and forth match that the crowd enjoys. Gallows and Mercury run out to try and repent for their earlier loss. Christian and Bryan Danielson, also Round of 16 participants, run out and thwart the Society’s attempts to get involved. The chaos on the outside distracts Punk, who walks into a Trouble in Paradise. Kingston goes 3-0 while Punk finishes at 2-1.
Throughout the night, it was said that Jack Swagger had a major announcement. Swagger calls out Kane. Swagger did a lot of thinking about how Kane challenged him to exercise his rematch clause, well he’s gonna finally do it….at SummerSlam! Kane simply laughs all evil-like again before the stage erupts into flames! Kane turns around surprised as Swagger snatches the World Heavyweight Title from out of Kane’s hand and he blasts Kane in the face with it. Swagger stands above Kane and holds the title aloft, a sight we may very well see again come SummerSlam.
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