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ANOTHER DETAILED REPORT FROM YESTERDAY'S SMACKDOWN TAPING

I got there a bit late as the only train line to the arena wasn't working! When I arrived they were a little way through the taping of NXT. I paid as much attention to it as I did the excellent Garlic fries that cost me £4 ($6.50)!

Superstars taping:

Tyler Rex defeated JTG with his finishing move (not sure what it's called, but it looks like an f-5 in reverse) - the move looked pretty good.

They played a recap of Edge's retirement speech and last week's Smackdown happenings with Christian and Del Rio.

'Sir' Michael Cole came out to general boos - a lot of heat on this guy, the Smackdown heels should pay attention!

Cody Rhodes came out to start the show off. He did a mask promo, telling tha audience that we all wear masks or at least should do because we're ugly, disgusting, yadda yadda yadda...He handed out paper bags for the audience to put on their heads - quite funny to see everyone wearing them around ringside.

Rey Mysterio eventually made his way out after patiently waiting for the end of the promo - big 619 chants throughout the match. I thought the match was on par with the Wrestlemania one, although obviously a bit shorter but it did better for not having the knee brace/mask angle. Mysterio won with his flying roll up thingy (the move he used to finish the 619 with). Cody attacked him after the match and they brawled back and forth into the crowd. Cody eventually got the upper hand, CrossRhodes to Rey on the mats outside the ring and off slunk Cody just in time to play the Phantom of the Opera down the road...(I actually like Cody's tortured 'I'm hideous' gimmick)

We cut to the Corre having a 'discussion' about who the leader is, who should have won the Battle Royal and who's Dad earns the most money (well, maybe not that last bit...)

Then we have a recap of Laycool's couple's therapy, some new therapy which ended with Michelle attacking Layla (I'd have thought they would have saved the attack for a PPV, or at least live on Smackdown?) A funny chant near where I was sat of 'lesbian kiss' when they were going to make up but it didn't catch on!

Trent Barreta comes out to his generic music (probably not played on Smackdown - you might just find him magically in the ring). 'Sir' Michael Cole gets into the ring and we get a recap of him kissing the queen (how many people actually thought that was the real Queen?! Come on, I bet you did...) Swagger squashes Barreta and wins with an Ankle Lock. Kurt Angle files protest on Twitter...

Big Show and Kane defeat Slater and Gabriel next for the tag team championships. Show wins with a chokeslam on Slater after big Zeik was headed off at the pass from interfering by Kane (we're supposed to cheer Kane now - the evil Kane who killed the Undertaker and feuded with Edge and then woke up one day and made friends with the Big Show!) - New Champs wave the belts around for a bit on the ramp - I love tag teams - I hope and pray (well, hope anyway) for a re-ignited tag team scene but I don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon...

We cut to Ezekiel, Slater and Gabriel arguing after they lost the belts. Zeke tells them to look in the mirror, especially Slater who lost the match. Slater has a hissy fit and pushes Gabriel to the ground. He then calls him a f** and is fined $100,000. (I made that last bit up of course!)

Drew Mcintyre comes out to a big pop - Scotland is close to London, let's cheer him! Chris Masters comes out to...complete abject apathy - just what every midcarder wants. McIntyre wins with future shock, lots of cheers. He looked good in this match.

Kofi vs Barrett for the IC title is up next. Kofi with a semi big pop but more cheers for Barrett as he's English. Zeke and Barrett accidentally clash during the match, leading to the second Corre hissy fit of the night and Zeke leaves us. Good back and forth match, won by Barrett with a sneaky rope aided schoolboy- that dastardly heel!

Next is the retirement party for Edge. Rikki Martin does the intros in Spanish with Brodus already in the ring. Del Rio enters and talks about how he retired Edge, and what Edge might get up to in his retirement. This includes a grandfather clock to watch time ticking away, adult Diapers (nappies in the UK) as he's so old and a Zimmer frame (do you call them that?!) to help him walk. He then brings out...LITA...to a huge pop (for those of us old enough to know who she is) but of course it wasn't her, but a big fat lady picked up off the streets of London (plenty there to choose from - and I'm a Londoner so no heat for that!)

Edge comes out eventually to huge pop and tells everyone they are big fat poops (honestly, he really did)

Brodus Clay is sent to attack Edge. Man, if he was 'on the attack' I'd hate to see him taking his time over something! The slowest walk up the ramp in the world ended when Christian appeared from nowhere. Christian procedes to beat everyone up with a ladder (except Edge, of course) and then climbs the ladder and symbolically hold the title belt.

At this point I left as the train line was still down. A Boat, Bus and train later and here I am home all Smackdowned out...

Thanks for reading - a good show overall but I'm looking for the draft to shake things up a bit.

Feel free to add me on twitter: @MisterTaylor
 

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