The Road to WrestleMania winds itself back to another edition of Friday Night Smackdown as battle lines are drawn for the Grandest Stage.  This week, The Big Show is on hand, we see another Money in the Bank Qualifying match, and we decide the No. 1 Contenders to the Unified Tag Titles.  There’s bound to be more tension between World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho and his R-Rated Mania opponent Edge.  Lets get right into the show.

Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introduce the show and Grisham reminds us we are three weeks away from WrestleMania 26.  Tonight, Edge will take on The Big Show in the Main Event, and the 2010 Royal Rumble Winner is on his way down to the ring.  They show us highlights of Edge facing The Miz one week ago and hear the commentators tell us about Edge surviving 29 other Superstars to win the Rumble.  Personally, I feel this is misleading.  Edge was one of the last men in the ring at the Rumble and most of those 29 stars were already eliminated.  Yet, they make this claim year in and year out.  Only a few men can actually claim to have outlasted 29 men to win the Royal Rumble, those who started in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.  Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit, and sadly Vince McMahon can claim this distinction.  I understand why the WWE talks about the Royal Rumble Winners this way, but, still, I personally find it misleading.  Anyway, I digress, there’s a show to review.

Edge talks about being concerned for his Mania opponent, Chris Jericho, because Chris has been saying the same things over and over for the last couple of weeks, yet Jericho continues to get Speared by Edge, emphasis on the word Speared.  Edge says the same thing will continue to happen, week after week, until WrestleMania.  Edge and the crowd start chanting “Spear, Spear, Spear” until one half of the Unified Tag Team Champions and Edge’s opponent for the night, The Big Show hits the arena.  Show is coming off another successful title defense on Monday, defeating DX.  He’s greeted by Edge who reminds us that Miz got speared last week and the Big Show is going to get speared. But Show responds that Edge isn’t the only reason he’s here because he finds out who ShoMiz’s opponents will be at WrestleMania.  Big Show talks about what he’s going to do when he gets his hands on Edge and Edge asked if he’s going to get eaten.  Well, Show says he eats pieces of crap like Edge for breakfast and Edge channels Happy Gilmore.  The Rated R Superstar gets in Show’s face and threatens a spear.  Show charges and the crafty Edge pulls the rope down, dumping Big Show out of the ring.

Backstage Teddy Long is in his office when Drew McIntyre comes in.  Vince McMahon has expunged McIntyre’s loss to Kane last week, so the Intercontinental Champion is still undefeated.  Drew is therefore entered into another Qualifying Match against Matt Hardy, which is next.  McIntyre offers Teddy a handshake as a thank you and Long simply walks away.

Money in the Bank Qualifier
Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy

The Intercontinental Champion is officially announced as “The Undefeated Drew McIntyre” so I guess thanks to the power of the Chairman, a loss no longer matters.  If a loss doesn’t matter, then you could further theorize that a match doesn’t matter.  And you could even then go on to say that if there is no need for matches, there is no need for the WWE.  But, World Wrestling Entertainment presses on, and so will I as Matt Hardy comes to the ring with Justin Gabriel, his NXT Rookie.  McIntyre looks to win this early, going on the offensive as soon as the bell rings.  The fans are chanting for some Mattitude, though, and it fires up Version 1.  They take their fight outside the ring where Hardy gets slammed chest first into the barricade.  Drew McIntyre rolls in the ring looking for a possible count out.  We get a commercial and come back to learn that Drew has been focusing on Hardy’s back as the fans continue to chant for the Hardy brother.  McIntyre hits a fantastic Northern Lights Suplex with a bridge, but can’t get the pinfall.  The Intercontinental Champion looks to be in clear control of the match, but Hardy fights him off in the corner and comes off the top with an elbow, following it up with a Twist of Faint attempt, but it’s reversed.  Drew turns it into a Future Shock DDT attempt, but that is countered.  Drew puts Hardy to the mat and bridges over, but Matt kicks out and reverses it into a roll up that nets Matt Hardy the win and a spot in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.  He also gives Drew McIntyre his second loss in as many….wait…no…officially this is his first official loss.  Thank you Todd Grisham for saying “Drew McIntyre loses again for the first time.”  Drew, in frustration, throws the cover off the announce table while the fans tell him how they feel.  He gets in Strikers face telling him, and those who can hear Drew through Striker’s microphone, that he WILL be at Wrestlemania.

Rating:  **

Winner:  Matt Hardy (w/Justin Gabriel)

The Money in the Bank Ladder Mach now has Christian, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Swagger, Kane, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, and MVP.  One spot remains open for the chance to climb the ladder and get that contract for a guaranteed chance at a World Title.  Morrison is backstage with…someone…talking about his parkour a little bit.  That only makes me respect the man more, because parkour is tough.  I don’t know personally, but I’ve seen how tough it can be.  R-Truth comes in and they talk about losing their chances to be on WrestleMania and tonight is their last shot.  They look focused.  Truth has some ideas for tag team names and the two brainstorm with ideas like “Dis ‘n’ Dat,” “Black Magic and The White Shadow,” and “Rock ‘n’ Rap.”  They agree on “The Unified Tag Team Champions.”

We get a quick preview of Rey Mysterio vs. Luke Gallows before The Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin comes to the ring.  He’ll face off against fellow Money in the Bank Qualifyer, Dolph Ziggler.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Shelton Benjamin

The two men meet in the center of the ring with a headlock from Shelton.  The veteran will be competing in his 5^th Money in the Bank Ladder Match.  In the ring, Ziggler locks on a sleeper, but Shelton counters out with a jawbreaker, but the damage was enough for Dolph to get control of the match.  He works to keep Benjamin grounded and reduce his air supply.  The almost white-haired warrior is all over The Gold Standard, but Shelton twists to his feet following a monkey flip and connects with a kick to the back of Ziggler’s head.  The match then becomes much more even as both men go back and forth with an advantage.  Shelton avoids a Zig Zag and hits Paydirt leaving Dolph out on the mat.

Rating:  ** ½

Winner:  Shelton Benjamin

This was a good match between two of the better wrestlers in the WWE.  I hope that Benjamin gets pushed higher up on the card.  He deserves it.  He’s been around for a while and has the credentials and skills to be a contender.

We get a promo about Shawn Michaels “My Journey” the newest DVD focusing on Michaels, and backstage Rey is giving his daughter a Mattel action figure as Tiffany comes in to keep an eye on her while Rey Rey heads ringside for his match.  The Straight-Edge Society come out first, and our Savior, the Pastor of Purity CM Punk has a microphone.  He’s criticizing parents for letting their kids support Rey Mysterio.  Subconsciously, Punk says, the kids are just trying to fill the neglectful void their parents left.  He compares Rey to all the neglectful parents.  Punk calls everyone in attendance cowards, just like Mysterio.  Rey is not a superhero and he refuses to face Punk Man-to-Man.  Rey takes cheap shots and has stripped Punk of his chance to become a 3 time Money in the Bank winner.  Mysterio put his hands on Luke Gallows for no reason, and our Straight-Edge Savior tells Luke it wasn’t his fault and the Pastor wants his Detoxified Disciple to make Rey Mysterio pay and suffer.  Luke’s not just fighting for himself or CM Punk, but for an entire Society.

Luke Gallows (w/CM Punk & Serena) vs. Rey Mysterio

The fans pop wildly as the Ultimate Underdog makes his way down to the ring to face the Straight-Edge Soldier that is Luke Gallows.  He gives his shirt to one of the fans Punk had taunted and interacts with several others on his way to the ring.  Gallows comes out swinging, clearly overpowering Rey from the starting bell.  Rey puts on some speed and brings Gallows down with a head scissors, but Luke overpowers him again as we see CM Punk’s NXT Rookie, Darren Young watching on from backstage.  The fans want a 619, but Rey is in no position to do that or any more as Luke Gallows stomps him in the corner.  Gallows puts his head down and Rey kicks him in the face.  Luke charges in and Rey pulls the top rope down, sending his bigger opponent to the floor where Punk comes over and whispers instructions.  During a commercial break, Rey tried to mount some offence, but when the cameras return, Gallows is quickly back in control of the match.  Gallows sends Rey to the floor but does not want to win by count out, he wants to send a message to the Ultimate Underdog.  Rey, again, fights to come back but is met with a fall away slam by the big man before Luke locks in a bear hug.  Mysterio punches out of the hold, but is sent into the corner.  Gallows charges in and Rey leaps over, sending Gallows shoulder into the ring post and the masked wrestler quickens the pace, hitting a handful of springboards before Gallows overpowers him once more.  Rey manages to climb the ropes, but is met with a punch and Gallows follows it with a big splash, but Rey kicks out and locks in a submission that looks like Jimmy Jacobs End Time.  Gallows gets to the ropes and is left prone for a 619, but Serena comes onto the apron to prevent it.  Punk comes in the other side to distract Rey and Luke comes in for a powerbomb, but Rey shifts his weight and Gallows falls backwards with Mysterio on top of him for the win.

Rating:  ** ¾

Winner:  Rey Mysterio

Punk comes in the ring, but Rey slips out of the Straight-Edge Savior’s grasp, avoiding a GTS and escaping before more damage can be done.  Punk looks furious and this rivalry is only heading up.

Backstage Big Show is backstage with Chris Jericho.  Jericho is congratulating Show, but Show doesn’t think it’s sincere.  Jericho wants Show to chokeslam Edge for him and Show says he’s not doing anything for “One Way Jericho” any more.  It was always about Jericho, never about the team and Big Show is doing this for himself.

No. 1 Contenders Match for the Unified Tag Team Titles
John Morrison & R-Truth vs. Cryme Tyme (JTG & Shad Gaspard) vs. The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith w/Natalia)

As Truth comes to the ring, we’re shown the confrontation between R-Truth and his NXT Rookie David Otunga from this last Tuesday.  A lot is on the line in this match as three dynamically different tag teams hope to go on to WrestleMania to face The Big Show and The Miz.  Morrison starts the match with Shad Gaspard and the big man takes control.  As they toss to another commercial, Shad tags out to JTG.  Cryme Tyme team up on John Morrison before DH Smith tags himself in and hits a series of suplexes to John Morrison.  The Friday Night Delight desperately needs a tag, but finds himself in Cryme Tyme’s corner and would rather bring his partner in.  As Tyson Kidd gets the tag, Morrison does roll over to R-Truth and The Truth comes in the ring.  Morrison gets up and sends Shad and Smith to the floor, leaving the two legal men, Tyson Kidd and R-Truth, to fight in the ring.  Truth hits the Lie Detector for the win and “Truth & Wisdom,” as Matt Striker deemed them, will go on to WrestleMania.

Rating:  ** ¾

Winners:  John Morrison & R-Truth

Both men celebrate in the ring and John Morrison seems to channel Booker T with a Spinnerooni of sorts, break dancing in celebration.  After a commercial, LayCool is backstage kissing Vickie Guerrero’s ass and thanking her for helping Michelle win the Women’s Championship last week.  They present Vickie with a “Simply Flawless” tank top and I hope to GOD Vickie doesn’t wear it in public.  Beth Phoenix walks into the scene and asks when she’ll get her shot at the Women’s Championship.  Guerrero scoffs at her and claims herself as the most dominant Diva on Smackdown (gross) and Phoenix isn’t going to get her shot any time soon.  Vickie warns the Glamazon not to cross her and tells her to ask Mickie James if she needs any proof.  The Main Event is up next.

The Big Show vs. Edge

Both times Edge has come to the ring tonight, announcer Tony Chimel has sounded like he’s either got a serious man crush or is going through a 2^nd puberty.  His voice has cracked both times he’s announced the arrival of the Rated R Superstar.  That’s not relevant to the match, of course, but I thought it was kind of funny, so I wanted to share.  The No. 1 Contender to Jericho’s World Heavyweight Championship starts off using speed to avoid The Big Show at first, but Show catches him and sends a couple of head butts to Edge, taking him to the match.  Edge rolls out of the ring and uses the ropes on Show, but the big man is barely fazed and comes back on the offensive.  He taunts the Rated R Superstar, asking if Edge has any more jokes as he steps down to the floor and picks Edge up off the apron.  Edge sends him into the ring post and starts to mount some offense, but Show overpowers him again.  The World’s Largest Athlete seems to enjoy torturing Edge and Striker points out that Jericho has to be backstage enjoying it as well.  Show puts Edge in a sleeper on the mat, but Edge breaks out of it with a jawbreaker, but again Show is on the attack, grounding Edge in the corner.  Show climbs to the second rope, but the Rated R Superstar avoids the splash and starts to build some momentum.  He hits a bull dog on Show, but only gets a 2 count as the big man pushes Edge off him with authority.  Show looks for a chokeslam, but Edge turns it into a DDT and looks for a spear as Show gets to his feet.  He hits the 500lb Big Show with the spear to win the match.

Rating:  ** ½

Winner:  Edge

The fans pop loudly for the spear and the win before Jericho tries to sneak in behind Edge and hit him with the title.  Edge ducks and turns around to connect with a “spear, spear, spear, spear, spear!!”  Edge stands victorious in the ring as Jericho’s weekly spear prescription is filled.  There are two more Smackdowns until WrestleMania, and Edge looks to spear Jericho on each of them as well as The Granddaddy of them All.  The show ends with a nice show of Jericho under the Tron holding up his title with Edge on the screen raising his hands high.

This wasn’t a terrible Smackdown, but nothing monumental either.  Things look to be heating up, though, as we “Edge” closer to professional wrestling’s Super Bowl, WrestleMania.