The NeelDown SmackDown Zone
Well, apparently some of you listened that I am going to Mania in Chicago…
Got any good signs to bring to Mania?
I’m thinking of a couple, but want to be original. With my seats I don’t much expect to get a lot of air time, but if anyone has any suggestions, shoot me an e-mail. Hey, you could really get a sign made and see it at WrestleMania 22. Sounds like an offer.
– Mobile, Alabama
– Hosts are Tazz & Michael Cole
– Mizark Henry starts things up with a promo in the ring. Oh, way to get the juices flowing. Daivari says that you can’t have a great match without Henry. Oh boy is that an understatement. Henry says that everyone seemed to have forgot about him. Well, that’s true. Henry says that Kurt Angle wouldn’t have the title if it weren’t for him. Um, that’s a valid point, if Angle hadn’t Angle Slammed him through the announce table and then eliminated him in the battle royal, Angle wouldn’t have the belt. Angle comes out and says they can have a match now, and they brawl until Orton comes in to make it a double team on Angle until Mysterio evens things up. So yeah, some brawling, Tedizzle comes out and makes it a main event tag match. Oh, you know SmackDown NEVER utilizes the main event faces versus heels tag match.
Fit Finlay v. BOBBY Lashley – Money In The Bank Qualifying Match
They end up brawling on the ramp and it gets separated by security before the bell even rings. The dozens of security can’t keep them apart though, and they end up brawling all the way to the parking lot where he tries rolling a car over onto Finlay but he rolled out of the way on time. Well damn, there’s a way to set up a Mania match. -*
– We see on commercials that Skynyrd has an infomercial CD set out. Interesting that it took them that long. By the way, you get the exclusive “30 years” LS guitar pick and special limited edition sticker with your order.
– JBL time and he tells us that he is blessed from all the support of his great fans during his surgery, and because of all the fans he won’t be retiring due to the devastating hand energy. He goes on to say that Stone Cold left him out of the list of the best wrestlers from Texas list. He says that he held the title longer than Austin, and says that he is a better talker, entertainer, wrestler than Austin. He says that all Austin has left in his “mediocre life” is drinking beer, and challenges him to a beer drinking contest at SNME, then he will take care of Benoit at Mania.
William Regal v. Paul the Pirate
Burchill swings out onto the stage on a rope. Burchill takes him down with an armbar to start until Regal dumps him and drops a knee from the apron. Regal blocks a sunset flip and drops an elbow for two. Regal gets an exploder suplex for two and then tries a rear choke but Burchill elbows back into it and gets a flying forearm and kip up, HBK style. Inverted atomic drop, back drop. Okay, now REALLY HBK style. Enzigiri by Burchill gets two. Burchill nails what I believe used to be his OVW finisher, the backflipping Rock Bottom, which is pretty sweet. Good job of putting him over by Regal here, and still being able to make a decent match. **
Winner: Paul the Pirate
– Booker T and Sharmell come out and the red smoke and worms come out of his bag. Boogeyman comes out and they run.
Kristal v. Jillian – Diva’s Uncovered Match
If you wanted a “least appealing diva’s match that was meant not to be a joke” match, you probably have your pick here. This is bra and panties rules, no idea why they changed the name for this of all things. Jillian quickly gets Kristal’s top off but Kristal comes back with a spear and uses a sunset flip to get Jillian’s skirt off. Scoop slam by Jillian gets nowhere, so she goes for another one but Kirstal reverses into quite possibly the worst botched small package I’ve ever seen to pull off the top, and she wins. Yippie. Now everyone can come back from the concession stand wondering why they paid a ticket to see this. -*
Winner: Kristal
Chris Benoit v. Gregory Helms
Tie-up struggle to start and Benoit SQUEEZES THE BROKEN NOSE, oh Lord have mercy! Snap suplex by Benoit and chopping time. Benoit with a single leg takedown and tries the Sharpshooter but Helms kicks him off and catches him with a sharpshooter off the ropes, then drops a knee, and then a leg, and then locks in an outside half nelson. Benoit gets out and fails to lock in the Sharpshooter again, then it’s back to the chinlock. Benoit gets out with an arm drag but then runs straight into a knee. Benoit slips out of a slam and gets a release German. Helms reverses another German and gets the Eye of the Shane, which is the Eye of the Hurricane, don’t know what he calls it now. That gets two. Benoit ducks the Shining Wizard and this time gets the Sharpshooter, but Helms gets the rope. Helms decides to walk but is met on the ramp by the rest of the cruiserweights and they send him back in the ring where Benoit nails a German and gets the SWAN and Helms taps to the Crossface. Fine match for what they gave it, **3/4
Winner: Chris Benoit
Kurt Angle & Rey Mysterio v. Mizark Henry & Randy Orton
Angle takes Orton down to start and works on a headlock and throws a shoulder for two.
Orton and Mysterio are in and Mysterio gets a ranna and sets Orton up in the ropes but Mizark blocks the 619 attempt. Orton catches Rey coming off the top rope with a midair dropkick and Mizark comes in to manhandle Mysterio. That doesn’t last long, as Orton comes back in for a beatdown and pins for two. Henry comes back in and … slowly manhandles Mysterio some more and gets a gorilla press, but misses the splash. Dueling tags and Angle gets a German but Orton slips out of the Angle Slam, Angle slips out of the RKO, Ankle Lock is locked in, Mizark breaks it up. 619 hits in Orton, seated, senton, Henry makes a SECOND DIVING SAVE (!) and breaks up the pin. Henry takes out the referee and Daivari gets a table. Sloppy sloppy sloppy. He rolls Mysterio on the table and climbs up top, Angle makes the save, Orton takes out Angle and gives him the RKO. He rolls Angle onto the table, and Henry splashes him through, and oh yeah I guess that ended in a DQ, so whatever. They were obviously saving the nice spots for Mania with the big three in this match, ending with the big table spot at the end. **1/2
The NeelDown: Pretty much a full-Mania build show, with the main event being a tag match to further the main event and Taker-Henry, and then really a bunch of nothing.
