New version of the SmackDown opening clip starts off, compete with a remix of the usual theme song. Sucks like nothing else, expect it to be changed back within a month’s time.
Randy Orton starts the entertainment aspect of the evening, entering the arena ala Mysterio. Nice touch. I always love it when people stand in front of the titantron like that, as Orton conducts the entire promo from the “Mysterio Stage”. Orton says he doesn’t need a fancy entrance nor gold medals around his neck because he is the best star in the WWE. Orton speaks about Saturday Night’s Main Event and says when he had WWE Champion John Cena beat Mysterio pulled him off (I didn’t see the opening match of SNME, so thanks to Orton for filling it in for me), and says that Mysterio and Angle would rather screw Orton than rally together for SmackDown because of their jealousy of his looks, ability, before going on about how he’ll be the next World Heavy Weight Champion. Perfect promo. Nice, short, right to the point and over all entertaining for a two or so minute promo.
Recap of Fit Finlay and Matt Hardy becoming part of the Money In The Bank Match. Interesting how both matches had the bad guy getting the pinfall with a foreign object. Though you’d think that Hardy and Animal during the Lumberjack match would have tried to attack Lashley or Finlay a bit more considering they would be their opponents at Mania.
MNM with Melina make their entrance. Melina is looking rather fabulous tonight, to put it in the macho sense. Lashley then makes his entrance; the Last Chance Battle Royale is up next!
Commercials
Big Time Moment: Andre The Giant Interview at the 1988 WrestleMania
Opening Contest: Last Chance Battle Royale
Entrants: Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, Bobby Lashley, Simon Dean, The Gymini, Brian Kendrick, Paul London, Funaki, Orlando Jordan, Kid Kash, Nunzio, Jamie Noble, Scotty Too Hotty, Psicosis, Super Crazy, Tatanka, Paul Burchill, Sylvan Road Warrior Animal.
Elimination is by Top Rope. Burchill is now from the Virgin Islands, where they used to hold the Parades for Molly Holly. Animal gets on the microphone previously about how he shouldn’t even have to be wrestling tonight. This leads him to getting attacked by a heap of the opponents to start. Animal is then quickly eliminated. Everyone separates around the ring with Mercury going up against the Mexicools, the Gymini teaming up. Nunzio and Funaki try to eliminate Nunzio. While doing the Ten Punches, Kash eliminates Hotty. Tatanka eliminates Kash. While London and Nunzio fight on the apron, Burchill clotheslines Nunzio off the apron and eliminates him. While posing on the ropes, the Gymini are eliminated by Lashley. Dean attacks Lashley from behind in retaliation but Lashley in turn eliminates him. We fade to a commercial as Funaki gets eliminated.
Commercials
We’re back to see Noble and Mercury double teaming Burchill, who is hanging on the ropes. Tatanka, Kendrick, and London in the corner choke Sylvan. Burchill gets a nice headbutt in the corner against Mercury. Kendrick and London eliminate Sylvan with a double team Superkick knocking him off the apron, as Jordan is also eliminated. Lashley and Kendrick tries to eliminate Nunzio in the corner, while Burchill continues to fight against Mercury. Kendrick gets a Hurricanrana over the top rope on Noble, who skins the cat before both roll back in. MNM eliminate Kendrick and Noble. Psicosis eliminates himself and London. Nice jawbreaker by Burchill on Crazy, who is then eliminated. Tatanka chops Burchill over the top rope and into the ring. It is now down to MNM, Burchill, and Tatanka. Heels vs Faces ensures, with Tatanka and Burchill nailing stereo elbows. Tatanka nails a leg drop to Mercury, but Mercury drags him out of the ring. Dominator attempt failed by Lashley leads into a Snapshot by MNM. Banshee moment by Melina. MNM try to eliminate Lashley, but Tatanka comes back in. Tatanka takes on MNM with scoop slams and then takes Mercury into the corner for chops. Tatanka and Mercury go into the opposite corner where Tatanka (surprisingly) goes for a Headscissors before Mercury sends him onto the apron. Tatanka fights off MNM before going for the top rope, and jumping off with stereo Tomehawk Drops! Tatanka chops Merucy down, but runs at Nitro (who holds down the top rope) and Tatanka goes over and is eliminated! MNM double team Lashley in the cornerm, before the two lock in a Double Team Boston Crab. Nitro’s half is definatley the better half. Lashley overpowers and sends the two flying. Lashley up and a double clothesline to MNM! Lashley knocks MNM down, picks up Mercury in a choke hold but Nitro comes from behind! Double team suplex attempt failed and reversed by Lashley! Lashley with a Belly to Belly on Mercury, shoulder toss to Nitro. In the corner a tackle attempt is reversed on Lashley, who goes into the steel pole. Mercury holds Lashley for Nitro, but the Superkick is failed and goes right into Mercury’s face! Spear to Nitro and the crowd is going wild! Lashley picks up Mercury and throws him into Nitro, sending the two over the top rope for the victory!
Winner: Lashley
The first half was just basically a heap of guys in the ring with punches and stuff, as expected, but it got rather interesting after the Commercials. Seven out of Ten. Lashley is now the final man in the Money In The Bank Match at WrestleMania. Though you could tell this was on the show because Double Tapings equal no Velocity. Damn.
Still to come; Rey Mysterio verses Fit Finlay and Kurt Angle verses Mark Henry.
Commercials.
We’re back and in Memphis! Recap of the JBL / Stone Cold Beer Drinking Contest from Saturday Night’s Main Event. SNME was one of those times were you remember just why Austin was so popular, and just how much JBL is loving all of this.
Kristal Marshall is backstage with JBL and Jillian Hall. JBL attacks the video editors because they left out the part where he beat Austin. He would have beaten the hell out of Austin if it hadn’t been for his broken hand. Apparently Austin broke his nose, thanks to Chris Benoit, at SNME. JBL announces William Regal verses Chris Benoit for this evening. JBL, Regal, and Jillian Hall make a rather good pairing. Put Finlay with them and you’ve got one hell of a stable right there.
Mark Henry / Under Taker segment from SNME recap, with Taker destroying Daivari. We have not seen Daivari since SNME.
Mark Henry backstage and cuts a promo (wearing the TERRIBLE green outlined tights). Henry says he’s going to take Taker’s precious winning streak. He’s hurt him once and he’ll hurt him again, and Taker will be the one that rests in peace. Yeah, original. Henry then goes on about Angle and tells him he’ll feel pain, fear, and respect. Get that guy a good manager, seriously guys!
Rey Mysterio begins making his entrance! Finlay verses Mysterio is up next!
Commercials
Second Contest: Rey Mysterio verses Fit Finlay
This should be interesting. Tazz continues to reference the Shalalee as ‘that Night Stick thing’. Take the two a while to get into it, with Finlay locking up with Mysterio in the corner. Mysterio gets up from behind of Finlay, Finlay whips him down and begins to work the arm. Mysterio flips out of it and nails a hiptoss. Nice. Lock up and Finlay gets a NICE headlock takedown for a two count, and Finlay keeps the headlock on. Nice way to work the neck. Finlay then nails some shoulders to Mysterio’s own shoulder before kicking the arm and back. Knee onto Mysterio’s head before a NICE scoop slam. Nice, fierce, and high. Headlock applied back on. Mysterio ducks under Finlay after the irish whip, only to get a forearm right to the face by Finlay. Camel Clutch applied by Finlay, with the hands starting off right on the face. Mysterio gets his foot on the ropes, and Finlay keeps it locked until the three. In the corner Finlay with some HECK of a few forearms, before one hell of a short arm clothesline. Shoulder lock applied on the canvas. Mysterio gets the upper hand after jumping over Finlay after being sent into the turnbuckles, but when he runs back Finlay throws him over the top rope. Mysterio is picked up on Finlay’s shoulder and gets dropped face and neck first on the apron. Back in the ring Finlay poses for a second before nailing a thump to the ribs of Mysterio for a two. Finlay misses a clothesline in the corner and Mysterio gets up and nails a Ten Punch and Finlay looks so cut (not in a bleeding sense). Headscissors sends Finlay into the turnbuckle pads, before Mysterio nails a split legged Moonsault (the RVD one) for a two count. Mysterio gets Finlay on the second rope, Finlay rolls outside and Mysterio nails a Baseball slide to Finlay. Mysterio jumps over but FINLAY PULLS OUT THE APRON CURTAIN! Man I LOVE that! Finlay kicks away on Mysterio on the outside. Finlay sends Mysterio . . correction, throws Mysterio into the security rail before dragging him shoulder first into the steel pole. Back in the ring, Mysterio gets some kicks to Finlay before some elbows. Irish whip in the corner to Finlay, but Mysterio runs into the steel pole shoulder first! Finlay drags Mysterio back into the ring and nails an uppercut to the back of Mysterio’s neck, not once but twice! Finlay slams Mysterio’s throat into the apron and reaches for the Shalalee, but Charles Robinson stops him! Back in the ring Finlay gets a two count. Finlay nails a shoulder breaker on Mysterio (one hell of a;), but Mysterio nails some kicks to Finlay but Finlay nails a kick to the face and shoulder of Mysterio. Finlay puts a knee right between Mysterio’s shoulders and stretches the arms, before he drops Mysterio down and pushes his head first before going back into between the shoulders. Mysterio begins to power out of it but gets kneed by Finlay, followed by an uppercut. Irish whip by Finlay who bends over, but Mysterio gets a knee to Finlay! Mysterio with a irish whip of his own, Finlay with a sunset flip, Mysterio rolls out of it and nails a kick for two! Irish whip by Finlay and Mysterio gets the springboard Crossbody for a two! Punches by Mysterio, kick to Finlay’s midsection! Mysterio gets flipped over onto the apron, shoulders into Finlay’s gut, and nails the seated senton! Dropkick to a sitting Finlay for a two. Crucifix Pin attempt failed by Mysterio, as Finlay slams him down for a two. Mysterio gets sent back into the corner but nails an Enziguri to Finlay! Finlay on the second rope and gets nailed with the 619! Finlay gets the Shalalee as Charles Robinson begins arguing with him, Orton runs in! Mysterio jumps off the top rope but gets nailed with an RKO (IN MID AIR) by Orton, who dropkicks Robinson down as well! Finlay covers Mysterio for the three count!
Winner: Fit Finlay
Absolutely beautiful match. Absolutely awesome. Technically sound, Psychology spot on EXCEPT I think Finlay should have worked the legs a bit more. After all he worked the neck heaps which Orton’s finisher specifically attacks, why not do the same for the AngleLock? Ten out of Ten. For the most part Cole and Tazz’s commentary was spot on here too, so that’s always good.
RAW Recap. Yeah, okay, TOO much confetti. I missed the first half hour of RAW, but the rest was pretty fun and interesting. Pretty annoying that the Recaps have now become more about the Highlight Feud as opposed to the better segments and feuds. RAW Recap at least makes it look pretty good. I’m looking forward to McMahon verses Cena at least.
Still to come: Kurt Angle verses Mark Henry.
Commercials. We’re one hour into SmackDown by the way.
Theodore Long is making his way out as we return with a contract, and it looks like we’ve got a Contract Signing. Long says that he promised the world Booker T verses Boogeyman at SNME, but says that he can guarantee that match will happen at WrestleMania. Long calls out Booker T and Sharmell first. Sharmell’s dress today is gorgeous. I must admit, I loved how the music even played when Boogeyman appeared in their room at SNME. Apparently, Booker T’s Doctor’s couldn’t find anything wrong with him! WHAT?! Blasphemy! Long announces that the WrestleMania Match will be a Handicap Match. Booker T refuses, but Long threatens to fire him unless he signs it! Oh, burn! Booker T tells Long he needs to recognize just who he is (Five Time, Married to the most beautiful Woman, Best Dressed Wrestler) and still expects Long to say he wants him to wrestle against a freak like Boogeyman, and that Sharmell has been having nightmares about the Boogeyman. “At WrestleMania, Booker T is coming to getcha Boogeyman!”. Booker tells Long that his Mystery Partner had better be ready to go and wrestle at WrestleMania. Tazz says he’s defending his wife in signing the contract. Long says that Booker T’s partner deserves to be in this match, and Booker T’s partner will be . . . SHARMELL! Perfectly executed, and Long runs backstage while dancing, while Sharmell breaks down in the middle of the ring.
Still to come (yeah, still) Kurt Angle verses Mark Henry.
Commercials.
Chris Benoit makes his entrance. Followed by Regal with JBL and Hall, before we cut to . .
Commercials. Right. Bastards.
Third Contest: Chris Benoit verses William Regal with JBL and Jillian Hall
I tell you, with the run of good to great segments (nothing below) so far tonight, there’s no way they can cock up the match that (on paper) should be the best. Or can they? We come back the commercials to see Benoit working Regal’s arm before Regal flips over and nails a snapmare. Regal and Benoit try and get the grappling advantage and Regal gets a wristlock before a hammerlock, before Regal drags benoit down for a one count. Regal and Benoit have a test of strength on the floor, but Benoit gets up and forces Regal down into a bridge with the test of strength still applied. Regal jumps up but Benoit nails a monkey flip, before Regal gets a headscissor to Benoit. Regal and Benoit try and get the advantage again before benoit gets a hold of the arm and takes Regal outside of the ring. Baseball slide attempt is failed by Benoit, as Regal nails a T-Bone on the outside of the ring. Nice. By the way, JBL and Hall are cheering on the limo. Regal kicks Benoit’s head into the steel pole, before waving to JBL and Hall. Nice touch. Suplex by Regal for a two. Knee dropped to Benoit’s neck by Regal. Regal begins to pull on Benoit’s face, putting the knee into Benoit’s back. Benoit gets some kicks to Regal before getting some chops on Regal in the corner, and even gets some to the face! Regal gets a break from the chops with a knee to Benoit’s face. Chicken Wing by Regal in the middle of the ring, Benoit takes Regal down and goes for a Sharpshooter but Regal is quick to kick him off, before Regal goes back for the Chicken Wing. Benoit gets behind Regal and nails a German Suplex, before going for the Crippler Crossface! Benoit gets it in and Regal is quick to tap!
Winner: Chris Benoit
Great match, two in a row, if it wasn’t for the ending then I’d give it a perfect score. Nine out of Ten, one point removed because it was far too short and Benoit got hardly any offence in compared to what he could have. Though a wrestling marvel to see these two go all out in just five minutes.
Commercials.
WrestleMania Card:
WWE Championship: John Cena (Champion) verses Triple H
No Holds Barred: Vince McMahon verses Shawn Michaels
Women’s Championship: Trish Stratus (Champion) verses Mickie James
Casket Match: The UnderTaker verses Mark Henry
Money In The Bank: Rob Van Dam verses Shelton Benjamin verses Ric Flair verses Fit Finlay verses Matt Hardy verses Bobby Lashley
United States Championship: Chris Benoit (Champion) verses John Bradshawl Layfield
Hardcore Match: Cactus Jack verses Edge with Lita
World Tag Team Championship: Kane and The Big Show (Champions) verses Carlito and Chris Masters
Playboy Pillow Fight: Torrie Wilson verses Candice Michelle
Handi-Cap Match: Booker T and Sharmell verses The Boogeyman
World Heavy Weight Championship: Kurt Angle (Champion) verses Randy Orton verses Rey Mysterio
Twelve matches? Not too shabby. Not shabby at all. I’m looking forward to WrestleMania like crazy.
Mark Henry, minus Daivari still, makes his entrance. And for those who didn’t expect it, his opponent Kurt Angle then makes his entrance. Nice touch, with the wrestlers making their entrances and all.
Commercials. Blast these infernal “Entrances then Commercials then Match” times.
Main Event: Mark Henry verses Kurt Angle
We’re back to see Angle taking Henry into the corner. Angle is forced to back off as the two take a breather. Henry then takes Angle into the corner but Angle keeps a hold of his hand. The two circle each other and lock up again with Henry nailing a hiptoss. Angle runs at Henry and latches onto his leg but Henry throws him off. Angle gets some clubs to Henry and an upper cut, but Henry gets him off of him with a single punch. Angle takes a run and trips Henry over with a clothesline to the back of the knee, before dropping two elbows to the knee and latching on, trying to stretch the knee. Henry kicks Angle off of him and gets to his feet, but Angle attacks the leg again before getting some uppercuts only to be headbutted by Henry. Henry gets an irish whip and Angle comes back with a cross body, but Henry catches him and slams him down for a two. Henry begins to choke Angle out, letting go at the three count. In the corner, Henry chokes Angle with his foot, letting go again at three. Angle gets some kicks to the knees but Henry gets an eyerake. Henry kicks Angle’s chest and begins to choke Angle at the ropes using his leg at the rope. Henry then stands on top of Angle, holding on the ropes for leverage. As Angle begins to get back up Henry clubs him back down. Angle gets some rights to Henry and takes a run but Henry knocks him down for a two count. Henry throws Angle outside and gets a kick to the chest of Angle. Headbutt before Henry slams Angle into the security rail, before Angle slams Henry’s head into the steel steps and rolls inside the ring. Angle steps out onto the apron and goes for a double axe handle but Henry catches him and slams him into the apron and pushes Angle back into the ring for a two. Henry locks on a Bear Hug, with Angle trying to escape through forearms. Angle grabs Henry and tries to flip Henry, but Henry keeps the Bear Hug applied. Angle again tries for the flip. The referee drops Angle’s hand twice, but Angle keeps his arm up on the third go, before he flips Henry over! Punches to Henry, followed by an uppercut! Elbow to a running Henry, followed by a German! Angle nails some boots to Henry before some mounting punches, keeping Henry’s head up by the hair. THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Angle punks out the referee in the corner and Henry rams into the both of them! Henry drags Angle into the center of the ring and goes for a splash, but Angle rolls out of the way and applies to AngleLock! Orton attacks from behind and goes for a RKO, but Mysterio comes on the apron and jumps off with a Seated Senton but nails Angle with Orton rolling out of the ring! Henry throws Mysterio out of the ring, splash to Angle for the victory!
Winner: Mark Henry
Post match, Tazz and Cole discuss whose fault it was that Mysterio got Angle while Orton smirks in the entrance way. Angle and Mysterio argue and Angle shoves down Mysterio! Angle begins yelling at Orton before Mysterio dropkicks Angle from behind and nails a 619! Six out of Ten because of what the match could have been. Show fade.
Pretty damned good show this week, just check out these damned ratings:
Last Chance Battle Royal: 7/10
Rey Mysterio verses Fit Finlay: 10/10
Chris Benoit verses William Regal: 9/10
Kurt Angle verses Mark henry: 6/10
SmackDown 24/03/06: 32/40
Perfectly booked in my eyes, and not a segment that could disappoint. Unless you’re the kind of person who is so anti-Mark Henry that you refuse to watch the Main Event and his promo (which, while terrible, isn’t to the point where you’d give a show a bad stain because of it). Though, to be honest, that’s not exactly a sin worthy thing. Mark Henry and Kurt Angle was short; Rey Mysterio and Fit Finlay had a good fifteen minutes, the Battle Royale had about twenty minutes to it, and Benoit and Regal had five minutes of pure wrestling orgasm. Until Velocity, remember to watch SmackDown this week! Ciao Y’all.
