Been quite a week here in Australia. Steve Irwin dies from a Sting Ray on Monday. And now racing car legend (well, at least on Channel 7) dies .. in a car crash. Peter Brock was his name, by the way. Irwin was filming a ocumentary called ‘Oceans Deadliest’, if I’m correct; and Brock had been retired from full time competition for almost ten years .. Wonder how long until the next big slice of irony comes our way.
Usual opening which you’ve seen hundreds of times before and we’ve got JBL and Michael Cole in a special standing position. They quickly recap the last month between King Booker and Batista. Nice to see that they’re taking the chance seriously and trying to make this out to be a bigger and better episode than what we’re used to.
Opening Contest: Rey Mysterio vs Finlay
Pre-match The Little Bastard can be spotted pointing at Mysterio. Circling to start before they lock up and Finlay gets Mysterio into the corner, forced off by the referee and the two exchange slaps. Mysterio with kicks to the knee of Finlay and a ten count attempt which Finlay turns into an atomic drop. Uppercut by Finlay, before Finlay takes down Mysterio into a headlock and suplex for a one count. Headlock takedown by Finlay, gets a one count, but Mysterio gets a headscissors which Finlay nicely escapes and turns into another headlock. Back to their feet and Finlay nails another uppercut. Finlay puts Mysterio on his shoulders and drops him throat first on the top rope and a ‘Finlay Sucks’ chant starts up. Mysterio with some elbows, Finlay gets a knee and sends Mysterio into the corner. Finlay gets a one count before Mysterio gets his foot on the bottom rope. Finlay stomps away at Mysterio. NICE tilt-a-whirl by Finlay for a two count, before Mysterio gathers himself on the outside.
Commercials.
We’re back and neither looks to have an advantage, but Finlay quickly has the advantage over Mysterio. Finlay gets in a shoulder claw which Mysterio escapes by kicking Finlay’s head. Mysterio with elbows, gets sent off the ropes and comes back with a headscissors takedown. Low dropkick to a kneeling Finlay gets Mysterio a two count. Mysterio goes up top but Finlay trips him down into a tree of woe for a spear. Finlay with a hard scoop slam, before picking up Mysterio sending him into the corner – Mysterio flips up and looks to be about to nail a headscissors but Finlay reverses it into a sideslam. Finlay locks on a front cobra clutch, rolling Mysterio over for a failed pinfall attempt. Mysterio rolls outside but Finlay gets a odd swinging baseball slide. Mysterio slides back in the ring but is welcomed by Finlay, who tackles him into the corner multiple times. Finlay with butt thumps to Mysterio’s back, brief ‘Eddie’ chant, before Finlay puts Mysterio in a Boston Crab. Mysterio tries to escape (obviously), but Finlay keeps variations of it in before settling for an odd ankle lock as the fans begin to rally behind Mysterio, and Mysterio gets to the bottom rope. Finlay sends Mysterio into the corner but Mysterio gets out of the way and Finlay runs into the turnbuckles! Mysterio with knee kicks, Finlay tries for a sunset but Mysterio rolls through and kicks Finlay in the head! Seated senton gets Mysterio a two count! Mysterio flips over Finlay and sets him up on the second rope, Mysterio comes off the other ropes but Finlay misses a clothesline, Mysterio misses the springboard attempt and Finlay gets the Celtic Cross Emerald Fusion for the victory!
Winner: Finlay
No Little Bastard interference? Odd. JBL says he has an obligation to find out what was with Mysterio this evening. JBL says that he’s disappointed the fans and embarrassed himself yet again, and asks if he thinks his wrestling his become a disgrace because he thinks the woman that he thought loved him (Vickie) slapped the taste out of his mouth. Mysterio remains silent and JBL says that they need to know, the fans deserve it; and asks him if he isn’t himself right now is because the entire Guerrero family has deemed him a piece of trash. Mysterio again remains silent and exits the ring to first a ‘619’ chant and then some boos .. Good match, good segment, great way to open the show. Eight out of Ten. One of the few times where a one sided match is acceptable.
Still to come: World Heavyweight Championship, Batista vs King Booker.
Commercials.
Mr Kennedy makes his entrance for the following match; he hypes up some big announcement he will make post match, and puts over his opponent a heap.
Second Contest: Mr Kennedy vs Jobber Fodder With A Heap Of Accomplishments … Apparently
The fodder’s apparently a NCAA champ, Olympic Silver medalist and all this other fancy crap that I don’t give much of a damn about. Kennedy, of course, totally destroys the guy.
Winner: Mr Kennedy
-Four out of Ten. It was a stylish squash. Mr Kennedy requests that Theodore Long makes his way out in order for him to fulfill his announcement. Long comes on out and asks where Kennedy is going with this, and Kennedy reminds us how he’s beaten the brightest and best that SmackDown has to offer and now there’s no more mountains left to climb and says that he’s taking a page out of John Cena’s book .. If John Cena can potentially come to SmackDown then Mr Kennedy could potentially go to RAW. Long says that he brings up some interesting points, but there’s one SmackDown superstar he’s yet to take on. So at No Mercy it’s Mr Kennedy vs .. the Undertaker! I, for one, can’t wait to see that match.
Commercials.
Third Contest: Ashley Massaro, Paul London, and Brian Kendrick vs Michelle McCool, KC James, and Idol Stevens
London and Stevens start off. Lock up and Stevens gets a headlock on London which London turns into a hammerlock and then headlock. London sent into the ropes, ducks under Stevens and reapplies the headlock. Kendrick in and the two get a double forearm to Stevens. Kendrick works the arm of Stevens but Stevens forces him into his corner and tags in James. James works the arm of Kendrick, Kendrick flips off the rope and tags in London, who comes in with a double axe handle to James’ shoulder. Kendrick back in with a top rope shoulder to James. Kendrick then tags in Massaro, who comes off the top with a double axe handle to James. Massaro tags out to London who again comes off the top, but thankfully James takes it away from the corner. London goes to come off the ropes but Stevens lowers the ropes and London goes to the outside. Nice.
Stevens sends London face first into the apron before rolling him inside, allowing James to get a quick pinfall attempt. Tag in to Mc. Mc slaps away at London before she tags Stevens back in. Stevens gets a two count on London. Stevens drives his knee right between the shoulders of London and locks in a headlock, with James forcing Stevens into London more. Nice touch. London gets a school boy on Stevens but James breaks it up. James in; elbow drop and two count for James. London tags in Kendrick! Elbows to James and Stevens, high dropkicks by Kendrick follow, before he goes to jump outside but Mc stands in front of him. Kendrick looks at her for a second before running back off the ropes, Mc moves and Kendrick jumps to the outside, collecting Stevens. Massaro attacks Mc from behind; mounted punches by Massaro but she gets pulled off by James, but Kendrick off the top rope with a sunset flip – London dropsaults James and Kendrick gets the three count!
Winner: Brian Kendrick, Paul London, and Ashley Massaro
Well, um, that was odd. Average match that was put on fast forward, it seemed. Four out of Ten. On another note; Massaro, London, and Kendrick didn’t make for the combination that I’d always hoped that they would make.
We get a really good King Booker video.
Still to come: World Heavyweight Championship, Batista challenges King Booker!
Commercials.
Vito joins JBL and Cole at ringside, JBL’s reaction is pretty classic. As is pretty much everything he does; he refuses to do commentary for the entire match.
Regal makes his entrance and gets on the microphone beforehand. Regal says that he was supposed to face Vito, but after what he did last week, he went to Long and threatened him with .. a sexual harassment suit. Ah, Regal, always good for a laugh. Regal however said he would settle for other competition and show Vito and the fans how a real man conducts himself. ‘Please, bring forth the competitor!’
Fourth Contest: Sir William Regal vs Bobby Lashley
Lock up and Lashley forces Regal into the corner, but Regal gets a high knee and runs off the ropes into forearms by Lashley. Scoop slam by Lashley. In the corner Lashley punches away at Regal before he whips him into the opposing corner. Regal on the apron gets suplexed back in by Lashley, Regal rolls out of the ring right into Vito’s rear before Lashley sends him back in the ring. On the outside of the ring Regal drops Lashley face first into the steel steps and the referee begins a ten count on Lashley. Lashley gets in before the ten count ends only to be meet by kicks by Regal. Lashley off the ropes into an elbow by Regal for a two count. Regal locks in a weak cobra clutch, we get a ‘USA’ chant, and Lashley punches Regal off. Regal gets a high knee and t-bone suplex for a two count. Regal with high knees sending Lashley into the corner. Lashley gets a high boot to Regal, followed up with a belly to belly. Lashley goes for the running powerslam but Regal slides behind and knocks Lashley down, but gets speared not shortly after for the victory.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Post match, Vito shakes hands with Lashley, but JBL refuses to shake Vito’s hand. The effort was there, but it seemed like these two were just out there because they had a few minutes to fill. Two out of Ten.
Commercials.
In a moment that’s sure to become common, the ‘Hoo-rah’ chant quickly turns to a ‘You Suck’ chant
Fifth Contest: Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin vs Matt Hardy
Lock up and Hardy gets a hammerlock on Mizanin, but Mizanin gets to the ropes. Another lock up and Mizanin works the arm of Hardy, Hardy then works the arm of Mizanin before Mizanin slams him into the mat and goes on being annoying before Hardy clotheslines him down. Hardy with a clothesline in the corner and a pull up powerbomb for a failed pinfall attempt. Mizanin sends Hardy throat first into the second rope before he does a nice move, sending Hardy’s throat back into the rope, for a one count. Mizanin with a snapmare and locks on a side headlock which Hardy elbows out of, and Mizanin spears Hardy into the corner but misses a clothesline. Hardy sends Mizanin into the ropes, back into an elbow to the face and elbow drop gets Hardy a failed pinfall. Yodel elbow drop to the forehead of Mizanin followed up with the Side Effect gets Hardy a two count, almost a three. Mizanin gets a high elbow to Hardy and goes up top, but Hardy knocks him to the outside and gets a vaulting body press to Mizanin. Hardy goes up top but Helms comes out of nowhere and knocks Hardy off the top rope, and Mizanin gets a school boy on Hardy for the three count!
Winner: Mike Mizanin
Hardy chases Helms backstage after the match. Four out of Ten.
Still to come .. still .. Batista challenging King Booker for the title!
Commercials.
Another Jimmy Wang Yang promo .. ugh.
Tony Chimmel introduces Vickie Guerrero. She, in turn, introduces Chavo Guerrero. Chavo is dedicating his match tonight to the Guerrero legacy. Every week she gains just that little bit more acting ability .. okay, it’s LITTLE little but still.
Sixth Contest: Chavo Guerrero w/ Vickie Guerrero vs Tatanka
Circling and the two lock up, we get a series of trips and such which end with Tatanka nailing Guerrero with a hiptoss. Tatanka keeps a hold of the arm and punches away at it before he slams it into the top turnbuckle. Hammerlock by Tatanka, Guerrero attempts to escape it, but Tatanka keeps it locked. Dropkick by Guerrero finally allows him to get the advantage. Guerrero works the leg of Tatanka and interlocks his knee with it, and gets a nice bridge pinfall for a two count. Guerrero continues to work the leg of Tatanka but Tatanka kicks Guerrero off of him, taking his sweet time to do it. Guerrero off the ropes by Tatanka gets a flapjack. Elbows by Tatanka followed by a shoulder body toss before he does the war dance and chops Guerrero down. Tatanka goes up top and jumps off with the Tomahawk for a two count. Guerrero gets the advantage with upper cuts but is quickly nailed with the Trail’s End for a two count, Guerrero gets to the rope. Tatanka argues with the referee and Guerrero gets in a facebuster before he goes off the top with a Frog Splash for the three count.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero
Yet another match tonight where the effort was there, but Guerrero and Tatanka really don’t mash that well. Mind you, that hasn’t stopped Tatanka from having some good matches lately. This was there. Two out of Ten.
M.V.P backstage runs into Long and says that whatever money he gives Cena, he wants that money but with an extra digit. Long says that he’s welcome to stay and watch the rest of the show, but he can buy his own ticket. M.V.P says he’s made a big mistake and walks off.
Up next: King Booker defends against Batista!
Another good video, this time for Batista.
Commercials.
King Booker makes his very long entrance, with Queen Sharmell doing the ‘All Hail’ schtick the entire time. (JBL: “He’s such a humble king” Cole: “Humble?!” JBL: “Humble!”). Batista comes out next and we have a stare down as Tony Chimmell introduces the two opponents.
King Booker gets on the microphone before the bell rings and says that Batista can bow down to Booker and walk away, or take a royal ass whooping. Batista asks Booker if he wants his body buried, or cremated.
Commercials.
Main Event: World Heavyweight Championship: Batista vs King Booker (Champion) w/Queen Sharmell
Lock up right away as the bell rings and the two take each other around the ring, before Booker takes Batista to the ropes. Lock up again and Batista forces Booker into the corner. Another lock up and Batista gets a scoop slam on Booker, before he punches Booker into the corner for elbows and a high foot choke. Booker gets a low elbow and sends Batista into the ropes, he fails the hip toss as Batista clotheslines him down. Batista locks Booker in a hammerlock and knees away at Booker. Batista runs into a high foot but catches it, throws it down and spears away at Booker. Suplex by Batista for a two count. Batista clotheslines Booker outside over the top rope, Batista follows Booker outside and slams Booker into the security rail and the apron. Batista gets a two count pinfall. Batista reapplies the hammerlock on Booker and tries to hook the neck as well, but Booker escapes with elbows and tries for a hook kick but Batista ducks and nails a spear for almost a three count. Booker gets high knees to Batista but gets sent into the ropes, Batista runs into a high knee and Booker gets a Book End! One! Two! No!
Commercials.
We’re back and the two are exchanging punches outside, Sharmell shoves Batista from behind and distracts the referee allowing Booker to get a low kick and send Batista into the steel pole. Booker sets Batista up on the apron for clubs and a scissors kick, sending Batista outside of the ring. Batista rolls in just before the eight count and is welcomed by stomps from Booker. Booker gets a sideslam for a two count. Batista gets back to his feet and gets knocked back down by a superkick for almost a three count. Booker with mounted punches. Booker chops away at Batista before sending him into the corner, but Batista comes back with clotheslines! Batista gets a sideslam on Booker for a two count! Jackhammer by Batista, who does the thumbs down! Batista tries for the Batista Bomb but Booker uses the tights to send him out of the ring. Sharmell distracts the referee and, on the outside, Batista punches what appears to be Sir William Regal! Spinebuster to Booker back in the ring. Sharmell gets a steel chair but Batista gives her a thumbs down! Finlay on the apron, and knocks Batista with the shaleleigh! One! Two! Three! Booker retains!
Winner And Still Champion: King Booker
Post match Finlay attacks a prone Batista. First with the shaleleigh before Finlay sends Batista into an exposed second turnbuckle. Shaleleigh again before Finlay knocks Batista down with a steel chair shot! Finlay continues to attack Batista with the shaleleigh! Finlay sends Batista into another exposed turnbuckle, clotheslining him from behind. SmackDown ends with Finlay yelling down at Batista about how he doesn’t know what he’s in for and that Finlay is his worst enemy. As far as the match goes it was just about what I was expecting; a match that didn’t flow but still wasn’t all that bad when it all comes to it. Four out of Ten.
So this week comes in with;
Mysterio vs Finlay: 8/10
Mr Kennedy vs Jobber Fodder: -4/10
Massaro / Hooliganz vs McCool / Teacher’s Pets: 4/10
Regal vs Lashley: 2/10
Mizanin vs Hardy: 4/10
Guerrero vs Tatanka: 2/10
Batista vs Booker: 4/10
SmackDown 8/08/06: 20/70
Well this week’s show was oddly entertaining for something so lowly rated. While I was obviously hoping for something more from the majority of these matches (Six Person Tag, Regal / Lashley, and Guerrero / Tatanka), I suppose being slightly disappointed is better than what lows SmackDown can achieve. A Finlay and Batista feud should make you all watch SmackDown, I have the feeling that we may be about to see a King Booker and Bobby Lashley feud again – if not a King Booker and .. John Cena feud. Even typing it gives me a sour taste in my mouth, no matter how interesting it would be to see him on SmackDown now with the new wrestlers. As far as watching this week’s SmackDown goes I, yet again, suggest that if you’ve got the time then you might as well. Apart from the Finlay segments there wasn’t much going for this week’s episode, as seeing Finlay and Mysterio wrestle is usually a treat and seeing Finlay destroy Batista was rather cool (nice to see that a while of SmackDown’s violence being more tame that segments like this can have more impact). I promise a better recap next week; laters, everyone!
