We’ve coming from Ohio, which means that the guy in the hot pink shirt is at ringside! All events from Ohio that I remember, that guy is with a chick in a yellow neon shirt are at ringside. Even at No Mercy 99. Anyways, the Champion of Champions comes out first. Booker reminds us all of how he is now .. a hero, a legend, the champion of champions .. as well as recaps pretty much everyone he has defeated, and says that much like Alexander the Great he weeps because he no longer has anyone else to conquer. Long comes on out and congratulates Booker on behalf of all the Smackdown fans, and that he brought photographers to ringside to photograph Booker and Sharmell, with Long even getting in a few frames. Long reminds us of how Batista protected Booker last week and how Long now owes him a favor, but Booker says he didn’t ask for any favors nor any protection. Good point. Long says that Batista was doing it as a favor to him, and announces Batista against the World Heavy Weight Champion – but Long reminds us that it doesn’t have to be against Booker, because right now he’s defending the belt! Against … Bobby Lashley!
Opening Contest: World Heavyweight Championship: Bobby Lashley vs King Booker (Champion) w/ Queen Sharmell
Lashley starts with spears in the corner before he scoop slams Booker for a two count. Lashley takes Booker back to the corner for stomps away before he backs off and gets an eye poke by Booker. Lashley off the ropes and stops a hip toss attempt with a clothesline for another two. Lashley puts on an armbar, proving he can learn new moves, but Booker gets to the ropes. Booker clubs away at Lashley and then nails a chop, but gets sent off the ropes and gets a kick to Lashley’s chest but gets clotheslined outside by Lashley!
Commercials.
We’re back and Lashley has Booker in a sleeper hold! Booker escapes with a knee to Lashley’s head and takes it to the corner with more knee attacks. Booker takes Lashley back into the middle of the ring but Lashley takes him back to the corner for spears, suplex for a two count! Lashley with the delayed vertical suplex! Lashley picks Booker up but Booker gets an eye poke and elbow to Lashley before he sends Lashley into the corner, Booker runs into a high elbow, Lashley goes for a spear but Booker moves out of the way and Lashley goes shoulder first into the steel pole! Sharmell distracts the referee and Booker sends Lashley groin first into the steel pole! Booker with a leg drop to the groin of Lashley. Lashley up into chops and punches by Booker, and superkick follows! Booker covers for a two count. Booker with a sideslam, getting another two count. Booker with a wristlock on Lashley, and a “Bobby” chant sounds a bit like a “Hardy” chant but it could always be my recording quality, and Lashley escapes with elbows but comes off the ropes right into a kick by Booker. Lashley and Booker exchange rights, with Lashley getting the better, Lashley with a headlock but Booker grabs the knee of Lashley and nails a knee breaker before he hooks Lashley’s leg, similar to the Figure Four, and Lashley with a small package for a two count!
Lashley with more elbows on Booker, shoulder block takes Booker down! Booker tries to jump over Lashley but gets caught with a powerslam for a two! Booker off the ropes into a high elbow, clothesline, and Lashley kicks Booker in the gut and clubs him down. Lashley takes Booker to the corner, Booker tries to jump over him but gets caught in the Running Powerslam position! Booker slides down but gets caught with a spinebuster by Lashley for another two count! Sharmell on the apron and distracts the referee, Boker gets an eye poke and knees to the head of Lashley, and Sharmell goes for a low blow but Lashley grabs her hand! Lashley turns around, still with Sharmell’s hand, but Booker comes from behind with a school boy for the three count!
Winner and Still World Heavy Weight Champion: King Booker
Post match, Booker goes for the scissors kick but misses and gets clotheslined down! Booker and Sharmell leave the ring, posing with the title, with Lashley occupying the ring. These two had an interesting match, but it was very slow for the most part. Three out of Ten.
Still to come: Batista vs Finlay! We get a video package of their feud, recapping Finlay costing Batista the title.
Commercials.
Long is backstage and MVP walks on in. Long puts over Kane’s See No Evil DVD, and MVP complains about the results of last week – with the match being restarted so many times. MVP lets slip about how he’s been in Street Fights easier than that, and Long decides to put him in a street fight against Kane. Quick segment, so it’s all good.
Also backstage are Chavo and Vickie Guerrero. Vickie says that something is all sorted out, and Benoit comes up from behind and asks what happened to the Vickie he used to know, and says that Mysterio trying to steal the legacy is absurd, and says that he knows something is up – and it’s got to be about Eddie’s estate. Vickie interrupts and says all he should be worried about is losing the United States Championship (I keep forgetting he has that title), because at Survivor Series it’s him against Chavo Guerrero.
Tonight: Undertaker might accept the challenge made by Mr Kennedy (Kennedy made a challenge?!) for Survivor Series!
Commercials.
JBL makes a good point about how Long was about to start watching a DVD, which is pretty stupid considering he’s supposed to be running the show.
Second Contest: Matt Hardy and Jimmy Wang Yang w/ Amy Zidian vs Gregory Helms and Sylvan
Yang and Helms start off. Helms attacks from behind and sends Yang into the ropes, Helms goes for a hip toss but Yang stops the attempt and kicks Helms in the gut before he kicks him into Sylvan. Yang ducks a clothesline attempt and nails a headscissors takedown on Sylvan. Sylvan sends Yang into the ropes and gets tripped by Helms, but Yang nails Helms with a baseball slide only to get hit with a clothesline by Sylvan. Sylvan clubs away at Yang and takes him into the corner, before he tags out to Helms. Helms chokes Yang at the ropes before he nails a suplex. Yang back up into a nice neckbreaker by Helms, with Helms sending Yang neck first into his knee, for a two count before Helms locks in a rear choke hold. Yang escapes but runs right into a high elbow, and Helms knocks Hardy off the apron. Helms and Sylvan kick away at Yang, before Sylvan is made the legal wrestler. Sylvan with knees to the gut of Yang before he hits a nice fisherman’s suplex and picks Yang up for a backbreaker for a one count.
Yang with some chops, but Sylvan regains the upper hand and tags out to Helms. Helms slams Yang into the corner for a few kicks, irish whips Yang and Yang ducks an attack and nails a chop to the chest of Helms! Helms knocks him down and nails a nice snapmare and locks in a headscissors submission hold. Yang gets to the ropes and Helms sends him into his corner, before he tags out to Sylvan. Sylvan sends Yang into the ropes and Yang comes back into a nice dropkick and then follows up with a nice backdrop for a two count. Knee drop by Sylvan, before he goes up to the second rope and comes off into a spinning heel kick by Yang! Sylvan tags out to Helms, and Yang tags out to Hardy! Hardy in with punches to Helms, clothesline, and Hardy knocks Sylvan off the apron! Side effect to Helms! Clothesline bulldog combo to Sylvan, hitting a clothesline on Helms as well, before Hardy sets Helms up on the turnbuckle. Sylvan attacks from behind but Hardy sends him outside, allowing Yang to hit a spinning crossbody, super twist of fate to Helms for the three count!
Winners: Matt Hardy and Jimmy Wang Yang
Pretty damned good, especially by SmackDown standards. Even with the gimmick, Yang is still getting the audiences behind him, and it’s hard not to get behind him with the matches he’s having. Seven out of Ten.
Mr Kennedy is walking backstage!
Commercials.
Still to come: Batista vs Finlay! Another video recap of their feud, recapping Finlay attacking Batista the SmackDown before No Mercy.
Mr Kennedy makes his way on out. Kennedy reminds us that it’s been sixteen years since the Undertaker’s debut, and he’s had a decade and a half of destruction. But what’s even more impressive is .. Mr Kennedy, because never before in the WWE has there been a superstar who has defeated World Champions. Yeah, uh huh, not ONCE. I’m positive of it. Cough. Kennedy says he has become bigger than SmackDown itself, and all he wanted to do was prove that by going to ECW or RAW but that couldn’t happen because the Undertaker got in his way. Kennedy refuses to just sit by and watch him ruin his legacy before it has the chance to take off, which is why he wants Taker to come out to the ring. Right now. And answer his challenge. Kennedy says that at Survivor Series 1990 his career began, and at Survivor Series 2006 – and we can mark his works – his career will … … … end. Kennedy continues to challenge Taker to come out to the ring, even saying a quote that will make every one of their video recaps; “Deadman … Come out and play”. Taker comes out and Kennedy attacks! Kennedy gets a low blow and attacks Taker with the microphone, and it opens up the forehead of Taker! Kennedy says that nobody underestimates him, but Taker grabs him by the throat! Kennedy continues his assault with the microphone, and when he looks to have finally defeated Taker, he stands over Taker and finishes off his Kennedy schtick! Kennedy leaves the ring and Taker sits up. I really enjoyed that segment.
Commercials.
Replay of Kennedy attacking Taker.
Third Contest: Chris Benoit vs K.C. James w / Michelle McCool
Okay so James is the blonde guy. Mc is looking a lot better than usual tonight. Circling to start and lock up is taken into the corner. Benoit with knees to James before he follows up with rights and chops. James off the ropes into a kitchen sink knee, sending James outside. James on the apron and drops Benoit throat first on the top rope. James with right hands to Benoit, elbow drop gets James a one count. James with a right hand to Benoit and whips Benoit into the corner. James gets another one count. James with a snapmare and drives his knee in between the shoulders of Benoit, but Benoit punches James off of him. James with some right hands, but Benoit ducks one and hits a german! Benoit sends James into the ropes and back into an axe handle, snap suplex gets Benoit a two count. Triple Germans by Benoit, who comes off the top rope with the Swandive Headbutt. Benoit locks on the Crippler Crossface and James taps.
Winner: Chris Benoit
Well, it was predictable. I’m hoping to see Benoit react more with James and Stevens, I think that might really put the two over if they got in some tag team matches against Benoit and any random partner. One out of Ten.
The Boogeyman is backstage .. and he’s coming to getcha!
Commercials.
The Boogeyman comes on out!
Fourth Contest: T.J. Dalton vs The Boogeyman
Dalton tries to escape to start, but Boogeyman grabs him by the throat and sends him back into the ring. Boogeyman corners Dalton in the corner and Dalton goes for a kick but Boogeyman catches it, and opens his mouth to reveal the worms! Dalton tries to punch Boogeyman off of him but Boogeyman headbutts him down! Boogeyman picks him up for the two handed chokeslam for the three count.
Winner: The Boogeyman
Ten points for not automatically swallowing all the worms, considering how long they were in his mouth. -Five out of Ten for the match, though.
Up next: Batista vs Finlay! Recap of Finlay costing Batista the Championship again.
Commercials.
Backstage, Kristal Marshall yells at Mizanin because Boogeyman isn’t gone. Mizanin calls tonight scouting, and says that last week when he shoved Marshall into the Boogeyman was a misunderstanding, and he’s challenging Boogeyman to a match next week. Does anyone else see a bit of Matthew Lillard, towards the end of Scream, in Mizanin? I do.
Next week: The Miz vs Boogeyman, and MVP vs Kane in a Street Fight .. two matches sure to break ratings records.
Still to come .. still: Batista vs Finlay. This time the video recaps their fighting from last week.
Finlay makes his entrance, which leads to …
Commercials.
Main Event: Finlay vs Batista
Batista is sporting a brand new haircut, which makes him look horrible but I’m sure we’ll all get used to it eventually anyways. It takes Finlay a while to put the shillelagh down. Lock up and Batista pushes Finlay down. Another lock up and Finlay gets shoved down for the second time. Finlay with a kick to the gut and headlock, Finlay gets sent into the ropes and comes back into a shoulder block. Batista grabs Finlay by the rope but lets go after the referee gets close to finishing his five count. Finlay with another kick to the gut of Batista, Finlay off the ropes and into a big boot. Batista sends Finlay into the corner for a clothesline. Batista kicks Finlay outside, Batista follows outside and blocks a punch attempt and positions Finlay on his shoulder, setting up to send Finlay into the steel post but Finlay falls behind Batista and pushes him towards the post, Batista stops himself from connecting and turns around and clotheslines Finlay.
Commercials.
We’re back and Batista has Finlay in a bear hug, having sent Finlay back first into the ring apron during the commercial. Finlay rakes the face of Batista and punches him off, but Batista takes him into the corner for elbows and, in a GREAT touch, hooks Finlay’s arms under the top rope and then chokes him with his foot. It’s not everyday you see Batista extend his moveset, so I got excited over it. Batista with a shoulder body toss and slingshots Finlay into the ropes and back first into Batista’s knees, getting Batista a two count. Batista with a scoop slam. Finlay sends Batista outside and jumps off onto Batista from the apron but Batista catches him! Batista drops Finlay and big boots him down. Finlay returns to the ring, and The Little Bastard attacks the leg of Batista with the shillelagh! Finlay kicks Batista directly in the head and kicks away at his leg, he distracts the referee again allowing for The Little Bastard to rake Batista’s face!
Finlay hooks Batista’s leg on the bottom rope. Batista gets in a few kicks with his good leg, but Finlay slams his injured leg into the ring apron and follows up by sending his leg into the steel post! Finlay hooks Batista’s leg on the second rope before he kicks away at it, Batista gets some offence in but Finlay continues to kick Batista’s leg! Finlay gets a drop toe hold and works the legs. Batista kicks Finlay off of him but Finlay continues to have the advantage, setting Batista’s leg on the bottom rope and jumping on it. He goes to hook the leg but Batista kicks Finlay shoulder first into the steel pole! Spears by Batistra in the corner, and Batista sets Finlay up on the rope and nails a muscle buster! Both get to their feet, and Batista sends Finlay into the ropes and back into a clothesline. Clothesline to Finlay in the corner, and powerslam! Batista does the thumbs down and goes for the powerbomb, but Finlay hits the knee! Batista positions himself in the corner and Finlay walks right into a big boot, and spear by Batista for a two count, almost a three. Finlay runs right into a spinning slam, and King Booker has made his way down to the ring! Batista sends Finlay into Booker, and Finlay turns into a spinebuster for the defeat!
Winner: Batista
The temporary end of this feud, and the temporary restarting of the feud between Booker and Batista. Sigh. Match just could have been so much better, these two have such potential between each other, and there was a few times where they could have met expectations, but the fact was that this was just a Batista pimp match so all Finlay needed to do was to make him look strong. Oh well, I suggest a good and violent anything goes confrontation between these two next time. They at least had a acceptable match, even if it didn’t fulfill expectations. Four out of Ten.
King Booker vs Bobby Lashley: 3/10
Matt Hardy / Jimmy Wang Yang vs Gregory Helms / Sylvan: 7/10
Chris Benoit vs K.C. James: 1/10
T.J. Dalton vs The Boogeyman: -5/10
Finlay vs Batista: 4/10
SmackDown 10/11/06: 10/50
The Inside Pulse
An all around passable show this time, which is really a pity because apart from the obvious one match (and you should know what match that was), the card had the potential to be quite good. Oh well, yet again it all served it’s purpose and I suppose that’s far better than no purpose being served at all. Though it was odd to see no Tatanka this week, and a big surprise too considering his recent heel turn. And no Vito. But at least they are building up to Survivor Series which is looking to be an incredibly strong card, never mind how unpredictable it is to know just what matches will be at the pay per view, so a good purpose has been served. Until next time.
