Quick recap of Undertaker vs. Miz from last week’s SmackDown is followed by the usual SmackDown opening video. Mr. Kennedy is out first and reminds us of how he won the SmackDown Sprint, and is now going to challenge Batista at the Rumble. Kennedy says that he beat Benoit in a limited time and yet Mizanin took Taker to the limit; cute, and that Kennedy was just protecting his best interest’s by getting involved in the final match last week. Yet again he reminds us of his victories over former World Champions, and says it is only fitting that he now becomes the World Champion. Kennedy says it’s his time, before Theodore Long makes his way on out. Long congratulates Kennedy on his victory; but Long’s booking a match between Kennedy against Taker tonight, but if Taker beats Kennedy tonight then it’ll be a Triple Threat at the Royal Rumble.
Commercials.
Maryse welcomes us back to SmackDown or something.
Opening Contest: Matt Hardy vs. Joey Mercury
Mercury looks all kinds of weird with the mask and that coat and hair. Lock up and Mercury gets taken into the corner and guards his face before getting a cheap shot and knocking Hardy down, before going right after the face. Hardy goes for a punch to the face but Mercury runs into the corner, so Hardy clubs his back before running into an elbow by Mercury. Hardy clotheslines Mercury down and goes for the Side Effect but Mercury knocks him off, and Hardy gets a right to the face of Mercury. Mercury rolls outside and eventually drags Hardy outside with him, before slamming his face into the ring apron and steel steps. Back in the ring, Mercury gets a sleeper on Hardy and clubs away at him before Mercury covers for a failed pinfall attempt. In the corner Mercury forces his foot into Hardy’s face, before he positions his head against the steel pose and punches it into it, before he grates Hardy’s face against the steel connectors. Mercury then chokes Hardy with the tag rope. Hardy gets a few kicks in but Mercury punches him in the face, and reapplies the sleeper hold but Hardy gets in a jawbreaker. Mercury pushes him into the ropes and Hardy comes back with a Side Effect for a two and a half. Hardy with a yodelling elbow, before he signals for the Twist Of Fate but Mercury reverses it and goes for a double arm powerbomb, but Hardy reverses it into a pinfall for the victory!
Winner: Matt Hardy
Johnny Nitro attacks Matt Hardy right away, with Mercury holding Hardy up so they Nitro can hit a nice spinning kick. MNM remove the protective ring mat and Snapshot Hardy onto the cement! Nice. Enjoyable match, the mask and Mercury going after Hardy’s face added a nice dynamic. Three out of Ten. My only complaint about the match is that it was too one sided, but I still think that Mercury has a good future as a possible U.S. Contender.
Speaking of; Chris Benoit defends the title against Chavo Guerrero tonight in a No Disqualification Match.
Commercials.
Recap of MNM beating down Hardy.
Mizanin is backstage with Layla El and Ashley Massaro, and Mizanin says that if had more time he would’ve beaten Taker. Mizanin says he was playing possum when he was Tombstoned by Taker, but Kane scares the girls off and stands behind Mizanin. Mizanin slowly walks away and Kane laughs. Right.
Kristal Marshall interviews Vickie Guerrero, and Marshall says she wanted to see how – but Guerrero says she wanted to talk to Marshall about something personal. Yes, she’s probably pregnant.
Video recap of the entire Benoit / Guerrero feud.
Commercials.
Second Contest: William Regal, Dave Taylor, and MVP vs. Vito, Paul London, and Brian Kendrick w/ Ashley Massaro
I wonder if Vito actually IS the toughest man to wear a dress? Anyways, big brawl starts and it looks like London and Regal are the legal contestants. London with a nice monkey flip to Regal before getting an arm lock on Regal, tag out to Vito who comes in but Regal quickly tags out to MVP. MVP with punches to Vito before he gets a snapmare. Vito ducks a clothesline by MVP and comes back with an elbow, scoop slam to MVP and leg drop by Vito follows for a two count. MVP tags out to Taylor. Taylor with a suplex to Vito for a two count. Uppercuts by Taylor, he sends Vito into the corner but runs into the turnbuckles when Viot moves out of the way. Regal tagged in and he takes it to Vito with knees to the face of Vito, elbows, forearms, and knees follow. Half nelson suplex to Vito. Taylor tagged in, he stomps on Vito before tagging out to MVP. MVP with a suplex for a two count. Tag out to Regal; Regal in a fisherman’s suplex attempt but Vito turns it into a small package for a pinfall attempt. Taylor in with uppercuts to Vito, elbow drop and Taylor tags out to MVP. MVP kicks away at Vito in the corner, he distracts the referee while Taylor and Regal choke Vito. Regal back in with a headlock on Vito, but Vito sends him into the ropes and back into a shoulder body toss. Regal tags out to MVP, MVP misses an elbow drop but gets the second one, and Vito tags out to Kendrick! Kendrick in with the usual hot tag stuff from him, elbows and kicks, he goes for a pinfall on MVP but the Brits break it. London with a top rope clothesline to the Brits before dropkicking Taylor outside. Kendrick with a Sliced Break No. 2 attempt on Regal but MVP catches him with an Emerald Fusion for the three count.
Winners: William Regal, Dave Taylor, and MVP
Hey, MVP and the Brits make a good team! Nice match but not really too much to write home about. Five out of Ten.
Up next: The United States Championship.
Commercials.
Third Contest: United States Championship: No Disqualifications: Chavo Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit (Champion)
I hate it when the Champions enter first. Circling to begin, before Guerrero talks trash only to low blow Benoit. Nice. Guerrero stomps on Benoit and takes him up for a right hand, uppercut by Guerrero before he back suplex Benoit. Guerrero with a soccer kick to the chest of Benoit before he removes the top turnbuckle padding. Another back suplex by Guerrero, before he removes another turnbuckle pad and goes to send Benoit into the two revealed turnbuckles but Benoit drops Guerrero face first on the top turnbuckle! Benoit goes for the Triple Germans but Guerrero grabs the rope and knocks Benoit off. Backbreaker by Guerrero, but Benoit quickly gets the Crippler Crossface attached and Guerrero rolls outside but Benoit reattahces the hold outside, only for Guerrero to get to his feet and send Benoit into the steel steps! Guerrero grabs a steel chair and swings but Benoit ducks and rolls into the ring. Guerrero takes the chair in the ring and goes to hit Benoit with the chair but Benoit goes for the Crossface again! Benoit gets it in, Guerrero again rolls through and elbows Benoit off of him. Scoop slam by Guerrero, Guerrero goes to hit Benoit with the chair again but Benoit gets a shoulder body toss and snap suplexs Guerrero onto the steel chair for a two count!
Guerrero whips Benout into the revealed turnbuckles and gets a forearm to Benoit’s lower back before gets a chairshot to the back of Benoit! Guerrero covers for a two count! Guerrero works the left shoulder of Benoit with the chair, before blatantly choking Benoit with it. Guerrero sets the chair up in the middle of the ring and nails an arm breaker onto the top of the chair for another two count! VERY nice spot. Benoit gets the chops in on Guerrero, elbows as well, Guerrero goes for a irish whip but Benoit holds onto the ropes and Guerrero falls flat after going for a dropkick and Benoit flips Guerrero outside. Benoit with a baseball slide to Guerrero before he sends him face first into the steel steps. Guerrero crawls over to the ringside staff position and gets the United States Championship, and knocks Benoit down with it. Guerrero sends Benoit and the belt into the ring. Guerrero with the Three Amigos to Benoit, the second on the United States Title and the third on the steel chair! Guerrero up top and goes for the Frog Splash, but Benoit misses and Guerrero hits the steel chair! Benoit covers for a two count. Benoit suplexs Guerrero onto the steel chair, and follows with a German! Benoit with a suplex on the United States title! Guerrero back up into a German by Benoit! Benoit goes up top and goes for the Swandive Headbutt, but Guerrero rolls out of the way! Guerrero grabs the chair and waits for Benoit to get to his feet, but Benoit ducks a chair shot and trips Guerrero and locks in the Sharpshooter! Guerrero crawls towards the steel chair and grabs it, but Guerrero taps out!
Winner and Still Champion: Chris Benoit
Two things right off the bat about this match: it’s very nice that there was no commercial break during this match, and this match was about ten minutes (although I wouldn’t have a problem saying fifteen minutes) too short and that’s the only fault this match had. Eight out of Ten. Nice to see that they didn’t go crazy with the weapons like some hardcore matches do either and actually incorporated their movesets into the weapon shots.
Kristal Marshall is backstage with Batista; he says he doesn’t know if he’ll defend the title against one man or two men at the Rumble, but he’ll be at ringside to watch Kennedy vs. Taker tonight.
Commercials.
Mr. Kennedy is backstage with Jillian Hall, complaining about tonight’s match. Hall says Long has been screwing Long over for far too long, and suggests that he go give him a piece of his mind and that he deserves to be put in his place. Those two should team up as a valet / wrestler combo, and it’ll give Hall something to do.
Duece, Domino, and Cherry make their debut. Duece is the taller one with black hair, while Domino is the one with brown hair and Cherry is Domino’s younger sister but Duece is her boyfriend. Duece attacks the cannon fodder right away.
Fourth Contest: Duece and Domino w/ Cherry vs. Cannon Fodder Jobbers
Duece starts off with jobber one and stomps right on his face before tagging out to Domino. Domino slaps the fodder around before distracting the referee while Duece gets a headscissors on the fodder. Duece misses a fist drop but eventually, of course, regains control. Domino sits the jobber up long enough for Duece to get a running boot to the face for the three count.
Winners: Duece and Domino w/ Cherry
Not sure what I think of Cherry so far, but I think the guys might actually be able to get somewhere despite the gimmick. -Five out of Ten. Was a squash, duh.
Long is arguing with Kennedy; Long says the match is still on, and calls Kennedy disrespectful and that the match against Taker is up soon.
Commercials.
Maryse welcomes us back to SmackDown, again.
Fifth Contest: Kane vs. Mike Mizanin
Mizanin ducks a shot by Kane and takes it to him in the corner only to get hit by a throat thrust by Kane. Kane chokes Mizanin. Mizanin ducks into the legs of Kane and kicks away at his legs, Mizanin goes for a crossbody but Kane catches him and gets a rib breaker. Kane sets Mizanin up in a treee of woe position, choking him with his foot, Mizanin rolls onto the apron and Kane throws Mizanin back into the ring. Kane whips Mizanin into the corner, stomps away at him and picks him back up for a back breaker. Kane gets a bearhug on Mizanin, before sending him spine first into the corner. Mizanin pushes Kane away and goes up top but jumps off into a big boot by Kane. Kane goes up top and comes off with a the flying clothesline, one Chokeslam later and the match is over.
Winner: Kane
Throwaway match, but could’ve been worse as far as squashes go. -Three out of Ten.
Commercials.
RAW Rebound recaps the Rated RKO and Shawn Michaels stuff.
Kristal Marshall is backstage with Long, saying she wants to go over an idea she had. King Booker and Queen Sharmell come up from behind Long and Booker says that he never received his rematch for the title; he will reclaim the grandest stage of them all, at WrestleMania, but he’ll do it by winning the Royal Rumble. Long says he hopes Booker wins the Royal Rumble and says that next week there’ll be a preview of the Royal Rumble; a six man over the top challenge. Booker says he’ll win that, win the Rumble, and march into Mania and prove why he’s the King … so, Booker vs. Batista at No Way Out then.
Royal Rumble Card run-down.
Batista makes his entrance.
Commercials.
Main Event: Mr. Kennedy vs. The Undertaker
Kennedy gets a headlock on Taker to begin, but Kennedy lifts him up and gets a back drop. Taker with a snapmare and elbow drop for a one count. Taker sends Kennedy’s arm into the top turnbuckle, he twists the arm and pulls on it before he sets up for the Old School and connects with it. Taker whips Kennedy into the corner but runs into a boot, Kennedy off the ropes with a clothesline for a two coumt. Kennedy with rights to Taker, but Taker throws Kennedy outside into the announcer’s table, Kennedy is distracted by Batista before being big booted down by Taker. Taker rolls Kennedy back inside the ring and we head to a commercial break.
Commercials.
We’re back and Taker has the upperhand. Taker headbutts Kennedy in the corner before turns him around and positions Kennedy on the top turnbuckle, Taker climbs up and goes for a superplex but Kennedy headbutts Taker off but Taker sits right up and pushes Kennedy to the outside! Taker sends Kennedy into the security rail. The match goes back into the ring and Taker gets a high knee to Kennedy in the corner, but Kennedy gets a low dropkick to the knee of Taker. Kennedy kicks away at the leg and takes Taker down for knees; Kennedy hooks the leg and applies pressure as a Taker chant begins and Taker breaks the hold, before big booting Kennedy to the outside. Kennedy irish whips Taker into the steel steps; Kennedy sets himself up on the apron and jumps off but Taker catches him and sends him into the ring post. Taker positions Kennedy on the apron and gets the leg drop, Taker pins for a two count. Taker sets Kennedy up for the Last Ride but Kennedy falls behind and clotheslines Taker’s knee and covers for a two count. Kennedy comes off the ropes and until a chokeslam attempt but Kennedy escapes, Taker sends Kennedy into the corner and hits him with the snake eyes, big boot follows. Taker clotheslines Kennedy outside, and Kennedy attacks Batista! Kennedy back inside and into a chokeslam attempt by Taker, but Batista spears Kennedy outside!
Winner: Mr. Kennedy
Nice way to end the match, and I’m liking the way this Batista and Undertaker feud is being teased. Not bad all in all, but certainly nothing noteworthy. Four out of Ten.
Matt Hardy vs. Joey Mercury: 3/10
Regal, Taylor, and MVP vs. London, Kendrick, and Vito: 5/10
Benoit vs. Guerrero: 8/10
Duece and Domino vs. Cannon Fodder: -5/10
Kane vs. Mike Mizanin: -3/10
Mr. Kennedy vs. The Undertaker: 4/10
SmackDown 19/01/07: 12/60
The Inside Pulse
Pretty much your average episode of SmackDown this week, and really the only thing above average here was the No DQ Match – and those two always deliver the goods anyways. Until next week guys, have a good one … hey, no Finlay either … with all the releases this week, that is not a good sign. I’m so going to cop the blame for this is he’s unlucky number thirteen. Actually, that position will likely go to either Trinity, Candice Michelle, Teacher’s Pets, or Steve Romero. That’s who my moneys on … where was I? Oh, yeah, have a good week guys!
