The SmackDown opening video opens us up, and I think it’s been a while since we simply started with that video. Tonight: Batista and the Undertaker against King Booker and Finlay. Should be good.
McMahon’s music begins playing and the boss makes his way on out. I don’t see the point of promoting the Battle of the Billionaires on SmackDown anymore – a video package, maybe, but not to the point where McMahon goes out of his way to be on SmackDown. The basic recap and gloat by McMahon, not anything we haven’t seen before. Yet again, McMahon says that when he shaves Trump’s head on RAW – he’ll be shaving everyone else’s head too, which makes me wonder just how desperate McMahon is to get this storyline any more heat. McMahon reminds us of his match vs. Lashley on RAW, which I’m actually looking forward to but I’d prefer seeing it on ECW even if it will just be an excuse for Umaga to attack Lashley. McMahon books Kennedy vs. Lashley tonight. Yet again. Oh – no! AS WELL AS Randy Orton! Handicap Match! McMahon even does the Orton pose complete with the zooming camera, which would’ve been perfect if he’d gone up one more turnbuckle. Kennedy and Orton kiss ass temporarily and McMahon books the handicap match to be a Handicap Tables Match. Okay, it’s over kill (it should’ve just been a No DQ match with ladders), but like I give a damn. Should be entertaining.
Up next, a rematch from Judgment Day last year – Kendrick and London defending their Tag Team Championship against MNM!
Commercials.
Opening Contest: Tag Team Championship: Paul London and Brian Kendrick (Champions) w/ Ashley Massaro vs. MNM
I will derive enjoyment from this, you betcha. London and Mercury start. Lock up and Mercury takes London into the corner, shoving and London gets the better with rights – Nitro in and attacks London and Kendrick makes the save before the twinks hit Mercury with some forearmish elbows, getting London a two count over Mercury. London misses a dropkick and Nitro gets tagged in and gets a running knee to the gut before covering for a two. Mercury back in and MNM pick London up in a suplex only to drop him gut first on the top rope. Mercury with a behind bearhug, London reverses it into a pin package – Mercury kicks out and sends London into a tag by Kendrick. Kendrick in with the usual offence he gets after a hot tag and covers Mercury for a two count after a heel kick. Kendrick goes for Sliced Bread No. 2 but Mercury turns it into a neckbreaker for a two count. London in with a missile dropkick to Mercury for a two count pinfall which is broken by Nitro. MNM go for the Snapshot but Kendrick takes care of Nitro and London gets Mercury in a sunset flip for a two. London goes up top and Mercury joins him; Mercury goes for a superplex but London fights him off, Melina grabs the ankle of London but Massaro takes care of Melina. Crossbody to Mercury by London for the three count.
Winners and Still Champions: Paul London and Brian Kendrick
One: Champions should never enter first, even if their valet is the challenger for the opposing valet’s belt. Two: Nice to see a match where London and Kendrick don’t do five tags within forty seconds. Three: I’ve got my weekly dose of London and Kendrick, so I’m happy, even if it was too short for my liking. Three out of Ten. The way they’re building this Ashley / Melina feud though … Hm.
Kristal Marshall is backstage being looked down on by Kane. Marshall says that people have always called Kane sick, demented, and twisted – and with pictures of a bruised Daivari – she asks just how far he’s willing to go in his match with Great Khali at WrestleMania. Kane raises the hook and says all the way before Marshall runs off and Kane laughs … I missed the funny, but I’ll laugh anyways.
Commercials.
Maryse welcomes us back from SmackDown. I don’t think she’s all that attractive, but what would I know about chicks in lingerie?
Second Contest: Chavo Guerrero vs. Jimmy Wang Yang
Lock up and Yang gets behind Guerrero, Guerrero forces Yang into the corner for an elbow. Yang gets a nice kick off the second rope. Yang lands on his feet after a hip toss attempt and kicks Guerrero into the corner for a moonsault kick before kicking Guerrero outside of the ring. Yang gets a baseball slide to Guerrero. Back in the ring, Yang goes for a crossbody from the top rope but Guerrero gets a dropkick to the gut of Yang. Guerrero with an uppercut for a quick pinfall attempt. Yang escapes an arm bar but runs into a dropkick by Guerrero. Guerrero gets a two count off of a clothesline. Guerrero drops Yang gut first on the top rope with a fall forward suplex. Guerrero puts Yang in an abdominal stretch but Yang turns it into an arm drag and nails a jawbreaker to Guerrero. Guerrero runs into an elbow by Yang and Yang follows up with a headscissors takedown. Guerrero goes for the Three Amigos, which Cole SOMEHOW says it’s disrespectful, on the third Yang flips behind but Guerrero hits in with an elbow – Guerrero goes for a moonsault but Yang ducks and hits a moonsault of his own for the three count.
Winner: Jimmy Wang Yang
Unspectacular and forgettable, but I suppose it was good considering it was a five minute midcard match. Guerrero makes it clear he’s still the champion while Yang makes it clear he wants the title too. Two out of Ten.
Video for Arnold Skaaland. High five for tribute videos!
Commercials.
Third Contest: Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Cedrick Von Haussen
Just like last week, it’s a squash that I ain’t recapping.
Winner: Montel Vontavious Porter
-Five out of Ten. MVP gets on the microphone post match and builds up to his match with Chris Benoit at WrestleMania, and says that losing the title to MVP at WrestleMania isn’t a bad thing – as he’ll go down in history for the match. It’ll be a WrestleMania Moment for both of them. MVP beating only foreign gimmick jobbers is getting quite old, and if anything should have taken place after he wins the United States title so then he can be fighting off those damned foreigners for the respect of the belt. Since they’ll probably be doing this again next week, please let it be a Canadian gimmick jobber.
Backstage, Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton hit a table.
Still to come: Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton in a Handicap Tables Match.
Commercials.
Video for the Battle of the Billionaires. Finally some celebrities that I know apart from John Travolta and Jason Alexander. Do any of these celebrities, apart from Federline, know who McMahon is though?
Fourth Contest: Handicap Tables Match: Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley
Lashley must put both Kennedy and Orton through a table to win. Cole thinks it’s nearly impossible for Lashley to win, which means he’ll win. Lashley fights off the heels for a surprisingly good time considering it’s a two on one, the heels get a slight advantage but Lashley sends Orton outside and hits Kennedy with a shoulder body toss. Lashley with clubs to Kennedy. Kennedy fights off Lashley and begins raking at the face before kicking at the leg; Orton drags Lashley outside but Lashley clotheslines Orton. Back in the ring Lashley picks up Kennedy and sends him into the corner for spears. Belly to belly by Lashley on Orton, who gets up in the corner and Lashley goes for a spear but Kennedy drags Orton out of the way.
Kennedy utilizes the steel post for a while before Orton sets Lashley up in the ring for a running boot by Kennedy. Orton stomps away at Lashley while Kennedy keeps Lashley down. Orton gets a table and sets it up while Kennedy puts Lashley in the corner – Lashley begins fighting Kennedy off but Orton attacks Lashley from behind. Orton puts Lashley on the table and tells Kennedy to go up top, but Lashley fights Orton off! Lashley goes to send Kennedy through the table but Orton stops Lashley and the pair resume their dominance in the match. Kennedy sets up a table in the corner while Lashley begins fighting the pair off. Clotheslines to Orton and Kennedy by Lashley. Lashley picks Orton up but Kennedy gets a low dropkick to Lashley. Lashley spinebusters Kennedy through the first table and puts Orton through the other table thanks to a running powerslam!
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Nice way to build to WrestleMania; the Money In The Bank match doesn’t lose much considering there’s still six other strong wrestlers in the match (although, with the tag team main event still to come, that may very well be changed – having half of the contestants lose in handicap matches in one night isn’t a good way to build to a match, obviously), and puts over Lashley quite nicely – the fans are beginning to get behind him and McMahon knows it. Orton and Kennedy work well together too I think, maybe they should team up after WrestleMania? Anyways, the ending was a bit anti-climatic, but otherwise not too bad. Three out of Ten.
Still to come: King Booker and The Undertaker vs. King Booker and Finlay
Commercials.
Kristal Marshall is backstage with Batista. Video recap of Taker sending Finlay into Batista last week. Batista says that he’ll get even – so he and Undertaker will come out on top tonight and get along just fine until the match is over.
Benoit makes his entrance for the next match …
Commercials.
Fifth Contest: Chris Benoit vs. Gregory Helms
Isn’t this the first Benoit match I’ve called in weeks? Anyways. Helms gets a kick to the gut of Benoit and puts him in the corner for a fair few rights, Helms gets distracted by the referee only to turn into a chop by Benoit. Benoit with a shoulder body toss and snap suplex for a quick pinfall attempt. Benoit with a headbutt to Helms, who rolls onto the apron. Benoit tries to drag Helms back in but Helms drops him throat first onto the top rope. Helms goes for a suplex on Benoit but Benoit reverses it into one of his own, Benoit goes to capitalize but Helms sends Benoit outside and follows with a vaulting body press. Back in the ring, Helms covers but Benoit gets his foot on the rope, so Helms chokes Benoit on the bottom rope before slingshotting him throat first into the second rope.
Helms rakes the face of Benoit across the top rope but Benoit begins with the chops, Helms fights him off and gets a neckbreaker for a two count. Benoit falls behind a scoop slam and goes for a German, Helms elbows Benoit and turns himself around but Benoit hits him with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Benoit gets the Triple Germans, swandive headbutt, and Crippler Crossface finishes it.
Winner: Chris Benoit
Not bad, but should’ve been longer. Three out of Ten.
The Wild Samoans into the Hall Of Fame.
JBL congratulates the Wild Samoans, before he .. Gets up and leaves the Announcer’s table? Hm.
Commercials.
Kristal Marshall is backstage with Theodore Long. Long gives her a rose and JBL storms on in and says that he has a proposition for Long. JBL suggests that next week JBL interviews Batista AND The Undertaker at the same time. Long gives it the thumbs up.
King Booker distracts Batista and Finlay attacks him from behind; the two get the better of Batista and need to be pulled off by referees. Nice touch by the production tem to have the ‘Next’ logo at the bottom of the screen at the beginning of the segment before fading it out as the attack begun.
Commercials.
Main Event: King Booker and Finlay w/ Queen Sharmell vs. The Undertaker
Undertaker and Booker start things off; Undertaker gets stuck in the corner where both Finlay and Booker attack him. Undertaker with rights to both Booker and Finlay. Undertaker goes for the Old School early on but Finlay distracts him, allowing Booker to turn it into an arm drag but Undertaker keeps hold and follows up with an arm drag of his own. Old School to Finlay before Undertaker clotheslines Booker outside. Finlay quickly clotheslines Undertaker outside afterwards, Undertaker drags Finlay outside and sends him into the steel steps.
Commercials.
We’re back and Undertaker goes for the apron leg drop on Finlay but Booker attacks Undertaker. Back in the ring, Booker takes it to Undertaker in the corner before taking Undertaker into the middle of the ring for a hook kick. Finlay tagged in with a butt thump to Undertaker for a two count. Finlay with elbows to Undertaker in the corner before he brings Undertaker in for a short arm clothesline. Booker tagged in. Booker with knees to the face of Undertaker before taking Undertaker down with a superkick for a two count. Finlay in and he sends Undertaker into the corner with a pair of spears before going after the leg and getting in a half Boston Crab. Finlay looks to turn it into an STF but Undertaker rolls it into mounted punches. Booker in but Undertaker begins fighting him off only to turn into a clothesline by Finlay.
Booker in with a kick to the gut of Undertaker, Scissors Kick misses and Undertaker goes for a Chokeslam but Booker escapes the choke and takes Undertaker down with an elbow. Booker gets in a headlock but Undertaker turns it into a back drop before putting Booker in the Triangle Coke which is quickly broken by Finlay. Finlay tagged in. Finlay with headbutts but Undertaker begins getting right hands in on Finlay, Finlay reverses an irish whip but Undertaker comes back with a running DDT! Booker tagged in but Undertaker gets him right away and begins getting clotheslines against both opponents. Snake eyes and big boot combo to Booker! Finlay goes for a Shillelagh shot but Undertaker grabs him in a Chokeslam position – Booker grabbed as well, but Finlay hits Undertaker with the Shillelagh for the disqualification!
Winner: The Undertaker
Finlay and Booker continue the beat down afterwards, but Batista makes the save. Undertaker and Batista signal for their signature powerbombs, Undertaker lifts Finlay up but Batista spears Booker into Undertaker! Undertaker is angry as SmackDown fades out. Fun match which was about to have a hot finish, but it makes sense to end it there on that note. Five out of Ten. I enjoyed this match, and the shot of Undertaker and Batista both getting ready for their powerbombs was kind of nice in a mark out way. Hm, no Hornswoggle tonight, odd but nice to just have a break from him for once.
Kendrick and London vs. MNM: 3/10
Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Chavo Guerrero: 2/10
Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Cedrick Von Haussen: -5/10
Bobby Lashley vs. Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton: 3/10
Chris Benoit vs. Gregory Helms: 3/10
Undertaker vs. King Booker and Finlay: 5/10
SmackDown 23/03/07: 11/60
The Inside Pulse
I really enjoyed this week’s episode. Wrestling wise there was no great leap in quality, but it’s amazing just how much more watchable this show is when there’s a direction to it. Everything seemed to click tonight – even the MVP squash worked on a level, and by that I mean it didn’t bring down the over all quality of the show which is an improvement over MVP several months ago. A pretty risky move tonight too, having half of the contestants in the MITB match take part in handicap matches (and lose, and the over kill of handicap matches on top of that) but I suppose it’s not all bad – I’ve never looked at being put through a table as damaging to a wrestler’s popularity and if anything it should add an interesting aspect to the MITB match or build up (unlikely but they should at least try), and I never thought that a disqualification loss was too damaging either. Of course most disqualifications I see don’t take part in handicap matches – oh well, both Finlay and Booker are sitting firmly in the upper hierarchy of SmackDown and there’s no chance of them falling down the ladder any time soon it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to see Batista and Undertaker getting a bit more physical, too. I look forward to the pair both hitting JBL with their finishers on next week’s episode. Anyways, until next time everyone!
Summary — Match Results
Paul London and Brian Kendrick defeat Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury to retain Tag Team Championships (London pins Mercury)
Jimmy Wang Yang defeats Chavo Guerrero via pinfall
Montel Vontavious Porter defeats Cedrick Von Haussen via pinfall
Bobby Lashley defeats Mr. Kennedy and Randy Orton in an Elimination Handicap Tables Match (Spinebuster through table eliminates Mr. Kennedy, Running Powerslam through table eliminates Randy Orton)
Chris Benoit defeats Gregory Helms via submission
