Opening Contest: Batista vs. Domino w/ Deuce and Cherry
No shenanigans between Batista and Cherry tonight; Batista takes it right to Domino with spears in the corner as well as a high knee. Domino runs into a high knee and over does it perfectly. Short arm clothesline gets Batista a one count. Batista with the vertical suplex for a two count. Domino gets a high knee to the face of Batista but then runs into a nice sideslam slam. Batista goes for the Batista Bomb but Domino escapes. Cherry distracts the referee, which ends in a failed interference by Deuce. Spear to Domino and Batista Bomb gets the three count.
Winner: Batista
Spinebuster and Batista Bomb for Deuce afterwards. As much as I dislike squashes, this is the exact sort of match that Batista should be booked in, and I even quite enjoyed watching Batista obliterate Domino. One out of Ten. I’ll go into why I didn’t mind this squash a little while later, when I compare it to the weekly Henry squash.
Khali yells stuff at Batista from the titantron; footage of Khali putting Flair in the claw follows, and then Khali claws the camera. Khali vs. Flair is later tonight; that is most certainly a fair contest.
Commercials.
Tony Chimel apparently welcomes back Rey Mysterio, but it turns out to be Chavo Guerrero. Guerrero puts himself over, with an odd parody of Mysterio’s accent. Nice segment, if not a bit stretched out.
Second Contest: Chavo Guerrero vs. Eugene
Eugene is confused whether or not it’s Mysterio, so Guerrero hits him with a head scissors. Guerrero with a Mysterio fashion hurricanrana. Guerrero flips his way out of an arm lock by Eugene and sets up for the 619, but Guerrero fails and falls out of the ring. Class. Eugene gets some offence in on Guerrero and even hits Guerrero with the Gory Special! Eugene does the Three Amigos! Eugene goes for the Frog Splash but misses; Guerrero, however, connects with it and covers for the three count.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero
I don’t get why Guerrero had to miss the 619; if it was an accident then it would’ve been edited out. My best guess is to make out that only Mysterio can do it, which makes complete sense. I like the idea of Guerrero using Mysterio’s moves, though, and so long as the feud continues I hope this does as well. Anyways; these two had a longer and better match the other week, but this match had a better story and purpose. Two out of Ten.
Dykstra and Victoria are coupled up officially it seems, and this is happening while Victoria‘s getting her make up done; McCool interrupts and some uninspired trash talk begins. I think McCool calls herself a slut by the end of it, but I’m not too sure. I can take a half assed attempt to set up both Victoria related storylines, as I’ve been wanting to see both, but next time they do the trash talking I hope they at least bring out a few good old cat fighting words – is it so difficult for them to call each other sluts, bitches, or whores? Or is this still the show directed to the younger demographic?
Commercials.
RAW Rebound: McMahon stuff. They could recap the entire show as far as I’m concerned, I enjoyed it all. All the bits that I remember, at least. I hope the rumours of this storyline leads to some serious Shane McMahon involvement, especially with a DVD of his due to come out later. I do, by the way, love the idea of how the ending played out – the march and the similarities between the explosion.
Third Contest: Mark Henry vs. Sterling Keenan
Isn’t Keenan, like, supposed to be a quite good wrestler and all? Of course, Henry demolishes Keenan and the Bear Hug finishes.
Winner: Mark Henry
-Five out of Ten. If you watch this episode then notice the difference between Batista’s squash and this squash; Batista seemed legitimately angry and was intense enough to show that neither tag team champion had any chance while Henry looked like he was just taking on an incompetent wrestler, which is how all his squashes have been booked. Put Henry in the ring against someone who could stand a chance (not Funaki), or at least try and make him much more intense. Henry states that this is beginning to get redundant and that we’re apparently beginning to feel sympathy for his opponents; footage of Henry destroying Undertaker plays again. Milking this for all he can, isn’t he? This time, however, the video turns into a promo hyping the Undertaker and subtly stating ‘Unforgiven’. When we cut back, there’s a weird ass druid walking up the entrance way. Um, okay, the crowd loves it for a little while though.
Commercials.
Fourth Contest: Torrie Wilson w/ Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Victoria w/ Kenny Dykstra
See, told you that they should become a duo. Victoria attacks right away but Wilson gets a two count off of a school boy. Wilson with a clothesline and swinging neck breaker for another two count. Victoria baseball slides the shins of Wilson, dropping her face first into the apron; shenanigans happens between Dykstra and Yang, allowing Wilson to roll Victoria up for a pinfall attempt. Victoria hit’s the Widow’s Peak for the surprising three count.
Winner: Victoria
Victoria begins beating down on Wilson earlier; so Michelle McCool comes for the save. This wasn’t even the usual passable stuff between Victoria and Wilson; was over in about a minute and a half. -Two out of Ten. SmackDown Diva Standards. Finally might see something between Victoria and McCool; took them too long.
Michael Cole and JBL discuss last week’s stuff between Hardy and MVP. Cole then brings up the Wellness Policy and apparently they’ve found a problem with Porter which has kept him out of the ring for a week or so – interesting. Porter is at the WWE Studios and says that his heart rate was altered last week, and he is challenging Hardy to a match next week. He has some condition which I missed the name of, however. Not sure if this is kayfabe or not.
Matt Hardy is walking backstage, he’s going up against Finlay next.
Commercials.
Fifth Contest: Matt Hardy vs. Finlay
A few unsuccessful lock ups start us off. Finlay with a headlock on Hardy; Finlay off the ropes with a shoulder and covers but Hardy kicks out before the pin count. Hardy with a headlock on Finlay but Finlay gets to the ropes. Hardy with offence to Finlay, including a running clothesline in the corner for a two count. Finlay with a break comeback with a shoulder block but Hardy with some elbows for a two count. Finlay oversells a head injury to distract the referee, and uses the chance to get a cheap shot in on Hardy. Finlay with uppercuts and a short arm clothesline for a one count. Finlay with a rear naked choke; Hardy looks to escape but Finlay knees Hardy and whips him into the corner, only for Finlay to run into a boot by Hardy. Hardy with a headlock; gets pushed into the ropes and comes back with clotheslines. Hardy with a bulldog for a two count. Finlay sends Hardy outside and gets a baseball slide. Hardy slams Finlay face first into the apron and goes for a bulldog but Finlay pushes Hardy into the steel post, and we sadly head to a commercial break.
Commercials.
We’re back and Finlay is working the arm. During the break, Finlay sent Hardy arm first into the steel steps. Finlay with a shoulder block to Hardy before he resumes going after the arm; Finlay with a knee drop on the arm for a two count. Finlay clutches the elbow of Hardy in a nice touch, but Hardy punches him off and sends him into the ropes – the pair connect with a pair of shoulders. Finlay goes right back to an arm lock; Hardy looks to escape but Finlay gets an elbow to Hardy’s. Finlay slams Hardy’s arm onto the apron and right away resumes the arm lock. Finlay hooks Hardy’s arm on the rope and gets forearms to the chest of Hardy. Hardy with rights; Hardy goes to the second turnbuckle and gets the elbow drop for a two count. Hardy goes for the backslide, complete with remind us that his arm hurts, but doesn’t get the three count. Side Effect for a two count. Hardy goes for another second rope move but Finlay gets an dram drag for a two count.
Hornswoggle is at ringside and Finlay drags him into the ring, but Noble drags him out of the ring! Finlay tries to grab Noble, but Hardy uses the chance to get Finlay in a school boy for a two count! Hornswoggle and Noble run backstage; Finlay escapes the Twist of Fate and runs backstage
Winner: Matt Hardy
If they had kept going, that could have been one of the better singles matches I’d ever recapped, the momentum was there and all it needed was the hot finish it was begging for. It combined two storylines logically (and it would branch out into a third come the next few segments); the psychology was there; got Hardy‘s never say die attitude across, Finlay‘s touch and fighting persona across; the good wrestling was there Sure the ending made sense, but at the same time it’s so unsatisfying. A count out? They couldn’t have delayed the Noble / Hornswoggle stuff til post-match and let there be a pinfall / submission victory? The ending and the commercial break (which, really, ruins the momentum of enjoying a good match almost every time) are the only reason I‘m not giving this higher. Seven out of Ten. Do we need Hardy to start winning his matches all by count out now or something?
Noble is looking for Hornswoggle backstage – Shannon Moore and Funaki laughs at him, and Finlay begins yelling Noble. Finlay knocks Moore’s coffee out of his hand – and into the face of Kane! Kane throws Finlay around a bit Didn’t the Jericho / Kane feud from 2000 start over spilled coffee? Don’t some people think that you should wait seven years before repeating an angle? Of course, there’s a thousand differences between Kane / Jericho and Kane / Finlay Nationalities, leprechauns, masks, the date.
Commercials.
Sixth Contest: Sylvan vs. Kane
I like Sylvan with bleached hair. Kane controls to begin, but Sylvan gets in a surprising amount of offence. Of course, Kane is right back in control with a Snapmare and a low dropkick for a two count, Kane with a rear naked choke hold. Kane runs into an elbow by Sylvan; Sylvan goes to the second turnbuckle but jumps off into a boot. Kane goes up top, much more impressive than the second rope, and gets the flying clothesline. Chokeslam ends.
Winner: Kane
Post match, Finlay attacks Kane with the shillelagh. Take THAT, Kane! Kane sits up even after a fair few shillelagh shots, but Finlay knocks him right back down. Squash match, none the less, but not a Mark Henry bad one. -Two out of Ten.
Vickie Guerrero and Theodore Long are backstage – Guerrero says she got him a Wedding Present Viagra. Ew; we saw him pashing Kristal last week, why did we need to push the gross factor up even more? Long accepts it just in case he needs it; did we need to think about this? I’m going to have nightmares for a few weeks.
Commercials.
Chris Masters introduces SmackDown Debut of the Masterlock Challenge. Masters paces around ringside and picks a guy who is apparently “staring a hole through himâ€Â. Masters apparently sees intensity in his eyes – and the guy is apparently a big sports guy (captain of his high school wrestling team), and has just gotten out of Prison for man slaughter Okay Interesting twist Masters tells him to sit back down because he doesn’t want to embarrass him in front of his family. John, mister hometown, gets picked and loses the Masterlock Challenge.
Still to come: Flair vs. Khali
Commercials.
Ric Flair is hyped by Batista for his upcoming match against Khali. Flair says he’s been in the ring against the great wrestlers who’ve used the claw, and that Flair will find his weak spot and make Khali tap to the Figure Four.
Commercials.
Main Event: The Great Khali w/ Runjin Singh vs. Ric Flair
Between Flair’s robe and Khali’s height: Flair’s robe demands the most attention. Lock up and Khali forces Flair down right away, but Flair whooos it off. Flair with chops, but Khali gets a scoop slam. Short arm clothesline by Khali. Khali with the shoulder grip on Flair, but Flair gets to the ropes. Khali with the chop to Flair; big boot follows. Flair gets a poke in the eye; Singh distracts the referee which allows for the low blow by Flair! Flair with chops and punches, a heap of them, but Flair runs into the claw! Khali keeps the claw on whilst pinning Flair for the three count.
Winner: The Great Khali
They couldn’t have Flair get in the Figure Four and Khali apply the claw during it? And why not? Anyways, Batista makes the save post match. Batista goes for the Batista Bomb but Khali pushes Batista off and applies the claw! Batista fades out to the claw, and Khali poses with the Championship post match. I actually somehow enjoyed this match; it was short, didn’t get too tedious, was nowhere near as bad as what it could’ve been. One out of Ten.
The Inside Pulse
Batista defeats Domino via pinfall: 1/10
Chavo Guerrero defeats Eugene via pinfall: 2/10
Mark Henry defeats Sterling Keenan via submission: -5/10
Victoria defeats Torrie Wilson via pinfall: -2/10
Matt Hardy defeats Finlay via count out: 7/10
Kane defeats Sylvan via pinfall: -2/10
The Great Khali defeats Ric Flair via pinfall: 1/10
SmackDown 10/08/07: 2/70
Wrestling wise, this show is only barely passable – saved by the goodness that was Finlay and Hardy. But everything on this week’s episode had the purpose of building towards something (hopefully), with the only possible exception being the Masterlock. Until next week, have a good one.
